So today I’m getting ready to enter a prison and minister to inmates for the day. I’m praying that the Lord will prepare their hearts to receive Jesus and give me (and the other volunteers) the words from the Holy Spirit that need to be relayed to these women and men.
Last night Jack, (Murf the Surf), Murphy conducted training for all of the volunteers for this event and after some prayer and praise music, we are well prepared to enter the battlefield. It is a big job to coordinate such an event and Jack has done a superb job lining up all of the prisons, putting out posters, printing tracts, lining up speakers and volunteers, talking to wardens, training coordinators, front line workers, and preparing the extensive logistics to enter a number of prisons over two days.
Jack used to be a notorious criminal and served over twenty years in various maximum security prisons. He miraculously got pardoned and has now faithfully served the Lord for over twenty years and hundreds of thousands have received Christ and otherwise been positively affected by his ministry. His work for the Lord is not just restricted to prisons but in his community he gathers food, clothing, and supplies from local vendors and brings it to the homeless and the poor, he visits and plays music for those who are old and lonely, he fixes up houses and helps do yardwork for widows and others, the list is long.
Though he is now 78 years young one would never know it. His energy is inspiring to all who know him. His love for God is deep and genuine and I’m proud to call him one of my best friends.
To those who think God does not change people, one need no further than Jack Murphy. He reminds me of this parable told by Jesus: “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. “When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” . . . Jack has been forgiven a lot and he loves Jesus a lot.
Has God forgiven you a great deal? I know He’s forgiven me far more than I deserve. When Jesus healed ten lepers only one demonstrated faith as detailed below. As far as I can tell from the text he was the only one saved. Something to think about eh? Now is the time to honor and thank Jesus for healing us of our sins with our worship and service.
Have a great weekend and go to Honey Lake Church or somewhere this weekend.
Luke 17:11.
“And it came about while He was on the way to Jerusalem that He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered a certain village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him. And they raised their voices saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’ And when He saw them He said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And it came about that as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them when he saw that he had been healed, turned back glorifying God with a loud voice and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him, and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine? Where are they? Was no one found who turned back to give glory to God except this foreigner?’ And He said to him, ‘Rise and go your way, your faith has saved you.'”
February 26, 2016 – Click here to listen