OUR FATHER’S PERSISTENT LOVE MINISTRIES
“AN OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE”
My Dear Family in Christ,
Ever precious greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! It is my great honor and privilege to share my heart with you once again. Debbie and I were at Bridgefest, which is an annual two-day festival in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. For those of you who may not know, Ocean Grove is an oceanfront community that thrives in the summer months. It has a Christian flavor that swells with people from every tribe, tongue, and nation seeking the warm sands of its beautiful beach.
The yearly gathering is sponsored by Calvary Chapel of Old Bridge. The whole thing is set up like a street festival. All the different ministries have their presentation tables scattered throughout the grounds. There are foodstuffs of every sort, games for the children, and just a plethora of different things for all to do. It seeks to honor the Lord Jesus Christ and to present His person and finished work on the cross to all. Bridgefest serves as a very bright Light and witness to this much fallen world, which is unwittingly, yet desperately, in need of our merciful Savior.
It is a great joy for Debbie and I, and we very much look forward to it each year. This year the weather was spectacular. We are most especially encouraged by the baptisms – indeed the very pinnacle of the weekend. All things lead to Jesus Christ as Savior and our surrender to Him as Lord. The festival also affords us a chance to freshly mingle with the saints of God, a very peculiar people in Christ Jesus. We fellowship with the different ministries, worshiping and hearing the Word of God preached. It is my contention and teaching that our lives as believers and unbelievers alike are in direct proportion to the amount of time we spend in the Word of God, by faith, through the Spirit of the living God.
As Debbie and I walk around the festival and visit with the people of the different ministries, we listen to their hearts and their callings and pray with them over their needs. Eventually, we came upon the America’s Keswick ministry table. At Keswick proper, they have separate live-in ministry programs for both men and women who are broken by sin, addictions, and life-dominating issues. This is our lot, our heart, and our life.
The women’s house is called Barbara’s Place. Years ago, as you may remember, Debbie had overworked herself trying to juggle full-time ministry, her household, and me in a maximum security prison. It was overwhelming for her. By herself, she had done a yeoman’s job. For twenty plus years, she had run teams of men and women into a plethora of different jails and prisons. Christmas gifts galore for all the children was the norm, coupled with visit ministries to all the different prisons, etc. But, she did not rest. Thus, she suffered from burn-out. As a result, her family and friends tried to minister to her in many different ways. They did the best they could, but Debbie needed more. Therefore, at the prompting of the Lord, she herself went to Barbara’s Place.
By the grace of God, the counselors at Barbara’s Place were able to help her to get back on her feet and back to the sound mind the Word of God promises us. Healing took place through the process of time – Debbie having much to learn about herself, her body, and her God-given need for rest. It has always been my belief that those who would work well must first rest well. Rest is not by works, but as with all things that please the Lord, it is by faith (Hebrews 11:6). Indeed, we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). The Bible even declares that anything that is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23). It’s an alarming truth if you really stop and think about it! While Debbie was at Barbara’s Place, she developed strong bonds with the leaders there and more so with the ladies that were in the program.
So, we had now come upon the Keswick ministry table at Bridgefest. The table itself was surrounded by many of the ladies who were in the program. I immediately began to chat with them as they were in various stages of redemption. I shared my testimony and how the Lord had delivered me from the slavery of sin. I encouraged them with the Word of God and prayer as I went from one lady to the next hearing their hearts and trying to encourage them. However, I was so distracted that I soon lost track of Debbie!
As I looked around, Debbie was nowhere to be seen. I looked, and I looked, but I could not see her! Then, I glanced downward, and there she was laying on the ground with her girls on a filthy blanket! They were laughing and giggling and sharing what the Lord was doing in all their lives. Debbie was all sprawled out on the ground on their blanket with them! She didn’t know I was watching as I just stood back enjoying her ministering to these broken women. She, being one with them, had gotten right down on the ground with them and met them where they were. She put herself in their world. The love of God was flowing out of her as she unknowingly emanated her Savior. It was not by intention, but just the natural outflow of her life. Debbie has herself been broken and thus, the sweetness of her Christ was now oozing from the cracks of her brokenness – yes, the fragrance of Christ filled the ladies! The anointing was present. . .
It is written, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.“ (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Jesus Christ, by the very sovereign will of God, became flesh and dwelt among us. Glance downward – yes, He got right down on the ground and laid with us on the very filthy blanket of our sin. He put Himself in our world that He might relate to the weakness of our infirmities. He emanated the Father’s heart as His body was broken for us upon the cross. The sweetness of His tender love still oozes from the cracks of His brokenness as in Him dwells all the fragrance of the Godhead bodily! In Christ – the anointing is forever present! The very heart of God, in Christ, enables Him to be the compassionate, gracious, and love filled high priest we so desperately need daily. Beloved, for whose life are you. . .
“ALL SPRAWLED OUT ON THE GROUND?”
JOYFULLY IN JESUS,
LOVE, PHILIP
“REMEMBER THOSE IN PRISON AS IF CHAINED TO THEM.”
