March 2024

Ever precious greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! It is my great honor to share my heart with you once again. Debbie and I were in Desert Hot Springs, California. We had just come from John MacArthur’s annual pastor’s conference in Sun Valley. There from every tribe, tongue, and nation were gathered 5,000 plus pastors for the hearing and teaching of God’s Word, coupled with the worship of our glorious Lord and Savior – Jesus Christ! It was an experience like no other, steeped in Truth, while abounding with shades of Heaven as all the men sang of His glory with one voice! Glory to the Lamb – the eternal blood-bought heart cry of the redeemed!

But now, it was back to boots on the ground. It was early morning, and I was coming out of the dollar store. I was picking up a few odds and ends for our stay, ever budget conscious, as I headed toward our car. As I walked, I observed a middle-aged, homeless woman leaning on her shopping cart just looking at me. I continued toward the car without much of a thought, as the homeless are everywhere. My mind was consumed with the day’s chores already set before me. After all, I finally had a couple of days to regroup before our next preaching engagement at Calvary Chapel La Habra. As I started the car, lifting my head, there she was again. At once, I heard the “still small voice” challengingly whisper, “Are you going to just drive away?” I immediately turned the car of.

It is written, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)

I have been to a seminary the world knows not of. Taught personally, even ministered to, by His scarred, blood-stained Hands. Thirty years of brutal, grueling, yet joy-filled missionary field teaching by the Holy Spirit. The battle ever hot on the front lines – daily serving in the pressure cooker of my prison trials in Christ. Make no mistake, I was in Christ – not in prison – otherwise, I would never have made it out. The Lord was with me though, like a mighty awesome One! (Jeremiah 20:11a)

God handcrafts men of God. Consider Moses – 40 years in the wilderness, his conscience ever crowing of his guilt, having killed and buried a man with his own hands. Even so, David was in a cave, rejected, albeit the anointed king to be! Jeremiah thrown into a well for faithfully preaching. All of them pointing to Christ’s ultimate sufferings on the cross. All things are designed for those with eyes to see, to bring forth men of God. Indeed, workmen that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth, yes, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. In hindsight, the humbled bow – kissing that Rod that smote them, by faith, knowing the loving Hand that wields it.

I say all that to say – I know His voice. He has carried me through the deepest of unfathomable darkness and comforted me with the brightest of Light. Thus, I immediately turned of the car. I grabbed my witness bible bag full of every possible whatnot you could imagine, and I walked over to her. We were out in front of the dollar store for all to see (transparency always an ally). I introduced myself as a pastor. I asked if I could speak with her, and she said “yes.” I then asked if I could sit, and she said “yes.” I then sat down on the ground by her, thus entering into her world, guardedly, not too close because I am a married man. Yet, close enough for her to discern my heart and put her guard down. My heart was full of the Spirit of God, being moved deeply by the compassion of Christ.

It is written, “…Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:27b-29)

Her name was Maryann. She was perhaps in her mid-forties. I sat on the dirty ground and began to share my own testimony. I told her that I once had a shopping cart just like hers. I told her of my own season of sin, my street life, and where sin had brought me by my selfsh choices. I set before her the hope of the gospel of the grace of God in Jesus Christ our Lord, that, though He was rich, yet for our sakes, He became poor; that through His poverty, we might become rich. As I presented the gospel to her, the very power of God unto salvation for those that believe, we began to weep together. As I shared – I remembered from whence I had come! I succinctly recalled where she was in her life. I had been her, and she knew it. Christ had met me in my sinful emptiness. He was meeting her now. I had been without hope and without God in the world, exactly where she was. I gently ministered to her the hope of the forgiveness of sins and new Life in Christ Jesus. As we cried together, our tears mingled in the very dirt of this fallen, sinful world. She prayed to receive her Christ – mercy once again triumphing over judgment! Salvation is of the Lord! (Jonah 2:9c)

It is written, “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith He unto His disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38)

Christ wept. With joy unspeakable and full of glory, from eternity past, He anticipated what His Father’s redemptive plan (His own bloody work) would accomplish. Be reminded afresh, His work has no intrinsic value apart from His Person. If He is not God the Son, even the Son of God become Son of man; if He is not eternal divinity incarnate, then the cross has no value. But – He is I Am.

The Lord still seeks sinners. They are His work. Is He not the eternal Friend of sinners? Christ, in His obedience, turned of His divinity, if it could be, out front in Jerusalem – for all to see – transparency always an ally! Moved by compassion, He took on flesh and sat down next to homeless humanity. Yes, Jesus sat in this dirty, sinful world right next to us, in the fesh. Not too close, guardedly that He sin not, but close enough that He might save. He shared His testimony of Heaven’s glories and the Father’s love. He Himself became poor so that we might become rich. Go ‘ye’ therefore. . .because He once had a shopping cart. . .

“JUST LIKE YOURS!”

JOYFULLY IN JESUS,

LOVE, PHILIP

“REMEMBER THOSE IN PRISON AS IF CHAINED TO THEM”.