| Author | Message | ||
| Jorgfe Registered user Username: Jorgfe Post Number: 639 Registered: 11-2005 |
It is amazing how the Holy Spirit works out opportunities for us to witness for him if we are prepared. I had the most marvelous opportunity this afternoon. I was riding home from work as usual on the train, and a lady about 60 sat down across from me across the isle. She was intently reading, and highlighting a book, and was about 50 pages into it. I noticed when the red paperback cover flipped up that is said something about "End Times". I thought, "Who would be promoting that kind of material but Adventists." As I sat there observing I felt more and more impressed to find a way to engage her in dialogue, and to somehow warn her about the dangers of Adventism. At a convenient moment I asked her what her book was about. She flipped the cover so I could see it, and I noticed in big letters at the bottom it said the author was Ellen White. I asked her if she was familiar with any of her other books. She said she had been studying a couple of them, and wondered if I was a Seventh-day Adventist. I told her that I had been for about 54 years, but no longer was and that I had "studied my way out of Adventism." She had a real puzzled look like "How could anyone ever do that?" I told her that I had a very good book that would go well with the book that she had, and explain more to her. I then pulled out a copy of Dale Ratzlaff's little book, "The Truth About the Adventist Truth", that I carry in my backpack for such occasions, and gave it to her. At that moment the train station that she needed to get off at arrived. She said "Thank you", and got up and left with it. We never know when we can help plant the seed of truth. Gilbert Jorgensen | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 1349 Registered: 9-2006  |
Gilbert, It appears as if the lady had an appointment she did not know of. Your story very much reminds me of the appointment the Eunuch (not sure of the spelling) had on the road with Philip. River | ||
| Maggiethecat Registered user Username: Maggiethecat Post Number: 10 Registered: 7-2007  |
Wow, that's amazing! Good on you for starting up a conversation about it Gilbert, that's great! I pray that she reads the book you gave her and her heart is touched by it. Maree | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 4186 Registered: 3-2004  |
Gilbert, That is what I call a God Incident, not a coincedence. God had you there because He knew she would be there. Praise God. He is so awesome. Diana | ||
| Tricia Registered user Username: Tricia Post Number: 68 Registered: 3-2006 |
Oh Gilbert, that is wonderful! God used you in a very important way. You can know without any doubt that God planned that "set-up". I just love to hear when God does such blantantly obvious things like this. Thanks for letting us know this; it up lifted me. Tricia | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 435 Registered: 12-2004 |
Gilbert, A couple of years ago I found a copy of that "End Time" compilation book in my son's room.It had been given to all the Juniors in his Sabbath School division at Christmas time a few years earlier. As I glanced through it I was shocked at the fearmongering it portrayed on every page. I still have it as a reference book in my library on what the Gospel is NOT about. To counter balance it I also have on that shelf books by Yancey, Swindoll, and Lucado. These books on grace far outweigh the damage caused by the EGW diatribe. I have to say that, that book in particular is used to manipulate and scare people. I think that the continued distribution of it is an affront to the Good News of the Gospel found in a straight forward reading of the New Testament. Whenever I need a dose of what we are up against, I read a copy of pages of that scary book. Randy | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 6647 Registered: 12-2003  |
Praise God, Gilbert! Praying that God will ignite cognnitive dissonance in her... Colleen | ||
| Patriar Registered user Username: Patriar Post Number: 334 Registered: 3-2005 |
Gilbert: That is SO neat. Thanks for sharing. Patria | ||
| Luzisbornagain Registered user Username: Luzisbornagain Post Number: 110 Registered: 7-2007 |
Nice! | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 699 Registered: 4-2006  |
Way to go Gilbert :-) Praise God that you stepped out and witness about the truth of the SDA "truth". I pray to our God that He will guide her into all truth about Him and His wonderful Good News to the world and her in particular. In Jesus, Martin | ||
| Dennis Registered user Username: Dennis Post Number: 1231 Registered: 4-2000  |
Gilbert, I am sure heaven will have many delightful surprises for us--one of them being the joy of meeting persons with whom we shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, I liked your inspiring Proclamation article. Dennis Fischer | ||
| Larry Registered user Username: Larry Post Number: 125 Registered: 5-2007 |
Her head was in the snare, perhaps it had not tightened yet. Gilbert, it is likely you have been used of God to intercept such a thing. Ugliness on one hand, hopefully canceled by something very beautiful on the other. | ||
| Insearchof Registered user Username: Insearchof Post Number: 151 Registered: 8-2005 |
How providential that she would be reading an EGW book and you happened to have 'The Truth about SDA Truth'! Perhaps she will read the tract and see it as a reason to stop and question. That 'truth' that she finds so appealing now will become opressive in a few years. By the Grace of God you may have been allowed to intercept her at just the right time! ISO | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 177 Registered: 7-2007 |
I think we should all watch for opportunities to witness. (Prayerfully though; it's possible to run ahead of the Lord.) A couple days ago, I went white-water rafting. When we stopped for lunch, one of the people on one of the other rafts asked me what church I went to. I told him the name of the non-denominational church I'm going to. He was also going to a non-denominational church. Then I mentioned that I used to be a Seventh-day Adventist. He was puzzled, thinking that SDAs were just another Christian denomination. I told him some of the things Adventists believe, so hopefully he knows better now. Dianne | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 4206 Registered: 3-2004 |
When I gave my testimony Friday evening I gave the name of my ex church, SDA, and the false doctrine that kept me from wholly trusting God. There were a lot of people in the room as well as the pastor and his wife. Thank you G0d for the opportunity to witness for you. Diana | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 180 Registered: 7-2007 |
Sometimes our witnessing can take years and years before it bears fruit. For me, the Lord used someone who fasted and prayed off and on for two years, before I was set free from the false doctrines of Adventism. But at least 40 years ago, when I was a kid; a Baptist family took my siblings and I to their church. I remember the dad of that family praying earnestly for us to get saved, and I felt sorry for him; he was obviously so sincere. I "knew" though that the SDA church was "right" and I hoped he would learn the "truth" of Adventism. Being just a kid, I trusted that my parents knew what was right and true, so I believed them and kept believing in the SDA church for several decades -(I don't know why exactly; perhaps it was the "proof" texts that I didn't know were taken out of context to "prove" the church right, or perhaps it was the "miracles" that Ellen White may or may not have done while in vision; like not breathing, holding a heavy Bible, etc. Notice that Revelation 16:14 says that demons will perform signs) before I was finally freed from the bondage of the that church. Dianne |
