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My Brother's Keeper

Volume 12, Number 4, October-December, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

Growing on the WORD

 

A scripture study

 

 

 

The Word of God is the source of light, truth, and power, for those who seek it’s meaning and apply it to their life. Jesus Christ is the word made flesh, and we seek to follow him.

John 8:12 (NIV) - "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Each issue of “My Broth­er’s Keeper” features a WORD study.  This issue’s Word Study is from Larry Thompson, an inmate at Sterling Correctional, Sterling, Colorado.  He shares his testimony of a Baptism.

 

 

Opportunity [Jesus] Knocked

By Larry A. Thompson

 

 

And Jesus said unto John, the “Revelator”,

Revelation 3:20-21(KJV) - Be­hold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

I, Larry, having been chosen and ordained (John 15:16 KJV) by Christ to be a minister of His Word, and to be a la­borer in the vineyards of God, I am humbled by the task which is set be­fore me. Nevertheless, I am unafraid to accept the responsi­bilities of the ministry to which I have been called. For I know in my heart there is no greater, nor higher calling than that of a son of God to preach the Gospel, and to bap­tize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

I began my journey with the Lord many years ago, however, it wasn’t until recently that I totally surren­dered to His divine power and fulfilled His final earthly in­struction. For it is written that after the resurrection of Christ

he gave this instruction to his disciples,

Matthew 28:19-20a (KJV) - Go ye therefore, and teach all na­tions, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to ob­serve all things whatsoever I have com­manded you.

This instruction was given with a promise, for then he said,

Matthew 28:20b (KJV) – “…and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

On a cold November morning, I was moved by the Spirit to put into action the instruction of Christ, when I was directed to a young man by the name of Joseph who was in need of answers.

My first question to him was, “Do you believe in God?”, to which he replied, “I do”.

I then asked if he believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and without hesitation his answer was, “Yes”. Based on those two responses, I found myself needing to know if he had been baptized into the family of Christ. Much to my surprise, he hadn’t. Lo and be­hold, opportunity [Jesus] knocked.

My next question to Joseph was one of simplicity. I asked why he hadn’t yet been baptized. He ex­plained that according to those in the church in which he had sought baptism, he couldn’t be baptized until he knew and understood the history of the church and it’s rules.

To me that answer didn’t sound like good doctrine, nor sit well with my spirit, so I privately asked God to guide me so I could help young Joseph to obtain salvation. My silent prayer was answered through the Word.

Knowing what this young man un­der­stood to be a barrier to his be­ing bap­tized, I opened my Bible to the Book of Acts, chap­ter 8, verses 26 through 38. I shared with him the lesson of Philip and the Ethiopian finance minister. I pointed out that this Ethiopian, who didn’t even (fully) understand the Scriptures he was reading, was entitled to bap­tism and the salva­tion of Christ, through his confes­sion of faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

We paid particular attention to verses 36 through 38, to illustrate the deci­sion and the sacrifice one must be willing to make in order to be saved. We also talked at length about the relationship be­tween “choice” and “decision”. I expressed to him my belief that choices are not made; choices are opportunities that are pre­sented, to which decisions are made. This belief is clearly dem­onstrated in the story of Philip and the Ethio­pian, in which the Ethio­pian is faced with a choice. He could ei­ther continue to read the scriptures without under­standing, or, he could invite and ac­cept the spiri­tual guidance of Philip’s teaching and counsel. Which is what he de­cided to do. He evalu­ated his choices, and made a wise decision.

The main body of the lesson is this,

Acts 8:36-38 (KJV) - “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, see, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (Choice)

And Philip said, If thou be­lievest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he [the Ethiopian] answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he [Philip] baptized him.” (Decision)

With that seed or lesson, freshly and firmly planted within Joseph’s mind and heart, we then moved on in our quest for answers.

The next lesson revolved around The Commandments of God, as to which is the greatest of them. The answers we sought are found in the Book of Matthew which state:

Matthew 22:37- 40 (KJV) - “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great command­ment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

The importance of discussing the greatest Commandments was, and is, due in large part to our under­stand­ing and acceptance that we (being the sinners we are) have transgressed a majority of the commandments that God sent down the mountain with Moses, written into tables of stone. How­ever, it is equally important to un­derstand that only those who be­lieve they are in need of God’s forgive­ness for their sins can re­ceive the gift of salvation.

Bearing these facts in mind, my next five questions to Joseph were de­signed to see in what direction he was ready, and willing to move. I asked once again, “Do you be­lieve in God?” He replied, “Yes.”

Next I asked, “Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?” Again he replied, “Yes.”

My next question was, “Do you be­lieve that Jesus Christ willingly died upon the cross to pay for our sins; was buried in the earth; was raised from the grave on the third day by the power of God; and now sits at the right hand of God, in­terceding on our behalf?” His re­sponse was, “Yes.”

Finally I asked, “Do you accept (choice) Jesus Christ as your per­sonal Lord and Savior?” He answered, “I do.”

With all of those questions an­swered, and opportunity [Jesus] knocking, I asked, “When would you like to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost?”

With the peace of God surround­ing him, Joseph answered, “Now.” So that’s what he did. For it is written:

Matthew 18:19-20 (KJV) - “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Based on Joseph’s revelation that, having accepted Jesus Christ as his per­sonal savior, and that he was now ready to partake in the ritual of baptism; I called another brother in Christ to join us and to be a witness to the event of Joseph’s re-birth.

After another spiritual counseling ses­sion with the brother who had joined us, I instructed young Joseph to take a few moments and quietly meditate and pray on the decision he had now made. In the meantime, I withdrew to my own prayer closet to meditate, pray, and prepare myself for the awe­some responsibility that I willingly was accepting. This being my first official baptism as a minister, I was somewhat unsure of how to perform the act. Nevertheless, since I knew that it was opportu­nity [Jesus] knocking on the door of Joseph’s heart; I forged ahead without any fear of failure, know­ing that the Lord, to that point in time, had directed our steps. And, I knew that the decisions that were being made were completely in line with His will.

At 10:30 a.m. on the 21st day of November 2004, brother Joseph was baptized in the name of the “Trinity” (The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost), by my hands in the mop sink of our pod in the Sterling Correctional Facility. He was immediately en­couraged to seek the face of God and to em­brace his new responsibilities as a son of God. At the conclusion of the ritual we turned to see exactly what those responsibilities are; for it is written:

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (KJV) - “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

I repeated the words of Christ,

Matthew 22:37-40 (KJV) - “…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great com­mandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” [underlined emphasis mine]

My friends, when opportunity [Jesus] knocks upon the door of your heart, or upon the heart of your neighbor; with all of my hopes, I pray that you will open the door; and that you will en­courage them to open the door of their heart, when opportunity [Jesus] knocks.

Copyright 2004

 

 

 

 

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Sharing the Good News

 

“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God...”

 

II Corinthians 5:20-21

 

 

From: Mark Dubuque

Woodbourne Correctional

Woodbourne, New York

Dear Sharon, It was a blessing to get the July-Sept. [issue] of “My Brother’s Keeper”.  I’ve been fal­ling away from “the church” but not from God, and some have started making me feel guilty.  But, when I read John 8:12 (NIV) it made me strong.

“When Jesus spoke again to the peo­ple, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

No longer do I feel down.  I am alive, because Jesus is alive in me.  I will follow Him wherever he shall lead me.  I write Christian songs and one I wrote hit me once I read your paper [My Brother’s Keeper]. 

I am a child of God.  He is My strength when dark days come. He is my light and that light comes in many shapes and forms.

Sometimes a friend or just some­one you don’t know, and sometimes it’s on paper.  Who knows when Jesus will try to speak to me again, but my eyes and ears are always open to Him who loves me.

Thank you so much!  Your Brother in Christ, Mark.

 

 

From: Steve Lashway

Sing Sing Correctional

Ossining, New York

Dear Sister Sharon, I know I’m not much of a writer, but here I am.  I thought your last [Spiritual Growth] letter of 8/12/06 was cool. It is so true about the world not ever wanting to give an ex-offender a second chance.

I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior many years ago on May,  22nd, 1980.  Since I’ve been in prison, I haven’t gotten any disci­plinary re­ports.  I attend 3-4 Bible studies per week, plus church ser­vice on Sundays. 

Jesus is always with me, even though many people in society will never let me forget my past.  Jesus made me a new person many years ago, “There­fore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

Sister Sharon, I thank God that Jesus has forgiven me of my past sins and pre­sent.  I John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I’m for­given and free in Jesus.

The Lord is leading me to do plumb­ing and steam filter work when I get out; do some gospel and country western singing; and to attend a solid Bible believing, Bible practicing church out there.  I’m a hard worker and love the Lord with all my heart and soul sister Sharon.  Thanks for allow­ing me to share.  May God be with you and richly bless you and yours.  Love in Christ Jesus our Lord, Brother Steve.

 

 

From: Granville Irby

McCormick Correctional

McCormick, South Carolina

Dear Sharon and Alan, This is my 4th return [to prison], but this time with the grace and will of God it’s the last time.  One day, when I was feel­ing my lowest,
6-7-05, I asked God to come into my life.  I was saved and since then my life has really changed, not by material things, but by spiritual.  Each day I’m blessed.  I can truly say that God is merciful.

I go to my Bible studies and for the last year I’ve been taking Emmaus Correspondence School.  Yes, my life has really changed and I am no longer angry with any one.

The reason I’m writing you all, is I need more [spiritual] support and from reading your correspondence letters from others [inmates], gives me more hope and love, and to know that somebody does care.  Ain’t God good!  Please send me some of your [Christian] material.  God Bless you all, Granville.

 

 

From: Robert Estabrook,

DOC Medical Facility,

Carson City, Nevada

Note: The following letter was writ­ten shortly after Robert Eastabrook checked into the DOC Medical Facility, at Carson City, Nevada, when it was confirmed by the Doctors on staff that Robert had cancer.

Dear Sharon, Now that I know of my condition, I feel comfortable letting you know that I am content and have made my peace with God. 

I have been blessed to learn that each and every prayer I’ve prayed over the years pertaining to my sons, siblings, relatives, and mother have been an­swered. God, unbeknownst to me had been at­tentive to my every request.  I’ve been overwhelmed with letters and visits from family members whom I have not seen for over 14 years.  My family is blessed beyond any­thing I imagined.  There is a peace that comes with knowing, that frees one from this world.  All praise be to God Most High. 

Sharon, you and Alan are always on my heart, in my mind, and prayers.  If not but for your un­failing love, en­couragement, and spiritual support over the past years, I doubt I could have sus­tained the faith, hope, and love I much needed to endure the many evils of the enemy. 

You were and you are a Godsend, and I firmly believe it was you who reminded me most why not to give up on God.  Filled with the Holy Spirit, I had in you a human spiritual resource to draw from.  Thank you for always exhibiting the love of God.  Please know that I am at peace.  God sus­tains me and for His manifold bless­ings I am grateful! 

I have been fortunate to read your contributions and that of all of the faithful Christian Ambassadors who contribute to the spiritually inspired words contained in the newsletters and Word Studies.

I wish the Griffees - and everyone that seeks God’s favor - peace and every good gift from God.  Satan is very real and there is no more important time in the history of man for God’s children to be vigi­lant, united in the faith, steadfast, and immovable. 

Embrace each other with a passion that can never permit anything, or anyone to divide you.  Never for­get, nor neglect your faith, nor your spiritual family.  God bless you my dear friend.  Thank you for every­thing.  In spirit and in truth, gratefully and faithfully, Robert.

 

 

From: Keith Gibbs

Rutledge State Prison

Colombus, Georgia

Dear Mrs. Griffee, First let me thank you and your husband for your newsletter.  I have been re­ceiving them for over 7 years.  They are al­ways a blessing.

I’m writing you for two reasons.  My address has changed, and I wish a Brother to receive your ­lessons, if pos­sible.  He is at a county jail awaiting his sentence.

Again, thank you for your faithful­ness.  I pass your lessons around to my friends here.  And many times we sit together to talk about them.  May God bless you and yours, Brother Keith.

 

 

 

 

 

 Love Is Not Hate

by Louis McCray

 

Love is not hate, you see, love

Opens hearts and minds, and

Comes from up above.

Love is not hate, I’ve seen it said,

“The Spirit came down like a dove.”

Love is not hate, I know, because

It gave us the breath of life, and

Although all have sinned, Love

Has compassion, mercy, grace, and

Forgiveness. 

Showing us through faith, the

Promised land, plan, and desire

For all mankind. 

Love is not hate, it is the positive

Ruling over the negative. 

Love is not hate, I believe, because

Love above all else is Jesus Christ.

He is, in me and you. 
That’s why love is not hate.

 

 

 

 

"The 11th Hour"

By Merissa Lee Kelley

 

 

The farmer stood at the edge of the field that was almost ready to reap

The distant sound of rolling thunder had startled him from his sleep

Gusty winds blew off his cap as he gazed up towards the sky

Time was short to gather the crops...but he'd have to hurry up and try

 

He could sense the changes in the air and the smell of rain grew strong

He'd have to call for reinforcements, cause he knew it wouldn't be long

Before the storm would reach his field and endanger what he'd sown

The harvest was in the "11th hour"...almost ready and almost grown

 

To bring it in would take many workers, so he ran to make some calls

Praying that he could make some progress...before the rain began to fall

Steadily dialing he tried to ignore the occasional flashes of light

He clung to the hope, that the bulk of the storm would hold off throughout the night

 

He ran back to the field to get a head start; the helpers would know where to go

Speed was essential to save what was planted in each and every row

For all of his crop was a labor of love and he did not want to choose

Based on time...which row he could save...and which row he may have to lose

 

Into the field, the workers poured, each determined to give it their best

With one goal in mind and working together, no one even thought to rest

The farmer knew some, but others were strangers, drawn by the urgent need

Binding together in the "11th hour" to harvest the precious seed

 

Just like the farmer, we need to call the workers from every direction

To meet in the field and bring in the harvest...every row and every section

For a storm is brewing and the Great Commission must be carried out

To a waiting world that needs salvation to erase their fear and doubt

 

We must step out beyond church walls; it's not enough to "warm a pew"

And love that sees beyond rough edges...is a love that's real and true

God is calling for committed hearts to rise up in faith and power

To reap...to love...to meet the challenge of the approaching "11th hour"

 

 

 

 

 

 

“This is Eternal Life …”

by

Sharon K. Griffee

 

 

Jesus, knowing his time had come to finish the work he was sent to earth to accomplish, prayed the following prayer:

John 17:1-3 (NIV) - “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him au­thority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him.  Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. [underlined emphasis mine]

In this prayer to His Father, Jesus gives us the true definition of what it means to have eternal life.  It involves the experience of know­ing the only true God, through His Son [Jesus].  This is important, because many people in Jesus’ day believed in more than one god.  Every tree, brook and hill had it’s own spirit.  Because these spirits were believed to be hostile to man, the people lived in constant fear of offending one of those gods.  Can you imagine the relief of discov­ering there is only one true God, and He isn’t anything like those false gods.

However, the experience of knowing the only true God, through His Son [Jesus], involves far more than just knowing who He is.  If it weren’t for Jesus coming to earth to show us what the Father is like, we would never have known that we (humans) could have an intimate, personal relationship with Him.  That is ex­citing!  It is Jesus who taught mankind that God is not some re­mote, unapproachable God, but the Heavenly Father whose very nature and character is that of love.  As Jesus said to Philip, one of his disciples:

John 14:9b (KJV) - “…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father...”

In Jesus we can see God loving us, individually!  We can see God loving us so intensely that He bore the wounds of love upon His heart.  In Jesus we can see God upon a cross.  To know God is to know what He is like, to be on the most intimate terms of friendship with Him.  As Jesus revealed in his prayer to His Father;

John 17:3 (NIV) - Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. [emphasis mine]

Eternal life, then, is not simply endless existence.  The truth is, everyone will exist somewhere forever.  The question is, in what condition or in what relationship will we spend eternity?  In the parable of “The Sheep and the Goats”, Jesus reveals the stark difference between those who are in intimate relationship with Him, and those who are not; between those who know Him and those who do not know Him. 

Matthew 25:46 (KJV) - And these shall go away into ever­lasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Daniel also prophesied of the dis­tinction between those who know God and those who don’t.

Daniel 12:2-3 (KJV) - And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.

One of the most tormenting things in this life is not knowing God; not consulting Him in our plans.  We would do well to heed James’ counsel, who warns us not to be overconfident in our own plans.

James 4:13-15 (Amplified Bible) – Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money. Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while and then disappears [into thin air]. You ought instead to say, If the Lord is willing, we shall live and we shall do this or that [thing].

This scripture is invaluable to our spiritual growth.  James does not hold back any punches.  He says bluntly that our life here on earth is but a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke).  We are only here for a short time.  A person’s life is but a mist, like a breath on a cold morning, which appears for less than a second. 

Knowing how short this life is, we would be wise to make the most of our time here on earth, or we might find ourselves waking up on the other side in a place we don’t want to be. 

James tells us that we must be in harmony with God’s will; “You ought instead to say, If the Lord is willing.”  But, don’t be misled; the counsel that James gives does not mean we should simply tack on the phrase, “If the Lord is willing” at the end of every plan or prayer we come up with.  That is not what he means at all. That is actually the lazy person’s prayer. God doesn’t want us to be lazy!

What does God want? God wants us to get involved!  He wants us to intimately know His thoughts.  What James is advising us to do, is to plan with God.  When we plan with God, each plan can be care­fully evaluated by God’s standards and goals.  Each plan can be laid before the Lord in prayer, allowing adequate time, listening intently for God’s thoughts and ideas.  When our prayers are aimed at fulfilling God’s will, we raise our thinking to a higher level.  We strain [make a great effort] to hear His voice.  We put ourselves in a position to be led by the Spirit of God, rather than by our own thoughts.

Proverbs 3:6 (Amplified Bible) - In all your ways know, recog­nize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your path.

Once we are in agreement with God’s direction, it is then that we can speak with confidence,

James 4:15 (Amplified Bible) - “We shall live and we shall do this or that [thing].”

No matter who we are, where we are, or what we do, we would do well to consider how we spend our time.  Are we including God in our plans?  Are we listening in­tently for His word (following His direction), or are we shutting Him out? 

On occasion we receive comments from inmates who are so caught up in their legal battles, they no longer have time to read Christian literature.  A recent post card said,

“Take me off your mailing list.  I have other legal matters/cases to attend to.  I no longer have time to read your Christian lit­erature.  My time is occupied with time limits, dead lines.”

This inmate was feeling the heat, the pressure, and the torment of deadlines; not only from his own legal battle, but the legal battles of other inmates he had agreed to take on.  He was bogged down in worry.  After reading the content of his card, the Lord immediately spoke a sobering thought into my spirit,

“This inmate thinks that by working hard, he can save his life - yet in reality he is losing his life.”

When you shut God out, you shut out His life-giving counsel.  You shut out the very life of God Him­self.  Without God, there is no life.  The Holy Spirit’s word concerning this inmate is not something new.  The truth of His Word is long es­tablished in scripture.  And, it ap­plies to every single one of us.  None of us are exempt.

Mark 8:35 (KJV) - For whoso­ever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gos­pel’s, the same shall save it.

In summary:  Eternal life is not to be thought of as simply endless existence.  Everyone will exist somewhere, forever.  

The question is, “Do you know Jesus, the Son of God, and will your life be in Him?” 

I John 5:10-12 (KJV) - He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. [underlined emphasis mine]

 

 

 

 

I Asked My Lord

by  Charles R. Gates

 

I asked my Lord what can I do?

He said, I have a work for you.

I’ll fill your heart so full of love,

I know that you can live above

The trials of life that burden you.

I’ll give you strength to see you through.

Please help me Lord; I need you now,

To give me strength, and show me how.

I want to know what I can do,

So all my work will be for you.

Please help me think of things to say,

So I can help someone today.

I need your love to sing a song,

That it may help someone along.

Open my eyes that I may see,

The place in life you have for me,

A better way, I want to find,

To serve my God through all mankind.

 

A Testimony of Charles R. Gates  - Escatawpa, Mississippi

After surrendering my life to Christ, I began to have many wonderful experiences.  Many of these experiences claim varying degrees of inspiration from God, resulting not only in words, but sometimes in both words and music to various songs.  This has brought me great joy and also a testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I felt a great need to know more about Him.  In order to help fill this need, I joined a Bible study and prayer group.  God’s Spirit was always very much in evidence during these meetings.  It was while on my way home from one of these gatherings, that my whole being was permeated with the love of God.  While under the influence of this good spirit, the words of this song were given to me.  I stopped my car and wrote them down. 

Once we have put our hand in the hand of the Master, we have entered into the greatest adventure we could ever know.  Because of this, I wrote the following pledge in the front cover of my Bible:

“I pledge my life, my soul, my resources, my time, talents, and very being to the furtherance of God’s work here on earth.  I pledge to such an extent that it is an all-consuming fire burning within me, complete - without any reservations - totally to my very last breath of life.  May God give me the grace and strength to keep this pledge, as I know of myself, I am nothing.” Amen.

 

 

 

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