Saturday, April 28, 2012
Good News!
Yesterday, Nobrin appeared almost normal. He looked directly at me as I said goodbye as I was leaving
him yesterday. This is the first eye contact since the episode. I heard that he was released from "the stocks"
last evening and he seems to be handling this well. Needs LOTS of prayer to ensure that the "spiritual visitor"
doesn't return. We will visit and pray with him often.
My 59th birthday is tomorrow and I am praising and
thanking the Lord for His faithfulness to me over the years inspite of my own ups and downs. What a privilege to be
used in this ministry to these people here. I have been so blessed by my adopted people here in Haiti.
Its
sad when it seems that interest in missions is waning as people become more inward looking, putting the Great Commission on
the back burner. Jesus' priority was to reach the lost, not to build bigger and more expensive churches with cafes,
amusement areas for kids, and other comfort items. I guess sacrifice is a thing of the past......
Please
drop me a line at www.samrice@gospelgrowers.org
I'd appreciate hearing from you.
10:23 am edt
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
An epidemic of evil spirits...
When Jesus was here on Earth there were many evil spirits which possessed many people. We read with awe
how He could send them away at a mere word. He gave His disciples the power to also liberate people suffering from demonic
infestation.
Here in Haiti there seems to be an invasion going on. All around Dariol we are hearing of people
being possessed or oppressed by demons. In most cases they are young girls, but I know of 2 cases where young men are
the victims. Nobrin is a married man with 3 children. He is a baptised member of the church here.
And yet, he has a history of being "taken over" by an evil spirit/spirits.
After church, a group of us
went to pray with him. We found him sitting with his legs immobilized between two pieces of wood as he was want to run
away. The spirit had him all tensed up and making sporadic movements. The expression on his face was nothing like
Nobrin's. As we prayed you could see the anger and resistance in his face. At one point he relaxed and we thought
perhaps he was delivered but then the thing tensed him up again. Twice he tried to grab and bite the legs of those closest
to him. It was awful.
Today, Monday morning I and another brother visited him again. We found him lucid
in an state of awareness but like someone with a hangover after a drunken binge. He responded to us. We prayed
with him and I annointed his forehead with oil. I played some Christian music for him and you could see him moving his
lips repeating the words of the music.
We asked his wife to have his brother release him from the stocks.
He seemed so uncomfortabe in that sitting position. It just goes to show that being baptised and becoming a church member
doesn't save anyone. YOU MUST BE SPIRITUALLY BORN AGAIN!. And that only happens after a genuine commitment to Jesus
Christ, repentance and confession. Too many in the church are not really born again believers. This leaves them
open to Satanic attacks. True believers with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit cannot be overcome by Satan. We
are able to go on the offensive and cause Satan to flee. Satan can be bound and sent packing by true believers.
Could it be because Jesus is soon to Rapture His church that Satan is again becoming active and attacking? We
all should prepare ourselves for the coming of our Lord. All those who are not born again will be left behind for the
Tribulation. You'd have to be truly blind not to see that current world conditions and events are showing that the Lord's
coming is very close.......
5:52 am edt
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Something to consider...
Thus saith the LORD GOD through his prophet, Isaiah:
"I made myself known to people who were
not looking for me.
I was found by those who were not asking me for help.
I said, "Here I Am, here I AM,
to a nation that was not praying to me. All day long I stood ready to accept people who turned against me, BUT
the way they continue to live is not good; they do anything they want to do. Right in front of me they continue to do
things that make me angry." Isaiah 65: 1-3a
"But as for you who left the Lord, who forgot
about my Holy mountain, who worship the god Luck, who hold feasts for the god Fate, I decide YOUR fate, and will
punish you with my sword. You will all be killed, because I called you, but you would not listen. You did the things
that are evil and chose to do things that displease me. So, this is what the LORD GOD says: My servants shall eat,
but you will be hungry. My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. My servants will be happy, but you evil
people will be shamed. My servants will shout for joy because of the goodness in their hearts, but you evil people will cry,
because you will be sad. You will cry loudly , because your spirits will be broken." Isaiah 65: 11-14
"So I will choose their punishments,and I will punish them with what they fear most. This is
because I called to them, but they did not listen. I spoke to them, but they did not hear me. They did things
that I said were evil; they chose to do things I do not like." Isaiah 66:4
In view of the current
moral conditions in the world today, we should pause and listen to what GOD says.......
8:23 am edt
Monday, April 16, 2012
Update
We were getting worried here in Dariol as the rain that had not fallen much since the end of February so
the corn was not growing well. This is a serious problem in any farming community. Zachariah 10:1
says to pray to the Lord for Spring rains, so we did. We got a large rainstorm the other day and things are looking
good for the farmers again. How often we fret and worry when we should have faith in God's Word and claim His
promises.
We had a death of a church woman the other day as well. The church gave her a beautiful funeral.
The local mambo (witchdoctor) also died but she didn't get much attention except as a warning to people against
serving the Devil. Both died, but their final destinations are quite different. This is clearly pointed
out in our Lord's telling of the beggar Lazarus and the rich man Dives. Arrange your travel plans early as you never
know when your departure will be scheduled!
Giving is down for whatever reason, so we are (as the Haitians say)
trying to walk with 2 feet in 1 shoe. The economy everywhere is causing a downfall of giving to our work. Please
consider helping us to meet our needs to get the Gospel out here in Haiti. The Radio Station especially suffers as we
have to purchase gasoline for our generator. Lack of funds means less broadcast time.
We have lost sponsors
for the school children so that endangers our child evangelism program---PLEASE HELP!
To all those who have
continued to help we say many thanks and we say many prayers to God that He will bless and prosper you for your sacrificial
giving. Only God will be able to repay you for your kindness in ensuring that the mission work of reaching Haitian people
for CHRIST continues.
8:43 am edt
Sunday, April 8, 2012
HE IS RISEN INDEED!
What a week I just had! Up in the beautiful mountains of The Cote de Fer area the views are stunning.
All this week since last Sunday I was up at the Radio Station doing a series of programs on the life, death and Ressurection
of Jesus. I found a lot of beautiful music to use and we read the Passion scriptures and commented on them.
Listeners were able to call in at certain times so we know the messages were being heard. There was alot of
positive feedback. What a great bunch of volunteers we have there. Our budget only can cover the expense of fuel so
our workers give their time freely. It is hoped one day we will find the funds to recompence them for their efforts.
I came back "down" to Dariol yesterday. There was some bad news...a visiting American who was at a
town down the road went into the ocean and drowned. Very sad, especially as his fiance was there and helpless to do
anything. We have high rocky ledges here and the water was rough and current strong. Fortunately, some Haitian
fisherman who dive went in and were able to find his body.
Today I am invited to preach at one
of the churches we started in the town of Metayer.
May the LORD bless you as you remember HIS great sacrifice on
the cross which provides the means of salvation to all who come to GOD through HIM.
6:41 am edt
