Spring Newsletter – May 2011
May 6, 2011 Leave a comment
Dear Friends in Christ
Hope this newsletter finds you well. It has been about eight months since I began on the road fulltime. It has been very exciting and fulfilling. Sometimes it has been a real challenge too. With the exception of a small side trip toSan Francisco I have been back here in Sacramento for about a month now. I make it downtown Sacramento to preach about 3-4 times a week. To get a report city by city please click on the links at the top of the page. Also I placed some new articles on the right navigation menu. Check out LA-Hollywood-Burbank Photo Collage and Phoenix Trip Photo Collage
As of now it looks like the remainder of the spring will be spent here in Northern California. Travel up north to Portland and Seattle is in the works and I will probably not get there before July. In August I have an opportunity to travel to New York.
…UNTIL THE FULLNESS OF THE GENTILES HAS COME IN
It has been said that America has been inoculated with the Gospel. Something I noticed on the streets about 3 years ago is a subtle change of the reception to the Gospel. Here is what I mean; In the past I was met with much more hostility than today. You say, that is a good thing. I’m not so sure. The way I describe the majority of people now is that they are indifferent and unmoved by the message of Jesus Christ. It in no way particularly offends them, yet they are not interested in the Lord at all either. My recent trip to Phoenix was characterized by this. My observations are indeed subjective; however, I notice that these conditions are what the Bible explains in two areas. Outside of Christ we are dead in our sins. Eph 2:1 I believe these spiritually dead people have to be quickened by the Holy Spirit and made alive. John 3:7-8 The other is that they are blinded. 2 Cor 4:3-4
There is also much evidence of an apostasy, or falling away from all known truth. You could also define it as a defection, from the faith, or a forsaking of the faith. 2 Thess 2:3 What I and others may be seeing is the “first fruits” of this. There is much more scripture on the subject. I believe that there is still a remnant out there of Gentiles who still will come to Christ before the “fullness of the Gentiles has come in”, thus completing the purpose for Israel being blinded. Rom 11:11 After the Gentile’s fullness has taken place (once every Gentile that will be saved is saved) then all Israel will be saved. Rom 11:25-26 All Israel according to Zech 13:8-9 is one third of the Jews. Also Rom 9:27 Joel 2:32 These passages give me goose bumps on my goose bumps and I will tell you why. I believe we are living on borrowed time as it were.
May 14th 1948 was the establishment of the State of Israel. Israel was scattered abroad after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD and is now back in the land. On June 5, 1967 began the six-day war in whichIsrael gained control of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, among other areas. Jerusalem has been under Israeli control since then. In Luke 21:26 there is an objective reason to believe we are near the fulfillment when the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Then the attention will be on Israel when their blindness is taken away. I do not believe in replacement theology. That is the doctrine that the Church has replacedIsrael and that God is done with them. I believe God’s promise to Israel is sure and binding. Rom 11:26-27 Furthermore, If God can break His promise toIsrael, then what hope do we have? Remember on May 14th – The Rebirth of the Nation of Israel.
Regardless your view on this, you would agree that the Gospel must go forth. Please pray that I, in the will of God, may find those who would believe unto eternal life and that repentance would take place. 2 Peter 3:9
FRUIT OF THE MONTH
Recently I was preaching in San Francisco at United Nations Plaza with SOS Ministries. This was their usual outreach on Saturday afternoon. Because of having a permit we have a larger sound system. Well, I can be rather loud anyway, but while giving the Gospel a man in an apartment building across the way heard me. He said he thought it was the neighbors, but went out on his deck to find out. He realized it was coming across the street where we were. He came over and talked with Amanda and Kylan. They introduced me to him, Raymond I think his name was. He explained how he knew he needed to be right with God so he came over to find out more. Kylan gave him a Bible and exchanged phone numbers. He was going to meet me at Church the next day but it didn’t work out. Like mentioned in the above article most people ignore the message, at least seemingly. So it is a great encouragement when someone hears and approaches you on the matter. There seems to be a few that are on the fringes that listen. Most do not come that close however. I have had many Christians who have stopped to listen mention that they perceive many people to be listening as well.
GOSPEL OF JOHN RESOURCE
Since almost all of my preaching is on Christ, I have an ongoing daily study of the Gospels. The Gospel of John is my favorite. It is the easiest book to organize in your mind for recall. For example: the account of the man born blind that Jesus heals. That would be chapter nine. Most of the chapters in John have one major event or theme so it makes it easy to outline. I have taken the time to outline the Gospel of John, plus a few extra features, on my website if you care to take a look. Here is the link: Gospel of John Outline There is also a free download to the mp3 Gospel of John (NKJV) you can download by clicking here: Gospel of John Audio Download
Thanks for all the prayers & support
Sincerely,
Lawrence DuBois
Fellow Slave of Jesus Christ
