The Sound of Salvation Come

“It´s the sound of salvation come.  The sound of rescued ones.”  David Crowder Band

 

The words of Brother Yun (
The Heavenly Man) that I had read the night before came to my mind.  “When we obey God, we will see miracles, no matter what circumstance we find ourselves in.”

 

Yani is our eight-year-old neighbor who would often “invite” us to play with her by yelling “AMIGA!” from the street.  I love her.  Over the past few weeks, I have tried to show my love to her by doing little things like taking walks with her and painting her fingernails.  Through it all, my prayer has been that she would see the love of Jesus in me.  I can love her all I want, but my love does not save.  My love only reflects the heart of the One who saves.  More than anything, I want her to know how much Christ loves her.

 

It was difficult to say goodbye to Yani.  I think she loves being loved.  I think she loves being enjoyed.  As I walked her to school our last morning, I noticed that her fingernail polish, painted only a couple of days earlier, was almost gone, probably from handwashing laundry.  I wondered for a moment who would paint her nails after I left.  As we parted, I said to her “Te amo.  Jesus te ama mucho.  Jesus te guarda,”  meaning, “I love you.  Jesus loves you very much.  May Jesus keep you.”  She ran off to school.

 

Moments later, another neighbor approached me.  “Are you a missionary?  Yani´s mother (Sonia) wants you to come and pray with her.  It´s incredible!  She wants to accept Christ.”  She said all this in Spanish.  Stunned for a moment, I told her I would be right over.  I had not had many conversations with Yani´s mother.  I mostly just greeted her in passing and loved her children.  We had planned on leaving very soon, but I grabbed a Spanish Bible and headed to her house.  Her friend went to get Sonia from the field.  While waiting, I penned specific verses and some encouraging words in the front of the Bible. 

 

She invited me inside the house and cleared off a couple of chairs.  Then she just stared at me.  I asked her what she knew about Jesus, and she didn´t say much.  I explained that we have all sinned and that our sins separate us from our Perfect God.  I then explained that God wants a relationship with us, so He sent His Son Jesus to the earth.  Jesus lived a perfect life, but was willing to be falsely accused and crucified in order to take all of our sins upon Himself.  He paid the price of sin (death – Romans 6:23) in our place so that we can be reunited with God.  I read Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth ´Jesus is Lord´ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  I asked her if she wanted a relationship with Jesus and if she wanted to have new life.  She tearfully nodded her head, and I asked her to pray with me.  It was a simple prayer.

 

“Jesus Cristo, creo que eres Dios.  Creo que muriste por mis pecados y resusitaste.  Yo se que soy pecador.  Por favor, perdoname de todos mis picados y limpiame de toda maldad.  Quiero una relacion personal contigo.  Espiritu Santo, entra mi corazon.  Gracias por vida nueva.  En el nombre de Jesus Cristo.  Amen.”

 

“Jesus Christ.  I believe that You are God.  I believe that You died for my sins and that You rose from the dead.  I know that I am a sinner.  Please forgive me of all my sins and cleanse me.  I want a personal relationship with you.  Holy Spirit, enter my heart.  Thank you for new life.  In the Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.”

 

In the time that I had, I encouraged Sonia and taught her things that the Spirit burdened my heart with.  I told her that she now had freedom and hope and Christ.  I warned her of the spiritual war and the lies of the enemy (John 10:10) and assured her of the truth that she always has victory in Jesus Christ.  I shared with her the importance of reading the Living Word from God, praying and listening to the voice of God, and finding other brothers and sisters in Christ to walk with her and encourage her.  I prayed over her that the Father would protect her and grow her in knowledge and intimacy with Him.  Already, she expressed a desire to see her husband and others know Jesus as well. I could see that she has become new.   “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the old has gone, the new has come!”  2 Corinthians 5:17

 

It is an incredible blessing to watch souls come alive. 

 

For years, the believers in Musho have been praying for Tumpa.  Though their hearts burned to share the Living Water with the people of Tumpa, they were submissive to wait on the Lord´s timing.  What a blessing it was to be an answer to such prayers!  A pastor in Musho had had a vision from the Lord instructing him that the Father wanted
every person in Tumpa to be saved.   The Father has begun this great work in Tumpa, and He invited us to join Him!  In four weeks, we have seen more than forty thirsty souls return to the Lord and find salvation and abundant life.  We have held countless Bible studies, encouraging them with His Word and with our words and with our lives.  God has answered the prayer that we have ferverently set before Him time and time again since we arrived in the mountains.

 

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.  May the peoples praise you, O God,  may all the peoples praise you.  Then the land will yiels its harvest, and God, our God will bless us.  God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.”  Psalm 67

 

This is the sound of salvation come!  This is the sound of rescued ones!

 

“Praise the Lord, O my soul.  All my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit…  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!”  Psalm 103:1-4, 150.