Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The Secret of an Intercessor

John Hyde was a missionary to India in around the early 20th Century. His life, like the prophet Elijah, can be summed up in two words: "He prayed."
He spent days and nights in agonizing intercession, weeping, sighing, and groaning in the Spirit for souls and for the Church, sometimes going without food or sleep for days. His travail of soul increased to such a degree that his heart-cry became, "O God, give me souls or I die!" He was used of God to bring down many outpourings of the Spirit in North-West India, beginning in 1904 in Sialkot. Shortly before he died at the age of 47, a medical examination discovered his heart had moved to the right side of his body, worn out by years of intense intercession.
Hyde's life serves as an example of a believer absolutely surrendered to God, who has drawn near enough to Christ to feel His heart, and through whom we may have a glimpse of the very prayer-life of our Lord.


The following is from the book Praying Hyde: Apostle of Prayer, edited by Captain E.G. Carre:

"Let me introduce here a gem from the pen of Paterson: 'What was the secret of that prayer-life of John Hyde's?' he asks. 'This, that it was a life of prayer. Who is the source of all life? The glorified Jesus. How do I get this life from Him? Just as I received His righteousness to begin with. I own that I have no righteousness of my own--only filthy rags, and I in faith claim His righteousness. Now, a twofold result follows: As to our Father in Heaven, He sees Christ's righteousness--not my unrighteousness. A second result as to ourselves: Christ's righteousness not merely clothes us outwardly, but enters into our very being, by His Spirit, received in faith as with the disciples (see John 20:22), and works out sanctification in us.'
"Why not the same with our prayer life? Let us remember the word 'for.' 'Christ died for us,' and 'he ever liveth to make intercession 'for' us,' that is, in our room and stead. So I confess my ever-failing prayers (it dare not be called a life), and plead His never failing intercession. Then it affects our Father, for He looks upon Christ's prayer-life in us, and answers accordingly. So that the answer is far 'above all we can ask or think.' Another great result follows: it affects us. Christ's prayer life enters into us, and He prays in us. This is prayer in the Holy Spirit. Only thus can we pray without ceasing. This is the life more abundant which our Lord gives. Oh, what peace, what comfort? No more working up a life of prayer and failing constantly. Jesus enters the boat, and the toiling ceases, and we are at the land whither we would be. Now, we need to be still before Him, so as to hear his voice and allow Him to pray in us--nay, allow Him to pour into our souls His overflowing life of intercession, which means literally: FACE TO FACE meeting with God--real UNION and COMMUNION."

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Heartcry Conferences

Me with Charles Leiter, Paul Washer, and a local pastor in Sullana, Peru, Aug '07 :




Perhaps the highlight of my stay so far has been being able to attend, and participate in, the Heartcry conferences held here in Lima. Heartcry is a missionary society started by Paul Washer, a preacher and missionary who lived in Peru for many years (infamous in America for his "Shocking Youth Message" and powerful sermons that urge the sleeping Church and nominal "christianity" to repent and get back to the Bible--see videos on the right).
The conferences were held in the Baptist church Mr. Washer founded in the district of Barranco. The first one I attended was a pastor's and leader's conference in August. Arriving, I expected to just sit somewhere in the back, unnoticed, and listen and take notes, and maybe even get a chance to meet brother Paul and ask him some questions.

But the Lord had other plans.

I met Mr. Washer all right, and when I did, he informed me that they were in dire need of a translator for the other preacher that had come, Charles Leiter. And as it turned out, with the exception of brother Paul, I was the only one at the entire conference who could speak Spanish and English fluently (though anything but perfectly). So, praise God, I got to spend the entire 4 days of the event translating brother Charles' messages on Justification and Regeneration (they recorded them and even put them up on sermonaudio.com!). And not only that, but I also got to travel with them to Sullana, a city in northern Peru, where they were holding another conference in a Baptist seminary. It was awesome to be able to spend time with these men of God and glean from them spiritual wisdom.

The second conference I attended was in January of this year. Brother Paul came down again, with his family and several other preachers. I got the privilege of helping translate again. This time it was a bit easier for me, and I did a way better job, in my opinion. I translated for a pastor named Andy Wisner, who talked about Biblical counseling. This conference was a bit more diverse in the topics discussed. While the last one, which was only for pastors and leaders, concentrated mainly on the Gospel, this conference covered other issues like the family, knowing the Word of God, and counseling, and was open to all.
I thank the Lord that I was able to even be a small part of this great work that He is doing in Peru through these worthy men. The Church here is in desperate need of biblical Truth; I pray God will raise up more Spirit-filled laborers who will preach the uncompromised Word of God, regardless of the cost.

Jan 08

The following pics were taken when I went to the city of Arequipa last month to visit some relatives:

I went on a guided tour/hike outside the city to check out the scenery.





Pointing to a waterfall that's not there.



Great view of one of the many volcanos in Arequipa from the house where I was staying.




Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Greetings...

So...I finally made time to get this blog page up, praise God. Unfortunately I don't have very many pictures to share since I don't have a camera yet, but hopefully I'll get one soon...

So it's been almost 7 months since I first arrived here in Peru. Life here has been full to say the least. Here's a list of some of the things I've done so far:

-Moved in with relatives
-Visited many different churches and bible studies
-Survived the August "earthquake" (it was only an aftershock in Lima)
-Attended the Heartcry Missionary Conference in August, where I met preachers Paul Washer and Charles Leiter
-Helped translate for the conference
-Traveled with them to Sullana, a city in northern Peru
-Waited on the Lord for His guidance and confirmation about where to serve
-Got used to all the smog and traffic in Lima
-Began serving with Iglesia Cristiana Koinonia (Koinonia Christian Church)
-Traveled to many different parts of Lima, and to Cañete and Ica for outreaches
-Lots of street evangelism/open air preaching in Lima
-Got a little better at my spanish
-Grew in the Lord
-Attended the Heartrcy conference in January, where I also translated
-Traveled to the cities of Arequipa and Tacna, and to Arica, Chile

...and other stuff, but that's all I can remember right now.

I'm still with Koinonia. For anyone who's interested, here's their blogpage: http://iglesiacristianakoinonia.blogspot.com/