2 Timothy 4:1-5 KJV,
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
To get a better understanding of this term ministry, it consist of Ministers (those who attend the spiritual needs of others, not all professional, but all called.) We must understand 1st that we are all called by God for a purpose. That purpose is not just to be saved satisfied and sit back until He calls us to heaven.
Ephesians 4:11-13 New Living Translation ®,
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
To better understand what is involved for us personally as ministers of this gospel. 1st of all we must be involved with God and the church. We cannot leave all the workings of the church to others. We cannot leave the reaching of lost souls and the teaching new converts to others, we each have our own calling and our personal ministry.
Colossians 4:17 New Living Translation ®,
17 And say to Archippus, "Be sure to carry out the
ministry the Lord gave you."
1 Timothy 1:12-14 New Living Translation ®,
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him,
13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief.
14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 4:5 KJV,
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
Peter talking to the saints as ministers of the gospel, 2 Peter 1:8-11 New Living Translation ®,
8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.
10 So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.
11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I am a believer that we are all called into the ministry of evangelism, reaching the lost at any cost. Therefore I am of the belief that we are all called into the work of God to fill this roll of evangelist.
Jesus told His disciples, Matthew 28:19-20 KJV,
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Jesus said to His disciples, Mark 16:15 KJV,
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Acts 1:8 KJV,Jesus said to His disciples
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
To better understand what I am talking about let us look at the life of Philip, in the New Testament. First, when we find his name in the Bible he is listed with the seven we have all called – DEACON’s. Secondly we find Phillip listed as an EVANGELIST.
Acts 21:8 KJV,
8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
Philip is living at Caesera. Paul and several delegates are commissioned to take an offering from the Gentile churches to the poor saints at Jerusalem.
Acts 20:4 KJV,
4 And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.
They stop at Caesera and enter into the house of – “Philip the Evangelist.”
Acts 6:1-6 New Living Translation ®,
1 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, "We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.
3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.
4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word."
5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).
6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.
These honorable men were chosen and ordained by the apostles. Traditionally, these seven men have been called “deacons,” though the word “deacon” is not found in the Book of Acts.
Though we know nothing beyond the names of the other five, Stephen and Philip not only performed their ministry of mercy with the poor, but they also spearheaded aggressive evangelism. Stephen though was stoned to death Acts 7:59 while teaching about Jesus, with Saul who later became Paul standing by in consent of this evil deed.
Philip is the only one by name referred to in the New Testament as an evangelist. (Acts 21:8) We know that Stephen was doing the work of an evangelist when he was stoned and died.
The word “evangelist” is used in two other passages: Ephesians 4:11 – “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”
II Timothy 4:5 KJV,
“But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
PHILIP – (the evangelist) (Acts 8:5) went down to the City of Samaria. The Samaritans were a combination and mixture of northern Jews and Assyrian heathen (mixed). They despised the Jews and didn’t even want to deal with them.
It is hard for anyone to fulfill their calling by sitting in a local church doing nothing. There are so many saints who have been called by God, trying to evangelize their COMMUNITY, FAMILY AND FRIENDS just by sitting on church pews? Eventually, you will have to put the “Go” in your evangelistic call. Go to your family, neighbors, friends, co-workers, whosoever will.
Philip – “preached Christ unto them.”
The object of Philip’s preaching: to preach Jesus Christ one must preach His birth, ministry, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, exaltation, power and return. And we must also preach the things concerning the Kingdom of God. Our preaching, teaching and witnessing will bring Conviction resulting in Repentance, Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ and the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
PHILIP THE EVANGELIST – Acts 8:26-40 (one-on-one evangelism) Ethiopian Eunuch, who was the Treasurer for Queen Candace. He had made a journey of over 1200 miles. He was reading Isaiah 53 (Do you understand what you are reading…How can I without someone to guide me…)
Old manuscript states...“They both went down into the water and when the Ethiopian Eunuch came up out of the water he was speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gave him utterance and when he turned to speak to Phillip he had been harpazo…taken out of that place.”
PHILIPS consistency – preached Jesus to the one eunuch. PHILIP the evangelist preached everywhere he went.
Acts 8:40 KJV,
40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
PHILIP the evangelist was now the host: Proving we cannot get bitter over anything that takes place, we have to minister and be unified with any minister God calls. This is twenty years after Acts 8, Where Stephen Phillips friend had been stoned for preaching about Jesus with the one who is now the Apostle Paul consenting to Stephens death.
Acts 21:8-10 (a) KJV,
8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
10 And as we tarried there many days,
What moving dialogues they must have had as the reminisced. Paul had stood by, consenting approval of the stoning of Phillips dear friend, Stephen. It seems that Philip was able to conquer any and all ill feelings toward Paul, holding no bitterness or hatred. He understood that God had called and chosen Saul of Tarsus and chose him to be an Apostle. (Paul was one who had lived during the time of Jesus and had heard Him teach, APOSTLE)
PHILIP the evangelist was the father of four girls who were preachers of the Word. (Prophesy)
Acts 21:9 KJV,
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
If we get bitter, harbor bad feelings of hatred we could end up losing our children, making ship wreck of our ministry.
Ephesians 4:11-16 New Living Translation ®,
11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won't be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.
15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.
Ephesians 4:17-32 New Living Translation ®,
Living as Children of Light, ministers of truth, evangelist…
17 With the Lord's authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.
18 Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.
19 They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.
20 But that isn't what you learned about Christ.
21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him,
22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.
23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.
24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.
26 And "don't sin by letting anger control you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry,
27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need.
29 Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.
32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Beginning text…2 Timothy 4:5 KJV,
5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
I was just thinking on this Monday morning, January 10, 2011.
We had some bad weather reports for the state of Mississippi and Covington County yesterday morning (Sunday 1/9/2011) the weather was going to start turning bad about 4:00 PM. I was so amazed at how so many church folks (Christians) did not attend their morning services for fear of what was predicted to be coming in the distance. I do understand elderly folks not getting out in bad weather because they are vulnerable to sickness because their immune system is weak. But for so many who are the younger that stayed home in fear I question? We had a wonderful service on Sunday morning and those who stayed home missed the wonderful presence of the Lord as He ministered to the needs of the people. Why, do people stay home and miss these great blessings?
I want to establish the point that I do believe we must all stay alert and be prepared for bad weather of any type, this is simple logic. But, at the same point we cannot live in utter fear before the weather even gets to us. Of all the people in the world who ought not to be living their lives in fear is Christians. We must live our lives realizing that God is in control of everything including our life therefore we must trust Him in all things. The writer of Hebrews wrote,
Hebrews 10:23-25 New Living Translation ®,
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
We did dismiss our evening services because the weather did take a change and the rains began to freeze on the trees and in that kind of weather it is difficult for people to navigate the roads and bridges. It is a very hard thing for me to call a service off for any reason, but the safety of the people is a real reason. So on Sunday evening I sat in the warmth of my home with my wife waiting for the lights to go out because we had lost electrical power. But by the mercies of the Lord, we did not have nearly the winter storm that was predicted for our area. I awakened on Monday, January 10, 2011 early in the morning. I looked out and saw the trees and the shrubs were glistening with ice all over them. I looked at the outside temperature it was still 29 degrees Fahrenheit. I prepared to go into Collins and then to Hattiesburg, but beings I was unsure of the road conditions I knew I had to proceed with some caution, which I did.
As I was going toward town I was passed by several automobiles, and low and behold three of them were people who could not make it to church yesterday morning (Sunday 1/9/2011) because they heard it was snowing in Texas and was heading our way.
I was just thinking, “What are the little things in life that cause you as a Christian to stay home from church? We must remember this is the last days and the writer of Hebrews said, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” This may not affect any of you that read this, but I was just thinking.
We had some bad weather reports for the state of Mississippi and Covington County yesterday morning (Sunday 1/9/2011) the weather was going to start turning bad about 4:00 PM. I was so amazed at how so many church folks (Christians) did not attend their morning services for fear of what was predicted to be coming in the distance. I do understand elderly folks not getting out in bad weather because they are vulnerable to sickness because their immune system is weak. But for so many who are the younger that stayed home in fear I question? We had a wonderful service on Sunday morning and those who stayed home missed the wonderful presence of the Lord as He ministered to the needs of the people. Why, do people stay home and miss these great blessings?
I want to establish the point that I do believe we must all stay alert and be prepared for bad weather of any type, this is simple logic. But, at the same point we cannot live in utter fear before the weather even gets to us. Of all the people in the world who ought not to be living their lives in fear is Christians. We must live our lives realizing that God is in control of everything including our life therefore we must trust Him in all things. The writer of Hebrews wrote,
Hebrews 10:23-25 New Living Translation ®,
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.
24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
We did dismiss our evening services because the weather did take a change and the rains began to freeze on the trees and in that kind of weather it is difficult for people to navigate the roads and bridges. It is a very hard thing for me to call a service off for any reason, but the safety of the people is a real reason. So on Sunday evening I sat in the warmth of my home with my wife waiting for the lights to go out because we had lost electrical power. But by the mercies of the Lord, we did not have nearly the winter storm that was predicted for our area. I awakened on Monday, January 10, 2011 early in the morning. I looked out and saw the trees and the shrubs were glistening with ice all over them. I looked at the outside temperature it was still 29 degrees Fahrenheit. I prepared to go into Collins and then to Hattiesburg, but beings I was unsure of the road conditions I knew I had to proceed with some caution, which I did.
As I was going toward town I was passed by several automobiles, and low and behold three of them were people who could not make it to church yesterday morning (Sunday 1/9/2011) because they heard it was snowing in Texas and was heading our way.
I was just thinking, “What are the little things in life that cause you as a Christian to stay home from church? We must remember this is the last days and the writer of Hebrews said, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” This may not affect any of you that read this, but I was just thinking.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
JUST THINKING MONDAY, JANUARY 3, 2011
I had a wonderful young Bible School student from another country ask me to write some of the memorable miracles that I have seen and experienced in my time of ministry.
First I must start out by saying that I saw so many miracles even before I started in the ministry. I was brought up going to church and do not remember a time in my life without the church being a part of my life. As a young boy I saw a deaf woman healed in my home church in Westlake, Louisiana. I remember my own dad having been burned all over his face and neck with acid on his job as an operator at Continental Oil Company in Westlake, Louisiana. We as a family were told he would look freakish the rest of his life. We were having a revival with Brother Chester Hensley and my dad walked into the church after service started. I saw Brother Chester Hensley go to where my dad was and lay hands on him and began to pray. When my dad came through this ordeal, his skin came back as clear as baby skin and it was that way until he died in 1983, such a miracle.
My two sons, Robbie and Kevin, have had so many tragic situations during their short lives, but I will not go into all the details. (I will let you know God has not always done everything the way that I thought He would and some things I still do not understand, both my sons still have problems in their lives we have prayed and they still face these situations to date but God has seen them through so much.) In the mid 1980's I saw God heal Robbie of cancer. He had just been through another type surgery when Dr. Bridges found the spots in his chest area, and the surgeon told my wife and I it was a case of lymphoma, we prayed and the next morning they did their surgery and came out and said we find no cancer cells in his lymp nods, to God be the glory.
I actually did not start preaching until I was forty years old when I began to preach. I traveled as an evangelist for about eleven and a half to twelve years. The greatest miracles I have seen is the thousands of people that I have seen filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave them the utterance. I saw a young boy of three years old in Fairbanks, Alaska filled with the Holy Ghost while I was preaching, he was still seated on his mothers lap. I saw a woman who was 101 years old receieve the Holy Ghost in Monroe, Louisiana. Today the greatest miracles that can happen in any life is for people young and old to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
I was preaching in Center Hill, Mississippi, when two ladies from South Carolina came to our revival services, both came to the altar and were seeking for the Holy Ghost. Both ladies were baptized in Jesus Name for the remission of their sins. One of the ladies, told us, they had been invited to our services by their sister. This woman who I will call Wanda to protect names, said she had been through many rounds of chemotherapy and the doctors had told her there was nothing they could do, and had sent her home with just a couple weeks left to live. She said, I came here with an internal bleeding, but when I came up out of the water in baptism in Jesus Name, I felt the blood flow stop. She went back to South Carolina and receieved a clean health report.
I was preaching in the state of Louisiana, will not give the church or any name. A young man came to prayer meeting on a Monday night he came up for prayer, he had gotten ill with what they thought was a virus or the flu and we prayed. As I laid my hands on his head I noticed the lesions around his lips and even on his face. When my wife and I returned to our travel trailer for the night, I told her that young man has full blow aids. The next morning the pastor called me and asked, if I would go with him to the hospital, the young man was in quarantine, becuse they had diagnosed him with aids, and the doctors said he only had a couple days to live. The pastor and I went to the hospital room to pray. This was when aids was first becoming diagnosed in the USA. This young man had lived a homosexual lifestyle for a few years, but had recently received the Holy Ghost and been baptized in Jesus Name. The pastor and I had to put on cover alls, gloves and face mask. The doctors told us not to touch this young man, but I told her I had come to anoint him with oil and pray for him. She said, well he is dying so you can not harm him or spread germs to him so go ahead and pray for him, but just be short and quick. We layed hands on him and prayed for him. I did not feel anything special when we prayed. We left after only being there for thirty minutes or less. I received a call from the pastor the next morning, he told me the young man was out of the hospital, all his symptoms were gone and he felt strong. On Wednesday night he was in service, playing the keyboard and worshipping God. The Doctors said, they could find no traces of aids in the test they were running at that time. They also let us know once and aid carrier always classed with aids. I witnessed several aids patients being healed, and they stayed healed as long as they stayed straight.
God has been so good to me since I have been a pastor. While pastoring in Rome, Georgia, we had several people show up for service one Sunday night. As we began to pray for the sick three of those people came toward the front to the prayer line. I notice one of them was so frail and weak looking, the two on either side were simple helping him make it to the front. I laid my hands on this mans head and I felt the virtue go through me. This was as powerful as I have ever experienced the virtue of God. I instantly saw this mans countenance and color change. He began to shake and tremble. He began in a loud voice say, "I am healed, I am healed," as he began to dance around the front of the church. After service, I went and talked with him, he had a brain tumor and doctors had removed what they could remove, but he was dying with no hope. His friend who was a member of our church told him God would heal him so he came to church believing what his friend told him and he was healed. He was in service every time we had service and was off his death bed and living again after that wonderful night.
Brother Sam Bates, a wonderful saint that I now pastor here at NCUPC, four years ago was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The doctors did surgery and could not remove all of the tumor. He went through months of chemotherapy in the hospital. His wife called me one day from Houston, Texas, M D Anderson Cancer Center and told me the doctors had put him in ICU and were calling his family in, because there was no hope for Brother Bates. I along with my wife picked up his two daughters and made a mad dash for Houston. We arrived in the night and Brother Bates did not know we were there. It looked so bad. We all gathered around his bed and prayed for him. We did not feel anything special, but when we arrived at the hospital the next morning, the doctors said they could not understand it, he took a change for the better and within a few days he was back in a private room and the rest is history, he came home and went back to work fulltime. But that is not the end of his story, because two years later, they found cancer on the other side of his brain, he believed everything was going to be alright. He did take a few rounds of chemotherapy and long before he was to be released the doctors told him he had a clean bill of health. Brother Sam Bates lead some of our singing this past Sunday night, what a miracle.
Sister Mary Deen, one of the greatest ladies I have ever had at NCUPC. Four years ago went through breast cancer surgery and treatments but soon after received a clear bill of health. in early 2010, she had a minor out-patient procedure done with not a thought of problems. The dye used in the procedure killed her pancreas. It put her body into a dying mode and the doctors did not know what to do. Sister Mary's body swelled up about three times her normal size, she was in ICU for sixteen weeks. I watched as she began to recover, but it was a slow process. From ICU she remained in a hospital room for ten to twelve more weeks. When she went home she had a feeding tube and so many other things that I will not mention. People thought she would never be well again, she kept telling me it is only for a season. Today, she is helping in Sunday School, running our kitchen when we have food at the church and helping in our major cleanup around the church.
I am so thankful to start this new year of 2011 looking back to God's marvelous miracles in the lives of people.
I love my Jesus,
Pastor Rodney Bankens
First I must start out by saying that I saw so many miracles even before I started in the ministry. I was brought up going to church and do not remember a time in my life without the church being a part of my life. As a young boy I saw a deaf woman healed in my home church in Westlake, Louisiana. I remember my own dad having been burned all over his face and neck with acid on his job as an operator at Continental Oil Company in Westlake, Louisiana. We as a family were told he would look freakish the rest of his life. We were having a revival with Brother Chester Hensley and my dad walked into the church after service started. I saw Brother Chester Hensley go to where my dad was and lay hands on him and began to pray. When my dad came through this ordeal, his skin came back as clear as baby skin and it was that way until he died in 1983, such a miracle.
My two sons, Robbie and Kevin, have had so many tragic situations during their short lives, but I will not go into all the details. (I will let you know God has not always done everything the way that I thought He would and some things I still do not understand, both my sons still have problems in their lives we have prayed and they still face these situations to date but God has seen them through so much.) In the mid 1980's I saw God heal Robbie of cancer. He had just been through another type surgery when Dr. Bridges found the spots in his chest area, and the surgeon told my wife and I it was a case of lymphoma, we prayed and the next morning they did their surgery and came out and said we find no cancer cells in his lymp nods, to God be the glory.
I actually did not start preaching until I was forty years old when I began to preach. I traveled as an evangelist for about eleven and a half to twelve years. The greatest miracles I have seen is the thousands of people that I have seen filled with the Holy Ghost, speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gave them the utterance. I saw a young boy of three years old in Fairbanks, Alaska filled with the Holy Ghost while I was preaching, he was still seated on his mothers lap. I saw a woman who was 101 years old receieve the Holy Ghost in Monroe, Louisiana. Today the greatest miracles that can happen in any life is for people young and old to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
I was preaching in Center Hill, Mississippi, when two ladies from South Carolina came to our revival services, both came to the altar and were seeking for the Holy Ghost. Both ladies were baptized in Jesus Name for the remission of their sins. One of the ladies, told us, they had been invited to our services by their sister. This woman who I will call Wanda to protect names, said she had been through many rounds of chemotherapy and the doctors had told her there was nothing they could do, and had sent her home with just a couple weeks left to live. She said, I came here with an internal bleeding, but when I came up out of the water in baptism in Jesus Name, I felt the blood flow stop. She went back to South Carolina and receieved a clean health report.
I was preaching in the state of Louisiana, will not give the church or any name. A young man came to prayer meeting on a Monday night he came up for prayer, he had gotten ill with what they thought was a virus or the flu and we prayed. As I laid my hands on his head I noticed the lesions around his lips and even on his face. When my wife and I returned to our travel trailer for the night, I told her that young man has full blow aids. The next morning the pastor called me and asked, if I would go with him to the hospital, the young man was in quarantine, becuse they had diagnosed him with aids, and the doctors said he only had a couple days to live. The pastor and I went to the hospital room to pray. This was when aids was first becoming diagnosed in the USA. This young man had lived a homosexual lifestyle for a few years, but had recently received the Holy Ghost and been baptized in Jesus Name. The pastor and I had to put on cover alls, gloves and face mask. The doctors told us not to touch this young man, but I told her I had come to anoint him with oil and pray for him. She said, well he is dying so you can not harm him or spread germs to him so go ahead and pray for him, but just be short and quick. We layed hands on him and prayed for him. I did not feel anything special when we prayed. We left after only being there for thirty minutes or less. I received a call from the pastor the next morning, he told me the young man was out of the hospital, all his symptoms were gone and he felt strong. On Wednesday night he was in service, playing the keyboard and worshipping God. The Doctors said, they could find no traces of aids in the test they were running at that time. They also let us know once and aid carrier always classed with aids. I witnessed several aids patients being healed, and they stayed healed as long as they stayed straight.
God has been so good to me since I have been a pastor. While pastoring in Rome, Georgia, we had several people show up for service one Sunday night. As we began to pray for the sick three of those people came toward the front to the prayer line. I notice one of them was so frail and weak looking, the two on either side were simple helping him make it to the front. I laid my hands on this mans head and I felt the virtue go through me. This was as powerful as I have ever experienced the virtue of God. I instantly saw this mans countenance and color change. He began to shake and tremble. He began in a loud voice say, "I am healed, I am healed," as he began to dance around the front of the church. After service, I went and talked with him, he had a brain tumor and doctors had removed what they could remove, but he was dying with no hope. His friend who was a member of our church told him God would heal him so he came to church believing what his friend told him and he was healed. He was in service every time we had service and was off his death bed and living again after that wonderful night.
Brother Sam Bates, a wonderful saint that I now pastor here at NCUPC, four years ago was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The doctors did surgery and could not remove all of the tumor. He went through months of chemotherapy in the hospital. His wife called me one day from Houston, Texas, M D Anderson Cancer Center and told me the doctors had put him in ICU and were calling his family in, because there was no hope for Brother Bates. I along with my wife picked up his two daughters and made a mad dash for Houston. We arrived in the night and Brother Bates did not know we were there. It looked so bad. We all gathered around his bed and prayed for him. We did not feel anything special, but when we arrived at the hospital the next morning, the doctors said they could not understand it, he took a change for the better and within a few days he was back in a private room and the rest is history, he came home and went back to work fulltime. But that is not the end of his story, because two years later, they found cancer on the other side of his brain, he believed everything was going to be alright. He did take a few rounds of chemotherapy and long before he was to be released the doctors told him he had a clean bill of health. Brother Sam Bates lead some of our singing this past Sunday night, what a miracle.
Sister Mary Deen, one of the greatest ladies I have ever had at NCUPC. Four years ago went through breast cancer surgery and treatments but soon after received a clear bill of health. in early 2010, she had a minor out-patient procedure done with not a thought of problems. The dye used in the procedure killed her pancreas. It put her body into a dying mode and the doctors did not know what to do. Sister Mary's body swelled up about three times her normal size, she was in ICU for sixteen weeks. I watched as she began to recover, but it was a slow process. From ICU she remained in a hospital room for ten to twelve more weeks. When she went home she had a feeding tube and so many other things that I will not mention. People thought she would never be well again, she kept telling me it is only for a season. Today, she is helping in Sunday School, running our kitchen when we have food at the church and helping in our major cleanup around the church.
I am so thankful to start this new year of 2011 looking back to God's marvelous miracles in the lives of people.
I love my Jesus,
Pastor Rodney Bankens
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