Johnny DeLong

Johnny Loved to Sing About Jesus and His Plan of Salvation

 

This happened in the early 1960’s and as a young mother; I wanted to be a witness for Jesus Christ.  I was shy, but an investment in a sample packet from Chick Publications sounded a simple way to begin.  (Click on the title above Chick Publications to go to their sample offer packets available for sale.

Chick Publications offers a variety of Christian comic book tracts that end with a prayer for salvation. 

These Chick tracts are usually read because of their picture book portrayal when other tracks are cast aside.

Where to start?  I decided to be bold and begin at the gas station where I always purchased my gas. 

In those days, the attendant came to your window and asked how much gas you wanted and then filled your tank.  Also he would clean the windows before collecting your payment.

“Here is a comic book telling about Jesus,” I said to the attendant, as I handed him my cash along with one of the Chick Booklets.

Each week I would give him a different booklet, until one day he asked me where my church was located. 

I told him it is only two city blocks from here and service begins at 10:45 Sunday morning.

His name was Johnny DeLong and sure enough on Sunday both he and his wife were there on time. 

That Sunday, when the Pastor gave an invitation to receive Jesus, these dear sinners were turned into saints as they went forward and soon after became members of our church.

Johnny brought his guitar to church and loved to sing special numbers about Jesus and the plan of Salvation.

One Sunday evening, Pastor was asking if anyone needed healing as he held a small bottle of olive oil.

Johnny raised his hand, and said, “I need healing from cigarettes.” 

Now this type of request was new to me, and it was to our Pastor, but he never lost a beat as he marched down the aisle toward Johnnie.

All eyes were on Johnny as Pastor said, “Stick out your tongue.” 

With a quick swipe, Pastor anointed Johnnie’s tongue with oil and said, “Be Healed in Jesus Name.”

As Johnny told it afterwards, all desire for cigarettes left him and he never smoked again.

Sometime later an interesting thing happened when a lady who had been attending our church died.  She always brought her niece Mary Jo, who was mentally challenged to church.

 

Verbally the woman had made it known that she had provided for her niece in the case of her death.  The dead woman’s son did not find this stated in the will, and was planning to evict Mary Jo from his mothers house.

The next Sunday, Pastor spoke to the congregation and said, "This woman needs a home and we need to place her now." 

Who do you suppose volunteered to take this woman and care for her?

Yes, it was Johnny and his dear wife.  Mary Jo lived with them for many years until she passed away and went to heaven.

You just do not know how far a little comic tract will go to change people’s lives and affect the lives of many others as well.

Might you like to order a package of  Chick Publications samples and see how far you can make your witness go? (click on the title Chick Publication above)

 

 

Resurrection Days

 

 

Today is the Sunday following the celebration of Jesus Resurrection.  The entire story is a good read for every day to remind us of God’s love.

Jesus gave His life during Pass Over. God did not make a mistake giving us His beloved son to die.  God loved this world and its people. 

Three days later Jesus was raised from the dead.  The next forty days were spent in revealing Himself to his disciples and many others.  We wonder just what Jesus taught during those days.  Perhaps He explained the Jewish Feasts and how they pertained to him and the Kingdom of God.

Pastor Allan was reading from John 21:15-25 where Jesus began to restore Peter’s confidence.  Three times Jesus asked the question, “Do you love me?” When Peter answered, “Yes, I love you,” Jesus told him to Feed my Lambs, Feed my Sheep and again Feed my Sheep. 

 

Much more can be said about this dialogue, but in essence, Jesus was telling Peter, that he was forgiven and to take this assignment and run with it.

How many times do we feel that we have failed or could have done better?  We are not perfect, yet Jesus through his death and resurrection has made us perfect. 

Peter knew he was not worthy, but Jesus was calling and restoring Peter.  We also can use those 40 days to get closer to God.  He will restore those who have lost faith, were afraid and ran to hide.

Peter became flustered and asked Jesus, “What about him?”  Jesus kindly answered, “What is that to you?”  He was saying don’t worry about your neighbor, but worry about yourself.

It is easy to get caught up in our daily business, and it is not wrong to pray for others, but do not allow your concern to prevail over your own closeness and walk with Jesus.

People do not see the entire preliminary steps needed to reach that deep walk with God.  We are called to a higher standard of living; a higher way.

We are in revival.  In our city, souls are being saved and set free and generational curses are being broken.  We are sent to do His work, and we must step up and be available.

Pastor stated that he knew he was not in the first cut.  Other’s were called but failed to respond.  When Jesus said, “Feed my sheep,” some sat there with blank looks on their faces.  Some said, but Jesus, I am busy, my family needs me, I am not rich, - - but Jesus says, “NO Excuses, just say and do what I tell you, and trust me.”  

Do you realize we are in Harvest season in this city?  Many have prayed for years for God to visit this town, and guess what?  God can use the foolish and unlearned ragamuffins to accomplish his plans.  I Corinthians 1:26-30  Not many wise are called. God will use the despised for His purpose. 

Many churches look down upon some of our Pastors with a past, but God is in the resurrection business and makes everything new.

Don’t allow your insecurity to dictate to your critical spirit, when you view others worshipping in freedom.

 

Thomas was a person that needed facts and proof.  He wanted to touch and feel before he would believe.  Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen, yet they believe."

Love the lost sheep (humans) and make disciples, the church is not exclusive.  The call is out to "Who-so-ever may come."

 

The harvest is often in the undesirable, needy people out there - waiting to hear the good news; "Today is your resurrection day."
 

 

 

"From Transition To Position" Guest Jo Ellen Stevens



Freedom

"From Transition To Position"
Guest - Jo Ellen Stevens, Connersville, IN

Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV)

Focus

When you are going through transition, you must keep focused on the bigger picture.

 If you do not realize that God has a plan for your life and that He loves you and is only taking you to a higher place in Him, the enemy will succeed in causing you to doubt that God's love, provision, and healing are yours while you go through this time.

That is the only way the enemy can win. Knowing the love of God through prayer and fasting and focusing on this plan will get you through because it will bring you joy, which is your strength!

A Whole New Level of Promotion

Also, when you go through transition, the enemy will remind you who you used to be in the good old days. This is where we try to go back to, like Lot's wife and like the children of Israel as they came out of Egypt. We are not to think on the good, the bad, or the ugly, as the Lord told me once in a time of hard transition.

 

God does not want to do what He did back then again! He has brought you out to take you to a whole new place! This transition in this season will be like nothing you have ever seen before!

When you go through transition, as Jesus did when going from the Jordan (baptism) to being drawn into the wilderness by the Spirit, it is a very vulnerable time and it is the time to fast and pray and build yourself up in the Word, so when the enemy says, "Did God say...?" you will have the ammunition to counteract the temptation that he brings during this time of testing.

You see, God allows and even draws us into the test during transition so that we will be positioned to a higher level in Him; but the enemy tempts us in this test to give up on God and go through the wrong doors and thus put off our destiny for a season. Been there, done that. So we must watch and pray during this time and speak God's Word only!

Don't Be Angry At The Agents Of Change

The enemy will also tempt you to be angry at those that are the agents of change during this time.

 

Remember Joseph's brothers? This is a time when the spirit of jealousy rises up against you because that spirit knows where you are going and wants to kill that anointing on you!

These are, oftentimes, people we love and respect, and can even in leadership – but if we do not get angry with these that mean to do us harm, we will come out of this transition time as Jesus came out of His wilderness experience "in the power of the Spirit"!

So, for us, respecting authority is very important during this time because they just might be sent to bring you to a place of destiny. Remember Saul as David was going from the cave to the palace. There is always a Saul to push you to your destiny!

So, get ready if you are in a place of hard transition, you are about to be positioned for such a time as this!

 

Enlarge your thinking in this hour to know that God has a plan and a greater purpose for you just on the other side of this time of change! He is not mad at you – you are just going through! (Photo via Pixabay)

And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of Him through all the region round about... Luke 4:13-15 (KJV)

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Genesis 50:20 (NKJV)

Arise, shine!

Jo Ellen Stevens
TCIC Ministries
Website: dstevens7.wix.com/tcic    

Jo Ellen Stevens is a prophetic speaker, author, worship leader, and intercessor from Connersville, Indiana. She has ministered with her husband for 23 years, pastoring, teaching, and leading prophetic worship. She operates in a prophetic anointing with words of knowledge and words of wisdom. She believes that every Believer should be hearing the Lord's voice and resounding His heart out of their intimate relationship with Him. She also believes God called her many years ago to encourage the Body of Christ to arise and shine with the glory of the Lord for such a time as this, no matter what their age, background, or social status! She believes that God has given us each a platform to use the gifts and talents that He has given us to bring those who do not know the Lord out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God, and that social media will play a great part in covering the earth with His glory!

 

According to His Will by Guest Rod Parsley

What are the Facts? 

Can we ask anything and expect God to Answer?

Having the same spirit of faith-.-.-.-I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak. —2 Corinthians 4:13

I have met people who believe the Bible teaches that whatever we ask we can have -.-.-.- with no strings attached.

They obviously have not read 1 John 5:14: "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us."

We can't ask outside the will of God and expect an answer.

But when our request lines up with His will, we have the guarantee that He will not only hear us, but that our answer is on the way.

Asking and praying in His Name means to ask and pray in His will, with His authority so that all He desires will be done in our lives.

Your hope and expectation will never rise above your level of confession. You will reap tomorrow the harvest of the words you sow today.

Release your confession from a heart full of faith and belief in the God of the Word, and rest in confidence that He will hear and respond.

Begin today to pray for your life to be bound to the will of God.

Conform me, O Lord, to Your will for my life.
 By Your Spirit, teach me to pray for Your will
even when I do not understand it.
Amen.

 

Judge and You Will Be Judged – Guest R.T. Kendall

 

 

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. —Matthew 7:1

Here is something always to remember - - what we should know about those who judge us.

1. There are three things: the first is that they do not have all of the evidence. We know that God is not finished with us yet in any case. In addition, they do not know everything, even in the area where they think that they are in a position to say this or that.

 They do not have all of the evidence, so they do not really know at the end of the day what they are talking about.

2. We also should remember that when anybody judges us, they have disobeyed Jesus. We are just not given permission by Jesus to judge anybody. And when anybody judges me, I know he has disobeyed Jesus.

3. The third thing is, the opinion people have of us is temporary. It is only a matter of time before they will change their tune; they will have to, eventually.

Remember, however, that this works both ways. When you judge someone, you will be ill-informed, disobedient, and eventually judged by God.

The next time you are prepared to criticize another person, and you wonder why God does not deal with that person, I want you to ask yourself this question: Has not God been patient with me?

Can you recall that time when you were not the perfect example and God continued to bless you? He supplied your needs, He helped you, He was with you, He answered prayer.

Things were happening, and you can look back later and think, Oh, God was good to me; I didn't deserve that.

Always remember, maybe another person does not deserve it either, but God is being good to them just as He was being good to you.  Perhaps He is patient and is giving them time to repent as He did for you.

Excerpted from When God Says "Well Done!"

(Christian Focus Publications Ltd.)

 

How to Cope With the Past - Guest R.T. Kendall

Trying to Cope with the Past

 

Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say: Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me. —Psalm 129:1-2

When it comes to our past, God knows everything. God wants to bring us to the place where we can be ourselves. We do not have to pretend, because God knows us.

We also know that He has forgiven us. What is certain is that we must not let past failure or our lack of spiritual progress immobilize us.

This psalm is a reminder that some have a past full of hurts. Perhaps that describes you.

If that is the case, remember two things: in the Christian family there will be fellow believers who have suffered in a way similar to you, who can sympathize with you; best of all, Jesus will sympathize with you.

There are some people who have such a keen sense of rejection that they just can't handle a situation where someone tries to love them. They believe somehow it won't be true.

But even though you have known rejection and hurt or have damaged emotions, these experiences will not save you.

You may think that because of these experiences you deserve a special break and somehow God will let you into heaven. But He will not.

A lot of people, if they have had some kind of hurt, have not received the victory over their attitude toward the problem. Instead they let the situation have the victory over them.

We must deal with the anger and bitterness toward those who caused the hurt or toward God for allowing it.

If we do, God grants us a sweetness of spirit that will lead us actually to pray for those who caused the hurt.

Let me tell you how to cope with your past.

It is not to say, "This is the way I am";

It is to say with the psalmist, "But they have NOT gained the victory."

Excerpted from Higher Ground (Christian Focus Publications Ltd.)

 

 

He Is Risen as He Said

 

Pastor Allen was reading from Matthew 28 On the first day of the week, the women came to the sepulcher.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:  And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  He is not here; for he is risen, as He said.

Can you imagine the fearful experience of a huge earthquake, an angel whose face shone like lightning, and the guards shaking speechless?   

One thing to note are the words “As He said.”  God is faithful and He keeps His word.

We are free from the curse because of the empty tomb.  The tomb could not hold Him.

The cross was necessary - - and the resurrection was essential.

When Jesus on the cross said, “It is finished,” He was not merely saying his human life was done, but that the old covenant was finished.  There was no further need for the priests to make the animal sacrifices.  The Lamb of God (Jesus) was slain once and for all, and was the final sacrifice.   

I am reminded that at the cross, we left the old person we used to be and will never be the same.  At the resurrection we were made alive and passed from death unto life on that day.  The resurrection was a new day and a new beginning. 

As the disciples viewed Jesus on the cross, they were terrified.  They had followed him for three years and now their leader was dead.  Peter was devastated for he had just committed what he vowed he would never do. He had denied the Lord not once, but three times.

Have you ever gone back on your word?  Promised to make a call, and forgot to follow up?

We get discouraged, stuff happens, there are medical conditions, job loss, perhaps betrayal, but understand it is NOT over until you say it is.  Stand up and take a step forward.

Pastor said, “I wake up with a nice list of things I need to do, but then I get distracted and often don’t follow through.” 

Regardless of our choices, God is faithful and He keeps His word.

As we take communion, may we reflect inwardly; Are we where God wants us to be?  If not, are you willing to make a step toward change?  Jesus has provided a way to be back with Him in a right relationship.  His blood can wash away any sin and provides a fresh start.

Lord we thank you for your broken body and your blood that was shed for our sins and our healing.

 

An Easter Prayer via “In-courage”

 

An Easter Prayer via “In-courage”

Lord,

Thank You for the gift of HOPE
You gave us on Easter morning.
Because of You we know
That no problem is too difficult
And even death does not have power over us.

Thank You for the gift of JOY
You gave us when You were resurrected.
Because of You we know
That no matter how challenging life may be,
In the end we will rejoice again.

Thank You for the gift of LOVE
You gave us when You laid down Your life.
Because of You we know
That there is no sin too great to separate us
and we are incredibly valuable to You.

Thank You for the gift of LIFE,
You gave us when You left the tomb.
Because of Easter we know
this world is just the beginning
and we will spend forever in heaven with You.

We celebrate You, JESUS,
With hearts full of praise and gratitude
For who You are and all You’ve done for us!

Amen.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. Romans 15:13

 

Make an Exchange - by guest Rod Parsley

Jesus Took Our Sin - He Died and was Raised again, to Bring us His Life

 

Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. —Exodus 12:40
 
Life is a process of exchange. We enter to leave, go up to come down, give to receive, and die to live.

God wants to make some exchanges in your life. He wants to lead you out of bondage and into your Promised Land.

The status quo is your greatest enemy of the cause of Christ.

The Israelites were comfortable in Egypt and soon begged to go back.

But your abundance is tied to the process of exchange.

God wants you to exchange the bondage of your Egypt for the abundance of His Promised Land.

He wants to bring you out of the kingdom of the world and into His glorious kingdom.

Don't stay in bondage another day. Determine to break through the boundaries the devil has raised up around you.

Exchange your way of doing things for God's, and go forward with Him into your Promised Land.

Lord Jesus, I exchange everything I am and have for all of You.
I exchange my bondage for Your freedom.
Thank You, Lord, for the grace
of exchanging my sin for Your Righteousness

 

In Spirit and in Truth by Guest Rod Parsley

 

Come Unto Me

 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. —John 4:24

At the well, the Samaritan woman recognized that Jesus was a prophet, and she launched into the ongoing dispute between the Jews and Samaritans regarding the proper place to worship God.

Jesus offered her a fresh way to see God, the "who" of worship instead of the "how" or "where."

As God is a Spirit, so are you. You may think you have a spirit, but you are a spirit. Jesus said we must worship God in spirit.

If you try to worship God in your flesh, you will be distracted by where you are, how you feel, and what is happening around you.

While still chained in darkness, a prisoner in the dungeons of Rome, Paul rejoiced in being seated with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).

Paul was not hallucinating! He took hold of the revelation that he was a spirit, and in the spirit he dwelt in the presence of God.

If you live in the flesh you will miss it, because revelation is not received in your flesh. Take hold of this reality and learn to live, see, and hear in the spirit.

 

Holy Spirit, put Your new and fresh revelation in my
heart. I take hold of You and know that I have taken
hold of Truth and reality. Amen.