Peniel

Transforming Broken Lives

Volume 6 Issue 2

My Ministry Minute
From The Heart Of The Founder

Who Then Is Worthy?

"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justfyeth: Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who maketh intercession for us." KJV Romans 8:33 Dr. Marion Spellman
Founder and CEO

For this installment, we would like to share with you an oldie but a goodie. This article was written shortly after one of our most memorable and exciting Graduation services ever. Enjoy!

(Circa 1984) Recently, I experienced a most wonderful expression of Gods love and His assurance. It is exciting and extremely encouraging to actually have, at your fingertips, the infallible word of God to read for yourself as He outlines His stand and opinion regarding something as important as your eternal destiny.

With great emotion, the graduates spoke of being introduced to the Lord Jesus Christ and how He had dramatically delivered them from drugs and permanently routed a new and glorious course not only for themselves, but those dear ones who looked to them for security. Wives and children rejoiced with a hope of new life, free of chemical abuse. Parents acknowledged that the transforming power of the Lord Jesus Christ had literally saved their childrens lives. Friends sighed with a breath of relief and radiated with joy because of answered prayers. And if this were not enough, one observer claims to have counted over one hundred souls that made their way to the altar on commencement night as a directed response to Dr. T. L. Lowerys invitation to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour. Even as I write this article, reports continue to flood in my office of healing, baptisms in the Holy Spirit and recommitments to Jesus all resulting from the glorious visitation of the Holy Spirit to do service unto the people of God. With such magnificent outpouring, one would automatically assume that the church would rejoice. For we, the body of Christ, have proclaimed by the printed page, through the media and over countless pulpits each Sunday and Wednesday nights that our one desire, yea, even our motivating force is to win the lost, thus hastening our Lords return. We have been skillfully trained to tear down every stronghold of Satan and to rejoice with the angels with every victory that Christ achieves. Surely, the restoring of fifteen homes and the winning of hundreds

of souls would merit thunderous applause and glorious praise unto Him. But what is that I hear? Can it be coming from the house of God? Is it possible that born again Christians could actually ignore the great work of the Holy Spirit and concentrate on opposing the people that God has chosen to oversee this part of the vineyard?

Indeed, I was heartbroken to learn that there were those who were preoccupied with criticizing the people God had chosen rather than glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ. Somehow, they had missed the entire point. It is absolutely immaterial who plants and who waters. The significant fact is that it is God who gives the increase. Less we skate around the edge of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit by not honoring His work, we must consciously and gravely command these bodies to glorify God as He performs His miracle in this last day. It would be less than truth for me to say that I was not affected by learning that some professing Christians were not rejoicing and that they were actually even angry because of what God had done. But as I pondered this situation, the Holy Spirit

Without a doubt, Peniel has experienced one of the greatest milestones in history. Nearly four hundred people applauded our fifteen graduates as each received his well earned diploma and testified to the marvelous change that had been wrought in their lives as a result of enrolling in our program and participating in the morning chapel services, consistent counseling sessions and classes, along with other scheduled activities.

PO Box 250

Johnstown PA, 15907

(814) 536-2111

Penielda@aol.com

www.penielrehab.com

Peniel
Transforming Broken Lives

Who Then Is Worthy?

within themselves, feel unaccepted based on public opinion. I feel impressed to bring your mind back to the unmerited favor that lies within the heart of God. You are not saved because of any righteousness that you have done. You are not saved because man feels that you are worthy. He has no voice in the matter. Instead, you have been adopted into the wonderful family of God as a result of you confessing your sin, forsaking it and trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as the perfect mediator between you and God who will speak for you and usher you into eternal life with Him, based solely on what HE DID on Calvary. This does not give us a license or an avenue to living shabby, undisciplined lives before God. Indeed, the Bible is specific in guidelines for Christian conduct. God has made provisions for mankind to possess the power to conform to the will and mind

(continued . . . )

gave to me, as a consolation prize, our keynote scripture for this article. As I recorded in the Living Bible, Paul says boldly: Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? No! He is the one who has forgiven us and has given us the right to stand with Him. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ? No! For He is the one who died for us and came back to life again for us and is sitting at the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us there in Heaven. L.B Roman 8:33,34 After digesting this glorious truth, the unkind words, the self righteous stares, the pious attitudes seemed to lose their sting, for recognized, truly realized, that I and my staff as well have been accepted by the Beloved and as Paul said, Who dare accuse us? We had labored diligently and honorably for the Master and the offering that we presented was accepted by Him. As a result, God had given to us fruit that would remain. Someone was reported as saying, The Lord apparently has called her so well have to live with it. (insinuating that this would not be their choice) And so, the righteous few were found merely tolerating us as we prepared our next attack on Satans kingdom This article is not written to the righteous, but is written to strengthen those who have been encouraged to feel they will never quite measure up to standards. It is dedicated to those people who may have felt they have been overlooked and may,

of God. This great truth will bring joy to the child of Gods heart who finds himself struggling. There is hope for even you to be mightily used in the Kingdom of God. Be not discouraged, beloved friend of mine. God loves you. You have great potential and abilities waiting to be tapped. God delights to use the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. His unparalleled insight to find a diamond in the rough is one of His most admired attributes. You must not allow mans opinion to influence your commitment and calling for Christ. We will reap if we faint not. Who is worthy? All those who call upon the name of the Lord, whether black or white, rich or poor, bond or free, Jew or Gentile, male or female- any available vessel will be used by Him in this midnight hour to proclaim the great Gospel, yea, carry this precious message to dying men. Standing strong is a tremendous responsibility. Many soldiers have defected in the heat of battle. The enemy camp appears to be impregnable. His soldiers are well trained and deadly in their attacks. The mission seems impossible for there are but a few of us in the midst of this great harvest. But we have, as Commander in Chief, the King of Glory. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord, strong and mighty - the Lord, mighty in battle. He is the King of Glory and in Him we can do all things for with Him we are the majority.

We had labored diligently and honorably for the Master and the offering that we presented was accepted by Him.

My Ministry Minute

PENIEL

PO Box 250 Johnstown, PA 15907 (814) 536 - 2111 Penielda@aol.com www.penielrehab.com

From The Heart Of The Founder