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I first
heard the Spirit of Messiah speak to me through a friend I" loved from a
distance". She spoke of believing in Jesus, and I knew at that moment I
could believe in Him. At the same time I understood that to experience
Him I had to go through the door of belief. I had experienced
divine revelation from the Father though I didn't understand at the time
what had happened. But my state of despair and the heavy
intellectual veil lifted, and I tasted peace and assurance at that
moment that my life had worth and a future. This was May of 1973
near Rapid City, South Dakota.
On
returning to Southern California I began to read good things and to meet
good people, true friends who cared. There was the Catholic
Charismatic Renewal,
much
reading of the New Testament, a baptism in the Holy Spirit and a
willingness to follow as the Shepherd led. A Kathryn Kuhlman service
gave a big boost into
the wonders
of the God of compassion. A small revival involving Calvary Chapel and
Maranatha Music drew people together and led to a lot of water baptisms,
including my own. And I learned quickly that perseverance was one basic
secret in maturing as a believer. Later as I read the Book of
Revelation my heart grabbed onto the phrase of John which spoke of his
being our "brother and companion in the suffering and Kingdom and
patient endurance that is ours in Christ".
Our road
is the narrow road, our path difficult. But it is the only true walk by
the Holy Spirit. We must always persevere even in times of desert
trials and worldly oppression. The Kingdom of life in Yeshua is
encompassed by suffering and patient endurance. The cross we experience
is death to our "self" and new life in Him. Reality in Messiah is our
food and drink. Discipleship found in separating from the world and
joining to Him. There is always joy in the morning even as we face the
final week of seven years written of by Daniel, God's servant.
Thirty-six years later I am a husband, father, grandfather of two small
boys and have days of treasure in my life. My wife Carol and I have
moved about the country
ending up
for now in Arizona. We live simply and appreciate greatly what we
have.
The Lord has given us many good
circumstances with many genuine people. I used to think that I was the
one who found the treasure hidden in the field, and sold all I had to
buy that field. But now I know that Yeshua is the one who sold all he
had and bought the field with my family and I as a part of the treasure
he holds dear. The numerous grassroots writings I've done over the
years and always freely shared are but a few bread crumbs offered as
encouragement to any honest seeker. The silver cord binds our body to
our spirit-soul. It is fragile. We are weak. Our God is strong and
merciful. To him be all praise.
Gary
Bertnick
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