Wow, what a weekend!!!
It has been my privilege to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in many places throughout the world. As I think about where we have been, it has been my passion for souls and a desire to encourage the body of Christ that has taken me on this lifetime journey. Occasionally, when remembering some of the outstanding meetings and experiences that have taken place, it has always been the invitations where people have responded to the Gospel that stand out. In the places we have preached, having seen many miracles, I can say that the greatest miracle that has ever taken place is the transformation of those who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. To see the Holy Spirit at work, confirming the Word of God in the hearts of men and women, is why we preach. Most of you who hear me week after week, know that I preach a twofold message. I know that we must proclaim to both the believer and those who have not accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
I love the miracle of Salvation and you who take the time to read these letters understand we owe Jesus everything. "His life is the light of men." I was given a chest from the sister in West Virginia, (who was in the service this past Sunday and shared with us how this all came about). Just imagine if my name had been Bob, with how many Bobs there are in the world. Cleddie is somewhat unusual, but I know that He knows my name, for sure. I am very appreciative of our sister, hearing from God in the hills of West Virginia. The amazing thing is I preached for the past several weeks on the baton and "The Cobblers ‘LAST' used to make shoes", which was one of the items she placed in the chest she has given me.
Our guest from Sheffield, England this weekend - Missionary Evangelist John Wilkinson - stepped into the pulpit and said, "For several weeks God has been dealing with me about this message."
John, not knowing that I had spoken on this subject for the last two weeks, had even gone to the trouble of making a paper baton, which means; TESTIMONY in Italian and WITNESS in French. John emphasized the need for running shoes and that the last leg of a 4x4 relay team is called the anchor. Then he mentioned the most tedious part of the relay is the passing of the baton. The fastest runner is the 4th and last one on the team. We all realized that God was speaking to us in a profound way, realizing I had never spoken to our evangelist about what I had been preaching. My takeaway from his message was that we could now be in the anchor leg of the Human Race. Therefore, we cannot afford to drop our witness as well as our testimony. We have the information of the ages to run with and we should be the most informed and best equipped here at the end of time.
I was going to speak Sunday on "The Cobbler." Herein is an illustration I found to be referred to in the message, I had already prepared and had intended to use:
Called from the Cobbler's Bench
William Carey (1761–1834)
William Carey (1761–1834)
"Thy Redeemer … The God of the whole earth shall He be called." Isaiaxh 54:5
In 1783, above a cobbler's bench in England, there hung a large hand-made map of the known world. As the young cobbler worked, he prayed for little-known lands full of people who were ignorant of the Gospel. Between shoe making, school teaching, and itinerant preaching, he found time to teach himself Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Dutch, French, and Italian. In 1789, eager to spread his vision of the need for organized world missions, he went to pastor a large church in Leicester.
Despite indifference, resistance, and even public rebuke, he presented his burden tirelessly, finally gaining the attention of the Christian world in a sermon on world missions of which the keynote was "Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God." As a direct result of this sermon the Baptist Missionary Society was formed "for the propagation of the Gospel among the heathen." Thus, William Carey is known as "the father of modern missions."
Unselfishly, Carey proposed the name of a Christian doctor as the first missionary to be sent by the board. However, when the board determined that he should go with Dr. Thomas, Carey was overjoyed. For forty years Carey labored in India both preaching the Gospel and translating the Bible. God so gifted and enabled him with an incredible talent for languages, that he was involved in translating the Scriptures into forty different languages, eight of which included the entire Old Testament. Although Cary suffered the loss of three children, was widowed twice, often hindered by the government, and frequently suffered financial loss, those around him were strongly aware that his confidence was firmly established in God. During his difficulties Carey testified, "I have rejoiced that God has given me this great favor ‘to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.' I would not change my station... for all the wealth of the world."
From a cobbler's bench God chose a man to rekindle the fire of evangelism in the church. God delights in using the humble, the obscure, and the unlikely to fulfill His purposes—all He needs is someone willing to obey.
I am your Cobbler,
Cleddie Keith
In 1783, above a cobbler's bench in England, there hung a large hand-made map of the known world. As the young cobbler worked, he prayed for little-known lands full of people who were ignorant of the Gospel. Between shoe making, school teaching, and itinerant preaching, he found time to teach himself Greek, Hebrew, Latin, Dutch, French, and Italian. In 1789, eager to spread his vision of the need for organized world missions, he went to pastor a large church in Leicester.
Despite indifference, resistance, and even public rebuke, he presented his burden tirelessly, finally gaining the attention of the Christian world in a sermon on world missions of which the keynote was "Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God." As a direct result of this sermon the Baptist Missionary Society was formed "for the propagation of the Gospel among the heathen." Thus, William Carey is known as "the father of modern missions."
Unselfishly, Carey proposed the name of a Christian doctor as the first missionary to be sent by the board. However, when the board determined that he should go with Dr. Thomas, Carey was overjoyed. For forty years Carey labored in India both preaching the Gospel and translating the Bible. God so gifted and enabled him with an incredible talent for languages, that he was involved in translating the Scriptures into forty different languages, eight of which included the entire Old Testament. Although Cary suffered the loss of three children, was widowed twice, often hindered by the government, and frequently suffered financial loss, those around him were strongly aware that his confidence was firmly established in God. During his difficulties Carey testified, "I have rejoiced that God has given me this great favor ‘to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.' I would not change my station... for all the wealth of the world."
From a cobbler's bench God chose a man to rekindle the fire of evangelism in the church. God delights in using the humble, the obscure, and the unlikely to fulfill His purposes—all He needs is someone willing to obey.
I am your Cobbler,
Cleddie Keith