Page 4 - Good News March 2006 paper

then began to remember the was not his. He bought his food nut' who was sent by the enemy stand how this made him a
day when, as a young with what he could make to turn people away from the martyr, which I had thought was a
IChristian, I had become collecting bottles, and occasion- gospel." title reserved for those who died
frustrated with some issues in ally finding someone who would This was the worst blow that I had because they would not compro-
my life. I went out into the middle let him do yard work. yet suffered in this experience. I mise their testimony.
of a battlefield park near my He could not hear but he had was more than shocked. I was "Lord, I know that he is truly an
apartment and determined to learned to read, so I sent him a appalled. I tried to remember the overcomer," I remarked. "And it
wait until the Lord spoke to me. gospel tract. As he read it the specific incident, but couldn't, is so just for him to be here. But
As I sat reading my Bible I was Spirit opened his heart, and he simply because there were so are those who die that way also
caught up in a vision, one of the gave his life to Me. many others like it. I had never considered martyrs?"
first that I ever had. I again doubled the portions of had much compassion for filthy "Angelo was a martyr everyday
In the vision I saw a man who was My love to him and he faithfully street preachers who seemed to that he lived. He would only do
zealously serving the Lord. He used all of them. He wanted to me that they were specifically enough for himself to stay alive,
was continually witnessing to share Me with others, but he sent to turn people away from the and he gladly sacrificed his life to
people, teaching, and visiting the could not speak. Even though he gospel. save a needy friend.
sick to pray for them. He was very lived in such poverty, he started "I'm sorry, Lord! I'm really sorry!" As Paul wrote to the Corinthians,
zealous for the Lord, and had a spending over half of everything "And you are forgiven," He even if you give your body to be
genuine love for people. he made on gospel tracts to give quickly responded. "And you are burned, but do not have love, it
Then I saw another man who was out on street corners." right. There are many who try to counts as nothing. But, when you
obviously a tramp or a homeless "How many did he lead to you?" I preach the gospel on the streets give yourself with love, it counts
man. A small kitten wandered asked, thinking that it must have for wrong, and even perverted for much. Angelo died every day
into his path and he started to been multitudes for him to be reasons. Even so, there are many because he did not live for
kick it, but restrained himself, but sitting with the kings. who are sincere, even if they are himself, but for others. While on
still shoved it rather harshly out "One," the Lord answered. "I let untrained and unlearned. earth he always considered
of the way with his foot. Then the him lead a dying alcoholic to Me You must not judge by appearan- himself the least of the saints, but
Lord asked me which of these to encourage him. It encouraged ces. There are as many true he was one of the greatest.
men pleased Him the most. him so much that he would have servants who look like he did as As you have already learned,
"The first," I said without stood on that corner for many there are among the polished many of those who consider
hesitating. more years just to bring another professionals in the great themselves the greatest, and are
"No, the second," He responded, soul to repentance. But all of cathedrals and organizations considered by others to be the
and began to tell me their stories. heaven was entreating Me to that men have built in My Name." greatest, end up being the least
The first man had been raised in a bring him here, and I, too, wanted He then motioned for me to look here. Angelo did not die for a
wonderful family, which had him to receive his reward." up at Angelo. When I turned, he doctrine, or even his testimony,
always known the Lord. He grew "But what did he do to become a had descended the steps leading but he did die for Me."
up in a thriving Church, and then king?" I asked. to his throne and was right in "Lord, please help me to
attended one of the best Bible "He was faithful with all that he front of me. Opening his arms, he remember this. Please do not let
Colleges. He had been given one was given, he overcame all until gave me a great hug, and kissed me forget what I am seeing here
hundred portions of His love, but he became like Me, and he died a my forehead like a father. Love when I return," I begged.
he was using only seventy-five. martyr." poured over me and through me "That is why I am with you here,
The second man had been born "But what did he overcome, and until I felt that it would overload and I will be with you when you
deaf. He was abused and kept in a how was he martyred?" my nervous system. return.
dark, cold attic until he was found "He overcame the world with My When he finally released me I was Wisdom is to see with My eyes,
by the authorities when he was love. Very few have overcome so staggering as if I were drunk, but and not to judge by appearances.
eight years old. He had been much with so little. Many of My it was a wonderful feeling. It was I showed you Angelo in the vision
shifted from one Institution to people dwell in homes that kings love like I had never felt it. so that you would recognize him
another where the abuse would have envied just a century "He could have imparted that to as the one you passed on the
continued. Finally he was turned ago because of their convenien- you on earth," the Lord street. If you had shared with him
out on the streets. To overcome ces, but do not appreciate them, continued. "He had much to give the knowledge of his past that I
all of this the Lord had only given while Angelo would so have to My people, but they would not had shown you in the vision, he
him three portions of His love, appreciated a cardboard box on a come near him. Even My would have given his life to Me
but he had mustered every bit of cold night that he would have prophets avoided him. then. You could have then
it to fight the rage in his heart to turned it into a glorious temple of He grew in faith by buying a Bible discipled this great king, and he
keep from hurting the kitten. My Presence. and a couple of books that he would have had a great impact on
I now looked at that man, a king He began to love everyone and read over and over. He tried to go My Church.
sitting on a throne far more everything. He would rejoice to Churches but he could not find If My people would look at others
glorious than Solomon could more over an apple than some of one that would receive him. If the way I do, Angelo and many
have even imagined. Hosts of My people do over a great feast. they would have taken him in, others like him, would have been
angels were arrayed about him, He was faithful with all that I gave they would have taken Me in. He recognized. They would have
waiting to do his bidding. I turned him, even though it was not very was My knock upon their door." been paraded onto the greatest
to the Lord in awe. I still just could much compared to what I gave I was learning a new definition of pulpits, and My people would
not believe he was real, much others, including you. grief. "How did he die?" I asked, have come from the ends of the
less one of the great kings. I showed him to you in a vision remembering that he had been earth to sit at their feet, because
"Lord, please, tell me the rest of because you passed him by martyred, half expecting that I by doing this, they would have
his story," I begged. many times. You even once was somehow even responsible sat at My feet. He would have
"Of course, that is why we are pointed him out to one of your for it. taught you to love, and how to
here. Angelo was so faithful with friends and spoke of him." "He froze to death trying to keep invest the gifts that I have given
the little I had given to him, I gave "I did? What did I say?" an old wino alive who had passed you so that you could bear much
him three more portions of My "You said, 'There is another one out in the cold." more fruit."
love. He used all of that to quit of those Elijah's who must have As I looked at Angelo I just could [Extracts from "The Final Quest"
stealing. He almost starved, but escaped from the "bus station".' not believe how hard my heart by Rick Joyner, Whitaker House,
he refused to take anything that You said that he was 'a religious was. Even so, I did not under- 1996].