THE IMAGE OF JESUS

05_09

“…He persevered because he saw him who is invisible.”

Hebrews 11:27b

Last year I received a letter from Dr. Cho. He shared with all of his board members that the great evangelist Oral Roberts had passed into the presence of God. When I read this, it made me think about all of the events that had been divinely knitted together that had to take place in his life in order to give birth to his calling for ministry. If I could summarize it, I would say that he was a man who was able to see the invisible. At the start of his life, it was not so, because as an adolescent his greatest dream was to be a lawyer and governor of his state. Serving God was not part of his plan. There was never a desire in him for Christian ministry. This led him to live his life the way he wanted to. One day while he was participating in a basketball tournament, he collapsed to the ground, unconscious. After rushing to the hospital he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. This happened in 1935 when there was no medical cure for this disease. After the doctor delivered the sad news that he would not live, his parents got on their knees along with the nurse, and began fervently praying that God would save his soul. Oral, however, remained indifferent, not only to the prayer, but also to the tears of the people who were crying out for him. Even after his mother and the nurse had got up from their knees, his father continued to cry out for the salvation of his son. In a divine moment, when Oral looked at his father he saw his father’s face fade, changing into the face of Jesus. This vision shook him to the very core of his being. For the first time in his life, he saw the invisible. Immediately, he cried out loudly for Jesus to save him, being convicted of his sin. Filled with determination, he said to the Lord, “If You forgive me and save me, I will preach Your Word.” The glorious presence of God descended all over the room.

Some months later, he went to a healing crusade where the evangelist George C. Moncey prayed for him and cast out the spirit of infirmity. In that moment he was completely healed. From then on, he began training to serve the Lord, becoming one of the greatest evangelists used by God in the area of divine healing. He also founded one of the most prestigious universities Oral Roberts University, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
God has different ways of revealing Himself to his servants and He does it in such a way that leaves no room for even the slightest doubt concerning the divine calling on their lives as well as the invisible shelter and protection over their lives. If Oral Roberts had been a great lawyer or a great governor in his state, he might have gone through this world without any recognition. But he was able to leave a lasting mark on the hearts of millions of people. You can do the same if you decide to follow His will, and yield your life completely to Him.

TODAY’S DECLARATION
“I know the invisible God, and I am confident that He is with me in every decision I make in my life.”

Today’s post is an excerpt from Pastor Cesar Castellanos’ book, Declarations of Power for 365 Days of the Year: Volume Two.

TODAY’S BIBLE READING

    • Old Testament: 1 Samuel 19-20; Psalms 103
    • New Testament: Mark 12:13-27; 2 Corinthians 8

THE IMAGE OF JESUS