"I don't want to offend."
I had an interesting conversation on Wednesday evening not long before service time.
Our church uses a Google Voice phone number, which is forwarded to my phone. My phone rings, and I answer.
I hear kindly voice on the other end of the line.
She says, “Hello, I am looking for a church that will baptize me this Sunday. I have been praying and reading my Bible, and I desperately need to be baptized.”
I respond, “Absolutely, we would be glad to baptize you.”
She says, “I don’t want to offend, but I must ask you another question.”
” Respond, no, please, ask whatever your question may be.'“
She says, “Do you baptize in Jesus’s name or in the Titles?”
I chuckle to myself and tell her, “We baptize the same way everyone in the New Testament was baptized after Jesus accended; we baptize in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
She responds, “Wonderful. The church I am a member of baptizes in the titles. I have been so stirred because, in my reading of the scripture, everyone was baptized in the name of Jesus, and I want to be baptized that same way!”
I assured her, “That is the only way we baptize. The New Testament teaches that Jesus's name is the only name that gives salvation!”
She was effusive, and we concluded the conversation with, “We will see you this Sunday.”
On reviewing the conversation, I remembered an experience I had while praying on that exact same morning. No doubt, we pray many of the same things every day. However, yesterday, I remember feeling a noticeable unction.
”Lord, lead us to those who are hungry, searching, and praying.”
After I prayed this, I remember feeling prompted to say, “Lord, lead those who are hungry, searching, and praying to us.”
This is a common pattern in scripture. The hungry came looking for them. Acts 10 is a wonderful example of this.
People are getting stirred up and I anticipate a great awakening this season.
I pray that all of us will be hungry, searching, and praying. That God would grant each of us individually, our families and our churches to experience a renewal and inspired season of searching the scriptures and gaining new insights for our life and devotions.
I sent this lady a few things to read and study; I am sharing them with you in case they might be encouraging to you.