Did you still trust in 1 Cor 10:13 at that time?
Absolutely, because I had found other verses that encouraged me to TRUST, like:
Romans 8:28 (HCSB)
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
2 Peter 3:8-9 (NASB)
8 But do not let this one
fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Plus Like I said that Total TRUST in the LORD, had to have been a Spiritual Gift, and it came in Handy my whole life.
How does a Nebraska Farm Boy with no Bible College experience, know GOD wants Him to start a Prison Ministry in Northern California?
Only GOD Knows!
If you are looking for one momentary SCARE, that caused me to question if He was going to let me FALL, it would have to be the first time I was called upon to PREACH totally unexpectedly, a little less than 2 years in the Ministry.
But in the back of my mind I still remembered this verse:
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
At that particular time it was early in my Prison Ministry. I would have to escort Pastors from the community Churches to come at 2:00 PM on Sunday afternoon on a rotating basis, to Teach the Sermon in the Minimum Security Yard. There is always one Minimum Security Yard at every Super-Max Prison. Those are non-violent crime inmates, like third offence drunken driving, first offense possession of a controlled substance, etc. They are the inmates that can be trusted to Mow the Lawns, act as Janitors in the Institution's Offices, Kitchen Help in the Staff Chow Hall, etc.
So part of my ministry was to escort those Pastors in, and it was Pastor Terry's turn. So at
1:45 PM, I walked over to the Chapel window, because Minimum Yard only had a Chain Link Fence between the Parking Lot and the Yard, and I could watch for Pastor's car from there.
1:50 PM, I thought "Pastor Terry is usually here by now."
1:55 PM, I thought "Man, he is cutting it close."
2:00 PM, I thought "Hurry Pastor Terry, it is time!"
2:05 PM, I thought "Pastor Terry FORGOT IT WAS HIS SUNDAY TO TEACH THE SERMON! I HAVE TO PREACH! I have nothing Prepared, Do not Know what I will PREACH! I HAVE NEVER PREACHED IN MY LIFE. I CANNOT DO THIS!" I did an about face with my KNEES ABSOLUTELY SHAKING, went straight to my Office Door, and after closing the door, I got down on my knees, and PRAYED, "LORD, you know I cannot do this, but I will trust You. You will have to come into my heart and teach the Sermon." Instantly I remembered in the back of the back of my Bible I had written the VERSES for the Plan of Salvation, and thought that will be the SERMON.
I got up from my knees, started the Worship Service with about 4 songs, and then as I stepped into the Pulpit, as I remembered a Prayer that Dr. Ed Young used to OPEN EVERY SERMON with.
"Father we thank you for your Holy Word that You gave PURE AND TRUE, through the Prophets of Old, and through the mind of the Disciples. Lord YOU SPEAK, and let me get out of the WAY, so the Message will be as pure and true as when YOU First Gave It. In Jesus Name I pray."
Well, DID JESUS TEACH THE MESSAGE ? ? ?
Oh my, did HE ever. I wanted to take notes on HIS TEACHING. His Sermon through me, lasted about 30 minutes, which was perfect, because "YARD RECALL" sounded at 2:55 just as Chapel ended, which meant it was COUNT TIME. Yes, I am not joking, I would have loved to have Sermon Notes from that Sermon. It was Purest explanation of How a Person is SAVED by far.
After that, the Head Chaplain, said he wanted me to take over the Sermon Ministry every Sunday Afternoon in the Minimum Yard. I TRUSTED JESUS to bring something into my path that made it obvious, which HE WANTED ME TO TEACH ON the next Sunday. And He was Faithful, the Subject came to me, and I knew exactly what HE WANTED ME TO TEACH. I wrote or TYPED the verses, once I got a Computer in 1995. I kept in on one page, because inmate do not know were to find most of the Books of the Bible, AND I TOTALLY TRUSTED THAT HE WOULD GIVE ME WHAT HE WANTED TO SAY ABOUT THOSE VERSE. Honest, I NEVER WROTE out a single SERMON, instead I just put the Verses pertaining to a particular Subject, AND TRUSTED HIM TO GIVE ME WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THOSE VERSE, and all my Sermon ended up being around 45 minutes long.
Praise the LORD.
Here is a SAMPLE of how I presented the Sermon Notes to the Inmates:
Why the Pictures and nice Borders? A Picture is worth a thousand words. Almost everyone wanted to take them, some to send home to Mom. But my earlier Hand written Sermon Note Verses, just stayed on the Chair.