 
Healing Words for RETIRED PEOPLE

Uncle Sam is DYING and you can help save him

Published by LIFE SENTENCE Publishing at Smashwords - Copyright 2013 Dr. James Wilkins

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Contents

FOREWORD

AN ALTERNATE LIFESTYLE

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

RETIREES: UNCLE SAM NEEDS YOU

WHAT BENEFITS AND BLESSINGS HAVE YOU FORFEITED BY RETIRING?

ELEVENTH-HOUR CHRISTIANS

THE FAMOUS FIVE WHO DID NOT RETIRE

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

A Prayer Of Confession And Acceptance

THE CALEB CLUB

TRAINING PEOPLE IN CHRISTIAN SERVICE

ADDITIONAL BOOKS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
FOREWORD

There is a formula for success throughout this book.

  1. Recruit to a great cause.
  2. Train in Christian ministry.
  3. Equip with proper tools.
  4. Inspect to a high standard.

SAVING AMERICA

What greater cause could we recruit for than saving America?

When we save America, we will have saved freedom, the Christian way of life, our families, and most of all, our children!

Train in CHRISTIAN MINISTRY

We must enlist to a Christian ministry because the battles we face are not political, secular, or against any segment of the peoples of America.

We are in a spiritual battle. Let me rephrase this: We are in the spiritual battle of our lives.

But take courage; it is not the first time America has been in desperate straits. There have been at least five other times when America has become so backslidden and corrupt that our only hope was God's mercy.

The second truth was stated to other generations and was clearly stated to Moses. God said, The LORD shall fight for you (Exodus 14:14). God also said to Gideon, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel.

EQUIP WITH PROPER TOOLS

God gave me life when He overruled my mother's attempt to abort me. Since that time He has been training me to equip people with proper tools in the fields of:

  * Fasting and praying
  * Witnessing
  * Discipling
  * Giving

We now have these tools in printed form and on CDs and DVDs. We will soon be live over the Internet and can answer questions directly as people call. Read this book, and you will see that many retired people have become very successful and happy in the eleventh hour of their lives.

HOLD TO A HIGH STANDARD OF ACCOUNTABILITY

In order to develop people and hold them to a high level of accountability, we are forming Caleb Clubs. Men and women who have held positions of leadership in business and churches have already been trained as successful leaders. It will be a natural and simple process for them to transfer their skills into the spiritual realm and become leaders.

It will not be easy for some, of course, but the alternative is total enslavement and loss of freedom. Then, there is the endless eternity for our families and countrymen to face. We must answer the call to arms.

If God used old people who were as good as dead (Abraham, Sarah, Zacharias, Elizabeth, and Caleb) to change their generations, then why couldn't He use some of the 65 million senior and retired citizens to change our generation?
CHAPTER ONE

AN ALTERNATE LIFESTYLE

When people pick up a book in order to see if it is worth reading, they want to know, what is the purpose of this book?

Is it something they would like to read? In order to answer this question, we are telling you the purpose of this book right up front!

An Alternative Lifestyle for the Retired

We can't stop you from aging, but we can offer you a better life while you are finishing up your short race on this earth.

This alternate lifestyle will answer the question that all retirees ask, "What am I going to do when I retire?"

Every retiree wants to find something they will enjoy, something that will bring fulfillment and purpose.

PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS

This alternate lifestyle is based on the Principles of Success. These principles are very simple and will work in all phases of life: in everyday life, in business, and in retirement.

There are four basic steps for you to follow. They are:

  1. Enlist to a great cause.
  2. Train people in order to perform properly.
  3. Equip them with the proper tools.
  4. Hold all to a standard of accountability.

A CALL TO ARMS

Our country is very sick and dying, and we seem helpless to do anything about it. In this book we will give the retired segment of the population, all 65 million of them, a medium and a way to fight back in order to do something that can change our nosedive to destruction.

FULFILL YOUR DESTINY

Most older folks have given up on life. Something went wrong – they do not know where it went wrong or why – but they have not enjoyed life like they thought they would.

In this book you will find the way to fulfill your destiny and find that joy and satisfaction you've been searching for.

NATURAL STEPS TO FULFILLMENT

You must first have a GOAL or something that is worth living for.

Second, you must have a PLAN that will help you reach that goal.

And third, you must have SOME TYPE OF TRAINING in order to reach that goal.

This book will reveal that there is such training available, and it is something you can do. There are some simple, baby-like steps this book will offer. But we want to warn you up front: Although these steps are simple and well within your ability, you will have to work in order to master them.

You can do it because ...

  1. IT IS IN HARMONY WITH YOUR NATURE

God created man for a purpose and placed within him a nature to serve. In fact, Jesus declared this truth when He announced His purpose for coming into the world. He said, I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10b).

Man was created to be part of a family, to have children, and to love and develop them. A man does not have to be a "Mr. Atlas" before he can become a father – any little, old, skinny guy can become a dad. It is his birthright. A woman does not have to have the gift of motherhood before she can become a mother. It is her birthright. This is based on the principle that every healthy thing reproduces fruit after its kind.

This principle is true in the spiritual realm as well as in the natural realm. A healthy, born- again Christian will produce fruit in the spiritual realm. We offer training that will give the retiree an opportunity to become healthy and produce spiritual fruit.

  2. BY BECOMING A VITAL PART

Instead of feeling like a spare part in your local church or in life, we will teach you how to become a vital part in your local church and life.

  3. TO BRING PERSONAL SATISFACTION AS YOU GLORIFY GOD

If a book can help you, the reader, find greater satisfaction in life as you glorify God, it is worth reading.

Before going on in this book, please take time to consider a few questions in the following chapter, and answer them.
CHAPTER TWO

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

If you are a speed reader, slow down!

As the saying goes, "Stop and smell the roses." Please stop and ponder these simple questions; it will only take a short time. It would be best if you would circle the answer which first pops into your mind, and then go back and ponder your answers. It won't hurt you to pamper an old man and get a pen and circle your answers. After all, you are seeking a better life that will bring you more happiness and satisfaction. Y is for, "yes", N is for, "no."

CIRCLE THE RIGHT ANSWER

  1. Has America been good to you? Y N
  2. Have you done anything for America other than vote, pray for her, and grumble about high taxes? Y N
  3. Is our beloved America, once a proud Christian nation, now a sick, sinful nation? Y N
  4. Are there now more broken homes with only one parent than homes with both parents? Y N
  5. Have our churches become weak, powerless institutions? Y N
  6. Are you happy with our political leaders and their policies? Y N
  7. Do we have over two million citizens locked up in jails or prisons? Y N
  8. Do you want to regain control of your life and have a real purpose once again? Y N
  9. Do you now enjoy the blessings of eternal life? Y N
  10. Are all your sins forgiven? Y N
  11. Is your name written down in the Lamb's Book of Life? Y N
  12. Do you have a title deed to a mansion in heaven? Y N
  13. Will you receive a glorified body? Y N
  14. Will you live in a perfect paradise forever? Y N
  15. Did Jesus endure the sufferings of the eternal fires of hell in your place? Y N
  16. Did Jesus become sin and die as your substitute so you could escape judgment? Y N
  17. Did Jesus cry, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? because He had become a forsaken soul and was dying in your place? Y N
  18. Are you acting like the frightened Gideon in the Old Testament? (Judges 6:13) Y N

He was bemoaning his terrible fate and he was cowering because of fear. He felt helpless in a dark situation and didn't believe he could do anything about it.

  19. Would you like to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem? Y N
  20. Would you like to be the "victor" instead of the "victim?" Y N
  21. Would you like to be transformed into a mighty person of valor? Y N
  22. Would you like for history to record your exploits instead of your defeats? Y N
  23. Would you like to become part of the spiritual awakening that saves America? Y N
  24. Are you willing to try? Y N

CONTINUE ON TO THE ROAD OF VICTORY

If you are the least bit concerned or interested, then continue reading this book. It may change your life!

You could become part of changing America.
CHAPTER THREE

RETIREES: UNCLE SAM NEEDS YOU

Uncle Sam is about to die. In fact, he is already on life support. His enemies are watching the brain waves, and they're just waiting to pull the plug. And what are the 65 million people in the retired age range doing about it? Very little or nothing.

Some are wringing their hands in hopelessness.

Others are already weeping, waiting for the inevitable.

Millions have gone AWOL (absent without leave) and are deserters. They have tried everything else to help him, except give of themselves.

Many pastors and theologians have turned to the Bible in order to justify their inactivity. Their false deduction is: "We are in the last days and this end was predestined." Otherwise, it is: "This condition is not our fault, but God's."

The largest population block in America, blessed more than any other segment of American citizens, has bought in to and is pursuing the prize at the end of the American dream: retirement.

But most retirees are finding that retirement isn't that much fun.

Many veterans, some of whom have given their blood and seen their buddies die for the principles upon which our country was founded, are bewildered. They are asking, "How did we ever get into this mess?"

The answer to their question is that we tried to fix it. We turned away from the true God of heaven and thought that we, in our own wisdom and strength, could maintain our American way of life.

Only those in the 65-million-strong-age range of retirees can remember what that "way of life" was, because it is gone. We lost that way of life while exploiting and selfishly enjoying its benefits.

But back to the point. Uncle Sam is dying and he needs you.

You ask, "How can I do anything? I am just one person."

Before I answer that question, may I remind you of other dark periods in the lives of past generations of people? In other times of history, one person risked all and made the difference – turned the tide – and turned certain defeat into victory.

How about the time when a little shepherd boy, David, faced the huge giant, and in the name of the Lord, slew him. His cry was, Is there not a cause?

How about a beautiful little Jewish girl, Esther, whose nation was decreed to be destroyed, and she stood before the king's door. On the other side of the door was instant death or victory for her people. God had placed her on the earth for such a time as this. She breathed a prayer, uttering the famous words, If I perish, I perish, and stepped through the door.

Her nation of Israel is still prospering on the earth, while her enemies died or will die.

There was never a darker period in American history than when the giant of a man, George Washington, led his small, ill-equipped army in the dead of winter through snow and blizzard conditions to our first victory in the Revolutionary War.

How about the brave band of Texans who fought against overwhelming odds? Every one of them gave their lives, but they never really died in our hearts, because the shout that won the independence of Texas and inspired generations still lingers on – Remember the Alamo!

All four of these great moments in history were separated by centuries, but they had one thing in common: faith and obedience to the great God of heaven.

When the Egyptian army was charging from the rear and the Red Sea was blocking his escape, Moses was told, The LORD shall fight for you, and in a miraculous way God parted the Red Sea and victory was won.

America was established through the goodness and grace of God.

America has been preserved by the goodness and grace of the Lord. He has fought for our nation many times.

GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH AMERICA YET

There are three reasons why I believe God is not through with our great nation yet. Though Uncle Sam is very sick and at the point of death, we can see him revived and in good health once again.

1. AMERICA HAS SHOWN MERCY AND HOPE

Throughout our nation's history, America has always held out the torch of hope. Millions who lived in futility and slavery had the courage to live on because of the freedom and hope found in America.

But one of the great reasons I believe that God will save America is because of the merciful nature of its people.

Let a tragedy strike anywhere in the world, and the hearts of the American people are opened. It does not matter whether the nation is friendly to America or one of her enemies; help, liberal and abundant help, has always been offered. This is an undisputable truth: America is a merciful nation.

God cannot lie, and He states in His infallible Word:

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy (Matthew 5:7).

One of God's great theological and biological laws is still in force. It states that one will reap what he sows. America has always sowed the seeds of mercy. As a nation, we can expect to reap mercy from the hand of a merciful God – if we meet His conditions.

2. AMERICA HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FRIEND TO ISRAEL

Whether you are a friend or a foe to the cause of the nation of Israel, whether you support the American policy toward Israel or not, America has always been a friend, protector, and help to the people of Israel.

Many centuries ago the great God of heaven, whom many American people have all but ignored during the past few years, promised Abraham, His friend:

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12:3).

God has never forgotten His promise to Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel. He has always honored His promise to bless the nation or people who bless Israel. We can expect Him to bless our beloved America – provided we meet His conditions. Many of the leaders in Washington have turned against Israel, but the American people have not.

3. THE INFALLIBLE, INSPIRED WORD OF GOD

In God's eternal Word, God promises many times and in many circumstances that if His people would repent and turn again to Him, He would turn again to them. Perhaps the most often quoted promise in the Old Testament is:

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

God has never rescinded this promise; it is still in force in this, the twenty-first century, waiting for us to meet His condition.

PRINCIPLES FOR SUCCESS

A great leader, Dr. Clarence Sexton, has built a powerful ministry upon the following four principles:

  1. Enlist to a great cause.
  2. Train people in Christian ministry.
  3. Equip them with proper tools.
  4. Hold all to a standard of accountability.

These principles will work in a business.

These principles will work in a local church.

These principles will work in your life.

These principles will work in the revival and restoration of America.

These principles will work to heal and bring joy and success to the life of any retiree.

UNCLE SAM NEEDS YOU

Retirees – members of the failing class which make up the 65 million Americans who have enjoyed the fruits and benefits of God's bountiful hand on America – Uncle Sam needs you. You ask, "What can I do?"

Very little.

With the combined majority of the 65 million, you can do very little.

"Why?" you ask. Because the battle is a spiritual battle. The politicians in Washington are powerless to help. They have only made things worse. They are largely the cause for Uncle Sam's near-death condition.

No, unless God intervenes, all hope for Uncle Sam's recovery is gone.

But you ask once again, "What can I do?"

Begin by reading the stories in this book, and then I will tell you how you can save Uncle Sam's life and raise him to greatness once again.

You will see yourself and be challenged in these true stories.
CHAPTER FOUR

WHAT BENEFITS AND BLESSINGS HAVE YOU FORFEITED BY RETIRING?

If Abram and Sarai had retired at the age of seventy-five, your whole world would have been changed.

Let us imagine that Abram, at the age of seventy-five, went back inside the tent where his wife Sarai sat perspiring. They had experienced another sandstorm the day before and today the sun is blistering hot. "I'm tired of all this waiting on God. I am really tired of all this sand and heat. I think, at the age of seventy-five, I have earned the right to a little relaxation and comfort," Abram said to his wife Sarai.

"You are right, Abram. Besides, we can wait on God's promise over on the shores of the Mediterranean, where the sea breezes blow," encouraged his wife.

Thus, Abram announced his retirement and they were soon living in a much better climate. By today's standards, Abram made a wise choice. He would fit right in with this twenty-first century crowd of over 65 million Americans.

WHO IS ABRAM?

Someone asks, "Who is this Abram fellow? I have heard of Abraham, but not Abram. Who is he?"

That is the point! If Abram had retired at the age of seventy-five, the world would not have heard of Abraham.

God changed the name of Abram to Abraham BECAUSE HE DID NOT RETIRE. Abraham continued to work in order to fulfill God's purpose for Abraham's life on this earth.

One man's retirement would have changed the world drastically and forever.

  * There would have been no Abraham or Sarah.
  * There would have been no Isaac.
  * There would have been no nation of Israel.
  * There would have been no Christ child.
  * There would have been no Christmas, no hope.
  * There would have been no glorious thousand-year reign of Jesus on this earth.

Of all God's great miracles, He performed one on two old people in order for them to fulfill His will and purpose on this earth.

If Abraham had retired, he would have never become the great man of faith, father of the faithful, and friend of God.

So, the question arises, what are you missing because you were influenced by the world system and retired?

IT WAS PRESUMPTION ON YOUR PART

Scripture declares, What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

That purchase price was the precious blood of His son, Jesus (1 Peter 1:18-19).

The Bible also declares that the purchase price is Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:9-10).

The Word of God also states: For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake (Philippians 1:29).

Again, what blessings and benefits have you forfeited by listening to those around you who influenced you to retire?

GOD IS NOT A RESPECTER OF PERSONS

God longs to bless you in your old age, and He is not a respecter of persons.

He could also extend your life as He did Abraham and Sarah's.

He could perform a miracle in your life so you can do great and mighty things for Him.

He could give you a desire and the strength as He did for Caleb, who cried out, Give me this mountain!

He could help you to get your family and friends saved from hell and be part of a spiritual awakening in America.

Why do you sit idle all day while your nation and people are perishing?

WHEN GRANDPA AND GRANDMA RETIRE

People have always had a desire to slow down, kick back, or retire in the latter years of their life.

The way many working people retired when I was a boy and in the early years of my ministry, was that they would turn the farm or small business over to one or more of their children and live in a smaller house with their wives.

America was still, generally speaking, a Christian and church-going nation.

When Grandma and Grandpa retired from their business or manual labor, they became more involved in church than ever before. In some instances it seemed that they retired from secular pursuits to give of themselves to do more spiritual things. They were building a bridge from this earth to heaven, so their families could follow them to heaven. They still played a very active part in the lives of their families and community.

During the year, the churches would set aside two periods for the spring and fall revival (two weeks long). The retirees were there for both the morning and evening services. Many times Grandpa had a quiet place down in the woods where he met with God daily in fervent prayer. The whole community worked together to have time off from their normal chores, jobs, and duties in order to attend "the meeting." It seemed that many of the retirees did not retire from church, but retired to become full-time workers for the church. The crowds attending the night services were generally much larger than those at the Sunday morning service. Historians called that period of time THE FIFTH GREAT SPIRITUAL AWAKENING IN AMERICA.

In our twenty-first century, things have drastically changed as we watch America drifting toward becoming an anti-Christian, lawless nation.

WHY DO MANY RETIRE FROM THE CHURCH TODAY?

In our rapid-paced society where most couples choose to work, it has become very acceptable to attend church services once a week. In fact, many look for larger congregations to attend. They give, sing, and enjoy the fellowship, but little else is required of them.

WHY DO SO MANY RETIRE FROM THE CHURCH? There are several obvious reasons why many people quit going to church almost altogether.

First, it is acceptable in today's society to do so. Many of their family members and associates are doing it, so they reason, "I can too." Personal and family reasons and recreational things begin to crowd out church attendance.

Second, they are bored. The sermons or messages are homiletically correct and the speech well delivered, but there is no life or conviction in them. They don't stir the soul – they are just words.

Third, people feel un-needed. Things are pretty much the same all the time whether they are there or not. There is no real goal or purpose. It gets to be just another Sunday sermon.

Fourth, things look helpless. The lifestyle of the church member is about the same as the lifestyle of the non-church member. Many give in to excuses such as, "Why make the effort? It doesn't seem to make a difference anyway," or "Things in Washington are a mess. There don't seem to be any leaders who are not pressured into continuing the status quo, so why fret it ... just go with the flow."

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GRANDPA AND GRANDMA RETIRE FROM THE CHURCH?

First, they fail to count the cost. In Luke 14 Jesus presents three strong requirements for one to be a disciple. The reason for three requirements is THE POWER OF EXAMPLE. We teach more by our actions than we do with our words.

The first requirement is to love God supremely.

The second requirement is to follow in the steps of Jesus daily.

The third requirement is to count the cost for our actions in the light of the future. What will our actions cost us in the future? In the two examples given in the passage, the person hadn't properly counted the cost for his plans and thus had to take drastic actions in order to prevent total destruction and defeat.

When grandparents retire from the church, they fail to count the future cost of their actions.

WHAT WAS KING DAVID'S GREATEST SIN?

King David brought humiliating sin and destruction upon himself, his family, and his God. But what was his greatest sin?

Was it when he lusted and committed adultery with Bathsheba? No.

Was it when he conspired to cover up his one-night stand? No.

Was his greatest sin when he had the husband of Bathsheba murdered? No.

These were all terrible sins, but they were the results of his greatest sin. David's greatest sin was that he was out of the will of God. The Bible states: at the time when kings go forth to battle ... David tarried still at Jerusalem. God places a hedge around His people. They have no hedge or protection from the Lord when they are out of the will of God. When David should have been with his army, he was out of the will of God back home. And oh, did it cost him! He lived the rest of his life under a cloud of shame, and his actions split his family into factions. Some even died and went to hell because of the consequences of his great sin.

GRANDPARENTS BUY IN TO THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORLD SYSTEM

When they follow the world's traditions, they get out of the will of God.

The world system proclaims that senior citizens have a right to kick back and retire. The Bible concurs with this principle up to a certain point. The seniors have a right to retire from their secular jobs, but they do not have a right to retire from God and His purpose for their lives.

PLACES THEM IN THE WRONG CAMP

Adopting the world's thinking and ways places people in the wrong camp. The Bible states: know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God (James 4:4).

God commands us to Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world (1 John 2:15a).

God's Word also states: And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2a). One is transformed when he reads and obeys the Bible.

THEY FEED THE WRONG NATURE

The born-again child of God has two natures. He still has the old flesh nature, but upon his spiritual birth he receives a spiritual, godly nature. When he is faithful to attend church, he is feeding the divine, holy nature which enables him to live in such a way that he is a role model to those around him. But when a person retires from an active life in church, he automatically starts feeding the old nature.

In Luke 8:14 Jesus describes the effect of walking in the world's philosophy and way. He said the thorns begin to choke the spiritual life out of the person. He then identifies what the thorns are:

  * The pleasures of life
  * The cares of this world
  * The riches of this world

When the cares and the riches of this world, along with the pleasures of life, begin to dominate a person's thinking, the spiritual life is choked right out of the child of God, and he becomes a carnal Christian.

Grandma and Grandpa do not look far enough into the future and do not see this horrible consequence of their retirement from the church.

THEIR ADULT KIDS SLACK OFF IN THEIR SERVICE

The presence of the parents always causes their children to be on their best behavior.

Daughters always dress more conservatively when their dads are present.

The son will be more faithful to serve God and attend church when he knows that his parents are around.

Because of their parents' participation, the children are more active in church. Their lives are lived out in a more spiritually obedient manner.

Grandpa, Grandma, their adult children, and their grandchildren are all a spiritual help and blessing to each other. But when the grandparents retire from the church, the adult children begin to slack off.

Church ceases to be fun for the grandkids and they begin to lose interest.

The loss of grandparents to the accepted way of the world weakens the whole congregation.

When their kids slack off and their grandchildren begin to lose interest in being faithful to church, it has a domino effect on all those church members and young people around them.

Those who retire from the church do not look far enough into the future to properly count the cost of going their own way.

COMMENTS KIDS HAVE MADE

"When Grandma and Grandpa started travelling the country, I lost interest in church. It was empty. I missed the hugs and kisses."

Another teenager confessed, "Since church was not the same with Maw Maw [Grandma] and Grandpa gone, I started missing ... oh, the grief I suffered. I wish things were like they used to be."

"Grandpa would give me a pack of candy. Grandma would hug and kiss me and tell me how pretty I was." I could sense the sadness in her voice as she spoke.

"When Grandma and Grandpa started travelling is when dad began to drink. At first it was a beer now and then. Now, it is all the time. He and Mother are always fussing and fighting. I am afraid that our whole family is going down the toilet."

"I used to love church ... it was fun. But since my grandparents retired and started travelling it is not the same. My whole family feels that way."

Multiply these and similar statements ten thousand times, and one can see part of the great hurt that many are suffering today.

THE GREATEST HURT CAUSED BY RETIRING FROM THE CHURCH

There are two strange phenomena that happen to both children of God and to reptiles.

A reptile continues to grow a little bit every year it lives.

The child of God can grow to be a full-grown, mature, fruitful Christian and then regress to being a spiritual baby once again (Hebrews 5:12-13).

People who were once strong, faithful, soul-winning members have a tendency to regress to the level of spiritual babies when they retire from the church. They are no longer prayer warriors or strong in the Lord. They begin to be more fearful and less of a spiritual help. If this regression continues, they accept the role of being an old person who is now controlled by the wishes of adult children. They become a liability instead of a help.

RETIREMENT AIN'T THAT MUCH FUN

When Abe and Clara retired, they had bought the full sales pitch of the world system and started off to see the sights in and around Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. The anticipated excitement they felt was soon worn down by the weary miles on the road on their better-than-a-dream first trip in the long-awaited freedom of retirement. Clara was suffering from a backache and Abe's comment was, "The pictures of Mount Rushmore in the video were more revealing and beautiful than seeing it in person."

They were back home in FOUR DAYS!

Their experience may have been a little more extreme than most, but it illustrates the point of many. Many have secretly confided that the most beautiful sight on the whole trip was when they returned home and turned into their driveway.

Many retired from good-paying jobs only to, as one man put it, "piddle around the place." They got bored and had to find a part-time job in order to endure their retirement.

One wise couple stated, "We found our retirement more pleasurable when we took the kids and grandkids camping or fishing out at the lake."

Many retirees lose their purpose in life and within a short period of time die.

RETREAD INSTEAD OF RETIRE

After wandering around for the best parts of their lives, Abraham and Sarah found their true purpose in their latter years.

This knowledge of their true purpose came only after they had totally submitted themselves to God. When they did, they were able to finish their purpose in life victoriously.

The word retread comes from a time, about thirty years ago, when an owner would recap his tires once they began to show wear. This was before the tire manufacturer perfected the art of producing tires that would last 70,000 to 100,000 miles. Thus the term retread became popular.

CHURCHES HAVE FAILED TO TRAIN THEIR PEOPLE

God gave evangelists, pastors, and teachers to the church in order to perfect or train them to do the work of the ministry or church (Ephesians 4:11-12). Most churches just have preaching and teaching services and fail to train their people.

Most believe that when they attend services regularly, sing, give their offerings, and attend the church's Bible studies and fellowship meetings, they are doing the work of the ministry.

WRONG! Doing those things is not the work of the ministry or the church. The work of the church is to win souls and then disciple them in order for the new converts to learn to pray, win other souls, and train their family so they can successfully serve God.

IT IS YOUR BIRTHRIGHT

Just as it was natural when you got married to have children, it is natural for you to win souls. Just as it is the duty of parents to train their children, it is natural for you to learn to train your spiritual children by discipling them.

Soul winning is not a gift. It is the by-product of a healthy Christian's life. You were designed by your Creator to reproduce yourself by winning souls. It is your birthright – you were designed to do it. In the following true stories you will see how other people, much like Abraham and Sarah, found their true purpose in life and excelled in success and happiness in their old age.

The answer to true happiness is not retirement but retreadment.

We can train you in your home or local church to find the same happiness and satisfaction in life that they found.
CHAPTER FIVE

ELEVENTH-HOUR CHRISTIANS

In the theological sense, the eleventh hour is the period of time just before Jesus' coming back to the earth the second time.

In a biological sense, the eleventh hour in a person's life is when he retires or passes the age of fifty-five.

God has promised total amnesty to the people who are in their eleventh hour of this life,

PROVIDING ...

They go to work in His vineyard winning souls or saving the harvest.

God will get no pleasure or glory for chastising people at the judgment seat of Christ. He would rather offer them an incentive for working to save the harvest or win souls in the eleventh hour. This truth is found in Matthew 20:1-16.

In the following pages you will find eight stories of people who were in their seventies or eighties and found purpose, which allowed them to die victoriously.

The first story is about a grandmother who learned to win souls and went on to win her grandchildren.

The second story is about a man and his wife who invested their money and their last years wisely.

The third story is about two old ladies who persevered. They would practice a little bit and then pray a little bit. Man, did that pay off!

The fourth story is about soiled merchandise. A man learned that many people are hurting so badly they do not care about someone who fouled up in his younger years.

The fifth story is about an old woman who gave the last ten years (from age sixty-nine to seventy-nine) of her life winning souls.

The sixth story is about a pastor in his seventies who was fired from his church while his bedridden wife was dying in the intensive care unit.

The seventh story shows the effect of realization. The woman realized her husband was lost and in imminent danger of going to hell.

The last story is about a man who exchanged his plans for God's perfect will.

GRANDMA WON HER GRANDCHILDREN

A grandmother who was in her seventies could not bear the thought that her beautiful grandchildren would go to hell.

I will never forget her phone call inviting me to come and hear their radiant testimonies and see them baptized.

So she learned to win souls.

A GRANDMOTHER HEARD THE CRIES OF THE HARVEST

"The church split, and my son and his family never went back to church." Then tears came into this precious grandmother's eyes as she struggled to regain composure. She continued on as she explained why she, a woman in her seventies, had enrolled in my soul-winning class. "My beautiful twenty-three-year-old granddaughter and my handsome grandson had never been saved. They are good kids and have never been in any trouble, but ..." and then those tears began to flow as she continued, "if something ever happens to them, they will die and go to he..." She couldn't finish. It was too painful for her to pronounce the fate that her two adult grandchildren were facing. "The other night I had a dream – no, it was a nightmare. It was my two precious grandchildren screaming, pleading for help. They were in total darkness – in hell.

"I had to come to your class. I believe that I am the only one who can win them." There was a tone of conviction and determination in her voice. Then she added, "I hope it's not too late. I have been sitting on the sidelines all of their lives. I didn't know what to do until I heard you preach."

In her eleventh hour, this grandmother stopped sitting idle all day and joined a class that taught her the simple steps that she used in winning both of her grown grandchildren to the Lord.

I will always treasure the phone call from her with the invitation to come see them baptized and hear their radiant, as Grandma put it, testimonies. Her grandchildren were only the first two that this precious lady won.

There is something that makes life more exciting when one stops sitting idle on the sidelines all day and joins the eleventh-hour workforce in helping get sinners saved from hell. Amnesty and honor await this precious grandmother who could no longer stand by and see people she loved go into eternal hell.

"WE BOUGHT A CHURCH BUILDING WITH PART OF OUR RETIREMENT"

A story of a man and his wife who testified ...

"WE HAVE BEEN MORE ALIVE these last years than at any other time in our fifty-seven years of marriage."

I'M TIRED OF DRIVING THE EIGHTY-MILE ROUND TRIP TO CHURCH

Albert Hudgespeth and his bride of over fifty years, Barbara, lived in Herlong, California, a town crippled by the closure of the army base in that area. There were only two churches still holding services in town, so Albert and Barbara drove the forty miles to Reno, Nevada, to attend a good, sound church that was still preaching and practicing God's Word.

Albert and Barbara were at church in Reno three or four times a week. The church was growing and the needs in Reno were so great. But every time they left their hometown and journeyed forty miles to worship God and be a part of a Bible-believing church that loved Jesus and lost souls, their heart ached for a church in their hometown.

They had prayed, "Lord, send us a pastor." They had mailed letters to different people asking them to pray that God would send them someone. Their exact words were, "He doesn't have to be the best preacher, old or young; we are desperate."

One day after morning devotions, Barbara said, "Albert, you said at one time that you were called to be a preacher. In fact, I've heard you make a couple of pretty good talks." This statement went like an arrow into Albert's heart. "Will I start preaching at the age of seventy-five? Is it too late for me to start now?"

"Who said Abraham was an old man when Isaac was born? Caleb was eighty-five years old when he cried, 'Give me this mountain,'" was Barbara's reply. She continued. "If God is with you, what does age have to do with it anyway?"

Albert had known for many years that God wanted him in the ministry. But he had always reasoned, "I am not a preacher. I don't have the education. There are so many more men who would make a better pastor. God, why don't you call them?"

He decided to compromise. "I'll start a midweek Bible study." The Bible study attendance went from four or five to ten, and then one night, twenty people showed up.

That night, after the service where two precious souls were saved, Albert couldn't sleep. He went from joy and amazement to fear and trembling: joy and amazement because God could use an old man like himself, and fear and trembling because he knew it was God's will for him to start a church in Herlong. So at the ripe old age of seventy-six, Albert surrendered to preach, and was soon ordained and commissioned to start a church in his hometown.

Barbara took a computer class and was soon the church's secretary. They took much of their life's savings and bought an empty church building and refurbished it. Soon they had an average attendance of sixty-five to seventy and were supporting eight missionaries at fifty dollars per month each. Albert took a correspondence course, and at the age of eighty received his B.A. in sacred studies.

During those four years the Hudspeths still travelled the equivalent of the eighty miles to Reno and back three or four times a week. But now it was picking up people for rides to the services, or making sick calls and doing visitation in the homes of people in and around Herlong.

The Hudspeths and Penny and I became good friends. God's message to Albert and Barbara was one of amnesty. They had lived seventy years of their lives for themselves, but then answered the call and went to work in God's vineyard getting people saved from hell. Their testimonies were, "We have been more alive during these last four years than at any time in our fifty-seven years of marriage." These two elderly saints seemed to grow with an exuberance that few people ever experience. When they stopped standing idle all the day long and went to work in the vineyard of the Lord, they suddenly came alive!

Although Albert and Barbara will soon fade away, the church they started in their eleventh hour and the lives it touched, both in Herlong and their worldwide missions program, will shine forever.

"WE FOUND OUR PURPOSE"

This is the story of two old ladies who literally changed their walk when they learned to win souls.

"We would never let on to our husbands that we weren't having a good time, but we are thrilled with life now!"

"Will God forgive us for all those wasted years?"

TWO 70-YEAR-OLDS WHO CHANGED THEIR WALK

There must be something better than Bingo, Skip-Bo, and an occasional trip to a casino!

On the first night of our five-week course that helps people overcome their fear and awkwardness and start winning souls, my attention was drawn to two old ladies. My thought was that they were probably here out of curiosity or boredom. To my delight, they were back for the second and then the third sessions. They stopped at the book table and confessed, both speaking at about the same time. "We sure are having a hard time learning this. Do you think we are too old?" one asked.

At the same time, the other one said something that caught my attention. "Maybe we have been idle too long, and messed around in the world too long, and God has rejected us."

"No, I'm sure that's not the case," I responded. "I have been watching you during our past three sessions. You are seriously trying to learn."

"Maybe we are too stupid," interrupted the other.

"No, you were designed by God to win souls. You can learn," I reassured them.

"Well, we get together every day and practice. We study a little bit and pray a little bit."

The other one, with total seriousness, asked, "Do you think we can learn it that way?"

I assured them that if there was any way to learn it, then the way they were approaching it would work. Smiles appeared on their faces as the Holy Spirit gave them assurance.

Then they said, "See you next week," and waved good-bye.

I watched them walk off. You know what I mean? They walked off slowly, taking small steps, like old people walk.

The next week you could see a marked improvement during the lab session, where they went through the soul-winning procedure. Again they approached the book table. This time they waited so that they were the last to leave.

"I believe we are going to make it," one said as the other nodded her head in agreement.

"Dr. Wilkins," they said. "We have been all over America, Canada, Alaska, and back several times with our dear husbands, who are now deceased. They were such good men, brothers, and we are first cousins. We have known each other all of our lives. We've been champions in Skip-Bo and Dominoes and we have tried our hands in the casinos on more than one occasion. But none of these things brought any lasting satisfaction. We would never let on to our husbands. We acted like we were having a good time, but the best thing about every trip was when we got back home and turned into our driveway.

"Lately, we have been going to church. We found a good church this time, but we are not really active. Oh, we go to all the senior citizen meetings plus church services, but it seems like we are standing idly by and are not doing anything that really counts."

Then one of them seemed to realize the lateness of the hour. She broke in, "But I think we are on to something this time."

"Yes," the other interjected. "We are excited again." And with a wave of the hands and big smiles, the dear old ladies – walking slowly, like old people – moved through the door and out of sight. My heart went out to them as I whispered a silent prayer for them.

I never really got to talk to them again before the seminar closed. Oh, they came up and said, "Thank you. We'll be praying for you." And one did say, "I think we have just about got it."

The other one said, "You will not find us standing around doing nothing anymore. Yes, we are going back to work."

With a little pat on my arm, they walked off, like old people walk, and were gone. Six weeks later I was back in their city again. I had a booth at the National Sword of the Lord Conference.

The second day, while I was in the booth, I noticed the two old ladies. The thing that drew my attention to them was that they were walking like old people walk. While I was observing them, they saw me. Their pace picked up, and with the biggest smiles you have ever seen, they came excitedly up to the booth.

"Dr. Wilkins, there you are! We've been looking everywhere for you. We knew you would be here. We just had to see you. We just had to tell you!" All of this came pouring out of their mouths. First one speaking, then the other, like two excited teenage girls.

"Whoa! Slow down! One at a time. Tell me what?" I asked as they embraced me.

"We have had someone saved every week except one since you left!" they exclaimed with much emotion.

"Every week!" I said in shock.

"Except one," they corrected me.

"Every week," I said, as if I hadn't heard them properly.

"Yes, every week! Isn't God wonderful? We had two saved last week, and they both came to church and walked the aisle" (meaning the ones saved came to make public their salvation).

There, in front of the booth, we were all rejoicing like the reunion of a family who had been separated for a long time. Then seriousness came over those two beautiful, old ladies.

"Dr. Wilkins, you've got to answer one question for us. Now, you've got to be honest. You'll tell us the truth, won't you?"

"Yes ma'am. I don't know what your question is, but if I know the answer, I will tell you the truth."

"Dr. Wilkins, do you think God will forgive us?"

"Forgive you?" I asked. "Forgive you for what?"

They dropped their heads and you could see the tears. Then, as they often did, they spoke at the same time. "For wasting all those years. You see, we really didn't know we were supposed to win souls," one said.

"No one really told us," the other said, just above a whisper.

They had caught me off guard again. "Ladies, look at me," I said. They looked up.

I continued. "God is not so concerned about your past. He is concerned about today. Sinners are dying today. If you give your best to win souls for the rest of your lives, like you have the past few months, you will be in pretty good shape when you stand before the Lord."

With that, they were gone again and I noticed something strange. It didn't look like they were walking like old people walk. When you are walking with the Lord in your eleventh hour, He will cause you to walk differently. Life has a purpose again. The One who transformed these old ladies is within to help and bless you also.

But the nature of the elderly is to submit to authority. Peer pressure has a dominant effect in dictating how the elderly live, in the things they do, and in the things they say. As they get older, they will lean more and more on outside strength.

In our eleventh-hour generation, the pressure is to kick back, retire, and stand all the day idle in the Lord's vineyard.

WHO WILL YOU LISTEN TO?

WHEN YOU GET OLD, YOU WILL EITHER ACT MORE LIKE OLD FOLKS, OR YOU WILL ACT MORE LIKE JESUS. The biggest tragedy about many of our elderly people is that they start acting like old folks. When a person gets older, they start growing more dependent on others for assistance.

They adopt the mode of life that is expected of them. Children become more protective of their parents, and in doing so, often cause their parents to lose their independence and stop doing for themselves what they could and should do. We all, old or young, like to be pampered and served. Many older people feed off this pampering and all but stop doing for themselves. This is partially what I call ACTING LIKE OLD FOLKS.

A STORY OF AN OLD MAN WHO LEARNED THAT "GOD LOVES THOSE SINNERS"

Pat had lost his wife, his ministry, his children, and his dignity when he made a shipwreck of his life.

Now older and wiser, he learned that "Those prisoners don't care that I am a tarnished vessel; they are just looking for hope."

CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF IN THIS MIX?

Your life is almost over and you are just an old "has-been." At least, that is what a little voice in your mind keeps telling you.

Or the thoughts come such as, "You blew it a long time ago, baby, and there is no way to mend the fences now."

Perhaps some old clichés keep coming to your mind. "The horse is out of the barn, and there is no reason to lock the door now." Or "It doesn't do any good to cry over spilled milk now." Then the helplessness whispers, "You will have to make it the best you can for the rest of your life."

In your heart you blame yourself by thinking, "I could have really done something for the Lord, but I was a crazy, headstrong kid that made too many mistakes!"

"If I had only listened ..."

"If I had only tried harder ..."

"Maybe things would have turned out better."

"I'm just a broken vessel, and like the preacher on the radio said, 'I'm on God's scrap pile and I'll stay here until I die.'"

Have you heard those voices? Have you thought those thoughts?

LISTEN TO MY GOOD FRIEND'S STORY

Pat had those thoughts. Or at least some of those thoughts that his kinfolk had placed in his mind a long time ago. "I'm just a tarnished vessel that God can't use."

PAT'S VISION OF THE HUGE HARVEST

Pat saw a miniature of the harvest of six billion where he worked as a prison guard every day. But they were all worse off than what his undisciplined life had cost him. He had lost his wife and family and a chance to serve God in the ministry. The two million men and women who are locked up in county, state, and federal prisons have lost a lot more – plus, they have the potential of moving from one lockup to the eternal lockup in hell and be lost forever.

None of those prisoners cared anything about Pat's past. They were too busy worrying about their own problems and longing for a little hope in the future.

GOD LOVES THOSE SINNERS

In the short time Pat had been dealing with the prisoners as a security guard, he could see that God does love "those sinners." Two million locked up and held behind bars was just a little picture of the six billion lost souls who are just as much prisoners, only in a different way, as those who are physically confined in prison.

"SINNERS ARE LIKE GREEN BEANS"

Pat had heard me make that statement and had learned it was absolutely true. You can purchase different brands of green beans in the canned goods section of the supermarket. When you get home and open each can, although they bear different labels, each can is full of green beans.

Sinners are the same way. They are all sinners, just wearing different labels. One may wear a Catholic label; another lives under a Jewish label; and still others are Muslims, Protestants, and Baptists. However, they all have one thing in common: they are all sinners, just wearing different labels.

WHY IS THIS PRINCIPLE IMPORTANT?

There are four reasons why this truth is important for you to learn as you face this six-billion-people harvest.

Learn to look at people as sinners and ignore their labels.

Labels will intimidate you. Labels will make you concentrate on your inadequacies and not on the sinner's need. He needs Jesus. He needs to hear the plan of salvation. Many times when you consider their "label," it will either keep you from witnessing to them or you will approach them in the wrong way. Either way, you will not win many to Christ when you deal with the label instead of dealing with the sinner.

None of the sinners can understand spiritual things.

The Bible states that the natural (lost) man cannot understand spiritual things. He has absolutely no spiritual discernment. Spiritual things are foolishness to him (1 Corinthians 2:14). Nicodemus, a very religious, educated man, who wore the Jewish label, proved this point. When Jesus told him he had to be born again in order to go to heaven, his question proved he did not understand spiritual things. How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?, was his astonished question.

HOW CAN THEY GET SAVED?

If Catholic sinners, Jewish sinners, Muslim sinners, and all other sinners cannot understand spiritual things, then how can they be saved? Jesus established the principle that all successful soul winners follow.

State the spiritual principle, then use a secular illustration that the human mind can understand, all the while depending upon the Holy Spirit to illuminate the sinner's mind. That is exactly what Jesus did with Nicodemus. He used the natural birth of a human baby to illustrate the need for a person to experience becoming a spiritual being through the new birth.

There is only one plan of salvation.

If sinners are like green beans just wearing different labels, then a person does not need to master different techniques to talk to different sinners. None of them understand spiritual things, but all of them need the same simple message.

Don't talk to labels; talk to sinners.

Learn to present the plan of salvation contained in four simple Scriptures, and learn to illustrate each vital truth in each Scripture.

First, the fact of sin: He must comprehend that he is a lost sinner (Romans 3:23).

Second, the consequence of sin: He must understand that he is lost and condemned to hell (Romans 6:23).

Third, the remedy for sin: Jesus died as his substitute and paid for his sins so the sinner could be saved (Romans 5:8).

Fourth, the individual response to the gospel: He must receive Jesus as his Saviour by calling upon His name (Romans 10:13).

These four spiritual principles will work, regardless of the label the sinner is wearing. No sinner can understand spiritual things, so one must learn to STATE THE SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES AND ILLUSTRATE THEM.

The gospel is the explosive energy.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God [explosive energy] unto salvation to every one that believeth (Romans 1:16).

The Word of God is powerful! It is sharper than any two-edged sword. It is not the human's method or personality that causes the sinner to be saved. It is the Holy Spirit working through the Word, which brings conviction and true conversion.

God is looking for someone, ANYONE, who will give and illustrate the four principles to the lost. When we do, the sinner, regardless of his label, can understand. He understands the message because the Lord convicts his heart, illuminates his mind, and causes him to see and really comprehend.

He sees his sin.

He sees his hopeless, lost, condemned condition.

He sees his hope in the perfect substitute.

He sees his absolute promise from God to save him if he will ask Him, for Jesus' sake, to save him from hell.

OLD TARNISHED PAT IS NOW WINNING SINNERS

This young, tarnished Christian, who was rejected by his brethren and thought his life was ruined, is now being used mightily by the Saviour.

At the advanced age of seventy-three, Pat is now winning more people from hell than fifty percent of all pastors, because of the lessons he learned.

  1. He learned that God loves and wants to save sinners. Whether it is two million behind iron doors or six billion locked in spiritual darkness, God loves and wants to save sinners.
  2. He learned people who are worse off than you don't care about your tarnished past. They are looking for someone who loves them and will give them a ray of hope.
  3. He learned sinners are sinners regardless of the label they wear, and all of them need Jesus.
  4. He learned there is only one plan of salvation contained in four simple Scriptures, and these verses are so simple that anyone can learn and illustrate them.
  5. He learned that it is God who convicts and explodes the message in the sinner's heart. He only needs a messenger to give the message.
  6. He learned that God will use old "has-beens" who have submitted themselves to the Lord to win souls, if they will surrender themselves to do so.

Now, at least twice a month and at his own expense, Pat goes with a group of men into prisons. He labors there for three or four days at a time, working with the Lord's harvest of lost souls who are confined to prison.

Pat is more alive and enjoying life more now than at any other time in his seventy-three years.

Now he understands the eleventh-hour promise of the Lord to the eleventh-hour workers. There is more confidence and purpose in his life.

The joy in his soul bursts forth as he sings special music in his home church, which the Holy Spirit uses mightily.

Pat is another who struggled through disappointing years before he answered the call that came from the Lord of the harvest. Why stand ye here all the day idle?

The same joy and victory is promised to all. It is promised to you.

SHE LEARNED TO WALK LIKE JESUS AT THE AGE OF SIXTY-NINE

She learned that she was to win souls when she was sixty-nine years old.

She won souls until she died at the age of seventy-nine.

The last words she uttered before dying were, "I sure wanted to win that new man in Room 14 before I died."

FROM A TRADITIONAL CHRISTIAN TO "ONE LIKE JESUS"

The next example of a traditional church member who was a good person, faithful to the church services, and living an exemplary life, is my mother.

Most of her life was lived as a good, loving mother and wife. Until she was nearly seventy years of age, she had never heard of soul winning, much less ever thought of herself as someone who was capable of and should be winning souls.

Of her eleven children, five of them became ministers of the gospel. In our home church, a non-soul-winning denomination, one would often hear the pastor say, "Invite your friends to come to church," but never anything about soul winning.

As I grew in the knowledge of the Bible, I became convinced that Jesus was a personal soul winner and that all of the early church members were soul winners.

I was able to become part of a Bible college faculty and taught evangelism.

From that course came several pastors who became good soul winners. Soul winning soon became a major conflict in our denomination. Is personal soul winning taught in the Bible or is it not? It became a big issue in our group of churches.

Mom was a member of one of our larger churches, where the pastor did not believe in or practice soul winning. After a few years, all five of her "preacher boys" were pastors, who were personally winning souls and preaching the concept of soul winning.

Pastors who came and preached in her church didn't know that the little old lady was our mother. She heard things about soul winning and about her sons that were hard for a mother to bear. Their words were like knives cutting into her soul.

My boys are good, honorable men, were her thoughts. Are they right or wrong? She had to decide, are my boys right? Does the Bible teach that members of the church should try to win people to Christ in their daily lives?

After much prayerful thought, she concluded, that yes, the Bible teaches soul winning.

Her next problem surfaced: Was it enough for her to believe that they were right, and not do it herself? Wouldn't that make her a hypocrite?

Then another problem: if she believed in it, how could she start doing it herself? She didn't realize that she was answering the question, "Elsie, why stand ye here all the day idle?"

Her solution to getting people saved was revealed to her by the Lord. There was, as she always called it, an "old folks' home" where she could go and visit.

Her plan of action was to go every week for four or five hours and befriend all of the patients. Then, she'd invite them to be her guests in Sunday school and church.

Her normal routine every Thursday was to go in and do whatever it took to be a blessing.

She might sit and read the Bible to one.

She would clean up or tidy another one's room.

She might assist in washing someone's feverish face or give a sip of water.

There was always a card with a cupcake and a candle on birthdays.

She worked to get them out of the old folks' mood of waiting to die and back to the land of the living.

Then, on Sundays, the little van from the church would pull up in front of the old folks' home. At first there were just two or three, but then six or seven, and on one occasion as many as fifteen would happily go off and worship God at "Elsie's church." Many were saved.

Time passed, and my mother started witnessing to those who were not physically able to go to church. Then, as her health became more fragile, she requested that she be allowed to move there. She felt like she was becoming too much of a burden on my sister, Elsie Faye, and her husband, Dusty. Besides, she wanted to become closer to "her ministry."

As stated previously in this section, when people grow older, they become increasingly more dependent upon others. They will either begin to act more like old folks, or they will begin to act more like Jesus. My mother began to act more like Jesus. Only God knows how many souls that dear old widow woman, with less than an eighth-grade education, won to the Lord there in her vineyard.

It came time for Elsie to leave the eleventh-hour harvest field and go home to see the Lord of the harvest. She was transferred to Delta Hospital in Antioch, California, where she went on her beautiful permanent vacation to heaven. My older brother Clint, who was a pastor, was sitting at her bedside the night she died.

Mom said, "I'm dying, aren't I, son?"

"Yes, Mother, you are dying. The doctors can't get your heart to slow down," was his answer.

With that, Mom said, "Oh, I sure wanted to win that new man in Room 14 before I died." Those were her last words. She graduated.

What a difference! From standing idle like an old widow woman in a traditional church, where soul winning and personal responsibility were never preached, to a state where the love of Jesus her Lord was in her heart. This love caused her to long to win the soul of that new man in Room 14 before she died!

Mom has a great day to look forward to at the judgment seat of Christ. So do all of the other eleventh-hour Christians who accept God's offer of amnesty and go to work in their vineyard, winning souls.

FEW HAVE EXPERIENCED TRAGEDIES LIKE THESE TWO

This is a story of how God changed tragedies in a pastor and his wife's life into victories. She was a victim of a drunk-driving accident and was bedridden for the last years of her life.

The pastor was fired from his pastorate while his wife was dying in the intensive care ward in the hospital. New purpose did great things!

FROM REJECTION TO ADORATION

This last story, which illustrates a complete and victorious ending to a difficult and, humanly speaking, tragic life, is about a pastor.

When I was nineteen years old (over sixty years ago), I was used of the Lord to win my older brother Clint and his wife Wanda to the Lord.

They became fully committed to the Lord, and soon Clint entered the ministry. He became a Sunday school teacher, deacon, and then a small church called him to become their pastor.

Clint and his sweet wife served in that capacity for the next fifty years.

After being in the ministry for about twenty years, a drunken driver ran a stop sign and severely injured Wanda. In addition to severe whiplash, the accident broke several bones, including her back. After months in the hospital where she had surgery and then rehabilitation, she returned home.

She regained her strength and partial health, and although she was limited, she was able to resume her place in the Lord's work (teaching, singing specials, and playing the piano). But her family had to sit idly by and watch Wanda suffer terrible cramps and constant pain.

Ten years later, another careless driver caused yet another accident. While transporting her from the ambulance to the hospital, the technicians DROPPED THE GURNEY. This reinjured her back, and after weeks in the hospital, Wanda returned home as a bedfast invalid. The hospital and technicians denied the whole thing, which led to overwhelming medical bills.

Clint could no longer support his family on his pastor's salary, which forced him to seek additional outside employment in order to have insurance coverage.

God had taught me a little about human nature, and I knew Wanda needed to have a new purpose in her life.

Lying in bed with someone caring for your every need would tend to make a person feel like a burden to her family, useless, and a bother. The invalid may even think, my family would be better off without me.

Wanda needed a purpose, something she could do that would make her feel worthwhile, that would help make her believe she was an important part of life once again.

I had left the pastorate after twenty-five years and entered the field of evangelism. Wanda and I were close friends as well as relatives. I approached her with no problem.

I began by saying, "Wanda, I have a major problem, and I think you can help me."

"What, Jim?"

"As you know, I am entering full-time evangelism," I continued.

"Yes," she said, while looking up at me.

"And I need a partner," I continued.

"Yes," she responded. "What kind of partner?"

"A person who really knows and loves the Lord," I said.

"Yes," she said, and she waited.

"It will require a faithful person, and it is really hard work."

She waited.

"And I will let you pray about it before you agree to do it," I continued.

She waited.

"I need a prayer partner who would join my evangelistic team."

"A prayer partner," she said. "Jim, I pray for you every day."

"I know you do, and I really know God uses you. But I need a prayer evangelist ministry. We will call it the WJ Evangelistic Team."

"WJ?" she inquired.

"Yes. The 'W' would stand for Wanda, while the 'J' would stand for Jim," I explained.

"You've got it backward, don't you? You are the preacher and I'm just a ..." She couldn't bring herself to finish describing her physical condition.

"No, I've got it right. The 'W' comes before the 'J.' History is full of stories of how God used bedridden saints to undergird the ministries of men like Charles H. Spurgeon and Dwight L. Moody."

That day we formed a team. Wanda would have a special prayer time each day in order to pray for God's power and leadership for my ministry. I would travel to see her from time to time to tell her of how God was answering her prayers and blessing OUR ministry.

Now, before I get to telling of my brother's heartbreak, may I share an example of some of the dirty laundry which is found in some churches?

In 1951, I travelled about twenty miles from Tracy, California, to Manteca, to baptize some of my first converts. At that time the church in Manteca was a thriving church. For many years, as long as the founding fathers were alive, the church was a good gospel-preaching and soul-winning church. But when the old members died off, the children and grandchildren began to operate the church as if it belonged to them. If a pastor didn't please them, they would give him so many problems that he would feel forced to leave. If he didn't leave voluntarily, they would fire him.

My brother was a very good teacher and preacher. On a scale from one to ten, with ten being the best, my brother was a nine.

The little church in Manteca needed someone to serve as their pastor. They had a parsonage for the pastor and paid a small salary.

Although Clint was in his seventies with a bedridden wife, the church instantly began to grow. It went from an attendance of around fifteen to an attendance of around one hundred within two or three years.

The old clique which had ruled the church was losing its power. They began to give my brother trouble. They began to be rude and cool towards the new converts and visitors.

My brother became discouraged and offered his resignation. One of the new converts stood up and declared, "The problem is not with you, Pastor. It is with them [pointing towards the ten people in the clique]." Then he said, "This is a business meeting, isn't it, Pastor?"

"Yes," replied my brother.

"Then I make a motion to exclude them."

Instantly, another new member said, "I second that motion."

After a brief, heated discussion the vote was taken. The results were about fifty to ten to exclude the people of the clique from the church.

The spokesman from the small group appealed to my brother, saying that the motion wasn't according to the church by-laws that stated a period of at least seven days had to elapse before the vote was final. They tabled the vote.

My brother was the only caretaker for Wanda. A day or two later, she had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. Clint was constantly by her side.

When the vote was re-taken about ten days later, Wanda was in intensive care dying. The vote lost and THE RULING CLIQUE FIRED MY BROTHER.

Then Wanda died!

My brother had been by her side day and night for five years. With the evil act of the select group at church and the death of his bride of over fifty-three years, I thought Clint might follow the example of the Turtle Dove who loses its mate: grieve until he died.

CLINT HAD TO HAVE A NEW PURPOSE – BUT WHAT WOULD IT BE?

I asked a college to grant my brother an honorary doctorate because of his faithful service as a pastor. They agreed.

When Clint went to the church where the college was housed, he was treated with such love and respect that he fell in love with the people.

The president of the college, who was also pastor of the church, offered Clint a position of teaching both in the college and in the church.

We moved Clint from Manteca, California, to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he lived for the final three years of his life. In spite of having to battle with old age (near eighty) and cancer, the following report was given at his funeral:

His daily activities were:

Sunday: He taught the adult Bible class in Sunday school.

Monday and Tuesday: He taught two courses in college.

Wednesday: He led prayer meeting.

Thursday night and Saturday morning: He went soul winning.

The church was very involved in passing out the Struggle to Peace booklet. Over a three-year period ONE MILLION booklets were left on door hangers. The normal procedure of passing out booklets of this kind was to have a crew of three people in a car: two runners who placed the booklets on doors on either side of the street, and a third member of the team who drove the car. At Clint's funeral they reported that Clint had been a driver for over 1,400 hours. In addition, Clint had preached 78 times and taught over 260 classes.

HIS FUNERAL WAS A CORONATION SERVICE

One of the proudest and happiest days in my life occurred at Clint's memorial service.

Person after person (mostly young adults) felt compelled to take a moment to testify as to how Clint had influenced their lives.

There were four or five that Clint had won to the Lord in their homes.

There were fifteen or more who came to the podium and said with deep emotion:

"He was my teacher."

"He was my counselor and friend."

"He saved my marriage."

One man was baptized at the end of the service because, he said through tears, "I promised Dr. Clint I would be baptized."

All there were very reverent as they referred to him as "Dr. Clint."

What a difference between a life that has purpose and a life lived without purpose.

Clint could have been a defeated and lonely old man dying in a rest home. Instead, he was a hero to those who stood and sang the final hymn at his funeral as a tribute to his Saviour.

While they sang, I was thrilled through and through as the Holy Spirit blessed the words of the old hymn.

All hail the power of Jesus' name,

Let angels prostrate fall.

Bring forth the royal diadem,

And crown Him Lord of all.

HER ACTIONS SEEMED ABRUPT AND RUDE

She was beside herself with worry.

She couldn't eat or sleep.

She had fasted and prayed for seven days.

HER HUSBAND WAS GLORIOUSLY SAVED!

I SAW HIM FALLING INTO THE FIRE

This is the story of a woman who saved her husband.

My first impression of Helen Callahan was that she was going to be a difficult member. She had been saved and baptized while I was away preaching.

I was having a jovial, pleasant time of fellowship with some of the other members when she abruptly interrupted our conversation by asking, "When can you come and visit my husband? He is lost." And she handed me their address.

In a firm tone of voice I said, "Tomorrow night."

"Can't come tomorrow night. He works nights."

"Then I will come tomorrow," I replied.

"Can't come tomorrow. He works two jobs," she retorted.

"Well, when can I see him?" I inquired.

"Saturday. He doesn't work Saturdays."

"I'll be there Saturday," I replied as Helen wheeled around and walked off.

It didn't help much when my darling wife whispered, "You didn't act much like a loving pastor."

"I know," I agreed. "I will apologize when I see her on Saturday."

I didn't think of the incident until my phone rang on Saturday morning. I awoke with a start and glanced at the clock. It wasn't even four o'clock yet.

I picked up the phone and said, "Hello."

The voice on the other end asked, "Is this Reverend Wilkins?"

"Yes."

"Do you have a church member by the name of Callahan?" the voice continued.

"Nope, I don't believe I do," I answered.

"That's strange. She said she was baptized in your church last Sunday."

"Oh yes, I do have a member, Mrs. Helen Callahan."

"You had better get over here," the voice continued.

"Over where?" I questioned.

"Their house," came the answer.

"Why?" I inquired.

"Because they need you," came the answer, and the connection was cut off. I got dressed and drove through the darkness to the address Helen had given me.

Helen had the porch light on, and when I pulled up to the curb she came rushing out of the house to meet me. She had an old bathrobe on, and she looked a mess. Her hair was uncombed. Her face was swollen as though she had been crying. She must have known that my brain didn't work well that early in the morning, especially before my first cup of coffee, because she was saying everything three times.

Her first words were, "You gotta do something, you gotta do something, you gotta do something."

I just stared at her while she continued. "He's got a dangerous job, he's got a dangerous job, he's got a dangerous job."

I said, "Helen, slow down," but she continued. "He goes off in the mornings, he goes off in the mornings, and he is lost, he is lost, he is lost." And then she burst out crying. "He would go to hell, he would go ..."

Helen was interrupted when I gently took her by the shoulders and shook her.

"You want me to talk to your husband?" I asked.

"Yes," she responded.

"Where is he?" I inquired.

Helen answered, "He is in the house."

We went inside and I saw Mr. Callahan sitting in a chair.

He sat in the chair all slumped down. He looked like a whipped, scolded animal.

I said, "Mr. Callahan, I came over here to talk to you about the Lord."

He responded, "Bless you."

Mr. Callahan was one of the easiest people I ever won to the Lord.

He was also one of the happiest. He and his wife hugged and kissed each other for several minutes. I just sat back and watched, rejoicing with them. I thought, This must be how the angels in heaven rejoice when a sinner repents and his name is written down in the Lamb's Book of Life.

The Callahans' appearance was completely changed! They went through another period of thanking me and apologizing. This also was interrupted with tears of joy as Mrs. Callahan would turn and hug her husband. She would say, "He's saved from hell. Thank God. Thank you Jesus. He is saved from hell."

I am sure that the readers are wondering what triggered this series of strange events.

To begin with, the Callahans were normal people and proved to be very good Christians and church members. They were also responsible for getting many of their family and friends saved.

As Helen had informed me, Mr. Callahan had two jobs. One was at a steel mill, where through a freak incident, a man had fallen or jumped into the molten steel and was totally consumed. Because Mr. Callahan worked at two jobs, he was exhausted, and his coordination and alertness were not as good as when he was rested. Helen had a fear that he might have an accident and be consumed by the fiery furnace at the steel mill.

This reality had caused her to fast and pray for her husband for the entire week. She had not slept much either. She said that when she had closed her eyes, she could visualize her husband falling into the fire. Only, as she exclaimed, "It was the fires of eternal hell. I could even see him falling ... hear him screaming ... it was awful!"

She had experienced this awful experience the day before she abruptly approached me.

By Friday she had pled with her husband not to go to work. By nine o'clock Friday night Brother Callahan had been under such conviction by the Holy Spirit that he could not continue working, so he went home.

Mrs. Callahan's normal personality was one of a quiet nature. In reality she was an introvert. But the reality that her husband was a lost sinner, condemned to hell unless she could get him saved, drove her to take extreme action. I could understand her feelings, since I had experienced the same feeling. I thought my brother Wayne had died and gone to hell. I had seven other brothers who were lost, and if they died in that condition, they would go to hell. The thought that my brothers and sisters were lost consumed me. It was constantly on my mind, until God allowed me to win them, all seven.

My question to you who are living in the eleventh hour is, can you continue on as if everything is okay, when you know it isn't?

As write this story about an old man, our dear Uncle Sam is about to die. Different questions come to mind – They are:

WHAT IS YOUR PURPOSE?

HOW WILL YOU DIE?

Will you stay in your enforced retirement and let America, your family, and your grandkids perish right before your eyes without doing anything about it?

RICHARD EXCHANGED HIS LIFE'S PLANS FOR GOD'S PERFECT WILL

From a tough police officer and prison guard

To a compassionate, soul-winning Chaplain

God changed Richard when he surrendered his life to follow God's plan

God has a perfect plan for your life also!

RICHARD EXCHANGED HIS LIFE'S PLANS FOR GOD'S WILL

Richard and Charlotte Ashford are now one of the most fruitful and happy couples in America.

Charlotte was a beautiful, quiet Christian girl and Richard was a lost sinner out of the world Lord's will. . But Richard was in awe of Charlotte's graceful, confident lifestyle, as well as of Charlotte herself. It didn't hurt anything that she was as beautiful physically as she was spiritually. The Lord's conviction and Charlotte's lifestyle soon brought Richard to his knees in repentance. After a period of courtship, counseling, and growing in the Lord, they were got married.

Richard was baptized and became a member of the church where Charlotte was a member; the year was 1974.

John and Wanda Cassias had just become teachers of the young married couples' class. John himself had recently been converted and was on fire for the Lord. This fire transferred over into the lives of the Ashfords. John and Wanda were soon led by the Lord into full-time ministry. The two couples had a relationship that was much more than friendship; they were more like a close-knit family. All four became excellent soul winners and disciples. This closeness continued, even through John and Wanda's move to Monterrey, Mexico, as missionaries. After serving in Mexico as missionaries for over thirty-five years and starting six new churches, John and Wanda were murdered in January 2011.

By this time Richard had surrendered to the call into the ministry and was serving as a chaplain in the Randall County Jail.

The reader may wonder how the author is so familiar with the details of these four lives. John was one of my disciples and surrendered to the ministry under my preaching. Wanda was discipled by my wife before we were brought together in marriage in 1993. My wife, Penny, was known as a prayer warrior and taught women in Mexico and the United States in prayer retreats.

Charlotte was a member of a prayer group in Amarillo, Texas, and they honored my wife, who was a widow at that time, with a gift. The gift was a pair of men's trousers.

My wife was instructed by the ladies to hang the men's trousers on her bedpost and pray that God would fill them with a husband.

To this my wife retorted, "Ladies, I taught you to pray for specific things, to pray in detail. I taught you not to pray for things in general. Don't pray that God will fill the pants with just any husband; pray in detail! Be specific! Pray that the Lord will fill the pants with Dr. James Wilkins!

Although I had never thought of Penny in a romantic way, and I never intended to remarry, we were married about a year later.

Richard had been a sergeant in the Marine Corps. Upon his discharge he became a police officer. It was while he was working as an officer that God called him into the ministry. Soon he began preaching in the Randall County Jail.

When Richard worked as an officer, he considered criminals as potential enemies. When he began to minister to them in jail, he became discouraged because no one was getting saved.

He mentioned his discouragement to Charlotte, who promptly revealed to him the reason. She said, "You don't love them." God dealt with his heart, and he realized that it was true. Soon God helped him see the people in jail as poor, lost, hurting sinners. Compassion and tears replaced his judgmental attitude, and hundreds began to be saved.

It was hard for Richard to give up his plans and accept God's will for his life. Richard's plan was to work until he was drawing a good retirement check, so he could minister to smaller churches without charge. God's will was for Richard to surrender to God and go full-time into the ministry, which meant he would have to trust God for his financial support.

As Richard began to see more and more prisoners in jail get saved, he began to compromise his plans by reducing the hours he worked for the sheriff's department.

He began to disciple people, both in jail and in their homes.

Although Charlotte was fully supportive of his ministry and ministering to the prisoners, she would not join him in going into the pods and ministering to the women in jail.

The day after Richard cut his hours in order to spend more time in ministry, Charlotte gave her life to minister to female prisoners. Soon she was having more converts than Richard.

When Richard trusted the Lord a little more and reduced his workweek from thirty-five hours to thirty hours each week, a man called him and said, "I've been watching you. Your old car is not going to hold up much longer with all the driving you do. My wife and I do not need two cars anymore. God moved on our hearts to give want to give you our car for the ministry. It has only fifty-five thousand miles on it."

By this point Richard was using The Milk of the Word to disciple the men he was winning to Christ in prison. He gave each convert a book of his own. The book is a workbook and contains ten lessons. The prisoners did work in the book each day, such as filling in blanks to complete lessons. The book is designed to teach a person how to rightly divide, or "do the Bible", so they learned their spiritual phonics. This enabled them to feed their new spiritual man and control the flesh.

Among the inmates Richard had won and was discipling were three men who had been convicted of separate murders. Another man had been a Satanist for twenty years, and he confessed that he had committed every sin there was.

There were twenty of these prisoners who faithfully did their homework and were earnestly waiting for Richard and his class every Saturday.

The fistfights and stabbings stopped in that particular pod. Now there was singing and praising instead of cussing and arguing. The prison guards began to ask some of the prisoners to pray for them. The prisoners began to ask Richard and Charlotte to visit their family members who lived in and around Amarillo.

Richard would honor their requests. Each week when he came in for their discipleship class and church service the prisoners were waiting for his report. They would burst out with cheering and clapping when Richard reported one or more being saved in their homes. But Richard and Charlotte's real burden was to train and disciple people in the local church. The devil hindered them on every front. Richard would go to a small church and explain the workings of the discipleship program to a pastor. The pastor seemed to be impressed. He then would promise to pray about it and contact Richard later. The pastor would never call. When Richard would contact the pastor again, he was met with coolness.

Meanwhile, Richard and Charlotte were faithfully teaching in the jail. They were faithfully going to the homes of the inmates. People were being saved every week. The prisoners would cheer and clap when Richard and Charlotte gave the reports of others being saved in their homes.

Richard and Charlotte became even more burdened and busy. Richard cut his hours at work further. But they just couldn't keep up with all the visits and discipling in homes.

A woman heard of their ministry to the prisoners and began to supply King James Bibles for their ministry.

Another couple laboring in the tract ministry began to give them thousands of Chick tracts to be used in their ministry.

THEN IT HAPPENED. At the age of fifty-seven, Richard quit his job, surrendered to God's will, and started trusting Him for their support.

The next day a pastor of a new church with an attendance of twenty to thirty called Richard and invited him to begin a discipleship class in his church on Sunday nights.

They had twenty-eight present for the first Sunday night discipleship class. Almost half of them were new people, people who were kin to some of the prisoners.

The next Sunday night there were still twenty-eight present, with five new visitors and five absentees. During the week Richard and Charlotte took the lessons to the five absentees' homes in order to disciple them and keep them caught up with the next week's classes.

The following week there were only three absent from the class, but some of the new people were inquiring about what they should do to become members of the church.

The pastor and some of the members became excited as Richard began to take them out to the homes to do soul winning. After the ten-week course was completed, Richard had several of the people in the discipleship class ready to begin helping him disciple the new people who were being saved.

When this happened he could devote more time to train others to become soul winners.

Meanwhile, one of the three murderers had been transferred to Abilene, Texas, to a state prison. Since Richard's theme in his discipleship class was that EACH CHRISTIAN IS A MISSIONARY and has a responsibility to win others to Christ, this one man had won ten other prisoners to Christ.

In the last three months Richard and Charlotte have had sixty people saved, about forty in jail and twenty in their homes.

The prisoner who was a Satanist for twenty years has won at least one.

Nine of the eighteen who completed the The Milk of the Word discipleship course, including the three murderers, have been transferred to either federal or state prisons and are still serving the Lord.

Both Richard and Charlotte are thrilled that they have exchanged their plans for God's perfect will.

WHAT IS GOD'S PERFECT WILL?

The reader may be wondering, "What is God's perfect will? How can a person know?"

Richard was fortunate because he discovered it when he was only fifty-seven years old.

My mother was sixty-nine years old before she realized what God's perfect will was for her.

The Hudspeths had been married over fifty years before they learned what God's will was for their lives and began to do it.

JESUS' LINGERING MESSAGE

In the last church service that Jesus conducted as the senior pastor, we have a Christian's perfect will revealed.

He had taught His disciples for three and a half years. Now, He was conducting His final service. Judas and the mob were on their way to arrest Him. Within minutes the Roman soldiers would begin their night of beating Him. By the same hour on the next day, He would be a corpse in Joseph's new tomb.

In His last sermon to His beloved disciples, He wanted to state the purpose and mission of their lives. He wanted it to linger in their minds. It had to be stated in a concise way and be very simple. It was to serve as an outline that would direct their lives. It is found in one single verse:

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit [win souls], and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you (John 15:16).

Jesus assured them that He had personally chosen EACH ONE of them: I have chosen you.

Jesus wanted to re-emphasize that He had chosen them out of the world for a definite reason. They had been ordained or set apart for service.

Jesus wanted them to know what the service was, so He broke it down into simple, concise words or phrases.

First, He said, I have chosen you ... that ye should go [emphasis added]. Mark 16:15 reveals that every Christian is to go to every creature. God gives each believer 168 hours each week, and He expects each person to GO.

Second, they were to bear fruit. I have chosen you ... that ye should ... bring forth fruit [or win souls] (Proverbs 11:30).

Third, they were to disciple their fruit or new converts. I have chosen you ... that your fruit should remain.

Fourth, He had chosen them to believe and pray big prayers. That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Richard and Charlotte accepted the call and gave their lives to be separated to God and pursue His will instead of following their plans.

They began to "go."

They began to be fruitful (win souls).

They began to disciple (train others).

Now, they are praying big prayers.

Please stop and meditate for a moment. WHAT IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE?

If you are of retirement age, you must be somewhere between fifty-seven (Richard's age) and sixty-nine (the age my mother learned and began to pursue God's purpose for her life) or seventy-six (the age the Hudspeths surrendered to preach and started a church).

Our last question to you is, How old are you? When will you start to do God's will?

We have the tools – we need the workers – we can save Uncle Sam! Contact us and get involved.

Will you follow Richard's example and exchange your life's plans for God's will for your life?

Do it! And you will find the same blessings that came into Richard's life will come into your life.

God is not a respecter of persons.

GOD AND UNCLE SAM NEED YOU!!
CHAPTER SIX

THE FAMOUS FIVE WHO DID NOT RETIRE

Perhaps one of the most startling facts in the annals of history is the influence of people who refused to retire in their old age.

In every realm of society, when one begins to investigate who changed and inspired others, or who in general made the lives of others around them better, you will find people who refused to retire.

In medical science it was the elderly.

In defense of their country and leadership in the military, it was the elderly.

It was the elderly who refused to retire and who painted the great masterpieces found in the art world.

Who was it that wrote the famous hymns, poems, and novels? It was the elderly.

It was the senior statesmen who led in giving us the Constitution and our way of government.

In fact, OVER HALF of the greatest accomplishments this world has ever witnessed were performed by men and women who refused to quit and retire. For the sake of this writing, we will mention five.

ABRAHAM AND SARAH

The first couple who refused to retire and became one on our list of five famous people who refused to retire are Abraham and Sarah.

Picture Abraham at the age of 100 (Genesis 21:5) and his precious wife walking into their local village. Eavesdrop and listen as Sarah, in the squeaky voice of an old woman pleads, "Abraham, slow down," as she hobbles along in order to keep up with him.

Then God performed a great miracle, and Sarah became a beautiful, sexy woman once again. God had turned back the time of life in order for her to give birth to her only son Isaac.

It is obvious that God performed this miracle on Sarah because she was so beautiful once again that Abraham lied to the monarch Abimelech (Genesis 20:2), who had lusted after her beauty.

Sarah named her son Isaac, because the name Isaac means laughter. When as an old woman she heard the angel promise Abraham that she would have a baby (Genesis 18:10), she laughed.

The inspired writer of the book of Hebrews wrote:

Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable (Hebrews 11:11-12).

Can you visualize the joy and pride of Abraham as he looked down into the radiant face of a beautiful wife of over seventy years when he saw his promised son Isaac for the first time?

Oh, the joy of the fruit of not retiring when God spoke to him and said,

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice (Genesis 22:17-18).

CALEB: "GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN"

Of the twelve spies who were sent out by Moses to spy out the Promised Land, only two lived to enter into it.

GENERAL JOSHUA AND CALEB

Can you imagine the drudgery of walking around in the desert for forty years? Can you imagine the temptation to retire as Caleb attended and participated in over one million funerals: for members of his family, his friends, and his countrymen? But there was the burning passion and faith which caused him to keep his eye on God and His promise to give His nation their new home in the Promised Land.

When at the age of eighty-five he followed General Joshua over the river Jordan, he wasn't an old, worn-out man who longed for retirement. NO! His vision and faith in God had kept his calling and purpose alive. He asked General Joshua for the toughest assignment in confronting their invading army, and when he came to that seemingly impossible fortress cried, GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN.

His inspirational leadership as an old man who refused to retire, humanly speaking, gave Israel one of its greatest victories.

ZACHARIAS AND ELIZABETH

The third set of candidates making our list of the famous five who refused to retire are Zacharias and Elizabeth.

Even though Zacharias was overwhelmed by the revelation of his purpose on this earth and argued with the angel Gabriel, he and his wife were used mightily by the Lord.

He told Gabriel, I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years (Luke 1:18). His unbelief cost him his voice for a full nine months, during which time he could not speak (Luke 1:20).

This should illustrate your wonderment that God wants to use you to begin to win souls and disciple people, and of the danger of arguing with God. People can believe and obey, or their tongues will be silenced from uttering praise on this earth for a full period of a thousand years during the coming millennial reign of Christ on this earth (Revelation 20:1-7).

God chose Zacharias and his wife to give and help train one of the greatest preachers who ever walked on this earth, John.

In the Bible and in the annals of history, this preacher was better known as John the Baptist.

One can well understand an old man's unbelief and wonderment in the last year before he is forced by law to retire. He and his wife had prayed all during their marriage for a son. Then, when they were beyond the natural age of childbearing, the announcement came that God was giving them a son, a preacher at that, who would introduce to the world their Messiah and Saviour (Luke 1:11-13).

While they waited upon God for the birth of their son, there was much anticipated joy. The joy spread from two old people's hearts to the whole world when John was born (Luke 1:14).

But oh, the joy they had when their Messiah and Saviour gave His eternal commendation of a job well done when He proclaimed:

For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he

(Matthew 11:10-11).

Oh, the joy they must have experienced as they lived out the rest of their lives AND SAW THE FRUITS OF NOT RETIRING.

PAUL, THE GREAT AUTHOR AND PREACHER

The fourth candidate to make our list by refusing to retire and who changed his world is the great apostle Paul.

What a great ministry he had while he walked on this earth, and his influence through his writings has continued to grow to this day. Fourteen of the twenty-seven inspired books of the New Testament were written by him.

But Paul's life began when he was the greatest enemy of Jesus and of the early Christians, as Saul of Tarsus.

After a great career as a preacher and author, the apostle Paul limped into his final years on this earth. He had been beaten by cruel whips five times. His enemies clubbed him with rods three times, and he was seemingly stoned to death on one occasion (2 Corinthians 11:23-28).

His whole ministry was filled with threats and difficulties. If any man ever had a right to quit, I mean retire, it was the apostle Paul. In fact, his family and associates pleaded with him to retire.

They warned him of impending danger and death. They even attempted to restrain him from completing his purpose on this earth. At those times, that great man who refused to retire would answer:

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).

It was only after he answered his loved ones' pleas for him to retire with these following words that they complied with his wishes.

Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done (Acts 21:13-14).

Paul knew he was going to die; we are all going to die. What matters is how we are going to die. Are we going to give in to our aches and pains and our fears and retreat from our battles and purpose, or endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ?

Paul refused to retire and his last days on this earth before his death were lived in joy and peace.

Listen to the words of this great champion before he was martyred in Rome:

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

How will you die? How will you live out your final days on the earth? As a cream puff or as a soldier?

THE TOP OF THE LIST OF CHAMPIONS WHO REFUSED TO RETIRE IS JESUS

Someone may object that Jesus was divine and therefore not qualified for the top honor of being among the famous five who refused to retire.

He is divine and eternal, but that wouldn't have helped you or me if He hadn't become a man.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth (John 1:14).

When the Pharisees, a fundamentalist sect in Israel, argued and rejected Jesus, He proclaimed, Before Abraham was, I am.

OFFERED EARLY RETIREMENT

At the tender age of thirty, Jesus may have been the first to be offered an early retirement.

After His baptism in the river Jordan, the god of this age, the Devil, approached Jesus with his first attempt to get Him to retire. He offered Jesus, as a man, a position of honor and glory. His offer is recorded in Matthew 4:8-9:

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Jesus refused His offer by stating (paraphrasing), "I belong to God. Him only will I worship" (Matthew 4:10).

The question that arises in my mind is, to whom do you belong? If you are a Christian, you are not your own, because you were bought by Jesus as He died on the cross in order to save you from bondage and the eternal fires of hell (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

The final time the Devil attempted to get Jesus to retire was on the Mount of Olives (Luke 22:39).

As a man, Jesus was often weary with travel and hungered for food. But as the holy, perfect, righteous Son of God who hated sin but had an unconditional love for sinners, He was repelled at becoming sin in order to pay for our ungodliness and vulgarity. The Devil, knowing Jesus' holy nature, pressed His humanity hard to retire.

When Jesus, as a man, was suffering so that He sweat great drops of blood (Luke 22:44), He prayed:

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42).

God sent an angel to strengthen the man Jesus who refused retirement in order to die in your place and pay for your sin.

Question: Where would you be if Jesus had retired from the cross?

Are you facing anything in your life as tough as what Jesus faced for you?

AS A MAN, HOW DID HE ENDURE THE CROSS AND REFUSE RETIREMENT?

As God, He foreknew the pain He would suffer as a man. As God, He foreknew the pain of the cat of nine tails as it ripped His flesh. As God, He foreknew the pain of the spikes being driven through His flesh.

How did He endure it so calmly as He finished instructing His followers and prepared to die?

The answer to that question can be found in Hebrews 12:2:

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Notice the statement, WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus didn't consider the pain, the shame, and the awfulness He would suffer. He substituted the joy of a job well done. He was so focused on His purpose for coming to this world as a man, that He blotted out from His mind His personal shame and suffering and locked His mind on the finished product – you and me – and the rest of the redeemed people of God rejoicing with Him in heaven.

This is exactly what you will have to do in order to finish your purpose on earth.

Get your EYES OFF OF YOURSELF and focus on finishing your job on this earth.

THE RESULT OF HIS NOT RETIRING

We are saved from the fires of eternal hell.

Jesus was given a name above every name. Because Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient (as a man) and died on the cross, God has exalted Him.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Philippians 2:9).

In Revelation 19:11-16, we have a picture of Jesus coming back to this earth as the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Because He did not retire, He is now the honored victor of this earth and will sit on King David's throne and rule this earth in peace and righteousness for one thousand years.

The question you must answer is:

Am I going to retire for a short time now, or am I going to live on this earth and reign for a thousand years with King Jesus?
CHAPTER SEVEN

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

This morning, according to all reports on television and in the newspapers, Uncle Sam's condition is worse.

After reading the truth about retirement and the seven true stories about some of your peers, I ask you these questions:

Did you see yourself and your situation in any of these stories?

Are you among the many Americans who have enjoyed the blessings of being an American, only to go AWOL when Uncle Sam is dying and your country is in the very battle for its life?

If so, what are you going to do about it?

Some who have read these stories and felt the sting of my hard questions may demand, "Who does he think he is?"

My brief answer is, I'M JUST AN OLD MAN WHO LOVES AMERICA and who loves you and believes we can rescue Uncle Sam from his fatal illness, if ...

My more complete answer is: I am what I just stated above in spite of the fact that my life is all about HIM and I am in reality a nothing, having no money, no power, and certainly no influence. In 2012, I even lost the blessed wife God gave me. In fact, I do not have a name. My birth certificate simply reads, Infant Wilkins, son of Vernon and Elsie Wilkins. But I will answer the question of who I am.

Before I was born on March 18, 1931, my mother attempted the drastic act of murder. She drank poison in an attempt to abort me.

As soon as she did, she ran to my Grandmother Wilkins' house. She was so distraught that they thought my dad, who had been hovering between life and death for weeks, had died.

But then my mother told of her evil deed by confessing, "How can I ask God to save my husband's life when I have killed my own baby?"

Grandma Wilkins pulled my mother down to her knees and they began to pray. After my mother had confessed her sin to God and begged Him for mercy, my grandmother announced, "That baby is not going to die. He will be your chosen son."

God testified to my mother's heart that I would not die but would become her chosen son, and this lifted her from worry and stress to a life of hope and confidence.

For the first forty-eight years of my life I had never heard this story. It was upon her deathbed that she confessed to my wife and older brother Joe (upon their promise that they would not tell me until after her passing) of her attempt to kill me.

When they told me, I couldn't believe it. My mother was the best Christian I ever knew. Twelve years after my mother's promotion to heaven my aunt told me "the rest of the story." The story included, "All your mother talked about until you were born was how God was sending her a chosen son." I ignored that remark and subdued it until the latter years of my life.

I still wonder why my mother felt compelled to tell the dark secret that only she and two other family members knew. I doubt if my father ever knew. If any of you figure it out, please let me know.

One thing I do know. I have the call of God upon my life. I have been privileged to preach for Him for over sixty-three years. During that time I have preached or taught over forty-four thousand times.

I HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO TRAIN OTHERS

My training began before I was born. You may wonder, "How did your training begin before you were born?"

The training was in my DNA. From my dad I got the DNA of persevering and not giving in to my aches and pains. I refused to let my feelings and fears dictate the way I live.

From my mother I got the DNA of calmness and of looking to God, regardless of how things may seem.

So, all I can praise God for is my DNA and the wonderful grace which He has bestowed upon my life.

Through two major heart attacks, two strokes (after which I had to learn to walk again), and in general failing health, God is still giving me life.

He overruled my mother's effort to abort me.

He overruled my stubbornness and dumb decisions, which could have wrecked my life.

Today, with my heart only functioning at eighteen percent capacity and my kidneys even less, God is still giving me life.

My further training began before I was called to preach or ever thought about the ministry. In 1949, in a little high school in northern California, God placed me under the tutorship of a wise old principal. He had no son, and I had no father (Dad had died in 1948). I was elected student body president, and the principal would call me to his office and ask my input in solving some of the kids' problems who were failing in our school. In doing so he would repeat over and over again this statement: A LEADER IS A PROBLEM SOLVER, NOT A PROBLEM CAUSER. He taught me to think things through.

I was ordained and became a full-time pastor at the age of twenty. All I did was visit homes, invite people to church, study, and preach. Although my pay was ten dollars per week plus room and board, I never sought any outside employment. I WAS GOD'S PREACHER.

As I progressed in the ministry I had an undying desire, placed there by God, to learn how to lead and train people. I spent five years in Bible college and seminary where I completed three years studying the Hebrew language and four years studying Greek. I wrote two theses on training material, one a 50,000-word doctorate on personal evangelism, and the other a 25,000-word thesis that was a study course for new converts (discipleship).

As a young minister I travelled far and wide to qualify myself to train others. (A leader is a problem solver, not a problem causer.)

During my sixty-three years as a pastor, author, church planter, and trainer I have written sixty-one books or booklets, taught for twenty-one years in different colleges, and had an absolute belief that we can have revival in America, which would save Uncle Sam's life and change America. During my sixty-three years in the ministry, I have endeavored to keep my heart tender by visiting in homes at least twice each week.

Training people to better serve God is the reason God has allowed every church I started or pastored to lead all other area churches in growth. We baptized eighteen hundred converts in my longest pastorate in Sacramento, California.

Today, I can only walk with the aid of a cane and am barely mobile enough to get around. But God has placed on my heart the fact that we can have a national revival and turn our country around.

HOW? YOU MAY ASK

We can have a revival by reaching and recruiting a great number of retired people.

I know that many retired Americans are not happy trying to exist, just travelling, and making the best of their situation. The old adage that trying to fit the round world into a triangular heart just won't work. The human being is a spiritual being, made in the image and likeness of his Creator. Only God can give satisfaction to one's soul. Travelling and doing nominal things that most retired people do just to pass the time will not bring happiness or permanent satisfaction. People need a purpose. They need to be needed and to do something worthwhile in their lives.

I OFFER THAT SOMETHING

God has taught me how to train people in witnessing and winning souls. God has taught me how to teach people to minister to others and train or disciple others. The seven true stories I have shared PROVE that any retired person can claim their purpose and birthright.

SAMPLE TOOLS WHICH YOU CAN LEARN AND USE

Our service is from our home to your home. Most of what we do is free or at drastically reduced prices.

Through the Internet and with audio and video materials, we can bring this online training right into your home. We can teach you in the privacy of your home, club, or church.

We will also have live talk programs where people can call in and talk to me or one of my associates.

We can train seniors to the level where they go back into their local church and live exciting lives as they train others.

THIS IS YOUR BIRTHRIGHT. You were designed by your Creator to reduplicate yourself and live the abundant life (John 10:10).

We can train anyone who will seriously follow the Bible's simple direction and learn.

IN SHARING YOUR FAITH WITH OTHERS

We can help any serious-minded Christian, regardless of age, to do the following if they will give it first place in their lives and really work at it.

We can help you overcome your awkwardness in sharing your faith and make it exciting and fun. It is your birthright. You were designed by your Creator and Saviour to do so. But you must believe, work at it, and practice.

We can teach you to believe what the Bible promises and not listen to your dumb, negative thoughts. In clearer language, we can teach you confidence and how to walk by faith.

We can teach you where all of your negative thoughts and fears originate and how to overcome every one of them.

You can win your family and many others if you become obedient and try.

IN DISCIPLING OTHER CHRISTIANS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG CONVERTS AND CHILDREN

Most senior citizens have developed patience and kindness.

Most senior citizens have learned what is important in life and what is not.

The people in their world, living all around them, are hurting and have very few real friends. They need love and are open to kindness and love.

Since God has equipped older people with these traits, we can equip them with tools to use in discipling and training others.

We also give lessons on prayer and fasting with the emphasis on how to lay up your treasures in heaven (see the appendix on The Caleb Club).

The Devil will war against your mind by sending all kinds of negative thoughts into it. You can offset his attacks by reading the stories in this book once again. God is not a respecter of persons. If He gave grace and purpose to the people in the seven stories, He will give grace and purpose to you as well.

BEFORE AND AFTER

In the book of Judges we have the story of Gideon. When God found Gideon, he was working in the darkness of night, hiding from his enemies who had overrun and conquered his country.

The angel saluted Gideon by saying, The LORD is with thee thou mighty man of valour (Judges 6:12).

Gideon answered back with a crybaby whine in his voice. In essence he said, "Who, me? Are you talking to me? I am the least and weakest man in all of Israel. I have heard of God's great miracles, but He has forsaken us."

But then Scripture records, And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save [deliver] Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have I not sent thee? (Judges 6:14).

Again, Gideon exposed the fear and uncertainty of his heart. And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house (Judges 6:15).

God countered his unbelief by promising to go with Gideon and fight his enemies for him.

God finally convinced Gideon, and in doing so Gideon became a mighty man of valor and a hero in Israel.

You ask, "What's your point?"

The point is that Gideon listened to all of the negative thoughts the Devil had shot into his mind.

God looked at Gideon and saw what Gideon would become with God's leadership and help.

Many of you have listened to all the negative junk that the Devil and the defeatist crowd planted in your mind.

God, through His Word and the Holy Spirit, sees you as a valiant and talented person. With His help, you too can do great and mighty things.

YOUR FIRST LITTLE STEPS TO VICTORY

I would like to give you nine baby steps which you can take as you begin your journey to spiritual growth and victory.

  1. Pray daily for strength, wisdom, and help for the author, Dr. James Wilkins.
  2. Pray for the health and recovery of our sick nation represented in Uncle Sam.
  3. Read the seven stories over again and again, until God impresses upon you what His will is for your life.
  4. Call a friend to share this book.
  5. Seek someone you can begin to work with in learning how to share your faith.
  6. Visit our website and order the three recommended books for $10.00.
  7. Work at memorizing The Four Spiritual Principles.
  8. Check out any free materials that we have available.
  9. Recruit other seniors to this great cause.

REMEMBER THE FORMULA FOR SUCCESS

  1. Enlist in a great cause. LET'S SAVE AMERICA!
  2. Train people in Christian ministry.
  3. Equip them with proper tools.
  4. Hold all to a standard of accountability.
  5. Pray, pray, pray.
  6. Walk by faith and do it.

I AM YOUR BROTHER

If you are a Christian, I am your brother. If you are not a Christian but a retired American, I am your friend, and I can help you have a purpose.

What a difference God made in the life of the grandmother who started her soul-winning career by winning her grandchildren to the Lord.

What a difference God made in my mother's life.

What a difference God made in the lives of the two old ladies who, over a period of two months, saw people saved every week except one.

PURPOSE changed Dr. Clint's and his wife's lives.

What a difference in Pat's life!

These seven people had at least two things in common: They were all over seventy years of age, and each of them answered the call when Jesus asked, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

THE HARVEST OF SOULS IS PERISHING!

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me?

(Psalm 22:1)

How horrible it must have been for Jesus to have suffered that fate for poor, lost men, and not be able to find workers who were willing to go into the harvest to tell people about His sacrifice and effort to save them.

Can you imagine the shame and the pain He was willing to go through?

For what?

So this generation of eleventh-hour Christians could stand idly by and let the masses perish without even knowing that anyone cared?

Eleventh-hour Christians, are you saved from hell? Did Jesus suffer that agonizing death in your place?

Are you free from the guilt of sin and death because He took your place?

Because of Jesus, do you now have the assurance of heaven?

Because of Jesus, do you have the promise of eternal life?

Because of Jesus, do you have a paradise waiting?

Because of Jesus, are you going to live forever in a glorified body?

Can you stand idly by without exerting any effort to help your Jesus?

Can you hear the pathos in His voice when He asks, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

Can't you see the Jeremiah in Jesus? The weeping Saviour as He promises, whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive (Matthew 20:7).

He suffered an agonizing death on the cross and suffered the pains of death in order to save you, and now He offers to pay you...

to work for Him

to work with Him

TO WORK FOR HIM!
A PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ACCEPTANCE

Dear friend, if you desire peace with God and have full assurance that you will suffer in hell, please pray the following prayer.

I confess that my heart is sinful and needs cleansing. I believe that Jesus loved me so much that He died on the cross and suffered the pains of hell in my place.

Please, dear Lord, accept His death as payment for my sins. I confess and repent of my sins and ask you for mercy.

Jesus, come into my heart. I accept you as my Saviour. Amen.

Dear friend,

If you prayed that prayer and have assurance that you have peace with God, then God wants you to help others. You can read this book with your children or give it to a friend. Let us know if you desire other books or if you have any questions.

We at New Testament Ministries major on training common people. The seven stories we chose to feature are only a sample of the people we have trained.

Now, through the internet, by video, DVDs, CDs, and printed materials, we are able to come into your home, club, or church.

Two people can transform their lives as they work and pray together.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE OR CALL US DIRECTLY

www.jameswilkins.org

817-909-8010

APPENDIX ONE

THE CALEB CLUB

THE FOUNDATION FOR A SPIRITUAL CLUB FOR SENIORS

Not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake (Philippians 1:29b).

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES FOR THE CLUB STEWARDSHIP, NOT OWNERSHIP

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDS

And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight (1 John 3:22).

UNDERGIRD THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:12).

The work of the ministry as stated in the Bible is found in five areas of ministry:

  * Fasting
  * Praying
  * Investing (giving)
  * Witnessing
  * Mentoring

PRAYER IS A MAJOR PART OF THE MINISTRY THAT EVERYONE CAN DO

  * In the commitment to prayer, we teach people to pray in the following way:
  * Begin the prayer by thanking and praising the Lord.
  * Be sure to confess any shortcomings or sin.
  * Take a moment to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart.
  * Pray for the pastor in the following areas:
    1. His protection.
    2. Power in his preaching.
    3. His personal needs.
    4. His physical needs.
  * Pray by name for ten lost people who are going to hell.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

  * Pray for sinners to become conscious of their sinfulness.
  * Pray for someone who will speak to them about Christ.
  * Pray about what you can do that will help bring about their salvation.
  * Pray for a powerful spiritual awakening:
    1. Through the preaching of God's Word;
    2. For a sense of urgency in all preaching;
    3. About your place in The Caleb Club;
    4. For the funds in order to send at least one million copies of Healing Words for Retired People to other seniors.
  * Pray for me.

APPENDIX TWO

TRAINING PEOPLE IN CHRISTIAN SERVICE

The Christian life is a vocation and not a philosophy; therefore, these lessons are based on the principles of learning a vocation by learning TO DO IT RIGHT.

THE NEW CONVERT NEEDS TO LEARN:

  1. To submit himself to the Lord and the pastor that God has set over him. Seven out of ten commitments he signs have to do with this principle.
  2. To pray properly. There is a prayer list which he is to follow each day as he prays out loud.
  3. That his purpose is not merely to learn the Word, but to DO THE WORD.
  4. To have an exact time to study and read his Bible each day. He is rewarded with an "A" for doing so.
  5. To feed and defend himself with the Bible, rightly dividing the word of truth.
  6. That his primary purpose on earth is to win souls and then disciple them so they can disciple others.
  7. That he must be shown as well as taught how to share his faith is a classroom and from house to house.
  8. To give biblically by starting with the tithe.
  9. That he is to grow and become a role model under the direction of the pastor.
  10. To pray for missionaries by name.

While in training and under tutorship, the new convert is protected from:

  * Being proselytized.
  * The lifestyle of older Christians who live careless lives.
  * Experiences from his past which hinder him.

Additionally:

  * The new convert learns to grow in faith by learning the Daily Declarations of faith each week.
  * The new convert learns the natural way to influence his family, by example.
  * The new convert learns that living the Christian life is his primary vocation.
  * The new convert learns that he is "To Do," by making a commitment each week. The Milk of the Word is the first discipleship book that is used to train the new convert.

Note: The disciples learn to disciple by first going through The Milk of the Word in the role of a new convert.

The Lesson Plan booklet teaches the structure and lesson plans for each of the ten weeks of training.

How To Be a Better Big Brother is the booklet that ALL disciples must complete before being appointed by the pastor, who gives his permission to serve as an extension of his ministry.

EQUIP PEOPLE WITH TOOLS

  1. New Convert Care Program
  2. From Salvation to Service
  3. The Milk of the Word
  4. The Lesson Plan
  5. How To Be a Better Big Brother

ACCOUNTABILITY IS BUILT INTO THE PROGRAM BY A SYSTEM OF GRADING EACH WEEK

There is a role model who serves over each new convert and who gives a report of the new convert's grade of "A," "B," or "J" each week.

The director is to pass on this grade to the pastor so he can keep up with every new convert and worker.

Very important: Each disciple must constantly realize that he is a pastor's helper and must carry a message to the new convert from the pastor each week.

Please note: Each of these four areas is covered:

  1. Enlist to a great cause.
  2. Training people in Christian ministry.
  3. Equip them with proper tools.
  4. Holding all to a standard of accountability.

It is not a perfect system, but it is a place to start.

For full coverage of biblical discipleship, see the second book of twelve weeks that covers all the modern pitfalls in our day of apostasy, and how to overcome them.

www.jameswilkins.org
ADDITIONAL BOOKS

Soul-Winning Books

Perfecting the Saints

Perfecting the Saints is a command to evangelists, pastors, and teachers. This book will help believers grow so they can do "the work of the ministry." It will help them develop in the following areas:

  * Walking by faith
  * Overcoming visitation fright and insecurities
  * Recognizing and overcoming the Devil's attacks
  * Overcoming their awkwardness in witnessing

Perfecting the Saints is a textbook used in the first hour of the Personal Growth Seminar, which is a five-week course developed by the author, who has gone soul winning each week for over sixty years.

Designed to Win

Everything was designed by its Creator to reproduce. And God said; Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind (Genesis 1:24).

Christianity has become a mere philosophy in this nominal twenty-first century. A person is considered a good Christian if he lives a separated life and believes in the fundamentals of the faith. But Jesus said, Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.

YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT by winning many souls. Then He goes ahead and refers to a principle which is accepted by mankind throughout the world. When a tree produces large, well-formed, delicious fruit in abundance, it is recognized as a good tree. He said, so shall ye be (made manifest) my disciples; that is, when you win many souls (much fruit), you manifest yourself to those watching as a good Christian and your heavenly Father is glorified.

This book, Designed to Win, is written on the premise that if all saved people are to bear fruit or win souls, then the process of soul winning has to be simple! If all are to do it, if all can do it, soul winning must be simple!

Observe To Do

In the sixth chapter of Acts the apostles asked the church for help so they could give themselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the Word. This request was not in order for them to go into their studies and prepare the message they were to preach. It was to minister the Word in giving on-the-job training from house to house as they developed their members to do the work of the ministry.

Paul was totally committed to show and teach them principles in soul winning and discipleship publicly and from house to house (Acts 20:20).

We must return to the Bible pattern of teaching our members to OBSERVE TO DO instead of just teaching the Word.

Discipleship Books

The Milk of the Word

The Milk of the Word is a self-help book that will equip the reader to be discipled and take what he has learned and disciple others.

The Milk of the Word teaches not only how to know God's Word but also how to do God's Word.

The Milk of the Word is part one of the New Convert Care program, which teaches how to follow up, protect, and develop new Christians.

From Salvation to Service

This booklet is designed to be given to the new convert the moment he is saved. It explains the salvation process and teaches him to beware of his adversaries, the Devil, and the flesh.

Questions Concerning Baptism

This book answers some of the most confusing questions about biblical baptism and is designed to be given to those who have been saved but are unsure of baptism. What is baptism? How should baptism be performed and when? Should I be baptized again? What's the purpose of baptism? This book is also an excellent source of information about proper biblical baptism and has taught many people of their need to be scripturally baptized.

Doctrinal Books

Meat of the Word

This is book three in the New Convert series. This book is designed to put spiritual truths into the heart of the Christian that will cause him to grow in faith. Some of the chapter titles are: God's Course for His Children, God's Comforter for His Children, God's Crowns for His Children, and God's Coming for His Children.

The Other Side of the River (1,000-Year Reign of Christ)

With the second coming of Christ looming ever nearer, it is time for us to consider what our address will be "across the river" in the Millennium.

This book will give you a clearer view of the one thousand years of peace on this earth before we go into our eternal abode.

How you serve Jesus NOW will dictate what your address will be for a full thousand years. WILL you live as a king or as a pauper?

Books for Hurting People

Healing Words For Hurting People

A young man at the height of his success with everything in his life going right suddenly screams out, I was greatly afflicted and All men are liars. As David was living his dream, he woke up one morning and suddenly his dream turned into a nightmare. Within a few short days the person he loved and admired tried to murder him. He became a fugitive with a price on his head, most of his friends forsook him, his darling wife left him for another man, and he was hungry and alone with no place to go.

How did David, a young man in his twenties, overcome these heartbreaking experiences to walk and live a victorious life? You owe it to yourself to hear his testimony of how he rose from the depths of despair to become Israel's greatest king. This book holds the secret of being set free so one can live again. This book contains more than a few principles that will help a person; it is a road map to a life of victory.

Healing Words for Addicted People

This book was written for anyone who is fighting a losing battle.

ESPECIALLY ...

To those who are struggling with addictions! God's Word promises absolute victory IF and when one follows truths that lift them from defeat to victorious living.

Truth One – The Proper Recognition – God

Truth Two – The Proper Manual – The Bible

Truth Three – The Proper Lifestyle – I'm the Lord's

Truth Four – The Proper Protection – The Church

In a world of no hope, there is hope and victory ... and it is for you, the addict, and the struggling Christian.

The dog you feed – CONTROLS!

Healing Words for Lonely People

Healing Words for Lonely People comes from the heart of a pastor who has over fifty years of experience comforting bereaved or lonely people. In fact, his life was redirected as a result of the sudden death of his brother Wayne.

Dr. Wilkins has a vivid memory of the pain and confusion he experienced when he received the news of the accidental death of his brother. Less than a year later his father unexpectedly died, which caused him to turn to the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3).

As a pastor he has aided countless families in their hours of sorrow. As a man, one can imagine his personal pain by reading the dedication page as found in the front of this booklet. This book also offers scientific data that will help control loneliness.

Healing Words for Lonely People could be a treasured gift to both those who are suffering and the friends who comfort them.

A Baby's Viewpoint of Life and Death

A child dies for three hours, lives in heaven, and then returns. Wouldn't you expect her to have a message?

She will teach you about heaven and other important issues of life.

Her message will help and comfort those who have lost a child or loved one.

Her life blessed everyone she came in contact with and it will enrich those who read A Baby's Viewpoint of Life and Death.

Books for Teenagers

A Preacher Boy's Little Faith

This is a story of God's wondrous grace in the life of a struggling young preacher.

This transparent story is of one young man's determination to keep his end of the covenant he made with his God. This book will strengthen the faith of all who read it.

This true story covers the first four years of Dr. James Wilkins' sixty years in the ministry.

The Healing of a Rebel

Bitterness, unforgiveness, and hatred affect more people, and are oftentimes more destructive than cancer.

Through the story of a boy who had been rejected by his parents and wounded by religion, Dr. Wilkins dramatically shows the only cure for these "diseases" which plague the human race.

The adventure begins with a car chase and ends with a transformed young man giving his life in service to God.

The story revolves around a rebellious high school sports star, a wise pastor, and his beautiful, athletic daughter. The Healing of a Rebel will educate, entertain, and help multitudes find lasting peace and happiness.

Books of Inspiration

Lasting Moments of Joy Series

These are soul-winning experiences that happened throughout my lifetime but will produce eternal joy. The following stories happened – in a moment of time.

More Lasting Moments of Joy

Stories for dog lovers

Stories for travelers

One story entitled "Is my baby in hell?"

Another story about the conversion of a Muslim

Stories of the helpless and hopeless who found peace

Stories which both the religious and non-religious will enjoy

The latest volume, Favorite Lasting Moments of Joy, is a book about some of the people who have made the greatest investment in my life and ministry. This book is also designed to help young parents build a desire into their children to develop a lifestyle of soul winning.

Books that Increase Regular and Faith-Promise Giving

Dr. Wilkins has been a church planter (thirteen churches), a missionary-minded pastor, and has taught missions courses in various colleges. He has developed four workbooks which will increase churches' general offerings as well as mission giving.

These books are four- or six-week courses to be taught the weeks prior to the faith promise commitment Sunday.

Growing as a Co-Laborer with God in World Missions

This is a four-week course that will show the giver that he can become a channel of blessing and also receive a channel of blessing back.

The Kindergarten Phase of Eternity

This is a six-week course on the difference between stewardship and ownership. It also shows how to receive commendations from a grateful Lord.

Through the Eyes of Compassion

This is a four-week course that will capture the heart of its reader for lost souls and cause them to first give themselves.

The Great Commission According to Jesus

This is a six-week course that looks at the Great Commission from the four Gospels and the book of Acts. Matthew stresses its authority, Mark stresses the personal need to fulfill it, Luke stresses the true message which will bring repentance, and John stresses the fearful responsibility of each believer. Acts stresses the divine power that is given to the believer.

Note: Each Sunday school student in the adult and teen department should have his/her own book. There will be a daily lesson.

Guaranteed to increase your mission giving (if done properly) or your money back!

Click to view additional books by Dr. Wilkins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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Dr. James Wilkins is an author, teacher, pastor, evangelist, and director of New Testament Ministries. Dr. Wilkins has been privileged with starting 13 churches. He has taught in several Independent Baptist Bible colleges and has authored more than 60 books and booklets. He's been on national TV and radio and has preached over 44,000 times.

Dr. Wilkins' heart and soul has always been in the area of soul winning and discipleship. And with books like The Drama at the Cross, Designed to Win, and The Milk of the Word, he has been not only seeing souls saved, but has also been building a lasting foundation for faith.

Connect with Dr. Wilkins

Website: www.jameswilkins.org

Facebook: <https://www.facebook.com/pages/James-Wilkins-and-New-Testament-Ministries/114315161980624>

Blog: <http://wordsfromwilkins.wordpress.com/>

Salt Lake Bible College

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Visit Dr. Wilkins' website: www.jameswilkins.org

Healing Words for Retired People – Dr. James Wilkins

Copyright © 2013

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version, Cambridge, 1769.

Printed in the United States of America

First edition published 2013

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Paperback ISBN: 978-1-62245-125-8

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Editor: Mary Vesperman, Ruth Zetek

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