Lighthouse: Santa Monica/Hesperia, 12-21-2011

My last meetings before Christmas break was with The Lighthouse in Santa Monica, and Hesperia California. Everyone was in full Christmas mode. The Holy Spirit came into the services and brought conviction and hope, that Christmas really is about redeeming lost humanity. All of the services were filled with Joy. Quite a few visitors came to Jesus during the Hesperia meetings. I encouraged the saints in both locations about the Wonderful name of Jesus. My message brought home the truth that, the child born in the manger has been given a name that either inspires worship or anger. These are a few snapshots of the services.

Ps Rob, Sunday morning

Hesperia Sunday night

Praise in Santa Monica

point made..Wonderful Jesus

altar call Hesperia

Santa Monica Congregation

Hesperia..6 got saved

leading praise..Hesperia

prayer requests

God's Gift

Each year after Christmas many gifts end up; unused, unwanted, exchanged or discarded. I've always said, "the best gifts are the ones you can actually use". The greatest gift ever given, was not purchased in a department store, professionally wrapped, or placed under a tree. Though not appealing to the world at large, this gift is one you can use everyday for the rest of your life. Its the gift that never stops giving. Jesus, God's give to the world. John 3:16.

Raleigh NC...Coming in and Coming Home

Courtney, gave a powerful testimony (see testimony page)

Jesus is so good. I had a good time with Ps Chase and the Raleigh congregation. I saw God do everything from save the sinner, to reclaim the backslider. I saw joy come into peoples lives, and saw hope being restored. It was a great week of revival. The young lady in the photo above is Courtney Pigford. One night see testified, and blessed the church with a story of freedom. Go to the testimony page on this blog and read her story.

Praise

a final challenge..give all to Jesus

I was so excited to see the new building in Raleigh. They moved further south in the city to a bigger facility. The saints are still putting it together, and are full of vision for what God will do. Each night the attendance was great. A number of people answered the call to receive Christ. I was moved a few of the evenings to get reports from people of how God had used the word to free their mind. Its so encouraging to see God visit his people. A good way to describe the services would be; many were coming in and backsliders were coming home.

If pastor's on fire, everybody burns....

In the house, each night

some seriously anointed singing

Anyone can tell you about the Tuesday night service when the Spirit came in and took over. The ladies sang and as they were singing we felt God. The congregation was on fire, after the message that night many were refreshed and ready for battle. That was the night 9 yr old MacKenzie showed me she had been taking notes on the sermon. Imagine our country, if all kids loved the word like this. Thank God for parents raising their kids in church.

9 yr old MacKenzie showed me her sermon notes  WOW

Bro Joe, and this little girl are enjoying Jesus

no one could stay in their seat

Thank God for The Chase family and their labors in Raleigh. I told Pastor, Its happening, God is loose, in just a matter of time multitudes will fill the place seeking to know Jesus.

Watch out...Man on Fire...

Coming to the High Desert

Excited about joining Ps Neos and the Lighthouse saints

Safford AZ, God's Faithfulness..12 2011

Choir in Safford

This was my third year preaching in Safford, its becoming on of the places I look forward to visiting. The church is warm, friendly, and very responsive to the gospel. The meetings this year had a very personal feel. People who knew the church and backsliders came out. This revealed Gods faithfulness. The responses were joyful and many powerful things took place in peoples hearts. I watched as many came forward to rededicate themselves to Gods purpose, get prayer for direction and healing. 

Scripture, for or against me

great deliverances

Salvation..thank Jesus

Pastor Seals testified of many personal breakthroughs in people. We were all challenged to rise up, go forth and take the city. We felt God press on us the reality of the last days. I thank God for Pastor Seals and his wife Clara. They are among some of the most hospitable people I know. They are committed to doing Gods will in Safford. I ask everyone to say a prayer for them.

calling on Jesus

Free.

pressing in as God leads

Not Easy Going to Hell

A very troubled man visited church last night. He had been drinking a bit and we could tell he was hurting. He came to the service for help, yet he wouldn't respond to God or let us pray for him.

I realized, going to hell is not easy. You have to fight the love of God, survive the drawing of the Spirit, ignore the bible, resist many prayers, silence your conscience, deny powerful testimonies, block out conviction, and refuse a gospel of great mercy.

In light of God's great love, it takes a lot of work to be lost. Why do people fight? Surrender.

God Moving in Namibia...11-2011

First service in Swakopmund, 117 people saved

One of the unknown jewels of the African continent is the Nation of Namibia. Steve and Shirley Anderson Pioneered the church here years ago. Namibia gets its name from the Huge beautiful Namib desert along the western coast. As I arrived into Namibia, We drove to Swakopmund along the coast for a one night revival. With little preparation, about 150 visitors came and 117 answered the altar call for salvation. The altar was so packed, there was no room to move. God showed his power in that service. The next two days we held seminars for the pastors and their wives, to refresh and encourage them in the ministry.

Namibian Pastors and wives

Sunday Morning in Windhoek

Namib Desert

Saints giving praises

The revival in the Windhoek church was launched Sunday thru Thursday, it was good, I mean real good. Visitors and backsliders were drawn by the love of Jesus. Each altar call saw people come forward and profess Jesus as Lord. The saints in Windhoek know how to invite Gods presence into a service. One night during the worship they sang "hallelujah" so wonderfully, I was moved. I actually filmed them singing and posted it on YouTube under "Marty Carnegie in Windhoek". The congregation responded so powerfully to the preaching, I knew it was the timing of God. In total over 450 people answered invitations to Christ  on this trip to South Africa and Namibia.

Excitement on the last night of Revival

Pastor Setson & Mary

I was so surprised one evening as I walked out of the church and saw peopled lined up outside waiting for a seat. So many were coming, the ushers had to hold people up until they could set up chairs and then let them file in. God is moving in Windhoek. The Ajala's did a great job building on the pioneer foundation and establishing this church. Today under Pastor Setson's leadership they are building their own church, scheduled to open sometime next year.

Namibian Flag

After lining up for a seat, people enter church

Revival in Beautiful South Africa..11-2011

street outreach, praying for two ladies

Faces of South Africa

My two week Africa trip began in Cape Town, South Africa. Its is one of the most naturally beautiful cities in the world. Located right at the tip of the African continent, the next stop south is Antarctica. I preached 7 services here; a marriage class, a mens class, and 5 revival services. I was shocked at Sunday mornings altar call when so many came forward for salvation. I knew God had planned to move. The hunger for God was so real. The worship, the responses, the singing was all so powerful. 

Ps Bobby and his group singing

Time to Worship

The folks at the church were so into revival. Ps Bobby kept speaking about people bringing their friends and family. Many were saved. I met people who remembered me from my visit 11 years ago, some even came and told me they got saved in that previous meeting. It was a joy. I went on Outreach with the church on Saturday and got to pray with people on the streets. During the mens class I met a few of the other local pastors, wonderful men with great vision for God. The same is true of the marriage class, many from other local congregations came and were blessed.

Attention to Gods Word

Altar call at the mens class

Lovely Capetown

Many needs, lots of prayer

South Africa is a nation going through so many changes, after years of racial struggle. Political struggles, moral and traditional struggles as well. Many evil spirits are working through this time of struggle. The Holy Spirit addressed many of these issues during the revival, and we saw a great breakthrough. Keep the nation is prayer. Our workers in South Africa are fighting and winning a great spiritual war.

congregation in Guguletu

Ps Bobby and Barbara

Fire fell on the final night

Ps Bobby took me to a place I remembered on my first trip to Cape Town 11 years ago. A restaurant that served Ostrich Kebabs. It was still there, and the Ostrich is still good. For a man who likes chicken, this is like one big chicken, glorious. I'm going back for more.

Ostrich Kebab..one big chicken..I was happy

THE WAY GOD DOES THINGS

David defeats Goliath

Got home from Alaska last night and woke up thinking of the goodness of God. All over the state of Alaska you see the beauty of Gods creation and  you feel humbled at his wisdom. I was reading about David's victory over Goliath and got a joyful revelation, "everything God does is not only good, but greater than anything man can do".

Goliath was professionally trained by man, yet he fell to a untrained shepherd boy. When God does something its always better than anything this world can do. Remember I Cor 1:27 in the New Testemant, it says: "God has chosen the foolish, to shame the wise, and the weak to shame the mighty. The scripture tells us that God deliberately brings down mans best,  to reveal his glory. It makes you look back an wonder.

Titanic sinking 15 April 1912

The Ark, Gods design

Remember the mighty ship Titanic. They said "it is so well built, not even God could sink it". Well it sank on its first and only voyage killing over 1500 people. The titanic was one of this worlds greatest achievements, yet it failed miserably. Compare the Titanic to Noah's Ark, which was built under instruction from God, by a simple man, with common materials, with no high tech tools. It survived a universal flood storm, and saved humanity. When God does something, its all good.

Solomon never attended one of our Ivy League universities, yet he was the wisest of all, because God gave him wisdom. We all must fight the temptation to love this world and its ways more than God. This sinful world though fancy, flashy, and seductive cannot give you more, or make you better than God can. So many smarter and richer have learned the hard way, what history and the bible makes clear. God is the creator, sustainer, and savior of humanity. Salvation is God's plan for humanity. It may seem strange that a man on a cross would have to die for our sins, but its God way. There is no other way of salvation.

Ephesians 2:8....For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of YOURSELF. It is the gift of GOD.  Not of works lest any man should boast...