Almost Persuaded

Yesterday, Jan 7, 2007, I preached at the nursing home where I've been preaching for 18 years. Course this is not a paid job nor am I a salaried pastor. The service lasted from 9:30 until 11:10 AM, and there were about 20 in attendance. One lady, 104 years old, was right in front of me. She constantly said amen, and praised the Lord during the preaching, and sang with a strong voice as we sang some of the old songs. One other elderly lady sat there with tears streaming down her cheeks, as I preached about heaven, and all the the things the LORD has prepared for those who love him.

The primary scripture the LORD led me to use was Acts 26, the whole chapter. Paul described his encounter with Jesus, and told about how great changes occurred in his life after this eye opening event. King Agrippa even told Paul, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian". Festus called Paul mad. I went on to explain that Festus thought that because "the natural man received not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned". (1 Corinthians 2 verse 14).

Though I was long in preaching, no one went to sleep...most everyone there was in wheelchairs and under medication. At the close of the service, Brother Westberry stated "I love the LORD because he changed me..I can feel the Spirit running all up and down me!" The 104 year old lady stated, "I have been going to church all my life, and I am still hungry for the LORD's word"...She then said, "I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith"....You ought to have heard all of us singing "Going Home". It goes like this: "Going home, I'm going home, there's nothing to hold me here. I've got a glimpse of that heavenly land, Praise God, I'm going home!".

Irvin L. Rozier aka walkin2e