Your Mouth is A Tool

In the book of Mark, there’s an interesting little story about a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years. This woman had no options in the natural. She had spent all her money on doctors and had only gotten worse. But she heard about Jesus and how He had been healing the sick. So she started meditating on Jesus, and she began to use her mouth as a tool. “She kept saying, If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health” (Mark 5:28, AMP).
This woman began to speak what she wanted instead of what she was experiencing. She started speaking words of faith! She made a determination in her heart that if she could just touch Jesus, she would be made whole. She kept saying!
The Bible tells us that if we do not doubt in our heart but believe that those things we say will be done, we will have whatever we say: “I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him” (Mark 11:23). When I first saw this scripture years ago, I got so excited that I immediately began to put it to work in my life.
I really wanted to wear nice clothes to church on Sunday, because I thought it was important to dress my best in God’s house . But we had no extra money, so my only option was to use my faith. The finest clothes I had in my closet were two pair of pants, one navy and the other khaki, and I had one white button-down shirt and one light blue one. So every week I switched out my look: one week I’d wear khaki pants with the blue shirt, and the next I’d wear navy pants with the white shirt. Every time I ironed my pants on Sunday morning, I would say, “I thank You, Lord, for my new clothes.” Then I’d iron my shirts, and I’d say, “I thank You, Lord, for my new clothes.”
Not long after I began thanking the Lord for new clothes, I painted the exterior of a lady’s house. This woman told me that before her husband had died, she had bought him some nice dress shoes. “If they fit you,” she said to me, “I would love for you to have them.” So I tried them on, and guess what? They were a perfect fit.
When I brought those new shoes home, my wife said, “Wow, Riley, those are Johnson & Murphy. They’re two-hundred-dollar shoes! If the Lord is blessing you with shoes like that, suits are coming!”
So I changed what I was saying. Every Sunday morning when I ironed my clothes, I started saying, “Thank You, Lord, for my new suits.”
Three months later a couple invited my wife and me to join them for lunch at their home after church. After the meal the man asked me to forgive him. He told me that three months earlier the Lord had told him to give me a gift, and he hadn’t done it. Of course I forgave him. As soon as I told him so, the man went to his closet and brought out five suits and five ties for me! Yes, he did—and every one fit perfectly!
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33, NKJV).
“And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19, NKJV).
Whatever situation or circumstance you may be going through, whatever your needs may be, train your mouth to be obedient to the Word of God. Whether you need healing, financial help or deliverance, use your mouth as a tool to bring in your harvest—spirit, soul and body!

Prayer for Healing

We saw some ladies outside the Convention Center and asked if they needed prayer for anything, one lady responded, "I'm having a little pain in my thumb and my big toe."  We then quoted Mark 16 which  says, "If you believe you lay hands on the sick,  they'll recover."  Right after we prayed for healing,  I asked her to do something with your thumb that you couldn't do before and she said, "I'm not feeling the pain right now in my thumb," as she was moving it back and forth.  I then asked her, "How's that big toe?" and she paused a moment to check it out and with excitement said, "It's not hurting at all; it's not really hurting; it has been given me a little bit of a problem and I've been believing for my healing." 

It Really Is All About the Numbers

 

Note: The following blog is adapted from Riley’s book It’s All About the Numbers, Newark, TX, 2009.

I have a confession to make. I hope you’re sitting down. If not, grab a chair.

This may come as a shock to you. Are you ready? Here it comes: I confess that I’m “in it” for the numbers!

That’s right — I do what I do for the Lord for the numbers. I want to see people by the millions coming to Jesus before He returns! I want to see “numbers” of people from every race and religion and from every nation on this planet saved! It’s God’s will that all be saved! Not everyone will accept his or her salvation, but the harvest of souls that God desires to reap represents large, large numbers!

Let’s be honest. We’re all “in it” for the numbers. It just depends on what our “it” is. Your“it” might be your job. At the end of the week when you get your paycheck, the“numbers” reflect the hours you worked and the compensation you receive. If you’re an accountant, a pollster, or a math teacher, you’re in it for the numbers. And if you work for the IRS, you’re definitely in it for the numbers!

Think about someone who’s on a strict diet. Their “it” is calories or pounds. They count how many calories they can have, and they definitely count how many pounds they lose!

A runner counts howmany miles he has run.A businessman will let you know how many years he has been in business. A good businessman will set a goal every year as to how much money he wants to make by year’s end.

Some businesses advertise right on their sign the date they were established — so people can see how many “numbers” of years they’ve been in business. This usually gives them more credibility.

What about churches? They do the same thing. They record the “numbers” in attendance. They plan annual budgets for programs based on the “numbers.” Also, a church will evaluate the success of a meeting based on numbers.

Did you know that God is in it for the numbers too? He wrote a Book in the Bible called Numbers! Let’s face it: Numbers are important to God! In John 21:11, the Bible says Peter caught 153 fish! God thought “numbers” were so important that He recorded the number of fish Peter caught that day. So let’s not get “all spiritual” when someone sets a goal for souls! God’s desire is that people come to Jesus by the thousands! As believers, we desire to see all of our family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances pulled from the flames of hell (seeJude 23)! These people represent “numbers.”

One of my favorite quotes says, “We count people because people count.”

Christians have said to me, “Now, brother, you shouldn’t count the number of people you led to the Lord. You shouldn’t make it look like you’re putting another notch on your Gospel belt.”

“Thank you for saying that!” I always reply. “I want my ‘Gospel belt’ so notched up with souls who give their life to Jesus that you can’t even tell anymore that it’s a belt!” My goal is to see as many “numbers” of people go to Heaven as I possibly can! This goal has been the driving force of my ministry. Some have assumed that I’m only it in for the numbers. And do you know what? They’re right!

I once heard a respected minister say, “The only thing you do in life that will matter when you die is what you’ve done for the Lord.” That statement had a profound effect on my life — it still does to this day.

What about you? Do you share the dream for souls? Do you share a desire to love what God loves — the “precious fruit of the earth” — the harvest of men’s and women’s souls (see James 5:7)? If you do, I bet you’re a number-lover too. It really is all about the numbers! (Click here to read more.)

 

Texarkana Soul Winning Outreach

Katherine Barnes of Faith Boot-Camp Ministries invited our team to Texarkana to win the lost. She has been praying over the city even though her hometown is in Mena, Arkansas. We took a group of 15 people from Fort Worth, Texas. On Friday night we went to the local mall and store along the “state line.” We were specifically told not to go to a certain gas station. And guess what? That is where I wanted to go! We also got a tip from a local about a hotel that has drug and sex trafficking going on there! Yes, we made our way over there also!

We needed gas, so while we were sitting in the van a car load of girls drive up. They looked at me and motioned for me to come over. I got out of the van and said, “Hey girls can I help you?” (There were six girls in the car.) One girl in the back said, “Yeah, we need money.” I pulled out my wallet and had six one-dollar bills. This was not a coincidence! I gave each one of them a dollar bill. I said, “Hey, what do y’all need this money for?” They said, “Gas.” Right then the Lord told me to fill their tank up with gas. So I said, “Pull over to the pump because the Lord wants to bless you with a tank of gas.” They were shocked! After I filled up their tank, I ministered to them and all six of the girls prayed to receive Jesus for the first time!

We were checking out inside, and the Lord led me to ask a lady if she needed healing in her body. She said, “I sure do! I have pain in my feet and legs.” I shared what Mark 16 in the Bible says: “If you believe you will lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” So I prayed for her and Jesus took the pain out of her body!

On Friday night one of our team members walked into a store in the mall and asked the lady behind the counter if there was anything we could pray with her about. She said she had not had a good night’s sleep in a long time. Our team member shared that the Bible says God will give us “sweet sleep.” This team member prayed and left the store. On Saturday, we stopped by the same store and the girl said, “Last night was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in years!” God confirms His Word!



Over the weekend we prayed and ministered to people from all walks of life and denominations. We are praising God for the 309 people who prayed the prayer of salvation! All glory to God!

Outreach of Love in Manchester

Wednesday Night we arrived at The Sojourner’s Fellowship where eight different churches were present and passionate about winning the lost. We trained, equipped, and sent out the body of believers on their own personal evangelism journey. We were also joined by Evangelist and Author Cheryle Touchton of Pocket Full of Change Ministries.

We went to Wal-Mart as we prayed and asked the Lord to open the hearts of the people, and to show us to whom we should talk. Many of the team felt the Lord tell them to call their family members and they saw them commit their lives to the Lord, as well as seeing the Lord answer their prayers. Wednesday, our first night, we prayed with fifteen people; this was a huge celebration and victory for this body of believers because many of them had never shared their faith before.
 

I met, and was able to minister with award-winning actor, screenwriter,
comedian, and author Torry Martin.

Throughout the rest of the weekend we moved our attention to the more populous area of Bonnaroo. Bonnaroo is one of the world’s largest music festivals hosting over 80,000 people.

The Lord showed himself real to us and the patrons attending the festival as He set up divine appointments, healed many people, and was a confirmation to several people’s questions. As well as witnessing, the Lord made priceless connection between the different denomination believers as we followed our great commission together. Throughout the whole weekend we saw many of the believers lights begin to burn brighter for the lost as well as seeing 146 people come to the Lord!


Learn how to share your faith at RileyStephenson.com!

2009 Southwest Soul Winning Evangelism

The KCM Soul Winning Team is going into the highways and byways and compelling people to come into the Kingdom of God! People of all ages, races, cultures are being born again on the streets of Fort Worth! The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is being preached and the love of God is being poured out from the hearts of men and women who have been trained in the word of righteousness. As a result, within the last two weeks, 2752 people have made Jesus the Lord of their life!

Here are a few testimonies:


On Monday morning we walked into a business with a stack of SWBC flyers in our hand and the manager immediately told us, “You can’t be soliciting in here.” I said, “Ma’am, while we are here, is there anything we can pray with you about?” She said, “Salvation!” We prayed with her right there in the front of the store to receive Jesus! While she was filling out our decision card, we asked her if she needed healing in here body. She said, “Yes, I have diabetes.” We prayed for her and told her to call our prayer line with the testimony!




We went to the Bus Station and met a lady who was sitting on a bench. We sat down with her and invited her to the meeting. Then we asked her “If you died right now, where would you go?” She said, “Well, I hope Heaven.” We led her in a prayer to receive Jesus! Then we led her in a prayer to receive the Holy Spirit! Then we asked her if she had any pain in her body. She said she had some kind of disease that affects the joints in her arms and legs. We prayed and then asked her to move her arms to see if they felt better. She said, “Yes! My hands do! Let me stand to see what my hip says!” Yes my hip feels better too! She was saved, filled, and healed while waiting for her bus! Glory to God!




As our team walked the streets of Fort Worth this week, one soul winner talked to a man working on a construction site. He was already saved but prayed a prayer of rededication to live a life on fire for God. Then he said, “You need to talk to those construction workers over on the next street.” Our soul winner said, “Okay.” The next day as our team swept the streets with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, this same man named Kevin shouted, “Hey! Did you talk to those workers about Jesus? You need to talk to them! They have a lunch break at noon.” So at noon our soul winning team went over and prayed with the whole group of 10 construction workers to receive Jesus! Hallelujah!




Our team jumped on a bus and asked the bus driver, “May we pray a quick prayer of blessing over your bus?” She said, “Sure! But wait a few minutes so that the bus is full of people.” Our team stood by and watched as the bus filled up with people. Right before she left, one of our team members stood on the bus and prayed a prayer of blessing over the bus. Then she shared the scriptures in Romans and led the whole bus in a prayer to receive Jesus! Everyone shouted, “Jesus, come into my heart! Be my Lord and my Savior! Amen!”



Jesus said to pray to the Lord of the harvest that He would send forth laborers into the harvest field. This year we have equipped so many new laborers to be skillful and effective in ministering salvation. We will continue to go into the streets and preach the Gospel; we will not stop until everyone has heard that Jesus is Lord!

West Coast Evangelism Conference

The Glory of the Lord shined once again on the streets of Long Beach. Our KCM Evangelism Team partnered with The Sanctuary, our local host church and we hit the streets promoting the WCBC and shared Jesus with everyone in our reach. The Lord also led us to a few local nursing homes to share the love of God. 2188 people prayed the prayer of salvation!





A few testimonies:
A team member was walking down the street of Long Beach when a lady sitting at a restaurant patio said, “Thank you for smiling at me.” She said, “Your smile blessed me!” The team member stopped and began sharing the love of God with this lady. She shared the scriptures from Romans and this lady prayed to ask Jesus into her heart. The light of Jesus was shining bright on our team member’s face!






One of our team members prayed with a group of 10 young people who said they were all atheists; they all gave their lives to the Lord!

The team was also asked to pray for several employees at a nursing home. They said, “We watch Kenneth Copeland on TV every week and are so blessed that his team had come to the nursing home.” They said, “Please pray for our people here and for every one of our employees, that they will be blessed.” As our team laid hands on the staff, the power of God ministered peace, healing and hope to every person! Hallelujah! Glory to God!





While on the beach, one of our team members asked a street performer if she could say a prayer after he was done. He said, “Yes.” When he finished his dance routine, he shouted to the crowd surrounding him, “Hey, don’t leave! This young lady wants to say a prayer.” Our team member shared the wonderful Word of God on salvation and then had the entire crowd repeat the prayer to ask Jesus into their hearts! More than 30 people were saved at that one moment of time!


A team member walked up to a guy and said, “Where are you going when you die some day?” He said, “I will not go to Heaven because I have tattoos and piercings.” The team member said, “The only thing that will keep you out of Heaven is not believing on Jesus; just repeat this prayer after me to receive Jesus in your heart.” The man prayed and gave his life to the Lord.

The team walked around the convention center and prayed with 5 of the employees to receive Jesus. A team member said to an employee, “If you died right now, where you would go?” The employee said, “No one has ever asked me that question. I don’t know where I would go.” Then the team member shared the scriptures from Romans and she began crying and said, “Thank you for sharing this with me.” This employee prayed with the team member and asked Jesus into her heart! Hallelujah!





Another team member walked up to the table with Long Beach information and asked the gentleman there, “Sir, we are walking around asking everyone a few questions. Where would you go when you die some day?” He said, “I hope to go to Heaven.” The team member read from the Pocket Reference for Soul Winning Card and said, “Repeat this prayer after me.” He prayed to ask Jesus into his heart! The harvest is ripe; people are ready to receive Jesus!

At the bus stop, a team member walked up to an older man with a cane. She asked him where he is going when he dies. He said, “I am going down.” The team member led him in the prayer of salvation and then said, “The Bible says in Mark 16 that he who believes shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. May I pray for you?” The man said, “Yes, every day my health gets worse.” The team member said, “Well, I believe that after we pray every day you will get stronger and stronger because of the life of Jesus that is now inside you!” The man walked away with a smile on his face and a spring in his step! Glory to God!

A team member walked up to two men and asked them, “If you died right now, where would you go?” They said, “We are going to Heaven.” Then the team member said, “Well, if God were to say, Why should I let you into Heaven, what would you tell Him?” They said, “Well, we are not sure because we are together.” The team member shared the scriptures from Romans and they both prayed to ask Jesus into their heart. They smiled and said, “Thank you so much!” They believed on the Lord Jesus and were saved!

In front of the Jack in the Box, a team member walked up to two young ladies. She began to ask them where they would go when they die some day. One of the ladies said, “Hey, I prayed with you downtown a few days ago!” The team member turned to the other lady and shared what the Word says and said, “Pray this prayer with me.” She hesitated a little. Her friend (who had already prayed to ask Jesus into her heart a few days earlier) grabbed her hand and said, “I will pray this prayer with you.” Both prayed, “Jesus, come into my heart! Be my Lord and my Savior!”




On 2nd street, a team member walked up to a mother and daughter and handed them a flyer, inviting them to the WCBC. As the mother opened the flyer and saw the information about healing school, she said, “That is so funny. I was just talking to my daughter today and wondered where there was a healing meeting.” The team member asked them where they were going when they die some day. They were not sure. They prayed and asked Jesus into their heart, both mother and daughter. Then they said, “We are coming to that healing meeting on Saturday. Thanks so much!”

The team prayed with people for healing and saw the life of God enter into the bodies of several people! Ankles healed! Backs healed! Depression gone! Many lives set free by the power of God!