IN THE SHELTER OF YOUR PRESENCE
It was 1973 and our trips to Brazil began. The Daniel S. Bonfim Mission came to life and our feeding program began to do what it does still today, 37 years of sweat, blood and tears.
About a couple years now, a young preacher closed himself to us and began another church. I have never met the young man. Heard wonderful things about him and have seen him around the area. This young man has, for some reason, only God knows, has persecuted the ministry, spoke horrible things about us to most of the area and continues to this date to harass us on his website, for no reason. I have been thinking of how much good we have done to the poor: 32 houses built on the hill – almost one a year, thousands of meals given freely to the poor and needy, thousands given to the needs of the people every year from hundreds of folks in America who are willing enough to share their hard-earned dollars so that the poor may eat, and yet, the persecution continues…
What should you do to someone who even though hecalls himself a Christian behaves as one lost? How should you respond to someone who persecutes and lies about you every time he speaks of you without any reason?
Psalm 31:20 says: ” IN THE SHELTER OF YOUR PRESENCE YOU HIDE THEM FROM THE INTRIGUES OF MEN; IN YOUR DWELLING YOU KEEP THEM SAFE FROM ACCUSING TONGUES.”
What should you do? Call a lawyer and sue this man and bring him to the justice system? No. I have prayed about this and this afternoon, I heard from the Lord. Elizabeth Wolfe called me and gave Psalm 31.
What do I do? I hide in the shelter of His presence from all the intrigues of men. In His dwelling, I am safe and no accusing tongues reach me any longer.
You see, when I am out of His presence, I hear these accusing tongues. When I am exposed in the world I hear the accusations. But, when I am in HIS PRESENCE, HE HIDES ME UNDER HIS DWELLING. Paul says, “He whom God called He will justify.” I am not suppose to justify myself and I am not to respond to accusing tongues. I am suppose to bless my enemy and love him and pray for him…
I AM HIDING FOR A WHILE NOW,
Rick Bonfim
Thank you brother, I believe our Lord said, these things would come to us. God bless you. We love you. LeRoy
Comment by LeRoy — March 3, 2010 @ 11:59 pm
My Dear Brother, You will never be silent, it is not what God Called you to do. All of us that one by one has gone on one mission trip or the other, know the work God has planned for the mission and the effects it has had on hundreds as we have all gone one by one and group by group. All that God has planned for the mission and your international ministry will come to fruition.
Rick the horrible truth is this,more”Christians”cause more to be lost to Christ Kingdom than any other body on earth. It is true, many pastors think nothing of destroying whomever they must to get the results that they want. These men are not of God Rick, they can run a church they can be charismatic, they can run 700 or 7000 But that does not mean they are men of God. As you well know Michael and my history, but one thing we have learned that you and Mama Lucy helped us know and helped us understand about faith, when in a time neither of us understood nor do we today. But it really doesn’t matter because, our God is a Very Big God,He Has, He WILL WIN!!!!!!!!!!!! WE are not strong enough to fight these Battles. BUT HE IS, and Michael and I sing a song together “He Didn’t Bring Us this far, to Leave Us:
“He didn’t teach us to swim to let us drown!” He didn’t build his home in us to move away,He didn’t lift us up to let us down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Climb up in that great big lap Rick and let him wrap his big ole blanket around you and rest. Its time. You are his child, You are obedient, “Let him take care of this one my friend. With all of our Love in Christ!!!
In Service Together for the King!!!
Matthew 28: 16-20
Judy and Michael Mason
Comment by Judy Williams-Mason — March 4, 2010 @ 1:42 am
Rick:
I just read how Jesus was misunderstood and should we not expect anything less. May you just bask in His Presence and set your face like flint to go forward my brother. You bless Abba’s heart and we know that is all that truly matters.
Earl
Comment by Hope — March 4, 2010 @ 7:21 am
Rick, you just turn the other cheek. Let the Lord “heap the coals,” not you. Those people at Santa Barbra know you and your ministry. Keep concentrating on all the plans God has for you!!! Thanks for sharing, so that we can pray about this. Mary B.
Comment by Mary B. Rice — March 4, 2010 @ 9:28 am
It is the sad beauty and irony of persecution that it drives us to the Lord more fiercely. I can’t remember if it was spoken in Brazil – probably! – but I have somewhere in my notes this thought: “more struggle, more anointing!” Thank you for the struggle, Lord (I think) – if it gives us more of You and causes us to hide in Your presence. The ministry at the mission deserves nothing but the highest praise both for what it does for Brazilians and for Americans.
Comment by Pam Morrison — March 4, 2010 @ 9:45 am
I do not see this as hiding but as resting in a secure shelter. Only during rest does one grow, when sleeping is when growth takes place in natural body. In spiritual rest we grow also in the spirit. Enjoy your time of rest in the secure shelter of the Almighty!
Comment by Carol — March 4, 2010 @ 1:27 pm
Sorry to hear about this , will be praying for you ,Mary Lucy and YOUR MOTHER. Janettte
Comment by Janette — March 4, 2010 @ 6:52 pm
Pastor Rick,
You will not remember my husband Randy or me. Too many years have passed. Please know that We praise God every day that HE brought you into our lives in the 1980′s. At that time we were attending Monroe First Methodist. You came with revival! I was there to help cook and serve lunch the first day. Later that afternoon I got sick with the flu and missed every evening service. I realized a few weeks later that the enemy did not want me to attend those services.
A few days after our revival had ended, my husband, Randy came home from work and said, “we are going to Rick’s worship and healing service,” to be held that night in Danielsville, GA. We took two ladies from our church and arrived at a small country school gymnasium during the pouring rain. What a down~pour it was too. Only a handful of people showed up. God poured down His precious Holy Spirit on us that night.
You see, a few months before you arrived at First Methodist, I was undergoing spiritual warfare; and a broken relationship with my brother, which had lasted for nearly five years. Holy Father had spoken to me in a dream and I had shared it with an outreach team leader. His son happened to be sitting at our table for prayer before we left to share the gospel of Jesus that night. This young man sat quietly and listened as I asked my team leader to pray for me.
A few Sunday’s later, this same young man approached me after church service and asked me if there was a spanish influence in my problem? “No”, I replied. You see, I had not shared any details of my situation. He then told me that he had been praying in the spirit for me; and a healing would take place. He had received this answer in spanish. God, our awesome Father had told him that we would work it out on the streetcorner. I thought what in the world! Pain, shame, disbelief filled me with fear!
Then you came to First Methodist. I only saw you from a distance. Yet, I know that with God, there are no coincidences. And HE had plans for us to meet, to pray together, so that I could experience HIS healing power!
We held hands in a circle in that old gym. You called out to me, “Someone is here who was praying for the wrong thing. You are praying about a broken relationship. Asking that you can and will forgive this other person. Step into the circle.” I DID NOT BUDGE! My sweet husband, tugged on my hand. Still I did not approach for prayer. This went on for several seconds or minutes. It seemed like hours to me!
Then the exit door opened and who should walk in surrounded by wind, rain and lightning? That same young prayer warrior who was praying in the spirit for me. Randy led me into that circle. I call it “God’s healing circle,”and you prayed for me. Telling me, “Ask God to forgive you, Stop trying to fix it. God will work this out for you.”
That year I was working two jobs. The next morning, I went to work, and had just finished with my first client. I was about to step into God’s healing circle once more! My brother walked right by our office door. god showed me that HE was working it out! I had not seen or spoken to my brother for all those years. He was working right next door to me. He lived only two miles from my home. You know what happened next.
I walked next door and begged my brother’s forgiveness. I cried, we cried. He forgave me and then we hugged. Right out there on the sidewalk! On the street corner; across the street from the city library. That is when God healed both of us. God recently revealed another answered prayer. My brother had accepted Christ as his Savior a few months after all this happened.
Last year, I saw this young man’s father, and told him of this miracle and healing. I prayed that I would have the opportunity to share it with you as well. Just Last week a friend sent me your website and e-mail. And I’m praying that I will one day be able to share with this young man that his prayers for me were answered. God’s still working it out!
As I read your writing, “In the Shelter of YOUR Presence” above, I heard Father whisper to me. “Write, now. Share MY healing.” Pastor Rick, I firmly believe the enemy will persecute and attack God’s mightiest warriors more fiercely than anyone else. And he will use good, Godly men and women without them realizing it. Don’t lose heart. Pray for this young pastor and his followers.
Randy and I now live in the Good Hope area and attend Braswell Baptist Church on Hwy 83. By God’s divine appointment, we are here. Loving and serving Him now!
Always in Christ,
Donna Peppers
Comment by Randy and Donna Peppers — March 22, 2010 @ 12:50 pm