Andrew Wommack's Blog, page 15

Do You Qualify?

Some people think God has favorites—those who prosper and are fulfilled—while the rest just have to get by. But the Bible reveals specific qualifications we must meet in order to be called of God, and they might surprise you. Sometimes what qualifies us before God isn’t what we expect, and when looking at the lives of Saul and David, this becomes clear.

In his Lessons from David book, Andrew shares:

“Saul’s failure gave David a chance. David was God’s second choice. He never would have even come to the surface if Saul hadn’t botched it up. This speaks volumes to me! Even though the Lord has used me in a mighty way, I certainly don’t feel like I was His first choice. . . . When He chose me and started putting the things He’s told me to do in my heart, I just thought, God, I’m not qualified. I’m not good enough! But then I read His list of qualifications found in 1 Corinthians” (p. 15-16).

Andrew goes on to quote 1 Corinthians 1:26-27:

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.”

God isn’t looking for the most talented or beautiful people. What God is looking for is a heart perfect toward Him (2 Chr. 16:9). Saul appeared qualified to those around him, but David’s heart qualified him before God. That’s where it ultimately matters. David always made his heart available to the Lord through submitting himself to God’s timing, repenting when he messed up, and always giving God the credit for his success. As Andrew says, “The Lord is more interested in our availability than our ability” (p. 16).

Character is the fruit of a person’s heart. Saul learned the hard way that promotion from God without the character to maintain it is means for disqualification. In other words, not guarding his heart eventually ruined
his future.

Whether or not you keep your heart right will either qualify you for promotion or elevate someone else. Think about that! Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” David was not God’s first choice, but when Saul allowed pride to creep in and didn’t repent of it, he lost what God had for him.

According to Andrew, humility is a key character that will bring you favor
with God:

“You must walk humbly in order to walk with God. This is a lesson we can learn from David. David was a humble man. At times, he messed up royally and committed terrible sins, but he didn’t try to shift the blame onto anyone else when he was reproved. He shouldered the blame himself, repented, and lay before the Lord. David was a humble man. Humility doesn’t mean you do everything perfectly. It doesn’t mean you don’t sin. Humility means that you have a heart that is sensitive toward the Lord. Even though you might act like you’ve lost your mind and gone crazy sometimes, you genuinely love
God” (p. 24-25).

With Andrew’s Lessons from David, learn what qualified David, a shepherd boy and the least in his family, to become the king of Israel. This teaching is available as a CD or DVD series, book (English or Spanish), and study guide.

Written by Aria Fischer

For resources and products or to partner in the U.S., visit www.awmi.net; outside the U.S., visit www.awme.net.

Appointed: A Man After God’s Own Heart!

The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people.

1 Samuel 13:14, New King James Version

Have you ever wondered what it really means to be called a man after God’s own heart? If so, you’re in good company. You’d be surprised to know that even David wondered the same.

In David: The King of Jerusalem, a brand-new musical production by Robert and Elizabeth Muren, you’ll journey through the life of a lonely young shepherd boy from Bethlehem. Being the youngest of several impressive-looking brothers, David was constantly being overlooked. Even his father, Jesse, didn’t consider him when the prophet Samuel asked him to present
his sons.

David had, however, developed an intimate relationship with his unseen Father by whom he was always seen. Robert puts it this way: “God, his heavenly Father, saw him and chose him before all others in the
whole nation.”

His far-from-perfect life was smeared with adultery, murder, betrayal, and the loss of children. But one thing never changed: his unwavering desire to please only his heavenly Father. Robert says, “Despite weaknesses and failures, he was desperate for God, and he passionately sought His wisdom and
His Word.”

The Murens do an amazing job of capturing the essence of David’s life. If you’ve seen their world-class productions God with Us or The Heart of Christmas, you know you won’t want to miss this one. You’ll be treated to a memorable performance with family-friendly entertainment you can trust. Every member of the family can identify with David, the hero for all ages.

You’ll also enjoy the musical renditions with a modern-worship twist, as David tells story after story of God’s amazing grace.

In the musical, the mature King David starts to prepare Solomon to be his successor. However, Solomon doesn’t fit the typical mold of a king. And just like David, Solomon was the least expected to ascend to the throne. David shows, through the story of his own life, that man looks at outward appearances, but God looks at the heart. Through his vulnerability, he and Solomon discover why God called David a man after His heart.

Elizabeth explains, “The main story is not about David and Solomon. . . . The main love story is about David and God. . . . And the one thing I want people to leave with is the understanding of how God desires intimacy. The main theme throughout the story―past and present―is . . . discovering the relationship that David had with God.”

“Come celebrate with us, and discover why David was a man after God’s own heart,” says Robert. “Witness how the rejected shepherd boy from Bethlehem becomes the king of Jerusalem!”

This one-night-only musical takes place on Friday, November 2, 2018, at 7 p.m. and kicks off our weekend of epic proportions! On Saturday at 2 p.m., we will continue the celebrations with special guests Kenneth Copeland and Jesse Duplantis, as we dedicate our new auditorium to the glory of God. The festivities culminate on Sunday at 4 p.m., as Andrew Wommack hosts The Event with Tony Perkins and featured speaker former governor
Mike Huckabee.

Imagine spending a fun, godly weekend in the beautiful mountains of Woodland Park, Colorado, and imagine joining thousands of others as we celebrate God’s grace.

Now, turn that imagination into reality!

Get tickets and find more information about David: The King of Jerusalem at thekingofjerusalem.com. Leave us a comment below if you’re planning to attend this musical or any of the other events in our momentous weekend.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Written by Zoe Isaacs

For information about our other events in the U.S., visit awmi.net/events; if outside the U.S., visit awme.net/events.

How David Got His Heart Back

You may not be able to relate to this, but one of the things I’ve struggled with for years is becoming overwhelmed with a certain thing and then just shutting down. In my mind, the scope of it would be just too much to deal with in the moment, so I’d opt to put it off or not to do anything. Instead, I’d just sit back and chill for a while.

Sometimes, a while lasted months.

When I’d eventually get motivated, I’d turn into a machine! I’d feel like I could stay up all night—whatever it took—to get a thing done. I’d be determined, laser-focused, and almost fiery about it. What changed in me was finally seeing that the thing was not so tough after all. I’d gotten my head around it. (Part of me felt a little guilty too.)

However, this wouldn’t last long. Once I finished whatever needed to be done, I’d go right back to chilling. Can anyone relate?

Then one day, I realized the chronic cycle I’d been in. Immediately, I was upset. All the Enemy had to do was tempt me to feel that something was overwhelming, and I would do the rest. Talk about taking chess pieces off the board!

This was a heart issue that I needed to deal with. And I was motivated. What did I do? I did what Andrew teaches in Lessons from David:

“If you can get your heart established, then actions will not be a problem.”

Yeah, but how do I do that?

“Again, Proverbs 23:7 says [that] as a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

So, I’ve got to think differently. Once I saw this, I began to recognize when I felt overwhelmed, and I would shut down the temptation. I knew if I didn’t change the way I thought, I couldn’t change my heart.

Andrew continues,

“You are [not] just born with a perfect heart. You have to cultivate this.”

Are you saying that if my heart is perfect, then my actions will be perfect?

“It does not mean that your actions are perfect, but it does mean that [in] your heart, you long for the things of God. You have a personal relationship with God. You are sensitive to God. You are seeking God.”

Okay, I think I got it. And since I’ve been changing the way I think, my heart has been in a better place. I’m happier. Putting off things and “just chilling” never really made me happy. In fact, I was being owned by this vicious cycle. It feels good to have my heart back.

The cool part is, I didn’t lose the fiery motivation I can get about things; I just don’t get it with a sense of guilt.

What motivates you? If it’s not what God has put in your heart, then something else owns you. But I want to encourage you that you can break the vicious cycle. You might try starting with Lessons from David. It’s a character study on a man who had one of the greatest hearts toward God and life. What worked for him will work for you!

Written by David Moore II

For resources and products or to partner in the U.S., visit www.awmi.net; outside the U.S., visit www.awme.net.

The Record-Breaking Healing Is Here Conference

The 2018 Healing Is Here Conference was just awesome! It broke records with the highest number of first- and all-time attendees! The word is definitely out there: healing is here, it’s for today, and it’s ours right now!

Daniel Amstutz and Carlie Terradez―the dynamic duo―delved into intense periods of ministry training (AKA “marinating in the Word”). They taught on our rights and authority as believers and how our faith becomes effective as we acknowledge every good thing in us (Philem. 6). Their training was hands-on, and they encouraged us, as carriers of the King of glory, to minister to and pray for each other. You could feel their passion right off the bat as they declared their hatred for sickness and what it does to people.

Andrew followed up on this by stating that he had only been sick once in fifty years, which is pretty impressive! Not many have that kind of testimony. And this, he said, is because he will not tolerate sickness in his body―the same way he wouldn’t go out and commit adultery. He declared that “we must hate what God hates!”

Barry Bennett spoke about the culture and language of the kingdom. We have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s dear son (Col. 1:13), and there’s no sickness in God’s kingdom. Hallelujah! Christ died to redeem us from every consequence of sin, including sickness. That revelation turned the light bulbs on in people’s hearts, and they were ready and determined to take back everything the devil had stolen from them.

Audrey Mack’s ministry and testimonies were powerful! As someone who overcame cancer—among other issues—Audrey knew what she was talking about. Her boldness was reflected in her message: “The violent take it
by force!”

And that’s not all!

We had the pleasure of welcoming Randy Clark to Healing Is Here for the first time! A key player in the Toronto Blessing, Randy Clark has been used mightily by God to set captives free all over the world. The room was packed and overflowing with expectant people, who were ready to see the supernatural and miraculous manifest before their eyes. And, of course, they were not disappointed.

The Thursday Healing School session was also packed, as the keynote speakers came together as a panel and answered questions from
the audience.

Practical, interactive workshops took place in between sessions, and many went on their first street ministry ever. Prayer ministry was also available after each session.

Over the course of four days, sickness and disease were exposed as the works of the Enemy. The devil was put to shame as many were saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, healed, and delivered. The power of the Holy Spirit was indeed present to heal, and testimonies abounded on site and from online viewers! We saw people coming out of wheelchairs―one person hadn’t walked in ten years! Others were healed of multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, paralysis, arthritis, severe pain, a lump in the breast, pinched nerves, COPD, digestive issues, emotional disturbance, deafness, cancer, carpal tunnel syndrome, a missing tooth, blindness, metal screws and bars in the body, and much more! There was a collection of wheelchairs, canes, and medical equipment no longer needed―a trophy of God’s healing power!

One lady had a healing journey, during which she received healing from a different condition each day of the conference: extreme pain from arthritis, T2 compressed fracture, cramps in feet and elsewhere, and cancerous neck tumors! Amazing!

If you missed one or all of these life-changing sessions or wish you could hear more of the conference testimonies, you can view videos from Healing Is Here 2018 on Charis Bible College’s YouTube channel. For your convenience, you can order copies of the CDs or DVDs or request prayer by calling our Helpline at 719-635-1111, Monday through Friday from 4:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (MT).

You’ll find that the message is really almost too good to be true, and you won’t want to keep it to yourself.

Written by Zoe Isaacs

For resources and products or to partner in the U.S., go to www.awmi.net; outside the U.S., go to www.awme.net.

Running by Faith

“The Bible says I will run and not grow weary,” I told my doctor. “I’m a runner, so I’m going to run.”

He looked at me—a person who had had already undergone foot surgery, X-rays, a painful cortisone shot, and now, custom orthotics—and said, smiling, “You can bike and not grow weary. You can swim and not grow weary.”

He was being patient with me. He and I both had seen my X-rays; the unnatural curvature of the bones had had years to move and to set in that position. He tried his hardest to convince me that I’m not cut out to be a runner. My feet were not runner’s feet.

But I knew in my heart that God’s Word is true, regardless of the shape of my bones or the tightness of my tendons. If God says that I can run and not grow weary (Is. 40:31), then it has to be true. I decided that I would believe Him and His Word.

My doctor is a good doctor and a Christian. I had no doubt that he wanted the best for me. But he was working in the knowledge that he had. He didn’t know what God’s best for me was. That’s what I love about teachers like Andrew Wommack—they understand that God’s best is far greater than the world’s view of what’s best. Andrew teaches that it’s God’s will for us to be healed. It takes a lot of guts to teach something that flies in the face of so much religious doctrine and so many excuses as to why Christians are
still sick.

But it’s amazing to me that people can still fight this truth when there is so much evidence in the Bible that it is always God’s will to heal. In his book God Wants You Well, Andrew says, “In the Gospels alone, there are seventeen times where Jesus healed all of the sick that were present. . . . Jesus did heal them all, and He hasn’t changed” (p. 81). Hebrew 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (New Century Version).

What this means to me is that it is forever God’s will to heal. So, even though I sat in that doctor’s office with valid foot problems, it didn’t mean that I had to stay there—or stay seated! If I truly wanted to, I could run.

Which leads me to the next point: once we know it’s God’s will to heal, we must act on that knowledge. Knowing something but not doing anything about it is useless. On the Gospel Truth broadcast, Andrew says, “Sometimes we’re afraid to act because it’s just not traditional; it’s not the way that other people are telling you to do it. . . . You’ve got to get beyond that. . . . You’ve got to start using your body as a weapon against the devil and start acting healed to the degree that you can.”

So, I ran by faith. I left that doctor’s office with nothing noticeably different about my feet. But my heart knew the truth: by His stripes, I’ve been healed (1 Pet. 2:24). I signed up for another 5K shortly after that visit. Now, I run regularly (well, regularly-ish), and I take care of my feet. With each step, my feet continue to grow stronger. Sometimes the familiar symptoms try to come back, but knowing who I am in Christ Jesus and speaking out His Word inevitably overrides the symptoms. And then I run another mile and another mile . . . (or I run home to the water faucet!).

Written by Jill M. Smith

For resources and products or to partner in the U.S., visit www.awmi.net; outside the U.S., visit www.awme.net.

Above All Things

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

3 John 2

When John penned these words by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he did so to show us that God places your well-being as His priority. He says in this verse that “above all things,” He wants you to be in health. What a straightforward and positive truth. God wants you to experience His very best, and His best for you includes complete health and well-being. Complete health means that every organ and system in your body is functioning exactly as God created it to function. Your body is the temple of God, and disease should not be allowed to exist in His home. Therefore, the symptoms of pain and discomfort need to leave your body. And complete well-being means that your mind is strong, and your thoughts are coherent and brilliant. You are sound, stable, and in control. Physical, mental, and emotional health are part of the “abundant life” Jesus said believers would and should experience
(John 10:10).

So, how did God make provision for our health? It all happened at the cross. Scripture tells us that at the same time Jesus took our sins, He also took our infirmities, bore our sicknesses, and carried our pains.

Isaiah 53:4 says, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”

This is an amazing picture of God’s love toward you and me. Jesus knew the horrors and pain He would experience, yet He still went to the cross. And He did so willingly. He was taunted to come down from the cross, but His love for you and me kept Him up there until He cried out, “It is finished” (John 19:30). When Jesus cried, “finished,” He was actually fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy mentioned above. Matthew 8:17 says, “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”

God’s plan for our redemption was complete. He left nothing out. Jesus took all that was wrong and freely gave us everything that is right. On the cross at Calvary, Jesus took our sin; therefore, when we place our faith in Him as Savior and Lord, we freely receive His righteousness. Likewise, on the cross, Jesus took our weaknesses, sicknesses, and pains so that we can receive health from the finished and complete work of the cross! And if He took our sicknesses, we shouldn’t keep them!

God’s love for us is the central theme of His Good News. The moment we accept Christ, God has given us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). It only makes sense that this would include physical, mental, and emotional health. Those are some pretty important things that pertain to life and godliness!

Scripture plainly paints a picture that God wants you well, so why isn’t everybody healed? Watch Andrew all this week on the Gospel Truth broadcast as he tackles this subject. He’s entering his seventh week of teaching God Wants You Well, so if you haven’t been watching from the beginning, I encourage you to go back and view the previous broadcasts at http://www.awmi.net/video/.

Jesus took your pains, sicknesses, and weaknesses so that you would be free of them. So, walk in the health He has given to you. He wants this for you—above all things!

Written by W. Kent Smith

For resources in the U.S., go to www.awmi.net; outside the U.S., go to www.awme.net.

If It’s Important to You, It’s Important to God

I was in pain. A muscle was knotted in my neck, and it caused discomfort in my shoulder. I knew I had slept crooked the night before. But I also knew the muscle would eventually work itself out. It was a small thing. So, I didn’t even think to talk to God about it. I just lived with it even though it
wasn’t pleasant.

Sunday morning I was serving at my church as an altar call worker. Several people had just given their lives to Jesus, and I was in the back room, helping them get plugged into a discipleship program. One of my pastors was ministering to them on practical steps toward growing in their new walk with the Lord. Then he began to talk about the healing power of God.

As he preached the Word on healing, I felt my left hand heat up. I knew it was the power of God. That heat traveled up my arm, into the shoulder that had been hurting, and then into my neck. I just sat there for a little bit. After a few minutes, I started to move my shoulder and neck, and the pain was gone! The muscle did not feel tight anymore.

For days after that, I moved my shoulder and neck around, and it was almost like the muscle couldn’t tighten up again. This is the goodness of God! At the preaching of the Word, I got healed because God holds His Word even above His name (Psalm 138:2). In other words, God honors His Word. I didn’t even pray or command healing in my body. That’s how faithful God is to what
He says!

In Andrew’s teaching God Wants You Well, he shares:

“The Scriptures don’t make the distinction between Jesus forgiving our sins and healing our bodies that modern-day Christianity makes. They were both results of the one atonement of Christ. The Greek word ‘sozo,’ which was translated ‘save’ forty-one times and ‘saved’ fiftythree times in the New Testament, was also translated ‘healed’ three times and ‘made whole’ ten times in reference to physical healing. The Greek word ‘sozo’ was used in James 5:15 where it says, ‘And the prayer of faith shall save the sick.’ In that instance, it is very clear that God saving the sick is referring to the healing of their bodies. Healing is a part of the redemption just as much as the forgiveness of sin.”

No matter what you’re dealing with in your body, it is a small thing to God. Jesus already paid a big price, not just for your salvation but also for
your healing.

Are you battling cancer or some other incurable disease? Or maybe you have a history of migraines? If a knotted muscle was released under the preaching of the Word, imagine what could happen for you!

Nothing is too big or too small for God, because guess what? He already healed you!

To learn more, get Andrew’s book God Wants You Well, and watch God uphold His Word in your body!

Written by Aria Fischer

For resources and products or to partner in the U.S., visit www.awmi.net; outside the U.S., visit www.awme.net.

Religious Freedom for the World

With progressives getting more aggressive by the day, the freedom of religion clause under the First Amendment is perhaps more important now than when it was instituted. What those who oppose religious freedom don’t realize is that the right to practice one’s beliefs without fear of persecution or reprisal is something that allows us all to live in peace.

Concerning the First Amendment, Thomas Jefferson wrote the following
in 1802:

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.

Throughout history, religious freedom has given us universities, hospitals, charities, and— believe it or not—economic growth1. All of these are essential parts of everyday society from which everyone—religious or not—benefits.

U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback says that religious liberty “brings people to invest in people. It opens up minds and gets people building schools, colleges, hospitals, and clinics all over the place. It cannot be a restrictive environment in which people fear for their lives because of their beliefs. Religious groups can’t send people in to help if they fear for their lives.”

That is why it is so important that we protect our God-given right to practice our own religion. With that in mind, Brownback visited Colorado this past June and met with local religious leaders, including Andrew Wommack. They discussed the contributions faith-based organizations have made to society that so many take for granted.

Brownback also mentioned to Andrew and others the importance of religious organizations being educated about persecution. “The Chinese government won’t let these Muslims practice their faith,” he said. “It won’t let them take Muslim names. The government has more than 10,000 Uyghurs in re-education camps. Go to Burma right next door, and we have Rohingya (Muslims and Hindus) persecuted by Buddhists. And now the Burmese have turned on Christians in the north. The Kachin are being driven out similar to the Rohingya. Thousands are being killed. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of religious persecution around the world, and that’s why I’m here. This is a community that can help.”

On a global scale, it has become evident that advancing religious liberty in America helps even those in other countries. As stateside ministries are allowed to function, their global reach and impact are increased. If they lose the freedom to practice their faith, whether through persecution or censorship, the people who need them stand to lose the most. That is why we must meet the challenge of progressives who are growing more brazen in threatening religious liberties. If we will defend the freedom to practice our faith, we don’t just have the power to make a difference in the lives of Americans but also untold differences in the lives of others around the world.

Written by AWM staff

1 Religious Freedom & Business Foundation, “Research,” accessed August 2, 2018, https://religiousfreedomandbusiness.o....

Sickness Is Strange

If you are following after Christ, the number one challenge you will encounter is not sickness and disease. It’s persecution:

All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2 Timothy 3:12 

How should you respond when you’re persecuted? Probably not how you might think. The Apostle Peter gives the answer:

If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.


                                                                                                                                                                                                              1 Peter 4:16

What?! Shouldn’t we pray to God to excuse us from persecution? No. According to Scripture, if we’re following Christ, persecution is an inevitability. That doesn’t mean we should thank God for it, and that’s not what Peter was saying. But we shouldn’t think it’s strange when we’re persecuted either:

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice.


                                                                                                                                                                                                      1 Peter 4:12-13a

What we should think is strange is being attacked with sickness. But unfortunately, we as Christians have had a lot of help accepting sickness as normal. When we think of something as normal, we put our guards down. We submit and become passive. Worse, we make provision for and
accommodate it.

So, what should you do if you’re dealing with sickness? Fight! You have the victory over sickness and disease. You can win! Look at what Andrew said on the Gospel Truth:

“[God] has not redeemed us from persecution, but He has redeemed us
from sickness.”

Even though God wants us well, we have a part to play. We have to act on our faith. Andrew really gives a powerful exhortation to help us:

“There are some of you that are believing God for healing, but you aren’t acting healed. Get up out of your wheelchair. If you can’t stand, if you’re a quadriplegic, well then move something. Do something. Believe God to move your big toe, your little finger, and once that starts moving, well then move the next one and start doing something. You resist the devil, and he’ll flee from you. You resist sickness and that sickness will flee from you, but start doing something. Do what you can do. If you can’t do it all, do part of it. The Lord will meet you where your faith is, but faith without works is dead. You’ve got to start acting well.”

If I knew I had the power to prevent someone from stealing from me, I wouldn’t idly sit back. I suspect you wouldn’t either. How much more would you act if what was being stolen was something valuable, like your health?

You might need to be convinced that sickness is not something you should just tolerate. I think Andrew would say, “As long as you can live with sickness, you will.” Some Christians would say, “Well, the devil has attacked me with these symptoms. I must be doing something right.” That’s what Satan wants you to think. But never use the Enemy’s activity as an indication that something is of God. The Enemy attacks just because he’s evil. But he defaults to persecution to stop you from advancing. Of course, he attacks also with sickness, but he attacks everybody with sickness, whether they’re Christians or not.

In Andrew’s teaching, God Wants You Well, he clearly shares that Paul’s thorn was not some physical ailment. It was, in fact, persecution. To hear more about this topic, tune into the Gospel Truth this week: check your local listings to tune in Monday through Friday, or watch him online anytime at www.awmi.net/video/this-weeks-tv.

Written by David Moore II

For resources and products or to partner in the U.S., visit www.awmi.net ; outside the U.S., visit www.awme.net .

Religious Freedom Takes the Cake

Jack Phillips, the courageous Christian cake baker in Lakewood, Colorado, won his case before the United States Supreme Court on June 4. Previously he had been punished by the Colorado Civil Rights Commission for refusing to bake a cake for a homosexual marriage.

We had received word that 900 homosexual rights activists were responding to the Supreme Court’s decision by organizing a protest at Jack’s bakery on June 8. Alliance Defending Freedom and Colorado Family Action called on concerned Christians across Colorado to turn out on that day to show their support for Jack. He and his family have endured great personal and financial cost for standing up for their faith. We considered it a priority to support him for the price he’s paid for the religious freedoms we enjoy in our nation and sent a team. Below is an account of what took place.

June 8, 2018

We had a group of seven travel on one of the Charis Bible College shuttle buses to the Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood, Colorado. We arrived at approximately 3:00 p.m. Our driver, Roc Butterfield, parked about a block from the bakery, allowing us to disembark at a location away from the crowd. The shop is in a medium-size strip mall, an end-cap space, not readily visible from the street unless you are looking for it.

When we arrived, there was a line from the front door to around the corner of the building, well past the other businesses in that location. I estimate there were about 150-200 people in that line, as well as another 150 or so mingling around in the parking area, both in front and on the side of the building.

I wanted to get a sense of the crowd; that is, friend or foe. So, I walked the length of the line, talking with a few people and reading the signs. The clear majority of those in line, I would say about 90 percent, were supporters of Jack Phillips and his family. They were waiting to get in the shop to patronize his business. It was very gratifying for me to see all these believers there supporting this man and his family who stood firm in the conviction of their belief and faith.

The line was so long that I did not plan to get in it, but my wife, Tracey, and some others got in line while I “worked the crowd.”

After some time, many of the young people from the Radiance Foundation—an educational, faith-based organization—got out of the line to move to the front area where speakers were about to address the crowd. There were also many young people there from Summit Ministries, out of Manitou Springs, who got out of line to move to the front. The line became
considerably shorter.

Jack Phillips (left)Pretty quickly, we were able to not only get in the shop but also have the honor of meeting Jack Phillips, the storeowner. We spoke with him and got a few photos. It was a real delight. He seemed to be a very personable, down-to-earth man, very friendly and sincere.

A few organizations and the defense firm that supported the Phillips family spoke briefly, and then Jack addressed the crowd with some short remarks he had prepared.

All in all, it was a very memorable experience. The beauty of it to me was to see all these believers come together in support of this family. Before we arrived, I anticipated there would be far less Christian support than opposition, which I mentioned to Tracey. But, boy, was I wrong! In fact, the word was that a large group of opposition was coming at 4:00. We stayed until an hour after that, and the group never showed up.

Written by Greg Asia