July 1998 Newsletter
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as
the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth
the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and
bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not
return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in
the thing whereto I sent it."
Isaiah 55:8-11
OCCUPYING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
In Luke 19:13 Jesus said, "Occupy till I come". The text above clearly
informs us that there may be many things and times which we do not understand for our
thoughts and ways do not match the Lords. However, we, as obedient servants continue to do
it HIS way so that it may accomplish HIS purpose. One of the difficult tests for the last
days soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ is going to be to simply occupy for righteousness.
To take up the space you have a right to in this world and utilize that space for
righteousness sake. When a publick minister of any age, gender, status or degree of
experience and training holds a scripture sign at an intersection or publickly reads
scripture, gives testimony or preaches they are successful at this least command and they
are, without question occupying for righteousness. In the same way that we do not
understand why the rain falls in the middle of the ocean, we cannot now fully measure the
effect the simple act of occupying an intersection for righteousness may have upon any
given community or individual passing thereby. So get occupying!
PROMINENT PLATOONS OF THE 7000
We rejoice when we can observe the effect publick ministry can have upon a church that
chooses to engage in it. We had a meeting with pastor Larry Hickam in Amarillo, Tx. last
year and he bemoaned to me about an adult bookstore operating just a short distance from
his church. We gave his church instruction toward victory in this battle and he has been
giving them a fit ever since. First, he was testifying against it on the same day every
week and filming with a video camera as the fellows drove in. So the management got
concerned for their clientele and hired a security man to escort to and from car to front
door for that day. This increased the overhead for the bookstore. Then Bro. Hickam changed
the day that he preached so they had to put the security guard on daily. Then the store
added a high fence in front and a sprinkler system right where the preaching was done.
More expense. It is only a matter of time until the enemy is defeated. In the mean time
two families have joined Bro. Hickam’s church, with some salvation’s among them,
because they saw him testifying against evil and contending with unrighteousness in his
community. He also testifies that his church has a shout they never had before and
attributes it to publick ministry.
ON THE STREETS
We preached in five different states this month. I was thrilled to be on a street
meeting with 100 people from Treasure Valley Baptist in the capital city of Boise, Id.
This was a first for me to have so many competent folk out at one time from just one
church. Imagine what anyone could accomplish with 100 dedicated soldiers headed in the
same direction. While preaching in a park in Grants Pass, Or. a man walked a good distance
across the grass and sat under a tree to listen to me as I preached. Don Pratt was already
saved but had some mountainous problems in his life. We had prayer and shared some Bible
and Don showed up in church that night. We preached at a farmer’s market in Tracy,
Ca. with a church and pastor who had never been out before. Pastor Tim Hemenway and his
church did a great, first-time job. Nevada City, Ca. is where Anton LaVey (high priest of
Satanic Church in San Francisco, Ca.) retired. It was no wonder that we felt thick
oppression just strolling the streets with accordion music and signs. We all felt like a
serious spiritual and physical confrontation was about to take place. We did not have to
wait long. As we preached in the middle the setup for a summer evening festival we had one
of the most severe confrontations I have ever been involved in. At one point there were at
least 10 men physically opposing us and women and teens on the sidelines taunting and
cursing while another 75-100 partiers observed. We stood our ground and the police backed
us up. We completed the street meeting with no casualties but with an all new awareness of
what is ahead not too far down the road of time.
When I had finished preaching in Helena, Mt. I approached a man who had listened to my
complete message. He said, "Have you ever met Will Rogers?" I said no. He
continued, "He said, ‘I never met a man I didn’t like’. I asked what
that had to do with my message and he said, "nothing". I asked him if he had
ever met Jesus Christ. He said, "No". I said, "He said, ‘I am the way,
the truth and the life and no man cometh unto the Father but by me’. He said,
"Huh". I gave him a tract and he walked off. Truth is stranger than fiction. We
also preached in Walla Walla, Wa., Yakima, Wa. and Butte, Mt. several times this month.
PERSONAL
All of us are enjoying every blessing of the Lord. David Laverty is still with us and
is a tremendous help to all of us. Mary is still saved and looking for a place to be
baptized. We had her scheduled but she got a high fever. Mary started first grade this
past week and even though she is not quite five she is doing excellent work. Robin is a
very busy home school teacher and homemaker and publick minister and, and, and. I am
keeping up...at the moment.
IN THE CHURCHES
We had the great honor of ministering in the following churches in July. Touchet
Baptist, pastor Mike Paulson, Touchet, Wa., Bible Believer’s Baptist, pastor Tom
McCarter, Grants Pass, Or., Central Valley Baptist, pastor Tim Hemenway, Tracy, Ca., Bible
Baptist, pastor Brad Weniger, Marysville, Ca., Bible Believer’s Baptist, pastor Jim
Martin, Yakima, Wa. and Old Fashioned Baptist, pastor Ron Derksen, Butte, Mt.
We continue to have need of nothing but your prayer...
CONTACT US ANY TIME
1-800-428-3660
or e-mail: gsutek@ix.netcom.com
Preaching the gospel on your
streets and around the world.
Gerald Sutek
and the S.W.A.T. Team for Christ
2 Tim. 1:8, Amos 5:10