What's Your Legacy?

intro

It started with a Sunday School Teacher

Edward Kimball

Edward Kimball was a young Sunday School teacher who lived In the bustling city of Boston in the mid-19th century, a relatively unknown Sunday school teacher, he dedicated his life to the spiritual guidance of young souls. He made it a habit to personally give each student in his class an opportunity to accept Christ as their Savior. He was concerned about one of his students who worked in a shoe store.  One day, Kimball visited the young man at the store where he found him in the back stocking shelves, and led him to Christ.

Edward Kimball, a man we now know very little about, found his true calling in the Sunday school classroom. Kimball was passionate about sharing the Good News of Jesus with the children under his care, even those who rarely made it to class, like young Dwight, of which he wrote in his journal, "Of all my students, Dwight demonstrates the least potential for the kingdom of God." Little did he realize that this entry would soon be eclipsed by the transformative power of God's grace.

Dwight L. Moody, born in 1837 in Northfield, Massachusetts, had a difficult childhood marked by poverty and tragedy. He was only four years old when his father died, thrusting the family into financial hardship. Forced to work odd jobs to support his family, Moody's formal education was limited, and he found himself working in a shoe store in Boston as a teenager.

It was in this humble setting that Edward Kimball, burdened by the spiritual condition of his young student, decided to take action. Determined to share the message of salvation with Moody, Kimball went to the shoe shop where the young man worked. Finding him in the back room during his lunch break, Kimball engaged Moody in a heartfelt conversation about the love of Christ.

As they spoke, the atmosphere in the small room shifted. Kimball, driven by a deep conviction and guided by the Holy Spirit, shared the Gospel with Moody. He explained the need for repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, leading Moody to a profound realization of his own spiritual condition. In that humble space, surrounded by shoes and leather, Moody prayed the Sinner's Prayer, surrendering his life to Christ.

Little did anyone know that this seemingly unremarkable moment in a back room of a shoe store would be the catalyst for a transformative journey. Dwight L. Moody's conversion marked the beginning of a remarkable ministry that would impact millions around the world.

Moody's zeal for evangelism and his ability to connect with diverse audiences led to the establishment of the Moody Bible Institute and the Moody Church, both of which continue to thrive today.

D.L. Moody

The story of Edward Kimball and Dwight L. Moody serves as a powerful reminder that God often works through the seemingly ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary. Kimball's initial perception of Moody's potential for the kingdom of God was dramatically surpassed by the reality of God's transformative grace. But it doesn’t stop there.

That message changed Pastor Meyer’s ministry, inspiring him to become an evangelist like Moody. Over the years Meyer came to America. While speaking in Northfield, MA a young preacher heard Meyer say, “If you are not willing to give up everything for Christ, are you willing to be made willing?” That remark led J. Wilbur Chapman to respond to the call of God on his life.

Wilbur Chapman

Chapman went on to become one of the most effective evangelists of his time.

A volunteer by the name of Billy Sunday helped set up his crusades and learned how to preach by watching Chapman.

Billy Sunday

Billy Sunday eventually took over Chapman’s ministry becoming one of the most dynamic evangelists of this century. Billy Sunday’s preaching brought thousands to Christ.

Inspired by a 1924 Billy Sunday crusade in Charlotte, NC a group of Christians dedicated themselves to reaching their city for Christ. The group invited the evangelist Mordecai Ham to come and hold a series of evangelistic meetings in 1932.

Mordecai Ham

A lanky 16 year old sat in the huge crowd one evening, spellbound by the message the white-haired preacher gave. Each evening the preacher seemed to be shouting and waving his finger at the young man. Night after night the teen came and finally went forward to give his life to Christ.

That teenager was Billy Graham.

Billy Graham

Billy Graham has communicated the gospel to more people than any other person in history.

One of the campaigns that Billy Grahams team came up with to spread the gospel to teens in America was filming a sermon presentation by Billy Graham and giving a VHS of that sermon to local churches to play at school rally’s.

The Free Methodist church in Cheboygan, MI rented out the High School gymnasium and played one of these VHS videos for the teens there. My Father, Keith Agee, gave his heart to God at that school rally and went on to marry the youngest daughter of that Free Methodist church. He was a pastor and Bible teacher and prison chaplain who touched more lives than I will ever know. One of the shocks for us at his funeral was the sheer number of ex-convicts that showed up to mourn the passing of my dad. Four of my dad’s children all serve in full time, active ministry, and all five of us trust God fully.

And it all started with a Sunday school teacher named Edward Kimball. Millions have been affected by his decision to go into a shoe store and share Christ with one person. Millions more will continue to feel his impact.

Can something like this happen today? Of course! God wants to use you to change the world. Make an eternal difference by sharing the gospel with those around you and by supporting others who do God’s work around the world.

Kingdom Impact

You cannot know the full impact your obedience will have on the kingdom of God

Edward Kimball led D.L. Moody to the Lord

Under Moody’s ministry Wilbur Chapman was saved.

Billy Sunday was converted by Chapman’s preaching

Through Sunday’s preaching, Mordecai Ham was saved.

Billy Graham came to Christ at a Ham cursade.

Keith Agee Came to Christ at a Billy Graham school rally

You may be unknown...

but only eternity will reveal the impact of your ministry.

Legacy of Prayer

The last couple of months, I have had an emphasis on prayer.

I have been praying for a deeper intimacy with God for all of you.

All great soul-winners have been people of much and mighty prayer

and all great revivals have been preceded and carried out by persevering, prevailing knee-work in the closet

We recently went through the prayer life of Jesus mentioned in the gospels

Before Jesus began His ministry, when great multitudes would follow Him,

He spent forty days and nights in secret prayer and fasting

Paul prayed without ceasing.

Day and night his prayers and pleadings and intercessions went up to God

The Pentecostal baptism of the Spirit and the three thousand who experienced new life in one day were preceded by ten days of prayer and praise and heart searching and scripture searching

and they continued in prayer until, on another day, five thousand were added to the Church

Acts 4:4 NASB95

But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too

Acts 6:7 NASB95

The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Luther used to pray three hours a day, and he broke the spell of ages and set captive nations free

John Knox (founder of the presbyterian church) used to spend nights in prayer, crying to God, “Give me Scotland or I die!”

And God gave him Scotland.

Richard Baxter stained the walls of his study with praying breath and sent a tide of salvation through all the land.

John Wesley (leader of a revival movement within the church of England known as Methodism) wrote in his journals over and over again, how he spent whole nights of prayer in which God drew near and blessed people beyond expectation, and then he and his helpers were empowered to rescue England from paganism and send a revival of pure, aggressive religion throughout the whole earth

David Brainerd (Missionary to the Native Americans during the 1700s) used to lie on the frozen ground at night, wrapped in a bear’s skin and spitting blood, and cry to God to save the native tribes of North America.

And God heard him, and redeemed and sanctified men and women by the hundreds.

The night before Jonathan Edwards preached “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” the wonderful sermon that started the revival known as the first great awakening, he and some others spent the entire night in prayer.

A young man named David Livingstone, in Scotland, was appointed to preach at one of the great assemblies. Feeling his utter weakness, he spent the night in prayer, and the next day preached a sermon, and five hundred people entered into the kingdom of God. He went on to be one of the most famous missionaries to Africa.

Charles Finney was instrumental in leading America into the rival known as the second great awakening. He used to pray until whole communities were brought under the influence of the Spirit of God and no one could resist the mighty influence.

At one time, he was so prostrated by his labors that his friends sent him on a voyage of rest to the Mediterranean Sea.

But he was so intent upon the salvation of others that he could not rest, and on his return he got into an agony of soul for the evangelization of the world.

At last, the earnestness and agony of his soul became so great that he prayed all day, till in the evening he got a restful assurance that God would carry on the work.

On reaching New York, he delivered his “Revival Lectures,” which were published at home and abroad and resulted in revivals all over the world.

Let’s make it more personal.

Bethel’s Legacy

In the early 1920’s, Jim and Thomas “Red” Cooper, Ernest Green, Arthur Shaw , and Charles Rightenburg were working at the Solavay Processing Company in Delray, MI, with Eddie and Lonnie Bates.

The Bates experienced Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the two brothers proceeded to lead their fellow employees to the Lord, and they started holding prayer meetings.

George Clay worked at the Solvay as well.

George and his wife had a daughter, named Hazel, who had several major medical problems. They had taken her to specialists but found no help. George told Arthur Shaw, one his coworkers who kept trying to tell him the good news of the gospel, that they would bring their daughter to a prayer meeting, and said that if she was healed, they would accept the Lord.

She was healed, and George and Martha surrendered their lives to Jesus.

George and Martha began attending what were then called “cottage prayer meetings” in homes, where they began seeking the infilling of the Holy Spirit that they had heard about. Though he earnestly prayed to receive, George struggled and was discouraged. Because they were all from England, at the close of each meeting, they had tea and biscuits (cookies). One night George was asked to pray the blessing on their refreshments. As he began to pray, the Holy Spirit filled him and he began speaking in tongues.

For those who don’t know, George Clay is the grandfather of Doug Clay, the current General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, who will be coming to our humble church in September to celebrate our hundred year anniversary with us.

As the men hungered for God, Bible studies were established in the processing plant and were readily attended. Eddie and Lonnie Bates invited their friends to fellowship at Berea Tabernacle on Fourth and Forest in Detroit as this was the only Pentecostal church in the entire area. Looking for a place to grow and fellowship, Green, Shaw, Rightenburg, Clay and the Cooper brothers, along with their families, took several streetcars in order to attend morning and evening servics. They often packed their lunches so they could stay the day. Due to the long distance, regular attendance was difficult.

Henry Nevison, an active member of Berea Tabernacle, became burdened for the families from Delray because they couldn’t get to services as often as they wanted to. He approached his pastor, Brother Kline, about starting a Pentecostal chruch downriver. Eddie and Lonnie Bates were interested in starting a young people’s work in the Brightmoor area in west Detroit. These men began the ground work which led to the founding of what eventually became Bethel Assembly of God.

Biblical Legacy

1 Samuel 1:1–28 NASB95

Now there was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim from the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives: the name of one was Hannah and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. Now this man would go up from his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were priests to the Lord there. When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters; but to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, but the Lord had closed her womb. Her rival, however, would provoke her bitterly to irritate her, because the Lord had closed her womb. It happened year after year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, she would provoke her; so she wept and would not eat. Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” Then Hannah rose after eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She, greatly distressed, prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. She made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.” Now it came about, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli was watching her mouth. As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. Then Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. “Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.” Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” She said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. Then they arose early in the morning and worshiped before the Lord, and returned again to their house in Ramah. And Elkanah had relations with Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. It came about in due time, after Hannah had conceived, that she gave birth to a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of the Lord.” Then the man Elkanah went up with all his household to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go up until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord and stay there forever.” Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you. Remain until you have weaned him; only may the Lord confirm His word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with a three-year-old bull and one ephah of flour and a jug of wine, and brought him to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, although the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and brought the boy to Eli. She said, “Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the Lord. “For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. “So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

1 Samuel 2:11 NASB95

Then Elkanah went to his home at Ramah. But the boy ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest.

1 Samuel 2:18–21 NASB95

Now Samuel was ministering before the Lord, as a boy wearing a linen ephod. And his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year when she would come up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, “May the Lord give you children from this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the Lord.” And they went to their own home. The Lord visited Hannah; and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew before the Lord.

Samuel went on to be the last Judge of Israel, bringing revival of the worship of God back to God’s people

He was also the one who anointed Saul as King, redeeming the shamed house of Benjamin.

He was the one who anointed David king when Saul turned his back on God and disobeyed.

All of this was preceded by a praying mother, and a Father that was faithful to bring his family to worship God. Samuel's legacy started with prayer.

What will be your legacy?

I want to share some of my legacy with you and play my father’s final sermon for you.

Proverbs 27:1 reminds us to not boast about tomorrow because we don’t know what a day will bring forth.

This passage gives us two very significant reasons why we should never presume upon the future:

· Life is unpredictable. We don’t even know what will happen tonight, much less next week or next year. The truth is that no one can predict the future.

· Life is brief. Our lives are like a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Friends, life is too unpredictable and too brief to live it without God at the centre.

We count our lives in years but God tells us in Psalm 90:12 to number our days.

The truth of the matter is that all of us are just one heartbeat away from eternity.

In 1 Samuel 20:3, David said, “Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.”

Our lives are like a vapor – here one minute and gone the next.

Don’t put off this decision.

Decide today to give your life to Jesus.

Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me will live, even though he dies.”

Do you believe this?

If not, don’t waste another minute of the only life you have.

Right now, right here, decide to pin all your hopes on Jesus Christ, and him alone,

who exchanged his life for yours, and who, in the next life, will greet you on the other side --

if you receive Him into your life now.

ROMANS 10:9-10

9. That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10.For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Lord Jesus, I come to you a sinner.

Forgive me of the sins I have committed.

I believe that you are the Son of God, the Saviour of the world.

I believe that You died on the cross for my sins

I believe that You rose from the dead the third day

Come into my heart, and make me new.

I receive You as my Lord and Saviour.

Now, help me to live for you the rest of this life.

Amen!