Ordinary People – Extraordinary God

Ralph Bauer

Description

God is on the move in the world today. Ralph Bauer shows how you can discover your place in that great sweeping narrative.

When God speaks, who listens? When God calls, who follows?

With the Bible as his road map and the simple assurance that God answers prayer, Ralph asks us to join him vicariously and see how God can take everyday people, willing to say “Yes,” and accomplish extraordinary eternal things.

This book is a collection of experiences Ralph had throughout his ministry as he continued to obey God’s call to follow Him. Ralph’s desire is for the reader to delve into each experience and see the natural touch of an extraordinary God upon the lives of ordinary people.

He says any born-again Christian who answers the call of Jesus to follow Him could write such a book.

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• Missions
• Christian Living
• Inspirational
• Philosophie et théologie
• Healing
• Evangelism
• Trinidad
• Kentucky

Informations

• Publié par: WestBow Press
• Date de parution: 28 août 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781664270602
• Langue: English

Extrait

Ordinary PEOPLE – Extraordinary GOD
A Teaching Memoir
Ralph Bauer


 
Copyright © 2022 Ralph Bauer.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
 
 
WestBow Press
A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.westbowpress.com
844-714-3454
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7061-9 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7062-6 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6642-7060-2 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022911833
 
 
 
WestBow Press rev. date: 07/21/2022

 
Unless otherwise noted, scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
 
Scripture marked (KJV) taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
 
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Scripture quotations marked NLV are taken from the New Life Version, copyright © 1969 and 2003. Used by permission of Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio 44683. All rights reserved.
 
Scripture quotations marked (AMP) taken from the Amplified® Bible (AMP), Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.lockman.org
 
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
CONTENTS
The Purpose of this Book
 
Chapter 1The Power of the Word of God
Chapter 2The Power of Answered Prayer
Chapter 3The Power of the Holy Spirit
Chapter 4The Power of Weakness
Chapter 5The Power of Faithful People in my Life
Chapter 6The Power of the Enemy
Chapter 7The Power of God-authorized Circumstances
Chapter 8The Power of Discipleship in a Church Planting Ministry
Chapter 9The Power of Encouragement
Chapter 10The Power of Obedience
Chapter 11The Power of Discouragement
Chapter 12The Power of a Faithful Witness
Chapter 13The Power of Faithful Bi-vocational Pastors
Chapter 14The Power of an Illustration
Chapter 15The Power of God’s Provision
Chapter 16The Power of Worship
Chapter 17The Power and Glory of Heaven

To our supporting churches and prayer partners who prayed for us during our 60 years of ministry, and are still praying for us. There truly is power in prayer that glorifies God.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK
I struggled writing this book, thinking it might bring glory to the wrong person. The Bible says, Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the GLORY OF GOD. (1 st Corinthians 10:31)
However, when Joshua, Moses’ assistant, was first mentioned in the Bible (Exodus 17:8-16), God taught him a vital lesson. When a vicious enemy attacked Israel, Moses told Joshua to choose some men and go out and fight Amalek. Moses also said that he would go to the top of the hill with the rod of God in his hand.
Moses took Aaron and Hur with him. When Moses lifted up his hands, symbolizing prayer, Israel was winning the battle; but when his hands grew tired and would drop, Amalek prevailed. However, Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands, and Joshua won a great victory that day.
Verse 14 is the verse that challenged me. It states, “Write for me a memorial in the book and recount it at the hearing of Joshua…” At the beginning of his ministry, God wanted Joshua to know that he must give all glory to God for His work in his life. As I read this, I realized I needed to write this book.
What is the glory of God? It begins with His Person – Who He is. He is the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is righteous, holy, and sovereign.
It also involves His Presence – where He is. God is present everywhere, yet there are times when He reveals Himself in more extraordinary ways.
It involves His Power – what He does. This book deals with what we have seen God do in the life of our family and the lives of others throughout our ministry. God must get all the glory.
It involves His Word or proclamation – what He has said. When we obey His Word, He is glorified marvelously in our lives.
What is the glory of God?
It is His Person (Who he is) John 1:14
It is His Presence (Where He is) Ex.33:18-22
It is His Power (What He does) Psalm 19:1
It is His Proclamation (What He has said) 2 Cor.3:18
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, DO ALL TO THE GLORY OF GOD.
(1 Corinthians 10:31) Emphasis mine

The purpose of this book is to help those of us who know Jesus to see God’s work in our lives. Though we do not always realize it, He is present daily in our lives, and He wants to work through us as we obey God’s Word. If you know Jesus as your Savior, you could also write a book such as this. If you pay attention, you can see His hand all over your life.
Ralph Bauer
(2022)

It should be noted that this book is written topically, not in chronological order. As such, you will find yourself reading about experiences that took place at different times in our ministry, alternating back and forth. For clarity you will find the chronology below.
Chronology
Childhood
1936-1956


Marriage
1956


Farm
1957-1959


Moody
1959-1962


Kentucky
1962-1973


Trinidad
1973-2002


Russia
Mid-1990 (6 weeks)


India
Late 1990 (6 weeks)


New Castle
2003-Present
ONE
The Power of the Word of God
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
(Hebrews 4:12-13)
EXPERIENCE 1
God’s Word and the Assurance of Salvation
Did you ever wonder if you were really saved? I never doubted there was a God. My parents were godly people, always taking me to church. When I was a boy, the church I attended was Zion Evangelical United Brethren Church. It was located about three miles south of East Peoria, Illinois. Just down the road was the Zion Oaks campground, where they held tabernacle meetings every year. The main structure is an octagon-shaped meeting place with sawdust floors and wooden benches. There are old pictures on the walls of various evangelists who had passed through over the years. In 2021 they celebrated their 170th yearly camp meeting. There are still hitching rails where the old-timers tied off the horses and buggies. It is a special place, rich in history.

Tabernacle Campgrounds
I began going to the camp meetings in 1936 when I was just two weeks old. The sessions had already been a yearly event for 85 years – starting in 1851, ten years before Abraham Lincoln entered the White House, and two years after the “Gold Rush” days of 1849.
As a boy, I always enjoyed the camp meetings. I loved the daily noon meals on the grounds and sumptuous dinners offered daily. I often played on the sawdust floor during sermons, and as I grew older, I loved to meet my two buddies, and the three of us had a great time together during downtime.
When I was around ten years old, during one of the camp days, our pastor asked me if I would consider being baptized. I thought that was a good idea, so I was baptized along with others after the camp meetings, but my life never really changed much. As I grew older, I began to realize that I had never r