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Desperate for Bible Studies

For the past few years, I have been working on a church-planting project among Buddhist people in Southeast Asia. It is very difficult to find people who are interested in reading and studying the Bible, the "book that Christians read". Well, I really enjoy studying the Bible with other people. In fact, I crave Bible studies like a drug addict craves drugs!

A few months ago, I was praying that God would give me a Bible study with someone. Immediately while praying I was impressed that I needed to fast and pray. I asked the Lord “Where should I fast and pray?” His answer was immediate and bizarre. “Don’t fast in Thailand, go to the USA. And don’t just go anywhere, go to Southern California. And go tomorrow!”

With only a week until school started I asked God where I would get the $3,500 to fly the next day to the USA in order to fast for a week. I reminded God that I am a volunteer and I have no income. The Lord did not answer immediately, but I felt impressed to go exercise. While running around the football field, the name of someone I needed to call popped in to my mind. Amazingly, I was able to connect with this person twenty minutes later on Skype and told them what God was calling me to do. In talking with me the person said, “Well, if that is what God is calling you to do, then I will give you the money.” I was speechless!

The next day I left Thailand and began a week of fasting. About two to three days into my fast, my computer stopped working. I went outside that night and sat on a bench to get a better wireless connection. An older man walked over and started talking to me about many health and family problems in his life. While he was talking, the Holy Spirit told me to ask if I could pray for him. The man gladly accepted and I prayed.

The next morning Rahul (his name) came to my door saying, “Last night I slept better than I can remember! Also, I have a great feeling of inner peace after you prayed for me.” He also excitedly told all the neighbors about the visitor who prays to a God that answers quickly.  Rahul said to me,  “Andrew, please come to my room and tell me everything that you know about Jesus.” For the next few days I studied the Bible day and night with Rahul. Because of his health condition, he was lying in bed while I studied with him.

The first Bible verse that I read to Rahul was Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” The moment I read that verse, Rahul sat up as if jolted by electricity and exclaimed, “WOW! I have never heard that before. I did not know the Bible says such things. Can you write that down for me?” I told Rahul that if he liked that promise, he would really like Matthew 21:22: “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Rahul was so  excited and said, “WOW, that is amazing! Please write that down, I want to remember it. I did not know Jesus said that.”

Rahul asked me to show him how to follow Jesus. He told me the reason God sent me to the USA from Thailand at that time was to introduce him to Jesus. Interestingly, the day before I left, I took Rahul to visit the nearby Seventh-day Adventist church. Unfortunately, the pastor was away, speaking at a week of prayer—in Thailand!

I know that there are people like Rahul all over the world. They are like the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 who was willing to learn. Without disciples that are sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as Philip was, God has nobody to send. Fasting and prayer is not the answer; it is the means to the answer. When we fast, God is able to do what He cannot do by prayer alone. I regret not spending more time in fasting and prayer, not because my fasting has power, but because God has more freedom to do more when there is less of Andrew in the way. Fasting and prayer is effective in getting me out of the way. It increases our sensitivity to God. Our church would be overwhelmed with testimonies like Rahul if the church created the opportunities for God to work freely without our interference.