The whole idea was ridiculous!

I was an elderly Christian widow; with high moral standards and quite active in my church. Besides, how can anyone fall in love over the Internet? There’s no physical contact.

So I felt it was quite all right for me to keep emailing a married Christian man. How naive I was! To start with, I just wanted to thank him for his Bible messages on the Internet. He replied courteously – and right from the word ‘go’, we seemed to ‘click’. His webpages comforted me in my loneliness. I sensed his warmth and compassion, and I soon felt I could unburden my heart to him.

I did; warts and all.

His reply was so kind and non-judgmental and understanding, that I began to think of him as a soul-mate, a kindred spirit. And our conversations became “deep and meaningful”. I felt absolutely “at home” with him – there was nothing I didn’t feel free to share with him.

Soon emails from him became like a drug to me – I had to have them. I became totally absorbed with this man. I thought of him morning, noon and night, dwelling on the kind and supportive things he had said in his emails.

And where was God in all this? I had pushed God aside. This man now meant much more to me than God did. After all, he would give me instant feedback; which isn’t always God’s way of doing things. Oh I still had my Quiet Time first thing when I got up. Not that there was anything ‘quiet’ about it. I had to force my mind to keep focused on the words of Scripture while my heart was saying,

“How soon can I get through this so I can get online and read his latest email?”

Didn’t I have misgivings about the intensity of my feelings for this man? Of course I did; after all it’s the work of the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin. And so I spoke to my spiritual mentor.

He expressed compassion for my loneliness, and said that he would pray for me; but also said that he would hold me accountable. He did not neglect to warn me that I would end up being badly hurt. (He was extremely accurate about that!)

But I didn’t care – I kept on writing. If we were only exchanging our THOUGHTS on various Christian issues or current affairs, we were fine. It was when we started discussing our FEELINGS on personal matters that things started to go wrong.

Our discussions became more and more personal and intimate. Instead of just sharing our ideas, we were sharing our hearts. At last neither of us could evade the truth any longer. Our correspondence had become very sinful in God’s eyes. We were discussing things that caused my imagination to stray longingly into forbidden areas. By so doing I was grieving my Lord. It had to stop.

We both sought God’s forgiveness, and each other’s. And that should have been the end of it. But, as I said, this man’s emails were like a drug to me. I needed my “fix”. And I knew that I needed God’s help to genuinely repent. I didn’t want to give this man up. My repentance wasn’t genuine. And I was very much aware that only Christ in me could overcome in this situation.

I soon discovered something else - it is one thing to give up a sinful ACTIVITY - it can be altogether a much harder thing to give up a sinful ATTITUDE, especially when it doesn’t FEEL sinful!

I tried to argue with God about this.

“But Lord, you’re the one who created people to love each other. And I haven’t committed any sin with him. I couldn’t even if I wanted to - he’s thousands of miles away!”

I knew I had to repent about the way I felt about this man. - because what I was choosing to call "love", the Bible actually calls “lust” and “evil desires”.

Indeed the Bible clearly tells us in Col 3:5

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.

And the original Greek word for “evil” means “worthless, depraved, or wicked.” And the original Greek word for “desires” means “a longing (especially for what is forbidden), lust.”

And in passionately loving a man who already belonged to someone else, I was lusting after something that was forbidden.

What made this “love” even harder to give up was that I had spent a great deal of time thinking about this man and how desirable he was in every way. And these trains of thought had become embedded in my heart as well as my mind.

Ever tried to bargain with God?

I assure you - it doesn’t work!

In cyber space I just lived for my contact with this man.

In the real world I was still hoping that a man of God’s choice might come into my life.

I tried to accept the fact that more than likely God wanted me to stay single.

I was a “Senior Citizen” as they say, but still capable of, and longing for marriage in the fullest sense of the word.

“Lord, I know it’s highly likely that I’ll never marry again. And my day-dreaming about this man gives me so much pleasure – and can’t hurt him, since he doesn’t know about it. Where’s the harm?”

The Lord promptly showed me that there were at least five kinds of harm:

• I was still disobeying Matthew 5:28

  "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

• I was obviously rebelling against His will for my life;
• My daydreaming binges cut severely into the amount of time I spent in prayer for others.
• I had become addicted to pornography.
• I had become addicted to masturbation.

As I said at the start of this sad account, falling in love with someone on the Internet couldn’t possibly happen to me! But it did. And because God’s word tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13:

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man

I am concerned for my brothers and sisters in Cyberspace who may be as vulnerable as I was. I was vulnerable because I was widowed, and very lonely for a man’s caring, company and conversation. However, even married women can feel alone, and emotionally deprived, for a variety of reasons. The run-away sales of Mills & Boon, and Barbara Cartland novels attest to that. And they, too, can be a tool of Satan to lead women into longing for someone else other than their husband. But emails can give us emotional feedback that novels can’t.

Earlier I quoted 1Corinthians 10:13. I have now noticed that 1 Corinthians 10:14 states:

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

And this was the nature of my sin. I had made an idol of this man, because I had given him pre-eminence in my life, a place that rightfully belongs to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This all-engrossing correspondence had become very time consuming: I still went to Church, Bible Studies, Prayer Meetings, but couldn’t get home soon enough to check my email. I even changed my own daily schedule so that I could be online at the same time as he was. The only one who really benefited from this was my phone company, as it was nothing for me to log on about 10 times a day.

When I went on an overseas trip, it cost me a small fortune to stay online chatting with him. This was NOT good stewardship of the Lord’s money!

I thank God my Heavenly Father for His willingness to forgive me.

I thank His Son, my Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ for His willingness to die and shed His blood for me. Without Him I could NEVER have been accepted by God.

I thank God the Holy Spirit for not letting up on me, not giving up on me, as He continued to convict me of my sin. And I especially thank Him for giving me the courage to terminate this sinful relationship. I couldn’t do it on my own.

I appeal to anyone who might already be in this trap of Satan’s or on the verge of sliding into it (this kind of sin can be very gradual), stop right now! If you have ANY misgivings at all in your heart about your email correspondence, or your involvement in chat rooms, or one-to-one online conversations, or indeed ANY kind of contact with a member of the opposite sex, bring the matter before the Lord, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you be willing to listen to and OBEY His voice in this crucial area.

Satan must rub his hands in glee, whenever he succeeds in breaking up a Christian marriage. Since I was single there was no marriage breakup at my end. But my willing participation in immoral conversations with my friend, may well have polluted his own marriage.

When we meet someone new, we have an illusion about them; because we only learn about them what they choose to share with us. We often fill in the gaps with fantasy (things that are better than reality) without even realizing it.

We don’t see those personal habits that irritate us about our spouse, especially facial gestures and body language.

For instance, a wife may have a good, dependable, loyal etc husband, who is not as good at communicating as the man on the net. She wrongly assumes the new man has all the good qualities that she takes for granted in her husband and she adds to them the fact that he is a good communicator.

My email friend has his photo on the Internet. He looks poised, well-dressed, relaxed and with a welcoming smile. He is most attractive.

No one would put on the Internet a photo of themselves as they are when they first get out of bed, or are yawning in front of the bathroom mirror!

And it is because the person on the Internet seems bigger, better and more desirable than the one at home, that Internet Adultery is breaking up marriages.

Please don’t become a statistic!

And please don’t say:

Michael Hanlon/AH (Nov 25th, 2006)

After correcting an initial problem with the lens, when the Hubble Space Telescope was first launched in 1990, the floating astro-observatory began to relay back to Earth, incredible snapshots of the "final frontier" it was perusing.

Recently, astronauts voted on the top photographs taken by Hubble, in its 16-year journey so far. Remarking in the article from the Daily Mail, reporter Michael Hanlon says the photos "illustrate that our universe is not only deeply strange, but also almost impossibly beautiful."

Looking at the pictures myself, I must agree, and add that each one seems to contain the fingerprints of God . . . what an incredible artist He is!

To view the top ten Hubble Space photographs, CLICK HERE.

Source: Daily Mail

TESTIMONIES

  REVIVAL

 HYMN VIDEO

http://64.34.176.235/sermons/SID10827.wmv

A MAN !

Have you ever written your prayer under the anointing of the Holy Spirit ? It was for me the first time in my life. Grammatical errors abounded; I made the necessary corrections afterwards since I found myself in a situation where I had to write things down in a hurry.

It was a grey, lonely, monotonous day and I was getting ready to write without really knowing what to write about. I wanted to pray but the heavens seemed like brass. I tried praying but nothing worked. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit living inside of me grabbed a hold of me and I wrote down this prayer.

My prayer :

This morning my heart is open to prayer and supplication, I cry to You; time speeds by so fast, come and fill my cup, I thirst after your presence, I hunger for You. Come, my Master, inspire me by your Spirit, may thy Word become living in me. I look at my country, my generation and today’s generation and I discover indifference towards thy WORD within the majority of people. Tell me Lord, will You find A MAN ABLE AND WILLING TO FACE the challenge that needs to be confronted ?

A solitary man who will not FEAR having to meet it ? A modern-day David to defeat Goliath.

A enormous dark and menacing cloud hangs over our heads, hiding your LIGHT from us. I see a GIANT, a monster that surrounds my province and mocks our efforts because we are a FEARFUL people. Yet, You have provided for us, You have given us all the weapons of the Spirit.

Will You find a MAN willing to lose his life in order to find a better one. Will You find someone willing to say without fear : Jesus, here I am, I am that man ! Place on m shoulders oh GOD this burden of intercession for a REVIVAL FROM YOUR SPIRIT. The challenge is so awesome, we sometimes resemble ants about to be stamped out by the enemy were it not for your promise that the gates of hell are unable to eliminate us. Where oh Lord would we go… You have the words of eternal life.

I must admit being afraid of asking to be this man. A supernatural force would have to grab my entire being in order for me to identify myself with your servant Stephen when, while being stoned, declared : “I see the heavens OPEN !” Precious Father, open the heavens for us, allow us to see a small portion of your face and your glory. Grant us the courage to march forward LIKE DAVID when facing the giant and to believe for the impossible.

Precious heavenly Father, in the mighty name of JESUS, unite us all, stamp out these stupid differences that DIVIDE us. We have been fishing for many years now without capturing anything in our nets. Must my earthly life cease before without seeing your power and might shake us… My Saviour, my King, hear my prayer and supplications, I thirst after You, my soul longs to see You work in our midst. Look down and see your children, those who hunger and thirst for a renewal with thy presence and the anointing of your Spirit.

May I see your heaven open up and your Divine Light !

A GIANT extremely more powerful than the giant of darkness SLEEPS in us, AND THAT IS YOUR CHURCH. IT IS NOT WILLING TO DIE TO SELF in order to find a better life. JESUS, JESUS, come and awaken us ! SAVE US BECAUSE WE PERISH ! Your coming is nigh and the foolish virgins are in abundance in your church; we need a heavenly shower. We need to put oil in our lamps.

May your grace and mercy restore in us the fire of our first love. Awaken this giant who is unaware he lingers in us. Allow us to grab the POWER that is found in the sacrifice of the cross and the resurrection of your Son, Jesus

I am grateful to be able to share with you this wonderful encounter. It is His promise.

Romans 8 : 26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Evangelist Marcel Favreau

English translation by Pierre Favreau

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MY TESTIMONY
 

Evangelist Marcel Favreau
 

The year was 1949, four years after the end of the war. Body-builder, proud of myself while photos in American magazines highlighted my success; part-time pianist in different bars and clubs. Taking advantage of every conceivable pleasure this world had to offer. Artist and sketcher upon completion of my studies at the “École des Beaux Arts” in Montreal. Had many friends and popular with the ladies.

  Everything that could guarantee  happiness by the world’s standards, but not quite.  An empty feeling needed to be dealt with, but I was ignorant ofthat fact.

  was an artist working for a publicity outfit. A fellow worker talked to us about the Bible and, like others, I ridiculed him. We called him the “priest” and had a big laugh. It really wasn’t done in bitterness, but more like a big joke to us. One day he invited us to come and see what took place in his church on a Sunday evening. I vividly recall asking my friend “Well, are we going ? If only to have a good time and give us more bait when we talk some more about it tomorrow at work !” We agreed and off we went !

  The meeting was held at “Le Centre Évangélique” on Papineau Avenue, next to Ste. Catherine, in downtown Montreal. A nice–looking building. We entered and sat down, eager to see what would happen. I recall two young girls playing either the trumpet or trombone. The music and songs were good, but nothing to write home about. The preacher was then introduced, a pastor whose name was Robert.

  He had an European accent. I told myself that while I thought the people sitting in the pews were somewhat strange, I found the preacher to my liking and thought he knew how to express himself adequately. I listened quite intently to his preaching all while giving my companion nudges with my elbow,  a smirk all over my face.

  What followed was a time when music playing softly could be heard as the preacher asked : “If there anyone here tonight who wishes to invite Jesus into his heart as his Lord and Saviour ? If so, please raise your hand… Anyone ?”  I found myself stuck with this urge to lift my hand up and I start arguing with God, telling Him :”I do not know these people and I do not accept their religion, but… accept YOU ? I cannot say NO to that !” A few seconds was all that was needed. No longer able to resist, I lifted my hand.

  I must add that in those days, that was a great fervency among Christians and when someone did raise his hand, there were always at least two people who insisted on helping the Lord do His work. I cannot recall if the person approaching me was an elderly woman but I was invited downstairs for prayer. I told my companion :”Are you coming with me ?”

“No !” was his reply. “Well, we shall see each other tomorrow at work ! Bye for now !”

Thus, I found myself in the church’s prayer room. Fortunately, there were still prayer rooms back then any many people, in no hurry to return home to watch television, also made their way there. I am talking of those bygone days when Sunday night evangelistic services were held, of the times when believers found more joy in attending church than to watch a hockey game. A time when people did not worry about having to go to bed at a late hour even though they did work on Monday morning.

  Upon arriving in the prayer room, more than a hundred people were already there, arms raised and praying in loud voices. I knelt down, resting my elbows against a long wooden pew where others were praying. Curiosity got the best of me and I started looking left and right. Everything seemed so strange; never before had I seen anything like it. I am unable to say precisely what happened next, or how it came about, but it was as if a voice told me : “If you want to receive something, start praying.”

  WHAT FOLLOWED??????? I do not recall anything, save the fact that when I opened my eyes, I found myself completely alone with the janitor who was playing with his keys. I asked him where everyone was. He told me that everyone had left since it was past midnight ! Time had passed by so quickly; I had no been aware of it. I remember stepping outside and looking at a star-filled night. Never before had I seen it so brillant ! I felt like I was floating in mid-air. I did not know it at the time, but I had become a new creation in Christ. Former things had all passed away and everything was new.

I did not know it but I was SAVED ! All the sins I had ever committed had been forgiven. Unbeknownst to me, I had become a SON in the kingdom of God. THIS EMPTYNESS IN ME HAD BEEN MARVELLOUSLY FILLED ! JESUS WAS LIVING IN ME !

  I could not find the words to say what I had just experienced but from within sprung a burning desire to tell everyone I met what I had received. I thought everyone would believe me and, as I shared with them my new-found faith, they too would receive the same thing. It goes without saying that shortly after, I discovered that many are indeed called but few are chosen.

  Now I know : It only happens once in a lifetime, but it is an unforgettable experience ! Now I am fully aware that I was SAVED that night by His grace and because He has risen from the dead, He has told me like He did on the cross to the thief hanging next to Him : This very day, you shall be with Me in paradise.”  There is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

  Dear reader, has you this assurance in your heart ? If you hear His voice today, invite Him in your heart. Jesus says to you : “Come unto Me, all ye that toil and labour, and I will give you rest.”

Evangelist Marcel Favreau
 

English translation by Pierre Favreau

Traductions Plus

For info : pfav355@yahoo.ca  

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Good evening Pastor Favreau,

  My mother told me that the Lord had joined up with you.

  If I am walking with the Lord today, it is, praise be to God, partly thanks to that first ever evangelistic crusade you held on Visitation Street, in Montreal. My Dad gave the Lord every part of his life, forsaking alcohol for the Bible. That Bible never left our home since then.

  I cannot say whether you remember people like George Dion, André Tourville and Gérard Bastien. I give praise to my Saviour and Lord for seeing you return to the family of God. I would have many other anecdotes to relate to you as an aftermath to your “first love” ministry. So glad to re-acquaint myself with my spiritual father in the Lord.

  Last evening my mother came over to my place in order to familiarize herself with your web site since she does not navigate on the Internet. She was able to relive an era which she found both strenuous and marvellous. One of the testimonies found in the archives concerning “a healing from cancer” is my mother’s, Aline Dion. The boy suffering with leukemia is my brother Serge, the twin brother of my sister Lyne who lost her battle with this terrible disease three months prior. Had my brother not been healed, it was only a matter of weeks, perhaps three months, before he would have left us also.  My mother had not met the Lord at the time while my Dad was a new convert. However, you did tell her that if she believed, Jesus could heal my brother and that He would and that is what she did. Shortly after that, my mother came to Christ. Serge today plays just about every hymn we learned at your former church (in a theatre) on Papineau Avenue in Montreal.  He takes care of our mother and testifies about Jesus.

  May this short testimony brighten your spiritual life in the Lord.

  P.S. I find it unfortunate that my Dad (George) is no longer with us because, along with my mother, he has always prayed for you.

  Greetings,

  Georges-André Dion

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The following is an e-mail received on the day of my 85th birthday, August 24, 2006.

Good day dear brother and birthday greetings in Jesus !

Thank you for the prayers concerning my marriage that you have offered up to God.

The Lord had heard them and my wife and I have had a reconciliation on July 21, 2006.

May God bless you !

Emilien Therrien

Here is the reply I sent him.

 My dear brother in Christ,

 What a magnificent gift for my birthday this message of reconciliation has proven to be. A gift that causes tears of joy and thanksgiving towards my Saviour to well up from deep within me. An homage to HE who said :”Without Me, you can do nothing.” This message that you have sent was not forwarded to me by accident; it is a celestial vitamin which serves to quicken my faith as it  pertains to the effectiveness of prayer.

 We have a God full of surprises whose mercies are renewed every day.

 Praise the name of Jesus and thanks many times over for the happiness that fills my heart, placed there by this wonderful testimony that you have shared with me. May the Lord richly bless you. What a beautiful day !

  Marcel Favreau

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