Happy Friday!
Did you watch the 700 club yesterday? If you did, then you saw me on television! Well, not really… it was only for about 3 seconds when we did a reenactment of the August 18, 2002, salvation of Mark Brooks! CBN filmed the documentary on location @ Destiny Family Center. The story is AMAZING… check it out!
Did I ever tell you guys that I lived with Mark Brooks for a few months when I was 17! Yeah, it was after a big fight with my parents, Mark gave me a bedroom at his ANIMAL HOUSE apartment! The story you watched on that video is a TRUE story… every piece of it!
Zechariah 3:1-7
Then the angel showed me Jeshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord. The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel’s right hand, making accusations against Jeshua.
And the Lord said to Satan, “I, the Lord, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. THIS MAN IS LIKE A BURNING STICK SNATCHED FROM THE FIRE!”
Jeshua’s clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. So the angel said to the others standing there, “Take off his filthy clothes.” And turning to Jeshua he said, “See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes.”
Then I said, “They should also place a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean priestly turban on his head and dressed him in new clothes while the angel of the Lord stood by.
Then the angel of the Lord spoke very solemnly to Jeshua and said, “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: If you follow my ways and carefully serve me, then you will be given authority over my Temple and its courtyards. I will let you walk among these others standing here.”
Snatched From the Fire
And this is the story of Mark Brooks: A BURNING STICK SNATCHED FROM THE FIRE! Just in time! At a place called rock bottom! Mark really was pulled out of the flames… and today, just like the priest (Jeshua) in Zechariah’s prophecy: Mark also has a ministry in the Temple and in the courtyards, and he is WALKING WITH THE MEN OF GOD IN HIS DAY.
I will never forget that Sunday morning on August 18, 2002! It was the official grand opening of Destiny Revival Center (later renamed Destiny Family Center). I had preached a decent message (pretty spectacular of course! lol) and got right up to the point of inviting people to receive Christ… and before I could call anyone forward, the electricity went off throughout the entire building! This never happened during a service before or after that day!
I remember saying something like, “Wow, the devil must be fighting hard for one of you today! But it’s too late NOW, because I’m giving this call anyway and somebody’s going to find a NEW LIFE today!” And I continued with the call and counted to three for people to respond… and Mark Brooks jumped up out of his chair and came to the front as fast as anyone has EVER done it! I think he even knocked someone down on the way!
Mark has not wavered in his faith for even one day since that miraculous conversion.
Philippians 1:6 And I am certain that God, who BEGAN the good work within you, will CONTINUE his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Do you know a person like Mark? Some hopeless soul in your circle of friends… too far gone for any real shot at breaking free? Do you know a person like Lori? Some suffering wife longing for a change in her marriage and family?
Time and time again, starting with my own far fetched conversion (and my beautiful Emily)… I have watched tens of thousands of lost cases FIND NEW LIFE in Jesus Christ! People who the world gave up on… seemed like they were trapped forever… until God swooped down like a superhero to the rescue!
I hope this Mark and Lori Brooks story inspires you all… to pray and believe that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE TO THEM THAT BELIEVE! Today, I thank God for the joy of remembering how God used me to make a small difference in Mark and Lori’s lives. It’s what every minister lives for… FRUIT THAT REMAINS!
Dream Big, Live Bold, and Make the Difference!
Chuck
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Wow! What an incredible testimony.
I just want to thank you for you for pouring your heart out in these daily blogs. Whether I wanted to or not I read them this week because I knew they were beneficial to my spirit. I have made it through the most difficult and most emotional week of my life (no exaggeration)
I am so happy that our God can change people that we don’t see hope for ourselves.
The enthusiasm and faith, that goes into these blogs has helped me hold on more than you will ever know. There is hope and I am so glad to be reading about it everyday:)
Mel
What an amazing testimony, it is always amazing to hear testimony’s of God literally snatching people out of the pits of hell. Thanks be to God.
CHUCK THANKS FOR BEING A JOSEPH WHO WENT AHEAD OF US.IT IS OVERWHELMING TO ME TO SEE WHAT GOD HAS DONE WITH MY LIFE. THE LORD HAS ME DOING THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE.CHUCK I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS OF ANIMAL HOUSE.I THINK IT IS AWESOME TO BE BACK WITH YOU IN A NEW LIFE. THERE HAS NOT BEEN MANY TIMES IN MY LIFE I HAVE HEARD POSITIVE THINGS.I WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT YOU WROTE HAS TRULY BLESSED ME TODAY, AS I SET WITH TEARS COMING DOWN MY FACE I REALIZE HOW BLESSED I AM WITH A FRIEND LIKE YOU.CHUCK YOU ARE A AWESOME MAN OF GOD, PREPARE FOR PROMOTION.THANKS FOR ALL YOUR PRAYERS THAT I TRULY FEEL.WELL PRAY WITH ME THAT THERE WILL BE THOUSANDS OF SALAVATION OUT OF THE TESTIMONY GOD DONE IN MY LIFE. WOW WHAT A AWESOME GOD. LORD I LOVE YOU SO MUCH
Wooohooo!!! This is an amazing testimony and I thank God that at Destiny Family Center there have been many, many more of these! Thank you Pastor for pouring your life into your calling and letting God use you to snatch so many out of the pits of hell! It is great to be able to hear the testimonies that come from Destiny, and to serve along side such amazing men and women of God!!! I thank God for all of you in the body of Christ right now!!!! I look forward to many, many more testimonies!!!
Brings tears to my eyes too Mark… God has not let you go. He’s been a good father and you have become a son that brings him honor!
Your story causes me to go back… all the way back to February 17th 1991 @ 10:45 pm! God rescued me on that night! Ahhh man, how he RESCUED ME! And he’s been a good Father to me! And I want to be a son that brings him honor… every day of my life!
YOU ARE A SON THAT BRINGS HONOR TO THE FATHER. I CANT WAIT TO SEE WHAT IS NEXT.I PRAY THAT THIS IS A YEAR OF A GREAT HARVEST OF SOULS.
This is truly awesome! I have showed this video to someone who is very much in the same place that Mark was. It brought tears to his eyes as he watched Mark on the screen. Thank you for posting the blog.
Awesome! Truly Awesome!
DORTHY FOR THE MAN IN THE SAME PLACE, I PRAY FATHER IN THE NAME OF JESUS FOR HIM TO BE HEALED AND BE SET FREE.NOW FATHER LET YOUR WONDER WORKING POWER DO ITS WORK IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME.DORTHY THANK YOU, THAT LETS ME KNOW THAT SOMEONE WAS TOUCHED BY WHAT GOD DID IN MY LIFE.LORD I PRAY THAT YOU DRAW MORE AND MORE PEOPLE TO THE KINGDOM.LORD BRING A MIGHTY AWAKENING NOW IN THE NAME OF JESUS. FATHER FLOOD DESTINY AND ALL YOUR CHURCHS WITH SALAVATION.LORD I PRAY FOR TESTIMONYS TO FLOOD THE ALTER FROM YOUR GREAT OUTPOURING , TIME TO TAKE THE LAND IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME. I LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YOUUUUUUUUUU LORDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!! THANKS BE TO GOD FOR ALL HE HAS DONE AND IS DOING…
REVIVAL FIRE FALL NOW IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111
WOW! I thought the 700 club video of Mark and Lori was and IS the most amazing testimony until I just read today’s blog and comments!!
This HERE is what it is all about. Relationships, REAL LIFE, TRUTH and caring people reaching out and reaching down to pick each other up and walking together. Looking back like you said Pastor and seeing where you yourself were at one time and where God has brought you to today and KNOWING ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE for THOSE WHO BELIEVE !
And YOU MARK, laying it all out in the open just like re-opening a closed wound so that your life experiences can touch others and healing can come for them. This is truly God working through you to reach those that need a miracle.
I know God strategically placed us at Destiny Family Center for when I hear testimonies like Mark’s I can see a whole MASS of PEOPLE FLOODING into our facility for healing, and HOPE and FREEDOM from their addictions knowing JESUS is the ANSWER ! We better get ready to help them because they are on their way:)
Thank you Pastor Chuck and Mark for being true and faithful to what God has called you both into.
Next time, they need to highlight a testimony where the lights don’t go off so we can see the church better
Great story!
Mark thank you for taking that step to get your testimony out there. You and Lori are amazing. I am so glad to hear that you two are still doing so well. Praise God. You’ve matured wonderfully in the Lord. I will have to email this to my 2 brothers who suffer from addiction. Each day I know they are released a little more from it, but I want the bondage broke for both of them. Please pray for Kevin and Brendan.
Chuck….what can I say but you’re awesome. You’ve been a vessel that has helped so many and taught so many about how we can live free in Christ. God’s grace and mercy are endless and I learn this each day.
Mel I am praying for you.