[Faith-talk] I just want to share.

[Kirt Manwaring]

Joshua,
  Any chance you could share some of your songs on here?  I don't mean
to pry but...I think it'd be cool, if you're willing to share.  If
not, no harm done.
  God bless,
Kirt

On 6/5/11, Joshua Lester <jlester8462 at students.pccua.edu> wrote:
> Hi, it's Joshua Lester.
> We've been discussing oneness, verses trinity, all week.
> I would like to share, how I got to where I am today.
> I wasn't brought up in this.
> I was born, in 1989, to a Quaker family.
> I was raised in a little Friends church, where I was taught holiness,
> and sanctification.
> I repented of my sins, at the age of 4, at an AG church, where a
> Gospel concert was going on.
> My first real exposure to Pentecost came, when my family got cable.
> I was exposed to Oral Roberts, and Benny Hinn.
> I learned, that it was God's will to heal, and that it wasn't his will
> for me to have sickness.
> I learned, that Jesus paid the price for my healing, on the cross,
> (Isaiah, 53:5, First Peter, 2:28.)
> When I was 10 years old, I heard of two things, that would turn my life
> around.
> I was at school, when a little boy in my class, was making fun of a
> girl in the same class.
> He made fun of her, because her church believed in speaking in tongues.
> I asked her what that was about, and she showed me, while we were
> waiting on our ride home.
> Well, I read Acts 2, in my Bible, and began to seek God.
> I continued reading Acts, and found that every believer that received
> the Holy Ghost, spoke in tongues.
> After all of this studying, I asked my friend what church she attended.
> She told me, that it was that AG church.
> My family wouldn't let me go, but when I was 14, our church stopped
> having wednesday night prayer meeting.
> I'm getting ahead of myself.
> Back to when I was 10.
> My pastor would make cassettes of Southern Gospel music, off of the
> radio station.
> I began to notice, how he would stop the tape, when a certain
> broadcast would come on.
> It was the Lighthouse Pentecostal Church, of Beebe, AR, with Dr. John Sheal.
> He would mention Acts, 2:38, and my pastor, (I guess,) didn't want me
> to hear that, so he'd stop the tape.
> I found the station, and that's where I first heard of Jesus name baptism.
> The Quakers teach, that baptism isn't necessary for salvation, so
> that's why you won't see a baptistry in their churches.
> I had heard my pastors, (Quaker, and AG,) refer to those "Jesus only,"
> people.
> I thought the Jesus name baptizers, were trinity, like everyone else.
> I had never heard the term, "Apostolic."
> I had visited a church, called the Apostolic church, but they weren't
> Pentecostal, (IE,) running, shouting, dancing, speaking in tongues,
> etc.
> They had that stuff on the door, (Apostolic Pentecostal,) but there
> was no experience.
> Well, after seeking God for the holy Ghost, I was watching tv, again.
> I was 14 years old, when I turned on the tv, and Robert Tilton was on.
> When God wants to do something, he'll use whoever he can, to get it to
> happen.
> Beau Williams was singing, "Every time I feel the Spirit, moving in my
> soul, I'll pray."
> As Beau was singing, I felt the power of God.
> I was knocked off of the couch, to the floor, on my knees.
> My hands were raised toward Heaven, and I had received the holy Ghost,
> speaking in tongues.
> I told my friend about it, and started attending the AG youth group.
> I played the piano for the band, as well.
> I spent 5 years in the AG.
> My grandmother, (who had raised me in church,) read about a new
> church, in the paper.
> I went to visit, and we asked if they needed a pianist.
> The pastor said, that they did.
> I would play that piano, and sing with them, with no problem, but that
> was until I noticed something.
> I was 16, when Brother Meadows, (the AG pastor,) baptized me in the
> name of F S and HG.
> I was at the Grace and Truth Tabernacle, (which was in an old
> firehouse,) playing for my current pastor, when we sang a song.
> We sang, "He's God in the Father.
> He's God in the son.
> He's God in the Holy Ghost
> and all these three are one."
> Chorus: "I know God is God
> and God won't ever change.
> I know God is God."
> The pastor sang, "And Jesus is his name," but I was singing the
> popular, "and he always will be God."
> After that, I asked him if he was "Jesus Only."
> He said, "I don't like the term, "Jesus Only."
> He said, "We're oneness.
> I was interested, so I started off debating him.
> Brother Meadows said, that the Jesus Only people beat around the bush,
> but my current pastor didn't.
> He showed me scriptures, and said, "Debate won't get you anywhere."
> Just read the scriptures, and let the Holy Ghost deal with you.
> I did that, and as I was hearing trinity, at the Quaker church, (I
> still attended there on sunday mornings,) I was reading oneness, in my
> Braille Bible.
> The light went on, and on 8-6-2008, at 6:37, PM, I was gloriously
> baptized in Jesus name.
> Remember that Apostolic church I mentioned earlier?
> Well, we just merged with them, and revival has come to DeWitt, Arkansas.
> We have seen many souls saved.
> Out of this experience, God has given me an archive of songs.
> I have written approximately, 25 songs, and am working on another one.
> I thank God, for showing me this way.
> The AG friends of mine ask me, why I won't go back.
> I ask them, "Why would I want to be miserable?"
> I know who Jesus is, and you can too.
> I pray, that this has been a blessing to you.
> Please check out our site, www.graceandtruthtabernacle.webs.com, and
> click on "Our Beliefs," and "The Pastor's Pen."
> Blessings, Joshua
>
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