“You Could Be The Next John R. Rice!”

John 21:20, “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?”

I had the privilege of attending Hyles-Anderson College, which at the time was the greatest Bible college in the world (1985-1993), when Pastor Jack Hyles was still in charge, and they still believed that the King James Bible is 100% verbally inspired (word for word)! Sadly, since 2008 First Baptist Church Of Hammond (FBCH) has openly denied the verbal inspiration of the King James Bible, to their utter shame! God hasn't changed! The Holy Bible hasn't changed!

One day as I sat in class at HAC (with about two dozen other students), I remember something that the teacher (Brother Mitchell) said to me in front of the class—“You could be the next John R. Rice!” That made me feel good, that somebody believed God could use a nobody like me. However, after class ended, another male student approached me with contempt in the hallway, sarcastically saying: “The next John R. Rice, right!” That hurt my feelings, but the Lord saw that negative and discouraging remark! You know, I would never even consider myself even worthy to shine Dr. Rice's shoes, because he was such a great man of God. However, due to the power of the internet, God is reaching more people through my humble online labors than Dr. John R. Rice (1895-1980) could have ever imagined! 

Since 2002, my Jesus-is-Savior.com ministry website alone has received 110,407,505 visitors!!! I haven't keep track of my other six ministry websites. I have seven total, to God be the glory! Just like Dr. Rice, God has given me the gift of writing. It is my passion! On many nights I wish I didn't have to sleep, so I could just keep writing 24 hours a day for the Lord! I just wish I had a loyal wife by my side, to help me, while I help the ministry. Maybe someday, God willing! 

In my heart I feel like the next John R. Rice. God has given me the same burden and determination that Brother Rice had, to win as many souls to Jesus Christ as I can. Albeit, I am not trying to be the next John R. Rice, I am trying to be David J. Stewart (who God made me). But moreover, I am daily being conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, my great God and Savior (Romans 8:29). I never stop to see how I'm doing in my ministry, I just stay busy each day laboring for Christ, always moving forward, never looking backward. I don't care what my enemies say, nor do I even know, because I don't go searching for what critics (trolls) say, I have much better things to do with my time. And when a few web visitors tell me such garbage, I always send them this truthful quote by famous author Mark Twain:

“It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you to the heart: the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you.” —Mark Twain

Whatever accomplishments God has made through me in the past are done. Whatever mistakes I've made along the way are history as far as God is concerned. What's past is past; I am only concerned about right now, and moving forward for the Lord. Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” 

I don't know if I'll ever be the next John R. Rice, but I am humbled that somebody thought that of me. It's is not about me, it's ALL ABOUT JESUS! I sure want to be all that God wants me to be. I like Hyles-Anderson Colleges's present motto: “MAKE AN IMPACT!” It was said of Christ's disciples in Acts 17:6b, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;” I'd say they were MAKING AN IMPACT! By God's grace, my website ministry has and is making an impact for the cause of Christ! I take no credit or praise for myself, I give it ALL to Jesus. John 15:5, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” 

Humbly, if it weren't for Hyles-Anderson College, my website wouldn't exist today! So if there is any credit to be given—it is to my parents who sacrificed to put me into a Christian Jr. high and high school at our Baptist church, and Pastor Jack Hyles who turned the world upside down with his incredible ministry, and all the fine folks who were at FBCH and HAC when I attended between 1985 and 1993, when I graduated on the 'Dean's List.' I still can't believe I made it to the Dean's List (it only took me 8 years), because my first semester I failed half of my classes, literally! I was a loser, now I'm just a misfit...lol. I love this Scripture passage:

Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

So God not only gives us the desire (to will) to do something for Him, but then He gives us the ability to do it. I love that! Friend, if you are saved, God is assuredly working in your life. I don't know who, what, where, when or how, but He is I assure you, or else this verse is false. HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME!

“Love is thinking.” —Pastor Jack Hyles