The Life of John F.: The Sustaining Power of God in a Trial-Filled Life

By John Fielding

This story began on October 10, 1953. It is truly a testimony of the sustaining power of God in a trial-filled life. A life in a severely dysfunctional childhood family leading into a challenging adulthood. The events written in the book are only highlights and are written to show how the presence of God's Holy Spirit led me, carried me, and comforted me down the path of my life. I am who I am today only by God's presence in my life. I am not unique, When Jesus ascended into heaven, He sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, into the world. He's not even a breath away; He is in us now. Just listen and you will hear Him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Covenant Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781646702350

Book preview

9781646702350_cover.jpg

The Life

of John F.

The Sustaining Power of God

in a Trial-Filled Life

Psalms 116: 1-2

John Fielding

ISBN 978-1-64670-234-3 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64670-235-0 (Digital)

Copyright © 2020 John Fielding

All rights reserved

First Edition

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Covenant Books, Inc.

11661 Hwy 707

Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

www.covenantbooks.com

Table of Contents

Preface

My Testimony

The Bow and Arrow

The Baseball Hat

The Closet

Notes

Preface

These testimonies were written originally as individual short stories. After finishing them I noticed that they could be put in order based on the timeline of my life. I have kept them in the story format, so there may be some over lapping as each testimony is read.

My stories must be looked at in a biblical context. I like to compare them to the Bible stories of Joseph, Apostle Paul, and even Jesus.

Joseph

Joseph’s brothers disliked him so much that they sold him into slavery. He eventually became a slave in Potiphar’s house, where he was accused of attempted rape and thrown into prison. None of this was in his control, but it did not defeat him. With

God’s

hand Joseph gained favor and became the administrator of the prison, and as time passed he gained the attention of Pharaoh, who made him second in command of Egypt, under the Pharaoh only. After this he was able to save those who hated and sold him into slavery. When they thought he would bring revenge upon them after their father Jacob’s death, in Genesis 50:20 Joseph said, "But as for you, you thought evil against me: but

God

meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Joseph recognized that

God’s

hand was with him even when events did not go well for him. Joseph knew

God

is the author and finisher of his salvation and

Lord

over all his life.

Apostle Paul

Paul, being the apostle to the gentiles, went from place to place, city to city. Paul was beaten, threatened many times and endured many hardships in his ministry. Paul at one time asked

God

to remove the buffeting spirit that followed him from place to place.

God’s

answer was, My grace is sufficient. All Paul wanted to do was preach the gospel. The enemy was out to destroy him;

God

used this to further the gospel. In this world, Paul never became the leader of any nation, he was not able to preach into an old age and then retire in luxury. As a person he died broke and with few people around him, forsaken by many. In this, Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7–8 said, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the

Lord

, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing." Like Joseph, Paul knew

God

is the author and finisher of his salvation. His eyes were on the eternal, not the carnal, and temporariness of the flesh.

Jesus

Jesus

left heaven; He gave up his position at the right hand of

God

.

Jesus

became flesh in a sinful, dirty world, knowing that in His coming He would endure so much. After more than thirty years and three more in preaching the gospel, He kneeled in the garden of Gethsemane. Knowing the beating and crucifixion He would soon endure. In Matthew 26:39, And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying: O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Jesus’s

life and death at first looked like a huge failure. Only after

Jesus’s

resurrection, and the

Holy Spirit

’s coming and empowering His followers, was

Jesus’s

life and death understood.

Conclusion

God

in His all-knowing always works for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His will and purpose:

Romans 8:28

. We may not see prosperity; we may not see good health. However, we must always see