Forgotten (Book 3--Forsaken Series)

by Vanessa Miller

  “You think the crowd will be too much for you and Lamont to handle tomorrow?”

  JT looked around the park and said, “Right now this place is filled to capacity. And from what I’m being told, we have hundreds more flying in for the conclusion of this revival. I’m actually surprised the fire marshal hasn’t said anything.” JT gave Isaac a correct assessment, but what he didn’t tell his friend was about his fear that he wouldn’t be able to help Lamont with the baptism tomorrow. God had already shown Lamont the blood that was on JT’s hands because he had caused many in his congregation to sin, because of the sin filled life he had led at one time. So, JT needed to get Lamont some help.

  “I’ll tell you what I can do,” Isaac said with a willing heart. “I’ll see if one of my elders can preach tomorrow’s sermon and then Nina and I will get on the road and come help out.”

  Excitedly, JT said, “Thanks brother. I really appreciate you. I had been in prayer about how we would handle the crowd tomorrow, so I know that your call was straight from God.”

  “I do enjoy being in tune with the Almighty,” Isaac said. “See you soon.”

  ***

  Lamont grabbed the microphone and said, “I want everyone to grab a prayer partner. Now is the time to go to God concerning any loved ones who need a spiritual healing and ones who need a physical healing. Pray and call those names out before the Lord.

  When he stepped down from the podium, Margie approached him and asked, “Can I partner with you?”

  He held out his hands to her. “Who do you want to pray for?”

  Margie told Lamont about the many people she came into contact with on her blog and suggested that they lift the broken hearted up in prayer. She also asked for prayer for her mother and other sideline victims of sin just like her.

  Lamont nodded and as they went into prayer for those people, a chorus of prayers were going up, up, up to heaven all around the park, as others joined hands and agreed with each other in prayer that their loved ones would be saved, restored or healed, by the blood of Jesus. Amen.

  When they were finished praying, JT grabbed the microphone, sat down at the edge of the stage and admonished the people to gather around, move as close as possible. But so many people had found their way to the park since yesterday that the pavilion could no longer hold the people. Thanks to the camera crew... it was now a crew, rather than just the two cameramen they started with on Friday night; they now had speakers that amplified their voices to every corner of the park. Those who were not at the park, were able to watch everything unfold from the comfort of their homes on television or online.

  “I’d like to tell you the story of a man who thought he could hide his iniquities from God, but instead ended up causing so much harm to the body of Christ that it has taken him years to repair.” JT was talking about himself. He told the story of how he’d lost faith in God after the death of his first child, but instead of stepping down from the pulpit and allowing God to heal his heart, he began whore mongering.

  Cassandra came and sat down next to her husband. And as tears of shame dampened his cheeks, she wiped them away, signaling to everyone that she and her husband were in this together. “So you see my brothers and sister,” JT continued. “I don’t judge Pastor Walt Jenson for what happened to him, because I can’t. What I am asking is that we all come together and pray for Walt’s recovery, in mind body and spirit. And pray for his wife, Cynthia.”

  The people came together in prayer again. As the night wore on, more people stood up, grabbed the microphone and began testifying about sin that they had been involved in, but by the grace of God they truly felt as if they had been changed by attending this revival.

  Like a good son, Tony had brought his mother back to the revival the second night. They hadn’t made it there in time to get one of the seats in the pavilion, but as they sat on lawn chairs in the park, fellowshipping with others, he heard JT’s confessions and truly believed that the pastor was now a changed man. At that moment, in front of all the people around them, Tony began to weep as he wondered if the Lord could possibly change his life also.

  ***

  Tony wasn’t the only one wondering about the Lord’s power to change to lives. Lying in his hospital bed, Walt had listened to everything JT said. He was thankful that JT had said kind things about him and then asked everyone to pray for him. Walt could feel those prayers and it humbled him.

  Walt turned his face to the wall and with tears glistening in his eyes and a heavy heart, he began his journey back to God.

  Twenty Two

  In the early morning hours of the third day, the angels of the Lord descended and began walking on what they now knew to be holy ground. The sounds the Lord heard were true. People were earnestly praying and calling out to Him. For a long while now, the angels of the Lord wondered if the Church of Christ could stand once it had been infiltrated with so much ungodly sin. But they were witnessing a rebirth. Captain Aaron was thankful that he would be able to give a good report once they returned back to heaven.

  The angels had full view of everything that was going on in the park, but they themselves were unseen to human eyes. They walked into the pavilion. Lamont and JT were stretched out before the altar praying. Standing between the two men, Aaron felt the presence of God. He touched both men, strengthening them for the task that was before them. "You're almost there, don't give in now."

  ***

  Three prominent pastors, known all over the world for the great works they had done were having a feast of a breakfast at the Ritz Carlton in Cleveland, Ohio. Big slabs of ham, turkey bacon, eggs, french toast and home fries dressed their plates... meals fit for kings. And why not, they were at one of the finest luxury hotels in America, and they could well afford to be there.

  One preacher was pastor at a church in Texas, New York and Atlanta. He broadcasted live from one of the churches two times a week. The other was a faith healer who had drawn people to him by the thousands with his healing ministry. God had blessed his hands to heal the sick and cause the lame to walk... that is, until he began to believe that he, and not God was the healer. The last preacher came from a long line of pastors and from a child, he knew that he would serve the Lord all of his days. He founded his first church with only twenty members, most of which had been his wife and children. But as God began to bless, the attendance grew to twenty thousand members every Sunday. He now had a television and radio ministry as well as the numerous conferences he held each year.

  Once they had eaten and were full, the multiple church pastor said, "We really should have fasted this morning."

  The mega church pastor silenced that notion. "We have all been in the ministry for over twenty years and have each fasted more than that little youngster down at that park will ever have an occasion to do. So, I see no reason to starve ourselves now... not when God himself has given us the provisions to eat and live as well as we so choose."

  The healer nodded his agreement as he finished drinking his orange juice. "Bless the Lord for the provisions." He wiped his mouth with his napkin and then said, "Now, how about we get on down to that park and be of help to this young man with all the work that will need to be done today."

  "Amen to that," Mega pastor said, then added. "And just in case you haven't thought of it, I emailed my assistant when we arrived in town last night and told her to alert the media that I would be helping with the baptism today."

  "Good idea," Multi-church pastor said, as he pulled out his iPhone and sent a quick email to his own assistant.

  The healer did the same, then stood up. "Well, let's get going."

  The three wonderful men of God walked out of the restaurant and up to the concierge desk to find out if their limousine was ready for them. The concierge informed them that the car wasn't ready, because no one had informed him of the time they would be leaving for Edgewater Park.

  Multi-church pastor exploded, "Are you kidding me? Is this a joke?"

  "No sir," the small man
said from behind the desk. "I would never kid around with such important men as you and your friends. But if you can give me a few minutes, I'm sure I can have a car ready for you."

  The healer asked, "Will it be the limo? Because I'm not interested in riding in anything less."

  "Yes, sir, I'll get it ready for you momentarily," the man said and then hurried to get his job done for his important clients.

  ***

  JT and Isaac clasped hands as they smiled at each other. "It's been too long," JT said.

  "Yes, it’s been way too long," Cassandra agreed as she and Nina hugged and then began walking with their husbands.

  It was eight in the morning, so JT and Lamont were getting ready to pray and then begin taking people down to the lake. “You and Nina arrived right on time, but I should have known that you would.”

  “To tell you the truth, I could barely sleep last night. I couldn’t wait to take part in this move of God and I was thrilled that you asked me to come and help.”

  “And we’re thrilled to have you,” JT told him as they entered the pavilion.

  Lamont was waiting for them at the front of the church. He had this awestruck look on his face. When JT and Isaac approached he said, “Did you all notice how many people are here?”

  “The place is so packed, you’d think President Obama was speaking this morning,” Isaac said as he shook Lamont’s hand. “How are you doing?”

  “I was fine until my assistant came over and told me that we have sick people lined up by the lake believing that God is going to trouble the waters so that all manner of sickness and disease will be healed,” Lamont said.

  If that’s what the people came expecting, then that is what you and JT should be praying for… remember, our God is a wonder worker,” Isaac encouraged.

  “I haven’t seen many wondrous things since founding my ministry. But I believe that God is about to change all that today.” He nodded. “Let’s pray.”

  ***

  On orders from on high, the captain of the host stood on the banks of the lake and put his sword in the water with one hand and then he lifted the other hand toward heaven. As he did that, the calm waters began to ripple.

  A crippled man in a wheelchair was seated next to the lake. As the water rippled he turned to his son and said, “Didn’t I tell you that God was going to get me out of this chair today?”

  “Yeah Dad, you did. I think the pastors will be down in a minute to start the baptism.”

  “No son, I don’t think I should wait. Throw me in the water right now.”

  Shaking his head, the boy said, “I can’t do that, Dad. If you start drowning, I’m not strong enough to pull you out.”

  The crippled man began scooting his chair toward the water. “You won’t have to pull me out. Now come on and trust me on this one.” But as he continued to scoot closer to the lake and the water touched his feet, the man felt a tingle up his spine and then lifted himself from his chair and went into the water head first.

  ***

  “Oh my God,” Walt said as he watched the miracle unfold right before his eyes.

  “What’s wrong?” Cynthia asked waiting, she sat up in the cushiony chair she had slept in the night before. “Are you in pain?”

  Walt pointed at the television. He was watching the revival. Lamont and Isaac Walker had just entered the lake and were now baptizing the thousands of people at the lake, one by one. But what had caught Walt’s attention was the crippled man who had jumped in the lake, swam around and then when he got out, closed up his wheelchair and screamed, “I won’t be needing this anymore… blessed be the name of the Lord!”

  “Go get the doctor. I need to get down to that lake,” Walt said with excitement in his voice. He had been watching the revival on television from the moment he woke from his surgery. He’d cried, prayed and repented along with everyone else and now Walt felt as if he was a new man and desperately wanted to be baptized as an outward showing of what had taken place inside of his heart and soul this weekend.

  “Walt, the doctor is not going to release you. They want to move you to rehab so you can work on regaining the feeling in your legs,” Cynthia said while rolling her eyes at the absurdity of his comment.

  Walt ignored her skepticism and hit the nurse button.

  When the nurse entered the room, he told her, “I need to see my doctor because I want to be released this morning.”

  “Dr. Livingston has requested rehab for you,” the nurse said with a patient smile on her face.

  Walt waved that notion away. “I don’t need rehab. I need to get back to the revival and get into that water.” He was pointing at the television as Lamont and Isaac were wading in the water and dunking one person after the next.

  The nurse watched as women, men and children were pulled out of the water, jumping, shouting and speaking in tongues. “That’s right, you were at that revival on Friday weren’t you?” the nurse asked.

  Walt sat up in bed with a mischievous grin on his face. “Wasn’t much of a revival until I got shot. I hear they really got the party started while I was in surgery. But I can’t let them end this revival without me.”

  The nurse opened her mouth to say something, then stopped. “I’ll call your doctor and see if he will okay your release.”

  Walt threw the covers off and said, “Just know that if he doesn’t okay it, I’m getting ready to be AWOL.”

  ***

  Thousands of people had come to the park on the last day of the consecration and baptism. They had either walked, driven or taken planes from other cities in Ohio or another state all together. Wherever they came from, they were all lined up at the lake now. Many of them had given their lives to the Lord and been baptized years ago. However, they hadn’t lived their lives according to the will of God. This weekend, during the revival, they had made a decision to turn back to God and live right. So, now they wanted to be re-baptized as an outward showing of what had taken place in their hearts.

  They had spent the weekend praying, fasting and repenting. Those that desired salvation were sent to altar workers so they could pray the sinner’s prayer and receive Christ into their lives and then they were brought back to the line to await the baptism.

  ***

  One by one, Lamont and Isaac said, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, all in Jesus name.” And then they dunked the person who stood before them. They had been at it for a few hours, but the line didn’t seem to be getting any shorter. If anything, it seemed to be getting longer. Lamont lifted his head toward heaven and prayed for strength.

  Then Stephanie and Marcus, two of his church members that had been through the storm stepped in front of him, hand in hand and asked him to baptize them. With renewed strength, Lamont gladly baptized them and praised God for bringing them back home, where they belonged.

  ***

  The three pastors who wanted to come to the revival to help out were at that moment sitting on the side of the road. The limo they were riding in somehow had two flat tires. The limo driver used the spare in the trunk of the car to change one tire, but once he put the flat in his trunk and exhaled, he noticed that the back tire on the opposite side of the car was also flat. “What the devil?” he was truly perplexed as to what was going on.

  But if he had been able to see in the spirit, he would have known that the devil had nothing to do with it. An angel of the Lord had flattened both tires, because God was not willing to share His glory this day.

  He opened the back door of his limo, he hesitated for a moment and then said, “I have another flat.”

  “What? Don’t you service these vehicles on a regular schedule?” The pastor was outraged.

  “I do apologize for this, pastors. I know that you’re trying to get to that revival, so I can call a cab for you while I get this problem sorted out.”

  “Boy, do you know who I am?” Without waiting for an answer, the healer said, “I am a servant of the Most High, and I don’
t ride in cabs.”

  The limo driver wiped his brows with his handkerchief. “Okay, well, I can get you there; it’s just going to be a while.”

  “That’s fine, young man, just turn the air conditioning back on,” The multi-church pastor said. He had paid too many dues to be doing all this sweating. These days he hired people to do the sweating for him.

  ***

  JT was helping people into the lake, careful to stay away from the actual baptism. He did not want the blood on his hands to rub off on anyone as they were in the water trying to get their deliverance, healing or just a rejuvenation. But as he watched Lamont and Isaac struggle to handle the massive crowd that did not seem to be diminishing, he got down on his knees at the edge of the water, lifted his hands to God and prayed, “Lord, these hands desire to work for You. I understand about the blood that is on my hands because of the sin that I committed, just as King David had blood on his hands because of the many wars he waged. But I don’t live in the days of King David… I live in the days of grace and mercy, because of your son, Jesus. So, I ask that you take the blood from my hands so that I can be of use in your kingdom.”

  As JT prayed, an angel stood behind him with fire in his hands. He leaned down and touched the hands that JT lifted to the Lord.

  As JT’s hands connected with the angel’s, he felt the heat go through his hands and then warm his whole body. And then a swift wind blew a tidal wave of water over his body and sent him tumbling to the bottom of the lake. JT held his breath as he swam back up to shore. As his head lifted out of the water, JT realized that he had just been fire baptized. And the Lord had cleansed him from the inside out.