Is That Gold Dust Real?

Twenty years ago I made my first visit to Calvary Campground in Ashland, Virginia. One of the speakers for their Winter Campmeeting was a Brazilian named Silvania Machado. After standing on the platform for about twenty minutes during praise and worship, Sister Silvania brushed gold dust out of her short blonde hair plus had oil flow from her hands. I didn’t dismiss these signs but questioned the purpose of them. A few people in the congregation later testified of being healed.

I’ve seen gold manifestations at other places. The year before during a church service in Oklahoma, the fillings in my mouth changed from black to a whitish-gold color. Other people supernaturally received gold teeth (I later met a man in Germany who received four of them). I’ve also seen gold dust appear on ministers such as Joshua Mills while they are preaching.

Although I don’t seek after signs like this, gold dust has shown up on my face and in my Bible. One time with the latter, I found some while looking up Hebrews 13:2 about entertaining angels. I believe the Lord used that as a reminder to look to Him as my source instead of a job I considered pursuing. Other friends of mine have seen manifestations of gems and angel feathers. During a house meeting in North Carolina, the host showed me manna that just appeared on her carpet.

Religious critics will mock these manifestations by asking, “Where is that in the Bible?” Manna appeared for the Israelites while they wandered in the wilderness. Why wouldn’t God do something like that today? I’ve been to Kaye Beyer meetings where manna suddenly showed up on her Bible and later disappeared. I didn’t notice anything that indicated this was fake. 

Unless you are close-minded to the supernatural, a better question to ask is “Does this sign point people to Jesus?” I remember hearing the late Bob Shattles testify of gold dust manifesting on himself in public. He used that as a witnessing tool and led many people to salvation. Jesus said in Matthew 7:20, “Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

It’s true people can fabricate some of these things. Charisma magazine recently published an article suggesting the oil flowing from a Bible during revival meetings in Georgia could have been a hoax. Still, we shouldn’t reject real signs and wonders. Nor should Christians worry about deception as long as they keep their eyes on Jesus. John Arnott often says, “We have to have more faith in God’s ability to bless us than in Satan’s ability to deceive us.”

Always remember: Signs follow believers but believers shouldn’t follow after signs.

“Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” - Isaiah 43:19

God’s Gold

Yesterday a Facebook friend griped about the Catholic Church “…surrounded by gold and all the riches of the earth and I believe Jesus must be sad with them. I’d rather be poor and get by as I am…Those dreams of a Ferrari and touring the world will never come around for me.” He’s right. My friend’s dreams won’t happen unless he renews his mind to what God’s word says. As Jesus said in Matthew 9:29, “According to your faith let it be to you.”

Certainly, I’m against Catholic doctrine that contradicts Scripture but them having gold is not a sin in itself. When Solomon’s Temple was built, precious metals were used. 2 Chronicles 3:4 says, “He overlaid the inside with pure gold.” Many of the things in the tabernacle in Exodus 25 were also covered in gold. Would I use gold if I built and pastored a church? Probably not but I still want a nice place for my congregation to meet and to see them blessed. 

What about heaven with its streets of gold and surrounded by a wall made of precious stones? Did God also create those things on earth for the devil and his crowd? I don’t think so…

“And the gold of that land [the Garden of Eden] is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there.” - Genesis 2:12 

“Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.” - Genesis 13:2

“The Lord has blessed my master [Isaac] greatly, and he has become great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold…” - Genesis 24:35

“But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians.” - Exodus 3:22

“For You meet him with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.” - Psalm 21:3

“‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts.” - Haggai 2:8

Religious people may argue I’m mostly quoting Old Testament verses. Did possessing gold suddenly become sinful after Jesus appeared on the scene? No. Hebrews 8:6 says that “…He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” In recent years, I’ve seen Christians supernaturally receive gold teeth and fillings plus gold dust manifestations. The latter has happened to me a few times.

Many Christians need to get rid of a poverty mindset. God is not against us having gold, silver, and other valuable things as long as those things don’t have us.

“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” - Revelation 3:18

Heavenly Homes

A few years ago, actress Jennifer Anniston purchased a one-bedroom penthouse apartment in New York City for $8 million. Around that time, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg bought a $7 million home in California. It was also reported Michael Jordan was building a home in Florida with an estimated value of $20 million. The secular media doesn’t mind celebrities and athletes owning multi-million houses. Yet they will launch an “exposé” if a preacher buys (or is given) a house for a fraction of that amount.

Even some believers are critical of brethren with nice domiciles. One time a homeless man I met in Florida complained about a local pastor having a $500,000 house. Before you pity this homeless man, it should be pointed out he was a modern-day Jonah running from the call to preach. God will bless those who will obey His will for their lives. Isaiah 1:19-20 says, “‘If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword’; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Every Christian will someday walk through pearly gates on streets of gold and have a heavenly mansion (John 14:1-2). A wall made up of twelve different kinds of precious stones surrounds the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21). God desires His people to live in beautiful places.

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prayed for the Father’s will to be done “…on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) Joshua 24:13 talks about the Lord giving the Israelites, “…a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant.” Therefore, a Christian shouldn’t be made to feel guilty by jealous brethren for having numerous possessions including a nice home. It’s not up to any individual to dictate how much a believer should or shouldn’t have. That’s between him and the Lord.

Once I met a woman who felt led to reside with a group of homeless people in “Tent City”, a makeshift shelter in a wooded area of Mobile, Alabama. Of course, not all Christians are called to live like that. Those that are usually do so for a season to reach certain individuals. A couple times, the Lord led me to stay in a homeless shelter for the night. Despite the uncomfortable environment, it resulted in ministry opportunities.

Some missionaries like myself have traveled from city to city without a permanent home. In her book “Tramp for the Lord”, Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom wrote about living out of a suitcase for years while preaching around the world. Corrie still desired a place of her own. God eventually blessed her with one where she spent the latter years of her life.

Admittedly, there have been times I’ve considered leaving the mission field and working a regular job again to have a more “secure” lifestyle. Whenever that thought crosses my mind, I remind myself of this comment a Facebook friend posted…

“A good friend I went to college with started out in full-time ministry. He had some bad experiences and decided to become a fireman instead. I talked to him today. He is retiring with great benefits and a nice house at a young age. I told him, ‘I'm jealous of you.’ He said, ‘Don’t be, I wish I had the courage to stay with ministry. I'm jealous of you.’ Wow, kind of helped me see things in a different way.”

While still desiring my own house, I will trust God to provide one at the right time and not settle down somewhere for the sake of being comfortable. Serving the Lord occasionally requires sacrifices. However, rewards are available when a Christian is willing to give up worldly possessions and the approval of man to obey a higher calling.

“Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.” - Mark 10:29-30