"I Feel Like Traveling on..."

The old song goes something like this, "I feel like traveling on, I feel like traveling on.  My Heavenly Home is bright and fair, I feel like traveling on!"   As I recall, without looking up the words, I think this is the way the song goes.  Of course it is speaking of Heaven and of our journey towards it.  However, Corinne and I often sing this as we are on our travels over the highways of America. 

I would like to share some of what I call, "Mystery Bible" with you.  By this I mean verses of Scripture that are never preached from, and to be honest most people don't even realize that they exist, hence the name, "Mystery Bible."  This comes from the book of 3 John.    This book is just one simple chapter, and I would like to draw your attention to verses 2-4, (NLT), "Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit.  SOME TRAVELING TEACHERS recently returned and made me very happy by telling me about your faithfulness and that you are living according to the truth.  I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth."  Note that I high lighted, "Traveling Teachers." 

Then John goes on to say, and if any verses ever qualified as "Mystery Bible," these do, Verse 5 -8, "Dear friend, you are being faithful to God when you care for the traveling teachers who pass through, even though they are strangers to you.  They have told the church here of your loving friendship.  Please continue providing for such teachers in a manner that pleases God.  FOR THEY ARE TRAVELING FOR THE LORD, and they accept nothing from people who are not believers.  So we ourselves should support them so that we can be their partners as they teach the truth."  Wow!  Of course we say amen to this passage of Truth.  Here is the most clear Biblical directive, that those of us who travel for the Lord should be supported by God's Church.  I would think it is obvious that we who travel and minister cannot support ourselves.  It's pretty hard to make tents when you travel full time! 

However, the above is not the real reason I wish to draw your attention to these verses.  I wish to point out the Scriptural and historical viability of the "Traveling Ministry."  It seems like more and more of today's churches are failing to utilize this very beneficial  source of ministry support. 

We are currently in a West Texas community.  The pastor here, felt that the Lord told him to invite us in for meetings.  Some advised him, "But you don't know these people, so why invite them?"  Remember John saying of the traveling teachers;  they are, "strangers to you?"  I so appreciate this pastor.  He is a true man of God who can hear the voice of God!  These meetings have have become one divine appointment after another.  Why?  Because someone was willing to take a chance on people he'd never met! 

I have no problem looking at how Scriptural financial support to ministry like ours is.   However, more importantly, I felt to draw your attention to these "Mystery Verses" and focus on the importance of the "Traveling Teachers."  Prayerfully consider inviting one into your group for some meetings.  And please note I said, "meetings," not just for a Sunday!  Give the ministry the chance to break through for you, and this may take several meetings.    If you need help finding one of these Teachers, in addition to ourselves, I know several wonderful ministries all over the country that would be a blessing to any church that would give them the invitation. 

One other thing.... as far as Corinne and I are concerned, never let finances be the determining factor on inviting us in for meetings.  We do not charge for ministry.  We work for God.  Find us a place to park our motor home, take offerings for us, and we will trust the Lord for what is needed.

Blessings ~ Larry

webpage: www.larrysilverman.com