Dear friends,
The following is a testimony of my brother Tim's experience at the Rich Mountain Association held two weeks ago. I too was there and felt the Holy Spirit. Words fail me to describe what happen. I shouted more at this meeting than I have ever done. And I not much at shouting.
I gave my testimony of the Primitive Association of Texas at Houston Texas to you last month. After experiencing the Primitive Association in Houston and the Rich Mountain Association in Arkansas, I just simply want to go home to Heaven. Oh God why can't I go now?
Please pray for me,
Paul Montgomery
Dear Brethren,
Rich Mountain Association
August 14 -17, 1997
Below is a synopsis of the 115th session of the Rich Mountain Association held August 14, 15, 16, and 17 at the Tabernacle in Mt. Ida, Arkansas. This is not by any means a complete account, but it is as best I can remember. My memory isn’t always the best, plus we heard so many outstanding sermons. Anyone who was in attendance, please correct any errors I may have.
After hearing of the wonderful power of the Spirit that was demonstrated at the 1st Primitive Assoc., I certainly prayed that the same power might be felt at Rich Mtn. I truly believe the Lord answered our prayers. May God be praised forevermore!
Thursday night: Elders George Walker and David Guttrey
It was truly incredible that the meeting began on such a high note. Brother George preached on Romans 12:1 -3, but to emphasize the word therefore, he went all the way back to Romans 1:1. It was beautiful, bringing hearty Amens! and shouts when preaching about being called to the Gospel, and then declaring ‘This is why we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice”. It was extremely special hearing Elder Guttrey, whom we all met for the first time, preach with power and enthusiasm, knowing the background he came from. I highly recommend this dear brother to everyone. He can flat out PREACH!
Friday morning: Elders Loyce Fuller, Doyle Hurst, and Mike Montgomery
Brother Fuller preached out of the Psalms concerning how the Lord is our strength and how we should put on Christ.
Brother Doyle Hurst began his sermon “I would like to preach on Romans
Chapter 8”. Mike’s face dropped. You could hear the gasps from Paul,
Dad, Clifford and I, knowing that this was Mike’s sermon for the summer.
Oh, dear Lord, what was Mike to do. He began in verse 31, but then said
he wanted to go back a little bit (Mike whispered something like ‘Please
don’t go back to verse 28!). Seriously, Bro. Doyle
preached beautifully on ‘Nothing shall separate us from the love of God’.
I have heard this brother before, but never like this.
Mike then got up, and, you guessed it, preached on Romans chapter 8. All who have heard Mike before on this subject thought this was the best of all. Personally, I think he has finally gotten it down. :-) I won’t go into all the details since we have heard it all before, but brethren, he preached it!!!! There wasn’t an Amen corner, it was an Amen congregation. The Spirit was very strong and I think Mike probably experienced the best liberty in his life. It was likely the best one-two punch on Romans 8 in history. I knew that when Brother Hurst began, the Lord must be in the arrangements.
Friday afternoon: Elders J.L. Hopper and Bill Huckaby
Elder Hopper preached a beautiful discourse on the priest’s robe and the various colors that were interwoven into it - blue, golden, purple, etc. - and compared the robe to Christ. Each color represented a characteristic of our Lord. It was wonderful.
Elder Huckaby preach on the bride of Christ (I added this, Paul M)
Friday night: Elders Clifford Gowens and Mark Rowell
Truly the Spiritual highlight of the meeting. Brother Clifford preached an outstanding discourse on the word para-cletos: the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit along side us. Wow! It was exactly what I needed, especially since trying to study on it recently. I tell you, my thoughts paled in comparison to all that Bro. Clifford brought out. The Holy Spirit that dwells along side us, bearing witness with our spirit, and much , much more.
Brother Mark preached on the Hebrews Ch. 11, about those who had not received the promises, but were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed how they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Bro. Mark beautifully compared their faith to the faith that we should have, and how we should be persuaded of the doctrines and embrace them with all our heart and soul. Mark got stuck on the word embraced, telling us how we should embrace our Saviour and never let him go. Looking unto and hasting unto the promised return of our Saviour, Bro. Mark then took us to the very portals of heaven. I will never forget seeing Mark lift his hands straight up toward heaven and preach as ably as I have ever heard what it will be like on the resurrection day when the Lord carries us home. There was much shouting, Amening, and verbal spiritual groanings as we were all lifted up into the spiritual kingdom higher than I have ever been lifted before. Brethren, I literally believe I was looking into heaven itself, and it was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. As Bro. Clifford said, we were brought to the very gates of heaven, the gates were swung wide open, and we were blessed to look into it. We couldn’t enter through the gates, but we were allowed to look directly into it. I cannot describe what I felt. I don’t think I shouted as many did, but I could not help shouting AMEN over and over and over. My spirit was groaning to be with God in perfection.
After a very emotional handshake, and the most beautiful prayer I have ever heard, singing erupted for the next 20 or so minutes. During this time, people were hugging and crying and shouting. Bro. Mike called it a ‘love fest’, and truly that’s what it was. I have never seen such love manifested, I have never felt so much love pour out of my heart for my brethren. I think I hugged and cried with everyone. Again, words fail to express what truly occurred.
I guess I need to shorten this synopsis, if I am ever going to get through retelling this meeting. I really wanted to fully explain the events that led up to Friday night, so all could somewhat understand the power of the Spirit we all felt and the marvelous manifestation of love that was experienced. The remaining of the meeting was truly outstanding, The preaching was both instructive and spiritual. I think all the Elders felt great liberty and an extra special outpouring of the Spirit. The preaching arrangements for Saturday and Sunday were as follows.
Saturday morning: Elders Charles Whitten, David Guttrey, and Hugh Montgomery
Saturday afternoon: Elders Anthony Blevins, Jesse Stripland, and Mike Montgomery
Saturday night: Elders Mark Rowell and Mark Richards
Sunday morning: Elders Jesse Stripland and Clifford Gowens
Some highlights: The singing! The singing was as heavenly and spiritual as I have ever heard. Those who were at Bethel last year; remember Saturday afternoon? We experienced another song service as good, if not better, than that, particularly (again) on Saturday afternoon. I was asked to lead the last two songs before the preaching service. It was so powerful that I could not contain myself.
Sat. afternoon, Bro. Jesse preached better than I have ever heard him do. He told a fairly lame joke to begin with, and I was thinking where in the world is he going with this. Well, 30 outstanding minutes later, he made his point beautifully; go to church, drag Jesse, go to church, drag Jesse, etc. Oh, how we have to carry these sin-cursed bodies with us in this life, but some sweet day, they will be changed. Bro. Mike then left everyone hanging with the greatest 15 minute sermon I have ever heard, how church IS wonderful, but our spirit’s desire something more permanent, to live with God in perfection eternally.
Sunday morning couldn’t have ended on a more wonderful note. Bro. Clifford preached on gates and doors, ending it with the time we will enter the gates of eternal heaven. Hmmm...it was great. Again, more shouting and hearty amens. Bro. Clifford, I hope someday I get to hear that again.
Well, that about tells it. I know I left some holes, but it is getting late and I want to get this sent to you all. Can ya’ll tell that I am Spiritually pumped? This truly was the best overall most spiritual meeting I have ever witnessed. The Lord answered our feeble prayers with a mighty answer. May He greatly be praised for what we all experienced. This memory will always remain with me. Brethren, may we be in constant prayer that the Lord would bless us with the Power of the Holy Ghost in our attempts to praise Him, and that He may grant a revival among us, not just in number, but in Spirit as well. I wish you all could have been there.
In His Beloved Name,
Brother Tim Montgomery
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