My family and I are not only witness to such an incredible miracle unfolding daily before our eyes, but we are on the receiving end of the boundless blessings that such a thing is sure to carry with it. Sit back and prepare for your spirit to leap as you listen to the latest lesson the Master Instructor instilled in Justin Justice, who we are lovingly calling Justin the Baptist...
From Justin's journal:
Monday, May 5th, 2014
This morning when we were in chapel we read a couple of things out of 1 Peter, so I decided I would read it all, the whole book. But while I was reading, I realized that the Lord has (and was) really speaking to me to be baptized in water- like today- to "wait no longer". The Lord told me that I did not need a certain person to do so, and then gave me a prayer to baptize myself in water. So I wrote down what He was giving me through His Word out of John (which I read last night) and then 1 Peter this morning.
So after chapel I went down to the berry field and my heart was racing the whole time as I kept going all the way to the river- then I stood at the edge of the baptism steps and prayed this prayer, "Praise the Lord my soul! I pray that this water wash over this body as the flood did on earth to destroy all evil and save only good- as a result I will live my life no longer for the evil human desires, but rather for the will of God and the pledge of a clear conscience toward God, to Him be the Glory and power forever Amen!" Then WOOSH!!! submerged my body and came up out with a gasp of air and a "Whooo!" in my heart, haha, it was awesome! I don't know if anyone else has ever baptized themselves but God lead me to, so I did.
Then Jay asked me, some short time later, why my hair was wet, so I told him, "Because I just got baptized", he had never heard of anyone baptizing themselves and I told him that I hadn't either and we laughed. Then during lunch Jay was saying that he had been praying down by the river, after I told him I got baptized, that he wanted to be baptized as well, but that he wanted me to baptize him in the water. I lit up and said, "let's do it". So after lunch we headed down, just the two of us and I prayed the same exact prayer over him- then Whoosh! submerged his body and he came up and out with a gasp of air and a "whooo!" in his heart. He said that it felt incredible and that it really meant something to him.
Later, I realized we headed down at 12:45 PM, so we baptized him at almost exactly 1:00 o'clock! (which is the time that we have set up for our Justin prayer chain so we are all joined together in prayer everyday) We stayed down there for two or three hours cleaning the baptism steps and weed eating. Then we carved our initials in a nearby tree, not even correlating at the time the significance of both of us being baptized until after we did so. To top it off, we both felt that we got a huge confirmation from God that the reason we have the ability to do what we did was only from the resurrection of Jesus Christ- with a massive reflection in the very spot we were baptized- of a cross- from the stripes that two airplanes made perfectly across the center of one another.
I have been a Christian since I was a small child, and I have been involved in the ministry for as long as I can remember- growing up we spent more time at church than we did at home it seemed. I've seen 100's of people baptized and heard even more stories- but never, in all of my life- have I felt anyone's story of baptism come so fully from the Holy Spirit. I later told Justin that he didn't baptize himself, Jesus was in that river with him and he was baptized by the Son of God. No Justin, I have never heard of anyone baptizing themselves either, but who baptized John? The Pharisees even asked him on whose authority he was doing so. I can imagine there would be those who would read this, and being bound by the confines of religion (just as the Pharisees were) would "nay say" this as well. To them I would say: 2 Corinthians 3:6 "[It is He] Who has qualified us [making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient] as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant [of salvation through Christ], not [ministers] of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code [of the Law] kills, but the [Holy] Spirit makes alive."
Justin read his journal entry to me on the phone the same evening of the 5th. Immediately I felt the Spirit of God and knew that indeed, it was He who ordained such an unorthodox experience to powerfully touch- not only Justin and Jay- but everyone who is a hearer of the story. I was rendered speechless (and for those of you who know me, will know this is a hard thing to achieve). When I hung up the phone I ran to retell it (to the best of my ability) to Leah and Matt. I used drastic arm movements to describe the experience like I had been there myself and was so excited that by the time I had finished I was out of breath! The one thing I couldn't quite do justice to was the prayer that God had given Justin, I couldn't remember it- all I could say was "through the seamlessly woven words he uttered I can tell you this, the prayer proved to me that Justin understood what it truly meant to be baptized- with a deeper grasp than some men who have been baptizing people for 40 years."
1 Peter 3:20&21 "[The souls of those] who long before in the days of Noah had been disobedient, when God's patience waited during the building of the ark in which a few people, actually eight in number, were saved through water. And baptism, which is a figure of their deliverance, does now also save you [from inward questionings and fears], not by the removing of outward body filth [bathing], but by [proving you with] the answer of a good and (clear conscience inward cleanness and peace) before God [because you are demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
While I was still talking to Leah and Matt, out of the blue, I felt the voice of the Lord say that Justin would baptize Matt. This didn't make much sense, and yet, it made all the sense in the world. Instantly I was reminded of Jesus asking John the Baptist to baptize him. (Not that Matt is Jesus in this story... haha, sorry Matt) but there is a symbolism there, a respect for another man's calling, no matter how old or young they are in Christ. Matt had been baptized as a child, but hadn't after accepting Jesus as his Savior, so this seemed fitting. When I mentioned it to Leah, Matt and our mom- it was confirmed in them as well. The next time I spoke with Justin I broached the subject and said that we at Isaiah 58 Ministries thought that he should baptize Matt. "Me...?" was Justin's response. I laughed and said, "yes you, you are the one that God gave the prayer to and has laid this on your heart." I could almost see the classic Justin smile through the phone that is so full of joy and innocence as he said, "okay, yeah." It reminded me of Matthew 3:13-17 "Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Thus, this past Sunday, which just so happened to be Mother's Day, we headed to Teen Challenge, just as we do every Sunday to visit with Justin, fellowship with the other young men and their families and cook dinner with them. Justin had been wanting to show us the three boxes of bees that were down in the berry field because in "keeping" with his last name, Justin would like to be a bee keeper and produce honey some 
Justin wanted to show us the river baptismal where his experience had taken place, Greg and his parents headed back up the hill and Justin, his mom Regena, Leah, Matt, Jimmy and I waded through the tall grass and a football field's distance to the river. Although Jimmy and Justin are really close friends, he hadn't told him of his experience for fear that he might feel it to "out there", so on our way through the field, Justin shared again what had happened that previous Monday. Jimmy had the same reaction we did and was only upset that Justin hadn't told him sooner! When we reached the steps to the water, the Holy Spirit was physically felt as we all knew why we were there- for Justin to baptize Matt. It seemed radical, it seemed backwards, and yet it was so right- so very prefect. The water was calm, the sun was shining over head and reflecting on the water and for a brief moment I felt like I was there that day with Jesus and John- but this day, Jesus was there with us, it was like I could see the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on Justin and Matt. John 1:32-34 "Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
Watch Justin Baptize Matt here, and turn up the volume!!!
The entire time there was an electric joy in all of us, Jimmy's face and reactions of seeing one of his best friends walking out a call on their life, Regena, with the best gift a mother could ask for on Mother's Day, watching her son growing into a man of God, baptizing his older brother in Christ, Leah and I as older sisters who are watching him blossom into a man of God that we can respect and revere and Matt, humbly receiving the blessing from his younger brother in Christ to wash clean his body as a representation of the cleansing of his soul. And Justin, never wavering, confident in His Lord, mature in his faith with the power of being not only baptized with water, but baptized in the Holy Spirit... none of us will ever be able to put into words what we felt that day.
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."
Justin didn't set out to find his calling, and many would say it's too early, he's too young in the Lord to know that kind of thing, but there it is- he can't give it back- nor do I think he wants to.
We, the Carpenter's Daughters and Sons, here at Isaiah 58 Ministries, hope you have been as touched by this as we have, until next time, we salute you, our brothers and sisters in the faith and send our love.
As always, remember that Jesus is that Beautiful Light that expels all darkness.
Matthew 3:1-12 "In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’” John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
John 1:6-34 "There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
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| Justin's Family |
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| June, Justin and Ernie |
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| Justin and Regena |
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| Sarah, Stephen, Jonathan, Matt, Tyler, Michelle, Justin, Braden and Miss Dionne |
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| Justin, the day he sold his bike! |
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| Regena's Birthday and bridge in Maysville Justin drew |
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| Regena's Birthday lunch |
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| Regena's birthday lunch |
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| Matt and Justin cutting the roof for the "chicken church" |
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| Mother and son! |
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| Easter Sunday |
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| Work on the Chicken Church |
Once again I want to take the time to thank everyone who has and is continuing to support Justin financially as well as prayerfully, you know who you are and we will NEVER be able to thank you enough. You are true servants of Christ and you are sowing into GOOD GROUND INDEED! God Bless you all, we love you and thank God for you daily, none of this would be possible without you!
| The above photo was taken of Justin with the painting "Calvary" by Stephen Sawyer, www.art4god.com it has literally save Justin's life- and countless others' I'm sure. |
Steve posted this on his Facebook page along with the following:
A YOUNG MAN NEEDING SPONSORS
"Justin is a 24 year old guy, who has been secretly battling a severe heroin addiction for the past 5 years.
After accepting Christ in Nov. ’13 he saw the painting "Calvary" posted on a friend’s blog. He was overwhelmed with emotion, he couldn't stop staring at it and felt the Lord speak to him saying, “It’s time”.He sat his friends down, opening up to them about his past. They got him "Calvary" for Christmas and it has become one of his most prized possessions. As a result of that chance glance, he has entered the Teen Challenge program- in his own words- he wants to come out, “looking like Jesus, acting like Jesus and talking like Jesus.” This painting has literally saved Justin’s life; you can see with the huge smile on his face he is doing amazing! Justin is in desperate need of sponsors to help finance his stay in what they call the “Jesus Factory”. If you are interested, you can send a donation in the name of Justin Bee to: Teen Challenge Cincinnati, P.O. Box 249, Milford, OH 45150 or for more information e-mail Masfaith3@aol.com " Thank all of you for reading this and considering helping someone. They contacted me, thanked me for my work, and hoped for some assistance in a very difficult and brave recovery. The photo and comments in quotations are from them.
Stephen
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