Heart To Heart With Pastor Ed Bowen – #2

Pastor Ed Bowen was saved on March 24, 1957 at a revival meeting at Horse Branch Church in Turbeville, S.C. at the age of 23. Brother Bowen has been married to his wife, Margaret, for over 54 years. After being ordained in 1960, Pastor Bowen went on to preach in various places until he became pastor of Cherryvale Baptist. Having been there for over 43 years, in 2000, he had to slow down a bit due to prostate cancer.

Though unable to do what he used to do, Pastor Ed has just changed venues. For over ten years now, he has been encouraging people via email. He has graciously agreed to be a contributing author to this website. This series of posts entitled, “Heart To Heart” are the fruit of his times with our Lord Jesus! If they mean as much to you as they do me, then EMAIL him and let him know about it! 

(Psalms 23:1-6) <> “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”  (KJV)

“Let the foe be met and conquered in the closet of private devotion and defeat shall not be mourned when we meet him in public. We must come forth from the presence of God, before we enter into service for Him. The closet is the great battleground of faith.

David defeated Goliath, the giant warrior, in private devotion before he ever faced him publicly. The boldness of David came from faith in an all-powerful God, not from human courage. This was with David and will be with us in our battles with the ‘giants’ of our lives, the difference between success and failure.

The battle is indeed the Lord’s. He is seeking a yielded vessel to work through. The glory also is the Lord’s and David honored Him by giving Him all the glory for this great victory. We see in the text above, David’s confidence in the Lord’s shepherd’s care. Through David’s communion with Him, we see complete provision, perfect guidance, restoration of inner strength, victory over fear, comfort, joy, trust and security. These are ours also, as we face the go out to face the ‘giants.'”

Pastor Ed Bowen