Christian Fellowship
“That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving...” Psalm 26:7
Vol. 22, No. 2 February 2013
God separates us for His glory and holiness. We have to come out from among them so that we can be used for Kingdom purposes. However, when we come out from them, there is a suffering and harassment from the evil one that is unprecedented. Satan will do all he can to try and stop the Lord from being our all in all. Satan uses people and circumstances and thoughts from the past to bring us down to his level, which is a level of defeat. “For this purpose was the Son of God manifest to destroy (defeat) the works of the evil one.” (I Jn.3:8)
In order for the devil not to destroy us, we must be committed in mind and spirit to the victory that Jesus gave us on the cross. That means enduring the suffering until Christ’s sacrifice penetrates every fiber of our being so we can rise up again. “We are cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” (2 Cor.4:10)
Don’t fear the trauma, wait for the deliverance. Wait on God until you rise up again knowing that your enemy is destroyed. And destroyed he will be because of the blood of Jesus Christ. We are cleansed through and through when we are separated for His holiness. So don’t turn back just because it is getting harder. Instead, press into this glorious calling of holiness.
In Christ,
Pr. Steve
TIMES OF RESTORATION
Joel 2:25 (KJV) “And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.”
To have, to lose, and to regain is the basic plan of life. The concept of restoration is one of the most important ideas of scripture. We see biblical examples:
Ø Restoration of the Temple
Ø Rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem
Ø Restoring God’s glory in the earth
We are now in the hour of advanced acceleration, which means there is no more time for people to do their own thing by considering their time lived for God as secondary. It is this lukewarmness that will bring judgment soon to the earth. Christ must have our whole life or we will not be able to maintain our level of integrity and ability to carry on for Him.
From now on it is necessary to move forward in FAITH one day at a time with wisdom to redeem the time as it flees quickly away. The Lord is promising great victory and rewards for those who will seek Christ with a fervent heart [i.e. passionate and zealous = pray the Lord’s will and what He is praying continually].
The Book of Joel is the pattern for restoration. It speaks of great turmoil and trouble while God brings into existence His promises. All of this will culminate with the saints possessing the Kingdom of God. Times are changing so dramatically that we have a hard time keeping up, but we can do what we must in obedience to the Word of Truth.
Here is the pattern of restoration:
Ø Receiving from the Lord
Ø Misusing what He gives us because we are inexperienced and rebellious
Ø Walking in weakness and humiliation
Ø Repenting: the work of restoration begins to take hold and we begin to appreciate the Lord for who He is
Ø Experiencing degrees of resurrection life, and thereby coming into the image of Christ for eternal service in the Kingdom of God
Jer 29:13-14 (KJV) “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (14) And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.”
“Turn away captivity” = restoration. The example of restoration teaches us whatever is to be possessed eternally must be received twice -- the first time as an unearned, unappreciated gift, the second time as a highly valued possession that costs us our whole life to be able to receive it properly. THIS IS THE TRUE PRESENCE OF GOD.
When Adam and Eve sinned, their greatest loss was the Presence of God. Now we, as the children of Adam and Eve, must devote our entire lives to seeking the Lord’s Presence and thus restore what was taken from Adam and Eve.
We will thirst for God’s Presence in everything we become and do. God hides from us; but when we seek Him with all our hearts, He is found of us. If we truly have come to the place that we want Him more than anything else, we will seek Him fervently.
If we lose through neglect this priceless gift, recovering it again becomes exceedingly difficult. Every backslider realizes this difficulty, but it is possible. Eternal life is the gift of God through Christ. But we are required to lay hold on eternal life and sow into it, or we may wake up one day to discover our spiritual life has been choked out by the weeds of the world. The process of regaining lost ground is difficult to find. But it is the process of restoration.
Satan, his angels, and those who reject Christ will not be restored. They will be bound eternally in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur (Hilo – crater – sulfur burning). Now think about the rebellious people bound eternally while the saints are beholding the Face of God the Father.
A wall surrounding the New Jerusalem serves as a defense around the Glory of God to protect against all sin and self-will as well as from the terrible ordeal of the ever-burning lake of fire and its chaos.
In the beginning man was given His Divine inheritance into the image of God to be fruitful and have dominion over the works of God’s hands. Man lost this through rebellion because of deception brought on by the devil, thus putting man under the power of sin and death. God sent Christ that man might be set free from the bondages of deception and regain his inheritance. Scripture reveals how we are to do this: (Acts 3:19-21)
[restitution=restoration]
[times of refreshing = season of opportunity]
Times of restitution of all things are not the same as “times of refreshing.” Times of restoration refers to a specific time period. It can be found in Heb 11:15 “And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.”
[season of opportunity]
Luk 4:5 “And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time”.
[a specific time period]
God has definite time periods which offer opportunities of restoration; but once a season has passed, those opportunities are not available. At any given time in history, some specific portion of the work of restoration is taking place. Throughout this period are times of refreshing that will not return again. We have to march to the beat of the current drum when the sound of trumpets is blowing.
The Lord appeared on the earth the first time in a moment of time. He will return once again in a moment of time. In between are times of restoration for “whosoever will” to follow the Lord no matter what comes.
Some people take advantage of the opportunities while others don’t. Some choose the good part, as did Mary to listen to the Lord while others, as did Martha, choose to do something else.
What will you do? Either you are preoccupied with the current difficulty of today or you are pressing into the presence of God in spite of the day. There is always a present truth to those who will persistently seek Him (2 Pet.1:12).
For those who will search, a wonderful part of restoration is taking place today. The Kingdom is ready for the taking. Christ is coming to us as the latter rain that precludes His majestic breaking forth from in the clouds of glory. Although much restoration must yet take place, this is that day of restoration for you.
As you listen and learn of the prophecies of today, you realize they have been coming to pass. You are part of these great and exciting days. As you recognize the work of the Kingdom, you realize everything in your life is being made new.
God is not through with you. He wants to crush Satan under your feet. We are not working for God; we are working with God as God works in us. All is not lost. God is in control of our destiny. Every creature remains under His constant watchful eye as He brings all things together for the good of those who love Him. We are in this race all the way to the end if we determine nothing will stop us – I MEAN NOTHING.
God does not kill us off because we mess up or fail. Rather, after suffering what appear to be a multitude of defeats, we find Him turning our lives toward the victory side. He keeps giving us chance after chance until we finally become what we were created to become.
The call has gone out – “Discipleship, cross carrying obedience and seeking the Lord with a fervent heart, is the agenda. As long as you keep one foot in the world, you will be miserable. Remember, the Lord has said, “I will restore what the enemy has stolen.”
-Pr. Steve
I am going to be sharing with you thoughts from my journal over the past few years. This is to show you how the Lord has brought about His Word in my life to minister to you and to show you how real this walk can be. Please read and understand by the Spirit about ...
. . . My calling as a pastor
Pastor’s Journal 2012
Feb 4: O Lord, we remember what You have done in the past. How You showed us Your love and favor. But now all this is come upon us. The enemy is bringing forth darkness on every side and we are concerned about the future. Let us not forget You nor ignore Your covenant with us. Let us not turn back or go another way. We are broken, now heal us. Search our hearts and let us arise in Your power and strength. Cast us not off any longer. Draw us closer and safer than we have ever been before. Help us and redeem us from the darkness.
Feb 6: If you abide in Me, then come and find rest in Me. Take My yoke upon you and you shall find rest for your soul.
Feb. 10: I hurt, O Lord, because the people hurt. I feel their pain because You feel their pain. You know what each one is going through and You are interceding for them. Now with Your mercy lift them up to realms of glory. Cover them with the glory You have promised before. Let the fullness of Christ Jesus be known and experienced so they will not falter. May the blessing of life be upon them through tribulation and trials. “Arm yourselves with suffering because he who suffers is done with sin.” (1 Pet 4:1)
Feb 11: The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their cry. (Psm 34:15)
Feb 13: As the word abides in you, the Spirit will reveal to you the will of God in every circumstances of your life.
Feb 16: The deeper you go in truth, the higher you can soar in worship.
Feb 18: Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me, my glory and the lifter of mine head. I cried to the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. (Psm 3:3-4)
Feb 20: Fulfillment comes after you have humbled yourself and have been emptied of all depths of pride. We must keep our hopes in God to fill us with His desires. The emptier we are, the faster He will fill us. All that He fills us with is more of Him. He is looking for complete possession. The presence and power of Christ will come to them that are of a humble spirit.
Feb 21: Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. (Phil 3:8)
Feb 26: Fear not, for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties. Yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My right hand of rightness and justice. (Isa 41:10 Amp)
Feb 29: “He which establishes us with you in Christ is God.” (2 Cor 1:21) God alone will establish us in Christ Jesus!
Prayer Life
Mat 7:7-11 (KJV) “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: (8) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (9) Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? (10) Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? (11) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
Have you ever listened to yourself as you are praying? What is the most of what you hear? Is it how much you trust and love God? Is it giving of thanks? Are your words filled with faith and adoration? Or are your prayers riddled with panic, distrust, and desperation? Many times when we pray we miss the answers, and we forfeit the peace of God, because we are praying (talking) more to ourselves instead of listening to God.
Mat 6:7-8 (KJV) “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. (8) Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
Have your children, or perhaps even your pets, ever just looked at you; and immediately you knew what they wanted or what they needed? That understanding comes because you have spent time with them and have developed a relationship with them. Our Heavenly Father always knows exactly what we need and what we want, but we won’t know His ways unless we are willing to grow in knowing Him.
Luk 13:24-25 (KJV) “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (25) When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are…”
A neglected relationship with the Lord can cause us to pray as if we think that God is hard of hearing, and such neglect will hinder us from understanding that God wants our prayers to be productive even more than we do ourselves. Again, the difference is only discovered as we live closer in relationship with God.
Luk 11:1-4 (KJV) “And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. (2) And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. (3) Give us day by day our daily bread. (4) And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.”
While it may not hurt anything to recite a prayer, we do suffer when we don’t seek to live what we are praying. Even if we don’t understand why God allows difficult things to happen in our lives, these circumstances neither mean that He is any less God nor that we get to vote on whether or not we agree with His decisions. When we feel like blaming God, we should instead bless Him and declare our trust in Him by drawing closer to Him. A desired and sustained closeness produces spiritual fruit in the lives of those who are willing to grow with Him in a deeper relationship and life of prayer.
-Kurt Thurston
Prophecy
By my Name alone, shall people bow.
I AM has come forth out of my chambers to do war against those that oppose me in the heavenlies and on earth.
See, and behold My power.
I come in glory...I come in Righteousness...I come as your Warrior King, for I come in Victory. For I come on behalf of my bride...my precious bride.
Therefore, be ready...Therefore be on guard.
For I AM is coming.
Sound the trumpets. Sound them loud and clear. My sheep who hear my voice, will hear the sound from heaven’s army.
Stand ready...be prepared...for as a thief in the night, I will snatch up what is both mine and the Father’s who has sent me.
Be in love...Stay in love...and be ready.
-Given by: Rob Martin
Quotes:
"Worry is a cycle of inefficient thoughts whirling around a center of fear."
-Corrie ten Boom
"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength."
-Corrie ten Boom
"Was there anything Jesus wanted from this earth besides you and me? ...
NOTHING."
"One of the most amazing things Jesus said is that at the judgment seat, preachers are going to say `I cast out devils,´ and Jesus will say `I never knew you.´"
-Leonard Ravenhill
"It is impossible to be a true soldier of Jesus Christ and not fight."
-J. Gresham Machen
"Forgiveness is the key which unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness. The forgiveness of Jesus not only takes away our sins, it makes them as if they had never been."
-Corrie ten Boom
Kids Korner
At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam’s ribs.
Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she said, “Johnny, what is the matter?” Little Johnny responded, “I have pain in my side I think I’m going to have a wife.”
Next course from Christian Life Educators Network - Richmond Center:
Paul: His Letters by: Dr. Ronald E. Cottle
This is part two of a two part study of the life, conversion and travels of the Apostle Paul based upon the biblical evidence from Acts and certain Epistles. It also includes an analysis and overview of several of Paul’s letters. These are studied chronologically
March 7-9, 2013
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