Vision and Dreams Testify of Jesus

Hello Friends, the following is the testimony of a Muslim. For the whole testimony you can go to the link below. http://www.testimonyshare.com/the-life-and-testimony-of-a-converted-muslim/comment-page-2/#comment-10636 "Let me explain how my interest was aroused and how it urged me to know more about Christ. I was praying and asking Allah for help, for wisdom and knowledge so that I could convert Christians to Islam. The leaflets that I had picked up were the Gospel of John and when I read it, my inner eyes were opened. When I began reading, John 1:1-2 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God 2 He was with God in the beginning I laughed about the Christian mind and said to myself that they are foolish, they don’t know that in the beginning was Allah, yet they believed in some word, surely this was stupid and it should be easy for me to convert them to Islam. Jesus in the Quran I continued praying to Allah to accomplish my vision to convert Christians to the only and holy religion of Islam. One night, a man dressed in white appeared in my dream. He asked me, “Do you want to convert Christians to Islam?” “Yes,” I answered. “Then read the Quran in your own language”, I heard the man say. For the information of the distinguished reader: usually, the Quran is always read in Arabic. So it was an encouragement for me to know that there is some power helping me to know more about the truth. I was to convert people and this way I would go to heaven. So I began studying the Quran in Urdu, my own language and found several suras (as the different chapters of the Quran are called) regarding Jesus. I was reading that God called Him “word of His mouth”, or “word of God” or “Word from God”. It shocked me to read the same wordings here that I was reading before in the Gospel of John, that in the beginning was the Word… I began to read more carefully and then, the same person appeared in my dream again asking, “Do you want to know more about the truth so that you can convert Christians to Islam?” “Yes,” I replied. “Then read the Quran in your own language,” I heard once again. So I continued to study the Quran in Urdu and found out that Jesus is called there the “Spirit of God” or “Spirit from God”, or “Spirit from Him”. I was very upset and confused about what I was reading. What was I supposed to do? Again,for a third time, this same person appeared and asked me yet again, “Do you want to know more about the truth?” “Yes,” I answered again. ”Then read the Quran in your own language.” I continued studying and read that Jesus was the only One to perform miracles, that he was the only One to have the power to heal the leprous and give sight to the blind by birth. Jesus was the only One in the Quran who spoke out when He was an infant, saying. “I am a servant of God and God made me a prophet.” I went on studying and found most of my questions that I wanted to ask Christians, answered. I was surprised to read Jesus saying, “Blessed is the day when I was born, when I will die and when I will rise again.” I found so many things in the Quran, since for me it was unholy to read the Bible, because according to my knowledge it was a fraud copy of the original Bible." God is moving! Please continue to pray for our friends in Central Asia Steve & Marilyn www.harvest-now.org

The Fruit is The Evidence

"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit." JOHN 15:8 An orange tree is an orange tree as soon as it is planted, even before it produces fruit. It is not an orange tree because it produces oranges; it produces oranges because it is an orange tree. The fruit is the evidence of what it already is. If it were to suddenly produce rotten apples then we know for certain that it is not what we thought it was. The one who has really been saved will produce "much fruit" and will "walk worthy" of their calling (Ephesians 4:1). That is to say, the evidence of a "born again" person is not in what they say they believe, but in how they actually live. Even the phrase "born again" indicates more than just a change of heart; it represents a spiritual death, burial, and resurrection; a new life. Thus, no one can be truly "born again" until and unless they embrace the Cross, die with Christ, and are raised to Life in Him. Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden

MISSION UPDATE 2012

MISSION UPDATE

2012



After earnest prayer in seeking the mind of Christ, Laurel and I want to update you about a “new season”

into which the Lord is leading us. We have discovered that even as the Lord led the Old and New

Testament believers in “seasons of life”, He continues to do the same today in our lives as well.



For over sixty years, I have served the Lord in the “season” as a pastor (28 years) and in “seasons” as a

missionary (32 years) “sent forth” to the nations. My wife Laurel has served faithfully at my side for all of

the 46 years of our marriage. The Lord has and continues to minister through her in unique gifts as she

has blessed not only me as her husband but everyone else whose life she has touched. She is truly a

Proverbs 31 woman to me!



During our “season” of overseas missionary work we had the joy of serving primarily in Communist,

Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist nations. We learned the importance of God’s “timing” and His “windows”

of opportunity in “opening and closing” doors. As we reflect on His timeliness, we now realize that we

only had one opportunity to enter some of these nations before their doors were closed to us. Recently

toward the end of overseas missionary travels, we began to have our visas denied because the governments

“suspected that we were engaged in Christian missionary activity”.



Now, at the age of 75, the Lord is leading us into yet another “season” of life. And that is to minister

primarily from “our hired house” by receiving and hosting servants from all over the world as Paul the

apostle did in Rome according to Acts 28:16, 23, 30-31: “And when we came to Rome, the centurion

delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a

soldier that kept him. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him in his lodging; to

whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the

law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his

own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching

those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”



The Lord is directing us now to concentrate on ministering to young servant leaders around the world via

the Internet through the means of our Website, Online “School of Tyrannus”, SKYPE, Blogs, Emails, etc.,

mutually encouraging one another as we are admonished in Hebrews 10:35 “and so much the more, as

ye see the day approaching”.



Also, because of the increasing high cost of overseas travel, it is not the best stewardship of the Lord’s

resources for us to continue to travel abroad. Rather we will encourage those we have already equipped,

to continue to train others within their own boarders and beyond as Paul the apostle wrote in

II Timothy 2:2: “And the things that thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou

to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also”.



One of our greatest joys is to hear from young servants we have previously trained, that they are now

equipping their second and third generation of leaders for the work to which God has called them. Only

eternity will fully reveal the fruit of this continuing ministry of equipping and mentoring for Kingdom

service.



So, while the Internet is still accessible, we need to take greater advantage of this media, especially

SKYPE and our Online “School of Tyrannus”, which are free Internet services, that will enable us to continue

to make ourselves available to young leaders in various nations for dialogue and Q&A in real time where

we can see one another via the live camera. Also, leaders can use this media to equip and train others

within and beyond their own borders.



We purpose in our hearts to continue ministering to our beloved servants until the Lord calls us home or

comes again in His triumphant return!



Thank you for allowing us to share our hearts about our “new season”. We are so grateful for your

prayers and encouragement in helping continue to “to make disciples of all nations.”



In His love and grace,

Dan and Laurel Hubbell

His servants

From “a hired house” (Acts 28:30-31)

Winnsboro, Texas USA

http://www.churchrestoration.org



P.S.

1) If you are led of the Lord to take part in this continuing ministry of Internet equipping and

mentoring, please indicate it by your email response to danh@suddenlink.net

2) Also, please let us know if you have a computer and/or have access to a computer in order

to participate in this online training.



My Life Passage: “For Thou art my hope, O Lord God: Thou art my trust from my youth. By Thee

have I been holden up from the womb: Thou art He that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my

praise shall be continually of Thee. Let my mouth be filled with Thy praise and with Thy honor all

the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. But I

will hope continually, and will yet praise Thee more and more. My mouth shall shew forth Thy

righteousness and Thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof. I will go in the

strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of Thy righteousness, even of Thine only. O God,

Thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared Thy wondrous works. Now

also when I am old and gray headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed Thy strength

unto this generation, and Thy power to everyone that is to come. Thy righteousness also, O God,

is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto Thee.” Psalms 71:5-6, 8-9, 14-18

Your Agenda in Prayer

"Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
MATTHEW 6:10

The chief objective of prayer is to bring us into cooperation with
the Father so that we are harmonious with Him - with respect to our
love relationship as well as our working relationship. Much time
and effort in prayer is spent trying to get God involved with OUR
agenda, with OUR plans, with OUR goals, with OUR cause, with OUR
needs, real or imagined. But after all, who is the Master? Who is
the servant? Whose will are we seeking anyway: ours, or His?

If our agenda is not harmonious with His then our agenda has to go.
Most of our prayers are simply too small, too narrow-minded, and
too constricted. We do not see anything beyond our present
surroundings. We have not seen the big picture. We do not have a
heavenly perspective. So to begin with we must empty ourselves of
all preconceived ideas and seek the Lord's Will and the Lord's
Kingdom when we pray, for this truly honors the Father.

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden

The Great Movement of God

"That in all things He may have the preeminence."
COLOSSIANS 1:18

The unavoidable, inevitable conclusion is that Christ will have the
preeminence - not just in some things, but in all things. To
achieve this, He works one-on-one with His disciples. He then
gathers all His disciples together into a spiritual family where
they grow and learn together. This spiritual family then invites
the rest of the world to join them in giving Christ the preeminence
in all things, so that "God may be all in all" (1 Corinthians
15:28).

At the risk of over-simplifying the process, that is the essence of
this great movement of God. The point must be reiterated that Jesus
is the atoning sacrifice for all sins: "not for ours only but also
for the whole world" (1 John 2:2) and He has sent His
representatives into "all the world" to "preach the Gospel to every
creature" (Mark 16:15).


Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden

Two Immutable Spiritual Laws

"The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free
from the Law of Sin and Death."
ROMANS 8:2


Two laws are mentioned in this passage of Scripture: the Law of
Life, and the Law of Sin and Death. We who are in Christ Jesus have
been delivered from the Law of Sin and Death and are under a new
law, which is the Law of Life. The difference between a theoretical
walk with Christ and a practical walk with Christ hinges upon being
able to differentiate between the Law of Life and the Law of Death.
In the Garden the choice was between the Knowledge of Good and Evil
(Law of Death) or the Tree of Life (Law of Life).

We must make the same choice today. Christians are much exercised
in trying to discern between good and evil, right and wrong, Spirit
and flesh. It seems the more we try to figure this out the more
frustrated we become. Instead, God would have us come to the Tree
of Life. This Life will instruct us in all things, including what
is right and what is wrong, yet it is deeper than mere knowledge.


Source: "Lord of All" by Chip Brogden

Clothed with Christ

"He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and
His clothes became as white as the light."
MATTHEW 17:2

To be clothed with the Lord Jesus is to be transfigured. For too
long we who claim a heavenly calling, a heavenly citizenship, and a
heavenly birth have lived as earthly men. What light we have is
hidden beneath a bushel; there is no glory that surrounds us. We
are not talking about an outward display, or something fleshly, but
a Light and a Life which demonstrates the presence of Christ. "In
Him was Life - and the Life was the Light of men" (John 1:4).

Source: "Lord of All" by Chip Brogden

A Simple Discernment

"It is the truth concerning Jesus
that inspires all prophecy."
REVELATION 19:10 (Knox)

The prophetic word is given to point us to Jesus. Everything the
Holy Spirit would speak, reveal, teach, and show us is towards this
same end, which is CHRIST.

We do not need to mull over every dream, vision, word, prophecy,
trying to exegete its hidden meaning, struggling to extract some
spiritual significance where none exists. If what we see and hear
does not point us to Jesus then it is not prophetic and should be
discarded. This simple test will keep us from distraction.

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden

Overcoming Tribulation

"[Paul and Barnabas] returned... strengthening the souls of the
disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, 'We
must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.'"
ACTS 14:22


Our idea of overcoming is to avoid tribulation, not pass through
it. We certainly do not connect entering the Kingdom with going
through tribulation. We think having the victory means eliminating
all tribulation. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In order to enter the Kingdom there must be an increase of Christ
and a decrease of Self. This is an ongoing process, and by it we
judge how far along the Path we have progressed.

But how is Self decreased? The answer is in our circumstances and
trials. They are sufficient to decrease us. We need not do anything
but wait for them to come, and see them as our opportunity to have
Self decreased and Christ increased.

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden

United In His Resurrection

"If we have been united together in the likeness of His death,
certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection."
ROMANS 6:5

It is impossible for us to take up the Cross and not be
resurrected. I am almost afraid to make it so plain lest we fail to
appreciate its mystery, but it is all there in the Scriptures. We
cannot ascend until we have first descended.

Can we embrace the Cross, and love the hands that nail us to it,
and hold nothing against the One Who put us there? Can we commit
our spirit into His hands and give up Self, looking beyond the
present suffering to see the joy that is set before us? This is the
way of the Overcomers.

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden

Only in the Beloved

"No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven,
that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven."
JOHN 3:13

No one has ascended because no one can ascend. Rest assured that if
it were possible, someone would have done it! But just as we cannot
make ourselves acceptable to God on the basis of anything we have
done, so too we cannot ascend and seat ourselves at the right hand
of God. We are accepted only in the Beloved; we are saved only in
the Beloved; and only in the Beloved can we be raised from the
dead, ascend and be seated in the heavenlies.

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden

ALL THINGS PUT UNDER HIM

"We do not yet see all things put under Him.
But we see Jesus... for Whom are all things and
by Whom are all things."
HEBREWS 2:8-10

Do we see it yet? Not in its fullness, no. We have a little here,
and a little there. Where this has already happened, where we
actually see and experience Christ having the preeminence, it is
called the Kingdom of God. It is not a visible thing, but an
invisible thing, for Jesus said the Kingdom is not seen, but is
within you.

Eventually the Kingdom of God will swallow up the entire Creation
and Christ will have the preeminence in all things. Why? Because
all things are for Him, and all things were by Him.

Source: "The Irresistible Kingdom" by Chip Brogden

Submit, Then Resist

"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore
submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
JAMES 4:6,7


So many times we try to resist, but we are defeated. Why? Simply
because we attempt to resist the devil before we have first
submitted ourselves to God. There is a proper order that must be
observed without fail.

First, we must understand the principle of God resisting the proud
but giving grace to the humble. This is the foundation of
everything we do. Second, the word "therefore" signifies that those
who learn this principle will act upon it accordingly. If they
understand the truth just stated, they will submit "therefore" to
God. Third, as a result of their submitting to God, they will find
the devil flees whenever and wherever they offer him resistance.

The word "flee" means "to run away in terror." How wonderful! How
delicious to see the devil running from us in terror, instead of
the other way around!

Source: "Embrace the Cross" by Chip Brogden

INHERITING THE EARTH

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
MATTHEW 5:5

The idea of the meek inheriting the earth is found throughout the
Book of Psalms. When someone is poor in spirit and mourns over his
own sins and the sins of others, pride and arrogance are
eliminated. A person who knows he is no better than the rest will
not be easily lifted up above his brothers and sisters. But this
meekness does not imply lack of power, or spineless passivity. It
is power, but it is power under the control of love and without the
poison of self-interest and self-seeking.

To have power, and to use that power only for the good and
well-being of others, is meekness. Jesus perfectly demonstrates how
power that operates through meekness cannot be quenched, whereas
temporal power and people who play politics always come to a bad
end.

A Spiritual Symphony

"I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one."
JOHN 17:23

When a symphony performs, each musician has something different to
contribute. The title of each piece of music is the same, but there
are many different parts that make up that one piece. A musician
may be an extremely talented soloist, but playing in harmony with
others requires a great deal of practice, preparation and group
rehearsal. It also requires each musician to submit to the
direction of the conductor. If that means playing "second fiddle"
then so be it. Working together takes time and patience - two
things that most people do not have an abundance of.

I trust you can see that even in this simple illustration, pride,
egotism, and an unwillingness to work with others disqualifies even
the greatest musicians from becoming viable members of a symphony.
Christ, the Master Conductor, seeks a spiritual harmony among all
His disciples: "that they all may be one... that they also may be one
in Us" (John 17:21).

beginning and Ending in HIM

"'I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the Beginning and the End,' says the Lord, 'Who is and
Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty.'"
REVELATION 1:8

Jesus is the Alpha from Whom all things in God are initiated, and
Jesus is the Omega unto Whom all things of God find their purpose,
their meaning, and their reason for being. Everything begins in
Christ, and everything ends in Christ. He is the Beginning as well
as the End.

Real spiritual growth occurs when we realize that God has only one
goal for us, and that is the full, mature, complete, and
experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ. To the extent that we
discard "things" and become focused wholly on Christ, to that
extent we will make progress.

Disciple making Movements

Hello Friends, We have been rereading the parables of the Kingdom and revisiting Church Planting Movements (the book & a free PDF booklet are available at www.churchplantingmovements.com). David Garrison lists 10 characteristics of most church planting movements and you might be interested to note that David's background and context is Southern Baptist.
1/ Climate of Uncertainty in the Culture
2/ Insulation from Outsiders
3/ High Cost of Following Christ
4/ Bold, Fearless Faith
5/ Family Based Conversion Patterns
6/ Rapid Incorporation of New Believers
7/ Worship in the Heart Language
8/ Divine Signs & Wonders
9/ On the Job Leadership Training
10/ Missionaries Suffered

It would seem that where believers have the least ability to exercise political power such as in China or in Iran, the Kingdom is multiplying the most rapidly. Where believers are forced to invest in prayer and people, the Kingdom advances. Where believers have the most freedom, the Kingdom is not advancing or at least not advancing as rapidly. Do we abuse freedom when we invest in programs, buildings & expressions of political power rather than prayer and people?

Does the Kingdom grow best when the illusion of power is taken from us? When it must grow from the heart and cannot be imposed from above? When the seed in the heart becomes the man in the field and then fills the earth? Do we understand the Kingdom as growing from the inside out rather than top down?

Testimonies from Iran speak of the believers there not only pursuing the family based conversion patterns but going out in public and praying the prayer of Luke 10 to be led to a person of peace. There if you talk to the wrong person about Jesus and that could mean prison. Speak to the one prepared by the Holy Spirit and tears come to their eyes. They are ready to hear and respond to Jesus.
Your brother
Steve








www.harvest-now.org

An Unavoidable Spiritual Law

He must see that everything God has done, everything God is doing,
and everything God will do is for the purpose of INCREASING Jesus
and DECREASING everything that is not of Him.

This principle is so powerful that it makes no difference if you
agree with it, understand it, believe it, or like it. He MUST
increase; therefore, He WILL increase and HE IS increasing. At the
same time, I MUST decrease, therefore I WILL decrease, and I AM
decreasing. This is a spiritual law, and it is working as we speak.
For the Christian who is seeking first the Kingdom of God and His
Righteousness this is wonderful news. For selfish, carnal
Christians it is a frightening thing, this talk of losing your life
and taking up your Cross and denying yourself. That is why you hear
so much about spiritual power and so little about spiritual
brokenness.

How To Always Be Blessed

"Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed
them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and
likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. They... filled twelve
baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which
were left over by those who had eaten."
JOHN 6:11,13

The issue is never what we have or what we are doing, but rather,
do we have the Lord's blessing?

With the Lord's Blessing we have Infinite Supply. Practically
speaking, it means instead of trying to convince the Lord to bless
what I want to do or what I think needs to be done, I should find
out first what the Lord wants to BLESS and do THAT instead.
Remember, "He Himself knew what He would do." (John 6:6). Thus, we
pray, "Not my will, but Your Will be done; not my kingdom, but Your
Kingdom come." And then we enjoy the Lord's Blessing on our work.