Hi all,
I’ve been sharing on my Weekly Thoughts a
visitation and vision I had concerning the body of Christ just a few
weeks ago, so this is a bit of a continuation of the last 2 weeks Weekly
Thoughts, at least in part.
It is related to something the Father
shared last fall, and I shared with you, that through spring we would
have a lot happening in several areas (especially economic and
political) - and that has certainly been true, and we're still in
February!
But this visitation with the Lord just a
few weeks ago seems in His mind to be a continuation of a conversation
from last fall, as He picked up with where He left off then. I'm always
fascinated about that element of being 'in the Spirit', that He can give
us a spiritual experience one day, and then months go by with little
related to that being communicated, and then suddenly it happens again
and He just picks up where He had left off.
From earth's perspective, that is my
perspective when it happens to me, it is like being in the middle of a
phone conversation as you drive, and then suddenly you lose the signal
as you travel down the road only to suddenly have it crystal clear again
and can pick up where you last lost the signal. Or like two friends who
have to cut off a conversation, but then meet up again a couple weeks
later and just start in where they left off - it's like that.
I can see it in the gospels - like where
Jesus told the disciples that some of them would not see death until
they had seen the kingdom of God*, and about 8 days later He took 3 of
them alone to a mountain where the Transfiguration happened - a preview
of His return. But to Him, it was picking up where He had stopped about
a week earlier. Sometimes He does that in dreams too, multiple dreams
over several nights, or the same dream over the course of weeks or
months, each one like picking up where He last left off - hope that
makes sense. *Luke 9:27-28
He also told reminded me how the Father
had said about a year ago 'Watch India pull away from the US', and added
there would be a rise in nationalism there as the government becomes
increasingly heavy handed, and I'd see several incidents in the news. He
then added, 'Yet I continue to advance for I have many, many people
there. He noted, "In times past they have relied on missionaries to
bring the gospel to them, but that has shifted, for now I am rising from
within, no longer relying on the outside." That leads me to believe on a
political level, the government will continue to turn against
non-Indians coming in to preach the gospel...so we will watch and see.
And like He has many times in the past,
He told me to continue to watch Turkey, now surrounded and alone (having
offended about every ally they have), but '...they will rise in
strength to assert themselves.' though I don't know what that means, but
He said it too would see a rise in nationalism - the word 'assert'
being important. In Ezekiel 38 they end up allying themselves with a
group of nations to invade Israel, so using that as an end point and
looking at events of today, it would seem there is a ways to go before
that happens - but we watch and pray.
The body of Christ
He mentioned almost in passing as He was
clearly winding up the visitation, as an FYI (For Your Information):
“The last half of this year will be very difficult for many, and as was
told you before, 2017 will be a bad year for the world.”
When I asked for details He told me (as
He has told me before) to study history and how persecution was often
coupled with economic difficulty, and tied together things the Father
has told me before and that He has said - coming close to those times
they were talking about. There is more that I'll share this week when I
close out my Weekly Thoughts on the visitation, for I haven't the space
to go into detail here.
But what strikes me most about everything
He says about world events, is that He often closes with something like
what He said this last time: “But my focus is what is happening in my
body, and that should be your focus too.” So as much as I look at all
the things going on around the world, I continually have to reminder
myself those things are merely informational, and not my life.
Around the network
This email goes to several dozen nations,
some where it is safe to be Christian and some where not, so I will
limit my comments to say the common elements of relationship based faith
prosper no matter the political situation - fellowship, food, prayer,
worship, caring for one another's needs, being there for each other - we
see those common elements within the rotating of hosting homes,
rotating who leads each week making for healthy and balanced churches
that meet in homes. From Iran to China, to nations in Africa to the
Pacific islands - people are growing in Christ, people are coming to
Christ, even in very difficult circumstances.
I am saddened when I hear (mainly US
based) 'house churches' that grow to maybe 40 people and then they stop
any thought of multiplying out. They could take 20 to start rotating
homes among themselves and the other 20 do the same while remaining
related and having joint meetings every so often - but instead they fall
into the familiar comfortable pattern of just letting that handful of
people lead and the rest just show up.
Then I talk with someone in a nation
behind the veil of Islam or where the politics are against Christians,
and they would so love not to have to meet in secret, not have to suffer
such persecution - I just get sad, the west has it so good but are
asleep in the light. And worse, lazy when they do stir themselves
briefly from spiritual slumber. Instead of being part of a larger whole,
they form a protective barrier to any thought of changing the status
quo, and become an island to themselves. Spiritually fat, dumb, and
happy.
The good news inside our network, is that
many people are being as we see in Acts - traveling here and there
visiting each other, visiting via Skype, visiting in email and phone -
what a healthy balance of multi-national relationships, just like Acts
come alive - and so rewarding to invest in our relationships!
Washing dirty pans means character growth?
On the subject of growth in Him: This
morning I was loading the dishwasher and found 2 small skillets Barb had
used to cook scrambled eggs for herself from 2 separate mornings. They
had water in them and I knew another day like that and they would start
to stink.
I use non-stick, she refuses to use
non-stick. But non-stick is horrible to clean after scrambled eggs! As I
finished loading the dishwasher and started to clean some (non-stick)
pots and pans my resentment towards washing these stuck on pans built,
and I debated letting her cleaning those 2 pans by herself – usually she
cooks and I clean – but maybe that would teach her a lesson!
Just then the Father said to me: “She
spends hours on laundry; she even washes your underwear and folds
everything neatly in your drawers without complaint or resentment, so
why is it hard for you to clean a pan that takes mere seconds to clean?”
Ouch. I didn’t expect Him to provide an object lesson for growth in
Him, since He knew I was going to be writing this today. But that's real
life, at least for me, lol. (I apologized, adjusted my attitude, and
cleaned and put away the skillets without a word to Barb).
February and March is a busy time for us,
with a lot of money going out as we plan for trips to European
conferences in April and other travels and meetings in the year. You can
see in the header of this email I've added a house church related
cd/MP3 series this month, focusing on 5 lessons learned and especially
on the intangibles that make for a healthy family based church that
meets in homes.
Some of you ask about Chris
We were able to get Chris a government
photo ID which would allow him to fly, and my hope and plan that I'm
praying about, is to take him on a short round trip flight in a
single day. He absolutely loves planes and would so love going on a big
jet. My thought was Tulsa to Dallas which is a 38 minute flight, then
have lunch at a food court for an hour or so, then back to Tulsa all in
one afternoon.
His stamina isn't great and it would be
tiring for him - and me - but I'm asking for the Father to allow it and
listening in my spirit for the right time if He okay's it. I think that
it is on my heart is from Him in the first place as He is always
arranging Chris' life to see things he enjoys, so more a matter of
timing I think.
The Father orders our steps and we look
for that - each day I awaken with eagerness to see what good timing the
Father has planned for the day. Sometimes it is people who need help,
sometimes it is a challenging day, sometimes just bringing wisdom to a
stranger - like the store cashier who upon seeing Barb and I, asked what
it takes to stay married - which led to a short but to the point
conversation about love, fidelity, and commitment.
Thank you for your continued and generous
support, every gift large or small is so appreciated. And know your
prayers requests are seen and prayed for – some I’m still praying for
over a year due to the nature of the requests – You’re not alone, and we
appreciate your prayers and support.
Blessings,
John & Barb
New cd/MP3 series:
This series is focused on things learned over the past 12 years, a time
in which CWOWI has gone from a single house church to having affiliated
house churches in dozens of nations. This is not about a formula, but
about common intangible qualities observed across nations and cultures
that make for thriving home based churches. If you are considering house
church and have read or listened to teachings about them, you will want
this series because it deals with those intangible qualities that can't
be taught, but are caught in the heart and known to be true. Using
scripture and personal experience, this series can make the difference
between a 'mechanical' (going through the motions) atmosphere and a
living atmosphere in your house church. I recommend a listener first
listen to or read 'House Church Essentials 1& 2' first.
(2 cd/MP3, $12/set or MP3 $10)
This
series starts with defining the differences between angels and cherubs,
their assignments and duties, and how Satan was a cherub. It defines
'chains of darkness', whether demons are fallen angels, some of the
traits of angels in their assignments and what they can and cannot do.
Part 1 ends talking about 3 stages of demonic attack a person can
experience and how to deal with it. Besides chapter and verse, John
shares some of his experiences with angels and other spiritual
experiences which help provide further insight into the realm of angels
and demons!
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