Hi all,
A
couple weeks ago Chris was home, sitting in his recliner watching a
children's show while Barb and I were in the kitchen holding a debate
about a weekend trip to Tulsa (2 hour drive) for our regional
conference - should we take 1 car or 2?
Barb
processes information out loud, while I process internally. I wouldn't
really call it talking to herself, just talking out loud as she thinks
and does things around the house. She's done that as long as I've known
her -since we were kids, so I'm used to it - once I've settled an
issue I fall silent - while she often keeps a running conversation
going out loud as she continues to debate the merits of deciding one way
or the other.
That's
what happened on this day. If we took 1 car she and I would be
together, but we were bringing back with us 2 granddaughters and their
pet, Charlie the Wonder Dog. On the other hand, she could run errands
independent of what I needed to do if we left early enough, but the 2
hour drive home late Sunday when she would be
very tired wasn't something she was comfortable with. Additionally, we
had to get Chris to the group home before we left for the weekend which
is a process all by itself.
I said to her, "If we take 2 cars you can leave right after the conference finishes on Sunday
afternoon to run errands, and I'll drive the truck and bring the kids
and dog - your decision, I'm fine with whatever you want to do", and I'd
said my peace, that was that. Period. Paragraph, Over and out.
But
she kept the conversation going with herself, processing everything out
loud as she walked between rooms: "1 car or 2, I might fall asleep at
the wheel and that wouldn't be good, but I might not get to everywhere I
need to go if I don't, but I don't want to load John up with the kids,
dog and all their things..."
Out
of the blue came Chris' loud and crisp voice from the living room:
"It's OK mom. We'll take 2 cars. Just relax mom, just relax." The
authority and clarity with which he spoke ended all debate, and Barb and
I burst out laughing.
Sometimes
there are moments where some one or some thing cuts through all the
issues with such clarity it settles all arguments. But it wasn't him
telling his mother we'd take 2 cars, it was the 'Just relax mom, just
relax' that brought clarity - the decision wasn't a big one so don't
make it more than it is; just relax and decide! We focused on the relax
rather than the decision, and were suddenly at peace.
In the same way
I've
recently read several Christian statements people believe - crazy and
illogical theological statements that I've wondered how people could say
such things about God. Some range from wild conspiracy theories that
put God right in the middle of the intrigue, to practically accusing Him
of falsifying the historical record just to trick unbelievers into
believing a lie, and so much more.
And
then I had a moment of clarity like Chris' "just relax" - I realized
the issue wasn't who was right or wrong about a theological idea and
figuring out a way I could show them higher truths, it was that while
believing in Him, they don't know Him. If they did know Him they would
not make such statements.
They
believe - they are born again, but they don't truly know Him. They read
something in the written Word but don't know the Living Person of the
Word who directed that ink to be placed on the page. Therefore what they
believe the written Word says isn't even close to the character of the
Person the Living Word.
They know the page, not the Person.
In
Paul's most transparent letter, to the Philippians, he shares his
greatest desire: "That I might know Him, and the power of His
resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings."
At the end of his life as he awaits execution in a Roman prison, in his last letter, in II Timothy 1:12, Paul states: "For I know in Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have entrusted to Him until that last day."
Paul
not only believed, but he knew in whom he believed. That knowing of Him
persuaded him of the Lord's character - He is able to keep that which
I've entrusted to Him.
We
believe, then we know, then we entrust. When we entrust, we rest - not
in ourselves, but in Him and His sense of rightness and ability to
explain at a later time all the confusing things we've gone through in
life.
That
knowing leads us to 'be persuaded' and then entrust our heart's secrets
to Him. The phrase 'entrusted (committed) to Him' is 'ten paratheken
mou', literally, "my deposit (with Him)". It means something entrusted
to another for the means of safe keeping. The use of 'paratheke' implies
and was used to indicate a person going on a long journey and who
deposits all his valuables with a close friend, trusting them to be
returned to him on his return.
The
important thing therefore, is not to split hairs over doctrine, nor to
call out beliefs that seem crazy, illogical, or divisive, but rather to
draw back from those which are minor in the big picture, and direct
ourselves and our friends to know Him, for by knowing Him we become
persuaded of Him, and in being persuaded we are able to entrust our very
souls for safe keeping until we go home to Him.
The Core
I've
been studying how the Lord builds a healthy family based church that
meets in homes, and see in scripture and in real life today, that He
often takes 1 to 2 years to build a core, a nucleus of people who really
get to know each other over that time, and learn to trust Christ in
each other.
I
have a teaching series next month on the subject, for it springs from a
visitation in February (some of which I shared in last month's
e-newsletter and Weekly Thoughts) about what He is saying to the body of
Christ. He has been building 'core' people in small family and home
based churches and will continue, but once that core is solid, He builds
- and while some flow with Him in that, some choose to stay 'us four no
more'.
Contrary
to church culture of bigger is better right from the start, in Acts we
see a core develop in Jerusalem from 1-2 years, seen in Acts 2:4-8:1.
Then we see Antioch in Acts 11, where Paul and Barnabus taught them for
over a year. We see Paul in Corinth 18 months in Acts 18, in Ephesus 2
years in Acts 19, and on it goes - be patient, let Him solidify the core
so that when the time comes, others will be added to that healthy and
solid group. More on this next month.
Finland, Netherlands conferences
In
each of these conferences I will be sharing more about the core, and
what He has shown me or told me for Europe and the EU - and some He has
said for Finland specifically, so I encourage my Finnish friends to come
if you can make it to Helsinki that Saturday, 16 April (marius.palmberg77@gmail.com for information).
I will also be sharing about the core at our Dutch conference in April 20-24, but the longer time, Thursday evening -Sunday,
allow time for worship, prayer, teaching, and so much more. I'll be
teaching on hearing the voice of the Lord, practical things for house
church, prophetic updates, and others will be sharing as well in
workshops as well. And frankly, I've found the Lord's presence and gifts
of the Spirit moving more intensely there, consistently over the
years, than any other conference - invest in relationships and yourself!
Personal -
Thank you for your prayers, friendship, and financial support. Whether
your gift if large or small, it is always appreciated - there really is
no such thing as a 'small' donation for it means so much to us and
directly helps us.
I'm way behind in emails with some 250 to answer, but I am trying to catch up - thank you for your patience!
House
churches are popping up all over as people are feeling more free to
start meeting on their own, and so many want to know others doing the
same thing in a network, so we are very busy. From the Pacific islands
to behind the veil of Islam to dozens of other nations, people are
gathering in homes to regularly meet for teaching, prayer, fellowship,
food, and worship...the revival going on isn't in the auditorium, it is
in the home.
Blessings!
John & Barb
New cd/MP3 series:
(2 cd/MP3, $12/set or MP3 $10)
Part
2 features angels and demons and how they are organized over nations
and in regions and local areas, what angels can and cannot do for
people, and if we can command angels to do something. John shares from
visitations he has had an angel's perspective on people and the age to
come, and what the Father intended our lives of faith to show the angels
and also demons. Included are how demons are organized when they
influence or enter a person, and what we can and cannot do about it.
You'll gain deeper insights into the realm of angels and demons!
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