Hi all,
I’ve got some quick updates, some things to look for prophetically, and general news.
On a personal level:
Chris’ behavior seems to be leveling out, and he is learning not to
throw his toy cars at the aides in the group home and so forth, lol
though a serious issue among others – Thank you for your prayers as
anyone who has dealt with caring for the infirmed in your home or if
they are at a facility can relate – it’s just ‘there’ always looming
over you and always in the back of your mind. I'm losing weight slowly,
but losing. Barb is doing good as well.
John on TV this Friday and Saturday
My 30 minute interview with Deborah Sweetin on 'The Deborah Sweetin
Show' I've been told will air on the ORU TV network, GEBA, this Friday
2/17 and Saturday 2/18 at 6pm Central time Friday, and repeated Saturday
at 5pm. Check your local provider for the channel in your area. (Direct
TV channel 363)
Reasons to attend our Dutch conference May
25-28 (staying over 29-30 for site seeing if you'd like) include:
Powerful prayer and worship, personal prayer, great teaching including
Q&A, so much more than just house church related – well rounded! We
are in a retreat setting where we all eat together, take walks, hang out
informally, see old friends and meet new ones from several different
countries. It is an investment in your destiny the impact of which can
be life changing, not an expense, but an investment in your own life.
You belong with others on the same spiritual page – great fellowship for
hungry and thirsty souls. Email me if interested.
March 16-21 I will be in Lithuania -
it has been several years since I've been there and am SO looking
forward to seeing old friends again and making new ones. I hope those in
the area and region can join us for some meetings!
Knowing, actually knowing the Lord and Father
Did you know the New Testament as we have it today was not formally
recognized as the New Testament until the 1500's and 1600's (Though some
Orthodox leaders came to the same conclusion 1000 years earlier, in the
late 600's AD, but the compilation of the NT was a work in progress for
the better part of 1,000 years with variations to this day between the
Catholic Bible and the Protestant Bible).
The
apostle John's writings around the year 100 AD were the last to be
included in the New Testament, but everything from the gospels to Paul's
letters to John's writings were copied and discussed for centuries
before Matthew through The Revelation were brought into the form called
the New Testament that we have today.
That
means for centuries the letters of the New Testament were supplemental
to one's faith for they were just passed around from house church to
house church, and it was centuries later when men began forming them
into a single volume and adding chapters and verses for easy reference
to passages.
The
early Christians had to know the Father, had to know the Spirit of
Truth within them, had to know the Lord. They were focused on Christ in
them, the hope of glory, not words on a printed page for they had few
words on the page. They knew the True and Living Person called the Word
long before they had scriptures in print called 'The Word'.
Today
we have Christians arguing over this verse and that, so intellectually
caught up in themselves they prove they don't truly know the Person
called the Word of God. For if they did, they would know the Spirit of
Truth who would correct their error filled beliefs. And they aren't man
enough to step back from the argument to pray, seek the Father, seek the
Lord, and see what the Spirit of Truth might think about what they
believe. It is more fun, more challenging to argue and dig for this or
that (weird) or off balance teaching than it is to close all the books,
and just pray, think, contemplate, be still in worship and humility
before the Father for HIS opinion. Paul told the Corinth presenting a
different gospel, a different Lord, a different Spirit. They knew the
Real so the counterfeit was obvious.
While
the compilers of the letters we know as the New Testament intended to
do everyone a great service, and they did don't get me wrong, the
unintended consequences was that people could switch their faith to
words on paper rather than knowing the Word Himself. They could know the
page without knowing the Person from whom those pages flowed. They
could become hearers only, and not doers. They could become entrenched
in intellectual smugness without actually knowing the Person and
character of our Father.
SO
many times I've tried to talk to someone who tells me the Lord says
this or that or the Father is this way or that based on how they pluck
choice verses out of context to form the Word around what they want to
believe, and I tell them 'You're wrong, because I know Him and He isn't
like that.'
They
look at me dumbfounded, thinking me arrogant or just trying to
play with their heads. Neither is true, I just know the Father very well
and the Lord is my best Friend and I know the Father's Spirit in me -
so if someone suggests the written Word says something contrary to how I
know the Father to be, I know it is wrong.
THAT
is where the body of Christ is headed folks - to a people who know the
Father, know His Spirit of Truth within, know the Person of Christ in
us. The truth is I don't go for the long held teaching "you
must be in the Word everyday", for in common usage that means you are
supposed to read 2 chapters a day, or at least some chapter or some
passage and that is to help you in your faith. I get it. But I do get
into the Word everyday though not as prescribed by church culture. I
choose Bible culture. I start my mornings while just waking up saying
'Good morning Father, who do you want me to pray for today?' before I
ever get out of bed. I ask the Lord 'Anything you want to tell me about
the body of Christ today, or anything or anyone to pray for?' That may
take 10 minutes or an hour, but usually about 30 minutes of praying
in the Spirit as people and situations float up from my Spirit to pray
for. Usually intercession doesn't take long, all the Father legally
needs is an invitation to be at work in someone's life and He can take
it from there.
I
am in the Word, every day, but I may not go to my chapter and verse on
the page every day. My focus isn't on the page, but the One from whom
those pages flowed. I know the author rather than the publisher.
In
that way I am thinking and studying and meditating on about 5 or 6
things 'in the Word' at any given time, shifting my attention to each
'rhema word' quickened in my heart, each principle or verse that stands
out to me. When I need to find a verse related to one of those subjects I
will pick up the scripture and go to it, but I have first gone to the
Person called the Word for that inspiration and flow. I flow towards the
written Word from Him, I don't flow from the written Word to the Person
of the Word.
How
to know Him? Put down your Bible, and spend that time talking to the
Father about anything and everything - talk to the Father - find ways to
give Him thanks - the sunrise, the sunset, the clouds, the things in
nature, the great timing and order you see in your life, the destiny of
heaven, whatever...stir up yourself by getting in touch with your heart
and why you are really thankful to be saved, and go from there. Then
when someone in your day expresses an opinion about something, you can
just internally say 'What do you think about that Father?' and you'll be
amazed. Include the Father, for from him the Person called the Word
flowed, and from Him flowed the printed Word. Why not get to know the
Source?
Keep in mind something the Father said...and then this...
Not 2 weeks ago I was thinking on something I’ve shared here that the
Father said to me a year or more ago about the US. “The collapse will
come when conservatives are in charge, and they will be blamed, though
it was the actions of those before who are truly to blame…” - and more
about the persecution coming on the US, etc.
At
the time I wondered how and when we’d see ‘conservatives in charge’ –
then came the election. As I was thinking on those things He interrupted
saying, “Notice how Europe is moving to a cashless economy? Economic
difficulties there will accelerate this, and these difficulties must
come to Europe first, which will cause a restructuring in the EU, before
it comes to the US. The US will be blamed by many. But when it comes to
the US, it will be sudden. But don’t fear, I AM, and will always
provide for those who walk with me and look for Me to do so. Many will
prosper in these days and in turn bless many..."
Don't
fear, look for blessing, look for His provision, for He never changes -
but you have to look for the revelation of HIs provision, and live like
that. In this area 'according to your faith be it unto you' is very
true. If you look for no provision you'll have it. If you believe II
Peter 1:3-4 that all things that pertain to life and godliness have been
provide, you will have it - according to your faith be it unto you - so
look for it, ask the Father 'Where is your provision for this?' - and
watch how He does it!
Weekly Facebook teachings reminder
I usually do them Wednesday mornings 8am Central time US live, and are
8-11 minutes long, but they can be watched anytime. Just do a search at
either site for ‘John C Fenn videos’.
House church: We
continue to see that following the simple, Biblical pattern of rotating
who leads each week, and when possible rotating host homes weekly,
leads to healthy and balanced house church relationships. We also
sometimes see people who say they do house church but who don’t
understand the purpose of leadership is to empower others. When they
centralize who teaches to just 1, 2, or 3 ‘regular’ leaders, things
stagnate, those who attend become spiritually anemic, and the ‘house
church’ becomes merely the auditorium church in a living room. Just keep
it simple, the Bible works!
I
feel like the proverbial duck on the pond – calm by all appearances but
paddling furiously under the water. Know that when you mail in an
offering or even no offering but just a prayer request (US residents) or
email direct to me those requests, they are kept on a list by me and
prayed for, usually daily and often more than once a day. I feel a real
closeness to those of you who as Paul said in his life, have taken upon
themselves the work of the ministry by their giving.
We really, really, appreciate your giving and prayers for us!
John & Barb
New cd/MP3 series:
This
series identifies 5 'behind the scenes' reasons some prayers aren't
answered, some are delayed, and how to come into agreement with the
Father's will. All these reasons are connected by a single underlying
truth. If you adjust your heart to this truth and look for the answers
within that truth, you'll find the flow from heaven resulting in more of
your prayers being answered, and your own heart changed in Christ. Good
insights!
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