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July 2004
Dear Friends,
1 Corinthians 15:58
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
As I write this newsletter I am so grateful for each and every one of you that have been faithful partners with this ministry in prayer and finance. Together we have had the privilege of impacting nations for the glory of God.
I recently received and email from a dear friend in India, Paul Thangiah. Paul's father was my first Crusade Director in India. He was so reliable and such a great help. Paul was a young teenager at the time. He felt a call to the ministry and after Bible College began a church in the growing city of Bangalore and was quite successful. Paul was impacted by the power of God in our ministry and named his firstborn son after me. In 1991 the Lord spoke to me to give Paul a national platform in India. So I began to have him travel with us as one of the speakers in our Leadership Conferences and Crusades. Today Paul travels India with crusades and leadership conferences as well as pastoring a growing church with 8500 in Sunday attendance.
Recently Paul went on a prayer tour of the state of Gujarat that has recorded over 11 million converts to Christianity. Paul writes,
"We went all around Gujarat in a bus praying for the state and ended with a power conference for 1000 pastors. It was powerful. All talk about you in Gujarat. They say you were the Apostle to Gujarat and the foundation in bringing revival there.
We do love you so much and I can never forget your investment in my life."
Because of your faithful partnership we have had the privilege together of touching this nation in a way that has brought millions into the Kingdom of God. Thank you!
PAKISTAN
As we approach our coming trip to Pakistan and the need of impacting Islamic people with the love of Jesus Christ some great developments have begun to unfold. The city in our original plan for meetings has become quite tense so we are making an adjustment to go to Lahore where there will be less tension. We have been praying for a strategy whereby we will not stimulate antagonism from the militant Islamic people, and establish a beachhead for the gospel to penetrate this nation. God has answered prayer.
I have been in communication with a ministry that was greatly impacted in our Crusade and Leadership Conference in Delhi. Rev. Rizwan Fazal told me how God so touched His life through our ministry in Delhi that he now moves consistently in the healing power of the Holy Spirit. He has 5 brothers and 2 sisters and they are all single and running the ministry. Every week they have a Wednesday healing meeting gathering about 20,000 people. He is interested in training with our Bible College and working with me to build a strategy to touch the nation with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Please be in prayer with us as we seek the Lord for a new wineskin that will be effective in this Islamic nation.
Muslims do believe that Jesus was sent down as a Prophet of Allah (God), but he is not God or Lord, nor the son of God. Muslims do not believe Jesus is dead or was ever crucified. They believe that he was raised to heaven and is there, and will descend at the appointed time, end all wars, and bring peace to the world. They believe that like Jesus Muhammad is also a Prophet and Messenger. They consider Muhammad as the last Prophet. Hence, Islam is the last religion, complete, with the Holy Qur'an as the unchanged and perfect word, unlike sacred texts of other religions which have multiple versions and are "revised" periodically.
The only effective way to reach Islam is with the power of God demonstrating His love and willingness to be involved with human need. Their god does not being forgiveness, mercy, love, healing or transformation. This is why they deal with their beliefs by seeking to enforce rule by threat or death.
By working with the healing power of God to minister to hurting people we can impact this nation. We will not need to have great public advertising that stimulates reaction as people will come by word of mouth. This is important in an area where one can legally be killed by family members for converting to Christianity.
Thank you for believing with us to effectively bring the gospel to this nation.
If you wish to support this trip to Pakistan through financial blessing, please click here to make a donation.
WILDERNESS LESSONS
THE SCHOOL OF DISAPPOINTMENT
Exodus 15:22-23
22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.
23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.
Opportunity for training in this school is provided by:
God's Delays
God's Methods
God's Claims
GOD'S DELAYS(John 11:6-32)
John 11:6, 21, 32
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two
days still in the same place where he was.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
There is a great difference between seeing Him in normal times and in times of great trouble. We pray with much more intensity with a personal problem than with a social problem. When trouble knocks on your door, it will get your attention. There are moments in your life when like Paul you say I'm pressed out of measure, beyond strength, and despair of life itself.
ALL ARE EFFECTED WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE HOUSE.
There was a problem in this house. The problem did not arise when Jesus was there, but waited until He was gone. In times of crisis, discouragement, isolation, then the enemy comes to hit the house.
Love permits pain. We need a trial to test faith. Until Lazarus was ill there was no message to bring the Savior.
The Holy Spirit wants you to know Mary laid a good foundation. She sows her works in the good times. PREPARE FOR WAR IN THE TIME OF PEACE. She was paying down on a miracle with her working in service, prayer etc. She would be ready in the time of trouble.
Mary was a praiser and laid the foundation to stand under pressure. In trouble GOD REMEMBERED WHAT SHE HAD DONE. GOD REMEMBERED. He is going to bring you out, He remembers.
Lazarus gets worse, and Mary is looking - I know He is coming, yet there is no Jesus. Lazarus died, now she is upset. It looks like God is too late; He even missed the funeral. After 4 days, here comes Jesus.
Her praise is effected. One who normally praised Him now is saying - If you would have been here...
Martha has belief in the past, (if you had been here my brother would have lived), but faith lives and operates in the present.
Martha believes for the future, she uses hope as a substitute for faith. Jesus wants her to see that faith is in the now, not the future. He declares to her, "I AM RESURRECTION," present faith, present reality.
Jesus points Martha from the DOCTRINE of the Resurrection to Himself, I am the Resurrection. The resurrection is not an impersonal event which occurs in the future but a working which proceeds from the PERSON.
The work of faith is always in the ever present NOW!
Jesus said show me where you laid him down?
Get your coat and sandals, show me where you quit, where you gave up. Show me what happened to you that made you turn into somebody else, show me where you laid him. I can't do anything about it until you show me.
You have to have enough faith to take God right to the spot where you gave up! The place where they hurt your feelings, and you quit serving God, coming to Church, found some dirt on somebody - SHOW ME WHERE YOU LAID HIM, SHOW ME!
Hebrews 11:1, 6
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
To dwell in God one must adjust from walking by facts to walking by faith, from understanding to believing. Turn from the control of the trained senses to the control of His voice. He is calling for you!
GOD'S METHODS (2 Kings 5:11-12)
2 Kings 5:11-12
11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
PROBLEM OF PRECONCEPTION
He needed healing, but almost missed it, Why?
BEHOLD, I THOUGHT.....
In everything God does He puts a stone of stumbling, a rock of offense so that you have an excuse not to receive His visitation unless you want it with all your heart.
Jesus was a sign spoken against - rejected because He didn't fit their preconceptions. Speaking in tongues is often rejected as an offense.
If you are hungry you'll take the stones of stumbling, it's part of the package.
Lord, I want your blessing on your terms no matter what it costs me!
Elisha said go wash in Jordan 7 times. Naaman thought the Syrian Rivers Abana and Pharpar were better. Their names mean highest human knowledge and skill. The River Jordan means the River of God.
He must learn that healing would come by the quickening of the Spirit of the Living God. There is no other way than that of God's provision, Jesus Christ.
GO DIP IN THAT MUDDY RIVER WITH ALL THOSE STRANGE PEOPLE.
GOD'S CLAIMS
Mark 10:17-22 (please read)
The correct positioning of a fully consecrated man of God is such that all that he has is ever ready, available for God's use when He calls for them.
In the Church today, a large percentage of God's children are not ready, unless through some tough dealings, to let go. They have become so entangled with the niceties of this world, caught in such commitments and debts that they are no longer available to serve God fully when He calls.
When Jesus told the rich prince to sell all that he had and to follow Him, it is not that God is desperately in need of his earthly wealth. He is in need of nothing. But, Where your treasure is, there your heart will be. If we never get to invest in heaven, our heart is never going to end up there. Invest in Jerusalem, not Babylon.
The wavering heart will soon fall away. Faith without works is dead. Talking without action makes one hypocritical. Be warned of such predicaments that greatly hinder and deprive us of the great anointing God want to pour upon us.
Some may say that they are not called to a consecrated life and to flow in the anointing. This rich prince had deprived himself of the call, the ministry, the birthright, the anointing and the eternal things of God.
Let us therefore be truly consecrated stewards of God and consider that all we have in our possessions are His. We are to be His faithful trustees to execute His will over these possessions that are entrusted to us for His own purpose, at His own time, in His own way. They are never ours. When we leave this earth, we have to give them back to God by leaving them behind. Only what is invested in heaven is eternal.
Why does God deal this way with us? Because we are to be severed from all dependence to all material gain, never to be bound or driven by them, never to be under them, only to be under God, motivated and directed by God, and God alone. This is the path to the anointing, to be like Him in life and character.
He repeatedly warned the Israelites against turning their hearts back to Egypt, but today many Christians are either busy trying to conquer Egypt or are constantly looking back, lured by the temptation to taste the garlic and onions again.
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, or the love of the Father will not be in you. If there is no separation, there will be no sanctification. If there is no sanctification, there will be no glorification.
Moreover, spiritual warfare is not confined to hand to hand combat of casting out demons or dealing with manifested spiritual evil alone. In truth, it has a lot to do with the pulling down of strongholds in the fallen mind; of conquering and restoring lost ground and implementing God's will in every area of our life; of liberating and redeeming time and lives, setting free all creation and being governed only by the Law of the Spirit, walking in the Word, presence, anointing and power of God.
DEALING WITH DISAPPOINTMENT
1 Chronicles 28:2-3
2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name…
How did David respond to God's saying NO to his life ambition - he gave himself more completely to serving the Lord in His will.
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David found the site for the Temple & purchased it - I Chron. 22:1, 24
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Temple was built on place of sacrifice & cleansing - I Chron. 22:14
IF YOU ARE LIVING WITH A FRUSTRATED DESIRE ARE YOU DOING YOUR PART TO BUILD THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST?
TO DIE TO ONE'S OWN DESIRE and TO ACCEPT GOD'S WILL IS MOST CRUEL TO THE FLESH.
David declared, "In my trouble I have prepared for the House of the Lord." There must have been opposition to David for him to feel like that...but he didn't allow trouble to depress him and make him quit.
David accepted disappointment with full dedication - no complaining, no withdrawal, no souring disposition.
What was David's reward for his acceptance, denial - I Chron. 28:19
The temple was to be built in minute detail according to the pattern and will of God. David received the details from the Lord WRITTEN ON HIS HEART. Personal Revelation from Heaven received directly from the Lord Himself, the plan of God's Temple which He would fill with Glory.
When we accept that which God has for us as did David, He will begin to unfold His plan for the temple - individual, local, and universal.
David became a man who understood the mind of God, and it was accomplished in writing by THE HAND OF GOD UPON HIM.
Many Christians live their lives with little evidence of the HAND OF GOD UPON THEM.
No pen in the world cuts and burns like the one God uses when He begins to write His Word upon my heart, it tears away selfish ambition and writes, " This is my will for you my son...".
Friends you are to be a part of those who declare His righteousness, who are laying the foundation for the last feast. I pray that His present purposes are being built into you and your family so that you may arise, taking your place in this last day ministry.
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