Hi all,
I just returned from Shekinah Worship Center (www.shekinahworship.com) in Lancaster, California – Pastor Joe Sweet. There were 4 sessions in total: Friday night, 2 Saturday, and Sunday morning. All can be found online at their web site. What wonderful people, a wonderful church, and wonderful time in the Lord!
What the Lord said
On Friday night during the worship shortly before I was to speak, the Lord came and spoke to me, first about what He would do in the service, and then He changed the subject.
“There is coming a season of distraction for many, concerning events political and economic, and is even now upon you. It is similar to the way many were distracted from what truly mattered during the last (US Presidential) elections. Because of their distractions friendships were broken, and many separated themselves in strife and arrogant self-righteousness.
“Remember when you asked at that time why I allowed so many in the body to become divided (during Covid and the US election). I told you it was to reveal their hearts, to reveal the immaturity of those who thought themselves wise and expose the false. I told you I allowed this so that they could see their hearts and either be ashamed and repent, or harden themselves and remain immature in me. A similar time is coming which will once again prove what is in their hearts.”
“Even now many have their attention divided between their walk in Me and politics, and I’m calling them to repent, to return to Me with their whole heart, to return to balance, for my sheep will not follow the voice of another.”
“A similar time is coming though with different distractions. Tell them that in the months to come this will be upon the nation and world, that they not fall back to that from which they’ve come.”
“For the world; There is coming a time of fear and uncertainty in the coming weeks and months. It will be different than the last time (Covid/elections), as it involves political and economic issues. But for those in me who have learned from the past will remain strong and will not waver.”
“You must be about the Father’s business. Keep your focus on Me, not on the events of the day. Remain steadfast and walk with Me, Hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”
Against a time to come
What He said reminds me of the time about 20 years ago I had commented to the Father that it had been awhile since He had commented on current events. He said: “Why should I tell you anything? You get your news from FOX (news channel).” Ouch.
I repented and have kept myself since. There is nothing wrong with keeping up with the news. But Jesus isn’t a member of a political party. In Paul’s time with the evil Roman Empire killing Christians just for being Christians, there is barely a word about the politics of the day. They were focused on growing in Christ, walking with the Lord and growing in love for one another in Christ.
Jesus is our King, and what He does is independent of men’s politics. So our focus should be on the kingdom of which we are citizens, and secondarily to the nation of which we are citizens.
My thoughts keep returning to what the Lord told me on 11/4/01 when He laid hands on me and told me: “I want you to start a house church and house church network. And structure it in such a way to facilitate the development of house churches around the world.” When I asked, “Why do you want me to do this?” He replied:
“It’s against a time to come. Be a resource for them, for it’s against a time to come.”
Peter was released from prison by the angel in Acts 12. Verse 12 says: “When he considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary, mother of John Mark, where many were gathered together, praying.”
I ask you – if you were released from prison in the middle of the night, would you have close enough relationships with enough people you would know exactly whose house to go to as Peter did?
In Acts 4: 23 when Peter and John were called before the authorities, then threatened and released, it says: “Having been released, they came to their own people.”
Do you know who ‘your people’ are in the faith, as they did?
For those who realize the greatest resource you can have are friendships in the Lord, it means no matter how the world swirls around us, we will walk through the midst unscathed. We know others watch over us, care for us, pray for us. Invest in the relationships, change your priorities if needed to do so.
Perceive the grace
In Galatians 2:9 Paul notes that Peter, James and John “perceived the grace” in him and Barnabas, and because of that, extended the ‘right hand of fellowship’. They agree those 3 would continue their work among the Jewish populations, and Paul and Barnabas would continue to work among the non-Jewish peoples.
That mutual respect, love, and fellowship happened because they ‘perceived the grace’ in one another. Look for what the Lord is doing in another person’s life, and love that grace, love what He is doing in them. When times get tough the person in need really doesn’t care what you believe about politics, Covid, the rapture, shape of the earth or the Holy Spirit – they just have a need and know you love Jesus.
Lay aside the distractions which draw your attention away from your first love and the people He loves. An old Irish proverb says: “We live in the shelter of each other.” What is essential, is invisible to the eye – people are our priority.
Other news:
Remember our conference in the Netherlands May 2-5, 2024 in the Netherlands.
Also mark your calendar for our National conference in Tulsa in October 2024. Details later.
KWOWI – Kids Without Walls International
There are Currently 48 children sponsored in Kenya, and 87 sponsored in Uganda. That leaves 85 children in Kenya and 96 in Uganda still praying to be sponsored.
The children in Uganda are part of the KWOWI school but since more than half still aren’t sponsored this leaves great needs still in place, such as uniforms, meal variety, building repairs, etc. The children eat primarily maize (corn) flour and beans at each meal. Rice, meat, and nuts are an extremely rare treat. When a child is sponsored in Uganda, it ensures they can remain in the KWOWI school.
The Kenya KWOWI program operates differently, so some of those children who don’t have sponsors aren’t in school at all. They stay home with a parent or guardian, which is often a discouraging situation with frequently skipped meals and lack of clothing based on their poverty level.
Please pray about supporting one of these children in Kenya or Uganda! It changes the entire course of a child’s life, and often their whole family, when they become sponsored. As one boy in Uganda KWOWI recently put it, “when you trust God, God sends you a blessed sponsor”.
How are we doing? Busy, and most everyone we know is busy in so many areas as well. I was quite frankly, surprised by the Lord’s visit to me last Friday. I had been asking the Father for more information on what He had said about this September-March 2024 time frame, some of which I’ve shared in our spring Zoom online meetings – so I didn’t expect the Lord to come with the above message.
I’ve also prayed, asking the Father if whatever comes may be avoided, lessened or delayed. But I don’t know if anything the Lord said will be changed. When things are subject to change He usually tells me to ‘Pray about this ….”
All that to say: When He comes with announcements of that kind to me, it is usually just a few weeks or months before something happens. Like in December 2019 when He told me: “The time is coming and is even now upon you, that your faith will become precious to you.” And then Covid hit with all the stuff that went with it. So I’m on the lookout to see what the last part of the year holds.
We most certainly appreciate all who pray for us and give so generously. Every gift is appreciated and so very needed. I pray for every person when they donate, or ask for prayer. You are important to us!
Thank you and blessings,
John & Barb, Brian & Amy
