I took an unusual leave from ICCJ last Sunday and preached at another Church... CWS in Karawaci. A few days before the service, I received a message from Astrid Halin, a young women whom I had not met who said she would be my interpreter for the upcoming service. She asked me if I would E-mail her my sermon notes so that she could prepare. She further explained that this would be her first time to interpret from English to Indonesian.
I apologized but I did not yet know what my sermon was going to be and I explained that I might not know until the morning of the service... depending on when God speaks to me about what I would share. I usually know and have planned weeks or even months ahead but sometimes only a few days or hours before. As it turned out this time, I went to bed on Saturday night not knowing what the sermon would be the next day with my alarm clock set for 3am, as usual on Sunday mornings.
So you can imagine how Astrid was feeling... She was going to interpret for the first time with seemingly no way to prepare. And so she went to one of her spiritual mentors and asked for help. He told her to pray because the Lord would reveal it to her. Simple right?!? So she did.
Now you might think that God would give her a dream or send a prophet or something right? God can do that, but in my experience God often uses more "normal" ways that to the non-spiritually inclined person might think is coincidental. She went to the internet (yes, God uses the internet too). She came across a blog post on a social web-site which had been written by a young person who had attended a youth camp I had spoken for years ago. This young person had been touched by a sermon and had outlined it on the internet. Astrid read it and digested it.
At 6am on Sunday, I sent her an SMS with the scripture and she sent me back a smiley-face. I had woken up and the Lord had spoken to my heart to preach that same message. God had taken Astrid to the message on the internet and she was prepared!
Astrid is a great interpreter, mightily anointed and Spirit led too! Astrid, you have my endorsement for anyone who needs an interpreter!! We had a wonderful service! My interpreter knew the message I was going to speak before I did! Awesome God... Again!!!
My encouragement to you today is to see God's hand at work preparing you for everything ahead of time... He is always doing it whether you know it or not because the steps of righteous men and women are ordered by God. But there is an added blessing when we recognize it!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
TWO VISIONS THIS WEEK
Two visions came to my attention in the Church this week which confirm the things that the Lord has been speaking to me and to other pillars within ICCJ. The reason to share them is that in vision (dream) form, the Lord gives us metaphors which reveal to us a powerful perspective more than what words alone can describe.
The first was shared in the prayer meeting of our newly developing ministry to reach those with sexual brokenness, homo-sexual and otherwise… Currently, they are meeting in a small prayer group as God leads our initial leaders and participants step by step. (for more information, contact Pst Sammy at ICCJ)
There was a cart and horse traveling down a path between fields which were ready for harvest meant to transport the harvest. The workers were not harvesting because the sickles (cutting devices) were dull.
What a sad, sad message from the Lord. What we have come up with so far on the interpretation of this message is that the Church (I believe most Churches world-wide) is generally unable to bring in the great harvest which awaits, particularly from among the fields of those who are misunderstood and not trusted by the Church. People like homosexuals, but also those who have not grown up with any exposure to general Church culture. The Church as it is will not reach atheists, agnostics, those from most other religions, and statistically speaking, most of those over the age of 18 years of age who do not yet know Christ. We are failing because our tools are irrelevant. There needs to be a sharpening of our tools in order to bring in the harvest of this age… a radical shift in how we “do Church…” Maybe the key is to stop “doing Church and to be the Church…!!!” Well, I’ll preach more on that another day.
The second vision was from a dream received in one of our members sleep. The people of our Church were on an airplane which was moving very fast but was traveling on the ground. We had not taken flight. Only one of the passengers was aware of this and was trying to tell the other passengers that we are not flying. The other passengers were criticizing her for saying such things because to them, the fact that we were moving quickly was proof that we were flying. They felt the movement of the plane but did not see the mountain with two tunnels in it ahead. We were going to crash into the mountain having not really flown at all… even though most everyone thought we were safely in the air.
Friends, we are not flying and our sickles are dull. I am not saying this to criticize myself or any of you. I am simply pointing to where we are. In a sermon I preached awhile back, I asked the question, “What is the most important place to identify on a navigational map?” The answer is not where you are going or where the hazards are… it is to know where you are. To know where you are going is pointless information unless you first know where you are.
ICCJ is in transition due to natural circumstances. Ours is because of a change in pastor. I was at an Alpha conference in Singapore last week and Nicky Gumbel challenged us (the Church) by saying that you have to change just to maintain. I believe that God forces changes so that we will continue to make the radical changes necessary to become real, relevant and ready to bring in the harvest.
There is a growing dissatisfaction in me and I know that it is the Holy Spirit of God who is busily stoking this fire. I can’t stand the way Church is… It’s so extreme that by Monday morning, I want improvement from the way our services went on Sunday. I want to fly!
What we are doing at ICCJ is changing the atmosphere, preparing the leaders, sharpening the tools, redefining the priorities, shifting the mindsets so that we can bring in this harvest. It is hard work but we can and we will make it if we don’t give up. The thing is that we are going for it… cars can make it through the tunnel but we have to fly (I know some of you are catching this). We are going for big things. I relate to what D.L. Moody said, “If God be your partner, make your plans large.” The incredible reality that we are facing as a Church is that we are realizing that the greatest hindrance to the harvest is us. Christians… religious people! We must change!
I am not saying in any way, shape or form that the message of the cross can be compromised. No way! But I am saying that the packaging must change… the method MUST change.
Hear me now… We are going full throttle down the runway and there is no turning back. If you like things the way they used to be, don’t weigh us down. We need lift off. There is only one way to go and that is to fly or we will crash trying to fly. Many preparations have been made and many more are coming more and more rapidly. Be ready.
It’s all about reaching the lost. This is the great commission and it is our greatest priority. If we will reach the lost, we will fly!
The first was shared in the prayer meeting of our newly developing ministry to reach those with sexual brokenness, homo-sexual and otherwise… Currently, they are meeting in a small prayer group as God leads our initial leaders and participants step by step. (for more information, contact Pst Sammy at ICCJ)
There was a cart and horse traveling down a path between fields which were ready for harvest meant to transport the harvest. The workers were not harvesting because the sickles (cutting devices) were dull.
What a sad, sad message from the Lord. What we have come up with so far on the interpretation of this message is that the Church (I believe most Churches world-wide) is generally unable to bring in the great harvest which awaits, particularly from among the fields of those who are misunderstood and not trusted by the Church. People like homosexuals, but also those who have not grown up with any exposure to general Church culture. The Church as it is will not reach atheists, agnostics, those from most other religions, and statistically speaking, most of those over the age of 18 years of age who do not yet know Christ. We are failing because our tools are irrelevant. There needs to be a sharpening of our tools in order to bring in the harvest of this age… a radical shift in how we “do Church…” Maybe the key is to stop “doing Church and to be the Church…!!!” Well, I’ll preach more on that another day.
The second vision was from a dream received in one of our members sleep. The people of our Church were on an airplane which was moving very fast but was traveling on the ground. We had not taken flight. Only one of the passengers was aware of this and was trying to tell the other passengers that we are not flying. The other passengers were criticizing her for saying such things because to them, the fact that we were moving quickly was proof that we were flying. They felt the movement of the plane but did not see the mountain with two tunnels in it ahead. We were going to crash into the mountain having not really flown at all… even though most everyone thought we were safely in the air.
Friends, we are not flying and our sickles are dull. I am not saying this to criticize myself or any of you. I am simply pointing to where we are. In a sermon I preached awhile back, I asked the question, “What is the most important place to identify on a navigational map?” The answer is not where you are going or where the hazards are… it is to know where you are. To know where you are going is pointless information unless you first know where you are.
ICCJ is in transition due to natural circumstances. Ours is because of a change in pastor. I was at an Alpha conference in Singapore last week and Nicky Gumbel challenged us (the Church) by saying that you have to change just to maintain. I believe that God forces changes so that we will continue to make the radical changes necessary to become real, relevant and ready to bring in the harvest.
There is a growing dissatisfaction in me and I know that it is the Holy Spirit of God who is busily stoking this fire. I can’t stand the way Church is… It’s so extreme that by Monday morning, I want improvement from the way our services went on Sunday. I want to fly!
What we are doing at ICCJ is changing the atmosphere, preparing the leaders, sharpening the tools, redefining the priorities, shifting the mindsets so that we can bring in this harvest. It is hard work but we can and we will make it if we don’t give up. The thing is that we are going for it… cars can make it through the tunnel but we have to fly (I know some of you are catching this). We are going for big things. I relate to what D.L. Moody said, “If God be your partner, make your plans large.” The incredible reality that we are facing as a Church is that we are realizing that the greatest hindrance to the harvest is us. Christians… religious people! We must change!
I am not saying in any way, shape or form that the message of the cross can be compromised. No way! But I am saying that the packaging must change… the method MUST change.
Hear me now… We are going full throttle down the runway and there is no turning back. If you like things the way they used to be, don’t weigh us down. We need lift off. There is only one way to go and that is to fly or we will crash trying to fly. Many preparations have been made and many more are coming more and more rapidly. Be ready.
It’s all about reaching the lost. This is the great commission and it is our greatest priority. If we will reach the lost, we will fly!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
"Your sermons lately are hard for me to take..."
The Bible teaches that we should not only be “Hearers of the Word” but “Doer’s of the Word.” This is easier said then done…
One of the most solid, prophetic and submitted people at ICCJ asked me for a 10 minute meeting today. This is someone who I rely upon as an intercessor for myself personally and for the Church. Oh, and by the way… I love 10 minute meetings. They are usually more effective then 1 hour meetings.
She shared a significant dream from the Lord which confirms another dream received this week from a different congregation member which I will share in the next blog post.
And then came some surprising remarks. Surprising because she is one of the most supportive people, constantly encouraging me. She said, “Your sermons lately are hard for me to take.”
Now this is not a foreign concept to me… allot of people don’t like my sermons and allot of people do. The only concern that I have in this department is whether or not I have properly discerned and been faithful to release what God entrusts me to teach.
She then explained to me that when she first joined our Church 2 years ago, that she also attended another Church in the evenings… a Bahasa Indonesia speaking Church. And though she enjoyed that Church immensely that God told her, after 6 months attending our Church, to stop attending the other Church. He said that though the spiritual food there is good, that it is not the food that she needs… that she couldn’t digest it. And until recently she loved the spiritual food here at ICCJ… that is until I started teaching about mentoring (discipleship) in recent weeks.
She told me that all of her life, she has avoided mentoring relationships and doesn’t want to be mentored. She also finds home groups difficult because even though in theory to her, they are good, the problems that arise in relationships are bothersome. She shared that at one point her heart’s cry to God was for Him to mentor her directly with no human involvement. That would be great, wouldn’t it? But then how could we as humans learn how to disciple others unless we had first been discipled by a human…. Since we are also flawed.
And so for almost 2 months, she has not enjoyed the sermons… but she knows that she needs to not only hear the sermons but begin to apply them. Hard even for a deeply wonderful, sensitive and devoted follower of Christ.
It reminds me of the Prophetic Word about the Turtles a few days back which I shared two blog posts ago. Pastor Joy closed the door and grabbed turtles, holding them still so that I could more effectively shoot them. She told the turtles, "stay here and deal with your problems here." What this means is that ICCJ is a Church in which people with problems are supposed to come and get those problems addressed and healed… not moving from Church to Church on a never ending journey to not change.
I thank God for this ICCJ member who recognizes that though the food is tough to take at times, that it is the right food for her… and for all who God has planted in this wonderful Church in this season!
On a personal note, thank YOU ICCJ attendees! Thank you for your commitment and loyalty which sees you through even uncomfortable seasons of growth for you!
One of the most solid, prophetic and submitted people at ICCJ asked me for a 10 minute meeting today. This is someone who I rely upon as an intercessor for myself personally and for the Church. Oh, and by the way… I love 10 minute meetings. They are usually more effective then 1 hour meetings.
She shared a significant dream from the Lord which confirms another dream received this week from a different congregation member which I will share in the next blog post.
And then came some surprising remarks. Surprising because she is one of the most supportive people, constantly encouraging me. She said, “Your sermons lately are hard for me to take.”
Now this is not a foreign concept to me… allot of people don’t like my sermons and allot of people do. The only concern that I have in this department is whether or not I have properly discerned and been faithful to release what God entrusts me to teach.
She then explained to me that when she first joined our Church 2 years ago, that she also attended another Church in the evenings… a Bahasa Indonesia speaking Church. And though she enjoyed that Church immensely that God told her, after 6 months attending our Church, to stop attending the other Church. He said that though the spiritual food there is good, that it is not the food that she needs… that she couldn’t digest it. And until recently she loved the spiritual food here at ICCJ… that is until I started teaching about mentoring (discipleship) in recent weeks.
She told me that all of her life, she has avoided mentoring relationships and doesn’t want to be mentored. She also finds home groups difficult because even though in theory to her, they are good, the problems that arise in relationships are bothersome. She shared that at one point her heart’s cry to God was for Him to mentor her directly with no human involvement. That would be great, wouldn’t it? But then how could we as humans learn how to disciple others unless we had first been discipled by a human…. Since we are also flawed.
And so for almost 2 months, she has not enjoyed the sermons… but she knows that she needs to not only hear the sermons but begin to apply them. Hard even for a deeply wonderful, sensitive and devoted follower of Christ.
It reminds me of the Prophetic Word about the Turtles a few days back which I shared two blog posts ago. Pastor Joy closed the door and grabbed turtles, holding them still so that I could more effectively shoot them. She told the turtles, "stay here and deal with your problems here." What this means is that ICCJ is a Church in which people with problems are supposed to come and get those problems addressed and healed… not moving from Church to Church on a never ending journey to not change.
I thank God for this ICCJ member who recognizes that though the food is tough to take at times, that it is the right food for her… and for all who God has planted in this wonderful Church in this season!
On a personal note, thank YOU ICCJ attendees! Thank you for your commitment and loyalty which sees you through even uncomfortable seasons of growth for you!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Changes...
Hi ICCJ! I want to inform you about some changes that are being made which are designed to improve our serving people as a Church. We have prayed, researched and considered all of the ramifications for many months and are instituting these changes, knowing that God has been involved in this process.
1) Limited Announcements: the only announcements that will be made are for urgent items (such as a change in date or venue for a function) or special items (such as promoting a retreat). For normal ministry information, please visit the information table.
2) Shorter Services: the 1st service is designed to be a 90 minute service. Previously, the 2nd service was designed to be 120 minutes. The 2nd service will now normally be 90 minutes but with the flexibility to go to 120 minutes depending on “God’s Flow” in the service. The 1st service of the month is expected to last 105 minutes because of serving Communion.
2.a) However, I want to assure you that we will never quench the Spirit of God, and so when the Lord is moving in worship or through a message or prayer time, we will allow this 2nd service to go longer.
3) CARE Emphasis: we are emphasizing the CARE ministry (Home Groups) above all other week-day ministries. Though we appreciate every ministry at ICCJ, God has been very clear that the CARE style of ministry is extremely effective because it BUILDS COMMUNITY and gives everyone an opportunity to BE a MINISTER.
4) Thursday Service Change Coming: April 24 will be the final Thursday night regular service. There will be no more regular Thursday night services beginning May 1. Instead, a prayer service will be conducted every other week on Wednesdays. We will emphasize this change closer to the time. The goal is that for those who choose to join, Wednesday is “Church Night” and Thursday is “Family Night.” And so Prayer and CARE are on the same night of the week, alternating from week to week. If anyone gets confused and comes to Bellagio on a CARE week, the CARE group at Bellagio will be meeting in the sanctuary foyer and all will be welcome to attend.
The items listed above were hi-lighted in the bulletin, but I wanted to share more with those of you who "need" to understand the reasons in greater detail:
Though our purpose includes ministering to existing members, our greater purpose is to reach the un-churched. Most of our current members enjoy 2 or even 2 1/2 hour services, but visitors do not. And since our greater purpose is to reach them, this is why we are initiating the change of normally limiting the services to 90 minutes and eliminating unnecessary items.
CARE ministry has been extremely effective and I have often advised people that I would rather, should they have to choose, that they attend a CARE group then any other week-day ministry. This is so that community can be emphasized, relationships strengthened and all who participate have the opportunity not only to be ministered to but also to touch someone elses life. If all of the people who previously regularly attended the Thursday night prayer meeting stopped coming and went to CARE meetings instead, I would be pleased. Please hear me out on this. All of the meetings we conduct in the Church including CARE meetings ARE prayer meetings and more. In the days at ICCJ prior to the time that we had a CARE ministry, the many previous Pastors would disciple the people primarily at the mid-week prayer meeting or in the Women's and Men's ministries. As the CARE ministry has developed, the primary place for discipleship in the Church has shifted. We recognize this and are simply doing what the scriptures describe as "putting new wine in new wine skins."
But this is not a replacement of a prayer meeting, men's or women's ministry. What I am anticipating for many is a deeper commitment by both groups of people...those who have been attending the Prayer Meeting and those who have been attending CARE groups. For the Thursday night Prayer Meeting attendees, this is an opportunity to join an interactive CARE group and become more involved in relationships within the Church... and to continue joining the prayer meeting on alternating weeks. For those who have been in CARE groups, they will now be able to dedicate every Wednesday evening as a time given not only in serving others but also in further developing their prayer life.
Our entire staff and our Pastors have for the most part been attending the Prayer Meeting and not the CARE groups with the exception of Pastor Rishi. This is because of our truly heavy schedules which often include being at the Church as a staff until late night most Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and a very early start on Sundays. We will all be joining CARE groups/Prayer now on Wednesdays, freeing up our Thursdays for family time and are all excited about developing the new relationships destined to be forged in the homes of ICCJ... just as the Bible describes as primary ministry in the early Church in the book of Acts.
For those who will miss the Thursday night gathering who do not need this time with family, might I suggest going out into the world and being salt and light and doing something evangelistic? Maybe having dinner with people who you can then invite to your CARE group after you develop trust? By the way, did you know that most of the salvations these last 2 years at ICCJ occurred because of CARE groups? Pre-believers are more likely to come to a home gathering then to a Church facility.
Thank you for your loyalty and support ICCJ! Thank you for allowing us to put new wine into new wine skins. The old wine skins though they were perfect in the past are not to be re-filled now. Please join me in emphasizing and participating in CARE groups. This is not to say that our other week-day ministries are not valued. They are and they are helping specific people in a mighty way. But if you must choose between joining one or another ministry, please choose to join a CARE group.
1) Limited Announcements: the only announcements that will be made are for urgent items (such as a change in date or venue for a function) or special items (such as promoting a retreat). For normal ministry information, please visit the information table.
2) Shorter Services: the 1st service is designed to be a 90 minute service. Previously, the 2nd service was designed to be 120 minutes. The 2nd service will now normally be 90 minutes but with the flexibility to go to 120 minutes depending on “God’s Flow” in the service. The 1st service of the month is expected to last 105 minutes because of serving Communion.
2.a) However, I want to assure you that we will never quench the Spirit of God, and so when the Lord is moving in worship or through a message or prayer time, we will allow this 2nd service to go longer.
3) CARE Emphasis: we are emphasizing the CARE ministry (Home Groups) above all other week-day ministries. Though we appreciate every ministry at ICCJ, God has been very clear that the CARE style of ministry is extremely effective because it BUILDS COMMUNITY and gives everyone an opportunity to BE a MINISTER.
4) Thursday Service Change Coming: April 24 will be the final Thursday night regular service. There will be no more regular Thursday night services beginning May 1. Instead, a prayer service will be conducted every other week on Wednesdays. We will emphasize this change closer to the time. The goal is that for those who choose to join, Wednesday is “Church Night” and Thursday is “Family Night.” And so Prayer and CARE are on the same night of the week, alternating from week to week. If anyone gets confused and comes to Bellagio on a CARE week, the CARE group at Bellagio will be meeting in the sanctuary foyer and all will be welcome to attend.
The items listed above were hi-lighted in the bulletin, but I wanted to share more with those of you who "need" to understand the reasons in greater detail:
Though our purpose includes ministering to existing members, our greater purpose is to reach the un-churched. Most of our current members enjoy 2 or even 2 1/2 hour services, but visitors do not. And since our greater purpose is to reach them, this is why we are initiating the change of normally limiting the services to 90 minutes and eliminating unnecessary items.
CARE ministry has been extremely effective and I have often advised people that I would rather, should they have to choose, that they attend a CARE group then any other week-day ministry. This is so that community can be emphasized, relationships strengthened and all who participate have the opportunity not only to be ministered to but also to touch someone elses life. If all of the people who previously regularly attended the Thursday night prayer meeting stopped coming and went to CARE meetings instead, I would be pleased. Please hear me out on this. All of the meetings we conduct in the Church including CARE meetings ARE prayer meetings and more. In the days at ICCJ prior to the time that we had a CARE ministry, the many previous Pastors would disciple the people primarily at the mid-week prayer meeting or in the Women's and Men's ministries. As the CARE ministry has developed, the primary place for discipleship in the Church has shifted. We recognize this and are simply doing what the scriptures describe as "putting new wine in new wine skins."
But this is not a replacement of a prayer meeting, men's or women's ministry. What I am anticipating for many is a deeper commitment by both groups of people...those who have been attending the Prayer Meeting and those who have been attending CARE groups. For the Thursday night Prayer Meeting attendees, this is an opportunity to join an interactive CARE group and become more involved in relationships within the Church... and to continue joining the prayer meeting on alternating weeks. For those who have been in CARE groups, they will now be able to dedicate every Wednesday evening as a time given not only in serving others but also in further developing their prayer life.
Our entire staff and our Pastors have for the most part been attending the Prayer Meeting and not the CARE groups with the exception of Pastor Rishi. This is because of our truly heavy schedules which often include being at the Church as a staff until late night most Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and a very early start on Sundays. We will all be joining CARE groups/Prayer now on Wednesdays, freeing up our Thursdays for family time and are all excited about developing the new relationships destined to be forged in the homes of ICCJ... just as the Bible describes as primary ministry in the early Church in the book of Acts.
For those who will miss the Thursday night gathering who do not need this time with family, might I suggest going out into the world and being salt and light and doing something evangelistic? Maybe having dinner with people who you can then invite to your CARE group after you develop trust? By the way, did you know that most of the salvations these last 2 years at ICCJ occurred because of CARE groups? Pre-believers are more likely to come to a home gathering then to a Church facility.
Thank you for your loyalty and support ICCJ! Thank you for allowing us to put new wine into new wine skins. The old wine skins though they were perfect in the past are not to be re-filled now. Please join me in emphasizing and participating in CARE groups. This is not to say that our other week-day ministries are not valued. They are and they are helping specific people in a mighty way. But if you must choose between joining one or another ministry, please choose to join a CARE group.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Dealing with Turtles - A prophetic word received...
Pastor Joy and I received a prophetic word from one of our most trusted members at ICCJ on Sunday afternoon. It resonated completely with us and I want to share it with you:
In the sanctuary, turtles were popping up out of the ground and I was shooting them. I wasn't killing them but whenever I would shoot, they would recover from whatever issue they had. But they didn't want to be shot. It was truly hunting but for the turtles own good.
Then because many turtles had already been shot, some were heading for the door of the sanctuary but Pastor Joy closed it so that the turtles could not escape. She said, "No! You aren't leaving here until you deal with your problems!" Then with discernment from God knowing where the turtles would pop up would grab them, not allowing them to hide again, giving me more time to shoot them. As a team we went on a very effective turtle shooting spree.
The turtles of course represent people in the Church and we were able to help them to overcome their challenges even more effectively when we worked together. Me with the God given method of effecting change on them (the shooting) and Joy with the God given fore-knowledge to identify them. This of course represents the never ending process of making disciples in so many ways...
Some of the most amazing "light-bulb" moments that I have experienced have been when I have given prophetic words. Sometimes these words seem as important for me as for the ones receiving them. I remember several years ago praying for a Pastor and his wife who were very obviously beaten up and heart broken through the rigours of ministry. I perceived they were using up the last of their strength and were considering quitting at least the Church if not their marriage. I saw and spoke that she was supposed to take the role as a sword in his hand. That the key to their effectiveness in ministry was to work together. If he would learn to skillfully utilize her in their joint ministry, then they would have the strength and the courage to once again achieve fruitfulness and happiness. If he would realize that though she is sharp, she won't cut him if he will work with her properly... that she will only cut things when submitted to his hand and then they would once again make great strides for the Kingdom. They had stopped working together for many reasons but it had been a mistake.
Pastor Joy and I are committed to working together more and more and we want other couples in our Church and otherwise to commit to doing the same. It is God's plan that husband and wife work together. That doesn't make it easy, but it is worthwhile. We thank God for once again reminding us of the power of unity and I pray that you are also blessed as you consider God's guidance and apply it to your life as well.
In the sanctuary, turtles were popping up out of the ground and I was shooting them. I wasn't killing them but whenever I would shoot, they would recover from whatever issue they had. But they didn't want to be shot. It was truly hunting but for the turtles own good.
Then because many turtles had already been shot, some were heading for the door of the sanctuary but Pastor Joy closed it so that the turtles could not escape. She said, "No! You aren't leaving here until you deal with your problems!" Then with discernment from God knowing where the turtles would pop up would grab them, not allowing them to hide again, giving me more time to shoot them. As a team we went on a very effective turtle shooting spree.
The turtles of course represent people in the Church and we were able to help them to overcome their challenges even more effectively when we worked together. Me with the God given method of effecting change on them (the shooting) and Joy with the God given fore-knowledge to identify them. This of course represents the never ending process of making disciples in so many ways...
Some of the most amazing "light-bulb" moments that I have experienced have been when I have given prophetic words. Sometimes these words seem as important for me as for the ones receiving them. I remember several years ago praying for a Pastor and his wife who were very obviously beaten up and heart broken through the rigours of ministry. I perceived they were using up the last of their strength and were considering quitting at least the Church if not their marriage. I saw and spoke that she was supposed to take the role as a sword in his hand. That the key to their effectiveness in ministry was to work together. If he would learn to skillfully utilize her in their joint ministry, then they would have the strength and the courage to once again achieve fruitfulness and happiness. If he would realize that though she is sharp, she won't cut him if he will work with her properly... that she will only cut things when submitted to his hand and then they would once again make great strides for the Kingdom. They had stopped working together for many reasons but it had been a mistake.
Pastor Joy and I are committed to working together more and more and we want other couples in our Church and otherwise to commit to doing the same. It is God's plan that husband and wife work together. That doesn't make it easy, but it is worthwhile. We thank God for once again reminding us of the power of unity and I pray that you are also blessed as you consider God's guidance and apply it to your life as well.
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