Pillars of clouds and fire...

4/17/97-Advancing

Dear Friends:

(If it is welcome and a blessing, send it on to others,Lee)

Advancing the Kingdom of God?

How?

I believe yesterday I witnessed a powerful example of advancing the power of God.

"Love one another, for by this will all men know that you are my disciples." A few weeks ago, I wrote about a man who had left this area and witnessed him being restored to this area. Today, I met with him again and he testified to the healing of his "Springfielditis". Too often, miscommunication comes, and degrees of "churchitis" develop, with the most severe cases developing into isolation, bitterness and resentment. I laid hands on him last week and declared him healed of "Springfield". He was young, made mistakes, said some wrong things and got chewed up by the machine. So often in the recent weeks, I have spoken of restoration, hurting one another and a need for it to stop. This man left beaten. Today, he is being restored that God initially paced upon his heart. I believe in my heart that shortly he will return to this area. Today, I sent out an update regarding a missionary jailed for a wrongful cause. Thousands have rallied to his side in prayer. It is easy when it is "them against us". But what about when it is us against us? Are we quick to restore, to love? "We battle not against flesh and blood..."

It took nearly 20 years for this man to return. So badly was he hurt, he didn't tell his son of the town(Springfield), where he was born. Today, I was invited to meet with him and another leader, to bring restoration. This meeting was powerful. Opening with prayer in a restaurant, both sides were love, restoration came and the doors were opened to advance the kingdom of God. This meeting has tied at least 3 churches together for God's Glory. The gifts are being used as God as intended them.

God's Kingdom will not advance without the power of love and humility. When the secular media looks at the church, they see so often disunity, hurt without resolution. Why would people want to be Christians to be hurt?

If we want to advance the Kingdom, the spirit needs to be one of giving, of loving, and of humility. The mending needs to come. God can heal. People need to be humble before God. Our pride and indifference must be removed.

God wants to see the Kingdom advance, not at the expense of people. Today, if there is a miscommunication that has kept you from the fullness of God's offering and blessing, seek reconciliation. Tear down the walls. Like Joshua, circle it and watch it come down.

Selah.

Shalom.

We pray for you, each and every day. If this is an encouragement to you. Please tell us, and please email it to someone else. If you have a prayer request, please mail it to us. We want to stand with you, battling spiritual wickedness, seeing people made free. We want to serve our brother and sister.