7/8/97 Under Control
(If it is welcome and a blessing, send it on to others,Lee)
Last night I realized in a very unusual way, what God is doing to me. He is causing me to stretch my tent. To move in new realms. How many of you know that the things that you have "under control", many times reappear when you least expect it.
I realize that God is moving in deeper and deeper ways in my life. The river is rising. Those things that might have been "acceptable", are being pushed to the top. My heart is being cleansed.
I received some unusual responses to yesterday's letter. And I realized that God is drawing on brothers and sisters around the world, causing the impurities to rise to the top.
I had a meeting in preparation for the tent meeting we are doing. I am getting excited and then last night, I realized this is REAL. I have been believing for thousands to come to the Lord in this meeting. And as I started ticking off the areas of help we needed, I felt the power of the Lord moving in. I saw He can do this. He can fill this tent.
It's not the tent, but its God. His Glory coming to this city. And it is causing those areas of our life to appear that have previously been hidden. I have never been an armchair Christian, don't even like the sound of it. It's like, how can you be a Christian sitting down ALL the time? And the more I move now, the clearer areas appear needing the cleansing of His blood. (There is no problem understanding why He kept God out of the creation picture until day 6!) He is more than enough, using little, broken vessels like ourselves.
I don't usually experience fear, but last night I felt the power of God in a new way. No one else suspected it, I am fairly certain. Yet for me, I saw the gates of heaven before me. It caused me to feel like there are things I need to change. I have been hearing that a lot from people.
Today, I had a few incidents, that caused my anger to rise. Why? Where is this coming from, I thought. Things seemed to frustrate me that are usually under control. And I know He is removing the impurities, making me pure.
Anybody else going through that? The more you mature in the Lord, the more you realize it is more you and less the enemy. So I see things that have to change. Last night I saw the gates and realized that this is the real thing. What do I do. The fear I felt wasn't some passing feeling. It was the fear of all that power. Reverential fear, some might say. I would say, WOW! I received the same feeling I get when I get too close to high tension wires, or am canoeing in high, turbulent waters, or rockclimbing sheer faces of cliffs. I often say to people, "if you are not living on the edge you are taking up too much room." Tonight I felt that closeness to a powerful, powerful God. I felt close to the edge.
This powerful God I serve is preparing me for something. There is expectancy moving into my life, as well as a certain amount of concern. What is God doing??? I have no idea. I realize this tent isn't the goal. But it has been a vehicle to put me in touch with many people. We printed 8,000 tickets to hand out. 1,500 are out. There were 50 people tonight from 4 churches who came together to help, to plan. The phones are ringing. But the prayer!!! People are praying, seeking Him, causing the gates of hell to retreat. There are people going on 40 day fasts. He's enlarging our tents, stretching the wineskins. I admit there is a giddiness, a nervousness that began that was not there. Awe struck.
We sing wonderful songs about His awesomeness, His greatness. But only when you experience the changes, do they hit home. I want you to have the power of God in your life. God's spirit of repentance is here and the desire is not to hold on to the things that have held me back. Everyone has pet sins. We say God isn't done. You are right. And yet, tonight there was such a cleaness in the air.
I want to encourage you in the areas you have fallen. Seek God. Ask His forgiveness. He is there. He never was lost. That refreshing that you once felt can be revived. One of the dilemmas of maturity is thinking we have it all together, that we have arrived and are just waiting for the gate to open. When the power of God rolled over me, I know that there was questions racing through my mind about my life. Folks, this wasn't a prayer meeting, this was an informational meeting about the tent.
If God has been dealing with you about areas of your life that need to come to the light, I pray that the fire of God will rush over you, causing the things that have caused you to slow, to lag behind to be removed. I pray for a refreshing to come over you, restoring the light that has dimmed. That there would be those to lift your weary arms to Him. The enemy is defeated. He is a liar. You have the victory. Even when it feels one more dart will cause you to drop your shield. Brothers and sisters, let go of that which is not of HIM. Loose yourself from the bonds. And for this day. Be a Mary. Sit at the feet of the Father. In His rest.
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.
In the Service of Christ for His Glory,
Lee Johndrow
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please mail us at:
154 Paddock Road
Springfield, Vermont 05156
For those who support us in prayer and deed we appreciate it.
Thank you,
Lee & Tina Johndrow
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