December 6, 2006

Dear Friends and Loved Ones,

            Blessings and grace and love be multiplied to you in these days of awe and tumult. May the indwelling Christ expand your faith and the realization of the power of His love at work within you. May He lead you in ministry and service way over your head so that you can no longer rely on yourself, but on Him who lives and reigns within you.

            Many times we have spoken about the increase of loveliness in the body of Christ, and at the same time the increase of the wickedness and evil in the world, especially the religious world. When you want to show off a diamond, you put it against black velvet. The Church is the beautiful jewel. The world is the black background that shows off the beauty of Jesus’ bride.

            To see and abhor the ugliness of the world, we should let the Spirit take us on a journey like Ezekiel chapter 8 – to see through the Lord’s eyes – into the very temple of God. To see the women weeping for Tammuz, the asherah poles, the baking of cakes to the Queen of Heaven, the leaders in secret and shameful sin. And as also in Malachi 3, the marking of those who lament and mourn at the terrible sin.

            All of this is the black velvet of religious death, against which the jewels of the Bride of Christ are to shine with glorious light as heaven breaks into this realm. The Church is to glow with the splendor that lit Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration.   

            You, dear reader, are being displayed against this blackness. Shine with mercy, kindness, grace, and power. Let the blind see, the deaf hear, the dead be raised, and the poor hear the good news. Where is this supposed to happen? In the same kinds of places where it happened in Jesus’ day; the same places where the church is; wherever Christ lives in His people. At Starbucks and Denny’s; Wal-Mart and Macy’s, at your office and work site, the doctors office and parking garage, at school and sporting events, in parks and houses, airports and hotels, on the streets and sidewalks, anywhere and everywhere where Christ Who lives in you is at.

            Ask the Holy Spirit to use you, and to alert you to situations where the fruit is ripe and the needs for healing and deliverance are obvious. Listen for Him, and obey what He says. When you feel that nudge to pray for someone, do it wherever you are. Tell them something like, “I feel the nudging of God to pray for you. Is there anything special I can pray for, and is it all right to pray now?” Then lay the hand of Christ on them and pray. Pray with the authority of Him who conquered death and disease and sin and depression and hopelessness. Pray as the conduit you are – your Head is in Heaven and you are part of His very body on earth. All the power and authority of Jesus is yours. The Head can and will work through your/His hand.

            You say, “But what if, what if” – forget it. What do you have to lose? “Well what if they don’t get healed.” I think what you are really saying is, “If I speak healing in the name of Jesus, and they don’t get healed, I’ll look bad.” If that happens, that they are not healed, what you lose is your pride (good) and cowardice (good) and reputation (with the world it’s not so hot anyway.)  Go ahead. Do it. The thrill of God using you to bring healing and salvation is greater than any reward this world has to offer. No drug can equal the high, no fortune equal the return, and no activity can match the pleasure.

            In the past, I have often focused on the increasing darkness, which is obvious to everyone who has eyes to see. I believe that today it is more appropriate for us to focus on these beautiful fine linen garments of the bride as she prepares herself for the wedding.  Rev. 19:6 – 8, “’Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)” 

            I believe an integral part of the fine linens is the release of the Holy Spirit through us in signs, wonders, and miracles as a validation of the good news we preach. The most righteous acts are the ones our righteous head commanded us: Make disciples, baptize, teach, preach the good news, forgive, and love. The signs (healing, deliverance, and miracles) will follow as we go. Please enjoy the adventure, and share with me some of the stories.

Love in Christ,

Frank

PS       Eric Shrum, a wonderful Christian young man asked my permission to propose to our daughter Sarah. I gave my blessing, he proposed, Sarah accepted and they are now in the midst of planning and setting a date for their wedding. Sarah is still in the midst of her health battles, but a new and wonderful dimension is now added to her life. Please continue to keep her in your prayers. May the health and well-being allotted for Sarah in heaven, be hers here on earth.

PPS    Robert Fitts and I are planning a House Church Seminar and Training Session on Saturday February 3, 2007 here in Dana Point. The
flyer is attached for any who might be interested. 

PPPS  Another great book for you to read is Bill Johnson’s, When Heaven Invades Earth.

Frank