CRUSHED GRAPES MINISTRY |
Frank B. Smith, Director, PO Box 3009, Vista, CA. 92085-3009 |
September 27, 2000 Dear Friends and Loved Ones, Greetings in the name of Jesus our Sovereign King Who has loved us beyond anything we have known or even dreamed of. His mercies are new this morning and His loving kindness is over all He does. His wonderful name is still: "The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin." Ex. 34:6,7 I am amazed, but grateful, that Jesus hasn’t come yet. After sending the last several newsletters, I thought, "Well, that’s the last one of these before You come, Lord. I hope I’ve made clear the imminence of Your return." Wrong again, but only by a few days in the timing. The Prophet Habakkuk stood at his watch to see what the Lord would tell him. The Lord said to write down the revelation and make it plain. "For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." Hab. 2:3 A most probable time of His return would be the Festival of Tabernacles, just a few weeks away. The Lord seemed to direct me to Rev. 16:9, "They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him." The judgments continue to afflict our earth. These are clarion calls to repent: devastating fires, record heat, plagues, super typhoons, earthquakes, volcanoes, etc. All are calls from our God to whoever has ears to hear. May all who experience these intrusions turn to God and glorify Him. TRAVELS The last trip was extensive ranging from Arizona to New Mexico to Colorado and then back to Taiwan. It included an ordination, two reunions, preaching, meeting with leaders, and family fun. I think the highlight for me was the baptism of Yubao "Peter" Chang in a mountain stream near Taichung. Peter and his family are with that part of the Church of Taichung which meets at Mike and Nico’s. Since returning to California September 3, the revival at Green Oak Ranch continues to overwhelm us with the love and grace of God. So far this month there have been ten salvation/baptisms, and there is still a few days to go. Hallelujah! THE UGLY CHRISTIAN While in Taiwan I read The Ugly Chinaman by Bo Yang. He made it clear that the traits he hammered on could be any race or people, but as I read it I felt a great urge to write The Ugly Christian. Yang told of the Soy Paste Vat in his childhood home in mainland China. It was always there, and always working. Whatever they put in the vat became soy paste and lost it’s uniqueness. He said a Chinaman could go to America and study engineering, or politics, or medicine, but when he returned to China, he went into the soy paste vat and it all mushed back to soy paste, or the ugly Chinaman. I thought,. "What a picture of typical, American, church life." You can get touched by God, set on fire by His Spirit, and filled to overflowing. BUT THEN you go back to a typical Sunday morning soy paste vat ritual where the fire is quenched and the fervor quashed by mind numbing rituals, and Nicolaitan separation of clergy and laity. Years ago when I spoke around a lot, I remember being so impressed and blessed by some of the Full Gospel Business Men’s groups. The members were full of fire and ministry, but if I happened to speak at their "church," I saw these same people meek and mild passing out bulletins and mouthing religious platitudes. They were back in the Sunday morning religious soy paste vat. It’s probably a good thing the Lord told me not to write the book. I get in enough trouble anyway, and I’m pretty sure this newsletter will offend many. If you’re not offended as yet, please read on. DENOMINATIONS (Franchises) A few weeks ago the Vatican expressed their views about The Church. They made it clear that salvation was only for Christians; not Muslims, Hindu’s, Animists, etc. Then they also stated that every other Christian Church is deficient for several reasons. One of the biggest is the acceptance of the Pope as the Vicar of Christ. This is great. It is what they have always believed. But you know what? It is the same for every other denomination. They are all cut out of the same cloth. Every denomination thinks it is better than the others. It has a better slant on truth, or practice, or gifts, or expression of doctrine, or method of holiness, or understanding of the last days, or worship, or liturgy, or sacraments, or clergy, or, or, or, ad infinitum unto the thousands of broken pieces of the Body of Christ. Historically most Protestant "churches" were called Protestant because they protested the very point of the primacy of the Pope. In fact, many Protestant denominations have said that the Papacy is the anti-Christ, and the Roman Catholic Church is the woman riding the beast in Revelation seventeen. Even though that woman has existed since the Garden of Eden, it is only the last 1,500+ years she has had a Roman face. That woman has this title written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. She is the mother of prostitutes. She is where all unauthorized religious systems come from; all the unsanctioned separators who think they are better than those other Christians. "Whoa Frank! Whoa, whoa. Are you calling my denomination a whore?" If our intimate love relationship with Jesus is made dependent on "other things," and we make those "other things" a wall of separation within His Body, then those "other things" have become adulterous. Your religious system may not be as blatant or flagrant in it’s prostitution, but it’s still a child of its mother. God may still work within them just as He met Solomon at one of the despicable "high places," but when revival came, the "high places" came down. If you are part of one of these things, ask Jesus what you should do. He is the Lord of His Church and of your life. Perhaps His admonition, "Come out of her my people" does not apply in your specific case. But be certain of this fact, Jesus is coming for His Bride, and no denomination qualifies as His Bride! He is the Lord, and He is building His Church. Ask Him what is your part in these last days, and how you can prepare for His coming. Just before He left, Jesus prayed "That they may all be one…that the world might believe." Our separations are scandalous. We justify our false divisions with thoughts like, "What price unity?" I think this question comes from a position of arrogance which says, "What am I willing to give up of all my wonderfulness to become one with those types of Christians?" As usual, we have the question backwards. It should really be, "What price division? What am I willing to pay to maintain this shambles? What is so important to me that I can disregard the heart and desire of Jesus?" A great number of the saints of God, "in whom is all my joy," (Ps. 16:3) are in these systems. I love the people and together we make up the Body of Christ and we will be the Bride of Christ. I love Jesus and I love the people of God more all the time, but I literally hate the systems more all the time. I despise them with what I hope is a perfect hatred. Soon, beloved, very soon we will hear the roar: "’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.)" Rev 19:6 - 8. Have you made yourself ready yet? Is your garment bright and clean? What more do you need to do to get yourself ready today. To prepare today, while it can still be called today? How is your oil supply? Are there loved ones who are still enemies of Jesus? Are you able to get the focus off of you and on to Him? Note: This was going to be sent earlier, but my son in Taiwan blew the whistle and said I was too harsh. I’ve done some more editing, but I suspect some might still be upset. If this bothers you, please understand it comes from a heart that loves you, and desires the best for you. Jean Hansen, a beloved servant here at Green Oak Ranch, just wrote a song as she came through that struggle of wanting perfect healing for a perfect testimony. She hasn’t titled it yet, but I would suggest Wounded Healer (or) It’s Not About You "Oh to come, through the furnace, without the smell of fire. But God, in His wisdom did not grant that desire. How could you ever feel the pain in a child’s heart; if you were not abandoned from the very start? How would you fight oppression if you never were a slave? How could you truly love the lost, if you never have been saved? Don’t you know that it’s not about you? I have chosen you to be a wounded healer. Don’t you know it’s not about you? It’s about My Kingdom" repeat ã 2000 Jean Hansen May the glory of God shine bright on you, radiate within you like a warm fire on a chilly night, and break forth in awesome splendor through you unto the lighting of dark places. May your love be the love of the Lord; your joy, the joy of the Lord; and your peace, the peace that passes all understanding. May all that you put your hand to be the will of God and directed by Him. May your service to Him be acceptable and pleasing to Him; and fruitful and pleasing to you. May you enjoy the journey with Jesus whether your path is pressurized or drenched with cream. Be blessed in Jesus’ name.  Love in Christ, Frank Smith |