"Title" - "Behold, now is 'THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,' behold, now is 'THE DAY OF SALVATION'" (2 Corinthians 6:2 NASB)!
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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. EDITORIAL: "'NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME".
2. FEATURE ARTICLE: "NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION".
3. PRAYER REQUESTS
4. FEEDBACK - These are a couple of very unique letters, that contribute significantly to the general theme of this month's overall message. God is truly moving in powerful ways.
5. CONTACT US
1. EDITORIAL: "NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME".
As most of you know - and some have even written to comment about - the messages that I have been moved to write over the past month's have nearly all centered upon the theme of, "Waiting upon God". I have had to chuckle as some have even gone so far as to proclaim that I am, "The Waiting Prophet". While a few souls have rejected my messages, because they did not quite agree with their need for action, the overall response that we have received has been glorious.
(Lest we forget, the message of waiting upon God, has been, and remains, truly significant for the Body of Christ, because we must know that without God, we can do nothing... We cannot get ahead of Him or His plan, because to do so would mean failure to us, just as it did to Israel whenever they stepped out against His will.)
But now, beloved, the Lord is telling me something different. The Holy Spirit is moving in my heart powerfully, to declare to the Body of Jesus Christ, that "NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME"! Somewhere in the back of my head I can hear trumpets blowing... Praise be unto God!
Many within the Body of Christ withdrew from Babylon (the false church) years ago, and have remained separate from the false teachings and false prophetic messages that have grown within those religious organizations. The Letters, by the moving of the Lord, has been a magnet for any number of those who were searching for truth and stability in a time when lying and instability appeared to be the norm. This time of separation has been referred to by some as, a wilderness experience, and like Jesus, in the wilderness for forty days, brothers and sisters in Christ have found themselves thrust into periods of aloneness - and testing. During these years God has nurtured and taught His children in many things and in many ways. Foremost, I think, are the lessons on how to love as Christ loves us, and on not being judgmental. (Discerning, YES, but not judgmental)!
And now, today, I believe that the Lord is telling His Body, that our time in the wilderness is ending. Today, I believe that the Lord is telling His Body that "NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME" to apply everything that He has taught us (including the application and full utilization of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit) in greeting, uplifting and uniting with those who are coming out of Babylon today - and those who are going to be coming out in droves very soon.
The wilderness experiences have been essential, because the Body needed to be cleansed from the impurity of everything untrue that has been digested in the past - just like our bodies are purged from impurities during a fast. But now that the purging is complete for these particular body parts; for those who have been separate for so long, it is now time to unite under Jesus Christ, and minister to our brethren whose eyes and ears are just now opening.
Godly Prophets and Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers have been prepared for the task at hand, and the Word of God that says, "If the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he does not have", is resounding in my heart. It should resound in yours as well - with shouts of joy!
(And yes, brethren, I have intentionally omitted reference to the apostolic ministry at this time, because unlike those who are proclaiming themselves to be apostles of God, I do not believe that God has appointed the full gift of apostleship - YET. At least not as we understand the full gift through its use by Paul, Barnabas, Peter, John, or any of the other first century apostles)! In The Letters, we discuss one aspect of the apostolic gift, and I fervently believe that this portion of the gift is evidenced throughout the Body of Christ today. But that which so many are proclaiming for themselves today, is NOT what we see in the Word of God, and therefore, must be rebuked.
Believe me, brethren, I know that I am going to receive tremendous personal rebuke because of these statements, but by standing firmly on the Word of God, the trickle to come will not effect this ministry one iota. God's Word says that in the latter days, 144,000 are going to be 'sealed, from every tribe of the sons of Israel' (Revelation 7 and again in Revelation 14). These are the end-time apostles, and they will be appointed by GOD alone, and it is these who will proclaim the Word and Witness of God to a dying world with the same power, might and authority of the first century apostles. Do not be deceived by the imitators!
For us, however, what we need to know today, is that where the call from heaven, to the Body of Christ held captive in Babylon, has been a whisper heard by a select few - for a time of preparation - the call that is sounding forth today, and is growing each day, is a loud proclamation to the children of God to, "Come out of her, My people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities" (Revelation 18:4-5 NASB). And His children are listening.
Ministries, just like Emergency Room trauma centers in hospitals, have been prepared by God for this time. Hearts have been nurtured, gifts have been imparted, love has been implanted, faith has endured, discipline has been administered - and many have sought to be obedient disciples of Christ, for the sole purpose of glorifying our loving Lord Jesus Christ - IN THESE DAYS!
While none are perfect, the Spirit of God is declaring that, "NOW IS THE ACCEPTABLE TIME" to utilize all that God has given you - at whatever level He has placed you.
Prophesy abounds in these latter days, just as the Word of God says it would. The Prophetic Word being uttered today around the world, speaks of immense and intense catastrophic events. Simultaneously, however, another Word is emanating from heaven, and that Word is - "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand!"
The very same message proclaimed since John the Baptist, is being proclaimed - boldly and lovingly - by the Body of Christ, today! And it must be proclaimed even louder as we approach His return. Without hypocrisy! Without gall! Without judgmentalism! With an abundance of love, and in the power of God, the Body of Christ must begin to proclaim His gospel message - to the praise of His glory and our eternal joy.
The world needs what you possess brethren. Apply the salve that God has given you, faithfully, lovingly, patiently and powerfully, because "Now is the acceptable time".
2. FEATURE ARTICLE: "THE DAY OF SALVATION"
As God's children hear the call from heaven to, "Come out" from Babylon (Revelation 18:4-5 NASB), those who have been prepared for this moment in time must unite as ONE in Christ and present the fullness of His message in this, THE DAY OF SALVATION.
God is going to bring His newly called out children to those whose heart is prepared and surrendered unto Him, and He is going to do this in such a way that those in need will find exactly what they need in the body cells to which they are led. Throughout The Letters I felt led to remind the Body of Christ, that we will be called to minister in the area's in which we have personal knowledge... We minister most effectively in and through those things that we have personally suffered! Now is when we will begin to see this truth fully realized.
In last month's newsletter I spoke of an exchange I was having with a Catholic gentleman. I must confess to you that I do not think that my letters to this man were my best effort! Even still, I know that somehow God has allowed for seeds to be planted in that young man's heart that will grow to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ...
As a youngster, raised as a Catholic, I had already heard everything that the young man presented - and more. I was surprised to hear just how much of the 'doctrine' had been cleaned-up, and many of my statements surely caught him off-guard, because he did not know many of the teachings that we were given forty years ago. Nevertheless, the Spirit imparted a great deal for him to ponder, and when the Catholic church makes any change in their doctrine - which is very possible, especially in regard to their position on Mary, Jesus' Mother, then this young man will have to reconsider his understanding of precisely who God is!!! That which was imparted during our exchange will have sway.
The point I am attempting to make in presenting this matter, however, is that this young man was moved to write to me - because God knew that through the first-hand experience that HE gave to me those many years ago, and through my desire to glorify Him today, that the young man was somehow going to receive what he needed NOW!. The Holy Spirit is going to do this same matching of need and knowledge throughout the Body of Christ - in tremendous numbers - SOON, and we must prepare our hearts and minds for the work before us.
THE DAY OF SALVATION is today, beloved, and the things that God has given to each of us is ample to complete the work that He desires of us. And, as we faithfully apply ourselves to His tasks, I am confident that He not only can, but will increase His anointing of our gifts and abilities - as the need arises.
Salvation... The love of God displayed through an unselfish and heroic act - on our behalf, must be displayed today in our every act and deed! We are called to imitate Jesus Christ, and in these imitations of true love, God will be glorified.
As you encounter the seeking and confused members of the Body of Christ, please display the same love and patience of God that has been displayed toward you. Previous error is irrelevant when replaced by a repentant heart, and previous sin is insignificant in the sight of the blood of Christ. It does not matter what a person has said or done in their lives - when that person comes to the cross of Christ and declares allegiance to Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. In Him, we all have forgiveness. The cleansed and purified Body of Christ must know this above all else.
Our position is not to judge, but to reassure! Our duty is not to humiliate, but to humbly confess our own sins and weaknesses, that through our weaknesses the glory of God will become even more manifest.
THE DAY OF SALVATION will reflect the fullness of these truth's, and for however long the Lord wishes for us to toil in His field, we must set aside our personal indignations, die to self, and live with the forgiving and loving heart of Jesus Christ - for His children.
"Behold, now is 'THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,' behold, now is 'THE DAY OF SALVATION'" (2 Corinthians 6:2). "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16 NASB).
3. PRAYER REQUESTS:
We have a sister who has recently been raped - by a man who she has been witnessing to and praying for! This cowardly deed will not go unpunished by a wrathful God, but our very courageous sister surely needs uplifting by us.
Pat and Christine are praying for healing. (As are others who wish to remain anonymous).
We need to pray for healing to marital relationships that are under attack by our enemy. Satan is relentlessly attacking many couples, and we need to stand in unity against his efforts - and for our brothers and sisters who are personally at the front of this battlefield.
Please pray for the aborted children - and for the men and women who are fighting for life, around the world, and who are taking a stand against this unrighteous act. Pray for our nations as well, because God is not going to tolerate these acts much longer. Pray as well for those who have been deceived; that God would mercifully open their eyes before it is too late!
Pray for the Body of Christ. God is moving powerfully around the world, and many are seeking truth in ways that have not been seen for centuries. The bride must be prepared!
Finally, please pray for this ministry. Pray for our spiritual, physical and financial well-being, and for God's guidance and direction, as well as His manifest power, to be evident in all that we say and do! Our desire is to serve Him fully, and with your prayers we know that we will overcome every obstacle before us - in Him!
4. FEEDBACK:
Over the past months, the Lord has been moving very uniquely in the ministry of The Letters of Faith. On our "Support" page at the web site, we have listed the three types of support that are needed to sustain any ministry of God: Prayer, Involvement and Financial.
The prayer support we receive is truly a blessing to our hearts. We know when victory has been achieved because of the intercessory prayer of our 'supporters'. We know it! And this is why we covet your prayers so very much - now more than ever. The battle is raging for the Body of Christ, and His victory will be accompanied by the faithful prayers of the saints (Revelation 5:8, 8:3-5).
Financially, we are grateful for every cent that has ever been sent to this ministry. We have never 'stumped' for donations, as you know, and we have never tried to make money through the web site - which is why we do not have banners or other promotional materials blazing their presence across the screen. Our focus has been unto the Body of Christ, and for however long the Lord allows and provides, we shall endeavor to maintain that focus.
On the third front, however - Involvement - we have always prayed that the Lord would use the online Christian Community to promote The Letters and our ministry. Inasmuch as we do not have the funding to professionally advertise the web site over the internet (or anywhere else for that matter) we have simply sought "word of mouth" endorsements and assistance in this area of promotion - and the Lord has always answered our prayers. Lately, however, He has responded in some very unique and blessed ways.
Earlier this week I received a letter from a brother that truly humbled my heart. I am sharing his letter with you, and two other events that have taken place, in the hope that these idea's might give you insight as to how you might increase your involvement in spreading the Word and Gospel of God. (Regardless of whether that involvement includes The Letters of Faith, this newsletter or our ministry). There are many wonderful ministries that the Lord has developed... We just need to let people know that they exist.
First, the letter:
Hi Larry, I am a subscriber to Matters of Faith, and I love your Web site. This is one of my favorite resources and it has blessed me greatly in my journey. There will be rejoicing in the heavenlies tonight!
I sent the below email to my boss this morning, seeking permission to put a Christian message on all my emails. I prayed hard about this, and guess what, she said yes. We CAN make a difference in our workplaces if done correctly and within the honoring principles as laid down in God's Word. This message will now go out on the bottom of ALL my emails to my customers and candidates in the IT sector. This could reach thousands of people with a subtle but powerful message.
Just want to encourage you that getting out of the boat in the workplace can be rewarding. Let's encourage all of your contacts to seek permission from their managers in the same respectful way. In prayer, God can do anything. We just need the courage to get out of the boat. If you think it appropriate, send a copy of this out to all of your contacts encouraging them to seek permission as well. Then encourage their Christian friends to do the same. We could get this happening all over the world in a very short time. I respectfully request you pray about it, it could work everywhere. God bless you, Geoffrey Stroud Sydney, Australia PS: I am in the process of preparing a sermon outline for my first tilt at preaching. Cutting up Credit Cards will be the objective, financial responsibility within biblical guidelines the long-term benefit. I am well equipped to preach on this being the (repentant) one to commit ALL the sins of financial irresponsibility.
-----Original Message-----
From: Geoff Stroud
Sent: Thursday, 5 April 2001 10:54
To: Janece Wills
Subject: My New Signature File
Hi Janece, Before I go ahead and do this, I want to run it by you first and get your permission. It is an important Biblical principle to honor those in authority over you. I will at all times seek to implement your wishes.
I have installed on my Signature file the below message to go out with all emails from me. God has asked me to be a gentle reminder of His presence in all our lives. This is an awesome responsibility and one to be taken very seriously. This is an excellent way of at least starting the process. God has given me the below verse as the least threatening of all His scripture. It is only to find the seekers and give them the opportunity of hearing a message (Letters Of Faith Web site) unaffected by "church" and common religious doctrine.
I prayerfully ask for you to consider this request and seek your approval. If you are not comfortable, let me know. I will not send out a single message without your approval.
God bless,
Geoffrey Stroud
Senior Consultant
Princeps
Phone: 61 2 9956 5222
Mobile: 61 414 794 754
My New Signature file:
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" Revelation 3:20 NIV.
http://www.lettersoffaith.com/
Brothers and Sisters in Christ;
If you know me at all, then you must know how this has humbled my heart. Geoff is going to be broadcasting our web site address on every one of his BUSINESS e-Mail letters... Even if this were done on an individual's personal e-Mail alone, the exposure - for whatever it is that you wish to present - would be tremendous, don't you think?
Now for the second thing that has happened...
God has blessed us with numerous unsolicited "Links" from other web pages. Many of those web sites have even been featured in this Newsletter in our "Site of the Month" section. I received the following letter from another brother in Christ - last month, and for some reason the Lord simply humbled my heart by the effort being made. It was an encouragement to me, and I pray that it will encourage you as well:
Hi Brother, Just a couple of 'things'...I think about ya when I notice your link on Heart to Heart. I read a few of your articles... then, I guess I got 'side tracked' with something else...then, never got back again. I get involved with so many things...have to keep trying to make sure I'm not missing what He wants.
As you probably noticed from the subject: The web page has been blessed with some nice improvements... looking a little more organized (?) and just a little more 'user friendly(?)' I hope!! =) If ya get a chance, I hope you'll 'take a few' and look.
Heart Talk For Today is growing and getting some very positive responses. We get a few 'refutes' occasionally too. =).
http://www.geocities.com/omifren/
[ Heart to Heart ]
Hey! =) We still do appreciate your ministry...am deciding right now to consider what can do to encourage more attention to your ministry there. I doubt if everyone who needs it...is gettin there (^;"). I know He technically(?) doesn't need our efforts...but for our sake, we need to be efforting! ( when I come short of a word or phrase... sometimes I manufacture one).
Well, again, bless ya! I know your busy for Him! And when we do our best...He's already done the rest! huh?
Together...EXALTING HIM! Jerry http://www.geocities.com/omifren/
[ Heart to Heart ] http://he-is-able.truepath.com/index.html
[He Is Able ] {ANOTHER FAVORITE!}
This was followed-up in a couple of days by this very brief note:
Just a brief note to extend an invitation for you to visit the Heart to Heart Banner page and view the "Letters of Faith..." Banner/Link. After your viewing, please let us know...if for any reason you do not prefer it to remain...it can be removed immediately.
http://www.geocities.com/omifren/banner.html
I trust this finds you and yours, well.
As Brother H. C. Heffren would say,
Yours to EXALT HIM,
Jerry
Finally, I wanted to tell you about another brother, also named Jerry. Every so often, Jerry sends out a message to everybody on his mailing list. His message is very brief - and most humbling for me. His letters say something like:
Hey folks,
There's a great web site out there that is truthfully presenting the Word of God. Go and visit it!
Letters of Faith http://www.lettersoffaith.com/
Love Ya,
Jerry
jmhebner@gulftel.com
(Love Ya too, Jerry)..
It amazes me how God has used the Internet for His glory. In spite of everything that is wrong with the net, He can be glorified - for now - by our efforts. It also amazes me when our web host sends a report to us citing the statistics for The Letters, and telling us how many visitors we have on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. The numbers are most humbling!
And yet, I know that more needs to be done!
We do not know how long the Lord will allow world economies to remain stable. Somehow, I get the feeling that the luxury of the internet will be amongst one of those things to be cut when finances grow slim.
We do not know how long the world will remain at 'peace', insomuch as we have peace today. And what effect civil unrest in the world will have on the internet, or on our means to communicate so openly. We simply do not know. God alone knows!
Therefore, in continuing the theme of this newsletter, and in continuing my presentation of what the Holy Spirit has been moving my heart to relay in our editorial and feature article, I am encouraging the Body of Christ to promote everything that is Godly and wholesome and good, in whatever way the Lord allows, "For the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-13 NASB).
Tell the world who you are and what you believe, beloved. God has given you everything you need to impact society for His glory. I encourage you to begin today by passing along words of encouragement that you read, by developing a "Signature File" that will glorify God, and attach it to every one of your e-Mail letters, by suggesting that sites you frequent include links to other sites that glorify God. There is much we can do with little effort - and God will surely reward our efforts for His glory, no matter how great or how little that effort might appear in our own sight. God knows our hearts, and He is a rewarder of those who seek for Him.
5. CONTACT: larry vosen
If you have any questions about the Bible, God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Gospel, Faith or any pressing spiritual matter, please feel free to contact me. While I may not possess the answers personally, I know Who Does! Every effort will be made to answer your questions in a timely and Scripturally supported manner.
Do you have a prayer request? Please share your needs with us... We will post your needs in our "Prayer Request" sections, so that we can approach the Throne of God in a united front on your behalf.
We can be reached through our email address at: mailto: Contact
larry
Or, please feel free to mail your thoughts and requests to:
Larry Vosen
2600 E. Seltice Way, #203
Post Falls, ID 83854
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Thank You, and may God bless you and your ministry - for the praise of His glory and your eternal joy!
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