"Title" - Reflections!
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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. EDITORIAL: "REMEMBERING!"
2. FEATURE ARTICLE: "STANDING IN THE GAP!"
3. PRAYER REQUESTS
4. CONTACT US
1. EDITORIAL: REMEMBERING!
This past month has truly been a period of deep introspect for me, and I
wanted to share some of what the Lord has brought to my heart, as He has forced
me inward. Prayerfully, that which I am moved to share will be a help to
you - for the praise of His glory and your eternal joy.
"Memorial Day" in the United States, is a day set aside for
remembering those who have fallen in battle for the defense of our country, our
freedom and our belief's. Monday, Memorial Day, Charlie and I went to see
the movie, "Pearl Harbor". It was an appropriate
experience, at an appropriate time, because as I watched the movie, the Lord
spoke to me on a particular issue in a number of different ways.
As a veteran of the Vietnam war, I watched the battle-scenes being fought by
young men and women, and my first thought was, "what a waste"...
(One constant thought throughout the day though, also centered on my fallen
friends - all so young; all so precious). In these reflections, I think I
saw the Lord smile, because through these things He turned my heart to
contemplate my own youth - now gone! As the years have passed, I have
often prayed why God wasn't using me in ways that I thought would be a better
use for my "strength". Youthful zeal and exuberance can be
magnificent, don't you think?
Monday He explained that I was held back because I would have relied on my own
power and not His.
As a veteran of the spiritual battle zone, I have been contemplating the fact
that in my eyes, I was most certainly at my "spiritual peak", as far
as Biblical knowledge is concerned, when I was writing The Letters. Those
years of study were intense, and certainly, I appeared to be stronger then than
I am today... Lord, why didn't You use me better back then?
Monday He told me that I would have relied more on my understanding than on His
Holy Spirit.
Each and every day is laden with His lessons. Each and every day with Him
is an opportunity for growth - to His glory. The lessons He teaches are
not necessarily joyful, but the end result, if our heart is truly devoted and
dedicated to Him, is meant to bring about that which we truly desire most; to be
like Him. Surely, His strength and power - on His worst day, exceeds
anything that any of us can muster on our best days. His knowledge,
wisdom, understanding and comprehension exceed ours by incalculable amounts, and
anything we do in our own limited capacity, without relying on Him, is simply a
waste of time and energy. I knew these things in my youth, but in the back
of my mind there has always been that sense of self-reliance.
His lessons have gradually removed that false sense of self-reliance though, and
replaced it with the knowledge of His overwhelming superiority in all things.
And, His lessons have gradually brought about an ever-increasing capacity to
love and forgive. While I might have been stronger in my youth, and while
I might have had a greater "book" knowledge in days gone by, I humbly
submit that only through the passage of time can any of us fully grow into what
we think is true - and into something that is useful to God!
If things are not quite right in your life today, pray for the discernment to
know what lesson the Lord is attempting to teach you. If you are depending
upon your own strength, understanding or capacity - in any area, then I submit
that you will be deprived of that strength, understanding or capacity, until you
learn that God is your only source. That which we have to offer is
insignificant until it is coupled with God's wisdom. And, that which we
have to offer is insignificant unless it is driven by love.
Sometimes, youth is unable to appreciate these nuances! In reflection, I
know I didn't appreciate them much at all.
2. FEATURE ARTICLE: STANDING IN THE GAP!
In three separate instances over the past forty-five days, the Lord has shown
me the intensity of the spiritual battle that is being fought for His Church.
Sadly, He is also showing me how ill-prepared we all are for the battles that
are being fought around the world right now - and for the inevitable battles to
come. Throughout this period of enlightenment, however, the Lord has also
been showing me the significance of "Standing in the Gap" for His
children. Lessons that I truly pray will be meaningful to you as well:
I am currently exchanging notes with a beloved brethren, who is convinced that
there is absolutely no difference between the Person of the Father, the Son or
the Holy Spirit. Simply put, the Three, are merely different
manifestations of the same "One Individual"... In two other recent
exchanges of letters with other brethren, as shared in this newsletter, the
Godhead was again 'threatened', as the Holy Spirit was either being denied
completely or sought in an unhealthy manner.
Throughout each of these exchanges I have steadfastly asserted - and shown -
that The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit are in fact Three unique
Individuals - Who possess the same Essence: The essence of God! And,
I have strenuously maintained that denying the Holy Spirit is tantamount to
committing the unpardonable sin (Matthew 12:31-32; Luke 12:10). If there
is no difference between the Person of the Father, the Person of the Son - Jesus
Christ, and the Holy Spirit, why would blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hold a
greater punishment than blaspheme against either of the Other Two?
Perhaps the Body of Christ is having such tremendous difficulty uniting under
the Headship of Christ, because so many within the Body really do not believe
that there can be a oneness with multiple personalities. Clearly, denying
the Plurality of the Godhead (in Whose Image we are created) is a significant
contributing factor to our disunity, because although we are capable of speaking
about a "Cluster of grapes" (Numbers 13:23) we seem incapable of
recognizing that the cluster consisted of many individual grapes connected to
one vine. We speak of a Body of Christ, but cannot recognize that a body
consists of millions of individual cells.
If the current conversation I am having follows the course that appears to be
the 'traditional' route for one of these discussions, the brethren will simply -
ultimately, stop writing. In today's society, and especially in an
Internet ministry, abandonment is the name of the game. Admittedly, it is
much easier to simply go your merry way, than to accept chastisement,
responsibility or commitment.
This truth resounds in another series of exchanges between brethren, where one
sister (who is truly committed to helping the Church unite and grow) desired to
spiritually join forces with another sister - and together seek ministry for the
glory of God. In receiving a stern rebuke for her attempted outreach, the
sister desiring to "Get Into" ministry, has in affect been driven
further underground. Instead of uniting in ministry for the glory of our Lord
Jesus Christ, a weak vessel has forced a champion of God to withdraw into the
confines of her heart; fearful of offending the very body of Christ that she
desires to uphold.
In a third series of events, a visitor to The Letters wondered why I chose the
NASB interpretation of the Bible, instead of the King James Version, and
repeatedly challenged the NASB rendition of any number of passages... Our
visitor suggested that it would be wonderful to present a "mirror" web
site, where those who prefer the King James version of God's Word, would find
The Letters more to their liking. Going one step further, this visitor
volunteered to put the letters into "Word", change the Scriptural
Passages from the NASB to KJV and then return them to me so that I could then
transform them all back into the "mirror" web site. (I thought
this was a very reasonable suggestion).
Sadly, however, this visitor also felt that it would be acceptable to edit the
letters; changing the content and the presentation to suit his liking -
including the complete elimination of one letter that he believed was totally
wrong. Naturally, I would not use this transformed work, and rebuked the
visitor for altering that which was not his to alter. Communication has
ended!
Throughout each of these situations the Lord has shown me how our enemy, the
evil one, is antagonizing and separating the members of the Body of Christ.
Even if the affects of Satan's efforts appear to be minor, the ramifications of
his divisive victories have eternal consequences. Somewhere in The Letters
I recall saying something to the effect that the world is watching what we do,
and until we learn how to unite in this battle - for the glory of God - we will
continue to present a losing picture to that watching world, and we will not win
souls for God... Well, they are still watching!
Unfortunately, the Internet is not only permitting the world to watch at
ringside, it is also enabling members of the Body of Christ to abandon whatever
does not tickle their ears - at an even greater rate, and with tremendous ease.
Don't like what was said - don't write again! Disagree with a particular
issue - don't go back (don't write either, just move along until something
soothing is found).
During the years that we have been in ministry, the Lord has brought together a
band of seekers and disciples who, through His grace alone, have a tenacious
mindset - for His glory. Many of you who receive this newsletter have been
with us for a long time - and we praise the Lord for the unity and companionship
we have with you. Sadly, however, countless others have come and gone -
searching for something easy; something that is pleasing and
non-confrontational. Over the past months though, I have noticed a marked
increase in those who are truly seeking God's Truth; who are seeking
discipleship - and who are 'coming out' from Babylon. And it is for these
that the Spirit is moving my heart to write today, because these are one with us
in Christ! Admittedly, we all know that the Church is under tremendous
attack. What I am hearing, and what I am being taught right now though, is
that God is calling for His children to Stand in the Gap against the foes of
darkness, because we need each and every cell of the body of Christ to unite
under Him - now!
As His children, we must recognize the significance of this spiritual battle,
because countless lives are at stake.
The Lord is moving hearts away from the religious institutions - today! He
is calling His body out from Babylon. As our brethren come out from that
which is false, we must learn how to stand in the gap on their behalf, and pray
for the Body of Christ. We must unite in prayer for every ministry that is
truly surrendered to God. We must unite in prayer for every soul that is
seeking God's truth, so that they can find those faithful ministries. And,
we must support those ministries that we know are working for the glory of
Christ, in whatever way the Lord leads, because without the speaker, who will
hear? Without the teacher, who can learn?
We have an opportunity today to unite in prayer against the spirits of division,
fear and indecision, and in uniting against these forces, we can claim victory
for Jesus Christ. We have an obligation to pray against pride and
arrogance, because these two stand firmly against everything that we know is of
God. Furthermore, we have the capacity to unite against the spirits of
abandonment, confusion and irresponsibility, and in so doing we can help our
brethren overcome every obstacle that the forces of evil can throw against a
wavering heart. And, we can joyfully unite in prayer - seeking for the
true power of God to run through the veins of the Body of Christ; that together
- united - we would overcome the schemes of the evil one, for the glory of our
loving Lord Jesus Christ. We are ONE in Him, beloved. Let us stand
as ONE against every encumbrance, and give the world something to marvel about
and desire.
3. PRAYER REQUESTS:
Nicky and Marcus have learned that their unborn baby has a chromosome
disorder - and will not survive. Worldwide, prayer is being offered unto
the Lord - seeking a miracle healing for this child - and upholding Mom and Dad
as well... Praise the Lord for His mercy and compassion!
In that same vein, we have received countless (anonymous) prayer requests for
health issues. I don't think that the Lord would object to a blanket
prayer of healing for His body. The forces of evil are certainly mounting
a concerted effort against any number of "cells", and we need to stand
together in rebuke of these ailments.
We have also received countless prayer requests that deal with financial issues.
Many within the body are under financial attack today, and we need to uphold
every brother and sister - that their eyes and hearts would be open to whatever
lesson the Lord is teaching. And, we need to pray that Satan would be
rebuked from interfering with those lessons - and from interfering with our
finances.
A wonderful reminder has been posted, that we unite in prayer for the persecuted
Church. We have many brothers and sisters around the world who are being
persecuted - and killed - for our faith. Let us never forget to uphold the
persecuted and suffering Church!
Another wonderful reminder has been posted, that we unite in prayer for
discernment - throughout the Body of Christ!
And always, please pray for this ministry. We are trying to stand in the
gap, and only through your prayer support will we find success.
4. 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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