Dear friends,
Thank you for joining us last week. Our
corporate intercession was very powerful and we appreciate your
participation as we pray for the nation, and it seems as though this
gathering of faith has had an impact. As you may recall, Nita was
without a voice last week. On Thursday, however, she came to the services at Bethel Chapel in a step of faith and her voice came forth loud and clear! Friday
too; she began the service unable to speak above a whisper, but by the
time the service was over her voice had been fully restored! A step of
faith is truly all it takes, my friend. Take that step and He will meet
you there!
In the Gospels, Jesus often spoke about
serving the widows and the orphans, the poor and needy, and others who
are less fortunate. I always felt that it was interesting that He
referenced so many different levels of need in His teachings. I often
wondered if this variety was for the benefit of the hearer, the one in
need, or both. I believe He knew that what an individual was capable of
giving varied just as much as the prospective recipient. Jesus wanted to
ensure that if someone was in need, they were properly cared for by
those who were able.
Cedarwood is growing very quickly but
unfortunately, the demand for workers exceeds the number of volunteers
that we have. As the holiday seasons approach us, please consider giving
of your time to Cedarwood. We welcome young and old and have a plethora
of ways for you to serve. If you are interested, just contact Kathy
Ricky and she will tell you how you can start helping!
KathyR@WorldforJesus.org
That said, our Cedarwood crew is very hard
at work preparing kits for our BackPack Kids program; picking up food
for the food bank and working with local companies to acquire warm coats
and shoes for those in need in the Seattle area. Many of you have
financially contributed to this effort and we value each and every gift
given to help those who need it.
This week we begin our next teaching
entitled: “The I Syndrome.” This is a powerful message that reminds us
where our focus should be. Should it be on man and what man can do, or
should it be on God, His power, and His authority? Should we follow the
person, or should we follow after God? I pray that this will help you in
your walk with the Lord.
Blessings in Him,
WFJM Staff
_____________________________________________________
THE “I” SYNDROME
Part A
By
Nita Johnson
Seattle
This afternoon, while in worship, suddenly
I saw a vision. Some visions approach gently, gradually moving across
your mind, while other visions come at jet speed, full of power, and
really grab your attention. It was one of the latter types which I saw
this afternoon. Suddenly, a very large torch raced in with a whoosh and
stood right in front of me. It blazed with fire.
Tonight, as we were in worship, I found
myself in the throne room. Instead of the throne, however, there was a
cross standing in its place, that suddenly erupted into a blaze of fire.
While being in the throne room I learned
and still feel like weeping because of it; we are all crying out for
revival, but we do not really want it badly enough. What we truthfully
want is to be busy.
For the last several weeks, I have been
fighting a terrible battle with my health. Some of you have been praying
for me so God has already told you about my struggle. I have been
concerned about how we are ever going to have revival if He does not
strengthen and enable me to come and pray. I said to Him, “The people
may quit coming if I don't attend.” It is true. You, the faithful ones,
come to the sanctuary or join us online whether I am at the service or
not, and for your faithfulness God will bless you. Nevertheless, others
seem to feel I need to be here or else they will not participate.
Addressing my concern, I think, Jesus
spoke to me tonight, during worship, He tenderly said, “I've been
testing the people to see if they will they come and pray when you,
meaning me, cannot be here. Is it Me they want desperately enough to
fight the battles to have Me, or is it to you they look, to be led in
prayer?” We must pray that the Church will hunger for God regardless of
the messenger. I respect you for coming whether I am here or not because
you are the faithful ones standing in the gap. The time is going to
come this year when so many will wish they had remained faithful to the
vision. We need to pray that God will give His Church a heart to hunger
after Him. If none of the prayer leaders were here, Jesus wants to know
if you would still come, get on your knees, and pray. I do not want to
see us have to be tested in that. My heart has been tearful ever since
He spoke to me.
Jesus is so hungry for you. He is hungry
to send His fire, to send His glory, and to send that part of Himself
that is so irresistible, it will completely arrest you from the world.
He wants to bring you to a place of safety from the storm. He wants to
provoke you with His fire and His love, but you must look and wait for
Him.
I know that none of you who are here
tonight fit into this category, but do you know that there are
intercessors who intercede just so they can take pride in their prayer
lives? When you stand before the gates of His glory, how are you going
to bring forth the holy prayer while still filled with pride and
self-sufficiency? Prayer is a humbling business. It will break you if
you are doing it right. The alabaster box that Mary broke over the feet
of Jesus spoke of you who are willing to come and be broken at the feet
of your Lord. Jesus, not man, wants your worship. He wants you to belong
wholly to Him. We cannot serve Him enough to foster or promote what
must happen. Only love can do it. Only love for your Savior can capture
all of you and preserve you in a place of safety, prayer is the vehicle
of passage.
There is a churning going on deep within
my soul. Sometimes it is not fun to be a prophet. God does things with
you that people do not understand, and which people will judge and
criticize. However, when it is all over, these same people will stand
before Him, and He will ask, “Why didn't you hear the message I was
trying to give you?” The song of the prophet is so beautiful. It is so
sweet because the anointing that God puts upon the message is the call
of the Bride to draw near while He is calling. Open your heart. Let Him
impart His glory and that holy call into your heart. Let it pierce the
veil of your heart. Let it pierce the innermost being of your nature
until everything inside of you is crying, “Jesus, I must have You, lest I
die! Bend me, Lord! Break me! Remake me and transform me! Do whatever
You need to do to this haughty and unworthy heart to make it ready for
You! I must have You, Lord! I must have Your
life. I must have Your touch until my insides churn because I cannot
bear to not have more of You! I must be filled to the brim with my Lord
Jesus!”
Isn't it amazing? God gives a message like
this, and the ones who need it the most are not here. Pastor Matt just
said, that is the way it usually is. I want to tell you that there is a
river of glory and a river of sweet oil coming. There is One coming to
those who are looking for His appearance, who are willing to break the
alabaster box at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is coming to
those who are not coming to see a man, but are here to find Jesus.
Mt 6:19-20
Amp. Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures
on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where
thieves break through and steal. But gather and heap up and store for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm
consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal.
I want to go one step further and say,
“Store up for yourself the glory of the Son!” What do these earthly
things mean if you put them in your heart and grapple to retain them?
When it is all over, they are only corruption. They have stolen the
place of your Lord.
In HIm,
Nita
To be continued next week... |
