* LIVING UNDER A DANGEROUS GOVERNMENT

Yesterday the FBI released a transcript of the words the killer in the Orlando club massacre said to the police in his 911 calls.  This is the worst terrorist attack in America since 9/11.  Only one problem.  The FBI and the Justice Department, or some other mysterious government entity, had “redacted” the transcript.  They had removed the killer’s references to ISIS and the ISIS leader.  They had translated the word allah as god.  Allah is the muslim deity.  He is in no way God, the God of the universe, the God of Christianity!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we do not live in a fairy tale land or in a circus or carnival, although that is surely what the national government administration appears to believe.  We live in a true, physical secular world in which a significant enemy has targeted the end of western society.  A meaningful, large number of muslim jihadists are attacking and terrorizing all people not exactly like themselves.  Especially they are attacking western culture and Christians.  It is not a few who are muslim jihadists.  It is many thousands, and they are located in multiple countries.  There are obviously some directly connected or sympathetic to the cause living in America and also probably in every modern nation, as well as every Middle Eastern nation.

Yet for some reason that can only be sinister and evil, or else naïve and bumbling to the point of great concern for those of us in the country, the government of the United States publicly refuses to recognize this for what it is.  The attack in Orlando was an attack of muslim jihad.  It was not specifically an attack on the LGBT movement, and I understand that was not even mentioned by the killer in his 911 telephone call. 

This was a blatant cover-up attempt again by the government which insists that words like muslim and muslim terrorists and so forth not be used to describe the terrorists operating worldwide today, although it is quite clear to all who is conducting the world terrorist effort – muslim jihadists.  This is the same government that keeps the American military from referring to these terrorists as muslim terrorists.  Thank God this time that there was such an uproar and criticism from other prominent Americans that the more complete transcript was later released.  But the credibility damage and the government’s true colors were very apparent before that.

Jesus warned his believers to be alert, to watch at these end times.  He also warned us not to be deceived.  We have that deception in action very obviously in the government of the United States and other western governments.

You must keep your eyes on Jesus and seek to be guided by the Holy Spirit at all times.  It is to your peril that you drift away.  The Spiritual gifts, especially discernment, are of special value right now.

You and we can discuss why the government of the US, especially the top leaders, act as they do.  But one thing we cannot deny – their views and their actions are dangerous to the survival of this nation.  Why do you think the government is behaving in such a false way, in such a deceiving way?  Why do you think they persist in describing their administration as transparent when it is anything but that?

We know there are terrible times in the last days.  We know the evil one is operating everywhere he can.  And you see it right now in these horrible terrorist groups and in the deceptive, evil behavior of the top US government administration. 

It is way past time for all serious people to ask just whose government is this in Washington?  What is it doing?  And who is it really working for?  Quite obviously not the American people.

Don’t ever forget 2 Corinthians 4:4.  It is widely applicable today.

May God help us and have mercy on us.  And may we not fail to step up to the plate and stand up for Jesus wherever possible. 

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                          (JUNE, 2016)

                                                                                        Copyright © 2016 by John Newlin

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

P O Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408       910 395 1465      

www.johnnewlinministries.org

                       Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org       Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin     

                                               Blog:  johnnewlinblogspot.com

* LIVING UNDER A DANGEROUS GOVERNMENT

Yesterday the FBI released a transcript of the words the killer in the Orlando club massacre said to the police in his 911 calls.  This is the worst terrorist attack in America since 9/11.  Only one problem.  The FBI and the Justice Department, or some other mysterious government entity, had “redacted” the transcript.  They had removed the killer’s references to ISIS and the ISIS leader.  They had translated the word allah as god.  Allah is the muslim deity.  He is in no way God, the God of the universe, the God of Christianity!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we do not live in a fairy tale land or in a circus or carnival, although that is surely what the national government administration appears to believe.  We live in a true, physical secular world in which a significant enemy has targeted the end of western society.  A meaningful, large number of muslim jihadists are attacking and terrorizing all people not exactly like themselves.  Especially they are attacking western culture and Christians.  It is not a few who are muslim jihadists.  It is many thousands, and they are located in multiple countries.  There are obviously some directly connected or sympathetic to the cause living in America and also probably in every modern nation, as well as every Middle Eastern nation.

Yet for some reason that can only be sinister and evil, or else naïve and bumbling to the point of great concern for those of us in the country, the government of the United States publicly refuses to recognize this for what it is.  The attack in Orlando was an attack of muslim jihad.  It was not specifically an attack on the LGBT movement, and I understand that was not even mentioned by the killer in his 911 telephone call. 

This was a blatant cover-up attempt again by the government which insists that words like muslim and muslim terrorists and so forth not be used to describe the terrorists operating worldwide today, although it is quite clear to all who is conducting the world terrorist effort – muslim jihadists.  This is the same government that keeps the American military from referring to these terrorists as muslim terrorists.  Thank God this time that there was such an uproar and criticism from other prominent Americans that the more complete transcript was later released.  But the credibility damage and the government’s true colors were very apparent before that.

Jesus warned his believers to be alert, to watch at these end times.  He also warned us not to be deceived.  We have that deception in action very obviously in the government of the United States and other western governments.

You must keep your eyes on Jesus and seek to be guided by the Holy Spirit at all times.  It is to your peril that you drift away.  The Spiritual gifts, especially discernment, are of special value right now.

You and we can discuss why the government of the US, especially the top leaders, act as they do.  But one thing we cannot deny – their views and their actions are dangerous to the survival of this nation.  Why do you think the government is behaving in such a false way, in such a deceiving way?  Why do you think they persist in describing their administration as transparent when it is anything but that?

We know there are terrible times in the last days.  We know the evil one is operating everywhere he can.  And you see it right now in these horrible terrorist groups and in the deceptive, evil behavior of the top US government administration. 

It is way past time for all serious people to ask just whose government is this in Washington?  What is it doing?  And who is it really working for?  Quite obviously not the American people.

Don’t ever forget 2 Corinthians 4:4.  It is widely applicable today.

May God help us and have mercy on us.  And may we not fail to step up to the plate and stand up for Jesus wherever possible. 

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                          (JUNE, 2016)

                                                                                        Copyright © 2016 by John Newlin

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

P O Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408       910 395 1465      

www.johnnewlinministries.org

                 Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org       Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin     

                                              Blog:  johnnewlinblogspot.com

MUHAMMAD ALI (aka CASSIUS CLAY) - ONE VERY HARD LESSON

I was in college when Cassius Clay burst dramatically on the scene.  I remember when he shockingly beat Sonny Liston and became the heavyweight champion.  And I remember his surprising and creative personality, his bold declarations delivered in poetry.  And then in the following years not just his boxing victories but his bold behavior too that caused turmoil in the country but gained him great popularity.  He grew and grew in stature around the world, and I think I remember at one point his being recognized as the man known by the most people on earth.  I expect that was true.

He was an exciting and colorful and obviously talented and bright individual.  And his death provides another really strong teaching moment.

Muhammad Ali was a muslim.  Early on he left the name Cassius Clay and became Muhammad Ali.  A muslim. And at his coming funeral there will be muslim prayers.

A muslim.  A follower of a false religion.  So what does that say about where he is now?  Nothing good at all.  For such an admired person loved by so many, where he is right now is not good at all.  And using Bible prophecy and words about people like him, he will not be resurrected until after the thousand years following the tribulation (Revelation 20), when he will face the white throne judgement.  Not a good position to be in.

All this adulation on television, all this endless praise.  And yes he was indeed wildly successful and influential in this world.

But look at where he is now.  Not in this world.  Not anywhere you want to be. 

How many more highly successful and popular people could I write this about?  How many of those offering such praise now think or know about this?

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                    (June, 2016)

                                                                                        Copyright © 2016 by John Newlin

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

P O Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408       910 395 1465      
.johnnewlinministries.org

                Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org       Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin     
                                                   Blog:  johnnewlinblogspot.com

* LETTING GOD BE GOD

It is the early hours of the morning and I am still excited. 

Learning more every day of the Father’s magnificent hand in our lives, of the Lord’s putting together every step of his plan.

I will guide you step by step, he has told me.  I will show you the way.

So often in recent months and years the point has been made.  I can’t do it.  No, I can’t.  For all the best of motives and goals, in trying to go forward and implement what I understand to be God’s call and assignment, I can’t do it.  I can make headway, to be sure.  And good things at times can happen, to be sure.  But to fulfill his plan, his objective, his assignment, he has to do it.  Through me.  Around me.  I have to become nothing.  To give myself up entirely.  To be consciously and unconsciously open to what he is doing, sensitive to him always, not ever pressing or forcing anything that I think must happen but rather letting him work through me to accomplish.

Dying to self.  How many years, Lord?  How long ago did you tell me that, that I would be dying soon?  At least twenty.  I remember talking about that with two wonderful people you put in my path decades ago.  We were pondering.  And yes, I and we all had the right answer.  Dying to the old self, the old priorities, the old interests, the old objectives.  But year after year in all you have taught me and all that we have done together, still learning.  Still learning what that means.

Just not me.  No evidence or glory of or for me.  It is all about you, Lord.  It is all you, Lord. Everything.  And if I don’t know or see how something is to go forward or might happen that you have revealed to me, well, that’s alright.  You will reveal what you want me to know at your time, your perfect time.  It is never my time that counts, but yours.

Surely the Lord does nothing without revealing his plans, his secrets to his servants the prophets.  Yes, the Bible says that.  And how true it is you have shown me.

 

So long ago you revealed your plan.  You made it known.  And then suddenly you act and it all comes to pass.

There is no god but God.  All things are possible with him.  We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Rest in him.  Live in him.  Use all the tools he has given you, and live in him.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                            (May 2016)

                                                                                            Copyright © 2016 by John Newlin

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

P. O. Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408       910 395 1465        www.johnnewlinministries.org          

Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org       Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin        

Blog:  johnnewlin.blogspot.com

* NOW IS THE TIME TO GET ON OUR FACES. NOW!

I’ve written of how people hear from God in a variety of ways.  Our newsletter of October 2013 dealt entirely with that.  It is of course a subject of great interest to all believers.  People hear from God directly sometimes in a still small voice or even an audible voice, or in times of prayer, or through reading and focusing on certain scriptures, or through a dream, or a vison, sometimes through other people, or circumstances, and more.

Over the years I have at times openly spoken of some specific revelation or word of guidance I have received from the Lord that I know is to be shared broadly.  Many of those in recent years have related to the imminent return of the Lord.

Well, in the wee early hours of May 2, just a few days ago, I had a dream that was so clearly from God.  It was a message that must be shared.  I sat up in bed, got my writing tablet, and wrote all down the Lord had shown me.  This I pass on to you now, because surely it is for everyone.

In this dream, I saw the action before me.  I was not actually a character in the dream, just an observer.

As the dream began, the scene was in Congress.  Three men were walking pointedly down a corridor, very purposefully, determinedly.  One was a senator and was carrying a briefcase.

In the dream I saw as if from behind, and I saw these three walking.  To the left of these along the corridor was an area that continued the length of the corridor.  It was full of people watching and murmuring.  Murmuring.  There was a sense that the senator and Congress don’t know what they are doing.

The senator was walking to vote on a very important matter – environmental, economic, something like that, something important.

And this murmuring from the crowd continued.

Suddenly the senator turned to the crowd and spoke:

“Yes, we don’t know what to do.

But here’s the truth.

You don’t know what to do either.

None of you.

No one on earth knows.”

And in the background these three words came forth:

“Only God knows.”

And then this message: People have to get on their faces and ask God – all people!

And the dream ended.

That was a direct message from God. 

The key of the whole thing is obvious:  This situation we the people are all in now cannot be solved by people.  The people do not know what to do.  The organizations and the world systems just are not working well. 

Obviously for any believer, the only one who does know is God, and then anyone to whom God reveals his guidance and plan.

God.

There is that wonderful scripture in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (NIV)

That’s it.  That’s the message God just gave me for the people.  For all of you.  For everyone.

The last message of the dream is that people have to get on their faces and ask God – all people.  That is humbling themselves.  That is praying and asking God.

We know we are so close to the return of the Lord.  We know the vast majority of humankind in the world and in America is as lost as skunks and not at all ready for the events soon to unfold.

And yes we serious believers – ministers, pastors, teachers, everyday people – try to do all we see and understand and are led to do.  But as of now, the vast majority still does not hear. 

Get on your faces and pray!  Seek God and ask!  The Bible talks in Philippians about how at the name of Jesus everyone will be on their knees.  Well, in this dream from the Lord, he wants us on our faces.

Now look at this!  I today watched a video of Jonathan Cahn speaking on May 5, just three days after my dream.  As I watched I was amazed by what he said.  He called on everyone to fall on their faces before God!  Again, the guidance to get on our faces.  He heard the same thing I did!  Cahn went on to call for the Holy Spirit to fall, for a revival in the land.

Add to all this another dream:  A few days ago my wife Cathy had a dream clearly from God.  In it people sat in a theater watching a play about a fire burning a building.  All the while, the theater itself was on fire!  Can you think of a better description of our situation in America today?  People all the time watch movies and programs and activities with violence, mayhem, wild disasters, immoral behavior, and more, all the time they themselves are living in the midst of and at risk of that very thing in this society.

My message to you:  It is time.  Now is the time.  Help us people.  You are the people.  Newsletters and services and preachers and such can only reach so many.  Help us.

Pray for God to remove the veils from the minds of the people, that they will be able to see and to receive and to understand the truth – to understand who the Lord is and the times we are living in and to receive the Lord as their savior, their King.  Pray for revival.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to touch everyone.

Help yourselves and us people!  Yes, the Lord is coming soon.  But surely we don’t have to sit by and let America totally fall to shreds before he comes.  Certainly we can be out there striving to do all he has asked.

We all do have to answer to the Lord too.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                               (MAY, 2016)

                                                                                             Copyright © 2016 by John Newlin

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

P O Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408       910 395 1465     
www.johnnewlinministries.org

                   Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org       Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin                                                                           Blog:  johnnewlinblogspot.com

* YES GOD IS LOVE - HE IS ALSO A LOT MORE THAN THAT

I am increasingly concerned with the continuing modern focus on the love aspect of our wonderful God.  Yes, God is love.  We know that.  The Bible tells us that.  Look at Jesus’ actions in going to the cross for us.

Yes, it is true.  God is love.

He is also many other things.  And this is where so many today who profess to be Christians just turn a blind eye.

God is patience.  He is long-suffering, but that patience does not last forever.  Eventually people have to realize who he is and what he expects. 

And he is jealous.  He is a jealous God.  You cannot have other gods before him.  You cannot put other things in life before him.  You just can’t.

And he is a just God who indeed does avenge.  Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. 

If you read the Bible you know that God will only tolerate evil so long, even in his chosen people the Jews.  Notice how he brings all sorts of calamities on the Israelites over the years when they are out of line.  Eventually at one point he even lets Jerusalem be overrun and the leaders taken away to Babylon.

And he makes it clear in the Bible that all these things that happen aren’t just necessarily by accident.  The book of Nahum notes the Lord’s way is in the whirlwind and storm.  And the book of Amos asks has disaster come to a city and the Lord not caused it?

Pretty chilling, is it not – certainly .  Except for the fact that we also do know the goodness and love of God!

Yes, God is God.  I wrote about that quite a bit recently in the newsletter in March titled NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.  People today just can’t seem to get a grip on the immensity of God.  All powerful.  All knowing.  All present.  He is God. 

We humans can hardly imagine God! 

One approach is to look at some movies where an emperor or other powerful figure is portrayed.  Maybe a movie about Caesar or Genghis Khan or some other powerful historical figure.  I expect you have all seen something like that.  Remember how sometimes a trembling subject or stranger is brought in before the ruler, and the subject is kneeling or crawling on the floor.  They are terrified because of the great power of the ruler.

Well, they should be.  The ruler can just decide to end their lives, or maybe send them off to some battle, or take their possessions away, or whatever.

I tell you, none of those rulers have even a tiny percentage of the power that our God has.  If people fear someone who can take away their life, how much more should they fear someone who not only could do that but also could send them for an eternity into a horrible place to exist?  Here is the actual scripture that makes that point:    “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”  (MT 10:28 NIV)

Most people just don’t appreciate the immensity of God or who he really is because they don’t know him – let’s be honest.  They just don’t.  God to them is someone in a book or someone talked about once in a while or at church.

But we are talking about God.  Yes, he is love.  Yes, he is patient. 

But do you remember when he killed everyone on earth except Noah and seven members of Noah’s family, because he was so upset by the behavior of people? 

And do you remember when he was going to eliminate all the Israelites because of their behavior, and start over with Moses?  Moses interceded and God decided not to do that.

God is love all right.  The actions of Jesus in his first visit to earth were love, all right.  Lots of demonstrations of compassion.  And his love for us comes through in our times of prayer and communication with him. 

But even Jesus is returning as the great leader of the army of angels and saints to win at Armageddon and then to establish his rule from Jerusalem.  Jesus himself kills everyone in the army opposing him at Armageddon.  Jesus.

I am telling you all this because I am so concerned that people today just look at the love aspect of God.  For sure he loves us and he forgives us and he wants the best for us.  But he also wants his plans to be fulfilled and his words to be obeyed. 

We are very near the time Jesus will come to collect his believers and take them away, giving them a new glorious body.  During the time they are away in heaven, the seven year tribulation will occur.  Yes, terrible things are done during that period by the antichrist, the false prophet, and the devil.  See Chapter 13 of Revelation, for example.  But many horrors poured out during that seven year period described in many chapters in Revelation beginning in Chapter 6 are horrors poured out on the remaining humans on earth and on the earth itself by God.  They are the wrath of God.  At the time of the seven year tribulation, God will have been long-suffering for long enough.  He still will be seeking those who will turn to Jesus, but he will also be pouring out his wrath.

Don’t let anyone mislead you so into thinking that God is only love.  Remember, he is absolutely God.  Someone to be feared as well as loved.  And yes, that advice about fearing the Lord is in the Bible too.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                    (APRIL, 2016)

                                                                                        Copyright © 2016 by John Newlin

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

P O Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408       910 395 1465      www.johnnewlinministries.org

            Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org       Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin
     
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* GOD’S TIMING – A MESSAGE FOR EVERYONE

Many years ago Cathy and I were in a wonderful Christmas Eve service at a local church.  As we were sitting there, suddenly the Lord spoke directly to me:  “John, these people are celebrating my birth, and here I am getting ready to come back soon.”

I knew immediately what he meant, and so I expect do you.  He has already been born as a human being.  That happened more than 2000 years ago.  Wonderful as that was and is, what is important now is that he is coming back soon.  The really important issue for people living now is whether they know him and are prepared for that return!

This past Easter season, or Resurrection Sunday as many like to say, I thought the same thing.  The crucifixion and the resurrection and ascension have all happened, and many years ago.  Thank God for that!  Thank Jesus for his going through with all that!  Still, that is the past.  Now we are at the point of his return.  How many of your friends and neighbors and people you interact with daily know that?  How many are ready for that return?

I know the answer to those questions.  Not many.  Not nearly enough.

You know, all this reminds me of many times and periods in ministry.  I have seen over and over that God operates in seasons.  At the peak of one of his seasons, things go really well, but when that season has ended the same things, the same approaches used that worked well in the past just don’t work as well.  I have also seen how he generally likes to do new things, how he likes to answer prayer and do things in ways we do not expect.

In our ministry I can see several seasons, such as years of primarily focusing on healing services and conducting Holy Spirit led services and leading people into the presence of God, and years of teaching and preaching the fullness of Jesus and all he did, and years of recording and producing CDs and producing and broadcasting television programs, and years of writing and sending out our various publications.  Yes, sometimes there has been overlap of these, but really they have been pretty distinct seasons.

If you are following God’s call and seeking to do all he leads you to as and when he leads, you will see there are seasons.  God has specific times for you to do something.  You may be living and working in fulfillment of what you understand he wants you to do, and then almost suddenly, or maybe slowly and quietly, what you are doing will gradually fade away and he will begin to move you in a new direction.

Many of you who have known us for several years know of my burning desire early on to teach and preach and lead people into the presence of the Holy Spirit and for them to experience divine healing.  So many people just did not know about any of that.  And then gradually we moved into focusing on the fullness of Jesus and all he did and all we are in him, still of course ministering in the spirit and healing as led to do so.  About ten or so years ago one time specifically Jesus spoke to me right in the middle of a service while I was up teaching and preaching:  “John, tell people who I am and that I am coming soon.”  So while we continued doing what we were doing, I began to shift more and more into teaching about the Lord’s imminent return.  As he revealed more and more to me on that subject and as I realized all the Biblical prophecies of events to happen before that return that had now happened, I focused more and more on the return.  Then about two and a half years ago God gave me very specific guidance containing several points.  The one I want to mention here is his point that now the return is my message.  In other words, that is what I should be teaching and writing about!  Thus my increased focus on all aspects of the return recently.  He gave Cathy an amazing scripture while we were praying about this guidance - 1 Peter 4:7.  I want you to look that up.  Amazing.  The Lord was also very strong about my not being distracted from what he wanted me to focus on – all that he told me then.

So at times when I see people crying out that we all need to have a type of program that we or others  had decades ago, I appreciate their heart and their desire that more and more come to know the Lord and realize where we are in time.  But I do not necessarily think we need to replicate what was done way in the past.

My experience is that God likes to do things in new ways.  He operates in new seasons.  Symbolically, he uses new wineskins, not the old tired and worn wineskins that will burst and fall apart and not work.

For a real end-time revival, or awakening, before the Lord returns, I think we all must be open to the fact that the Lord will likely move in ways we have not seen.  It is clear from the actions of various pastors and serious believers in past years who try to hold meetings that will lead to a revival, who hold all night prayer meetings over and over in preparation, that we and they just can’t on our own make the end-time revival happen.

God has to do it.  It has to be God’s timing!  We several years ago had a series of amazing meetings that still warm my heart and bring a smile to my face, meetings in which the Holy Spirit showed up in great power and in obvious demonstration.  People encountered God who had never done so in their lives.  Most people have never seen God operate right in front of them, right in their presence.  But they did in those meetings.   People were healed, people encountered the Holy Spirit, people met God.  Wonderful.  Amazingly none of these meetings led to all those present going home and dragging everyone they knew to our subsequent meetings. 

For example in one overwhelming meeting in a traditional denominational church the Holy Spirit touched everyone in the service.  I expect none or at best only one or two of the church members had never seen anything like that before.  But God chose that night to reveal himself to all.  One elderly man said to me later that he had been in that church fifty-seven years, and after that night he knew all that had been a waste.  What he meant of course was that he met God that night for the first time.  But do you know, the church never invited us back to do another program there.  And even though there were real repercussions from that meeting – for example one woman sent one of our CDs to relatives far away who then used it to hold teaching classes in their church – there was no large revival in that area.  The people who were impacted somehow did not act in a way that would lead to a large revival in the region.

Here’s my thought.  You know why that did not happen?  Because it was not God’s time for it to happen.  Just that simple.  I have seen serious born again, spirit filled ministers of God eagerly set up programs to preach to a community which they hope will lead to a large revival.  I have seen people like this set up ongoing programs to teach truths of Jesus that most just do not know.  And in all this I only see in general the same local believers attend who always typically come out to events like that.  There may be a few new ones reached.  But not many, not the hoped for revival.  Just not God’s time.

So my advice for anyone seriously contemplating setting up such a thing: have you heard from God on this?  Is this the time?  Is it now?  Is it your idea or God’s?

We are about at Jesus’ return, and I have no doubt there will be an end time revival.  So the time does have to be soon.  But’s let’s all be alert and sensitive and wise to take the steps God wants – not our steps but the ones he guides us in. 

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                               (APRIL, 2016)

                                                                                             Copyright © 2016 by John Newlin

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