Put out into the Deep

Yesterday, we attended our 

first community assembly for the year. 

It was exciting because it coincided with the meeting

of leaders from the Asian communities in 

Sword of the Spirit,

"an international association of 

ecumenical communities,

brothers and sisters from many Christian traditions

living out our daily lives together".

We were reminded of the Bulwark prophecy

which was given to a small group in people 

in the summer of 1975:

This gathering is a great hope                                        

This meeting is both a hope and a promise.

I am raising up courageous, 

strong, gifted men and women 

who will join themselves to you.

As you hold fast to one another others 

will come and be joined to you.

Together you will labor with me to stem the tide of evil

that is sweeping the earth.                                        

I have brought you together for this purpose; 

go on with confidence, courage, and determination.

I will be with you, and in the days to come 

I will raise up men in communities
Who will bind themselves fast to you in my service.

I will raise you up with others,
And bind you together 

to make a bulwark.
But that is not all there is to be, 

             because when you have                 
     stemmed the onslaught of the Enemy
Then I will reveal to you greater things.
In the unity you have with one another there is a
     prefigurement and foreshadowing of something much
     greater that I intend to do;
Something greater, much more vast, 

much more glorious I will unveil at that time.
You are a foreshadowing and a prefigurement
You are a bulwark 

I have set up to stem 

the onslaught of the Enemy.        
You are a part and not the whole;
You are my servants and my people.

The amazing thing about this

is that when this small group of people 

in the US were hearing this in 1975,

here in the Philippines, our covenant community,

Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon (The Joy of the Lord)

was also being formed.

More communities are being raised up, even now.

Jean Barbara, president of the Sword of the Spirit,

and Senior Coordinator of 

The People of God Community in Lebanon,

told us about the little community in Istanbul.

"There are only 13 members. 10 adults, 2 children, and 

one on the way. 10% of the members is

a converted Muslim." (that means 1 of them!)

God raised up leaders, 

the same way He raised up David to lead His people.

One of our leaders asked yesterday:

"The harvest is ripe.

The laborers are few.

We are the first fruits.

Who is willing and ready to go forth

and bring in the second wave?"

We have to be willing to walk on water,

to obey with freedom and boldness,

to get out of the boat ,

"Duc in altum", put out into the deep.

Then and only then will God's mission

be fulfilled in us and through us! 

I love blog parties!
Won't you join me?

On Your Heart Tuesdays,

Laura at the Wellspring,

 

and

Blessings to you
and your family,

Patsy

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