Good afternoon,
With many of you, it has been a long time since there has been any communication (maybe it was only face to face) ... my email address may have changed since I last made contact (see below).
I am writing because there is much evidence in our communities and the world that things are on a rapid decline, but read on, Christ Jesus has overcome the world!
For quite some time I have had great concerns about the state/condition of the church, or more specifically, what is happening in the buildings/gatherings of so-called, believers.
There is so much evidence of rituals, customs, rules, etc., etc. plus often teaching what does not conform with Scriptures.
In September 2018 my concern was heightened when I was reminded of 2 Thess 2:3 (Amp); Let no one deceive {or} beguile you in any way, for that day (the coming of Christ Jesus) will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition).
As a consequence of my concerns, I have not attended church very often in the last five years, (but maintained regular contact with a few like-minded believers as every time I attended a church and shared my concerns, I met with resistance.
Three days ago whilst looking in my computer files, I saw a reference to Juan Carlos Ortiz and his book, Disciple. I had read this book quite some years ago I opened it and read....
He was a Minister in South America who took over a church & over about two years of conventional hard work he built the numbers up from about 80 to about 200.
As he sat back reminding the Lord of his good work, the Lord told him to close the church .... but before he did, he was to select a few good leaders & then set up home groups of no more than 12 (no husband and wife in the same group). As soon as anyone else joined, a new group had to be formed to keep the numbers small. (below 12)
Within two years the 200 grew to 20,000 (yes, 20,000) and growing. (the groups also met for a picnic once a month for extra fellowship).
This concept has been tried in Australia and likely other parts of the world, but if they didn't follow how Ortiz was directed to operate the groups, it resulted in ordinary churches in small groups.
I then went down a bit further in my computer file and found, Living with Jesus, a condensed copy of another book by Ortiz (see attached) sent to me by a friend a few years ago (but ?? too busy to read it) ... Thank You, Lord, Ortiz had covered my issues and concerns very clearly, all supported with the Word of God.
Please read Ortiz book (again if already read) it is only 87 pages, plus I have added some thoughts, and verses at the end.
Then, if you are as enthusiastic as I am, share Ortiz book with as many believers (including church leaders) as you are led.
Satan is VERY active in the world at present, and man believers are looking to the world and deceptions ...... Father wants ALL His children to be with Him for eternity!
Father, Who is love, and through His Son Christ Jesus, paid for sin and deadened all Adam spirit ..... but through His love, He gives ALL men choice.
... look to the Light to see you have been set free OR look to the world and mans ways... where Satan is ever ready to deceive.
Christianity is SO SIMPLE ... but man complicates it (through the flesh).
Father goal for ALL men is ..... 1 John 4:17 In this [union and communion with Him ... grafted into the True Vine (John 15)] love is brought to completion {and} attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.
Zech 4:6 Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts ..... Rest in Him (the True Vine), parts of the Body of Christ, and LET Him do it all, through us as branches.
Join in intercession with the Holy Spirit and Lord Jesus ... Rom 8:27, 34, =
Eph 6:18 because .... Gal 2:20 We have been crucified with Christ [in Him we have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer we who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in us; and (after people turn to the Light & see that they=
have been set free) the life they now live in the body they live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved us and gave Himself up for us, all mankind!.
Brian V McMichan
I will be overseas and out of touch 6-21 April 2019 (Australia time)..... very timely, I will be visiting old friends in Christchurch, New Zealand (all arranged, well before the recent horror.)
Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Pelican Waters Qld 4551, Australia.
mcmichanco at hotmail. com
Why is it so difficult for our educators and society, in general, to understand that love and respect for one another taught from a young age can solve much of the world's hostility and social problems!
"Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it" (Prov 22:6).
Love is the answer!
True loyalty springs from the heart and is wrapped in love. It is often in our most private moments that true loyalty, or the lack of it, is made known.
Reaching the World With the Message Of Jesus
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Samuel L Mills
PO Box 4456
Maryville, TN 37802