WALKING FREE NEWSLETTER- August 2, 2011
Hi everyone
Are you ever waited for a long time in a line. When we travelled to Disneyland, it was not uncommon to wait for at least thirty minutes on some rides. The new ride Star Trek had a 2.5 hour waiting time. Could you wait for two and half hours in line for a 2 minute ride?
Could you be able to wait a few years with a few false starts to finally get on God’s ride in Kingdom land? Paul has encountered the living God on the road to Damascus. He is told that he is going to serve God’s plans and purposes. He goes to Damascus and meets Ananias who heals his blindness and tells him more about His destiny.
Paul then goes into the Arabian desert (Galatians 1:17) and again meets God and is transported to heaven (2 Corinthians 12). We are not told how long he was in the desert but we believe it was there that Paul was taught by God about salvation by grace through faith. He goes back to Damascus (Acts 9:20) and preaches in the Synagogue. The locals conspired to kill Paul and so he escaped by being lowered in a basket (Acts 9:21-25). Goes to Jerusalem where the disciples were afraid of him. Barnabas befriends Paul and takes him to the apostles so that he can tell his story of conversion. He preaches in the synagogue but again trouble is stirred up and he escapes back to Tarsus. (Acts 9:26-30)
Paul is now in Tarsus asking “What is going on, God” You said that I was going to be a light to the gentiles and here I am back in Tarsus with my tail between my legs and no one wants me! Paul remains in Tarsus, seeking God and wondering when the next step will be.
A couple of years later, revival breaks out in Antioch (Acts 11:19-21). The apostles send Barnabas who is a Cyprian and knows the culture etc in Antioch. He goes and finds that things have gone ballistic. Furthermore his ministry went ballistic, (Acts 11:22-24) and there were converts all over the place!!! He was in deep water and did not know what to do.
He was led to go to Tarsus to find Paul and he brings him back and they lay the foundations of the Antioch Christian church. (Acts 11:25-26). Then things really began to take off for Paul. He goes with Barnabas to Jerusalem to take a sum of money to the Christians in Jerusalem who are in famine. He returns to Antioch and later set apart for his first missionary journey.
I estimate that Paul was in God’s waiting room for a number of years before he was released. Have you been in God’s waiting room, waiting to be released into a ministry or a work opportunity or meeting that special person who will become your life partner or whatever? How long have you been in God’s waiting room? How did you handle it?
In our lives on this earth, we will find ourselves in God’s waiting room, waiting for God to open up a new opportunity for you. It is not easy being in God’s waiting room, seemingly marking time, twiddling your thumbs, waiting! But God’s waiting room is not a waste of time. There are a number of things that God wants to do with you.
There is a lot going on in God’s Waiting Room. You and I need to embrace this time of waiting and make the most of what God wants to do with us while we wait for Him. Paul waited until he was released from the God’s waiting room and the fruit of his ministry speaks for itself.
So make the most of being in God’s Waiting Room. You are not wasting your time. You are actually being in the place that God wants you to be!
India: We have received another $2000 from Twin Towns Uniting Church. We have also recievd a $200 donation from one of our supporters. The pastors need another $3000 - $4000 to hold the conferences ie transport, house, feed and gift the pastors. They are looking to conduct evangelistic/healing rallies and need $ to transport people and hold meetings with an effective sound etc. I went to Brisbane to sort out the visas. I was glad that I did as I was given the wrong information. We are waiting for the conferences to get government approval to enable us to apply for a conference visa. This is the best way. We are looking at the best way to travel by plane. I have searched the internet. I now have a Christian travel agent contact that may be able to help us. We still are looking for more donations to help the Indian pastors come and be blessed at the conference.
Ministry: We are now getting more clients. Praise the Lord! However personal changes to one of our pray-ers have meant we have to look at reorganizing our ministry schedule for August onwards. We desperately need more teams to be able to pray for our clients. This is a big prayer point. Yet our ministry is still valued and our clients continue to testify to the healing and transformation that God is doing in their lives.
Healing Rooms: I am asking Twin Towns UCA to adopt this as their ministry. We had a good meeting with the Directors of the Brisbane Healing Rooms and we are clearer at what we need to do and whom we need to help. We need 8-12 people to be trained. This will mean that any starting date is s few months away. We are discussing this at our next Parish Council meeting on August 8th. It is important that we discern if this is what God wants for this church and its ministry.
Twin Towns Church: The “swallows” are coming from the south to join us for the winter. Our attendances increase at this time. We are having some great services and very positive feedback about them. I am doing a series on Paul and people are being challenged by his life and ministry.
Bank Details: Walking Free Renewing Ministries Gift Fund. National Australia Bank: BSB 084-959 Account Numbers 82-215-5845
If you want to donate to help the Indian Conference costs, you can also use the Gift Fund account. Please mark donations “India” if you want to give to this specific cause.