March, 2006

 

Shalom Y’all,  

Since our last newsletter we have relocated to the State of Georgia.  The Lord began speaking to me concerning relocation shortly before the end of 2005. After He did, I began to feel very restless in my spirit, which is usually an indication that change is coming. Just about the same period of time, I was ministering down at Jesus Compassion Ministries, when Pastor Sadie walked up to me and said, “The Lord said to tell you that your time in Jacksonville has come to an end.” A confirmation for which I was grateful!  

As I continued to wait on the Lord for direction, I felt sure that He was taking me north of Florida, but I had no idea where. However, while I was in Norcross for the New Years Eve Gathering, Johna came up to me and said that the Lord was saying that I had to rent one more time, but the landlord would understand the ministry, and I would have no landlord problems. She went on to say that I was to rent a house, and know that there would be many coming and going there.  

I asked her if He told her where He was taking me, and she said she believed it would be somewhere between Jacksonville and Savannah, GA.  One week went by without the Lord saying anything more to me, but it was an extremely busy week with many deadlines to meet.  Then, just before Shabbat began,   Johna called to ask me if the Lord had given me clarity as far as location was concerned, and I told her that He had not. I told her that I was looking forward to quiet time with Him over Shabbat. Would you believe that very same evening, while I was sitting in my chair, praying and meditating on a passage of Scripture, out of the blue, I heard the Lord say, “Brunswick”  “I AM taking you to Brunswick, GA.”  And as He spoke those words I felt such joy in my heart.  

The Lord went on to remind me that He has recently placed a new mantle upon me, and said it is time now for me to move in to the End Time Ministry that He has prepared me for. He said that I will wear many hats, and the ministry will be filled with great challenges. He told me to hang out the scarlet thread as Rahab did, once I am in the place that He Himself has selected, for His plans and purposes.  

The following morning I telephoned Johna to tell her what I heard the Lord say, and she told me that she had opened up her Atlas that same night, and began to look at the map of Georgia. She said that her eyes were repeatedly drawn to the City of Brunswick.  Both of us had such a good witness in our spirits that indeed it was to Brunswick that I was being taken.  

After Shabbat was over, Meagan and I drove to Brunswick to buy a map, and check to see where the post office, bank, and all of those services that we need are located. Three days later I was shown three places, and He led me right to the very one He had saved for us. He gave me great favor with the property manager, assurance in my own spirit, and had me sign the lease the very same day.  To God be the glory!          

Trailblazers, Step Forward!  

It is time for those who have been chosen, and called for such a time as this, to stand up and step forward.  The Lord is saying that you know who you are! “You have surrendered everything in order to follow Me. You have proven yourself to be trustworthy and God fearing. You have led the way with great integrity, and with the strength and wisdom that comes from a deep relationship with Me.”  

“In spite of all this, you know what it is to be rejected, ridiculed, even falsely accused, because you boldly declared My Truth. You refused to water down My Word. You refused to compromise! You have known more than your share of feisty opposition! Nevertheless, it is now time for you to be brought forth!”  

The Lord is saying to take courage and step forward! “I AM calling you to take your position! I have deposited within you everything you will need to do what I AM calling you to do. I have made you strong to persevere through every hardship or obstacle that comes your way. I have girded you with all of the armor necessary to work on the front lines. Step Forward, Trailblazers, and take your place! You have been called for such a time as this, you have been chosen in the furnace of affliction, and found faithful!”

 

Are You an Esther?

 

Let’s take a look at the time when Queen Vashti refused to dance before her husband, the King, and all of his drunken buddies. Because she refused to dance for them, Vashti was dismissed as queen, and an immediate search began for the one who would replace her. Esther was given great favor, and she was admired by everyone who saw her. She was placed under the care of a man named, Hegai, and he, too, was greatly impressed with Esther.  

We’re told that Hegai treated Esther kindly, and quickly ordered a special menu for her. Then he provided her with beauty treatments, and assigned seven maids to care for her. All of them together were given a special place in the harem.  

Keep in mind that Esther was treated royally, but she was separated from everyone and everything she knew, or was familiar with, for twelve months. She was set apart and hidden away for a time of preparation. Modecai did check in each day to make sure that she was alright, but he had to do so from a distance. He watched over her very much the way the blessed Holy Spirit watches over us, during our times of separation and preparation, in the wilderness or dry places.  

I also need to mention that Esther had not told anyone of her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had told her not to. You see, Esther was a Jew.  

When the time came for Esther to be taken to the King, he loved her more than any of the others. He set the royal crown upon her head, and declared her to be queen in place of Vashti. He even gave a banquet in her honor, and made Mordecai a palace official. Even after all of that, Esther still did not reveal her nationality or family background.  

Mordecai was loyal to the King. One day he heard about a plot to assassinate the King, so he told Esther, and Esther told the King. Mordecai’s report checked out to be true, and the two men were put to death.  

Sometime later, the King appointed a man named Haman to be Prime Minister, making him the most powerful official in the empire next to the King. The King gave a decree that all of the King’s officials would bow down to Haman. However, Mordecai refused to bow down. The other officials repeatedly asked him about it, then finally went to the King and told him that Mordecai was refusing to bow down to Haman. They did this, knowing that Mordecai was a Jew, for he had confided in them.  

When Haman found out about this, he was enraged. As soon as he found out that Mordecai was a Jew, he decided to destroy all of the Jews throughout the empire. That wasn’t all! He went to the King and told him that there was a certain race of people scattered throughout the provinces of the empire, who had laws different from those of any other nation, and they refused to obey even the King’s commands.  Haman told the King that it was not in his best interest to allow the people to live. He asked the King to issue a decree to that effect, which he did. Haman also promised to put a tremendous amount of money in the royal treasury.  

The letter that was written by the King decreed that all Jews, young and old, men, women, and children, must be destroyed on a certain day. This is the same spirit that is still hovering over the earth today, seeking ways to destroy the Jews.  

When Mordecai heard what had been done, he tore his clothes, put on ashes and sack cloth, and began to travail outside the gate of the palace. His cries were with a loud and bitter wail. As all of the other Jews heard about this, they began to mourn their fate.  

When Esther heard that Mordecai was in mourning, she was deeply distressed. She sent clothing to him so he would take off the sack cloth and ashes. However, Mordecai refused, and so Esther sent someone to Mordecai to find out what all of the commotion was about.  

Esther was in her own little world, comfortable, and unaware of what was happening outside her own world.  This is very much like most of the Church today. They are inside their four walls, comfortable, and unconcerned about all those outside the Church who do not know Yeshua. They know not the time or the season we are in. They know not the urgency of the hour. They are just doing their own thing, if you will.  

Mordecai shared with the man Esther had sent to him, then he asked the man to take a message back to   Esther. He also gave him a copy of the decree, so that he could show it to Esther. He told the man to urge Esther to go in to the King and beg for mercy and plead for her people. You see, Mordecai was trying to awaken Esther to the reality of the situation at hand. It was time for her to come out of denial and do something.  

When Esther received the message, telling her to go before the King, she became upset. She told him to go back to Mordecai and tell him that anyone who would go before the King without his invitation would be doomed to death, unless the King would hold out his golden scepter. She wanted Mordecai to know that the King had not called for her in more than a month. Her message was taken back to Mordecai. 

Esther found it all too vast to deal with. She was in denial, just as most of the Church is. Because we live in America, they refuse to believe that persecution can come to us here in this country. However, it is coming, and we all need to wake up and deal with reality.

Esther was upset because Mordecai had interrupted her world. She was basking in favor and being pampered. In short, she was comfortable and happy. She was making up for all of the attention she did not receive as a young orphan girl. She simply did not want to rock the boat!  Sound familiar?  

Mordecai sent a reply back to Esther that we all need to hear. He said, “Don’t think for a moment that you will escape there in the palace, when all the Jews are being killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance for the Jews will come from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. What’s more, who can say but that you have come to the Kingdom for just such a time as this.”   

Mordecai was used to bring Esther to a point of decision. She had to determine her convictions, and know where she stood. At this time she had to choose whom she was going to serve.  

Esther found great strength and courage to send a message back to Mordecai, telling him to begin a fast, and call all of the Jews to fast, for three days and three nights, no food, no drink. (A fast for deliverance). She said that she and her maids would all do the same. Esther had made up her mind and taken a stand. She cried out to the Lord, “Although it is against the law, I will go in to the King, and if I perish, I perish!” Esther had completely abandoned herself to the will of God, something that we all must do as well.  

Notice that she didn’t just charge right in to the King, but she went before the Lord to seek His face for three days before making a move. She waited on the Lord, something that no one seems to want to do in the Church.  As a result of that wait, and the team work involved, the king held out the scepter to her, indicating his favor, and that her requests would be granted. She, in turn, touched the tip of the scepter, indicating her thankfulness and submission.   

Keep in mind that the wicked Haman was put to death, but Mordecai, Esther, and all of the Jews lived! The very same fate awaits all those who are attempting to destroy the Jews today.    

Let me just say that today, many Christians see themselves as King’s Kids, kicking up their heels in the King’s Palace (Lord’s House), with no concern for the Jews, to whom we owe a debt of gratitude. Most of the Church remains silent to Israel’s vulnerability, and are taking up the Palestinian cause exclusively. They are blind to the Lord’s remarkable restoration of Israel.  

What a horrible thing it will be for the Church, if support for Israel and the Jews must come from some other source. Sure it will cost the true Church to stand with Israel, and say as Esther did, “If I perish, I perish!” But that is our call! We have been set down here on earth, for such a time as this, and our attitude must be the same as Esther’s when she said, “If I perish, I perish!” 

 

“God Showed Me Something!” 

“I believe that it is a message for any of His own, who will receive it.  The Lord showed me a swing, like you would see in just about any park, but one side of the chain was broken, and the seat was just dangling. He said, “The time for swinging back and forth between God and the world is over. Play time has ended, and it is time to get very serious.”  God wants all of His blood bought, blood drenched children, to realize who they are, and Whose they are. The days are short now, and it is time to become more focused on Him than ever before.”   Jone    
 

“Judge Not That You Be Not Judged”  

Lee Grady recently said, “I receive letters telling me that we should not judge! Our Church leaders have stumbled, but after all, no one is perfect! We need to cover their sins and forgive!”  He went on to say, “I can’t help but wonder what Bible these folks are reading. My Bible tells me plainly that it is our responsibility to judge sin in the Church. Of course we forgive, but forgiveness does not involve putting a preacher back in the pulpit one week after he has had a serious moral failure.” 

Lee was referring to Clarence McClendon, who divorced his wife of 16 years, and married another woman one week later. The ceremony was performed by Bishop Earl Paulk, founder of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, in Atlanta. Several prominent ministers attended the wedding, lending their endorsement to McClendon’s actions. TBN was also there for him. Tammera McClendon said, at that time, that Clarence told her, while they were still married, that the Lord had shown him the woman who would replace her as his wife.  

 When the Apostle Paul learned that a man was living in an immoral relationship with his father’s wife, he tore in to the situation with a vengeance. He said, “Are you not to judge those inside the Church? Expel the wicked person from among you!”   Those are not politically correct words, but they were spoken by a true apostle. If we want a restoration of genuine, apostolic Christianity in our generation, we need to disperse with all of the craziness and initiate some apostolic confrontation.  

Once McClendon’s divorce and immediate remarriage became public knowledge, he was forced to leave his denomination, but he simply moved to California and started a new work. However, after being charged with abuse by many parishioners over the years, Bishop Earl Paulk has finally been removed from the pulpit. God is serious! He is House cleaning! This truly is a time for confrontation, Church!  

Leaders of so-called Spirit-filled congregations all across this country are making bizarre choices that compromise basic Christian integrity. Let me give you some examples: At one Charismatic congregation, staff pastors successfully convinced all of their wives, and female staff members, to get breast implants. In a congregation in California, which is known for its revival meetings and prophetic ministry, there was recently an implosion after some of the members learned that several of the men in the congregation were having homosexual affairs with the pastor, who was a married man. In yet another congregation, a leader, who wears the label of “apostle”, recently informed his leaders that men of God who reach his level of anointing are allowed to have more than one sexual partner. Then, his very own son offered his wife to his father, out of a sense of spiritual obligation. And we are not to judge this sin? Unbelievable!  

One of Holland’s most respected charismatic pastors, Stanley Hofwijks, says that some American ministers are no longer welcome in his country. Pastor Hofwijks pastors a 2,500 member Maranantha Ministries congregation, which is one of the largest in Holland.  He said, “These pastors come here and insist that they must take their own offerings. Then they get up in the pulpit and tell the people that if they will give $1,000.00 each, all will be well with them, and they will be blessed.” This dear pastor, who is weary of all of this financial manipulation, now has a new policy. If a visiting minister insists on taking his own offering, he is not welcome to preach to that congregation.  

Christian businessman and conference organizer, Arie Templeman, has many horror stories to tell about his dealings with American preachers. He said, “Their behavior outside the pulpit is as disturbing as some of their questionable demands for donations.” He went on to say that some visiting preachers insist on pricey hotel rooms. For instance, on one occasion, a $10,000.00 a night penthouse was demanded, while still others made rude demands of the hotel staff.  

Mr Templeman said, “Many Dutch people look up to these men because they see them on Christian television. If they knew what went on behind the scenes, they would loose all respect for them.”   

On one occasion, an American preacher, who was speaking at a Dutch conference, was asked if he could come to another city and address a group of pastors. Immediately the evangelist asked how much he would be paid for the ministry session. When he was told that he would receive $1,000.00, he looked down at his shoes and said, “One of my shoes costs more than that. I will not go.”   

One of Pastor Hofwijks’ greatest concerns is that American arrogance is infecting some of the younger Dutch leaders. He said that they want to be like the preachers on American television. They are beginning to focus on a superstar mentality. He said, “It is very negative for our country, because they fall, and the people fall with them.”  

We have absolutely no idea how many men, women, and young people have been seriously wounded by prideful, arrogant American preachers. I have seen some of it! I hear reports of it all the time, and not just from Holland. We must begin to pray that those on Christian television, and those who have international influence, will find the grace to model genuine humility, and integrity, before it is too late.  

Here in America we have 10,000 Evangelical Pastors who have signed a declaration supporting evolution. There are 86 Evangelical Christian leaders who have decided to back a major initiative to fight Global Warming. The organization is known as the Evangelical Climate Initiative. Most of these are associates of Rick Warren, the purpose driven Pastor. Yet another group of Pastors has formed an umbrella type organization so “all” pro-Israel Christians can speak as one voice. The “all” is in name only, though, for their meetings, and all that they do, is by invitation only. More structure!  More control!!!    

God is no longer tolerating this nonsense in the Church which is called by His Holy Name. Many, many candlesticks are about to be removed, unless there is genuine repentance. The days of Ananias and Saphira are about to be seen in our midst again, unless there is genuine repentance.  

All political correctness has got to go! “My Watchmen must warn when they see danger coming, whether the people want to hear it or not. Theirs is a holy and costly calling.  I have given them hearts of compassion, but foreheads like flint. They will shed many tears of grief, and have to withstand much anger, hatred, and many harsh words for My Name’s sake.  However, they must warn, when I say warn!  

“All those who are called to speak in My Name, must do so without muddying or watering down the Word. They must speak forth what I give them boldly and fearlessly. They must walk in genuine humility. They must remind the people of the folly of disobedience, and the need to repent and turn back to God.”  

“Those who stand with My chosen Nation, Israel, will speak for her, and will suffer the same hatred as she herself incurs. She is hated not for herself, but because of Me. Nevertheless, speak My Words of warning, and stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel, the apple of My eye.”       

Short Term Missions  

Barbara Wittbrodt will be teaching conversational English at a Bible School with Word of Life in Korea. She leaves March 8^th and would very much appreciate our prayer covering for her. She will be teaching college age students, and about half of them are believers. Let us pray that her mission will be a fruitful one, and that many more will make that decision to serve Yeshua.  

Because their flight dates were changed, and she is traveling on frequent flier miles, her return trip is not scheduled the same as the others. Let us pray that the Lord will work it all out so Barbara can return on the same flight with the rest of the team. May you have safe and joyous travel, Barbara! 

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Paul and Joane Gelep are leaving March 20^th for Israel. They will be gone for three weeks and they, too, would appreciate our prayer covering. This will be their first time to go it alone. God has given both of them great favor with the Israelis, both believers and unbelievers. It is amazing the way He works  through them, whenever they are in the Land. They will be free to flow with the Spirit of God as He leads and directs them. 

 Let us pray for many divine appointments for them and a fruitful trip in general. Let us also pray for their safety in flight, and as they travel throughout Eretz Israel. Have a wonderful trip, Paul & Joane. We know many who wish they were going with you.  

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The next time you visit our website at www.fairhavensmissions.org I would like to invite you to click on the link to Shirley Scurlock’s website. She has done an awesome job. Shirley has built the site in honor of Israel, and she has done a beautiful job. I promise you that you will be blessed.  

Shirley has also asked that I tell you that she has created a prayer group with a chat room for prayer and testimonies. This can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MightyPowerOfPrayer/ Shirley said to let you all know that you can post pictures of loved ones for prayer, or pictures of your city or town. Check it out, and let her hear from you!  

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I will be in Corbin, Ky  March 25^th at The Meeting Place

3368 Cumberland Falls Highway

Contact: Lee & Rita Hensler (606) 521-0498

 

Our new address: Fair Havens Missions,  206 Cardinal Rd.,  Brunswick, GA 31525.

Telephone / Fax: (912) 265-0019.  Email: myrnamiddleton@bellsouth.net

 

Thank you all so much for your prayers through this time of transition. Please know we are grateful!

 

Shalom and Blessings