THE FMI REPORT -  NOVEMBER 2002

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MURDER TO MISSIONARIES, G12, NEW ALLIANCE, NEWARK GATHERING AND NEW ENGLAND AFLAME

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WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD REPORT…THINK ON THESE THINGS" PHIL. 4:8

 

Welcome! What a pleasure it is to be in touch with you again. Please share this newsletter with anyone on your email list and encourage him or her to sign up to receive the monthly FMI Report FREE. When they subscribe through our website at www.firepowerint.com/subscribe.htm we will also send them a FREE tape of one of my recent messages.

We would also love to hear from you, so send us your feedback today - and don’t forget the ever-popular “GOD THOUGHTS” at the end of this report. Enjoy! JB #

 

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EDITORIAL - THE PIVOTAL PURPOSE OF TRUTH

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                                                   "When you shoot an arrow of truth, dip its point in honey" - Arab proverb

INTRODUCTION

As a young child, subject to the usual childhood ailments from time to time, my mother would expend a lot of energy trying to force some pure, unadulterated medicine down my throat. I would run, hide or do anything I could not to swallow that  foul tasting brew, but after a while she got wise and adopted a strategy made popular by a classic movie of the time, "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!" She whipped that medicine with so much sweetness I thought I was eating candy and went from running a mile to begging her to give it to me.

 

IT'S A LONG WAY BACK!
Sadly, both the world and to some degree, sections of the church have moved far from the Christian-Judeo version of absolute truth. The world has gone the way of trendy relativism and now vehemently calls 'evil  good  and good  evil,' mainly because the church has surrendered its moral authority and allowed the ethic of the age to seep into it, rather than getting itself out more into the world. To bring them both back to God's perspective on the issue of truth is one of the greatest challenges facing those who still have a passion to see His righteousness established on this earth "...as it is in Heaven!

THE PIVOTAL PURPOSE
It all started with the serpent's question to Eve in the garden, "Did God really say...?" (Gen 3:1 NIV). This question was the first chip of doubt on the pillar of absolute truth. In the broadest of senses, it can be said that the entire biblical perspective on the history of humanity since then has been an endeavor to correct the lie of Eden. The written Law was a band aid fix for fallen man, nevertheless, it foreshadowed a better solution in the ultimate revelation: Jesus - God become flesh! Out of this came the Body of Christ, the Church, entrusted with the primary purpose of keeping the flame of truth as bright as it  was received. Nothing is more pivotal to the social, economic, and spiritual future of humanity than the restoration of biblical truth.

 

STRONG MEDICINE
One of the early church fathers, Saint Augustine said, "Faith is to believe what you do not yet see; the reward for this faith is to see what you believe." Due to the almost terminal state of truth in our time, strong medicine will be needed to stop the rot before it's too late. However, it's not too late for the Church to take a stand against error, whether it be within or without. But if it is to have a fighting chance in this restoration, it will have to take a page out of my mother's book of child-rearing wisdom. Absolute truth is a timeless message, but to restore it in a post-modern age will require a 'wise as a serpent, gently as dove' strategy, watered with a faith that believes it is possible to see our culture reclaimed in our day.

 

POWERFUL PACKAGING
Consumerism has been the dominant 'god' of the west for several generations now. In a consumer culture, packaging is everything. Manufacturers understand that because people have been conditioned to buy on the promise of the outer wrapping, often they have to spend more on packaging than on the product. If we are going to take on the enormous challenge of proclaiming the strong medicine of truth to this generation, we must be prepared to add a lot of sugar, otherwise, like me when I was young, they will run a mile and not receive it. Jesus always met people where they were at, and we must do the same.

 

THE NEO-NAZARITES
It is encouraging for me to see a new generation of young Christians arising who not only have the Sword of the Spirit within them, but are being trained to use it in defense of truth by those from the previous generation who have survived intact. These young Neo-Nazarites are separating themselves morally from the current popular culture but are continuing to infiltrate it spiritually from within, being the salt that Jesus said we should be. They are finding relevant ways of communicating timeless truths to an intellectually arrogant age, speaking the truth in love, but understanding there is no substitute for the yoke-breaking anointing of the Holy Ghost! # 

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FEEDBACK 

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"Hi Jeff,...It must be exciting to work in the US, and have God himself make clear that you and your awesome family are in the right place at the right time.  You all were such a blessing and very well needed when you were based at The City Hillsong Church.  But God always moves us forward when we catch the wave. Bye for now and God bless "y'all". Camilla Larsson, Sydney Australia"

 

"Hello Jeff, On behalf of Abundant Faith CLC, we would like to take this time to tell you how profoundly impacted we all were when you visited our church (Oct.'02). For the last 4 years, we have been walking out in the vision that God has given you for the Northeast. It was a refreshing message that you brought to our brothers and sisters.  Your message was considered by us to be a "fresh word for today". Every vision and goal that we have been moving toward was so greatly confirmed in our Church. Since your visit, we are having weekly leadership strategy & equipping meetings. Many things have been happening due to this great awakening:

1.  Leaders have been given new spiritual gifts by the Holy Ghost.

2.  Manifestation of "birth pangs" have been present in a powerful way in our home group leaders.

3.  Pastors and Associate Pastors of other congregations have been showing up in these meetings.

4.  New ministries have been formed, and many, many more.

Jeff, the vision is real and is living here in Cumberland County. We long for the day when we can all see that vision you had come to total fruition in the Northeastern part of the USA, and manifest all around our country. As the wheels of awakening turn, the time of reformation is now, the purpose of the Church is known, and the power of God has returned. Pastor Todd Cawthon, Abundant Faith CLC, Vineland, NJ"

 

"Surabaya, Indonesia November 15, 2002 - Dear Pastor Jeff, I was so excited when I received your e-mail, but it is a pity that you are unable to come on my wedding day. Nevertheless, I hope you send your prayer and blessing for me and my husband-to-be. I would like to share an amazing testimony. Four years ago, when some churches were burned in Indonesia, there was a pastor who was burned to death together with his family by people who hated Christians, inside his own church in Situbondo (a city in the Eastern Java). But today those people who committed that tragedy have come to Christ and three of them are now Christian missionaries. Give God a big hand. Please send my best regards to your family. God bless you, Lenny Sifera Abadi"

**CITY COVENANT COALITION PASTOR'S FORUM  - The subject of November's Pastor's Forum  held at Resurrection Church Brooklyn NY,  was the G12 cell group system presented by Pastor Rob Cassara of New Life Christian Fellowship, Darien CT. G12 (Government of 12) is the vision of Pastor Cesar Castellanos from Bogata, Columbia. He has grown his church to over 300,000 using this system. The G12 model focuses on multiplication, pastoring God's people, evangelizing the lost and raising up leaders. G12 becomes the program of any church that adopts it and not just a program. Everyone is seen as a potential leader. The Four Pillars of The G12 Vision are: Win, Consolidate, Disciple and Send. Many prominent churches around the world are adopting this system with great success, including Larry Stockstill's ministry (Bethany World Prayer Center in Baker, Louisiana), London City Church (Kensington Temple) and Ken and Lois Gott's ministry in Sunderland, England

**NJFPC CLERGY ADVISORY COUNCIL, NEWARK -  Around sixty ministers from Newark and elswhere in New Jersey gathered on November 19 to hear the vision of the NJFPC (New Jersey Family Policy Council) Clergy Advisory Council to restore the family in this state. I serve on this council and we are also partnering with the NJFPC to establish New Jersey's first ever Fatherhood Initiative. This gathering was blessed to have a very diverse group of ministers from many different racial and denominational backgrounds. Over lunch, a stirring and inspirational word was brought by Pastor Clenard Childress and then NJFPC President Len Deo shared his heart and passion to see our culture restored. This was a tremendous day of unity for the church in Newark.

Last month we ministered at the following churches: 

Sun 3rd - House On The Rock, Staten Island NY, Pastor John Picarello.

Frid 8th - Trenton Arise Revival Services, Capital AG, Trenton NJ, Pastor Jack Cairns.

Sat 9th - Leadership Meeting Calvary AG, Jersey City, Pastors Mario And Leigh Gonzelez. 

Sun 10th - Gospel Tabernacle AG, North Bergen NJ, Pastor Joe Santos.

Frid 15th – Sun 17th - Park Slope Christian Center, Brooklyn NY, Pastor Alex Rivera.

Sun 17th - Worker's Appreciation Banquet, Full Gospel Church, Wall NJ, Pastor Bryan Riportella.

Thur 21st – Sun 24th – New England Aflame Conference, Gateway Christian Fellowship, West Haven CT, Pastor Brian Simmons.

"Hi Jeff, Thank you so much for the photos and for a wonderful time together, Both in the Sunday service and in our fellowship afterward. You were well received by our congregation on Sunday. Your presentation was both exciting and clear.The word you brought forth was timely and many were inspired by it. The feed back thus far has all been positive. Our weekly cell group discussions are taken from the lessons given the previous Sunday. Your message made for a most stimulating discussion followed by some very effective personal prayer ministry. Thanks again for your faithfulness and for your friendship. We look forward to having you again in the future. God's best to you and your family. In Christ's Love, John S. Picarello, Senior Pastor, House On The Rock, Staten Island NY"