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Nothing is Everything
But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net." …. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" …. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men." (Luke 5:5-10)
Peter was well known as a good fisherman in Galilee. But one day people were told he was a sinner. Everyone was shocked. Even the night before he had gone out on the sea of Galilee and worked hard all night to catch fish. However, he confessed that he was a sinner after he had offered his boat for Jesus who was a carpenter. Then Peter left his boat and everything, and followed him. People who lived in Galilee were shocked not only because he was a sinner but also he left his family and everything, in order to follow Jesus.
1. Catching nothing is the first miracle and blessing
There are countless fish in Galilee even today. Therefore it is a real miracle for Peter to catch nothing after fishing all night. It is impossible to catch no fish in the sea of Galilee, unless someone manoeuvred the fish away from Peter purposely. This miracle may have been Gods will. We would call it a failure when we don't catch any fish. But I would rather call it the first miracle of God for Simon Peter. Those who have never had the first miracle of God, normally live in a routine life. Those who have a total failure experience are ready to receive the second miracle of God, which leads to catching two boatfuls of fish.
2. Is catching a lot the second miracle and blessing?
Thus those who experience the second miracle of God will know their true identity in Jesus. Peter never thought of him as a sinner because he had lived faithfully as a fisherman in Galilee. But he found himself as nothing but a sinner through seeing the second miracle. So he left Galilee, the place that had given him his old identity as a fisher-man, and it was his everything. He left in order to follow Jesus, who had given him a new identity, fisher-of-men, and his new destiny. If Jesus hadn't been everything to him, he wouldn't have left Galilee because he would have been caught by the fish that he caught.
3. Nothing is everything
I really want to know who I am, I have to experience EVERYTHING to NOTHING and NOTHING to EVERYTHING through the miracle of total failure. When I cannot do anything, I can find who I am. Peter thought he knew everything about catching fish in the Sea of Galilee and the carpenter knew nothing about it. But after the miracle of failure, Peter's pride was turned over by the carpenter's word. When I experience this second miracle of God, I realise that I am nothing but a sinner. Then I recognise that he is my everything and leave everything behind in order to follow him according to his word.
4. If you want to be perfect, sell and give everything
Catching a lot of fish wasn't Peter's miracle, it was being able to give up all the fish he caught. The reason why Jesus directed Peter to catch a lot of fish was to teach him how to give up what he had earned. But many people are caught by the fish that they have caught, or they are asking to Jesus to work together with them to catch more fish. Those who experience being nothing, can leave everything behind to follow the one who is everything and everlasting. But those who always have something, will work hard without listening nor resting, because they want to make everything; or make perfect the something they have.
Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19:21-22)
[ A testimony from Journey of faith]
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[ Prayer & Intercession ]
Why have many British MPs opposed David Cameron's Syria attack although Britain has been sending weapons to the rebels? Perhaps they don't want to see more unnecessary British blood shed, like the war in Iraq? Why does Obama strongly want to attack Syria although senators are opposing his war plan? Where has Iran's nuclear red line gone? Why has Egypt not been settled although they had a democratically elected president and government? Why have Russia and Iran been supporting the Assad regime? Are we seeing another cold war: USA and Russia are both involved in this Syria war? Why did Obama apparently not protect his own Ambassador in Benghazi on September 11, 2012 and why has he been trying to cover up that incident? Why did a former NSA(National Security Agency) agent, Edward Snowden, have to run away from the USA as a fugitive? Why did Russia accept him as an asylum seeker although Barak Obama had strongly expressed his annoyance? Why are Saudi and Emirates supporting the military backed interim Egyptian government? What is the destiny of Egypt in these current chaotic situations? Are you in support of an attack on Syria or opposed to it? Why? Could this be a trigger of the Armageddon War? The answers are waiting for our questions....and our prayers. |
What is the Destiny of Egypt? Egypt has been in the chaos, so she needs to hear the Word of God. God has got an amazing purpose in Egypt, so I think that he has allowed this chaos, so that he may create and fulfil his purposes in Egypt and through her in the Middle East and the nations. And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the LORD because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Saviour and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. Then the LORD will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the LORD in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the LORD and perform it.(Isaiah 19:20-21) |
The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honour of my majesty?" While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses." (Daniel 4:30-32) And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honoured Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?" (Daniel 4:34-35) |
This is not because of political issues but spiritual reasons What we see happening in the Middle East is a horrible picture of war but God's promise of restoration and prophecy of returning are so clear. He is redeeming and restoring his people and his land for his name's sake. He is coming back as King of kings to reign and as Bridegroom to celebrate with his bride, One new Man, Jews and Gentiles. It is a time of disasters, but it is going to be the time of great celebration. |
On Sunday 31st March 2013, I went to Penllergaer to walk with God. While I was walking, I heard, “Go back to the beginning!” This voice was lingering nearly all day. A few days previously, I had got a phone call from a friend of mine in Swansea. He was organising an Easter Egg Hunt for children on Monday 1st April and he wanted me to bring over my son Noah and family to Swansea on BCW site. I reluctantly went and found that Derwen Fawr house was opened. Later on I called my younger son Yohan to come to the Blue Room with me because his conception and birth are deeply related to our journey of faith. I took a couple of photos of him in the room and I saw a card on the top of fire place. As soon as I looked at it, God spoke to me loudly and firmly. “Place All on the Altar!” On that card there were a few Bible scriptures and this hand writing. Only this sentence jumped out to me and convicted me. Later on I found that a lady sent this card last November from Penllergaer area. Isn't it interesting? One day I heard “Go back to the Beginning!” and the next day “Place All on the Altar!” In January 2009, our family started going to the BCW sites every Sunday according to God's conviction, that he wanted us to redeem and restore the SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE of Rees Howells. Then the BCW sites were closed down and the college moved to England in July 2009. From that point I felt that God wanted us to redeem and restore the PHYSICAL PROPERTIES too, as part of the inheritance. Thankfully one of these has now been purchased and is being restored by Cornerstone Community Church, Singapore. So “Go back to the beginning” might mean that this journey is to redeem and restore the spiritual inheritance of Rees Howells only. Although I still don't know a lot of things, what I know is that I have to place all on the altar and I have placed BCW sites on the altar. Of course it was so hard for me but obedience is better than sacrifice. It looks like my 4 years and 4 months intercessory journey with BCW sites has come to an end, although we are still pursuing Rees Howells spiritual inheritance and the picking up the baton of equipping Jews and Gentiles for the last harvest fields. But we are pursuing in redeeming his spiritual inheritance through the Forge vision. |
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God has called us to redeem the inheritance of Rees Howells the intercessor. We started this journey January 2009 and the 1st School of Faith was December 2012 for 2 weeks and the 2nd School of Faith was April and May 2013 for 4 weeks. God has envisioned, encouraged, challenged, healed and united us as the family of God. We foretasted a little of his full picture of a movement with a lifestyle of community, worship and intercession; an exciting opportunity! (These are some of us, testimonies video clips)
CONTACTS: Qday LEE
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3 Day Fast for Israel: 2nd - 4th December 2013 |
Shalom Love!
Qday LEE
on behalf of the Forge team
12 Ropewalk Road, Llanelli, SA15 2AL, UK
(+44) 7870653157
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www.theforgewales.org.uk