Newsletters

 Death brings Life
(The Forge Newsletter_November_2011)

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against you; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.” And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, “Make you a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he look upon it, shall live.” (Numbers 21:7-8/ MKJV)

Serpents on the ground and the Serpent in the sky
The Israelites cried out to Moses to pray to God to take away the serpents from them. But the real cause of their suffering was not the external serpents but the internal scar of unbelief. God revealed their unbelief in the desert situation. Then he introduced another serpent in the sky in order to redeem and restore them through trusting in God. God wanted to heal their heart much more than their body. Human beings had been “stung” by the serpent right from the Garden, and as a consequence have been dying all through history. But Jesus was lifted up on a tree like the bronze serpent so that whoever believes in him, will live. (John 3:14-15)

Death brings Life
The fiery serpents on the ground are alive but kill us, yet the serpent in the sky is dead but heals us. Our instinct is to be aware of the live ones but not the dead. So if we don’t trust in God or God’s word, it is impossible for us to lift our head up to look at the bronze serpent in the sky, instead of looking down to run away from the poisonous serpents on the ground. Quite often our mind is busy looking for the poisonous serpents rather than looking up the bronze serpent in the sky. If we don’t trust in God, we try to work things out on the ground level instead of the heavenly level. God made Jesus as sin, like the serpent. (2 Corinthians 5:21) So death worked in him but life works among us. (2 Corinthians 4:10-12)

One New Man in Christ needs to be lifted up
Jesus himself was lifted up on a tree like the bronze serpent. Bronze is made of copper and tin which cannot be separated after it is alloyed. Jesus is the Son of Man and Son of God, the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah, the Beginning and the End, who has made One New Man in him through the Cross. (Ephesians 2:14-15) Jews and Gentiles cannot be one in the natural process but we may be one in Christ like the bronze serpent through the fire of God and in the truth of God. After being made into the bronze serpent, we need to be lifted up, so that death works in us but life works among this dying world. (2 Corinthians 4:10-12) When Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ and being lifted up, God will show his power of healing and salvation through the One New Man. This is happening now in Israel and in the nations.

1. Two Extremes: Replace Israel & Worship Israel
I didn't know and wasn't interested in God's purpose with Israel until God opened the eyes of my heart last January 2011. This is because I was taught that the church was spiritual Israel, which means we, Christians, are Israel. In other words, Israel was banished by God because they killed the Messiah Jesus. So God replaced Israel with the church, which is called “Replacement Theology”. Now I know that Israel is Israel and church is church. They cannot be substituted. On the other hand, some people nearly worship Israel. Israel is not the head but a part of His body as every Gentile Christian is a part of His body. We have to recognise the importance of Israel in God’s eternal purpose but we must not worship Israel, instead we need to stand with her in love.

2. Paul wanted to be cut himself off from Christ for Israel's sake
Paul had great sorrow and unceasing anguish in his heart because of Israel. He could wish that he himself was cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of his people. (Romans 9:2-3) Did God reject his people? By no means! God has not cast away his people which he foreknew. (Romans 11:1-2) Moses and Paul understood God’s eternal purpose with Israel, so they both wanted to exchange their lives for Israel. Also Rees Howells perceived God’s eternal purpose with Israel, so he interceded for years even though Israel wasn’t yet formed as a nation, because he knew that Israel was a big missing piece in God’s eternal puzzle. Israel should not only exist as a nation but also be saved through Jesus so that God’s word and his eternal purposes may be fulfilled.

1. His Grace is Sufficient: Staying at HJ’s flat in Jerusalem
Last summer, a Korean American lady, HJ, offered her flat to welcome our family during the Feast of Tabernacles when I was in Israel. We stayed there for 12 days with other Korean guests and two cats and a dog. She not only provided accommodation but also food and pocket money. Without her serving, we would not have been able to go to Israel and to journey in Israel spiritually and physically. We really thank you HJ. God provided a rented car from a friend of mine from Korea and various people shared with us their two fish and five loaves of bread. We have received gifts from various people.

2. Sharing about Jesus with a Jew before the Western Wall in Jerusalem
One day our family went to the Western Wall. It was so hot. Bridget needed to be under the shade. So we went to a guide who had a big parasol. Kindly the guide gave a chair for Bridget. Then he asked where I came from. I introduced myself briefly and I expressed my appreciation of Jewish people who received and kept the Bible and brought Jesus on to the world. Also I told that we had 21 days and 3 days fasting and prayer for Israel. He was amazed. Then I mentioned our current history and the Bible prophecy is being fulfilled; Ezekiel 38-39. He really listened and was amazed because I was talking from the Old testament. I even read Isaiah 53 about the Messiah and Matthew 1 about Jesus’ genealogy. He called his friend and explained to him. In the end his two seniors came to us and stopped him talking to me. They are ready for hearing the truth and the good news.

3. Two English Intercessors, Next to Damascus Gate in Jerusalem
I, Bridget and Noah walked through the Arab quarter. Bridget bought some bread and pizza. We sat down outside Damascus Gate. While we were eating, two western ladies came and sat down near to us. In the end we found out that they are English, born again Christians and true intercessors. I shared our journey of faith and “The Forge” vision. We prayed together and they said they would stand with us in intercession. It’s so amazing.

4. $1000 Cheque from a Jewish American Rabbi for “The Forge”
A couple of weeks before we left for Israel, I was told that I was going to speak in a conference in Jerusalem. Jan Willem didn’t discuss with me about the session but he had decided. I shared about my journey of faith regarding the redeeming of Rees Howells’ inheritance and the serpent message (above.) After the meeting, a Jewish American Rabbi came to me and wrote $1000 cheque as a seed money for “The Forge”. The next day, I found I needed another signature on the back of the cheque. I tried to chase her but it was unpromising. But two days later, God brought us together in an amazing way. Also a Singaporean brother came to me and gave me 100 Chinese Yuan, 50 Hong dollars and 50 Singaporean dollars as seed money. That evening, the congregation gave a special offering for our new baby. We were deeply moved by their prophetic action and generosity.

5. Meeting with John & Una, and Lynn in Jerusalem
We went to visit John and Una’s prayer house twice and I met Lynn from Canada. When I shared “The Forge” vision, she was deeply touched and when I met her second time, she wrote a cheque for $300 as seed money. John and Una are always lovely, gentle and generous but strong in spirit. They gave us 50 Shekels as seed money and some pocket money with a lovely card. John reminded me that David bought Ornan’s threshing-floor for 50 Shekels. I reminded him that David bought the land with 50 Shekels of silver, not a bank note!

6. Nations on the March on the Last Day of Tabernacles
On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, thousands of Christians from many different countries gathered and marched with Jewish people in Jerusalem for about two hours. I was in tears because I saw a partial fulfilment of the Bible. It was an incredible scene. Peoples were holding their own flags, wearing traditional clothes, singing some Hebrew songs and smiling to the Jewish people as they are marching. We said, “ We love Israel and God loves Israel.” Then they responded, “We love you, Koreans.”

7. Arab Believers Washed Jewish Believers’ Feet in Nazareth
After staying 12 days in Jerusalem, I wanted to take Bridget and Noah to Galilee and Mt Carmel. John and Una recommended to us to go to Nazareth to meet Rxxxx. We decided to take Highway 60 via Bethel, Shechem, etc. We got lost several times and it was getting darker. In the end we arrived in Nazareth and met Rxxxx. She was so thrilled to meet us because a couple of years ago, she received a piece of Welsh coal and she heard about Rees Howells' Bible College being closed down, also our journey of redeeming it. She wants to send some seed money from Arab believers in Nazareth. Can you see that God is forging already in finance; the seed money from Jews and Arabs?

She told us that last year on 23rd May, they held a Global Day of Prayer in Nazareth and they invited Jewish Christian leaders and the Arab Christian leaders washed the Jewish Christian leaders’ feet. God has already started forming One New Man among Arabs and Jews in Israel. Isn’t it incredible? In Jesus time, Jews cursed Nazareth and Jesus himself was rejected in his home town. Rxxxx and her friends have turned the curse into blessings for Nazareth and the nations. Nazareth is like a womb, so God is conceiving blessings now instead of curses not only for Israel but also for the nations. Isn’t it amazing!

8. Breakfast Table turned into Prayer Meeting in Mt. Carmel
One afternoon, we arrived in Galilee. Noah and I enjoyed having our feet nibbled by the fish in the lake! If HJ had not given us pocket money, we would not have been able to buy food. We enjoyed dinner by the sea. Thank you HJ again. After dinner, we quickly moved to Mt Carmel and arrived a bit late but Howard and Tammy welcomed us. We were told there was communal breakfast the next morning at 8 o’clock. Colin introduced us to the people at the table and wanted me to share about our journey of faith. While I was sharing, Rita Tsukahira came to join and started sharing about the beginning of "Or Carmel (Light of Carmel)" ministry. She mentioned a couple of intercessors who came to Mt Carmel (from World Horizons/Nations) to pray and they laid a foundation through their intercession before the ministry existed. She was in tears and me too. The breakfast time turned into a prayer meeting.

After breakfast, I asked to visit to very place where Elijah had his confrontation with Baal’s prophets. Howard took us to the place. I could see Mt. Tabor, Jezreel valley, Mt. Transfiguration, etc.. While we had been in Israel for 14 days, it had been so dry but on that day we saw clouds. And when we came down and were driving, rain drops started. Is it co-incidence or God-incidence? (1 Kings 18:45)

9. The Last Day in Tel Aviv
Noah was so disappointed because of the rain. Noah wanted to go swimming on the beach in Tel Aviv. God heard Noah’s cry. As we approached Tel Aviv, the sun came out. We went straight to the beach and Noah enjoyed swimming and playing with sand. And from Jerusalem, our friends SH and YS came to Tel Aviv and joined with us. I respect them because they left behind everything and came to Israel in order to obey God. Our family stayed with a Korean family and had great time sharing with the wife. She gave us $2000 as seed money for “The Forge”. She really wants to see the warriors of God raised up for such a time as this.

I think it is more than enough for you to read. I have some more to share with you but it’s better to share in the next newsletter. Thank you so much for your prayers and gifts.

God bless you.
Shalom & love!

Qday (& Bridget) LEE

12 Ropewalk Road, Llanelli, Wales, SA15 2AL, U.K.
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||| October The FORGE Meeting
We were thirteen and had an amazing prayer and praise time. There were a lot of encouragements, prayers and thanksgivings although we were a small number of people. I can see that God is solidifying the vision for the next chapter of this new movement.

||| Next meeting for The FORGE
Date: Saturday 19th November, 12pm - 4pm
Venue: Parklands Church, Maes Y Gollen, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 8HQ