Newsletters
(The Forge Newsletter_January_2012)
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." 37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God ?" (Genesis 41:15,37,38)
Dreams take us to Destiny, often through Death. Where there is no vision, the people will perish. (Prov 29:18) Where there is wrong application of dreams, as the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar did, the people will perish too. (Dan 3:1, 4:33)
1 Joseph's dreams: Joseph needed to forget and forgive
The meaning of Joseph's dreams was very clear. The dreams had no time frame at all, which might have meant it depended on Joseph's life journey. We mustn't try to fulfil this kind of dream with our own strategy and strength. It doesn't depend on other people (brothers and parents) but on my internal and external journeys with God.
2 Two officials' dreams: Joseph didn't need to do anything except interpret
The meaning of the dreams was not clear. They needed to be interpreted but they didn't need to be applied; it just happened to them without any effort on their part. There was a definite time frame of fulfilment of their dreams; within three days. Joseph simply interpreted and it happened as he interpreted, but later it gave a connection to interpret Pharaoh's dreams.
3 Pharaoh's dreams: He needed to hand over his authority to Joseph to do the job
The meaning of the dreams was not clear at all, so no-one was able to interpret. The dreams needed to be interpreted and to be applied, and Joseph gave both interpretation and application. There was a specific time frame in the dreams; seven years abundance and seven years famine, and God would do it soon (41:32). Joseph didn't need to work to create the abundance and the famine, instead he had to manage them according to his application. We need to find out what our job is, otherwise I might ignore my own job, and I might try to do God's job, and be frustrated.
These three kinds of dreams are all different themes but they are from one (אחד) God for one purpose. They are all different jig-saw pieces but they are all connected through Joseph to fulfil God's eternal purpose. So we need to be careful we are not trying to make things fit together in our own time-frame with our own strategy and strength. Instead we need to listen to God and walk with God as Joseph did, so that His will and eternal purposes will be fulfilled.
4 Joseph did not meet the conditions to be a ruler
Pharaoh needed to find the right person to manage the seven years' abundance and the seven years' famine. The person needed experience and qualifications in areas like farming, taxation, transporting, construction, distribution. Joseph had no such experience, nor qualifications although he had learned management skills in Potiphar's house. Also he was a Hebrew whom the Egyptians despised and his background in Egypt was as a slave and a prisoner. He was absolutely unqualified.
5 Joseph met just one condition that nobody had
Pharaoh didn't look at any other condition, nor experience, but just one thing; “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” (Genesis 41:38). Pharaoh was a non-Hebrew, secular leader but he recognised a man filled with the Spirit of God and he handed over his authority and the destiny of his country to this young man whom he had never met before. In the same way, hundreds of years later... “the religious leaders saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)
Rees Howells was born in a mining village and he lived as a miner but walked with God. And God used him mightily for the Kingdom of God. We don't need a lot of qualifications to do the job - our calling; to fulfil God's eternal purposes, but we need to learn how to walk with Jesus simply step by step through listening in order to obey.
Report from Last The Forge gathering (17th December 2011)
20 of us met in Moriah Chapel. It was cold but it was full of praise and prophetic words, and his presence was so real. Thank you leaders of Moriah and Julie for allowing us to use the room.
|
I saw a large field, sloping gently down from right to left, and at the far side I could see the hedge. It was recently ploughed and I could see the rows of furrows that followed the slope. I could see the freshly turned earth, moist, and a good rich colour. I moved a little closer to look at the first furrow, and it already had the seeds placed in it. So I asked the Lord what this meant, and He told me that the field represented the Bible College of Wales, and that the first seeds were already in place and they were going to be for His glory.” |
The FORGE team
Right now we are four couples here in Wales who are committed to this venture of faith and praying and walking together. Also we have some other people for whom it is difficult to join with us physically but we know they are in this venture with us. We welcome you to come along with us because the Kingdom of God is big enough for us to work together.
The FORGE leaflet
When I attended 3 days fasting and prayer conference in November, at least two people told me that now is the time to let people know the vision and don't hide myself any more. Therefore we have launched the website and I have been designing the Forge leaflet. Please pray that we have creativity from God. If you want to have a look, please click below.
The FORGE website
We have launched 'The Forge' website although it needs a lot of adjustments. Thank you Simon, Dan and my wife for your help and patience. www.theforgewales.org.uk
The FORGE bank account
We have opened 'The Forge' bank account. God seems to be telling us that the bank account is not to be publicly available but as requested. Recently we have received £600 in cash from a really unexpected person, and an £800 cheque. We have now put together all the money we had received, for example, last October when we visited Israel, we received some gifts $1000, $300, 50 Shekels, Chinese Yuan, Hong Kong dollars, Singapore dollars, Korean won, also $1000 American cheque, $300 Canadian Cheque, £3400 offering from Brenda Taylor's conference and from Nazareth in Israel. Thank you so much for your prayers and participation for this venture of faith.
Next The Forge gatherings
Date: Saturday, 14th January 2012, 12pm-4pm (with packed lunch)
Venue: Parklands Church, Maes Y Gollen, Sketty, Swansea, SA2 8HQ
Date: Saturday, 28th January 2012, 12pm-4pm (with packed lunch)
Venue: Moriah Chapel, 68 Glebe Road, Loughor, Swansea, SA4 6SR, U.K.
The FORGE vision
God has commissioned us to redeem the land Rees Howells once purchased and made the site of the Bible College of Wales, a place of intercession and training for the mission field, which is now vacant and for sale. The vision we, and many others, have is to open a centre there which functions both as a (24/7) prayer house with intercession for Israel and the nations; and also a training centre to prepare workers both practically and spiritually for the mission field in these last days.
The picture God has given us is of a spiritual forge, where apprentices learn how to handle fire, water and metals and wrestle them into useful weapons, and where the apprentices are themselves forged through the Word of God and the Holy Spirit's fire to become useful tools in His hands.
Although this vision has been in my heart since January 2009, it has been sprouted through my trip to Israel in January 2011 and was confirmed at ECI (European Coalition for Israel) summit in Brussels in March. It is too big for us to purchase and to run it, so we are moving step by step by faith.
Could you pray for Bridget and baby please?
Baby is due on 22nd January
God bless you.
Shalom & love!
Qday (& Bridget) LEE and The Forge team
12 Ropewalk Road, Llanelli, Wales, SA15 2AL, U.K.
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
/ (+44) 07870-653157 (mobile)