Dear Friends,
This year started out amazing! Having Mom join us and speak the truth of Union, the strength of anchoring ourselves in God in order to stand strong in times of crisis, is a perfect way to begin 2016. I encourage you to listen to the messages on our media log page. They are the first three files on the page. I pray that God will instruct and encourage you as you listen to them (again) and share them with your friends and family.
This Friday night, Nita Johnson will join us for the next session in this series. We will offer three methods for listening; I pray you can join us!
Nita Johnson speaking live Friday Night Worship begins: 6 pm (PST) Nita Speaking: 7 pm
Three ways to join us:
1- Join us in person at: Bethel Chapel 23010 66th Ave W Mountlake Terrace
2- Join via computer/smart phone/tablet through the live stream page of our website: www.worldforjesus.org Please note: lyrics provided during worship. Apart from this, our broadcast will be audio only
3- Join via phone using our Corporate Prayer Line! 605-562-3140 Access code 182152#
Following is the final installment in 12 Pillars of God; "Love" Session 2. Mom first taught this series at the Revival Services in New Orleans in 2010. When I couple the "12 Pillars of God" with what Mom is sharing each week at Bethel Chapel, I feel as though God meant for them to be released together. Each segment of 12 Pillars drives the message of unity with God deeper into the soul. I pray you are challenged and blessed through these messages.
Blessings & love, Ricci
Please continue to keep our finances lifted up before the Lord. We have new challenges given us by the Lord, and we need to hire staff and make additional changes to fulfill that commission. Thank you for your faithfulness to keep us in your prayers. _________________________________________________
12 Pillars of God
“Love”
Session 2
Part - C
By
Nita Johnson
Transcription of New Orleans Teaching
From last week...
Walking in love; every lesson pivots on that one foundation. Will you learn Christ, Who is love? The trials will come, and they must come because it’s the only way to learn love, so if you don’t want trials in your life, give up the notion of learning love. However, if you are determined to know Christ, be prepared to experience trials. In trials; endure, learn patience, learn kindness. Love is never envious nor boils over with jealousy. It is not boastful or vainglorious. Remember, love.
There are those in the body of Christ who cause us to have to remind ourselves to be loving. When every word that comes out of their mouth is full of boasting and vanity, it can be exhausting. We strive to get to know the real person inside. Unfortunately, standing between us they place all of their merits preventing us from knowing who’s behind the badge.
Love is not boastful or vainglorious. It does not display itself haughtily nor is it conceited, arrogant, or inflated with pride. One of the most beautiful things that I see in the Lord Jesus Christ when I see Him face to face is His humility. Perhaps it’s the lesson He’s trying to teach me, but He is the epitome of humility, and there is a total absence of pride and arrogance.
Jesus is a gentle teacher; He never makes me feel as though my questions or mistakes are stupid. He is humble, and love flows freely from Him. I always feel the love in, and through, His correction. In Him, there is no pride or arrogance.
When I’ve done something wrong and I’ve missed the step that He called me to be on at that moment, do you know how I always know? It isn’t always because I just happened to look at the person's face I just offended, no. It’s because suddenly I’m feeling pride in my heart and it scares the living daylights out of me.
When you feel pride, how can you worship Him? When you’re feeling pride, you place yourself above Him. You can’t possibly worship Him; you can sing to Him, but you can’t worship Him. I ask Him: Lord, what did I do? Why am I feeling pride? I don’t want this, and I’ll weep, and He’ll show me what I did wrong. I may have done something that seems so small, but sometimes even little things are very meaningful to Him. He will show me, and I’ll weep, apologize and repent. I bow myself lower and lower until the pride is broken and I can feel the freedom He desires for me. I know He’s pleased because I’ve purified myself before Him and I can worship Him again.
How do we worship the Lord, Who is the very essence of humility, when our heart is full of pride? During our worship of Him, if our thoughts turn to ourselves, maybe we think of how beautiful our voice sounds as we worship, or a great deed we did earlier, our thoughts are resting on us and not Him. That is pride. Or, maybe we just really love Him, but we have been unapproachable to people who needed us simply because of the pride that’s in our heart. Do we think we're better than others? We may show it by the home we live in, by the car we drive, or how we act. Of course, we don't feel that way, right? But, deep down inside—if the truth is known, we do. Maybe we think we’re smarter, wiser, or more beautiful than others. Maybe we feel that we just come from a better station in life; who knows what the stem of pride is but our own heart?
How can we worship the Lord, Who is humility, Who condescends to reveal Himself to us when our heart is full of pride when pride is in our hearts? We cannot. We are too busy loving ourselves rather than learning to walk in Divine love.
Will you pay the price to learn Christ? That’s what He’s looking to see in us. Can you do it? Yes! Is it difficult? Yes! Will you have to nail yourself to the cross again and again? Yes! Pick up your cross and follow Me. He never said Christianity would reach its apex without the cross; you must have a cross. The goal is to get the cross off of your shoulder and into your soul. When the cross is fitting where it belongs, you become love and will never again consider yourself better than another.
Paul said that he would give it all away that he may win Christ. This was an amazing thing for Paul to say because he was more than saved, he understood that there is a calling that is much higher. Paul came to the place where he saw the vision, the throne, the goal, and calling, and he knew his destiny was to something higher than he’d ever known before and it was enfolded in the heart of God. Paul's eyes were fixed on the prize of the knowledge of Christ, becoming one with Him and leaving the old man behind.
The things we face in this life are not to just inconvenience us or cause us to toss and turn at night reflecting on the day's actions and wondering if you can improve your life with a different reaction next time. Instead, we are to ask ourselves, “Have I learned Christ in this situation? Have I pleased His lofty, noble heart? He gave me this uncomfortable cross that I might know Him and die to myself, and live for Him as He did for me. Am I, Lord? Am I learning You?”—that is the purpose of our life.
When we can finally let go of the pride, dying to 'self' comes easy. It is our pride that keeps us from jumping off the altar. The Lord is the Priest of the altar. He stands there watching us run off, and He looks up to heaven, to the Father and the Father says: It’s alright Son, they’ll be back. We need the humility because it is in this place that love is born. He challenges you to the nobility of divine love which loses sight of itself and clings to the vision of Christ. It is an honor and privilege to endure for His sake. It is an honor to be made into His image; it is an honor to die before the face of men.
Man might want to intimidate your dying process so you will stop. But at that moment remember, it is an honor to be humbled that I might be raised alive in Him. It is an honor to go low that He might lift me up in Him. It is an honor to be emptied of self, that I might be filled with Him. My friends and my family may not understand, but I understand this one thing—I must forget what lies behind and stretch forward to what lies ahead. I must keep reaching for the prize, which is life in the Son.
God is going to awaken His Church and the day the scales fall off of our eyes, and we begin to see the world the way the Lord does everything will change. When we see what God destined life to be, our lives will be changed. Oh, when we see what He destined for the Church—the day He rose from the dead and understand the life of the Son of God, how high, holy, lofty, powerful and expansive He is, you will see your passions realigned. If you’re wise—you will do everything you can to learn the lessons of Paul, the ones he knew so well and sought to teach the church.
Since the Lord came to visit me about these things I've shared with you week after week, I see the enemy swoop in to try and take my life. Each time I stand there and say, “God please don’t let me die! Don’t let me die until I have entered into You and have become all You have created me to be in this life!” I am a woman, so I may look at things differently than a man but it isn’t so much about ministry, it’s about being in Him. I don’t want to be taken home until He develops me the way He wants me developed in this life. This desire gives me the strength to endure and the force to fight. I couldn’t bear to go home and see my Savior’s face knowing that I rejected the cross and I wasn’t willing to pay the price He paid knowing He would have given me all the grace I needed, if only I would have endured. I couldn’t bear to see His face—He would be so kind, generous and wonderful. He’d give me a great big hug, “Welcome home, Nita!” The minute I saw His eyes, knowing that I quit being willing to pay the price to be what He called me to be in Himself—it would be unbearable. I’d be like one of those foolish virgins crying my head off, pleading for another chance and by then it would be too late. So why not learn it here? Paul said if you want to learn the glory, you must bear the suffering. They’re linked and can’t be pulled apart. Press in, learn the Pillar of Love, my friends, you will never regret the sacrifice you made.
In His Amazing Love, Nita Johnson
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This Week's Schedule:
We invite everyone to stand with us as we fight for the healing of our Nation.
Click below for PDF with: Flash Phone Instructions
Flash Phone Access Then enter the number and access code for the any of the desired lines. __________
Corporate Intercession Line 605-562-3140 Access Code: 182152#
Chinese Translation Line 641-715-3650 Access Code: 336087
This week's prayer times are as follows:
Wednesday - January 27 10:20-Noon PST 11:20-1PM MST 12:20-2PM CST 1:20-3PM EST
Thursday -January 28 5:50-7:30PM PST 6:50-8:30PM MST 7:50-9:30PM CST 8:50-10:30PM EST
Friday - January 29 Nita Speaking at Bethel Chapel!
6:00 PM PST Worship 7:00 PM PST Teaching _____________
Sunday - January 31 Interactive Corporate Prayer Call East and West Coast calls combined! NEW TIME!!! 5PM PST 605-562-3140 182152#
Chinese Corporate Intercession 5PM PST 641-715-3640 ACCESS CODE: 800754#
Canadian Corporate Intercession 3:20 PM PST Call in: 712-775-7035 Access code: 444928#
All are welcome to attend any of the above calls. _________________
Upcoming Events:
Kansas City, Gathering of the Eagles, 2016! DATES: March 15-19, 2016 Please note: due to scheduling with the hotel, this event will run Tuesday - Saturday Location: Holiday Inn KCI Airport & Expo Center 11728 NW Ambassador Drive Kansas City MO 64153 816-801-8400 Room Rates: King bed - $104.00 2 Queen beds - $114.00 *Room must be booked by 2/10/2016 with group code: Gathering of the Eagles to receive this rate. Schedule: 9:30-1:30 and 6:30-10:30PM (subject to change) Pre-registration Link!
Photo ID required upon check-in. Your name badge must match your photo ID. All attendees will be required to wear their name badge during each session. Please note; no recording of any kind is allowed during the GOE. Please honor our request. Ushers are in place to enforce this rule.
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CedarWood Int'l
The CedarWood Pantry served a grand total of 10,927 people in 2015! This is thanks to those of you who contribute to this effort, Pastor Matthew & Su of Bethel Chapel for allowing us to rent so much of their facility for our CedarWood programs, our amazing volunteers and of course, our CW team for making this possible!
Monday February 1st 1-2:30pm
Location: Bethel Chapel 23010 66th Ave W Seattle, WA 98043
Here are some pressing needs our CedarWood department has:
- Coats - Area Appropriate. Heavy Rain and Snow
- Shoes
- Blankets - All sizes
- Sleeping bags for the homeless
- Volunteers
- Diapers (Size 3 & up) & baby wipes
- Baby Food & Formula
- $5-$20 Gift cards for Gas for our volunteers who transport the food to and from the Pantry
Most donations can be dropped off during the Pantry or mailed into our office. Tax deductible receipts provided.
Coats & Clothes Closet:
Open Mondays and by appointment. We need volunteers to help organize and prepare clothing for visitors
The need is great and our numbers are increasing every week. Please pray that our volunteer base will increase as well!
If you would like to help with BackPack Kids, contact Ken & Kathy Rickey at KathyR@worldforjesus.org
We extend a special thanks to our CW Team and volunteers for their faithfulness every week.
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Joel's Army brings together intercessors to intercede for their nations. If you are interested in learning more:
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