-- A Word through Ching Co, Cebu City, The Philippines Ching's email: ching@gsilink.com Sunday, March 04, 2001

March 6, 2001

In the past few weeks, I have been feeling a quickening in my heart, like "warning bells ringing in my ears" impressing upon me to prepare for an impending storm is coming upon the body of Christ.

As I waited for more information to enable me to pray and prepare more effectively for this storm. I received these impressions which I'm submitting to the body of Christ for you to test and to discern.

FACING THE STORM

The first question I asked the Lord was whether He wants us to rebuke this storm or to face this storm and I felt Him impressing that we are to face this storm.

THE FORM OF THE STORM

I then asked Him in what form this storm will manifest itself. And I felt the Lord impressing to me that it will come in the form of FEELINGS OF DISAPPOINTMENT coming like wave after wave to overwhelm us. The arena and stage will be varied for each person, but the effect will be the same This will not only be between people to people but at times, we may find ourselves in situations where we will be disappointed with God.

THE PURPOSE OF THE STORM

Then I asked Him what could be the purpose for this storm. And I then saw the picture of a camel passing through a needle eye which was explained to me that it will be something difficult to battle in our own strength but we have to totally depend upon the Lord--- and the purpose for this is for us TO CRUCIFY OUR FLESH (MIND AND EMOTION) TO DIE TO HUMAN EXPECTATION.

THE ARMY OF GOD

The Lord is raising up an army whose eyes and whole being should, must and will be totally FOCUS UPON THE LORD. And that nothing must distract them from this goal.

However the reality is many of us are still very much VULNERABLE TO WHAT WE PERCEIVE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT US and many times our emotions and state of minds are affected BY OTHER PEOPLES' RESPONSES AND REACTIONS. Human perception has become like a button that the enemy can press to bring us into a low or high gear.

As rubbing two stones against each other produces fire, and as iron sharpens another iron, so will it be in the body of Christ. As we face each friction and pressure in Christ-like manner, the character of Christ is being molded in our lives. We will learn how to accept one another in love, to forgive one another in Christ and to walk together in the midst of our differences for the glory of God.

Our Father's love for us is passionate. And He is molding us to become an army full of His passion and zeal. With our whole being yielded totally to Him alone. With nothing in between Him and us, not even our own family, friends, ministry, work and business or whatever else is important to us.

THE WAY TO VICTORY

I was reminded by the Lord about the story of Moses and how He had to train him in the dessert for 40 years. Also , the story of Joseph and how the Lord trained him in the house of Potiphar, and even in prison before they were both brought forward into public ministry.

Moses' good intention was turned against him by the people that he was trying to help and he had to run away to hide (I believe in disappointment ) into the desert (Exodus 2:12-15).

Joseph was wrongly accused by Potiphar's wife and thrown into prison and even when he had correctly interpreted the dreams of the baker and the butler of the king-- in prison, the butler forgot his promise to speak to the king about Joseph's case and he remained there for two more years. (Genesis 39:20; 40:23; 41:1,9)

In these two stories, what the enemy had meant for harm, the Lord turned around and used them as TOOLS to perfect the man---in the valley of betrayal, disappointment, being misunderstood, forgotten and ignored.

Like the prophet Habakkuk, the Lord will force us to face these issues and questions squarely in the face and will guide us to the Cross of Christ to crucify them there and, as we do-- God will teach us that our dependency and our focus should be upon the Lord and nothing and no one else.

Whatever the result of what we do, whether pain or gain, whether glory or shame, whether success or failure---all must be brought to the cross of Christ to be crucified there so that only God and God alone will be lifted up at all times.

WHAT TO GUARD AGAINST

We must be careful that we don't miss the lessons that God is trying to teach us this season and get carried away by the emotions or lose sight of the goal and find ourselves focusing on situations or personalities.

WHAT TO EXPECT

I felt that many of these events or scenarios will take place from within-- meaning that it will be among loved ones, between brethren in Christ, in the midst of those that we treasure and love and are working with closely and even between us and God, and this will make the struggle doubly difficult.

HOW WE MUST RESPOND

We must be careful that we don't allow the enemy to use our mouth to speak negative things against others out of our pain or hurt. And we have to constantly remind ourselves that our battle is not against flesh but against principalities in high places-- and furthermore we must remember that the Heavenly Father is using these to mold us into the image of Christ who, when wrongly accused-- did not try to defend Himself before His accuser but trusted all things to the Father.

The Father does not want us to ignore these feelings when they surface. But He desires that we face them honestly and bring them to Him so that He can wash us thoroughly and repeatedly from these and make us wholly clean and pure before Him. Like David, let our cry to God be "Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart." (Psalm 51:6)

JUST LIKE JESUS

Many of us are coming to a place in our walk where, like Jesus we will find our good intentions being misunderstood, our friends deserting us, even people that we trust wrongly accusing us and even God seemingly silent to our cry for help.

No mature child of God will be spared this battle. This is a path that we all have to walk through-- sooner or later. But praise God that when we come out at the other end of the journey, we will find ourselves becoming like vessels prepared for noble use. (2 Timothy 2:20-21)

Like the prophet Isaiah, we will then cry out "For the Lord God helps me: therefore have I not been ashamed or confounded. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame." (Isaiah 50:7- Amplified Bible)

PRAYER FOR COVERING

"Heavenly Father, as we prepare to walk through the storm that comes against us. We ask You to guard our hearts always. Help us to fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Break us and mold us and put us back together for it is Your hand doing the work in our lives. We know that we will be safe. We entrust ourselves into Your loving hands and even when we don't feel or see Your hands, we will trust Your heart for we know You desire only the best for each of us. In Christ name we ask these things. Amen!"

PSALM 23:4, 6 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE)

"Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless ] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. Surely or only goodness, mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days, the House of the Lord [and His Presence] shall be my dwelling place."

Blessing to you all,
Sis. Ching Co Cebu City Philippines