From the desk of Steve Shultz:
As you'll read below, Sean Feucht shares a personal journey he and his family have been going through the past few weeks with the diagnosed sickness of his father—a malignant tumor growing inside his head. YET God has been "near" them and speaking deeply to Sean in this time about the Church and what is ahead for us. It's in times of trauma that I truly believe God takes us to a higher level in Him and is always, always drawing us nearer. This article by Sean will encourage you in this. And please be lifting Sean's father and his family in this time, we all need to be surrounded by prayers in the times of family trauma.
Sean Feucht:
A Word for the Church:
She is Resilient
Upon hearing the news a few weeks ago in New Zealand of the enlarged malignant tumor growing inside my father's head, it has been quite a bit of an emotional roller coaster for my entire family and me. I have to be honest in saying I've never faced anything quite like this in my entire life. Just as I was finishing my very first-ever book manuscript to send in to the publishers, and felt I had at least a little handle on what God was doing in my life and in our day, this single event has completely blindsided me. I now feel as raw and broken as I have ever been in my entire life.
This occurrence has exposed every fear, anxious thought and lie of unbelief that has somehow hidden in the deep crevices of my soul. But just as the enemy has been working tirelessly to unleash a fury of discouragement, fear and panic against my family through hopeless doctors' reports, God has been drawing ever so near. I cannot quite clearly articulate it all, but there is a strange nearness of His presence that refuses to leave our side. Whether we are praying, worshipping, meeting together with doctors or even carrying on casual conversation, there has been an atmosphere of ease and rest that I have never encountered in my life.
Now, I am not at all impressed with the strategy of the enemy or the works of evil. My family and I fully trust, believe and carry an expectation for a miraculous healing to take place that will give God the greatest glory. We have no other option. But I feel compelled to share a peek into my journey of faith as I believe it will strengthen you and release fresh hope into your heart.
There is one word right now about the Church that I cannot get away from while pondering the journey of the past few weeks, "She is Resilient."
His Greatest Secret Weapon
God has clearly unveiled and activated what I believe to be His greatest secret weapon in these last days against every plan and wicked scheme of the enemy. This strategy is simply His Bride coming fully alive. Though I have grown up in church my entire life and went forward at least 87 times to be saved at altar calls before I was six years old (I came forward every time!), I have never witnessed the strength, power and sheer force of the Church that's generated as she fully comes alive like this in my life.
Ever since this news broke, we have been overwhelmed and astounded with the global outcry of the Church to fight, support, encourage and stand with us every step of the way as we contend for breakthrough and healing. People have gone out of their way, traveled long distances and poured out massive resources to help us in our time of need. There are entire communities in different nations that have organized 24/7 prayer chains to cover our family in prayer and they have not even had the privilege of meeting my dad! Several close covenant friends of mine have even refused to go off their fasts until the full measure of healing is released! Covenant relationships have never been stronger in my life and this has released fire and strength to my bones in ways I cannot explain!
Because of the nature of this aggressive and demonic disease and the reality of no present medical cures, the Church has realized that breakthrough in my father's life establishes a legal precedent for healing and breakthrough to be released for those stricken with this sickness across the world. Thousands and possibly millions of lives are cut short every year from different kinds of tumors and the infestation of cancer. It has become a much larger breakthrough we are pressing in for during these past weeks than even the life of my dad. But our prayers and cries are focused in on eradicating tumors and cancer from humanity! The Church will come forth with that promised seed that will crush the head of the serpent according to Genesis 3:15.
She is Resilient
The Bride of Christ is beautifully and powerfully resilient. Although we are aware of the issues and challenges of the Western Church, this is an hour where God is showcasing her resilience to fight, press in and overcome like He has overcome. The built-up offense, sarcasm, cynicism, disillusionment and any excuses in our hearts must burn away as we believe fresh again in the mandate of the Body to transform the world.
I was preaching in Greensboro, North Carolina, this past Sunday and the Lord just BOMBARDED my spirit with the promise of Jesus that even the "gates of Hell shall not prevail" against His Church (Matthew 16:18). As you look at devastation, famine, war and forces of Hell releasing death and fear all over the world, only one power has been able to completely trump and combat its reign. Whether with the tsunami in Indonesia, the human trafficking exploitation in Cambodia, the ravenous earthquake in Haiti or the cancerous tumor in Virginia, the Church has ALWAYS been the first on the scene to respond and extend healing and hope to the world. Empowered by the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the grave, she is brilliant and radiant in demonstrating the Kingdom and works of Heaven to a broken and dark humanity.
"She is resilient." Though satan works relentlessly to beat her down and extinguish her through persecution, death, apathy and unleashing the spirit of humanism, she rises again even stronger! This evidence is clearly seen today through the Church in China, India, Iran and even university campuses in America currently exploding in the most dynamic way in history in the midst of such adversity.
The Sustained Cry
I am writing you today from the most unreached and least churched city in the North American continent. Over 85 nations, 5,500 athletes, top dignitaries and heads of state have converged in Vancouver, Canada, this week representing an influx of hundreds of thousands of people. This is the largest sporting and cultural event of the last two years and the eyes of the world have focused their gaze on this town.
Once again, the Church has been positioned right in the middle of this chaotic frenzy and worshippers, intercessors and lovers from across denominational lines and churches have lighted the torch of intimacy and love for over 24 hours! We did in Beijing two years ago with the underground Church, and we are here once again with resilience and fresh faith. It has been one sustained, unified cry of awakening to reverberate across the city of Vancouver and echo in hearts of the tribes gathered from every corner of the earth. In the place of His Presence, we know anything is possible and our hearts are exploding with expectation and faith for a shift to take place across the region.
The spirit of humanism, incurable diseases, famines, wars and rumors of wars, natural disasters and cynicism will not hold the Church back as her finest hour is quickly approaching. She will shine with a brightness that will beckon "nations to come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn" (Isaiah 60).
Join us with your prayers for global breakthrough to be released across the world and for tumors to vaporize as we stand and shine with a resilience that reveals the overcoming Spirit of Jesus Christ.
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
THE CHURCH IS RESILIENT!
Sean Feucht
Founder, Burn 24/7
Email: info@theburn247.com
Sean and Kate Feucht are the founders of Burn 24-7—powerful, prolonged experiences of worshiping the Father and intercession for the nations. Their undying vision is to ignite and establish places of continual worship and prayer that will affect the spiritual atmospheres, climates and cultures of cities and regions for the Kingdom of God. Sean has released five prophetic worship albums and travels around the nation leading worship and speaking at conferences, camps, services and BURN 24-7 furnaces.
