Walking In The Light Through The Middle Of The World - Ecuador By Jorge Parrott
Posted on 15 September 2021
Above: CMM Facultad de Teologia 2021 graduates
How Do We Walk In The Light?
"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7 NKJV)
Cherish is one word that comes to mind when friends gather together! Our recent trip to Ecuador, our fourth, is also one we will always remember. We went for the graduation of CMM Facultad de Teologia, led by our dear friends Drs. Gustavo and Andrea Cadena. We love them and their family and friends. Rocio, the Momma, and Gustavo, the Poppa. They are wise and loving and their extended family are all great friends. On each trip, itt is a delight to enjoy fellowship with them whether in ministry or just relaxing. We were able to minister in several churches, speak on radio and TV with a new church that started after the pandemic began. Choose To Cherish The Gems The Lord Gives You!
We were so blessed to see miracles and deliverance as we spent time growing in intimacy with the Lord together with new and old friends. We invite you to join us on our next trip or take your own trip with a team to see these precious Jesus lovers and experience the glory of the Lord in this beautiful land at the ‘middle of the world.’
Gustavo and Andrea are such a blessing to many as their school grows in Ecuador and S. America. Their warm, wise, engaging focus on the Lord’s Word, Holy Spirit and vast experience studying the Word and working with many diverse, impactful ministries ignites student’s hearts and hunger to higher in the Word and Spirit. This is true even if their students had attended Bible School or Seminary previously. Our school is known for lots of one-on-one attention and time invested in each student. The degree of personal ‘touch’ brings many students back year after year, and word of mouth peer reviews are the most effective form of advertising.
Our well-earned recognition as a school of excellence attracts students from several nations of all ages. We also have many experienced pastors including folks working in the marketplace as our students. They find they need to go higher and deeper in the Word and Holy Spirit. Just like in the English side of our school based in America, many Doctoral students in all of our schools benefit from working on their long-term dream of writing and publishing a book, by completing their degree. Our school is known around the world for implementing revelatory learning with experiential encounters during weekly online classes with students from many different streams, cultures and denominations. This year, several nationally known denominational leaders in Ecuador, Argentina and Colombia had heard of the high quality of engagement and transformation in our school in Ecuador. They finished their degree and graduated with great joy and a real sense of accomplishing their goal. Many overcame obstacles of covid, market fluctuations and finances to finish strong. Please share with Spanish speaking friends and families, even in the US, where there many Spanish speaking brethren live across our nation.https://www.cmmteologia.org/
On Facebook like and follow them at: https://www.facebook.com/cmmteologia
As we experience the intensity of the times the Lord shines His glory even brighter on precious friendships and gatherings of His people. These times with friends get even sweeter and richer as His glory shines through us. We live in His presence together proving His Word true in our ‘here and now’ as we read in Isaiah 60:1-5. Allow me to highlight v. 5 “Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,”
Especially during these turbulent times, our prayer is you have several, if not many, treasured and cherished friendships. It may be with family members or authentic friends who stand by you, whether you are pro or anti-vaccine, left or right side in politics or whatever.
Here is a livestream link from Epicentro Church in Quito with Jorge bringing an important message for our time with Gustavo translating: https://youtu.be/D-Muw2ynsME
Speaking ‘Hush’ To The Storm
Ask the Lord how you can be a beacon of hope, rest and reconciliation without compromising sound doctrine or getting caught in any circular thinking, carnal and futile debates. We can discern the times and the spirits as we stay in communion with the seven spirits of God. Ask the Holy Spirit for His words of wisdom and knowledge to ‘speak ‘hush’ to the storm.’ (see Mark 4:39 NASB)
There is way too much division during these chaotic times as darkness, evil and persecution increase globally, impacting all of our lives. The enemy of our soul is even working to divide families and friends. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.”(Matt. 5:9).
A few days ago as I walked in the early morning with our sheep-a-doodle, Fern, around the lake I heard the Lord’s gentle whisper ‘You and I are Walking in the Light as I am in the Light!’ Don’t you love when you sense His strong presence throughout every cell in your being?We read in 1 Cor. 5:18-19 that " through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation."
Here’s a teaching by our Dean of CMM COT Dr. Nancy Daniel at Epicentro Church in Quito in both English and Spanish on the subject of Our Identity in Christ with Andrea translating. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC1ROGsp9c8
Walking In The Light As He Is In The Light
A few days ago as I walked in the early morning with our sheep-a-doodle, Fern, around the lake I heard the Lord’s gentle whisper ‘You and I are Walking in the Light as I am in the Light!’ Don’t you love when you sense His strong presence throughout every cell in your being?
This is a much needed spiritual reset in His strong tower and peace. It is so soothing like an oasis in the parched desert of this world. I am so in love with every moment I realize I am seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus! Every moment is a gateway to eternal bliss. When we wake up to the awareness of our Christ-ordained identity everything changes in an instant and from that moment onward. He accepts us fully as we are. His presence changes us, bringing us into His reshaping, and molding us into His image.
How refreshing to know we do not have to clean ourselves up, knowing we are weak anyway? Time spent in His presence allows the Holy Spirit to deliver us from tainted mindsets, unhealthy fears and unbelief, as we ‘unlearn’ much of what we have been taught and walk in his marvelous light. We are delivered out of the miry clay. Breathe in His refreshing hope daily, and stay in His peace and sanctuary, even more so during chaotic and uncertain times.
Fullness in Christ Is Just Beginning And Cannot Be Stopped
Many of our global CMM family leaders continually blow me away with their joy and peace in the midst of intense trials and at times, severe death threats and persecution. Even lately as the horrid news comes in too often when I speak with them, I hear and feel their devotion to our Lord shown in their commitment and sold-out surrender to our King. No matter what goes on in the world we have a choice of how and what we see and allow into our hearts and minds. William James said ‘The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.’
Jesus is full and He shows us how to get there! A few are farther along than most, but none have arrived yet. In Ephesians 4:13, “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”
Ask Holy Spirit to show you your own next steps towards this desired fullness. Ask Him how you can help each one in your sphere develop and mature in their fullness. See if there is any connection between your helping others to your own increase in fullness. Love will pave the way as we truly and finally learn how to love.
In 1 John 1:4 we read "And these things we write to you that your joy may be full." How often have we read these words without really ‘seeing’ what is being said? The Word of God is alive and I pray these words will burn with holy fire as they fly off the page to give us all we need to overcome in this life.
We can also learn what keeps us from all the fullness the Lord created us for in the Word as He warns us in 2 Tim. 3-1-7 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Now Is The Time To Stop The Thieves
As we stay in His Word and keep our eyes on the Lord, we know that He always has His eyes on us. This is true even when we look away or get caught up in worldly news and the ‘buzz’ of the day. Sure, we need to stay informed “but be anxious for nothing and in all our ways acknowledge Him.” (Phil. 4:6) We must not let the thieves of our peace and our calling be shipwrecked by the world. If we spend quality quiet time in devotions and study of the only truly Good News with our intentional focus, and saying no to what is not of Him, or allow ourselves to see without His holy lens of faith in all our perceptions, we too will overcome.
Meditate on these verses in John 10:6-13 in the Message version: 6-10 “Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. “I’ll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep rustlers, every one of them. But the sheep didn’t listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. 11-13 “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He’s only in it for the money. The sheep don’t matter to him.”
Fellowship with Him and One Another
"5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." (1 John 1:5-10)
We invite you to sign up for our free online newsletter at www.cmm.world
Pray about joining our CMM College of Theology. No matter how young or old or your vocation we all need to grow stronger in the Word and Holy Spirit. There is still time to join this school year just now beginning. Email info@cmmtheology.org and visit our website at www.cmmtheology.org
Please continue to pray for our persecuted brethren. Remember Heb. 13:3 As the Holy Spirit leads, send in a special gift today to help CMM go behind enemy lines with the hope and joy we have in Christ by giving at www.cmm.world. Let us know how we may pray for you and yours by emailing office@cmm.world or call our office at 704-225-3927.
Holy Detox: Check Out 3 Great Teachings
Please watch these special videos we have for you. Experience your healing, cleansing and freedom.
Blessings & Shalom,
|
Comments
Post a Comment