He Lives

Dear Church Family and Friends of Heritage Fellowship,

“He Lives”!

It’s a small world after all, wouldn’t you say? Around the world, people are praying in the streets. A simultaneous appeal to heaven is sweeping the earth as the church recognizes the dilemma at hand, and you and I can make a difference with our prayers. We were not late to work, so to speak, in that, we had been praying globally for the past year. I want you to know that we are connected with you through prayer and fasting. GayNell and I miss the fellowship of the saints.

Paul, in his letters to the young churches, often speaks longingly of how he missed his friends in the various churches, which he called households of faith. I can appreciate what he writes in regard to his care for the churches in 2nd Corinthians 11:23-28. Paul lets us in on some of what he was speaking about: “I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews, five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I was beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, THE CARE OF ALL THE CHURCHES.” I find this amazing, in that he lists his responsibility of being a shepherd right alongside pain, pressure, problems, and what he calls perils, or I should say perplexities.

One thing we have had time to do in the quarantine in past weeks is reading; and as I read, I saw again how Paul lets us in on his ministry. I think you will agree that Paul was a demonstration of resurrection faith in uncomfortable times. His was not a superfluous admiration for Christ. Artificial admiration leads to permanent perplexity.

“Though we experience every kind of pressure, we’re not crushed. At times we don’t know what to do, but quitting is not an option.” Can I suggest that this is an adequate example of how people are feeling, Resurrection Week, 2020, “Perplexed but not thoroughly perplexed.” There it is, right here, this is what I was looking for, for the last three weeks.

PERPLEXED BUT NOT THOROUGHLY PERPLEXED

Some Old Testament prophets used this word, but it is more impactful in that Jesus used it in re- ferring to the end times. Luke 21-25, “And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth [there will be] distress (trouble and anguish) of nations in bewilderment and per- plexity [without resources, left wanting, embarrassed, in doubt, not knowing which way to turn] at the roaring (the echo) of the tossing of the sea”.

Yes, we need resurrection faith for uncomfortable times, and this is your reward as you walk with Him in the light because you know He will be with you in the dark and GOD IS WITH YOU NOW!!!

We love you, we miss you, we need you, and WE WANT YOU!