"Faith seldom knows exactly where it is being led, but it loves and knows the one who is leading" — paraphrased from Oswald Chambers.
Towards the end of last year our son and daughter-in-law, David and Melisa and their two small sons Aaron and Michael, visited us from Australia. One afternoon the family was ruminating on the desirability of living closer together. My wife and I had thought about trying to sell our home, but were reluctant to employ an agent on account of costs and the inconvenience of open house and so on. Kath had said, "Maybe someone will knock on the door and offer to buy then we'll know it's right." Sure enough that is exactly what happened just after the family was talking about the possibility.
Within 7 days we had exchanged contracts with 3 weeks' settlement. Were we excited? Of course we were. But there were problems. Firstly, how could we possibly pack up in time? Then I had an appointment in Singapore and Malaysia, just two days after we were due to move out. There was our invalided mum to think about and we had nowhere to live after selling our home other than an offer to camp in my sister's and her husband's out-door games' room, which is not the most salubrious of settings. We decided to go forward, and guess what? It all fell into place!
The packing, helped by relatives, was done on time and is now in storage. Nana moved into my sister's place. At the last minute a Christian couple offered us the use of their two-bed unit, which they had just decided to sell. I moved my computer and some makeshift equipment into the aforesaid games' room, which is much better as an office than a bedroom. We left for Singapore on time and I was able to minister at the scheduled AoG family camp in Ipoh. We returned to New Zealand from the Far East to await direction from above as to our next move, with no certainty of where or when.
GOD BUILDS— Historically
The first time I heard God speak audibly was early one morning. A booming voice awakened me. "I have commanded the ravens to feed you". I had just resigned the Kyabram AoG pastorate in Victoria and was about to leave for a mission in Singapore and India. As a family we were without any means of financial support. Amazingly it was through those wonderful "raven" haired Asian people of Singapore, Malaysia and India that I was "fed" and our family was partly provided for over the next six to eight weeks and, from time to time, ever since.
In late 1991 I had my major dispute with my former colleagues. About that time, one Sunday morning, as I was sitting in the Paradise AoG in Adelaide, the Lord began to speak to me from Psalms 84 and 110. I wept as He poured His revelation into me. If I (we) would set my (our) heart on pilgrimage He would raise up an army of volunteers in the day of His power. I decided to resign my position and leave the security of the office of General Secretary of AoG.
What has happened since would fill a book, but none of it was clear at the time. Two of the more important lessons that I (we) have learned are that God speaks and He builds on the past. That's why He requires that which is past — c/f Ecclesiastes 3:15. Some time ago when I confronted a person with a certain situation he said, "That's water under the bridge", which may be true and dismissed in regard to incidentals, but on fundamentals scripture holds us accountable and requires that we face facts and deal with wrong things in our past.
The bible does not support the idea of generational sins or reconciliation marches etc as is taught and practised by many today, for God's Word promises that: "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin" — 1 John 1:7. It does however support the notion of personal individual responsibility for what we have done, as Christians and requires admission, confession and repentance before there can be divine acquittal: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous-ness" —1 John 1:9. That this applies to us all (pastors and members equally) is made clear by the verse that follows: "If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us" —1 John 1:10.
When God closes one door, He always opens another
In over 40 years of ministry I've learned that there's a cause and a purpose with most delays. The Lord orders the steps and the stops of righteous men. The latest edition of VANGUARD was scheduled for last December and delayed until February (2000), which allowed us to include an excellent article by Tony Pearce (pages 21-27) on an important issue that had just surfaced in UK and which will undoubtedly have reverberations around the world. We believe the timing, due to the delay, was significant.
Neil Richardson's "UNMASKED" series is an important part of the cutting edge of the magazine and was absent last issue. Currently he is investigating the doctrines of Frank and Brian Houston as revealed in their latest three books, plus that written by Bobby Houston, Brian's wife and their lifestyles. Recently we wrote that those in the false revival camp would reveal their true character and the falsity of their message by their own sayings and writings. It is happening and once more the delay that Neil Richardson experienced may well prove to be significant.
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Appeared in Volume 6.1 April 2000
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