Keeping in Touch June 2011
“But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Thanks again for those of you who did communicate; your letters, cards and ‘phone calls are always an encouragement. May we appeal to those of you who have not yet “been in touch” to do so; let us hear from you too.
So very much has happened since our last communique and we can certainly see things escalating on the world scene; troubles in the Middle East, and talks of dividing the City of Jerusalem, heading the list of current events. We are living in troublous times and must heed the scripture “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see these things, know that **it is near, even at the doors” Matt.24:32 **James 5:9b. I don’t want this letter to be all doom and gloom, but rather to be a stimulant for a greater awareness of the times in which we are living, and to see the need for ‘unity among the brethren’ that the Lord may pour out His Spirit upon us, enabling us to carry out the tasks that He has set.
Since we last wrote another great man of God has gone on to his reward; David Wilkerson of Times Square Church, New York. His memorial service was very moving and his labours and outreaches extended far beyond Times Square.
News here on the home front; we will be holding another P.C.A..Student Graduation on Saturday 2nd July and we thank God for the continued growth and development of Paragon Christian Academy.
From the 15th July a team of World Vision folk will be going over to Ireland for a fortnight of Open Air Outreach on the streets; both in the North and the South. We are really looking forward to it and trust you will support us with your prayers and your presence if we are in your area.
In August we shall be holding a Salvation and Deliverance Crusade in Paragon Chapel and would ask that all of you within travelling distance of the Chapel will join us then. Further details will be given in our next Keeping in Touch.
Once again we invite you to tune in to our weekend services, which are broadcast over the internet every Saturday and Sunday the 11th June service carried much blessing as Brother Chambers expounded on “being conscious of the Presence of God” experientially. By way of encouragement we give a brief extract from it, below.
“Being Conscious of the Presence of God”
“In my travels over the years, both at home and abroad, always the greatest burden of my heart has been to have the awareness of the Presence of God. Friends, if we are believers, if we are Christians, we need to know that God is there because we are there. Now that’s a profound statement, because it is not generally ‘taken onboard.’ We know the Master’s statement I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee; lo I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” So in a technical sense we know Jesus is here. But there is a practical, experiential witness that the Lord is with us.
I read the story of a great man of God, who was to be the Speaker at a series of Meetings, and all were assembled, but he did not come. The Convener of the Meetings sent someone to the man’s lodgings, to check his room. The messenger returned with the news that it appeared there was someone in the room with the Speaker, as he kept saying “I am not going unless you come with me.” The Convener, being a wise man, understood the situation and said, “We are in for a great Meeting!” In due time the Speaker arrived; he would not leave his room until he had an experiential witness that the Lord was with him.
I remember a Meeting in Norwood, South London, where I preached about being ‘God-conscious’ and the necessity of having the witness of the Presence of God with us. But we are in good company when we take this attitude. The good man Moses spoke with God, and the Lord said: I will send an angel.” But Moses said: “No, Lord send me not up hence except thy Presence growth me.” You see, Moses knew he needed to know the Presence of the Lord – to have the actual experiential knowledge of the very Presence of God.”
We shall be looking out for your ‘communication’ and we wish you every blessing in the Lord, until then.
Your for the Master,
Sister Ann