may/june opwci herald doubt is deadly by dr linda stiles · love you, love you, love you! pastors...

Bi-MONTHLY UPDATE MAY/JUNE 2015

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And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. ... — Luke 21:29-36

Dear Friends and Family,

The scripture above has been very confusing to many a Bible student. It seems as though Jesus is saying He would return before the generation He was speaking to would pass away, but if we study this passage along with Mark 13, it becomes clearer that He is prophesying the fall of the Temple in Jerusalem to the people He spoke to as well as leaving an enduring message for us today. That is, we should be watchful of His Second

Coming when we see Bible prophecy come to pass. His words have not passed away! Christians should be vigilant, ready for the coming of the end. They shouldn’t get caught up in either the enjoyment or worries of the day, but rather remain watchful. At the same time, Christians should be confident, excited for the events Jesus describes as they signal the approach of the deliverance of the Bride! The events Jesus describes in Mark 13 will be threatening to political powers, but the coming of the Son of Man will bring freedom from oppression for the followers of Christ!

Luke shows us a perspective that, while it won’t relieve our waiting, it can affect our actions. We live between the two poles of God's mediation in the world: Christ's triumph over death and His Return in the flesh. In this respect we shouldn’t forget that Jesus' parable serves as the hinge between God’s teachings and His desire: the coming of Christ in glory at the end of time and His triumph over all the powers of earth and heaven! This "in-between time" we live in, though oppressive, is nevertheless also filled with hope. It is both the beginning and the end of the story of the Church! This is OUR story which has been secured by Christ! We are therefore allowed to struggle, to wait, to work, to witness, to love -- even to live and die -- with HOPE, because we know the end of the story!

Love you, love you, love you!

Pastors Dr Roy G and Naomi Futch

Pastor Naomi Futch

Inside this issue:

Doubt is Deadly -

by Dr Linda Stiles

2

Taps - by Pastor Betty Carter

4

The Greatest Deception - submitted by Pastor Bill Gentry

6

The Story of Hollybush Part 6 - edited by Pastor Cate Green

8

How Do You See Your Heavenly Father? - by Pastor Earl Green

12

May Calendar 14

June Calendar 15

Opwci Herald Page 2 MAY/JUNE 2015

The pivotal question pointed out in the book “The Jesus Code: 52 Scripture Questions Every Believer Should Answer” by O S Hawkins is taken from Genesis 3:1.

"Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord our God had made and he said to the woman, "has God indeed said…?”.

The word “indeed” also means certainly, really, surely, honestly, for sure, of course. Think about it. We really had a great start! Adam and Eve, the parents of mankind, had no worries, no physical problems or needs, no aches or pains, and great life amidst a perfect Garden. All God asked of them was to not eat of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Now Satan enters into the scene just three chapters into the Bible. As we study the Scriptures, we see the damage that Satan brought upon mankind by doubt all through the Bible. He repeatedly, even in our own lives, poses that same question: “has God indeed said…?”, in every area of our lives to cause us to doubt. As O S Hawkins states in his book:

"Satan was a cunning creature and he knew enough to know that doubt is deadly."

Satan in his cunningness tossed a seed of doubt in our path and we took it from there.

He didn't use force, just a simple seed of a question. A simple, yet profound question with eternal results planting doubt; doubt of God's motives, authority, wisdom, knowledge and power. And let us not forget love! Satan's strategy was designed to lead Adam and Eve, and eventually all of mankind, to personal defeat and separation from God.

The Bible states that the devil was "crafty”. That also means clever, sharp, shrewd, intelligent, perceptive, calculating, quick-witted. Some translations of the Bible use the word "cunning”, which means clever, skilled, ingenious, intelligent. Satan was the first sower of the seed of doubt into the minds and hearts of mankind. When doubt gets into, and through, the door of our mouth gate, it continues into our minds and moves into our hearts. From that point, we rapidly end up with the result of disbelief.

Doubt is a decision which results in hiding from God. In the cycle of doubt, we think the question, we feel the question emotionally and we choose to behave based on doubt the question

triggered. If we do not depend on God to help us, we can spend our lives looking over our shoulder with suspicion. I call that living the “doubt-life”. The sinful decision to

Doubt is Deadly by Dr Linda Stiles

Continued on next page

MAY/JUNE 2015

Our country will celebrate Memorial Day on May 25th this year. It is a day we remember those who have lost their lives fighting for our country (as well as family/friends who have left this life.) If you have ever been to a military funeral in which Taps is played, this brings out a new meaning of it.

We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, “Taps.” It’s the song that gives us that lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes. But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I will give you several versions of its origin.

Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when the Union Army Captain, Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison’s Landing in Virginia. The Confederate army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back

for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.

The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted. The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band soldiers play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth’s uniform. The wish was granted.

This version has been widely circulated but is believed to be false.

What is apparently the authentic version is:

During the Civil War, Union buglers signaled “lights out” to their comrades with a tune called “Extinguish Lights,” which was actually borrowed from an 1809 French bugle call (which also happened to be Napoleon’s favorite).

Opwci Herald Page 4


Taps by Pastor Betty Carter


doubt brings sure defeat, because it will ultimately cause us to mistrust God. Let us think of it. It all began with the simple question "has God indeed said...?” It was crafted by Satan to cause us to doubt God’s integrity as well as His Word. Satan's plan succeeded in the garden. Doubt is deadly. The human race would now understand evil and death.

Doubt causes us many emotional, physical and behavioral problems.

Let us look at some of those problems.

When in doubt, we cannot experience God's grace, and in a sense, we fall from God's grace emotionally and lose the peace of soul. Examples of this emotional loss of peace can be anxiety, fear, worry, resentment and anger, impatience, confusion, decreased focus and concentration. Physically, it can result in overeating, insomnia, avoidance, isolation and illness.

Doubt is a face issue to God which results in a delayed answer to our prayers. When we doubt God, it puts a wall up on which I see the devil sitting on top of, challenging God and accusing us to Him. God, of course, could knock the devil off that wall and annihilate him. But how would that end the tormenting cycle of doubt in our hearts? The seed had been planted and we ourselves must make a conscious decision to eradicate it. To do this, we must first experience the realization of God’s integrity in our hearts and believe that He will do for us what we need most. Only then can we go forward and be free and those walls of doubt the devil has put up around us. As we doubt less and less, Satan

will lose his power to build walls between us and God and it will become easier and easier to push doubtful thoughts away. We might think a thought of doubt, but we do not need to let it go through the door of our minds and into our hearts. We resist the doubt by

speaking the Word of God out of our mouths and expressing it in our hearts to the situation, replacing, relinquishing, as well as abandoning the thought and chasing the devil away. Our life is restored and we go forward healed and whole, as well as strong and positive, with joy and understanding and wisdom in the midst of life’s situations, realizing all peace comes from God. We can then hear God’s voice clearer and experience the wisdom, knowledge and understanding that we need to triumph in His name. So, in this way, even when we doubt, we may give Him the glory, for He has provided encouragement through His Word! Be blessed and stand in the power of His might!

—Dr Linda Stiles

“As we doubt less and less,

Satan will lose his power to

build walls between us and

God and it will become easier

and easier to push doubtful

thoughts away.”

Doubt continued


historical note.

Taps formally became a mandatory part of Army funeral ceremonies in 1891, perhaps in part because General Butterfield, now retired, oversaw the funeral of General William Tecumseh Sherman (also in 1891).

Lyrics

There are no official lyrics to “Taps,” although since when has that stopped anyone? Today there are a number of verses available to sing along with the music. The most familiar is:

Day is done, gone the sun

From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

One version of the words with more verses is:

Day is done…Gone the sun…From the lakes…From the hills…from the sky. All is well…safely rest…God is nigh.

Fading light…Dims the sight…And a star…Gems the sky…Gleaming bright from afar…Drawing nigh…Falls the night.

Thanks and praise…For our days…Neath the sun…Neath the stars…Neath the sky…As we go…This we know…God is nigh.

Taps Today

Taps is played every day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and every night at the Arlington National Cemetery, both to “call an end to the day” and as a tribute to those that gave the ‘last full measure of devotion.’

As part of the 2013 Defense Authorization Act, Congress designated “Taps” the National Song of Remembrance.

However, qualified buglers are becoming increasingly rare:

Finding the song too formal, in July 1862 Union Army General Daniel Butterfield (Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac) decided to find a more appealing tune to end the day. During a respite while his brigade was camping at Harrison’s Landing after the Seven Days Battles of the Peninsular Campaign, Butterfield worked on the new tune.

In collaboration with his bugler, Oliver Wilcox Norton, the two rearranged an earlier bugle call, “Scott Tattoo,” into the 24 notes of “Taps.”

Taps” was first played at a military funeral during the Peninsular Campaign in 1862 on the orders of Captain John C. Tidball of Battery A, 2nd Artillery.

Tidball’s group was “occupied in an advance position, concealed in the woods,” when a well-respected soldier was slain. Fearing that firing three volleys would be unsafe (considering how close they were to the enemy), Tidball ordered “Taps” be played:

It quickly became popular throughout the Army, a fact of which Captain Tidball remained proud:

Battery A has the honor of having introduced this custom into the service, and it is worthy of


Taps continued


funerals where loved ones desire a live performance.

Whatever the truth of the origin of the song is, it is indisputable that it is a very haunting song that can touch all of our hearts when we hear it at a military funeral. We can feel the chills and shed some tears as we remember the brave men and women who have given their lives serving our country.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN INJURED WHILE SERVING AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE PRESENTLY SERVING IN THE ARMED FORCES.

At the turn of the century there were thousands of performance buglers in the military and even organizations like the American Legion, Boy Scouts and Veterans of Foreign Wars . . . . But these days, young boy buglers are all but gone, and one of the first things to go with any cuts in the military are things like bands, where the buglers come from.

In recent years, digital bugles, which look authentic but require only the switch of a button to activate, have been used to fill void:

While a live bugler is always preferred, in many cases, members of funeral details do not have musical training . . . . More than 16,000 ceremonial *electronic+ bugles are now in use by military units and veterans service organizations.

Although many cannot discern the difference between digital and live “Taps,” buglers can. Thousands have joined together to form Bugles Across America, an organization whose volunteers play “Taps” at military

The Greatest Deception submitted by Pastor Bill Gentry

Taps continued

The greatest deception in the modern church is the matter of using God's Word to put a badge of approval on covetousness. On the surface, the Jezebel doctrine works (see 1 Kings 21:14-16). It got Ahab what he wanted. He possessed his rights because when a man was stoned for high treason against the king, all his possessions reverted to the king.

Naboth the Jezreelite had told Ahab that he would not give him the inheritance of his fathers because the Lord forbade him to do

so.

"And *Ahab+ laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? . . . Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vinyard of Naboth the Jezreelite" (1 Kings 21:4-7). Listen to the doctrine of Jezebel: "You are king,


Story of Hollybush Christian Fellowship Part 6 edited by Pastor Cate Green

As some already know, Pastors Earl, Bill and I go to minister as often as we can at Hollybush Christian Fellowship in Yorkshire England. I thought you all might like to read a bit of the Fellowship’s history as written by Jim Wilkinson in his book: “Miracle Valley”. In this and future editions of the OPWCI Herald, I have condensed the book into several articles for your enjoyment. This is the fifth installment. It is amazing how God has moved through this man of God and his wonderful wife to reach the lost in England and beyond! I hope you enjoy their ongoing story! By the way, if you don't want to wait for the next Herald, you can always buy the book! See me if you‘re interested!

It was in that same rambling little farmhouse that George took over the

business from his father in the 1940s and there that God began to move in his life in a dramatic way.

It began in 1951. That year George severely injured his back and was told by the doctors that he was without hope - a physical write-off. They sent him home to bed where he spent much of his time for the following two years. Only occasionally did he feel fit enough to work and even then he had to take care not to damage his back even further. The result was that the farm began to run down, his capital ran out, and his morale lay in pieces. As he put it, he was physically, financially, mentally and spiritually broke.

Until then George had had a fairly lively faith - converted at 17 and lay preaching at 19 - but now he felt totally abandoned by God. And yet his faith somehow managed to hang on. Each week he would listen in to Christian

radio programmes in the hope that sooner or later someone would somehow-throw him a lifeline. When it came it took him completely by surprise.

One of the programmes that intrigued - him was hosted by American evangelist and Bible teacher Oral Roberts. Almost every week Rev. Roberts made some mention of God's power to heal, and occasionally the preacher's wife would read out letters sent inby people testifying that they had experienced that healing for themselves.

Could this be true? George wondered. Could God really heal as dramatically and miraculously today as did Jesus when He walked this earth? Before many weeks. had passed George had an opportunity to find out.

Having spoken on 'How to receive faith for healing', Rev. Roberts said he would pray a prayer of faith which the listener could make his own.

Rev. Oral Roberts - 1953


number one, and you have rights. Let nothing stop you from getting what you want." She said to Ahab, "Be happy! I'll get it for you." That is the false gospel in a nutshell. "Don't sweat it. Don't feel sad or condemned by those desires that eat you up. I'll get it for you." Like the deceptive methods Jezebel used, these doctrines twist and misuse Scripture.

But Ahab could not enjoy what he received because of a pesky prophet of God. "And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Arise, go down to meet Ahab . . . in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? . . . In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood. . . .And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord" (1 Kings

21:17-20).

Imagine Ahab walking about his new possession, saying, "Isn't life sweet? Ah, Jezebel. I may not agree with all her methods, but she certainly gets it done." But

dogging his every footstep was the prophet Elijah.

So it is today. God has sent prophets, crying aloud, confronting the Jezebel doctrine of materialism, making it uncomfortable for Christians to enjoy their playthings and acquisitions. They have sold out. They cannot see it, but sin is behind all this. Every time I cry out against the prosperity doctrine, I sense the spirit and power of Elijah upon me. You are going to hear more and more exposing of this Jezebel doctrine.

Everywhere, prophetic voices will be heard loud and clear, crying out, "Sin! You possessed by selling out to sin." by David Wilkerson

Deception continued



Lord was leading so that George immediately began making plans to sell up. By March of the following year it was all settled - and centuries of Breckons farming the Yorkshire hills had come to an end. From now on George would be planting a very different type of seed and looking for a very different type of crop.

lt wasn't long after this that Cynthia and I first met him He turned up at one of the Leyburn meetings one evening and we immediately took to him. He was a big man with a booming voice and bright, laughing eyes; a charismatic figure whose fiery preaching and flowing, swept-back hair put me in mind of another Methodist whose burning passion for souls had brought him to thunder out his Gospel message in these same hills hundreds of years before - the great John Wesley himself: Clearly George Breckon would be an asset to our outreach meetings, and 1 was delighted to learn that his association with us was not simply a preacher's whim. The Lord, George explained, bad specifically told him to come and identify himself with the work we were doing. What an encouragement! But before long a niggling little cloud was to drift into this promisingly bright picture.

'If you desire to, be healed,' he went on, 'may I encourage you to reach out in faith and lay your hand upon your radio set while I am praying.'

This wouldn't actually heal anyone, he pointed out, but it would most certainly help to release the listener's faith.

A moment later Rev. Roberts began praying, and more in desperation than faith George reached out his hand...

As he connected with the radio he felt a shock-wave flash up his arm and suddenly his whole body began shaking with a tremendous power; Healing power!

Within two weeks George was back at work, lifting the heaviest loads and not even feeling a twinge. He had been completely cured.

More than that, his life had been revolutionized. He returned to lay preaching with a fresh and burning zeal, he committed himself to studying his Bible with an excitement he'd never known, and in his prayer times he hungered after knowing more of the God who had so powerfully touched him. Sometimes his longing would be so great that he would spend days in prayer and fasting, determined to draw closer to the heart of God and to hear more clearly from Him.

But one thing he bad not expected to hear was the call that cane to him in the summer of 1963 - the call to leave farming and to commit his time to preaching the Gospel. This took him by surprise because only recently had he moved from Duck House to a bigger farm down at Pickering. (God not only healed him but prospered his business, too!) Nevertheless the call was so clear - and his wife, Gladys, agreed this was the way the

“As he connected with the

radio he felt a shock-wave

flash up his arm and

suddenly his whole body

began shaking with a

tremendous power…”



It was the summer of 1966. For many weeks George Breckon had been coming to our Friday night meetings and from the start he had been a great help, drawing on his vast Bible knowledge and deep understanding of the Scriptures to teach and build up the many young Christians who were now meeting regularly with us. But now and then he would slip in certain things that I would be unhappy about. Certain things that weren't... well, they weren't Wesleyan. At first I thought it best to ignore these little asides in the hope that nothing would come of them, rather than take issue with the man and blow the remarks out of proportion. That would only draw. attention to what I saw as dubious doctrines. Best to say nowt and let them pass.

But George wasn't letting anything pass; he was just getting warmed up. It came to a head one Friday tea-time. We'd invited George and Gladys for a meal prior to the evening's meeting and I could tell from the moment I opened the door that George was excited about something. It wasn't the first time I'd seen him like this - bright-eyed and beaming - but I'd never actually got around to asking him about it, perhaps because I was afraid of what the answer might be. But this time the words just slipped out - and I could have kicked myself.

'Jim! Cynthia! I've just got to tell you. There’s something more!'

It was too late to back out now. 'More than what?'

'More than what you've got. It's the Spirit. You need to be baptised in the Spirit. There's just so much more!'

My hackles spiked up. I'd known it was coming - for months I'd known it was coming but still it grated. Maybe I could laugh it off.

'You've got the wrong man, George. I don't need any new experience; I'm quite happy as I am, thank you. The only experience I'm

interested in right now is Cynthia's chicken casserole. Come on in, it's all ready.'

But George wouldn't be stopped. 'You can be filled with the Spirit, Jim! You can know power in your life and in your preaching - enter into a new dimension of faith. And all you have to do is ask. Do it, Jim, do it - you'll get blessed more than you ever thought possible.'

Instinctively I reached out for the stock answers. 'I don't believe in all that

stuff,' .I countered as we settled round the table. 'The baptism in the Spirit isn’t for today, it was a once-and-for-all experience at Pentecost - to get the Christian Church off the ground.'

'But look at me,' beamed George 'It happened to, me and it changed my life.’ ‘I received the Holy Spirit when I was born again, I protested 'lt was part of the package. There isn't anything more - you're Just fooling yourself, George'

He gulped a mouthful of casserole. 'I know we receive the Spirit when we're born again, but that's just the beginning. There's a glorious

Hollybush continued


Hollybush continued

infilling, too, and you need that before the gifts of the Spirit can be released in your life.'

'But we've seen miracles,' Cynthia piped up. 'We know all about the work of the Holy Ghost.

'Aye, we've prayed for people and they've been healed,' I said. 'That's power.' .

'But that power came direct from God,' argued George. 'He wants you to receive power for yourself, so that you can use it in your own life, too. The Scripture promises it: "Ye shall receive power!" Acts 2.'

'And I've preached on it. But that was just for the Early Church, George. The gifts petered out with Peter.'

The casserole disappeared and in came the strawberry shortcake. But it wasn't about to sweeten me up. In fact as the discussion bounced back and forth across the table I found myself becoming more and more irritated. Whatever I said George seemed to have an answer for it and in the end I began clawing for an escape in the muck of personal remarks.

First: 'You're more emotional than I am, George. Maybe you needed some sort of experience to keep you going. Me, I've got my feet firmly on the ground.'

Then: 'Let's face it, George, you were in a bad way when God picked you up. He had to do something pretty dramatic else you were a gonner.'

And inevitably 'I don't need your Pentecostal ideas. I'm a Methodist and always have been. My father's faith has always been good enough

for me before I don't see any reason to add to it now.'

The meeting that evening did not go well - at least, not for me. Our confrontation - for it seemed that was what it was - had left a bad taste in my mouth, not least because I'd been driven to realise I had no real answers to George's enthusiasm - only prejudices. And though I wouldn't have admitted it-then, he had stirred up an ugly part of me that nearly 20 years of walking with the Lord had failed to touch. Pride. It was an old enemy and

perhaps my biggest, but because of its very nature I would never own up to its presence in my life. And by denying it I allowed it free rein.

That night as Cynthia and I climbed into bed I was still smarting from George's blundering approach. Why had he brought this up now? From a comment in one of the meetings I knew that it had been

three years since he'd received his so-called 'baptism in the Spirit', so why try foisting it upon us now? I'd known his views for months, just as he must have known mine. I'd thought, foolishly, that we had an understanding. Certainly I was happy to work with George in evangelism so long as he kept his peculiar ideas about the Holy Spirit to himself But now... well, now he'd rocked the boat.

To add insult to injury, that night Cynthia would not agree with me when I complained that George had ruined our meal together. To my horror I discovered that she was not at all convinced that George had got this business of the Holy Spirit quite wrong.

Please look for ‘The Story of Hollybush, - Part 7 in the July/August issue!


I recently went to see a movie about David and Goliath. I was excited to see how this Biblical Classic would be reenacted. It was suppose to have a big budget, good actors, good production etc. But the biggest selling point was that Hollywood had turned it down because it mentioned God too many times. So, how could I go wrong? Well, before I begin, I really want to say this is NOT a review. I’m sure those involved in the production had good intentions. This is just a starting place to tell you what my heavenly Father shared with me a few days after we saw it.

As the movie began everything seemed fine. The film score was ok and the opening scene was alright. But, as the movie progressed it became very “one note” and very repetitious. Most scenes were filmed in the same area over and over and even shots of the sky were just replayed. The costumes were very plain, non descriptive and the props were pretty much the same. Because the script repeated the same phrases over and over it created a very stagnant plot. Also there were so few actors you could see the same ones constantly walking back and forth in front of the camera for no apparent reason. Imagine the scene where David kills Goliath and there being less than 100 people in attendance! There was very little emotion except screaming

between actors and even the climax where David knocks Goliath down was so fake and emotionless. It was almost like a B rated 70’s movie. I even sat there and had to stifle the giggles! Several time I found myself hoping it would end quickly. Yes the story line was close to the Bible, but the production was not worth the price of admission or a recommendation for anyone else to see. I can say I’ve seen better productions on stage with a community theatre.

So a few days later while working on music, I kept thinking about what was good and bad with this movie. I just couldn’t get it out of my mind. Was it the lack of direction, production, the actors, no special effects? All I kept seeing were actors

dressed as soldiers walking back and forth, back and forth in front of the camera. Lines repeated over and over with no emotion except agitation. Even David’s lines were hard to believe. His brothers constantly told him he was wrong and could not do it. Saul told him he couldn’t do it. David would continually go back to the Lord, on the same hill, with the same cry, yet he never seemed to hear the voice of the Lord. It just seemed so out of character for David.

Sitting there I asked the Lord why I kept thinking about this movie. Why couldn’t I get it out of my mind. Then this still small voice


How Do You See Your Heavenly Father? by Pastor Earl Green

MAY/JUNE 2015 Opwci Herald Page 14

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Father continued

said, “This is how you are with Me sometimes. You listen too much to other voices and not enough to Me. Then you come running to Me with what they say and don’t hear word I say! And at times, you are just like the soldiers. You move around from place to place, almost in circles, seeing the same old scenery but not get anywhere because your focus is not on Me, on My direction, what I think is important.

As I sat there contemplating what Holy Spirit had just said to me, I began chuckling to myself because I knew it was Him and I knew He was right! I also remembered how I chucked in the theatre when I saw the actors do the same things! Wow, I had to press in and find where had I gone wrong?

Well to begin with, my chuckle reminded me that most of the time when I received correction from my Father, it is always in perfect timing and with a loving touch. It is NEVER to pull me down, make me feel worthless. Another mistake I’ve made from time to time is being too concerned what those around me think. How they view things, how they view me. I had allowed some of their thoughts to become my thoughts. Their ideas my ideas. I had stopped depending so much on Him to tell me I was a “good boy” or a “bad boy"! LOL Somehow I

had forgotten certain lessons I learned years ago. Lessons that only He could teach me. At some level I had forgotten how good of a Father He is. Always loving, always kind and His corrections are always for my protection.

Back when I was in my twenties, I was told by a friend that I was one of the few people he knew who could easily forgive themselves. That’s true. It wasn’t that I didn’t repent or reflect on my mistakes, but it was that I didn’t DWELL on those mistakes. I knew my Father forgave me and that was all that mattered. Somewhere along the way I began

seeing my heavenly Father more like an earthly father. I feel that’s when distrust began entering my mind. I started second guessing that “still small voice” and began listening to those loud, repetitious voices instead.

Though this movie did not seem worth the price of admission, God used it to minister to me. Now, every time I think about all those soldiers walking back and forth, all the actors reciting the same old tired lines, I’m reminded just how much I don’t want to be like them! I also remember that gentle corrections lead me once again to feel my Father’s love.

In June we will be celebrating Father’s day and I hope you will begin by asking Holy Spirit to show you the true nature of your Heavenly Father.

2015

W elcome! We are glad you have come to Worship with us today. It is our Prayer that you feel the Love and Presence of the Lord among us. Our service is not structured like a traditional

church, (thus our ending time is until), but rather we prefer to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit who knows best how to minister to the needs of those present. As we follow His lead, we experience many of the gifts of the Holy Spirit: healing, prophecy, words of wisdom & knowledge, faith, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretation of tongues and working of miracles as found in 1 Corinthians 12: 8-11.

Orlando Prayer & Worship Center International is an Apostolic Training Center. An Apostolic Training Center, is an equipping center, where the five-fold ascension gifts are in operation as described in Ephesians 4:11-13. We are to train, to prepare, to send out, and to support God’s people for the Kingdom ministries for which God has called them.

Ephesians 4:11-13 "And He Himself gave some to be Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."

As an Apostolic Training Center our ministry and messages are designed to accomplish the goals described above. This will cause through the Holy Spirit, a network of churches and ministries that will operate by relationship rather than by organization or tradition.

TITHES & OFFERINGS

There is usually no call for tithes and offerings. During our Praise and Worship you are invited to bring what the Lord has directed and what you have decided in your heart and place it in the chests of Joash at the front. Please read (II Kings 12:9 & II Chronicles 24:8-12).

In His Love & Service,

Opwci Herald Page 16 MAY/JUNE

Orlando Prayer & Worship Center 970 Tuskawilla Rd Winter Springs, FL 32708 Office Phone: 407-617-3204 Website: www.opwci.org E-mail: [email protected]

Service Times Sundays at 3 PM

Pastor Naomi Futch

OPWCI Staff Members

Naomi Futch Senior Pastor Oversight/Apostle

Earl Green Associate Pastor/Music Minister

Pastor Bill Gentry Prayer Ambassador

Pastor Betty Carter Teacher/Director of Home Groups

Dr Linda Stiles Prophetess/ Director of Counseling/ Prophetic Training

Cate Green Co-Associate Pastor/Media Minister

Cheryl Landry Church Administrator

MAY/JUNE 2015 Opwci Herald Page 15

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may/june opwci herald doubt is deadly by dr linda stiles · love you, love you, love you! pastors...

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