Newsletter

                                                                                 March '10
Dear Saints,

Greetings in the matchless name of Jesus our soon coming King. I trust you’re holding on to the horns of the altar, trusting your God, no matter what he allows our enemy to do. God always allows things to happen for a purpose. Without trials and tribulations one won’t grow in God. It’s a matter of Biblical fact Jesus’ half brother James states in James 1:2-3, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance”.
In school one learns the lesson first, and then is tested. In God’s Kingdom one has the test first then hopefully, learns the lesson. History shows when the church was persecuted it got stronger because she relentlessly sought the Lord. There was no room for self, pride or ego. They went by the way side. Different doctrinal beliefs were put aside, the church was fighting for her life. She was fighting not only for her life but for the lives of people in the future. Chapter 4:14 in the book of Nehemiah, he implores the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, not to be afraid but remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes. Today God is saying the same thing. We must (in the Spirit) fight the good fight of faith.
When Nehemiah told the people what God had commanded him to do, they said in chapter 2 verse 18, “let us rise up and build, so they strengthened their hands for this good work”. In verse 19 the enemy spoke against the work, Nehemiah answered them in verse 20 and said, "The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it." Nehemiah was telling his enemies we’re going to take back the temple in Jerusalem. He was saying, our enemy has no right there just like he has no right stealing from us today. Nehemiah was a great man of God who loved his people so much he left being a cup bearer for the king. He went with nothing and God provided everything and in 52 days the walls and the gates were built. Through this task of the impossible, God was glorified and the nations feared him. Nehemiah knew like David, who his God was and who he was in the Lord. He believed God’s Word like Jehoshaphat. David’s enemy was over 9 feet tall, equipped with 125 pounds of armor, and had a powerful weapon, a 15 lb. spear. In the natural David like us, had no chance. But in the Spirit that young boy was a powerhouse in God. How about you? He says about his enemy in 1 Samuel 17:26b, “who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God”. He sure sounds to me like Joshua and Caleb.
They went into the land of Caanan, and like David, saw the giants. They were not moved by what they saw. Only 2 spies out of 12 came back with a good report. In Numbers 13:33 the 10 spies said, “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes and we looked like the same to them (like David did). Caleb silenced the people before Moses in verse 30 and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it”.
Caleb made it into the promise land because of faith in his God. This is what God said about him in Numbers 14:24, “But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it”. “We walk by faith and not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5:7.
Getting back to David, he continued his faith by telling Saul in 1 Samuel 17: 32, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine, your servant will go and fight him." Saul said in verse 33, “you’re only a boy and he’s been a fighting man from his youth”. David’s response in verse 36, “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God”. Saul dressed David with the same armor that Goliath wore (flesh). It was too heavy for David and he took it off. When one walks in the flesh life becomes heavy. David led by the spirit, picked up 5 smooth stones and ran quickly towards his enemy. Walking in the Spirit lightens the load and builds up our faith. Speaking Scriptures to our enemy will cause him to flee. As Christians we always need, like David, to be on the offense.
Besides attacking our enemy with Scriptures we need constant prayer, worship, praise, and thanksgiving in our life. David said to Goliath, “you come against me with sword and spear and javelin (the natural man) but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of /Israel whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me” 1 Samuel 17:45-46. . “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands." 1 Samuel 17:47.
Here comes Goliath, hot as the blazes, sweating, fully equipped, but a coward. Why would a man this size with what he had on have a shield bearer walking in front of him facing a little boy? Here comes the little ten foot giant of a boy, David, filled with the spirit and with the armor of God. He needed only 1 sling shot to wipe out his foe. On the other hand Jehoshaphat had more than 1 man coming against him and his people. This was Jehoshaphat’s cry to the Lord. Men from Amon, Moab and Mt. Seir are coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do but our eyes are upon you. All the men of Judah, with their wives, children and little ones, stood their before the Lord 2 Chronicles 20:10,12-13.
As the congregation of people waited for God to speak, he used Jahaziel son of Zechariah to issue these words. As God spoke through his prophet he is saying the same thing to you now. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle is not yours but Gods 2 Chronicles 20:14-15. Then God tells them where the enemy was going the next day. And told them where they would be. Then God said, “Go face them tomorrow be not discouraged or afraid you’ll not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the deliverance the Lord will give you”. Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord 16-18.
Early in the morning they left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful." After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
"Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever." As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another. When the men of Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 20-24.
David had to fight the enemy with a natural weapon. Jehoshaphat did not have to. He and his men got the victory when they started worshipping and praising God. They obeyed God and marched to the desert and saw what God did. God’s Word came true. They just stood still and saw God bring them the victory.. God turned the enemies of the Jews to kill one another, then for 3 days they picked up their spoils. He’ll do the same for you if you if you allow Psalm 46:10 to be a reality “Be still and know I am God”.. Please continue to help me do what God has called me to. The economy is rough, but God’s Word is faithful. God has always proved himself as people sacrificed to build up the kingdom of God. Trust God, as you give a sacrificial gift, and by his grace, God will bless you abundantly. Please make out your tax deductible check to the Master’s Hand Christian Fellowship.


Please continue to pray for our meetings. God has been pouring out His Spirit.

Serving our King together,


Brother Joseph

Please continue to intercede for me and our meetings. Your prayers are making a difference.

P. PS. Men next year the advance is the 1st weekend in June. Mark your calendar and attend, you’ll be blessed.