ARCHIVED NEWS REPORTS
First News Update of 2000

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To all who may have been waiting for a fresh News Update - I apologise. Suddenly things grew very hectic, and the time has just slipped by. The last news update was, I think, written in June 1999 and it feels like only a month or two since then.

All my energies and all my time have been taken up with the thriving Bulletin Board, where all kinds of people share their news, ideas, beliefs and viewpoints. As much as I value the work the Lord is doing there, I'm finding it difficult to prioritise my tasks so that I also have time for the rest of the website. Could you make this a matter for prayer, please?

There are only just so many hours in the day; and only just so much work that one person can do, despite my willingness. Many people still do not realise that I alone (Tricia Tillin) maintain this website, do research, write the articles, reply to e-mails and undertake all the other necessary work. It frequently takes until lunchtime just to answer e-mails.

I am not whining or complaining, please believe me. When I accepted this commission, this ministry, I accepted that it would mean hard work and long hours. When God calls, He provides, and I have always been able - with his help - to keep on top of things (just!) but now I have to trim my activities to the bone in order to keep going.

Anyone who has not heard from me by phone or letter should not think I'm ignoring them or have forgotten them. Anyone expecting new articles must realise that a lot of time and effort goes into them, and it's not possible for me to write major articles very often. (BUT - I do have an idea for an article that might help a lot of people, so start praying that I will have time and energy to do this!)

Hurry and Worry

Having said all that, I do believe this feeling of "I can't keep up" is a malaise common to almost everyone today. Things are moving too fast. By the time I get an idea to write about a subject, or compose a news report, it's irrelevant, and something bigger and more important comes along.

What symbol can we use to describe this? Waves crashing onto the beach? Sirens wailing, on-off on-off? A hammer hammering in nail after nail?

I'll tell you what it reminds me of - the birthpangs coming closer and closer together! No, before you object, I am NOT talking about the "birth of the Manchild". But the Lord warned us that before the End, troubles and disasters would escalate, and they would resemble birthpangs. (He calls them the "sorrows" - this word is identical to the one used for labour pains.)

Labour pains start out shallow (ish!) and few and far between, but escalate into stronger and stronger, and more urgent contractions, closer together, until the climax which is the birth of the child.

Ten years ago life was more simple and less hurried. False doctrines tended to come one at a time and we had time to deal with them in depth.

Five years ago, we thought it was getting hectic, error had escalated, and we bewailed the state of the Church. But now it's getting worse and worse almost daily!

On top of which, the demands and pressures of life are phenomenal. Many are working long hours during the week and spending their weekends catching up with the projects they could not complete. The increasing use of communications technology such as pagers, mobile phones, e-mail and video conferencing means that we have to be available at any time, even in the bathroom or bed! There is no rest.

Not only are the political and religious bodies in the world escalating towards a climax, but so is the climate and the environment. Each year brings greater storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanoes and unnatural weather patterns.

We have a way to go yet, but with everything going haywire in the Church and so many unstable situations elsewhere, I feel the "birthpangs" coming on! It feels like the world is running out of control down a steep hill.

Peace, Peace!

Troubles all around us may give an alarm signal. However, a far greater danger to our health and well-being would be a false sense of calm, with the introduction of measures to provide peace and stability. As I read the Bible, I see the "sudden destruction" of the Great Tribulation coming at a time of "peace and safety" and when nobody expects a climax.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. (1Thes 5:2-6)

Time after time the Bible warns us to be on guard, expecting the events of the end suddenly and unexpectedly.

"Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh". (Matt 24:42-44 )

Our hope is not in man-made things, in technology or artistry. Our hope is not in houses, possessions or riches. Our hope does not lie in weaponry or man's skill and cunning. No, our hope is in God - only HE can save us in the time to come!

"When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them". (Deut 4:29-31)

The above verse is of course specifically for the nation of Israel who will be the focal point of satan's anger and destruction. However, we can still apply its spiritual meaning to our own lives.

Another scripture that comes to mind is the parable of the sower (Luke 8:5-18). Although God sows the seed, and "the seed is the word of God", people's hearts react in different ways to that seed, either rejecting it immediately, or accepting it and becoming a nominal church-going Christian only to fall away as soon as that faith is tested.

However, the people I can identify with are those who let the good seed be squeezed out by other cares, worries and daily concerns:

(7) "And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. ...(14) And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.... (18) Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have".

This does actually refer to receiving the gospel of life in Christ Jesus. However, I take warning from the situation here in which we can let the cares and riches and pleasures of this day-to-day existence choke out the word of God, and nothing that we begin in Him is brought to completion. I am very aware of the dangers of letting my time be taken up with "things" - all of them good enough - but things that demand so much of my time that I hardly have time for God any more.

Stop the world, I want to get off!

Sometimes I long to say "stop!" and run away to some desert island just to find enough peace to make contact with God again! Do you ever feel that way?

I hope I'm not making you too depressed! Perhaps readers might think it's my "job" to always speak a positive word and distance myself from human emotions. However, I'd rather share from my heart even if it's not "positive", and I suspect there are many of you identifying with my words above.

I wish I could hand you an easy answer on a plate at this point but as ever, there's NO easy answer and things are heading towards yet more chaos in the days to come.

The right way to react is to let go of the things that trip us up or distract us. I believe God is taking away those things. He is forcing us to depend on him alone. This is a preparation for the time when we will have no human resources, and no spiritual answers, and we have to walk by faith alone.

Many years ago I wrote these verses to describe my experience of coming to the very end of MYSELF, including the things I loved and trusted in the natural world; and seeing that HE had led me to that place. It was not a barren wilderness as I thought, but in fact a place of great joy and beauty because it took me into fellowship with the Lord.

All those things I resented, that cut my flesh, and made me feel unloved, were in fact instruments in HIS hands, leading me to trust God in a deeper way, without all the trappings.

I see your hand of love, Lord, in this path of mine -
All the thorny ways that I have trod;
And every shadow that passed across my way, dear Lord,
Turned my eyes upon the blinding light of God.
It is with shame I remember that I doubted in your care -
I spoke of you as if you were not there!
I see your hand of love, Lord, as you led me to this place,
And I kneel in awesome wonder at your grace!

And as your holy presence fills this heart of mine
I am ready, Lord, to yield unto your will;
You have opened up my eyes to all the vanity of life!
I am nothing!!
But I'm willing to be filled.

I see the way I have leaned upon the arm of flesh:
The delusions of my mind are now exposed;
And I tremble that I trusted in such emptiness
As the light of your presence has disclosed
You are upholding all creation by your word of power!
Mighty God - seated high upon Your Throne!
To reveal your glory you have brought me to this hour;
 You have taught me to seek your way alone.

And as your holy presence fills this heart of mine
I am ready, Lord, to yield unto your will;
You have opened up my eyes to all the vanity of life!
I am nothing!!
But I'm willing to be filled.

Knowing His Way

When we walk according to HIS wisdom and HIS guidance then we can see things that others cannot see.

"Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And ... Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha." (2 Kings 6:16-18 )

The Lord opens the believer's eyes to see that God is for us, that God has innumerable angelic forces standing by to defend the saint, the one who puts his trust in God. Even though we may feel outnumbered, if we trust in God, we cannot fall. Our enemies will be defeated.

On the other hand, the opposite is true of our enemies and those who seek to corrupt, destroy or spy on us. THEY are blinded by God so that they stumble and lose their way.

Unlike God's people, the enemies of God and God's own have no resources to draw upon, except what they receive from their false lord, and their own human minds and hearts. They have to put their trust in the strength of their arm, the cunning of their minds, the information they glean by stealth, and the supposed power of their defenses. But all this is flawed because it is not of God!

"Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright." (Ps 20:5-8)

"Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!" (Isa 31:1)

Anyone looking to "Egypt" - themselves, the world and the devil - for help is making a foolish choice! Do they not remember that all of the might of "Egypt" was drowned in the Red Sea by the hand of God when the Israelites fled from that land. And today too, God can more than match the supposed powers and might of "Egypt" - be they ever so scary!

Outside The Camp

As I have been pointing out for ages, the most notable event now taking place in the Body is the "Great Exodus" from the churches caused by error, human meddling, entertainment-religion, dominionist strategies, and plain disgust with the way things are being handled.

Despite the scepticism of some, nobody is "organising" this. People are simply "voting with their feet" and walking out of abusive, God-forsaken churches that have been offering "Strange Fire". (Lev 10:1-2) Some believers are forced out, after having "dared" to raise questions of doctrine, or to question what is being done.

Others (understandably) don't want their names and personal details to be logged in an international database for any reason - no matter how outwardly reasonable. When their Pastors choose to join the local Network, they choose to leave their church rather than submit themselves to the New Apostolic Paradigm of Peter Wagner et al.

For all these reasons and more, ordinary believers are walking out, and then finding there is no place else to go. What do they do then?

Where Do We Go?

There seems at present to be no real answer to this problem, and no doubt somebody somewhere will see the discipleship potential of all this driftwood and devise a cunning plan to harvest it into their own organisation. No doubt also, many drifting believers will let themselves be wooed. It takes a strong person to withstand the persuasive powers of leaders and teachers who promise to make life easy with a ready-prepared, pre-chewed, diet.

There are already a number of 'travelling salesmen' out there cruising the Net looking for unwary believers. Beware of them! What these men and women peddle is "freedom" under the guise of cell-church networks, or independent "prophetic" organisations, or one-man-band prophets/teachers with a particular revelation they want you to adopt.

Besides this, attacks on the Body are now coming from within as well as without! This is only to be expected, as Paul warned:

"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them". (Acts 20:29-30)

Paul specifically warned that men would arise from within the Body, pretending to be ministers, speaking the jargon and apparently acting in a Christian way, YET they would have as their aim "making disciples for themselves" rather than building up the work of Christ as a whole.

We would know them because what they teach is "perverse" - this is a word in Greek DIA-STREPHO meaning "distorted" - twisted out of place.

The teaching of such men is not blatantly anti-christian, occultic or unbiblical. No, it is a subtle twisting of words, a turning around of the biblical meanings, a distorted teaching that is nearly right - but not quite! THIS is what we need to watch out for today.

Put Your Trust In God

Nobody but God Himself is capable of moulding, leading, teaching and guiding His people. However scattered or isolated we may be, we are HIS BODY, not a loose group of individuals. Since we are His Body, God Himself will take control of us, as He is still the HEAD!

Those who have dropped the search for an exciting new program, project or revelation; those who have given up depending on men and women to teach them; those who have turned their backs on ear-tickling new doctrines; all these have set their feet on the Narrow Way, looking only unto Him.

Those who now rely on the word of God and on the Holy Spirit as a priority, and relegate everything else to a lower position (including churches and teachings) still benefit from other Christians and from the materials they find, BUT, they no longer depend on them for spiritual growth and revelation!

Thus, such people find the shackles fall away, their eyes open, their hearts perceive the truth and they rediscover the joy and liberty of a genuine relationship with the God who CARES!

I apologise for this short "news" report. Please pray that I will somehow find the strength, time and ability to do all the things I have to do.

God bless you for your support,
Tricia Tillin

ARCHIVE COPIES OF PREVIOUS NEWS UPDATES:

June/July 1997 News Update
Sept/Oct 1997 News Update
Jan/Feb 1998 News Update
Mar/Apr 1998 News Update
June/July 1998 News Update
Sept/Oct 1998 News Update
Jan - June 1999 News Update
July - Nov 1999 News Update