August 2010
Dearly Beloved of Our Lord:
Summertime greetings from Portland, Oregon. As we continue to go to Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland’s living room, we find ourselves in the midst of a great variety of people. We have been told that a pedestrian study found that about 25,000 people can pass through the Square on a nice summer day. This provides us with many opportunities to reach out with the gospel (good news) of the kingdom of God as our Lord bids us to do.
Many people stop to ask us questions or to discuss their particular beliefs about Jesus, the church, the world, heaven, and hell. But very, very few talk of the kingdom of God. Many believe that Jesus wants us to go to church so we can go to heaven. Others believe that Jesus told us to be born again so we can go to heaven. Others will talk about all the various behaviors we should not participate in or else we will go to hell. Some will say that they are “good” and don’t need Jesus or church. Many will tell us that God is so good that no one will be sent to hell and everyone gets to go to heaven. Here are a couple of street stories from the sixth & Morrison corner of the “living room” –Pioneer Courthouse Square.
Karen’s Testimony ~ On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, our Lord willing, a small group of saints meet at SW Sixth & Morrison from about 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM. We walk together in fellowship, prayer, breaking of bread, and sharing with one another from the scriptures. (See Acts 2:42 ff) This is our daily life together as members of Jesus’ church, His body, His called-out ones. From time-to-time someone will ask me where I go to church and some will quote the following scripture:
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)
Even though I may participate in church meetings in a building once a week for a couple of hours, SW Sixth & Morrison is where I gather most often with an assembling of saints to fellowship, pray, and teach from the scriptures. Our fellowship together lasts for about three hours and is open to whoever our Lord would bring by to join us because we desire the fruit of the Holy Spirit along with the gifts of the Spirit functioning.
One Thursday “Yuri”, who is a spirit-filled brother from Russia, joined us. He was born under communism; met Jesus who called him to preach and exhort. He is a man who knows his scriptures and where they are in the Bible. For me, a spirit-filled Japanese woman, I have the word of God hid in my heart and when I open my mouth I trust my Lord to fill it with His word. As I was talking to a young man in his twenties he told me he thought everyone would end up in heaven. He said he was a born-again believer and wore an engraving with Jesus on the cross on one side and with an engraving of Mary, the mother of Jesus on the other side.
The young man told me what he believed, much of which was unscriptural. As I did my best to explain the scriptures to him I also tried to help him understand that what he believed was not in the Bible. “Yuri” came to my rescue, opened up his own Bible and began to disciple the young man as we all sat together at the MAX stop in the “living room.” He immediately talked to him about the baptism of the Holy Spirit using the book of Acts. He showed him line upon line what it said in his Bible. As the younger man listened he decided he wanted to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. “Yuri” started to look for Ron but he could not find him so he motioned to me to pray for the young man. We prayed for him and prayed together in our spiritual language and then the young man joined us praying in his own spiritual language.
Here I was, an elderly Japanese woman born in an internment camp during WW II, praying with a middle-aged Russian man born under communism, and the two of us ministering to a young man in his twenties so that he could reach his own generation. (Hebrews 10:24-25) He was very excited and so were we. I then encouraged him to pray in his spiritual language because it builds up his inner man just as exercising builds up muscles. When we finished the young man left with joy.
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 20,21)
The Kingdom of God
Here are some scriptures to consider. Jesus said that one must be born again, born from above, or born of the Holy Spirit in order to see or enter the Kingdom of God. (John 3:1-20) Jesus emphasized our life in the Kingdom which results from being born of the Holy Spirit. He did not say that this was only for the future, or after we die, but to be a present reality of our life here on earth. (Matthew 5:3; 6:33; 10:7&8) Paul wrote that this gospel does not come in word only but in the Holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 1:5) Paul said that the Kingdom of God is IN the Holy Spirit. It is not found in the natural things we do. (Romans 14:17) There are many more references about the Kingdom of God and our call to live, move, and have our being in His Kingdom under His authority and direction as our King. We hope that you are able to look them up and then reach out to others as Jesus send you out into His Father’s harvest field. Freely we have received so that we can freely give of the presence and power of His Kingdom and His righteousness. (Matthew 9:35-10:8)
Prayer Request!
We end this short letter with a special prayer request. Please pray for us to make known His Kingdom in both word and deed. Jesus came into this world to fulfill the Father’s will and His commandment which is “Everlasting Life.” (Note John 12:50) Jesus is this Everlasting Life. (John 14:6) He has come to bring Life Eternal to all who would receive Him. (John 10:10). Please pray that we are able to help people understand that Jesus has come to earth to give this Everlasting Life to them through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead. Pray for us to reveal and communicate this Everlasting Life through the presence of the Kingdom of God just as Jesus asked us to do. (Matthew 10:7&8)
Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. (Matthew 6:33) May we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness! This is our prayer and our prayer request for this month. Thank you so much for your continuing support, encouragement, and prayer. May you be very fruitful in all that you do for His Kingdom!
~ Ron & Karen
E-mail: awakening1s@comcast.net
Home Page: awakening1s.net
church @ 24/7
Ron & Karen Rohman
PO Box 14292
PORTLAND OR 97293