Pearl Harbor Revisited

This week represents the 68th anniversary of the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 which ushered the United States into the Second World War. As I reflect on this anniversary and the flow of history I am reminded of the story of Japanese Lieutenant Commander Mitsuo Fuchida. In August of 1941 thirty-nine year old flight commander Mitsuo Fuchida was hand picked to train the pilots of Japan’s First Air Fleet in preparation for the attack upon Pearl Harbor. It was flight commander Fuchida who personally led the attack and who broadcast the famous code, "tora, tora, tora" ("tiger, tiger, tiger") notifying the Japanese fleet that they had achieved complete surprise. He would go on to lead the attack on Midway Island where the tide of war in the Pacific turned against the Japanese. Miraculously Flight Commander Fuchida survived the war. In a prisoner of war camp he was befriended by Christian missionaries who shared the gospel with him. At the hands of Christian missionaries who brought him hope instead of condemnation flight commander Mitsuo Fuchida, leader of the attack on Pearl Harbor, committed his life to Jesus Christ and spent the remainder of his life serving the Kingdom of God as an evangelist.(His story was documented by historian Gordon Prange in the book “God’s Samurai”).

I can’t help but wonder if, the month after Pearl Harbor, Christians even thought to fast and pray for the salvation of Mitsuo Fucida (or if they even knew his name). But the Kingdom of God is a strange and wonderful place where God turns the wrath of men to His eternal praise and where the bitterest enemies of God’s truth become apostles and evangelists. The terrorists who perpetrated the events of September 11 died in the deed. But others live on, and while governments respond and armies take the field, Christians have the privilege and calling to fast and to pray that the "hound of heaven" will chase them into the Kingdom. I am reminded of the last stanza of the hymn I used to sing to my children when they were little as I sent them to bed each night, "This is my Father’s world, the battle is not done. Jesus Who died shall be satisfied, and earth and heaven be one." Lord, Thy Kingdom come. Amen. (First published in our newsletter for October 10, 2001).

The Prophetic Time In Which We Live

And of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command. (1 Chronicles 12:32)

According to the last enumeration of families found in Numbers 26:25 the tribe of Issachar consisted of 64,300 “families” (probably heads of households over age 21). It’s easy to count heads. There are always plenty of them to count. But when it came to numbering those from among the heads who actually “understood the times” and knew “what Israel should do” the number quickly shrank, from 64,300 to 200. Followers are easy to find. But finding leaders who hear from God and who know what He is doing in their day and time is much more difficult. Just ask the famous sons of Issachar. The ratio there was 1 leader among every 321 followers. Finding genuine prophetic (or apostolic) leadership in our day seems even more challenging. And this leads us to the challenge of prophetic leadership in the Church today.

“The oracle concerning Edom. One keeps calling to me from Seir, ‘Watchman, how far gone is the night? Watchman, how far gone is the night? The watchman says, "Morning comes but also night. If you would inquire, inquire; Come back again.’” (Isaiah 21:11-12)

One of the great callings of genuine leadership in the Church is to speak prophetically both to the Church and to the surrounding culture. Isaiah, one of Israel’s greatest prophets, spoke prophetically not only to the people of Judah, but also to Edom and the other people of the surrounding culture. When godly leadership speaks prophetically it continually finds itself struggling with two issues: the message on the one hand, and the timing on the other hand. To be meaningful the delivered message must be spirit led, biblical and clear. In other words it must be focused and free of mixture (what I call being “spiritually clean”). Spiritually unclean words send confusing messages and spin people off into unintended directions. The Apostle Paul might put it this way: “For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?” (1Corinthians 14:8)

In addition to being clear, clean and specific, prophetic ministry delivered by leadership to the Church must also be timely. We need to know not only what God is about to do, but when He plans to do it. Prophetic ministry frequently views events through a telescope, causing the distant to appear close and immediate. In other words, prophetic ministry tends to confuse a telescope with an hour glass.

It is one of the great failings of the Church in our day that it has abandoned it’s prophetic calling for a mess of therapeutic pottage. The Church has traded prophets for therapists with disastrous results. On the one hand, the therapists among us have replaced repentance with counseling. On the other hand, therapists bill by the hour which means there is no issue which can’t be drawn out indefinitely. As a result, the Church has lost both the power of repentance and the urgency of the hour. The only thing we could possibly do to make the situation any worse would be to cover the whole mess with a superficial veneer of a “word of faith prosperity and healing message”. But who in his right mind would be foolish enough to do that?!

Holiness, Judgment And “The Time Has Arrived”

For the past two (plus) years I have shared as often as possible regarding the clear words we received regarding God’s desire and plan for holiness and fear, personal repentance and intimacy in the upcoming move of His Spirit (see our newsletter for May 2, 2007). Let me be clear on this point. Any supposed manifestation of a move of God’s Spirit devoid of these three characteristics isn’t simply suspect. It is false. If you want to explore this matter further, I have assembled all of my “revival related” newsletters into one paper which I have posted on our website in PDF format. You can access it at this link:

This week the “other shoe” fell. At a prayer gathering this week the Holy Spirit emphasized an additional aspect of the coming move: judgment. The theme of God’s judgment is not new. I wrote about it in my house church equipping workbook “A Kingdom, A People And A River”:

“I believe the Church in North America stands today between the book of Jeremiah on the one hand, and the book of Acts on the other hand. The great theme of Jeremiah is God’s pending judgment upon Israel’s unrepentant “spiritual adultery,” whereas the great theme of the Book of Acts is the Pentecostal outpouring of the River of God’s Spirit to empower the Church. Judgment versus spiritual outpouring; the two opposing yet complimentary sides of God’s coming visitation. The tension between these two unfolding trends of God’s activity will, in the years ahead, undoubtedly find expression in spiritual and cultural upheaval of monumental (even Biblical) proportions (consider for just a moment the changes which have taken place just since the events of September 11, 2001). Times of great revival often presage or coincide with times of great cultural upheaval and even judgment. It is like standing at the turbulent confluence of two great rivers. On the one hand, the River of God’s Spirit, the River of Ezekiel 47, will flow in great power and blessing for spiritual renewal and revival the likes of which have not been seen or experienced in the West in well over 100 years. On the other hand, the River of God’s judgment upon our increasingly “spiritually adulterous” culture is also preparing to flow in great power. One divine visitation with two powerful and different results. That is the challenge now facing the Church.”

So, the word we received this week was not new. Rather, it was a strong and pointed reminder of what God had already told us. The power of these words and the seriousness of the choice which now lies before the Church quickly became very clear to all of us at the gathering. God is warning His Church (and all who will listen) that we now face a clear choice between pursuing His holiness (along with fear, repentance and intimacy) or experiencing His judgment. That’s the message, like a spiritual bugle sounding clear and crisp, calling out to all who will listen and respond.

So, the remaining question has to do with God’s timing in all of this. Earlier this week (yep, it’s been a busy week) my wife (Gale) had a vivid dream that seemed to tie it all together. I asked her to write it up so I could share it here:

“In the dream, Maurice and I were on an island (I assumed it was Maui or like it) and we were receiving information that there was something coming - a huge wave was heading for the island and we were all preparing to leave the island. Maurice and I were in a car with other people heading up a road going up to higher ground. I looked out the window of the car and could see in the distance this huge wave with a big curl and white foam coming our way. It was still out quite a distance. When we got to the top, the others were getting out preparing to take a plane off the island. Maurice and I then went down the hill to where our house was and I proceeded to think through what we needed to take with us. I suddenly realized in the dream that I had bought 2 backpacks with wheels (which I actually did a couple of months ago) and thought that these would be just right to use to pack the essentials. I then went into the bathroom and started picking out a few things. I was methodically going through my makeup - picking & choosing items. Maurice was standing in the middle of the living room, waiting. I then asked him if he was taking anything. He said no, he didn't need anything. I said, "Aren't you even taking your tooth brush?!!" He said "no". So, I continued to pack just a few things. When I was almost finished, a small man dressed in a suit (he looked maybe Hawaiian) was walking through the house, passed by Maurice and then by me and as he approached the back door, he turned and said, "The time is at hand", and he left. The dream was over.”

Please note the last statement (which I marked in bold): “The time is at hand”. I’m willing to go out on a limb here and say, I believe we now stand on the eve of both spiritual awakening and judgment: “The time is at hand”. The time for preparing is ending. The door is closing. The time of fulfillment is at hand. Are you and your house church ready?

Upcoming Meeting, Saturday December 12

Our friends Al & Patti West and Neil & Dana Gamble are holding an “open” house church gathering on Saturday, December 12. This gathering is a successor to the one I wrote briefly about in my November 5 newsletter. I’m looking forward to seeing what God is going to do at this gathering. It’ll start with snacks around 5:00pm, meeting at 6:00. You’re invited. Bring some finger food snacks if you want to. Also, Patti would appreciate a head count. You can call her at (509) 448-3600 or e-mail her at lassie7x7@yahoo.com Location: The meeting will be at All Saints’ Lutheran Church in the Browne’s Addition neighborhood of Spokane. In downtown Spokane 2nd Avenue is a one way headed west. Just west of the Maple/Ash intersection, 2nd Avenue empties into Browne’s Addition just to the right of the Rosauer’s Store. Continue on into Browne’s Addition. Coeur d’Alene Park will come up on your left. At the far edge of the park, take the first left, You’ll see All Saints about 3 blocks down on the right. The address is 314 S. Spruce Street. See you there, 5:00pm Saturday, December 12. Bring some snacks . . . and an open heart.