Newsletters
Bad for Good
(The Forge Newsletter_March & April_2015)
On 3rd May 2015, I was standing at the seaside in Capernaum in Galilee and thinking of Simon Peter who was called by Jesus at that very site. A young Korean-American man who was with us had heard BAD NEWS: he got rejected from the Universities where he really wanted to go although he had prayed hard. He came to me and very seriously asked a question about his prayer life. As soon as I opened my mouth, tears started running down my face and his tears began flowing too.
"Andrew, No matter how much we pray and fast, the answer does not depend on our prayers but His prayers."
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27)
On that day in that place, he cast away his worries and burdens, and made a decision to follow Jesus and be a fisher of men.
1. The True Gospel Comes with Bad News
The Gospel wasn't good news at all when it first appeared in the beginning: when it came to Mary, Jesus' mother, she could have faced death by stoning; when it came to the disciples, they had to leave their parents, wives, children and everything. It was bad news rather than good news. The true Gospel comes with bad news.
2. Bad News is for Good News
Simon, his brother Andrew, and their colleagues worked hard all night in the Sea of Galilee, but they caught nothing.That was a miracle because there were plenty of fish in the Sea and they never failed before. It was really bad news not only for their families but also for their reputation.
However, when we have bad news, catching NOTHING, it might be the indication of being caught by the one who is EVERYTHING.
- Simon and his colleagues were very tired, so they were ready to go to bed after washing the nets. However, Jesus asked Simon to use his boat. That was bad news because there were other boats. "Why me?"
- After Jesus taught people on the boat, he asked Simon to throw the net to catch fish. That was bad news too because the former carpenter was directing a well experienced fisherman. It was insulting.
- After Simon caught two boatfuls of fish, he found himself as a sinner. That was really bad news. Everybody had considered Simon as a good, godly, diligent, faithful man, but he was found as a sinner. It was shocking.
- After Simon found who he was, he left everything behind and followed Jesus who was considered a sect leader. That was incredibly bad news for his wife and family. Also it looked very irresponsible.
3. Jesus is Bad Good News
If we don't have bad news, the Good News is not good news at all. Just as if there is no darkness, we cannot see the light. Simon was able to find his everlasting identity and to move on to his eternal destiny because of the bad news. If we have only good news, we might want to settle down here on earth forever.
Jesus is bad Good News and the Cross is terrible Good News.
Bad news was brought to Simon, but Jesus turned it into Good news. The Cross was a curse, but Jesus turned it into a blessing. Often we hear bad news or face terrible situation, but God turns it into great news as long as we listen to him and obey.
4. A Bad News from Israel: Deportation
We heard a bad news from Israel that a Korean lady was deported. She came to the first Forge School and God called her to be part of the family. So she went back to Korea and got a working holiday visa for 2 years. Now her 2 year visa was running out, so she had to leave for Israel on 17th April. As you know we have been to Iran a few times in the last 2 years. She has got 4 Iranian visas on her passport. She arrived in Tel-Aviv airport and was detained for 24 hours with a lot of questions. In the end, she was deported to London. It was sad and bad, but she got a six month visa in London airport. That's a miracle. Therefore she prayed and has decided to stay longer.
Although seven of us knew that we were going to be held at the Tel-Aviv airport because the officers kept our list of travellers from our friend, we flew to Israel on 20th April and we all of us were detained for 6 hours because of the Iranian visas. I have got 3 on my passport and another member of our group also has 3. Others had 2 or 1 Iranian visas. The immigration security officers called me several times as the group leader and asked a lot of questions about our School trips to Iran. Also they called our group members one by one.
Even though I knew it would happen like that, I didn't get a new passport because God wanted me to go to Israel with my current passport trusting Him. We could have been deported but they let us in. We are not enemies of Israel but friends and brothers.
Therefore no one complained, but a couple of us brought out sleeping bags and they slept during our detention, likewise Peter was arrested but he slept in the prison. (Acts 12:6) We were stopped again at Tel-Aviv airport when we returned to the UK. We all of us understand the country's situation and we are praying for them.
[ News Update ]
1. The 6th Forge School of Faith in Wales
Including our immediate family, 15 people started a journey together from the day of the Passover with a Messianic Jewish Rabbi, Mathew Toller. For a whole week we had unleavened bread. It's quite an experience! We invited local people to a farm and had another Passover ceremony during the week including roast lamb and unleavened bread. It was such a meaningful time together remembering the past event of Salvation in Egypt, also in the future the Heavenly Celebration with the Lamb.
Teaching was great but living life together was greater experience. Often people were broken into tears while we were sharing our meditation of the Bible every morning. Mathew stayed with us for the whole 2 weeks and shared his life too. People came from China, France, Korea, USA, etc.
2. The 6th Forge Journey to Israel
We didn't have any specific plan in Israel although we knew God wanted us to go. He had prepared places to stay and visit, precious people to meet and spend time with, and encounters with God. We stayed in Jerusalem for a week and visited the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, the Israel Museum, and the Holocaust Museum. Also we went to En Gedi and the Cave of Adullam where David hid from king Saul. We travelled alongof Abraham's journey; Shechem, Bethel, Beersheba, Negev desert, and we enjoyed God's presence and listened to his heart through visiting Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, Nazareth, Galilee, and Mount Carmel.
Even though we faced a big challenge as we arrived in Tel Aviv airport, God provided what we needed and revealed his heart to us for Israel and the nations. At the end a couple of people committed their lives to follow Jesus.
3. The First Forge Wedding in the Forge House
We had the first Forge wedding in our Forge House on 17th April 2015. The bride was Seung-Ae who has been with us for 2 years and the bridegroom was a Welsh man Owen who came to our house to do the gardening and participated in last year's Forge School. It was an amazing story how God brought them together, tested them like Isaac, then brought them back again.
They needed to get an official government permission to register or officiate their marriage. So they had interview at the Registry Office in Swansea, Wales. They were told it would take between 28 days and 72 days. On 17th April was the 28th day from their interview. Nothing was guaranteed but they prepared by faith and those who were in the Forge house helped them a lot; decorations, food, etc..
On the Wedding day, we didn't hear anything from the Registry Office. Owen's brother went and left his mobile phone number with them. We had a wedding ceremony and made a covenant before God and witnesses. As we started taking photos, the phone rang: the permission just arrived. What perfect timing! The Registry officer said, "It is amazing. I thought it would not happen this morning."
They are now on their way to Korea to have their Korean wedding. I am flying to Korea too for the wedding. Please pray for them and their next journey.
4. Canadian Couple's Coming
When I was in Israel this time, I received an email from a Canadian couple who have been impacted by Rees Howells' life and are interested in coming to the next Forge School in October and staying with us for a bit longer. So I replied. Then I got a very interesting reply from them.
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Greetings Qday Lee, Where does one begin on our journey. My wife had a wonderful conversation with your wife and we are excited about the prospect of coming. I have been greatly impacted by the life of Rees Howells for a number of years now as I noted as have millions of others. I have been watching the transformation of BCW (www.bcwales.org) and it's May 25th celebration. I have felt very very strongly that God wants to impart something to us as we walk in places where Mr. Howells resided and increased in faith through his anointed obedience. "To be made willing." Praise the Lord. In our search recently we discovered your ministry and passion. We have been challenged by the Lord to 'downsize' and learn what it means to live in community. We have just sold our home and have given away most of our things, though it's amazing how much one accumulates over the years. Your ministry seems like a wonderful fit. We are also very interested in your school and Israel has been a nation the Lord has been speaking to us about and have been support many initiatives at reaching the Jewish community to Christ . There are, as you can see, many pieces to this puzzle and it is quite a challenge to keep this brief. (If you want to read more...., click here!) |
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[ The 7th Forge School of Faith ] - Dates: 17th - 31th October 2015 (Wales) / 2nd - 17th November 2015 (The Middle East) |
[ Prayer & Intercession ]
We are living in such a chaotic, disturbed world because of financial instability, religious conflict, military disturbance, immoral disruption, etc.. So although many people are living in hopelessness and in darkness aimlessly, we have hope, light, life and purpose in Him because he has already paid, finished and completed through the Cross.
Even though IS(Islamic State) has brought terrible darkness, the Kingdom of God has been advancing forcefully since John the Baptist. There is no kingdom, no king, no power, no religion and nothing which has been able to stand before Him and His Kingdom. And our Bridegroom's arrival is nearer than before, so we need to prepare ourselves with trembling joy as the Bride on the Wedding Day.
In August 2010, US President Barack Obama issued the secret Presidential Study Directive 11, asking agencies to prepare for change. He made a major, but unannounced foreign policy shift regarding the relations to the states of the Arab world. Instead of supporting stability Barack Obama vowed to support change and democratisation in the Arab world. (source: Wikipedia)
2. Arab democracy brings Arab theocracy!
Israel has long been the only democratic country in the Middle East and nothing much has changed, although the Arab Spring has changed some governments from dictatorships. Even though Barak Obama's intention is to help the Arab World to have democratic governments, they are becoming theocratic, ie ruled by Islamic regimes. These transformed democratic Arab countries are planning to attack and to wipe Israel from the world map. They seem to have democratic elections but actually they are electing theocratic governments, ruled by Allah (the god of Islam).
3. This is not because of political issues but spiritual reasons
Why have almost all the Arab countries been trying to destroy Israel? This is not because of political issues but spiritual ones. The same reason Hitler tried to wipe out the Jews. The spirit of Islam knows God's eternal purpose, so he tries to destroy Israel, because God demonstrates his faithfulness, his covenant and his eternal purposes through Israel.
What we see happening in the Middle East is a horrible picture of war but God's promise of restoration and prophecy of returning are so clear. He is redeeming and restoring his people and his land for his name's sake. He is coming back as King of kings to reign and as Bridegroom to celebrate with his bride, One new Man, Jews and Gentiles. It is a time of disasters, but it is going to be the time of great celebration.
4. "The Division of Sunni and Shia Islam"
The main difference between Sunnis and Shias lies in their interpretation of the rightful succession of leadership after the death of the prophet Muhammad. The declaration of faith to which all Muslims assent is this: There is no God but Allah, whose prophet is Muhammad. However, the Shiites add an extra phrase at the end: and Ali is the friend of God. Because the Shiites passionately attest to Ali being the successor to Muhammad.
Among the close disciples of Muhammad was Ali, his son-in-law, who was most familiar with his teachings. However, when Muhammad died in A.D. 632, the followers bypassed Ali, whom the Shiites claim as the rightful successor to Muhammad. Instead, a cousin of Muhammad's third successor, Uthman (A.D. 644-656), called Muawiya Umayyad, declared himself caliph. When he died in A.D. 680, his son Yazid usurped the caliphate instead of Ali's youngest son, Hussein. The feud between rightful successors or caliphs was fought at the battle of Karbala. Hussein was slain, but his sole son, Ali, survived and continued the line of succession. Yazid, however, gave rise to the Ummayad line of succession, from which modern-day Sunnism arose.
As for their beliefs, both Sunni and Shia Muslims agree on the five pillars of Islam. While the Sunnites honour Ali, they do not venerate their imams as having the gift of divine intercession. Sunnites conduct community prayers and believe they can have a direct relationship with God. Of the two, Shiite Muslims have a burning desire to engage in martyrdom and believe that suffering is a means of spiritual cleansing. They dwell on the martyrdoms of Ali and Hussein, especially over the ten-day period of Ashura. Also noteworthy is the veneration that Shiites give to the imams, believing they are endowed with infallibility in their interpretation of the Quran.
In terms of actual practice, the Sunni Muslims pray five times a day but Shia Muslims only pray three times: morning, lunchtime and sunset.
Iran is overwhelmingly Shia - 89 percent. Shia Muslims also form a majority of the population of Yemen, Azerbaijan, Bahrain and 60 percent of the population of Iraq. There are also sizeable Shia communities along the east coast of Saudi Arabia and in Lebanon. The well-known guerrilla organization Hezbollah, which forced the Israelis out of southern Lebanon in 2000, is Shia. Worldwide, Shias constitute 10 to 15 percent of the overall Muslim population, but they make up the majority of the radical, violent element of Islam. But interestingly the IS(Islamic State) is Sunni.
1. IS(Islamic State; Sunni Muslim) militant are drawing new map in the Middle East with the spirit of death: We haven't touched physically the areas where IS has been drawing a new map with the spirit of death. But we have flown, driven, and walked the areas where Babylonians and Persians reigned. God told me that as we are walking and moving by faith, he is drawing a new map of the Kingdom of God. We have seen the signs of new Esther, Mordecai, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, Nehemiah etc. rising where they reigned in the past. IS invading the Middle East with the spirit of death but we are invading with the spirit of life and love.
2. Pray for Longer-Term Visa: People would like to come to know God and themselves in order to prepare themselves to serve here and to go wherever God sends them. At the moment there is no way to invite people longer-term. Please pray for it.
3. Pray for Messianic Jewish young people into the Forge Fire: God is bringing a much bigger picture of this Forge vision. I cannot perceive right now but I can sense it. God has been preparing people as blacksmiths in the Forge for the next movement of God. God has been healing people physically, spiritually and emotionally and equipping people. Please pray that Messianic Jewish young people may be released into the Forge fire in Wales and beyond for the next movement of God.
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[ Unfinished Race with Rees Howells ] At that point Mathew told me that Jewish people need to come to 'The Forge' to be equipped as missionaries and should go out to the nations of the world again. I really felt and prayed that is what Rees Howells left and we need to pick up. The Jews who will come might be not only from the USA and Europe but also from Israel, etc. It is very interesting because we didn't plan to go there at all on that day and the Jewish connection reopened up in our prayers in that place where Rees Howells prayed and prepared.
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[ Place All on the Altar! ] Later on I called my younger son Yohan to come to the Blue Room with me because his conception and birth are deeply related to our journey of faith. I took a couple of photos of him in the room and I saw a card on the top of fire place. As soon as I looked at it, God spoke to me loudly and firmly. "Place All on the Altar!" On that card there were a few Bible scriptures and this hand writing. Only this sentence jumped out to me and convicted me. Later on I found that a lady sent this card last November from Penllergaer area. Isn't it interesting? One day I heard "Go back to the Beginning!" and the next day "Place All on the Altar!" In January 2009, our family started going to the BCW sites every Sunday according to God's conviction, that he wanted us to redeem and restore the SPIRITUAL INHERITANCE of Rees Howells. Then the BCW sites were closed down and the college moved to England in July 2009. From that point I felt that God wanted us to redeem and restore the PHYSICAL PROPERTIES too, as part of the inheritance. Thankfully one of these has now been purchased and is being restored by Cornerstone Community Church, Singapore. So "Go back to the beginning" might mean that this journey is to redeem and restore the spiritual inheritance of Rees Howells only. Although I still don't know a lot of things, what I know is that I have to place all on the altar and I have placed BCW sites on the altar. Of course it was so hard for me but obedience is better than sacrifice. It looks like my 4 years and 4 months intercessory journey with BCW sites has come to an end, although we are still pursuing Rees Howells spiritual inheritance and the picking up the baton of equipping Jews and Gentiles for the last harvest fields. But we are pursuing the redeeming of his spiritual inheritance through the Forge vision. |
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Inauguration & Dedication Service of the Bible College of Wales |
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Three days Fasting for Israel & UK |
Shalom Love!
Qday LEE
on behalf of the Forge family
46 Coleshill Terrace, Llanelli, SA15 3DA, UK
(+44) 7870653157
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www.theforgewales.org.uk