A FLICKER OF LIGHT FROM QUARANTINED BRAZIL
A couple of days ago I received the following message from one of our Divine Expedition Master Trainers in Brazil:
Bom dia. Pessoal ontem encerramos a fase 1, porém o pessoal quer fazer a fase 2, aproveitar que nao está acontecendo nada n Igreja e faZer, então de novo, se alguém gostaria de se unir a equipe, me chama no partícular, vai ser Quarta, Quinta e sexta, porém amanaha iremos separar o material.
In English:
Good morning. Hi Everybody, yesterday we finished Phase 1 [Romans as a Life Transformation and Missional Impact Map], but the people [those attending] want to do Phase 2 [Aligning Our Hearts with Father God’s Heart], taking advantage of the fact that nothing is happening in the church, so again, if somebody would like to join our team, call me personally, it will be Weds, Thurs and Friday, and tomorrow we [the Divine Expedition Team] will divide up the material.
While coronavirus cases have spiked in Brazil, travel is restricted, and churches can only meet online, there are flickers of light, as those we have trained are finding ways to (safely) train others. A Phase 4 [The Book of Acts and Multiplying Churches that Reach People for Christ, Make Disciples, Develop Leaders, and Start New Churches] is scheduled in another location soon too.
A FLICKER OF LIGHT FROM RECOVERING SHARON
Yesterday as I was making dinner (actually warming up the dinner friends Joe and Naida brought the day before), Sharon said in a discernible voice, “My voice is coming back.” Since her brain bleed and pneumonia, her voice has been very weak.
Sharon has a speech therapist that is helping her, and does several exercises each day to increase her diminished lung capacity. I was so happy to hear her voice again…a flicker of light for her recovery.
A FLICKER OF LIGHT FROM BIBLICAL PROPHECY
When not traveling, I have led a Bible study since returning from church planting in Holland in 1992. It started with just a couple friends and then grew. We call it the NO BS BS. Over the years we have studied multiple books of the Bible, did a series of “The Best of Francis Schaefer,” and in the past couple years have been looking at an apologetic series called “Big Issues We Face Today.”
Because of the current pandemic, we shifted to a series entitled “The Convergence of Prophetic Signs and Current Events.” Prophecy points to Israel’s return and a series of prophesied events to follow that lead up the Second Coming of Christ. We have been examining those events. Regarding Christ’s return, there are only three possibilities: 1) He isn’t ever coming back, it’s just a made up feel good story, 2) He’s coming back but it’s still a long way off, or 3) His return is not that far away.
The flickering of the convergence of prophetic signs and current events point to the third of these three options. Jesus said in Matthew 24:43-44:
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
In the midst of the messiness of our world and the global pandemic we face, Scripture points us to an incredible hope in the sovereignty of God, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and the return of Christ.
The light of Christ, the surety of His promises, and the certainty of His return continue flickering. When Jesus returns they will burst into a brilliant flame.
Keeping watch for His coming,
Linus and Sharon
On Expedition + 