Prophetic Word

Prophetic Word – from Southeastern Provincial Council meeting Nov. 16, 2009

Archbishop Chuck Jones

On Sunday night, November 15, 2009 the Archbishops council and the Provincial council of the Southeastern Province met for dinner in Thomaston, GA., before going to spend some time with Bishop Holloway and his family. After our visit we drove to Peachtree City where we began a 24 hour fast. Monday was our day of fasting and praying for the Province, each of our Diocese, and the CEC in general. Tuesday was our day of business but Monday was committed to prayer and fasting. I don’t think I am stretching to say that our time on Monday was profoundly important and encouraging. It was a wonderful experience to watch these men cry out to God doing battle on behalf of the Church we have all been called to serve.

During our time on Monday a couple of significant prophetic words came forth and we wanted to pass them on to you for your encouragement. The first word that kept coming was the word “AGAIN”. I am a NASB guy, but for some reason I didn’t have my bible with me, but I noticed a bible on the altar rail so I picked it up because the Holy Spirit kept speaking Jeremiah 18 to me. It was Father Paysinger’s bible, which is the NKJ. That is important because the NASB doesn’t use the word “AGAIN” in Jeremiah 18:4, but the NKJ does. Here is the scripture: “The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: ‘Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear my words.’ Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel, and the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.” We have come through a time in the CEC in America where it seems that the vessel was marred in the potter’s hand and the aftermath can be a deep sense of loss and logical doubts that we might never see our holy dreams realized. The Lord is saying dream AGAIN; hear the words you once heard AGAIN. Believe AGAIN. Labor with joyful hope AGAIN. Be excited about your calling, your parish, the three steams and the CEC – AGAIN.

While sharing this word with each other the Holy Spirit spoke again asking the question “what day is this?” the answer was the 16th. Immediately He said read Jeremiah 16. As I read chapter 16, I came across verse 16. Jeremiah 16:16 speaks about fishing and hunting for men. For several months now the Lord has been persistently speaking to me both pastorally and prophetically about being Fishers OF Men. He has been saying we are to be consumed and driven (as all true fishermen are) with capturing the hearts of people with the love of Christ. This isn’t just about evangelism Strategy, but it is about asking Him to bring us and our  Parishes into living union with the thirsting heart of Christ for fallen and broken humanity. Jesus longs for us to embrace his suffering heart for others. This is where the blessing is found; where the anointing is released and where incarnational Christianity is realized. There was such powerful confirmation to us that God was speaking. It was Jeremiah 16:16 on the 16th day. This is a common way that God has spoken and confirmed His words on the past. This was the first time we had ever had our meeting at Bishop’s Epp’s church, and as further confirmation (as we were celebrating the word), Bishop Epp’s remembered that the 16th was the 2nd anniversary of his consecration. These were all amazing coincidences or our Lord was shouting to us that we are to ask Him to make us and our Parishes fishers of men (and don’t stop crying out until our hearts are consumed with the LOVE of CHRIST for human beings) as we go forth with hope in our hearts knowing that He has spoken AGAIN–A SECOND TIME to the CEC to fulfill our destiny.

In Christ,

+Chuck