What does it mean to participate of the Spirit, with Christ? The old hymn says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Ephesians 5:14). This is the fulfillment of the priestly blessing spoken by Moses, which, as a kingdom of priests, applies to us through Christ, “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace” (Number 6:24-26).

His face has shone upon us, and we have become children of the light, and have entered into the peace and rest of God. When we enter this place, we have entered into the New Covenant, of which Christ is the mediator, “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant” (Hebrews 9:15). This New Covenant is the fulfillment of old prophecy, in which God the Father has sprinkled us with clean water, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules” (Ezekiel 36:25-27). He has cleaned us, given us a new heart (beating in sync with His), put a new spirit in us (the spirit of a child, of that which He has called you to be; your identity in Christ), and He has put His Spirit in us. All this is so that we can now do His will. This is us becoming like Christ (one in Him), of whom it is said, “. . . but a body have you prepared for me. . . Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book” (Psalm 40:7; Hebrews 10:5,7). This prophecy is inclusive of His earthly body in which He suffered, and of us as His body. For He has accomplished all things in Himself, yet, we see that not all things are accomplished. They continue to be accomplished, until the day of there completion, through His body. This is why Paul has said, “. . .in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body” (Colossians 1:24).

For this reason, we are blessed to participate in the sufferings of Christ through the Spirit. Without the Spirit we are unable to participate; we are like Peter before the cross, swearing we will follow Him to the end, but denying Him in the first hardship. By the Spirit we are able to participate with joy, because we are participating in the will of the Father with Christ. How can we face persecution with joy? The Spirit reveals to us the risen Lord! He shows us the finished work that is reality in Spirit. He shows us the kingdom of heaven where the will of the Father is done and all things are in order. He shows us the surpassing glory of things to come, which breaks the chains that attach us to the world. We long for our true home, understanding we are not of this world, and are now here in the same capacity as our Lord, “a body have you prepared for me. . . Behold, I have come to do your will, O God!” We are His body that continues the work until it’s completion, when time passes, and the heavens and earth pass away. This work is already accomplished. We are to bring the kingdom of heaven to bear on earth. We are to walk in the Spirit where all is finished; in the trustworthy word, “It is done!”

Being a disciple of Jesus means participating in all He has done, is doing, and will do. In Spirit, all things are finished; “‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ And he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end’” (Revelation 21:5-6a).

As we can see, Christ is making all things new, and has made all things new. His enemies have been made His footstool, but we can see that they have not yet been made His footstool, “Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him” (Hebrews 2:8). We seem to live in a paradox, in which all things are accomplished, but not yet accomplished. This becomes easier to understand when we understand the difference between flesh and Spirit; the spiritual man and the carnal man; the intellectual mind and the mind of Christ, “‘For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).

When we enter into Christ, we are said to enter into the κοινωνίαν (koinonian) of the Holy Spirit and with Jesus. In these translations, the English word “fellowship” is used. This, however, is not a simple gathering, or the church, if you will; those are entirely different words. This word κοινωνίαν has to do with participation; it actually has the meaning “participate.” We do not call conferences fellowship, we call them meetings or conferences, because we do not participate; we merely listen and observe. Fellowship, in order to be fellowship, requires participation on each persons part.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship (participation) of the Holy Spirit, be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:14).

If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship (participation) of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose (Philippians 2:1-2)

God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship (participation) with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9).

This participation is not, primarily, with the other people present. The participation is of the Spirit, with Christ, and when all present participate in this way, we meet each other at His feet. “[T]hat which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). The apostles did not call to people, “Come and partner with us!” They proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that those who received it would enter into fellowship of the Spirit, with Christ, then having fellowship with the apostles. This is the only genuine fellowship, because light has no participation with darkness. That which is in darkness must be brought into the light so that it becomes light, and can participate with the light.

Internet is scarce in this area. We are having a break in Livingstone for a few days before heading north and then west into the eastern Angola. There are ten of us on this trip; a few more people than I am used to traveling with. So far about 1000 people have repented, agreeing to be restored to a position of obedient relationship with the Father. They have been baptized into Jesus Christ, putting Him on (Galatians 3:27), becoming clothes in His righteousness and salvation. They have asked and received the Holy Spirit, and have been shown how to walk in obedience. Many have been healed,and have healed others. Many hav been delivered, and delivered others; all in the powerful name of and for the glory of Jesus Christ.

It is a long drive to Western Zambia. There is more work to do here, and a bridge has been built for others to follow. Near further work is in Angola and the Southern portions of the Democratic Republic of Congo. We have been offered land on a river that feeds into the Zambezi. God willing, we will receive a hammer mill ($4600) and exchange it for the land, partnering in the farming. With the land we will make a meeting place (equipping and building up – church) and rest spot for preparation for work north, west, and east. If anyone has peace in their heart and direction from the Holy Spirit to help, then please do.

Chris and Celine

It has been a long while since I last gave an update. May was the last checkin. The Lord has done and is doing amazing things, but I will start with our life update. We returned to Cape Town by direction of the Lord, and for good reasons as I will share later. Upon our arrival we stayed at Imhoff Camping Park again, then moved in with our friend Luella in the town of Fish Hoek. We started up a house church with her and a few other friends for equipping and building up. We spent the rest of the time looking for a place to rent around the same area. The house church has been amazing and encouraging and the Lord has spoken many amazing things. We found a place not far from Lu’s and have moved in. It is a three bedroom with a small garden and space to host. The Lord is working mightily. In the past three months so many things have happened and so many people have entered into the kingdom of God. I went on a trip to Lesotho with three guys from the house church and the entire way there there were hearings and salvations and miracles. In Ladybrand not he border of Lesotho two Chinese families came to the Lord and were baptized. The entire border post was opened to us and there were salvations and miracles there. In Lesotho a factory of 1600 workers with many healings and salvations and miracles. The Lord established a churching the home of Cindy (one of th Chinese ladies). Since then she has prayed for more than a hundred people not he streets of her town and see 18 headings by Christ through her hand. In Fish Hoek, Mitchell’s Plain, Ocean View, Sun Valley and other areas in Cape Town we and a few friends have baptized more than a hundred people and seen drug addicts, alcoholics, and others with various forms of bondage set free not he side of the road. We prayed for a man high on drugs who had schizophrenia and baptized him of the side of the road and lay hands on him to receive the Holy Spirit and he is free. When we found him he could not speak or open his eyes, when Jesus finished he was walking down the street with us talking. Next month we are going to a meeting where 80 women want to hear about salvation because a brand new, baby  Christian shared her testimony with everyone she knows and they all want Jesus now. Long story short, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, and His people; children of God clothed int he righteousness of Christ and filled with His Holy Spirit are the same as the early church in the book of Acts. Every single day people are baptized, receive the Holy Spirit and freedom. Just Sunday we were worshipping in our house with friends and a man came to fellowship with us. The Holy Spirit came on him and a demon in him cried out, “You are so powerful! So powerful! So powerful!” and the Spirit of the Lord said through him, “Pray!” He was set free that hour, was baptized and received the Holy Spirit. I just came back from speaking on CCFM radio here in Cape Town with three other friends. We share Christ and prayed for people calling in. Yesterday we baptized to waitress over lunch. Jesus is alive, He is real, He is all powerful, and He brings true freedom. We have been through hospitals praying for the sick and baptizing them in their hospital beds. Jesus is unstoppable.

What is next?
The Lord has raised and elite team of men and women walking in the freedom and identity of Jesus Christ. Thy know His part and they know His purposes. We are establishing churches here in Cape Town according to the blueprint of Jesus Christ. Then we are going to other nations to lay foundation sin believers there. If you want to partner with this then pray. Hear what the Holy Spirit is saying and do it. There are many here who have outright quit their jobs and are walking in kingdom favor and operating in the freedom of Christ with the inheritance of the children of God. You are also welcome to come and walk with us in freedom.

How are we?
All are well. Those of you who knew CJ and Becky would no longer recognize them. Becky shared in church the other day and prayed of the ,and deliverance. CJ heals the sick on a regular basis and gives words of knowledge and speaks the gospel in boldness. We are in Christ and we are in His joy and peace.

Cape Town

“Safe Haven”
We finally arrived in Cape Town after flying from Dusseldorf to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Jedda, Jedda to Addis Ababa, Addis Ababa to Johannesburg, and from Johannesburg to Cape Town. This is the longest route we have taken to get to South Africa. We left the airport and drive down to Fish Hoek to the missions house hosted by Yebo Life known as Safe haven. The photo above is the view we enjoyed from the front of the house. We had a wonderful time of ministry in Cape Town. We were introduced to Edwin and his wife Angie who run Restoring Hands in Lavender Hill. You can read about them at https://www.yebo-life.com/blog/2017/1/10/our-relationship-with-restoring-hands. While we were with Rich and Fanus we baptized 3 people in two days and had some pretty intense prophecy laid on us. These prophecy are shaping our next steps, and we ask for prayer concerning the decisions we are about to make. Of note, I also got to hang out with and work out with my good friend Fanus. The man has become a proper beast. We squatted 120kg (265 lbs) for reps and I was able to squeeze out 20 with a lot of heaving and huffing/puffing. Fanus knocked out 21 reps without breathing heavy. I was impressed and motivated to keep pressing forward. Pictured below is our new friend and brother-in-christ Richard. We had great times running around with him and Fanus evangelizing, baptizing, and healing. We want to give a special thanks to Tony and Julie Barwick for opening Safe Haven to us.

Travel North
Our trip North (to Pretoria) was a bit of an adventure. As we traveled the alternator on our truck quit working. Because the alternator was not working properly (voltage regulator) the batteries were being overcharged. The auxiliary battery in the back overheated and begun fuming gases. We stopped and I pulled it out and taped off the connectors. The other two batteries failed as well and we had to park on hills overtime we stopped so we could roll start the car. The voltage regulator for the 24v started also failed. We were able to make the trip. On the way the highway was blocked by protestors in a town called Richmond. We stopped for lunch and the awesome power of our Lord Jesus Christ prevailed. As I sat the Spirit of the Lord drove me to the crowd. They were burning tires and converging on anyone trying to press through. The peace and boldness of the Lord took hold of me and I walked to the middle to their leader, John. I lay my hands on him and began to pray and the people fell silent. I prayed thanking the Lord that He had heard their cries, and that His mercies would rain down upon them and ease their suffering. I prayed commanded every curse be broken that has fallen among the people, and that they would be delivered from the hands of their oppressors. After the prayer I walked to a small group of men the Lord had led me to. One man had a paralyzed hand and his pinky and ring finger were clinched. I commanded them to be loosed in Jesus name and Jesus poured His blood out on the mans hand it it was instantly healed. He began moving it and saying, “unbelievable, unbelievable” over and over. I told them about the gospel of Jesus Christ and about their need to enter into His resurrection through baptism, repenting and calling on the name of the Lord. A woman came asking for prayer for night terrors and rheumatic fever. She had pain in her arms. I saw she was wearing a black band on her wrist. I took it from her and crushed it in my hand and commanded every power back to the pit and every curse broken in her life. I grabbed her hands and prayed in Jesus name and He reached out His healing hand and removed the disease. “Repent and be baptized,” I said. I prayed for their local pastor and left them with him. The Lord opened a way through a first road for us to leave, and we drove on. Some children were waiting at a fa gate and opened it for us. We are the only car to get through in the last 4 hours. Jesus Christ is all powerful and always ready to show mercy.

Pretoria

We got to baptize our friend Amon at the judea Harvest farm Three Trees. Dr. Louis Blooms wife, Thea, had dreamed one year before that Amon would be baptized in that bathroom and had told him such. I love how the Lord gives us little winks like that.

Decisions

We are faced with a decision and are before the Lord asking for His direction. Upon our arrival in Pretoria the truck completely quit and is now in the shop. I began to see a vision in my mind, not of attacks from Satan, but of resistance by the Holy Spirit. The vision is of a lawn mower and it does not have enough power for the amount of grass being cut. As it drives forward into the grass it begins to stall and it must be pulled back before it can go forward. The Lord has spoken clearly to us that we need to stop, not ministry, but to physically stop an make a base. It is a reversal of our current way; from traveling and planning stops to stopping and planning travel. The part that is difficult is a clear message to pull back. We received and intense level of prophecy over us when in Cape Town and a portion of it had to do with increased stability. We began to ask the Lord if He is wanting us to pull back for a season. We were also praying about where the Lord wants us to stop. That evening we went to a braai with some new friends and the wife said, i see the Lord saying stability. The husband began to speak of charity in the home and an increased focus on Becky and CJ. He said go to a “safe haven.” You need to return to your “safe haven.” I admit this expression is common, but for us, in this time it actually has a very specific meaning. As you can see above, the house we stayed in in Cape Town is named “Safe Haven.” I wanted confirmation of this so I went and asked a lady here named CB to pray for us. I have always felt communion in the Spirit with her each time we have stayed here. As I began to ask her and to present our options, she said, “I am listening to you while simultaneously listening to the Spirit. I heard Cape Town.” Not yet convinced, and wanting further confirmation, Celine and I were praying for the bank manager of ABSA near Menlyn. I said we were struggling a bit and she said, “just pull back and things will fall in place.” After we prayed I thought I should ask her to pray for us and ask the Lord where He wants us to settle. She said, “Cape Town, that is what I hear.” Additionally, in a fire hose of prophecy with a group in Cape Town the lord said we will have many homes all over the world, people would open their homes to us and hat we would feel at home there, but that it is like the Lord is waiting and giving us a special and warm welcoming in Cape Town. At the time I did not know what to make of that. We just want prayer that the Lord will make a way for this and show us how because we were supposed to be going to Zambia to help finish a church there. Should we pull back now or press forward and stop afterward. Financially it does not seem possible because of repair costs. Also I have a retirement review that has come up and need to establish relationship here so that it can be accomplished. The timeline for Celine and CJ’s visas has been pressed forward because certain required documents will expire soon. Just pray that he Lord will shine His light on the path and that there will be peace as these decisions are made.