Page 64 - Evidence of Things Unseen

if I would not change my course. The Holy Spirit had spoken to me some days earlier and
had indicated that a separation was coming. The Spirit said that I was not to initiate the
separation, but that I was not to resist it when it came. I spent many hours every day in
prayer, for I was in much anguish at the rejection I was already sensing from my brothers.
On the day of the meeting I went to a place alone and I prayed fervently to God. I
asked Him to give me an opportunity to share with them one more time about the necessity
to follow Christ in faith wherever He would lead us. I asked God to guard my lips and keep
me from saying anything He would not have me to speak. God answered my every request.
The meeting began by Richard asking me whether I was going to continue on my
course, or whether I had changed my mind. He then gave me liberty to speak, and for about
thirty minutes I shared from the depths of my heart concerning what I saw God doing
among the body at Living Faith, and in our own family, in leading us into a walk of faith.
I spoke of the obstacles to be overcome, and of the spirits of fear and unbelief that were
hindering the body from going forward. I also spoke of a Jezebel spirit that was seeking to
overturn the governmental order of God that is described in the words, “Christ is the head
of man, and man is the head of woman, and God is the head of Christ.”
I was only interrupted one time when the wife of one of the ministers got up from her
seat and stood in front of me and said, “You think your words are prophetic, but I tell you
they are pathetic!” She hurled these words at me with great venom and then sat down again.
In all of this I was given great grace to speak plainly and with an exceptional calmness, then
the meeting was turned over for the other ministers to have a time to speak.
Richard said he considered my words to be “a bunch of crap,” and he then asked the
other elders, one by one, to express their thoughts. All concluded that I was wrong and that
they could no longer walk with me in ministry. I sat for about an hour as I was stoned by
my brothers, and God gave me grace to sit silently and bear it all. Some of the reactions
were angry and violent. One man told me three times that he could care less whether I died,
that he was only concerned for my family.
Such a reaction was not unlike that which Joseph received from his brothers, for they
too acted as though they could care less whether he died, and some expressed a desire to kill
him. Yet, I find hope in the rest of Joseph’s story, for eventually Joseph’s brothers’ hearts
were changed and they expressed sorrow for the evil things they had done. A day came
when they were reconciled to Joseph, and it is my hope that I will also see such a day.
After this meeting I was reminded of the Sunday morning some months before when
I was singled out among these same men and told that promotion was coming to me. I did
not know that I would first have to experience rejection and demotion, and a removal from
fellowship among the saints that had once been so precious to me. I did not know I would
have to go a similar path as the son of Jacob, but God in His wisdom knows the best course
to prepare all those whom He calls.
It was in much grief that I left this fellowship of believers. I had much hope when God
brought us there that the saints at Living Faith would succeed where the last church had
failed. The name Living Faith seemed to hold out much promise. After the ministers turned
away from a path of faith, and had subsequently cast me out from their midst, I thought of
the name of this church and the Spirit reminded me of a verse from Revelation:

Revelation 3:1
He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: “I know your
deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.”