October 12: The Watch Letter

The Bible tells us that David encouraged himself in the Lord. Today, I am writing this Watch Letter to me. The Lord has been revealing, through his word, the counsel of my Pastor and prayer, areas where I need to lean on him more. Areas where I need to decrease, so he can increase. I believe today's post is for everyone. But today, I need to deal with myself. Perhaps we can get free together! Join me!

Dear, Kanya:

Our Pastor Chief Apostle H.C. Gunn has often shared the testimony of how God called him out of the world and into a life of relationship and service to the Lord. There are two dates in particular in his testimony that stand out as October approaches. I believe you need to go after that same deliverance the Lord sent to our leader.

October 12, 1982 - The Lord delivered Chief Apostle Gunn from worry.

October 12, 1978 - the Lord spoke to Chief Apostle Gunn and told him to become a preacher.

Why are these dates so important?

Let's start with worry.

You can't defeat the devil or be faithful to God with worry. Worry is poison. Worry destroys. Worry erodes. Worry weakens. Worry distracts. Worry can become idolatry. Worry keeps you from praying and fellowshipping with God because it shifts your focus to stress, doubt, fear, confusion, anxiety, selfishness, pride, bitterness, vanity .... you name it.

You must realize that Jesus often warned and taught about worry for a reason. He knew the obstacles it would present when it comes to surrendering fully to the Lord and becoming who you are called to be. How can you live out your calling and work out your salvation if you are always anxious and panicked?

Over the last week, Chief Apostle Gunn and Apostle Peterson both reminded the church about Philippians 4.

One part specifically stands out.

6 Be careful (worried) for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

If you are worried about everything, you will be distracted from praying about everything. Worry will strip peace and a made-up heart and mind from you.

Remember 1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect (complete/mature/obedient/whole/sound) in love.

Worry does not allow you to love because fear stands in the way. Chief Apostle Gunn said when the Lord saved, delivered, and filled him he put love in his heart. But he had to let go of worry, to put on love.

Worry puts limits on God and paralyzes your power. That is why Chief Apostle Gunn reminded the body this week that we are "CAN DO" people. Nothing is too hard for God. Nothing is impossible with God. So, the things we worry about have solutions waiting for us, if we do everything through and unto Christ. Chief Apostle Gunn told us that the Lord has been coming to church with solutions for our concerns/situations, but we have not received them because we have not been paying attention and being open to the possibilities that come with God.

Philippians 4:11-13

11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Now that you see the importance of being delivered from worry, let's look at the importance of God telling Chief Apostle Gunn to become a preacher. God didn't just say preach he said become. Anyone can put together words and stand in a pulpit but it takes a special love for God and for people, as well as day-in and day-out surrender to become a preacher.

That tells you that serving God is a lifestyle. It is who you become and who you are. So, whatever you are called to .... remember that you must first be it before you can do it. And nature bares this out. For instance, to be a mother to your birth children you must first become a mother by becoming pregnant. To become means to undergo change or development, to be suitable to, to come into existence.

Are you just saying you are saved or a Christian or did you become that? Are you saying you are a "believer" or do you actually believe? A preacher does more than speak at a podium.

A preacher publicly proclaims, teaches, and advocates for the gospel. That means it requires action, movement, and consistency, not just mere words. It means that Chief Apostle Gunn's calling by the Lord to become a preacher was more than just a vocation or assignment, it was God telling him how to live before him and to let his life preach the word of God by his daily actions. And I can attest that his life surely preaches. A preacher goes when/where God says go. They do not limit God to the pulpit.

How does your life preach to others? Does what you say out of your mouth match how you live? We have been called to live a life that demonstrates the gospel (the sharing/teaching of the good news of Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation) to everyone we encounter.

Mark 16:15 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Apostle Peterson reminded us when she delivered the word last Sunday that we cannot just be hearers of the word, but we must be doers of the word.

That reminds us that we can't just hear the call, we have to do what we are called to be. Can you imagine if Chief Apostle Gunn only heard his calling but didn't do anything about it? Many of us would have never known how to truly follow Jesus. We would not have known how to have a relationship with God, build Godly homes, receive healing and deliverance, nor known that we don't have to accept the devil's no or accept defeat. Why? Because he demonstrated these things by his walk in the Lord.

What have you done with the call you heard or received? Everyone has been called. Whether you heard it audibly or read it in the word, don't be a mother, father, daughter, son, wife, husband, teacher, pastor, apostle, prophet, minister, child of God, church member, etc., in name only --- become it, practice it, do it every day in all that you do.

October 12 is coming. It is a special day for our pastor and we can make it a special day for us too by using the days until that date to pursue deliverance from worry and pursue love and becoming who we are called to be.

1 Kings 19:19-21

So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him.

Chief Apostle has always taught us about the divine transfer of the anointing, we just have to be open to what God is doing. What if God wants to pass on the mantle of deliverance and faithfulness that he gave to Chief Apostle to us? Matter of fact, I know he does, because since the day Chief Apostle Gunn became a preacher, he has been laboring to show others how to be free from worry, how to love, and how to commit to their life's calling. A mantle is a covering that symbolizes an important role or responsibility that passes from one person to another. So, take up the mantle!

The number 10 (October is the tenth month) stands out as a number of completion and the number 12 has been known to represent God's perfection. Let's let God complete his perfect work in us and let our lives never be the same by the time October 12 comes.

Chief Apostle Gunn once taught a prayer that goes something like this, please pray it with me: Lord put in me to do (and become) your perfect will and good pleasure. In Jesus' name, amen.