INTRODUCTION:
Hi everyone! I know.. i know.. it has been a minute since you last heard from me. But to be fair, these past couple of weeks have been spiritually heavy yet extremely fruitful.. and so in the midst of this busy schedule, i have been trying my very best to remain in a posture of surrender and hunger… praise God! Since, I am running a bit behind on the updates, I will probably send out another news letter by the end of this week!
Anywho The Lord has been so faithful, and continues to amaze me every day as it seems like His glory is made manifest in different ways. I know I say this almost every week, but in all sincerity, my life has been dramatically changed throughout this DTS.. and i cannot believe how fast time is flying.
VOICES WEEK:
Week 5 was voices week and it revolved around raising up missional voices to go out and be sent. We focused a lot on culture and even went in depth as to why Circuit Riders felt the need to start Black Voices.
If I can be so transparent, even though I am apart of black voices, I first struggled to grasp the concept. In my mind, I figured, we are all called by Jesus for Jesus and the Word talks about the fact that in the Spirit there is no Jew or gentile. I thought it was a bit fleshly and I was really challenged by the Lord as He continued to push me to go and be apart of it.
But then, I heard of their heart behind it, and it all clicked to me! It’s always been about Jesus! You see, the God that we serve is a sending God. I have heard some say we are saved to be sent which I personally believe. Once we have our encounter with the GodMan that is Jesus Christ, we begin to realize that we were created for the sole purpose of knowing Him and loving Him. That is all we are called to do, and in return He shares Himself with us. The most ultimate reward and prize. Our beloved brides groom!
This week, we talked about the ways in which we are called to love Him and one of those ways is to give the Lamb (that is Jesus Christ) the reward for His suffering. What is His reward you may ask? THE NATIONS! You see, Jesus died for you and I.. and for every other person all over the world, amongst thousands and thousands of generations.. of every tribe, tongue and culture that would choose Him. That is the joy that was set before Him! That is what His mind was fixated on.. every single person that would choose Him.
“After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!””
Revelation 7:9-10
This is essentially the heart behind why CR (Circuit Riders) has fashioned black voices, and is also working on raising up Latino voices, Asian voices… etc etc. It is simply to carry out the call and equip people of every culture as voices to go into wherever the Lord calls them and spread the good news.
Even Paul himself preaches about ways in which he is called to serve all men in hopes of winning them over to the kingdom by the precious blood of the lamb.
“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”
I Corinthians 9:19-23
This really changed my perspective and ultimately convicted me. The way in which we were created was all done by a Sovereign King, who intends to use what we look like, where we’re from, and who we are to reach people from every tribe, tongue and nation. Due to the fact that we are going out to reach the lost, the reality is that there might be some people who won’t relate or receive from people that are different then them. And so just like Paul .. in wisdom.. we should do the same as the Holy Spirit leads.
CONCLUSION:
That pretty much sums up week 5. Voices Week marked me in such a way by bringing conviction through scripture and ultimately just getting another peak into the heart of God.
A huge thank you to the many people who have been financially supporting. If i can be so transparent, the past month was a rough one financially, but by God’s goodness and grace the Lord has been providing. I am such a huge believer of the fact that where God guides, He provides, and I am a living witness of that and will continue to testify of Him as Jehovah Jireh forever and always! Even if provision does not look like what i thought it would. So yes.. thank you to everyone who has been praying and sowing, I am eternally grateful and pray that the Lord continues to pour into each and every one of you.
Quick ps: I am no longer using cashapp as a means of donations, I actually have been able to set up donations on the Imagebearers website where you can sow one time, partner weekly or monthly, whatever you feel led to do by the Holy Spirit!
Thank you all again, I do hope that these updates are encouraging if the Lord has been calling you to do something similar to DTS, or maybe He has been talking to you through the newsletter! Either way, thanks for being invested in what the Lord is doing in my life, and I pray that it is edifying unto you and what He is doing in yours.
Love you family!
Yours in Christ,
Rachael Niles