Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
As I was preparing my Christmas TV broadcast, I saw something different! We are all so familiar with the Christmas prophecy, Isaiah 9:6, ‘Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given...’ But Solomon in 2 Chron. 6:18, at the dedication of the new temple asks, ‘But will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You…!’ Yet Jesus did come, Emmanuel, ‘God with us’ and now today even more so because Christ dwells not just with us but in us after we are ‘born again’. Our bodies should be the Temple of the Holy Spirit today!
As you read this I will be in Armenia! God is moving very powerfully and confirming the vision which He has given me of the final part of my life’s ministry in the former Soviet Union. Just like Moses who had three ‘lives’ of 40 years until he was 120, I had 40 years up to my arrest for Bible smuggling, and exactly 40 years until I began this new and last phase aged 80. I look forward to this final part of my ministry which I trust will see the return of Christ! Has there ever been an evangelist who would begin a new phase of evangelism at age 80? And I am 10 years into it – and the Fire within me gets stronger by the day!
The purpose of my visit to Armenia is to set up a National Day of Prayer to unite the nation, just as we did in Ukraine and are doing in Georgia. This will lead to massive evangelism. If only we could bring Britain together to unite as one in prayer, but the churches are divided even over God’s teaching in His Word, the Bible. I think many have even stopped calling it ‘His Word’.
As I write, I have only just come back from Georgia – one of the greatest and most important evangelistic missions of my life! But this is still only a beginning – and one of the biggest spiritual breakthroughs we have ever seen where, like Ukraine, a divided nation has decided to come together as one, just as Jesus prayed we would: “Father, may they be one as We are One.”
Our 3-day event in Georgia, 16-18 November, was held in the modern Olympic Palace in Tbilisi. It was successfully filled by the united efforts of members of all the different Christian denominations that exist and work in the Republic of Georgia; pastors, leaders and people united in the love of Christ. This co-operation created a tremendous public witness to the love of God and an atmosphere of unity and harmony – the Body of Christ – united in action.
Mr Zaza Vashakkmadze, Head of the State Department of Religious Affairs, opened the 3-day event with these words, “We could never imagine that we all could be friends. Even 6 years ago this couldn’t happen, but look at us now: we are friends, love each other and together serve our nation, Georgia. Mr David is my friend!”
The three days of meetings began with a drum and dance show for the youth, testimonies from world famous Christian basketball players from America, and from Miss Ukraine 2007, Lika Roman, followed by a 100-strong choir leading us in worship into the very presence of God each night.
The dynamic Gospel message was based on my life’s experiences with Christ. It seemed no one could keep their seat when so many hundreds each night prayed the sinners’ prayer and then I led them in prayer for healing.
Although, because of the layout of the arena, it was impossible to call the people forward from the stands onto the floor to give their healing testimonies publicly, stories were quickly relayed to us of those who were healed or had accepted Jesus as their Saviour. People were healed in the hall and on their way home, whilst others were healed watching and listening through mobile phones of friends and neighbours in the hall, or live on Facebook.
On the last night, hundreds of young people stayed behind talking, unable to tear themselves away from the arena which, for three days, had been filled with such an atmosphere from Heaven!
On the Sunday I spoke in one of the largest churches. Bishop Oleg said, “Everything we saw in these 3 days was only the tip of the iceberg, but what went on underneath was massive, and in the days to come we shall see the fruit of it. It was something we never thought could be possible – an interconfessional, inter-generational teamwork. But it was the Lord’s Work, we have done nothing!”
I thank God for your support. As you know, I also am very strong on prayer which has governed my whole life. Just as with Jesus, I find that when I go to the mountains, I know that I can talk with Him and He talks with me. It is not merely refreshing, but I clearly get answers and clear guidance. It was prayer on a mountain that gave me healing from lung cancer; on another mountain, God spoke clearly and sent me to Ukraine in 1991 which saw the beginning of that revival. When I need answers, I go to my mountain. This is so strong that 5 years ago after coming down from a Swiss mountain I had a powerful prophetic vision concerning my ministry and evangelism – which is being fulfilled right at this moment!
David
I want us to have a confidence and a hope for this New Year. I want to share this word with you from Hebrews 10:35, “Cast not away your confidence which has great recompense of reward.” Our faith is based on the faithfulness of God. 2023 is ‘unknown’ and we need that confidence that God is in control. God has foreseen the end from the beginning! Don’t let fear destroy or disturb your life, rather, trust in the Lord.
Let me pray for you: Father, let us not look at the past, except to give You glory – we want to look at the future! I pray for those of us who are in trepidation, in fear of an unknown future. I pray that we will do even as King George VI said, and go out into the unknown and the darkness, and put our hand into the Hand of God – and this shall be better than a light and safer than a known way. What more can You give us, O God, than a Hand and a Light to take us into the unknown?! We commit ourselves into Your Hand and into the safety of Your Light, Your Blessing and Your Control. Amen.