by Evadne Richards -

I was fascinated by the book of John, and was prompted to read that book again very carefully, as I caught sight of this verse of scripture: Jesus answered, Do you now believe?
The disciples had been with Jesus, they had witnessed many awesome miracles: the lepers healed, the dead raised, the deaf were made to hear and the blind to see. Peter received revelation of the Christ. They sat at His feet and listened to many profound truths that could not be disputed even by the most outstanding minds of the day. Surely they heard Him say to Martha that: I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were dead yet shall he live. He also spoke about His own resurrection.

Evadne Richards

After the Lord’s death, the disciples at the sea of Tiberius seemed to have been bored with doing nothing, and no wonder. They had gone through some exciting times with the Lord, now what was there to be done except go back to what they had been accustomed to. After all, they had a life to live. They were strong young men, probably with responsibilities and there was no time for playing games I go a fishing! the impetuous leader suggested, and of course everyone followed Peter; but Jesus had spoken to them. They had received a mandate; they had been given specific instructions:

There was no doubt, that their master Jesus, was  the Christ, the Son of the Living God, but He was gone, the Jewish Rabbis had successfully achieved their purpose, because they were able to kill Him. Not even the faith that He taught them could have changed circumstances. There were instances when Jesus accused them of little faith, and it seemed justifiable at the time; He was not there to change water into wine, feed thousands with a loaf and two fishes. Yet this same Jesus had given them a mandate: Go ye into the entire world.

The haunting question is: Has God spoken to us in Emmanuel Ministries? Like Peter and the others, we had the unique privilege to listen to the messengers and delighted in the revelatory truths; we proceeded to search the scriptures and found the Word brought to us to be true, sequential, fascinating, and timely. We sang lustily, new songs from the Book itself. “Him that overcometh, He that dwelleth in the secret place Some trust in chariots O house of Jacob, Worthy art thou to take the scrolls.

If Revelation 12:5 had occurred between1976, and 1984, we would have all been caught up as the manchild company, leaving behind the disobedient church to go to the wilderness, to be buffeted by the flood. We were waiting to point a finger and say  I told you so; now you will listen to us. See, we had the truth all along  Alas! A transformation like that of Peter and Paul had to take place; a motivation to stand on the Word of truth, when all else has lost credibility.

The celebrated remnant church to which the orphans hungrily ran to hear this new Word, was it a figment of the human mind, or was it God raising up a people to accomplish His purpose in the earth? But yet it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teal tree and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.Isa.6:13 . Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.Rom.11:5

Many conditions have been hurled at this revelatory Word to make it consistent with a World view. Like Thomas, some still say: unless I see, put my hand, thrust in my finger, I will not believe. Where is the prosperity? The Son is going through his preparatory period. He has passed through many tutors and governors, but the Father is never too late! The Sermon on the Mount must still be proved. What is it going to take for the remnant church to overcome its differences and stand on a sea of glass, having the harps of God?
The Word spoken shall not return to Him void, it must accomplish what it was sent to do. The Lord is calling back His sons and daughters. The time is at hand; let us draw nigh. Elijah is here: He is now turning the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers
Even so, come Lord Jesus

Evadne Richards