A Message From Cali For The World:
Unity... Is Possible!

Roosevelt Muriel

The united vigils are not an event...
they are the seed of a movement that is being spread throughout the whole world.

1 - WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CALI?

"If, I was God... I would not have chosen a city as "WEAK AND MUNDANE" as Cali, to sow a seed of unity that would go around the world becoming contagious to leaders of many nations, and challenging them to bring transformation and revival through the only road: The Unity of the Church."

RECORDS OF THE CITY:

• Headquarters of the strongest drug traffic Cartel
• A city of violence
• Prostitution
• Homosexuality
• Guerrilla
• Alcoholism
• And drug addiction
• The party goers and drunkards of the world called it: "The branch of heaven."
• Apathy for the gospel

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROCESS OF UNITY AND THE UNITED-VIGILS IN CALI, WITH MORE THAN 45.000 CHRISTIANS IN ATTENDANCE, FROM ALL DENOMINATIONS, AT THE SOCCER STADIUM:

1. It has been in operation for more 5 years, 2 and 3 times a year
2. It is not in limited to a single church
3. It is a visitation of God, to the whole city and all the congregations
4. All the churches have grown
5. Most Churches had to open one or several new services
6. The unity has rotated around the only association of pastors , "Asmicev".
7. The church OF THE CITY has tripled in the last 6 years
8. On occasions there are, on the outside of the stadium, between 5.000 and 10.000 people that could not enter.
9. Through the video "TRANSFORMATIONS", the little bit that there is in Cali, has been an inspiration, motivation and challenge... so that leaders from the whole world, seek after the oneness of the body and as a consequence receive : Revival
10. It is still an Imperfect seed of unity.

2 - THE THREE GREATEST SINS OF THE SHEPHERDS AND OF THE CHRISTIAN LEADERS, AGAINST UNITY:

A shepherd or a minister that doesn't seek after unity with the body has one of these four problems, or all four:

a) He/She is wounded
b) He/She is in pride
c) He/She is in sin
d) He/She is bitter with othes

Jesus prayed and He continues to interceed: "That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent me" (John 17:21)

• Without Unity... there is not evangelism that is worth
• Because... Without unity the world won't believe that JESUS was sent by the Father
• Without unity the efforts are dispersed
• And the resources are "depleted" from all sides
• Evangelism has not had a great impct
• The fruit of many ministries is minimum
• Many ministries have disappeared on the road

The three more commom sins against unity on the part of the shepherds:

1. The Presumption / Ambition:

   Of "being more" or "having more"." Always pretending to be "strong." Hiding our weaknesses .Putting "make-up" on. And putting on MASKS . Looking many times as what we are not, because we are competing with other ministries. Many times we are not conscious of these attitudes.

2. Being offended easily:

   With their brethren by comments, criticism or accusations. We don't use the tool given by God to counteract the Offense: To exercise forgiveness up to 70 times 7. The result than is ministers with hardened hearts, wounded, isolated and they don't look for unity.

3. The critical and accusing tongue:

   Since we are wounded and hardened, our tongues are inflamed by the kingdom of darkness against our brothers. We lose control over it. The tongue also accuses, defends itself, covers, and criticizes. It has become an offense chain that has divided the Body of Christ. The most serious thing, is that this has been inherited from generation to generation.

Why we are so... but so... divided?

Many leaders, shepherds, churches, ministries, denominations and missionaries, taught to the newly converted to have mercy and to love the sinners, prostitutes and thieves.

But, at the same time, thinking that they had more, and that they were better, taught them to reject, to point out, to judge and even to hate, some of the other brothers that are washed by the same blood of Christ, just because they preached the gospel in a different way, with other emphases and in other denominations.

Many of them, didn't look for unity to work in teams with their brothers but rather have dismemebered the body of Christ.

Renewal in the Leadership around the world, now with the vision of the Body and not of "My own little Kingdom":

God is renewing the leadership of His church. A generation of men and women that have so much mercy towards outside the Church body as they do inside the Church body. They look to win the city. The country. Or The continent. They know that God doesn't look for "Lone Rangers" or for "Superstars."

An army that heals their soldiers instead of finishing them off :

In a very short time, the church won't be the I army that finishes off its wounded soldiers, but rather it will be a restoring entity that heals its generals and soldiers so that they can return to the battle. And as a healed and restored armyt we may face the enemy that wamted to keep us in division and internal confrontation.

The Miraculous Fishing of the last days:

God is preparing His church for the great miraculous fishing of the last days. The churches and all denominations are the fishing vessels. The fish are the millions of new believers. The nets, are the shepherds and the leaders.

But these nets are torn, because the enemy of God has sowed weeds among one and the other with the result that we all critize and accuse each other creating division among ourselves. Offenses have not been resolved with the 70 times 7 pardon grace that we must exercise. But instead we have responded with more offenses. It looks like the leadership of the Church is in "Intensive Care".

As a result we have a "Floating Church" that goes from one place to another without a shepherd. Because they have been hurt, by their previous leaders. Once the shepherds are healthy and show fruits of oneness, these sheep will look for a fold to congregate in.

Finally - Net Menders:

However, God is raising up a new ministry inside the church: THE NET MENDERS, restoration teams made up of men and women that will be used by God to bring a healing in the relationships between the ministers of a city or a nation.

They will help the leaders and the shepherds that have moved with a spirit of "DOMINION AND CONTROL,and MANIPULATION" to be free.

Then, the oneness will come, the revival and the transformation of every place.

The net will then be ready for the great catch of the centuries.Revival.

Net Menders from Cali... to the world:

In Cali God has raised up a team that has repaired, in part, the net of the city. There is still a lot of work to be done. The fruit of this work is the vigils with 45.000 believers of all denominations and multitude of salvations. Teams of net menders ,are being raised in Cali and in other places. Finally, the shepherds are recognizing that they need individual help, in their marriages and in their church. The frustration, the solitude, the fear and the bitterness, are too evident, and so is the Power of the Grace and Love of God.

Hallelujah!

1 - PRESUMPTION AND AMBITION:

1. THE SIN OF "PRESUMPTION AND AMBITION" IT IS BORN IN THE VERY HEART OF DARKNESS

   ISAIAS: 14:13... For you have said in your heart I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north. V. 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH.

   EZEQUIEL28:2. Because your heart is lifted up, and you say, I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods, In the midst of the seas, Yet you are a man, and not a god, Though you set your heart as the heart of a god.

2. IT IS THE SAME PRESUMPTION AND AMBITION WITH WHICH ADAM AND EVE WERE "POLLUTED" AND "DECEIVED" :

   It is the same deceit from the devil to Adam and Eve, they were also "�nduced"by him to be bigger and better than that which God had already alloted them:

   GENESIS 3:1 - Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made, And he said to the woman:

   The devil's arguments towards Adam and Eve:

   • Has God indeed said?
   • You will not surely die
   • God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened
   • You will know good and evil
   • ...And you will be like God!

3. IT IS THE SAME TEMPTATION THAT THE DEVIL TRIED TO USE ON JESUS, IN THE DESERT. (BUT HE DID NOT SIN)

   MATEO 4:1-10... Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said:

   • IN THE DESERT, (When Jesus was hungry after a 40 days fast)
     • If you are the son of God
     • Command that these stones become bread
   • IN THE SACRED CITY , ON THE PINNACLE OF THE TEMPLE (When Jesus felt that He had no authority)
     • If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down
     • He shall give His angels charge over you
     • In their hands they will sustain you so that you don't trip with your foot in stone
   • IN A VERY HIGH MOUNTAIN HE SHOWED HIM ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD AND THE GLORY OF THEM:
     (When Jesus did not have anything, not even a place to rest His head))
     • All this things I will give You, if You will fall down and worship me.

4. IT IS WITH THE SAME TEMPTATION OF "PRESUMPTION" THAT THE DEVIL WORKS IN THE SHEPHERDS AND IN THE LEADERS, EVERY DAY.

   Oh, GOD... HOW MANY TIMES WE FALL IN THE TEMPTATION OF PRESUMPTION AND AMBITION. Help us!

   The devil will look for "your weak moments" or "your areas of darkness" that have not been surrendered to the Cross of Christ. And it is there where he will try to destroy you. To isolate you from others. And confront you against all others,offending you and wounding you to death.

   The tendency of the Church today: THE PRESUMPTION AND THE AMBITION OF being MORE THAN we are!

   NOTE: Because of the sin of Presumption, the church seems sometimes to be more A GREAT PARTY OF DISGUISES than a great meeting of saints full of mercy, love and forgiveness.

   • Better leader
   • Better preacher
   • Better doctrine
   • Better worship team
   • Better Denomination
   • Bigger
   • More numbers
   • More growth
   • More appearances
   • More masks
   • Better... MUCH... Better..

5. HOW TO ENTER IN UNITY AND WIN THE CITY FOR CHRIST?
   1. Remove our masks
   2. Recognize our sin of presumption
   3. Renounce "to Pretend to be strong"
   4. Recognize that we are "Wounded", "Harden" "Offended" and even"bitter" with our fellowmen.
   5. Recognize that we have not forgiven enough
   6. Recognize that our enemy is not our brother, our enemy is the enemy of God.

THE BLESSING OF THE LEADERSHIP IS IN RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE WEAK ...SO THAT THE POWER OF GOD MAY BE MADE PERFECT IN THE CHURCH

THE ONLY VALID FORMULA SO THAT THE CHURCH MAY UNITE AND EXPRESS THE POWER OF GOD:

• An S.O.S. TO THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHURCH: While the church and it's leaders continue to pretend "To be strong" in presumption and ambition, God won't be able to trust us with HIs glory or His power. Among other things, Because His power is made perfect in weakness:

"And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) 4 - EXAMPLES OF WEAKNESS... TO SHOW THE POWER OF GOD! "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." ( 2 Corinthians 12:9)

I - JESUS

"He reveals to us the way to please the father's heart and to complete their eternal purpose: My weakness so that God is strong in my and through me"

Study of Jesus in ISAIAS 53 : "Jesus never walked in Presumption or Ambition... His strength was to walk in weakness"

1. IN WEAKNESS:

   God wanted His Son... to walk in weakness so that He would be made strong in Him Isaiah 53:1-10

   Verse 2 - There is no form in Him or Beauty
   Verse 3 - Rejected / despised / Man of sorrows / Acquainted with grief / Not esteemed.
   Verse 4 - Borne our sicknesses/ carried our sorrows / we esteemed Him stricken / Smitten by God / Afflicted
   Verse 5 - Wounded for our transgressions / Bruised for our iniquities / The chastisement for our peace was upon Him / By His stripes we are healed
   Verse 6 - The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all
   Verse 7 - Afflicted / Opressed/ Led as a Lamb to the slaughter /As a sheep before it's shearers/ He did not open His mouth/ Silent
   Verse 8 - He was taken from prison and from judgment / He was cut off from the land of the living / For the transgression of my people He was stricken
   Verse 9 - They made His grave with the wicked
   Verse 10 - Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him/ He has put Him to grief

2. IN POWER:

   What are the rewards of those that understand the importance of walking in "Weakness and not in Presumption?"

   • Verse 8 - and who will declare His generation?
   • Verse 10 - He shall see His seed/ He shall prolong His days/ The pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand
   • Verse 11-"He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied"/ By His knowledge He will satisfy many/
   • Verse 12- Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great/ And He shall divide the spoil with the strong/Because He poured out His life unto death

II - JACOB

From deceiver to the privilege of becoming "The people of God"

• If I was God I would not have chosen Jacob but to Esau
• Jacob was a deceiver and cheat
• Esau was a homelike man, hunter, good person, calm
• But it pleased God to choose Jacob (the deceiver - the weaker-and the vilest ) to be glorified and to show His mercy and power.
• And it is from this deceiver that God brings forth His people "ISRAEL." Why? What does the Lord want to teach us trhough this?

III - DAVID:

"From a child to King of Israel"

• A young shepherd
• Saul wants to make him strong in the flesh, by putting on him his "own armor"
• DAVID... prefers to be weak, and to trust only in God
• His only weapons:
  1. The spirit of God
  2. 5 stones
  3. A complete trust in his Faithful God

IV- PAUL AND HIS MOST IMPORTANT TRIP:

From his Ego-centrism to His new Christ-centrism:

Paul's most important trip was not geographical, it was in the territory of his own heart: From being centered "in himself and the qualities of his own flesh" to recognize his weaknesses so that the power of God could be expressed through him.

1. THE PRESUMPTION: "I more" / "Blameless"

   Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more.

   • Circumcised the 8th day
   • Of the lineage of Israel
   • From the Tribe of the youngest son (Benjamin)
   • Hebrew of Hebrews
   • As for the law Pharisee
   • Concerning zeal, persecuting the church
   • As for the righteousness which is in the law: Blameless (Filipenses 3:4-21)

2. THE CONFRONTATION OF GOD TO THEIR SELF-CENTEREDNESS:

   But God takes them to see their own deceiving hearts until they say: " O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" (Roman 7:24)

3. THE REVELATION OF GOD... TO BECOME STRONG:

   "My strength is made perfect in weakness" ( 2 Corinthians 12:9)

   Here Paul presents a powerful change

   • But how many things were for my gain... I have estimated them as lost
   • For th love of Christ
   • For the excellence of the knowledge of Christ's Jesus, My Lord
   • For His love ... I have lost everything
   • And I consider all garbage
   • To win Christ... And to be found in Him
   • Not having my own justice that is of the law... But the justice that is of Christ's Faith
   • The Justice that is of God by Faith.
   • In order to know him... And the power of their resurrection
   • And the participation of His sufferings... Being like Him in His death
   • I continue towards the goal, to the prize of the supreme call of God
   • In Christ Jesus
   • Our citizenship is in heaven
   • He transforms the body of our humiliation, so that it is similar to the body of his glory

   AN INVITATION FROM PAUL AND HIS WARNINGS

   • Be imitators of me
   • There are many out there
   • They are enemies of Christ's cross
   • The end of which will be perdition
   • Whose God is their stomach
   • And whose glory is their shame
   • They only think of earthly things

   WEAKNESS: A SOURCE OF POWER (1 cor 1:25)

   • Because the foolishness of God is wiset than men
   • The weakness of Godis stronger than man
   • Not many wise after the flesh
   • Neither many powerful
   • Neither many noble
   • But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise
   • The weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty
   • And the base things of the world
   • And things which are despised, has God chosen, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are

   CAUTION : THAT NO FLESH SHOULD GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE

V - GOD IS LOOKING FOR:

• ...Weak cities
• ...Weak men
• ...Weak churches
• ...Weak denominations
• ...Weak shepherds
• ...Weak ministries

SUMMATION:

What divides the church is not: The devil, or the doctrines, or the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This is what the devil has made us believe for centuries.

When the church enters into the weakness way And abandon the way of Presumption and ambition, when we win the battle of the offense by forgiving 70 times 7, and the leaders stop contaminating their followers with their accusations, criticisms and complains... a unity wave will come on Christ's Body and the great revival will come that we have for such a long time waited for. And the world will believe.

And Jesus will say: "Thank you Father, because you have heard My prayer: " That they may be one in us: that the world may believe that you have sent Me"

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12/31/00