Presidential Message Nov. 2021

Ministerial Legislative Convention | November 23-25, 2021 | Long Beach, California

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Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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Ministerial Legislative Convention | November 23-25, 2021 | Long Beach, California

PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE “A GENERATION UNDER FIRE - SURPRISED

BY A DIVINE REVIVAL” Bishop President Dr. John Fortino 1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

MINISTERIAL LEGISLATIVE CONVENTION NOVEMBER 23-25, 2021 LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA

Ministerial Legislative Convention | November 23-25, 2021 | Long Beach, California

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A GENERATION UNDER FIRE SURPRISED BY A DIVINE REVIVAL

Esteemed International General Board Members, District Bishops, Regional Bishops, Bishop Presidents, Regional Elders, Missionaries, Pastors, and people of the Lord.1 Praise the Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh that he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a ay to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

I. INTRODUCTION

1. This first letter to the Corinthians was written in Ephesus, where, according to Acts 20:31, Paul lived three years, most likely during the years 54 through 57. While he was in Ephesus, the believers of the congregation in Corinth sent, quite possibly through Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus (1 Corinthians 16:17), a report of the problems that were present in the brilliant Church.

2. At the same time that Paul was listening to those problems, “them which are of the house of Chloe2,” informed him about the divisions that existed in the Church. A wave of fanatics had risen up that said they were of Paul and others of Apollos. This impacted the unity of the Church and called for Paul to answer them rapidly.

3. The interesting part of Paul’s responses is that before he embarked on any other relevant and necessary topic, the apostle writes of how important Unity in the Church is. For Paul all the topics were important, but without a united Church, to speak of any other topic was a waste of time. No problems would be resolved without the Church being united. Paul made them see that the unity of the Church was most important.

4. Now, as Corinth was a gateway to Greece, it was a place where many nationalities and cultures gathered, and this, made them be different, think differently, and consequently act differently. Political, social, and even religious differences. Many of those people were converted to the Lord and were part of the Church that was being birthed, but the differences continued. The Church was made up of brothers and sisters that were different, that thought differently to one another, and therefore acted differently. But Paul tells them that, in Jesus Christ, they were “all” part of the body of Christ and because of that, they were one even if they thought and acted differently to one another.

5. Just as Paul, we nowadays, must accept that the unity of the Church is the most important and the hardest to gain.

“A united Church, will never be defeated.” Sadly we live in a world that is very confused, where we see that there are people that are “happy” and feel “good” when they are in an argumentative and hostile environment.3 Our enemy, satan (LRH), knows this full well. That is why he seeks a way for people to fight and have misunderstandings that later turn into roots of bitterness. Just as in Corinth, where the first brethren were confused by so many opinions from outside of the Church, nowadays, this that is happening around us, also splashes upon the members of the Church.

1. This message is an adaptation and amplification of the presidential message I brought to the Bishops and Presidents at the Joint Bishop’s Meeting held September of this year.

2. 1 Corinthians 1:11 3. Luke 17:37; Matthew 24:28; Job 29:27-30. These scriptures speak to us of vultures. These birds only eat meat that has decayed. If it is fresh they wait until it has spoiled and then they eat it. They are “happy” among this kind of meat.

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Ministerial Legislative Convention | November 23-25, 2021 | Long Beach, California

6. Brethren, this generation, our generation, has been and is the generation that is under fire. We are definitely living in very difficult times and we are surrounded by christians that are under the fire of confusion, the fire of political pressure, and the fire of a world-wide crisis the likes of which we have never experienced and it is causing division in people on trivial things like: whether the coronavirus is real or not; whether one should get vaccinated or not; whether one should wear a mask or not. There are many leaders that are confused and are confusing their followers, to the degree that the topic of the pandemic is no longer clearly understood as a health problem, but rather a political problem or even a spiritual problem. Everyone is criticized by everyone. Those that get vaccinated by those that do not get vaccinated. Those that wear masks by those that do not wear masks. Those that have not closed their Church by those that have closed. Those that live as if nothing is happening criticize those that live using prudence.

The “spiritual” christians criticize the “carnal” christians and vice versa. This pandemic has definitely divided the world in two halves, and the space between the two halves, is increasingly wider every day. Jesus Christ said: Luke 11:17 Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.

7. A house divided against itself falls. Notice that the division that is spoken of by Jesus is “internal” (divided against itself). It is not in reference to an external aggressor that would make the family fight against him, instead the aggressor in internal, he is inside. Internal problems are the most destructive. In the history of world powers, the common denominator in their fall has been internal divisions. Our Lord Jesus Christ had already anticipated it, and now more than ever, there are bible verses that are foretelling us that what is happening around us, along with causing the greatest divisiveness in the Church, is setting the stage for a leader that will put an end to so many divisions and an end to so many political and social problems. A leader that will take center stage in the world with a message of hope, a message of unity, and a message of peace. But the sacred writer exhorts us that when peace and safety are spoken of, sudden destruction will come. Let us notice…

1 Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then the sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of the darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

8. Glory to God for his Word!

9. Even in the times of Paul an imminent return of Christ was spoken of. The first century christians woke up to the unjust news that a member of the community of the faith had been assassinated by enemy hands, solely because they were and confessed to be a son or daughter of God. Biblical and extra biblical history mention thousands of brethren giving their lives for the cause of the Gospel, and even since then the end of all things was expected.

Without a doubt, in our XXI century world things are happening that are shouting that the second coming of Christ is at hand and closer than we can imagine. Just as Paul exhorted the Thessalonian brethren, that they not sleep (it is not time to sleep), in the same manner, he says the same to us and to all where this message will reach (it is not time to sleep). Of course he is not referring to the act of resting at night but to spiritual sleep. This person that is “spiritually asleep” is he that, knowing what is happening, lives as if nothing is happening and does nothing to that respect. We, the spiritual leaders of the Lord’s flock, must be more alert than at any other time past, see what is happening as the fulfillment of a master plan that is being revealed before our eyes, and be vigilant.

Ministerial Legislative Convention | November 23-25, 2021 | Long Beach, California

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II. SUDDENLY…

1. Through this writing, I invite you that we journey, in our imagination, to the first century, to the city of Ephesus, to Paul’s house. The apostle Paul is resting from his missionary trip and suddenly three brothers arrive that, after greeting him and comforting him spiritually, begin to tell him all the problems that the Church in Corinth was going through. And while they were commenting on the internal problems of the Church in Corinth, “they that are of the house of Chloe” arrive and, once again suddenly, they communicate the internal divisions of the Church and the horrible sin of immorality that was happening and that was staining the testimony of the Church in the eyes of those outside of the Church to him.

2. While they told of all those problems, I can imagine the pain of the apostle for his brethren and the desperation to do something concerning the matter. After a time of silence in that room, and dismayed by all that they had told him, I can imagine the apostle taking a seat on a chair, saying a simple prayer, and entrusting himself to God so that He could lead him in what to write to them. He did not want to wait too much, the bad news came suddenly, and the response from the apostle was also sent suddenly.

3. What a great blessing it was for the first century Church to have these men of God among them! Men that were willing to respond immediately to the needs, problems, and crises that the Church was living. Men that, guided by the Holy Spirit, caused the doubt to end, put an end to false teachings from false teachers, and reprimanded those that wanted to change the doctrine and affect the progress of the Church. How we need those men nowadays!

Esteemed Pastors, you are the “Pauls” of the XXI century. We all have the responsibility to watch over the Church and the flock that God has placed in our care. Now more than ever we must be sensitive to what is happening and respond with the same anointing and authority that the sacred writers of the first century did. We cannot remain silent.

4. Just as Paul was surprised suddenly, while he was enjoying a much deserved rest after his missionary trip, we also, the leaders of this time, were surprised suddenly…

5. Suddenly we heard the news that in a laboratory in China a virus had accidentally gone out and infected a group of people and it was lethal and extremely contagious. Suddenly it was said that many in China, infected by this virus, would pass out in the streets and some would die. Suddenly isolated cases appeared in people all over the world that presented the same symptoms as the people in the streets in China. Suddenly flights from one country to another were cancelled and people isolated themselves from others like never before in history. Suddenly we started to hear that many people were being infected with this virus, but now in the United States. Suddenly flights within the country were cancelled. Suddenly we started to hear that people infected with this virus were dying from lack of oxygen and to be saved from it they needed to be placed on respiratory machines. Suddenly we heard that there were not enough respiratory machines and the number of those dying was increasing daily. Suddenly images of bodies wrapped in plastic and placed in containers outside of hospitals started to appear because there was not enough space inside the cold rooms.

6. Suddenly businesses closed down, stadiums, restaurants, malls, stores, and Churches closed as well. Suddenly we found out that we were facing a historic pandemic and it was not just a simple cold. Suddenly food, water, and gasoline began to be scarce. Suddenly jobs came to a halt and people started to lose their jobs. Suddenly the cases of the sick due to the virus began to escalate and there was no space for them in the hospitals. Suddenly we began to see, just as in wars, that tents were set up close to hospitals, to care for patients that could not enter them.

7. Suddenly we heard of people that died due to the virus. Suddenly we were told that we could not visit the sick in the hospitals, and that the elderly should stay home and no longer receive any visitors. Suddenly we heard that the people affected by the virus died alone in their rooms, and that no one could visit them nor claim their bodies.

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Ministerial Legislative Convention | November 23-25, 2021 | Long Beach, California

Suddenly families, friends, and brothers started to be infected by the virus. Suddenly this was no longer a problem for “them” now it was a problem for us. Suddenly we began to receive messages that asked for prayers for brothers that had the virus, others that were taken to the hospital. Suddenly we heard that some could not recover and died.

Suddenly the Church began to feel the effect of what was happening and every day the number of the brethren that were affected by the virus rose. Suddenly it touched us and our loved ones.

8. Suddenly we found ourselves with a problem that we could not control and it was affecting the whole world.

Suddenly we had to learn to adapt ourselves and to listen to news like that every day and hope in God that this plague would pass. Suddenly we heard that the vaccine had been accepted by health officials, and we had a few months of easy breathing and tranquility. We came to think that the effects of the virus were over when suddenly, a new wave emerged and a variant of the virus that originated in China now began to infect thousands again.

Suddenly we began to hear of cases in all parts of the country again. Suddenly we began to receive reports from our missionaries that detailed what was happening in the places where they preached. Suddenly we saw how the rest of the world, who do not have the same resources and benefits that we have here, decided to continue with their lives, accepting that this form of death was part of daily life.

9. Suddenly we, here in the United States of America, have learned to live with the idea that there are brethren and friends that are being infected daily; that some survive and, sadly, others die. Suddenly we have learned to live with the idea that new cases emerge every day and that life has to go on. Suddenly that pause that the Church had taken, months ago, has now turned into a “let us move forward.” In a sudden way we have learned that, despite all that has happened, all the confusion and even the death of some, the Church cannot halt its march before these catastrophes and crises. Suddenly we have seen how the Church has passed through the “fire” but it still stands and does so with desires to “Expand the Kingdom of God with Power and to enter into the greatest revival of its history.”

10. Although the pandemic has diminished, it has not ended. There are still millions of people that are in limbo.

Countries where the governments have shown no interest in helping their people and others that sadly do not have the economic resources to help them. The Church is in many of these places, our Church, our brothers and sisters that cry out to God, that have seen death close to them and to their families. Brothers that have not ceased the work of the Kingdom with great prudence and care they continue fulfilling the calling of God in their lives.

11. The Apostolic Assembly is in the hands of God. And we have to keep working and fulfill the mission that God has placed in our care. Always with the precaution of not infecting others and not getting infected ourselves. The Church must continue moving forward learning to swim in these waters of confusion and panic.

12. Like me, there are many that are awaiting a move of the Holy Spirit like never before. All this that has happened and is happening and what we have lived cannot fall in an empty sack. This must leave a moral to be learned by us. At the end there must be a fiery desire to serve God and a glorious expectation of what God is going to do. 21 months of this pandemic along with life’s normal problems, like inclement weather, problems having to do with old age, chronic diseases, etc…, have left a balance of thousands upon thousands of people and brethren that have died. We are all used to hearing that someone has died, that perhaps some brother or sister has left to be with the Lord, but never like now. All that I have mentioned definitely gives us the authority to say that this is, “A generation under fire.” A generation under fire but with God’s promise that we will emerge victorious.

Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3 For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee and people for thy life.

Ministerial Legislative Convention | November 23-25, 2021 | Long Beach, California

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III. HOW IS SUFFERING EXPLAINED?

1. I know to speak of faith in a time of crisis, saddens a sector of the Church that sadly lost loved ones during the pandemic. This has been my personal dilemma and my question to God on many occasions. I have tried to rationalize this dilemma, I have prayed to God so that he may help me to understand it and explain it in the best way possible, knowing that I may be questioned and argued with. I do not think there exists an answer that may answer everyone’s questions nor explains what is happening in different families in different parts of the world.

2. How can we explain or even try to explain the death of those that have died by being infected with the virus. Or how to explain the situation of those that are still fighting for their lives connected to a respiratory machine? Or what about those that have aftereffects supposedly for the rest of their lives? It is difficult, very difficult to explain human suffering, especially when the cases are so many, so serious, and so close to us. Personally I feel that that is where the answer lies, and the answer is: how do you see human suffering? Or how do you see suffering in general?

Because human suffering has always been with us, in all the centuries, men and women have suffered. It is a part of life itself. What happens is that now suffering is massive, it is daily, it is personal, it is visible, and it is world wide.

It seems that by being so close to us, it demands that it be spoken of and that the argument be satisfactory. That is impossible. There is no one answer to suffering, there is no magical phrase, there is no home remedy that exists, and much less a simple slogan like “stop suffering” as a cheap answer to something so serious and delicate. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can identify fully with people’s suffering, and leave a trail of peace and endurance.

Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised , and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrow: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are all healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

3. Some see suffering as abandonment by God, Job teaches the opposite. Others see suffering like a consequence of sin. Although it may be true in some cases; but the man blind from birth in the gospel according to John teaches the opposite. Others can see suffering as a condemnation, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the book of Isaiah, teaches the opposite.

4. These are damaging arguments that are heard among the brethren and even preachers when they refer to brothers that were infected by the virus. These ignorant people say, “Surely God abandoned them.” Or “Surely there was hidden sin,” or, “surely they brought condemnation upon their house.” Many have had to repent of those words, because in the second wave, they were strongly affected, and some are still affected by it. Others still that got infected by the virus without any symptoms. Be it as it may, the stance of the Apostolic Assembly must always be a stance of encouragement, acceptance of God’s will in that person’s life, and never to add more pain to the pain of suffering.

5. Many of us, facing this dilemma, feel the need to explain why people suffer and die, and we even want to explain the symptoms of the illness, when in reality we do not have the slightest clue of what is happening. The issue of explaining suffering, death, and why some die and others do not, many times confuses more than the light that it sheds. On our list of pastors and pastor’s wives we have more than 56 names of those that have departed to be with the Lord, the majority because of covid, and others due to other reasons. But when they die due to covid, we believe that we have to explain it, even all the way to making clarifications so that people will understand why it happened.

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Ministerial Legislative Convention | November 23-25, 2021 | Long Beach, California

6. Suddenly when someone dies due to covid, it is interpreted differently than when they die from heart problems, cancer, accidents, etc… It seems that we are obligated to add phrases to traditional phrases because what is traditional is not enough. Beloved Brethren once again, suffering is part of life itself. We have stories upon stories of thousands upon thousands of people that died (at the same time) unjustly and unnecessarily, solely for the purposes of satisfying the whim of some monarch or insane dictator. Just to name a few: • The Holocaust (1941-1945): Approximately 11 million assassinations that included jews, gypsies, and other ethnic groups, social groups, and ideological groups. 4 • Rwandan Genocide (1994): It was an attempt to exterminate the entire Tutsi population by the hegemonic Hutu government in Rwanda between the 7th of April and 15th of July of 1994, in which approximately 70% of all Tutsis were assassinated. It is calculated that between 500,000 and 1,000,000 people were assassinated.5 7. Who can explain the horrible killings of the Holocaust to Jewish children and grandchildren? Or who will attempt to venture an answer to the Church in Rwanda? What is the answer or argument that can be given for why people suffer? Any attempt to explain these barbaric acts would prove a fruitless effort. This is what man has sown and also reaped. It is an embarrassing part of history that we have as humans, we cannot even find a phrase or argument that will explain this type of suffering and pain from one man to another. What is left for us to do is to simply leave it among the mysteries of God, that at the right time will be revealed and explained in their totality.

Maybe this retelling will help us to understand the divine perspective as it relates to suffering, life upon the earth, and what is most important, Jesus said, Luke 13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all the men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

8. Jesus makes mention of a real historic event that happened in those times. We do not know when, but we know that it did happen and that it was well known by everyone. Man, by nature, is a great observer, but a terrible interpreter of what is observed. Those that were from there, had already formulated their conclusions, and their reasonings that the tower fallen upon them because they were sinners. Jesus refutes that idea, and tells them, that they were wrong. He also mentions “other Galileans” that died under the orders from Pilate. In both cases the answer is the same: I tell you, Nay: but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. But when he says “likewise” what is he referring to? That they would die sacrificed to the idols or they were going to die because a tower was going to fall on them? In no way. The Lord is referring to the fact that the most important detail is not “how” one dies but instead, “when” the moment of death comes the person would have had time to repent of all their sins and that death would not catch them by surprise without the assurance of salvation.

9. Bringing together all the previous things, we conclude that: Suffering is a part of life itself, that in many cases it is unfruitful to try to explain it. We need to learn to see suffering like God sees it, which is that it is a part of a divine process, we may quite possibly mitigate the hatred and confusion and we will be able to find true peace in the middle of the pain, understanding that God never abandones his children, and that everything that we do not understand now, we will eventually learn in due time, and in the meantime, we must continue on with life, because life goes on.

4. https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/es/article/introduction-to-the-holocaust (accessed September 2021) 5. Images are very graphic. https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/04/02/album/1554217272_428255.html#foto_gal_3 (accessed September 2021)

Ministerial Legislative Convention | November 23-25, 2021 | Long Beach, California

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IV. AND… NOW WHAT?

1. Many people, facing so much uncertainty and confusion want to know, what comes next. And now, what awaits us? What comes after all of this? Much is said of the new normal. It is said that everything has changed or that it is on a path to global change. Well here what we have to do is look to the Church in the past, the Church of the New Testament. How did they come out of crises? What did they do? As I said before, in the middle of global crises, the men of God would stand like powerful columns that held the Church strong and safe. If there is a figure after our Lord Jesus Christ who was a pillar for the New Testament, it was the apostle Paul, who after listening to the difficulties of the Church of Corinth, he tells them: 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

2. What a tremendous declaration! Everything was happening to the Church of Corinth, they lived in confusion, the Church was fracturing due to the internal divisions, the Church was divided, immorality took hold of some of them, and it seemed that the Church was going to disintegrate. But in the midst of so many difficult situations, in the middle of the chaos and the crisis that they were experimenting, Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit writes to them so that they would not be afraid, none of that could take God’s power nor remove God from his throne, nor was it something unusual; it is common to the faith, and it happens all over the world. Some suffer it on a grand scale, and others on an inferior scale, but all have to pass through the fire of the trial of suffering. But remember, the apostle tells them, that along with (to the side or parallel to) the temptation (trial, crisis, difficulty) God gives us escape.

3. So now, is Paul underestimating people’s suffering? In no way. The apostle is saying that there is no problem that lasts forever, that suffering is not eternal, and that while the solution arrives, we must be steadfast. That is why he says in the previous verse 1 Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

4. The apostle writes to them so that they can understand that in a moment of pain, if you don’t have the correct point of view, the enemy of our souls, can take advantage of that moment to place in the mind ideas that will take you away from God, converting that brother into an enemy of God, and with the risk of falling out of God’s grace.

V. CONCLUSION

1. In all the difficult things that happen to us in life, human beings have the tendency to see only the trial, the crisis, or the difficulty and that may be the reason why suffering becomes more intense. The writer to the Hebrews sheds some more light on the Lord’s sufferings when he says: Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 2. Where was the joy? As we read of the passion of Christ, you cannot see joy in any place. Only if you view suffering like God sees it, maybe you may be able to understand what is happening today better. The only joy that is seen in this setting is when Jesus resurrects from the dead and comes out of the tomb. If we view the scene of the passion without the resurrection, we will never see joy.

3. That is exactly what Paul exhorts us to see, the escape, the solution, the glory of God, and it only arrives when He wants. Could it be that this explanation or revelation is only for them? What about us? What about the Church of the XXI century? Are we able to see the escape before the crisis consumes us? I am a firm believer in the complete

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Ministerial Legislative Convention | November 23-25, 2021 | Long Beach, California

inspiration of the Holy Scripture. That is why I believe that Paul’s argument can also be applied to the crisis of health that we are living today. I am sure that along with this crisis God had and has the escape (the answer) for every one of us.

4. If we concentrate more on the escape, our attitude will be one of the worshipper and spiritual warrior, and as a result of this, we will be able to become participants in one of the greatest revivals in the history of the Church. So after all of this, I personally believe that the Church will experience a move of the Holy Spirit like never before.

That is why the title of this message is, “A generation under fire, but surprised by a divine revival.” Christian History has taught us that the great revivals have come in times of world wide crisis of global proportions. In the moments when it seemed that all would end. In the midst of that storm of confusion and disaster, God, that has never left his throne, that has never lost his lordship, that was not taken by surprise, still has a move left, and this one will be the checkmate. God is going to surprise his Church with a divine revival. Truly we are in the midst of a historic pandemic, we live surrounded by a spirit of confusion and panic, but I am sure that just as the pandemic arrived suddenly, that is how suddenly, as on the day of Pentecost, the Church will receive a visitation of the Holy Spirit that will fill it completely.

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5. I am declaring that a divine revival will come suddenly to the Apostolic Assembly. That the 21 months that have been lost, or that the devil tried to steal from the Church, God will restore that time with blessings and with a great revival. I do not know what Church in the Apostolic Assembly will be the one to light the match, but once it is lit, it will not be detained and it will be a first century revival that will truly lead us into the “new normal.”

Joel 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

6. Esteemed leaders, all that is happening is preparing us for something great that God has for his people. Do not be discouraged by everything that we are hearing on the news, or at what is heard among the brethren or on social media networks. The children of God go to be with the Lord when He has established it. Be it covid, cancer, or an accident, all is already established in God’s plan.

Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all the nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.

7. And for Paul and us…

Philippians 1:21 …to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

8. Therefore, Press Forward Church!

Let us continue expanding the Kingdom of God with power - awaiting a revival.

Fraternally, Bishop President, J. Fortino

Ministerial Legislative Convention | November 23-25, 2021 | Long Beach, California

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Ministerial Legislative Convention | November 23-25, 2021 | Long Beach, California