Re: The Living Word Fellowship, The Walk, John Robert Stevens
Date: June 28, 2014 03:51AM
Lily Rose, and all,and Thank you Changed Again for the update,
In answer to John having passed on his mantle of authority to Gary and Marilyn shortly before he died. It is my understanding that no one witnessed this take place - so that it might be confirmed - but it was said by some that when they questioned Gary & Marilyn about this - they were told that a tape recording was made of the event, which G&M, said, they were going to be playing for the church - but that this tape recording made of John privately giving to Gary (and Marilyn ) his mantle of authority - was never played for the ministry or for the church.
As most might remember - John over the years, always first set aside ( set apart ) a man - for service as a ministry - with the agreement of the existing ministries and with the agreement of the congregation. As a set aside ministry , a man then served for a season and learned how to serve in the ministry, with the help of the existing ministries. And when the man was serving well in the ministry - then John set the man into the ministry with the agreement and the witness of both the ministries and the congregation. This was a pattern that John followed during the 17 years that I ( as a member of the church) observed in how he set aside and set men into serving as ministries, for the church.
And I myself did not see John deviate from this pattern over the 17 years I was observing him - as the overseeing apostolic ministry for the church.
However some time in 1981 - John having been diagnosed with cancer late in 1980, invited all of the ministries and members of all the churches who were related to the Church Of The Living Word to attend special services - John held at the San Diego Church - these services which were given the title ( The Unfolding ).
At one of the services during the (Unfolding ) - John called Gary up on the platform to minister to him. And it was at this time that John laid hands on Gary and prophesied over Gary. It was at this time that John set Gary ( apart ) from among all the brothers, giving Gary (a charge.)
( definition Charge - to impose a duty, responsibility on ) John took one more step after this service in the ( Unfolding ) and had Gary speak to the church.
However when John prophesied over Gary - John prophesied over Gary - the responsibility Gary was to have for the church - John at this time did not give Gary the responsibility John carried for the Church - as the spiritual overseer for the church. But John spoke of the responsibility that Gary was to have for the church - and he likened that responsibility to the responsibility that Joshua had, saying that Gary was to lead God's people on into the kingdom. This is the only time that John spoke of the responsibility that Gary was to have for the church to the church. ( And this that was spoken over Gary at the unfolding in San Diego in the hearing of all the many members ) is what held the church together - after John died in June of 1983.)
After the " Unfolding " John began taking steps ( himself ) to try to bring some other certain brothers ( ministries ) into the ministry with himself - to bring about a working relationship between these certain brothers and Gary and those brothers who were working for John in the ministry but John was unable to do this - because a major disagreement arose which created a division that has never been corrected - and John so was unable to delegate the responsibility he wanted to give to these other ministries.
John intended to delegate responsibility to other ministries - so that Gary would have the help he needed to be able to carry the responsibility he was to have for the church. Gary was far too young to have the mantle of John's ( full responsibility ) for the Church by himself at that time..
And the division that arose ( between brethren ) was based on the premise of men thinking of the ministry as being a high archy of authority. . And because of the spiritual immaturity that existed in ( all ) the brethren - which Gary became entangled in and got caught up in - in mid 1982 - this resulted in Gary not having the help Gary needed - which John was trying to bring about - for the church, before John died.
You may say well if John knew that Gary was the young man that he saw was going to be leading the church astray and away from God why did John prophecy over Gary and give him a responsibility to lead God's people on into the kingdom?
My best answer would be - that the gifts and the callings of God are irrevocable ( unalterable, unchangeable ) Gary was functioning as an apostolic ministry long before John knew he might soon die - and when the time came - John did not disqualify Gary or any man who was serving in the ministry. See Romans 11:28 -32 which might be applied to all of us - as well - as it was applied to those - the Apostle Paul was speaking of - in Romans 11:28-32.
My best answer would be - that John could do no more than it was given to John to be able to do - and John let what would be ( with faith ) for all of us - run it's course, which has brought us to this day.
As a point of reference - as we here , have discussed and expressed in many different ways - Today we know that the mistreatment of the members of the church for any reason - is not of the Lord. We now know and understand - that destroying the relationship of those who are married - is not of the Lord. And we know that cutting off ( for religious purposes ) the relationship that is to exist between parents and their children and children and their parents , whether the children be young or grown - is not of the Lord. And we know that controlling the lives and the will of the members of the church ( for religious purposes ) is not of the Lord. Can these truths, also be received by the members of TLWF ?
We all were taught - but did not understand the meaning of what we were being taught - that - Authority in the church - is not a position or a place given to rule over your brother - Authority = (equals responsibility ) given to us - to be able to accomplish by faith - the responsibility we are given, from One Who Is - above all rule and authority )
What importance, do the prophecies previously made concerning each of us have ? The Apostle Paul spoke to Timothy.
Timothy 1:18-19 This command I entrust to you, Timothy my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may fight the good fight. Keeping faith and good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered ship wreck in regard to their faith.
This is my best answer I would give , for all of these things I have written about.