Revelation of Family
Last month I saw my parents kiss (for the first time in my life). It’s funny I’ve always prayed for reconciliation in their relationship, but when it happened I honestly felt kinda weird. I rationalized that people who are married are supposed to be that way and I left it at that. Anyhow, God had just radically changed what was “normal” in life. But, before talking about my family let me introduce myself.
My name is Ed. I just moved back from Taiwan last year. I spent the last couple years of my life doing ministry in Taiwan. While out there I’d pray, “God give me Taiwan or I’m gonna die!” There was about a three month season where everyday I did treasure hunts and prophetic evangelism. I’d go out on the street and pray for the sick and do all kinds of crazy things. I was so zealous for God, all I thought about was revival.
Coming from the entertainment industry, I had a heart for the entertainment mountain. My heart’s cry was for people in entertainment and to see those of “influence” come to know Jesus Christ. One of the desires of my heart was to see a church planted in the largest clubs in Taipei. To my surprise, God answered my prayer a year later. We started a GBS in Taiwan and saw many people inside entertainment come to know the Lord. In that season I saw club owners, celebrities, and just random people off the street get radically saved by Jesus. God was moving so powerfully.
Life became even more amazing when I started traveling with a group called Asia for Jesus. We toured all around Asia and saw tens of thousands of people come to know the Lord. It was such an awesome move of God. One of the main pastors, Philip Mantofa, moved with such authority (and love) you couldn’t help but feel God’s presence wherever he went. If you’ve seen 1040 or Furious Love you’ll know who I’m talking about. Being around him I saw people healed, delivered, and radically saved by the thousands. At that time, I couldn’t possibly think of anything more important than this. But God had something else in mind…[click “Read More” below to continue]
In June of 2009 my mom’s company was having problems with the government. My mom was stressed and it was time to make a decision on whether I should come back to the US or not. Pastor Philip quoted a verse saying that if a person doesn’t take care of his family he is worse off than a non-believer. I prayed with my spiritual family and they all felt as though I should move back.
With that, I came back in July of last year. Being back in the OC was quite a change of pace. I complained to God, “what am I doing here?” I kept thinking about the “glory days.” I felt as though God wasn’t using me anymore. In the last season I saw thousands of people saved, and I kept wondering why I am I here. After joining a local church my pastor asked me, “What does revival look like to you?” I thought to myself. “Don’t wait for revival. BE THE REVIVAL. YEAH!” In my mind revival looked like crusades where thousands of people gathered. Where signs and wonders were breaking out, but when I asked him what he thought he responded with one word. FAMILY. At the time I didn’t really understand, but as I hung out with him more I slowly understood how powerful and important family really is.
This whole year I can honestly say I haven’t done much ministry, however God has shown me something much greater. A year after I came back from Taiwan, last month my mom was charged for conspiring against the US government and was arrested. Even as I write this we are currently in the middle of the lawsuit and litigation process. However, we have complete peace about the whole situation and know that the truth will prevail. Please pray for us, and pray that God will bring speedy justice for my family and to our situation.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”
I now understand this verse. Through this trial, my parents have completely turned their lives back to Jesus. They are daily praying together and have completely forgiven one another from the past. They no longer judge one another and are a living testimony of God’s grace. They now know what it truly means to Love the Lord with all their heart soul mind and strength, and love their neighbor as themselves. Seeing my parents love each other has put a greater love inside of me for them.
“He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
When I ask God why he brought me back, I now understand. I see that God is more concerned about my heart than he is about my works. He is more concerned about my family than He is about my ministry. God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is looking to pour out his blessing upon a thousand generations. If we as Christians don’t get a revelation of what a loving “family” looks like, how can we help adopt the lost (the ones that Jesus died for) into God’s family? As I write this, my prayer is that God would release a revelation of “family” and bring healing into broken relationships. My prayer is that kids would stop judging their parents (regardless of how imperfect they are), and parents would come to an understanding of their children and help them walk into their destiny.
I believe my family is a prophetic sign of what God is doing throughout many peoples lives. When reconciliation happens within the family, God’s Spirit and blessings will pour down like rain. That from these loving families, good fruit will be born and there will be a great end-time harvest.
