Apprehended By Grace: The Real Deal!

Apprehended By Grace: The Real Deal!

January 10, 2013 - Our Fifth email regarding our convictions and beliefs in 2013 for Rivers of Eden. These will be posted on our updated web site as the foundation of what we believe. I encourage you to read the previous four emails also.

I was wondering how to write this fifth email and then suddenly, after reading a post on Facebook, I knew what to write. Here is what I read.

“A great sign of the revelation of grace I have seen in preachers that really get a hold of Grace is the following. They APOLOGIZE to people for what they preached before they got a hold of the truth.” Bertie Brits

So, here goes. How did this grace journey begin in my life? Quite simple. About two years ago, I was bored, uneasy and losing passion from all the externals that had taken hold of my heart. The prophetic, the conferences, trying to keep up with the latest postings, the superstars and on and on an on. I looked at my heart and saw something missing. I had left my first love in search of ministry, prophetic standing and acknowledgment, and much more. I repented and began to seek the reality of Jesus Christ, according to Colossians 1:27.

Over the previous two years or so, I began to see that my eyes were being unveiled to SEE the reality of the beauty of the New Covenant in Christ Jesus. As I looked carefully at what I had preached, taught and prophesied for all these years I SAW such MIXTURE – Old Covenant and New Covenant. I began to see that there was only one path in front of me – all grace.

For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

I went to our current web site and got rid of any and all teachings, prophetic insights, and video and audio messages that spoke from mixture due to my ignorance of GRACE in the person of Christ Jesus. I unsubscribed from lists that contradicted the message of Grace. I subscribed to lists that impacted my life with a message of Grace. Many people unfriended me and removed themselves from Rivers of Eden’s list because of this message. This is reality. The message of grace shall confront and challenge anything that stands in the way of the glory in Jesus Christ. This is a given fact. My focus is not to dwell on what is wrong that is out there. I want to bring forth truth that will set you free to BE in Christ.

I want to ask forgiveness from all who are reading this if I have negatively impacted your life from this ignorance in words that may have conveyed an angry God, an unforgiving God or a God that unconditionally holds His love back fro His people. It is a new day! And there is an updated web site coming in the near future filled with grace.

My life is and will continue to be filled with grace. The person of Christ Jesus IS the reality of the message that we will carry forth to the nations in the coming year. 

The simplicity of this fifth message I am writing reflects the simplicity of the passion in my heart for Jesus Christ. Enjoy the upcoming year with us as we walk in this journey of grace. Be blessed in reading all that we shall write and impart into many of your lives.

Here we go!

In Christ

Debra Westbrook

Next post…Luke 1:17 – Contradictions abound in current “Forerunner, Elijah, John the Baptist” prophetic teachings. You are IN CHRIST- formed and defined by Him and Him alone. Renew your mind in the truth in the person of Jesus Christ. 

Apprehended By Grace: Keeping the Main Thing, the Main Thing!

Apprehended by Grace: Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing!

January 9, 2013 So here goes with our fourth email regarding our convictions and beliefs in 2013 for Rivers of Eden. I am posting these to walk forward into this year as a ministry with renewed strength, momentum, and clarity. Thanks to all of you who are reading these. This one may be a bit longer. Be patient please. I will try to keep on point yet I want to establish this truth surely and with clear conviction.

Colossians 1:16-18

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

Jesus Christ, in all things, and in all ways shall have preeminence. I believe that statement is easy to forget as things constantly get in the way of this simple revelation. So many irrelevant and inconsequential things have overshadowed the simplicity of Jesus Christ. He is the center of everything and all flows through Him, to Him and from Him. And here is glorious truth.

Colossians 1:27

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

1 Corinthians 6:17

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him

He is in you. In fact, you are in union with Christ Jesus. Simply receive that and rest in that revelation, day-by-day, moment-by-moment. It considerably changes how you live your life and how ministry unto the Lord flows forth from your life.

Rivers of Eden and all those associated with this ministry, and to each place God sends us we shall remember one simple fact. Jesus Christ shall have the preeminence in all we say and all we do. As the people of God, we are in the New Covenant, sealed in Christ, and living in the reality of the finished work of the Cross. This has given us an inheritance in Christ, a freedom in Christ and LIFE. We put aside the irrelevance of anything that competes with Jesus Christ. Even good things can compete with Christ. Therefore, I have decided to KEEP THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING.

The Prophetic Expression of Rivers of Eden

We are called to BE the creative expression of Jesus Christ. This is our mandate and our mission. There is no cloning in the Body of Christ. We are not robotic or called to be templates of another man’s message or ministry. Creativity is resident in our identity in Christ. Flowing forth from that identity, creativity is our expression of who we are, what we are called to do, and how we are expressing His reality in our lives, all in grace.

We chased after personalities and conferences in years past. Reading books and listening to online teachings only left me more confused and further away from the simplicity found in Jesus Christ. There are subtle implications as well as blatant declarations abounding today in many venues that one must come somewhere, attend, listen to or be apart of SOMETHING rather than simply look at Christ in you, the hope of glory. It has rendered a people that are hopelessly divided and immature.

In prophetically moving forth now and in the coming days, we shall move out on a clear revelation of grace, in His glory. That involves keeping the New Covenant in clear focus and only proceeding forth in what glorifies the Son and does not mix Old Covenant with the New. Hence, our prophetic expression will be based on showing forth the reality of the person of Christ Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and revealing the awesomeness of God the Father.

Revelation 19:10

And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy

Every prophetic word, utterance, dream, vision, dance, song SHALL be brought forth from the inner reality of Jesus Christ, bringing all glory and honor to Him. The truth of His testimony, the finished work of the cross shall ring forth from the prophetic in our lives. There shall be the reality of His love for people. There shall be no judgment or wrath or implication of such. There shall be no anger as if inferring that God is not totally pleased with you. Grace shall abound in the prophetic just as grace flowed from the testimony of the cross of Christ. We believe that grace supersedes law in every way. In believing that, we know that words of life shall be imparted through this ministry. God alone brings the change in a human heart. The world languishes under judgment. We shall not contribute to that and bring forth a distorted revelation of an angry abusive God.

The Evangelistic Expression of Rivers of Eden

Flowing forth in the reality of Christ in us, and our union with Christ frees us to BE everywhere in the earth. In being who we are in Christ, we don’t have to define ourselves by any template of evangelism as taught in days past. We just have to BE in Christ, which we are, wherever we are. It is not my purpose to defend the Gospel by an external compulsion to hand out tracts or to feel guilty because I don’t lead hundreds of people to Christ. Christianity is alive in Christ and shall reign forever as truth. It is. He is. We are in Him.

The Gospel needs no defense as if it is lacking in something or that we should try to prove something. The finished work of the cross of Christ, the shed blood of Jesus and its reality is worked through our lives individually and in that, we evangelize. Evangelism is not external to our passion and our purpose. We naturally and supernaturally evangelize based upon the reality of our passion for Jesus Christ. How can you not but talk about Him?

That reality FLOWS, so real and so true from LIFE. We are not called to focus on people just to get them saved from hell or somehow to convince them that Jesus is real or even to push the Gospel down their throats in some measure of self-righteousness. Move out in the truth of the person of Christ Jesus.

Love all people for He died for all. Because of this revelation to our hearts, we don’t avoid going anywhere or being Christ like in the most obscure or strange places. In being in Christ, our lives change atmospheres and we are simply open to speaking forth of Him from the reality of our lives. We want to see people encounter God. We count as our friends everyone for we know that except for God’s grace, we have been in that same position. We love in Christ and listen, even if we disagree. God is ABLE to show Himself to people. We are simply the vessels of His grace and glory.

In humility of heart, knowing by GRACE I have been saved, I leave you to ponder all of this. 

In Christ

Debra Westbrook

Apprehended By Grace: Who's Your Covering?

Apprehended by Grace: Who’s Your Covering?

January 7, 2013 So here goes with our third email regarding our convictions and beliefs in 2013 for Rivers of Eden. I am posting these to walk forward as a ministry with renewed strength, momentum, and clarity.  Day by day I am feeling strengthened by focusing on our foundation and establishing our purpose. Thanks to all of you who are reading these.

Our ‘covering’ is and always will be Jesus Christ. It is not an institution, a denomination, or an apostolic network.

Our accountability, our fellowship, and our lives are intertwined with those whom God brings to us and with whom we walk alongside in ministry. God has been faithful to bring people to us by His Spirit. He establishes us in relationship with wonderful people. We have forsaken the erroneous idea of “covering” in favor of Spirit led connections, formed for the purpose of walking in destiny in Christ.

We are not ‘covered’ by any man or institution. Only God can ‘cover’ and we already are in Christ. In fact, we are more than covered. We are in union with Christ. We are in Christ in the reality of the finished work of the cross and the shed blood of Christ Jesus.

In speaking forth our clear convictions above, let me say this. One is not rebellious, dishonoring, or disrespectful because one forsakes the erroneous concept of ‘covering’. One is not forsaking authority or true Biblical submission when one forsakes the erroneous concept of ‘covering’. The word ‘covering’ and the implications conveyed by the question “Who is your covering” is wrong.

This ministry is founded on relationship – each of us in Christ in God. Then we are accountable in relationship with each other. There is mutual submission one to another in humility and grace on our small teams in Finland and Canada. There is honesty, imperfection, disagreements, love, frustration, and even disappointment among us. This won’t change as God brings more people. Our belief about ‘covering’ by man will also never change. Accountability will flow from relationship – it always does and always will. Rivers of Eden is a ministry in Christ in relationship with one another. In grace, not law. With authority, not control or manipulation.

‘Covering’ to some implies that a minister or ministry is safe. ‘Covering’ to some implies submission and accountability to one another in the safety of a structure or institution. Nothing can be further from the truth. God designed relationship in Christ. Man designed ‘covering’. I was a pastor for several years with a major denomination. Underneath the facade of ‘covering’, I often saw hidden secrets swept under the rug and abuse in many situations. There is no safety just because one is ‘covered’ by a denomination or network.

There is no need to belabor this point any longer. The purpose of this email is to cement the very foundation of Rivers of Eden as we walk forth into 2013 and beyond. And in saying all that I have said above, I realize how much freedom is becoming apparent in my life. God is incredibly wonderful!

In Christ

Debra Westbrook

Apprehended By Grace: Women In Ministry!

Apprehended by Grace: Women in Ministry 

Galatians 3:28
In Christ's family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. (The Message) 

January 6, 2013 So here goes with our second email regarding our convictions and beliefs for 2013. I am posting these to walk forward as a ministry with renewed strength, momentum, and clarity.  

There is total equality in ministry for women and men. Total equality without any discrimination. Both are called to lead in the Body of Christ in various and diverse ways. Women are called to lead in governmental positions of apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. Women are also called to serve and help and walk in an anointing to heal, set free and BE in Christ. There is no debate on this fact in Rivers of Eden.

   

As the leader of Rivers of Eden, I would like to say that Marvin and I, as husband and wife, as a finely tuned team for God, are in agreement with equality in Christ for men and women.  I lead since God gave me the initial vision years ago and I have carried this inside me for years and years. God has placed an apostolic and prophetic call on my life to the nations. I speak this forth simply because I will no longer walk defensively trying to prove myself to both men and women in this call. Through years of being overlooked, passed over, rejected, or dismissed as emotional or angry, I acted defensively and at times angry but those days are gone. I lead. I am in Christ. Selah. (I pray this helps and will continue to help many women out there who are going and have gone through so much persecution for simply submitting to God's call on their life.)  

God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, therefore you can look forward to sharing in God's glory. It's that simple. That is the substance of our Message. Colossians 1:27 (The Message)

I intended this email to be different, trying to theologically prove women are equal and capable. Yet God prompted me to take an offensive, not a defensive approach.  Those days are over for us. If I keep looking back or around for affirmation, it halts my forward progress and momentum in Christ. It's a useless argument to undertake even today. Women (and men) simply walk forward in truth, grace and humility and BE whom God has called you to BE. DO what He has called you to DO.  

Forgive and release people - you will never change their mind or change their opinion in this. Simply let go and let God do this. You walk forward! Be free in Christ! How can you deny who is in you? Are you called apostolically, prophetically? Are you called to preach or teach? Let God make a way for you and if you are in a church that denies women the opportunity to BE whom God has called them to BE, perhaps it is time to evaluate your current position and placement and move on. Marvin and I always look at leadership in any given church we visit or conference we may attend. If there are no women in leadership, we evaluate as to whether we even want to walk through the doors.  

Do not make a way for yourself or promote yourself - trust God! You, ladies, are not a man. And you gentlemen are not being demeaned in any way. As an older woman in the Body of Christ, I simply say it's time for both to arise in leadership. Women are 50% of the Body of Christ. God will move the whole body in unity, regardless of what anyone thinks or says or tries to prove.  

Do not be offended or offensive. Don't shirk back but be bold. Expect rejection and take it in grace but never let it cause you to doubt your calling or to walk away from it. Do not be angry or let your anger show forth. This is not a man-women thing but a God thing that only He can resolve in the heart of His people. Men are not your enemy, ladies. Women are not your enemy, gentlemen.  

Stand firm in your identity in Christ. Stand firm! I address this as a woman, for both women and men. Our 2013 convictions will form a firm foundation for this ministry.

Be blessed! 

Love in Christ

Debra Westbrook