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August 17, 2017
"Unexpected Strategic Connections Are Coming Your Way!"
by Nathan Shaw, Dunedin, New Zealand
From the Desk of Steve Shultz:
 This word today through Nathan Shaw is about one of my favorite subjects in the world!
It's called by different names, but whether you call them "divine appointments, strategic connections, miraculous encounters" or any other name, the fruit is the same...DOORS FLING OPEN FOR YOU.
Often people complain that they don't "hear God's voice" at all! But these same people might tell you stories of strategic connections that just "fell in my lap."
If you think about it, it's nearly impossible to have a divine appointment between you and another person without YOU and THEM hearing God's voice. Because that is how you both ended up at the right place, standing in the right spot, and at the right time. It felt like your thoughts but in reality...you heard God's voice tell you to stand right here.
I'll leave you with this excerpt from Nathan Shaw's word:
May I encourage you to deliberately exercise your faith for strategic connections. Ask God for them. Expect them to happen. And pray that you recognize them when they do happen. But don't be impatient. It is through faith and patience that we inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12). When strategic connections happen, it is definitely worth the wait. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
Please forward this word to your friends! Encourage them to subscribe to the Elijah List right here: http://elijahlist.com/subscribe.
Enjoy!
Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News
http://www.elijahlist.com
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"Unexpected Strategic Connections Are Coming Your Way!"
by Nathan Shaw, Dunedin, New Zealand
Strategic connections are game changers. They open doors of opportunity that didn't exist previously. Sometimes it can seem like nothing has happened for years and then suddenly an unexpected connection changes everything. We are about to see a dramatic increase of strategic connections.
Testimony of Connections
Twelve years ago, I received an email from a pastor from Singapore. In the email he introduced himself and inquired about the possibility of ministering in New Zealand. God put New Zealand on this man's heart but he didn't know anyone from New Zealand. At the time, a preacher from South Africa was ministering at his church. He asked the South African preacher if he knew anyone in New Zealand. The South African preacher had recently spoken at my church and gave the Singaporean pastor my contact.
I invited the pastor to New Zealand. We were blessed by his ministry but I didn't expect what happened next. He opened up Asia for me through his many connections. Since then, I have ministered in Asia many times. One of my books has even been translated into Chinese. God set up a strategic connection by putting New Zealand on the heart of a man I didn't even know.
Biblical Connections
The Bible is full of strategic connections but I want to focus on just three of them: a prostitute, an unnamed woman, and a demonized man. These connections are even more amazing when you consider that the prostitute was a Canaanite, the unnamed woman a Samaritan, and the demonized man a foreigner.
1. The Prostitute (Joshua 2)
Rahab was a prostitute in the Canaanite city of Jericho. Two Israelite men were sent to spy out the land of Canaan. They lodged the night at Rahab's house. Word got out that the spies were in the city. Rahab hid them in her roof and then aided them to escape undetected. Rahab was a strategic connection for the spies. If it wasn't for her, they would have been killed. But the spies were also a strategic connection for Rahab. The spies promised protection for Rahab's family. When Israel attacked Jericho, Rahab and her family were the only inhabitants who were spared. They became part of the nation of Israel.
2. The Unnamed Woman (John 4:1-42)
We know this woman as the Samaritan woman because Scripture doesn't even reveal her name. Jesus passed through the region of Samaria on the way to Galilee. While His disciples went into a town to get some food, He met a woman. The woman had come to draw water from the well outside the town. Although Jesus was hungry and thirsty, He took the time to speak to her. The woman was astonished because Jesus knew intimate details about her life even although He had never met her. Going back into the town she convinced many to come and see Jesus. After hearing her testimony and hearing Jesus for themselves, many of them believed that Jesus was the Savior of the world.
3. The Demonized Man (Mark 4:35-5:20)
This man is also unnamed. Jesus crossed the sea of Galilee and met a man who was severely possessed with demons. Jesus delivered the man of the demons. The change was dramatic. Naturally the man wanted to follow Jesus. Instead, Jesus told him to stay in the region and testify to all that had happened. This man lived in the region of Decapolis which was beyond the borders of Israel. Most of Jesus' ministry was to Israel but He also made brief excursions to some of the surrounding territories.
Sometime after the demonized man was delivered, Jesus returned to the region (Mark 7:31-8:10). Multitudes came to hear Jesus in the wilderness. It was here that Jesus fed thousands of people by supernaturally multiplying a few loaves and fish. How many of this multitude had heard of Jesus because of the demonized man's story? God strategically connected Jesus with this man. It was part of God's plan to reach people in the borders beyond Israel.
These examples demonstrate how strategic connections can impact families, towns and even whole regions.
• Rahab's actions resulted in the salvation/deliverance of her whole family.
• The Samaritan woman's testimony resulted in the salvation of many in her town.
• The demonized man's testimony played a significant role in opening a whole region to Jesus.
Unexpected Doors of Opportunity Are Before You!
Don't underestimate the power of one strategic connection. Strategic connections can open unexpected doors of opportunity. The residents of Jericho, Samaria and Decapolis were all beyond Israel's direct influence. In each case, one strategic connection impacted many lives. Strategic connections can bring protection, just ask Rahab and the two spies. Strategic connections can also meet deep heart needs. The Samaritan woman had had five husbands. Her story was one of brokenness and pain. She had a need to be seen, heard and acknowledged.
There's no rule for how strategic connections happen. Frequently they happen in the midst of our every-day lives, in fact, even while doing things as simple as lodging a couple of men or drawing water from a well. But strategic connections also happen when we take action and respond to God's promptings. Jesus deliberately went into the foreign territory where He met the demonized man.
God has strategic connections for you. People are often encouraged to direct their faith toward specific things such as salvation for a family member, healing, deliverance or provision.
May I encourage you to deliberately exercise your faith for strategic connections. Ask God for them. Expect them to happen. And pray that you recognize them when they do happen. But don't be impatient. It is through faith and patience that we inherit the promises (Hebrews 6:12). When strategic connections happen, it is definitely worth the wait. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
Nathan Shaw
Heart of David Ministries
Email: fireanddestiny@slingshot.co.nz
Website: www.heartofdavidministries.org
Nathan Shaw helps bring individuals and churches into dynamic encounters with God's indescribable love. Over the last twenty years he has been instrumental in ushering in significant moves of the Spirit in over ten different nations. Many have experienced life-changing prophetic encounters and dramatic visitations from God. Nathan is the author of two books: Passion and Fire and Unto the Least of These. Nathan is senior pastor at Fire and Destiny Centre, Dunedin (www.fireanddestiny.org) and Celebration Church, Mosgiel (www.celebrationchurch.xyz).
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