Repent - A cry from the Wilderness
What is it about this word, repent, that turns people off so quickly? Why does this word send shivers down their spine? And yet, the Word of God is full of the word. So it must have some importance to God – mustn’t it??
What does repent mean – in a Biblical sense? The American Heritage Dictionary puts it thus – “To make a change for the better as a result of remorse or contrition for one's sins.” In other words – to realise that one has sinned (fallen short of Gods standards) and to turn from, or change, ones sinful ways.
Just two short scriptures that sum up repentance and the result of repenting :-
2 Chronicles 7:14 “ If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Mark 1:4 “John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”
So it’s obviously important to God that we understand and actually repent when we have slipped out of His ways. Back to my original questions - What is it about this word, repent, that turns people off so quickly? Why does this word send shivers down their spine?
There is only one reason – because we don’t regret nor do we want to give up that which we have been doing happily until now. We are not willing to crucify our own flesh in order to grow nearer to God. We will not pay the price for what we have done because we do not or will not see the error of our ways and we are not willing to learn that our ways are not Gods ways.
We have grown so lax in our ways that we even preach a Gospel message that omits repentance altogether. Just turn to Jesus, pray the Sinners Prayer, all will be forgiven, and you will be saved. What has happened to repentance and turning from your old ways – giving up that which is so sinful?? The flesh will no longer allow us to dictate to it any more. We are in desperate need of the Gospel message of repentance and yet we do not hear it.
Come on you shepherds – preach the full Gospel including repentance and a sorrowful heart for our past ways before turning to God and receiving full forgiveness for our sins. The fields are still white unto harvest – what are we doing ignoring the best tools at our disposal and trying to do the job half-way??
It’s time to repent and turn from our sinful ways. It’s time to return to Gods standards not ours. Lord send a new voice in the wilderness – yes I am willing, Lord - let it be me. Forgive us our backslidden and sinful ways – forgive our unrepentant attitudes – come once again, Lord Jesus, and heal our land.
Friday 29 April 2011
Wednesday 27 April 2011
Have Some Christians Lost Their Humility?
I have posted this blog by my wife because, to me, it is so true and I wish I had written it. But I didn't - Linda did. Enjoy . . . . .
Have Some Christians Lost Their Humility?
Have you ever wondered why some Christians have such a puffed up opinion of themselves? Why do they think they are "hyper" Christians and more important than another? We were all bought with the same price. Did Jesus pay more for one than the other?
Some are so proud to self-appoint themselves as Bishop, Elder, Leader, Dr. So-and-So. How did they receive these titles? Who gave it to them?
Some even call themselves "Pastor" but who ordained them? Who is shepherding them?? Are they accountable to anyone? Who oversees their leadership? Did they get their ordination papers from an online source? Just because they may be in a leadership position does it give them the right to call themselves "Pastor" over a group?
I have sat under some leaders who are so harsh and arrogant that they have left their sheep in shambles. Instead of lovingly guiding them and keeping them from harm they throw them to the wolves. No good shepherd would do that to their flock.
Some leaders have such an inflated ego and self-importance that all they can do is promote themselves..."I've done this...I've earned this...I ran this...I have awards to prove how good I am." Are they so insecure that they have to "prove" themselves??? Where is the humility that we're supposed to carry? Why all the self promotion and bragging?
Do we think we are more important that Jesus who thought of Himself no reputation? Phillipians 2:5-7 says this, "Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men."
We should be LIKE Jesus with Christlike humility without having to flaunt, prove or push through self-advancement to gain power and authority.
In humbling ourselves like Jesus did we will then be promoted by God. In humbling ourselves and loving others and putting God first then we will be lifted up and have the favor of God in our lives. We will love people tenderly and not be harsh with them...we will be good leaders. We will not have wounded sheep.
Linda Bennett March 8th 2011
Have Some Christians Lost Their Humility?
Have you ever wondered why some Christians have such a puffed up opinion of themselves? Why do they think they are "hyper" Christians and more important than another? We were all bought with the same price. Did Jesus pay more for one than the other?
Some are so proud to self-appoint themselves as Bishop, Elder, Leader, Dr. So-and-So. How did they receive these titles? Who gave it to them?
Some even call themselves "Pastor" but who ordained them? Who is shepherding them?? Are they accountable to anyone? Who oversees their leadership? Did they get their ordination papers from an online source? Just because they may be in a leadership position does it give them the right to call themselves "Pastor" over a group?
I have sat under some leaders who are so harsh and arrogant that they have left their sheep in shambles. Instead of lovingly guiding them and keeping them from harm they throw them to the wolves. No good shepherd would do that to their flock.
Some leaders have such an inflated ego and self-importance that all they can do is promote themselves..."I've done this...I've earned this...I ran this...I have awards to prove how good I am." Are they so insecure that they have to "prove" themselves??? Where is the humility that we're supposed to carry? Why all the self promotion and bragging?
Do we think we are more important that Jesus who thought of Himself no reputation? Phillipians 2:5-7 says this, "Let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men."
We should be LIKE Jesus with Christlike humility without having to flaunt, prove or push through self-advancement to gain power and authority.
In humbling ourselves like Jesus did we will then be promoted by God. In humbling ourselves and loving others and putting God first then we will be lifted up and have the favor of God in our lives. We will love people tenderly and not be harsh with them...we will be good leaders. We will not have wounded sheep.
Linda Bennett March 8th 2011
Tuesday 26 April 2011
By Their Fruit
By Their Fruit
With your permission, I would like to share a very poignant little testimony. Still there?? Good. . . . .
Nearly fifty years ago now, there was a very run down Elim Church in a fairly run down suburb of North London called East Finchley. I lived in North Finchley – about three miles away. Confused? Don’t worry about it. It’s the last time it will be mentioned. A near neighbour of ours was an elder at the church and the pastors, Johnny and Carol Cooper, lodged with the neighbour. They were all “as poor as church mice” – as were we all in that area.
Johnny Cooper was a fiery little Welshman, born into the pre-war aftermath of the Welsh revival. He burned for God with every single breath he took. Another neighbour, now living in Australia, invited me to the church one Sunday. Now I had heard that Johnny Cooper was a mean table tennis player and I wasn’t too shabby at it myself, so I went along. A few weeks later, on December 2 1962, I sat listening to Johnny preach and he gave an altar call. I had heard it before so I took very little notice until some invisible person seemed to stick a needle in my backside :-)
Thus began my Christian walk. Then around 1998, the Lord seemed to urge me to contact Johnny and Carol again. When I mentioned this to a senior pastor in the Elim movement, he told me that Johnny Cooper was a very widely known and respected evangelist and revival preacher with a diary that stretched over three years in advance !!! Nevertheless, he kindly gave me their home number. I did nothing for two years for whatever reason. Once again the urgency to call them returned – so I did finally call.
A young lady answered the phone and I explained who I was and what I wanted. She replied that her dad was with the medics at that moment. He had been ill for some time with a brain tumour and it was felt that this was his final few moments. I apologised, said I would pray for him and for Carol and hung up. About a week later the Lord urged me to call them again. I was told that Carol was not taking any calls at all, except mine (if I called again).
A very sad Carol came to the phone and this is what she said. “Hello ChrIs, The Lord has taken my darling Johnny home. But I am glad you called because you need to know something special. When you called last week, we really thought for a few moments that it was Johnny’s healing. That was not to be. However, the Lord showed me that, even in his final moments, the devil was trying to taunt Johnny by asking him, “Where’s all your fruit now?” The Lord told us that, when you called, we could say to the devil, “Here’s the fruit – now go!” Johnny couldn’t speak but when I told him this he smiled and then he died peacefully in my arms. So I just wanted to thank you for being obedient to God’s call and for calling us.” She said much more than this but this is all we need for this testimony.
For whatever reason, I have never shared this with anyone before now, but the Lord is urging me to do so now. You see, the enemy never stops trying to rob us – even as we go home to the Lord, he is still trying. Yet God always has a response ready for him and He gives us such peace as we can only stand in awe and wonder.
Don’t ever let the enemy rob you or your loved ones like this. He is defeated, once and for all time, at Calvary and we are the victors.
With your permission, I would like to share a very poignant little testimony. Still there?? Good. . . . .
Nearly fifty years ago now, there was a very run down Elim Church in a fairly run down suburb of North London called East Finchley. I lived in North Finchley – about three miles away. Confused? Don’t worry about it. It’s the last time it will be mentioned. A near neighbour of ours was an elder at the church and the pastors, Johnny and Carol Cooper, lodged with the neighbour. They were all “as poor as church mice” – as were we all in that area.
Johnny Cooper was a fiery little Welshman, born into the pre-war aftermath of the Welsh revival. He burned for God with every single breath he took. Another neighbour, now living in Australia, invited me to the church one Sunday. Now I had heard that Johnny Cooper was a mean table tennis player and I wasn’t too shabby at it myself, so I went along. A few weeks later, on December 2 1962, I sat listening to Johnny preach and he gave an altar call. I had heard it before so I took very little notice until some invisible person seemed to stick a needle in my backside :-)
Thus began my Christian walk. Then around 1998, the Lord seemed to urge me to contact Johnny and Carol again. When I mentioned this to a senior pastor in the Elim movement, he told me that Johnny Cooper was a very widely known and respected evangelist and revival preacher with a diary that stretched over three years in advance !!! Nevertheless, he kindly gave me their home number. I did nothing for two years for whatever reason. Once again the urgency to call them returned – so I did finally call.
A young lady answered the phone and I explained who I was and what I wanted. She replied that her dad was with the medics at that moment. He had been ill for some time with a brain tumour and it was felt that this was his final few moments. I apologised, said I would pray for him and for Carol and hung up. About a week later the Lord urged me to call them again. I was told that Carol was not taking any calls at all, except mine (if I called again).
A very sad Carol came to the phone and this is what she said. “Hello ChrIs, The Lord has taken my darling Johnny home. But I am glad you called because you need to know something special. When you called last week, we really thought for a few moments that it was Johnny’s healing. That was not to be. However, the Lord showed me that, even in his final moments, the devil was trying to taunt Johnny by asking him, “Where’s all your fruit now?” The Lord told us that, when you called, we could say to the devil, “Here’s the fruit – now go!” Johnny couldn’t speak but when I told him this he smiled and then he died peacefully in my arms. So I just wanted to thank you for being obedient to God’s call and for calling us.” She said much more than this but this is all we need for this testimony.
For whatever reason, I have never shared this with anyone before now, but the Lord is urging me to do so now. You see, the enemy never stops trying to rob us – even as we go home to the Lord, he is still trying. Yet God always has a response ready for him and He gives us such peace as we can only stand in awe and wonder.
Don’t ever let the enemy rob you or your loved ones like this. He is defeated, once and for all time, at Calvary and we are the victors.
Monday 25 April 2011
A Tool for Whom?
A Tool for Whom?
Much has been said against the internet. We’ve all heard the cries of the mis-informed, the PC police, and the plain legalistic religious zealots. It is a pornographic playground. It is a paedophiles delight. It is temptation for the weak and gamblers Death Valley. In short it is nothing short of being the Devils weapon.
Well – I have a different perspective for you. Despite all the possible uses for the enemy, it can also be used as a powerful weapon of God too. There is a very large Christian community of all flavours who use, for example, Twitter – a chat room or social networking tool. Personally, I have a few thousand contacts on Twitter, many of whom are Christians. Then there’s the ‘big one’, aka Facebook, with a global audience of several millions and a huge Christian following.
Oh sure, you get the weirdo’s and the cranks, and the plain ornery folk. Yet lining up with them are the atheists and agnostics, the political animals and the usual assortment of frustrated, and usually completely untalented soap-boxers. All of these and Christians too – isn’t that just wonderful? These internet programs gather together a wonderfully eclectic collection of Gods most famous creations – people. As Christians, and especially as Christian pastors and leaders, we are urged to ‘Love the people, to love the people, and to love the people.’ So let me tell you just one story, a testimony, of the good that can come from “the devils toolkit” or internet as it’s best known.
Many of you on Facebook or Twitter will know this story. In March 2006, my wife was diagnosed with cancer and, despite all our prayers and the hospital treatment, she died in April 2007. I received a prophecy at that time that the Lord had another wife for me but I wasn’t really interested at that time. Instead, I ‘threw’ myself into ministry with my friend Peter and the UK based RoFMI ministry run by Peter and his wife Glenys. We travelled most of Western Europe and did around 100 or so trips together flying around 200,000 miles altogether. Whilst at home, on my own, I joined Twitter, the internet social media chat room.. I wrote blogs – short articles – for a Christian organisation.
One day, I got a response to a blog I wrote asking me to have a look at another blog and critique it. The writer was a lady from Fort Worth in Texas and I told her she wrote very well. I recommended her to the people I wrote for and she too became a blog writer for them. We communicated spasmodically until one day, I was briefly hospitalised with a bout of labyrinthitis – a powerful vertigo virus that stopped me driving and even walking out on my own for about 3 weeks. Peter and the rest of the RoFMI team came over to pray for me. While he was there, Peter remembered the prophecy given three years earlier about ‘another wife’ and he promptly called her in. He spoke into being that which was not.
A few days later, the lady from Texas and I resumed our email swapping. To cut a long story short, within three weeks, and despite the fact that we had never even spoken let alone met, we both knew that she and I would be married. We both fell head over heels in love – all through the medium known as Twitter, the internet social media site. We eventually met in September and then in November 2010, I flew to Fort Worth and we married in a chapel in the hospital where she worked. Her name is Linda and we love each other deeply and are now working together for the Lord.
So what is the point of all this? What exactly am I saying? Simply this – the Internet is the same as any other social communications medium – it can be used for good as well as evil. It can be used by the devil and it can be used by God. So, before you discard anything in this world, consider first if it can be used in the Lords service too. If it can, then use it for Him and don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Was it not William Booth, when criticised for taking money in bars, who said, “We will take the devils money, consecrate it, bless it, and use it for Gods work.” Likewise we can take the devils weapons, consecrate them, bless them, and use them for Gods purposes.
Just a suggestion – that’s all.
Much has been said against the internet. We’ve all heard the cries of the mis-informed, the PC police, and the plain legalistic religious zealots. It is a pornographic playground. It is a paedophiles delight. It is temptation for the weak and gamblers Death Valley. In short it is nothing short of being the Devils weapon.
Well – I have a different perspective for you. Despite all the possible uses for the enemy, it can also be used as a powerful weapon of God too. There is a very large Christian community of all flavours who use, for example, Twitter – a chat room or social networking tool. Personally, I have a few thousand contacts on Twitter, many of whom are Christians. Then there’s the ‘big one’, aka Facebook, with a global audience of several millions and a huge Christian following.
Oh sure, you get the weirdo’s and the cranks, and the plain ornery folk. Yet lining up with them are the atheists and agnostics, the political animals and the usual assortment of frustrated, and usually completely untalented soap-boxers. All of these and Christians too – isn’t that just wonderful? These internet programs gather together a wonderfully eclectic collection of Gods most famous creations – people. As Christians, and especially as Christian pastors and leaders, we are urged to ‘Love the people, to love the people, and to love the people.’ So let me tell you just one story, a testimony, of the good that can come from “the devils toolkit” or internet as it’s best known.
Many of you on Facebook or Twitter will know this story. In March 2006, my wife was diagnosed with cancer and, despite all our prayers and the hospital treatment, she died in April 2007. I received a prophecy at that time that the Lord had another wife for me but I wasn’t really interested at that time. Instead, I ‘threw’ myself into ministry with my friend Peter and the UK based RoFMI ministry run by Peter and his wife Glenys. We travelled most of Western Europe and did around 100 or so trips together flying around 200,000 miles altogether. Whilst at home, on my own, I joined Twitter, the internet social media chat room.. I wrote blogs – short articles – for a Christian organisation.
One day, I got a response to a blog I wrote asking me to have a look at another blog and critique it. The writer was a lady from Fort Worth in Texas and I told her she wrote very well. I recommended her to the people I wrote for and she too became a blog writer for them. We communicated spasmodically until one day, I was briefly hospitalised with a bout of labyrinthitis – a powerful vertigo virus that stopped me driving and even walking out on my own for about 3 weeks. Peter and the rest of the RoFMI team came over to pray for me. While he was there, Peter remembered the prophecy given three years earlier about ‘another wife’ and he promptly called her in. He spoke into being that which was not.
A few days later, the lady from Texas and I resumed our email swapping. To cut a long story short, within three weeks, and despite the fact that we had never even spoken let alone met, we both knew that she and I would be married. We both fell head over heels in love – all through the medium known as Twitter, the internet social media site. We eventually met in September and then in November 2010, I flew to Fort Worth and we married in a chapel in the hospital where she worked. Her name is Linda and we love each other deeply and are now working together for the Lord.
So what is the point of all this? What exactly am I saying? Simply this – the Internet is the same as any other social communications medium – it can be used for good as well as evil. It can be used by the devil and it can be used by God. So, before you discard anything in this world, consider first if it can be used in the Lords service too. If it can, then use it for Him and don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. Was it not William Booth, when criticised for taking money in bars, who said, “We will take the devils money, consecrate it, bless it, and use it for Gods work.” Likewise we can take the devils weapons, consecrate them, bless them, and use them for Gods purposes.
Just a suggestion – that’s all.
Friday 22 April 2011
A Word for today from Gods Word
A call to repentance.
This is a seriously light-hearted look at people. People like US. When I say its seriously light-hearted, I mean that it’s a light-hearted look at a very serious word from the Word of God for TODAY !! And it contains a serious warning too.
Always remember that “God doesn't propose to judge a man until he's dead - so why should you ??” – ANON. Having said that maybe you can recognise those who may just fit the bill here – including you and me !!! I have annotated with my own suggestions – you can do the same.
Isaiah 5:20-30
Politicians in general & the PC Brigade :-
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
The self-righteous and the Pharisee
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!
Today’s 18-30(&beyond) group
22 Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink,
Politicians in particular
23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man!
All this sinful generation, including US – you and me
24 Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff,
So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 25 Therefore the anger of the LORD is aroused against His people;
Isaiah 5 – A Word for today from Gods Word is not just to condemn, it contains a heavy warning. Then hear this too
For all the above
25 For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still. 26 He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar, And will whistle to them from the end of the earth; Surely they shall come with speed, swiftly. 27 No one will be weary or stumble among them, No one will slumber or sleep; Nor will the belt on their loins be loosed, Nor the strap of their sandals be broken; 28 Whose arrows are sharp, And all their bows bent; Their horses’ hooves will seem like flint, And their wheels like a whirlwind. 29 Their roaring will be like a lion, They will roar like young lions; Yes, they will roar And lay hold of the prey; They will carry it away safely, And no one will deliver. 30 In that day they will roar against them Like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks to the land, Behold, darkness and sorrow; And the light is darkened by the clouds.
So, here is an article, written by a Prophet some 3000-odd years ago. What does it tell us about the Word of God? For me, it says that the Bible is every bit as relevant today as it was all those millennia ago when it was written. It contains truths today that applied then but are still perfectly fitting for today’s society. It speaks about the depravity of today’s world and God’s anger and punishment. It speaks about God’s love for His people but of His hatred of their sin and about the justice of His wrath against that sin.
When Jesus comes again, there will be no place to hide; no more excuses. There is an old saying that “the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” There is so much truth in that saying.
The time has come to repent, to turn away from our wicked ways and our sin; to return again to that first love we received at salvation. Is this an unusual message? Maybe it is but surely it is time to repent of our sin; to return to God and to watch Him heal our land.
REPENT – I say as a voice in the wilderness – repent and be reconciled to your God – before He returns and says “I did not know you!”.
This is a seriously light-hearted look at people. People like US. When I say its seriously light-hearted, I mean that it’s a light-hearted look at a very serious word from the Word of God for TODAY !! And it contains a serious warning too.
Always remember that “God doesn't propose to judge a man until he's dead - so why should you ??” – ANON. Having said that maybe you can recognise those who may just fit the bill here – including you and me !!! I have annotated with my own suggestions – you can do the same.
Isaiah 5:20-30
Politicians in general & the PC Brigade :-
20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
The self-righteous and the Pharisee
21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!
Today’s 18-30(&beyond) group
22 Woe to men mighty at drinking wine, Woe to men valiant for mixing intoxicating drink,
Politicians in particular
23 Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man!
All this sinful generation, including US – you and me
24 Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, And the flame consumes the chaff,
So their root will be as rottenness, And their blossom will ascend like dust; Because they have rejected the law of the LORD of hosts, And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 25 Therefore the anger of the LORD is aroused against His people;
Isaiah 5 – A Word for today from Gods Word is not just to condemn, it contains a heavy warning. Then hear this too
For all the above
25 For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still. 26 He will lift up a banner to the nations from afar, And will whistle to them from the end of the earth; Surely they shall come with speed, swiftly. 27 No one will be weary or stumble among them, No one will slumber or sleep; Nor will the belt on their loins be loosed, Nor the strap of their sandals be broken; 28 Whose arrows are sharp, And all their bows bent; Their horses’ hooves will seem like flint, And their wheels like a whirlwind. 29 Their roaring will be like a lion, They will roar like young lions; Yes, they will roar And lay hold of the prey; They will carry it away safely, And no one will deliver. 30 In that day they will roar against them Like the roaring of the sea. And if one looks to the land, Behold, darkness and sorrow; And the light is darkened by the clouds.
So, here is an article, written by a Prophet some 3000-odd years ago. What does it tell us about the Word of God? For me, it says that the Bible is every bit as relevant today as it was all those millennia ago when it was written. It contains truths today that applied then but are still perfectly fitting for today’s society. It speaks about the depravity of today’s world and God’s anger and punishment. It speaks about God’s love for His people but of His hatred of their sin and about the justice of His wrath against that sin.
When Jesus comes again, there will be no place to hide; no more excuses. There is an old saying that “the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.” There is so much truth in that saying.
The time has come to repent, to turn away from our wicked ways and our sin; to return again to that first love we received at salvation. Is this an unusual message? Maybe it is but surely it is time to repent of our sin; to return to God and to watch Him heal our land.
REPENT – I say as a voice in the wilderness – repent and be reconciled to your God – before He returns and says “I did not know you!”.
Friday 15 April 2011
The Price of Obedience
Everyone speaks about the price Jesus paid for us when He went to the cross for our salvation, but few speak about the price to pay for moving on with God.
A year or three ago, I had a message for a friend of mine which said, “The Lord wants to know if you will come deeper in Him?” My friends answer surprised me. He said this, “Oh – I don’t know. I will have to think about that one before I answer.” He went on to explain that there is a price to pay for such intimacy with God. Few people realise it and even fewer take that step knowing there is a price to pay. Many just leap in blindly – not realising there even is a price to pay. My friend texted me a week later saying, “I have just said yes to the Lord.” Just 24 short hours later he was in hospital with suspected septicaemia. He is today still paying that price – but he has moved even deeper with the Lord since that time.
Someone much closer to me is paying the price too. Since being obedient to the Lord and moving from Texas to the UK, she has paid a heavy price. She has left most of all she holds dear behind in Texas – her family, and many wonderful friends. There is a growing realisation, too, that she may never again see her family, especially her children and her grand-daughter. She knew this possibility when she made her decision but she stayed obedient to what the Lord was saying to her. I, too, am paying a similar price but for very different reasons. We both knew there was a price but we both wanted to stay obedient to what we knew the Lord was calling us. So we said yes and paid the price
You see, when the Lord asks you to do things for Him, there is always a price to pay. When the enemy hears your conversations with God and realises what is going on now and, more importantly, what will happen in the future, he gets mad at you and does all within his power to stop you – even trying to kill you on occasion.
Does this surprise you? It really shouldn’t. Look at the scriptures and see how the men and women of God have suffered. Just look at the disciples, how they were treated. Beaten, stoned, flayed with whips, crucified, and even boiled in oil – all for their faith in Jesus Christ. Let’s not even consider Job . . . . .
Preachers are so full of rhetoric, aren’t they? There are many good, humble, gentle preachers who do the job properly. Yet there are many more in the “Do as I say not as I do” brigade – whose lives simply don’t live up to their preaching and good sounding ‘advice’. They stand up there and harangue their victims – I mean their congregation – with all sorts of exhortations and promises. They make it all sound so very, very simple. Just follow Jesus, obey God and all will be well in your world. Really ???? It strikes me that many of these preachers have never paid any sort of price at all as they just don’t seem to understand the costs of obedience. You see, I thought that any salesman worth calling a salesman would tell you both the advantages and disadvantages of what he is beguiling you into buying. However, a typical salesman will just persuade you to buy - not in the least concerned that you cannot afford the price. All he wants is another notch on his pole – another ‘sale’.
So next time you hear some out-of-town guy cajoling you into ‘doing greater things for the Lord, simply ask yourself one, maybe two questions. Pray about them hard and long. Be certain of your answers.
Question one – Is the Lord really asking you to do this?
If the answer is “No”, then take it not one step further. Forget it. If, however, the answer is “Yes – this is of the Lord” then answer this question.
Question two – Am I prepared – willing to pay the price for doing this?
These are truly serious questions, and yes you do have a choice. Yet the disciples never considered them more than fleetingly for one moment. Neither did Paul, nor very many others through the millennia. My friend considered them, made his decision, and is now a powerful prophet used by God all around Europe and perhaps further. My wife considered them, albeit briefly, and now we have a love and happiness and growing ministry that neither of us imagined possible. I took the same decisions and found, like all who decide thus, that above all God is faithful and ALL His promises are sure.
Just thinking – that’s all . . . . .
A year or three ago, I had a message for a friend of mine which said, “The Lord wants to know if you will come deeper in Him?” My friends answer surprised me. He said this, “Oh – I don’t know. I will have to think about that one before I answer.” He went on to explain that there is a price to pay for such intimacy with God. Few people realise it and even fewer take that step knowing there is a price to pay. Many just leap in blindly – not realising there even is a price to pay. My friend texted me a week later saying, “I have just said yes to the Lord.” Just 24 short hours later he was in hospital with suspected septicaemia. He is today still paying that price – but he has moved even deeper with the Lord since that time.
Someone much closer to me is paying the price too. Since being obedient to the Lord and moving from Texas to the UK, she has paid a heavy price. She has left most of all she holds dear behind in Texas – her family, and many wonderful friends. There is a growing realisation, too, that she may never again see her family, especially her children and her grand-daughter. She knew this possibility when she made her decision but she stayed obedient to what the Lord was saying to her. I, too, am paying a similar price but for very different reasons. We both knew there was a price but we both wanted to stay obedient to what we knew the Lord was calling us. So we said yes and paid the price
You see, when the Lord asks you to do things for Him, there is always a price to pay. When the enemy hears your conversations with God and realises what is going on now and, more importantly, what will happen in the future, he gets mad at you and does all within his power to stop you – even trying to kill you on occasion.
Does this surprise you? It really shouldn’t. Look at the scriptures and see how the men and women of God have suffered. Just look at the disciples, how they were treated. Beaten, stoned, flayed with whips, crucified, and even boiled in oil – all for their faith in Jesus Christ. Let’s not even consider Job . . . . .
Preachers are so full of rhetoric, aren’t they? There are many good, humble, gentle preachers who do the job properly. Yet there are many more in the “Do as I say not as I do” brigade – whose lives simply don’t live up to their preaching and good sounding ‘advice’. They stand up there and harangue their victims – I mean their congregation – with all sorts of exhortations and promises. They make it all sound so very, very simple. Just follow Jesus, obey God and all will be well in your world. Really ???? It strikes me that many of these preachers have never paid any sort of price at all as they just don’t seem to understand the costs of obedience. You see, I thought that any salesman worth calling a salesman would tell you both the advantages and disadvantages of what he is beguiling you into buying. However, a typical salesman will just persuade you to buy - not in the least concerned that you cannot afford the price. All he wants is another notch on his pole – another ‘sale’.
So next time you hear some out-of-town guy cajoling you into ‘doing greater things for the Lord, simply ask yourself one, maybe two questions. Pray about them hard and long. Be certain of your answers.
Question one – Is the Lord really asking you to do this?
If the answer is “No”, then take it not one step further. Forget it. If, however, the answer is “Yes – this is of the Lord” then answer this question.
Question two – Am I prepared – willing to pay the price for doing this?
These are truly serious questions, and yes you do have a choice. Yet the disciples never considered them more than fleetingly for one moment. Neither did Paul, nor very many others through the millennia. My friend considered them, made his decision, and is now a powerful prophet used by God all around Europe and perhaps further. My wife considered them, albeit briefly, and now we have a love and happiness and growing ministry that neither of us imagined possible. I took the same decisions and found, like all who decide thus, that above all God is faithful and ALL His promises are sure.
Just thinking – that’s all . . . . .
Tuesday 12 April 2011
RoFMI Trip to Ireland April 2011
In my own inimitable style :-)
Let’s see – it’s Thursday and it’s 4.30 a.m. We must be off somewhere – oh yes – Ireland. Dublin again except we are off 90km southwest of Dublin to Portlaoise (pronounced Portleash). We were met by Pastors Mark and Christian – also otherwise known as Pastors Puyo and Citrom in their own Slovak language. We were there to visit the Word of Life Slovak Gypsy Church of Ireland. This was arranged after our first visit a few weeks back to Bratislava in Slovakia where we met many of these wonderful people of God. It’s a funny feeling being in Ireland, a country like our own, that drives on the left, and speaks English, yet needing translation into both the Slovak and Romany languages. On the way, we stopped in Dublin to pick up our favourite Barnies Coffee from their outlet in Clery’s on O’Connell Street – thats not a free advert but a big thank you to the guys for accommodating us. We started off with lunch and a meeting with 14 folk from the church leadership and worship teams. There was a lot of prayer too as this turned out to be almost a seminal moment for the church and, indeed, for many of the people. As often happens, the 7.00p.m. meeting started prompt at 9:00p.m. and went on til after midnight. As the whole conference we were there to minister to was about the prophetic, it seemed appropriate to prophesy to various people around the meeting room. We had a reserved slot for the leadership a little later on in the three day programme.
Friday morning we were treated to the tourist bit and went around the area cameras clicking happily. The meeting started at 4:00p.m. There was some great anointed worship, and some truly inspired prayer – I was waiting for the building to shake. My my, some of these guys are what you would term ‘real’ prayer warriors. When they pray it’s almost as if heaven stops to listen. Peter proved to be on good form when he spoke too – amusing and hard hitting all at the same time. He spoke from 2 Kings 6:8-23. It’s all about the righteous covering and protection we have from God. Such covering can only exist where we are within the law of our land. Where our traditions conflict with the law, then we have to change in order to make sure we are protected by the law rather than prosecuted by it. Some of our old traditions may well be illegal and therefore cannot be followed any longer – we have to change in order to receive God’s righteous covering.
After the meeting we returned to the apartment where we had of the leadership team join us. We discovered some amazing things about this small church – 50 people founded only six months ago. They are set up entirely along the lines of the church in Acts !! They are even about to start home groups around the Portlaoise area which will be open to ALL their neighbours of whatever nationality and group. There are only relatively few of their members actually working but they seem to be able to pool their resources to help any member in need. The two pastors are very much servants to the church and not overlords, and despite the gypsy traditions from which most of them come, they are developing the church to encompass the whole community. Their love one for another is so obvious and tangible that it is wonderful to see and to experience. They are a young group of people yet there is a desire for holiness and a wisdom way beyond their experience and years that the Lord has given them and we are so very privileged to be allowed to minister to them.
Saturday dawned another beautiful Spring day and we had lunch and some prophecy to the leaders. At 4.00p.m. we all started the conference meeting. Once again the worship and prayers were oh so anointed and it really was a thrill and a great privilege to even be there As it happens, I had to speak for a while and both Peter and I gave testimonies for about an hour. We had a break then during which a young lady called Asul sang for us. Somebody needs to pick her up soon – she has a great talent and sings with an anointing I have rarely heard before. What a blessing !! Peter eventually came back to give the word and he used 1 Samuel 16 where Samuel anointed David king over all Israel. The anointing was upon David with power from that moment onwards. How else could he have over come Goliath without Gods anointing for the task. Goliath saw David on the outside but God saw and used what was on the inside of David. David had the anointing of God. After Peter had spoken there was a spontaneous session of worship and dancing and many people were blessed and received words from the Lord.
After we finished – around 8:30p.m. - we were whisked off for a meal. It will always strike me as odd that, there we were, two Englishmen, in a Bulgarian run Pizzaria, with 4-6 Slovakian Gypsies, in the middle of Ireland. Life has some funny moments doesn’t it? After our meal about 18-20 people came round to our apartment for personal prayer and prophecy. It was another blessed time for all of us. We got to bed around 1:30a.m.
Sunday dawned bright. I dawned miserable having had a stomach upset all night. Our first stop was a lunch visit to the home of one of the leadership team where a wonderful lunch had been laid on. Sadly, it was felt wise for me to watch but not touch. In fact I was fairly bad all day so we decided that I should miss the final meeting at 4:00p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Once again the worship was incredibly anointed and there was an air of expectancy at the beginning of the meeting as
old friends from our last visit to Ireland were there. The worship was flowing in the Spirit which bought the people into a place of openness. Peter spoke about the preparation that God had made in order for the meetings to be held that weekend. There was surprise when the divine contacts and appointments were explained, which added fuel to the anointing that was already in the meeting. He went on to say how Ireland is ready for revival. It is a country that is very much under the influence of the Roman Catholic Church. Once revival comes to Ireland many will see their hearts desire though the outworking of the Holy Spirit, and that we have to have our hearts pure before God in order for Him to use us. We can no longer live a lie, having one foot in the world and the other in the church. The promises of God were spoken over the congregation about binding and loosing according to our claiming Jesus as our Christ . All the church came forward for prayer and to make deeper commitment to the Lord. There followed a great time of rejoicing . There were also a number of personal requests concerning prophetic words and advice just as we read about in the Old Testament. There was an extended prayer and ministry time and many people were greatly blessed by Peter’s ministry. I am just so sad I had to miss it.
Monday morning came, wet and miserable, yet at 5:20a.m. our doorbell went and four good people came to take us to the airport for our journey home. One of them was Alex from Slovakia who had joined us for the conference and came back to the UK with us. We parted company at Stansted airport where he had someone picking him up while Peter and I proceeded to pick up our car to complete the trip.
This had been a wonderful trip which the Lord blessed and moved in a mighty way. I honestly belief that He has laid the foundations of revival in Ireland in a small band of people who have proven themselves willing to seek Him with all their heart. Signs and wonders will surely follow and so then will the people.
Let’s see – it’s Thursday and it’s 4.30 a.m. We must be off somewhere – oh yes – Ireland. Dublin again except we are off 90km southwest of Dublin to Portlaoise (pronounced Portleash). We were met by Pastors Mark and Christian – also otherwise known as Pastors Puyo and Citrom in their own Slovak language. We were there to visit the Word of Life Slovak Gypsy Church of Ireland. This was arranged after our first visit a few weeks back to Bratislava in Slovakia where we met many of these wonderful people of God. It’s a funny feeling being in Ireland, a country like our own, that drives on the left, and speaks English, yet needing translation into both the Slovak and Romany languages. On the way, we stopped in Dublin to pick up our favourite Barnies Coffee from their outlet in Clery’s on O’Connell Street – thats not a free advert but a big thank you to the guys for accommodating us. We started off with lunch and a meeting with 14 folk from the church leadership and worship teams. There was a lot of prayer too as this turned out to be almost a seminal moment for the church and, indeed, for many of the people. As often happens, the 7.00p.m. meeting started prompt at 9:00p.m. and went on til after midnight. As the whole conference we were there to minister to was about the prophetic, it seemed appropriate to prophesy to various people around the meeting room. We had a reserved slot for the leadership a little later on in the three day programme.
Friday morning we were treated to the tourist bit and went around the area cameras clicking happily. The meeting started at 4:00p.m. There was some great anointed worship, and some truly inspired prayer – I was waiting for the building to shake. My my, some of these guys are what you would term ‘real’ prayer warriors. When they pray it’s almost as if heaven stops to listen. Peter proved to be on good form when he spoke too – amusing and hard hitting all at the same time. He spoke from 2 Kings 6:8-23. It’s all about the righteous covering and protection we have from God. Such covering can only exist where we are within the law of our land. Where our traditions conflict with the law, then we have to change in order to make sure we are protected by the law rather than prosecuted by it. Some of our old traditions may well be illegal and therefore cannot be followed any longer – we have to change in order to receive God’s righteous covering.
After the meeting we returned to the apartment where we had of the leadership team join us. We discovered some amazing things about this small church – 50 people founded only six months ago. They are set up entirely along the lines of the church in Acts !! They are even about to start home groups around the Portlaoise area which will be open to ALL their neighbours of whatever nationality and group. There are only relatively few of their members actually working but they seem to be able to pool their resources to help any member in need. The two pastors are very much servants to the church and not overlords, and despite the gypsy traditions from which most of them come, they are developing the church to encompass the whole community. Their love one for another is so obvious and tangible that it is wonderful to see and to experience. They are a young group of people yet there is a desire for holiness and a wisdom way beyond their experience and years that the Lord has given them and we are so very privileged to be allowed to minister to them.
Saturday dawned another beautiful Spring day and we had lunch and some prophecy to the leaders. At 4.00p.m. we all started the conference meeting. Once again the worship and prayers were oh so anointed and it really was a thrill and a great privilege to even be there As it happens, I had to speak for a while and both Peter and I gave testimonies for about an hour. We had a break then during which a young lady called Asul sang for us. Somebody needs to pick her up soon – she has a great talent and sings with an anointing I have rarely heard before. What a blessing !! Peter eventually came back to give the word and he used 1 Samuel 16 where Samuel anointed David king over all Israel. The anointing was upon David with power from that moment onwards. How else could he have over come Goliath without Gods anointing for the task. Goliath saw David on the outside but God saw and used what was on the inside of David. David had the anointing of God. After Peter had spoken there was a spontaneous session of worship and dancing and many people were blessed and received words from the Lord.
After we finished – around 8:30p.m. - we were whisked off for a meal. It will always strike me as odd that, there we were, two Englishmen, in a Bulgarian run Pizzaria, with 4-6 Slovakian Gypsies, in the middle of Ireland. Life has some funny moments doesn’t it? After our meal about 18-20 people came round to our apartment for personal prayer and prophecy. It was another blessed time for all of us. We got to bed around 1:30a.m.
Sunday dawned bright. I dawned miserable having had a stomach upset all night. Our first stop was a lunch visit to the home of one of the leadership team where a wonderful lunch had been laid on. Sadly, it was felt wise for me to watch but not touch. In fact I was fairly bad all day so we decided that I should miss the final meeting at 4:00p.m. on Sunday afternoon. Once again the worship was incredibly anointed and there was an air of expectancy at the beginning of the meeting as
old friends from our last visit to Ireland were there. The worship was flowing in the Spirit which bought the people into a place of openness. Peter spoke about the preparation that God had made in order for the meetings to be held that weekend. There was surprise when the divine contacts and appointments were explained, which added fuel to the anointing that was already in the meeting. He went on to say how Ireland is ready for revival. It is a country that is very much under the influence of the Roman Catholic Church. Once revival comes to Ireland many will see their hearts desire though the outworking of the Holy Spirit, and that we have to have our hearts pure before God in order for Him to use us. We can no longer live a lie, having one foot in the world and the other in the church. The promises of God were spoken over the congregation about binding and loosing according to our claiming Jesus as our Christ . All the church came forward for prayer and to make deeper commitment to the Lord. There followed a great time of rejoicing . There were also a number of personal requests concerning prophetic words and advice just as we read about in the Old Testament. There was an extended prayer and ministry time and many people were greatly blessed by Peter’s ministry. I am just so sad I had to miss it.
Monday morning came, wet and miserable, yet at 5:20a.m. our doorbell went and four good people came to take us to the airport for our journey home. One of them was Alex from Slovakia who had joined us for the conference and came back to the UK with us. We parted company at Stansted airport where he had someone picking him up while Peter and I proceeded to pick up our car to complete the trip.
This had been a wonderful trip which the Lord blessed and moved in a mighty way. I honestly belief that He has laid the foundations of revival in Ireland in a small band of people who have proven themselves willing to seek Him with all their heart. Signs and wonders will surely follow and so then will the people.
Monday 11 April 2011
Ministry Is . . . . .
Ministry
When you LOOK at someone - Value them
Value them as Jesus values them. Hate their sin, maybe, but love them – despite their appearance, their manner, their bearing, their language, their colour, their education or lack of it. Love them despite any impression the enemy tries to put on you about them Value them.
When you TOUCH someone - Show compassion
Real compassion. Jesus was not afraid to touch, to hug, to hold lepers nor any other human being. Some of the greatest moments of my own limited ministry have been when I hugged people. Their tears and the way they held on to me told me they may never have been hugged or loved like that before. Laugh with them and cry with them – that is compassion.
When you say a WORD to someone - Encourage them
The Bible says for us to ‘edify’ people. That means to encourage them in some small or big way. Ministry is not all about ‘thou shalt not’, it’s also about ‘well done’ and about sharing the joy and sharing the moment.
I don’t know where this came from, but it is wonderful
"When you LOOK at someone - Value them
When you TOUCH someone - Show compassion
When you say a WORD to someone - Encourage them
Ministry, is - a LOOK, a TOUCH, a WORD" - Anon
Yes, ministry is all about a look, a touch, and a word.
When you LOOK at someone - Value them
Value them as Jesus values them. Hate their sin, maybe, but love them – despite their appearance, their manner, their bearing, their language, their colour, their education or lack of it. Love them despite any impression the enemy tries to put on you about them Value them.
When you TOUCH someone - Show compassion
Real compassion. Jesus was not afraid to touch, to hug, to hold lepers nor any other human being. Some of the greatest moments of my own limited ministry have been when I hugged people. Their tears and the way they held on to me told me they may never have been hugged or loved like that before. Laugh with them and cry with them – that is compassion.
When you say a WORD to someone - Encourage them
The Bible says for us to ‘edify’ people. That means to encourage them in some small or big way. Ministry is not all about ‘thou shalt not’, it’s also about ‘well done’ and about sharing the joy and sharing the moment.
I don’t know where this came from, but it is wonderful
"When you LOOK at someone - Value them
When you TOUCH someone - Show compassion
When you say a WORD to someone - Encourage them
Ministry, is - a LOOK, a TOUCH, a WORD" - Anon
Yes, ministry is all about a look, a touch, and a word.
Monday 4 April 2011
Losing your Vision
Losing your Vision
I read somewhere recently that a minister had, as the Anglican Book of Common Prayer puts it, “erred and strayed like a lost sheep." He had. Not to put too fine a point on it, done a little bed-hopping. Not satisfied with that, this previously ‘wonderful man of God’ had refused all correction and rebuke and repatriation, and had in fact gone the whole hog and left his old church and started a new one with his, by now, new wife. No names – no pack drill – as they say in the Army, but just suffice it to say that the story made secular headlines as well.
So what happened?
One of the things which happened was that he, like so many before him, broke his marriage vows – vows made and witnessed before God and before a congregation of probably quite a few people. All very public and ultimately, all very sad. Another thing that happened is that he lost his vision. Not his sight but his vision.
As one ancient story tells us, a blind person once asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision."
You see, God had given that man a vision, possibly two visions. One was for him and his wife – the original one. The other was for his church and ministry. In the end, the man trampled royally over both of them. That he lost his vision for his marriage was obvious. What was only slightly less obvious was his voluntary loss of vision for his church and ministry. What happened to his vision? I guess that Satan put a bigger and more powerful one in its place and persuaded him to chase that. Chasing it has started this good man’s downfall.
When he set up his new church, a great many people misguidedly followed him but this will only last for so long. They will slowly come to realise they are in a dead church led by a dead leader. The Lord will take first his anointing, then everything else until all is left is a very hollow shell of what might have been if he had stayed on the straight and narrow. It doesn’t matter how much he fights to retain everything, his church was founded on a rift and every such church itself is constantly divided by more rifts until the whole house of cards crumbles and falls.
Has what he has done inexcusable? No. Is what he has done unforgiveable? No. However, unless he repents publicly and steps back from public life then he has all the adulation and praise he is ever going to get right here on earth. In fact, I fear for his very salvation. I fear the gates of Hell are not far from his door. Did not our Lord say that many will come to Him saying, “Lord, Lord, did we not heal the sick, did we not cast out demons all in Your Name.” But the Lord replied, “Away from me. I did not know you, you evil doers.”
I am sad about any story like this and I pray for all concerned – especially the jilted wife. I hope she can find forgiveness in her heart for him or she too may lose her own state of Grace.
I read somewhere recently that a minister had, as the Anglican Book of Common Prayer puts it, “erred and strayed like a lost sheep." He had. Not to put too fine a point on it, done a little bed-hopping. Not satisfied with that, this previously ‘wonderful man of God’ had refused all correction and rebuke and repatriation, and had in fact gone the whole hog and left his old church and started a new one with his, by now, new wife. No names – no pack drill – as they say in the Army, but just suffice it to say that the story made secular headlines as well.
So what happened?
One of the things which happened was that he, like so many before him, broke his marriage vows – vows made and witnessed before God and before a congregation of probably quite a few people. All very public and ultimately, all very sad. Another thing that happened is that he lost his vision. Not his sight but his vision.
As one ancient story tells us, a blind person once asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision."
You see, God had given that man a vision, possibly two visions. One was for him and his wife – the original one. The other was for his church and ministry. In the end, the man trampled royally over both of them. That he lost his vision for his marriage was obvious. What was only slightly less obvious was his voluntary loss of vision for his church and ministry. What happened to his vision? I guess that Satan put a bigger and more powerful one in its place and persuaded him to chase that. Chasing it has started this good man’s downfall.
When he set up his new church, a great many people misguidedly followed him but this will only last for so long. They will slowly come to realise they are in a dead church led by a dead leader. The Lord will take first his anointing, then everything else until all is left is a very hollow shell of what might have been if he had stayed on the straight and narrow. It doesn’t matter how much he fights to retain everything, his church was founded on a rift and every such church itself is constantly divided by more rifts until the whole house of cards crumbles and falls.
Has what he has done inexcusable? No. Is what he has done unforgiveable? No. However, unless he repents publicly and steps back from public life then he has all the adulation and praise he is ever going to get right here on earth. In fact, I fear for his very salvation. I fear the gates of Hell are not far from his door. Did not our Lord say that many will come to Him saying, “Lord, Lord, did we not heal the sick, did we not cast out demons all in Your Name.” But the Lord replied, “Away from me. I did not know you, you evil doers.”
I am sad about any story like this and I pray for all concerned – especially the jilted wife. I hope she can find forgiveness in her heart for him or she too may lose her own state of Grace.
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