A New Thing

A New Thing

Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

I can almost hear the groans from here. “Not this old chestnut again!” How many more “new things” must we hear about? When is there really coming a genuine “new thing”? Let me ask you in return, how many new things have you missed because of your closed ears and eyes, and because of your stubborn-ness? How many new starts do you want the Lord to give you before you will wake up saying, “What is happening? Where did this spring from? Why did nobody tell me?”

The Lord is saying that “because you have rejected so many new beginnings, your eyes and ears have become dull to me. You think you will recognise My Spirit when He moves among you because you will be able to say, “I recognise that! That is what the Lord did then so it must be the start of something new.” 

“Not so”, says the Lord. “I am doing a NEW thing, unlike anything you’ve seen before. I will use unknown people because they will give me ALL the glory. I can no longer trust the so-called “market leaders” who profit from everything they do – with little or no thought for anyone else. This coming move will be so very different. So different that you may try to reject it because you do not see my hallmarks – you will not recognise My hand. Nevertheless, the work  will continue - with or without you to “help and guide it along.” 

You will not need to shepherd this move, nor control it, nor guard those to whom you pass it on. For I will be doing all of that. For I am raising a young and vibrant army who will not fear mans derision or scorn; they will not fear their peers who may not want to believe them. This young army will fearlessly go into a lion’s den in order to win the lost, and they will bring thousands into My kingdom,” says God. “They shall have wisdom beyond their years and they shall  perform miracles that some have openly said are not even possible. But more than this, they shall be an influence in their generation and to their elders.” 

I really cannot say what this coming move of God’s Holy Spirit is going to look like. All I do know is that it is coming, it is BIG, and it will be a surprise to many. I believe it will bring many thousands, maybe millions of converts from other faiths, and even large numbers from the atheist community. It will also bring ferocious opposition and persecution – the Salvation Army motto, “Blood and Fire”, will even seem appropriate.

Hold on to your seats – it’s gonna be an exciting ride !!

Fire & Wind

Fire and Wind

End times - Jesus spoke about it. He warned us to look out for signs of it. Everyone ‘knows’ it is coming. Everyone has heard about its coming. Very few understand what it really means. Even fewer are willing for it in Gods way. And fewer still are willing to pay the price.

We pray for it, without understanding. We long for it, without knowledge or experience of it. We ‘demand’ it, not even beginning to realise what we are demanding.

Why are there so many warnings without the manifestation? Why do so many prayers realise so little reality? Why is that ‘end-time revival’ so very slow in coming to the West when it appears to be in full spate in the East?

The Lord spoke to me about His fire. I don’t think we are talking about wild-fire or bush fire as much as we are talking about Pentecostal fire. This is nothing to do with a denomination. It is about the ‘how’ of revival. He showed me a brief vision of Pentecost and the tongues of flame descending upon those present in the upper room. Except that, at this time, this is not just one room but a thousand rooms in a thousand towns spread around Europe and America.

He spoke about wind, the wind of His Holy Spirit blowing on those flames, fanning them into a real fire of revival. Like a wild fire or a bush fire, this, once ignited, will spread fast until we have thousands of little fires joining together figuratively to form an all consuming fire of God’s love and goodness. It will bring repentance and salvations. It will bring incredible, amazing change to our entire culture. It will split marriages, homes, families, businesses, towns, cities, and countries as people decide which side of the line they want to be on.

When God anoints with fire (Luke 3:16 & Matthew 3:11) and when God releases the wind of His Spirit – then we shall see revival, live and breathe revival; pay the price for revival. Then our fight will be against Satan and all his forces (Ephesians 6:12-18) Then we shall see the manifestation of Romans 1:16 – the power of the Gospel unto salvation.

Then – listen for the trumpet to sound and watch for Jesus to appear – OH HAPPY DAY !!!!!!

A Fearful Thing

A Fearful Thing

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31

I wonder how many sermons have been preached on this text? I think we need to put the text into context first. “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?  For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:29-31

Let me now ask you, how many preachers are guilty of trampling the Son of God under foot? Or have devalued the Blood of His Covenant? Or have insulted the Holy Spirit of Grace? We must never forget that “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God.” 1 Peter 4:17

So, how many of us, who will be judged first for how we conducted Gods business here on earth, will stand up under this line of questioning? How many times have we contorted the Word of God for our own purposes then have gone on to preach it as the “inerrant Word of God”? 

Now let me ask that same question from another angle. How many times have we set ourselves up as jury, judge, and executioner over another’s interpretation of scripture? How do we know who has the sole right; is the sole arbiter of truth? It is only God who has that right, otherwise why would He say, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 

I am not defending those who blaspheme His name or who trample most of the doctrine of the Bible or who devalue what Jesus did at Calvary. “How did we do that?” I hear some cry. When you preached prosperity over holiness; when you taught that Satan probably isn’t real; when you said in your heart that you are God’s sole arbiter in matters of truth and doctrine; when you allowed yourself to be raised high – almost as high as God. Jesus said, in Luke 9:50 and in Mark 9:40 that, “He who is not against us is on our side.” 

As we have all been taught within a particular denomination, we have all been taught a version of the truth that may agree or may differ slightly with another denominations version. Yet Jesus taught us that if they are “not against us” they are on our side – meaning on His side. Do you really believe that your interpretation of God’s Word is so much better than anyone else’s? Heavens above – that’s how whole denominations get started – because of proud and arrogant men who will only listen to their own pathetic bletherings while believing that God obviously doesn’t speak to “those other sinners over there”. 

Mote and Plank !!! Less condemnation and more acceptance – despite the differences. Move forward on the common ground and we may find enough commonality to unite with “them” after all.

Focus Again

Focus Again

This is the day that God is calling all His watchmen, All His intercessors, ALL His seers and prophets. We need to focus again. We have lost focus, we have gotten distracted. We have been watching the wrong things in the wrong places.

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

We have focussed upon what is happening in the world, and ‘interpreting’ that, rather than focussing upon what the Lord may be doing and where He is doing it. We are so taken up with the sin and wickedness around us that we are distracted from our watchtower on the walls. We no longer see where the enemy is about to attack because we no longer seek God for this. Rather we focus upon that which is already happening. We throw our hands up and cry “Woe”. We don’t look around to see what is being done under the cover of present events in order to facilitate future ones.

Watchmen of God, turn back to seeking Him and seek that about which God wants us to warn His people. Come back to true prophecy instead of commentary on current events.  Let the real prophets stand up. If we do not do our job, who will? How will God’s people be warned? How will they focus if we do not do so? For God will hold us responsible for abandoning His calling upon us – See Ezekiel 33 – if we do not sound the warning, God will hold us responsible.

God is calling and warning His prophets today. If you hear something, then test it and weigh it against scripture. If it stands up then speak it out. Say it. I would rather be labelled a false prophet than one who missed something God asked me to say.

Who else will God use other than His prophets? Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”

It is surely time to focus on God to hear what He is saying to us rather than listening to the worlds distracting words.

Red Letter Truth

Red Letter Truth

We are warned in scripture about these ‘end-times’. Times when even the faithful of God will be deceived. Times when those who are preaching give out messages just to please their audience. Times when those preaching teach deceptive doctrines that sound right that, in the final analysis, do not line up with scripture.

Included in this deception are the teachings on prosperity, on so-called ‘hyper-grace’, on replacement theology, and I expect there are a few more

On prosperity, Jesus said in Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Yet ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ abound on television and in pulpits encouraging unlearned folk to part with their money “because God will repay you 100-fold”. The only ones getting prosperous are the preachers – the poor simply get poorer.

On hyper Grace in the case of the sinful woman caught in adultery, Jesus said in John 8:11 “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” He doesn’t say, along with the ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’, that they needn’t fret about your sin – it’s already been forgiven for as many times as you want to commit it. Jesus said, “Go and sin no more.”

As for replacement theology, Paul says very clearly, in Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” If this is true, then how can Christians have replaced the Jews and Israel in God’s heart as this teaching asserts. Yet the ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ once again prey on unlearned people to follow this teaching into hell.

Deception rules in these days while truth languishes in some backwater where the ‘discredited’ preacher still preaches the words of Jesus – “red letter” truth and preaching.

It just seems such foolishness to accept teaching which has no solid foundation in Christ’s or apostolic teaching but which is twisted and used to found denominations in these times. Jesus actually spoke of them in this way, - “And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you.  For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and will deceive many.” Mark 13:5

Paul said “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;  and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.  But you be watchful in all things.” 2 Timothy 4:3-5a

Yes folks – be watchful in ALL things.

A Prophecy to the Bones

A Prophecy to the Bones

Ezekiel 37:1-10

I recently wrote about how I believe the Lord to be calling us to prophesy to the bones once again for such a time as this. I believe the Lord is calling us to speak to the dry bones in the church and make them once more ready for life, I believe we need to speak to the breath of God to breathe life once again into those bones and to cry out to Him for His will to be done among us and for a visitation of His presence among us.

So - I speak to the dry bones. 

I believe the Lord is calling me to say this to all those dry bones - "Come back, come back. Come back to your first love - come back to that place where you first found me and you first came to know my presence. Come, perhaps for the first time, from that place of first love into the place of intimacy with Me - real intimacy - true intimacy. That is where I want to meet with you today - now - right now - this very moment. Yes - this is a cry from My heart to you to come close ready for that impartation that will lead you to create a place of habitation where I can come. A place of comfort for Me and a place of excitement and intimacy such as you never realised was possible."

Now - I speak to the breath.

I believe the Lord would say this to you all - "If you will cry out to me from the very depths of your heart, I will send My Ruach, My wind, My breath to you to lift you up on wings like eagles to soar in the heavenlies with me and to call My Shekinah Glory down to you. That will create the habitation I require. That will bring My blessing. Cry out to Me in your place of intimacy. Call me - Lift your hearts to Me and let Me begin My work among you."

People, this starts with YOU. Cry out now for His presence and His glory - then allow Him to manifest His Spirit among you and allow Him to bring His will to be on earth as it is in heaven.

Wind & Fire

Wind and Fire

There are two attributes of Holy Spirit that particularly appeal to me – wind and fire. I think probably it’s the dramatic possibilities that give substance to their appeal. I mean, what can be more terrifying than a wildfire, out of control, driven by a really strong wind? And we are told that God was not in the earthquake, wind, or fire, but in the whisper – that still small voice. Holy Spirit is the communicator of the Trinity. He is the teacher, the guide.

However, the Bible speaks of Him in terms of the “Ruach” – the mighty wind of God. It also says that He baptises us with fire. So what is so special about wind and fire?

Have you ever been for a walk along a cliff path on a sunny day? The wind is so refreshing, maybe even bracing. Yet we love the feel of that wind – in our face, in our hair (if we have any), tugging gently and not so gently at our clothes. It is the refreshing quality that I like – my face tingles when I turn into the wind. I may even get a little red faced, not from exertion but from the force of the wind. It’s at moments like that I can hear Gods voice. There is a stillness in the wind where Gods voice lurks – waiting for us to be still and listen.

Then the wind stirs afresh as the Holy Spirit picks out the next thought He wants to send us; the next whisper He wants to speak to us. Sometimes that Ruach works up to a storm that tears slates from the rooftops. Yet once again, Holy Spirit is waiting for us to be still in the storm just long enough for Him to speak to us once again.

In the midst of the storms of life is when we need to quieten ourselves to listen to His gentle whisper.

Fire is a different thing altogether. Indeed, Holy Spirit came to the upper room that first Pentecost as flames of fire. Fire was the first experience for man of the presence of Holy Spirit and the first manifestation of His power. Yet it was a pillar of fire that led the Children of Israel for 40 years. It was fire in a bush that called Moses to Gods service. It was fire that Elijah called down on Mount Carmel. It was fire that upgraded Daniels reputation in Nebuchadnezzar’s court. God had always been more than willing to use fire to demonstrate His point to man.

When fire touches anything, it changes it. So it is with Holy Spirit fire – it changes us and we are never the same again. So it was when Pentecost came – the disciples and followers, all 120 of them, were changed never to be the same again.

Oh to hear the Ruach of God and to experience that little flame of Holy Spirit fire. Let me never be the same again Lord, and let those who join me there also carry the wind and fire of God into their small corner of your world. Amen ???

Sweet and Sour

Sweet and Sour

There is something about a meal in a Chinese restaurant that makes it unique. I don’t mean chopsticks, but rather, the combination of flavours – like sweet and sour sauce perhaps. Some restaurants serve up a somewhat bland meal while others serve a real spicy mixture that titillates the palate and stimulates the taste buds that also leaves the diners wanting more. Rather like our churches in a way. Some serve up a very bland, almost tasteless religion, while others serve up lively and relevant faith based services that leave guests and regulars alike wanting more.

Even so, I wonder if too many are even so selling God a little short – a little bland?

God is love – we all know that – but God also hates sin. God loves us so much, in fact, that He sent His only Son to pay the price for that sin on our behalf. Yet we don’t hear so much about the sin as we hear about Jesus having paid the price for us – now we can all get to heaven. We hear all about what God loves, but very little about what He hates – even less about abominations. When was the last time you heard anything other than ‘do this’ and ‘do that’ as against ‘don’t do these things’. I really do believe we sell God very short indeed.

As I heard it put just the other day, “Aslan is not a tame lion”. We do not have to defend Him, We just open the door and let Him out. God is not JUST a god of love, and sweetness, and light. There are things that make Him angry and sad , even vengeful. Yes there is much that He loves but also much that He hates too. He hates our sin whilst retaining His love for the sinner. He hates dishonesty and lying. He hates those who mislead His flock. There are many things that stir God to wrath against His children – but our pulpits are woefully short of such this teaching.

Like so many things in this present time, we seem to pick and choose the attributes of God that we talk about. Then we narrow the selection down a bit more for that which we teach and preach about. I think we can learn a little from Jewish teaching where they teach the whole story from a very early age. They don’t miss out the spots and wrinkles – the bits folk may not like – they teach it and instil it all.

Isn’t it time to stop selling God short, and teach and preach the Gospel, the whole Gospel, and nothing but the Gospel.

Prophecy for Egypt Today

Prophecy Fulfilled for Egypt

Biblical prophecy is still coming true today. Isaiah 19 has some very specific prophecies regarding Egypt with some very specific things to look out for.

It is very interesting indeed.

It is happening today. This is the Bible prophecy – compare it to events today and see if it’s not right on the nail.

Isaiah 19 The burden against Egypt.

Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.

² “I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; Everyone will fight against his brother, And everyone against his neighbour, City against city, kingdom against kingdom.

³ The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel, And they will consult the idols and the charmers, The mediums and the sorcerers. ⁴ And the Egyptians I will give Into the hand of a cruel master, And a fierce king will rule over them,” Says the Lord, the Lord of hosts.

⁵ The waters will fail from the sea, And the river will be wasted and dried up. ⁶ The rivers will turn foul; The brooks of defense will be emptied and dried up; The reeds and rushes will wither. ⁷ The papyrus reeds by the River, by the mouth of the River, And everything sown by the River, Will wither, be driven away, and be no more. ⁸ The fishermen also will mourn; All those will lament who cast hooks into the River, And they will languish who spread nets on the waters.

⁹ Moreover those who work in fine flax And those who weave fine fabric will be ashamed; ¹⁰ And its foundations will be broken. All who make wages will be troubled of soul.

¹¹ Surely the princes of Zoan are fools; Pharaoh’s wise counselors give foolish counsel. How do you say to Pharaoh, “I am the son of the wise, The son of ancient kings?” ¹² Where are they? Where are your wise men? Let them tell you now, And let them know what the Lord of hosts has purposed against Egypt. ¹³ The princes of Zoan have become fools; The princes of Noph are deceived; They have also deluded Egypt, Those who are the mainstay of its tribes.

¹⁴ The Lord has mingled a perverse spirit in her midst; And they have caused Egypt to err in all her work, As a drunken man staggers in his vomit. ¹⁵ Neither will there be any work for Egypt, Which the head or tail, Palm branch or bulrush, may do.

¹⁶ In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He waves over it.  ¹⁷ And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts which He has determined against it.

Egypt, Assyria, and Israel Blessed

¹⁸ In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction.

¹⁹ In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt,  and a pillar to the Lord at its border. ²⁰ And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Saviour and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. 

²¹ Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. 

²² And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them.

²³ In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians. ²⁴ In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, ²⁵ whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

Donkeys and Whispers

Donkeys and Whispers

There is a wonderful story in Numbers 22:21-35 – “So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab.  Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him.  Now the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand, and the donkey turned aside out of the way and went into the field. So Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back onto the road.  Then the Angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on this side and a wall on that side.  And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she pushed herself against the wall and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall; so he struck her again.  Then the Angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place where there was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.  And when the donkey saw the Angel of the Lord, she lay down under Balaam; so Balaam’s anger was aroused, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

Then the Lord opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”  And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!”  So the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?” And he said, “No.”

 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me.  The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.”  And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back.”  Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” So Balaam went with the princes of Balak.”

This story is so much easier for a child to accept. Of course donkeys speak !! What a silly question. I still don’t understand why Balaam didn’t throw a wobbly as soon as the donkey spoke to him. Yet despite the absolute nonsense of the situation, he entered into a full conversation with the animal. So, if God can speak to a man through a donkey, how else can He speak to us?

Can He speak through earthquake, wind, and fire? Can He speak through that still small voice that the Bible talks about? Can God speak to us through His Word, the Bible? Of course He can – He is God. He created us in His likeness so we can see, hear, smell, taste, and feel Him. God can communicate with us any way He wants to !!

The man whispered, "God, speak to me" And a meadowlark sang.

But, the man did not hear.

So the man yelled "God, speak to me!" And, the thunder rolled across the sky.

But, the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God, let me see you" And a star shined brightly.

But the man did not notice.

And, the man shouted, "God, show me a miracle!" And, a life was born.

But, the man did not comprehend.

So, the man cried out in despair, "Touch me God, and let me know you are here!" Whereupon, God reached down and touched the man.

But, the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

(Author Unknown)

Prophesy to the Dry Bones Again

Prophesy to the Bones Again

Ezekiel 37:7a “So I prophesied as I was commanded”

A good friend posted this today. As soon as I read it I heard the Lord speaking. This scripture is taken from the Dry Bones story in Ezekiel 37. The full quote starts in verse 1 through to 10 but the important verses are these

“And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
“So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.”
“Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones”
“So I prophesied as I was commanded; but there was no breath in them.”
“Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath,”  So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.”

It was as much what the Lord said to me as what He showed me as well. He showed me some of the beautiful old churches in our area, many of which are in an inevitable state of imperfect repair. I knew I was looking at God’s view of the Church – not just here but throughout the Western world.  It has grown old, is rather dry, and, to be honest, it  looks a bit dated and tatty.

“Can these bones live?”
“You alone know, Lord”
“Prophesy to the bones.”
“Now prophesy to the breath.”

Now the Lord can open the gates to revival.

I felt very strongly that the Lord is calling us to join Him in the valley of dry bones that is the church right now. I believe He is calling us to prophesy once again to the bones and to prophesy to the breath. I believe that God is about to use us to rebuild His Church and to breathe life back into it.

Then He will open the floodgates of revival.

You all know what happens next. Watch for the prophecy later.

Can We Walk With God?

Can we walk with God?

"Noah ... walked with God" Genesis 6:9

We frequently use the phrase "walked with God" in the context of an old saint now back home with the Lord indicating the feeling of a journey of life lived God's way. Genesis 3:8 shows us that Adam “heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden". God's Spirit literally moved through the beautiful garden He had planted, seeking out the very reason He made it all in the first place - a place for friendship with man. Sin destroyed all that of course. Genesis 5:24 says that “Enoch walked in habitual fellowship with God; and he was not, for God took him home with Him.” My favourite Bible character, Elijah, walked with God too, as did Moses and David. 

There are others too, of course, but my question to us all here today is simply this, can we, too, walk with God? I mean, can we walk with God in any way similar to the mighty men of God of old? Can we have the sort of relationship these old timers had with God? Walking with Him; talking with Him – in conversational mode?

Why ever not?

I don’t know about the version of the Bible that you read, but my Bible says, “Yes” a great big loud, emphatic, “Yes”! Firstly, we have the example of the relationship God had with these men and women of old. Then we have in John 1:12-13 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:  who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Now why would God call us to be, or even give us the right to be children if He didn’t want a father/child relationship with us? In fact I believe He wants more of a relationship than He ever had with David or Elijah because I believe He wants real intimacy with us. Jesus said He no longer calls us servants but friends – that’s a big step up from my understanding of His relationships in the past.

Why else would He rend the veil and allow us right into His presence? Why would He give us all the gifts of Holy Spirit, especially tongues - the power to pray in the Spirit when we pray in His language not ours? No other explanation holds water except that He now wants a close and intimate relationship with us.

This relationship is what God wants and He has made a way for us to enter into it with Him. He has opened a door where there seemed to be no door. He bids us enter His throne room – He holds out His sceptre towards us – and bids us welcome. Its not always a place of talking either. It is a place of silence too where we just sit at His feet and listen to Him speaking to us – gently, softly, opening our minds to His thoughts.

What an amazing privilege. What an incredible Father God. Don’t you just love Him?

God our Refiner

God our Refiner

The state of the Church, in particular the Western Church at the moment, gives cause for great concern. The church is under great and unprecedented attack and persecution and one has to wonder why. Even a cursory glance will tell you that the Western Church is in a sorry state right now. However, I believe the Lord is doing something about it by way of using attack and persecution to refine, cleanse, and strengthen His Bride.

Just the other day I was shocked to read in the Bible that God can send an evil spirit to someone (1 Sam 18:10) Now I read that He brings or sends grief to us too. It’s not often that the book of Lamentations is used to bring encouragement, but look at this - Lamentations 3:31-32 “For no one is cast off by the Lord for ever. Though he brings grief, he will show compassion, so great is his unfailing love.”

Here, God’s Word is telling us that He brings grief. It doesn’t say how He brings it but one example must be Job. In Jesus time, we could cite the family of Lazarus, whose death Jesus redeemed by raising him from the dead. As Jesus said that the only unforgiveable sin is to blaspheme Holy Spirit, which I think very few people have ever managed to do, then everything else is redeemable.

Having brought us grief, the Word then goes on to say, in Jeremiah 46:28 “Do not be afraid, for I am with you,’ declares the Lord.

. . . . I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’”

Now this goes against what was said about Job because God allowed Job to be tested by bringing him grief, yet here He suggests that God also allows grief as a punishment. Even so, it is never in His mind to leave us wallowing in grief and despair. In Isaiah 54:7-8, 10, His Word says “‘For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,’ says the Lord your Redeemer.”  Then in verse 10, He says, “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.”

Yes, I believe the Lord is refining us through persecution and troubles, not in a ‘great tribulation’ sense but in the sense of preparing to revive the church. Don’t get me wrong here, the global church is growing right now at a rate unprecedented in history. Yet the great ‘final’ harvest is still to come and our Lord is preparing us for that event as never before.

Why? Because it is getting closer that’s why.

Questions and More Questions

Questions and More Questions

I have always been taught, and believed, that God will never bring evil into your life. It’s probably a deep theological argument that says God is good and His Word is true therefore He cannot bring that which cannot exist in His presence into our lives. Well, in my quiet time this morning, I had a bit of a shock.

1 Samuel 18:10-11 “The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand  and he hurled it, saying to himself, ‘I’ll pin David to the wall.’ But David eluded him twice.” (Emphasis mine)

Let me say that again in words of very plain English. “An evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul.” The question is, why? The trouble is that no further explanation is offered. Another question might be, if God has done this, does such an action negate His being good and loving to His people? I suppose the thought might also occur that if God can curse something, as Jesus did to the fig tree, then why not send an evil spirit too?

While I was pondering these things, the Lord asked me another couple of questions. Do angels and demons live forever? If we destroy a demon, does it get replaced? Indeed, are new demons being made at all? Or are angels still being thrown out of heaven? And why?

I expect some theologians among you will give me some very erudite, theologically correct answers. Doctrinally correct responses will also be forthcoming, I have no doubt. I expect someone will tell me that I am a heretic and apostate in such thinking. I even suspect that denominations have probably been founded upon the supposed “correct answers” or “truth” of such things.

My thoughts however, take a different tack altogether. Does the answer to these questions change my beliefs one iota? If not, then why waste my time thinking about it? On the other hand, if the answers do change my thinking, what am I to do about it all? I think I prefer to leave the questions unanswered. Like all imponderable things, I will find the answer one day – when I am no longer seeing through a cloudy glass and all things have become clear.

It is at moments like this that I appreciate the wisdom of the old prayer, “Lord, give me the courage to change that which I can change, the grace to accept that which I cannot change, and the wisdom to tell the difference.”

Some things Lord are just too wonderful for me to know right now – but later . . .

Wisdom from Dannunda

Quotable quotes from Dannunda

A blog special of the wit and wisdom of a good friend Down Under – that’s Sydney, Australia.

“The evangelical Christian church has become its own victim, assailed by both its excesses and successes. For too long it has offered a soft-serve faith of academic beliefs, diluted with few demands for righteousness but many for work. It preaches Calvinism but lives Catholicism.”

“Pulpits that only bleat God is love descend into tolerance and easy-believism.”

“Pulpits have birthed theologians with full but dull heads and unchanged hearts. Theology does not deliver disciples but troubles do.”

“Pulpits that preach what itching ears wish to hear will only empty gothic buildings and fill hell.”

“Faith has been stolen by knowledge, and commitment robbed by comfort.”

“A horrid cross must point to soulful reflections and the hardest of demands.”

“Complacency is danger to both Christ and Christians. A paper faith withstands few storms.”

“Authentic and mature faith thirsts for righteousness, listens for His call, bends the knees, denies self daily and takes no prisoners.”

For more of the same – see Soul Supply

Harvest Time

Harvest Time

All these thoughts and arguments about end-time revival and the rapture. Many thoughts and prophecies about Jesus’ imminent return for His bride. I even put out a wee note about the possible closeness of the rapture. I got a response that said, “But first the harvest?”

Look around you folks.

In the West – that’s Europe and America – there has been an increasing tendency towards false teaching, back-biting, and grumbling. Brother using hateful speech to brother, judgementalism,  virtual apostasy, lack of love, and blatant greed.

On the other hand, in Africa, Asia, and South America thousands upon thousands have been won to the Lord. In China I read today that there is a burgeoning church of over 100 million new Christians in the past few years.

What is that if not harvest?

What is that if not revival?

Could it be that we in the West have missed out on revival. Have we so refused to repent and turn back to God that He has, in the main, by-passed us? What a dreadful spectre that thought poses. Could it be that the Lord has finally withdrawn His hand from most of the Western Church?

As it happens, I don’t think so. I believe that the Lord will give us one more chance, and one more chance again after that as the day of Christ’s return in the clouds for His Bride draws nearer. I think that the greed, false teaching, judgementalism, and loveless Christianity with almost total lack of faith of the Western church is being exposed and, as folk see the error, so they will repent too. Thus we may yet see real harvest here in the West too.

Hallelujah, Lord – bring it on – all Glory to You Lord.

In Our Comfort Zone

In Your Comfort Zone

“The most dangerous place for a Christian to be is in your own comfort zone. We need to trust God enough to allow Him to lead us out of it.” - Peter Barnes

Perhaps one of the cleverest manoeuvres by Satan has been to get the church, and most of her members, into a place of great comfort. Leaders are comfortable with their own performance. People are comfortable with their life style and values. Everyone is comfortable with the status quo and has no wish to change it. Everyone is comfortable with their present faith and worship levels because it no longer requires too much effort.

We are all in our comfort zone, but I don’t think God is very comfortable with any of this.

We say we are desperate for revival, yet we are comfortable where we are. We say we will repent and follow the Lord, yet it only lasts a short while before we lapse back into our old ways. Why is this I wonder? Possibly because, when we try to follow and obey His leading, we tend to step outside our comfort zone. Doing this makes us feel very insecure. This is when our trust in our Father God is put to the test.

When trust fails, we step back to where we are most comfortable. When this happens the enemy attacks again and takes more ground from us. This is why it is dangerous to be and stay in our comfort zone. Comfort breeds relaxation, breeds a lowered guard, breeds an open door for the enemy. We must maintain our vigilance or we must step out of our comfort zone more – preferably both.

The act of removing yourself from any place of comfort is always undertaken with a certain amount of caution. So we pray about whether or not to do it at all. Then we pray about when and how to do it. Then we pray for God’s protection . . . . . and so on. Do you get my drift? Any stepping into something new is always, or should always, be covered by prayer, prayer and more prayer. It may even be advisable to get pastoral approval beforehand – in which case you will have even more prayer covering you.

Thus, it will be very difficult for the enemy to find a hole in your armour and so it will be equally difficult for him to throw blockages or distractions across your path. This is when it becomes so very dangerous to be and to remain in our comfort zone.

I know that staying in your comfort zone is, well, comfortable, but God will never take you so far out of that zone that you cannot handle it. He expects you to call on Him for help and He readily gives you all the help you need. Actually, living life outside the comfort zone can be exciting, stimulating, fulfilling, and ultimately very fruitful for God’s Kingdom.

Staying in the zone is none of these – that again is why it is such a dangerous place to be.

Lukewarm Church

The Lukewarm Church

Revelation 3:14-22 “And to the angel of the church of Laodicea write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:  “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.  Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked —  I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.  Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”

This Lukewarm Church was at Laodicea – it has spread since the first century. One of its satellite churches is right there in your home town.

I believe I hear the Lord saying, “You worship but you stop short of breakthrough. You pray but you stop short of intercession. Your desire for Me stops short of desperation.

“Worship Me with abandon. Pray to me as though your life depended upon it. Get desperate for Me – seek Me, My face, My presence - if you want to see My promises fulfilled. Don’t say this is wrong scripturally because My promises always come with “If you – Then I . . . “ You have fallen short of the “If you. . “ bit but you have expected Me to answer and fulfil the “Then I” bit.

“You have prayed and worshipped Me but you have never become desperate because you are satisfied with your own efforts. Remember, I do not look at the outward appearance. I measure you by your heart and I do not see your heart in everything you do.”

I hear the Lord saying, “If My people who are called by My Name will seek My face with their whole heart; If they will worship me with their whole heart; If they will come before Me with their whole heart – THEN I will answer with the fire of My Spirit.”

Church, I believe we are so close to breakthrough, yet still so far away. I don’t know about anyone else, but I can smell the incense of the throne room; I can see the glow of the Shekinah Glory; I can hear the angels moving around ready to open the doors – but its all still ‘just round the corner’ – It’ll be here any minute – or will it?

It is my belief that the time is right and if we want God to move among us then we need to lay hold of Him and not let go until He blesses us. 

The Glory of the Lord

The Glory of the Lord

Today, I asked the Lord to show me His Glory. I had been reading about both Moses and Elijah who both caught a glimpse of the Glory of God. I wondered what it might have been like to hide in a ‘cleft in the rock’ in order just to get a glimpse of God. I have recently been seeking His face, so I asked Him for just a glimpse of His Glory. This is what I saw.

I saw sunrise and sunset in all their majestic glory. I saw darkness fade in the all surpassing beauty of dawn and I heard the breezes sigh at the fading of day and the star spangled sky slowly came into focus as dusk gathered and finally gave way to night. I marvelled at the thought that God could call each and every star by name and I was just awestruck at the beauty of a clear night with the stars all on parade – all present and correct in their assigned place – all giving their glory to their creator who holds them in place with His strong and mighty arm.

I praised God

I saw mountains and streams in all their beauty and grandeur. I watched as a stream became inch by inch bigger and more powerful until it was a torrential river – finally settling into a gentler wider flow to feed and water the land. I saw the incredible might of mountains with great birds soaring among the peaks. I saw snow covered mountain-tops twinkling and sparkling in the sun. The power and beauty of creation at its greatest.

I gave God all the glory

I saw dainty wild flowers and roses – all designed and sculpted by the unseen hand of their creator. I saw the minutiae of stamens with their pollen being harvested by myriad bees and other insects, some almost too small to see but still perfectly designed for their job.

I worshipped God

I saw humming birds and eagles, each with specific jobs allocated to them yet all bringing their specific beauty to the whole order of creation. I saw flying creatures of every colour, shape, and size – every one of them made by the Lord for His pleasure and for His glory.

I sang His praises

I saw oceans and ponds – the waters of the earth – measured by God’s hand and bringing life to everything that lives. I saw salt water and I saw fresh water. I saw the water of life that flows from under the temple, (Ezekiel 47), and I saw trees that gave fruit every month and leaves for healing. I saw a mighty oak grow from a little acorn. I saw fish of every shape and size in the oceans and I saw little frogs and newts in ponds. I saw mighty ships and tiny boats – I saw man on land, at sea, and in the air.

I danced before His throne

Finally, I saw the Lion and Lamb lie down together before the throne of God and I knew I had seen the Glory of God that fills the earth and the heavens.

I worshipped the Lord with all of my heart for my eyes have seen His glory. I fell on my face in adoration before Him. Holy, holy, holy is indeed the Lord our God. The Lord Almighty is His Name and I shall worship Him forever. Yes, me and my house, we will serve the Lord for ever.

Trouble & Strife

Trouble and Strife

In my younger days, in the London I knew as a boy, ‘trouble and strife’ was rhyming slang for ‘wife’. I have no idea why anyone should refer to his wife as trouble and strife but in the poorer, ‘Cockney’, area of London in the 1840’s – that’s what it was, and it stuck to this day. I don’t think James and Paul were thinking of marital partners when they penned their letters, but trouble and strife was certainly on their minds.

"For where envying and strife is, there is disorder and every evil work" (James 3:16).

^“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.  For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18 They were none other than a self-centered, backslidden group who "served their own belly" (verse 18). Division that is caused by the proud and arrogant, catering to their own  self-interests.

Envy, strife, smooth words, flattering speech – not very encouraging words, are they? Yet these are the words I would use to describe various parts of the church today. The trouble with that is that even if such things are limited to small parts, the wound can bring great pain and discomfort to the whole body. Another problem is that the ‘infected part’ may well be in the leadership. Envy of anothers church size, or ministry, or anything else is like a poison to the whole body. Strife between members and or leaders is another poison, as is the damage caused by insincere smooth words and flattering speech.

All these poisons, and more besides, are sent by Satan to damage the church of Jesus Christ. If they are allowed to fester and continue, then the outcome is almost inevitably a schism, a split, and the downfall of one or both parts. So – what is the answer? Only repentance and restoration to unity can heal such problems. Even then there has first to be a realisation and conviction of sin and pride will be the stubborn opponent of that.

If we cannot achieve unity within a church, what hope have we of achieving it in a town? If the local church behaves as does the rest of the world, what is there to suggest anything good to the casual observer? Only a real move of God’s Spirit among the failing churches can produce anything attractive to the unsaved man or woman. Only a repentant church can cry insistently enough to persuade God to send His Spirit into action.

A little repentant unity right now would go a long way towards that goal.