After Gods Own Heart
On a recent trip to Amsterdam, I met a wonderful worship leader called Vincent. He had written, with a couple of others, a new worship song that I think may well become the revival anthem for Holland – maybe even wider. This man is, I truly believe, a man after God’s own heart. He worships, we follow, and the anointing just floods the place.
David was another “after God’s own heart” as we see in 1 Samuel 13:13-14 (NKJV)
“And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” That man was David who was anointed as the next king of Israel. “
Later we read that David, as he worshipped, danced before the ark of the covenant in 2 Samuel 6:13-15 (NKJV) “And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.”
David danced before the Lord ‘with all his might’. As I listened to Vincent leading the worship the other day, I realised that he and all those with him were worshipping the Lord ‘with all their might’. This is what God is seeking today – men and women after His own heart who will worship Him, and live for Him, ‘with all their might’. It will only be such people, who will be holy before God, who will see the coming revival, who will reach the unsaved, who will focus the world’s attention upon Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords; as saviour for all who will acknowledge Him and receive him into their hearts and lives.
Neither the proud nor the haughty, not the unforgiving nor the liars, none of those with no love for their neighbours – not one of these will see anything that is for those who love the Lord. They have their reward in the applause and attention of this world and there is nothing else to come for them – except hell. Jews, Christians and non-Christians alike are lined up on the edge of eternal damnation because of either their refusal to come to Jesus, or their refusal to obey His commands about loving one another and their neighbour as themselves. Shepherds and flock alike will all be “thrown into the fire”. (Matthew 7:19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”)
Yes, those with a heart after God’s own heart will all bear good fruit and even they will be pruned and refined further. These are they who will inherit the Kingdom of God – those who worship the Lord ‘with all their might’.
Lord, give us all a clear view of how we stand with you and a heart after God’s own heart. Call us to repentance and forgiveness and heal our land. AMEN?
Wednesday, 23 March 2011
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
God Our Protector
I heard this 'translation' of 2 Kings 6:8-22 the other day, and I thought it worth passing on to you.
My paraphrasing would read something like this :-
The king of Aram realised that every time he made plans to attack Israel, they were prepared for him. It really looked to the king as though there was a traitor in the camp who was passing inside information to the Israelites.
The king summoned his generals and demanded to know who was betraying him to the king of Israel. The generals quaked in their boots as this could mean instant death if they were accused. But one of them told the king about Elisha the Prophet and how he was able to “tell the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
The king was furious and ordered an immediate search for Elisha – after all if he cut out the king of Israel’s source of information, then he was sure to be able to conquer the Israelites.
“Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. “
Next morning, Elisha’s servant came out to get water for their morning cuppa. He saw the vast army of the Arameans surrounding their little house. He panicked a little bit. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
Elisha’s response was one of those great one-liners in the Bible - “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
‘Of course they are’, thought the servant. ‘Hang on let me count again. Elisha = 1, then me – thats TWO of us. Now let’s see, Half the Aramean army, horses, chariots – of course there’s more of us than them.’ ‘Whatever made me think . . . . .’
So Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. “
The Aramean army had obviously spotted Elisha and came towards him so Elisha prayed that God would blind their eyes to him. God did this and Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria. After they entered the city, Elisha said, “LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
Now followed a wonderful cameo of how a prophet was respected and revered in those times. “When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?” The King of Israel addressed Elisha the Prophet as his father and asked him what he should do? “Do not kill them,” Elisha answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory. “
This passage teaches us a wonderful truth that we have all but forgotten. Jehovah Karmiel – Literally “God is my Protection”. Emmanuel – Literally “God with us - our protection”.
El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty, loves us and cares for us, not just some of the time, but all of the time – every moment of our lives. Yet so very often we forget this. Whenever anything starts to go wrong, we cry out to the Lord, pleading with Him for mercy and protection, and His angels are already surrounding us – already protecting us. We simply ignore this and by our lack of faith, we step out from under His covering and ask to be protected all over again !!
When will we learn, I wonder, when will we learn ??
With acknowledgement to Peter Barnes who first preached much of this in various countries around Europe.
My paraphrasing would read something like this :-
The king of Aram realised that every time he made plans to attack Israel, they were prepared for him. It really looked to the king as though there was a traitor in the camp who was passing inside information to the Israelites.
The king summoned his generals and demanded to know who was betraying him to the king of Israel. The generals quaked in their boots as this could mean instant death if they were accused. But one of them told the king about Elisha the Prophet and how he was able to “tell the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
The king was furious and ordered an immediate search for Elisha – after all if he cut out the king of Israel’s source of information, then he was sure to be able to conquer the Israelites.
“Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. “
Next morning, Elisha’s servant came out to get water for their morning cuppa. He saw the vast army of the Arameans surrounding their little house. He panicked a little bit. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
Elisha’s response was one of those great one-liners in the Bible - “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
‘Of course they are’, thought the servant. ‘Hang on let me count again. Elisha = 1, then me – thats TWO of us. Now let’s see, Half the Aramean army, horses, chariots – of course there’s more of us than them.’ ‘Whatever made me think . . . . .’
So Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. “
The Aramean army had obviously spotted Elisha and came towards him so Elisha prayed that God would blind their eyes to him. God did this and Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria. After they entered the city, Elisha said, “LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see.” Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria.
Now followed a wonderful cameo of how a prophet was respected and revered in those times. “When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?” The King of Israel addressed Elisha the Prophet as his father and asked him what he should do? “Do not kill them,” Elisha answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.” So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory. “
This passage teaches us a wonderful truth that we have all but forgotten. Jehovah Karmiel – Literally “God is my Protection”. Emmanuel – Literally “God with us - our protection”.
El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty, loves us and cares for us, not just some of the time, but all of the time – every moment of our lives. Yet so very often we forget this. Whenever anything starts to go wrong, we cry out to the Lord, pleading with Him for mercy and protection, and His angels are already surrounding us – already protecting us. We simply ignore this and by our lack of faith, we step out from under His covering and ask to be protected all over again !!
When will we learn, I wonder, when will we learn ??
With acknowledgement to Peter Barnes who first preached much of this in various countries around Europe.
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
What is it about revival?
What is it about revival?
What is it about revival that some churches honestly believe they can say that they are ‘having revival’ this weekend? Am I being pedantic by saying that you cannot advertise revival until AFTER you have seen a sovereign move of God upon your church or area. If folk do not walk in, not knowing why, and get saved - if folk do not weep over their conviction of sin or for the lost - than you may have renewal but you do not have revival. If the lost are not being saved then you do not have revival.
Revival is a gift from God not a pizza to be ordered and delivered when you want it.
So – what should we look for when revival comes? Well this is something I wrote last July (2010) :-
The Lord is saying this to us all, “Watch for the unusual. Watch for spontaneous repentance. Watch for spontaneous and unexpected miracles of healing and deliverance. These are ALL signs that My Holy Spirit is about to bring revival to your land.” I am reminded that revival is not something we can demand or call down, no – revival is a sovereign act of God. It is as sudden and dramatic in its effect as a tidal wave or tsunami. We can never fully prepare for it as we never know when it will happen. All we can do is watch, pray, and try to be ready.
So – let me ask you again – what is it about revival that so draws us?
In my opinion, it is that during revival times, God manifests Himself in ways that we do not normally see. First it is the power of His presence and the remarkable miracles that just happen because He is there among us. His very presence convicts people whether or not they are inside the meeting. Many are drawn into the meeting without even knowing why they are there. Many are convicted where they stand and run into the meeting and/or up to the altar for salvation. It is not infrequent for them to be saved first and then have the Gospel explained to them – again often followed by an instant baptism in the Holy Spirit followed by more explanation. Spontaneous salvations, spontaneous healings, spontaneous deliverance, and spontaneous baptism in the Holy Spirit. These are the hallmarks of revival.
It is a sovereign move of God to bring revival. Often after faithful saints have prayed for years but equally often as a complete surprise in what was planned as another good “Holy Spirit meeting”.
So how is it that church pastors and leaders so signally fail to understand this? Why do so many pastors ask for revival – but only if it is in their church? Why do so many of them announce, as if they were speaking on behalf of God but without His approval, that “We are having revival here next Sunday.” What arrogance and presumption. For a start, to presume that revival happens only on a Sunday and only at their own meetings. I weep over the smug self-satisfied church that many of us have become. I weep over the heavy shepherds who so abuse their flock instead of loving them – see Ezek 34. I weep over the self-promotion within the church and the self-exaltation of the grandiose titles people award themselves.
Can we not, all of us, abase and prostrate ourselves before the throne of God and plead for revival at an cost, at any time (soon), and at any church the Lord deems fit for the purpose. Can we not simply and humbly ask God for even a small part in any revival that may affect our people. Psalm 84:10 “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” When we can put hand on heart and say “Thats for me” THAT will be the day the Lord thinks about sending revival to us or to our churches.
What is it about revival that some churches honestly believe they can say that they are ‘having revival’ this weekend? Am I being pedantic by saying that you cannot advertise revival until AFTER you have seen a sovereign move of God upon your church or area. If folk do not walk in, not knowing why, and get saved - if folk do not weep over their conviction of sin or for the lost - than you may have renewal but you do not have revival. If the lost are not being saved then you do not have revival.
Revival is a gift from God not a pizza to be ordered and delivered when you want it.
So – what should we look for when revival comes? Well this is something I wrote last July (2010) :-
The Lord is saying this to us all, “Watch for the unusual. Watch for spontaneous repentance. Watch for spontaneous and unexpected miracles of healing and deliverance. These are ALL signs that My Holy Spirit is about to bring revival to your land.” I am reminded that revival is not something we can demand or call down, no – revival is a sovereign act of God. It is as sudden and dramatic in its effect as a tidal wave or tsunami. We can never fully prepare for it as we never know when it will happen. All we can do is watch, pray, and try to be ready.
So – let me ask you again – what is it about revival that so draws us?
In my opinion, it is that during revival times, God manifests Himself in ways that we do not normally see. First it is the power of His presence and the remarkable miracles that just happen because He is there among us. His very presence convicts people whether or not they are inside the meeting. Many are drawn into the meeting without even knowing why they are there. Many are convicted where they stand and run into the meeting and/or up to the altar for salvation. It is not infrequent for them to be saved first and then have the Gospel explained to them – again often followed by an instant baptism in the Holy Spirit followed by more explanation. Spontaneous salvations, spontaneous healings, spontaneous deliverance, and spontaneous baptism in the Holy Spirit. These are the hallmarks of revival.
It is a sovereign move of God to bring revival. Often after faithful saints have prayed for years but equally often as a complete surprise in what was planned as another good “Holy Spirit meeting”.
So how is it that church pastors and leaders so signally fail to understand this? Why do so many pastors ask for revival – but only if it is in their church? Why do so many of them announce, as if they were speaking on behalf of God but without His approval, that “We are having revival here next Sunday.” What arrogance and presumption. For a start, to presume that revival happens only on a Sunday and only at their own meetings. I weep over the smug self-satisfied church that many of us have become. I weep over the heavy shepherds who so abuse their flock instead of loving them – see Ezek 34. I weep over the self-promotion within the church and the self-exaltation of the grandiose titles people award themselves.
Can we not, all of us, abase and prostrate ourselves before the throne of God and plead for revival at an cost, at any time (soon), and at any church the Lord deems fit for the purpose. Can we not simply and humbly ask God for even a small part in any revival that may affect our people. Psalm 84:10 “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” When we can put hand on heart and say “Thats for me” THAT will be the day the Lord thinks about sending revival to us or to our churches.
Have Some Christians Lost Their Humility?
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.
This was originally posted by Linda my wife at http://linda-blessedtobless.blogspot.com/
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.
This was originally posted by Linda my wife at http://linda-blessedtobless.blogspot.com/
Saturday, 5 March 2011
Rainbows
"Rainbows" is a word I received in July 2010. It has been waiting to be published since then. I think it is OK so here goes.
This is a word primarily for Norway and Scandinavia. However, it seems to me that it is true for any part of the world
Flying to Norway recently, I looked out of the window and there was a perfect circular rainbow with the silhouette of the plane right in the middle. I have only ever heard of this phenomenon before but this time, there it was right in front of me – a brilliant shining completely circular rainbow. Wonderful sight. I asked the Lord if He was showing me this for a particular reason and this is what He said to me
“You have seen the ice and snow in this land yet I am about to melt the ice that has gripped this land for so long. I am sending my Holy Spirit to melt all resistance so that He will be freed up for revival. This is for NOW.”
A little later on, after landing, we were driving through the hills and mountains. I could see how low the cloud base was as it was hiding the tops of the highest hills and peaks. Yet something else was there too and, as I watched, I could hear the demons running to and fro screaming in fear saying, “We’ve got to go! We’ve got to go!!”
I asked the Lord a little later on about all of this and He showed me that revival is coming to Norway much sooner than we think. Certainly it will be sooner than any of the churches expect – sooner perhaps than many of them want because they are simply not prepared yet. Yet that surely is one of the beauties of revival – we are never ready for it because it comes with a sudden-ness that surprises us all. It comes with a power that sweeps all before it.
The Lord is saying this to us all, “Watch for the unusual. Watch for spontaneous repentance. Watch for spontaneous and unexpected miracles of healing and deliverance. These are ALL signs that My Holy Spirit is about to bring revival to your land.” I am reminded that revival is not something we can demand or call down, no – revival is a sovereign act of God. It is as sudden and dramatic in its effect as a tidal wave or tsunami. We can never fully prepare for it as we never know when it will happen. All we can do is watch, pray, and try to be ready.
Hallelujah – Lord send your Holy Spirit with revival to Norway and to the whole of Scandinavia - in Jesus Name we ask it Amen??? \o/
This is a word primarily for Norway and Scandinavia. However, it seems to me that it is true for any part of the world
Flying to Norway recently, I looked out of the window and there was a perfect circular rainbow with the silhouette of the plane right in the middle. I have only ever heard of this phenomenon before but this time, there it was right in front of me – a brilliant shining completely circular rainbow. Wonderful sight. I asked the Lord if He was showing me this for a particular reason and this is what He said to me
“You have seen the ice and snow in this land yet I am about to melt the ice that has gripped this land for so long. I am sending my Holy Spirit to melt all resistance so that He will be freed up for revival. This is for NOW.”
A little later on, after landing, we were driving through the hills and mountains. I could see how low the cloud base was as it was hiding the tops of the highest hills and peaks. Yet something else was there too and, as I watched, I could hear the demons running to and fro screaming in fear saying, “We’ve got to go! We’ve got to go!!”
I asked the Lord a little later on about all of this and He showed me that revival is coming to Norway much sooner than we think. Certainly it will be sooner than any of the churches expect – sooner perhaps than many of them want because they are simply not prepared yet. Yet that surely is one of the beauties of revival – we are never ready for it because it comes with a sudden-ness that surprises us all. It comes with a power that sweeps all before it.
The Lord is saying this to us all, “Watch for the unusual. Watch for spontaneous repentance. Watch for spontaneous and unexpected miracles of healing and deliverance. These are ALL signs that My Holy Spirit is about to bring revival to your land.” I am reminded that revival is not something we can demand or call down, no – revival is a sovereign act of God. It is as sudden and dramatic in its effect as a tidal wave or tsunami. We can never fully prepare for it as we never know when it will happen. All we can do is watch, pray, and try to be ready.
Hallelujah – Lord send your Holy Spirit with revival to Norway and to the whole of Scandinavia - in Jesus Name we ask it Amen??? \o/
Thursday, 3 March 2011
A Voice in the Wilderness
A Voice in the Wilderness
John the Baptist was described and indeed described himself as a voice in the wilderness.
Isaiah 40:3 describes him thus – “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Then in the Gospels, he is described again
Matthew 3:3 “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘ Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’”
Mark 1:3 ““The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘ Prepare the way of the LORD ;Make His paths straight.’”
Luke 3:4 “as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘ Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.”
Then Jesus asked the crowds about John
Matthew 11:7 “As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?””
Finally, John said of himself
John 1:19-27 “Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
Then they said to him, “Who are you that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD” as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”
As you can see, the Word of God has quite a lot to say about voices in the wilderness. So – what then is ‘a voice crying in the wilderness’?
Although John denied being “The Prophet”, he was nevertheless A prophet – and people were as afraid of prophets then as they were in Samuel’s day and as they are today. In Samuel’s time, when he went to Jesse’s house to anoint David, he was met by folk whose knees were shaking and with the words, “Do you come in peace?” He was feared as both prophet and judge. In Jesus time, John was regarded as an ‘odd-ball’ – but an odd-ball whom the religious establishment feared. They really did not understand who he was or what he was saying. Today we find that, because most churches do not operate in the supernatural gifts of the Spirit, they regard prophets in much the same light and understanding as psychics and mediums. Really!! How many times have we been asked to tell people about their future?? Countless times. We always answer that we only can tell them what the Lord tells us to tell them and this gets a reaction ranging from sheer disbelief to downright disappointment.
So to call a prophet ‘a voice in the wilderness’ is about right within the confines of today’s view and understanding of what a prophet is and does. Yet I still wonder why that is so?? Is the church at large so fearful of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the prophetic in particular? If so – why?? It is all quite biblical – see 1 Corinthians12 & 14 just for starters. If it was false or damaging then it would never have gotten into God’s Word. Demonstrably, it did not cease in the first century with the passing of the apostles. Jesus and the Holy Spirit will be ‘with you always’.
I find it simply amazing to hear stories of pastors apologising for a move of the Spirit in their services or meetings as being “not usual in this church”. What are they afraid of – apart from their big tithers of course?
The Church needs the prophetic, the voices in the wilderness, right now more than at any time in the past 2000 years. Look at the signs of the times (Matthew 24:3-44 plus Mark 13 & Luke 21) Look at Matthew 16:3 “ . . . . You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” Look too at Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” The real problem is that "Preachers are heralded and prophets are hounded." (Leonard Ravenhill.)
The trouble is that prophets are human too and they need to be able to deliver even the hardest Word from the Lord in love. 1 Cor 13:1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” The easy, ‘good news’, word is very easy to deliver as it pleases the hearer. The trouble with most churches is that they have never been exposed to real prophecy and they neither know how to handle or discern it, nor how to use it in love. Prophets, too, need to learn how to be a true “voice in the wilderness” – to receive and deliver a Word from the Lord and then stand back having completed their job!! They seem unable to allow people to ‘discern’ what they are saying. Too many try to force acceptance of that which they are saying when that is the job of the Holy Spirit. It is a job He does better than we can ever do so why do we try to ‘help’ Him?
God help me to be the kind of ‘Voice in the Wilderness’, maybe even in the mould of John the Baptist, or Elijah, or Isaiah. I said ‘in the mould of’, not ‘like’, or even ‘as good as’. I will settle for saying only what the Lord tells me to say. I hope I do that all the days of my life.
John the Baptist was described and indeed described himself as a voice in the wilderness.
Isaiah 40:3 describes him thus – “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Then in the Gospels, he is described again
Matthew 3:3 “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘ Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’”
Mark 1:3 ““The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘ Prepare the way of the LORD ;Make His paths straight.’”
Luke 3:4 “as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying:“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:‘ Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.”
Then Jesus asked the crowds about John
Matthew 11:7 “As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?””
Finally, John said of himself
John 1:19-27 “Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
Then they said to him, “Who are you that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” He said: “I am The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the LORD” as the prophet Isaiah said.”
Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”
As you can see, the Word of God has quite a lot to say about voices in the wilderness. So – what then is ‘a voice crying in the wilderness’?
Although John denied being “The Prophet”, he was nevertheless A prophet – and people were as afraid of prophets then as they were in Samuel’s day and as they are today. In Samuel’s time, when he went to Jesse’s house to anoint David, he was met by folk whose knees were shaking and with the words, “Do you come in peace?” He was feared as both prophet and judge. In Jesus time, John was regarded as an ‘odd-ball’ – but an odd-ball whom the religious establishment feared. They really did not understand who he was or what he was saying. Today we find that, because most churches do not operate in the supernatural gifts of the Spirit, they regard prophets in much the same light and understanding as psychics and mediums. Really!! How many times have we been asked to tell people about their future?? Countless times. We always answer that we only can tell them what the Lord tells us to tell them and this gets a reaction ranging from sheer disbelief to downright disappointment.
So to call a prophet ‘a voice in the wilderness’ is about right within the confines of today’s view and understanding of what a prophet is and does. Yet I still wonder why that is so?? Is the church at large so fearful of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the prophetic in particular? If so – why?? It is all quite biblical – see 1 Corinthians12 & 14 just for starters. If it was false or damaging then it would never have gotten into God’s Word. Demonstrably, it did not cease in the first century with the passing of the apostles. Jesus and the Holy Spirit will be ‘with you always’.
I find it simply amazing to hear stories of pastors apologising for a move of the Spirit in their services or meetings as being “not usual in this church”. What are they afraid of – apart from their big tithers of course?
The Church needs the prophetic, the voices in the wilderness, right now more than at any time in the past 2000 years. Look at the signs of the times (Matthew 24:3-44 plus Mark 13 & Luke 21) Look at Matthew 16:3 “ . . . . You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” Look too at Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” The real problem is that "Preachers are heralded and prophets are hounded." (Leonard Ravenhill.)
The trouble is that prophets are human too and they need to be able to deliver even the hardest Word from the Lord in love. 1 Cor 13:1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.” The easy, ‘good news’, word is very easy to deliver as it pleases the hearer. The trouble with most churches is that they have never been exposed to real prophecy and they neither know how to handle or discern it, nor how to use it in love. Prophets, too, need to learn how to be a true “voice in the wilderness” – to receive and deliver a Word from the Lord and then stand back having completed their job!! They seem unable to allow people to ‘discern’ what they are saying. Too many try to force acceptance of that which they are saying when that is the job of the Holy Spirit. It is a job He does better than we can ever do so why do we try to ‘help’ Him?
God help me to be the kind of ‘Voice in the Wilderness’, maybe even in the mould of John the Baptist, or Elijah, or Isaiah. I said ‘in the mould of’, not ‘like’, or even ‘as good as’. I will settle for saying only what the Lord tells me to say. I hope I do that all the days of my life.
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Whatever Happened to Unity?
I heard a remarkable comment the other day from a preacher I love and for whom I have great respect. It was about unity in today’s church. So I decided to dig around a little to first find out what Gods Word says about unity.
Psalm 133:1 “How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in peace!”
John 17:22-23 "I have given them the glory you gave me. I did this so they would be one, just as we are one. I will be in them, just as you are in me. I want them to be brought together perfectly as one. This will let the world know that you sent me. It will also show the world that you have loved those you gave me, just as you have loved me.”
When Jesus returns, He will be here to collect His Bride – a perfect Bride – the Church. Before that happens, He will judge the church – that’s us by the way. As it says in 1 Peter 4:17 “It is time for people to be judged. It will begin with the family of God. And since it begins with us, what will happen to people who don't obey God's good news?”
How do you see unity at this moment of time? Certainly I see very little – bordering on none at all. I do see pastors and leaders refusing fellowship with each other because of one minor legalism or another. I have heard one pastor state that he will not fellowship with another because there is sin in the other’s life! Where is the love in that remark? If there is little or no fellowship, how then can there be any unity? If there is no unity – can Christ return? Perhaps we are avoiding unity in order to avoid judgement ?
That is the thought that came to me as I considered this remark. If you are nervous, or judgemental, or a refuser of unity, please sit down now – you will not like this at all. The startling comment I recently heard was this – “There is so little unity in the church at the moment. It is as though the only unity to be seen is what we might call ‘stab in the back’ unity when pastors and leaders come together to kill this or that initiative for any kind of unity. No wonder there is such a shaking going on at the moment – and it will continue until there is some unity among God’s people.”
Are we now so worried about not upsetting the apple cart that we would rather not join in at all. Will we sacrifice every opportunity to show any sort of unity because of our own doubts and fears? There is only unity in disunity. This church is jealous of that church because they have more people, money, or because they attract better visiting speakers. The leaders publicly deride each other and put out of fellowship any who dare to speak even the slightest well of the other. They ‘stab in the back’ any with whom they disagree.
In a slightly older, 2008, article I wrote about loving each other. On the other side of the coin, I also wrote about the great lack of mercy and forgiveness in the church. It is still a fact that the Church itself hurts and damages its members far more frequently and much worse than any outside body could do. Unity begins ‘at home’ – right there in your own church. If you are not a united congregation, how can you expect your leaders to be united with one another – even less with pastors and leaders of other local churches – less still with those in different denominations?
Is it not about time to start loving and forgiving once again? Is it not time to start uniting based on that on which we agree, rather than not uniting because we disagree on a minor point of doctrine? Is it not time to start listening to the Holy Spirit as He leads us in unity?
We are a family after all, and most families are fairly dysfunctional to some extent. Sure we will still have our squabbles and our disagreements but can we not start to act as a family and all pull together – in the same direction if possible. The Lord is looking for those who will listen to His voice and do His bidding. If that means I have to put down my pride in order to fellowship and maybe even love another from a different congregation, or denomination, or even (horror of horrors) a different country or colour.
In our ministry, we see the outworking of this every visit we go on. We go to strangers in other countries who don’t even speak our language and we don’t speak theirs. SO how do we do this. After all, they were saved by the same Lord as us; the same Jesus died for their sin as well as for ours. So what is it that makes our very small ministry so successful?
It’s simple – we love everyone the same regardless of any other consideration. We accept people as they are and not as we expect them to be. We do not judge them and we minister in mercy. No – we are definitely far from perfect. We are the same as everyone else we meet – sinners saved by the Blood of Jesus and living by Grace alone.
Dare I venture to suggest that we all need a little more love and mercy in our relationships with one another rather than our usual judgements. We need a little more unity based on that upon which we all agree rather than searching for the perfect match.
We need a little less back stabbing and a little more loving fellowship.
Psalm 133:1 “How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in peace!”
John 17:22-23 "I have given them the glory you gave me. I did this so they would be one, just as we are one. I will be in them, just as you are in me. I want them to be brought together perfectly as one. This will let the world know that you sent me. It will also show the world that you have loved those you gave me, just as you have loved me.”
When Jesus returns, He will be here to collect His Bride – a perfect Bride – the Church. Before that happens, He will judge the church – that’s us by the way. As it says in 1 Peter 4:17 “It is time for people to be judged. It will begin with the family of God. And since it begins with us, what will happen to people who don't obey God's good news?”
How do you see unity at this moment of time? Certainly I see very little – bordering on none at all. I do see pastors and leaders refusing fellowship with each other because of one minor legalism or another. I have heard one pastor state that he will not fellowship with another because there is sin in the other’s life! Where is the love in that remark? If there is little or no fellowship, how then can there be any unity? If there is no unity – can Christ return? Perhaps we are avoiding unity in order to avoid judgement ?
That is the thought that came to me as I considered this remark. If you are nervous, or judgemental, or a refuser of unity, please sit down now – you will not like this at all. The startling comment I recently heard was this – “There is so little unity in the church at the moment. It is as though the only unity to be seen is what we might call ‘stab in the back’ unity when pastors and leaders come together to kill this or that initiative for any kind of unity. No wonder there is such a shaking going on at the moment – and it will continue until there is some unity among God’s people.”
Are we now so worried about not upsetting the apple cart that we would rather not join in at all. Will we sacrifice every opportunity to show any sort of unity because of our own doubts and fears? There is only unity in disunity. This church is jealous of that church because they have more people, money, or because they attract better visiting speakers. The leaders publicly deride each other and put out of fellowship any who dare to speak even the slightest well of the other. They ‘stab in the back’ any with whom they disagree.
In a slightly older, 2008, article I wrote about loving each other. On the other side of the coin, I also wrote about the great lack of mercy and forgiveness in the church. It is still a fact that the Church itself hurts and damages its members far more frequently and much worse than any outside body could do. Unity begins ‘at home’ – right there in your own church. If you are not a united congregation, how can you expect your leaders to be united with one another – even less with pastors and leaders of other local churches – less still with those in different denominations?
Is it not about time to start loving and forgiving once again? Is it not time to start uniting based on that on which we agree, rather than not uniting because we disagree on a minor point of doctrine? Is it not time to start listening to the Holy Spirit as He leads us in unity?
We are a family after all, and most families are fairly dysfunctional to some extent. Sure we will still have our squabbles and our disagreements but can we not start to act as a family and all pull together – in the same direction if possible. The Lord is looking for those who will listen to His voice and do His bidding. If that means I have to put down my pride in order to fellowship and maybe even love another from a different congregation, or denomination, or even (horror of horrors) a different country or colour.
In our ministry, we see the outworking of this every visit we go on. We go to strangers in other countries who don’t even speak our language and we don’t speak theirs. SO how do we do this. After all, they were saved by the same Lord as us; the same Jesus died for their sin as well as for ours. So what is it that makes our very small ministry so successful?
It’s simple – we love everyone the same regardless of any other consideration. We accept people as they are and not as we expect them to be. We do not judge them and we minister in mercy. No – we are definitely far from perfect. We are the same as everyone else we meet – sinners saved by the Blood of Jesus and living by Grace alone.
Dare I venture to suggest that we all need a little more love and mercy in our relationships with one another rather than our usual judgements. We need a little more unity based on that upon which we all agree rather than searching for the perfect match.
We need a little less back stabbing and a little more loving fellowship.
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