by Jonathon Mills
I got a very strong inclination that it is important at this time to pray for the United States – it’s borders. This is a very important time in its nation’s history, not just in what is seen but also what is not seen but I believe the word for America is “Protect your borders.” I don’t believe it is just a governmental homeland security issue but even more so of spiritual importance even though these things work themselves out in the natural realm.
The United States of America is coming to a transition time to its future end time calling.
America must understand and discern what they are letting through into their society. America must make their stand against evil at a stronger level.
I believe if we pray for America - its homeland defence, government and all its governmental offices that are put in place to protect that nation, God will sovereignly reveal the evil agendas of harm to this nation.
Ephesians 6:11-17
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
It only takes a few people who share God’s Heart to turn America around. America is called to be a BLESSED nation and a nation of difference makers but the problem with that comes jealousy and envy. There are people both inside and outside who HATE America and it’s Godly Calling, with a jealous hatred and are against the spiritual prosperity of this land.
America needs watchmen on its gates night and day to see and protect what is coming to this land.
America must get rid of its all is well idea and stand for what is righteous and true. Evil must not breach its already weakened gates. This is not to plant fear but faith in God who is America’s hope for now and especially for it’s future. His plans are for good not for calamity.
Our weapons are not carnal but mighty for the pulling down of strongholds - Stand Strong and Stand Guard America.
I saw a picture of what looked like an army supply truck passing through from the frozen north but they were not military but civilian. It had no notable insignia to show that it was military on it but it was a supply truck they use in the military.
Thursday, 19 May 2011
A Word for Australia (Part 9): Knowing & Understanding the Seasons of God in our Personal Lives & in Australia
Part Nine of previous articles:
Part 1 + Part 2 + Part 3 + Part 4 + Part 5 + Part 6 + Part 7 + Part 8
by Glenice Mills
We are instructed in Scripture to know the timing and seasons in God. We are going through a change of season in the natural right now, but for many it is also a change of season in their lives. The Lord has been speaking to me about how we must know the season we are in. If we know what season we are in then we can embrace it and allow the Lord to lead, guide and teach us the things He is wanting to impart into our lives.
The problem arises when we don’t know or understand the season of our life or we try and move quickly into the new season because we don’t like what is happening where we are at right now. For many, they see a new season coming and they have a sense of knowing the new is just around the corner. However there are no shortcuts in God, and if we try and outwit or outsmart what we think is a better way of doing things we will trip up. The Lord showed me an analogy.
When we think of a jigsaw puzzle with all the pieces tipped out, most times we know what the finished picture will look like. We have a goal to work toward, but it takes time, patience, long suffering, and trial and error to gradually bring the picture to completion. Sometimes we have frustrating pieces that we try in different positions and they don’t seem to fit. We then try the piece again later and it fits in easily.
We go ‘What’s with that?’ and then feel a great sense of relief that another piece has slotted in where it is meant to go. Often when doing a puzzle we have to go away and do something else as we reach the point of ‘no return’. Then some time later we see the finished picture with ‘new eyes’ and have a new spurt with pieces fitting in easily. We wonder why we didn’t see it before, and this can sometimes add to the frustration.
The puzzle is not complete until EVERY piece is put in its correct place. How many times have you done a puzzle and when the last few pieces are left you then see where another piece does not quite fit in, and you have to redo a few pieces again. When you get towards the end of the puzzle you begin to think ‘I hope there is no missing pieces’ because if there is it makes the whole puzzle incomplete and does not accomplish what was set out at the beginning of the venture. In fact it becomes a waste of time and ends up being very demoralising.
So it is with our lives. We cannot move into the next season until every piece of the puzzle is put in its correct position and the whole picture is complete. We cannot move pieces around to where we think they should go to bring a quicker outcome, because it will mean the picture is incomplete, with mistakes. The Lord who is the Master puzzle maker knows exactly what needs to be in place in our lives to bring about the completion of a set of requirements one needs before the next venture and season can begin to take place. We often speak of the word closure, which is a key word in these times. The new season cannot come in until the ‘door has been closed’ to the last season. The door cannot be ajar or left fully open for access by the enemy because when something is closed it is final. Closure is finality. The door is shut and cannot be reopened again. That season has gone. The new cannot come in until that door is closed. This means every piece of the puzzle has to be in place, with the puzzle finished, the picture is fully formed and it is completed. It cannot be added to or have pieces taken out, otherwise it is incomplete again.
The Lord is not about half finished jobs. He will not bring in the new until all that needs to be learnt, put in place, and the picture complete, before the next season of our lives can begin. Remember we will be only at the beginning of the new season, not the middle or the end, and there will be its own unique things to learn so we grow and come into greater maturity. It will be tailor made especially for you, not for anyone else, just for you. The problem with this is: we cannot expect another, particularly ones close to us to necessarily be in the same season, or at the same stage of completion, or even having an understanding of the season you are in. That is why we must know and be secure in the knowledge of where we are in God’s timetable in our lives, and not waver from the dealings of God.
Each season has exactly what is uniquely timed for you to learn, to overcome, to grow into greater maturity and faith. It is part of the process of coming into your God given authority and divine positioning for the time that the Lord is wanting to use you more greatly in His plan for your life. When we think of seasons in the natural we can see how they also pertain to our lives.
Autumn is a stripping away season, where the Lord takes our lives and strips away old mindsets, and old ways of doing things. There is a strong feeling of unsureness, vulnerability and discomfort. This operates in all areas of our lives: finances, work, relationships, ministry.
Winter is the season of, all is laid bear. It is the dying season, it is death to everything in our lives. It is like the wilderness season, it appears that nothing is happening. It can be a negative, emotion stirring, enduring season, however a deep work is been done and a lot of it is unseen. It is where the deep issues of the heart are exposed and it can often feel heavy and depressing. However it is a very powerful time because that is when our roots are put down deep and where many tests of God occur to see if we will endure patiently until the spring comes. It is the time where the fruits of the spirit are being prepared.
Spring is when there is new life coming into all areas of our life. It is like a new stirring in our circumstances, a new beginning, and a knowing that the deep forging on the inside of us is set in place. We start to see many dreams we have held onto start to be accomplished. It is like a divine shift of our circumstances and a reaping of rewards for passing many tests in God.
Summer is the season of producing fruit, where one is walking with the Lord, knowing they are in His perfect will. We see many lives being influenced and affected by what we have to give. There is often a producing of practical things in the area of creative gifts, and also in our finances, relationships, and ministries. They have endured and are truly yielded, willingly walking in the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. They are ones who can be entrusted with greater anointing and authority in the Spirit and are doing exploits in Him, whether that be in the church or where they are called to fulfil their dreams and vision for their life out in the world.
This is a quick, rough overview and there are aspects of our lives that may flow in and out of these seasons, however, we know overall what season we are in by the fruits or processes we are in, leading to the producing. Each season is valid, and each person is in and will go through these seasons in the ebbs and flows of life. It is beautifully described in Ecclesiastes 3.
We have been looking at seasons in our personal lives, however, I believe nations also go through seasons. We see nations such as America and England going through difficult times. They are in process with many things being stripped away and many of their people are in a time of ‘dying’. There is much loss and disappointment, and it appears that no good thing is happening. However it is in God’s appointed time and He knows what He is doing. It is about bringing ones back to Him, about bringing the body of Christ back to His ways. He will use whatever means to bring restoration and redemption to ones who don’t know Him and bringing greater depth of relationship to ones who do.
I have often wondered why Australia did not succumb to the global financial crisis to the same extent as other nations. It was the goodness of God but it was also because we were in a season of fruitfulness. We were strong in our economy, and we had high productivity in many areas that sustained us through this winter time that other nations were experiencing.
Australia is coming out of their summer and into autumn where there is going to be a season of ‘strong winds’ that will blow many things, bringing fear and uncertainty in many lives. There is coming a great stripping away of the old ways of doing things, and an end to many blessings of the past season we have been in. Australia’s economy is coming into a torrent time, with instability and severe ups and downs on the stock market and gross domestic product figures. People’s reliance on a stable, secure, level playing field in the economy is about to be derailed. Panic and fear will arise in ways not seen before.
We have breathed a sigh of relief here in Queensland as the summer wet season has ended, however, it does not mean all is well. Again Queensland will also face an unsettling time as our state government contends with a budget deficit not seen before. Our economies both state and federally will be blamed on the flood disaster, but the deeper root is mismanagement, corruption, and a plundering of the coffers by unscrupulous men. There has been wastage not seen before. Public servants have quietly been ripping off taxpayers and without a sweeping through of these departments we will continue to see a great fall out in our economy. Those involved in positions of authority in these departments who have operated unwisely will be exposed, and many in big industries and business who have had a false position of power, who have pulled the government’s strings, like a marionette, will have their deeds exposed too. The unions false power and agenda will gradually come out as some in the media, even right now, are quietly researching and gathering information and facts to bring to the people. This will unravel and bring down governments, both state and federally by years end.
This is the beginning of the season, of God’s appointed time, to bring about change in key areas of governance. This is also a sign to the church to wake up from its apathy, to come out of compromise, and be the agent of change in the community and governance that it was always meant to be.
The enemy will be vicious and will use people with unrighteous agendas to rise up, in ways not seen before. It will test many in the body of Christ, and it will soon be made known those who have been trained in obedience and those who will succumb to whatever feels good in the moment. The line drawn in the sand showing who are His and who are not will be more defined. Opportunity for compromise will increase as fear and panic will have many joining in with the crowd. This will increase blindness in many of God’s people.
What we will see happening in this next season in God is a wake up call to His people to stand: to stand for justice, truth and righteousness. Those trained in obedience, heeding the Lord’s voice, without questioning, will be ones positioned, ready to be used to speak, to provide practical help and to bring the gospel to a people stripped of all they have known, ready and desperate for the Lord and His salvation.
There is a God appointed time, His perfect timing, for the season we find ourselves in both individually, and as a nation. Seek Him as to what season you are in, embrace this time in Him, being careful not to make or do anything before seasons end.
Australia will go through things in this next season, a stripping down season, but it will all be about His Kingdom coming here to Australia and for His plans and purposes to be fulfilled for such a time as this. I want to finish with Daniel’s prayer as found in Daniel 2:20-22
Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding;
He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.”
Your kingdom come in our lives Lord and for this nation of Australia. Help us Lord to be trained in obedience to You and Your Word. You only said and did what the Father said, and we want to be like this too. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart to perceive and understand what you are saying and doing in our lives and in the nation of Australia and the nations of the world.
In Jesus Name,
Amen,
Part 1 + Part 2 + Part 3 + Part 4 + Part 5 + Part 6 + Part 7 + Part 8
by Glenice Mills
We are instructed in Scripture to know the timing and seasons in God. We are going through a change of season in the natural right now, but for many it is also a change of season in their lives. The Lord has been speaking to me about how we must know the season we are in. If we know what season we are in then we can embrace it and allow the Lord to lead, guide and teach us the things He is wanting to impart into our lives.
The problem arises when we don’t know or understand the season of our life or we try and move quickly into the new season because we don’t like what is happening where we are at right now. For many, they see a new season coming and they have a sense of knowing the new is just around the corner. However there are no shortcuts in God, and if we try and outwit or outsmart what we think is a better way of doing things we will trip up. The Lord showed me an analogy.
When we think of a jigsaw puzzle with all the pieces tipped out, most times we know what the finished picture will look like. We have a goal to work toward, but it takes time, patience, long suffering, and trial and error to gradually bring the picture to completion. Sometimes we have frustrating pieces that we try in different positions and they don’t seem to fit. We then try the piece again later and it fits in easily.
We go ‘What’s with that?’ and then feel a great sense of relief that another piece has slotted in where it is meant to go. Often when doing a puzzle we have to go away and do something else as we reach the point of ‘no return’. Then some time later we see the finished picture with ‘new eyes’ and have a new spurt with pieces fitting in easily. We wonder why we didn’t see it before, and this can sometimes add to the frustration.
The puzzle is not complete until EVERY piece is put in its correct place. How many times have you done a puzzle and when the last few pieces are left you then see where another piece does not quite fit in, and you have to redo a few pieces again. When you get towards the end of the puzzle you begin to think ‘I hope there is no missing pieces’ because if there is it makes the whole puzzle incomplete and does not accomplish what was set out at the beginning of the venture. In fact it becomes a waste of time and ends up being very demoralising.
So it is with our lives. We cannot move into the next season until every piece of the puzzle is put in its correct position and the whole picture is complete. We cannot move pieces around to where we think they should go to bring a quicker outcome, because it will mean the picture is incomplete, with mistakes. The Lord who is the Master puzzle maker knows exactly what needs to be in place in our lives to bring about the completion of a set of requirements one needs before the next venture and season can begin to take place. We often speak of the word closure, which is a key word in these times. The new season cannot come in until the ‘door has been closed’ to the last season. The door cannot be ajar or left fully open for access by the enemy because when something is closed it is final. Closure is finality. The door is shut and cannot be reopened again. That season has gone. The new cannot come in until that door is closed. This means every piece of the puzzle has to be in place, with the puzzle finished, the picture is fully formed and it is completed. It cannot be added to or have pieces taken out, otherwise it is incomplete again.
The Lord is not about half finished jobs. He will not bring in the new until all that needs to be learnt, put in place, and the picture complete, before the next season of our lives can begin. Remember we will be only at the beginning of the new season, not the middle or the end, and there will be its own unique things to learn so we grow and come into greater maturity. It will be tailor made especially for you, not for anyone else, just for you. The problem with this is: we cannot expect another, particularly ones close to us to necessarily be in the same season, or at the same stage of completion, or even having an understanding of the season you are in. That is why we must know and be secure in the knowledge of where we are in God’s timetable in our lives, and not waver from the dealings of God.
Each season has exactly what is uniquely timed for you to learn, to overcome, to grow into greater maturity and faith. It is part of the process of coming into your God given authority and divine positioning for the time that the Lord is wanting to use you more greatly in His plan for your life. When we think of seasons in the natural we can see how they also pertain to our lives.
Autumn is a stripping away season, where the Lord takes our lives and strips away old mindsets, and old ways of doing things. There is a strong feeling of unsureness, vulnerability and discomfort. This operates in all areas of our lives: finances, work, relationships, ministry.
Winter is the season of, all is laid bear. It is the dying season, it is death to everything in our lives. It is like the wilderness season, it appears that nothing is happening. It can be a negative, emotion stirring, enduring season, however a deep work is been done and a lot of it is unseen. It is where the deep issues of the heart are exposed and it can often feel heavy and depressing. However it is a very powerful time because that is when our roots are put down deep and where many tests of God occur to see if we will endure patiently until the spring comes. It is the time where the fruits of the spirit are being prepared.
Spring is when there is new life coming into all areas of our life. It is like a new stirring in our circumstances, a new beginning, and a knowing that the deep forging on the inside of us is set in place. We start to see many dreams we have held onto start to be accomplished. It is like a divine shift of our circumstances and a reaping of rewards for passing many tests in God.
Summer is the season of producing fruit, where one is walking with the Lord, knowing they are in His perfect will. We see many lives being influenced and affected by what we have to give. There is often a producing of practical things in the area of creative gifts, and also in our finances, relationships, and ministries. They have endured and are truly yielded, willingly walking in the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit. They are ones who can be entrusted with greater anointing and authority in the Spirit and are doing exploits in Him, whether that be in the church or where they are called to fulfil their dreams and vision for their life out in the world.
This is a quick, rough overview and there are aspects of our lives that may flow in and out of these seasons, however, we know overall what season we are in by the fruits or processes we are in, leading to the producing. Each season is valid, and each person is in and will go through these seasons in the ebbs and flows of life. It is beautifully described in Ecclesiastes 3.
We have been looking at seasons in our personal lives, however, I believe nations also go through seasons. We see nations such as America and England going through difficult times. They are in process with many things being stripped away and many of their people are in a time of ‘dying’. There is much loss and disappointment, and it appears that no good thing is happening. However it is in God’s appointed time and He knows what He is doing. It is about bringing ones back to Him, about bringing the body of Christ back to His ways. He will use whatever means to bring restoration and redemption to ones who don’t know Him and bringing greater depth of relationship to ones who do.
I have often wondered why Australia did not succumb to the global financial crisis to the same extent as other nations. It was the goodness of God but it was also because we were in a season of fruitfulness. We were strong in our economy, and we had high productivity in many areas that sustained us through this winter time that other nations were experiencing.
Australia is coming out of their summer and into autumn where there is going to be a season of ‘strong winds’ that will blow many things, bringing fear and uncertainty in many lives. There is coming a great stripping away of the old ways of doing things, and an end to many blessings of the past season we have been in. Australia’s economy is coming into a torrent time, with instability and severe ups and downs on the stock market and gross domestic product figures. People’s reliance on a stable, secure, level playing field in the economy is about to be derailed. Panic and fear will arise in ways not seen before.
We have breathed a sigh of relief here in Queensland as the summer wet season has ended, however, it does not mean all is well. Again Queensland will also face an unsettling time as our state government contends with a budget deficit not seen before. Our economies both state and federally will be blamed on the flood disaster, but the deeper root is mismanagement, corruption, and a plundering of the coffers by unscrupulous men. There has been wastage not seen before. Public servants have quietly been ripping off taxpayers and without a sweeping through of these departments we will continue to see a great fall out in our economy. Those involved in positions of authority in these departments who have operated unwisely will be exposed, and many in big industries and business who have had a false position of power, who have pulled the government’s strings, like a marionette, will have their deeds exposed too. The unions false power and agenda will gradually come out as some in the media, even right now, are quietly researching and gathering information and facts to bring to the people. This will unravel and bring down governments, both state and federally by years end.
This is the beginning of the season, of God’s appointed time, to bring about change in key areas of governance. This is also a sign to the church to wake up from its apathy, to come out of compromise, and be the agent of change in the community and governance that it was always meant to be.
The enemy will be vicious and will use people with unrighteous agendas to rise up, in ways not seen before. It will test many in the body of Christ, and it will soon be made known those who have been trained in obedience and those who will succumb to whatever feels good in the moment. The line drawn in the sand showing who are His and who are not will be more defined. Opportunity for compromise will increase as fear and panic will have many joining in with the crowd. This will increase blindness in many of God’s people.
What we will see happening in this next season in God is a wake up call to His people to stand: to stand for justice, truth and righteousness. Those trained in obedience, heeding the Lord’s voice, without questioning, will be ones positioned, ready to be used to speak, to provide practical help and to bring the gospel to a people stripped of all they have known, ready and desperate for the Lord and His salvation.
There is a God appointed time, His perfect timing, for the season we find ourselves in both individually, and as a nation. Seek Him as to what season you are in, embrace this time in Him, being careful not to make or do anything before seasons end.
Australia will go through things in this next season, a stripping down season, but it will all be about His Kingdom coming here to Australia and for His plans and purposes to be fulfilled for such a time as this. I want to finish with Daniel’s prayer as found in Daniel 2:20-22
Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding;
He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.”
Your kingdom come in our lives Lord and for this nation of Australia. Help us Lord to be trained in obedience to You and Your Word. You only said and did what the Father said, and we want to be like this too. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart to perceive and understand what you are saying and doing in our lives and in the nation of Australia and the nations of the world.
In Jesus Name,
Amen,
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Woe to the Fringe Dwellers
by Christopher Mear
While I was in intercession for the church I saw a vision of the walls of an ancient city. I knew in my Spirit that this city was God’s true church here on earth. As I looked over the wall out into the distance I saw that the sky was hazy and filled with smoke and the sun burned a dull red. The mountains off in the distance were dark, jagged and foreboding. I then saw myself climbing up a ladder to take my place on top of the wall. As I neared the top, a leader in intercession reached down to help me over the edge. As I stood and looked out over the edge of the wall I could see the flatlands down below. It was a brown swampy marshland and I could see people down there. They appeared to be blinded by the hazy smoke and were stumbling to and fro, zombie-like, with their arms out in front of them. I saw some of them trip and sink into the mud pits. As they were continuing to trip and fall I became frustrated. I knew in my Spirit that there was safety in this city, with solid ground and good food to eat. I knew that in there, were leaders who would guide and protect us, who took orders straight from King Jesus concerning us. I wanted to scream out to them to run in through the gates of Sonship – there they would be safe. I knew if they would only commit themselves to the King’s House and follow the guidance of His appointed leaders they would be nurtured back to health. There they would find comfort and strength and be prepared for the battle against the coming darkness. COME INSIDE THE GATES FRINGE DWELLERS.
(Prophetic word given on the 4 April 2011)
While I was in intercession for the church I saw a vision of the walls of an ancient city. I knew in my Spirit that this city was God’s true church here on earth. As I looked over the wall out into the distance I saw that the sky was hazy and filled with smoke and the sun burned a dull red. The mountains off in the distance were dark, jagged and foreboding. I then saw myself climbing up a ladder to take my place on top of the wall. As I neared the top, a leader in intercession reached down to help me over the edge. As I stood and looked out over the edge of the wall I could see the flatlands down below. It was a brown swampy marshland and I could see people down there. They appeared to be blinded by the hazy smoke and were stumbling to and fro, zombie-like, with their arms out in front of them. I saw some of them trip and sink into the mud pits. As they were continuing to trip and fall I became frustrated. I knew in my Spirit that there was safety in this city, with solid ground and good food to eat. I knew that in there, were leaders who would guide and protect us, who took orders straight from King Jesus concerning us. I wanted to scream out to them to run in through the gates of Sonship – there they would be safe. I knew if they would only commit themselves to the King’s House and follow the guidance of His appointed leaders they would be nurtured back to health. There they would find comfort and strength and be prepared for the battle against the coming darkness. COME INSIDE THE GATES FRINGE DWELLERS.
(Prophetic word given on the 4 April 2011)
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
A Word for Australia (Part 8): Tribal Thinking & The Lordship of Jesus Christ
Part Eight of previous articles: Part 1 + Part 2 + Part 3 + Part 4 + Part 5 + Part 6 + Part 7
by Glenice Mills
The other morning the Lord was speaking to me about Vanuatu. Vanuatu is a Christian nation, one that openly speaks of it’s Christian heritage. It’s government is Christian and they openly acknowledge and appoint apostles and prophets as leaders in many areas of governance.
However, they have one major problem and that is their tribal thinking and living. It is contending with the leading of the Holy Spirit. They have lived in and been a part of their various tribes with chiefs leading a particular tribe in certain areas that was their territory. Each tribe is unique, however throughout the generations there has been contending and warring between the tribes for territory, and position. So what happens when the Holy Spirit is trying to bring them together? As long as the tribes contend with one another it blocks and stops how and the degree to which the Holy Spirit can move. There is a problem when the Holy Spirit is added to the mix of tribal thinking and living. Tribal thinking and being must bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
The Lord then began to show me Australia. We have our tribes as well. We are a bit more subtle about it, but it is still there. It is insidiously woven into the fabric of our modern society and is expressed in obvious ways such as through sport and expressions of cultures. If we take the modern cities of Sydney and Melbourne, they have their enclaves of tribes within. For example: Italians living in their suburban area, the Greeks in another, the Vietnamese in another, and so it is with the different ethnic groups. This is tribes living in their areas staking their claim and hold over that particular geographical area. That is how factions form and the contending festers between the ‘tribes’ until there is a trigger point when this factionalism boils over and becomes fighting between and among the people.
The same can be said of sports teams people support. Some ‘tribes’ support for example the Eels, the Broncos, etc. depending on the sporting code and again territories where people live. These ‘tribes’ have their colours, their songs, their favourite players, and their supporters have a passion, a zeal and strong belief in their favourite team. In the bigger picture of Australia we also have our ‘tribes’, whether we are Queenslanders, New South Welshmen, Victorians etc according to the states we live in. Again that is outworked in team support for example, the Maroons and the Blues in rugby league.
The dictionary meaning of tribe is an independent social group, claiming or occupying a particular territory. We bring this way of thinking and being into the church. So why is the Lord wanting us to consider where and how this affects our lives? The Lord showed me how it goes back to the roots with the Tower of Babel. At that time the whole earth had one language and one speech. This changed when they decided to build a tower. The key is found in a statement in the following verse.
Genesis 11:4
And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the earth.”
We see in verse 9 where the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth because of this idolatry. Contending, one up man ship, and this competitive divisive spirit is rooted in the fact of one wanting to make a name for itself.
The truth is we also have this way operating in the Body of Christ. Denominations, charismatic, pentecostal, apostolic/prophetic could all be called tribes. We each operate independently, and often contend with other tribes, in this case churches claim a territory, a people for themselves. We can be very individual in the way we operate, and can be very protective of our ‘claim’ and territory. We can easily succumb to wanting to ‘make a name for ourselves.’ It is very easy to view the body of Christ with narrow minds forgetting how the Lord sees us. He is about unity, of us being of one accord, of like spirit, with a love for Him. When the Lord looks at His body of believers, He doesn’t see Anglicans, Presbyterians, Pentecostal, Apostolic, He sees those who are lovers of Him, those who are true followers of Jesus Christ. Unity will not come to the body of Christ until we look at our tribal thinking, our sectarianism, with its false claim on people, and territories.
There are some traits of tribal thinking that the Lord is wanting us to look at and how it works against Him and His Holy Spirit. First we will look at it in the context of the perception in sports and culture and the ‘Australian way’.
1. Pride: Wanting to make a name for ourselves is pride. To be the biggest, and the best, to want to be known and the glory go to ourselves so we appear to have it all is one of the roots of tribal thinking. It is concern for reputation, what people think with greed and money at its roots. Appearances and opinions have incredible power to influence. We just need to look at sport and how a person is idolised because of their great playing. They are often quoted as heroes.
2. Parochialism: This is having a narrow, limited viewpoint often related to the local area a person lives. This can be the one eyed view of sports teams of a particular geographical area or the culture base of an area that is exclusive. There is a thinking such as ‘once a Queenslander always a Queenslander’ and if anyone dare move or speak against Queensland they are often vilified and cast out as a traitor.
3. Sectarianism: This is a concern for or relating to the interests of one’s group which is often viewed as a sect. It always has a belief system that its people must adhere to and tends to be isolationist in its way of living.
4. Generational: This zeal for country, sports team is passed down through the generations and if anyone dares to move away from or support another they will again be seen as a traitor.
5. ‘I follow’: A person is always judged and classed in a particular group because of the words ‘I follow’. They are either endorsed or viewed of lesser opinion by the person enquiring about them. It is judging by biased opinion and what has been spoken of by others.
The truth is: at the core of everything is a person’s desire to belong somewhere, whether that be cultural like mindedness, sports, or the church. That is how God created us to be, to love, care and watch out for each other. That is why we gather in ‘tribes’. It was always a way of God but it got distorted from the building of the tower of Babel. As we have spread over the earth with our various languages and ways we are now having to learn how to come back to the Lord and His ways. His church is the way we love and care for one another, for His people.
If we look at the above traits of tribal thinking as it relates to church we see how it subtly and easily entraps God’s people.
1. Pride: Sadly much of the body of Christ is more concerned about making a name for itself rather than being concerned with what the Lord wants His church to be. The Lord will build His church and in coming days it will be obvious which have not been built on the rock of Jesus Christ and which have been built by the hands of man. God resists the proud. Humility is the key, and unless we acknowledge we can do nothing without the Holy Spirit’s leading we will easily succumb to our own ways.
2. Parochialism: Many church leaders have laid a claim on areas and have set themselves up as the only church in certain geographical areas forgetting that the Lord will build His church and that means no one denomination has rule over that area. Again it is building by the hands of man rather than by the Lord.
3. Sectarianism: The body of Christ has factions, with division and contentions between many of God’s church leaders and this also flows to the people. We see this when the Apostle Paul spoke in 1 Corinthians 1:12,13
Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or ‘I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptised in the name of Paul?
The Lord is concerned about us having deep relationship with Him rather than the church leader we serve in church. It is a matter of correct balance.
4. Generational: Attending church out of obligation because of loyalty to a particular denomination because a parent/grandparent has been an active participant in that church is no guarantee of salvation or where the Lord wants you to be a part of. We must be where the Lord wants us to grow and mature into His future for our life.
5. ‘I follow’: Unfortunately many in the body of Christ have got caught up following a person, a doctrine, or a set view point rather than being led by the Holy Spirit. Idolatry of a church leader is rampant in the body of Christ. It is easy to speak more about the church leader rather than the Lord. We are quick to look up to the leader and place them as a ‘god’, going to them for answers to our problems rather than going to the Lord. Again it is about balance. We must follow the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than any man or denomination. It may require us to check who we truly follow: man or religion.
1 Peter 2:9,10:
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."
That is how God sees us, and that is how we must see ourselves. We are His people, one’s who know and love Him. However, we must look at where we have allowed pride and idolatry to come in, that would have the potential to skew us off course. We all have our culture, our family upbringing, our traditions and ways of living, but they must bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In the mix of this is tribal thinking and living and it too must be confessed so the Lord has greater rulership of our lives.
Much of the world has come into the church and this area is just one small aspect of ourselves that has the potential to stop and block the full aspect and potential the Lord wants to bring into all our lives. We say and sing “Let your Kingdom come Lord,” and this is His Kingdom coming into our lives in greater measure.
Thank you Lord for freedom to be ALL He created us to be!!!
(Prophetic word given on the 20 April 2011)
by Glenice Mills
The other morning the Lord was speaking to me about Vanuatu. Vanuatu is a Christian nation, one that openly speaks of it’s Christian heritage. It’s government is Christian and they openly acknowledge and appoint apostles and prophets as leaders in many areas of governance.
However, they have one major problem and that is their tribal thinking and living. It is contending with the leading of the Holy Spirit. They have lived in and been a part of their various tribes with chiefs leading a particular tribe in certain areas that was their territory. Each tribe is unique, however throughout the generations there has been contending and warring between the tribes for territory, and position. So what happens when the Holy Spirit is trying to bring them together? As long as the tribes contend with one another it blocks and stops how and the degree to which the Holy Spirit can move. There is a problem when the Holy Spirit is added to the mix of tribal thinking and living. Tribal thinking and being must bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
The Lord then began to show me Australia. We have our tribes as well. We are a bit more subtle about it, but it is still there. It is insidiously woven into the fabric of our modern society and is expressed in obvious ways such as through sport and expressions of cultures. If we take the modern cities of Sydney and Melbourne, they have their enclaves of tribes within. For example: Italians living in their suburban area, the Greeks in another, the Vietnamese in another, and so it is with the different ethnic groups. This is tribes living in their areas staking their claim and hold over that particular geographical area. That is how factions form and the contending festers between the ‘tribes’ until there is a trigger point when this factionalism boils over and becomes fighting between and among the people.
The same can be said of sports teams people support. Some ‘tribes’ support for example the Eels, the Broncos, etc. depending on the sporting code and again territories where people live. These ‘tribes’ have their colours, their songs, their favourite players, and their supporters have a passion, a zeal and strong belief in their favourite team. In the bigger picture of Australia we also have our ‘tribes’, whether we are Queenslanders, New South Welshmen, Victorians etc according to the states we live in. Again that is outworked in team support for example, the Maroons and the Blues in rugby league.
The dictionary meaning of tribe is an independent social group, claiming or occupying a particular territory. We bring this way of thinking and being into the church. So why is the Lord wanting us to consider where and how this affects our lives? The Lord showed me how it goes back to the roots with the Tower of Babel. At that time the whole earth had one language and one speech. This changed when they decided to build a tower. The key is found in a statement in the following verse.
Genesis 11:4
And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the earth.”
We see in verse 9 where the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth because of this idolatry. Contending, one up man ship, and this competitive divisive spirit is rooted in the fact of one wanting to make a name for itself.
The truth is we also have this way operating in the Body of Christ. Denominations, charismatic, pentecostal, apostolic/prophetic could all be called tribes. We each operate independently, and often contend with other tribes, in this case churches claim a territory, a people for themselves. We can be very individual in the way we operate, and can be very protective of our ‘claim’ and territory. We can easily succumb to wanting to ‘make a name for ourselves.’ It is very easy to view the body of Christ with narrow minds forgetting how the Lord sees us. He is about unity, of us being of one accord, of like spirit, with a love for Him. When the Lord looks at His body of believers, He doesn’t see Anglicans, Presbyterians, Pentecostal, Apostolic, He sees those who are lovers of Him, those who are true followers of Jesus Christ. Unity will not come to the body of Christ until we look at our tribal thinking, our sectarianism, with its false claim on people, and territories.
There are some traits of tribal thinking that the Lord is wanting us to look at and how it works against Him and His Holy Spirit. First we will look at it in the context of the perception in sports and culture and the ‘Australian way’.
1. Pride: Wanting to make a name for ourselves is pride. To be the biggest, and the best, to want to be known and the glory go to ourselves so we appear to have it all is one of the roots of tribal thinking. It is concern for reputation, what people think with greed and money at its roots. Appearances and opinions have incredible power to influence. We just need to look at sport and how a person is idolised because of their great playing. They are often quoted as heroes.
2. Parochialism: This is having a narrow, limited viewpoint often related to the local area a person lives. This can be the one eyed view of sports teams of a particular geographical area or the culture base of an area that is exclusive. There is a thinking such as ‘once a Queenslander always a Queenslander’ and if anyone dare move or speak against Queensland they are often vilified and cast out as a traitor.
3. Sectarianism: This is a concern for or relating to the interests of one’s group which is often viewed as a sect. It always has a belief system that its people must adhere to and tends to be isolationist in its way of living.
4. Generational: This zeal for country, sports team is passed down through the generations and if anyone dares to move away from or support another they will again be seen as a traitor.
5. ‘I follow’: A person is always judged and classed in a particular group because of the words ‘I follow’. They are either endorsed or viewed of lesser opinion by the person enquiring about them. It is judging by biased opinion and what has been spoken of by others.
The truth is: at the core of everything is a person’s desire to belong somewhere, whether that be cultural like mindedness, sports, or the church. That is how God created us to be, to love, care and watch out for each other. That is why we gather in ‘tribes’. It was always a way of God but it got distorted from the building of the tower of Babel. As we have spread over the earth with our various languages and ways we are now having to learn how to come back to the Lord and His ways. His church is the way we love and care for one another, for His people.
If we look at the above traits of tribal thinking as it relates to church we see how it subtly and easily entraps God’s people.
1. Pride: Sadly much of the body of Christ is more concerned about making a name for itself rather than being concerned with what the Lord wants His church to be. The Lord will build His church and in coming days it will be obvious which have not been built on the rock of Jesus Christ and which have been built by the hands of man. God resists the proud. Humility is the key, and unless we acknowledge we can do nothing without the Holy Spirit’s leading we will easily succumb to our own ways.
2. Parochialism: Many church leaders have laid a claim on areas and have set themselves up as the only church in certain geographical areas forgetting that the Lord will build His church and that means no one denomination has rule over that area. Again it is building by the hands of man rather than by the Lord.
3. Sectarianism: The body of Christ has factions, with division and contentions between many of God’s church leaders and this also flows to the people. We see this when the Apostle Paul spoke in 1 Corinthians 1:12,13
Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or ‘I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptised in the name of Paul?
The Lord is concerned about us having deep relationship with Him rather than the church leader we serve in church. It is a matter of correct balance.
4. Generational: Attending church out of obligation because of loyalty to a particular denomination because a parent/grandparent has been an active participant in that church is no guarantee of salvation or where the Lord wants you to be a part of. We must be where the Lord wants us to grow and mature into His future for our life.
5. ‘I follow’: Unfortunately many in the body of Christ have got caught up following a person, a doctrine, or a set view point rather than being led by the Holy Spirit. Idolatry of a church leader is rampant in the body of Christ. It is easy to speak more about the church leader rather than the Lord. We are quick to look up to the leader and place them as a ‘god’, going to them for answers to our problems rather than going to the Lord. Again it is about balance. We must follow the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than any man or denomination. It may require us to check who we truly follow: man or religion.
1 Peter 2:9,10:
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy."
That is how God sees us, and that is how we must see ourselves. We are His people, one’s who know and love Him. However, we must look at where we have allowed pride and idolatry to come in, that would have the potential to skew us off course. We all have our culture, our family upbringing, our traditions and ways of living, but they must bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In the mix of this is tribal thinking and living and it too must be confessed so the Lord has greater rulership of our lives.
Much of the world has come into the church and this area is just one small aspect of ourselves that has the potential to stop and block the full aspect and potential the Lord wants to bring into all our lives. We say and sing “Let your Kingdom come Lord,” and this is His Kingdom coming into our lives in greater measure.
Thank you Lord for freedom to be ALL He created us to be!!!
(Prophetic word given on the 20 April 2011)
Prophetic Encouragement
by Patricia Bellchambers
I saw a picture of an indigenous Australian woman standing alone barefoot in the red dust and dirt.
What drew my attention was that she was standing tall and looking me straight in the eye -maintaining eye contact.
She was dressed in an old ragged ill fitting European dress and cardigan which were worn and torn and stained from many years of use.
She had a look of confident determination and I sensed that she knew her own strength and ability, however, she also knew her “place”.
The Lord started to speak to me of dominion.
Throughout many decades of culture, tradition, generational curses and iniquity the Indigenous women of Australia have been forced to tolerate and bow to the dominion of man.
Their life has never been their own and they have endured many forms of horrendous abuse at the hands of many- both family and strangers.
The Indigenous women of Australia have been silenced, abused, disrespected, devalued and in many ways completely disregarded.
The Sovereign Lord declares “NO LONGER!”
“I will raise up these mighty warrior women and they will bow to neither man, culture, circumstance or ungodly authority,” says the Lord .
“They will bow low under MY hand and MY authority out of a true desire to give their all in order to gain true life.
From the dust and from amongst the trampled down and broken I will raise up Princesses, Warriors, Daughters, Heiresses -who will speak MY words to many women of many nations.
They will NOT be silenced and they WILL be raised up before (in the sight of) men. Their hardships will serve them well and they will war from a position of true peace such as they have never known before.
They will be robed with humility and clothed in MY love.”
I saw Indigenous women sitting despondently in the dust, bone weary and resigned to a future of little hope and no fulfilment. I saw dreams that God had long ago birthed in their hearts once burning bright now barely embers and almost all but completely extinguished.
These women were totally resigned to a future that mirrored their past.
Then the scene changed.
I saw life coming into dry bones just as in Ezekiel 37 and I heard these words resounding in the Spirit .
Ezekiel 37:5-6 “surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord “. (v9)”…..Thus says the Lord God: “come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live .”
And just as in verse 10 , I saw breath come in to these women who have been previously dead to the call of God on their lives- ” and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.”
Thank You Father for these incredibly precious women and the future that You have prepared for them, I speak FAITH, FAITH, FAITH into their hearts and spirits and I stand with them in the spirit to see Your word made manifest in their lives. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.
(Prophetic word given on 17 April 2011)
I saw a picture of an indigenous Australian woman standing alone barefoot in the red dust and dirt.
What drew my attention was that she was standing tall and looking me straight in the eye -maintaining eye contact.
She was dressed in an old ragged ill fitting European dress and cardigan which were worn and torn and stained from many years of use.
She had a look of confident determination and I sensed that she knew her own strength and ability, however, she also knew her “place”.
The Lord started to speak to me of dominion.
Throughout many decades of culture, tradition, generational curses and iniquity the Indigenous women of Australia have been forced to tolerate and bow to the dominion of man.
Their life has never been their own and they have endured many forms of horrendous abuse at the hands of many- both family and strangers.
The Indigenous women of Australia have been silenced, abused, disrespected, devalued and in many ways completely disregarded.
The Sovereign Lord declares “NO LONGER!”
“I will raise up these mighty warrior women and they will bow to neither man, culture, circumstance or ungodly authority,” says the Lord .
“They will bow low under MY hand and MY authority out of a true desire to give their all in order to gain true life.
From the dust and from amongst the trampled down and broken I will raise up Princesses, Warriors, Daughters, Heiresses -who will speak MY words to many women of many nations.
They will NOT be silenced and they WILL be raised up before (in the sight of) men. Their hardships will serve them well and they will war from a position of true peace such as they have never known before.
They will be robed with humility and clothed in MY love.”
I saw Indigenous women sitting despondently in the dust, bone weary and resigned to a future of little hope and no fulfilment. I saw dreams that God had long ago birthed in their hearts once burning bright now barely embers and almost all but completely extinguished.
These women were totally resigned to a future that mirrored their past.
Then the scene changed.
I saw life coming into dry bones just as in Ezekiel 37 and I heard these words resounding in the Spirit .
Ezekiel 37:5-6 “surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord “. (v9)”…..Thus says the Lord God: “come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live .”
And just as in verse 10 , I saw breath come in to these women who have been previously dead to the call of God on their lives- ” and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.”
Thank You Father for these incredibly precious women and the future that You have prepared for them, I speak FAITH, FAITH, FAITH into their hearts and spirits and I stand with them in the spirit to see Your word made manifest in their lives. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.
(Prophetic word given on 17 April 2011)
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