by Glenice Mills
If? What a powerful little word!!! Think about it. IF? IF? IF?
It’s a word that hangs out there. It is a word that defines a line. A line in the sand that actually says will you or won’t you? The Word of God comes with conditions and this is a time of, ‘Will you come up to living your lives abiding by the conditions in My word or will you continue to do your own thing’. Every day we have choices. Not one of us can say we have it altogether. We all have areas in our lives that are not yielded to the Lord yet. The question is: are we prepared to have a look at the area/s that the Lord is wanting to highlight in our lives at this time? We are all at defining times right now, particularly as to whether the Lord is able to use us and to the degree that he can entrust us with His anointing and with the gifts He has given us. For too long His name has been bought into disrepute by what appeared as well meaning, anointed ministers of the gospel. However, times are changing and there is a higher demand being placed upon all at this time. What we had got away with before is no longer acceptable. The bar has been raised higher, because the Lord is wanting to release His kingdom here on earth at a greater level. He can only use ones that have stood the tests of time, have not wavered to compromise and have held onto Him even when things seemed impossible. To whom much is given much is required. We dare not squander what the Lord has given us individually or corporately. Sadly there has been much that has been squandered, that is, spent wastefully, without achieving what it was meant to because of immaturity and lack of the true fear of the Lord. We have got away with much, and now is a time of restraining, of pulling us in tight, so we don’t run off amiss. Perhaps it could best be described as coming into greater maturity. Toddler like behaviour - throwing tantrums when things don’t go our way, sulking, saying “No” every time we don’t want to do something required of us, can no longer be accepted as a right way of behaving. Our no is a bit more sophisticated as adults and manifests in different ways, however it is rebellion. Perhaps it can best be spoken in the following Scripture.
James 4:17 - Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
God has requirements for righteous living and the Bible is our instruction manual for helping us to learn of the ways of God and how to put into action those requirements.
There are some key Scriptures that focus on what the Lord is requiring of us at this time. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts, however, the Lord is looking for a people who are willing to go deeper with Him and are prepared to allow the Holy Spirit to show us our deep and hidden sin. This means it will get ugly, and the Lord will bring situations across our paths that will challenge us in the areas He is wanting to reveal and bring to the light. For too long sin has been seen as a shameful thing, best kept hidden and brushed under the carpet. In the general church it is a subject that is rarely spoken of, but it is the Truth, and IF we are going to move forward as a mighty army our sinful nature must be confronted, confessed and change made in our personal choices.
Following are some key Scriptures the Lord is wanting to highlight at this time, dealing with particular areas.
1. FORGIVENESS:
Matthew 6:14,15 - “For IF you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. BUT IF you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Wow, what a word!! In other words, if you choose to hold onto offence and unforgiveness the Father cannot forgive you. That is the condition. To the degree that we hold onto any grievance against another, any resentment, bitterness, and offence, that will be the degree that the Lord cannot allow His grace to come and bring his forgiveness. Our grievance may be right, we may have been seriously wronged by someone but that does not make it an excuse for staying in our sin and unforgiveness.
That is a serious thing. So who in your life are you still holding onto offence and unforgiveness that the Lord is highlighting at this time? Do you want to be right and get even with the person or do you want to forgive them and release them to the Lord?
The choice is yours! IF?
2. ARE YOU LISTENING?
Jeremiah 26:4-6 - And you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: “IF you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you, to heed the words of My servants the prophets whom I sent to you, both rising up early and sending them (but you have not heeded), then I will make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.”
We have a responsibility to listen to what the prophets are saying and to heed what is being said. We are without excuse. We are spoilt in these days and times for we are in danger of being fat, fat from hearing the word, but not so active in doing the word.
When a prophet speaks, it is not to tickle your ears. It is God speaking and in the fear of the Lord we need to do what is required. We dare not take the word of the Lord for granted for we have a responsibility to put into place what is asked of us. I don’t know about you, but I want the Lord’s blessings, not His curses. I don’t want to become deceived, thinking I know everything and am above correction and discipline. I want to come into all He plans for my life. Time is short and the choice is: do we want to muck around playing games with God or do we want to get serious and address the areas in our lives not yet yielded to Him?
The choice is yours: IF?
3. FAITH:
Matthew 21: 21, 22 - So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, IF you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also IF you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.
And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
This is a big one. The Lord is dealing with our unbelief and doubt at this time. IF we are going to be a courageous army standing for what is right and true we must know our Lord with such a depth that no matter what assails us we will stand strong.
That is the challenge. The Lord knows the areas we struggle in with our faith and He individually hit’s the mark to bring up the areas of unbelief. This is exciting as it brings opportunity for us to arise and make a stand in God, to not bow to fear and unbelief but to see the hand of God move to bring about His plans. IF we are faithful to trust Him with what is beyond what we know or can do. Are you willing to go beyond what is comfortable trusting Him with all concerning your life?
The choice is yours. IF?
4. THE SABBATH:
Jeremiah 17: 21 - 23, 27 - Thus says the Lord: “Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem; nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers. But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction.
But IF you will not heed me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.”
We see clearly, there will be a consequence IF we do not keep the Sabbath’s requirements, such as not working. It is a holy day, a day set apart to the Lord. Are we obedient to set the day apart or do we compromise His day by getting caught up in the subtle things that would derail this day from being His. Does our focus go away from Him to the concerns of this world and the everyday traps that would lead us astray? It is interesting to note that those who do not obey become stiff necked and do not hear or receive instruction. That is serious. Deception will come and we will be blinded to truth. Will you keep the Sabbath a Holy day dedicated wholly to the Lord?
The choice is yours. IF?
5. WALKING IN THE LIGHT:
1 John 5 - 7 - ‘This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. IF we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But IF we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.‘
This is about our relationship with the Lord. When we blatantly make wrong choices choosing darkness rather than light that impacts and has a flow on effect on our relationship with the Lord and with each other. There is a clear distinction between darkness and light, there is no grey shaded areas. For too long we have muddied what should be a pure stream of living water by compromising the Word of God and preaching an appeasing gospel that waters down sinful behaviour. So what area in your life are you compromising the Word of God, trying to justify or deny sin in your life? Are you prepared to have the light of God shine into your heart and have the impure motives, the hidden sin be exposed, so light can shine in at a deeper level? There is a condition. Darkness or light?
The choice is yours. IF?
6. OBEDIENCE:
1 Samuel 12:14 -16 - ‘IF you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. However, IF you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.‘
Walking in the fear the Lord is an everyday choice. It is how we live our lives, so aware we do not grieve the heart of God by deliberately going against what He requires. Often our actions show complete contempt of walking in the ways of the Lord as we open doors to the enemy by the choices we make. To obey means to do what one is told to do. That is not doing half measures, not doing enough to just get by, not being half hearted in our actions or just getting by. It does not mean we twist what we have been instructed by doing something the way we think because it seems the better way in our eyes. It means following instructions, whether by obeying the Word of God, or by obeying an instruction given to us by someone in authority, such as a church leader or someone who speaks into our lives with the greatest detail. It is pride if we think we know more than God because disobedience is actually saying my way is a better way than the Lord’s, I can do my own thing because God does not know what He is doing.
So it is with whoever instructs certain things into your life, whether that be someone in authority in the church or out in the workplace. Do you want the hand of God to be against you because you think you can do things a better way than God? There will be consequences to the choices you make - good or bad. It come down to one word with a condition attached to it. IF?
Will you come into all the Lord has for you and give up those things that entangle you and hold you in bondage or will you choose your own way?
The choice is yours. IF?
Thursday, 15 July 2010
Sunday, 4 July 2010
Ready for War?
by Patsy Grubb
I saw a vision of Father God sitting on a throne, obviously in His capacity as King.
There was a cry to prepare for war that went out throughout the Kingdom and I saw many begin to gather to seek counsel with the King. A small group of warriors, about a dozen, were granted access to the King and each came individually before the throne, and on bended knee, pledged their allegiance to the King and the King in turn gave each individual a blessing and commissioned them for war.
Many stood outside the court eager to fight - loud, rowdy and gung-ho. The King looked sad and concerned as the mob cried out and spurred each other on to fight. The scene inside the courts was somber, serious and yet I sensed the tenderness of the King’s heart toward the people.
The warriors (knights) were humble and respectful in the presence of the King, with a genuine love that was apparent, and I knew that they were preparing for the fight ahead, knowing that they may lose their life and being fully prepared for that outcome should it eventuate.
I enquired of the King as to why He would not grant those outside the court counsel, especially as those He had blessed were small in number. He responded that He would not allow the people‘s lives to have been in vain. He paused then asked the question -
How can they lay down their lives for a God they do not know?
I saw a vision of Father God sitting on a throne, obviously in His capacity as King.
There was a cry to prepare for war that went out throughout the Kingdom and I saw many begin to gather to seek counsel with the King. A small group of warriors, about a dozen, were granted access to the King and each came individually before the throne, and on bended knee, pledged their allegiance to the King and the King in turn gave each individual a blessing and commissioned them for war.
Many stood outside the court eager to fight - loud, rowdy and gung-ho. The King looked sad and concerned as the mob cried out and spurred each other on to fight. The scene inside the courts was somber, serious and yet I sensed the tenderness of the King’s heart toward the people.
The warriors (knights) were humble and respectful in the presence of the King, with a genuine love that was apparent, and I knew that they were preparing for the fight ahead, knowing that they may lose their life and being fully prepared for that outcome should it eventuate.
I enquired of the King as to why He would not grant those outside the court counsel, especially as those He had blessed were small in number. He responded that He would not allow the people‘s lives to have been in vain. He paused then asked the question -
How can they lay down their lives for a God they do not know?
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Bathrobe Prophets: A New Breed is Surfacing
by André Lefebvre
(written Jan ‘05)
The profile contours of a new breed of prophets is starting to be recognised. When I say this, I don’t mean they bring something which never existed before, but rather that it’s easy to forget or be oblivious to them due to the type of church culture we have, stage/pews, even in the prophetic/charismatic movement.
Their existence is a collective force we have to recognise, embrace, validate, affirm, mentor, nurture and cherish, because it is a breed of believers which touches ground zero in terms of an incarnated prophetic lifestyle, a much needed model for everyone.
Many of them are survivors of tragedies and traumas, have difficult issues with their health, physical and emotional, and don’t fit in the present paradigm of mainstream ‘ministry’ types. However, they are like hound dogs hitting the prophetic trail, joined by kindred hearts, running in the direction they feel the Lord leading them, scouting the land for those coming behind.
They love God with a consuming passion. Seasoned through trials and tribulations, they walk a path of eagerness to know more of Him. They journal, write on forums, have their own blog, support and pray for ministries and people, in fact, the Internet is their preferred vehicle. They spawn virtual communities all over the world. Their ministry of encouragement is outstanding and their compassion runs deep.
They recognise each other when they meet, and form spiritual friendships anointed with a fierce passion to share blessings and discoveries, working tirelessly to mentor each other and witness the establishment of spiritual revival at a level never seen before. They are usually recognised for having visions much bigger than their own lives, visions that can’t be beaten into smaller packages to fit the mainstream ‘box’ paradigm. They speak of heaven as if it’s next door, pray and intercede for strangers with dedicated passion, they worship with tears and usually can be prophetically ministering art deeper levels than any counsellor could expect to reach, all this without even knowing it!
Some dream of bigger ‘ministries’ but what they mostly mean is that they would like to see their lives be a greater blessing to many. They can’t flow as well within the boundaries of rigid religion, but will find patches of sun anywhere they can. They give sacrificially, long for meaningful spiritual fellowship, dream big dreams and often live a hidden, almost anonymous life. But they are giants. We have heard it said in many ways that praying mums may be of greater stature in heaven than 100 great preachers on earth. These are chips from the same block.
Their destiny is the Bride’s. Their song is for the Bride to awake and walk in her prophetic stature and maturity; Jews and Gentiles united in Christ; purity in the media and in our cities; unity in the Body of Christ; daily signs and wonders on a very, very large scale; power and miracles through faith-based prayers; no-nonsense leadership in our churches and government; prophetic understanding of social and international events, and subsequent prophetic strategies applied to specific tasks in response to the Lord’s guidance and assignments, etc.
Most of these people don’t have a secular day job, a huge number of them are women, many mostly home during the day, some are ’stay at home’ mums, many are people living with a disability, dealing with debilitating conditions. But if you try running with them, you could end-up out of breath! They tirelessly read, pray, minister, worship, all the while tackling difficult life situations. Yet, they grow by leaps and bounds, cross-pollinating through the vast international network of home-based communications that the Internet has become, creating a new breed of anointed ministers who are, to use a prophesied term: “the nameless and faceless.”
I call them “Bathrobe Prophets.” I don’t use the term ‘bathrobe’ in a derogatory way, like in ‘couch potato.’ I use it because at times, that’s what many would wear most of the day, due to their condition.
They write tons of dreams and miles of prophetic words, thirst for the Presence of the Father, and hunger to see the Kingdom of God be all it can be. They love to speak words that bring life and healing, encouragement and truth, they are ever learning about proper prophetic ‘etiquette’ so they walk in love and not arrogance, and will astound many with their tireless scribing activity and vibrant need for fellowship.
There are so many prophetic ‘ministries’ today, and our attention will usually be solicited by the most noticeable and loud ones. These are more like Mary Magdelene, the apostle John, Daniel and many others, loving God’s presence, and fellowship with Him as friends is their utmost passion.
If you recognise yourself in this, blessed are you. You have not been overlooked, passed by or ignored by God. You simply may be part of one of His secret armies. Your prophetic life is not barely lived on a stage before thousands, or addressing a limited number of issues relevant to the latest prophetic fad. Your life is a rich and glorious prophetic canvas where God is weaving the words of His heart as they resonate and transform your daily life. You are not ignorant of the enemy’s fire and brutal attacks on your life, but you still pursue God’s fire.
Healing is in His wings, and you believe it, yet, as broken and disabled as you are, you do not give up, trusting with a robust, unpretentious and unadorned faith that He will come through some day. Many of you believe that your sicknesses or conditions are used by the Lord as intercession material, and so it is. We know little about how much we are carrying in our bodies the prophetic assignment of intercession for His Body on earth…
A voice of one calling:
“In the desert prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3)
Prepare a way. For the Lord. As you are in the desert. A highway (huge and faster traffic). Not just a trail. In the wilderness. Isolation. Barreness. The pace can increase full speed on a highway. Multiplication. We are to prepare this highway for the Lord. Not ourselves. Making straight a highway so we won’t have to make detours. In the desert, detours can cost you your life if water is not present.
I just can’t keep from thinking: “Bathroom Prophets of the world: UNITE!”
1 Cor 12:14-18, “Now the body is not made up of one part but many. […]” But in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
1 Cor 14:5, “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.”
1 Cor 14:24, “But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
(written Jan ‘05)
The profile contours of a new breed of prophets is starting to be recognised. When I say this, I don’t mean they bring something which never existed before, but rather that it’s easy to forget or be oblivious to them due to the type of church culture we have, stage/pews, even in the prophetic/charismatic movement.
Their existence is a collective force we have to recognise, embrace, validate, affirm, mentor, nurture and cherish, because it is a breed of believers which touches ground zero in terms of an incarnated prophetic lifestyle, a much needed model for everyone.
Many of them are survivors of tragedies and traumas, have difficult issues with their health, physical and emotional, and don’t fit in the present paradigm of mainstream ‘ministry’ types. However, they are like hound dogs hitting the prophetic trail, joined by kindred hearts, running in the direction they feel the Lord leading them, scouting the land for those coming behind.
They love God with a consuming passion. Seasoned through trials and tribulations, they walk a path of eagerness to know more of Him. They journal, write on forums, have their own blog, support and pray for ministries and people, in fact, the Internet is their preferred vehicle. They spawn virtual communities all over the world. Their ministry of encouragement is outstanding and their compassion runs deep.
They recognise each other when they meet, and form spiritual friendships anointed with a fierce passion to share blessings and discoveries, working tirelessly to mentor each other and witness the establishment of spiritual revival at a level never seen before. They are usually recognised for having visions much bigger than their own lives, visions that can’t be beaten into smaller packages to fit the mainstream ‘box’ paradigm. They speak of heaven as if it’s next door, pray and intercede for strangers with dedicated passion, they worship with tears and usually can be prophetically ministering art deeper levels than any counsellor could expect to reach, all this without even knowing it!
Some dream of bigger ‘ministries’ but what they mostly mean is that they would like to see their lives be a greater blessing to many. They can’t flow as well within the boundaries of rigid religion, but will find patches of sun anywhere they can. They give sacrificially, long for meaningful spiritual fellowship, dream big dreams and often live a hidden, almost anonymous life. But they are giants. We have heard it said in many ways that praying mums may be of greater stature in heaven than 100 great preachers on earth. These are chips from the same block.
Their destiny is the Bride’s. Their song is for the Bride to awake and walk in her prophetic stature and maturity; Jews and Gentiles united in Christ; purity in the media and in our cities; unity in the Body of Christ; daily signs and wonders on a very, very large scale; power and miracles through faith-based prayers; no-nonsense leadership in our churches and government; prophetic understanding of social and international events, and subsequent prophetic strategies applied to specific tasks in response to the Lord’s guidance and assignments, etc.
Most of these people don’t have a secular day job, a huge number of them are women, many mostly home during the day, some are ’stay at home’ mums, many are people living with a disability, dealing with debilitating conditions. But if you try running with them, you could end-up out of breath! They tirelessly read, pray, minister, worship, all the while tackling difficult life situations. Yet, they grow by leaps and bounds, cross-pollinating through the vast international network of home-based communications that the Internet has become, creating a new breed of anointed ministers who are, to use a prophesied term: “the nameless and faceless.”
I call them “Bathrobe Prophets.” I don’t use the term ‘bathrobe’ in a derogatory way, like in ‘couch potato.’ I use it because at times, that’s what many would wear most of the day, due to their condition.
They write tons of dreams and miles of prophetic words, thirst for the Presence of the Father, and hunger to see the Kingdom of God be all it can be. They love to speak words that bring life and healing, encouragement and truth, they are ever learning about proper prophetic ‘etiquette’ so they walk in love and not arrogance, and will astound many with their tireless scribing activity and vibrant need for fellowship.
There are so many prophetic ‘ministries’ today, and our attention will usually be solicited by the most noticeable and loud ones. These are more like Mary Magdelene, the apostle John, Daniel and many others, loving God’s presence, and fellowship with Him as friends is their utmost passion.
If you recognise yourself in this, blessed are you. You have not been overlooked, passed by or ignored by God. You simply may be part of one of His secret armies. Your prophetic life is not barely lived on a stage before thousands, or addressing a limited number of issues relevant to the latest prophetic fad. Your life is a rich and glorious prophetic canvas where God is weaving the words of His heart as they resonate and transform your daily life. You are not ignorant of the enemy’s fire and brutal attacks on your life, but you still pursue God’s fire.
Healing is in His wings, and you believe it, yet, as broken and disabled as you are, you do not give up, trusting with a robust, unpretentious and unadorned faith that He will come through some day. Many of you believe that your sicknesses or conditions are used by the Lord as intercession material, and so it is. We know little about how much we are carrying in our bodies the prophetic assignment of intercession for His Body on earth…
A voice of one calling:
“In the desert prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the wilderness
a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3)
Prepare a way. For the Lord. As you are in the desert. A highway (huge and faster traffic). Not just a trail. In the wilderness. Isolation. Barreness. The pace can increase full speed on a highway. Multiplication. We are to prepare this highway for the Lord. Not ourselves. Making straight a highway so we won’t have to make detours. In the desert, detours can cost you your life if water is not present.
I just can’t keep from thinking: “Bathroom Prophets of the world: UNITE!”
1 Cor 12:14-18, “Now the body is not made up of one part but many. […]” But in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
1 Cor 14:5, “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.”
1 Cor 14:24, “But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
Thursday, 24 June 2010
Intimacy
by Moya Boardman
I feel like someone who has been dying of thirst & suddenly is given a drink of water. It tastes so incredible that I sip & savour each mouthful - but then it is taken away. There is such longing & searching.
Tonight God drew near to woo us, to pull us close to Himself. To allow Him to gaze on us tenderly & with passion. I saw what seemed like huge petals gently swirling round & dropping slowly down, each one softly draped over someone & God said He was covering us as He was our nearest kinsman. He was taking the burden from us, taking responsibility for us.
Where we thought everything in life had been taken from us & was dead to us He saw that we had followed Him. He said He had covered the past and that He was taking us into our (His & your) future.
There was such a sweetness of God, He was tenderly passionate with us, it started to become intoxicating but some were unaware, some uncomfortable and unconsciously maybe stepped back from yielding totally & just being in His presence. They could not yet stop & “be”.
He was gentle & said “This is not a first date” meaning - ”Don’t feel awkward”. I remember my first date, my first kiss; I thought “Well that’s nothing much” however….
In a very dark time of my life God started talking to me about intimacy & I said “The only intimacy that I know is physical, the powerful intimacy of sex. God I don’t want to mix my sexuality with intimacy with you”. He told me to hold that lightly and to go to the deepest feeling I’d know & then to go beneath that because as “the way of a man with a women” is a mystery & a picture of God & man so he was going to show me & help me to experience that spiritual intimacy. It is what truly satisfies. Lust is never satisfied but God’s love is always fulfilled & fulfilling.
Can you picture yourself face to face with Jesus, looking deeply into His eyes, can you see the love there can you let Him “kiss you with the kisses of His mouth” Have you ever been spiritually kissed? Sometimes our flesh does get in the way & we don’t want that but in pulling back we pull away from God. It is possible to separate the two - our fleshly response & our spirit’s rising to the one who made us. It is like learning to tune an instrument - you have to train yourself to hear - you thought you knew how but as you persist you are amazed at how many more sounds there are than you thought - don’t give up, ask God to teach you. God first & foremost made us for connection with Him - the world, the flesh & the devil try to steal that.
Cross the line you have not crossed before because it will bring life to you. Can you imagine being that close to Jesus & being sick? Being consumed by Him and being in pain? Actually if you are able to think about yourself than you haven’t got there yet.
In the natural when you are that close, yielded to each other you are totally unaware of anything else, what a beautiful picture of worship - how can anything else cross our minds when Jesus is so close you can feel His breath? When all that fills you is Him, how wonderful He is, how kind, gentle, funny, accepting - you forget everything else but Him. Wow - true worship A faint reflection of the love that consumes Him for us, for the world.
All over the world the opposite is happening, people use people to fill their needs, songs are sung to the idols of sex, money - mostly sex. The idol of self is raised up & people defiled. What if the world was filled with the “true worshippers” that the Father seeks?
How do you see what happens in a small hall in Radstock in God’s global plan? Do you see how significant what we do is - how pure worship, connection, intimacy has an effect in creation. We effect creation as it groans, we raise a light in a dark world, it joins with the other lights. God wants us to burn for Him.
Intimacy with God is like the axis of a wheel - get it in the right place & things run smoothly & you don’t have to work so hard. (rest in His peace) Take it out & you have a rough time. (Striving)
I feel like someone who has been dying of thirst & suddenly is given a drink of water. It tastes so incredible that I sip & savour each mouthful - but then it is taken away. There is such longing & searching.
Tonight God drew near to woo us, to pull us close to Himself. To allow Him to gaze on us tenderly & with passion. I saw what seemed like huge petals gently swirling round & dropping slowly down, each one softly draped over someone & God said He was covering us as He was our nearest kinsman. He was taking the burden from us, taking responsibility for us.
Where we thought everything in life had been taken from us & was dead to us He saw that we had followed Him. He said He had covered the past and that He was taking us into our (His & your) future.
There was such a sweetness of God, He was tenderly passionate with us, it started to become intoxicating but some were unaware, some uncomfortable and unconsciously maybe stepped back from yielding totally & just being in His presence. They could not yet stop & “be”.
He was gentle & said “This is not a first date” meaning - ”Don’t feel awkward”. I remember my first date, my first kiss; I thought “Well that’s nothing much” however….
In a very dark time of my life God started talking to me about intimacy & I said “The only intimacy that I know is physical, the powerful intimacy of sex. God I don’t want to mix my sexuality with intimacy with you”. He told me to hold that lightly and to go to the deepest feeling I’d know & then to go beneath that because as “the way of a man with a women” is a mystery & a picture of God & man so he was going to show me & help me to experience that spiritual intimacy. It is what truly satisfies. Lust is never satisfied but God’s love is always fulfilled & fulfilling.
Can you picture yourself face to face with Jesus, looking deeply into His eyes, can you see the love there can you let Him “kiss you with the kisses of His mouth” Have you ever been spiritually kissed? Sometimes our flesh does get in the way & we don’t want that but in pulling back we pull away from God. It is possible to separate the two - our fleshly response & our spirit’s rising to the one who made us. It is like learning to tune an instrument - you have to train yourself to hear - you thought you knew how but as you persist you are amazed at how many more sounds there are than you thought - don’t give up, ask God to teach you. God first & foremost made us for connection with Him - the world, the flesh & the devil try to steal that.
Cross the line you have not crossed before because it will bring life to you. Can you imagine being that close to Jesus & being sick? Being consumed by Him and being in pain? Actually if you are able to think about yourself than you haven’t got there yet.
In the natural when you are that close, yielded to each other you are totally unaware of anything else, what a beautiful picture of worship - how can anything else cross our minds when Jesus is so close you can feel His breath? When all that fills you is Him, how wonderful He is, how kind, gentle, funny, accepting - you forget everything else but Him. Wow - true worship A faint reflection of the love that consumes Him for us, for the world.
All over the world the opposite is happening, people use people to fill their needs, songs are sung to the idols of sex, money - mostly sex. The idol of self is raised up & people defiled. What if the world was filled with the “true worshippers” that the Father seeks?
How do you see what happens in a small hall in Radstock in God’s global plan? Do you see how significant what we do is - how pure worship, connection, intimacy has an effect in creation. We effect creation as it groans, we raise a light in a dark world, it joins with the other lights. God wants us to burn for Him.
Intimacy with God is like the axis of a wheel - get it in the right place & things run smoothly & you don’t have to work so hard. (rest in His peace) Take it out & you have a rough time. (Striving)
What’s Brewing in America?
by David Robinson
Folks, do pray for the USA. The “land of Freedom” and the “defender of democracy” has a constitution for a reason! Please pray it’s voice is heard over the confusion and assignment against it. The Lord has need of this great nation yet. It’s not over by a long shot!!! Regarding the Church there? To quote Ronald Raygun, (sorry couldn’t resist it, only joking) Ronald Regan “You ain’t seen nothing yet!”
This is not meant to be hype, in fact there’s a maturity coming to, and out of, the true US church, to go out to the world with a sober, brave and powerful heart, with the Gospel of Jesus. Armed, in Jesus name, only with God’s love and word in the Holy Spirit. A Berean discernment is offered to it too! It will need it! (Nb. Update 27/5/2010: A teaching in that very good practice of true, non-cynical discernment, will be imparted to their hearers too - in fact, encouraged!!! As they encounter faith in Jesus, by whoever will receive them, real Signs & Wonders will FOLLOW them. The Lord will back, HIS choice)
Dear America, have a spiritual tea party; throw over-board all lies, unbiblical traditions, false religions (regardless of their claims of pedigree) and secret societies. You have a light that is now kindling into a maturity you really haven’t seen in your history. May Jesus name be glorified! Represent Him well.
Folks, do pray for the USA. The “land of Freedom” and the “defender of democracy” has a constitution for a reason! Please pray it’s voice is heard over the confusion and assignment against it. The Lord has need of this great nation yet. It’s not over by a long shot!!! Regarding the Church there? To quote Ronald Raygun, (sorry couldn’t resist it, only joking) Ronald Regan “You ain’t seen nothing yet!”
This is not meant to be hype, in fact there’s a maturity coming to, and out of, the true US church, to go out to the world with a sober, brave and powerful heart, with the Gospel of Jesus. Armed, in Jesus name, only with God’s love and word in the Holy Spirit. A Berean discernment is offered to it too! It will need it! (Nb. Update 27/5/2010: A teaching in that very good practice of true, non-cynical discernment, will be imparted to their hearers too - in fact, encouraged!!! As they encounter faith in Jesus, by whoever will receive them, real Signs & Wonders will FOLLOW them. The Lord will back, HIS choice)
Dear America, have a spiritual tea party; throw over-board all lies, unbiblical traditions, false religions (regardless of their claims of pedigree) and secret societies. You have a light that is now kindling into a maturity you really haven’t seen in your history. May Jesus name be glorified! Represent Him well.
God is Looking
by Daniel Chuter
God is looking for people who will worship Him. Within our region in the UK, (Bath area), He longs to open the wells of true worship expressed in many forms such as art, drama, dance, singing.
But we are discouraged and often feel bitter… (Genesis 4:4) “and Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering. But unto Cain and to his offering he had no respect. And Cain was very wroth and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, why art thou wrath, and why is thy countenance fallen. If thou do the right thing, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shall rule over him”.
In the book of Hebrews we see a similar concept… (Hebrews 12:14) “Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man will see the Lord. Looking diligently lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled.”
So God seems to respect or honour what is offered under His parameters, which is the saving sacrifice of Jesus that was offered as a lamb in our place… that he died and shed his blood for our deliverance but much more he was raised unto new life that we may live a new life. He offers this gift but wants our humility and brokenness. His desire is to quench our deepest thirst… He knows our pain when no one else does… (John 4:11) “the well is deep” But like the woman at the well we know only He can help. (John 4:19) “Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet”.
He must be known as King and deserves our “everything”. (Revelation 4:10) “the four and twenty elders fell down before Him that sat on the throne, and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying “Thou art worthy, O Lord to receive honour and power; for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created”. But He came down into our darkness in the form of a servant and is with those who are humble. (Isaiah 57:15) “For thus says the High and Lofty One that inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy; I dwell in the High and Holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones”.
The effect of what He offers can only be expressed in new and powerful forms, weapons in the hearts and mouths of an army that God is raising up in these days, who will not compromise or settle for the same that many of us have; having “been in the field” for too long! (Luke 15:28).
God is looking for people who will worship Him. Within our region in the UK, (Bath area), He longs to open the wells of true worship expressed in many forms such as art, drama, dance, singing.
But we are discouraged and often feel bitter… (Genesis 4:4) “and Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering. But unto Cain and to his offering he had no respect. And Cain was very wroth and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, why art thou wrath, and why is thy countenance fallen. If thou do the right thing, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shall rule over him”.
In the book of Hebrews we see a similar concept… (Hebrews 12:14) “Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man will see the Lord. Looking diligently lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled.”
So God seems to respect or honour what is offered under His parameters, which is the saving sacrifice of Jesus that was offered as a lamb in our place… that he died and shed his blood for our deliverance but much more he was raised unto new life that we may live a new life. He offers this gift but wants our humility and brokenness. His desire is to quench our deepest thirst… He knows our pain when no one else does… (John 4:11) “the well is deep” But like the woman at the well we know only He can help. (John 4:19) “Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet”.
He must be known as King and deserves our “everything”. (Revelation 4:10) “the four and twenty elders fell down before Him that sat on the throne, and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying “Thou art worthy, O Lord to receive honour and power; for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created”. But He came down into our darkness in the form of a servant and is with those who are humble. (Isaiah 57:15) “For thus says the High and Lofty One that inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy; I dwell in the High and Holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones”.
The effect of what He offers can only be expressed in new and powerful forms, weapons in the hearts and mouths of an army that God is raising up in these days, who will not compromise or settle for the same that many of us have; having “been in the field” for too long! (Luke 15:28).
“It’s all Greek to me”
by David Robinson
Having returned from Munich in Germany recently, it was fascinating to see how a sequence of unchallenged events created an environment that had someone like Adolf Hitler welcomed into power.
In the late nineteenth century King Ludwig II, was declared insane and then, according to suspicion, assassinated. Ludwig’s death allowed the establishment of an office of power known as the ‘Kaiser’. The Kaiser’s of course were the kingpins in Germany’s expanse into Europe in the early 20th Century. They also led Germany into World War I.
The defeat of Germany led to a set of war reparations that crippled the nation, financially. This led to the environment that made someone like Adolf Hitler and the Nazis a welcome option; to make all the problems “go away”… but at the price of democracy and the individual in society.
There was also a lot of occult activity in Munich, in the 1920’s and on through World War II.
Riots seem to happen a lot in Greece lately. (Reminded also of Paul in Ephesus) There is great trouble brewing there, at the moment of writing this.
A little known fact is that in the capital, Athens, during September 2008, dozens of Greek pagans defied police presence and a thunderous downpour, to huddle near the Parthenon in Athens. They were holding a protest prayer for a museum being built at the foot of the sacred site.
The Greek Culture Ministry had forbade ceremonies of any sort at archaeological sites. But the pagan revivalists used a second century temple of Zeus in Athens to stage the first known ceremony of its kind in 1,600 years.
Athens-based group, called “Ellinais”, an acronym in Greek for “Sacred Society of Greek Ancient Religionists” was campaigning to revive the ancient religion. The group defied Culture Ministry bans on holding prayers at several ancient temples. Then, about 200 people, by the leader’s estimate, prayed to Olympian ‘Athena’, patron of ancient Athens, to protect the 2,500-year-old site and spare the city “from harm”.
“Is it a coincidence that rain started falling when the ceremony started and ended at the same time as the ceremony? I think not,” said the groups leader at the time. Personally, I don’t think The Lord was giving them a complement, by sending a storm. Police made no effort to disrupt the 20-minute convocation. There was no consequence or action, from the Government Authorities.
Orthodox Christianity is the official religion of Greece. Christianity took hold in Greece in the 4th century. Roman Emperor Theodosius wiped out the last vestige of the Olympian gods when he abolished the Olympic Games in 394 A.D.
The Parthenon, built between 447-432 B.C. at the Acropolis as a temple to Athena, was converted into a Christian church in the 5th century A.D. It became a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Athens in 1456 and is now a museum.
“This was the first prayer ceremony on the Acropolis since Parthenon was converted into a church,” the pagan group smugly said in 2008.
One month later, massive riots broke out across the capital, for over two solid weeks. The nation has financially gone downhill ever since then, to the point that the EU is currently bailing out the country from bankruptcy. To quote the Pagan group above, “is it a coincidence”?
Firstly, there is a consequence, when governments do not follow the ways of The Lord and allow the occult to prevail. (There’s a warning for us all) Secondly, a spiritual and financial environment, such as this, was created in pre-war Germany. Therefore please pray for the nation and people of Greece on all levels. Lest it happens again.
Having returned from Munich in Germany recently, it was fascinating to see how a sequence of unchallenged events created an environment that had someone like Adolf Hitler welcomed into power.
In the late nineteenth century King Ludwig II, was declared insane and then, according to suspicion, assassinated. Ludwig’s death allowed the establishment of an office of power known as the ‘Kaiser’. The Kaiser’s of course were the kingpins in Germany’s expanse into Europe in the early 20th Century. They also led Germany into World War I.
The defeat of Germany led to a set of war reparations that crippled the nation, financially. This led to the environment that made someone like Adolf Hitler and the Nazis a welcome option; to make all the problems “go away”… but at the price of democracy and the individual in society.
There was also a lot of occult activity in Munich, in the 1920’s and on through World War II.
Riots seem to happen a lot in Greece lately. (Reminded also of Paul in Ephesus) There is great trouble brewing there, at the moment of writing this.
A little known fact is that in the capital, Athens, during September 2008, dozens of Greek pagans defied police presence and a thunderous downpour, to huddle near the Parthenon in Athens. They were holding a protest prayer for a museum being built at the foot of the sacred site.
The Greek Culture Ministry had forbade ceremonies of any sort at archaeological sites. But the pagan revivalists used a second century temple of Zeus in Athens to stage the first known ceremony of its kind in 1,600 years.
Athens-based group, called “Ellinais”, an acronym in Greek for “Sacred Society of Greek Ancient Religionists” was campaigning to revive the ancient religion. The group defied Culture Ministry bans on holding prayers at several ancient temples. Then, about 200 people, by the leader’s estimate, prayed to Olympian ‘Athena’, patron of ancient Athens, to protect the 2,500-year-old site and spare the city “from harm”.
“Is it a coincidence that rain started falling when the ceremony started and ended at the same time as the ceremony? I think not,” said the groups leader at the time. Personally, I don’t think The Lord was giving them a complement, by sending a storm. Police made no effort to disrupt the 20-minute convocation. There was no consequence or action, from the Government Authorities.
Orthodox Christianity is the official religion of Greece. Christianity took hold in Greece in the 4th century. Roman Emperor Theodosius wiped out the last vestige of the Olympian gods when he abolished the Olympic Games in 394 A.D.
The Parthenon, built between 447-432 B.C. at the Acropolis as a temple to Athena, was converted into a Christian church in the 5th century A.D. It became a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Athens in 1456 and is now a museum.
“This was the first prayer ceremony on the Acropolis since Parthenon was converted into a church,” the pagan group smugly said in 2008.
One month later, massive riots broke out across the capital, for over two solid weeks. The nation has financially gone downhill ever since then, to the point that the EU is currently bailing out the country from bankruptcy. To quote the Pagan group above, “is it a coincidence”?
Firstly, there is a consequence, when governments do not follow the ways of The Lord and allow the occult to prevail. (There’s a warning for us all) Secondly, a spiritual and financial environment, such as this, was created in pre-war Germany. Therefore please pray for the nation and people of Greece on all levels. Lest it happens again.
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