Monthly Archives: July 2013

Something good in UK’s ‘marriage’ Act for Christians?

Posted on by
1

Nero_1The coffee-time conversation with Steve continues. Nina and Simone catch up with us on our way to the cafe’s bar for fresh, full mugs and hear Steve exclaim,

“What! What on earth’s good for believers about the ssm Bill?”  The startled looks our wives dart at each other convey;  “What on earth have our men been talking about?”

Back in our secluded corner, Steve summarises our conversation and he’s ‘champing at the bit’ to take charge. I want to steer it another way but Simone beats us to ‘the off’.  As a solicitor she brings a fresh view.:

Legal eagles’ views

“How the Bill was rushed through and given royal assent clearly smacks of censorship in a totalitarian state. A barrister and senior lecturer at the University of London wrote a splendid professional paper quite relevant to this issue. David McIlroy explains why a democracy’s legal system can’t have a morally neutral playing field. I noted his opinion that,

A public square from which religious influences are excluded is not a neutral public square. It is a public square in which all influences bar the secularist ones have been censored.  That is not a public square in which everyone’s voice is heard and everyone’s views are respected, it is a public square in which religious voices are silenced and anti-religious views are imposed.  This is not a tolerant society, it is a tyrannous society.

“What he also says about the double-importance in a Christian society of how the Last Judgement affects the law is especially interesting…I recall bits like:

…It means today’s rulers are understood, and (should) understand themselves, to be answerable  to a higher authority in their actions. They know they will be judged for how they exercised their power and this accountability is the foundation of accountability to the people.

…citizens know the ultimate judge isn’t the government but almighty God, and this contributes hugely to human freedom.

“It’s an exciting summary of how Christianity has provided a sound basis for secular law..”

“I know, Simone, I’ve got a copy thanks to a fellow blogger – an excellent document! And I wrote about examples of creeping tyranny back in 2009!”  [See 1 & 14 below]

“Also Richard, contrary to what you said about Archbishop Welby and bishops being overwhelmed in the House of Lords, the barrister who founded Christian Legal Centre issued them a written challenge over his version of events and concluded:

I am surprised that the Church of England appears to be vacating the public square when it comes to the issue of marriage. Given the rich teaching of Scripture and strong tradition of marriage, this is something that the CofE should be able to comment on clearly, intelligently and winsomely. Marriage is something to be celebrated, promoted and, at this time, preserved. At a time when the nation needs to hear a prophetic voice on marriage, the CofE’s message is sadly mixed and, as a result, unclear.

“The account of her corresponding with him and CoE’s response laments their inability to copy the politicians’ action in ensuring full attendance for voting.” [2]

Raising my finger, “I like her bit on ‘prophetic voice’ as I was struck by the sharp contrast between the Telegraph’s report on Welby’s ‘cop-out’ and what Sharon Stone taught and did [3] – the first started my morning and the second closed it in a much Godlier way!

“Also, in one of many debates on that other blog I pointed out that wise leaders would wait and watch what happens to other countries before foisting it on the British public. It’s opening Pandora’s Box – next will come legal recognition of bigamy, bestiality and paedophilia, as in the customs that defiled ancient Canaan which God spoke against when Hebrews took it over as the land ‘vomited out its inhabitants’.”

“I’ve read John McTernan’s excellent teaching on those socially sanctioned practices,” . adds Simone. “I said to Stan to read too” nodding at her husband. [4]

Nina expresses her deep concern over Her Majesty giving assent to the Bill in view of her Coronation oath “to maintain the laws of God and profession of the Gospel”.

My long spoon lances a hole in the cappuccino’s thick froth as I respond, “Being a constitutional monarch, there was absolutely nothing she could have done about its passing into Law as the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act.

“But from my perspective as lookout on the walls – as it were – our national leader became much more motivated to introduce the Act – come hell or high water – by President Obama during his state visit. So it’s possibly a result of that influence…”

“I’ve read,” reports Simone, “Obama is a long-standing ‘gay pride evangelist’, as can be seen in his recent call to African nations to be ‘converted’. Their righteous leaders have repudiated his overtures…on fact they’re sparked a real backlash!” [5]

“That’s so,” I add. “I’ve followed it all closely through Bill Koenig, a Christian White House journalist.  Cameron’s now copying Obama as an ‘evangelist’, which His Grace Cranmer scathingly lampoons [6]. He notes Cameron’s clearly stated intention [7]:

Only other thing I wanted to say is that I know that the job isn’t yet fully done. It is something to celebrate that Britain is now – and it’s official – the best place to be gay, lesbian or transgender anywhere in Europe. That is a great achievement. That’s not my measure; that is an inter-nationally recognised measure. But there’s still a lot more work to be done.

“God is not and will not be mocked and these national leaders are treating Him with the utmost of contempt. Unless they humble themselves, repent deeply and renounce their ways there is very little hope for their future – but God may have mercy.”

“But at least they’ve not committed the unpardonable sin,” interjects Nina, to which Steve asks, “What’s that?”

She replies, “That’s saying a work of the Holy Spirit is of Satan. In my opinion, many believers have unwittingly done that when attributing God’s presence and His work to the demonic! Some think so about a Canadian whom we know. Whilst at a church in Bath, he sensed God wanted to heal and that evening I was able to walk and dance again – I went from permanent disability to normal ability in an instant! As we all love Jesus, then that could not have been of the devil.” [8]

“Now,” I ask, “Do you want the good or the not-so-good news first? Let’s keep the best for last – after some opinions encountered in fellow believers.”

Not-so-good points

“I’ll try to be brief on what’s very unsettling to my spirit. As I don’t want to have a closed mind on this issue I’d monitored Gillan Scott’s several well-balanced posts on the topic, to which some readers gave a window upon the state of their souls.

“Whatever gay folk say and do they’re no different to any believer for we’ve fallen short of the glory of God and are deeply loved by Him, otherwise Jesus wouldn’t have died for them too. So we love them too as individuals  but, as with all sin, we don’t like their sin but hate it for what it is and does in preventing their accessing the fullness of life in Christ.

“Some who claimed to be Christians, however, were not only very supportive of this anti-Biblical Bill but also muddled and confused about what scripture says – even twisting its meaning – as well as being ignorant of sin!  One pastor to the gay community even tried to explain why I’m mistaken!

“One regular pundit couldn’t understand what’s wrong with redefining marriage! We got the measure of one another when I commented: if that were correct there was no need for me to have repented of having been in the occult.”

“Just an aside and reminder,” whispered Simone, “I’d like to check the dangers of yoga as its spirit may be messing around with me.”

I continued, “My remark met a haughty, incredulous retort, ‘Upon what basis do you equate same-sex relationships with occultism, Richard? Your logic is seriously skewed, to put it mildly…!’  It was both sad and amusing because the answer was simple…so very simple.

“I parried it by alluding to the oft-quoted legal totem of ‘equality’, as well as its proper  mathematical meaning, and took precise aim: ‘Your own logic has missed the point, to put it bluntly…The basis of my equation is straightforward, namely ‘equality of sin’ (ie. ‘missing the mark’).’ We ended up agreeing to disagree.

“But there were lamentable tales of some dear folk engaged in unions they think the Lord has ok’d and then wonder why things went wrong. For example, the miscarriage of a child being carried by one of a female partnership – a terribly sad state brought about by sin to their detriment. It reminded me of sin crouching ‘by the door’ to take Cain and make him murder his brother Abel. (Genesis 4:6-7)

“The accounts and opinions come with a sense of despoiling. I recalled Nathan Morris’ strong preaching on Jesus’ admonition to the early churches infected by sexual sin of their needing to be cleansed from wearing defiled robes. No wonder many wise and anointed preachers sound the alarm bells.” [9] & [10]

THE GOOD POINTS

“From a Christian standpoint, the good things of this Act are not so much the adverse  ones but more the scriptural ones. We can, for instance, be most positive about these facts.:

  1. This Bill and Act were never in the Conservative Party’s election manifesto. Thus, in my opinion, the electorate as a whole can’t be held responsible for the revolt against God and traditional values and the consequences.
  2. In requiring and enforcing the Queen’s compromising of her Coronation oath her Prime Minister actually took upon himself the full personal responsibility before God for having broken and contravened it – I wouldn’t like to be in his shoes for deliberately being ignorant in such a gravely foolish action.
  3. David Cameron and everyone voting for the Bill is personal accountability to their Maker for going against His revealed and express will for all mankind – no matter whether they believe in God or not. I pray they’ll have personal revelation on this and take the opportunity to repent before they take up their post-mortem existence – as happened to me when I stood on the trapdoor down to hell [11  In Your wrath remember mercy, Lord.
  4. The sweeping international attempts to redefine the meaning of marriage are so intensely orchestrated that even conspiracy theorists would be left dumbfounded. Therefore, it is and can only be a dark spiritual phenomenon – not one of God but from the one who’s always wanted to usurp His place. But its time on earth is now very short so it wants to take as many humans it can and prevent their salvation.
  5. This so-called cultural change was announced well in advance, in fact 2,000 years ago by no less a person than Jesus Christ himself!”

“How do you make that out?” thrusts Steve with one of his bespectacled glares that reminds me of a hen pecking seed. I hear ‘tap-tap-tap’ and turn to see a solitary man at the next table tapping on his tablet. His face and sound mirrors my friend’s and I gently smile. But then I grin in self-deprecation over my natural tonsure as I reply:

“Off the top of my head…a couple of Jesus’ sayings spring to mind.:

“First of all, His teaching about persistent prayer (Luke 18:8) refers to a time like today; one lacking in not only personal but also corporate faith – as widely shown in ditching Christian values for purely hedonistic aims. This is what Jesus foresaw:

Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

“Secondly, He instructed His disciples about the coming of the Kingdom of God and to expect exceptional consequences for socially sanctioned wickedness (Matt 24):

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 

“Dr Luke’s carefully collected account of Jesus’ life from witnesses adds (Luke 17):

Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; 29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

“Also, His apostle Paul confirmed that Jesus told him the same about a future ‘Last Days’ great apostasy or falling away from faith in God. One of his letters to the early Greek church in Salonika (2 Thessalonians 2) refers to it this way:

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. [Emphasis RB]

“Paul carries on with extra details to the gospels, which you can check yourself.

“Moreover, rabbinical teaching is said to confirm the connection between Noah’s time and today’s. Five years ago two separate people on a radio show spoke about the ancient Babylonian Talmud’s interpretation of Genesis and the cause of the Flood. ‘America’s Rabbi’, Aryeh Spero, said the Talmud’s writings show, “before the Flood people started to write marriage contracts between men…which is more than homo-sexual activity…in other words, giving an official state stamp of approval, a sanctifica-tion of homosexual partnership.”

“Rabbi Spero went on to say, “Even in ancient Greece they did not write  marriage contracts between men.  There was homosexuality, and it was wrong, but  there was not an official ‘blessed’ policy. … Marriage is ‘sanctification’ (not  simply a partnership).”  He said to confer the title of sanctification and holiness upon this behaviour is “probably one of the greatest sins of all that  one does against God’s plan for this world.”

“Another source quotes from the Midrash Rabbah Genesis, a specific commentary upon the Torah, and from the Second Book of Enoch, both of which support the claim about the real events of the ‘days of Noah’, from which we may infer they’re the festivities of which Jesus knew and was referring to. I’ve not yet completely cross-checked those sources, but I can let you have them for checking. [12&13]

“Also the widespread persecution of Christians in Africa and Middle East connects into the Daniel 7 end-times prophecy!” [14]  On top of that, the status of Jerusalem is being discussed in Washington. With three major aspects of prophecy now at the fore we’re definitely entering the End-Times, as stated at the outset of my writing four years ago – The End-Time Is Now In Play – maybe you’d like to check it out?” [15]

Nina adds, “What’s going on proves the Bible is absolutely true and correct!”

“We’re definitely entering into times foreseen by the Lord Jesus and His first apostles as well as Old Testament prophets. What’s happening across the world has been written about and we know the outcome – the return of King Jesus for His Bride.  It can’t be much longer now…As Jesus said when teaching about signs of the end of the Age.:”

“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (Luke 21:28)

Sources:
  1. Theos website article, Is Secular Law Possible?
  2. Challenge issued to Archbishop of Canterbury.
  3. Revd Dr Sharon Stone: Britain is at a crossroads.
  4. Homosexuality vs Holiness – Ordinances of the Amorites.
  5. US and British promotion of LGBT rights sparks backlash
  6. Exporting gay marriage – the ‘gospel’ of St Dave.
  7. Prime Minister thanks campaigners and workers.
  8. From Disabled to Enabled – how Jesus healed Nina’ spine.
  9. Are ‘Christians’ leading homosexuals to hell?
  10. Steve Hill: Warning for this hour – stop spiritual avalanche.
  11. Part 2 of From Death to Life.
  12. WND Janet Porter: How SSM Points to the End of the World.
  13. End-Times Prophecy Watch: Days of Noah:
  14. Muslim Persecution of Christians.
  15. The End Time is Now In Play.

One Day At A Time

Posted on by
Reply

Thank you so much for this encouraging personal insight Bill. It was our motto during disability too. So our repeating it to suffering brethren comes with not only our firm assurance from adversity but also Jesus’ promise to never leave or forsake us. May He favour you immensely.

Unshakable Hope

At the beginning of this trial, so many people, mostly long-time Christians, would advise me to “Just take one day at a time.” I’m sure that every one of these wise people thought they were the first to give me this sage advice. Of course, I always acted as if they were the first to give me that advice and I politely thanked them. (If you are one of those that offered me this advice 16+ years ago, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you that a hundred people already gave me that same advice).

To be honest, even though a hundred people repeated this “Take one day at a time” cliché to me, I really didn’t understand at that time exactly what it meant. Like so many clichés, I think people throw them out to fill dead air space in awkward moments when they have nothing else to say. But…

View original post 571 more words

UpdateS on UK WordPress problems

Posted on by
Reply

Thurs 8 Aug: no further problems for me although some UK bloggers still have issues. Over 60 users raised over 300 posts on the central thread started 3 weeks ago (Support Forum thread and engineers’ report). This indicates the seriousness of these problems. Continue reading →

WordPress problems

Posted on by
2

This is to advise readers a number of intransigent issues persist in hampering and even preventing bloggers in UK using WordPress because of UK ISP connection difficulties.   Over a week ago I was unable to reblog or comment on another’s WP blog. Also, it kept logging me out as I switched between editing and viewing screens.  WP users may be able to read details on this Support Forum thread of over 260 posts from 60 users Unable to load web page because server sent no data.

It certainly seems this is related to live software development in meeting PM Cameron’s objectives of countering internet porn, to the detriment of regular bloggers and users. In addition there may be an issue over TalkTalk’s use of Chinese filtering system, as reported by the BBC yesterday: Chinese firm Huawei controls net filter praised by PM.

WordPress access has previously been blocked by China and afflicted by hackers, as reported by BBC here.

Hope we may be up and running properly next week, maybe Monday hopefully 🙂

The difference between good and bad secularism – a challenge to secularists

Posted on by
1

Courtesy Watcharakun at Freedigitalphotos.comVery well said sir. Your closing remarks support the question raised in yesterday’s post on Britain taking a totalitarian tack! Thank you Gillan for the link to the full article, which I too highly recommend, and enjoy your summer beak my friend.

God and Politics in the UK

Watching the news of President Morsi’s demise from power in Egypt over the last few weeks has been a reminder of the inherent dangers of allowing a religious  fundamentalist regime to take control of a country.  Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood may have been democratically elected but he was an incompetent ruler who, in a pursuit of imposing a Islamist agenda on the Egyptian people, only managed to turn vast swathes of the population against him, including many who had voted for him in the Presidential election.  The tone and tenor of his administration was high-handed: trying to close shops at 10pm because people should be fresh for the morning prayer (Cairo is the city that never sleeps, where there are still traffic jams at 2am, and where Internet usage peaks at 12.45am); prosecuting journalists for insulting the President; calling people who didn’t agree with him “infidels.” Little legislation was passed. During…

View original post 1,177 more words

Is Britain taking a totalitarian route?

Posted on by
4

Nero_7“Your blog about new decrees for the UK was a tad off-beam,” remarks Steve as we take our coffees into a quiet corner – our wives chat about the new baby prince with some friends seen sitting by the bay window. Revealing what’s bugging him, our friend of long-standing continues…

“The Coalition For Marriage [C4M] had already circulated its grave concern at how the voting had been hijacked! They emailed me about leaders of all three main political parties using their muscle to force through the same-sex marriage Bill without any proper debate whatsoever – totalitarianism, is what it is…copied from Hitler and Stalin!” 

Sitting down stems Steve’s flow as he adds reflectively, “Seems the lady preacher you quoted may have been mistaken. Maybe we are at a crossroads, but what she said was supposed to happen didn’t – quite the opposite!!” [Ref 1 below]

I’m taken aback, not knowing Steve to be a secret reader of my blog! When we four lunch together, all talk about ‘glory stories’, ministry or scripture goes straight over his head. Being a keen golfer and do-it-yourself guy, his skills prove useful in the local parish church. Maybe having a newly licensed vicar who’s passionate on prophetic preaching has inspired Steven to dip into my musings?

“I received the same mailing”, I replied. “In debate on other blogs I’ve pointed out there’s no real electoral mandate whatsoever for this Bill to have been introduced. It’s a mockery of parliamentary democracy. I agree – it is a totalitarian procedure. They ignored over half a million protest signatures in preference for a sham so-called consultation.  Not even the gay lobbyists were wanting this Bill.”

Steve nods, “That Bill’s not had unanimous support. According to C4M, it has not been plain sailing for the Government with over 300 MPs and Peers voting against it. C4M effectively highlighted many problems with this legislation. Many Peers tabled amendments to protect civil liberties but none of the Bill’s backers – leaders in all parties – saw to it that they were voted into the Bill.

“Moderate and reasonable changes were wanted, according to C4M, yet both Government and Opposition objected – even hysterically! – and made sure none were added to the Bill.  A shameful travesty – tyranny, if the truth be known!”

Taking the email out of a pocket he points out its second page’s points on legal protections required for

> Teachers > Workers > Chaplains > Councils > Free Speech > Siblings.

I read the details and what C4M’s Colin Hart writes:

We wanted Clauses on the face of the Bill to protect civil liberties. Instead Government ministers only agreed to a couple of amendments and gave verbal assurances that people should not be victimised, saying that people would be protected by equality laws.

Evidence from the very recent past proves the brazen falsity of that empty promise. No wonder my friend is so annoyed.

Re. Prophetic Decrees

I ask Steve, “When you read my piece did you think what Sharon Stone and her team did would change the course of events?”

“Your blog implies she said what God had given her would affect Parliament’s votes on redefining marriage…”

“Hold on Steve, not quite so. The news I read in that morning’s paper on the overwhelming opposition the Archbishops and Lords Spiritual encountered was a clear sign of difficulties [2]. Archbishop Welby is reported as saying,

Anyone who listened to much of the Same Sex Marriage Bill Second Reading Debate in the House of Lords could not fail to be struck by the overwhelming change of cultural hinterland. Predictable attitudes were no longer there. The opposition to the Bill – which included me and many other bishops – was utterly overwhelmed, with amongst the largest attendance and participation and majority since 1945. There was noticeable hostility to the view of the churches.

“To my mind his words contrasted strongly with Sharon’s solid teaching from a completely different stance – one to be taken by the Anglicans, if they knew how!”

“What do you mean Richard?”

“Rather than being browbeaten by sinners within the worldly, unclean House of Lords it is much better to speak from where they are in spirit – seated with Christ in heavenly realms above. That is, to take real spiritual authority from over and above the darkness.  Now that you’re into my blog I’d suggest checking out Sharon’s ideas on ‘perspective’ in her words for 2013 [3].

“Parliament’s approval was already a foregone conclusion when I wrote about her mentoring day’s profound declarations. Even so, I went ahead and published and thought readers may question it. So, I doubt you’re alone Stan.

“Yes, an immediate turnaround would have been fantastic – and proof of answered prayers. My understanding is; what we declared vocally and from our spirits was released into higher realms. The same way Jesus spoke ‘woe’, that is, cursed a barren fig tree, we were breaking and overwriting thoughts and attitudes seeded and concreted into people’s minds by pronouncements from the unrighteous who are in power and authority over them.  Therefore, it will take time to change but it will – and so the near future will be most interesting, even if things get even more difficult as the darkness increases.

“I’ve only to think of a couple of profound changes the Lord showed me many years ago and are now taking place here and in the Middle East.

“The good thing about this SSM Bill from a Christian viewpoint is…”

Our wives head toward us and so we head to the bar for a top up.

To hear what’s good, and not so good, click to continue the discussion > 

References:
  1. Dr Sharon Stone: Britain is at a crossroads
  2. Daily Telegraph 6th July
  3. Dr Sharon Stone: Prophetic Words for 2013

One of the most exciting trends in Christianity is the Spirit of God drawing Christians together

Posted on by
Reply

Courtesy of James Mark Long, www.propheticartists.comAnother very good piece on the ‘new era’ in the Church. Our Heavenly Father is (at long last) answering Jesus’ prayer at John 17: 20-26, the full context of which is important for grasping its key buried within – and how He’s going to work through us. Yesterday our apostolic leader spoke along the same lines as Gillan and Richard P. He echoed my opinion that non-believers are such because they see – and know of – widespread division in Christianity. The Holy Trinity is united in their diversity, which is what Father wants Jesus’ body to mirror; “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent me…”

God and Politics in the UK

When I was growing up in the 1980s, Christianity always appeared to my young eyes to be very tribal.  Christians  were very keen to emphasise their differences, drawn mostly along denominational and doctrinal lines. Issues such as adult/child baptism, the role of women in the church, whether the gifts of the Spirit still existed and various interpretations of passages in the Bible were sticking points that separated Christians.  Churches from different denominations rarely did much together unless there was a big event or initiative such as a Billy Graham mission. Ecumenism was something of a dirty word that few were interested in.

Now, my perceptions could have been wrong and it many have been partly down to where I lived, but I don’t think that would fully explain it. Not so long ago I would hear people identifying themselves as Baptist or Evangelical or Anglican when asked about their beliefs. If I ask someone…

View original post 1,465 more words

Work should NOT be a curse!

Posted on by
Reply

Really good one – thanks (and to Kenny)! This reinforces what our visiting speaker said yesterday on Ephesians 4 about God’s purpose for the Church being rooted in Gen 1: reproducing after His kind and establishing the holy pattern of authority, tasks and marriage – ie Adam had an assignment before he had a wife! So, work is important to God – it didn’t come as a result of the Fall. (Therefore, our visitor stressed the importance of our ‘metron’, or sphere of influence in our daily lives.) Click if link fails (most unusually WordPress has been playing up lately)

Lion Bites – Infilling and Rejoicing

Posted on by
2

Lion-Bites-logo-2012With kind permission of the Glasgow Prophetic Centre I’m posting a couple of their daily inspirational words related to recent posts on this blog. (Emphases added by RB)

The first came the Monday I watched the UCB video and realised it was the 3rd time within 3 days I’d heard about Queen Esther.  Her preparations for entering the beauty contest, and later into the king’s presence when he granted her favour, is similar to our way into God’s throne room, which can only be entered through the Blood of the Lamb. The second ‘bite’ came the next Monday about what’s happening in the ‘heavenlies’ and how to react to the opening of ‘Pandora’s Box’ in our nation.:

ALLOW ME TO FILL YOUR LIFE

Isaiah 6:1-3 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”

Open the temple. Open up the temple that I may come in. The temple that I speak of is the temple that is your body, that is your mind, that is your spirit. Allow My robe to fill this temple, bringing a purity and holiness that will cause the world around you to tremble.

For I would come and abide in you fully that My presence and beauty and light would emanate even through your skin.

Just as I manifested My presence and Glory on and in the Ark of the Covenant, so I have made you to be a living ark in which My glory may dwell.

Put aside the vain things of this world and allow Me to fill your life. Be transformed by My presence. Be renewed, healed and restored by My glory displaying through you.

Just as the ark was covered by the most pure and precious of gold, so you are precious in My sight. Allow Me to fill every aspect of your life and I will make you a living, visible representation of My glory.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Jeremiah 31:33 But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

REJOICE

Revelation 12:12 For this reason, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time. (Emphasis added)

I say to you, “Rejoice, rejoice!” when you see the darkness around you. Rejoice when you see the dark clouds gather. Rejoice, knowing that your salvation is near. Rejoice, knowing that the strength of the evil one is coming to an end.

The enemy is piling the last of his reserves and reinforcements into the front line. You look around and you see the darkness increase all around you, and the evil seemingly increasing. But know that what you are witnessing are the last ditch attempts of a vanquished foe – the last desperations to hang on.

So I say to you, “Rejoice, Rejoice”. The light is coming that will shatter this darkness and dissolve those dark clouds.

Isaiah 28:5-6 In that day the LORD of hosts will become a beautiful crown and a glorious diadem to the remnant of His people; A spirit of justice for him who sits in judgement, a strength to those who repel the onslaught at the gate.

Isaiah 60:1-3 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold,  darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Mentoring Day part 2 – Dr Sharon Stone: Britain is at a crossroads

Posted on by
2

“..The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8 NIV)

These above words of Jesus to Nicodemus are from his explanation of how we can see the Kingdom of God. (As a member of the ruling sect of Pharisees, Nicodemus visited Jesus privately.)  I’m reminded of them whenever ‘chance’ brings an unusual event or encounter my way; especially after unscheduled changes have had to be made.  What’s more, when three crop up together after a single change then I’m alert to God’s finger pointing something out.

Windsor Castle: courtesy Copyright-free-photos.org.uk

That happened on 6th July after I arrived at the venue for this month’s Mentoring Day with Dr Stone’s school, only to be turned away as its car park was full. This led, however, to 3 brief encounters on the streets of Windsor that proved to be of increasing relevance to my purpose. (See here for another example of a God-incident in this connection.)

SO, I was ready to catch anything ‘in the wind’!  First, I noticed a couple of ‘surprises’ in an open vision and content of a coffee chat with friends – the ‘axe/icebreaker’ and the remark about the Book of Esther, as recounted in Part 1. But more was to come!

After coffee break, Sharon spoke under an urgency gained from what she’d received  only hours earlier from the Lord in connection with the current voting in The House of Lords!

Let me share not a verbatim account but my notes, which cannot do justice to the depth of teaching, or to the practical activation session that took place:

BRITAIN IS AT A CROSSROADS

In opening, Sharon reminded those who gather regularly that they’re well-gifted in checking in their own spirit whether or not revelations she gives are of the Holy Spirit. Also, that we’re now moving to a new level of making decrees for Britain in one voice:

We, the nation, are at a crossroads, especially regarding the House of Lords’ action this week. We can’t take back a decree, you can only make another over it…

Sharon therefore told how Esther did that by overwriting the evil decree her king’s first minister Haman devised.  (This is why my post on Esther’s story underlined relevant parts of the verses quoted from her book. Did you read on to learn how her action then completely overturned the situation? Evil Haman’s pride was upturned and used against him in having to honour her uncle, whom he’d intended hanging personally, but the king had Haman executed instead!) The account of Queen Esther shows how God works through events to thwart wicked intentions and decrees and deliver his loved ones from evil.

As born-again Christians and kings and priests in God’s kingdom, we are mandated to change our personal and social world by means of decrees. In particular, we need to overwrite those harmful ones that have been spoken over us by authority figures.

Sharon claims that, over many years of operating with decrees, she’s seen shifts in regions and nations that bring acceleration as a result of Godly decrees having been made over them. When we exercise our authority in making decrees as citizens of the Kingdom it is possible to see a major change, even by this time next year.

PRINCIPLES OF DECREES & DECLARATIONS

1. We can reform and recreate our world. In the beginning, God spoke everything into existence and, being made in His image, we recognise the power of words to reform or recreate our world. In fact, many consider the opening verses of Genesis to mean that God re-formed the earth.

Morality and spirituality is spiralling downward. As in Genesis, when things are in chaos is the best time to speak, “Let there be light!”  [Proverbs 18:21 applies too: ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit’.]

A decree is a written statement and becomes a binding, legal instrument. God has three forms of decree – word, law, rule. These have been corrupted on earth through human and demonic agents. [This concept connects with ‘generational altars’, defiled ones of which are to be destroyed: Gen 12:8, 26:25, 28:18, 2Kings3, Deut 12, 1Cor10:14-22 ]

Then we herald, or proclaim orally the decree. A declaration is a personal statement about our allegiance with what’s decreed and is, therefore, a witness and testimony to its truth. Satan is a legalist, thief and destroyer and we need to understand fully the strategic meaning of prophet Daniel’s vision of the ‘fourth beast’ (Dan 7:15-28).

2. The laws of God can be re-activated in the earth and a new administrative order can be released by means of decrees. The process for making such changes is based upon Hebrews 7:11-12 (the new priesthood after the order of Melchizedek).

The traditional churches believe the present system will continue but it’s just like the Judaic system’s replacement recorded at Hebrew 7:15-16. Let’s not forget Solomon’s proverb (Proverbs 15:2) which applies to us as searchers, or may be likened to Jesus’ parables, or to His unravelling a ball of string:

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

3. Decrees establish and construct foundations with a secure legal position for the purpose of building the Kingdom, as it is written at Job 22:28.:

You will also declare a thing,
And it will be established for you;
So light will shine on your ways.

Nehemiah used this principle against enemies of his rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls for they’d no right to be there, whereas he possessed the Persian king’s written decree.

Legalist Satan pays great attention to decrees and makes opposite ones to rob Godly ones of their power. This strategy can be overcome as revealed by the Lord  to prophet Isaiah, as in the opening verse of his 10th chapter (for outcome see vv 3-4):

“Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees,
Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed…

4. Therefore, we’re authorised to declare “Woe!” against unrighteous decrees and all those who write them [like Jesus cursing the fig tree which bore no fruit]. As in Job 6:25 “How forceful are right (and timely) words…”

5. A decree is forceful and violent, as in applying a signet ring to a decree, as Jesus stated at Matthew 11:12 (from Amplified versions)

And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].

and Matt 16:19 to Peter and his fellow disciples:

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.”

Sharon explained such application shakes and breaks open heaven, like an icebreaker!  Now I understood the relevance of the open vision I’d been granted at the start of the meeting (see Part 1)!

Next, came a practical application of the fresh Apostolic Prophetic Decrees Over the UK the Lord had given Sharon after waiting upon Him early that morning. He also gave her the decrees which our enemy has sown into the minds of politicians, media and the not-yet believing public.

7. The Decision is enforced by the Watchers (angels) in accordance with Daniel 4:17

This sentence is by the decree of the [heavenly] watchers and the decision is by the word of the holy ones, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High [God] rules the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whomever He will and sets over it the humblest and lowliest of men.

The closing verses of Psalm 103 also attest to this principle:

Bless the Lord, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion.  Bless the Lord, O my soul!

NB: It’s especially interesting how the Book of Esther was separately referred to twice during that day, and then again two days later upon watching the video about the Welsh Outpouring. This began with a prophetic word from Esther about appearing before the king and touching his sceptre.

Perhaps the Lord God is indicating that, as He’s brought spiritual and physical changes within church for Wales and overflowing to the rest of Britain, so too will what has been done in Windsor affect and bring changes within our nations. I trust it will do so in view of my personal perception of its spiritual significance to the United Kingdom as a pivotal point, or cog, between heaven and earth.

May each of these apostolic and prophetic decrees be enabled and enforced for the Greater Glory of God. Amen.

Further Reading: This teaching is discussed ‘over coffee’ here and continued here.

Seeking God

Posted on by
1

Some wonderfully written tips here on ‘how to’ – and Amen to your closing prayer Nancy. (Thanks Kenny for this link).

From the Inside Out

 

Seeking after God.  It’s a concept we come across frequently in scripture.  But God is Spirit; he’s invisible to us.  How do we seek after someone we can’t see?

Perhaps we can answer that question by considering the ways we seek a person, who can be seen.

Example #1:

When my husband, Steve, and I are separated in a crowd, it’s quite amazing how quickly I can spot him.  Beyond height, hair, and eye color, I know the breadth of his shoulders, the way the hair grows on the back of his head, the shape of his ears.  In fact, it’s such nuances as these that draw my attention, even more than the descriptors listed on his driver’s license.

Perhaps our first step in seeking God is to get to know what he looks like, although not his physical Being, since he’s chosen not to reveal himself that way.  But…

View original post 562 more words

Amazed by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby

Posted on by
Reply

Charles Moore writes,

I am amazed. I first saw this man 40 years ago, when we were both pupils at Eton. Later, I was with him at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was the shyest, most unhappy-looking boy you could imagine. Now he is 105th in the line that began with St Augustine. He seems to be loving it. I remark on the change, and he agrees. “That’s something to do with the Christian faith,” he says.

The Most Rev and Right Hon Justin Welby had just led Charles Moore into the garden of Lambeth Palace with a tray heavy with coffee cups (sorry no photo), down its wide steps and into wider lawns.  Past editor of The Sunday Telegraph and Daily Telegraph, following The Spectator, who continues to write for the last two, Moore finds fellow Old Etonian Welby to be by far the most relaxed Archbishop he’s interviewed in that ancient abode. (This archive photo doesn’t do justice to that of Saturdays’ News Review & Comment section by Heathcliff O’Malley.)

Charles Moore’s op-ed pieces are expressed now and then upon a firm Christian faith which, I believe, is from a Roman Catholic perspective. I recalled my pleasant surprise when the New Year edition covered His Grace’s pre-inaugural visit to – of all places – a conference at Trent Vineyard Church where the Elders laid hands on him in prayer and blessing (here and a video).  Journalist Charles Moore may have had that event in mind when opening his interview with a question on charismatics  – and got more than he’d bargained for!

More morsels from Moore.:

Is it necessary, I ask, for a true Christian to have had a personal conversion experience? “Absolutely not. There is an incredible range of ways in which the Spirit works. It doesn’t matter how you get there. It really does quite matter where you are.”

Does he know Jesus? “Yes. I do. He’s both someone one knows and someone one scarcely knows at all, an utterly intimate friend and yet with indescribable majesty.” (emphasis added)

(On the Pope’s Ignatian and Franciscan spirituality) It is spirituality that the two men share, and it is overcoming the divisions of 500 years: “One of the most exciting trends in western Christianity is that the Spirit of God is drawing Christians together.”

Where will his discussions with the Pope lead? “I haven’t a clue,” he says, disarmingly. He thinks that the ordination of women bishops, though he vigorously supports it, is the biggest obstacle to unity with Rome, but he also believes that both Churches now accept that they must “walk together’’.

As ever, it is a highly readable and eloquent example of journalism and an interesting informative interview with a man who is, ‘trying to find new ways in which this country, despite the secular age, can give its allegiance to God again’.

But what particularly amazed his interviewer and how did this Archbishop become a Christian? Read Charles Moore’s I Was Embarrassed – It Was like Getting Measles to learn the answers to those and other questions.

This Saturday feature came a week to the day I read the Telegraph’s Religious Affairs Editor’s remarks about His Grace Welby’s concern over the ‘overwhelming’ sea-change in attitudes toward sexuality (here). In part, he is reported as saying,

“Anyone who listened to much of the Same Sex Marriage Bill Second Reading Debate in the House of Lords could not fail to be struck by the overwhelming change of cultural hinterland. Predictable attitudes were no longer there.

The opposition to the Bill – which included me and many other bishops – was utterly overwhelmed, with amongst the largest attendance and participation and majority since 1945. There was noticeable hostility to the view of the churches.

“In some things we change course and recognise the new context.

“In others we stand firm because truth is not set by culture, nor morals by fashion.

“But let us be clear, pretending that nothing has changed is absurd and impossible.”

Quickly scanned that early Saturday morning, these claims made a deep contrast with what was to come during that mentoring day in Windsor.  I started writing about that in connection with the Book of Esther (here) and will continue to unravel that theme.

Mentoring Day part 1 – apostolic/prophetic alignment and surprises!

Posted on by
5

Let’s first consider these verses in chapter 4 of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (NKJV):

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”…11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

In his ardent teaching upon the benefits of apostolic/prophetic alignment for churches,  Jerome Joseph stated pastors and teachers have been leading church for a season, but this new season needs them to align to, and thereby be strengthened by, the apostolic and prophetic ‘ascension’ gifts.

It is time to move away from adherence to a local church/pastor/priest, for that is a form of idolatry which is past it’s ‘sell-by’ date. And that is not of God.

It is time for an uncompromising, ruthlessness for righteousness and God’s gospel to be expressed throughout the body of Christ. When the Commander-in-Chief speaks through the apostolic/prophetic we should obey Him – we’re not a peace-keeping ministry but a militant calling.

Before that hour’s solid teaching I’d taken my seat after worship. Out of the corner of my eye I’d sensed a long grey, vertical shape whiz down the aisle invisibly carving a deep furrow through its carpeted floor!  I thought it was like an ice-breaker but upon analysis thought it may be an axe or adze being swung. (See next post for correct answer!)

These photos may help you gain an impression of the impact I sensed – imagine the ship without its white superstructure and the motion of the other’s prow through ice.

Coffee break

Fresh CoffeeOver coffee afterwards I chatted with a couple of fellow attendees. One mentioned she’d been praying with friends the previous evening because of a recommendation (here) for a prophetic word from Kim Clement relating to the Book of Esther.  It was about wicked Haman’s fate being applied today. So, I filed it away mentally for reference (as here), but along with the above impressions, it proved to be related to what Dr Stone was about to teach!

This was the first of three references to the Book of Esther that I drew attention to in respect of the video on the Welsh Outpouring. The second and fullest occasion was when Sharon taught about a new level of being able to decree and overwrite what’s going on with this nation’s legislature. The foundational principles are contained in the book of Esther, as indicated in the last post, and continued in Mentoring Day part 2.

Meanwhile, please visit Dr Stone’s website to learn what the Lord gave her that very morning about very important Apostolic Prophetic Decrees Over the UK.

Orphan wins beauty contest in Iranian court

Posted on by
Reply

This headline belongs to the story of an orphaned young lady named Esther in the heart of the ancient Iranian, or Persian, empire about 2,600 years ago. It is recorded in the well-known book bearing her name. (Wikipedia explains the national names.)  In closing the last post I wrote about the likely relevance of her story to developments in the UK today. Before elaborating, I must outline Esther’s exceptional story.:

PersianEmpireAbout 100 years earlier, the Hebrew people had been taken into captivity from Israel and Judea by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. His empire fell to the Medes and Persians (as the prophets predicted) and one of the first actions of king Cyrus was to repatriate exiled peoples and to re-instate their national gods.

The Jews benefited greatly and a few groups returned over subsequent decades to rebuild destroyed Jerusalem and its temple built by King Solomon. Some Jews stayed behind, however, of which Mordecai, a minor official, was one. His great-grandfather was one of the original captive exiles and, later, an uncle and aunt died leaving their daughter an orphan. So, Mordecai looked after his younger cousin as his own daughter. The Bible describes the situation and that, ‘The young woman was lovely and beautiful’  (Esther 2:5-7).

Several years after their surprising defeat by the Greeks at the Battle of Marathon in 490BC, there were good reasons for Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) to give a huge feast at the climax of six months’ display of his wealth and power. His queen threw a huge party too, but refused his request to join his celebrations, thereby giving offence to not only the king but also to his courtiers. She even refused his command to be brought before him!  His council of regional princes thought her action set a bad example, and one which other ladies may follow! The first chapter in Esther records how the princes answered their king (please note the emphasised principles),

“If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.  20 When the king’s decree which he will make is proclaimed through-out all his empire (for it is great)…21 And the reply pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan. 22 Then he sent letters to all the king’s provinces, to each province in its own script, and to every people in their own language.

Thus Xerxes deposed his queen and his servants later recommended that a replacement be found by means of a beauty contest, to which the king agreed and issued a decree. Mordecai advised Esther not to tell of her Jewish roots and took her to the king’s palace for selection. This was followed by 12 months’ beauty preparations before being presented personally to King Xerxes, when…

The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the generosity of a king. (Esther 2)

About that time, Mordecai uncovered a plot to overthrow the king. So, Esther informed the king in her cousin’s name. Afterwards, the king appointed Haman above all princes and commanded all to pay him homage. But Mordecai refused to do so!  This wicked, intensely anti-Semitic leader therefore hated Mordecai and devised a conspiracy, with financial incentives, to wipe out all Jews from the kingdom. Later, he built a ‘gallows’ on his own property for Mordecai.  Thus, the king was manipulated into issuing a decree and handed his signet ring to Haman for authorising the decree into law (Esther 3).

Mordecai learned about this plan (Esther 4) and informed Esther, who responded,

“All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, he has but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden sceptre, that he may live. Yet I myself have not been called to go in to the king these thirty days.”

This ruling applied even to Queen Esther!  Mordecai challenged her with these famous words:

“Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Esther resolved to go before the king making supplication on behalf of her people, and requested back-up prayers and fasting,

“…And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” 

Courtesy of Gilbert and Beers

Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, across from the king’s house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house.[a]  2 So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favour in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the sceptre.

To find out what happened next and to gain insights into how God works to protect His people, continue reading here… (click therein for next short chapters).

To return to my notes on the Mentoring Day with Dr Sharon Stone click for either Part 1 or for Part 2.

Footnote:

This historic deliverance of the Jews from extermination is celebrated annually during the Feast of Purim. For more information in a brief introduction to the Book of Esther read Mary Fairchild’s summary, and read the whole, short book at Bible Gateway’s website.

UCB video on the Welsh Outpouring

Posted on by
Reply

Thank you United Christian Broadcasters for the following half-hour documentary which I highly recommend for all my readers. It tells of God coming to church.

As a lady pastor explains,

Pastors and leaders are coming and churches are being changed…People are so fed up with religion that they want Jesus….They’re fed up with doing everyday Sunday church…They want to experience Jesus in a real way.

This documentary is refreshingly different to the usual presentation by journalists who report and interview in a matter-of-fact, but sometimes confrontational, manner.

It allows those intimately involved right from the start of events in Cwmbran to tell what happened from their perspective. Also, some accounts are from those who came and were amazed to be healed either physically (eg. 10 year’s wheelchair-bound Paul) or emotionally and spiritually (eg. depressive and suicidal youngsters). You will learn that this church had also been established with a heart for rehabilitation of deeply damaged people. From the outset, this Outpouring bears the hallmark of salvation with hundreds responding to and receiving Jesus Christ as saviour.

So, be blessed as you watch and receive:

“No more anti-depressants and I got a new job!” is one of the closing testimonies of how God wonderfully transformed one young lady’s life.  Paul’s description of his healing confirms what I recently wrote about that of Delia Knox (see 2nd paragraph here).

There is also an interesting reference to the prophetic word from God about preparing for this visitation at ‘such a time as this’.

Also, please note the introductory minute’s reference to the account of Queen Esther (in the ancient Persian court), with more details at 14-15th minutes of how the Outpouring’s first night mirrored her intercessory audience before the king.

Hearing the 3rd referral in 3 days to the same situation from the Book of Esther would seem to indicate the Lord is drawing attention to its importance. But before explaining, those unfamiliar with her story may wish to read Orphan wins beauty contest in Iranian Court in order to understand Esther’s pivotal role. This will introduce its significance for prophetic action relating to Parliament and how that may connect with the Outpouring. (For details of which see Mentoring Day parts 1 and 2.)

The BBC admits failings in its treatment of Christians

Posted on by
2

WELCOME news! Thank you Gillan for your hard work producing a commendable summary and for quoting EA’s Dr David Landrum. I won’t hold my breath, however, for BBC to review their Middle-East reporting!

God and Politics in the UK

The BBC has had a problem for some time regarding how it deals with religion.  It has regularly been accused of giving Christianity in particular a tough time.  What gives these accusations substance is that they have not just come from churches and individual Christians complaining about the treatment they receive, but also from within the BBC itself.

Back in 2011 a survey was conducted as part of the BBC’s ‘Diversity Strategy’ involving 4,500 people, including some BBC staff.  The consultation concluded: ‘In terms of religion, there were many who perceived the BBC to be anti-Christian and as such misrepresenting Christianity…  Christians are specifically mentioned as being badly treated, with a suggestion that more minority religions are better represented despite Christianity being the most widely observed religion within Britain.’

Then last year Mark Thompson, the then director-general of the BBC admitted that Christianity gets treated less sensitively than other religions because it is ‘pretty broad…

View original post 1,157 more words

Postscript to ‘Note on Christian prophecy and the Apocalypse’

Posted on by
Reply

For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him… (2 Chronicles 16:9)

For a little amusement but, more importantly, to show how God enables believers to encourage one another, let me share with you what happened in writing the above-titled post (here).

Let me stress this > I never intended writing anything about the Book of Revelation, or Apocalypse! It’s far too large a subject – and there’s lots and lots of other material to cover. But I didn’t know or suspect that the Lord had a surprise ‘up His sleeve’!

Fridays to Sunday are ‘long weekends’, so I go online on Saturdays to scan only pre-media news and run off a weekly report. A fortnight ago, I spotted a media interview with Joel Rosenberg about Syria.  As it was timely and it’s very quick to repost in WordPress, I quickly ‘re-blogged’ it (here).

Only afterwards did I think the difference in opinions conveyed in the media piece may not be understood by readers unfamiliar with scholarly views on the Bible. So, some explanation was in order.

It needed a bit of quick homework, so I dived into trusty David Pawson’s book. This wasn’t an easy post to write, and longer than usual. After some revisions I wanted to acknowledge his work – and when doing so I recalled a friend’s excellent sessions a few years ago on the Book of Revelation.  So, at the very last minute I included Neil too – and after hitting the ‘publish’ button I wondered what he’d make of it.

He responded the next day:

Hi Richard – A note of encouragement to you (for I have been greatly encouraged by God through you)…

My friend goes on to say that, as a result of being “apprehended” (Phil 3:12) to write some more about Biblical prophecy, he slowly started doing so a couple of weeks ago…

…then your recent Blogs came in as absolute confirmation – I show a few paragraphs below to give you a flavour of why I was excited by the “Coincidence” (on Damascus).  Not only that, but I see I was “Mentioned in Dispatches”, which was like confirmation on confirmation!!…

I agree with this concluding opinion,

I will describe how the prophecies about Jesus’ first coming, written hundreds of years before the event, must have seemed gobbledygook to the people of the time when they were written.  It is only after the event that we can see what the prophecies mean.

Thank you Neil and praise the Lord for this practical demonstration of just one of the ways He watches over and works in and through His people – it is for His glory, not ours.

Breaking News – Military coup underway in Cairo

Posted on by
Reply

Just finished catching up on emails when checked latest news before finishing for the day. So readers currently on-line may like to know about this..:

The above headline to DEBKAfile Special Report at 17:27 gmt continues as follows:

President Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood leaders held. Tanks in Cairo

Tanks were moving on the October 6 Nile Bridge in the heart of Cairo Wednesday, July 3, shortly after President Mohamed Morsi was removed from his palace and taken to a military base. Muslim Brotherhood leaders are also believed under arrest. Security travel bans have been issued against Brotherhood leaders. Sources in Cairo report that they will be tried for “crimes” committed during their year in office. A formal announcement is awaited by the military council after President Morsi and his government refused to stand down in response to the defense minister’s ultimatum Wednesday, July 3. Continue reading here (NB: post updated)

Footnote to interview with Asiya Nasir MP

Posted on by
3

“The Christian Church is very fast growing in Pakistan. Pentecostals are growing more. Churches are full. There are not enough places to put people. People are trying to set up new churches. People are bringing their friends, giving room for prayer in houses.” Asiya Nasir

The above closing remarks in Asiya’s interview in the previous post are of personal interest because of what I learned several years ago about the fruit of the ‘Toronto Blessing’ in bringing Muslims to Christ in Africa and Asia. In an email a couple years ago I mentioned the work of Iris Ministries and ‘LH’ in this regard.  The Baker’s well-known ministry was radically changed for Mozambique, but Randy Clark also cited a Norwegian’s secret missions to Pakistan as ‘fruit’.

There Is MoreAside: Randy is one of the most humble men of God we’ve been blessed to meet and hear several times. The Lord had promised to open Randy’s eyes when he preached in Toronto Airport Church in January 1994 – the Lord showed up too!  This Baptist pastor from St Louis stayed to preach for the first 42 days of renewal and refreshing that lasted about twelve years. Dubbed as ‘The Toronto Blessing’ it was a powerful, joyous visitation that revealed the Father’s heart of love. However, it perplexed those Christians who think Holy Spirit’s power and gifts ceased after the First Century! (Randy’s personal account is in: There Is More: Reclaiming the Power of Impartation)

In May 1994, young Norwegian Baptist pastor Leif Hetland met pastors who’d returned from Canada at Holy Trinity Brompton in London (home of renowned Alpha Course). On page 164 of There Is More, Randy writes,

“Leif was very skeptical (sic). What he was hearing about Toronto seemed weird. (Upon return) to Norway they were shocked to find that the anointing had been imparted to them. Renewal immediately broke out in their church and many people experienced dramatic healings…etc”.

Regrettably, a leading elder quenched the Holy Spirit’s move. However, a year later the paths of Leif and Randy crossed by ‘divine appointment’ and the latter delivered a powerful prophetic word, of which the gist was, “You are a bulldozer…going into areas that have been untouched”. (See Global Mission Awareness site for fuller words.)

However, this got overlooked until a year or so later during a long recovery from a car accident. In the book, Leif describes what soon happened:

I began to sense a tremendous, supernatural burden for the unreached in the world. There are over 70 million people in Arab nations who have never heard the name of Jesus! I knew I was supposed to be going where no one else was going…

At the end of ’96 a friend of mine invited me to go to Pakistan with him. I realized this was confirmation of Randy’s word. That was the start of many trips to Pakistan where we’ve seen thousands upon thousands healed and saved. By the grace of God, I’ve now been to over 72 countries, many of them Muslim and some of them Communist…

I’ve seen every kind of miracle you can imagine – tumours dropping off, creative miracles where missing parts are restored, blind eyes seeing, everything. God is revealing His glory! Through the revelation of His glory, His goodness and compassion, hundreds of thousands are coming to Christ in areas that are officially closed to the gospel.

Praise the Lord – and Leif isn’t the only anointed evangelist who’s been to those closed countries.

An interview with Pakistan’s only Christian MP

Posted on by
Reply

“Whenever I was in the company of my party colleagues – most of whom were rigid Muslims with long beards – they urged me to tell them about my religion. If I did not tell them it would be too unfair to my religion, my Christ.” Asiya Nasir

I was immediately struck upon reading the above remark in the Evangelical Alliance’s magazine Idea because we’d returned from Hull where a Muslim man had demanded of his Christian friends, “Why have churches kept quiet about knowing Jesus?” (brief report here). These are only a couple of the increasing reports of Jesus Christ revealing Himself to Muslims and conveying His love for them (see Footnote 3).

The following EA interview is thus most significant and encouraging news in view of the rising severity of persecutions and murders of Christians across most Muslim nations.

60 seconds with Asiya Nasir MP

Asiya nasir_dave landrum

Asiya Nasir is the only Christian MP in Pakistan. Dr Dave Landrum, director of advocacy at the Alliance, met her to talk about what’s going on in her country.

DL: How did you get into politics?

AN: My great, great grandfather settled in the province of Balochistan before independence before. I was educated there, a teacher there, and wanted to be a professor, but God had His own plan. I never thought of becoming a politician, though my father was in the House and twice contested elections there. It was not a decent thing for women in Pakistan. In the 2002 elections he asked me to replace him. It wasn’t an easy decision for me; I had three children. But my husband supported me. I thought that somebody had to enter politics, if we wanted to bring change to the system, change in the rule of politicians. The party I joined was a right-wing Muslim Islamic party, right wing. Many of my community criticised me for joining that party. It was seen as anti-Christian or anti-minority, but I was really surprised firstly when I met my party leader as he really warmly welcomed me.

Was it difficult being a Christian in this context?

I knew I was in Christ, and knew my foundation was really strong. I felt I needed to identify myself with Christ, and felt I should never hide myself from people. Whenever I was in the company of my party colleagues – most of whom were rigid Muslims with long beards – they urged me to tell them about my religion. If I did not tell them it would be too unfair to my religion, my Christ. I told them. And slowly and gradually people became interested in it. Many of my ministers asked me and my husband to get some Bibles for them.

Many Christians go into politics, but break under the pressure as they do not have the foundations of a personal relationship with Christ. But, for you it was the opposite?

Yes, because in all difficult situations I realised he was the only anchor for me. I cannot find shelter anywhere else except him. I know eventually everything will perish, but one will remain. His name will remain, so we have to glorify His name. I will not be an MP forever. I will be here until He wants me to be here – no one can denounce me or remove me.

Shahbaz Bhatti was a Pakistani politician and a Christian who was killed for his outspoken criticism of the country’s blasphemy laws. Do you fear for your life?

No, I don’t fear. I have no fears. I do not fear death because I know He has given us everlasting life, life after death, so why should I fear? Each one of us has to die some day, with the tablet in the hospital or with a bullet. So why not die for His name? ) Someone once asked me how many bodyguards I have. I said only one – my Lord Jesus. I don’t have any bodyguards because I have never received any threats. Jesus says you are not called for this, you are called to be bold, courageous and truthful, honest, so I am only afraid of that threat, not of anything else. But I have never ever received any threat.

Pakistan seems to need more secular government and civil society whereas the UK may need less. Any comment on the difference between the two countries?

We need balance, not religious extremism. There is debate in Pakistan about how we can segregate state and religion. Many think religion does not affect affairs of state, but I say no, you cannot segregate for a long time. To some extent religion needs to be involved in the affairs of state. I don’t think you can ever really separate. My party always appreciates me because I don’t have secular ideas. The debate in Pakistan is whether we are going to be a secular state not theocratic. I say no, it should not be theocratic but also not a secular state. We need a pluralistic culture, need freedom. I believe in freedom of religion and don’t want to impose religion on me or others, everyone should be free. I don’t want to go and preach my religion but not practise, I want to practise first and want others to learn from my life. If they are impressed with my life they will convert or learn from my religion. Even in Pakistan we have a lot of diversity, religions should not want to impose. My party is religious but does not believe in imposing on others, they have never asked me to convert or put on a veil.

Is the gospel spreading in Pakistan?

The Christian Church is very fast growing in Pakistan. Pentecostals are growing more. Churches are full. There are not enough places to put people. People are trying to set up new churches. People are bringing their friends, giving room for prayer in houses.

Footnotes

  1. Photo credit and original post re-published by permission of Idea (visit here).
  2. Those stirred by this courageous lady’s faith through adversity may wish to visit Wilson Chowdhry’s website and blog at British Pakistani Christian Association.
  3. For more about Muslims meeting Jesus see closing part of All Hail The Lamb.
  4. The next post explains my interest in this important interview.