The violent, fanatical, and apocalyptic actions and rhetoric of the Iranian regime and the leadership of the Islamic State are causing millions of Muslimsto rethink whether they want to be part of such a religion, and many of them are turning to faith in Jesus Christ.
This is the assessment of Dr. Hormoz Shariat, a former Muslim who came to faith in Christ himself in the early 1980s. Today, Dr. Shariat is one of the the most prominent Iranian Christian pastors and evangelists in the world.
Last month, I had dinner with this dear friend, a man I call the “Billy Graham of Iran” because he is preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to millions upon millions of Iranians through his 24/7 Farsi satellite television network.
We were talking about the trends he’s seeing in the Islamic world, and I left the conversation surprised by how encouraged he is. Yes, the Iranian regime and ISIS…
A prophetic word was brought by Dr Sharon Stone at a Christian International Europe conference on 5th December. I pray this transcript conveys the anointing of the spoken word as Sharon prophesies, teaches and points out practical applications, especially on the heavenly court.
By way of preface Sharon asks those gathered, “Why do you need to have a word of the Lord for this season that you’re in?”, and then answers her question.:
I believe it’s because it helps you to align with God so that you can make a difference in your world.
And that’s what all of our hearts’ desire is, but the problem is then: God’s idea of time often does not agree with our natural understanding of time. But remember this: He’s the One who made time and He made us to be aware of His timely plans.
I love what 1 Chronicles 12:32 speaks of: it says there was a tribe in Israel that knew the times and the seasons of God [‘sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel should do’]. Now Israel was always successful when they were compatible in opinion and action with God; to carry out His will, His way, in His time. Even though there were other nations who had more powerful armies and influential leaders, they could not compete with the edge of knowing what God had planned for the particular times.
Now, God is giving His children the ability of knowing His times and seasons, and not only that but also recognizing the signs of the times and correctly interpreting them. He wants you to have knowledge from Him of the course we need to take, precisely what needs to be done and how to do it.
So, when you and I choose to receive and apply God’s revelation, then we benefit from its counsel. This includes you, the church, government, leaders and those in business can all benefit when they have a timely word of the Lord and revelation to align with.
Now, when revelation is released in the spiritual realm (as today) the atmosphere begins to shift. And what happens there? The atmosphere begins to shift, it has a chain reaction causing changes in the natural realm to come to pass. And then, what seemed to be impossible before that is now possible, because God’s word is a creative word.
So, this 2016 Word of the Lord is about intentionally partnering with God’s will being done on earth as it is in Heaven. (Prays for delegates and herself to hear Him.)
1. The Voice of the Lord is a Force for a New Course!
I want to start with revelation concerning the prophets for this season probably because it’s so near and dear to my heart – I love raising up prophets:
In prophet Elijah’s day Jezebel obtained a throne of authority in God’s covenant land. Now Elijah also had a seat of authority, but his was not given by man but it was established by God. Prophet Elijah’s authority not only countered Jezebel’s advances but it realigned Israel with the Lord and it set a new course for the future.
So with the prophets, the voice of the Lord is a force for a new course!
Prophets must now align with each other for increased revelation to release a force for a new course, as it did in Elijah’s day. You may ask me how that works and I want you to look at Psalm 29 (reads verses 3-9 aloud) We read how the thundering voice of God is so powerful, the only thing everyone could say was “Glory!” There is a fresh revelation and power coming to prophetic people that’s going to cause the Church to be struck with awe – as they were then – the only exclamation they can make is “Glory, glory!”
A whole new prophetic velocity is being released. In this momentum more individuals are going to embrace the prophetic and be trained in hearing the voice of God than ever before because a whole new prophetic velocity is being released.
Time to Prophesy Resurrection. Even in the last season we were prophesying like prophet Ezekiel to the scattered dry bones – “Come together, come together”. It is switched in this season; God says it’s now time to prophesy resurrection to the valley of bones. What is that resurrection? In Ezekiel 37 verse 9 (reads aloud …lifeless bodies received resurrection, they stood up on their feet and became an exceeding great army). God is raising up prophets at this time because we’ve been speaking to the Church, “It’s time for dead bones to begin to connect and to come together”. Now God is saying “Listen, I am taking those things and the resurrection power of My Spirit is coming upon them that they might stand and be a great army”.
You see, God is calling His prophets to GLOBAL government influence and impact – so you have got to begin to prophesy that resurrection power. Prophets have to align with each other also during this time because we need the increased revelation for solutions in the earth!
2. The Sovereign Court is in Session
One of my main focal points for this session is Daniel chapter 7. I have just met with many different major prophets and there was a prophetic consensus. You don’t often get that, but when you do, how precious it is – but the consensus is this: Daniel 7 is now being fulfilled. I’ll read some scriptures but what I want you to take note of is: the Sovereign Court is in session (emphases added).
v 9 “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire;
v10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: a thousand thousands ministered to Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.” Did you hear that?…
The Judge of the universe has now seated Himself in readiness and the book of appeals and verdicts are opened for Sovereign decisions at this time. Where our lower courts have made bad decisions our only option is to appeal to a higher court – “The Sovereign Court” to overrule. Then all the lesser courts have to align with the highest court decrees.
You need to do this for your family – Job 5:8 reads; “But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. He provides rain for the earth; He sends water on the countryside. The lowly He sets on high and those who mourn are lifted to safety” (NIV)
God wants us to appeal for our homes, He wants us to appeal for our Land!
YOU are someone that during this season God wants you to know that there’s going to be divine legislation for transformation – divine legislation for transformation!
3. Time to Possess the Kingdom
What else is currently being fulfilled out of Daniel chapter 7? The time is NOW to possess the Kingdom – it says in…
v 21 “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,
v 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.”
That time is NOW. Major prophets all over the world are going, “The time is now!” Now,to possess the Kingdom! We’ve been given the ability we didn’t have before – we’ve been given the “Ok”; we’ve been given the marching orders; we’ve been given the assignment.
The saints in this verse were contending against spirits of darkness, the spirits of fear and the spirit of anti-christ. It says they were being overpowered and marginalized in the midst of their challenge. But right there, there was a verdict that was released. That verdict is now forming our future. Suddenly we, the saints, are released to possess the Kingdom!
The momentum has just been shifted, I hope you can feel that! – in spite of very unlikely odds, the time has come for the saints to possess the Kingdom. That means to advance His Kingdom on a grand scale that couldn’t be seen before. So there’s a resurgence of the saints; that means there’s no law that cannot be changed. So it’s time to deal with what we’ve thought of as lost causes (eg. abortion and same-sex marriage) for the Court of Heaven is seated, the books opened and He’s waiting for the Church to rise up and say “Enough is enough” and divine intervention is going to come from the Ancient of Days.
As I pondered these things, I heard the Lord say this;
“You are the power behind the Throne.”
I knew He was speaking of us, the Church. What does that mean? It means we are the “Shadow Government” of the government in the earth. A shadow government is an invisible authority demonstrating that power resides not only with publicly elected representatives or monarchy, but with the Ecclesia, the Church – you and I.
The Sovereign Court of Heaven is the place where appeals and decrees will shift nations regardless of the earthly government.
The Ecclesia will function to advance Kingdom territory – they’re going to use the Keys of David. What are these? Revelation 3:7-8 says “…He who holds the key of David. What He opens no-one can shut, and what He shuts no-one can open.” Why of David and not Moses or Abraham? David was the only one who was a prophet, a priest and a king. Those are keys to nations. We’ve seen people in times past who’ve used these keys to open up our cities and our nation for revivals, for miracles, for awakening.
We want to learn how to do the same thing with the Key of David that the Spirit of the Lord has given us. When we use that key in pray and worship it looks like this: when David functioned as a priest his prayer was petitional and worship was devotional…but we want to move on and as a prophet, the prayer and worship is full of targets, of detail, clarity and of revelation…but when he operated governmentally in the kingship anointing we have governmental prayer and apostolic courtroom worship. That’s how we function now as kings. These keys will open up the Kingdom of God’s advancing transformation in the earth, for this is a year of staking claim to the land and of possessing the land
4. Increase in Authority
Complacency is breaking off God’s sons and daughters.They will not just believe “that someone else will go”, but they will act on God’s behalf and say as Isaiah said; “Here am I send me.” (Isa 6:8) [RB: Similarly, with boy Samuel when lying down by the Ark of the Covenant when the Lord stood beside and called him then he responded, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening”. 1Sam 3]
We are going from faith to faith as a new measure of authority is released into the earth. Faith will appropriate this authority that has already been given. The authority of the Lord is increasing as we passionately follow Him and it’s coinciding with our expanding territory to impact and to steward the work of the Lord.
With every new endeavor or territory that God assigns to us there is the responsibility that comes with it. Your new authority is needed, for your new territory because it comes with obstacles that can only be overcome by it. So I want to talk about revelation this season of what are some of our obstacles – not that we won’t have some that are the same but what are the ones unique to this season?
5. Unique Obstacles
Persecution of Christians will increase in this season…Remember, prophetic prayer worship and prophetic warfare sounds can still reach where you cannot, resulting in opening of prison doors, just like it did for those in the Bible.
Main obstacle is Fear. Be really careful not to allow yourself to be motivated by fear or to the fear that’s released in the atmosphere – not to live under it; you affect the atmosphere rather than living under it! |Even when hearing of wars and rumours of wars – they’re going to be part of our existence from now on – do not let that shake you because fear is the opposite of faith and it will rob you of your faith. Instead, know this is the time for you to expand and be blessed, to create new things (including wealth, the Bible says), to bring forth words of life that heal. The world needs hope and God has called you to demonstrate His love and His power for Christ in you is the hope of glory!
National security/immigration. There will be greater focus on national security so the Lord will give guidance for praying and use your prayer language to reveal the will of God. Likewise, we need a solution from heaven for the issues of immigration.
The economy. I don’t believe it’s about a falling economy but I believe the Spirit of the Lord has said another credit crunch is coming. It not something to pray and avoid but is one of those things that’s still balancing and exposing for we should pray that the systems and kingdoms of this world might be transformed by the will of heaven.
Racial division in the earth will bring unrest. The Lord says this can be downsized or avoided as pastors/leaders pray and decree for racial unity from the pulpit. They must also demonstrate working together with other pastors/leaders. Racial division can be downsized through prayer.
Rise in terrorism and insurgent attacks will continue. We’re going to see a greater increase of one-man terror assaults (many small attacks). They will seem to be disjointed and random but the Spirit of God says; “They’re not”. But can I take you to look at the word that releases fear in people, like ‘cancer’ used to. That word is:
‘ISIS’ – Isis is the name of an Egyptian god. Note that I’m speaking of demonic spirits, NOT Muslim people – Egyptian god spirits, not Muslims. But it is not a coincidence this army has laid claim to the area of the Middle East that the Lord claims as His own in Isaiah 19, because it’s a spirit behind the army that wants to halt God’s plans. Let’s look at chapter 19 verses:
v 19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt…
v 20 And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt…
v 23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria… v 24 …Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria…
v 25 whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” (Please read those carefully later…)
One motive of the demonic spirits behind ISIS is to try to halt the Isaiah 19 Highway. The Lord has miraculously freed His people from Pharaoh’s oppression and these scriptures tell us God will do it again, but this time it will include Egypt and Syria. And the gods of Egypt will be toppled again – the result is multitudes are going to be delivered and awakened to their Lord Jesus Christ.
‘ISIS’ will continue to operate for a time, because one of the reasons is that true motives of the spirit behind Islam are being exposed to many people who have a searching heart. Like Haman, the Lord will allow ISIS to prepare its own gallows, waiting for the Esther intercessors to re-write the decrees – remember the book is open and the Judge is seated.
Greater shakings to be experienced in the Middle East as division comes upon the “House of Islam”.
Mark 3:25 gives us our prayer strategy; “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” We need to and it is time to use the same strategy against Satan that he has used against the Church; and that is division. This is a time for praying increased division between the demonic powers behind Islam. Continue to pray for the conversion of terrorists as well as for the halting of activity and for preserving people. Remember Saul the terrorist became Paul the Apostle in Acts 9.
6. We have had Restoration of Apostles, but now it is a Time for Apostolic Action.
The Day of the Saints is what my father in the Lord, Bishop Bill Hamon of Christian International, calls this season. This the anointing and movement of the apostolic, not just the restoration of the apostles. So we are anointed to equip people to be “Sent Ones” with signs, wonders and miracles. They’re on assignment to bring transformation into their territory and they get to build apostolically during this time.
Time to Build Apostolically
This begins with the Church again being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, so there are some shiftings that are going on around the earth right now. This foundation is being restored in a new dimension of God’s government. He is giving us fresh strategies for today and so new blueprints to build are being released to enable the Church to partner with God in this new mandate. For some it will look like a redevelopment plan, but for all participating it will be structures that are going to accommodate an incredible harvest. There’s going to be blueprints for finances, strategies for raising, equipping and sending of the saints – and it will seem to many like an acceleration time. Apostolic/Prophetic churches and centres will multiply. So we get to “Arise and Build” and be the victorious Church that the gates of hell cannot stand against. I love that! Now because the Lord is building His house, it says when the Lord builds the house our labours will not be in vain. So we’re not building out of religious ritual or tradition, even though we’re building territorially, because we’re bringing the will of heaven right into our communities and into our nation. With this going on…
7. There is an Agitation of Wineskins
Luke 5:37-38. “And no man puts new wine into old wineskins; else the new wine will burst the wineskin, and be spilled, and the wineskins shall perish. But new wine must be put into new wineskins; and both are preserved.”
Individually and corporately, we/Church are these containers. Jesus is telling us that we must have a capacity to hear a fresh word from Him to build apostolically. And what’s happening?
There is a catch-up movement of the Holy Spirit very similar to the Charismatic movement when Holy Spirit poured out into all denominations regardless of the name over the door. So there’s coming another season like that into denominational streams and old wineskins, giving people an opportunity to update before the coming evacuation from old wineskins – some say “Update before evacuate”, but we need to know that’s of God’s agenda. There are some old spiritual wells that have to be re-dug but there are vast new glory spots of revival springing up throughout the earth that God wants you to partner with in Him.
Prophet Jane Hamon has a great revelation that during this time of:
the spirit of Leviathan being stirred to resist this awakening and new wineskin and revival, and to stagnate and stalemate the Church in our nations. She saw Leviathan resisting awakening on every hand. Churches would be resisting the awakening, most media will ridicule it, and the government in places would even try to stop it – but the spirit behind it is Leviathan. [See 2016 “Awakening”.]
The Hebrew word Leviathan actually means “to mourn.” The enemy’s strategy has been to get the church into a place of mourning over things that have gone against us and to immobilize us with a sense of hopelessness. God is waiting on His people to engage in battle, which would release them to move forward and deal with the resistance. We have to shake ourselves and awaken from the grief and mourning over the dead past. People are being awakened in the world and the Church needs to be awakened to go to them!
8. Awakening, Harvest, Reformation and Transformation
As we are coming upon the 500th anniversary since the Great Reformation (Martin Luther), Kingdom understanding of what’s going on in the atmosphere right now is creating links between awakening, harvest, reformation, and transformation. There is a shifting of the Saints into the Great Transformation of the Church for the Transformation of our nations. So…
We’re on the verge of another Great Awakening and the chains of hope deferred are breaking off you and off churches right now. The prayer army is being awakened first and coming out of their slumber. An awakening is taking place in the Church. A remnant is arising, they’ve been maturing, they’re increasing there’s a momentum being gained. There will be an increase in God’s manifest glory and His healings. There’s going to be a voice of truth and righteousness with no compromise that will not be silent. God’s people will be known for their boldness and love. And apostolic, prophetic churches and centres are multiplying at this time. Also, there’s a greater move of the Holy Spirit upon children and they will be awakened in the middle of the night and hear the Lord, as did the child Samuel.
It is also the Beginning of a Great Harvest! There is a fresh release of labourers empowered by the Holy Spirit for such a time as this. Believers are going to realise they’re “sent ones” now, into the fields of Harvest.
Prophetic Evangelism is going to be a main tool the Spirit of God will use and so it’s time to get trained in those areas. It’s going to have its greatest harvest during this season as a major strategy for Kingdom advance.
9. Unity
Christian fellowship is a key aspect of Christian life. Coming together in love, faith and encouragement is an element of family and authentic relationships. We cannot influence society with the truth of who Jesus Christ is without that love for God and for each other that He wants us to have. We need those authentic relationships. As corporate church flows in unity we’re going to see God’s presence with a mighty outpouring of signs, wonders and miracles. God’s people are going to rise in this pressure of current world situation and we’re going to create a unity in the Kingdom of God and the House of God that’s without precedent in former generations!
I believe Heaven is actually standing to attention and they’re waiting – there’s almost with an intake of breath – waiting for the prayers of God’s people to link arms and to fight as one. It’s an incredible time and, as a matter of fact, Psalm 133 says this is what’s going to release, this unity will release the commanded blessing of the Lord.
10. Nations
The next area of revelation that God is speaking is concerning the nations and here in Europe we need to know – even if we read the news we would hear this –
Europe is shaking in disunity in the EU. But there is also a different shaking going on – there’s a clash of the Kingdoms in Europe. This conflict begins in Europe but it negatively spreads to the nations of the earth if God’s people do not pray…This clash of the Kingdoms will also cause the Church to awaken and arise, and what will happen is a fresh joinings of passion for the Lord as a war cry is raised from the Church. Intimacy and warriors – it’s an incredible time…and coming from the voice of the Church in Europe! Remember, this conflict is for who’s going to rule, who’s going to sit on the throne of nations? We have a King of Kings and a Lord of Lords – we’re going to give Him His inheritance: the nations!
Re. our most recent history, Cindy Jacobs says: “Through crises the enemy has used a Trojan Horse to enter Europe. But God says; ‘I have a plan for a sweeping awakening of Europe and the nations of the earth, to actually reap a harvest of the Muslims nations“. So God is going to turn that Trojan Horse around for the benefit of harvest.
The church in England will see it’s true Apostles rise and build.
The church in Wales is about to birth an end-times prayer movement.
The church in Ireland will water itself in great intercession and see an early harvest of souls.
There is a fire beginning to burn in Scotland.
The church in France is rising in power.
The church in Germany will begin to show its strength.
Netherlands, God is giving you watchmen assignments for the EU, the European economy and terrorist attacks against your country.
Spain will become a focus for the spirit of Islam…but the true Church is also rising up in Spain.
Russia. Putin will continue to stir unrest in the world with his alignments. Yet God is moving in the Church in Russia and especially a move of God among the young and next generation in Moscow.
Small embers are beginning to burn for God in Estonia, Siberia and Serbia.
Ukraine has a strong underground church forming that will ignite this nation for God.
You know, we’re beginning this year with a grace of empowerment to be more than conquerors. What an amazing way: that’s how God is causing us to move into this year!
Psalm 110:3 Your people will be Your love offerings like living sacrifices spilled out before You. In the day of Your mighty power, You will be exalted and in the brightness of Your holy ones You will shine, as an army arising from the dawning rays of a new day.
There are so many of us forerunners in all spheres that are being matured and being promoted into fresh intimacy and authority this year – make sure you grab hold of that!
I actually believe you can hit that reset button in this season. Go before God and set that rest button in the areas you need to reset…because God wants so much for you than you want for yourself.
Sharon closes with a strong encouragement that we’re surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, some of whom we know personally – there’s many more of them than of us!
“I believe that we’re on a fresh momentum with the shifting of the saints to possess the Kingdom, that’s going to cause us to finish well.
“God bless you and be blessed in 2016.”
Selah!
Notes:
As with all prophetic words this is for discernment and weighing with the Lord.
As previously, this transcript is published with CI Europe’s kind permission.
The video on Prophetic Voice TV is available for free viewing this month only.
The fulsome notes published last weekend on CIE’s new website are enhanced to cover the whole message, plus link to Jane Hamon’s message. That edition’s formatting is retained for ease of reference.
My personal observations will follow, especially in view of earlier material on the Book of Daniel (see Daniel tag) and the current fulfillment of points 5.6 D & E above.
NB: copyright remains with this blog and full attribution with links to CIE and to this blog are requested and all rights of ownership are reserved.
Last night it popped into mind that the previous post about Her Majesty’s Christmas broadcast omitted the pertinent part of her hereditary title: ‘Fidei Defensor’ – Defender of the Faith!
STOP, PAUSE, REWIND < < back 500years…and then fast forward > > to 20th Century England.
‘Fidei Defensor’ was the papal honour bestowed on young King Henry VIII in 1521 for his literary defence of the sacraments (ie. including marriage!) and papal supremacy against Protestant ideas of Martin Luther. However, lack of a male heir to the throne and Henry’s desire to remarry brought a break with the Roman church. That Latin title was revoked but Parliament then conferred ‘Defender of the Faith’ upon Henry VIII and subsequent monarchs as protectors of the Anglican faith in being Supreme Governors of the Church of England; that is, above the Archbishops of Canterbury and York – see Wikipedia.
Consequently, in my humble opinion Her Majesty’s message could be regarded as being an apologia, or brief expository defence of the Christian faith. And so we may surmise how this complements related prophetical material and I suspect more pieces of the Lord’s invisible jigsaw pieces are falling into place.
>> to 6 decades ago
A little nostalgia now: I recall a very small toy model coach with team of horses as a gift from my grandfather in preparation for celebrating the Queen’s coronation on 2nd June 1953. There was also model scenery between which to drive the golden coach. Parents and family were getting excited. My father made a large heraldic shield coloured in the Union Jack, from which three similar but small flags could proudly fly when hung outside our house. And he even bought a television and invited neighbours to watch the whole event in black and white vision.
A few years later my school teacher proudly told the headmistress about a story I’d written along with my picture of a RCMP ‘Mountie’ on horseback chasing a criminal – ‘The Mountie always gets his man!’ Consequently, he won a bravery award from Queen Elizabeth II in person. This story may have been inspired by TV cowboy stories and accounts of her state visit to Canada in 1956.
> > to 4 years ago
What I felt in my spirit upon hearing the recent Christmas message and the evening’s news announcement was so similar to what I was sensing during and after our visiting Royal Windsor in Berkshire in 2011. For some reason the view of the castle from a few miles away in the Great Park caught my attention. (Little did I know that Dr Sharon Stone and husband Greg were relocating to Old Windsor.)
That impression was noted in ‘Paws 4 Thought’ of 28th June 2012 when blogging about A special town in the Thames Valley (note photo of cloud of UK over town). Therein, I refer to my chat with Sharon in February of that year:
“After talking about her class in Windsor an image of the Castle’s famous round tower came to mind. This was followed by the notion that its crenellated battlements looked like the teeth of a giant cogwheel which could fit into some sort of invisible socket where earth could get plugged into heaven.
“It’s a little hard to explain, but then the thought dropped into mind that such engagement would enable the heavenly kingdom to ‘wind up’ our earthly kingdom, or ‘queen-dom’, for the Lord’s purposes (eg. revival) – rather like putting a key into and winding up a clockwork toy.”
Windsor Castle’s Round Tower (right); copyright Richard Barker
I’d suggest we keep these musings in mind when considering current prophetic words for the United Kingdom.
In delighted astonishment we heard BBC News voice-over-video headlines announce on Christmas Day that the Queen had said,
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Moreover, I realised that by declaring a scriptural statement as Head of the Church of England and hereditary Defender Of The Faith, and in its being heralded and announced by national media, our longest reigning monarch’s biblical declaration has the power of a prophetic decree. (If you’re unfamiliar with this principle see this two-part report on spiritual alignment and decrees.)
The Queen’s Christmas Broadcast to the Commonwealth follows the pattern set by King George V (her grandfather) in the very first broadcast in 1932. Upon introducing this startling innovation he opened it with, “I speak now from my home and from my heart to you all“.
Yearly our sister in the Lord refers to her Christian belief as a source of inspiration and comfort. This Christmas Her Majesty made no bones about the majesty of her faith, as in forthright yet gracious remarks about the Good News of God in the birth of Jesus Christ..
Soon after opening, Her Majesty speaks about reflecting upon the year’s events,
“Many people say the first Christmas after losing a loved one is particularly hard. But it’s also a time to remember all that we have to be thankful for.
“It is true that the world has had to confront moments of darkness this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope, often read at Christmas carol services: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’.”
Jesus’ Message of Love
She continues by referring to the custom Queen Victoria and Prince Albert introduced of using fir-trees at Christmas, and every year since WWII the people of Oslo send a huge tree for erection in Trafalgar Square. (Over 1,000 years ago our Saxon kings brought our ancient Viking enemies to Christ, especially Olaf 1 of Norway.)
Furthermore, Her Majesty related this and Jesus’ birth to the contemporary migration of refugees to Europe:
“…(this London tree) has five hundred light-bulbs and is enjoyed not just by Christians but by people of all faiths, and of none. At the very top sits a bright star, to represent the Star of Bethlehem.
“The custom of topping a tree also goes back to Prince Albert’s time. For his family’s tree, he chose an angel, helping to remind us that the focus of the Christmas story is on one particular family.
“For Joseph and Mary, the circumstances of Jesus’s birth — in a stable – were far from ideal, but worse was to come as the family was forced to flee the country. It’s no surprise that such a human story still captures our imagination and continues to inspire all of us who are Christians, the world over.
“Despite being displaced and persecuted throughout his short life, Christ’s unchanging message was not one of revenge or violence but simply that we should love one another. Although it is not an easy message to follow, we shouldn’t be discouraged; rather, it inspires us to try harder: to be thankful for the people who bring love and happiness into our own lives, and to look for ways of spreading that love to others, whenever and wherever we can.” (Emphasis added.)
Read her message in full on the official website The British Monarchy, or watch the above video.
‘The Queen used her Christmas Day broadcast to make one of her most overtly religious addresses to the nation in recent years. Quoting directly from the Gospel of John, she spoke of light which “shines in the darkness” which she described as a “verse of great hope”.
‘Reflecting on the past 12 months, the monarch said: “It is true that the world has had to confront moments of darkness this year. But the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope, often read at Christmas carol services: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’.”
‘Britain’s religious leaders are in the mood for telling home truths. In a stark Christmas sermon, the Most Rev Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, compared the Jihadist threat to King Herod, to whom Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, also alluded. In the Bible, Herod orders the massacre of young children in a delirious attempt to kill Jesus Christ. In today’s Middle East, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) is no less bloodthirsty.
‘It murders critics and religious minorities, enforcing its religious code with violence. It represents a fanatical perversion of Islam, and to defeat it, the West must understand its motivations. Religious leaders, educated in theological nuance, are well placed to decode its language. Archbishop Welby told congregants that it seeks to trigger an “apocalypse… defined by themselves and heralded only by the angel of death”. Isil cannot coexist with Western democracy. It is hell-bent on destroying it.’
I’ve underscored the essential key to the solution that too many illiterate and misinformed political leaders have totally ignored to people’s peril.
The violent, fanatical, and apocalyptic actions and rhetoric of the Iranian regime and the leadership of the Islamic State are causing millions of Muslimsto rethink whether they want to be part of such a religion, and many of them are turning to faith in Jesus Christ.
Richard's Watch 