Very appropriate follow-on to my recent 5-fold ‘God-incidental’ jigsaw pieces about the ‘violence’ of the Kingdom. (For a personal introduction to Richard’s work also read about peculiar events on the anniversary of his book ‘The Fellowship of the Secret’.)
You may know of the grave consternation in recent weeks over Russian proposals to station Iranian and Turkish officers on Israel’s borders for monitoring the potential cease-fire “de-escalation” zones in Syria, yet being dangerous military threat (Debkafile special report 27 April). Last week, Moscow agreed instead to replace them with Russian military officers in the Mt. Hermon region and the areas where the Israeli, Lebanese and Syrian borders meet (Debkfile report 11 May).
Even so, according to Debkafile’s military sources explanation, ‘Damascus and Tehran acted to pre-empt the US-Jordanian-Israeli military operations along the Israeli and Jordanian borders with Syria, lest they lead to the carving out of US-controlled security zones in southern Syria’.
Courtesy Debkafile – US, UK, Jordanian forces enter s Syria
However, this morning’s news from this pre-mainstream media source is that elite units from Britain, America and Jordan have now been deployed to protect this highly strategic area.
Debkafile reports, ‘They were acting to counter the Syrian-Iranian scheme to nullify the American plan for posting Jordanian forces in southeastern Syria, which (is) timed for the days before US President Donald Trump’s trip to the Middle East.
‘The US-led armored force with British and Jordanian units crossed from northern Jordan through the Tanf Border-Crossing between the Hashemite Kingdom, Iraq and Syria, and took up positions capable of consolidating their control of the main road between Palmyra and Baghdad. Some of their moves were coordinated with Israel.’
‘This push aimed at countering the drive in the last few days by hundreds of Syrian troops, Iranian-backed…militias and Hizballah…special forces, with tanks and heavy equipment, to take over the town of Sabaa Biyar…’
In view of these significant military developments it is well that the West no longer has a leader of dis-reputable stance dealing with Middle-Eastern and the God-Magog nations (principally Russia, Iran, Turkey). Nevertheless, Debka concludes, ‘For the time being, the Trump administration’s plans for an offensive against the Islamic State appear to have been put on a back burner’.
See map and read US, UK, Jordanian forces enter S. Syria for full details (updated 16 May under new title ‘Hizballah rush 1,000 troops to S.Syrian Borders’). See also Mark Davidson on Iran changing its land route to west, ie. to north of this border area.
ARC’s continued theme on destiny is worthy of careful study. It’s opened up a perspective upon my personal encounter with Jesus in ’89, which had featured UFOs, by linking that content into past occult activities. (My early blog The Heavenly Visitor – part 2 of ‘Death or Destiny?‘ and recent republication of full testimony “Am Free!” refer.) Thank you very much Mike & Jeremy.
Mike Parsons
with Jeremy Westcott –
In the pursuit of our destiny there is something we need to be careful of: coveting somebody else’s calling. If we do, it is possible we will find ourselves pursuing an alien destiny. I am not talking about little green (or grey) men, I am talking about chasing something God never intended for us, but for someone else. That can lead us into frustration and confusion because something seems to be constantly obstructing our path, hindering us or tripping us up. All right, no-one said it would be easy, but this is more than just obstacles to overcome, this is a dead end.
Arthur Burk calls it an ‘alien birthright’, and likens it to an immaculately constructed train track (complete with ballast, signals and crossings) laid across the middle of a cornfield we are called to cultivate: it leads nowhere, and meanwhile it gets in the…
View original post 1,689 more words
Continuing from Part 1 let’s look at the fifth jigsaw piece that fell into my hand:
SEIZING GOD-GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES
Settling down for an afternoon tea during that Sunday’s live streaming from Church of His Presence in Alabama, we heard pastor John Kilpatrick read the parable of the talents and the fearful servant and teach on Seizing God-given Opportunities (at 1 hour 18 minutes of video link below).
He encouraged everyone to open up their spirits when listening and said Holy Spirit had told him a few days ago,
“Start telling your audiences that whenever a word is given to them, especially a word from the Lord – not a sermon but a word from the Lord – tell them to let the Holy Spirit dilate their spirit so it opens up so it can receive and be imprinted, embedded in their spirit-man.” [At 1:19:00 on this Church of His Presence video]
John called attention to the fact that “Opportunities are birthed in God’s mind!” and went on to consider how we react to them and that, in moving towards God-given opportunities, we usually encounter strong opposition that’s often unforeseen and inexplicable.
He confessed that preachers encourage their flock in moving forward in their discipleship, but inadequately warn about the adversity that arises along their journey. In other words, we are inviting warfare! – not only of a spiritual nature but also of every kind of non-spiritual adverse event! Also, we can be very dilatory ruminating over opportunities and acting upon them
So if you are severely struggling, especially from satanic strategies on your journey this exciting one hour message will strengthen and encourage you. He stresses it’s not about waiting on the Lord, which is very different, but watching for and acting upon what He’s presenting us with.
On researching this material John was surprised at a definition he found, and which has a direct bearing upon my subject; ‘violent’ persons taking the Kingdom. (Note: you may want to read previous Part’s updated comment thread on Matt 11:12.)
John found ‘seize’ means ‘to take possession of suddenly and by force’, and ‘an attack, a strike’. So this is how we need to handle and deal with God-given opportunities and break through all opposition (from 1:28:00 on video). John concludes therefore, that Holy Spirit is saying
“When I present you with an opportunity, strike it! When I present you with an opportunity seize it! Lay hold of it! Grab it! If you have to do it violently – grab it!. Why? Because opportunity will fade away like a watercolour.”
The Lord is saying,
“I’m presenting you with opportunities all the time but you are taking too much time!”
So seize that opportunity suddenly – and forcefully if necessary!
The latter part of the message covered working through the adversity that’s always a sure sign of a God-given opportunity, because its purpose is to thwart the Lord’s purpose in our lives and our furthering His Kingdom. It was also confirmation of my having stood against repeated strong criticism of this blog – and encourages my continuing a specific course of counter-action that started in addressing a controversial topic.
That is, having quickly and strongly reacted against detrimental comments I’m seeing and now seizing the God-given opportunity hidden behind that opposition.
It was one reason why I republished the core of and revisited my testimony. Those who read its new covering page on this blog’s menu may have been surprised at the opening paragraph. (It was inserted last, after having written the rest.)
Having published “Am Free!” True Story I was humbled to get an inkling of the Lord’s purpose behind that opportunity: to alert me to the fruition of an awesome vision I was blessed with in early 1992 – “All Hail The Lamb!
How timely in view of my just-published post referring to Malachi! Richard, it’s fascinating that this prophet is the common denominator in our blogging today, and it’s long held a deep, personal relevance.
Hand and Puzzle Pieces by Anusorn P. Nachol, courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net
The violence referred to in this post is not that of physical assaults upon and wars against individuals and people groups, as depicted daily in the media, but of human and natural processes of force, exertion and upheaval that bring about change and growth. It’s the kind of violence I learned about as a ‘newbie’ investigating Jesus Christ’s answer to a question about John the Baptist and the Kingdom of heaven.
This post was started a week ago and I inserted the above image but thought its quantity doesn’t match the data pieces I’m blogging about. Therefore, this morning I’m delighted to discover blogger RJ Dawson’s latest reply to his readers’ congratulations upon the 6th anniversary of Real Christianity. Without realising it, this goes direct to the very heart of my subject as one of those awaited pieces – thank you Lord! RJ writes, with emphasis mine,
“The Lord gave us a picture one time of a morning sheepfold all crammed into close quarters for the night wanting to get out into the dewy field and into freedom. Once the shepherd opened the enclosure out they streamed. This is a picture of what must happen. Too many Christians have grown used to the protective safe space that certainly has its place in times of danger, and resist breaking out.”
I’m grateful for his expanding upon this in the Comments to this post, as below.
[To continue as drafted…] As intimated in my introduction to last Wednesday’s Lion Bite on ‘new boldness’ I wish to pick up on the previous week’s two posts on 2017 being a year of breakthrough.
Their re-posting was unplanned because I was simply checking matters upon return home and then continuing with my break from blogging. Nevertheless, I’d been impressed to post an extensive prophecy on 2017 from Cindy Jacobs’ team that had been languishing ready for publication – a quick task, BUT I just had to insert a short connective scripture!
Little did I know an appropriate message was going to be heard over that weekend on a similar topic; definitely not unusual, just another ‘piece’ of the Lord’s ‘invisible jigsaw’ dropping into place!
These are the relevant paragraphs of a fortnight ago today, starting with the sub-head:
APOSTOLIC COUNCIL OF PROPHETIC ELDERS’ WORD OF THE LORD FOR 2017 THE YEAR OF THE BREAKTHROUGH (click to read the whole paper)
“The One who breaks open will come up before them; they will break out. Pass through the gate, And go out by it; their king will pass before them, with the Lord at their head.”
Micah 2:13 (NKJV)
Immediately preceding that title and passage, and by way of introduction, I connected it into the New Testament with the following:
‘The opening verse is directly related to Mathew 11:12 on Jesus saying “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force”, according to David Bivin and Roy Blizzard in their Understanding The Difficult Words of Jesus (1983 page 123!). HA, on now checking the NKJV my bible opens right at the notes on that very verse headed, ‘Taking It By Force’! The inescapable conclusion of this instance of ‘serendipity’ is: the ‘Author of the Bible’ is pointing His finger at both related verses!‘
Now, I’d add the Lord may want to point also to what was taught on the next Sunday too! (See Part 2.)
First, however, we should consider those verses and, with permission, I quote notes on verses and extract from ‘Kingdom Dynamics’ in Spirit-Filled Study Bible, editor Jack Hayward (emphases mine).:
vv11:12 – Though the Greek here is somewhat difficult to translate, the idea is that ‘the kingdom of heaven’, which Jesus set up as a powerful movement or reign among men (‘suffers violence’), requires of them an equally strong and radical reaction. ‘The violent’ who then take ‘it by force’ are people of keen enthusiasm and commitment who are willing to respond to and propagate with radical abandonment the message and dynamic of God’s reign (see Luke 16:16). This is an allusion to the messianic nature of Jesus’ ministry and to those who are participating in it…Jesus is likely recalling Micah 2:12-13 where the prophet speaks of the deliverance of the people from exile through the activity of the shepherd-like Messiah.
Taking It By Force, Conflict & the Kingdom – J.W.H. writes, “Jesus asserts the “violence” of the kingdom. The text’s unique grammatical construction doesn’t make it clear if the kingdom of God is the victim or if, as the kingdom advance sin victory, it does so through violent spiritual conflict and warfare. But the context does! Jesus’ references to the non-religious style of John and the confrontational, miraculous ministry of Elijah teach that the Kingdom of God makes its penetration by a kind of violent entry opposing the human status quo…The upheaval caused by the kingdom of God is not caused by political provocation or armed advance. It is the result of God’s order shaking relationships, households, cities and nations by the entry of Holy Spirit’s power working in people.’
Matt 11:12 ‘difficult’ common Greek translated literally reads, ‘the kingdom of-the heavens is-being-forced and the forceful-ones are-snatching her’. Note, Greek tense for ‘snatching’ is ‘harpazousin’, which reminds me of the renowned ‘rapture’ reference in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 to believers being caught up to meet the Lord upon His return! Therein, the Greek is ‘harpagesometha’ – literally, ‘shall-be-being-snatched’. In other words, ‘seized’.
Those ‘verses of violence’ seem to contradict the rest of Jesus’ teaching. In their thesis Bevin and Blizzard refer to a ‘midrash’ (old rabbinic interpretation) on Micah 12-13 that focuses upon the ‘breach-maker’ (poretz), who isn’t the same as the ‘king’ and ‘LORD’. They suggest Jesus was referring to that understanding and the translation of His words is better as “The Kingdom of Heaven is breaking forth [not ‘suffering violence’] and every person in it is breaking forth”…
‘Two tremendous things are now happening simultaneously: the Kingdom is bursting forth in to the world (like water from a broken dam) and individuals within the Kingdom are finding liberty and freedom’. John the Baptist is the breach-maker for he makes the breach in the rock-fence of the sheep pen (per Micah 2:12) is the Elijah of Micah 3:1 and 4:5-6 who goes before the Lord to prepare the way for Him. So, Jesus then follows John and leads His sheep through the gate – the iconic, powerful image of breakthrough.
Since then the Kingdom – the Lord and His sheep – has been breaking out. ‘Though Jesus does not refer directly to His own role as shepherd leading the sheep out, no listener could possibly misunderstand Jesus’ stunning assertion – I am the LORD’. The authors opinion, therefore, is that the Kingdom is not futuristic but has been in existence since that time!
So far, of the illustration’s five jigsaw pieces we have a sequence of four, viz:
In Part 2 we consider the fifth piece, but which preceded the fourth and like it and the first came from over ‘the Pond’ – seizing God-given opportunities.
Thank you again to Chris Bennett and UK Prophetic Words for this latest encouragement:
“You are a chosen people!”, says the Lord. “I chose you before time began. I chose you to be My people, My chosen few who will show the world who I AM. I have placed before you a door which no-one can shut. I have opened the door and no-one is able to close it again until I tell them to close it.”
“John the Baptist first spoke to you of one who would baptise with My Holy Spirit and with fire. Many of you already know the truth of this. When My Spirit first came upon you, He came as a wind and carrying tongues of fire for each one of you. When those early believers prayed, the place in which they were praying was shaken!”
“SO SHALL THESE THINGS HAPPEN AGAIN!”, declares the Lord. “I am sending a fresh OUTPOURING of MY SPIRIT, and the places where you are praying WILL ONCE AGAIN BE SHAKEN!”
“I HAVE APPOINTED A SEASON FOR THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN SO THAT AS MANY AS WILL BE SAVED ARE SAVED. THE SHAKING HAS BEGUN – MY PEOPLE ARE BEING SHAKEN, THEIR PLACES OF PRAYER ARE BEING SHAKEN, AND THEIR WHOLE WORLD IS BEING SHAKEN. THOSE STILL TO BE SAVED ARE WATCHING, WAITING TO SEE MY LOVE BEING DISPLAYED AMONG MY PEOPLE. DID I NOT SAY THAT BY YOUR LOVE SHALL YOU BE KNOWN.”
“THE DAYS OF JOEL ARE UPON YOU.”
Hear the words of the prophet Joel, and what the Lord says today: “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; ” ALL FLESH – Everyone who seeks will receive. “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” – Not just prophesy, but lay hands on the sick, preach the Gospel, give words of wisdom and knowledge. Young people do not get a junior version of Holy Spirit; they get the same as everyone else. “Your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”
Oh – such dreams and visions as we cannot imagine! People yet to meet, those in need that we need to help, those in need of healing – words of knowledge given in a vision as well as visions for future events etc.
“And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”, says the Lord.
This is for EVERYONE. It’s not for a select few. Everyone from 5 to 95 and maybe those even younger and older – if you can walk and talk then you can receive power.
Pentecost – It’s all coming again – in greater power, in greater Fire, in greater anointing than we have ever known.
Pentecost 2017 will see the start of it all – of that I am convinced.
Chris Bennett 5th May’17
*******
Deuteronomy 14:2 For the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself.
Revelation 3:8 “See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”
Luke 3:16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Joel 2:28-29 “And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”
NB: caveats to words of prophecy, as in covering introduction to Chris’ recent prediction Get Ready for Fresh,Powerful Move of the Holy Spirit
Thought-provoking when read in tandem with the previous post’s remarks on the revelation of the ‘mystery’ that had been ‘hidden in God’, to which Paul refers in Ephesians.
Mike Parsons
with Jeremy Westcott –
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
We can only love God because He first loved us. The Father sent Jesus because He loves us. All He is looking for is for us to respond to that love and come into a relationship with Him. Then we will begin to know that we have been called according to His purpose.
Do we know what that purpose is? Are we seeking for it? Are we just aimlessly wandering around hoping it will materialise for us? Or are we self-absorbed, living only for the present, wrapped up in trivial self-gratification, in material possessions, position or power?
Perhaps it is buried deep within our hearts, beneath layers of disappointment, frustration and regret built…
View original post 2,050 more words
My namesake discloses profound points well worth mulling over. Thank you Richard…
Thank you Jo in NZ for spotting and blogging this news, including miraculous return to life of mutilated teenage girl certified as being dead! [Read also Raymond Ibrahim on why Persecuted Christians suffer “Worst year yet”, mostly under Islam].
Please note that the main menu hub featuring the short version of my testimony is now entitled “Am FREE!” True Story.
The previous version (A Life-changing Dream) covered the basics. This new page now covers the full story of my encounter with the Lord and journey out of satanic bondage. It has been augmented to clarify some details, plus a list of books which greatly helped me.
At the start of last month I was blessed with a personal word during a mentoring day and which said I should let young people know how I came to belief in Jesus. It confirmed what was already on my mind and this double=pronged notion started to come to fruition in the first week of April by my responding to a visitor’s discussions with the essential aspects of my testimony.
As stated in 2017 Year of the Breakthrough for the UK, that same directive was reiterated at last week’s Kingdom Glory & Power conference in Southampton. Speaking under the Holy Spirit’s unction, Blaine Cook spoke about introducing ‘millennials’ to the Lord through our own personal stories. So I realised the need to revisit and republish my story.
I trust you will be sufficiently interested to check through the new page and perhaps take time to read through the several parts of this testimony to the Lord’s glory.
May you be mightily blessed.
Excellent question and I agree with Dr Ruth’s “faith in God plays a primary part, and everything flows out of our relationship with him”. We believe, after all, that’s why he created us.
This morning’s intention for getting back into blogging after a short break by following up on last Thursday’s two ‘quickies’ on 2017 as a ‘Year of Breakthrough’, has similarly been met with a clear confirmation through today’s Lion Bite which was in my in-tray. I can confirm its personal accuracy:
NEW BOLDNESS FOR WHAT YOU’VE BEEN GIFTED FOR
It is time once again to be one who demonstrates the power of God by your bold actions. Don’t be afraid: God isn’t going to ask of you what He hasn’t gifted or given you grace for. But you will have to begin to push yourself forward out of the comfortable places that you have settled back into.
Some of you are simply going to have to speak a word of truth against a situation where before you might have remained a silent observer. Others will have to act with a miraculous demonstration of God’s goodness and love, where before you would have simply prayed and hoped that something wonderful might have fallen from heaven and into your lap. Some of you who were recently concerned with profit and gain are going to have to take a hit while you realign to a more just and righteous business plan. Leaders who want to truly see breakthrough are going to have to stop some things, lose some things and upset some lovers-of-the-status-quo, so that you and your people can get back on track with the original vision that God gave you.
Don’t try and make the turnaround all at once, unless that is what God is asking you to do. Instead, take each moment and each decision to the Holy Spirit. Ask Him, and listen to His answer twice. The first time you will hear the answer your soul wants you to hear, the second time you will hear Him speak. Before long you will be hearing Him first time before you even begin to ask the question!
2 Corinthians 3:11-12
And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
[Republished with the kind permission of Glasgow Prophetic Centre.]
UPDATED: (Central Israel) — Today marks 69 years since the dramatic rebirth of the modern State of Israel in May of 1948. Israelis are joyfully celebrating independence, security and growing prosperity, but not everyone is happy. Sadly, there are many people in this region and around the world who despise Israel and seek her isolation, demise, and even annihilation.
Rather than address these (very important) geopolitical issues today, however, I’d like to address a question that many people ask me when I travel and speak around the world: Are there really ancient prophecies in the Bible that promised the rebirth of Israel in the last days, despite all the wars and rumors of wars and controversy this would ignite?
Yes, there are.
The most famous of these, perhaps, are found in the book of Ezekiel, chapters 36 through 39. Here, the Hebrew prophet Ezekiel, writing more than 2,500 years…
View original post 3,406 more words
Richard's Watch 