A baptism in holy fire

Posted on Friday, 9 May, 2014 by Richard Barker

The following account by Brynn Shamp is so appropriate for what, I believe, may be about to befall many who passionately desire to see the Lord’s face.:

BAPTISM OF FIRE

There’s always a moment.

A space in time, seemingly etched out of eternity. In that moment when Heaven meets destiny… a vision is birthed. A purpose revealed. A dream conceived. It is those moments the Greek word Kairos refers to. It’s meaning is, “The appointed time in the purpose of God”, the time when God acts.

We all have these moments, whether we recognize them or not. If you take the time to pause and think back over your life, there are situations that stand out to you. It could have been an ordinary, mundane day; you were going through the motions and then suddenly something stands out. You are remembering a significant moment. A God-moment. I want to share with you a God-moment that I had shortly after I married Charlie (my super amazing preacher-man husband).

It’s Friday night, around 8 pm. I’m 22, and newly married. Instead of heading out to the movies or a dinner date, we headed to a prayer meeting. I had been to several prayer meetings up to this point in my life. Some in the wee early hours of day, when I am sure not even the angels are awake. They were quiet, peaceful and most of us laid prostrate on the floor… seeking our sleep rather than our God. Then there was the ones I went to in college. These were vivacious, as the exuberant prayers of young preachers, teachers and students would rend the barrier between Heaven and Earth creating an atmosphere filled with electric faith.

I had even been to this church’s prayer meetings before, and as we were on our way I expected the kind where each person would take the microphone and pray; declaring and decreeing, prophesying over the specific topic they were assigned. This was not the case for that night. It was to be a God-moment, an encounter that branded me. Like the heated metal of a branding rod, the fiery embossing mark of God would forever be seared into my heart.

As I sat in my chair, lights dim and others spread about the room, I began to seek God.

Previously that night, Charlie and I had a conversation discussing Acts 2 and what we knew of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. We both grew up in Pentecostal homes and churches, and both at young ages received the baptism with the evidence of speaking in tongues. But where was the evidence of the fire? This is what puzzled us that night, what drove us to a place of desperation in God.

Luke 3:16-17 states, “John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.”

So there I sat, deliberate in my petition before God. My face as flint. I would have the fire.

May I remind you that in a place of desperation, a place of an earnest heart, you don’t care what others think. You only care for what your eyes are fixed upon, and mine were stayed upon what Revelation 1:14-16 describes here;

“His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.”

Momentarily I found myself on the floor, somehow pinned there. Lacking the ability to move, to even control my hands and arms. I was frozen stiff at the burning feet of God. It was then, a wave of intense heat came rushing over me and in a panic I helplessly tried to wriggle out of the heavy sweatshirt I was wearing. It felt as if molten lava was pumping through my veins, taking its course through out my body and purging my soul. Like the Prophet Jeremiah who declared,

“His Word is in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire shut up in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!”

I too could not keep it in.

I’m not going to pretend that was the most delightfully pleasant experience ever in God, because it wasn’t. It hurt. Yet it was necessary. It was the very thing I was seeking; an encounter with a living God that would burn so deep his love for me that I would forever be changed. It was the Baptism of Fire.

So tonight, as you read this. You might think this all a bit too strange. Or you may just be daring enough to stop playing patty-cake and have a real experience with the living God. You may need a supernatural encounter with Him, to know he is real. He is alive and he loves you with an everlasting love.

“I prayed from a half hour after sunrise to a half hour before sunset. There was nowhere to pray in the Indian camp. I went into the woods and knelt in the snow. It was up to my chin. I wrestled in prayer until a half hour before sunset, and I could only touch the snow with the tips of my fingers. The heat of my body had melted the snow.” – David Brainerd (American Missionary to Native American- Indians)

“Smart men walked on the moon, daring men walked on the ocean floor, but wise men walk with God.” – Leonard Ravenhill

Brynn Shamp, 7th April 2014

Credit for text and image: Destiny Encounters (click on images for links: minor editorial modification RB). This one is attributable to Iris Global Ministries in Mozambique.:

Is the ‘Hand of God’ a Sign for these Times?

Posted on Thursday, 16 January, 2014 by Richard Barker

One of this morning’s emails brought this new photo from NASA. It’s so right for what I was about to write.

Click on the photo for details and here for a commentary on history. Early photos of this pulsar nebular showed ‘fingers’ only but this latest shows a ‘fist’ as well, maybe hinting at the contrast between God’s open and closed, or holy, aspects. Or this could suggest what He’s previously retained as a ‘mystery’ is now being revealed?

You may think I’m stretching serendipity, or happy coincidence, to absurd lengths in my stating this image fits well into what’s happened after I wrote about prophecy, especially on the need for discernment and risk-talking to catch God’s timing for any situation. (See remark at + in Prophecies for 2014 and subsequent post on Talking to Time…).

All that together with an amazing revelation in connection with helping a new friend and an ancient hymn clearly indicates He’s trying to get my/our attention – as though waving a hand in the sky! And it even involves the ‘invisible bridge over the Pond’!!

Even if ‘over the top’, it brings an interesting insight into the validity of the prophetical gifting with an excellent example of several individuals moving as the Spirit directs towards one purpose (see John 3:8).

But let me start with this morning’s other thought-provoking instance of serendipity:

The Hymn

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform – the opening lines and tune to William Cowper’s famous hymn have been humming in the back of my mind as a result of a recent communication. The full lyrics with brief background may be read here, but my memory of what I’d heard in school assemblies many decades ago couldn’t recall its last line. Was it something like ‘the Lord will make the action fine’, or was it ‘plain’? And does it hint at ‘time’, or could this be to draw my attention to divine intent?

Although then antagonistic of Anglicanism as well as other churches, as the account of my schooldays makes plain, those assemblies were the only way I was introduced to the great English hymns. Their sentiments were most uplifting but antiquated wording would puzzle me and that ‘action’ reference was one – and it had resurfaced, popping up from the depths of my personal past; which again is to do with time!

Therefore, let me share the ‘God-incident’ that blessed me in this research. The hymn’s last 4-line verse reads as below but those words about action/time didn’t stop rattling around in the brainbox. So I searched using ‘original’ for any variant of wording – guess what? The hymn was originally entitled Light Shining Out of Darkness, from which two more lines have been added by contemporary musician Jeremy Riddle to his version of the last verse:

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

In His own time,
In His own way.

I was astounded at what a persistent inner nudge had kept me digging for and found! Thank you Lord. [The other phrase, ‘action fine’ closes a verse in poet George Herbert’s ‘alchemical’ Teach Me, My God and King, which I’d often muse upon as a child.]

An Anglican Apostasy?

Over this New Year’s first weekend I read about a trial to ‘dumb-down’ the liturgy for Christenings, as reported in the Telegraph and lambasted by ‘His Grace Archbishop Cranmer’ in Is the Church of England ashamed to preach Christ crucified? This is all because it’s supposed that today people don’t understand what ‘sin’ means or that Satan exists. So namby-pamby clerics wish to pander to the unsaved instead of teaching them or telling them what the Gospel actually means. They need to follow the example of the Baptist Churches wherein the minister teaches briefly about the Gospel and our obedience to Jesus’ instruction to be baptised.

Baptism is to make a personal statement of belief in, and our public identification with, Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. Also, as at mine and every adult baptism I’ve witnessed, it’s believers opportunity to attest personally to His grace by testifying to how they came into salvation. (See Romans 6 for incisive scripture.)

Rankled as I was about that news of silly Anglicans tinkering with the heart of Christian belief, I tried not to be distracted away from what I intended to write upon my return to blogging after the holiday season. Upon waking up that Tuesday the thought dropped into mind that many Anglicans are heeding and anointed in the Holy Spirit and trying to move that church forward. Thus admonished, my irritation ceased immediately and the first email of a multitude I later opened was…

A Plea for Help, and a Revelation

NB: to maintain confidentiality the characters are given pseudonyms: ‘Bernard’ (after the founder of a renowned monastic order); ‘Mark’ (after an associate of the Apostles); ‘Paul’ (after the apostle who taught about the gift of prophecy and foretold the future as led by Holy Spirit, as did others).

Bernard’s email asked if I could advise about how to handle a weighty vision about the Church that he’d received as he didn’t know anyone familiar with the prophetic or having more experience than his own. I recalled my feelings after an awesome open vision when it was then hard to find any leader who could help me with it. So I gave a link to my account and, as I felt led, to one from 1993 about a future sifting of the Church.

Later that Tuesday I got an email from Tony in Tucson (over ‘the Pond’) asking if I’d heard about the nonsense over Anglican baptism. I sensed it may be a tangential connection with Bernard’s material which, I was to learn later, is similar to some of Tony’s dreams of Church. Thus this email was timely and confirmatory!

The next day Bernard provided details of the vision and said he’s recently moved to an Anglican church. It was good to hear its leadership are open to the Holy Spirit and that he’s in training for ordination in ministry. So, I’m pleased he’s in a sound place.

As my Anglican contacts are very few I wondered who Bernard could contact for advice and mentoring and Paul’s name popped into mind right away. I realised I should sound out my Anglican friend Mark in view of his extensive circle of friends in leadership. But I wasn’t able to contact him.

Hassle with an electronic payment on Saturday morning delayed my getting a paper. So I briskly strode into the local supermarket but took an unplanned diversion to get ham. A few people by the deli counter were dispersing as I inserted myself between them – then I heard Mark’s voice as he and his wife walked away!

Neither of us had noticed one another, AND their presence was unusual because they live in another town!! So we chatted as he enthused about a book he’s reading. It’s on developments in the Church and, in view of his connection with Justin Welby and other leaders, he’ll be recommending God Is Back. No doubt he’d picked it up on his latest sojourn over ‘the pond’. But I was keen to ask about my new friend’s need.

“Do Anglicans have a recognised office of prophet or someone who can properly handle prophetic material and advise on it?” I asked. Mark replied, “Oh yes – Paul…. He looks at all correspondence personally and considers words and visions carefully.”

Upon my writing about this to Bernard his immediate response was of astonishment,

“My spirit leapt somewhat upon reading that as I have a history with Paul – when I was…he came to me as a stranger rather remarkably and prophesied over me , inviting me into ordination and speaking significantly to me about my future. This seems right to me that he is the contact you had in mind.”

I was stunned to read this – amazed and in praise once again at how wonderfully God moves in the lives of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. As William Cowper unerringly testified towards the close of his life:

1. God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

2. Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

3. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

4. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

5. His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

6. Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

Selah – Amen

Talking to Time seems to work!

Posted on Tuesday, 14 January, 2014 by Richard Barker

Only upon watching You Are Not a Victim of Fate again with a ‘young’ believer and talking about how that could be applied to her situation, did we realise what we had already addressed for this month has changed for the better! (One item was the time-critical juxta-positioning of a house/business move which had halted, or was about to fall apart, and an arranged major surgery that would greatly restrict physical ability for moving. So it’s increasingly dicey with passage of time.)

I want to consider the previous post Prophesy TO 2014 further – especially for scriptural stalwarts who may object to Pastor Kilpatrick’s supposition that we can speak into and affect time. As in my reply to Tony’s comment upon that post, the central – even pivotal – point in this claim, as in all prophecy is submission to the Lord’s will and holiness and our speaking with clean lips, not a deceitful tongue, for…

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. [Psalm 24: NKJV]

The pastoral letters of Apostles Peter and Paul, especially Jesus’ brother James, warn us to avoid all ungodly speech.

Some objections

Let me answer some possible, albeit valid, objections that critics may raise;

Hebrews 2 doesn’t mean ordinary people for it’s about the ‘Son of Man’ (ie Jesus)
Where’s the scriptural authority for Christians to talk to nature?

1st – Yes, the whole passage is about Jesus but it quotes one of King David’s psalms and as that is recognised as inspired by Holy Spirit then Revd Kilpatrick is quite correct in referring to Psalm 8 alone as the premise of his thesis. Critics may respond that the author of Hebrews makes the meaning of its closing verse quite conditional and, thus, it has not only been omitted but also taken out of context in by the pastor. It reads:

Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. ⁹What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” [Hebrews 2 NLT – emphasis mine]

But the second chapter of Hebrews goes on to say,

¹⁰For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. ¹¹For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, ¹²saying…

This is from New King James Version, which draws attention to these benefits of being one with Christ with a sub-header ‘Bringing many sons to glory’. After several splendid chapters about the identity and mission of the Jewish Messiah, or King of The Jews, we read this explanation in the culminating truths of chapter 10:

¹¹And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. ¹²But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. ¹⁴For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

¹⁵But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before….

Therefore, the full passage actually endorses and augments John Kilpatrick’s teaching because, although using the psalm as referring to the ‘Son of Man’ or Messiah, the letter to Jewish believers focuses upon how Jesus has brought them to the fullness of their faith; ‘perfected forever’. In his account of the Good News Jesus’ closest disciple, John writes about believers’ ‘right to become Sons (children) of God’! (John 1:12)

That must surely mean Christians should be able to do what Jesus did in the power of the Holy Spirit, does it not?

Talking to nature and time

As an ordained minister, John Kilpatrick cited the following examples in support of what he’d heard from the Holy Spirit about speaking to the year:

Jesus speaking to the storm at sea and its subsequent calm
Elijah’s blessing to conceive and bear through full-term to proper birth upon his Shulamite ‘landlady’ and her husband
Ezekiel’s commands to masses of bones to come together as skeletons and to gain all necessary muscles, organs and flesh and to the air for them to breathe.

He prefaced these with,

“Holy Spirit told me to speak into the year. He said sow into the year, not just with finances, but sow into the year with words of faith…and I’ve learned one thing it’s if you don’t speak to things then things will treat you as a victim of fate…Sow what you desire to bring it forth!”

Therefore, he spoke about all these matters from the viewpoint of our needing to know and apply these principles because we are called to be a kings and priests of God. And let us not forget that this pastor has the exceptional privilege of being used by God to host two long visitations of His Presence since 1995. Consequently, we would be well advised to consider this teaching carefully.

The prime practical passage John used was Genesis 1 which states how God created by means of the combined action of the Holy Spirit and His spoken word. Therefore, we should do likewise and this means we need to be walking with the Holy Spirit in close relationship with our heavenly Father in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus. It was this sound and detailed teaching which led into the closing implementation of these principles. Hence, my recommendation of this exceptional video to my brother and sisters in the Lord. (John’s message starts at 1:37:45 into the service.)

Some evidence

In addition to the above, our local fellowship has already been practising commanding weather and on several occasions recently observed changes, especially in the down-grading of last weekend’s approaching storm systems. I recall hearing Heidi Baker at the 2012 Revival Alliance conference speak of having diverted a monsoon heading for Mozambique, and this was confirmed by our pastor who had been in Durban at the time. She reported the meteorologists as being unable to explain why their predicted path for the monsoon had not materialised! Praise the Lord!

So it certainly appears in our experience that there’s empirical support for a Biblical approach to speaking to nature – including time.

ALSO, see this blog’s On Engaging Time and John Kilpatrick Ministries’ Voice Activated.

Prophesy TO 2014

Posted on Saturday, 11 January, 2014 by Richard Barker

Far over ‘the pond’ from Britain and deep in ‘Dixie’, close to the Gulf of Mexico, a man of native American stock lay awake in the early hours of New Year’s Eve. Lying eyes open, hands behind head, he wondered “What’s 2014 gonna bring?” and pondered its possibilities. But the Holy Spirit was tracking this pastor’s mental meanderings and interrupted them to command:

“You are not a victim of fate. You don’t wonder what the year will bring, you tell it what to bring!”

When the pastor told his large congregation about this last Sunday, 5th January, they erupted enthusiastically. Before going on to implement his teaching on this at the close of service, Holy Spirit summarised it as, “Set your year with your mouth!”.

After reading Bridge over ‘The Pond’ and Prophecies for 2014 you may realise how the entire session amazed us as we watched it ‘live’ on the first Sunday of 2014. My report cannot do justice to this exceptional teaching, which may be an example, or fulfilment, of one part of a bullet-point prophecy heard only 6 hours earlier at our UK church, viz:

A new understanding about how to receive and give prophetic understanding.

This preacher was conveying a new instruction from a revelation he’d received from the Lord about applying prophecy. That is, not the usual way of delivering what’s on His Mind by speaking prophetically straight into the heart of a matter, or revealing truths about a person and thus edifying them, or about the Lord’s action plans.

Pastor had heard from the Lord about how to use prophecy as specific creative words.

To my mind, it’s a logical extension of the power of the spoken word when God created everything, as told at the start of the Bible; And God said. “Let there be light” (Genesis 1) and amplified in the simplicity of the Gospel according to John; In the beginning was the Word... (John 1). Also, men and women are creative because we’re made in God’s image.

Pastor had opened his teaching not upon either of those scriptures but on one where the psalmist was inspired that mankind was created ‘a little lower than the angels’.:

“What is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him?
⁷You have made him a little lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,
And set him over the works of Your hands.
⁸You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”

In quoting this from the Letter to the Hebrews the pastor stressed that ‘all’ means ALL, which implies it must include time. As better phrased in the Living Bible translation, it means ‘Nothing is left out’, as here:

…And you have put him in complete charge of everything there is. Nothing is left out.”

In view of my interest in time’s non-linear, cyclic nature (more here and cycles tag) I was wrapt in attention. John’s later explanation of how we can transcend time and cover past, present and future by means of faith brought yet another link with our local church’s morning service! (Ie. where our minister had spoken about a ‘Year of faith’.)

Pastor John repeated our pastor Lindi’s oft-repeated remarks about acceleration, that everything’s happening so quickly. He believes, “Holy Spirit has took (sic) the knob of time and turned it up!”

He spoke about ordinary matters and events now moving at an increasing pace and that in the Bible there’s still so much to be fulfilled that the sand is running so quickly out of the hourglass. On this he said the Lord’s saying,

“I’m going to do a ‘hurried-up’ work!”

This is similar in intent, if not exactly in meaning, as another point in our bullet-point prophecies:

Also since last August, the heavens are opening up faster.

This teaching is so significant for every Christian to grasp about what the Lord is doing at this time that I cannot recommend it highly enough for your study. And you can join in with a practical activation where the audience (local and worldwide) speaks as led by the Holy Spirit into personal situations for 2014.

To follow this exceptionally encouraging session click on above image of John Kilpatrick or on http://churchofhispresence.org/media/player/media/you-are-not-a-victim-of-fate/video/. His message starts at 1:37:45, which may be found by clicking half way along the progress bar and clicking the pause/play button.

After listening to Pastor Kilpatrick for over 3 years this must be his best ever! For more on this please read:

Be mightily blessed in Jesus’ name, my friend.

[Image credit: Endless Bridge by Evgeni Denev, Freedigitalphotos.net]

Modern prophecy on USA & Israel approaches fulfillment

Posted on Wednesday, 6 November, 2013 by Richard Barker

Am grateful to a critic of revival and the prophetic who castigates the promise of greater blessings and quickening power coming to the Welsh Outpouring, as declared by Chuck Pierce. (I will deal with that defamation later.) Continue reading →

Hidden Meaning of the Menorah

Posted on Monday, 9 September, 2013 by Richard Barker

Melissa’s description speaks right into what I sensed during worship yesterday as our assembly sang “You provide the fire, I’ll provide the sacrifice”. I sensed a flickering spread of orange and red with ill-defined objects bowing low and knew this was before the Throne of God. Mulling over Rev 4, I wondered if the image represents the flames of the seven spirits. So be mightily blessed as you inwardly digest this post.

Defining Words

Menorah Symbols of the corporate church abound in scripture. We are alluded to as the bride of Christ, God’s vineyard, the body of Christ, and His temple built of lively stones. Whenever it comes to the individual believer, however, I’ve heard relatively little in the way of scriptural symbolism. In preparation for a conference this month, I stumbled onto a rich trove of delights in studying the 7-candle menorah. The following is a digest of my findings that may prove to stir something within you, too!

Before we start, let me briefly explain the difference between the 7-candle and 9-candle menorah, and why we are focusing on the former. The 7-candle menorah is the traditional candelabra prescribed for use in Tabernacle of Moses. It has come to be a symbol of Judaism and much more as we will, here, divulge. Nine-candle menorahs are known as Hanukkah menorahs, and are lit during…

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Paul Keith Davis and Rick Joyner discuss ‘Times and Seasons’

Posted on Wednesday, 7 August, 2013 by Richard Barker

If you liked Paul Keith Davis’ teaching on the 3 anointings then you will like this 83 mins chat with his friend. (It is superior value to anything on the ‘one-eyed’ blind god we call TV.) Their closing answer to an online question made it rather personal for us last night because we’d learned of Frances Metcalf’s profound ministry in the Lord through our local church. May you be blessed in hearing these men of God.:

Topics covered:

current events – Church in transition – 2013-14
full discipleship foundations – contemplative prayer
angelic encounter whilst writing The Final Quest
Jesus knocking to come into what belongs to Him
the Rev ‘overcomers’ are not ordinary churchgoers
the greatest tribulation/opportunity in global history
confrontation with false teaching in spirit & power of Elijah
‘koinonia’ (real fellowship) essential for preparing The Bride
role of past overcomers/witnesses in today’s acceleration
different destinies within heaven
1st Century Apostolic ministry required for 21st Century
questions from online viewers – grace – true holiness – restoration of family structure – is USA in scripture (v good point from Rev 12) – increasing evil
Francis Metcalf’s experiences of rapture and translation, difference between them, an understanding of the message of Enoch.

The final four minutes are highly instructive and encouraging and I pray the Lord will give you an understanding and insights into these matters. The whole ‘webinar’ is a rich banquet. Thank you gentlemen.

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

Posted on Monday, 22 July, 2013 by Richard Barker

Another 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…”

Sit alongside prophetic teachers in conversation

Posted on Tuesday, 23 April, 2013 by Richard Barker

Thank you to Andy for publishing this video on Decree because it reminded me to watch this fascinating discussion. We were privileged to have heard and met these two mighty men of God several times in the UK. I unequivocally recommend readers who want to learn more about the Kingdom of God to set aside an hour to listen to these two friends.

First, however, let Andy introduce them to you…

Faith Changing Testimonies and The Great Cloud of Witnesses, and lots more – Paul Keith Davis with Bobby Conner

“I love watching this discussion and teaching time in this very special episode of the Voice of The Bride Webinar, where Paul Keith Davis sits down with dear friend Bobby Conner.

“They dive into wonderful conversation concerning these last days, commissioning of the sons of God, and the Great Cloud of Witnesses. We also hear some incredible stories from Bobby that will challenge your faith and encourage your spirit!

“Paul Keith and Wanda Davis founded WhiteDove Ministries after the Lord sovereignly sent a beautiful white dove to them as a prophetic sign of their calling. They now travel extensively speaking at conferences and churches, imparting the end-time mandate of preparation for the Glory and Manifest Presence of Christ.

“Paul Keith has a unique gift for imparting prophetic understanding of times and seasons with a message of preparation and expectancy for the Lord’s Empowering Presence. He spent many years in extensive study highlighting the ministry of revelation and power exemplified throughout the church ages with an emphasis on the 20th century church. His heart’s desire is to see the full restoration of Biblical Apostolic ministry manifested through the Spirit of Truth residing in God’s people, expressing salvation, healing and deliverance to the Glory of God and His Christ.

“Bobby Conner is a ‘Gentle Giant’ uniquely anointed with refreshing humor and razor-sharp prophetic accuracy that’s been documented around the world. Bobby’s dynamic capacity to release outstanding demonstrations of the miraculous — healings, signs and wonders — reveals the very heart of the Father toward us! Surviving a dramatic abortion attempt by his mother, being rescued again by the hand of God from drug dealing and suicide, the story of Bobby Conner is a display of a man who now walks in his God-ordained destiny to set others free! Out of his deep intimacy with Jesus Christ, Bobby is super-sensitive to what the Holy Spirit is now doing throughout the world! The Father-heart of God, expressed so beautifully through Bobby and his wife, Carolyn, lastingly transforms lives in every service.

“Bobby has an extensive ministry background as a Southern Baptist pastor and he ministers in a high level, proven prophetic anointing. He believes his calling is to equip the Body of Christ to hear and discern God’s voice in these times. He is well-loved and best known the world over for his sensitivity to and leading of the Holy Spirit. Highly esteemed as an internationally acclaimed conference speaker, Bobby has ministered effectively to over 45 foreign countries as well here in the states for many years.”

So, my dear reader, be blessed with this presentation. Your comments below are most welcome…

Lion Bites on the Glory of God

Posted on Thursday, 11 April, 2013 by Richard Barker

Two recent daily prophetic words from Glasgow Prophetic Centre are relevant to this blog’s predominant theme since early March of a new day or season in God for His people. The first word was published a week ago on 4th April, and the second is today’s word – to both of which I would add graphically.:

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
As the waters cover the sea. (Habbakuk 2:14 NKJV)

MY GLORY RISES

This is a new day; it is not like the days of old gone by. Forget the former things, forget the difficulties that have kept you barren and bound. Do not compare what you perceive to be your own inabilities against the magnitude of the mountains that you face. This is a new day and I am doing a new thing.

Look up into the heavens, look up with the eyes of your spirit and see what I am doing!

Look up and see: My Glory arises above you, it is ever so near. My Glory arises above you, so pull it down, pull it down!

Pull it down into your circumstances and the situations that you find yourself in. Pull it down into your relationships and see restoration. Pull it down and see hard hearts melting. Pull it down and see salvation. This is a new day and a new season.

Isaiah 60:1-5
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. Lift up your eyes round
about and see; they all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come
from afar, and your daughters will be carried in the arms. Then you will see and
be radiant, and your heart will thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the
sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you.

THE COMING OF MY MANIFEST GLORY

Prepare for My coming Glory. Set your face towards Me and fix your eyes on Me, for I am coming to release My Glory over all the earth. Have you heard? Have you not seen? I am shifting and shaking all that hinders the entrance of My Glory to the earth. Do you not feel it?

Align your heart with My plans and purposes for the earth and your nation, for I am coming soon and there is a short time to fine-tune your position for the coming of My manifest Glory. Be alert and be one who will not be moved from the position of receiving all I have for you. For I have much to release to you; and much for you to release to see
My Kingdom come in increasing measure. I am pouring in and I am releasing the greater measure. Stand fast. Hold your fine-tuned position. Do not be moved from
where you are, aligned with Me. For I am bringing – and I am releasing – the fullness: the full measure of My Glory for this time.

It is time for the release, so prepare now.

Haggai 2:9
“The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,” says the Lord Almighty. “And in this place I will grant peace,” declares the Lord Almighty.

[Sunset Towards Cuba by RB, 4 March 2006 from somewhere en-route from Jamaica to the Bahamas.]

Has God’s alarm clock gone off?

Posted on Thursday, 4 April, 2013 by Richard Barker

Three weeks ago today, 14th March, I received an ‘alarm call’ from Lyn F which fired me up to write about the choice of the new Pope. Upon first glance, her email and my response (Is Pope Francis the prophesied Petrus Romanus?) may seem unconnected but ‘over coffee’ I considered if that prophecy may be of God.

Meanwhile, Lyn has sought the Lord about distributing her brief email beyond a circle of friends and He gave her the go-ahead for me to publish. First, for those unfamiliar with the workings of the Holy Spirit, I should explain that when he communicates with our own spirit there is usually a distinct sense of inward contact. For sensitively attuned folk this can also be felt as a warmth, or surge of electricity, or sharp gasp of breath, or an inexplicable urge to double up as though someone’s hit our knee from behind…These various ways may even be combined for they’re all so individually personal. We notice, for example, a look of surprise on Lyn’s face as she involuntarily exclaims, “HO!”.

Here’s a copy of the email, with Lyn’s blessing.:

Prophetic Stuff

After something that happened this morning I really feel I must discharge some of the words I have witnessed to in the spirit recently (in fact since 1st March).

The HO’s! have increased in frequency and volume. First some of the words –

We are nearing World War III.
Behold I do a new thing.
The world is spiralling into hell.
You can’t bargain with the enemy.

Then this morning as I woke up and looked at my digital radio clock. It showed 8.33. I dragged myself out of bed thinking my husband would be up and about but found he was still asleep…He has the exactly the same type of clock, it showed the time as exactly 2 hours earlier than mine!! His clock was correct.

Very puzzled I returned to bed and listened to a podcast in the hope of returning to sleep but no, another big Ho!

There isn’t much time left.
There is such an urgency in my spirit.

Love and blessings

Note: I replied about how and why this had struck my spirit and asked her to seek the Lord about sharing it more widely. On 21st March came her reply:

Looks fine Richard. You may wish to add the latest –

There isn’t much time left. It’s later than you think.

Oh my, no wonder there is such a sense of urgency!

RB’s Observations:

1. The email’s content met with resonant confirmation in my own spirit (per Acts 15:28), mainly in grasping the significance of the 2 hours time difference between alarm clocks. Lyn was awakened and thought her time was correct but found it ahead of the actual time. This suggests she should be awake and alert before everyone else because they are on ‘ordinary’ time, and their ‘clock’ will wake them to what’s going to happen as they all begin a new day. In other words, God’s waking her up in advance to alert others that something significant is to happen, about which He’s already given her clues!

2. Here was a twelfth reference to God doing a ‘new thing’, but the tenor of these brief words confirmed the next post I’d started writing only the day before I got Lyn’s email. That draft is headed ‘Is God baring His arm?’ Also, I was struck that this must include the election of the new Pope – as in the proverb, ‘A new broom sweeps clean’. Perhaps radical changes are in store for not only the Roman Catholic Church but the whole body of Christ?

3. When we first met Lyn and her husband in February 2012 she confided about three sightings of naval activity and sensing the Lord saying “War” each time. As she had no knowledge of current developments I told her about the massive build-up of American, NATO and Russian fleets in Persian Gulf, Red Sea and eastern Med that had featured in latest intelligence reports published by Debka in connection with Iran.

So, I recognise Lyn’s gifting and sensing international tensions with the Lord’s warnings of war. North Korea has threatened the USA with nuclear attack and declared a state of war against South Korea. Its military is now authorised to use such weapons!

John McTernan’s North Korea Watch Update provides informative background links on this dangerous issue, as well as scripturally relevant events in the States. In my opinion, their stance is directly connected to Iran’s development of nuclear weapons and its ally NK’s bellicose threats are probably designed to counter western strategies for dealing with Iran; which can now respond ‘check’ to its opponents’ strategic options in this chess game.

< Update 9 April – Iranian state TV announced yesterday their president had unveiled 2 more uranium-processing facilities in central Iran…In case this show of defiance is lost on the West, Tehran is also threatening to follow its North Korean partner and withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in the wake of the failure of latest negotiations in Kazakhstan. These broke up without any date for resumption after Tehran refused outright to curb its enrichment program in exchange of the partial easing of sanctions, demanding world powers acknowledge the Islamic Republic’s right to enrich uranium under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)…Its exit would mean the nuclear watchdog would no longer have monitoring access to Iran’s known nuclear sites and, like N Korea which expelled the inspectors, could carry on enriching uranium and developing its nuclear weapons program without international oversight. Such steps plus NK’s restarting its nuclear facilities last week and missile tests further boost the nuclear collaboration between both nations – see Debka report.>

4. The above words suggest not only military battles but also battles for souls because so many deceptive doctrines are spreading through the western church – see my earlier posts on the spiritual avalanche of false teachings (eg. on grace) and the possibly dire effect upon homosexual believers.

5. In the event of either 3 and/or 4 we cannot, nor should we, compromise with the enemy!

As regards the significance of the time-lapse, this was confirmed inadvertently when our friend forwarded a link to James Nesbit’s prophetic painting – Arrival. (Click for gallery of ‘Bridal Collection’.) It was inspired 105 weeks after its predecessor, Awaiting the King. The astute reader will espy and understand the sequence in a theme which is directly relevant to todays’ times and troubles as we approach the Great Tribulation.

Postscript:

Lyn advises that her husband has found definitions of Ho! on the internet, viz:

This seems to fit exactly as I thought but he can’t find it now > ‘an affirmation of Jehovah (of what has been or is about to be said)’. Albert Barnes notes on the Bible – ‘Ho! The word is designed to call attention to the subject as one of importance (the words are not of the prophet, but of the Lord)’. Mathew Henry commentary – ‘Ho, take notice of it’. [Interesting!]

Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury – God’s outsiders pointing to a new era for the church

Posted on Saturday, 16 March, 2013 by Richard Barker

A superb reflection upon the unusual juxtapositioning of both enthronements from Gillan Scott. He adroitly observes and comments upon the work of the Holy Spirit, “If there was evidence needed for this, the election of two men who were off many people’s radar is surely it.” I also entirely agree with his emphasis; “…When this sort of thing happens it usually heralds change.” Readers of this blog will note how this may be related to several prophetic words along those lines and as reported in recent months. March may be more momentous in God’s plans than my friend surmises – at about the same time a newly elected government in Israel is hosting the visit of a recently re-inaugurated President of the USA. Truly, these are most interesting times!

Abiding in God’s Word: continued

Posted on Thursday, 7 March, 2013 by Richard Barker

“ALL ABOARD!”

Let’s return to our seats in the third carriage of our ‘time-travel’ train. New passengers wanting to board should first get their ticket by clicking here. All new passengers will need to go back in time and walk through the carriages, as explained in the ‘ticket’ so they may fully appreciate what’s next on our journey together. (A brief summary appears below.)

Doubtless this seems an unusual, even novel, way of time travelling? Each ‘carriage’ represents one day within a week when I discovered some new things about the Word of God (ie. the Holy Bible). Here, in the 3rd carriage I dig out my notes and we consider what’s being taught and how we can abide in God’s Word.

First , let’s recap with Jesus Christ’s rebuke to the Jewish teachers. They’d recognised the authority of his cousin John the Baptist but were slow, if not blind, to comprehend who Jesus is. And so he told them God’s own testimony about himself was being shown though the work he was doing for them! His closest disciple recorded this as follows.:

“But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. ³⁷And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. ³⁸But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. ³⁹You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. ⁴⁰But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life…” [John 5 NKJV emphases added]

The meaning of verse 38 can be otherwise summarised:

“The abiding word that is written has to become real so that it becomes the manifest Word – and then you believe and see miracles!

Sometimes we pray for revival or change and when it comes we don’t recognise it. Or, we even reject it because it doesn’t fit into our (Biblical) box…

“The abiding word is what positions us for the next thing that God is going to do!”

NOTES

That was where we’d got to in this 3rd carriage on the journey. Now we’re back onboard lets continue with my notes as our train ‘rocks on’…!

In Jesus’ day the Jews were praying for and expecting their Messiah or Anointed One who would lead them out of subjugation to ungodly Roman rule. The parties of scribes and pharisees were experts in interpreting and understanding their ancient scriptures. These included words inspired by God and received by their prophets about His plans for this special people and their forthcoming ‘Son of David’. But Jesus was forthright in denouncing those ‘authorities’ for not recognising who he is and that God had indeed sent him, as in the above quotation.

The very same applies to us, does it not? That is, we cannot recognise who Jesus truly is unless God’s Word abides within; which means, it lives deep inside our whole being.

What is The Abiding Word? The private instruction Jesus gave to his close circle of disciples on the eve of his trial and crucifixion included this explanation:

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ²Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;^[a] and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. ⁴Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

⁵“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will^[b] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. [John 15 NKJV emphases added]

Herein, Jesus is making a connection between access to the unlimited AND what is abiding IN our heart.

Meditation is key

Not worldly/Eastern meditation, however, because that is ’emptying’ the mind.
Biblical meditation is filling the mind and does not make one vulnerable to outside influences.
This meditation is taking what God has said and pondering it in our heart, or ‘chewing’ and contemplating (also known as Lectio Divina – not the theological analysis of scripture but regarding Christ as key to its meaning).
Abiding puts us in a position for I N C R E A S E.
Access to unlimited increase is directly related to how we abide in what He’s already said.
Revelation from scripture must lead to a God encounter.
The Canon of scripture is designed to lead us into an encounter with The Holy One.

Continuing the first above quotation from John 5:

⁴¹“I do not receive honor from men. ⁴²But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you. ⁴³I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive. ⁴⁴How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God? ⁴⁵Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you—Moses, in whom you trust. ⁴⁶For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. ⁴⁷But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” [John 5 NKJV emphases added]

Faith and fear of man cannot co-exist. So, do I want God’s approval or man’s?

God waits to pour honour on His people. Therefore, the life of extraordinary faith usually has a lot of favour following within it.

[All railway photos were taken on the Mid-Hants Watercress Line’s World War II day in 2012, a fun day and opportunity for re-enactment groups to dress appropriately.]

Abiding in God’s Word

Posted on Monday, 18 February, 2013 by Richard Barker

Jesus told the Jews who believed Him, , “IF you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32 emphasis added)

COME, take a train ride with me and consider the relevance of Jesus’ claim for today.

Why on a train? Another intriguing ‘train’ of thoughts and insights is about to pass by, like one of those old-time steam locomotives. They amble along, which allows time for passengers to chat as well as to explore carriages. I can rummage around looking for any interesting ‘cargo’ and such ‘trunks’ often hold hidden gems. Also, conversation with passengers may bring a confirmation, an affirmation or even a revelatory word from the Lord. So won’t you go back three weeks and share my latest ‘trip’ with me?

It’s a free ride, so no need to buy a ticket as we dash through to the platform where its entrance acts as a ‘portal’ and we jump back three weeks in time. On board this short, now moving train we’re welcomed by a kaleidoscopic collection of inter-linked thoughts and insights. Let’s check what’s in this first carriage before we move further along the train…

1st ‘carriage’

Here I sit to dig out of my briefcase some prophetic words I’d been given in 1996 (see Why I’m writing). This sheet of paper opens by stating how the day started with a call from someone who’d heard the Lord instruct them to call me with verses 3, 5 and 9 in the Book of Joshua. Re-reading that first chapter now, however, my gaze fixes upon verses 6 to 8 leading into verse 9 and some words seem to have an added emphasis, as below.:

[¹After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: ²“Moses my servant is dead. Now then…]⁷…Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. ⁸Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

My study Bible says this account of the Israelite tribes’ journey into the land that the God of Abraham had promised him and his descendants was written about 3,400 years ago! I note the fact that Moses’ closest assistant was told to keep entirely focused upon what Moses wrote and upon nothing else. Only by so doing would Joshua and all his people prosper, and God would be with them where they were about to go!

[What Moses wrote is known as the Pentateuch, a Greek term meaning ‘five-volumed book’ and derived from its Jewish designation, ‘five-fifths of the law’. The Israelites knew it as ‘Torah’, meaning ‘instruction’. It is the first five books of the Old Testament: namely Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.[

Then came an insight: the Torah was the only Standing Instruction this national leader had for his guidance. Furthermore, it was and is the word of God – Holy Scripture. That five-fold book was all they had to believe and follow as holy writ – unlike today with 61 more books comprising later history, poetry and prophetical writings inspired by God’s Holy Spirit. The first 5 books were all Joshua had to go on! Even so, God promised to be with him.

So, about 3,400 years ago Joshua had his instructions but must have gained so much more under the oversight of the Living God. Over the next 1,400 years the descendants of those ancient Hebrews received many more writings inspired by God. And then about 2,000 years ago, God once again drew alongside them as ‘Immanuel’. [A Hebrew word meaning ‘With us is God’ and a title for Jesus Christ, as used by the OT prophet Isaiah when he prophesied Jesus’ virgin birth 700 years earlier – Isaiah 7:14 refers.]

By the time this later Joshua (which means ‘saviour’) lived amongst the Jews as Jesus of Nazareth, their scripture had grown from 5 to 39 authoritative books, and which are known to Christians as the Old Testament. [Some traditional Christian denominations recognise a few more books: see How many books are in the Bible?]

Jesus taught the people with an authority greater than that of their priests because His words came direct from God. [See John 8: 25-39 for His declaration on this issue and which leads into the opening verse of this blog. The last part of v 32 is often quoted but ignores the specific condition for achieving freedom – ie. abiding in God’s word.]

Within a few decades of Jesus’ life another 27 books written by apostles and disciples were recognised as being inspired by God and collated into the New Testament as a complete Bible. So we Christians have a huge Standing Instruction.

Another insight comes: As in Joshua’s time, Jesus’ first followers had God’s promise to go with them, only this time they wouldn’t be going into just the small area of land at the eastern end of the Mediterranean. This time Jesus, the Son of God, commissioned His followers to ‘go to the ends of the world’ after the Holy Spirit would visit and stay upon them.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. [Matthew 28:18-20]

Like Joshua, those Apostles’ and disciples’ Standing Instructions were based upon an existing body of authoritative scripture that was augmented not only by Jesus’ teachings but also by continuing personal direction from Jesus and the Father. That is, this time God’s promise to always be with them was not just for one person only but for many, and His Holy Spirit would be present within them as an endowment of power! Thus, they then lived and moved with God’s Spirit upon them.

2nd ‘carriage’

The week I’m re-visiting personal prophecies I also come across Bobby Conner’s word for 2013, Calling All Warriors. It stirs me deeply and seems so appropriate for today. (It also connects into the ‘warrior’ word from the UK Prophetic Council, as published here.)

Awaken Your Might - credit; James Nesbit www.jamesnart.com

Awaken Your Might by James Nesbit – purchase from http://www.jamesnart.net

On the Saturday, a mentoring day, I see an inspirational picture matching Bobby’s word. Also that morning, Dr Stone states that the 1st chapter of Joshua is important for these days. So I open my old NIV at that very place and grin. What do you know! As I do so Sharon emphasises her message by quoting the verses I’d just seen and which I’d highlighted many years ago (as in above image).:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” [Joshua 1:9]

I’m astounded, as you may have realised from my published account of that day (here). Sharon prophesies that the Church will be moving into what it was always meant to be like, but it will not be easy – as when Joshua led the Israelites into their Promised Land.

3rd ‘carriage’

The next day at church our minister teaches about ‘Abiding in His Word’ – and for me this directly connects into Joshua again! As we considered in the 1st carriage, ‘Abiding’ was God’s Standing Instruction to Joshua, and repeated by Jesus to His followers! The minister then opens this topic by stating:

“The Bible is not a fence that contains God, that is used to restrict Him and His works – it reveals Him! It is guide-lines to indicate who He is and what He can/will do. The Bible is a platform from which He operates!”

Next, she quotes Bill Johnson of Bethel Church, California. (It so happens I’m reading Healing Unplugged, which is a deep discussion between him and Randy Clark about their personal healing ministries. We’ve listened enthralled to Bill several times for he greatly loves teaching from the Word, thereby giving listeners fresh insights.) Now, our minister quotes him as follows:

“It’s hard to have the same fruit as the early Church when you value a book they didn’t have more than the Holy Spirit, whom they did have.”

That reflects in part my earlier thoughts. Next, she goes on to refer to what Jesus told the Jews about God’s own testimony about Jesus being shown though the work He was doing for them:

“But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. ³⁷And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. ³⁸But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. ³⁹You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. ⁴⁰But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life…” [John 5 NKJV]

Our South African minister Lindi summarises the meaning of verse 38:

“The abiding word that is written has to become real so that it becomes the manifest Word – and then you believe and see miracles!

Sometimes we pray for revival or change and when it comes we don’t recognise it. Or, we even reject it because it doesn’t fit into our (Biblical) box…

“The abiding word is what positions us for the next thing that God is going to do!”

Wow, all this is amplifying and enhancing my meditations during the week.

4th ‘carriage’

The very next day I’m prompted – and I don’t know why I should do so – to check that a link on an old posting is working. This is the source’s homepage for The Bridegroom Cometh, but I find it’s dead! So I check again a few hours later, but this time I’m so utterly astounded to see there the picture I’d bought only two days ago and hangs in the study! (As above under ‘2nd carriage’.) Moments later Nina enters the study, sees the picture on-screen and her jaw drops!

IS IT ANY WONDER I was absolutely stunned? (As first reported here)

What is our Lord and God saying and indicating?

Can you hear Him?

May I summarise?…

God gives plenty of instructions for us to meditate upon, to follow and live by so that we will always remain, or abide, in them. In addition to that He gives us Himself – so what more could we possibly ask or want?

Here’s one of my favorites on abiding from that very special, private teaching time in the upper room on the eve of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion.:

“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

²²Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”

²³Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. ²⁴He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me…”

Then, when talking about His being the True Vine, Jesus again stresses the great importance of abiding in God’s holy word.:

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ⁸By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.⁹“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love…”

These are from John 14 and John 15 respectively in NKJV, but it’s much better to read the whole event and thereby gain its full context. So why not invite the Lord to be with you as you read and meditate upon chapters 13-17 of the Gospel according to John?

May He be with you in Spirit…

Our train halts in a station for a quite a while and we take a break to walk around the station. Here we find a number of civilians and military personnel dressed as though they’re in the 1940s! We recognise one distinguished figure boarding as we’re called back on board and enter the 3rd carriage to continue on our journey (click to proceed).

I went in response

Posted on Wednesday, 9 January, 2013 by Richard Barker

Amen and thank you Jarrod for this recommendation about ‘nudges’, and which no doubt also indicates how to be in the right place at the right time (click to read blog).

Amen and thank you Jarrod for this recommendation about ‘nudges’, and which no doubt also indicates how to be in the right place at the right time (click to read blog).

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“London’s burning…”

Posted on Tuesday, 8 January, 2013 by Richard Barker

Thus, proclaimed Nathan Morris on Sunday night as he ministered to the congregation gathered in packed Kensington Temple, the renowned Elim Pentecostal church located in Notting Hill Gate, London.

It could be taken as a prophetic declaration in keeping with Julie Meyer’s visionary song and Bobby Conner’s prophetic reference to a UK ‘Firestorm’. We knew of this only through being on opposite sides of the ‘pond’.

And what a way to travel…no planes, queues, passport control – no delays, no jet-lag!! We were online in Mobile, Alabama and then z o o m e d to London within a minute!

That’s how we got 1/4 way around the world without going outside our lounge. For three hours we ‘attended’ Church of His Presence, where pastor John Kilpatrick taught on the realisation of believers’ potential (along with 22 prophetic words). He spoke of unseen connections God is bringing about and opening doors -where’d we heard that before? (here) – doors that have been locked for 20 years! Pastor specifically included on-line members but my wife was unable to hear this because she’d been ‘zapped’. What he’d already said had ‘plugged’ her into Holy Spirit’s power socket – thank you Lord.

John’s homily was God Is Planning Something SO BIG, Even The Devil Can’t Stop It! His excellent exposition on how the Lord will do this complements Sharon Stone’s prophetic words on ‘perspective’ and God’s provision, as well as those she’s just released this week for 2013 from the UK’s Prophetic Council. (See also, summary with introduction to prophecy.)

In announcing that their English evangelist was away on a home visit, and as a guest speaker at Reinhard Bonnke’s School of Evangelism, John’s assistant pastor said that Nathan had been invited at the last minute to address the evening service prior to the event. And because of the time difference, that service would be happening at about the same time as their own there in Alabama, USA.

So Nina wondered if there may be a live webcast for that London service. As soon as John had finished, I searched for Christ For All Nations’ site but its UK page just refused to load! (Overloaded?) A quick ‘google’ soon located the hosting church’s website.

So from a 10.30 morning service to a 19.00 evening service was simple as pie, thanks to technology. With laptop hooked up to TV we took part in both services from our own armchairs. YET, a shock was in store for us…

Along with hundreds of online members we like being with the enthusiastic Americans but, ‘arriving’ at 7.30pm in London just after close of worship we landed with a thud! Here, we found an ordinary, subdued English service even though it was composed mainly of youngsters and many nationalities!

Or, as Nathan had just started speaking, maybe they were surprised at how passionate he is? Definitely not the usual sort of speaker. Being fire-filled he cannot be anything but excited about his Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Nathan gave a brief outline of his past life of deep sin and how the Lord unexpectedly burst into his life, turned him around and set him ablaze. Then followed a couple of videos outlining his remarkable ministry in Africa and India and showing the revival and miracles at the Bay of The Holy Spirit in Mobile.

AN HOUR LATER, ALL CHANGED! The congregation packing hall and balconies was mightily encouraged and keen for more. Nathan always preaches the blood and cross of Jesus without compromise and after which signs and wonders follow. Tonight, therefore, the Holy Spirit’s fire fell. Everyone was up on their feet on fire for and with Him and wanting more when Nathan ministered to almost everyone. Hence, his declaration in view of what was happening, “London’s burning”, as well as the fact that people have come from all over London and the home counties.

What’s it like being touched by the Holy Spirit? He affects us in different personal ways. For me it’s like a warmth and glow upon the face and often makes me feel I’m surfing. For those very sensitive to the Spirit the power may make us twitch and/or cry out. And it can happen ‘remotely’, as above whilst watching a live broadcast, or by the laying on of hands, as when Nina felt as though a thunderbolt had hit her when Nathan touched her as he passed by at Hull (account here).

A sample of the morning worship of Phil Wickham’s ‘Cielo’ with Martin Smith’s chorus My Heart Burns For You will help you to soar and appreciate that afternoon-evening. This clip of the same recorded in July features Lydia Stanley-Morrow, who too was in London .:

Click here for video of this morning’s worship led by Rebecca van Dijk and where Rev. Kilpatrick’s message starts at 1hr35min. (Rebecca starts those two songs at 19 min.)

Finally, an interesting start to the day happened in our morning service here in UK, but that’s for another time…(continued here)

Revival still burns bright in China

Posted on Thursday, 20 December, 2012 by Richard Barker

RJB This exceptional account gives a glimpse of what the Christian church was like immediately after Jesus walked the earth. For Randy Clark it must have been like a trip in a time machine. We’ve been blessed to meet this most humble servant of God in Canada and UK several times. His website is www.globalawakening.com (Some miraculous healings he encountered of disappearing surgical metal parts may be seen here on this blog.) Thank you Tembisa.

Some insights into God’s action plan

Posted on Thursday, 4 October, 2012 by Richard Barker

Soon after my birthday trip to Trafalgar Square with Healing On The Streets, as here, I was blessed with a greater under-standing of God’s action plan: getting the full Gospel message in all its power into the public space. So I want to encourage fellow believers as well as stir those who are not yet Christians to discover more about our faith.

Insight 1

Knowing about God’s action plan gives impetus to our realisation of the spiritual contest going on within society to manipulate people’s thoughts and beliefs away from God.

This has been observed not only in the HOTS v ASA saga but also other spheres of UK government action. Thinking they’d curtail prayers in public for physical healing, the ASA banned HOTS leaflets but this blew up in their faces when the public’s attention and that of Parliament turned towards the issue (as here and here). Also, a substantial flaw was found in the ASA ruling. So, we can perceive the Lord’s hand in these events. However, the issue with the Equalities & Human Rights Commission about keeping religious beliefs well behind church doors, as summed up here by Gillan Scott, still bubbles away.

That struggle is also why Christians are in the European Court, Strasbourg, standing against governmental rulings (see here, here and here). We can understand that the spiritual enemy does not want anything Jesus did in public to be done in public today. Thus, he will attempt in every possible way to thwart God’s plans for returning Christian beliefs and activity to the public sphere.

On this issue political blogger Cranmer has rounded upon confused comments coming from Baroness Warsi, minister of State for Faith and Communities and Senior Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, that the British Government is proud to do ‘God’. His Grace writes:

It is ironic that this ‘Senior’ Minister of State…should boast that the UK Government ‘does God’ while their lawyers at the European Court of Human Rights have made it clear that the position of HM Government is that Christians should ‘leave their beliefs at home or get another job’.

David Cameron – like Tony Blair before him – appears to mistake freedom of worship for freedom of religion. The Baroness apparently grasps the difference, and yet she is part of that government which is arguing in Strasbourg that there is a ‘difference between the professional and private sphere’.

Whatever the Baroness may spout at the UN, the UK has seen a gradual shift from ‘freedom of religion’ to ‘freedom of worship’. The whole narrative surrounding religious faith has gone from being ‘in the world’ to the physical confines of a church, temple, synagogue or mosque.

Insight 2

Sunday morning’s service at Church of His Presence had a late change in its schedule. Pastor John had to be away and Jan Painter spoke on what the Lord’s saying about His plans for revival and taking His presence outside church walls. (Jan prophesied a fresh but return of the glory of God after that of the Brownsville revival.)

For well over an hour Jan conveyed her grasp of the Lord’s words and amongst several gems was this one:

“In God’s presence we become aware of Him, but He wants you to be aware that He is aware of you“.

Wow, how this adds another deeper dimension for our ministering healing! It seems, in my opinion, a lot of what she says about God’s work through The Bay Revival may well apply to HOTS because that team is also part of God’s worldwide action plan to get the full Gospel outside church walls.

Indeed, the Lord’s rebuke that Jan conveyed about believers letting a spiritual weapon fall into disuse also applies to all on-fire churches. (Ephesians 6:10-18 refers.) This is extremely relevant teaching and as the service closed most of the large congregation, no doubt plus online members, started practising this holy gifting.

Join this exceptional service by playing the above video. There are testimonies from deaf and blind folk being healed before Jan starts speaking at 1hr30min. [Takes few seconds to start but play can be advanced along the loading gray buffer bar.]

Insight 3

How can I convey what followed the previous two within days? At the first home group we attended of our new church the preacher brought a powerful text for discussion – the third chapter of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus.

I received a ‘download’! It was almost visible! My New King James Study Bible heads this chapter as The Mystery Revealed, with sub-headings Purpose of the Mystery and Appreciation of the Mystery. I n t r i g u i n g !

As the chapter was read aloud and certain Greek words in verses 16 to 20 discussed, I grasped its direct relevance to all I’ve written above and in the preceding posts about HOTS.

All I can suggest for the earnest Christian is to meditate upon and ‘chew well’ the extra-ordinary depths of this whole chapter and ask for revelation. This Bible Gateway link to Ephesians 3 gives the Amplified Bible’s translation, thereby offering a good glimpse into the meaning of Paul’s apostolic teaching.

Just savour these verses then, along with the rest, chew and swallow the whole chapter and then the rest of this short letter:

¹⁰[The purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere.

¹¹This is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He has realized and carried into effect in [the person of] Christ Jesus our Lord,

¹²In Whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness (courage and confidence) of free access (an unreserved approach to God with freedom and without fear). – – – – –

¹⁶May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].

¹⁷May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,

¹⁸That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];

¹⁹[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

AMEN!

H.O.T.S. now H.I.T.S. – part 2

Posted on Thursday, 4 October, 2012 by Richard Barker

In Part 1 I started a ‘taster’ of our day with Mark Marx, founder of Healing On The Streets (HOTS), when he taught on praying for healing in public. Over a hundred delegates then went to Trafalgar Square to pray and were bathed in warm sunshine. Part 1 asked, what does Mark teach and is it different to prayers in church?

I’ll attempt an answer below with some subsequent insights all of which, I submit, will be of interest and application not only to readers in the UK but also to those overseas.

First, however, have you heard about the Alpha Course? This friendly and very social course is a means of introducing non-believers to the history and beliefs of Christianity. The course started in Holy Trinity church in Brompton, London, and most branches of the worldwide church now conduct an Alpha course – for more see website.

It is now reported that Healing On The Streets is growing even more quickly than Alpha!

So what does its founder Mark Marx teach? This very brief overview is my own, not official, but HOTS’ scriptural found-ations and most of the principles are similar to those taught in Christian ministries. HOTS’ especial emphasis is upon expressing God’s compassion and love in the market place, whatever the weather and, thereby, enables the church to connect directly every week with the community it serves.

The secret of HOTS’ success

Mark describes HOTS as ‘a stepping-stone’ in God’s action plan to get the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, outside the church walls. Therefore, as such it is a model only for it will probably become modified as believers learn to move increasingly in the fullness of their authority in Jesus Christ; for He promised,

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.(John 14.12)

Thus, we should seek God for a personal revelation of who we are in Him and of what He has given us. Even so there’s something more and, in view of my previous posts on the Bay of The Holy Spirit Revival and the teaching of John Kilpatrick and evangelist Nathan Morris (here and here respectively), this particularly grabbed our attention.:

HOTS’ ‘secret’ is not truly such, for it is Christianity’s special feature that distinguishes it from every other religion; it is the presence of and our reliance upon God’s Holy Spirit. This is something even those who are not Christians can sense, and which they can therefore physically experience and react to; e.g. “This is weird but I’m feeling…”.

For example, in making a brief mention of HOTS’ work across London at last month’s Revival Alliance Gathering in Birmingham, Gerald Coates referred to that special effect upon a completely uninterested passer-by. This man turned upon the team to accuse them of having pushed him – but they were busy praying for someone! They told him it was the strength of God’s presence he’d felt. So, even if someone doesn’t receive any prayer it’s likely they’ll be affected. Anyone who misses this could be completely closed off to God; maybe that’s why they’re known as ‘the lost’?

The Muslim passer-by returned with his family and they all knelt and gave their lives to Jesus Christ! Praise you Lord, keep blessing them and their friends.

In quoting a scriptural principle to back up his statements about the presence of God, Mark used one I’ve never heard any preacher mention in this connection. BUT it is one I became personally aware of in a most dramatic way – AND with being in the very same connection as Marks’ explanation! So that served to validate his teaching.

[Mark was speaking briefly about the possibility of demonic manifestation during prayer time and referred to the account of the Israelites’ Ark of the Covenant that had been captured by Philistines and placed in their pagan temple. Now the Ark was where the Living Lord would manifest within the holy temple and the Philistines returned twice to their temple only to find its idolatrous statue broken by God’s power! Read about this in prophet Samuel’s first book at 1Sam 5:1-5. The Lord had given me those verses to read aloud during ministry time when a lady was prowling around like a panther. She stopped immediately and stared wide-eyed at an open vision of the satanic temple used by her ancestors for child sacrifices – she watched it being well and truly trashed! “Just like watching a video”, said she, now freed from oppression and praising the Lord.]

One of the other distinguishing marks of HOTS is to convey the ‘compelling love of Christ’ to everyone so they may sense his peace, even in the busiest environment.

Healing in Trafalgar Square

Team members take this atmosphere they carry wherever they go. It has been found kneeling brings more of this. So they kneel at a place until God’s presence becomes tangible. Thus, as we arrived mid-afternoon by the steps leading up to the National Gallery the group knelt down, as here>(courtesy Facebook/ Supranatural Life -see posts dated 3 -26 September.)

Consequently, everyone who came by would be attracted, affected – or even repelled! – by the spiritual nature of what we were doing. As the Apostle Paul explains,

But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere,

For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:

To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. (2 Cor 2:14-16 Amplified Bible)

The truth of that scripture cannot be denied but it brings sadness to each believer for the lost and their future. Whenever Mark cited cases of medically inexplicable healings arising from HOTS ministry I often recalled the obduracy of atheists I’d encountered on several blogs this year. Their mindsets seem to be encased in ‘concrete’ that prevents them from rational examination of evidence. For example, the lady who complained to the ASA about HOTS in Bath and, in Trafalgar Square, a young man strode past me to get away from the large gathering and remarked to his girlfriend, “It’s a scam!”. Mark had told us to watch people’s body language and make good eye contact before trying to hand out a leaflet and invite them to receive prayer – so this couple were avoided.

Our group was sandwiched between two other public offerings – ‘free hugs’ and a few men performing dance and acrobatics to pop songs. Nina reminds me how appropriate it was to hear them singing, “I believe in miracles”!!

With about a dozen chairs, or ‘hot-sits’, quite a number of people received prayer and after an hour or so we returned to base and were pleased to learn of how successful our endeavour had been. (Some may be found on Facebook/Supranatural Life.)

It was a most memorable occasion and I’ve since received a few insights into God’s action plan, which I’d like to share in another post – click here.

We felt it 4,500 miles away!

Posted on Wednesday, 12 September, 2012 by Richard Barker

4,500 miles – that’s a quarter of the way around the world! The British boy was at his best under the ‘unction of the Holy Spirit’, ie., the anointing from God Most High to preach and teach the Gospel with the power of His Spirit, as he spoke about ‘Divine Exchange’. Most of the large congregation had, in fact, already ascended in worship and found ‘fullness of joy’ in His presence, which was strongly felt throughout the 3 hour-long service!

Late Sunday afternoons here in Hampshire, England, we go to church in Mobile, AL, USA, for a morning service, as do thousands of other online members of Church of His Presence. On Sunday, English evangelist Nathan Morris reported healing miracles had happened when the Bay Revival team recently went to Lake Charles, Louisiana, a week after hurricane Isaac’s visit.

(PS. whilst there Nathan warned a much greater, more severe storm’s coming – The King Is Coming! Click to watch message; read these posts too – Watch, Get Ready.)

Soon after many there repented, Nathan had a prophetic word about someone’s health, “degenerative disease in the kidneys” (ie. kidney failure). A lady with a 6 months-old baby yells as he quips, “The preachers weren’t watching, but the Son of God is!” and what happened next is most wonderful. If you too would like to know – and see – then carry on reading:

Listen to Nathan’s account and then watch it happen as he plays two video clips to the congregation. [Click on ‘play triangle’ and as it loads click on grey bar to advance play, speed depends upon your broadband speed.] Nathan starts telling about this miracle at 1hr12min30 and the video section of baby Jeremiah’s healing starts at 1:18:00….at 1:21:30 it changes to the next day’s meeting for an account of the boy’s severe medical status by his exurberant mother as she tells about that morning’s astonishing results of his creatinine blood test…praise the Lord!

At 1:36:00 a ‘live’ testimony is given for the Lord’s healing of terminal colon cancer and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. What is remarkable is that the patient was one of a very, very tiny group of people without a specific enzyme which adversely affects chemotherapy. The Lord directed her to search on the internet to find out about this (1:40:00). She got in touch with chat rooms and therefore insisted doctors test her before treatment. Thus they discovered that she was one of this rare, at-risk group!

Divine Exchange

After a strong admonition (at 1:45:00) and exhortation to that nation (US) and to young people, Nathan ends with an unexpected brief word about faith in anyone other than Jesus Christ, and says, “I don’t know where that came from, it’s not my message!”

At 1:50:50 he begins an exceptional message on coming into God’s presence and the signs of the Kingdom, as exemplified in those healings, teaching from the Biblical books of Hebrews and Exodus. Any summary would fail to do justice or convey it properly – it needs to be heard and entered into. Are you able to do so?

Drawing to a close Nathan recounts the drummer / youth pastor told him how amazed he was when a blind eye opened as he prayed. Nathan then exclaimed,

He was so full of it – he was rejoicing – and I looked at him and thought, “Son, you’d better get ready, because if you keep having a divine exchange with God, blind eyes will be nothing – He’ll show you things that will blow your mind!!“

He went on (2:27:00):

Before I knew you were worshiping, I could feel it in my spirit. Normally I can’t hear you in the back room but I heard something…and said so to the pastor…I could feel it because there’s something that happens when the Body of Christ joins in one accord to – we enter the Throne Room where divine exchange takes place!”

Everyone re-entered worship and even across the ‘pond’, here in the UK – a quarter of the world away – we too felt the strong, undeniable touch of precious Holy Spirit as His fire fell once again in Alabama.

And why ever not? After all God’s Spirit is present in all those who believe in the one He sent – Jesus Christ. In our human spirits there’s no separation whatsoever from Him or from the fellowship of His Body.

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Category Archives: Holy Spirit

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I went in response

“London’s burning…”

Revival still burns bright in China

Some insights into God’s action plan

H.O.T.S. now H.I.T.S. – part 2

We felt it 4,500 miles away!

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