Vision of a lion – the four faces of God

Posted on Monday, 8 September, 2014 by Richard Barker

To continue Paws 4 Thought on Ffald-y-Brenin about the frightening vision of a lion and as promised at the close of ‘Nuggets’.:

To recap briefly, let me set the scene…

Ffald-y-Brenin

In his blogspot of 2011 David Pike writes about the 1,500 year Christian history of the mountain upon a shoulder of which Ffald-y-Brenin nestles.:

“I find it very interesting that the place God chose as the location for the centre is on the side of Carn Ingli – the Hill of the Angels. It was so named because it was where 6th century Celtic saint Brynach who came from Ireland and settled in this area used regularly to ascend the mountain and spend time there communing with God. The people of the local community he served were clearly aware that his times of fellowship with God were special and supernatural times, and so the place got its name.”

“Roy and Daphne [the centre’s managers] are aware of this connection, and draw inspiration from the way the Celtic saints served their communities out of a deep and personal communion with God in which a regular rhythm of prayer is a key feature.

“In the meanwhile, the level of Holy Spirit activity at Ffald-y-Brenin has increased in the last months, especially after a pastor from Africa visited the centre to come and pray for God’s blessing on his nation. After some time alone in the chapel, he came to see Roy, looking somewhat startled and wide-eyed. He wanted to know for how long there had been a lion in the chapel.

“A lion had appeared while he was praying, and had stood on the natural rock that is the centre-piece of the chapel, actually part of the mountain on the side of which the centre is built. It had faced in each of the four directions of the points of the compass, and roared in each direction. The man was shaken to his roots! Since then [2011] there has apparently been an intensification and a deepening of the effect of the power of God in Ffald-y-Brenin.”

Reading that whilst blogging upon return home, I noted his closing reference and used it as my closure to my account of the Christian retreat centre:

“There’s a lion’s roar going out of Pembrokeshire right now. I feel it will be heard to the ends of the earth, in all four directions in the coming days.”

In doing so, I noted his reference to ‘all four directions’ also relates to the worship at last month’s ‘Days of Wonder’ gathering in Cardiff.

There, the worship band declared the holy name of the LORD in its original Hebrew and done as practised by the priest in the holy of holies in the Temple. Each consonant of His Name, as revealed to Moses (in King James’ English, “Yehovah” – Exodus 6:3), was declared in turn whilst facing each of the cardinal points of north, east, south and west.

The Four Faces of God

God is One, yet Three in One, and reveals Himself in four main aspects, as John Bickersteth & Timothy Pain write in The Four Faces of God (Kingsway Publications, 1992).

The authors explain why God is represented by four creatures, four colours, four offices and four offerings in the Old Testament; why we celebrate Christmas one way when the Bible presents it in four; why there are four different Gospels, each with their traditional emblem.

They explain that, in the Gospels, “Matthew wants his readers to obey the king; Mark hopes his readers will allow His servant to serve them; Luke asks his readers to follow the perfect man; John writes about life, light, love, truth and glory so that his readers will love and believe in God’s glorious, light-bearing, life-bringing Son.”

The grounds for these scriptural concepts were enthusiastically taught by one of the elders at Tilehurst Free Church (Baptist), where I found the Lord had put me after He saved me. When an anti-Christian I’d vowed, “I wouldn’t touch Baptists with a barge pole, ‘cos they’re such Biblical bigots”. But I didn’t know God has a huge sense of humour and, as related in my story, was stunned to find myself at a Billy Graham event in 1989.

A few weeks later I rejected the Gospel but nearly died that night. After being personally rescued by Jesus himself, I decided to attend the church but couldn’t find out what sort they were. Unbeknown to me they were going through a crisis of whether or not to allow the charismatic gifts. Some went returned to the parent church but the ministers at TFC taught the Bible solidly and learned about and equipped members in using Holy Spirit’s giftings. So, it was as Smith Wigglesworth had foreseen – the proper balance of Word and Spirit in church. I was in the right place at the right time Thank you Lord.

I’m not going into the book in any depth, just providing an overview to reinforce my main point. After considering the Gospel writers different emphases upon Jesus’ mission, the authors look at the four-fold Jesus, the four-fold Gospel, four-fold discipleship, four-fold prayer.

Old Testament ‘fore-shadowings’ are considered in-depth, first by means of the names God gave to describe His person, the main ones being:

Yahweh Sabaoth – ‘LORD of Hosts’

El Elyon – ‘God the Most High’

El Shaddai – ‘The Almighty’

El Qodosh – ‘The Holy One of Israel’.

After elaborating upon his mentor’s work, Pain considers Israel’s four-fold Messiah – “your God, your king, My Servant and the man”. Then, as in Isaiah – “Wonderful Counsellor”, “Mighty God”, “Eternal Father” and “Prince of Peace”.

They then consider Ezekiel’s vision of the four living creatures ‘of human form but the sight of them was like the glory of God’! These were later recorded in the revelation that came to Apostle John, but for 2nd and 3rd century theologians, Ezekiel’s vision is ‘the clinching and most important four-fold fore-shadowing of the four Gospels‘.

Those authors, however, don’t refer to what Ian Clayton elaborates upon the faces of God, eg. as in Genesis 17:1

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I [am] the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. (KJV)

The original Hebrew of Gen 17:1 reads as follows (emphases added):

And he-is-becoming Abram son-of ninety and nine years and he is appearing Yahweh to Abram and he-is-saying to him, I El Who-Suffices walk-you! to faces-of me and become-you! flawless…

Apparently when the high priest declared the name of Yahweh as the ‘Tetragrammaton’ or four Hebrew consonants – ‘Yod’, ‘Heh’, ‘Vav’, ‘Heh’ – they not only turned towards all four cardinal points and sang out each consonant, but also imagined one of those faces of God in turn being before them.

You cannot imagine the effect of this sound during our worship. No wonder we went heaven bound ‘into orbit’ at that gathering in Cardiff…!!!

According to Ezekiel’s vision, the four living creatures each have faces of a man, lion, eagle and bull. It’s thought they’re like that because, being constantly before Him, they reflect all the Lord’s facial characteristics.

Hence, my amazement at learning about the African pastors’ vision at Ffald-y-Brenin of a lion roaring to each cardinal point.

Later, I will write how the Almighty’s personally descriptive name directly reveals Jesus’ fore-ordained sacrifice on the cross.

A closing thought: the cross of Calvary is also four-directional. like compass points!

Footnotes:

See Vision of Glory Firestorm and Four Faces of God, and Why I’m Writing for information on the personal revelance of the eagle.

In notes accompanying his painting Four Living Creatures, renowned prophetic artist James Nesbit states,

We have had the privilege of being in countless worship gatherings where we have joined with the voices of the four living creatures and twenty-four elders for hours on end…

(To read more click image to enlarge, and here to access James Nesbit gallery)

Top/closing images credit: Discerning the Times – the Return of the King is Near – ‘African Lion Roaring’ credit: Best stock pictures – ‘Preparing for the Roar’ credit: At The Father’s Feet

Paws-4-thought: on revival and ‘down under’

Posted on Monday, 8 September, 2014 by Richard Barker

A country at the far side of the world has quietly made its presence known whilst I blogged about our regenerating trip to Wales.

In Prophecy of a roller-coaster ride… I included remarks by Justin Abraham,

“Just back from a ballistic incredible time in OZ and NZ. Things are heating up! We are seeing early signs of the great turning of the tide everywhere.”

Events organised by Justin in Cardiff and by our church outside Guildford both featured New Zealander Ian Clayton.

Then, after finishing my last post on Wales by hinting at a connection between FFald-y-Brenin and ‘Days of Wonder’, a highly pertinent item pops into my mail – The Return of The King! Why pertinent? It refers in-depth to the Lion of Judah!

And where’s that come from? New Zealand.

Are these facts and their timing just coincidental? Has my talent for noticing possible connections made an unwarranted supposition? Or maybe, just maybe, there may be some truth in my surmising:

could New Zealand be the Land of ‘New Zeal‘ ?

It so happens that the above was drafted before going offline for long weekend. Now this morning, the lady who blogged about the roller-coaster writes these fascinating thoughts:

I think the ‘close at hand’ is even closer at hand now. This last month things have been shifting and being set up for an outpouring in several areas. It’s not just one. I see a field planted with several different vegetables. They may not all be harvested at the exact same time but I see growth in various stages. Many areas coming to fruition in succession.

Thank you my brothers and sisters, may you be mightily blessed.

[Image of New Zealand map on flag by Taesmileland, courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net]

NATO in Wales and call to prophetic intercessors

Posted on Thursday, 4 September, 2014 by Richard Barker

Oh my! Yet another connected reference to theme of The King’s return. Bless you Justin…

Thank you, an apology and questions on ‘No Ebb’ prophecy

Posted on Tuesday, 2 September, 2014 by Richard Barker

Thank you to Lynne for notifying me about Arthur Burt, and to Tony for asking about him.

To you dear subscriber, and more importantly, I’d ask you to please accept my apology for not having included in the previous post the date of Arthur’s departure to be with the Lord. I’m sorry for any confusion you may have been caused over its omission.

Normally I’m off-line Friday-Sundays save for running off news reports and scanning for urgent email. One brought this news but there was no time to do anything other than to feature earlier posts on the Home Page and include an announcement plus photo. (Any other posts appearing on a Friday/Saturday have been pre-scheduled for automatic publication.) However, I didn’t realise a regular email advice isn’t issued for such re-publishing. Therefore, in blogging yesterday’s post about Arthur I assumed that readers would already see the news on the Home Page.

So I’ve updated that post and expanded upon what Mary brought, as well as added a map. Now we need to check out whether or not the words Arthur carried for nearly 80 years are of the Lord.

Questions on the ‘No Ebb’ prophecy

As with all prophetic words, this one too – along with Bob Jones’ word – needs to be held in a ‘pending’ tray to wait and see if it will be fulfilled, thereby indicating it was brought through a true prophet. That is, they need to be held loosely, for interpretation is the Lord’s.

Therefore it needs to be weighed against scripture as well as checking with the Holy Spirit. Also, does it accord with the Lord’s character and purposes; was it delivered through an accredited prophetic voice?

I humbly submit a few comments on this:

1. Arthur’s account of the reception of the words is an extensive, essential epistle and tells his personal story. In view of the recent teaching about which I blogged here about the Beginning and holy darkness, it’s interesting to read his Prologue’s opening pages.

Therein, he recounts the night the prophetic word came > “And it shall come like…and there shall be no ebb”. It marked the beginning of the days in which he would look for its fulfillment when, “the earth shall be covered with His Glory”, as in Psalm 72:19.

Clearly, Arthur longed to see such a day when Revival would not just come and slowly dissipate but stay as a full visitation of God’s Glory. He recounts the many times, and especially in modern days, when such wonderful moves and manifestations have ebbed away and become just another denomination, or way of ‘doing church’!

But this prophetic word brought promise of such a long-lasting powerful revival which would not ebb away. It is very likely the same one Smith Wigglesworth and his prayer partner Norman James each saw in a vision – see blog’s Library under 1947 & 1997.

2. Bob Jones’ account of having heard from God about encouraging a man overseas needs some scrutiny in view of its anecdotal rather than recorded nature, especially in view of the time-lapse. Bob’s friend, Rev Steve Scroggs, writes in The Awakening of the Lord’s End of Days’ plan to bring a billion youth into the Kingdom. He says both Bob and Arthur had revelatory insights into His plan and notes Bob’s remarks,

‘I did not know this word, or Arthur, when Bob Jones told me his part of the story. One morning in the late 1980′s, when Bob was praying and talking to God, the Lord told Bob that he wanted him to encourage one of his men in Great Britain. The Lord said, “In the year you were born I gave him a word, and he has not seen this word fulfilled. Tell him that he will see this word come to pass before he dies.”

Now there’s a question over this dating because Bob was born in 1930, Arthur’s book has 1934 and his daughter Mary thinks it may have been as late as 1937.

Another way of looking at this, however, is that the Lord planted this word as a seed into Arthur’s spirit in 1930 but it needed nurturing and watering. Then, when delivered by another man it had an immediate impact upon Arthur because it was already in him, albeit dormant, and so it came into full bloom; or, as Mary comments in this blog,

“…it so moved him that dad grabbed hold of it. He has kept it alive all these years.”

The other question over dates is when Bob was told about Arthur because Steve’s later remarks about Kathie Walters contacting Bob on his date disagree with hers. She refers not to 1980’s but about 2009-11, as may be inferred from her account:

‘Several years ago I was in Wales. I was doing an Elijah List conference. After the conference I went to North Wales, to visit an old friend, Arthur Burt. Arthur has been in the ministry for about 85 years. He was part of a tremendous revival years ago around the 1930′s.

‘When I came back to the U.S. I called Bob Jones to see if he had any word for Wales. He said, “No, but I have a word for an old man in Wales and you were just in his house.”

“That must be Arthur Burt,” I said, as that was the only older man whose house I had been in. Bob didn’t know who Arthur Burt was at that time. “What’s the word?” I asked.

“Tell him, he will see the word,” Bob said.

“He will see what word?” I asked.

“Bob said ” I don’t know, you will have to ask him what word he received. He received it years ago. It was given to a group of people and they are all dead now except for him. But tell him he will see it”.’

Despite lack of clarity over when Bob heard from the Lord, the message details remain consistent. Furthermore, we know from many accounts of Bob Jones from close friends such as Bobby Conner and Paul Keith Davis, he operated in an exceptionally accurate gift of knowledge, as indicated in the above excerpt from Kathie’s account (in full here).

3. So if that reminder was from the Lord, what was it that He would be showing Arthur? “Tell him he will see it!”. Does that mean all the prophecy or part of it? That prophecy describes something happening in sequence:

“It shall come as a breath…
And the breath shall bring the wind…
And the wind shall bring the rain.
And there shall be floods and floods and floods…
And torrents and torrents and torrents.
Souls shall be saved like falling leaves
from mighty oaks swept by a hurricane.
Arms and legs shall come down from heaven…
..And there shall be no ebb.”

From late 2013 and into early 2014 the UK experienced unprecedented weeks of wild wind, heavy rains, massive flooding and an earthquake! So Arthur lived to see the first part of the prophetic word. The promise brought through Bob Jones therefore proved true.

Therefore, the original word’s own promise of an abundance of souls coming into God’s Kingdom may be just around the corner – or more likely, over the horizon!

Perhaps it may be like a spiritual tsunami sweeping right around the globe from where an immense number of salvations are increasing (China). Its initial ‘up-swelling’ is being felt by those who are awakening to what God is doing in this new season. For example, recall Justin Abraham’s remarks in Prophecy of a roller-coaster ride – Get Ready!

“Just back from a ballistic incredible time in OZ and NZ. Things are heating up! We are seeing early signs of the great turning of the tide everywhere…

“It’s already started and isn’t it amazing we get to see days of fulfilment and breakthrough that previous generations imagined. A brand new day. Strap yourselves in for an exciting ride!”

In this connection, Paul Keith mentioned that the open spiritual atmosphere he senses in Wales and UK is like that over Canada, but it is not so for the United States.

Now, could this be because both lands’ Prime Ministers are not anti-Semitic and anti-Israel and so the Lord’s hand of blessing is upon our nations? I’m sure it is!

Methinks Habbakuk 2 verses 1 and 13-14 seem right for what’s happening:

¹I will stand at my watch
    and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
    and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

¹³Has not the Lord Almighty determined
    that the people’s labour is only fuel for the fire,
    that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?
¹⁴For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord  as the waters cover the sea.

Amen.

Who is Arthur Burt?

Posted on Monday, 1 September, 2014 by Richard Barker

Please note, I write not ‘was’ but ‘is’, for Arthur has joined ‘the cloud of witnesses’ in heaven eager for the fulfilment of the Lord’s purposes on earth. He went ‘home’ to the Lord last Thursday 28th August aged 102 years.

In tribute to him I reproduce below the text of what Santos Garcia hopefully dubbed as, “The greatest move of God the earth has (sic) seen”.

Earlier this year I came to learn a little about this centenarian but haven’t yet fully appreciated what the Lord was doing through him. How did I hear of him? I may have picked up on something on the internet whilst casting around for what was being reported in the UK. Then I noted his location!

His home was in a small seaside town in which lie my earliest memories of holidays; Penmaenmawr in North Wales and between Conwy and Bangor, opposite Puffin Isle on the eastern end of Anglesey – across the Irish Sea from Dublin. (There, I first met cows in a field and learned to watch my step en-route to the beach via a footbridge over the railway. I recall large cobbled stones at high tide and sand at low tide.)

I’m grateful to have later received his daughter-in-law Mary’s clarification on a dating error of a major prophetic word which came to a young man at a meeting, of which Arthur was the sole surviving member. She also wisely stresses that the interpretation belongs to God alone.

It was this prophecy that Arthur remembered word-for-word and about which the Lord gave Bob Jones an insight in 2009 that, “He will see the word”, as reported in On floods and Bob Jones on the prophecy held by Arthur Burt.

Brief bio’

The outline of his free e-book And There Shall Be No Ebb introduces Arthur as follows:.

‘Many from around the world have visited his home, Bron Wendon, in Penmaenmawr, North Wales, and many have to the annual “Living Waters” conventions. Many know the story, “A house for the glory of God.”

‘Arthur and Marjorie Burt were married for 65 years and had nine children and more than 50 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As a family man, a preacher, teacher and storyteller, he’s been known in the churches around the world as “Uncle Arthur.”

‘He came to Wales from Paddock Wood in Kent, England, where he was a pastor. One day in Paddock Wood the Lord spoke one Word to Arthur: “Go!” He gave up his work in Kent and has taken a very specific message to some 44 nations for than 50 years. He said it was out of painful obedience that he entered into delight and purpose, to help prepare a people to handle the glory of God… to His glory. He said, “Now that day is at hand….”

‘He’s often said, “Big doors swing on little hinges.” Arthur’s life changed upon answering the call of God and, as a consequence, many lives all over the world were changed and refocused as he freely poured out the Word the Lord had given him.

‘His stories, teaching and proclamations echo deep ponderings over the Word. While he searched out the mysteries of the Kingdom, his life became an adventure exploring the ways of God in many nations. With spontaneity, humour and serious outcries, Arthur proclaimed,

“Prepare! We’re in the last of the last days! Humble yourself! He’s calling for a people who can handle the Presence of God to the Glory of God! Jesus did everything with nothing. (John 5:30) We are ushering in the dawn of a new day. The time is at hand – the dispensation of the fullness of times, where there shall be no ebb….” (emphasis RB)

The prophetic word Arthur held

On pages 47-48 of his book, Arthur explains ‘ebb’ in the context of moves of God as the fullness of times (my emphasis) before telling how the ‘No Ebb’ prophetic word came about and what it states:

“One the third day He will raise us up…” Every move of God has finished with an ebb, a denomination. Men like A. A. Allen, Oral Roberts, whoever, they’ve all fulfilled the word of God: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” That’s the ultimate, the glory of God. We all “fall short of the glory of God.”
And to this day, the Church is in two-thirds. The Church is in Pentecost, meeting
man’s need instead of moving into Tabernacles and meeting God’s glory. God is
governed by one thing, His glory.
Pentecost brought us to two-thirds. But we’re entering into the fullness of times.
One, Two, Three. Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles. The underlying principle is
Tabernacles, the third third. God will fulfill and fill full in Tabernacles. Tabernacles is
for the glory of God.
If God has dictated three, then two will never do the job. Pentecost introduced
it but did not have the power to produce. Only the third third could do it. Very few
know what we are talking about when we’re talking about the third third. It’s joy,
fullness of joy! Tabernacles… Fullness!
What is the third third? I don’t know anything higher than the love of God.
Break it down to simple everyday loving. Would I walk in love? It’s new wine,
it’s joy. It produces fruit. The little bud, the bloom, the blossom — then comes
the fruit! But even after the fruit is developing, unless it comes to fullness, you’ve
got nothing.
One, two, three. We’ve entered into that season, the third third, the third day. Most
people never get beyond souls. “Oh if I could only get this soul saved!” But the
ultimate is that God requires His glory and if souls are not operating to the glory
of God, they better not operate at all. That’s the goal! His glory…
We are children of light. Something is trying to pull us into darkness, hardness.
“You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of
light….” It’s Christ in you. We have the ability to touch others. Yield and be used
everyday. He’s only asking for obedience. All He’s asking for is obedience.
There’s much more in a much more salvation. He saves us to the uttermost.
“After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall
live in his sight.” Something’s coming!
And there shall be no ebb…
Right from the beginning, there has always been the ebb. When a tide comes in, it
reaches high tide and then after flowing in, it ebbs out. Every move of God has been
followed by the ebb. There is something lying ahead that will have no ebb!
I was expelled from the Church of England in 1934 for embracing the Pentecostal
revelation, the baptism of the Spirit, speaking with other tongues. Right after that,
a prophecy came. I remember it as if it was last night:

I walked over to a piano and looked at the open Bible, it was open there at this
Word:

“For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come….”

At the meeting that night, not a Church of England meeting, but a Pentecostal
meeting, the Spirit of God fell upon a young man and he prophesied. I think it’s
about the only prophecy I can remember word-for-word in my entire life. It’s like
a scar inside of me!

“It shall come as a breath…
And the breath shall bring the wind…
And the wind shall bring the rain.
And there shall be floods and floods and floods…
And torrents and torrents and torrents.
Souls shall be saved like falling leaves
from mighty oaks swept by a hurricane.
Arms and legs shall come down from heaven…
..And there shall be no ebb.”

I remember that, “Souls shall be saved like falling leaves from mighty oaks swept by a
hurricane.” There was another part about “the rich and the poor embracing each other in the streets of New York.” But the final thing was… “And there shall be no ebb.”
No ebb!

Thus closes the 6th chapter, the 7th being entitled ‘The One-man Show Is Over’!!

NOTES:

For a consideration of this prophetic word in connection with Bob Jones’ later word of knowledge that “He will see the word”, read the next post >
Maray Lamplighter comments on Confirmation of prophetic word: holy winds of change, “Arthur Burt was told to release the No Ebb Prophecy in the year 2014 just before he went to heaven at the age of 102. He preached it for over 60 years but The Lord told him he had already seen the breath of the beginning of His Mighty Wind of His Holy Spirit in 2012 in North Carolina in miracles and signs and wonders. People came and Jesus healed them in miraculous ways. They came to surrender their lives to Christ. Now this breath of HIS first visitations has filled His People with The Anointing for Holiness. They will go Forth to Do Exploits to Prosper The Kingdom of God on the earth…(he) heard this word first from a young man (still unnamed) over 60 years ago. God wrote it on his heart and he carried it in his breast pocket until one day in 2014 after 60 years of preaching this word in over 50 countries The Holy Spirit told him it is time to tell the people “I AM Performing My Word!”

Paws-4-thought: Ffald-y-Brenin and a prophetic promise

Posted on Wednesday, 20 August, 2014 by Richard Barker

Let’s linger in south-west Wales before continuing on our journey to tell about the Days of Wonder gathering in Cardiff. Would you spend some moments to muse with me over a few things?

Offered a refreshing cup of tea upon arrival at the Newport Links hotel, Nina took it to seats looking down to the beach. There, she met a fellow guest who, it so happened, had returned for dinner from Ffald-y-Brenin. Clearly a ‘divine appointment’, and Jane and Nina chatted away as only those who’ve got an exceptionally special person in common can do.

The clean atmosphere of the Newport area plus its fascinating house of prayer at Ffald-y-Brenin made a deep impact which still affects us two weeks later, even though we were visiting friends and not participating in its daily prayer rhythm. Although my 2013 post on Revival in Wales and the Outpouring in Cwmbran briefly referred to this place, I hadn’t done any background reading whatsoever prior to our trip.

Years ago I wrote a paper for Reading churches on its Abbey’s history and the town’s Viking period and battles in 870s AD with the future king Alfred the Great. So, I was also aware of the history of the ancient British Celtic Church, especially in its Northumbrian king Oswald’s treaties in 630s AD at Dorchester-on-Thames with heathen Mercian king Cynegils and the Roman Catholic missionary Birinus. Earlier studies had taken me into the history of the early British church. (For example, 6th century historian Gildas posits the Gospel’s arrival in the later years of Tiberius Caesar’s reign, circa 40 AD. In AD 177 Eleutherius of Rome wrote to king Lucius in answering how to conduct himself as a Christian in the kingdom of Britain.) However, all that past information was deeply submerged in the recesses of my mind.

I came to South Wales in blissful ignorance to enjoy a refreshing short holiday.

So, what I blogged earlier in the 2nd part of my ‘regenerating week in Wales’ was a very basic personal impression. However, as I completed it I realised some details would help readers who are interested in the retreat. So I copied in extracts from the Trust’s website. Also, just after publishing it I got a nudge to search on Google and immediately noticed a blog I’d quoted previously on Wales in the historically erudite Diebach-welldigger.

Therefore, I scanned David Edward Pike’s personal account of The Grace Outpouring and quoted his closing remarks on a roaring lion – without having read it in full.

Imagine my surprise upon doing so at leisure later. Here are details not only about the origins of Ffald-y-Brenin but also on 6th century Celtic saint Brynach’s time spent on the mountain its built upon. Which is why that place is named ‘The Hill of Angels’.

Over the mountain road from Ffald-y-Brenin to Fishguard we stopped for lunch up on the col and walked up to the tor shown above, from which the top of Carn Ingli may be seen in the distance. It was a good place from which to speak out blessings to family and everyone in the area.

Diebach’s account of the retreat centre refers to a couple of supernatural events I wish to draw your attention to. One is on the solitary cross and its origin.

The other event is the lion that appeared to a pastor from Africa in the beehive chapel and the reference to the four points of the compass. I wish to refer to the significance of that when blogging about the Days of Wonder gathering in Cardiff. Peculiar as it may seem to those who have no grid for the supernatural, I can attest that a huge lion was seen to walk through our local church. Only when a visitor reported having seen it did I know I wasn’t imagining it!

Also for those who wish to know more, I recommend a fellow reader’s travelogue on his St David’s to Leominster Prayer Walk. This is apposite to Pembrokeshire as well as in connection with my remarks in A spiritual slant to the Olympic torch’s route, viz:

I was intrigued to learn from a fellow reader of an encouraging encounter with some Welsh Christians during his hike from Newport, Wales to the Lizard in Cornwall . This group had been in contact with people involved in new age etc and had been told “such groups were aware something was going on in the spiritual realm”!!

Mark’s call to the prayer walk was directly connected to the London 2012 Olympics, which are related to the Queen’s Silver Jubilee about which I wrote several posts on the prophetic significance of the Jubilee Bells.

Yet of particular interest is his reference to his key prayer theme on the walk as being confirmed by the restoration of St David’s shrine in the very year of his walk, AND this is identical to the ‘unexpected hint’ from Matt 19:28 referred to in part 1 of our journey. Also, Mark writes that the statue of David has a dove by his shoulder and his holding a Bible, which signifies the combined foundation of the Word and the Holy Spirit, which is also the message of Smith Wigglesworth’s prophetic vision.

About a prophetic promise

Of all the hundreds of prophetic words I’ve blogged about, only one has resulted in a hostile response and slanderous slur upon my character. It relates to the report from Roger of what happened during one of the prayer times at Ffald-y-Brenin when it was considered that Jesus is “calling the Anglican church out of Lazarus’ cave”.

I had intellectual reservations yet it seemed right in my spirit, and it’s timing fell in with a related vision that had come to an Anglican Ordinand on retreat with several others. So I reported it, but a visitor to this blog challenged it. Now there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that and I respect everyone’s opinion and gave it serious consideration.

Yet my explanation was rejected and the report scorned by that bibliolater; ie. someone who thinks their interpretation and application of scripture is sacrosanct. His reference to what Jesus said at Matthew 24 and assumption it means me, indicates his grasp of scripture is not as sound as it could be. That is, he uses eisegesis not exegesis. That is, there’s an incorrect inference because the plain meaning isn’t taken into context either then or as applied to now. [Thank you The Bishop Dr. for the excellent explanation, What’s with those “Gesis” brothers?]

This critic doesn’t follow Jesus’ instruction about not judging and condemning another. In my opinion it’s wiser to let the Accuser of the brethren do its own dirty work – and if what I reported is actually a work of the Holy Spirit, that soul has possibly committed an unforgiveable sin.

Therefore, I can only conclude satan is very unhappy with this claim about the Anglican Church. Consequently, that prophetic promise on ‘Lazarus cave’ may well be from the Holy Spirit. Having now been to Ffald-y-Brenin and sensed the brooding presence of the Holy Spirit there, I am even more confident of the validity of what Roger shared on revival within England’s established church.

What’s more – this isn’t the first instance of our adversary’s use of heresy hunters over revival in Wales, as noted in this post about Chuck Pierce’s prophetic word on Wales.

A validation?

What may we expect for evidence that the Anglicans are ‘reviving’ or coming out of a tomb, like Lazarus when Jesus called him forth?

Perhaps one noticeable change would be the reversal of centuries of anti-Semitism practised for centuries by the traditional, established churches – and as promulgated by ‘replacement theology’ (the false idea that God no longer has any covenant with the Jews because the new one instituted by Jesus Christ has superseded it).

So let’s take serious note of remarks by leading blogger, His Grace Cranmer. In Welby: “Israel has the same legitimate rights to peace and security as any other state“, he writes,

When did you last hear an Anglican bishop, let alone the Archbishop of Canterbury, support Israel’s historic and legal rights? When did you least hear a bishop of the Church of England advocate militarised self-defence as the only rational path to peace when confronted by murderous Jew-haters who conceal their bombs below hospitals, their rockets in clinics, and their guns and grenades in schools and mosques?

In drawing Anglicans toward a better understanding of His work with the Jews – exactly as Jesus’ friend Lazarus would have well known – then perhaps the Lord really is reviving this part of His body, as not only surmised upon Archbishop Welby’s enthronement (New era for the Church refers) but also as heard recently during the regular prayers at this renowned retreat in South Wales.

Now, come for an awesome time in Cardiff >>

Plymouth Celebration points to prophetic promises

Posted on Tuesday, 22 July, 2014 by Richard Barker

Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,

To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:

²Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

Contend for the Faith

³Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. ⁴For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. [NKJV per BibleGateway.com – emphases RB]

It’s been too long since the exciting time when Nathan Morris ministered in Hull (report) and our watching the Bay of the Holy Spirit Revival nightly. (For brief reports of healing read Video Clips of Testimonies.) The ‘fire in his bones’ makes him a highly charged preacher passionate for Jesus. Whilst the power of the Holy Spirit ministers through him he gets drenched in sweat!

Note my following transcription of his message uses various type founts to try to convey Nathan’s passion and flow whilst speaking.

For those unfamiliar with this British Evangelist and wanting some details, please see ‘Background‘ sub-head in Prophetic word 2012: setting the stage for the End-Times.

Click above photo for Nathan’s Facebook page with photos and comments on the Summer Celebration in Plymouth.

The first evening he taught about landmarks and boundaries of the Christian faith which churches are unwisely moving, thus giving room for the enemy of our souls to advance. The topic for the third and closing evening was fire and anointing. When speaking of God’s power his iPad lost its power, which he took as an indication for preachers to not use well-prepared notes but rely instead on Holy Spirit’s leading and inspiration – which Nathan certainly did.

Extracts from the middle evening follow below. In my opinion, what Nathan delivered is in harmony with what the Lord is indicating as now necessary for the awakening giant to stand on his feet, as mused about in the last post.:

CONTEND, DON’T PRETEND!

“A couple of weeks ago the Lord gave me the title for tonight, it’s just a simple phrase: CONTEND, DON’T PRETEND….Contend; Don’t Pretend!

“I read to you this verse in Jude (above) where there comes this cry from the heart of God, this cry from the Holy Spirit, that says to a generation: in these last days I’m calling a people that will not lay down and accept the norm but they will contend for the Word of God in their lives.

“They will contend for something greater than themselves. We are living in a generation today that is literally watching the final chapters of the Ages come to pass! How can you watch the news today and NOT SEE that every word that Jesus Christ spoke is coming to pass. This is IT!

“Church, nations – THIS IS IT! Jesus said in the last days there will be wars and rumours of wars – nation will rise against nation – there will be pestilence and famine in nations around the world – and the love of MANY will grow cold…the LOVE of MANY will grow cold.

“And yet in the darkest of hours – in an hour when many will run with fear, or tremble – the superpowers of this world are ALREADY trembling because they HAVE NO ANSWER.

“Jesus said that the world, the nations, it will be like a woman in labour, there literally will be times when they will CRAVE, they will desire the Coming of the Lord – THIS IS IT!

“What you’re seeing in Israel…what you’re seeing in Russia and in the Ukraine…across Europe. Something is beginning to rise that NO NATION, NO GOVERNMENT, CAN STOP!

“THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE WORD OF GOD HAS PROPHESIED WILL BE THE SIGNS –THESE WILL BE THE SIGNS OF THE COMING OF JESUS CHRIST…He will stand AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

“I spoke to you last night, Jesus died and rose again. He shed His blood that you might have a hope…you are CHOSEN.

“I CAN’T SAY THAT ENOUGH TO THIS GENERATION, to those who are watching me now that YOU’RE SEARCHING IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES FOR YOUR IDENTITY. Your identity is found in Jesus! He knew you before you were in your mother’s womb. He purposed you, He destined you – He spoke LIFE into your being.

“When you know that you’re Chosen, when you know that God has purpose for your life you realise there’s something that God is doing in your life that is greater than you are – something that’s greater than your own dreams – something that’s greater than a promotion. You know what, I thank God for blessing these people, but I’m TIRED of preachers telling the Body of Christ that a measure of their faith is whether they have a mansion or a Ferrari.

“What really matters is this: Is the life that you’re living COUNTING FOR ETERNITY? Is what you live for, breathe for and you’re willing to die for, going to count for eternity?

“You see what’s happening in this nation and in America right now – I preached to you last night…the hedge, the line of separation (between righteousness and the world) is being removed. MORALITY IS BEING BLURRED. I see across the Body of Christ as I travel around the world THERE’S A CONFUSION because SUDDENLY THERE ARE THINGS HAPPENING – even in the Church – that people say,“I DON’T KNOW…I THOUGHT THAT WAS AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD!”

“But there’s this generation that arises and says, “No, that’s ok..You don’t have to give your all…you go to church, you sing songs but you can have your own sinful life-style. Live how you want to live…Jesus loves you!

“Well my friend, THAT’S NOT THE GOSPEL because JESUS GAVE HIS ALL, HE PAID THE PRICE WITH HIS LIFE – He gave His ALL and He DEMANDS NOTHING LESS FROM YOU!

“He said, “If you give ME your LIFE I’ll come and live INSIDE YOU. ALL THAT I AM, I will be IN YOU!”

“There’s a generation today – we need the FIRE OF GOD TO FALL UPON THE UNITED KINGDOM AGAIN – we need THE FEAR OF THE LORD TO RISE IN US AGAIN..! (Loud cheers across packed auditorium!)

“I talk to young people, I start talking to them about the fire of God – I say to young guys, ‘Listen, when the fire of God fell on me it RADICALLY CHANGED ME!’ – You see we want a notebook with 8 steps of ‘how to’…but I’m not that kind of preacher…I just had AN ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS…the power of God took a hold of my life!

“I talk to them about the power and the glory of God. Oh, I’ve seen the glory of God come down like a mist. I’ve watched people paralyzed get out of wheelchairs – the blind see, the deaf hear…I’ve watched as thousands are touched by the fire of the holy Ghost and I SEE A GENERATION LOOKING AT ME AS THOUGH I JUST FELL OFF MARS!! Staring at me as ‘THIS GUY’S CRAZY!’

“What I began to realise is this: THERE’S A GENERATION TODAY COMING UP THAT KNOW NOTHING OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD – THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE FIRE OF GOD – THEY DON’T KNOW there’s something SO AWESOME AVAILABLE THAT CAN EMPOWER THEIR LIVES TO CHANGE THE DESTINY OF A GENERATION.

“But we don’t want to contend any more…

“I want to speak to the United Kingdom for a moment. I was born here, I was raised here and I want to say that I love the Church. I love the people of God…but I’m an evangelist. I want to see the lost saved…and the thing is this – you CAN’T PERSUADE people into the Kingdom..THEY MUST HAVE AN ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS.

“WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER THE PRESENCE OF GOD THEY ARE CHANGED!

“But it’s like we don’t want to FIGHT for the things of the Spirit of God ANY MORE – we’d rather have a nice service with nice presentation, but just NO FIRE. Well I’m telling you right now there’s something the Holy Spirit’s placing in my heart,

“It’s time to contend. Time to contend for the Glory of God to FILL our churches, to fill our lives that we might know Him in Whom we have believed!”

Nathan goes on to teach from 2 Kings 4 on the Shunammite woman providing a room for the itinerant prophet Elisha and her faith in the supernatural provision of God being vindicated. She knew despite having been barren and then her boy unexpectedly dying, that ‘all was well’! – indomitable faith had developed because she made room for a man of God and her prayers had been answered.

Nathan tells how, despite having been into drugs, he was saved and filled with holy fire. Then going to church and having read the Bible and about miracles, he realised there was something inside him that made him passionately want to see it happen today. He realised he had to contend for this – not like 1/2 hour ‘fast-food’ Christianity.

“But I learnt I had to abide,. If you want an encounter with God you can’t quit too soon. You’ve got to know what it is to CONTEND, to cry out to God…”I’m here, I’m waiting for You.” He then gives a reminder and word for a viewer who had a prophecy over his life.

“IT’S NOT TIME TO PRETEND BUT TIME TO CONTEND – OUR GENERATION ARE IN THE BALANCE!!

“That’s why I like what Canon Andrew White said. He spoke about suffering and fighting – contending for the faith. YOU CAN’T CONTEND IF YOU WANT TO PRETEND!

“The days of pretending are coming to an end. The days are going to become SO DARK that if you DON’T HAVE THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY in your life YOU’RE IN TROUBLE!”

On Repentance

“You know why people are against me so much on repentance? It’s because repentance MAKES ROOM FOR GRACE! The devil hates it because the devil knows that if a man responds and says, “Jesus, you have my life, I’ll make room for you. Come and dwell inside”, then he’s in trouble.

“AND I WANT TO SAY THE SAME TO THE CHURCH. People think my ministry’s just about miracles. NO, there’s a message that goes with the miracle – the message is: ‘JESUS DEMANDS YOUR ALL! YOUR LIFE, EVERYTHING YOU HAVE’. And when you make room for Him HE WILL BREAK EVERY CHAIN, every bondage, He’ll wash you, cleanse you – HE WILL SET YOU FREE!

The Problem

“The problem is, when you’ve never encountered the glory of God you don’t even know what I’m talking about ‘cos if you try to understand God in a natural place of your own understanding…one thing God’s got to get His Church to – to get you to – is to a place where you understand that what He wants to do in you is SO GREATER THAN WHAT YOU THINK and who you think you are.

“IT’S SO SUPERNATURAL, IT IS ONLY BY HIS GRACE, HIS PROVISION – HIS POWER, HIS GLORY IN YOUR LIFE – THAT YOU’RE EVER GOING TO MAKE IT.

“You’ve got to look at something that the world says is impossible, that the CHURCH EVEN SAYS IT’S IMPOSSIBLE, and (say) “NO, in Jesus’ name – it IS well”.”

The United Kingdom

“We’re believing God that something will be sparked in these 3 days…I believe God has something for the United Kingdom that is SO AWESOME that the nations will take notice.”

During the Celebration’s final evening one of the many receiving ministry was a severely deaf boy who was then able to hear. Thank you Lord for this and all the healing you are doing. Later, Nathan closed in farewell,

“We’re believing for God to move in our generation in what you’ve seen these last three nights…Can you imagine if the Body of Christ let the Spirit of God move? Not wanting the fake or the strange, but wanting JESUS to be GLORIFIED.

And when you glorify Jesus, young boys who are deaf leave this place hearing, because THAT is the message of the Gospel in the United Kingdom to the nations of the world…”

Hallelujah! More happened than shown on the videos, as reported on Facebook.

Prophetic words on Plymouth and its spiritual significance

Posted on Saturday, 19 July, 2014 by Richard Barker

If you ‘beamed up’ into cyber-space and visited the Summer Celebration in Plymouth you may have heard mention of prophecies for the city and south-west England? If you didn’t the evening events are now available on video here.

Several days of summer slotted between wet weather enabled me to repaint the house entrance and integral garage, as well as catch up on garden tasks. So what was in mind to blog about got put in the pending tray (the connection between the Father’s name in Hebrew and the crucifixion; photo of an invisible hand protecting the skies over Israel during rocket attacks).

Nina, however, reminded me of God TV’s coverage of Nathan Morris’ visit to Plymouth. Had to admit this was ‘off my radar’! SO I posted an alert about the event and then got ‘up to speed’ on what was going on and how Rory and Wendy Alec were directed into a new work in Plymouth as part of their global broadcasting mission.

Therefore, it may be useful to share what little I know and have found, for you to discern and weigh with the Lord. Am intrigued that, by my coming ‘cold’ to this, it seems He may be in all this – but judge for yourself.

Plymouth

In 1620 devout Christians sailed in the Mayflower from Plymouth seeking religious freedom and tolerance far away in our American colonies. That event could possibly be the birth of a strong Christian bond between the UK and USA, despite differences in the effects of church-state relationships and some theological emphases.

You will recall I call this connection ‘Bridge over the Pond’ because I’ve noticed how often the Holy Spirit inspires something, or a similar topic is being stressed, on either side of the Atlantic. In fact, I’ve previously noticed specific teaching has often been delivered on the same Sunday in our local UK church and in a US church!

Previous Prophecies

I was reminded about an outcome of having met a couple at a conference in Torquay in early 2012. We became friends and last year Lyn allowed me to publish her note of a vision she had in 2001 about revival in the UK, namely:

“When in Cornwall I had a very strong impression…as if I was positioned at the south-west of Cornwall looking at the land mass of England, Scotland and Wales from the air. In a moment I saw rising up from Scotland first, like the lid of a container with the hinge being at the extreme end of Cornwall, the ‘Body of Christ’. (Emphasis added)

“Impressed that the ‘Body’ is everywhere and there are people ‘hidden’ who are so much part of it, I was then taken aback by the thought that it appeared to be like a sleeping giant rising up powerfully and suddenly. The experience left me with hope and anticipation for what God would do in spite of how things appeared.” (Also see Tommy Hicks’ Vision in 1961.)

Lyn’s vision is confirmed by details of the Clarion Call for 2014-16 to UK nations, as delivered by Dr Sharon Stone, and which may be being fulfilled with an awakening in Scotland and Wales.

If we consider the image of a sleeping giant arising, and the map of Great Britain does have a sort of human shape (per old British School of Motoring adverts!), then the parts that first get noticed and come into view are its head, shoulders and arms. The trunk, legs and feet wouldn’t move much at all until the giant starts to get up. Thus, as far as England is concerned, the ‘awakening’ would proceed down through the North (eg. as in Sunderland and Hull areas) and eventually get to the south coast.

[ OH my! As I check a hardcopy of this draft and read those words I’m reminded of an open vision I had in 2004 of a new Rock – Jesus Christ – arising to replace the Pennine chain, known as ‘the backbone of England! Details in Comments upon the Collapse of Society.]

When this giant stands it will be ‘seen’ from Europe and even across ‘The Pond’ and elsewhere, as well as being ‘heard’! That is, his voice would be as media broadcasts of a Godly nature around the world. So, maybe God TV’s project is part of that vision?

And when we recall the purpose of a hinge and how it acts as a fulcrum we may gain an insight into the holy power to be released from that area. That is, if we consider the land to be a lever fixed at one end, then not as much effort is required to move it if we do so from its other end as in attempting to do so from the middle. And were we to try from close to its fulcrum, the hinge, then a great deal more strength is needed. So it may be easier to stir and awaken people in the North than in the South – and maybe it indicates how much power the Lord would be using along the ‘land lever’? The ‘turning couple’ by the hinge would be huge and may indicate a commensurate release of the Holy Spirit in Cornwall, Somerset and Devon, where Plymouth is located.

What do you think?

Local Prophecies

According to City Church Plymouth Newsletter dated 24 March 2013, under ‘One City, One Church, One Father’,

“A number of prophecies have been made over Plymouth in recent years, carrying a consistent message of a fresh move of God in the city.

These prophecies have come from different Godly people, from the UK and overseas – from Sweden to Uganda – and have come to the attention of a number of church leaders across the city. In particular two compelling prophetic words brought in 2012 emphasised the immanency of this move. A group of church leaders have weighed these words and feel it right to respond and call for corporate prayer and seeking God for Plymouth.“

Apparently, the Ugandan didn’t know what the prophetic word related to because, being unfamiliar with English geography, she mistook ‘ply’ for a piece of timber and ‘mouth’ as a facial feature!!

The Alec’s Prophetic Direction

Rory and Wendy Alec believe the Lord specifically told them to focus upon Plymouth and were able to obtain and consecrate a building as a Revival Prayer Centre for the UK last January. There, they declared that God is not finished with Great Britain and will once again use this nation to send missionaries to the four corners of the earth.

Their studio guest in the Centre for two broadcasts was Steve Munsey, pastor of Family Christian Centre in Munster, a town in Indiana. Steve shared how God had touched his heart on this, his first visit to Plymouth. (It was here that Sir Francis Drake was playing bowls on the cliff-top Hoe when he was told about that the Spanish Armada of massive galleons had entered the English Channel to destroy our navy.) Steve observed.

“There is an historic anointing on Plymouth. Men and women who were going to change the world gathered in Plymouth nearly 400 years ago. What happened all those centuries ago is going to be rebirthed in the UK.”

He then spoke prophetically about Plymouth’s spiritual significance,

“Plymouth could be one of the Holy Spirit capitals of the World. Great things are going to happen in this building once it is complete. Viewers are going to be able to watch television that releases the power of God in their lives. The Lord says that the same anointing that was on those who sailed from this city to the New World has not left Plymouth and He is going to take those who gather here into a new place in the Spirit realm that will touch the nations.”

Full details with prophetic words for the UK at: Rory & Wendy and Steve Munsey speak prophetically over Plymouth and the UK.

Only the previous week Steve had released on his Facebook page a prophetic word the Holy Spirit had given him:

“Have I not told you not to remove the ancient landmarks? I do not want this ancient landmark to be removed. I have heard my children (Rory & Wendy) and they have responded. (GOD TV is building a Revival Centre in Plymouth)

“I want the ancient landmark of Plymouth to be recognized for I give honour to whom honour is due,” and the Holy Spirit speaks strongly at this moment and says,

“They have obeyed Me.

“There would not be an America, there would not be such a superpower and such influence (without Plymouth)… For when there are Tsunamis, when there are earthquakes, when there are crises in the world, the people who came from Plymouth to go to a land called the United States of America are the first ones to come to the aid of the world. The landmark must be rebuilt and be remembered.”

Listen to how deeply the story of the Pilgrim Fathers has affected the God TV team as their UK Regional Director, Fergus Scarfe appeals for support in this video recorded on the beach where the Fathers landed in Massachusetts. He speaks about the prophetic history of Plymouth and its powerful link to America.

These historical facts are similar to Dutch Sheets’ account of a dream of generations of America’s saints interceding for the States (see 4th July Aspect of Praying for USA).

A Criticism?

For another perspective on this project Grant van Schalkwyk, a leader of the Waterfront City Church, writes a frank but fairly balanced report from a New Frontiers viewpoint on his attendance at the Revival Centre’s consecration service. [We spent several years with a newly planted NF church in Surrey and respect the fact that many young men are in active service across NF and gain a solid Biblical foundation but, in my opinion, their ‘replacement’ theology doesn’t grasp the importance of Israel in God’s plans.]

Wanting to be open to the leading of the Spirit and the works of God, in another item he considers even-handedly how God TV’s project may or may not fit in with what the city churches were expecting, “…where there has been a growing sense that perhaps God is indeed going pour out His Spirit upon Plymouth and we are believing that this will be in a powerful and very noticeable way”. But he may be surprised, for all disciples know that God is a God of surprises, liking to do things in new, different ways not according to our human concepts.

Readers wanting to learn more about Revivals, along with their history, may wish to read Waterfront City Church’s series of short blogs Marks of Revival just because,

“Whatever you think about this, it is important to learn from what we read in scripture and from what we have seen throughout history at times like this, in order to inform us and help us as we look to God for what he may be about to do amongst us”.

I’m sure all will be revealed in due course because, at its heart, Rory and Wendy’s mission meets the Lord’s desire to save millions around the globe.

Even so, I’d be interested in the city’s church leaders’ reaction to Canon White’s short speech on God’s glory, especially of what happened when he advised a grieving Muslim father to pray ‘Yeshua’ continually en-route to the mortuary to see his daughter’s body. She’d died of cystic fibrosis but as he lifted the shroud, she sat up and came back to life!!! Andrew says they’ve had many resurrections in Baghdad…Praise you Lord.

Blessing Prayer for Plymouth

During the 2012 Olympic Games, intercessors prayed for towns visited during the 70 days’ Torch Relay and it’s appropriate to republish the parts specifically declared over Plymouth, which was on the first day of the relay from Lands End:

Decree: “I AM THE GATE” (Psalm 24:7) – We decree that the gates of the Church, Government, Education, Commerce, Family and Media be opened; that Jesus Christ be enthroned to take His rightful place of rule and authority in every sphere of life.

Blessing: We bless and welcome the King of Glory to rule and reign over the British Isles and Ireland. Amen. (Courtesy: Keep Praying and Bless)

PS: continued at:

Paws-4-Thought: ‘Coincidence’ Points to Coming Revival? (21 July 2014)
Plymouth Celebration Points to Prophetic Promises (22 July 2014)

[Credits: Endless Bridge by Evgeni Denev, Freedigitalphotos.net & Visit Plymouth]

Wildfires and Opening Gates in North Wales

Posted on Monday, 14 July, 2014 by Richard Barker

Further to my post on Bob Jones and the ‘No Ebb’ prophecy recorded by Arthur Burt, the following links provided by his daughter Mary announce a couple of revivalist events in North Wales.

Click on the images for details.:

Wildfires! is hosted by Sure Hope Church in Old Colwyn, Wales, and is said to be a place where people experience vibrant and inspirational worship and the manifest Presence of the Lord is increasing in a visibly tangible way.

The attached link for the following conference advises that remaining places are limited, so early decisions to attend may be needed…

God has the keys to open the gates in your life and land,
preparing the way for Revival and a Spiritual Awakening.

This conference is organised by Word and Spirit International Ministries, who believe Jesus is about to walk through this land of Wales and the UK – open hearts will see Him, open hearts will receive Him. ‘Who so ever will….’

It just so happened that Mary contacted me on my late father’s birthday and he used to take me to the seaside resort her father Arthur was called to in his ministry. So I believe it’s a prompting from the Lord to publish the above announcements.

Middle-East events and fulfilment of Bible prophecy – 1

Posted on Friday, 11 July, 2014 by Richard Barker

Last August, in Events indicate the Bible’s relevance for today, I referred to what was happening in several Middle Eastern countries.

Although my subsequent coverage has been occasional, changes in the geo-political reality have continued to accelerate. It demonstrates how amazingly scripture has foretold what is unfolding before the world’s eyes.

It’s important for everyone, Christian or not, to appreciate the significance of these times and events.

There is an increasing likelihood of an internecine Sunni v Shite war. However, ulterior, religious goals may make them overcome their differences. This happened in the 1980s Iran-Iraq war when elite units from enemy camps rehearsed the storming of Jerusalem, thereby kick-starting my interest in the prophetic when I wasn’t a Christian! (Details in Welcome.)

The following overview of a couple of experts’ reports will help you understand these developments, especially if you follow the links for more details. Also, a newer slant on interpreting scripture will be briefly considered.

Declaration of an Islamic Caliphate

The Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs has published an informative document, What does an ‘Islamic Caliphate’ in Iraq Mean? and notes a coincidence that’s of no surprise to Bible students:

On the first day of the month of Ramadan (29 June 2014), the day on which World Pride Day was celebrated as a marker of social and cultural progress, the reestablishment of the Islamic caliphate (state) was declared in Iraq and a caliph was appointed to lead it.

The Centre’s analysis looks at the historical and current state-of-play:

The Islamic State is trying to reinforce its battlefield achievements in Syria and Iraq by creating a new Sunni Muslim religious entity that threatens to overturn the prevailing regional political order rooted in the Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916) which set the borders and carved up the Middle East into European spheres of influence. The rule of the caliphate is applied to the territory under its control….

The declaration of the caliphate poses a challenge to the rival Islamic organizations and particularly to the Muslim Brotherhood, which has tried to promote the concept of a “political Islam” that combines Islam and democracy (according to the Islamic interpretation) and is aimed at achieving the ultimate goal of global Islamic rule in stages.

The stated objectives of the declaration are not surprising to those who understand Islamic doctrine in depth, unlike Western politicians. The objectives are headed; Establishment of an Islamic caliphate…Implementation of Islamic law (sharia)… Fortification of the rule of the Islamic caliphate…The supremacy of the Muslims over the peoples of the world and the goal of an Islamic takeover of the world…Representation of the Muslims all over the world…The rejection of democracy, secularism, and nationalism…On-going jihad everywhere…

Note the goal of totalitarian, global supremacy, violence and inhuman suppression of freedom is no different to 1,500 years ago. That is, a caliphate is a backward step into the barbarism of the Dark Ages.

Providing a thorough overview and warning “The danger of regional instability is greater than ever”, the JCPA document is therefore worth careful study:

Commentaries

John McTernan:

Opinion: ‘The establishment of an Islamic caliphate has the potential to be the most important fulfillment of Bible prophecy since Israel became a state in 1948 and Jerusalem’s unification in 1967. A caliphate would unite all the Arabs and perhaps even all of Islam against Israel. This is exactly what the Bible states is going to happen just prior to Armageddon. What this caliphate needs to succeed and expand is a mass public uprising in its support. A war between Israel and the Palestinians could be this catalyst. It is easy to see Jordan fall to ISIS during a war with Israel and then Egypt. I have said all along that Syria is doomed and when ISIS consolidates power, they will turn on Syria. Syria is going to fall, there is no doubt about this. It appears from here on out that incredible prophetic events will unfold before our eyes.’

John’s Commentary for 8th July then summarises several news sources on that topic.

Following on from the re-blog on Saudi Arabia and ISIS, here’s an analysis from someone with good knowledge of and well-informed contacts in the region…

Walid Shobat:

This ex-radical PLO militant, now a Christian (see bio), brings an interesting viewpoint on the identity of ‘The Whore of Babylon’ as being connected with Saudi Arabia.

Writing about Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s entrance to announce his intentions in the grand mosque in Mosul on 29th June, Walid notes that, ‘Everything, statements, attire, setting and message comes from the Inaugural address to the first Muslim Caliph Abu Bakr and is why Al-Baghdadi chose the name Abu Bakr and even used the same statements of the historic Abu Bakr:

In analysing the recent event, he goes on to state that Saudi Arabia knows it is this man’s main target and Walid offers this scriptural opinion:

‘The Harlot of Babylon, Saudi Arabia is realizing finally that funding the Syrian revolution created a curse, that the same Jihdist fighters in Syria are now about to terrorize Arabia – the nation that allowed the Islamist boogeyman (sic) out of the box is now trying to shove it back in. After all it was Arabia—which Islam emanates from and its harlot religion is spread throughout the entire region. It was Arabia which produced Muhammad, Arabia’s prophet.

‘From a prophetic perspective, we see the impending destruction of Saudi Arabia. The kings stagger in their vomit as a drunkard not knowing what to do. Shoebat.com takes the position that Revelation 17 referenced Arabia as a prostitute “Whore of Babylon”.’

His full analysis in New Muslim Caliph’s eyes are on destruction of Saudi Arabia, relates how the highest authority in Islam, The Haditha, discusses the Ka’ba in Mecca as Babel “The Gate to God”, which is its Arabic term. He claims it’s also depicted as a woman!

This is explained further in ISIS vowed to destroy Mecca along with photographs from which we can see better how that centre of Mohammedanism may be regarded as a Babylon.

Another important aspect for understanding what’s happening and likely to come next is Islamic disagreement over recognition of this caliphate through strong opposition from the Muslim Brotherhood. And all of this centers around Turkey.

In Top Muslim scholar says Caliphate in Iraq is VOID because it doesn’t fit the Ottoman model, Walid reveals this scholar is none other than the MB’s spiritual leader, Sheikh Yususf al-Qaradawi. After quoting his words, Walid reminds his readers:

‘The Turkish based Ottoman Empire is something the Western media and leaders simply refuse to call attention to. Perhaps more noteworthy than al-Baghdadi’s declaration or even al-Qaradawi’s rebuke of that declaration is the admission by al-Qaradawi that the Muslim Brotherhood desires its resurrection. (Emphasis added)

‘This is something we have been maintaining for decades now. Once one understands how prominent al-Qaradawi is within the Muslim Brotherhood, it’s much easier to see what the group’s plans are…’

In Only Turkey can establish the Caliphate, he outlines the reasons for this:

‘As we stated previously, The Caliph must (be) Sufi Muslim, someone who will succeed in reviving the Ottoman glory days, unite Sunni and Shiite and only Turkey has such a model and a major regional presence with significant global standing and respect. The Iraqi model of the Caliphate has set the stage for a Caliphate competition. This is why Al-Qaradawi finally had to declare what he declared.

‘In Istanbul, Turkey a Caliphate nostalgia for the Ottoman Empire has been on the rise as of late. The Ottoman Sultan’s seal can be found on T-shirts, advertisements, and jewelry everywhere in its old imperial capital of Istanbul. More alarmingly, the jihadists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are now proclaiming a new Islamic caliphate in former Ottoman provinces.

‘As we have always stated, Turkey and Iran will unite, soon.’

Walid then considers how this may affect Egypt and relates it all to Biblical prophecy. That is, major developments in the Gog-Magog alliance prophesied by Ezekiel.

It is noteworthy this ex-PLO activist’s insights tally with Mark Davidson’s analysis based upon in-depth news reports in Parallels to 1914 Europe. Readers especially interested in the prophetic will find Mark offers fresh food for thought at The Four Signposts.

Daniel Pipes:

Let’s consider the opinion of a secular expert on Turkey, who warned in advance of the 9/11 attacks. In Turkish Support for ISIS Daniel Pipes states,

‘The battle in Iraq consists of “Turkish-backed Sunni jihadis rebelling against an Iranian-backed Shi’ite-oriented central government,” (as) I wrote in a recent article.

‘Some readers question that the Republic of Turkey has supported the “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria,” the main Sunni group fighting in Iraq. They point to ISIS attacks on Turkish interests, within Turkey, along its border with Syria, and in Mosul and a successful recent meeting of the Turkish and Iranian presidents. Good points, but they can be explained….’

He presents several substantiations and concludes,

‘Turkish leaders are finding Syria a double quagmire, what with Assad still in power and the Kurdish entity growing stronger. In reaction, they have cooperated with even the most extreme, retrograde and vicious elements, such as ISIS. But this support opened a second front in Iraq which, in turn, brings the clash of the Middle East’s two titans, Turkey and Iran, closer to realization.’ (Emphasis added)

The version of that article published in Washington Times used the title: “Turkey’s support for ISIS Islamist terrorists. Aiding jihadists could put Ankara at odds with Iran”. Daniel offers nine more proofs that AKP government of Prime Minister Erdoğan stands behind the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in an updated article.

(Note: Faced with threats, Mr Pipes issued an apology under duress in the Washington Times.)

Not withstanding the present bombardment and defensive action against Hamas by Israel, Daniel also reflects upon Benjamin Netanyahu’s important speech to a security institute. He too refers to the Sykes-Picot secret agreement and notes four great challenges posed by Islamic fanaticism; border protection, stability west of the Jordan River, building regional cooperation and especially to prevent Iran becoming a nuclear threshold state. (See Netanyahu’s Steady Hand).

Daniel admiringly concludes:

‘Going back to 1999, I have often criticized Netanyahu but the excellent analysis in this speech suggests a steady hand at the helm. (Secondly) All the more important to have an American ally that understands security concerns when the Obama administration is clueless.’

‘[Update: A number of readers have protested my describing the Obama administration as “clueless,” insisting that it is malign more than ignorant or incompetent. But this misunderstands what I meant by clueless: I meant mistaken, wrong-headed, foolish, ineffectual; I did not mean to ascribe reasons, whether malign or incapable.]‘

Conclusion

In my opinion, we may be about to witness major upheavals that will affect not only the ancient world’s centres of civilisation but also the modern world’s global petro-economy.

Furthermore, Walid Shoebat’s conclusion is most telling:

As Shoebat.com first reported, al-Qaradawi espouses the Sunni version of taqiyya [religiously directed deception.RB], otherwise known as Muruna. He has written extensively on the subject and until westerners understand this technique, they will fail to understand their enemies.

So, we should expect Turkey and Iran to be at loggerheads, even at war, but behind the scenes they will become allied against Israel and all non-Moslems, thereby manifesting the Ezekiel 37 ‘alliance’ of Gog and Magog.

Keep looking up for, “our redemption draws nigh”.

A July 4th aspect of praying for the USA

Posted on Thursday, 3 July, 2014 by Richard Barker

Dubbed as ‘patriot apostle’ by John Kirkpatrick, Dutch Sheets brought a fascinating account of how the Lord wants intercessors to build on all the previous prayers of His saints in the States – even right back to the time of rebellion against us Brits!

Dutch refers to the practical lesson intercessors can gain from what the colonialists did when faced with the overwhelming power of the greatest empire the world had ever known. The answer was a united ‘Appeal to Heaven’, and was related to what early settlers had learned from the formation of tribal nations’ Iroquois confederation. Amazingly, Dutch teaches how their actions in ‘burying the hatchet’ relate to the account of Abraham and the terebinth tree and how this may apply to overcoming the deep spiritual crisis of today.

In view of Dutch’s calling to press forward into a breakthrough for a 3rd great awakening his teaching is delivered with utmost conviction based upon a close relationship with the Lord. It was clear how well this personal perspective, although different to others calling for national intercession, enhances their calls and goes right into God’s heart for praying for the USA.

Long-time readers may recall my interest in the nature of time and its direct relevance to the purposes of God throughout history. As Dutch’s message was based upon precisely that, he had my undivided attention. His term for this divine/human interaction in time is, ‘Synergy of the Ages’. (‘Synergy’: the sum is greater than its individual parts.)

[Hold on there Richard, you might be getting the witch-finder generals agitated! I will deal with them on another occasion; maybe over morning coffee? But for now, a quick search reveals a criticism that, “Synergistic prayer is simply not a biblical concept”.

Now that’s inaccurate and downright untrue. Revelation 5:8 and chapter 8 are about the prayers of all the saints being acted upon, which may be connected with the demise of the horrific fourth beast in Daniel’s dream – see Dan 7:15-28.]

This was the most motivational revelatory basis for national prayer that I’ve heard.

So, I recommend readers who are praying for the States to take an hour and follow his message on God honouring the past for the present. Just click on the above photo and scroll to 57min30. Dutch starts by mentioning that the region of the Florida panhandle, southern Alabama and Georgia is witnessing an open heaven for revival:

God is into yesterday. He remembers. You make an impact in the spirit realm and, if you understand how to maintain that – it’s not about a building or it having to be in the same place – the atmosphere of a region changes and all of a sudden there’s an open heaven.

And there’s a strong understanding of a group of people experiencing an outpouring. These are so connected that it doesn’t matter where they go, the Spirit of God just turns up and people are getting saved in their hundreds.

And that’s just a taster. For your ease of reference here’s a few brief notes:

it’s not a time to preach doom and gloom as we’re about to have the greatest outpouring whilst darkness increases – God hasn’t finished with America!
we may be about to step into the greatest move of God the world has ever seen.
eg: Muslim nations will be so transformed that Christians will outnumber others.
a 12 year prophetic journey of dreams connecting into previous prophetic words.
on his mentor’s prayers, God told Dutch, “I can’t do for him what I promised him until you and the Body comes into agreement with them!”
he responded, “I need synergy of unity throughout the ages – the power of prayers made in agreement”.
‘testimony’ means, according to its Hebrew root, when we say what God has done the same power will be released and God will do it again [RB cf: They overcame him (Satan) by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony – Rev 12:11]
one of God’s names, ‘Olam-El’, describes Him as ‘Everlasting Now’ – God Who is outside time. “The LORD is the true God; He is the living God, the eternal King.” (Last words in Hebrew, ‘Mehlek Olam’; Jeremiah 10:10 NIV)
prophetic dreams of 2007 and 2013 relating to USA’s foundation, the combined prayers from all generations and declaration of the nation’s holy future.

My notes cannot do justice to Dutch’s message but I trust this may have whetted your appetite to watch him in this Church of His Presence video (at 57min30). To read about this teacher/preacher/intercessor click here.

Be mightily blessed and may America once again want holiness.

Micro Blog: Dripping with Oil

Posted on Tuesday, 1 July, 2014 by Richard Barker

The theme of Unity appears to be growing. Let’s pray now’s the time Father is answering Jesus’ prayer for all believers (John 17:20-25), which involves our becoming one not only with each other but also with Them. And that involves our being in the glory that Father gave to Jesus…*WOW* (Thank you Justin)

Grace Gate: Shane Willard this week

Posted on Monday, 30 June, 2014 by Richard Barker

For anyone wanting to check out recent posts on Hebraic material and the book God’s Signature, and able to get to Cardiff this week…(so sorry about short notice)

‘God-incidence’ stresses urgency of US prayer alert

Posted on Saturday, 28 June, 2014 by Richard Barker

Once again the good Lord is getting our attention by repetition to draw attention to an important matter, as shown by the following from perhaps my longest-standing reader. Thank you also to Lynne for your prompt advice too.

Why pray? My American readers will be aware of their leaders’ misguided dedication for the month of June, as blogged yesterday by John McTernan (read here).

From: Bill Smith
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2014 10:18 AM
To: Richard & Nina
Subject: FW: Prayer Alert From Cindy Jacobs: A Call for United Prayer

Hi Richard,
This was in my inbox this morning, next to yours ! I guess you may have it, but just in case…
Blessings
Bill

——————————————————————————–
Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 19:44:03 -0400
From: mail@elijahlistmail.com
To: @hotmail. co.uk
Subject: Prayer Alert From Cindy Jacobs: A Call for United Prayer
CC:

June 26, 2014

Prayer Alert From Cindy Jacobs: A Call for United Prayer
From the Desk of Steve Shultz:
Steve Shultz

Cindy Jacobs is a respected prophet of God, and when she hears from the Lord, I listen. We would all do well to heed this emergency word and go to prayer!!
In HIS PROTECTION alone,

Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News

===============================

PRAYER ALERT FROM CINDY JACOBS: A CALL FOR UNITED PRAYER

Mike and Cindy Jacobs

A few months ago, the Lord had me issue a warning called “Shields Up” to pray for the protection of our nation. Tonight, while reading my Bible, the following passage leapt off the page:

And He has confirmed His words, which He spoke against us and against our judges who judged us, by bringing upon us a great disaster; for under the whole Heaven such has never been done as what has been done to Jerusalem. (Daniel 9:12)

It does not take a prophet to realize that America is in trouble! We know there are many radical extremists who hate us – this is not new. However, as I read the verse this evening I was shaken by it. This is what I am hearing: “There is an another attack on the scale of 9/11 being planned!”

As I prayed to pinpoint how to intercede, I immediately heard these words: “Close the gates! All borders must be closed to terrorists and those who would aid them.” This includes all airport customs checkpoints, as well as border crossings.

We must pray for our customs and border agents to have eagle eyes to “see” any potential persons trying to make their way into the United States. We must also pray for all points of public transport.

The good news is that prayer works! This is a call upon every praying person everywhere to stand in the gap and pray for the protection of the nation.

Thank you for praying!

For the nation,
Cindy Jacobs
Generals International
Email: mailto: generals@generals.org
Website: generals.org

Urgent prayer request for the United States

Posted on Thursday, 26 June, 2014 by Richard Barker

Everyone whose heart is concerned about the spiritual darkness in which the United States is immersed will be interested in a call for intercession starting on Monday week, from Billy Graham’s daughter, Anne Graham-Lotz. It is published as received earlier this week from Bill Koenig:

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST FROM ANNE GRAHAM-LOTZ

Dear Richard,

We have received this from our dear friend, Anne and are forwarding it to you for your prayer consideration.

From Anne Graham-Lotz:

Blow the trumpet…sound the alarm…for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand — Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God… Joel 2:1, 13

As you may know, my husband is in declining health. I am no longer traveling and speaking as much as I have for the last 26 years since I am staying home to care for him. As a result, I have had time to be quiet and listen more to the whispers of the Spirit. He has revealed things to me in the stillness that I’m not sure I would have heard in my former busyness.

One of the things He has impressed on me is that we are living at the end of human history as we know it. In light of this, He has given me some practical assignments. One was to be the Honorary Chair for the National Day of Prayer 2014 this past May. He gave me the message I was to deliver, which was from Joel 1…the Day of the Lord is at hand. It was a message warning that judgment is coming.

Just recently, He has given me another assignment, which is to call His people in our nation to prayer. This assignment came indirectly from a Syrian pastor through a National Day of Prayer attendee. In obedience, I am blowing the trumpet…sounding the alarm…issuing a national prayer initiative entitled 7 7 7: An Urgent Call to Prayer. The Call is for God’s people to pray for each of the first seven days in the seventh month-July 1-7. Then on the 7th day, July 7, we are to pray and fast for 7 hours. The purpose is…

For God the Father to restrain, protect, and deliver His people from the evil that has come into our world.
For God the Son to be exalted, magnified, and glorified in His church, in our nation, and in our lives.
For God the Holy Spirit to fall on us in a fresh way, compelling the church to repent of sin and our nation to return to faith in the living God, resulting in a great national spiritual awakening.

I’m asking you to partner with me, and send out the word to everyone on your email address list, or who follows you on facebook or twitter. I will be sending out an eBlast this week and next, which you can access at this url (or else by clicking image below); http://www.annegrahamlotz.com/events/urgent-call-to-prayer/. Please feel free to use it, and place your name in the paragraph that includes mine to make it more personal for your constituents. Feel free also to forward this letter.

I will provide a prayer I have written for each of the 7 days to help unite us in one spirit and one voice as we cry out to God. Those who receive the eBlast are invited to sign up for the daily email prayers. Please be assured there is no other agenda in this initiative. This is not about promoting anything or anyone. This is all about calling God’s people together to pray, before it’s too late, and judgment falls on our nation.

Urgently,
Anne Graham-Lotz

With prophetic implications, the Kurds, known as the Medes in the Bible, seize oil-rich region of Iraq. What does it mean?

Posted on Wednesday, 25 June, 2014 by Richard Barker

UPDATE: Yes, it’s all about oil – what a surprise! The newly launched trans-Israel part of the export oil route from Kirkuk via Turkey is the real target of increased rocket fire from Gaza (details here). Also, instead of making straight for Baghdad, ISIS units are reported as having made a 2-pronged advance aiming for Amman, Jordan, and the Saudi border (details here).

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

(Washington, D.C.) — Could recent developments in Iraq have prophetic implications? Actually, the answer may be yes — especially with regards to the Kurdish people who live in northern Iraq. Let me explain.

As we’ve been seeing in recent weeks, the Radical jihadist forces of the “Islamic State of Iraq & al-Sham” (ISIS) are on the move towards Baghdad. They are leaving a trail of bloodshed and carnage in their wake.

The objective of the ISIS leaders is to topple the Iraqi government, seize control of all of Iraq, establish a jihadist state under Sharia law, and use Iraq to begin a regional — and eventually global — Islamic caliphate, or kingdom.

Now, the Kurdish leaders have taken advantage of the chaos of this moment to seize control of the oil-rich region of Kirkuk for themselves. (see AP story below)

The oil fields of Kirkuk have been a long-standing issue of controversy in Iraq…

View original post 1,229 more words

Praying the prophetic word for June 2014

Posted on Tuesday, 24 June, 2014 by Richard Barker

Here are some suggestions on how to respond to the words declared by the Glasgow Prophetic Centre and re-published in two parts here and here:

ADVANCE WITHOUT DELAY

Ask:

“Am I positioned for advance and breakthrough, or do I have the brakes on and the anchor down?”
“Am I procrastinating – is there something I should be birthing / building / establishing in this season?”
“Is there anything I need to drop that is fruitless?”

Pray:

Pray that we, the church, might individually and corporately fix our gaze on God like never before.
Pray for breakthrough for the people of God in every sphere and sector of society.

UNITY AND INTIMACY

Ask:

“Where are the areas that I have my guard up and where I’m not living vulnerably with my brothers and sisters?”
“What can I do to favour and promote other people and the work they do?”

Pray:

Lord, help us to do what it takes to be fitted together, living heart-to-heart.
Thank you Lord for sacrificially loving us. Help me to love sacrificially – show me what this looks like in this season, Lord.

LEADERSHIP

Ask:

Is there someone unexpected that needs to be given more responsibility?

Pray:

For all leaders, as Jesus Christ would pray for them.
For young people and those who have been overlooked – that they would answer the new call to leadership.

JUSTICE AND CHILDREN

Ask:

How can I be a Kingdom solution for children – in politics and in education?

Pray:

…that unrighteousness would be exposed and that no evil would remain hidden, for the sake of those who have been victims of abuse.
…for healing, hope, peace and life on the streets of our villages, towns and cities and for our children.

SCOTLAND

Ask:

(For those living in Scotland) Ask yourself, ‘If God asked me to vote differently to how I had intended/would like/feel I should, how would I feel? How easily could I be obedient to him?’
Do I need to spend more time in prayer and listening to God over my vote in the Scottish Independence Referendum?

Pray:

That Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland and all the nations of the world would choose to come into greater union with God.
That God will dwell in glory upon the land of Scotland.
Pray that all partnerships with ungodly spirits such as the political spirit, the religious spirit, the divisive spirit, pride, fear and poverty would be broken and not made in this season.
For love, not enmity, between nations and peoples, especially between Scotland and the other nations of the UK.

Holy treasure of ‘The Open Door’

Posted on Thursday, 19 June, 2014 by Richard Barker

That the Almighty is not only providing believers with abilities and areas of personal empowerment, but also wanting us to grow and develop them for the good of others, as in Monday’s post, reminded me of the symbolism of an open door. That’s the symbolic designation for the current Hebrew Year 5774 and so it would be good to refresh our minds about that and revisit its importance.

Hence, Tuesday’s post linked into an informative article on this year’s significance, as outlined in last September’s post, The door into the ‘New Season’ is open. It is a time of new beginnings, and especially a good time to dispose of personal baggage and free us up to recognise and take new opportunities. This is signified by digit 4 being the Hebrew letter ‘dalet’, as shown here >

[NB: each character in the Hebrew alphabet represents a letter, symbol and number; and which is not to be confused with numerological interpretation of words and text.]

I noted that a visiting preacher said we need to know God more and grow lots more in areas He’s preparing for us. All we have in life cannot be compared with what we have in Jesus Christ. People have issues with Christians because we’re not living the right way, as Jesus wants us to. A mature tree produces the fruit of a Christ-like character and Jesus has the power to transform us into Him!

So, let’s take another look at how this symbolism of the open door may be activated…

The Unique Doorway

Jesus said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture”. (John 10:9 NKJV)

Melissa Flores considers this means that Jesus is our ‘dalet’ – “the One who leads us into greener pastures. Too many of us follow our favourite ministers or voices hoping to find our destiny. Until you hone in on the voice of the Shepherd, the door of destiny will elude you. He alone can confirm. He alone can commission. He alone can grant entry into the next assignment or pasture of your life. Sell all of the stock you have placed in man’s ability to identify and promote you, and invest it where it belongs”. (Emphases mine)

Her explanation connects into what Bob Mazeroski brought from the Lord about His provision of mantles, does it not?

Also, one of the definitions Jesus gave of His identity was, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 NIV). That is, we can regard Jesus as being ‘The Doorway’ into the throne room of God.

A Deep Insight From Hebrew

This year I’m dipping into an easy-to-read primer on Hebrew by Steve Maltz, God’s Signature, and any reference by me simply cannot do it justice. Steve’s explanations of the language’s essential contribution to the creation and meaning of scripture are just like being with a tour guide who drops gems of insights as we meander around famous sights. Starting from the premise that the Bible is God’s word to us, Steve promises to answer questions of who wrote it, how manuscript evidence can be traced, how errors are detected and who decided what material to put in the Bible, but first explains the important difference between the Hebrew and Greek mindsets.

That difference may arise from the origins of the Hebrew language lying in pictographic symbols of the Proto-Canaanite alphabet, of which each symbol conveyed a defined visual meaning. Out of this developed the Phoenician-Old Hebrew form of geometrical shapes for those symbols and then eventually came the Biblical Hebrew letters.

To illustrate this concept Steve shows those alphabets’ characters for ‘shepherd’. Next he asks, why did God use Hebrew? In answer he shows those stages for the Hebrew for “word”, davar, which is comprised of three consonants only – dvr – as shown below. Note the inclusion and use of dalet:

Interesting? Surely an understatement!

The symbolical characters give such an obvious yet revelatory insight when we recall the Gospel according to John opens by describing Jesus as “The Word of God”, then tells of His coming into the world and the unique privilege He brought to those who would receive Him – the right to become children of God (verse 12).

Therefore, Jesus is the pathway, or entrance, into God’s mind, exactly as He states in John 14:6 above.

Of particular interest for our purposes is Steve’s examination of dalet itself:

The author goes on to state the root verb as dlh, or dala, meaning that which hangs down, or the idea of letting down or drawing up, as with a bucket in a well. Thus, for this comes the word for bucket, dly or daliy. It seems so mundane but the beauty of Hebrew is it can have a spiritual application, for which Steve quotes Psalm 30:1 and Proverbs 20:5 use of dalah, viz:

I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths.

The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

Also, Psalm 141:3 has a vivid way of using dalet to describe a mouth as “door of my lips” – Set a guard over my mouth O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.

And in Jeremiah 36:23, dalet is used for ‘columns’ in “four columns of the scroll”. In other words, as columns hang off a central spine or side of a manuscript, Steve points out that “the word dalet has been used for the simple reason we have something (the “columns”) hanging”.

Hence, the clear sense that there is a doorway of opportunity for us to go through this year. Have you sensed, or even seen it?

It’s time for serious disciples of the Lord, to approach the threshold and enter and break through into what He has for us.

Advice with cautionary note

Let’s reconsider some special points Jesus gave His disciples as ‘one who teaches with authority’, unlike religious leaders, from his extensive instruction known as ‘The Sermon on the Mount’ (Matthew chapters 5 to 7):

“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened…

…seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteous and all these things shall be added to you…

“I did not come to destroy (what’s written in the Law or the Prophets) but to fulfill…For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven…

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad the way that leads to destruction…Not everyone who says to me “Lord, Lord” shall enter the Kingdom, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven…

“Therefore, whoever hears and does these sayings of Mine is like a wise man who built his house on the rock: and when the rains, floods and winds came upon it, it did not fall, for it was founded upon the rock…”

“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.” (John 14:23 NKJV emphases added)

Amen

Now read the next post to learn how the italicised closing thoughts, added after drafting the whole piece, were concurrently confirmed by a prophetic team. Or was it vice versa with the Lord impressing upon me what He gave them?? Click to continue >>

[Image of Door Open in Sky courtesy of Nattavut, FreeDigitalPhotos.net Images from God’s Signature courtesy Terra Nova Publications International Ltd. Steve’s book is available from his website sppublishing.com as well as from Amazon. Be blessed]

On stepping into your next move of God

Posted on Monday, 16 June, 2014 by Richard Barker

Jaw dropping – that’s what happened when Bob Mazeroski described something similar to what I’d seen in a dream back in September 2011. Bob had got fired up talking about what happened to him in the Brownsville Revival, which saved him and his marriage, and urged everyone gathered yesterday:

“Listen! If a former, drunken horse trainer with no college degree – that didn’t even have a credential or ministry training – but was full of the fires of revival, baptised in the Holy Ghost – if God can use someone like me to put a mantle on, I want to tell you there ain’t one person in this room that God can’t use and He desires that for every one of you – but you need to just reach out and…all you gotta do is put it on!”

Leading into that remark, Bob shared a personal insight applicable to emulating any minister who’s moving powerfully in the Holy Spirit’s unction. He’d said:

A couple of years ago I had a dream and woke up to make notes and preach on it, for it was one of those ‘Now’ words for the Body.

In this dream, this BIG old cargo plane – you know the kind, like those they haul military supplies in – a big old cargo plane up in the sky opened up and out of that thing came all these parachutes dropping out of that thing.

“And connected to every parachute, different looking to all the others but BIG, was a suitcase. They looked like the old suitcases that you used to see people take on trains. That’s what they looked like. They were falling all over and they were hitting the ground and when they hit the ground the lids would POP open…they would burst open.

“I begin to think what is all that about and I heard the Spirit of the Lord speak into my spirit. He said,

“They’re mantles that I’m trying to put on the people in my Body today. They’re mantles I’ve used yesterday, they’re new mantles for today, they’re mantles where the ones carrying them died and moved on; but I still have the same power, I have the same heart and I’m the same God that wants to do the same thing.

“ALL I NEED IS SOMEBODY TO WALK OVER TO THE SUITCASE, PICK IT UP AND PUT IT ON!”

“That’s what He’s saying!

“You say, “Oh I wish I could move in healing…I wish I could move in signs and wonders”, but you know what God is saying…

“THERE IT IS! PICK IT UP. PUT IT ON. LET’S GO! LET’S MOVE!”

“That’s your move of God that’s coming! But it takes faith…” (continues into first quote, “Listen…”)

It was a fitting climax to exceptional teaching on applying lessons from how Elisha became anointed to succeed his spiritual father, the prophet Elijah. Listen to Bob’s inspirational address about stepping into your next move of God, starting here at 1hr27min for the whole, or at 2hr20 for the above excerpt.

Note: this theme continues in Thursday’s post Holy Treasure of ‘The Open Door’. Bob’s New Life Worship Centre Facebook page refers to CHP event with video.

My dream

What was it about Bob’s dream that made me react? It plugged into the details of a dream about the Kingdom being set up, which directly related in theme, location and timing to what Bill Johnson had prophesied about 1st September 2011 being a pivotal point in Kingdom activity in the UK. Consequently, I emailed friends and contacts about an Acceleration in Kingdom activity, the importance of which pushed me into blogging.

Here’s the opening part of my dream of 3rd Sept 2011, its commonalities with Bob’s dream are underlined:

Am in an open-plan, modern office environment overlooking a town centre. Upon glancing out of one side’s extensive windows I’m amazed to see a large white cube flying very low over nearby buildings! (It’s about the size of a Hercules transport plane.) Watching, I see a few more similar cubes follow and fan out in different directions.

Then I look from a different quarter’s aspect to see where they’re coming from and then notice this view is from a much higher floor and over a different location! Then, a couple of cubes hover and discharge some cargo, which floats down to settle on the ground – rather as furniture vans deposit items outside a house.

However, I’m seeing into a room being set up, as though the building itself is invisible! A large wooden table and its several chairs are already there as white porcelain bathroom furnishings descend, but stay hanging in space!

In a flash I understand what’s happening and, without thinking, declare aloud, “They’re setting up The Kingdom!”

The full account may be read at Father, Your Kingdom Come, which has Bill Johnson’s remarks as footnotes.

Plenty to ponder upon and become motivated to serve our heavenly Father and step into His next move, wherever we are.

Justin Welby’s call to convert this nation is no joke

Posted on Saturday, 14 June, 2014 by Richard Barker

This is excellent news when we recall Graham Goldsmith’s guest post asking two years ago, “Has the Church fallen asleep on its feet?”. Archbishop Welby’s words, Gillan’s own eloquent exhortation and in-depth commentaries bring hopeful promise to the fulfilment of 3 prophetic words/visions received 2 weeks earlier – and on the same day! – in Wales, England and Arizona! (See posts below dated 23 & 26 May)

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	MARY K. DULLFORCE on Clarification on Bible prophec…
	MARY K. DULLFORCE on Clarification on Bible prophec…

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Contend for the Faith

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PS: continued at:

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ADVANCE WITHOUT DELAY

Ask:

“Am I positioned for advance and breakthrough, or do I have the brakes on and the anchor down?”

“Am I procrastinating – is there something I should be birthing / building / establishing in this season?”

“Is there anything I need to drop that is fruitless?”

Pray:

Pray that we, the church, might individually and corporately fix our gaze on God like never before.

Pray for breakthrough for the people of God in every sphere and sector of society.

UNITY AND INTIMACY

Ask:

“Where are the areas that I have my guard up and where I’m not living vulnerably with my brothers and sisters?”

“What can I do to favour and promote other people and the work they do?”

Pray:

Lord, help us to do what it takes to be fitted together, living heart-to-heart.

Thank you Lord for sacrificially loving us. Help me to love sacrificially – show me what this looks like in this season, Lord.

LEADERSHIP

Ask:

Is there someone unexpected that needs to be given more responsibility?

Pray:

For all leaders, as Jesus Christ would pray for them.

For young people and those who have been overlooked – that they would answer the new call to leadership.

JUSTICE AND CHILDREN

Ask:

How can I be a Kingdom solution for children – in politics and in education?

Pray:

…that unrighteousness would be exposed and that no evil would remain hidden, for the sake of those who have been victims of abuse.

…for healing, hope, peace and life on the streets of our villages, towns and cities and for our children.

SCOTLAND

Ask:

(For those living in Scotland) Ask yourself, ‘If God asked me to vote differently to how I had intended/would like/feel I should, how would I feel? How easily could I be obedient to him?’

Do I need to spend more time in prayer and listening to God over my vote in the Scottish Independence Referendum?

Pray:

That Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland and all the nations of the world would choose to come into greater union with God.

That God will dwell in glory upon the land of Scotland.

Pray that all partnerships with ungodly spirits such as the political spirit, the religious spirit, the divisive spirit, pride, fear and poverty would be broken and not made in this season.

For love, not enmity, between nations and peoples, especially between Scotland and the other nations of the UK.

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