UPDATE 27/9:Former member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Walid Shoebat, claims on his blog that the offensive video trailer was, in all likelihood, produced as a terrorist scam. This renowned peace activist arrives at that conclusion after examining the contradictions and falsehoods within the media accounts, plus his own previous investigations into the characters and his family connections and direct knowledge of the Middle-East. Citing 7 facts, he shows the media story is faulty and inconclusive!
4,500 miles – that’s a quarter of the way around the world! The British boy was at his best under the ‘unction of the Holy Spirit’, ie., the anointing from God Most High to preach and teach the Gospel with the power of His Spirit, as he spoke about ‘Divine Exchange’. Most of the large congregation had, in fact, already ascended in worship and found ‘fullness of joy’ in His presence, which was strongly felt throughout the 3 hour-long service!
Late Sunday afternoons here in Hampshire, England, we go to church in Mobile, AL, USA, for a morning service, as do thousands of other online members of Church of His Presence. On Sunday, English evangelist Nathan Morris reported healing miracles had happened when the Bay Revival team recently went to Lake Charles, Louisiana, a week after hurricane Isaac’s visit.
(PS. whilst there Nathan warned a much greater, more severe storm’s coming – The King Is Coming! Click to watch message; read these posts too – Watch, Get Ready.)
Soon after many there repented, Nathan had a prophetic word about someone’s health, “degenerative disease in the kidneys” (ie. kidney failure). A lady with a 6 months-old baby yells as he quips, “The preachers weren’t watching, but the Son of God is!” and what happened next is most wonderful. If you too would like to know – and see – then carry on reading:
Listen to Nathan’s account and then watch it happen as he plays two video clips to the congregation. [Click on ‘play triangle’ and as it loads click on grey bar to advance play, speed depends upon your broadband speed.] Nathan starts telling about this miracle at 1hr12min30 and the video section of baby Jeremiah’s healing starts at 1:18:00….at 1:21:30 it changes to the next day’s meeting for an account of the boy’s severe medical status by his exurberant mother as she tells about that morning’s astonishing resultsof his creatinine blood test…praise the Lord!
At 1:36:00 a ‘live’ testimony is given for the Lord’s healing of terminal colon cancer and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. What is remarkable is that the patient was one of a very, very tiny group of people without a specific enzyme which adversely affects chemotherapy. The Lord directed her to search on the internet to find out about this (1:40:00). She got in touch with chat rooms and therefore insisted doctors test her before treatment. Thus they discovered that she was one of this rare, at-risk group!
Divine Exchange
After a strong admonition (at 1:45:00) and exhortation to that nation (US) and to young people, Nathan ends with an unexpected brief word about faith in anyone other than Jesus Christ, and says, “I don’t know where that came from, it’s not my message!”
At 1:50:50 he begins an exceptional message on coming into God’s presence and the signs of the Kingdom, as exemplified in those healings, teaching from the Biblical books of Hebrews and Exodus. Any summary would fail to do justice or convey it properly – it needs to be heard and entered into. Are you able to do so?
Drawing to a close Nathan recounts the drummer / youth pastor told him how amazed he was when a blind eye opened as he prayed. Nathan then exclaimed,
He was so full of it – he was rejoicing – and I looked at him and thought, “Son, you’d better get ready, because if you keep having a divine exchange with God, blind eyes will be nothing – He’ll show you things that will blow your mind!!“
He went on (2:27:00):
Before I knew you were worshiping, I could feel it in my spirit. Normally I can’t hear you in the back room but I heard something…and said so to the pastor…I could feel it because there’s something that happens when the Body of Christ joins in one accord to – we enter the Throne Room where divine exchange takes place!”
Everyone re-entered worship and even across the ‘pond’, here in the UK – a quarter of the world away – we too felt the strong, undeniable touch of precious Holy Spirit as His fire fell once again in Alabama.
And why ever not? After all God’s Spirit is present in all those who believe in the one He sent – Jesus Christ. In our human spirits there’s no separation whatsoever from Him or from the fellowship of His Body.
Crucifixions have been reported in some Islamic nations, all of which requires a sensitivity in handling source materials, as may be inferred from my early post Not on the 10 o’clock News. However, lack of such expertise – and of a grasp of spiritual dynamics – generated a great deal of verbiage, misunderstanding and false conclusions, as outlined below:
A fortnight ago I noted Stuart James’ question on his popular blog-forum eChurch: “Are Christians being crucified by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt? Important blog post by my friend Gordon looking at the veracity of the Christian crucifiction(sic) claims in Egypt, that have spread like wildfire online and created widespread anger amongst Christians.”
Gordon Hudson’s blog examines various reports and commentaries of this event in some depth. (It is claimed to have taken place in front of the presidential palace.) He endorses Canadian editor and columnist Jonathan Kay’s National Post article entitled Egypt’s ‘crucifixion’ hoax becomes an instant Internet myth, wherein he pronounces at the very outset:
It’s a story worth dissecting — not because it’s true (it isn’t), but because it is a textbook example of how the Internet… has been co-opted by culture warriors as a weapon to fire up the naïve masses with lies and urban legends.
In concluding his ‘investigation’ of this particular case, he refers to a dated report (ie. three years old!) that repudiated false reports of crucifixions and thus wrote:
The people reporting this false story were not deliberately lying. As I noted in my original post, they have simply become so wrapped up in the idea that we are fighting an existential war against militant Islam, that they are willing to believe any nonsense story they come across without checking it. If it sounds like it could be true, then it must be. The first casualty of war, as always, is truth.
Stuart’s friend puts it, “It shows how stories can change as they are spread. Especially where indignation is involved and there is an information vacuum.” Both these writers dug around a lot and have taken the trouble of posting updates, all of which may be read via the above links. It’s too easy, however, to pontificate from the comfort of one’s cosy corner…
Within hours I received an email update from the original Western reporter.
As far as I can find, critics haven’t refered to the original report, its publication date or the identity of the man who’d broken the story to the West! The account first appeared in a ‘guest column’ of The Investigative Project on Terrorism on 15th August under the title Muslim Brotherhood ‘Crucifies’ Opponents, Attacks Secular Media, by Raymond Ibrahim.
Unlike his critics, Raymond is not only fluent in Arabic but also a specialist in Islam who explores “the pivotal but ignored point where Islam and Christianity intersect, translating pertinent Arabic news that never reaches the West”. Born of Egyptian Coptic parents, Raymond discovered, translated and published original Al-Qaeda treatises (earlier post refers: Muslim Persecution of Christians).
In response to the deluge of media speculation Raymond has reconsidered his report and answers Jonathan Kay point by point. He takes up Kay’s above opening shot with,
Alternatively, dissecting Kay’s claims is useful as it is a textbook example of how the Western mindset tries to rationalize away whatever does not fit its intellectual boundaries.
He doesn’t so much dissect as dismembers Kay’s argument. His rebuttal Crucifixion, Not Fictions should be read by all who are concerned about these severe issues. In point of fact he noticed, ahead of Kay, that the original Sky News report he’d seen and written about had been withdrawn! In reviewing the facts he writes on 4th Sept:
I did not have to make this point, or mention Sky News at all, since other reports—including El Balad, a much higher trafficked Arabic website which I also quoted—independently mentions the crucifixions in original language and further adds that two people died. And that report, as of now, is still up.
Raymond proceeds to answer Kay’s claims by referring to actual facts of life in Egypt, including the Maspero Massacre, and especially as regards media subjugation under the Muslim Brotherhood’s president Morsi. This had also been reported by renowned Caroline Glick in her long analysis published 17th August, Who lost Egypt?
On Sunday, new President Mohamed Morsy (sic) completed Egypt’s transformation into an Islamist state. In the space of one week, Morsy sacked the commanders of the Egyptian military and replaced them with Muslim Brotherhood loyalists, and fired all the editors of the state-owned media and replaced them with Muslim Brotherhood loyalists.
He also implemented a policy of intimidation, censorship and closure of independently owned media organizations that dare to publish criticism of him. (my emphasis)
Raymond Ibrahim concludes his firm rebuttal as follows:
All this leads to the most important point. Whereas Kay appears intent on proving that the crucifixions never happened, a close read of my article shows that I never said they did happen. As always, I merely reported and translated what was on the Arabic media; noted that Sky News took its story down; and then offered my own interpretation—including the fact that Muslims have been known to crucify their opponents in the modern era, crucifixions are prescribed by the Koran and Sharia, and an Egyptian parliamentarian recently called for crucifixions to be legalized.
In light of all the above, I reiterate my original conclusion: “there is little reason to doubt this crucifixion story.” (my emphasis)
Indeed, soon after this crucifixion story appeared in the Egyptian media, a disturbing video surfaced from Yemen, of a mutilated man, crucified.
How long before the usual naysayers try to portray even this video as a “hoax”?
If you wish to query Raymond’s argument, I’d direct you to this article in response to the decapitation of a Christian in Tunisia, and in which he lists several pertinent facts about the Arabic media and blogo-sphere that Western self-styled pundits miss.
The crucifixion video which he provides a link to is gruesome – it can be viewed only by turning safety button off! It thrusts a grim reality into one’s face. AND, amputation as punishment is common, the latest occurrence of which is in Mali (AP report here). I’ll desist from commenting about medieval religious mindsets that attempt to justify and promote outrageous barbarity. It brings a vivid portrayal of what would have happened to Jesus Christ, which Paul Priest portrays in The reality of the Crucifixion, [not for the squeamish].
By the way, there’s also ongoing persecution in Israel of Christians and Messianic Jews from ultra-orthodox Jews, of which the latest vandalism at a monastery is a minor episode (see World News – thanks Stuart).
So is someone, or something, masterminding a ‘crusade’ against Christians? And why?
Britain’s unique flag, known as the Union Jack, could be radically changed if the case pompously argued by Her Majesty’s government in Strasbourg (see para 1 here) is taken to its ultimate conclusion. See letter highlit below to the Telegraph’s editor from fellow resident of Hampshire, George Langton. But, in fact, the flag’s whole design would vanish because it consists of not one but three crosses of patron saints of England (St George, red cross on white), Scotland (St Andrew, white diagonal cross on blue) and Northern Ireland (St Patrick. red diagonal cross on white).
In fact, when these national flags are combined the whole becomes a radiant cross. Is there no more fitting emblem of our very ancient Christian heritage? It’s a heritage few secularists prefer to ignore or consign to historical oblivion, as the first letter attests!
And what would thousands have waved in the Olympic Stadium and for London 2012? Or, what would hundreds of our glorious Olympic and Paralympics medallists have worn after their splendid wins? (See BBC Sport and news photo galleries here and here.)
My favorite contribution is that of the civil servant Richard Ford. He satirises the folly of inverse standards that have become increasingly evident today. Personal probity is the hallmark of the British civil service, and used to be rigorously maintained.
If the cross is to be removed from public life then our flag would become the white flag of surrender! NOT on my watch!!
Dear Readers, a few extra bits you may wish to know:
1. Re. Four Christians at European Court of Human Rights (as here, then here):
Ditch your crosses or resign, Christian told runs the front page headline in today’s Telegraph. Under its full report Not free to wear a cross at work? Then resign, state lawyers tell court (hardcopy, see online), James Eadie QC (Queen’s Counsel) is quoted as saying employers’ refusal to allow two ladies to wear crucifixes at work “did not prevent either of them practising religion in private”. See also these reports:
As may be expected, The Independent closes by quoting a warning from the National Secular Society in the event of a victory for the four. The Telegraph closes quoting the Conservative party’s highly respected leading backbencher, David Davis as expecting the Prime Minister to stick to his promises to MPs to protect religious rights:
The idea that British citizens are not free to express their faith in the workplace is an extraordinary and oppressive interpretation of the law.
2. Re. Hurricane Isaac and New Orleans (as here, then here):
Teaching about the scriptural aspects of the repeated coincidence of another hurricane upon the city and its celebration of ungodliness, Southern Decadence, ‘went viral’ on the internet. In the second link above I gave passing mention to John McTernan’s email, which I hadn’t seen – Hurricane Isaac and God’s final warning to America. It generated a very long discussion thread – 250 comments!
John has been in ministry since 1987 when God first started showing him warnings of judgments upon America. In Southern Decadence vs the Holiness of God he gives his reaction to the debate and insights into why New Orleans was hit. Should you visit his blog you’ll find a lot of sound Biblical teaching across several posts on this major issue.
3. Re. British weather and climate change (as here, then here):
The Meteorological Office declared June, July and August as the wettest in 100 years and second since records began (1654 for central England). Also, a record wet April enabled April, May and June to become the wettest on record. It was also the dullest so-called summer!
I always regarded claims for climate change as fictitious. First proof came with Gordon Brown’s retrospective tax for air passenger fuel duty on fares that had already been booked AND paid for (ie. legalised theft)! Then along with many investigators’ rebuttals came the declaration by Emeritus Professor of Physics, Harold Lewis that,
“Global warming is the greatest and most successful pseudo-scientific fraud I have seen in my long life…This is not science, other forces are at work.”
Therefore, he wrote to the American Physical Society, “I want no part of it, so please accept my resignation” (as its President)! The APS refuted his claims, yet one has to wonder why such a distinguished person would take such an inordinate stance if his viewpoint were without any foundation whatsoever.
By this report has HM Government been siphoning off billions from the UK economy on the pretext of ‘climate change mitigation’.
Cranmer’s source observes:
In a thorough and systematic deconstruction of this document, Mr Lilley exposed scores of errors and lies and may have been the first major Western politician to shout not only that “the Emperor has no clothes,” but to show the pictures as well.
Before quoting the press release, His Grace adds:
This is indeed a tectonic event; ‘one which is sure to embolden conserv-atives and Conservatives across the Commonwealth and even our cousins in the US who, thanks to Mr Lilley’s bravery, might stand up and demand a proper accounting and a good look of this warmist scam under the bright light of the mid-day sun.’
Friends – you may wish to join Christian Concern’s specific prayer request (as below):
Since my previous I’ve delved into details of submissions provided by Christian Concern and grasped their gravity. I believe it behoves each of us to be familiar with the issues.
Although I’ve long been aware of these claims, their papers are very instructive about attempts to control our faith and why/how the European Court for Human Rights may be able to stop such discriminatory agenda. At point 26 of his Written Submission, former Archbishop of Canterbury, the Rt Rev and Rt Hon The Lord Carey states:
In case after case, the Courts have found against the Christian faith, by strict application of national Equality/ anti-discrimination law; and by voiding Article 9 of any substantive effect: (my emphasis)
He then cites 15 instances of legally enforced discrimination against believers in Britain!
Upon following the link provided in God and Politics in UK I was concerned to read this statement of fact, as quoted by Joshua Rozenberg in the Law Society Gazette, that the Court of Appeal said:
[The London Borough of ] Islington’s ‘legitimate aim’ was to minimise discrimination among its staff. ‘Ladele’s refusal was causing offence to at least two of her gay colleagues,’ the court said. Her objection was ‘based upon her view of marriage, which is not a core part of her religion…’ !!! (my emphasis)
PREPOSTEROUS CLAPTRAP! How can a higher legal court in our land pretend the creation of man and woman and the reason for their relationship, as ordained in the two opening chapters of the Holy Bible, IS NOT A CORE PART OF CHRISTIAN BELIEF! Just how can such supposedly intelligent people imply that Jesus’ own reference to this (Mark 10:6-9) is NOT a core part of Christian belief? ABSURD – IT IS AXIOMATIC!
So I’m very pleased to find this matter is one of the main planks of Christian Concern’s case (para 11 herein), which quotes European legal precedence that:
it is not possible for national authorities to identify “core areas” of a person’s particular religious belief.
Moreover, the UK’s Equality and Human Right Commission has claimed it would now support and apply the legal doctrine of ‘reasonable accommodations’! (Regular readers will be familiar with my complaints against EHRC.)
Thus, Christian Concern claims it is vitally important to pray, watch and keep abreast of developments. Let’s agree to do so…
Tomorrow, four cases concerning the freedom of Christian expression in the UK will be heard before the European Court of Human Rights. The Court will hold a public hearing on the admissibility and merits of the cases and then deliberate privately before making its ruling. The summary of the ECHR press release explains,
Relying, in particular on Articles 9 (freedom of religion) and 14 (prohib-ition of discrimination), all four applicants complain that domestic law failed to adequately protect their right to manifest their religion.
The full yet brief release may be read in Gillan Scott’s overview on God and Politics, along with link to a commentary in The Law Society Gazette about the case of Registrar Lillian Ladele.
Christian Concern’s announcement here states that two of the other applicants are supported by its sister organisation, Christian Legal Centre, and is of the opinion that the outcome of these ‘landmark cases’,
will have implications for freedom of thought, conscience and religion across Europe. At issue is the freedom of Christians to express their faith publicly and to live in line with historic, mainstream, biblical Christian teaching. (my emphasis)
Two of the cases relate to wearing a cross at work and, although David Cameron has told MPs that Christians should have the right to wear a cross at work, the Government has said their employers had every right to discipline them.
The other cases relate to freedom of conscience and include Gary McFarlane, who was sacked after he expressed a possible conscientious objection to giving sex therapy to two homosexual men. The grounds for the last seem to be mendacious, as may be inferred from reading his interview with Laura Donnelly in A cross to bear.
I know these cases hardly compare with the real persecution and danger to life and limb regularly experienced by Christians throughout Islamic nations, as reported lately by Barnabas Fund and more in-depth from the Gatestone Institute (see report). But as I’ve often remarked since a vision in 2004 (see Comments upon collapse of Society), a stand has to be taken against deliberately anti-Christian policies not only within Britain but also any secular society, does it not?
Personally, I thank the Lord that application of Equality & Diversity laws didn’t prevent a night sister praying (after quick nod of the head) and thereby immediately halting Nina’s suffocation from anaphylactic attack one night during an enforced hospital stay (as at ‘2 Proof of Political Direction’ in this post).
Readers who followed my earlier post’s links to Archbishop Cranmer’s site may have discovered that the BBC has finally paid tribute to Usain Bolt’s Christian faith! Regular readers of His Grace recognise this as yet another sample of his satirical wit.
[Today, Cranmer adroitly tackles the public perception that PM Cameron is out of touch with the concerns of ordinary people.]
Back to the ‘Beeb’…Wonderful as the great Brit Mo’ Farrar’s fantastic feets’ feat of winning double Olympic gold medals in 10,000m and 5,000m is, ol’ Auntie’ saw fit to give serious consideration to the ‘Mo Effect’ upon his fellow Somalis in the United Kingdom. And, of course, the BBC News recognised his Muslim faith and made reference to his on-track prayers.
Thus, it’s clearly evident the Badly Biased Corporation does display double standards.
Lisa, lots to mediate upon and become more aware of the many benefits to being saved and for not-yet-believers to desire. Will put link to this and to your post ‘Abide’, into my site’s ‘Do You Know Him?’
In order for a person to abide in Christ, he or she must first be in Christ. Although these two concepts are related, they are not exactly synonymous.
Let’s discover what the Bible says about being in Christ.
In Christ, you are reconciled to God. “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation”
(II Corinthians 5:18).
In Christ, you are a new creation. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17). “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10; also see Galatians 6:15).
In Christ, you are dead to sin and alive with Him. “And ye shall…
Has the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) deliberately ignored the fastest man on earth’s God? Also, could its coverage of the Middle-East just be bellicose disinformation prior to an anticipated major regional conflict?
Cranmer’s posting of 10 August about this year’s thrice-Olympic gold medal Jamaican sprinter and world record buster opens as follows:
Usain Bolt – the fastest man on the planet – is a devout believer (of the Protestant Christian kind) in the One True God. And he makes absolutely no secret at all of the fact: he crosses himself to exalt the Trinity, and mouths a prayer to the heavens before every race. And after each victory, he publicly gives thanks to God, in word and physical supplication. Following yesterday’s triumph in the 200m, he said of his Lord and Saviour: “Nothing would have been possible without Him.”
Is this not worth just a passing mention by the BBC?
He continues:
While he was manifestly thanking God on his knees for yesterday’s victory, the BBC presenter spun this spontan-eous act of worship as Bolt having ‘a moment to himself’. This manifestly blurs the significance for the viewer. This is what Bolt tweeted:
Later, he closes:
The BBC have known for more than four years what Usain Bolt always does, before and after each race, without fail: …They have been briefed to bits by Bolt’s PR team and by members of his family: Usain Bolt is a Bible-believing, God-honouring, Jesus-worshipping Christian. But not a whisper from the BBC; not a word of explanation of the real significance of these ‘moments to himself’.
Could the once-honourable ‘Auntie’ have fallen into disrepute? I do hope its writers and directors are not making her jump onto “bigots’ bandwagon”. The following opinion in The Commentator could make one wonder whether ol’ Auntie is thinking of just that.
The Commentator questions BBC’s unquestioning acceptance of a well-known liberal Jewish blogger’s claims of receiving ‘secret’ information from Israeli military sources on a regular basis. In this particular instance, Richard Silverstein discloses details of Israeli plans for a strike against Iran. The Commentator observes:
The problem is, while Silverstein is quick to publish information he ‘receives’, the veracity of such information can of course never be verified. The BBC has not seen the so-called documents that Silverstein purports to have, nor has it double-sourced any information of the sort….
The BBC, despite being unable to verify any information beyond that of a blogpost, has run full pelt with the story, interviewing Silverstein on several occasions and quoting him widely. While their diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus states that it is impossible to know whether or not the document exists, one might question the need for any kind of story based on such a tenuous blog…
One wonders what it takes today to get the BBC to report a non-story. Was it the fact that as a self-proclaimed ‘progressive’ blogger, Silverstein is well connected within the BBC? Or could it be once again that anything showing Israel in an aggressive light is swarmed upon by BBC hacks looking for a quick bit of Israel bashing?
BUT, to be fair, Silverstein’s full article deserves to be read in its entirety, as well as the follow-up. It was also covered in depth in last night’s Eye View from the White House (subscription service) wherein William Koenig similarly reports upon several articles that quote well informed high-level sources in the USA and in Israel. Of the alleged comprehensive text released to Silverstein, Koenig notes this outline shows a full ‘decapitation plan’ and comments that Israel cannot afford to go in half-cocked; so it is quite believable.
So could this ‘leak’ simply be part and parcel of the dozens of options for disinformation issued in the prelude to war? Alternatively, if it is the definitive game plan, its unofficial disclosure could be a way of spelling out very clearly to the mad-mullahs of Iran and their maniac-in-chief what, in fact, they’ll be up against when they act upon their oft-declared intent of ‘wiping Israel off the map’.
FOOTNOTE: Click here, and here for a special despatch from MEMRI, Middle-East Media Research Institute, for the latest Iranian madness on the elimination of Israel. See the recent reblog and my earlier references here and here to this diabolical attitude.
Says it all Lisa. Thank you for an excellent summary of the heart of discipleship and which is implicit in Jesus’ commission of His disciples to, “Go, therefore,..teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always – even to the end of the Age.”
Lord, may all our political leaders desire to abide in You. Amen
In order for the Father to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29), we must abide in Christ. What does it mean to abide? It means to remain, rest, stay, wait, and continue. (See the concordance definition) Abiding in Christ, then, involves waiting upon the Lord and entering into His peace. “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without [separately, apart from] me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Just as a branch draws its life-source from the vine, believers must stay connected to…
Most uplifting and, in my humble opinion, a fitting addition to what Jesus said about this model prayer – He stressed that we can actually hinder and prevent Father forgiving us as an individual because of unforgiveness towards those who’ve hurt us! (Matt 6:14-15). How rapidly the decision to forgive can bring even physical healing, as Nina discovered (see testimony). See also Khamneithang’s moving personal story Journey of Hope.
“Our” – if I live only for myself. “Father” – if I do not endeavor each day to act like his child. “Who art in heaven” – if I am laying up no treasure there. “Hallowed be thy name” – if I am not striving for holiness. “Thy Kingdom come” – if I am not doing all in my power to hasten that wonderful event. “Thy will be done” – if I am disobedient to his Word. “On earth as it is in heaven” – if I do not serve him here and now. “Give us this day our daily bread” – if I am dishonest or am seeking things by subterfuge. “Forgive us our debts” – if I harbor a grudge against anyone. “Lead us not into temptation” –…
Thank you Lisa for this excellent post which is pertinent to the apparently ‘mixed bag’ of my recent AND current posts. I recommend every believer to run off a hardcopy for reference and application.
These are the last days; the days of the falling away. These are days when Satan is having a great deal of power. But we must keep in mind that Satan has no power only as he is allowed. And we must never think that Satan has power over the believer. If I could get only the establishment of that fact in your hearts it would be something living all the time. Satan has no power over the believer. “The wicked one toucheth him not.” So we must understand that all things that fall to our lot are according to the mind and will of God. “All things work together for good…
Today is the second anniversary of that astonishing day when the living God visited a two-day conference at a church in Daphne, near Mobile, Alabama, USA. This meeting, called Open The Heavens, was convened by the Rev. John Kilpatrick, to whom in ’95 God had entrusted a revival of repentance in Brownsville, Florida. On Thursday, a few miles from Washington DC, he described what happened on July 23rd 2010:
“(on) the second night miracles broke out and…I’m not a critic…but a sceptical person, and whenever the miracles broke out I saw miracles that were undeniable and I said, “This is God”…But the thing that made it so real for me was when the miracles began to break out – I was sitting in the audience – I heard coming from behind me that familiar sound of revival…
“I heard that roar of the presence of the glory of God come in and I said, “Oh my God – He’s back!” and whenever I heard that I knew beyond any doubt right then, I said, “We’re in for it!”
You may ask, “Is that scriptural, where’s that in the Bible?” It’s here at Psalm 29:3-4; “The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the glory of God thunders…”
The pastor’s guest was a young English evangelist, Nathan Morris, whose huge Gospel campaigns in India had brought a hundred thousand Muslims and Hindus into salvation with a similar number of miraculous healings, salvations and deliverances in Africa (see Shake the Nations).
Nathan wondered why that doesn’t happen in America and the Western world…but then healings started happening in Mobile too! The first to receive sight to blind eyes was a man who’d had 8 operations to restore his sight, but all failed. Many others received healing for deafness.
Thus began a long, remarkable series of preaching with signs and wonders following. It became known as The Bay of The Holy Spirit Revival, named after the original Spanish name for that bay in the northern Gulf of Mexico.
For a short summary of a selection of notable miracles during The Bay Revival that I’ve summarised in this blog click on video clips of testimonies, or visit the main website for a collection of testimonies.
Yesterday, several hundreds were assembled in the convention centre for the usual Sunday morning meeting – but that ‘usual’ is not the same usual as in your average church service. The regulars at Church of His Presence really know how to worship and praise the Lord. No ‘hymn sandwiches’ here! Opening worship by musicians and vocalists lasts about 40 minutes; but yesterday after the band stopped, everyone simply couldn’t stop praising God in their individual ways!
This carried on for 10 minutes and the pastor sensed the Lord was doing something different and he realised that it was to encourage a festive time of celebration for the anniversary the next day of the start of the Revival. As one of very few to honour the presence of the Holy Spirit and make space for Him to have His way, Pastor Kilpatrick announced he’s putting aside his prepared sermon. (In fact, he’d been away for a few weeks and had some fresh teaching.)
John then encouraged all to continue and even brought all teens-and-twenties to the front to worship – then they were replaced by a few dozen adults – who in turn were replaced by the over 60s! Next, he invited all the black folk to come and show how to worship. What a fantastic time, and live on-line too – now that’s church!
So seventy five minutes into the service the formal business of taking the offering and blessing the congregation happened later than usual – then the celebratory worship just continued – wow!
Thank you Lord for being so good – Oh, what our eyes have seen!
Why not join in the festivities of 22nd July yourself by clicking here?
For the first short report soon after the start of the Revival play this video:
This is such a timely, apposite posting in connection with my stressing the relevance of the oft-neglected aspect of the Great Commission that Jesus gave His Apostles. See Matthew 27:18-20 at foot of this post.
19For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
The first mans disobedience was Adam in the garden. (Genesis 3) Adam was specifically told to not eat of that tree but through their own will they choose to eat. They were not forced to eat that fruit. Once they ate of that fruit sin entered in to the world.
The obedience of one we were made righteous. When Jesus was on this earth he was all about his Fathers business. (Luke 2:49) His will was His Fathers will. (John 4:34) He was the final Adam. He reversed the curse from the garden.
In this post, my friend Gillan Scott proffers a detailed, well-researched analysis of the issues and governmental confusion. It is well worth reading to gain a fuller consideration of the matter to which I recently drew readers’ attention (here).
PostScript Friday 20 June: see also reblog of Gillan Scott’s view and commendable interviews by Paul Burgin with the Rt Hon Gary Streeter MP about the group Christians in Parliament (of which he is chairman) and with Danny Webster, Parliamentary Officer with the Evangelical Alliance, mainly about the role of Christians in the media.
In today’s Telegraph Rosa Prince writes that during Prime Minister’s Question Time, David Davis MP asked about the case of Nadia Eweida. She is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights after having been barred by her employer from wearing a crucifix whilst working at Heathrow Airport.
Mr Davis described British Airways refusal to allow Miss Eweida to wear her cross as a “disgraceful piece of political correctness”. He asked the PM why the Government was opposing her appeal to complain that there are no protections under UK law for workers who wore religious symbols.
I thank Christen Forster for this post on his Blog about the initial outcome of the special listening-prayer meeting, to which my previous post referred:
“On June 12th 2012 more than eighty Christian leaders from throughout the UK gathered in St Mary’s Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster alongside Parliamentarians for an hour of listening to God in silence. Anglicans, Baptists, Catholics and Christian leaders from a wide cross-section of ministries were present. Two hours of feedback where then held in Committee Room 16 and written submissions made to the organisers. [For more details click here.]
“Below is the initial summary issued by the Organising group, a coalition of ministries under the banner “Together for the Nation” chaired by Maranatha Prayer Community. A full transcript will be available on request. [See Christen’s blog for more information, as well as my notes below.]
“Many of those who attended have said it was a very special time for them. Apparently this is the first time a group has gathered in Parliament just to listen to God with no other agenda. The summary contains a very sobering and challenging message. We are told to weigh prophecy, because while we see in part and prophesy in part, the seed of God’s “now” word are too valuable to miss.
“Don’t treat prophecy lightly, test it all; hold on to what is good and hold back from what seems bad.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22
“So, please read the summary below and where it seems good let it shape and inform your praying and ignore what doesn’t seem right to you.
“It is probably worth observing that like most prophecies to whole nations, it is quite broad – after all, it needs to frame the prayers of a million and more potential hearers and intercessors. So look for your own guidance within the framework it sets out.
If you accept this message, it demands an urgent response involving practical preparation and action. As one attendee wrote: “God is looking for people of skilful hands and integrity of heart who will listen to Him”.
These five themes and words repeated again and again in the verbal feedback session. Other more specific guidance and thoughts can be found in the full transcript.
God’s appointed time to judge the nations of the world is very nearly upon us. Our nation and its church have turned away from God and His standards and we are beginning to see and feel the resulting judgement.
A remnant of Britain’s covenant past, its Christian heritage and the good fruit of our worldwide missionary zeal, remains. We should embrace our spiritual sons and daughters from the nations who have returned to help us. It is possible that God may yet act out of mercy to avert the very worst of the judgement that we have brought upon ourselves. The Church is called to be the voice of hope and compassion.
The shaking of every part of man’s world-wide economic, social, political and religious systems has begun. It will be a time of great humbling, purification and refining in every aspect of society. Only what is built on the foundations that God requires will be permitted to remain – righteousness, truth and justice.
When the judgement has run its course, God has promised to restore us. This restoration must follow God’s revealed strategies and guidelines and not be led astray again by Man’s initiatives and good ideas.
Because of His great love for this nation and all of its people, God’s heart is breaking and He longs for us to respond to Him, as individuals, as a church, and as a nation. The time to respond is now.
“A theme only hinted at in the list above (see point 4) that struck a particular resonance with me was the call to the church, for reformers and builders to be released and to step up. We need to prepare for what is coming down, but Jesus is a builder, he clears the way not for destruction’s sake but to make space for the new.”
Notes:
My previous post referred to the forum at which Christen presented a detailed summary of the meeting. If you’d like to listen to those sessions their recordings are available free of charge here. Christen stressed the importance of recalling and honouring our very ancient Christian foundations, which I’d already had occasion to do in my earlier post Landmark Parliamentary Inquiry and provided a link to a fascinating historical item.
Christen also reported that the group had recognised that institutions and people had broken past covenants with the Lord (presumably not just our reneging against the one with Israel) – “A tree doesn’t stand without good roots and severe storms are coming!”
Since 1993 the Marantha Community has been committed to speaking out to challenge the steady and deliberate removal of Christian values from our society. The Community believes that if the people of God speak with one voice, the voice of God will be heard in the land. Over recent years they have researched prophetic words given to the wider Church and found that common themes emerged, from which collated messages have been compiled – click for their Prophecy page and One Voice Messages.
Do you recall, dear reader, the last time you were struck by an unusual and personal coincidence? My previous post about the Jubilee bells referred to the fortuitous, happy occurrence of such events – serendipity. But on this occasion it all came in like a flood tide of information and understanding from several sources!
It would be interesting to know the mathematical probabilities of these personal events – it was as though it had all been orchestrated. Perhaps the Lord Himself is composer, arranger and conductor of an orchestra – players stand and play their ‘instruments’ at specific moments and a melodious tune can be heard. Also, singers give thanks and praise to their maker/composer – even angelic choirs may join in and the whole gives glory to God.
So for not-yet-believers and nominal Christians, what follows may seem weird, perhaps ‘inaudible!’ but let it sink in and sink into it. In Part 1 I told about my ‘stumbling’ upon this revelatory information and provided links for readers to check for themselves. Here’s why it’s exciting.:
As previously recounted, a blog from Kingdom Vision in SW England popped onto my pc screen by ‘mistake’ and which begins:
For 48 hours now I have seen myriads of angels in the heavenlies standing in rows. “Myriads” is not a word I would use, it dropped into my spirit when I saw them. Myriads means “uncountable.” Then I heard the sound of bells pealing, over and over. Sometimes they got REALLY LOUD. (my emboldening)
This was at the close of May and American Kathie Walters goes on to tell about lots of cheering accompanying the bells, like at a wedding, and she realises it’s to do with the UK. Then she gets an email with news of the imminent Diamond Jubilee celebrations and hears that:
My friend Beni Johnson says God has been telling her things for a year about the bells. God told her, “The bells are going to ring again in England. Bells that have not been rung in years.” Beni said, “The bells are going to ring again and call people to prayer and worship as they did before. The bells will cause a sound in the atmosphere and it will be a sign to the UK. A sign of change (look back at the meaning of “peals”) and bring a shift.”
Following that English site’s link I read Joy Hall’s explanation of the number of Jubilee Bells and its Hebraic meaning, which is exceedingly encouraging for the UK.
But what particularly impacted in my spirit is the recollection of the effect of pealing bells when Nina and I visited Beverley, East Yorkshire, as recounted in Back down to earth. Strolling around the market we decided to visit the close-by Minster. As we went down the street the heavy Minster bells started to be rung, not as a plain toll but in a most melodious tune. Nina and her companion were both immediately ‘blasted’ in their spirits and had such difficulty in remaining upright they had to get into the nearest doorway to lean against it. Any passer by could have thought they were drunks – but at that time of day? At just gone 11.30 am?
As for me, I was busy taking photos but noted how unusual the bells sounded and surmised angels would enjoy it. But Nina heard it as a continuous announcement and declaration into the earthly and heavenly realms within the region!! So, there was a real spiritual dimension to these bells being rung, even though in a humanly organised schedule.
The last link connected into a prophetic well in SE London, which plugs straight into an article I’d commented upon just before going on our holidays, from which we’d recently returned. This new post begins:
There has been a massive amount of prophetic chatter about the sound of bells ringing in the heavenlies – some linked to resistance and spiritual warfare with others linking to the message of hope, a call to worship and a call to the “UK” believers in Jesus to awaken from slumber and take hold of God’s intended purposes for this nation. (my emphasis)
Now, in the very busy week prior to going away I’d made time to comment upon Gillan Scott’s blog Has the Church fallen asleep on its feet? You may like to read this short debate wherin my hastily penned contribution summarises where I believe the Church should be heading. But reading further into the on-screen item I was hit by:
Within our fellowship we have had many words from the Lord about new beginnings, the start of the new things of God, breaking through of glass ceilings, wells of salvation, healing and heritage being opened up again – this past Sunday evening was all about the fire of God – key is that we have to ensure our lamps are full of oil and that we are to be totally focused on watching and waiting for the groom as we have to have the oil of His Holy Spirit within us to catch the fire! (author’s emphasis)
To understand this impact please note that, whilst I was away, Tony in Arizona had left me his following comment on exactly the same scriptural theme of the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25)!
The Hour is Late and the Time is Short
I had a dream early the morning of 04/29/2012. In the dream my wife and I were in bed sleeping and it was very late. Our door bell rang and I remember saying to my wife, “who would be ringing our doorbell at this late hour”. We both got up to see who it was. What was odd was that each of us had an old fashioned hurricane lamp, the kind you fill with oil, as our light . When we opened the front door, we saw an angel standing there with a jug of oil in his hands. He filled our lamps and told us that the time is short.
His comment was to my posting Get Ready. Later, when I discussed all this with Nina and told her about Tony’s dream she was stunned, “That’s the topic of my talk at a ladies’ breakfast in mid-June!” She had written it two months before what I reported upon in my post. I recall her having said it would be a follow-up to previous addresses; but this time, she said, she’s going to have to sock it to them, no holds barred, because the time to Jesus’ return is getting very short!
In February, the Lord had given her the whole message and title, which is – reader, are you ready for this?…‘Are You Ready?’ !! Just upon the thought and mentioning the title whilst we spoke, she was hit by the physical reaction of being fired up by Holy Spirit. (It happened again last night when telling visiting friends about it!)
Two days after all this I attended Sharon Stone’s mentoring class in Windsor on the eve of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Upon the suggestion of another prophet, we went discretely to cleanse and bless the River Thames prior to the next day’s Jubilee flotilla.
Beni Johnson’s Prophecy on Breakthrough for the UK:
Intercessor Beni is in charge of Bethel Prayer House, Bethel Church in Redding, Calif. Her words about the bells have been quoted far and wide in part but what validates all the above impressions is this brief reference:
…We ended up in London where Big Ben is, on a river tour when it rang at high noon – which, for an intercessor, is the time to pray – high noon represents everything exposed, like nothing hiding,..Then we took a train to Paris… and got a taxi to Notre Dame. The minute we got out at Notre dame it was ringing high noon..then we got it (understood what the Lord is stressing about bells).
Now look at photo displaying the time when Nina was ‘struck’ – 11.35am. The bells were ringing and declaring in preparation for high noon! If you’re a believer, then listen to the whole 7 minutes of Beni’s greatly encouraging message above.
There’s lots more to all this, perhaps even a mathematical proof of God’s existence?
Further to my post about the ASA adjudication against Healing On The Streets in Bath there is some unrelated news about another injudicious ASA action.
Regular readers will be aware of my opinion on political attempts to suppress Christian beliefs (eg. as here, here, here, here). So, it was extremely interesting to learn about the widely read political blogger Archbishop Cranmer’s confrontation with Lord Smith, Chairman of the ASA, over his unwarranted interference with his blog:
…the ASA seeks to harass and bully those who carry perfectly innocuous advertisements promoting the traditional view of marriage, and enter-tain that such advertisements might be ‘offensive and homophobic’.
This other ‘saga’ with the ASA reveals a distinct lack of integrity and impartiality within its top echelons! It also provides yet more evidence of its ulterior political motives, and is well worth reading and following the links provided by His Grace to grasp the whole story.
With regard to HOTS,Christians Together in the Highlands provides a summary of the nature and significance of this issue for churches within the United Kingdom.
As far as I can find, critics haven’t refered to the original report, its publication date or the identity of the man who’d broken the story to the West! The account first appeared in a ‘guest column’ of The Investigative Project on Terrorism on 15th August under the title 
Richard's Watch 