Category Archives: The Church

Follow-up: Stephen Sizer “temporarily unavailable”!

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It’s highly significant this ecclesiastical censure follows upon the heels of Justin Welby’s opposition to anti-Semitism, as in my previous post.

cmewonline's avatarChristian Middle East Watch

sizerSo says the website of Rev Stephen Sizer, whose bishop states that his “strong but undisciplined commitment to an anti-zionist agenda has become a liability to his own ministry and that of the wider church.” His sins have led finally to him being severely disciplined by his own church.

Rev Sizer has been in hot water several times with his ecclesiastical bosses over ill-advised social media posts about Israel and the Palestinians. He has always protested his innocence of any intention to offend Jews and claims to like Israel (see previous article in The Commentator).

He has, however, repeatedly attended and spoken at conferences and meetings where antisemitism is the order of the day and the state of Israel is denigrated and demonised with aggressive rhetoric seldom backed up by solid facts.

His most recent “slip” was to post a link to a blatantly anti-Israel conspiracy theory article blaming Israel…

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Archbishop Welby speaks out against anti-Semitism

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In connection with the last post’s consideration of the real source of anti-Semitism as being ‘the Father of Lies’ strategies, last Monday’s 6 o’clock BBC News announced developments on this social issue with reference to the Anglican church.

This was surprising in view of that media corporation’s jaundiced bias against Israel, which I’ve often had cause to berate (as within this tag). Their story-line was built upon an All Party Parliamentary Inquiry’s Report into growing racist and anti-Semitic abuse on the internet. The rising tide of the latter in Britain and Europe featured prominently in the media after the terrorist attacks in France, as is evident in this listing. BUT note this: the only reference I can find on the BBC’s website to this Report is the third item under What’s in the newspapers – clearly, they don’t think the issue is of any importance!

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (Reuters)

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (Reuters)

The BBC reported the Archbishop of Canterbury’s remarks on social networks, and the news-anchor went on to report that the contentious pro-Palestinian vicar I’d blogged about has been banned from using Facebook!  Both matters are covered in Christian Today and I’ll quote Ruth Gledhill’s informative articles, which deserve to be read for further enlightenment:

In Justin Welby: ‘Ban racist and anti-Semitic trolls online’ she summarises the Report and quotes several authoritative opinions. She refers to Justin Welby as having spoken  “in advance of a report today that calls for “internet Asbos” to ban “determined” abusive social media users from certain sites” and opens her article,

The Archbishop of Canterbury called on social media sites to crack down on antisemitic abuse online. Archbishop Justin Welby said Facebook and Twitter must do more to prevent the proliferation of racism and antisemitism on their sites.

In fact, a few days earlier he’d sensitively commented On tweeting and touching on his personal blog about the difficulties digital communication can bring and recommended,

Love often says don’t tweet. Love often says don’t write. Love often says if you must rebuke, then do so in person and with touch – with an arm around the shoulder and tears in your eyes that can be seen by the person being rebuked. .

Ruth opens Rev Stephen Sizer banned from social media over 9/11 conspiracy post by stating,

Controversial pro-Palestinian vicar Rev Stephen Sizer has been banned from writing, preaching, teaching, emailing, tweeting, posting on Facebook or commenting in any way in relation to the current situation in the Middle East.  He has also been banned from doing anything at all on any social media for six months. He will instead now concentrate on his ministry as a parish priest.

She explains,

The Bishop of Guildford, Andrew Watson, said it was his view that Mr Sizer’s “strong but increasingly undisciplined” commitment to an anti-Zionist agenda had become a “liability to his own ministry and that of the wider church…

“It is therefore my decision that Stephen’s work in this area is no longer compatible with his ministry as a parish priest.

“In order for Stephen to remain in parish ministry, I have therefore asked for – and received from him – a solemn undertaking, in writing, that he is to refrain entirely from writing or speaking on any theme that relates, either directly or indirectly, to the current situation in the Middle East or to its historical backdrop.”

Ruth makes a noteworthy point that the Council of Christians and Jews had said:

“It is perfectly possible to criticise Israeli policies without such criticism being antisemitic, and Christians and others should feel free to do so. However, such legitimate criticism must not be used as a cloak for antisemitism, nor can antisemitism itself ever be disguised as mere political comment.”

I certainly agree for, although supportive of the modern state of Israel’s right to exist, it is definitely not a matter of ‘Israel right or wrong, no matter what’. Like all states, their policies are not perfect, and some ultra-Orthodox Jews are no different to Islamists in their irrational hatred and violence for those of a different belief.

In the light of the above disclosures we could conclude that the Anglican church is now taking a zero-tolerance attitude toward anti-Semitism. Perhaps its leadership will direct clergy and communicants towards a more loving, open and Biblical respect for Jewish people and the nation of Israel? The new Bishop of Guildford’s very firm stance shown in his official statement on this matter is highly commendable. Basically, if Rev Sizer so much as whispers anything about the Middle East from now on, he’ll be sacked!

If, as has been prophesied, the Lord is calling that church out of ‘Lazarus’ grave’ into new life one could surmise this means, like Lazarus, it will at last recognise its ancient roots in Judaism. It may even gain new insights into Paul’s seminal letter to the Roman church on his detailed teaching upon our Judaic roots!

In all likelihood, the exposure and tackling of these issues are a part of the prophesied  “shaking of all things” and “sifting the harlot from the Bride of Christ”, in order to prepare for His return.

But there’s more that needs exposing! The next post will cover the outrageous inclusion of anti-Israel politics within inter-church prayers during Lent…

Occupying Our Inheritance

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Courtesy of James Mark Long, www.propheticartists.comImportant teaching, in my opinion, not least because of its timing on New Year’s Eve but for connecting on 3 personal points: (1) an explanation of ‘revival’ from heavenly aspect; (2) reference to ‘our destiny’, upon which the Lord blessed me with a deep insight on New Year’s Day; (3) its title answers the rebuke I’d read 20 years ago in a book dealing with demonic attack upon the church. One of the ‘hardest words’ its authors encountered was from ‘…someone coming out of Satanism: “The Church is powerless, because they do not live in their inheritance”!’ (See Paws 4 thought: Christian inheritance and the End-times church.)

Freedom ARC's avatarSons of Issachar

Mike Parsons
with Jeremy Westcott – 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind… (Rom 12: 2).

We are to be transformed so that we will know the will of God for our lives, what our destiny is, ordained by God in eternity past, when we were a spiritual being.

We are all unique; we all have an individual destiny, but for each one of us it is to bring the rule of God into our own particular sphere of influence. God called Adam to subdue the earth and rule over it, to bring heaven to earth, so that earth would be a reflection of heaven. If we don’t know what it is like in heaven, we cannot reflect it here on earth.

The Promised Land

The Promised Land is an illustration of our inheritance, both physical and spiritual.

The “-ites” nations occupied Israel’s inheritance and were…

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Catholic and Orthodox churches choose fealty to 7th Century Muslim edict

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Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man returns will He find faith on the earth?”  Today’s answer could well be, ‘Not where You’d expect to find it – in parts of Your Church!”

templemountmain

The Temple Mount with al-Aqsa and Dome of the Rock mosques

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem reported last week that some Christians in Jerusalem pledged solidarity with Muslim authorities of the Temple Mount – and this in accordance with a 1,400 years-old decree of subjugation!  The ICEJ report opens as follows (inserted numbers refer to my comments),

 “Leaders of Jerusalem’s Catholic and Orthodox churches met with Moslem officials this week, declaring their solidarity against what they described as Israeli “oppression” and “violations” of the Temple Mount complex in Jerusalem’s Old City [1]. Examples they cited of such “violations” included rumors about plans to change the status quo on the Temple Mount which have been dismissed as “fabrications” by Israeli officials but which have persisted nonetheless [2].

“The statement also reaffirmed the leaders’ commitment to the so-called “Pact of Omar” which was established following the Moslem conquest of Jerusalem in 637 AD which codified understanding that Moslems have a superior legal, political and social status to all others in the Levant, while also protecting the rights of non-Moslems to practice their religion [3, 4].” (Read full report here.)

In response I submit the basic facts, along with a few thoughts:

1.  A timeline of recent related events is given in Joel Rosenberg’s blog and indicates the violence was instigated by Muslim extremists and deliberate incitement from the Palestinian leader to start a third intifada. But Joel doesn’t go back far enough!

Six months ago, after disturbances in April, an imam from al-Aqsa mosque called for the destruction of Israel and urged Middle Eastern countries that signed peace agreements with Israel (Egypt and Jordan) to take up arms against it. [Israel Today citing al-Jezeera as herein.]

The latest outbreak was started not by Jews, but by Moslems throwing rocks, Molotov cocktails and fireworks at police at the entrance to the Temple Mount – NOT because Jews tried getting onto it or into the mosque, BUT BEFORE the Israeli police tried stopping this disturbance.

See Honest Reporting’s detailed analysis of Wall Street Journal and New York Times’ reports, the details of which give a better account than Daily Telegraph’s incomplete video which, in the fuller context, actually gives credence to the Israeli version of events.

BBC Watch also provides a proper picture by correcting badly biased broadcasters, as well as exposing the quisling BBC’s platform to Palestinian Authority’s falsehoods and incitement of violence on Judaism’s holiest site. [Today: Anachronism and inaccuracy in BBC News Jerusalem reporting.]

The massive rock platform which the first and second Jewish temples were built upon is supposedly sacred to Moslems too, but their fanatics don’t treat it with reverence or with respect. And it’s no wonder because the city of Jerusalem and its sacred centre do not feature in their holy book. There are no historical references in it, only an inference that Jerusalem was the destination of their founder’s ‘night journey’ on an imaginary horse!

2. PM Netanyahu Israeli addressed the recent wave of violence in Israel last Tuesday by telling journalists that PA’s Abbas is “fanning the flames” of incitement by lying about Israel’s non-existent plans to change the status quo on the Temple Mount.

Deception and dissimulation are sanctioned in the Qur’an and known as the doctrine of taqiyya. According to a former Islamic studies professor at the American University of Beirut, Sami Mukaram, “Taqiyya is very prevalent in Islamic politics, especially in the modern era”. (Raymond Ibrahim’s eye-opening analysis, How Taqiyya Alters Islams’ Rules of War)

I’d add, ‘and throughout Western media too’!  The global scale of misinformation and lies makes Herr Goebel’s Nazi propaganda machine look archaic by comparison. No wonder the need for the highly commendable services of various media watchers, for as Raymond explains in summing up the implications of taqiyya:

…zealous belief in Islam’s tenets, which legitimize deception in order to make God’s word supreme, will certainly go a long way in creating “incredible self-confidence” when lying.

Yet most Westerners continue to think that Muslim mores, laws, and ethical constraints are near identical to those of the Judeo-Christian tradition. Naively or arrogantly, today’s multiculturalist leaders project their own worldview onto Islamists, thinking a handshake and smiles across a cup of coffee, as well as numerous concessions, are enough to dismantle the power of God’s word and centuries of unchanging tradition. The fact remains: Right and wrong in Islam have little to do with universal standards but only with what Islam itself teaches—much of which is antithetical to Western norms.

[Churchill was well aware of the dangers, as quoted in my blog All Hail the Lamb!. AND whilst writing, an excellent example of media proclivity to blame Israel arrived from CNN of today’s outrage on a synagogue as ‘Deadly attack on Jerusalem mosque’!! So much auto-brainwashing its overwhelmed what few ‘grey cells’ they possess…]

Had it not been for that faith’s founder using dishonesty to defeat his first opponents in reneging upon the treaty of Hudaybiya (628AD) – thereby showing the perpetual nature of jihad – his totalitarian religion would not have swept by the sword across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Compare this with the Ten Commandments the Almighty gave Moses for how Israelites are to live; eg., to be truthful and trustworthy, as required by not bearing false witness against one’s neighbour! (Exod 20:16)

Compare also with Jesus’ description of the devil as “a murderer from the beginning” and “a liar and the father of lies”! (John 8:44)  Noteworthy for this discussion is the fact Jesus was chastising the Pharisees and scribes, which can be applied to mullahs and imams too because His rebuke concerned their non-acceptance of His identity and His relationship to God. (Read about it in this link to BibleGateway.)

But the Qur’an describes Allah as the best makar, ie the best deceiver or schemer!!(Suras 3:54, 8:30,10:21 per Ibrahim; also see in-depth discussion in Answering Islam)

Thus, anyone claiming the Holy God of the Jews and Christians is one and the same as Islam’s Meccan moon-god has been deceived and is utterly deluded!

3. As liberals whine about Israel ‘occupying’ Palestinian territory and the PA still does not recognise the right of Israel to exist but is to be removed, then the same ‘logic’ must be applied to Muslim claims. Second caliph Umar, companion to their founder, and his army invaded and occupied Jerusalem in 637AD. Therefore, Muslims don’t have any  legitimate right to be there or to have built mosques on the platform. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander!

Dr Mike Evans writes only last week, “Palestinian leaders have issued a new demand to their allies in the liberal media—stop calling the Temple Mount the Temple Mount. The Palestinians are annoyed because of the unmistakable link to Israel’s heritage in the Holy City that remains in the name of the places…so they want to wish it away.”

This capacity for lying to themselves has also produced the stupid claims that Jesus was a Palestinian and thus not a Jew!  Anyone with any intellect knows Palestine didn’t exist until the Romans trashed Jerusalem and dispersed nearly the entire population of Judea. The region was then named ‘Philistia’ after Israel’s old enemy, the Philistines.

Update (22/11) Read Ruthie Blum on ‘Temple Denial’, a term coined in 2007 by Dore Gold author of The Fight for Jerusalem: Radical Islam, the West, the Future of the Holy City.

4. In the non-sectarian book that opened biblical prophecy to me in the mid-1980s,The Invisible Hand (see blog’s Welcome), Victor Dunstan makes the following remark:

“It is interesting to note that when Caliph Omar entered the city, Gibbon in his ‘Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’  records:

“After signing the capitulation, he entered the city without fear or precaution; and courteously discoursed with the patriarch concerning its religious antiquities. Sophronius bowed before his new master and secretly muttered, in the words of Daniel, “The abomination of desolation is in the holy place”.

Recall Jesus’ warning about this,

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains…” (Matthew 24:15 NKJV)

Read for yourself the requirements of this Dark Ages despotic document in Analysis of the Pact of Umah, courtesy of Wiki-Islam.

Conclusion

In preferring to kowtow to Muslim demands instead of those of their Lord and Saviour, and opportunities afforded by the liberation of Jerusalem, those church leaders have given affront to the men, women and babes martyred by maniacs in recent months.

Sowing and reaping comes to mind. The traditional super-cessionist stance of the Church replacing Israel in God’s favour together with centuries of anti-Semitism has brought about these leaders’ own subservience and spiritual captivity to a falsehood that claims superiority. How abject!

We also have to ask, where’s these Catholic/Orthodox leaders’ real faith?  Apostle Paul’s prime point about Jesus Christ’s identity, the clear denial of which by these clerics in bowing the knee to 1,400 years of antichrist rule, implies they may have little faith,

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV)

An unclear theology and lack of understanding the Word of God has probably led them to their unsound slavery. But in my humble opinion they’re in danger of committing, if not having committed, apostasy because what they speak from their authority could hinder others’ growth into fullness of faith. As the Lord warns disciples (Luke 17:1),

“It is impossible that no stumbling blocks should come, but woe to him through whom they come!”

Enough said?

Further Reading:

Links for readers wanting specific information on Islam:

  1. Australian Anglican pastor Mark Durie blogs on issues related to Islam here – also see his post Three Choices and the Bitter Harvest of Denial: How dissimulation is fueling genocide in the Middle-East.
  2. Gates of Vienna: Taqiyya and Kitman in Washington DC translation of Fridays’ Muslim prayer service in the USA’s National Cathedral, and about its significance.
  3. Bill Warner’s Political Islam; see 14th Nov (HA!) on Sacred Deception – Taqiyya
  4. Comprehensive coverage/translation by the Middle-East Media Research Institute
  5. A solid source/repository of well-informed authors at The Middle-East Forum.

Update to Koranic scholar’s warning re. ‘British values’

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ibn-warraqjpgOn Monday 13th October I referred to the scholar known under the pen-name ‘Ibn Warraq’ and related his warning to Western intellectuals “to cherish and defend their Western values and freedom” to that day’s House of Commons motion in support of Palestinian aspirations of statehood.

There was also another directly connected item. It was mentioned in closing, as copied below, but is now in need of updating in view of a suspiciously related development.:

“By the way, let’s not overlook Islamist infiltration in British schools, as revealed by former police counter-terror chief Peter Clarke in Trojan Horse ‘just tip of the iceberg’!”

Bingham_60_1757326jUPDATE:  “Christian group warns ‘British values’ rules imposed after ‘Trojan Horse’ scandal leading to schools with a religious ethos being marked down by inspectors for failing to promote ‘tolerance’.”

That strap-line opens John Bingham’s (Telegraph’s Religious Affairs Editor) article, Christian school downgraded for failing to invite an imam to school assembly.

I hope the only connection may be my over-active imagination – but it’s certainly ‘fishy’! Does it smell to you?

 

Battle Stations!!

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Phil_4-13

URGENT  CALL  TO  PRAYER 

Another admonition from Dr Clifford Hill for Christians to weigh, consider and pray.

It is noteworthy that Wendy Alec’s A Vision for Great Britain refers to the Lord saying, “I am raising up…a mighty army of My people who will gird themselves up for battle”.:

National Crisis

The Prime Minister recalled Parliament to deal with a national crisis as the Islamic State advances towards Baghdad, beheading and slaughtering innocent civilians who do not accept their version of Islam. But is bombing the right answer to these fanatics?

We are already a nation under judgement since the passing of the ‘Same-Sex Marriage Bill’ last year in a pathetic attempt to redefine marriage which is part of God’s act of creation. You cannot tamper with God’s laws without bringing judgement upon the nation.

God may be using these Islamists as the “Rod of his Anger” to bring judgement on our godless society. It is this possibility that greatly disturbs me and causes me to cry out to the Lord for help and guidance. God has sent many warning signs which have all been ignored by both church and state.

Warnings

For more than a year now I have been hearing warnings of severe judgement. We got
very close to the total breakup of the United Kingdom through the Scottish Referendum
where a ‘Yes’ vote would have resulted in the crumbling of the social foundations of the
nation.

God responded to the vast amount of prayer from faithful believers calling for mercy in the midst of judgement.  But instead of coming before God with prayers of thanksgiving our political leaders recalled Parliament and simply engaged in human arguments of how to face the enemy which may bring violence to our shores and destabilise the whole of the Middle East and lead to a Third World War which would bring untold disaster to the whole world. They do not understand the spiritual nature of the war we are facing. Why did none of them – not even the Archbishop of Canterbury – call for prayer?

Blind Leaders

Are all of our national leaders in both church and state so utterly blind that they cannot see that we are on the very brink of disaster? The Chancellor of the Exchequer has warned that the economy of the nation is still increasing the national debt every day that takes us closer to bankruptcy. The day of reckoning will surely come – he knows that! And so do most of our politicians! But they dare not say so! They go on with measures simply designed to postpone the day of reckoning which will surely come unless there is a total change of policy. So what should we do?

The answer is “Repent and believe!”, which is the message that both John the Baptist and Jesus took to Israel. The leaders of Israel did not heed the message and disaster followed. his is what will happen to Britain if we do not heed the call to repentance for the mess we have made in the nation by flouting the word of God!

When the Babylonian army was attacking Jerusalem God spoke to the Prophet Jeremiah, “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfil my words against this city through disaster, not prosperity” (Jeremiah 39.16). God is saying a similar word to Britain today. Like the King of Babylon we have also been “weighed in the balance and found wanting” (Daniel 5.27). The only thing that can save this nation today is to turn to the Lord in repentance and call upon him for help

Silent Church

Why do we not hear the word of the Lord from the church in this time of national crisis?
Our church leaders are like those in Isaiah’s day who were blind to the things that were
happening around them and they were said to be like “mute dogs who could not bark!”
(Isaiah 56.10). So they were unable to give warning of danger.

That is the pathetic state to which the church in Britain has fallen. They are still saying “Peace, Peace” when God is saying “There is no peace!” The enemy is at the door! Mobilise the believers to intercede for the nation!

The Last Call!

Judgement day for Britain is close. But there is still time to cry out to God for mercy and
warn all those who still call themselves Christians, however nominal, to turn to the Lord
in prayer on behalf of the nation.

The word of the Lord to Jeremiah applies to our nation today, “This is what the Lord says: look! I am preparing a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. So turn from your evil ways, each one of you, and reform your ways and your actions” (Jeremiah 18.11). This may be the last call.

Dr Clifford Hill,

Issachar Comments Papers – expounding biblical concepts on the world scene today. October 2014 Issachar Ministries

God has used Britain to do great things but now man seeks to tear us apart

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Gillan’s guest blog by Ciaran reinforces the earlier post on Justin Abraham’s visions of the UK and that, “We will need the strength of Scotland for what’s coming”.

What’s prophetic about contending for The faith?

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Phil_4-13

Will you stand and contend with me?

Being contentious may seem un-Christian and contrary to Jesus’ command to love and forgive not only one another but also our enemies, to turn the other cheek when wrongly accused, as well as to avoid judging and condemning others.

However, the opening lines of the letter penned by Jesus’ brother Jude is foundational to Nathan Morris’ message wherein the Lord had told him, “Contend, don’t pretend!”. If any of this is stirring within your spirit then you may like encouragement from watching his fiery message in full on this archive (from 98 mins, starts 107 mins).

Apostle Paul’s letters to his young associate Timothy included instructions for tackling false teaching and he gives the basis for this at 2 Tim 3:16-17. That is, that:

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Therefore, what Jude also wrote under inspiration is prophetic in ‘telling forth’ that the Lord is exhorting His people,

…to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.  For 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.  [See full NKJV text at Biblegateway.com]

We note from these words how applicable they are today too. What the Lord is saying through Nathan shows the situation is no different to 2,000 years ago. What he teaches is indeed prophetic, as were the instructive warnings for 2012. This time he outlined the  lessons to be gained from the example of the Shunammite lady’s assistance to prophet Elisha (2 Kings 4).

[Note: I added a little about that to my extracts transcript. Also, apologies to anyone who found the links in previous post failed. Sometimes my ISP filtering may drop connection when editing – HA!HA! Now in checking those links whilst drafting this I see the v latest on Nathan’s Facebook is an open Bible quoting 2 Timothy3:16 !  So it would appear that THE LORD IS CONFIRMING this issue! Drafting was done last week.]

A few Biblical examples

Being contentious comes with the territory for Old Covenant prophets in calling God’s people to repentance; that is, it’s a life-style. I need only to cite the lives of the major prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah, plus John the Baptist’s denunciation of Pharisees as a “brood of vipers”. And Jesus was definitely contentious, especially when dealing with Satan; whose minions recognise Jesus’ identity as ‘the Holy One of God’ (Mark 1:24).

Also, this One of ultimate authority said the Jews of His day had failed to change after being warned by Isaiah, whom JHe quoted when explaining why the mysteries of the Kingdom were being given to His disciples only – no-one else was worthy!  As Matthew 13:10 goes on to note Isaiah 6 verses 9-10:

“And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”.

“He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.’

“But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. “

SO it is with atheists, whose hearts and minds are firmly encased in concrete and spirits not allowed to function. As demonstrated only today in ‘dialogue’, they have absolutely no grasp of spiritual matters and demonstrate intense bigotry in deriding our knowledge. As ‘walking dead’ they’re most pitiable in refusing the freedom Jesus bought for them!  Although denying you Lord, bless them with personal revelatory encounters so they may understand Your kindness, mercy and grace and sincerely repent. You did that for me Lord, so may they be similarly blessed.

A Call to ‘Stand’!

In a shocking open-vision of Britain being ripped apart, because the fabric of society is so rotten, I understood Christians are to stand upon the emerging Rock – for details see remarks accompanying Dr Stone’s Comments upon the collapse of Society.

Hence my appreciation of Gillan Scott’s outstanding work on his leading blog, God and Politics in the UK, as well as that of at least a couple of my readers. I started blogging about the same time as Gillan and have contributed my tu’pence worth many times in comments threads, as has one of your fellow UK subscribers. Another out in the States, has bravely withstood attacks against her own blog by worshippers of atheism.  Bravo, my friends!

In online discussions I’ve often stated unbelievers should find out for themselves by seeking an encounter with Jesus. Thus it was good to learn about Justin Welby’s own encounter on Gillan’s blog and, as in mine, that Nathan Morris had also stressed from his experience as an evangelist, “…You can’t persuade people into the Kingdom. They must have an encounter with Jesus!”

Therefore, those who share my concern over the deep religious illiteracy and hostility to Christianity, may like to consider contending actively in online discussions whenever the Lord so leads. If you’re so disposed, and time permitting, you may care to get a feel for this by dipping into some of Gillan’s recent posts and signing up to receive new posts upon his return from Summer break.

As well as loving patience and ‘thick skin’, a good grasp of scripture is required because some brethren write with a distorted doctrine and, although knowledgeable, others can be judgemental of adherents of ‘Sola Scripture’ – scripture alone. As this is in the public domain it is essential to correct with kindness thus avoiding confrontation.

In closing, only this morning I have an email about Franklin Graham’s call to Christians to battle culture; to stand for God and Biblical values despite social opposition.

Time to don our spiritual armour, as instructed by Paul (Ephesians 6:10-17 NIV):

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled round your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

JesusIsComingFootnote: The above images were found on the internet and I like to ascribe credit to  and thank copyright holders. Please inform me if you know the owners.

Paws-4-thought: ‘coincidence’ points to a coming revival?

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DSC_0210-1edMulling over Saturday’s post regarding Plymouth and how ideas popped into mind, then later upon catching up with GodTV celebrations, I believe my spirit may be sensing a modern prophecy is coming into fulfilment. It’s serendipity yet again. (For a brief introduction to this Biblical principle see In the right place at the right time.)

In Winnipeg, Canada, 53 three years ago this Friday, Tommy Hicks had hardy fallen asleep when,

…the vision and the revelation that God gave to me came before me. The vision came three times, exactly in detail…

I was so stirred and so moved by the revelation, that this has changed my complete outlook upon the Body of Christ, and upon the last end-time ministry.

The greatest thing that the Church of Jesus Christ – that has ever been given to the Church – lies straight ahead. It is so hard to help men and women to realize and understand the thing that God is trying to give to His people in the end-time. (Emphases added)

If you’ve not yet followed the link I provided, visit Colin Winfield’s web-page and then his link to the pdf version of Tommy Hicks’ Vision. It is a most remarkable insight into the preparation of the unblemished Bride of Christ for the ‘great tribulation’. Colin comments upon testing its conformity with Scripture, and I cannot but ask if this scenario includes a cleansed, revived Anglican church, possibly as prophesied here?

I am truly humbled by this account being thrust to my attention separately by two sisters in Christ who have the same name, albeit spelt differently.  The first L was mentioned in my musing upon the spiritual significance of Plymouth; ie, her vision of a giant bore a  resemblance to what Tommy had seen. Time constraints, however, didn’t allow me to revisit his vision before writing.

But what I didn’t know was one of my readers had already been directed to that vision!  Upon reading the blog on Plymouth this second L immediately responded she’d been praying on Thursday with her pastor,

…and I had brought my A1 board of Smith Wigglesworth’s (of) 1947, but as I am praying this out from where I believe we are, it ran into Tommy Hicks’ vision of the giant and the ordinary ditchdiggers and washerwomen – this has greatly encouraged me.  [See below for SW’s vision]

A huge thank you goes to both ladies, my sisters in God’s family.

Therefore, I cannot but conclude that the Lord is definitely drawing our attention to the deep importance of that vision. In view of other words about this ‘new season’ and the urgency to Advance the Kingdom now! then the time really is ‘now’!

A song of victory is in the air

At the Summer celebration Nathan preached strongly about maintaining our spiritual boundaries and ‘landmarks’ because the church has given ground to the demonic. The next day his message was on the need to ‘contend not pretend’ for the faith.

On this, today’s Lion Bites from Glasgow Prophetic Centre is highly apposite:

Song of Victory

There is a new song arising in the people of God, it is the war cry of conquered ground.

There have been many battles of the season over the same piece of ‘ground’. Many have wondered why the battle has been so long and why it has kept them from the greener pastures their eyes have seen.

Many have wondered and asked, ‘Why am I still here fighting the same battle?’

This has formed a useful training ground for the people of God and they have grown in faith, in endurance and in maturity. But it is now time for conquering and completion – and so the new song of conquered ground will arise.

The Lord is establishing secure boundaries for the ground that has been fought over. The Lord is placing His seal over areas of contention because His saints are transitioning now over the battle ground that has been won.

Will you sing your song of victory in faith today, in faith that the Lord is moving on your behalf and that the battle has been won?

Psalm 68:1
May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may His foes flee before him.

SO, let us note and weigh these things, and take action…

Footnotes

Smith Wigglesworth’s  Prophecy of major move of the Holy Spirit in Britain (1947).

  1. Two preliminary phases have already happened, so be prepared for the full move! Likewise for the word delivered 40 years later to David Minor in NW USA – Two winds coming to the Church.
  2. Further insights on this revelation was given to American evangelist, Lester Sumrall, “…I see the greatest revival in the history of mankind coming to planet Earth…every form of disease healed…”. (Revival Prophecies for the British Isles)
  3. In 1995 I was standing alongside SW’s prayer-partner Revd Norman James when he had a similar vision of UK that Wigglesworth had – he was left speechless!

 

Several bear witness to this month’s prophetic word

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Endless Bridge by Evgeni DenevChristians over in America as well as here in the UK have born witness to parts of the prophetic word received in Glasgow. So it wasn’t for Scotland only!  Another instance of what I call ‘a bridge over The Pond’?

Be further inspired by those responses as  below, the first two of which plus mine are at the foot of Advance the Kingdom now, the others are from the USA:

1. M writes, “This witnesses with me; I’m writing a summary today of two similar prophetic messages from speakers I’ve heard recently, with a similar urgency (both have a ‘wake up’ theme)” and he refers to a friend “who had to have the kingdom business he is setting up now functioning by 2016, otherwise it would be too late”.

2. L writes, “It has really witnessed to me…and encouraged me because there does seem a lot of mess and, after having retired from work where my main ministry was for the last 20 years, I can now look forward to the future with the hope that Father has put in my heart with another project which I am hoping I will be part of. Also to let go of those things which have either just come to a natural conclusion or just plain need to go”.

3. T writes from Tucson, Arizona, “Some of this word sounds like the puzzle vision that the Lord gave me. It also reminds me of a vision of a house church meeting in my house where people would come in with their armor on but as they came into my home they would take it off because they felt safe”.

[‘God-incidence’ featured in my first learning about Tony’s vision, and to which I referred in re-blogging his account in When we come together…the Body of Christ, which he revisited in more detail a few months later, as may be read here.]

4. T re-blogs with further remarks in connection with a dream akin to the dry bones of Ezekiel 37. His insights harmonise with what the Glasgow team heard and he adds, “The prophetic word posted by Richard is a continuation of the dream/vision that I had concerning the Lord’s heart for His people to be in relationship with Him and each other”.

Nathan 25. Meanwhile over in Mobile, Alabama, and doubtlessly knowing nothing of our matter in hand, English evangelist Nathan Morris has returned from mission trips to the Far East and to the Baltic States of Europe. Recounting the huge, amazing events filled with with miracles signs and wonders, he says,

This is the time. God said to me that this would be the year of the Open Door.

Doors are going to close around the world that will shock the world – but at the same time God’s going to open doors in the Kingdom that have not been open for us for many years (RB emphases).

This is the time to preach the Gospel without compromise, to believe God like never before so we can step into destiny…

We’re living in the days that it’s dark but this is the greatest moment for the Church of Jesus Christ. And I want to tell you that people say, “Europe is too dark, it’s over”. I want to tell you it ain’t over – it’s only just begun.

You know, people tell you “People, the nations, don’t want o hear the Gospel”, BUT when you preach the Gospel and thousands are filling the altars you realise the devil is a liar.

And I want to tell you America SHALL be saved and when we declare the mighty acts of God the Holy Spirit backs us up!

JohnK 214_logo6. Just prior to that, in the same service on Sunday, the congregation and pastor John Kilpatrick felt and responded to the presence of Holy Spirit during worship. Very excited,  John interrupted welcoming visitors to prophesy as follows,

Just get ready, because I’m telling you God’s about to do some awesome, awesome things.

Listen, that doesn’t preclude the fact that there’s going to be a lot of hell going on in the world.

There’s going to be a roller-coaster coming in the next 90 days, a roller-coaster ride where things are going to be whizzing by you – it’s just going to be going so fast you won’t hardly have chance to assimilate it – things are going to be happening suddenly.

But I tell you what, the Kingdom of God is getting ready to come into full view – it’s getting ready to come into full view and you just need to get ready for that!

And yes, there are going to be some bad, bad things happening in the world, but I’m telling you God is NOT going to forsake His people – His Church is going to shine brighter than you’ve ever seen the Church shine. I say that the Church will shine brighter than it’s ever shone before! And you just need to get ready for that!

So, in my humble opinion both exhortations enhance this month’s word.

Exciting times!

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

 

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

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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)

The Sinking Church, The Ark, A Prophetic Word

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Thank you Tony for sharing these significant dreams and the relevance to A W Tozer’s prophetic word. The dreams seem akin to my recent post The Babylonian aspect of the Church’s ‘New Era’, which concludes that the new ‘Season of Suddenlies’ will result in a radical difference between the two kinds of believers and churches – those in worldly ‘Babylon’ and the ‘New Era’ Spirit-led remnant. I believe this separation and shifting may have already started. PS: I don’t always agree with Jacob Prasch but his deep concern over the CoE’s unwillingness to fight the SSM Bill lines up with Tony’s dreams.

Tony's avatarMy Dreams and Visions

I had the 2 dreams below almost a year ago. They both have to do with the fate of the church as we have come to know it. I am re-posting both because I recently came across a 50 year old prophecy from A. W. Tozer which I feel fits in line with these 2 dreams that I had.  See what the Lord would speak to you on the matter.

 

I had a dream 07/02/2013 just before waking up. In the dream I saw a church building on what I will call an ocean. The church building was, as you might have guessed, sinking because it was not built for the water but for dry land. What I saw next is row boats coming from the sinking church and although the water was choppy, they were able to stay afloat because they were constructed to do so. And, unlike…

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Gatekeepers! Watchmen! You are to speak out (The Lord has called you out to be Bold today)

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This item is so appropriate in connection with how ardently Steve Hill warned the Church against replacing the Lord’s values with those of the world and falling for Satan’s lies and deception.

Ancient Paths's avatarAncient Paths

Gatekeepers have three primary roles
  1. To protect the Lord’s house.  This means they defend the gospel, the truth of the Word and Protect the holiness of God’s house. Their hearts are on fire with the Fear of the Lord. They want the Lord’s house to be a house of Prayer and they are not content until they see the Lord’s will come to place. The gatekeeper protects the House. They know the scriptures well and are full of understanding. They are bold to speak out against the sins of the church- even if it means they will be mocked, hated or even kicked out of the church. They stay close to the House of the Lord
  2. They keep the Lord’s people on the right path, keeping them from drifting from the Lord. As a staff or sheepdog would keep the sheep together from straying, so the role of gatekeeper is the same…

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The Babylonian aspect of the Church’s ‘New Era’

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This title is ‘puzzle’ theme number ‘8’, which I challenged readers to ascertain from an ‘invisible jigsaw’.

It refers to the dichotomy between the old and new elements within the full spectrum of the Church’s traditional, evangelical and charismatic styles. This ‘Babylonian aspect’ also means many churches and believers may not desire to move into the new era, or new season, prophesied in recent years – which is already happening. Note that ‘new’ is not what many secularists may surmise!

I trust all will become plain as I explain.

Also, we’ll find that a weekday conjecture was to become weekend confirmation!

‘Theme 8’ is inherent in the data, or stylised ‘jigsaw pieces’, of detailed prophetic words that were separately brought on opposite ‘sides of the pond’ by Dr Sharon Stone and Revd John Kilpatrick. Although I’d sensed it whilst musing upon An Invitation to the Threshing Floor it’s fitting for this theme to be logged with Paws 4 Thought because that’s when it opened up.  Also, as stated, those were very brief first thoughts for I was getting a sense of timing, a ‘kairos’ moment, from what Sharon brought. And that’s only to be expected with the gift of prophecy.

The ‘pause for thought’ gave some background about the priest Ezra because Sharon had opened by referring to the 4th chapter of his Old Testament book. On that Tuesday I’d read about Ezra in a primer on Hebrew and decided to share some information. In fact, upon reflecting upon the Threshing Floor Invitation, I had a sense of how what had happened in those days, over 2,500 years ago, is also applicable today!

It’s as though a gigantic cycle has gone around, not in a repetitive way but like a spiral. This allows for advancement through lessons learned and what’s to be achieved as well as the differences between the ancient Hebrews and modern Christians. I’m of the opinion time proceeds not in a linear fashion but like a slowly turning corkscrew that opens and closes events.

It all needed mulling over with the Lord. So I wrote a brief bit, intending to write more fully later. I nearly did so a couple of days later, the Thursday, but instead drafted thoughts on the perceived threads linking several topics I’d just blogged about.

Double Aspect to Ezra

Writing about Ezra’s major contribution in producing the early Bible, I was struck by his double relevance to today’s ‘new era’ for the Church. It seems directly related to the historic return of the people of God from captivity in Babylon to Jerusalem. Here’s Sharon’s opening words:

“In Ezra 4 we see a resistance to the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.  We have been in that “season of hindrance”. Thank God we are now coming out!

“There is a New Generation that is now leaving captivity into ruling with the manifestation of the power of God (signs and wonders).  Abraham, Issac and Jacob are the generations leaving captivity.  This is not just one age group…”

These words cover both aspects of ‘hindrance’ connected with the Exile. That of being deported and held in captivity, and that of being prevented from building when released home. Let’s take a brief historical detour.:

Towards the close of the Jews’ 70 years exile the Persian king Cyrus, conqueror of the Babylonian empire, was directly inspired by God to issue an edict. This permitted the exiles to return in 538 BC and rebuild the destroyed city and temple of Jerusalem.

The first returning group under Zerubbabel began work but, although started, rebuilding the Temple was delayed because of local opposition. It got under way when God raised up the prophetic ministries of Zecharia and Haggai to inspire and direct the work. NB: Ezra 5 clearly indicates the importance the Lord attaches to the prophetic office, and thus implies its fundamental necessity in this new era of the Church.

Almost 60 years after the first group, Ezra himself returned with the next lot to bring more funds and valuables from King Artaxerxes to enhance the Temple worship. Commissioned by the king, Ezra appointed leaders and he began a reforming spiritual leadership to re-establish the place of the Books and the Law, now written in a new alphabet.

So, Sharon opens our Invitation to the Threshing Floor for the anticipated harvest of souls by referring to believers having come out of a ‘season of hindrance’. This is corroborated by John Kilpatrick’s ‘video word’ on Redefinement, the first part of which is about believers being released from bondage! [This word came to him upon waking in mid-February and was published the Friday after my own musings.]

The Invitation continues, not with reference to the rebuilt Temple, but to its foundation over 400 years earlier!  This is to connect spiritually with the original site of the location of the altar for the first Temple built by David and Solomon.

Therefore, I submit there are two significant and gigantic spiritual ‘opposites’ in our invitation, both of which relate to Ezra’s foundational activity.

JERUSALEM: Ezra’s compiling existing books and writing them in a new alphabet signifies today’s necessity of a better appreciation of and deeper revelations into the canon of both Testaments (and perhaps even the Apocrypha?).

That is, we may expect a revelatory empowerment of Spirit and Word to manifest and not only re-invigorate the Church but also empower us to do what Jesus did, especially the ‘greater works’ He promised (John 14:12). This will be obvious to the ‘New Generation’ of believers, and necessarily so,

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.   [Hebrews 4:12]

This is clearly implicit to The Invitation because it doesn’t just dwell upon the rebuilding and renewing our belief at a much higher level.  It brings our focus right back to when the Lord instructed where the ‘Holy of Holies’ should be located – the threshing floor of the Jebusite Ornan on Mount Moriah, reputed to be where Abraham offered up Isaac. This is where king David was required to establish a house for His Presence.

Therefore, as the Jews went back to the centre of their belief and life, so too are Christians now required to go back to the very centre of ours – to Jesus and His Words. But more than that, in re-turning to Him in person it needs be devoid of Churchianity!  It also means we will have access to heavenly realms and see our Father as Jesus did.

It is a getting back to base: scripture and Saviour. Also, to preparing for when the Bride will be full of the Holy Spirit so the New Jerusalem will manifest on earth (Rev 21 and 22).

BABYLON: Many Jews remained in Babylonian territory because of their accustomed prosperity and the uncertain prospects in a poorer land, of which they probably had only dim memories. They weren’t slaves but had favour with the king and influence in the land. Is that not like too many modern church institutions and ministries?

They’re not fully focused upon the author and perfector of our faith, much less open to Holy Spirit’s presence. Some are even in bed with false doctrine and reprobate worldly values!

Consequently, I disagree with Bible scholars who interpret ‘Babylon the Great’ as meaning the Roman Catholic Church alone.

‘Babylon’ is synonymous with ‘confusion’ especially of a spiritual nature. Jane Hamon in The Cyrus Decree writes,

Every idolatrous system of this earth, every spirit of false religion, every occult form of power had its beginnings in Babylon. The city of Babylon was built upon the foundations of rebellion against God: pride, independence and humanism (the belief that man is God).

Therefore, the Babylonian aspect of the ‘new era’ in the Church’s history represents the world’s influence upon those parts of the wider church that have deserted their ‘first love’, Jesus Christ, and taken on board the non-values of a decadent and immoral society.

Consequently, the prophetic invitation to God’s Threshing Floor indicates a distinct winnowing, a sifting, a separating out of the ‘Babylonian’ church married as a spiritual adulteress to the world, and the Bridal ‘remnant’ who’s focussed upon Jesus.

Previous Prophecies

As recounted in 5 years Ago Today: the End-game is Now in Play, my first writing upon End-times referred to,

“my previous remarks about a sifting of the Church – in preparation for a rapid ‘sHifting’?”

So I had that in mind during my first reflections upon the Threshing Floor Invitation, as well as chapters 18 and 19 of The Apocalypse of John (Book of Revelation) foretelling the downfall of ‘Babylon the Great’, which is described as a ‘harlot’.

Also, I recalled that after launching the Prophecies hub of this blog I found a prophetic word from 1992 about that entity’s existence within the Church, as recounted by Colin Winfield in The Separation of the Bride and the Harlot.

Concluding Confirmation

The above musings were confirmed within days on the Sunday with what John Kilpatrick brought under a strong anointing. Teaching upon ‘Season of suddenlies’, he prophesied that God’s redefining of churches involves “a shifting“. This will result in a radical difference between the two kinds of believers and churches – in my terms, those in worldly ‘Babylon’ and the ‘New Era’ Spirit-led ‘remnant’.

That separation and shifting is happening NOW!

Theme 9

Details of this theme will follow soon. The blog listing shows it in parenthesis because it’s a very personal connection. Together with its proceeding blogs, I was amazed that it’s even more astonishing than the weird mix-up over the blog’s second anniversary.

Reading that Nov ’13 post and it’s follow up will prepare you for theme 9, but let me tease you to just wait a while…

There’s much to ponder deeply my friends.

Postscript:

Revisiting Colin Winfield’s website I noticed the latest; 2014 Consecration with an accompanying file Thoughts at the Beginning of 2014. The last is supportive of my contention above, as in the following which bear my emphases, but please read the whole piece for yourself:

‘As we look at that which goes by the name of ʻChurchʼ we cannot see many who are hearing the Lord, or if they are, they so often wrongly interpret what is being said, or apply to others what really is Godʼs word to themselves. Most are still following their traditions and what they have known in the past. Men still consider men to be their leaders when Jesus said that only Christ was to be their Leader. Man is following ʻmanʼ and not the Lord. The true sons, those who are led by the Spirit, are hard to find….

‘What is necessary is to move to higher ground and gain the life of Christ. It is not only that direct relationship with Jesus we need but also that close fellowship with our Heavenly Father….

‘The call is to come unto the Lord Jesus Christ and be separated unto Him, and Him alone. Let us flee to the mountain, that secure place of being hid in the very life and nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. The time has come for judgement to begin with the household of God. We are the temple of God (1Cor.3:16 and 2Cor. 6:16) and the Lord is already cleansing His temple…

‘The warnings have been sounding for many years as Pentecost was coming to its end. But let us recognise the door has closed on that period of church history and let us look towards the soon coming Feast of Tabernacles, that place of fulness the whole Church must enter…’

PPS: If references to Jewish Feasts surprise you then I recommend learning about their relevance to the Church on Colin’s website or in John Kilpatrick’s four in-depth sessions on The Feasts of The Lord – Recognising God’s Appointed Times.

[Puzzle in Sky by Idea Go is by courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net]

Time for the Church to recover a vision of society transformed

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Courtesy of James Mark Long, www.propheticartists.comAn exceptional address on transformation of society from Archbishop Sentamu, especially in emphasising, “We need to recover a prophetic imagination and Christian wisdom, and not get bogged down with what does not work. Rather we must concentrate on what works, and breathe new life into it.”.

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

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Courtesy of James Mark Long, www.propheticartists.comAnother very good piece on the ‘new era’ in the Church. Our Heavenly Father is (at long last) answering Jesus’ prayer at John 17: 20-26, the full context of which is important for grasping its key buried within – and how He’s going to work through us. Yesterday our apostolic leader spoke along the same lines as Gillan and Richard P. He echoed my opinion that non-believers are such because they see – and know of – widespread division in Christianity. The Holy Trinity is united in their diversity, which is what Father wants Jesus’ body to mirror; “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent me…”

Work should NOT be a curse!

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Really good one – thanks (and to Kenny)! This reinforces what our visiting speaker said yesterday on Ephesians 4 about God’s purpose for the Church being rooted in Gen 1: reproducing after His kind and establishing the holy pattern of authority, tasks and marriage – ie Adam had an assignment before he had a wife! So, work is important to God – it didn’t come as a result of the Fall. (Therefore, our visitor stressed the importance of our ‘metron’, or sphere of influence in our daily lives.) Click if link fails (most unusually WordPress has been playing up lately)

Churches that reflect God’s open-ness

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Richard in Dartmouth, DevonRebecca’s poignant thought reflects what I spotted yesterday. On our day out in the Emsworth-Chichester area I spotted a billboard leaning on a wall by steps up to a church. It read, ‘We are NOW open for prayer and reflection’. Whilst focussing upon traffic I briefly thought, “Why ‘now’?” – it implies a welcome change and encouraging invitation for passers-by to drop in. And there was a similar one a few miles back!

The Unstoppable Church

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Let me share the blessing of a holy tension since having re-blogged/commented upon media opinion about a supposed demise of the Church. As stated in my previous post, I recalled hearing of reports from Wales and now made opportunity to check them out.

Yesterday’s church group covered a lot more detail about Rev Richard Taylor’s visit to mid-Sussex and what he teaches. So this morning I searched for a suitable podcast or video to listen to whilst doing the final part of our renovations.

If you were interested in my last two blogs then perhaps you’d like to set aside an hour to hear pastor Richard soundly refute secular scoffers, as well as allay the concerns of my fellow blogger and his readers. Richard trashes the falsehood of media opinion as well as churchgoers’ unbelief. He also tells how God changed and healed him from a life of severe drug addiction and consequential crime.

Enjoy his tongue-in-cheek Welsh humour and be mightily blessed:

The Book of Acts Part 11 – The Unstoppable Church from Victory Church on Vimeo.

The Church’s biggest crisis?

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Detail from Eagle-eyed by John Mark Long: www.propheticartists.comBiggest crisis? I think not! Nor that ‘Christianity is facing a catastrophic collapse in Britain’, as one religious affairs editor sensationally posits. I agree in the main with Gillan, especially that the church has failed in its duties, and that our encountering Jesus is key. This must be personally experienced and practised outside church walls. Yet how many have that personal, continual relationship? How many encounter God in church today? How many ministers allow His weighty glory to come into ‘their’ meeting? That is, does God attend church?

Thankfully, our Lord’s rectifying the lack of anointed leaders who regularly meet and hear Him, and who can thus teach and disciple ‘hard-core believers’ in doing so too. (Last week I met one such 30 years-old who’d visited the underground Chinese church. They have to worship in silence yet their deafening praise arose before God’s throne!) So it’s not only an intellectual issue as Gillan explains, but also and more essentially one of moving into revelatory and prophetical insight as well as accessing heaven direct.

Imho, the remedy is for church to be remodelled upon the pristine New Testament Church where the presence of Jesus was the sole authority, and Holy Spirit the sole power base for all ministerial and missionary activity. Then, the designation ‘Christian’ would revert to its original meaning of ‘Little Christ’, or ‘Anointed one’: those functioning with the very same power and authority as did their Lord and Saviour. Then, will real revival to which Gillan refers – and others foretell – begin. And it will. Father is already making the Bride a suitable spouse for His Son…