Abiding in God’s Word

Posted on Monday, 18 February, 2013 by Richard Barker

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

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

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

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

1st ‘carriage’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2nd ‘carriage’

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

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

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

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

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

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

3rd ‘carriage’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

4th ‘carriage’

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

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

What is our Lord and God saying and indicating?

Can you hear Him?

May I summarise?…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May He be with you in Spirit…

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

Iranian forces are “running” Syria says former Syrian Prime Minister.

Posted on Saturday, 16 February, 2013 by Richard Barker

This latest update on Syria may be part of the scenario to one of the many prophecies by Ezekiel, as in chapter 38 against ‘Gog and Magog’ and which this blog refers to as ‘the Ezekiel Alliance’. For earlier reports click on tags shown below…

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

With the implosion of the Assad regime in full swing, the countdown to the fall of Damascus is on, and Iran is moving quickly to fill the vacuum. Now Riad Hijab — the former Prime Minister of Syria who defected from his senior position in Damascus last August — says that Iran’s military and intelligence forces are “actively running” the nation of Syria.

“Syria is occupied by the Iranian regime,” Hijab told an Arabic media outlet. “Who runs the country isn’t Bashar Assad but Kassem Suleimani, the head of Iran’s al-Quds Brigades [within the Revolutionary Guards].”

Evidence is mounting that Iran and Hezbollah, its Radical Shia terrorist organization, are moving military forces into the country so that if and when the Assad regime finally falls, Iran can fully and quickly seize and consolidate full control. Back in August, when I reported on this blog that Hijab had defected, I also quoted a press repors

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Saudi hypocrisy at its best

Posted on Thursday, 14 February, 2013 by Richard Barker

For an informative follow-on to previous post’s comments > Saudi Hypocrisy At Its Best.

The linked article brings insights from the Coptic, Islam specialist Raymond Ibrahim, Associate Fellow with Daniel Pipes’ Middle East Forum (see About). Widely published author and translator of Al Qaeda treatises as well as Arabic news unknown in the West, Raymond watches the pivotal Islam-Christianity intersection. His impressive resume and regular updates on Muslim persecution of Christians are on his blog Raymond Ibrahim, Islam Translated.

Are ‘Christians’ leading homosexuals to Hell?

Posted on Tuesday, 12 February, 2013 by Richard Barker

Thank you to Tembisa for this link, which reinforces Steve Hill’s warning of a spiritual avalanche. It is an excellent analysis of a better approach to unhelpful, even dangerous, attitudes which could promote a false Gospel. Also, Hilary White’s linked article provides some keen insights into the Steve Chalke issue. More about this subject may be found in Gillan Scott’s solid review, Unconditional: Rescuing the Gospel from gays vs. Christians Debate. There are extensive comments on this and to his related posts, in which I’ve participated lately. I have, however, one ‘off-side’ reservation. It is recommended by Prof.Tony Campolo, whom I saw many years ago. In reading his Conversation about politics at the time of the last US elections, I was concerned over his using Ephesians 1:18-22 to stress God’s action through earthly politics whereas the verses are about powers in heavenly realms. I trust our professor will acknowledge the King’s soon return to rule on earth?

Steve Hill WARNS – Stop Spiritual Avalanche!

Posted on Monday, 11 February, 2013 by Richard Barker

On 11th Dec 2012 Steve Hill wrote.:

This is coming to you from a man who has just passed through the valley of the shadow of death. Since my close call with eternity just a short while ago … everything has become clearer. I can hear His whisper. Unabated obedience has become my mandate. That is why I’m writing this word from the Lord..:

THE SPIRITUAL AVALANCHE THAT COULD KILL MILLIONS

A few days ago, after enjoying quality time with Jesus, I was surprised by an alarming vision. I saw a massive, majestic mountain covered in glistening snow. It reminded me of the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps. Its peaks were sparkling white and I was amazed by God’s attention to detail. It was so realistic I wanted to go skiing! But I sensed that there was more that the Holy Spirit was about to reveal. As I closed my eyes, I was in a winter wonderland bustling with thousands of vacationers. The ski lodge, condos, hotels and cabins were at full capacity at this popular resort.

Day quickly turned to night as the skiers, snowboarders and sports enthusiasts were settling in. Anticipation grew as the snow began to fall. Everyone headed to bed believing tomorrow would be a day of sheer enjoyment on freshly covered slopes. For an avid skier, the exhilaration of being the first one to race down a new blanket of snow is a dream come true.

Throughout the night, winter storms dropped several feet of new snow on the slopes. The night ski patrol was put on full alert. Their mission was clear. With the potential of killer avalanches they took to their posts.

I began to weep as the vision continued to unfold along with its spiritual application.

The ski patrol operated like a well-trained platoon. Some boarded helicopters manned with small bombs, others jumped on snowmobiles loaded with hand-held explosive devices. What seemed to be a strategic group of sharpshooters were stationed at the base maneuvering anti-tank weapons aimed at the snow-covered peaks. They fired their weapons at strategic points in the “avalanche zone” to force avalanches before the snow accumulated to a life-threatening depth. Left unchecked, the accumulation of heavy, dense snow packed on top of lighter snow could easily slide down with incredible speed and force, resulting in enormous damage and loss of life.

The Lord began to speak. I trembled. The fresh, new snow represented the false teaching that is steadily falling on the ears of the body of Christ. It has been, and is, a heavy snowfall. The skiers represented believers and non-believers, trusting the resort for a safe and memorable experience. As Christians, we have been warned to be sober and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8). However, the present, awe-inspiring teachings have lulled many into a deeper sleep.

The layers upon layers of snow have been steadily covering the solid traditional truth of Christ. The truth is that foolish teaching in these days will become so fashionable even the most dedicated believer could become deceived (Matt. 24:24). It’s happening before our eyes. One (of our) spiritual leaders said the other day: “You guys are old-fashioned ‘holiness,’ we are modern-day ‘grace.’ You live in bondage while we can do anything we want.

Pastors and teachers worldwide have succumbed to heretical teachings including universal reconciliation, deification of man, challenging the validity of the Word of God including His judgements, and even lifting any boundaries, claiming His amazing grace is actually “amazing freedom.” You are free to live according to your own desires. Sound familiar? “They had no king and did what was right in their own eyes” (Judges 17:6). These popular self-proclaimed ministers of the gospel are covering the “slopes” and will be held accountable for the spiritual death of millions.

Just as the ski patrol did in this vision, those who are aware of what’s happening must take swift and accurate action. Their weapons of warfare must be aimed at the peaks and the ‘avalanche terrain’ to dispel the lies. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers must be willing to drop spiritual bombs, fire anti-heresy missiles, and even drive into the danger zones armed with explosive truth to confront this potential avalanche. The generals of this generation must leave the war room and put their years of experience on the front lines.

Friend, I humbly encourage you to heed this vision and take it before the Lord. I’ve written it just as it was given. My responsibility is to share with the body of Christ His words to me. The ears that hear and the hands that obey are out of my control. This is not just Steve Hill telling a story. Most of what the Lord shares with me is personal and remains in my heart. But I sincerely believe that this is a warning for this hour.

Satan is “snowing the saints” but it can be stopped. In the vision I heard explosions. I saw dedicated Christian soldiers scrambling to do anything it took to bring down this avalanche before devastation occurred. One of the most powerful weapons we possess to combat this onslaught is the tongue. Let God set yours ablaze by preaching ALL the words in RED. If we take action now the result will be a tearing down of false teaching and a remaining layer of solid, God-given, Biblical instruction that will save the lost, heal the sick and strengthen Christians to do the true work of the ministry.

Footnote by RB

Underlining and emboldened text are added. My post of 12th December, Does David Cameron’s decision line up with the Bible?, closes with reference to Steve’s article. His stirring message at The Revival Reunion was about the implications of living in or near Sodom in Lot’s day, as it applies today. In passing, Steve mentioned a vow he’d made to the Lord as he was about to die. He vowed that, should he be restored back to life, he’d continue evangelising for the sake of millions of Muslim souls!

In the circumstances, therefore, it behoves every reader to take the preceding message extremely seriously, as though issued with the holy ‘imprimatur’ of Jesus Christ Himself.

PS to Wendy Alec’s prophecy on Obama – and on Netanyahu!

Posted on Saturday, 9 February, 2013 by Richard Barker

A brief PostScript to my earlier post on another development in the Obama prophecy.:

Those who read the full text of Wendy’s word may have noticed a second fulfillment could be found in the other event to which I referred. (During his first term as Prime Minister, Netanyahu had difficulties with Bill Clinton and his bias in favour of Yasser Arafat. Perhaps his wife, as Obama’s Secretary of State, made matters worse?)

The original link via GOD TV’s webpage is no longer available but in January 2018 a copy was placed on this blog’s Prophecies & Visions hub. Wendy’s prophetic word of 2008 on Benjamin Netanyahu may now be read by clicking/tapping this link:

Not One Term, Not Two Terms, but Three Terms as Prime Minister of Israel.

A few regard Wendy as a false prophet, but here we have two proven prophetic words.

Bibi’s personal friend Dr Mike Evans, gave him a word as a young man from the Lord that he would have two unbroken terms of office as Prime Minister and recommended him to then PM Begin. This was well before he went into politics!

By the way, in view of the circumstances and thanks to William Koenig, the meaning of Benjamin Netanyahu’s name in Hebrew is interesting:

Benjamin: ‘Son of the right hand’.

Netanyahu (derivative of Nethaniah): ‘Given by God’, or ‘gift of God’.

(For more information click here and here respectively.)

Read also – 2. Obama vs Netanyahu in Politically relevant gov’t news from UK & USA

UPDATED – March 2015 Israeli Elections:

Now Bibi’s won a 4th term and confounded critics, doubtlessly by the hand of God.

Obama prophecy – another development

Posted on Thursday, 7 February, 2013 by Richard Barker

Last November I posted an urgent prophetic word and associated prayer for President Obama from Wendy Alec, which she’d published on 12th November. This included the following promises.:

“For there shall begin a healing of rifts, says the Lord;

“A healing of rifts between the Republicans and the Democrats,

“A healing of rifts that shall extend even from the Congress to Israel,

“For there shall even be a healing of rifts between President Barack Obama and President Benjamin Netanyahu….”

Within a week both leaders were locked in discussions for negotiating a fully working truce with Hamas to stop their continual rocket attacks from Gaza. This announcement was so astounding that newsagency Debka broke it in the following terms.:

So what happened to turn the notoriously prickly relations between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu into harmonious cooperation – defying dire predictions by Israeli politicians and media that the second Obama term heralded still more jarring discord? (see my report here)

Those who, like me, have closely followed the nasty turns around the hairpin bends up and down their rocky relationship would also have been surprised. So whyever couldn’t this about-turn have happened as the result of world-wide prayers of intercession?

In December the US continued with secret, back-channel negotiations with Iran, during which Secretary of State Hilary Clinton was injured in rather mysterious circumstances. These led to much speculation, as may be read here.

Debkafile claims that last year, “Alone of any other publication, (we) disclosed that Obama and Netanyahu had reached an understanding to embark on regional initiatives in a spirit of partnership straight after the Israeli election”. Thus more recently, Debka reported the US had given Israel clearance for dealing with Syria’s weapon transfer to Hezbollah, as covered by Joel Rosenberg here together with my additional data.

This week, mainstream media announced a trip for President Obama to Israel with the aim of resuscitating and fast-tracking the moribund Middle-east peace talks. But, as ever, the agency with its ears to the ground reported otherwise.:

President Barack Obama is not coming to Israel to advance new proposals or break the peace talks deadlock with the Palestinians, the White House said Wednesday night, Feb 6. US ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, said earlier he was coming in the spring for consultation major issues: preventing a nuclear Iran and the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria – not to make demands. Working relations between Obama and Netanyahu were “excellent,” he said.

…The visit had been discussed when Obama phoned Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Jan 28 to congratulate him on his success in Israel’s recent election. The communique went on to say that the US president was coming to discuss issues of common interest such as furthering the peace process but added, the start of Obama’s second term offers an opportunity to reaffirm Israel’s close relationship with the US and to discuss major issues like Syria and Iran.”

It’s been well-known to all but the US that Iran would always be unwilling to play ball on nuclear negotiations. So what’s today’s excuse? According to Debka’s Special Report.:

Khamenei did not say so specifically, but his rejection of dialogue with Washington was undoubtedly influenced by President Barack Obama’s forthcoming visit to Israel. By the metaphor of “holding a gun against Iran”, the Iranian leader was not just reacting to the new sanctions; he was also hitting back at the White House announcement’s stress that the president’s talks with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu would focus on Iran and Syria – as debkafile reported Wednesday. The expectation is that Obama and Netanyahu will confer on the military option both governments have reserved for dealing with Iran’s nuclear program.

Khamenei’s rejection of face-to-face talks does not cancel the international negotiations scheduled to take place in Kazakhstan. It does, however, render them more pointless than ever.

At long last it appears that POTUS Obama has started to see things as they really are!

So very interesting and encouraging that these developments are in line with Wendy’s request, the full text of which may be read here > Obama Prophecy and Prayer.

Also, please see PostSript on Clinton and on Netanyahu.

UPDATES:

Aug 2014 – Israeli retaliation against Hamas perpetual bombardment brings change in this rapprochement.

Oct 2014 – Netanyahu meets Obama at The White House after UN General Assembly (also see PM Netanyahu at UN and Joel Rosenberg Tale of 2 Speeches at UN).

March 2105 – Obama prophecy fulfilled? Netanyahu speech to Congress.

Counting the cost of the S-S Marriage vote

Posted on Thursday, 7 February, 2013 by Richard Barker

Gillan, a commendable commentary in view of the controversial circumstances.
In all this, three facts point to the ignored core issue and to the truth of scripture. These are: 1. people deny their sin, thereby making God a liar and repudiating what Jesus did for them on the Cross (1John 1:8-10) 2. many believers are unclear, confused and even deceived (2Tim 3, Matt 24) 3. the underlying role of the EU in this confirms its link with the ‘end of days’ messianic vision in Daniel 7 (see Cranmer).
Behind those facts (not to mention hatred of righteous expression and twisting of many definitions!) one can discern the source and strategy outlined in Revelation 13. Oh by the way, the technology for implementing the Mark of the Beast (666) is ready and waiting! (John McTernan 666 Surveillance System, updated with more items including Britain’s superdrone.)

In case anyone’s puzzled or got questions…

Posted on Wednesday, 6 February, 2013 by Richard Barker

Readers and visitors to this blog who aren’t Christians probably have questions about the previous post’s references to a spiritual enemy. Some explanation, therefore, would be helpful for those unfamiliar with the Holy Bible, or Christian doctrine. And, in fact, the good Lord already had that in hand for you! Some timely basic doctrine behind the last post has ‘co-incidentally’ turned up.

So without further delay, I repost an email received today – Part 6 of Rick Joyner’s series on The Great Commission (Jesus’ parting instruction to His disciples, Matt 28).:

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

As we have been covering, “all authority in heaven and earth” has been given to Jesus, but He has not taken that authority over the earth yet. His kingdom is going to come, and His will is going to be done on earth as it is in heaven. All of heaven lives under the domain of the King. Only Satan and the angels who followed him have rebelled from the heavenly realm and were cast down to the earth when mankind rebelled against God. Now the only rebellion against God in all of creation, the physical or spiritual realms, is found on planet earth.

John wrote that the whole earth lies in the power of the evil one. It does presently lie in his power, but as we are told in Psalms, the earth and all it contains belongs to the Lord. The authority over everything in heaven and earth is under the Lord’s domain, but He has not yet taken His authority over the earth. He could have taken dominion over the earth immediately after His resurrection, but He did not for our sakes. He left it under the domain of evil for a time for one reason—to find those who loved Him and His truth even more than they loved their own lives. They will prove this by living for Him and obeying Him against the opposition of virtually all who are on the earth and hell’s minions as well.

The Lord is all-powerful. He could dispatch of the devil and all of his demonic hordes with the flick of His finger. The Lord could have cast Satan and his hosts into the lake of fire immediately after His resurrection. He had redeemed mankind, and the earth, and it was His to take. He left it as it was for another purpose—He is seeking a bride to rule and reign with Him.

Jesus is called “the last Adam” in I Corinthians 15:45. There was a legal reason for this. The first Adam had been given dominion over the earth. When Adam succumbed to the temptation and chose to obey the evil one instead of God, Satan was able to exert his power over the earth, and we become the slaves of the one we obey. We are told in Romans 6:16:

Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?

When man fell, all that was under his dominion fell with him, and the earth became the domain of the devil. It was a usurped domain, but this gave the evil one power over the whole earth. The reason why Jesus had to come as a man to redeem the earth was because authority over the earth was given to mankind. This is why Jesus always referred to Himself as “the Son of Man.” Only a man who walked in perfect obedience to the Lord could redeem the earth from the consequences of man’s disobedience. Jesus perfectly fulfilled this and took back the authority over the earth that had been lost by the first Adam.

We can have authority over something and not possess it yet. We could be given a car, the title could be put in our name, and it is at the dealer waiting for us to pick it up. However, until we pick it up, it is not in our possession even though it belongs to us. The title to the earth was put in Jesus’ name immediately after the cross. He just has not come to claim His possession yet in order to allow the conditions on the earth to help prepare His bride, the church, to rule with Him.

The bride of the first Adam lived in the most perfect conditions yet chose to disobey. The bride of the last Adam, Christ, will have lived in the most difficult conditions, and against the onslaught of all the powers of darkness, she will chose to obey. No other creation of God will have endured what she will have endured, and yet she will be faithful. This will be a witness to even the principalities and powers that their time is up over the earth. Even the angels will marvel at her and consider her worthy to be their judges. She will be a worthy bride and joint heir for the Son of God.

God does not tempt us with evil, but as stated in Jeremiah 20:12 and other places, He does allow us to be tested. A test is different from a temptation, though a temptation can be a test just as it was for Adam and Eve. We are tested by the Lord to help us grow and to qualify us for advancement, just as we took tests in school to see if we could be promoted to the next grade. Advancement in the Lord includes more authority. (RB’s emphasis)

As Francis Frangipane likes to say, “You never fail one of God’s tests; you just keep taking them until you pass.” That is basically true. Israel kept going in circles for forty years in the wilderness because they could not pass certain tests that were required before they could enter their Promised Land. Many Christians do the same thing and keep going in circles in their spiritual life because they keep failing the same tests. It is now time to pass the tests and go on to possess our Promised Land.

Links:

Archive: Rick Joyner’s Word for the Week
Website: Rick Joyner’s Morning Star Ministries

“Having an enemy is a fundamental requirement” – Dr Sharon Stone

Posted on Tuesday, 5 February, 2013 by Richard Barker

Lionheart – Richard Coeur de Lion! The above image spoke about my boyhood hero as soon as I espied it. Alone, it lay amidst paintings by James Nesbit at Dr Sharon Stone’s Mentoring Day last weekend. Whilst sipping a quick coffee after arrival, I saw the vendor getting her goods ready. “It’s mine!” I exclaimed and explained why. The meeting was just about to start and so the lady kindly put it aside for me.

This painting complemented several personal impressions and words over the last few years, as well as more recent words brought by prophetical folk (eg. my remarks about HMS Warrior here). But little did I know how it would plug straight into what Sharon was going to say, and into a few things recently happening as well as some destined for the following week! (See previous two postings and comments.)

Below are my notes, hastily scribbled in keeping up with Sharon as she delivered her message entitled.:

Having an enemy is a fundamental requirement!

This season suits God’s prophetic people better than any I’ve known, because we were made for seasons of conflict when people need to hear us and what God is saying. That is, it’s not so much a time for the ministries of apostle, pastor, teacher, evangelist as it is for the prophet.

More than at any other period, we now need to be on time with prophetic words.

Critics say spiritual warfare is no longer required as we can function from a position of ‘rest’. That’s deceptive because our use of weapons needs to be updated from ‘hand-to-hand’ to our enforcing Jesus’ victory by means of decrees from the ‘heavenly courts’. Our enemy – ‘that worm’ – is to be kept underfoot!

We’re at a new level of time. One where we become warriors and overcomers. So having an enemy is a fundamental requirement to achieving that goal !!

We can’t find and move into our destiny without having and overcoming an enemy. King David’s enemy Goliath defined him.
God changed his life as a result of killing that giant. Shepherd boy David moved from obscurity into notoriety as a national hero.
God’s ‘suddenlies’ do occur but we need to deal with our personal giant and not live under its shadow.
God promotes us when we deal with giants.
We never go back to the same defeated giant!

The spiritual enemy signals the part of our life (eg family/generational issues) in which he’s afraid of us because, were we single-minded in it, he would be overcome. That is, issues are not our weakness but our unrecognised strength – we just need to keep up the m o m e n t u m!

The present season is going to show who are heroes and who are cowards!

THIS SEASON IS WHEN THE WORLD AND CHURCH WILL SEE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN AS OUR FAITH GOES ON TRIAL – AND GOD IS WATCHING HOW WE RESPOND AND STAND.

He wants us to be vulnerable to Him and to being inspected by Him.
It’s our faith that refines us by fire and aligns us to our destiny.
All we have to do in this season is to be strong and courageous and to learn as we progress –

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

[I’d already referred to the early verses in Joshua, which are highlighted in my Bible because they led into the personal prophetic words received in 1996 – as here]

THIS IS THE SEASON FOR THE CHURCH TO BE DEMONSTRATED IN THE WORLD LIKE IT’S NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!

In what we’re not, in all aspects of being a warrior, then we are to be fearless because Jesus Christ is in us and fulfills all that we need; as in 1John 4:4

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. ⁵They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. ⁶We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Also, ‘for a great effective door has been opened but there are many adversaries’ (1Cor 16:9).

Whenever an enemy pops up this signals that we’re moving from one season to another through a ‘new door’. [Note: the ‘open door’ again!]

Footnotes:

Waiting upon the Lord a few weeks ago I had a vision of the huge dark green side of a mountain bursting up through the ground in front of me and close to my feet. I believe this may indicate the time has arrived for the manifestation of an open vision I had for the UK. That first vision meant that, as society fell apart, the solid rock that is Jesus Christ would appear (see Comments upon collapse of society). Hence, the imperative need for believers to take a stand upon The Rock.

Readers may wish to read > In case anyone’s puzzled or got questions…

Posted on Tuesday, 5 February, 2013 by Richard Barker

Andy, I’m absolutely stunned by your including this particular illustration of armour with the word from Bobby. I printed a copy from Bobby’s site last week but several events prevented my reblogging it. BUT at the start of the weekend I bought the only copy of this picture at a meeting! After that I heard Dr Sharon Stone deliver a message on dealing with our enemy! My wife has now come into the room and her jaw dropped in amazement! Clearly, the LORD has a most important encouragement and instruction for 2013 – and there’s this inspirational video!!

A visionary word for 2013: “I am tempering you…”

Posted on Monday, 4 February, 2013 by Richard Barker

Thank you to Tembisa at Jesus is Coming for this vision received by Susan O’Marra, and for this graphic. Swords and associated imagery of our Ephesians 6 armour (see below) have been coming to my attention of late. This account therefore gels with my spirit, so thank you Susan. Thus, I submit her ‘vision 1’ and the Lord’s word for careful weighing by fellow believers, and for waiting upon Him.:

On 01-01-2013, I awoke to a vision of a sword hovering in the air. It was being dipped into different things. The first thing it was dipped into was a vat of sand. The next was a container of wool. The third was a vessel of a silvery liquid. Over and over, the sword was dipped into each thing, one at a time, and repeated many times in it’s circuit of sand, wool, and oil. Then the final thing was the sword was then placed within the folds of a beautiful garment that hung in the air nearby.

Then, the Lord spoke:

“I am tempering you.

“I am rendering you impervious to cracks, to fractures, to schisms, and to divisions.

“I am hardening you to temptations and to demonic assaults.

“I am making you inflexible to compromise and to mixture of any kind.

“I am making you rigidly righteous, and strong in your faith in Me, so that I can wield you fully.

“I am polishing the last of the smudges in your personality that mar My image from being fully seen.

“I want you to gleam with Me in a new sensitivity and reveal a brighter countenance of Me.

“I am enfolding you into each other, My Robe, My Church, and I am adding into your layers a new corporate strength.

“I have tempered you each individually, now I will form you corporately into a formidable weapon for Me.

“This is the Year 2013, when I will form, I will assemble anew, and bring My End Time Army into full battle view.”

Scriptures:

Exodus 30:34 And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: 35 And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: 36 And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.

1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

1 Corinthians 12:23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

1 Peter 5:8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. 9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset–rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.

Ephesians 6:16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. 18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).

Susan O’Marra 01-01-2013

http://www.intheimageofhisglory.com/

What’s it like to witness a miracle?

Posted on Friday, 1 February, 2013 by Richard Barker

Thank you to Chris for emailing a copy of the following from Daniel Kolenda, on behalf of Christ For All Nations. Here’s what evangelist Daniel wrote at the close of last week’s mission in the Ivory Coast.:

“It’s not often that I find myself without words, but right now I’m really not sure what to say. I’ve never seen anything before quite like what we experienced tonight.

“Often, when a sick person gets healed, it causes a great commotion in the immediate area surrounding that person. When those standing close to the miracle watch it happen right before their eyes, it has a profound impact on them. They often begin to shout, scream, cry, jump, dance etc. and we can usually hear and see from the platform that a miracle has taken place out in the crowd. We’ve actually become quite accustomed to this phenomenon over the years as it regularly happens after the prayer for the sick. But tonight was something altogether different…

“Before I had even gotten up to preach (during the boring announcements), this started happening all over the field a scale that is hard to describe. The hair on the back of my neck stood up as we watched wheelchairs, crutches and walkers going into the air EVERYWHERE! One after another after another after another until the excitement among the crowd of 250,000 rose to fever pitch (even now it’s emotional to recall what happened). The roar of the crowd kept growing louder and louder until those of us on the platform looked at each other with shock and awe! It was hard to believe what was happening!

“The blind, the deaf, the mute, the lame and those with all manner of sickness and disease were being spontaneously healed – without a single prayer being said and even before the Gospel was preached. It reminded me of something Evangelist Bonnke has often said, “Sometimes the Holy Spirit cannot wait for we preachers to finish our boring sermons – He itches to do great things!”…” (Click to continue reading Daniel’s report and videos.)

Fantastic! Praise You Lord. I love the bit about ‘boring announcements’ because I’ve always been unhappy with that approach to ‘mundane matters’ – in my opinion that’s a mistaken notion. Great that Holy Spirit came and took charge!

As the Lord is present where two or more are gathered then any event is something to look forward to and not regarded as boring business. It can be considered as the art of ‘Practising the Presence’, as in the works of the Carmelite cook, Brother Lawrence.

To return to Daniel’s comments; yes it is so exciting to witness something as astounding as a miracle happening before your very eyes! Having seen many testimonies aired on the TV and internet and being at events where some have occurred, miracles are such a marvellous example of ‘God in action’. (Read about and watch video clips on this blog at God Heals Today.)

Blog Alert – for Christians in Southern England and elsewhere

Posted on Thursday, 31 January, 2013 by Richard Barker

Thank you Jonathan for organising this most promising day for believers in Jesus Christ to take the next step in the freedom He bought for everyone.:

To read the details click on the images; for more information and to book click on Spirit, Body, Soul.

Healing On The Streets in Bath – 2012 Report

Posted on Thursday, 31 January, 2013 by Richard Barker

Thanks be to Jesus for the testimonies in this report received from Paul Skelton, which is followed by a note explaining my personal interest for newer readers of this blog:

LOOKING BACK OVER 2012

Here’s just a handful of the many stories resulting from prayer from the HOTS Bath Team over the past year, both out on the streets and as members walk it out as a daily life style. :-

“I’d been feeling really hounded with facial twitching for the previous 16 days…. after
they prayed for me on Tuesday, the twitching stopped.”

“My back was prayed for …and it is 90% better. I have had problems sleeping because of it, but slept really well the last 2 nights.”

“We were chatting away when suddenly she turned and cried out as her back gave her
great pain… her eyes watered with the pain….I told her that our Father wanted to heal her of that and laid my hand on her and prayed and after a while she looked better. Later that day she sent me a text to say that her back was better!”

“I had badly sprained my knee the previous Saturday….. The prayer was an amazing experience and at such an unexpected venue. My knee pain immediately disappeared and I walked 2 miles on Monday, two days after walking around on crutches and three
days after being told by the GP it would take 4-6 weeks to heal!”

“Thank you for your boldness and frankness to demonstrate and proclaim the Kingdom of God out on the streets and for your amiable manner and the naturalness in which you shared with us and the people on the streets. It was a pleasure to experience the anointing for healing and evangelism you brought along.”

A Team Member’s Journey

I have been a Christian for over 25 years, studied the Bible and have been fully committed to following what the Bible taught, with a limited amount of success.

There was always an underlying frustration that I did not see the transformation in peoples’ lives that the Bible led me to expect, and I saw very little of the signs and wonders that Jesus promised would follow those who believed.

Surely Jesus promised “life in abundance” (John 10 verse 10) NOW, not “pie in the sky when we die”!

During this last year I got involved with a group of Christians who prayed for people on the streets. But first this required talking to people, mostly non-Christians, about Jesus, about God. This was a scary challenge to me since they don’t understand our church jargon.

As I simply told people how much God loved them, a surprising thing started to happen to me. What I was telling others started to hit home in my heart – God really loved ME! I had known this in my mind and could quote appropriate scriptures, but I now realised that my heart hadn’t fully got the message until now.

I now feel such a joy inside, which had not been there before. The frustrations I had experienced with people have somehow been exchanged for compassion and apprec-iation. So, this is why Psalm 16 verse 11 says “in His presence is fullness of joy”.

This is what some people feel when they first become Christians; the Bible becomes
alive as never before, and they can’t get enough of His presence, whether meeting together with others to pray and worship or by themselves. (Ed Humphreys)

LOOKING AHEAD INTO 2013!

Here are some of the ways you can connect with us this year:

Come and see us, as HOTS Bath is back on the streets every Tuesday and Thursday starting 5th of March.
Host a training school equipping you to bring others into an encounter with God and see the sick healed in your Church, Cafe, outreach ? – download the flyer here.
Pray for us as we go out on the streets, for the ongoing Mission trips, and for the equipping we carry out.
Support the work financially through monthly giving, you can download a form here.

HOTS Bath is a Reg. Charity No. 1133098

Footnotes by RB

This report is most encouraging because a year ago, within three months of this blog’s debut, a political ruling prohibited prayers for healing in public places. Consequently, my wife and I contacted Paul about including her testimony of healing on the HOTS Bath website. This was because she’d received her healing from permanent disability in that city before the days of HOTS. I’ve since supported and promoted his campaign against the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and which attracted Parliamentary interest. An official review found a substantial flaw in the ruling, as reported here.

Until now I’ve not mentioned the following more personal and related events:

An unexpected outcome to Paul’s publication was that an investigative journalist came to our house – an expert in exposing bogus claimants of the Disability Living Allowance! That is, some fully fit and able people use counterfeit permits and fraudulently receive the state allowance. He was fully expecting to see a permit on our car but didn’t – he was quite perplexed!

So we invited him in. Over ‘a cuppa’ we told him the full story and Nina showed him the documentation. Regrettably, the journalist didn’t get back to us. Did his editor squash his story?

More important, however, is this expert’s opinion that the proof of Nina’s healing is not that she is now able-bodied, but that she contacted the Dept of Pensions to cancel the allowance to which she’d been entitled because of her disability! That is, she is out-of-pocket. (The Dept’s computer system had no way of coping with such an about-turn!)

Therefore, I contacted the lady who’d made the original complaint to the ASA and gave her the reporter’s opinion of the incontestable facts. Although supposing herself to be an investigator of the supernatural, she hadn’t the slightest interest in our evidence or pleasure to learn about the healing. She thereby denied its truth and demonstrated her complete lack of integrity – a fraud herself. But what else can an atheist do?

Another outcome of this issue was the inclusion of Nina’s account on this blog within a library of accounts of healings, some medically inexplicable, with which we’re familiar. All of these may be found under God Heals Today. And whilst in Hull, we chatted with a lady who’d been healed from being fully wheelchair-bound for over 3 years (video)

The posting that set the ball rolling was Muhammed knows more than ASA! and, should you want to read it, the saga may be followed under the ASA tag. Other posts may be found under the HOTS tag and Healing/Miraculous categories. (Tags & Categories are listed on the Home page.)

To learn about our training day with Mark Marx, the founder of Healing On The Streets, and activity in Trafalgar Square click here.

Israeli warplanes reportedly strike targets on Syria-Lebanon border; Israel on high alert over Syrian WMD

Posted on Wednesday, 30 January, 2013 by Richard Barker

Joel reports developments after a week of escalating tensions on the Israeli-Syrian border, especially the weekend’s explosion in an Iranian-Hezbollah convoy in the Golan Heights. Debka reported this put Israeli, Jordanian and US special forces in the kingdom on high alert. Breaking news Wednesday afternoon: the airforce attack prevented handover of sophisticated missiles to Hezbollah. Syria’s Assad has since responded in a detailed statement – visit Debka homepage for latest ‘pre-media’ news. On Monday President Obama was reluctant to prevent Syrian (and ex-Iraqi) chemical weapons falling into the hands of terrorists – hardly surprising in view of the withdrawal of the US naval fleet. So he left matters entirely in the hands of Middle-East regional powers. The next day all Israel’s armed forces went into a higher state of readiness for conflict as a top Air Force commander described Syria as ‘falling apart’. In addition, Egypt’s Defense Minister said about Egypt, “The political strife is pushing the state to the brink of collapse”. On top of all that, Joel covers reports on a mysterious explosion in Iran’s underground Fordow nuclear facility. Perhaps a number of things are moving into place as regards the Psalm 83 confederacy and the Ezekiel alliance (as here)?

Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

“Israeli warplanes attacked a target on the Lebanese-Syrian border overnight Tuesday, foreign media reported on Wednesday,” according to a report in the Times of Israel. “While some reports said the purported strike was carried out on the Syrian side of the border, according to one source the target was a weapons convoy that had crossed from Syria into Lebanon. The reports come amid rising concern in Israel and the West regarding the sizable chemical weapons stockpile in the hands of an increasingly embattled Syrian regime. Lebanese officials said a dozen Israeli warplanes violated Lebanese airspace on Tuesday and overnight into Wednesday, flying close to the ground in several sorties over southern Lebanon. The Israeli military and the Prime Minister’s Office had no comment. A Lebanese army statement said the last of the sorties was at 2 a.m. Wednesday. It said four warplanes, which flew in over the southernmost coastal…

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Divine climate change

Posted on Monday, 28 January, 2013 by Richard Barker

Thank you Jarrod for such a superb reminder.

TRIBE

“Let us perceive The Lord. Let us press on to experience him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rain” Hosea 6:3

Hosea 6:3 teaches us how to change the climate in our lives. Here’s how to cause it to rain heaven:

Firstly, perceive the Lord. Take a moment to think about the fact that He is right by you, right now. His presence, His wisdom, His power is in the room where you are. His angels are around you. His help is at hand. He is closer to you than your skin!

Secondly, in the words of Hosea 6:3, “press in to experience Him”. Worship Him a little, make some requests, read and think about a few scriptures. Cast all your cares on Him and pause a few moments to listen for Him. Invite the “King of Glory…

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All Hail The Lamb,

Posted on Thursday, 24 January, 2013 by Richard Barker

Enthroned on high,

His praise shall be our battle cry.

He reigns victorious,

Forever glorious,

His name is Jesus,

He is the Lord.

This refrain was repeated and then again, and yet again and again, over and over. The young man led worshipers higher and higher; as though with eagles spiralling upwards on heaven-bound thermals…

This was no short chorus, but many minutes devoted to praise. Immediately, therefore, I recalled 20-odd years ago being high over the Mediterranean and looking down upon southern France. Suddenly, I heard lots of loud voices filling the void beyond the Earth -all singing that same popular earthly chorus. And there was a proclamation from on high! As an almost new Christian I’d never heard such truly awesome, harmonious singing as that of the angelic host. Harmony upon harmony kept being added as their praise of The Captain of Hosts, the Lamb of God, soared up, and on and on, through the heavens as well as wrapping around Earth. Utterly unforgettable!

We hadn’t heard this chorus for a decade or more, but this time it was the opening song for what was to become quite a special Sunday on 6th January. Our day started outside Guildford, Surrey > then 2 hours later home for lunch before ‘cyber-flying’ over to the Gulf of Mexico by Alabama for another morning service > then 3 hours later zooming in a flash back to London for Kensington Temple in the evening (as recounted here).

Upon checking my notes I found that first dream/vision had occurred exactly 21 years before (ie. 6 January 1992). Could this be of significance, not only that 21 = 7 x 3 but also because that day is known as The Epiphany of the Lord – the celebration of God’s revealing Jesus to the world as its true God, Messiah and Saviour. (For an excellent explanation click here).

Additionally, I’d had an email about dreams many Muslims are having of Jesus. Also, I was prompted to dig out and then blog about notes for a prophetic word, 2011: an ‘epic generation’ – and noticed it too had been publicly delivered on the same feast day!

So, perhaps this reminder happening on the 21st anniversary of the vision means the declaration I heard is now about to be fulfilled? The situation to which it referred has since grown far more grave, as indicated in the PM’s recent remarks about al-Qaeda.

Whatever was it I’d heard? My brief notes made at the time are as follows:

The BBC late evening news on 6th January 1992 announced that leaders in the Muslim community wanted to establish a Muslim parliament in Britain, but:

In a dream that night I saw Western Europe, mainly France and the Mediterranean, as if from the space shuttle and heard the popular worship chorus ‘All Hail The Lamb’ being sung, as if in the atmosphere! This praise was repeated many times most melodiously, as though by angelic choir, and seemed to spiral upwards. Then I heard a very loud, authoritative voice declare, “As Communism fell so, too, will Islam fall”.

Many years later the opening events of the Arab Spring led me to share that ‘event’ with a few friends. By then I’d discovered a couple of prominent prophetic voices had had a similar revelation. [My interpretation of this dream proved to be of encouragement to a lady missionary in Marseilles and an evangelist in Egypt; this email refers.]

Yes and No, Prime Minister

The previous post outlined my grasp of the issues Prime Minister Cameron spoke about and why he may be correct in saying a war against al-Qaeda could last decades. I could have drawn upon what his renowned predecessor Sir Winston Churchill foresaw of the danger of militant Islam in 1899! His trenchant opinion, based upon personal military service in The Sudan, speaks with great insight and I quote only the portion pertinent to this post.:

“…Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome…” [Read full extract in Wikipedia’s The River War – hat-tip to Roy.]

What wisdom on the strategic strength of Christianity – but many regard it as worthless and want it ditched! Lord, open the eyes of antagonists’ understanding. [Update 4 Feb: former PM Blair says, “…the West should view the fight against Islamism as the fight against revolutionary communism” – The Commentator.]

A prophetical teacher’s book sheds scriptural light upon all this. I’d put the book aside a while ago, but was moved to pick it up again this month. Returning to chapter 10, I found Paul Keith Davis writes this about the OT prophet Daniel.:

‘Much of Daniel’s revelation and many of his visionary encounters centred upon a future generation identified as (literally) ‘end-of-the-days’. He was a forerunner of a company of end-time saints who will be esteemed by God and awarded mighty revelatory inspiration and insight. In many ways God’s role in his life offers a prophetic model for us to follow. Likewise, we can also use Daniel’s model to discern the enemy’s plans against the destinies of God’s people. In Daniel 10 (chapter here)…we read of one of the incredible visitations bestowed (which) was not without intense resistance from unseen sinister forces. In his vision Daniel discovered a dark entity called the…

The chapter continues by considering the Lord’s Holy Alliance and the purpose of global terrorism to frustrate the birth of heavenly aspiration on earth. Also covered is a vision Bob Jones received in 1999 that relates to the Twin Towers attack in 2001.

The ‘unholy alliance of a religious and of a political spirit’ means something like the Nazi-ism and Communism of the last century. Although primarily political, both ideologies were based upon a belief that would improve the whole world. But this time it would be a far more powerful re-emergence of a medieval mentality.

To Westerners steeped in democratic values the ‘Arab Spring’ brought some hope for widespread change – and perhaps the realisation of that supra-naturally heard word. But most are ignorant of the deep motivation within Islamist doctrine and its repudiation of democratic principles. A well-informed knowledge of the Islamist mind-set, therefore, makes it easy to agree with the PM’s opinion of a greatly protracted conflict.

[Readers wishing to learn more about this matter may want to dig into Dr Bill Warner’s site Political Islam, which is defined as ‘ Islam’s ideology about unbelievers’.]

So without divine intervention from the real God, there would be absolutely no hope for ordinary Muslims of freedom. Their only hope is the same as that of their fellows in the faith of Abraham – the blessed hope of our assurance, Jesus Christ, as Paul wrote to Titus:

¹¹For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹²teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

The Blessed Hope Appears to Muslims

I would direct you first to a reply to the previous post in which Tony refers to a dream that relates to Hagar, mother of Ishmael and all Abraham’s Arabic descendants. Tony concludes:

…the water in my dream is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, and I believe that a revival is coming to the children of Hagar who dwell in desert places.

This reminded me that in November 1999 Wendy Alec received a revelatory visit from Jesus wherein He addressed Arab nations and made a promise to visit them (pages 141-143 of Journal of the Unknown Prophet) – am stunned to notice these are the same numbers as just copied from chapter 10 of Paul Keith’s book! WOW !! Here are some snippets.:

…I, the Lord God of your forefathers am about to unwrap the grave clothes that bind you so fiercely to that which leads you so far from me…even as you have betrothed yourself to Islam, so I have betrothed Myself to you…

And so a great revelation and visitation shall start to manifest and so a great spirit of supplication and repentance shall sweep the communities for it is I, Jesus, who shall speak. First one behind closed doors, then two behind closed doors, then twenty and then thousands, and so my Church throughout the Arab nations shall start to rise.

Lastly, there have been many many independent accounts of such direct encounters, the latest received by email of Dreams, Visions Moving Muslims to Christ. A few years ago I emailed about those recorded in Christine Dargs’ book (as below, and website):

Conclusion

I trust that readers who’ve followed my two-part musings about Mr Cameron’s remarks may agree there really is firm hope of a considerable change within years, not decades.

In my humble opinion, coincidence of dates and book pagination indicates that the Lord is stressing the importance of revelations of His working throughout the Muslim world. This may, therefore, be of great encouragment to intercessors, to believers and those serving Him in those lands.

Readers may wish to listen to the following recording of Dave Bilbrough’s stirring song -be blessed, mightily.:

IMMEDIATE POSTSCRIPT – JUST PUBLISHED THIS POST AND FIND THIS EMAIL from Paul Keith in my In-tray about Books of Destiny!!

“In recent weeks and months we have received numerous inquiries concerning the message I received in 2002 involving the soon emergence of God’s last day champions and the prophetic picture God gave me through the story of Secretariat. Those visionary encounters and prophetic messages are now written in “Books of Destiny”. This book was birthed out of a series of visions the Lord gave me concerning his plans for this generation and the uniqueness of those he has caused to be born in this hour. To many the gift of a spiritually “enlarged heart” will be granted to give us greater capacity for God and compassion for mankind.…” click to read this Newsletter. (Website: White Dove Ministries)

Cameron: A war against al-Qaeda could last decades…

Posted on Tuesday, 22 January, 2013 by Richard Barker

WELL, YES AND NO, Prime Minister.

This opinion is based upon over fifteen years’ monitoring, study and research in dozens of documents and reference works. [See Footnote 1 below].

In Sunday’s interview [2] on the murders of Britons and many other nationals in Algeria, David Cameron stated.:

This is a stark reminder, once again, of the threat we face from terrorism the world over…particularly in North Africa. This is a global threat and it will require a global response. It will require a response that is about years, even decades, rather than months, and it requires a response that is patient, that is painstaking, that is tough but also intelligent, but above all has an absolutely iron resolve; and that is what we will deliver over these coming years. It will also require countries to work together, and I will use our chairmanship of the G8 this year to make sure this issue is right at the top of the agenda where it belongs.

…first we should just say very clearly; the responsibility for loss of life lies with the terrorists…they wanted to take lives; they wanted to kill people; they wanted to do exactly that.

When asked if the threat to the UK from al-Qaeda in North Africa is as great as it was in Afghanistan a decade ago, he replied.:

Well, it is different in scale but there are similarities. What we face is an extremist, Islamist, violent, al-Qaeda linked terrorist group. Just as we had to…have to deal with that in Pakistan and in Afghanistan, so the world needs to come together to deal with this threat in North Africa. It is similar because it is linked to al-Qaeda; it wants to destroy our way of life; it believes in killing as many people as it can. [Emphases mine]

The total number killed by Islamists is now over 20,000 since the attack upon New York on 11 September 2001 [3].

At least the PM and Foreign Secretary William Hague are unequivocal about the No. 1 menace to global peace and security. In practically every Western government PC values (Political Correctness, ie. Politicians’ Claptrap) have imposed head-in-the sand attitudes, blinkered avoidance and deliberately ignorant self-deception upon policies. They even made rational analysis, legitimate discussion and speech a criminal offence. A controversial example is the US administration’s kowtowing to Muslim Brotherhood influence and changing all national security manuals [4]. This has resulted in a greatly hampered military grasp of the avowed enemy’s strategy and goals. For example, the Bengazhi-gate furore [5] and refusal to recognise the Fort Hood massacre of November 2009 for what it really is. [6 – Raymond Ibrahim is quoted but many credible experts could also be cited.]

FIRST, I must underline my personal opinion is not against Muslims as individuals for each murderer, like all of us at one time of another, is a sinner in need of forgiveness and their salvation that was purchased for each of us by Jesus’ self-sacrifice on the accursed Roman cross. And this awesome blessing is FREE! Truly there is no other way, or any higher name by which we are to be saved and enter into life everlasting than that of the One whom God sent. Thus, we can be fully reconciled to Him though His Son and come into His holy presence.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. [John 14:6]

It is irrational, nay evil, to ascribe the obligatory murder of non-believers to a divinity’s demands. [Is it any wonder atheistic Professor Dawkins claims ‘religion makes people stupid’? 7] Irrationality puts a mere man above his god – which is idolatry! If divine, is not the Meccan god of the famous 7th century Arab more than able to deal, now or any time, with everyone who offends him? Why need men and children to do his dirty work?

It was heartening, therefore, that unlike the effete BBC the PM did not mince words in Parliament when he called the perpetrators ‘terrorists’. The BBC describes them as ‘militants’, perhaps to reflect Algerian usage. Yet it’s hardly surprising in view of my earlier criticism [8] and Michael Deacon concludes his report [9] of the occasion, “Our enemy isn’t a nation. It’s an infestation”.

[Update 4th Feb: according to The Commentator, on TV yesterday former PM Tony Blair echoed PM Cameron’s remarks and is of the opinion.:

“We are certainly talking about a generation” said Blair, explaining that the West should view the fight against Islamism as the fight against revolutionary communism. (U/line added by RB)

“It will happen in many different theatres, it will happen in many different ways but the truth is that you have no option but to confront it, to try over time to defeat it.”]

PERSONAL VIEWPOINTS

1. As reported privately [10], several years ago I discussed with Rolland Baker of Iris Ministries a vision of Holy Spirit fire sweeping up Eastern Africa from Mozambique, across the Sinai into the Middle East. He told me about a discussion on Arabic TV held at Islam’s worldwide spiritual authority of Al Azhar University in Cairo. Apparently, this was about setting up a global caliphate and progress reports were received that their goal is well on the way to being achieved, with the exception of Africa because of God’s work in Mozambique – where Muslims have been healed and delivered of demons, and where Muslim provinces converted and mosques have become churches!

2. A professor of Islamic history and literature at its most prestigious centre of learning, Al-Azhar University, and who lived Islam and taught in mosques, has written a thorough expose of Islam and the origins of the Muslim Brotherhood. When a freshman, he enrolled in a class on Quranic interpretation and asked, “Why is jihad constantly spoken about and not other verses about peace, love and forgiveness? The blind sheik erupted in front of hundreds of students,

There is a whole sura (chapter) called ‘Spoils of War’. There is no surah called ‘Peace’. Jihad and killing are the head of Islam. If you take them out you cut off the head of Islam!

This student couldn’t understand why others were killing Christians and came to realise he had two options, viz: embrace ‘Christianised’ Islam tailor-made for Egyptian government (of Mubarak), or to embrace Islam fully in line with its founder’s teachings and Quran! I could quote much more, particularly about the MB, its Egyptian President Morsi and its tentacles around President Obama [hence my concern in 11], but for now here’s Dr Mark Gabriel’s book:

This ex-Muslim scholar confirms that the ultimate goal of Islam is to establish Islamic authority over the whole world. His book is an eye-opener for most Christians!

WHAT’S TO BE DONE?

Foreign Secretary Hague spoke about increasing UK overseas aid to poor nations to combat Islamists. But the problem won’t be changed until ordinary believers come to understand the faith is mistaken and are educated about its conflict with the teachings of the Old and New Testaments. Simply check and compare the lives of the founders of three Abrahamic faiths, Moses, Jesus Christ and Mohammed, and the open-minded will agree with the Gospels – Jesus is matchless.

I believe the government should continue to obtain advice and assistance only from ex-Muslims who are familiar with all the deep issues and carry out an urgent programme to ditch PC bilge and focus on straight-talking. This should start making inroads into the problem. But it does have another and much more real dimension – that of the spiritual realm. This would be for others to tackle and which is now covered in the next posting, All Hail The Lamb (click to continue reading).

Informed Links:

Bill Warner – Trilogy Project (Islam’s sacred texts)
Dr Patrick Sookhdeo – founder of the Barnabas Fund
Maajid Nawak – co-founder of the Quilliam Foundation
Walid Shobat – former Muslim Brotherhood member
Jerry Rassamni – Lebanese ex-Militant.

Useful Reference:

I Dared To Call Him Father – Bilquis Shah
From Jihad to Jesus – Jerry Rassamni
Mosques & Miracles – Stuart Robinson (below)

Footnotes:

These sources only scratch the surface: Not on the 10 o’clock News.
Full transcript of interview: Number10’s Update by the Prime Minister.
Contributions from the ‘Religion of Peace’ and detailed list of attacks.
Just one of many reports: Obama tries to eradicate radical Islam.
My remarks here on the US election: If I were an American citizen.
An example and analysis of political failure: The ‘lone wolf’ jihadist.
His Grace Cranmer’s discussion: Dawkins: religion makes you stupid.
Richard’s Watch tag BBC covers BBC’s highly questionable attitudes.
Telegraph Sketch: terrorists or ‘militants’ they will be our enemy…
Richard’s Watch Not many people know and A 3rd Great Awakening?
Obama’s speech at Cairo to the Muslim world and Muslim Brotherhood

A tragic yet miraculous event in London shows God’s hand

Posted on Thursday, 17 January, 2013 by Richard Barker

Hat tip to Mavis for advising that headlines in today’s Daily Mail refer to a miraculous escape during yesterday morning’s rush-hour on the South Bank, London, viz:

Two workmen last night thanked ‘divine intervention’ for their astonishing escape from death as a helicopter crashed into their crane and turned into a fireball.

The pair should have been in the cabin when disaster struck, sending burning debris cascading 700ft on to the rush-hour streets of London below.

Instead, Richard Moule and his colleague Nicki Biagioni were late for work – both had overslept for the first time in years – and missed death by minutes.

Regrettably, Peter Barnes and Matthew Wood were the only ones to have lost their lives when Pete’s helicopter inexplicably went out of control and crashed into the crane and ‘friendly giant’ Matthew was the unfortunate passing pedestrian down below. [See Daily Mail’s online account and photo library.]

About a dozen people only (!) were injured, as today’s Telegraph reports under 2-page broadsheet headline.:

‘Miracle’ of how so few died when fire rained down on the rush hour – The fact that only two people died when a two-ton helicopter crashed on to a busy road during the morning rush hour was nothing short of miraculous, police said.

Emergency workers who scrambled to the scene had expected the death toll to be “much, much worse”, but instead they came across a series of astonishingly narrow escapes, including a baby who was inches from death when a piece of wreckage smashed through his parents’ car roof on to the seat next to him…

Fate contrived an extraordinary set of circumstances to limit the death toll to the helicopter pilot and a pedestrian, including a red traffic light that kept the crash site almost entirely clear of vehicles.

“It doesn’t take a great deal of imagination to think what would have happened if that helicopter had crashed onto a bus or a heavily-occupied building,” said Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London.

[All emphases within quotations by RB]

I’ve commuted through and driven around this area many times when I lived in greater London, including the same areas as both families. Whenever I visit I can find my way around quite easily but am always surprised at so many tall buildings in our capital city. Nina reminded me many people escaped death during the infamous 9/11 Twin Towers attack simply because they’d been divinely warned and stayed away.

Traumatic as any unexpected death is for their family and friends, there has definitely been an amazing protective blessing over this accident – perhaps angels ‘arranged’ the fixed ‘stop’ light? It indicates the Lord had a hand in this, perhaps to prove His grace to everyone, believer and unbeliever alike?

Be amazed as you read the reports, see the images and consider the details…and then thank the good Lord.

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PERSONAL VIEWPOINTS

WHAT’S TO BE DONE?

A tragic yet miraculous event in London shows God’s hand

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PERSONAL VIEWPOINTS

WHAT’S TO BE DONE?

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