Further to my earlier posting a very visual log of the Praise Bus’ journey is available on Facebook. Especial appreciation goes to the exceptional skills of the drivers (see June 17 video on Fbook), whom we met in May in Kingsbridge, Devon (photo).
I was intrigued to learn from a fellow reader of an encouraging encounter with some Welsh Christians during his hike from Newport, Wales to the Lizard in Cornwall . This group been in contact with people involved in new age etc and had been told “such groups were aware something was going on in the spiritual realm”!!
Now if we overlook the media exuberance over what is in essence a pagan festivity and consider that this is being ‘converted’ by being blessed by daily prayers to the Living Lord, then we may appreciate what He could be doing in all this to change the nation’s hearts.
When seen on a map, the torch relay’s route across the UK seems quite haphazard but it actually resembles a vivid flash of forked lightning. Now if one bears in mind the two-part vision Joan Darnall received, the latter part speaks of bolts of lightning hitting the scattered holy fires (like Queen’s Jubilee beacons??) across Britain.
This week I came across a word from the Lord received last August and which refers to such a combined possibility – The world will see a land where I Am glorified. You may, therefore, wish to read and weigh this and then read and watch the video posting for 7 July on the Praise Bus. (NB. need to open up ‘See more recent stories’ on Facebook’s timeline.) Allow the music and imagery to set the scene for considering both words!
We’ll meet up with the bus team in Petersfield first thing Monday morning as the relay zigzags towards Guildford.
PostScript Friday 20 June: see also reblog of Gillan Scott’s view and commendable interviews by Paul Burgin with the Rt Hon Gary Streeter MP about the group Christians in Parliament (of which he is chairman) and with Danny Webster, Parliamentary Officer with the Evangelical Alliance, mainly about the role of Christians in the media.
In today’s Telegraph Rosa Prince writes that during Prime Minister’s Question Time, David Davis MP asked about the case of Nadia Eweida. She is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights after having been barred by her employer from wearing a crucifix whilst working at Heathrow Airport.
Mr Davis described British Airways refusal to allow Miss Eweida to wear her cross as a “disgraceful piece of political correctness”. He asked the PM why the Government was opposing her appeal to complain that there are no protections under UK law for workers who wore religious symbols.
This profound posting by Tony, fellow watcher and regular contributor to this blog, draws attention to the urgency of these days as the hands of God’s clock approach midnight. I would add that Tony closes with scripture and a striking dream that connects directly into what the Lord had already given Nina for delivery at a forthcoming ladies’ breakfast – Are You Ready? (recounted here – also see comments).
In Jewish tradition, the unmarried friends who attend the bride provide light for the groom who comes at night.
“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
(Mat 24:12-13 NASB)
Wickedness is often called darkness. In fact, In John it says the following about light and darkness, “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
(Joh 3:19-21 NASB)
The Father had to approve of the bride and had to approve of…
Taken in case of need, this holiday photo is now serving its purpose – to remind me what wall-to-wall, cloud-less sky is like! And it’s not hard, but not easy, to recall what lies beneath this azure zenith! But 8.30am today I walked in warm sunshine, yet a bank of cloud soon rolled over like a gray blanket – but at least it’s not raining and occasionally getting a bit brighter as cloud thins now and then.
Regarded as the wettest April to June (see report and video) since full detailed records for temperatures and rainfall across the UK began in 1910 – they’re forecasting over a month’s rain in 24hrs! (In the night we heard it like never ever before – it fell so heavily and quickly it sounded like one long roar!) Even now in July it’s unwise to stow away one’s winter wear! There have been ‘exceptional’ torrential rains, stormforce winds, at least one small tornado and widespread flooding, sadly with loss of life – all as was anticipated in my dream reported in What’s prophetical about weather? )
But there’s a blessing, nationally and personally – although much earlier than usual, our holiday took place during a fine fortnight with cool winds, and only one wet day. Two winters of abnormally low rainfall left reservoirs and underground aquifers very dry but they’ve been replenished. Also, plans to ban the use hose-pipes have been scrapped. So thank you Lord – let the river of Your Holy Spirit flow…
Over the ‘pond’
On this side of the Atlantic we’ve got away with things very lightly! Over in the States it’s been a very bad month indeed, as I’ve noted from a couple of blogs. My older cousin south of Tucson, Arizona, is hoping for the ‘monsoon’ as it’s hot and dry (temperatures over 100 degrees F daily) with only a trace of rain this year. The extreme heat then headed eastwards, to affect 25 states and 45 million people, for example:
and there’s the consequential drought effect upon crops and harvests!!
Now, it’s an interesting and pertinent fact that President Obama had declared June as being devoted to ‘gay pride’, as well as having declared shortly beforehand his personal interest in changing the laws to allow ‘marriage’ for such folk. Many black pastors have challenged and registered strong objections to his actions.
Now, it’s been noted that Obama signed off his official declaration as follows,
“IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Indepen-dence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.” (emphasis added)
Now, is it not an extraordinarily contrary thing to mix this matter with a reference to the life of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour? Can we not sense where His heart is in this matter and what His response is? This president has surely put himself in an invidious position and I would not like to be in his shoes. After all, isn’t it written that Sodom and Gomorrah suffered from intense fire? (Genesis 19:23) Jesus indicated that those cities would, however, have repented had they witnessed His mighty works. Furthermore, His statement implies that there is hope for all who do not reject Him (Matthew 11).
Could this be why the United States has been suffering such stupendously atrocious storms, and continues to reap the whirlwind of darker days? (For fuller discussion see Dr John MrTernan’s Insights blog with journal of events: Defend & Proclaim the Faith.)
I criticised the content of President Obama’s speech in Cairo Speech and expressed reservations about the nature of his faith. After recent ‘clarifications’ on that issue and his address during the National Prayer Breakfast, I have reviewed my reservations – especially the claim that he may be ‘born again’. However, I’ve yet to be convinced.
The fact remains, that whomsoever President Obama is acountable to as his spiritual mentor or pastor seems to have ignored Jesus’ instruction to His Apostles, and hence to all those in spiritual authority, about how to make disciples of believers:
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 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, 20 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.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
This is New King James text, but New International Version renders verse 20 as,
“…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded…”
So just what did Jesus command?
=========================
Back to the blue sky…aaahhh. And what was beneath it? A favourite beach….
I thank Christen Forster for this post on his Blog about the initial outcome of the special listening-prayer meeting, to which my previous post referred:
“On June 12th 2012 more than eighty Christian leaders from throughout the UK gathered in St Mary’s Undercroft in the Palace of Westminster alongside Parliamentarians for an hour of listening to God in silence. Anglicans, Baptists, Catholics and Christian leaders from a wide cross-section of ministries were present. Two hours of feedback where then held in Committee Room 16 and written submissions made to the organisers. [For more details click here.]
“Below is the initial summary issued by the Organising group, a coalition of ministries under the banner “Together for the Nation” chaired by Maranatha Prayer Community. A full transcript will be available on request. [See Christen’s blog for more information, as well as my notes below.]
“Many of those who attended have said it was a very special time for them. Apparently this is the first time a group has gathered in Parliament just to listen to God with no other agenda. The summary contains a very sobering and challenging message. We are told to weigh prophecy, because while we see in part and prophesy in part, the seed of God’s “now” word are too valuable to miss.
“Don’t treat prophecy lightly, test it all; hold on to what is good and hold back from what seems bad.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22
“So, please read the summary below and where it seems good let it shape and inform your praying and ignore what doesn’t seem right to you.
“It is probably worth observing that like most prophecies to whole nations, it is quite broad – after all, it needs to frame the prayers of a million and more potential hearers and intercessors. So look for your own guidance within the framework it sets out.
If you accept this message, it demands an urgent response involving practical preparation and action. As one attendee wrote: “God is looking for people of skilful hands and integrity of heart who will listen to Him”.
These five themes and words repeated again and again in the verbal feedback session. Other more specific guidance and thoughts can be found in the full transcript.
God’s appointed time to judge the nations of the world is very nearly upon us. Our nation and its church have turned away from God and His standards and we are beginning to see and feel the resulting judgement.
A remnant of Britain’s covenant past, its Christian heritage and the good fruit of our worldwide missionary zeal, remains. We should embrace our spiritual sons and daughters from the nations who have returned to help us. It is possible that God may yet act out of mercy to avert the very worst of the judgement that we have brought upon ourselves. The Church is called to be the voice of hope and compassion.
The shaking of every part of man’s world-wide economic, social, political and religious systems has begun. It will be a time of great humbling, purification and refining in every aspect of society. Only what is built on the foundations that God requires will be permitted to remain – righteousness, truth and justice.
When the judgement has run its course, God has promised to restore us. This restoration must follow God’s revealed strategies and guidelines and not be led astray again by Man’s initiatives and good ideas.
Because of His great love for this nation and all of its people, God’s heart is breaking and He longs for us to respond to Him, as individuals, as a church, and as a nation. The time to respond is now.
“A theme only hinted at in the list above (see point 4) that struck a particular resonance with me was the call to the church, for reformers and builders to be released and to step up. We need to prepare for what is coming down, but Jesus is a builder, he clears the way not for destruction’s sake but to make space for the new.”
Notes:
My previous post referred to the forum at which Christen presented a detailed summary of the meeting. If you’d like to listen to those sessions their recordings are available free of charge here. Christen stressed the importance of recalling and honouring our very ancient Christian foundations, which I’d already had occasion to do in my earlier post Landmark Parliamentary Inquiry and provided a link to a fascinating historical item.
Christen also reported that the group had recognised that institutions and people had broken past covenants with the Lord (presumably not just our reneging against the one with Israel) – “A tree doesn’t stand without good roots and severe storms are coming!”
Since 1993 the Marantha Community has been committed to speaking out to challenge the steady and deliberate removal of Christian values from our society. The Community believes that if the people of God speak with one voice, the voice of God will be heard in the land. Over recent years they have researched prophetic words given to the wider Church and found that common themes emerged, from which collated messages have been compiled – click for their Prophecy page and One Voice Messages.
Yet again – right place, right time. Some may think it ‘spooky’ – but please, it’s definitely not some sort of boast. Maybe, it’s just that I’m alert to these kind of things, or perhaps it’s a gift of discernment. Whatever it is, it’s far too frequent to be my imagination, especially as actual physical events are involved. My last few postings considered a strange series of serendipity which ended up being validated by yet another ‘coincidence’! So, would you bear with me once again?
Last Saturday I attended a day’s teaching led by Christen Forster, senior leader of River Church in Maidenhead, at The Emmanuel Centre, Marsham Street, Westminster. He spoke about authority, power and control in the Church and in the world.
I was particularly interested to learn the outcome of a recent gathering of about 90 senior leaders from church, commerce, culture and politics who met in St Mary’s Undercroft directly beneath the House of Commons. They’d listened to Jesus in silence for an hour and then fedback what they felt He was saying to the nation.
As Christen reports in his blog:
This was a historic event and at the same time a single step in a flow of developments putting the Word and Presence of God back into the Foundation of the United Kingdom. On the floor in the middle of the corridor that divides the House of Commons from the House of Lords there is a Latin inscription. In translation it read…
“Lest the Lord builds the house, those who labour do so in vain…”
Words that remind us that despite the Godless direction of so much policy conceived and enacted at Westminster today, the roots of authority in the UK are in the word and presence of God.
He said that the listening-prayer time under Parliament was unique and it had started and closed with the ringing of a bell – where’ve we heard about that before? (here and here). Yet even more remarkable was the consistency of the spirit and themes. There was weight and authority in what God is saying yet, being nationally-relevant, it is quite broad. Even so, some points could be applied to us as individuals.
Of the many points I was impressed with the recognition that the nation is reaping the consequences of our moral collapse. Also, divisions and death in the nation have reflected those between/within the body of Christ. The church must, therefore, be changed, improved and rebuilt and not hold back in proclaiming the Gospel. As a nation we should recall and build upon the former solid foundations of Christianity. The whole report will verified, signed and published in due course. (Initial overview now availablehere.)
Next week, there will be a follow-up evening of prophetic prayer for Parliament and government at The Emmanuel Centre (see Kingdom Come).
NOW, I was surprised that Christen briefly referred to two other matters for they are relevant to this blog’s recent posts.:
Healing On The Streets is taking off faster than did the Alpha course!
Where did we last encounter a Godly reference to Windsor? – the previous post. And the next day at a church we’d been invited to, this royal town on the river Thames cropped up in the pastor’s conversation about the vision for starting that church! So, serendipity strikes yet again!! Therefore, it really must be of God.
But there’s much more. Here’s what I talked about with Dr Sharon Stone during a conference in February:
After talking about her class in Windsor an image of its Castle’s famous round tower came to mind. This was followed by the notion that its crenellated battlements looked like the teeth of a giant cogwheel which could fit into some sort of invisible socket where earth could get plugged into heaven.
It’s a little hard to explain but then the thought dropped into mind that such engagement would enable the heavenly kingdom to ‘wind up’ our earthly kingdom – or ‘queen-dom’ – for the Lord’s purposes (eg. revival) – rather like putting a key into and winding up a clockwork toy.
Windsor Castle, courtesy CopyrightFreePhotos
Combine all that with this unique photo Alan May took (original link removed as demand crashed website but see copy here) during Garter Day on Monday 13 June 2011 at the Castle..:
Let’s continue considering coincidences in more depth. My last two postings (here and here) reported upon connected instances of serendipity; the fortuitous occurrence of meaningful random events or coincidences. However, when these seem to relate to our relationship with God and we can discern His hand or instruction in events, then many refer to them as ‘God-incidents’, as you may have gathered from the last posts.
Therein, you’ll have glimpsed a train of serendipity. In fact, each event along with its associated insights could only have been recognised because of a related previous event. For example, had I not been there then this would not have happened; had I not done this then that would not have been understood.
Furthermore, I’m reminded of scientific, physical laws of cause and effect as well as of simple arithmetic and maths. And recent coincidences are no simple linked chain but more like a tree, its trunk representing the observed sequence of events. Then three branches, and their own offspring, shoot out from the time of my ‘mistaken’ search on the web. So now’s the time to divulge the amazing, crowning event!
Therefore, we may come to understand how this concatenation, or series of over a dozen related events, can be regarded as a distinct entity. It may be hard for non-believer and believer alike to even consider that the whole is pointing to the Living God – if not coming direct from Him.
But an astounding ‘God-incidence’ actually confirms that He is in these insights. It’s a though, using the last post’s metaphor of an orchestra, the conductor himself turns around and addresses the audience – like in the last night of the BBC Proms when the conductor humourously speaks to the celebrating promenaders before leading into the traditional, rousing grand finale. Funnily enough, after that post’s musing about music I came across this from Professor Maucus du Sautoy:
With music you pick out the connections between one theme and another, and it is the same in maths……musicians are mathematicians at heart even though they may not know it. (Telegraph Weekend Review 2.6.2012)
GLORIOUS GOD-INCIDENCE VALIDATES GOD-INCIDENTS
Within two days of being amazed by unexpected events I received validation to everything from a recognised prophet. In her mentoring class held opposite Windsor Castle, Dr Sharon Stone gave a brief resume of strategies and said Jesus has already brought breakthrough (word used by Beni Johnson) and opened doors.
We need to cross the threshold and walk through, as well as to guard our tongues against negative speech. With kind permission to quote, here’s my brief note of what Sharon taught:
Four Biblical Laws for Advancement of The Kingdom
Posture – How we do this is key – act on what God says, recalling that Jesus’ instruction at John 21 to the disciples to move only a few feet brought different and positive result.
Obedience – This is the watermark for next glory move of God that’s being released. Matt 17:24-27 shows how Peter’s obedience to God’s inspiration found and brought forth glory. His calling’s extreme purposes required extreme obedience.
Serendipity – “Amazing, accidental discovery! Wow! No matter what we do and what God does He surprises us with lots more – eg. Pentecost”. See Ephesians 3:14-21 – verse 20 in Amplified Bible reads:
20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do super-abundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] – 21 to Him be glory…. (my emphasis)
Adaptability – We can get stuck in old familiar ways and find we don’t know how to handle the new. We set our size according to our ‘container’ but God wants us to move into the FAR bigger – but we don’t have a long time to adapt! Ask God to help us do it.
There it is, dear reader – I was left ‘God-smacked’! This prophet had given scriptural support, if not reasons, for the concatenation of God-incidents, thereby validating the ideas and insights into the deeper significance to Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee Bells:
ALL to and for His glory in the church and in Jesus Christ throughout all generations forever and ever.
[Hah – whilst separating sentence from preceding into closing paragraph, my pc begins playing a Vineyard classic, All Glory To Him!]
Do you recall, dear reader, the last time you were struck by an unusual and personal coincidence? My previous post about the Jubilee bells referred to the fortuitous, happy occurrence of such events – serendipity. But on this occasion it all came in like a flood tide of information and understanding from several sources!
It would be interesting to know the mathematical probabilities of these personal events – it was as though it had all been orchestrated. Perhaps the Lord Himself is composer, arranger and conductor of an orchestra – players stand and play their ‘instruments’ at specific moments and a melodious tune can be heard. Also, singers give thanks and praise to their maker/composer – even angelic choirs may join in and the whole gives glory to God.
So for not-yet-believers and nominal Christians, what follows may seem weird, perhaps ‘inaudible!’ but let it sink in and sink into it. In Part 1 I told about my ‘stumbling’ upon this revelatory information and provided links for readers to check for themselves. Here’s why it’s exciting.:
As previously recounted, a blog from Kingdom Vision in SW England popped onto my pc screen by ‘mistake’ and which begins:
For 48 hours now I have seen myriads of angels in the heavenlies standing in rows. “Myriads” is not a word I would use, it dropped into my spirit when I saw them. Myriads means “uncountable.” Then I heard the sound of bells pealing, over and over. Sometimes they got REALLY LOUD. (my emboldening)
This was at the close of May and American Kathie Walters goes on to tell about lots of cheering accompanying the bells, like at a wedding, and she realises it’s to do with the UK. Then she gets an email with news of the imminent Diamond Jubilee celebrations and hears that:
My friend Beni Johnson says God has been telling her things for a year about the bells. God told her, “The bells are going to ring again in England. Bells that have not been rung in years.” Beni said, “The bells are going to ring again and call people to prayer and worship as they did before. The bells will cause a sound in the atmosphere and it will be a sign to the UK. A sign of change (look back at the meaning of “peals”) and bring a shift.”
Following that English site’s link I read Joy Hall’s explanation of the number of Jubilee Bells and its Hebraic meaning, which is exceedingly encouraging for the UK.
But what particularly impacted in my spirit is the recollection of the effect of pealing bells when Nina and I visited Beverley, East Yorkshire, as recounted in Back down to earth. Strolling around the market we decided to visit the close-by Minster. As we went down the street the heavy Minster bells started to be rung, not as a plain toll but in a most melodious tune. Nina and her companion were both immediately ‘blasted’ in their spirits and had such difficulty in remaining upright they had to get into the nearest doorway to lean against it. Any passer by could have thought they were drunks – but at that time of day? At just gone 11.30 am?
As for me, I was busy taking photos but noted how unusual the bells sounded and surmised angels would enjoy it. But Nina heard it as a continuous announcement and declaration into the earthly and heavenly realms within the region!! So, there was a real spiritual dimension to these bells being rung, even though in a humanly organised schedule.
The last link connected into a prophetic well in SE London, which plugs straight into an article I’d commented upon just before going on our holidays, from which we’d recently returned. This new post begins:
There has been a massive amount of prophetic chatter about the sound of bells ringing in the heavenlies – some linked to resistance and spiritual warfare with others linking to the message of hope, a call to worship and a call to the “UK” believers in Jesus to awaken from slumber and take hold of God’s intended purposes for this nation. (my emphasis)
Now, in the very busy week prior to going away I’d made time to comment upon Gillan Scott’s blog Has the Church fallen asleep on its feet? You may like to read this short debate wherin my hastily penned contribution summarises where I believe the Church should be heading. But reading further into the on-screen item I was hit by:
Within our fellowship we have had many words from the Lord about new beginnings, the start of the new things of God, breaking through of glass ceilings, wells of salvation, healing and heritage being opened up again – this past Sunday evening was all about the fire of God – key is that we have to ensure our lamps are full of oil and that we are to be totally focused on watching and waiting for the groom as we have to have the oil of His Holy Spirit within us to catch the fire! (author’s emphasis)
To understand this impact please note that, whilst I was away, Tony in Arizona had left me his following comment on exactly the same scriptural theme of the wise and foolish virgins (Matthew 25)!
The Hour is Late and the Time is Short
I had a dream early the morning of 04/29/2012. In the dream my wife and I were in bed sleeping and it was very late. Our door bell rang and I remember saying to my wife, “who would be ringing our doorbell at this late hour”. We both got up to see who it was. What was odd was that each of us had an old fashioned hurricane lamp, the kind you fill with oil, as our light . When we opened the front door, we saw an angel standing there with a jug of oil in his hands. He filled our lamps and told us that the time is short.
His comment was to my posting Get Ready. Later, when I discussed all this with Nina and told her about Tony’s dream she was stunned, “That’s the topic of my talk at a ladies’ breakfast in mid-June!” She had written it two months before what I reported upon in my post. I recall her having said it would be a follow-up to previous addresses; but this time, she said, she’s going to have to sock it to them, no holds barred, because the time to Jesus’ return is getting very short!
In February, the Lord had given her the whole message and title, which is – reader, are you ready for this?…‘Are You Ready?’ !! Just upon the thought and mentioning the title whilst we spoke, she was hit by the physical reaction of being fired up by Holy Spirit. (It happened again last night when telling visiting friends about it!)
Two days after all this I attended Sharon Stone’s mentoring class in Windsor on the eve of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Upon the suggestion of another prophet, we went discretely to cleanse and bless the River Thames prior to the next day’s Jubilee flotilla.
Beni Johnson’s Prophecy on Breakthrough for the UK:
Intercessor Beni is in charge of Bethel Prayer House, Bethel Church in Redding, Calif. Her words about the bells have been quoted far and wide in part but what validates all the above impressions is this brief reference:
…We ended up in London where Big Ben is, on a river tour when it rang at high noon – which, for an intercessor, is the time to pray – high noon represents everything exposed, like nothing hiding,..Then we took a train to Paris… and got a taxi to Notre Dame. The minute we got out at Notre dame it was ringing high noon..then we got it (understood what the Lord is stressing about bells).
Now look at photo displaying the time when Nina was ‘struck’ – 11.35am. The bells were ringing and declaring in preparation for high noon! If you’re a believer, then listen to the whole 7 minutes of Beni’s greatly encouraging message above.
There’s lots more to all this, perhaps even a mathematical proof of God’s existence?
ASA Adjudication in complaint about the Coalition For Marriage
This morning blogger Archbishop Cranmer announced that the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled on four counts against complaints that the Coalition’s press advert featuring married couples is offensive. He provides the judgement report in its entirety but questions its closing ‘No further action required’ comment.
The complaint cited his blog amongst four displays of the supposedly offensive advert, which now heads his post. As I wrote here yesterday, His Grace has been tenaciously investigating the issue from another aspect. He has now received a reply to his enquiry of the ASA and which,
His Grace finds this disingenuous, if not deceitful. Is the ASA really saying, in the 21st century, that they have no means of knowing what a document contained prior to an update? If amendments are made by means of paper forms, there will be an audit trail. If they are carried out online, there will be electronic footprints. If changes are made by email correspondence, these are easily traceable. It is, frankly, inconceivable that the ASA do not know what Lord Smith’s declarations were prior to May 2012, not least because he himself must know what changes he made. Unless, of course, they have something to hide…
The problems starting to beset ASA are hardly suprising for let’s not forget the shaking that was prophesied for this year in accordance with the following scripture.:
“Yet once more I shake not only the earth but also the heaven.” (Heb 13:26 NKJV)
Further to my post about the ASA adjudication against Healing On The Streets in Bath there is some unrelated news about another injudicious ASA action.
Regular readers will be aware of my opinion on political attempts to suppress Christian beliefs (eg. as here, here, here, here). So, it was extremely interesting to learn about the widely read political blogger Archbishop Cranmer’s confrontation with Lord Smith, Chairman of the ASA, over his unwarranted interference with his blog:
…the ASA seeks to harass and bully those who carry perfectly innocuous advertisements promoting the traditional view of marriage, and enter-tain that such advertisements might be ‘offensive and homophobic’.
This other ‘saga’ with the ASA reveals a distinct lack of integrity and impartiality within its top echelons! It also provides yet more evidence of its ulterior political motives, and is well worth reading and following the links provided by His Grace to grasp the whole story.
With regard to HOTS,Christians Together in the Highlands provides a summary of the nature and significance of this issue for churches within the United Kingdom.
Paul Skelton of Healing On The Streets Bath, has updated me with welcome news of a substantial flaw in the ASA dictat against statements and testimonies of healing on his website. The ruling has been officially reviewed and over-ruled and thus vindicates HOTS’ stance and their claims about ulterior motives to this issue, which many others could discern too – see previous update, and ASA tags in this blog for more.
The official statement has yet to be appear but it seems to confirm HOTS’ concerns, which the original complainant described as, ‘bizarre’. This young lady claims to be a ‘paranormal investigator’ and yet admits to not having spoken to anyone or to making enquires other than visiting the website, or having done any open-minded research. Her reasons arise from personal medical experiences, which is understandable, and so wishes to protect vulnerable people – but they’re mixed motives. Consequently, a very strong ‘crusading’ bias contributed to a hasty, incomplete assessment and conclusion. When I presented her with undeniable evidence of my wife’s healing the ‘lady’ didn’t want to accept its validity. Her claims to being an objective investigator are thereby shown as being, at best, delusion or, at worst, downright fraudulent.
[I was once on her side of the ‘fence’ – even having contempt for contemporary Christian belief – but how utterly shocked I was to discover I was ‘gravely’ wrong (deliberate pun) and that the Gospel really IS wholly true– see Death of Destiny?. I was devasted but what could I do but acknowledge the Truth Himself as my personal Lord and Saviour?]
Now, after my aside, here’s Paul’s published announcement.:
Advertising Standards Authority admit there was
a substantial flaw in their judgement
Early this year the ASA ruled that HOTS Bath was in breach of advertising standards in expressing our belief that God can heal physically as well as spiritually and emotionally.
However, the official review process has now been completed and has identified a substantial flaw in the ASA’s Adjudication.
The ASA has subsequently accepted the official reviewers recommendation that the HOTS Bath website is actually outside of their remit and therefore beyond their jurisdiction.
This is great news and sets a clear precedent for Christian websites to be able to share testimonies of Gods goodness through physical healing with out opposition from official bodies.
Below is our official statement regarding this news :-
We are grateful to the ASA’s Independent Reviewer and the ASA Council for reviewing and amending this decision, and confirming that there was a fundamental flaw in the original assessment of the complaint about our website.
The ASA has now confirmed that our website is not within its remit because the statements made on it reflects our beliefs and relate to a cause or idea – the website explains our belief that God can heal and provides information about prayer offered by our volunteers and therefore the ASA has confirmed that nothing on the website is in breach of the advertising regulations.
The ASA still considered that leaflets handed out could be in breach of the advertising regulations, however we changed the leaflets several months ago to reflect the concerns which the ASA had previously expressed.
The ASA is due to re-publish the adjudication confirming its views on the leaflets, but the revised adjudication does not apply to what is on our website, meaning we can continue to express our beliefs that God can and does heal, as well as providing information and testimonies explaining all about Healing on the Streets.
HOTS Bath will continue to fulfill its commitment to demonstrate the love of God through healing of body, mind and spirit on the streets of Bath and elsewhere.
SERENDIPITY STRIKES AGAIN !! (Definition: the happy occurrence of chance events.) But when such events are laden with surprising illumination of a spiritual and intellectual nature, they’re regarded as from the Living God; that is, ‘God-incidents’.
This time it’s all about the Queen’s bells! Or more particularly, the especially significant role and effect they have upon our nation and of which only a few folk have been aware.
Those who attended or watched yesterday’s grand spectacle of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee pageant on the River Thames saw – and heard – a huge flotilla of 1,000 vessels (click to see selection of photos, courtesy Daily Mail Online).
The Belfry barge carrying eight enormous church bells led the procession in one of the most spectacular nautical events seen in London for over 350 years. They pealed all along the 7 mile route and were joined by church bells ringing out in reply across the City of London as the pageant regally proceeded to Tower Bridge. (Daily Telegraph’s video-article on the rehearsal for bell-ringing gives a feel for their sound. I had hoped the BBC’s live coverage would have returned to their on-board presenter, showman John Barrowman, but his personal video blog conveys a sense of the very deep impact those bells can make.) Continue reading →
A new header Prophecies & Visions on this blog covers a brief introduction to Biblical prophecy. It also explains the difference between the office of prophet and the gifting of prophecy. For those interested in how the prophetic may apply to current national and international affairs, links are given to a number of fulfilled reports and others ‘pending’.
First listed is Smith Wigglesworth’s prophecy concerning revival in Britain. Do you know that its two preparatory aspects have already happened? Or do you know of his prayer partner’s surprise fifty years later upon seeing the same vision? Or, are you aware of: Continue reading →
It’s rather interesting that part of April’s newsletter received this week from Paul Keith Davis has a direct bearing upon my recent post ‘GET READY’. Therein, I mention seemingly God-incidental references by pastor John Kilpatrick and to the last of Geoff Pick’s 10 visions about preparations for our forthcoming, if not immanent, wedding feast with the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.
Now, Paul Keith’s newsletter adds the following insight:
“I was recently allowed by the Spirit to witness some individuals being taken “behind the veil” and shown great and mighty things that have been reserved for the end-time….
“As the experience continued, the Holy Spirit revealed how the sharing of Kingdom Truths with the body of Christ was likened to the preparation of a great banqueting table being set for the Lord and His Bride. Seemingly, the “implements and banners” that were being revealed to this group somehow were utilized in the adornment of the banqueting table, particularly around the area that was clearly recognized as the “seat of honor” (sic). Naturally, these things are shown in symbolic form to illustrate truth that will help us in the hour in which we are living and the responsibility being delegated to us by the Holy Spirit.”
Paul Keith’s newsletter Flourishing During Days of Darkness provides more information and in closing Revival:1 – glory stories I refer to another God-incidence regarding one of his references to Jesus’ Bridal company. A short biography of Paul Keith may be read here.
So, it’s worth enquiring of the Lord about the preparations for the Kingdom fully coming to earth. May He bless you with revelation in this. (Check out Do You Know Him? if you don’t know Jesus yet.)
Recently (here and here), I’ve tried to convey our own great excitement over March’s revival meeting in Hull. At last, I can share it better with you on this 10 minute clip, which also features a short song in the middle Note: no longer available but see this 3 min clip:
These miraculous healings of folk from Hemel Hempstead, Chesterfield and Tiverton strongly enthused a packed auditorium of Americans in Alabama a week ago. Nathan Morris was also excited to announce that BBC local radio had interviewed Michael about his amazing triple miracle and that Lasette’s astounding appearance in her hotel, which I reported in “Now we know God is real”, brought a Muslim to salvation!
[A friend who directs a national healing ministry says Muslims are keen to learn about God’s healing power. It’s a pity for those atheists with whom two fellow bloggers and I have been in debate but who steadfastly refuse to accept such signs of salvation – Lord, bless them with a personal revelation and true contrition.]
Next, Nathan’s fresh preaching entitled Have You Defiled Your Robes? on holiness and repentance, as in John 8.34-36 and Revelation 3:2-6, was truly outstanding. It was exceptionally rare preaching on the ‘offensive message’ of the Gospel – that is, upon all sin, even in believers!, and the power of Jesus’ blood – “it is the lifeline“. For example:
“I’m tired of this gospel that won’t get in peoples’ faces. Let me tell you the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ offends – get used to it! People don’t want to be offended anymore…without the Blood there are no miracles, without preaching the shed Blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, there is no salvation…one of the biggest lies you ever received is ‘once saved always saved’…you can’t live how you want… “
Many believers flocked forward, blocked the aisles in repentance and then received a fresh fire. The whole was preceded by an hour’s ascending worship as the Holy Spirit filled Lydia Stanley’s fingers with fire on the keyboard. (Join the worship here – news of the UK starts at 1hr20 and Nathan starts preaching at 1hr54.)
On his blog, Hull’s New Life Church leader Jarrod Cooper also includes a video clip of a lady and her husband telling what it’s like to be disabled for 6 years and then being healed at the church.
Jarrod also provides additional photos of Lasette and of extra footage with a follow-up of Michael, who declares, “God’s just amazing. He’s given me my life back and I thank God”. Oh, yes indeed that’s such a tremendous blessing.
I trust you will take time to watch these signs of God’s wonderful healing grace.
They’re saying it’s unusual weather. A couple of weeks ago water supply companies announced intentions to ban the use of garden hosepipes in order to save water. Two extremely dry winters have left supplies at low levels. As I’ve not followed weather developments I’ve not been thinking about it, but an unusual and lucid dream left me wide-awake a week ago today.
That dream featured very dark stormy clouds with very heavy rain and stormy winds – which has since been increasingly so! (Friday’s Telegraph photo is uncannily similar!)
I recalled a prophetic word that Lance Lambert gave last August and which reported the Lord as saying, “I will change her (Britain’s) climate, even her weather…”. Then last night I re-read Jarrod Cooper’s blog 10 Clouds in the Sky dated 5 January and noticed that he opens, “It’s 2012 and I hear the “sound of a heavy rain” (my emphasis)….”!!
The well-known Bible verse on rain is from the early prophet Joel, as at verse 2:23:
“He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you – the former rain and the latter rain in the first month”
My NKJV Study Bible’s note on this is interesting: ‘The latter rain is the spring rain that occurs just before harvest. This outpouring of refreshing rain which renews the fertility of the parched ground prefigures the outpour-ing of the Spirit, which will bring spiritual renewal (as in vv 28-32).’ Those later verses are quoted in Acts 2:17-21.
Also, I recall Dr Stone’s reference to unusually strong winds during New Year and which signifies, she suggested, an unexpected and strong move of the Holy Spirit, or breath of God. So, perhaps my dream about weather may have some significance, especially as it strongly hints at the Lord’s plan:
The Dream
Cannot recall the full scenario, but am with my wife and a couple of believers in a public building that’s been badly damaged by strong wind and heavy rain. Someone comes to tell me of their concern over what’s happening all around and I sense a deep fearfulness.
So to my very great surprise, I hear myself replying, “It’s all to do with the two words received this week!”That is, with the prophetic words I’d emailed and posted as, “Get ready!”
At that moment my mind is very lucid and clear, as though knowing in my spirit that what I was saying was of Holy Spirit. [The deep certainty was identical to my response when dreaming last 3rd Sept about angelic preparations for setting up the Kingdom.]
Afterwards, the weather gets worse as a tempestuous wind flattens almost everything before it, but we remain safe…
Upon waking, I was atremble with excitement over perceiving the deep truth behind ‘get ready’. Also because of this, I sensed the Lord wanted me to insert a reference in my just reworked outline of the purpose of this blog. Then on putting my hand to my NKJV study Bible, ‘Jeremiah 10’ sprang to mind and to which I immediately turned. The opening three verses read:
Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel. Thus says the LORD,
“Do not learn the ways of the Gentiles [unbelievers?];do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, for the Gentiles are dismayed at them, for the customs of the people are futile;…”
The chapter is headed ‘Idols and the True God’ and those opening verses describe well what I dreamed. Then I noted verse 10 and 11 read:
But the LORD is the true God, He is the everlasting King At His wrath the earth will tremble, and the nations will not be able to endure His indignation.
Thus you shall say to them:“The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens”…
Could what had been unfolding in my sleeping and waking mind indicate that the Lord really is up to something very powerful, something that may shake and remove all that is not of Him?
Thus ran yesterday’s Sun on Sunday ‘world exclusive’ front-page headline about Fabrice Muamba’s recovery from ‘death’ after a heart attack. Click here to read his down-to-earth personal account of being grateful not to be left brain damaged. The follow-up story of who inspired Fabrice’s recovery is on this link.
I’d previously mused in the email below as to whether God’s hand could be discerned in this event as it followed upon the heels of the ASA’s decision to ban any statements about our Lord’s healing power. We can rejoice in His ‘cocking a snook’ at the thought control behind authoritiarian political correctness.
As before, Gillan Scott quickly reported upon this news and sensitively discusses its appearance in this particular journal. His own conclusion is well worth noting:
This weekend God’s greatest evangelist was a footballer who used a tabloid to tell the world just how amazing God is. God knows what He’s doing and we need to learn to follow His lead.
Amen.
Copy of earlier email:
From: Richard Barker Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 4:05 PM To:Undisclosed Recipients Subject: Fw: Christians in Parliament challenge ASA’s ‘God can heal’ ban
…Thank you to Paul for having alerted me, to Gillan for this news, and to three Christian MPs dealing with this important issue. (You may recall my emails of early February and my blog’s post on this issue.)
Gillan reports (link) that the All-Party Parliamentary Group, Christians in Parliament, has asked the Chairman of the Advertising Standards Authority to provide scientific substantiation for the ASA ruling against Healing On The Streets, failing which the matter will be raised in Parliament. The ASA decision sought NOT ONLY to ban claims that God can and does heal physically, BUT ALSO TO SUPPRESS PUBLICATION OF TESTIMONIES of such healings!!
In case you may not understand the footballer reference, see Gillan’s post God is in control and Peter Kirk’s post about the BBC’s suggesting prayers for him! Is the Lord using that unfortunate incident to state, “Who says I cannot heal?”..?
“What’s happening in England right now is blowing my mind (I hear of more miracles)…I was there a few weeks ago…in the city of Hull, where miracles were happening – one week later our Prime Minister stands up in the Houses of Parliament and he says this..: Continue reading →
Please consider an interesting instance of similar prophetic words given recently in the UK and in the USA. Surely it’s not coincidental that they happened a week apart, or that I should be slap bang between them? Both ‘words’ reminded me of Monday 5th September last when I read Tim Eldridge’s remarks at the Inception Meeting for the Revival Alliance Gathering. Therein, Tim referred to Paul Revere’s preparations for his historically famous ride at the outbreak of the War of Independence. (See Father, let your Kingdom Come and paragraph about Tim in the Gathering’s Report. Picture courtesy of Wikipedia.)Therefore, consider this..:
During Holy Week (this year, the first week in April) I ‘stumbled’ upon a relatively short website UK Prophetic Words that’s been online for just under a year. On Palm Sunday (1st April), Geoff Pick reported upon a series of ten visions some of which struck chords within me, especially the one about a coming change in national anti-Christian culture. Also, I particularly noted that it closed with:
The final picture – A horseman riding towards us I see a horseman riding furiously towards us. He is bringing a proclamation as in Matthew 25. “Get ready the bridegroom is coming.” Be filled with the oil of heaven, be ready for His return.
On Good Friday afternoon we watched the morning’s service live from The Bay Revival, which was on tour in Missouri. Warming up to teach, Rev. John Kilpatrick spoke about previous talks, one of which was on the glory of God. As he began to speak on this – and only in passing – he sensed the Holy Spirit start to kick in: “You talk about the presence of God and He will come come! – Hohh!” (he jumped – he usually gives a quick ‘whoop’ and does a little skip when the Holy Spirit gets him fired up).The congregation got to its feet to praise the Lord for a few minutes, then Pastor John’s tone took on a gravity as though he heard direct from the Lord:
“Can I tell you, right now in heaven…there is a man seated right next to the Supernal God on High? (applause)…and He bears in His body the scars from His earth-walk…and He is alive at this very second as I speak (cheers continue), He is alive – I said, as I speak He is alive (more louder applause).“And if you only knew…what’s going on in the ‘family activities building’ in heaven right now! “The table cloths are being spread, the china’s being set, the horses are being given their oats – the stable doors, the hinges are being greased…(pause) “That man…is about to come back and get His people. I said…He’s about to come back and get His saints – it ain’t long!”
To check this and watch for yourself, click on video below and advance to 1hr3min by clicking on gray buffer bar when it’s about half-loaded.:
My, what words to weigh…the Lord bless you in this. NOW, whatever your thoughts on this you need to get to know for sure who Jesus really is. Time is running short and you owe it to Him (for what He’s done for you), and owe it to yourself (especially for your post-mortem existence – see here), to decide quite quickly. To find out how to become a Christian click on that highlit link and browse the site – thank you Jonathan at Spirit Soul Body for this excellent tip. Or, should you prefer a graphical outline, click here for a short video. (See here for more.) Continued here and then here, (in three linked parts).
The personal blessing of Resurrection Sunday, listening to inspirational preaching and ministry on the breaking point of Gethsemane, watching believers come ‘out of their tombs’ during anointed preaching, reading a couple of excellent blogs on Easter have made it an intellectually and spiritually active fortnight. On top of which I’ve been involved with some interesting discussions on-line:
Thank you to Archbishop Cranmer and Peter Kirk for your several Easter articles, especially when a non-believer sought to divert the latter. A supporter of the ASA had caught up with an old posting that I’d commented upon and he claimed, “Richard and HOTS are grasping at anecdotal straws”. He then proceeded to distract the blogger from his inspirational jottings with lengthy arguments on scientific procedure for testing healing. So I waded in with the irrefutable factual testimony of a redundant carer! Enjoy the long thread here.
There have also been several well-written critiques, comparisons and discussion of PM Cameron’s and President Obama’s Easter messages (see Cranmer, Peter Kirk, Gillan Scott), which I would recommend to those who may have time to read. I’ve found them to be most instructive and enabled me to reconsider my views.
Yet more – I was encouraged that Jarrod Cooper in Hull had also noticed what I’d reported about Cameron’s support for ‘a Christian fight-back’!
“If you start extirpating Christianity, it will start fighting back. And even if – highly unlikely – you beat it down, behind it will come the more implacable, much more shamelessly political adherents of Islam.”
Also, reporting today about a new advertising campaign on London buses, Cranmer writes,
”…these plucky Christians are merely doing what the Prime Minister exhorted them to do: ‘ fight back‘.”
Having taken up our whole armour, let’s stand in the Lord…
Further to my earlier posting a very visual log of the Praise Bus’ journey is available on Facebook. Especial appreciation goes to the exceptional skills of the drivers (see June 17 video on Fbook), whom we met in May in Kingsbridge, Devon (photo).
Richard's Watch 