Further to my recent post on the meeting in Cardiff, here’s a little more from Paul Keith Davis’ opening minutes:

“I’m of the belief – and I know you are as well – that we will not accomplish our mandate without the supernatural realm. Period!

“It’s not going to happen! We have no ability…we’re not eloquent enough, not smart enough, we’re not anything enough to get the job done without a dimension of the supernatural being manifested in real and tangible ways, so that a dying world can see it – and our doing what we’re called to do…

“Wouldn’t it  be wonderful to do everything we’re called to do?…”

“It’s a time of awakening, of people doing what they’re called to do…you are uniquely qualified to meet the needs of your generation. I don’t know a more needy generation. Maybe those of Genesis 6 [Days of Noah] were more needy?

“The apostle Paul talking to Timothy said, ‘you think these days are bad, what about ‘the last days’, when they’ll be lovers of self and money grabbing?’…if apostle Paul needed the supernatural to confront what he did in his day, how much more do we because he said our day will be far worse.

“So the idea that the supernatural is only for the days of the Apostles because of the difficulty of their day is un-biblical. It is an un-biblical posture and we’ve got to break it off the evangelical mind-set of the Church.”

Ian Clayton’s personal story is of remarkable recovery from business failure and bankruptcy. In desperation he and his wife had no choice but to turn to God and to rely upon Him as their source of provision and supply. With fears a constant barrage in his face, Ian found the only way to face and deal with them was from above with God. And the only way he could have time for that was during repetitive, routine menial tasks like mowing their large lawn with a push-mower.

On the few times I’ve heard him, Ian often refers the importance of being in “Passionate pursuit of the Person and Presence of God”, which led to profound insights about Creation, time and space and the ‘heavenlies’.

In this gathering Ian launched off with,

“I don’t think that we have a grid yet on the reality of what God is trying to do with us as believers!

“We don’t understand the value that our human body is to God…We have no revelation yet beyond the Cross…The Church has stopped at the Cross and we haven’t gone beyond it!

“I believe that in ‘crossing the Jordan’ is the revelation of our going beyond the Cross because Jesus didn’t actually sort of die – but He sort of did!”

Please don’t presume Ian’s introducing false doctrine akin to Islam’s denial of Jesus’ death. He goes on to talk about the physiological corrosive effect of blood in a dying body, and the possibility Jesus didn’t need it for or after His resurrection. Also, blood relates to breathing and having a voice.

In explaining this he cites disciple Thomas touching Jesus’ wounds. Unlike his brethren, Thomas hadn’t been there to see his teacher display His wounds to them.

For readers unfamiliar with Thomas, I’d explain that he was cynical about their claims. He wanted not only to see for himself that Jesus is alive but also to, “Put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side”, thereby testing their claims (John 20:24-28).

A week layer when they were all together, Jesus materialised out of thin air behind closed doors and invited Thomas to not only ”bring the finger and perceive” the nail marks in His hands but also “thrust hands into My side”  [per Greek-interlinear] which, says Ian, means exactly that rather than simply touch.

Ian’s of the opinion that ‘into’ means the same as being ‘IN Christ’, for he says,

“Thomas put his hands INTO a new creature – not a human being – into a realm that’s to do with the issue of breathing (?) that we have no reference for because the Church has not been into the darkness yet!…I’m trying to make things simple…”

We all laugh and, indeed, Ian’s dramatic sessions are highly interactive. He often pauses with a grin and raised eyebrow to watch reactions and check we’re following him. It’s a standing joke that his theology ‘fries brains’!

“Do you realise ‘Doubting Thomas’ wasn’t doubting at all? He was the only one (of those disciples) that stepped into a revelatory realm in his time, and that others are doubting you can get into!”

[This notion may also give an insight into Mark 16:12 statement that Jesus ‘appeared in another form to two of them as they walked into the country’ (to Emmaus); also into the ‘mystery’ of believers’ bodies putting off corruption and becoming incorruptible – 1 Cor 15:50-57]

The darkness to which Ian refers isn’t demonic but ‘treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places wherein we can know the God of Israel ‘ (Isaiah 45:3). And that scripture was given not for an Israelite but for the Lord’s anointed gentile, Cyrus king of Persia (per 1st verse). So how much more appropriate it is for believers in Jesus Christ, who are not only His royal priesthood but who also are blessed with ‘power to become sons of God’, to be able to access that treasure. (John 1:12 KJV)

Also, this relates directly to His existence before Creation. From the outset of seeking Him, Ian wanted to know what God was like before the Beginning – “What He was like when He was, before the ‘is’ and ‘was’ became ‘was’.” (‘The Alpha and Omega’ of Rev 1:8).

Personal Note

This journey started with an unexpected hint about what may be a theme for me to note – that of ‘regeneration’. It was fascinating, therefore, how all three teachers dovetailed together and spoke into several personal points. Furthermore, the Lord began a deep stirring over His Word, which Paul Keith picked up upon during ministry time.

I was reminded of the time the Lord impressed upon me the concept of an as yet unwritten book of scripture – one beyond the Bible’s back cover and all about the new earth and new heaven or ‘Age to Come’. That is, following Revelation and after the New Jerusalem and the Marriage of the Lamb. Some confirmations were soon to follow and concluded with teaching upon the Sonship-Bridal Paradigm by Paul Keith (see Revival 1:glory stories).

So the ‘Days of Wonder’ meeting plugs into that concept, especially with Ian’s teaching on how God exists outside time in eternity as The Alpha and Omega, where the End meets the Beginning,

“We don’t understand what God is. To understand what we will become we have to go back to the beginning; we’ll end up in the beginning – we’re going back into what we were, because Hebrews think circular. God is Alpha and Omega and what started is where we will finish…”

His exposition on this and the gift of prophecy and creating our future was fascinating.

So the concept of God’s glory hidden in holy darkness is intriguing; even illuminating, in view of what I once saw long before I was born-again. Living unbeknown in the enemy’s camp, I dreamt of a huge, black thunder-cloud coming over the horizon. Much as I love  watching thunderstorms and recalled many ferocious ones in Italy and Greece, this one was menacing because it possessed a brooding intelligence. A deep fear came upon me. I didn’t know about Ezekiel’s vision, but his opening description of the cloud of God was like my dream (Ezek 1:4).

Also, a question I wanted to ask Ian about a pre-Christian experience in ‘nirvana’ and the devourer was answered by his teaching. Thus, I understand the realm of a second heaven is accessible to anyone practising occult techniques, but only those who are ‘in Christ’ are protected by His blood and may enter the third heaven, as did apostle Paul (2Cor 12:2) – and Thomas!

A couple of other things he mentioned in passing connected into things I’d sensed, and Paul Keith also spoke into thoughts I’d had on Daniel, judgement and contending. And on the final day Ian taught about ‘The Age to Come’!

My notes can but give a brief ‘taster’ of these ‘Days of Wonder’ and I’m listening again to the sessions and trying to process everything.

And I’ve yet to explain about the lion, as promised in my musings upon Fflad-y-Brenin..

The event made a mighty impact upon Paul Keith, as related in ‘Follow-on’ video-post.