Regret won’t be able to be there but this reminder says few places still available.
Nearly time for Days of Wonder 2015!
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Days of Wonder 2015!
For a flavour of this event see my account of Days of Wonder 2014…
Who or what is the Spirit of Wisdom?
In the previous post’s covering introduction about Ian Clayton’s book I referred to “the Lord’s Spirit of Wisdom”. This may have puzzled some readers, perhaps perplexing even those who are familiar with the Bible. I didn’t quote any reference because it’s helpful to expand briefly upon this subject.: The prime reference lies in prophet Isaiah’s message of future hope centred in a God-ordained Davidic ruler and his reign, thereby making it a messianic hope. Notes in the New Spirit-Filled Life Bible say that, out of the divided kingdom of ancient Israel and Judah, fresh life will emerge in a new ruler who’s symbolically called a ‘Rod’, a ‘Branch’. Also, it notes Revelation 5:5 describes Jesus Christ as “the Root of David”. A prophetic declaration about this future descendant of king David’s father opens the 11th chapter of the Book of Isaiah as follows (NKJV courtesy of BibleGateway.com, emphases RB):
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
These last six are often considered as six specific functions of God the Holy Spirit, but if that were so then there would be other references to 6-fold and not 7-fold aspects. The word of the Lord that came to Isaiah refers to functional attributes, which implies intelligence and independent existence. This may be inferred from the centuries later account by prophet Zecharia of being in a heavenly court where he’s told about a the stone upon which are seven eyes (Zecharia 3:9). 
After the Apostle John wrote to seven churches in Asia Minor, as dictated to him by Jesus during a powerful visitation, he went in his spirit through an ‘open door’ into heaven and was able to give a specific description of these seven spirits before the Almighty’s throne:
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. (Revelation 4:1-5 NKJV)
Although of fire, please do not think this means these spirits are like ordinary combustion, or like any material objects. In fact, whilst visiting our local church this year Randy Demain told us about having seen seven eyes in his room burning like fire. He learned they were on a 7-branched candlestick, or menorah, with Holy Spirit being the central one. For more details on this read Hidden Meaning of the Menorah. In fact, a very detailed description of the Spirit of Wisdom comes from the time of the unified kingdom of David and his son Solomon. Soon after the throne passed to him circa 970 BC, the Lord appeared to Solomon by night in a dream and said,
“Ask! What shall I give you?” 6 And Solomon said: “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 Now, O Lord my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” 10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14 So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” (1Kings 3 NKJV)
Hence the proverbial, “As wise as Solomon”! And out of this abundance he penned the Book of Proverbs, the first several chapters of which outline Wisdom’s rich repository as well as nature and ‘her’ existence in the Beginning. This instruction is too extensive to quote but read it all for yourself in your Bible, or else here in BibleGateway.com Even so, let us note verses 1:7 and 9:10,
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction… “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding...”
My previous reference to the Spirit of Wisdom should thus be understood in the light of these scriptures. Further reading:
NEWS! Ian Clayton’s FIRST book is out!
It was most instructive hearing Ian Clayton for the first time at one of our earliest days in Well Church International, near Goldalming. I kept pace with his novel teaching throughout and realised he’s correct when he used almost identical words that I’d had only weeks before on ‘God-incidents’!! (That is, they’re just like instruments playing in an orchestra – see The spiritual significance of the Queen’s Jubilee Bells.) Ian attributed Godly coincidences to the Lord’s Spirit of Wisdom (see next post). Be blessed as you read…
Nuggets from ‘Days of Wonder’, Wales
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.
‘Days of Wonder’ gathering in Wales
With the phrase “in the regeneration” of Matthew 19:28 emblazoned in mind and setting a seal of expectancy for our short holiday, I was also alert to another claim.
At the back of my mind about the gathering in Cardiff was a reference I’d read to its being of ‘strategic importance’.
I must be frankly honest, however, for on checking all through the ‘flyer’ I cannot find what I saw and read – but in my opinion, it was indeed an important meeting for changes going on in the wider church
To continue from the 2nd part of this regenerating week in South Wales, on leaving Ffald-y-Brenin via Fishguard we headed south and eastward for Cardiff and thence to Cwmbran for the evening’s scheduled ‘Outpouring’ service at Victory Church.
That was our intention but we got halted when a large, sliding mirror met my big toe!
There was time to book into our hotel in Cardiff and have a bite to eat before heading for Cwmbran. However, on unpacking and hanging my clothes in the wardrobe its mirrored sliding doors jammed and somehow one door dropped on my left foot – OUCH! A first aider and manager were soon with us and ice pack padded my blue toe-nail. And in the heat we found the air conditioning unit didn’t work. The upshot was a move to a larger room and free drinks with our meal. The outing to Cwmbran had gone out of the window.
But there was a track record for such setbacks being an indicator of a terrific time coming up next – and remember the promise in Prophecy of a roller-coaster ride – get ready…?
Back in 2005 we attended a week-long school on the supernatural in scripture. It took longer to arrive in that Midlands town than planned but, with only 5 mins to the school’s start, I found a nearby car-park and arrived at the venue in time. At lunch-time we went to book in at our hotel and grab a bite of lunch.
“Your room’s been cancelled Mr Barker!” the hotel’s receptionist told me.
“What? How? When?”
“Our note says you phoned at 10:25 this morning to cancel…” was her reply.
“Ridiculous! That was about the time we parked in town for the event we’re attending !”
It was a most instructive week. Although trained thoroughly in healing and deliverance at Ellel Ministries we’d not had such in-depth instruction for 12 hours/day in these aspects of the Bible. I asked tutor Todd Bentley, “Where were you 40 years ago?”. Had all this knowledge and instruction been available when I was a teenager, I wouldn’t have sought it from Eastern religions and the New Age (see Searching for truth leads me into captivity).
I recall looking at the large local parish church’s cemetery opposite the school’s venue of an old converted cinema. The thought struck me that church was as dead as those in its massive graveyard! (Hence my remark in the previous post.)
So now, with throbbing big toe and its purple-blue nail I was hoping for an exceptional time. And we had just that! Thank you Lord God.
Days of Wonder
How can words describe what was heard and experienced? I’ll try with a few snippets after this shot of us between the ladies’ raised arms…
Three worship sessions daily were literally ‘out of this world’. On one occasion it seemed as though not only the entire 300-odd assembly but also the room were suspended high in orbit (maybe between earth and moon?). The ceiling with its thick beams became a vast window/skylight through which dark space and stars could be seen. And the sound of our worship at times was like what I’d heard in Newport at the foot of the ‘Hill of Angels’.
[I recalled the sound of angels joining with spontaneous worship at the Revival Alliance in 2012. It got captured on cd and the contractor sound engineer testified that there were instruments registering which they’d not connected. And the way spotlights were spinning in time to the music was wonderful. An ‘invisible jigsaw’ falls into place refers.]
The convener Justin Abraham’s sessions were very good, especially his emphatically stressing that a deep, burning desire to know Father God is essential for entering heavenly realms. And it’s key to everything taught at his gathering.
I was interested in seeing how the two main teachers Paul Keith Davis and Ian Clayton would deliver their different subject material. Each has a sound understanding of our living Lord and his word, yet have their own distinct experiences and style of speaking
We’ve known of Paul Keith since we heard him in Bath several years ago, and have attended some of his UK conferences as well as following his regular newsletters.
In those early days he once went by, heading towards someone else, but glanced at us. In doing so, he spoke an awesome personal word about Jesus’ return that remains etched in me.
The timing of that word’s fulfillment may present a personal problem, so I presumed. However, it so happened that Ian Clayton would teach upon longevity!
It’s 2 years since we first went to Well Church International and Ian was due to teach. He brought novel insights into scripture and on getting close to the Lord. I was pleased to hear him speak about coincidences, but very surprised when he used the same description of it that had popped into my mind a few weeks earlier! (See closing Note to this post.)
So that ‘link’ enabled me to accept his explanation of ‘God-incidence’ and to appreciate his other material. Also, I able to follow and understand everything he was teaching on these novel, perhaps radical, and often scientific but biblical concepts.
Paul Keith opened the gathering with,
“I believe that we’re on the verge of something significant… the spirit realm is saturated, its bursting, we’re at a tipping point. You never know when..the next session might be the one, the next prayer, the next prophetic word…We’ve got to keep doing what we know how to do and it will happen…”
“From Day of Atonement 2014 to Day of Atonement 2015 we are to have things and structures such as ‘apostolic’ hubs and communities in place for a spiritual jubilee…the next major juncture and anointing to build structure for the Millenium to forge the future from the unseen realm…
“It’s time for every born-again Christian to be able to SEE the kingdom of God…”
As an example he mentioned how Jesus appeared to Maria Woodward Etter and then saw a Bible appear on her wall with the glory of God shining from it. Thus, she understood its entire content supernaturally, but Paul Keith was quick to say that doesn’t mean she didn’t need to study scripture. He continued,
“I’m just telling you that in a place in God we can connect with heaven, all the dots get connected. I’ve had some of the revelations where suddenly you see it and think ‘How did you miss that!’
“There’s great truths, there’s great mysteries in the Bible that are going to be revealed to this last days’ generation that have been there all along but we just haven’t seen them yet.
“The blind is about to be removed and we’ll see things we haven’t seen because God’s reserved them for this hour. There’s truth reserved for this hour to present the Bride of Christ without spot or wrinkle
“They’re truths about the spirit realm, truths about the word, truths about who we are in Christ and Who Christ is in us and all of that…”
And that was just to start…!
….for more, read Nuggets… and follow-up, Getting closer to God > > >
[Photos courtesy of Lindi Masters, Well International Church.]
Meeting on Tuesday for business people in Guildford area
Only a few places left!
Businessman and educator Ian Clayton teaches how to apply biblical principles for developing and improving one’s business, to the glory of God.
Through his itinerant teaching ministry known as Son of Thunder, Ian provides keys and strategies for enabling Christians engaged in business to participate in God’s Kingdom as the empowered beings He created us to be.
The reality of this is brought through insights, teaching and equipping with practical biblical tools that release the true potential within each believer as a Son of God. As a personal aside, I like Ian’s good grasp of science.
Should you wish to attend, it is essential to book through Well Church International at the email address in the above flyer.
Snacks, teas and coffees will be available but please bring a packed lunch.
[I will refer to his material in the 3rd part of my account of our trip to Wales]
Ian Clayton and Paul Keith registration open!
Further to my recent, separate references to Paul and Ian, readers may be interested in this event scheduled for August in Cardiff, Wales. Continue reading
Heavenly open doors and ladders
In opening her second teaching service on The Season of Open Doors at The Well church yesterday morning, Minister Lindi said there’s been an acceleration in recent months not seen before. And that’s happening today! Over the weekend I mused over last week’s material and browsed recent years of my prophetical papers. Lindi had quoted a word from Kathie Walters, whom I’d read on the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Bells (here). So I wanted to find her latest online today.
My notes of the teaching were sparse as my pen had dried up so I wanted the quotation in full. First, I attended to the weekend’s email and noted one new blog was relevant to material I’d been reviewing! So I reblogged Tony’s dream on ‘security blanket’. Only afterwards did I find and read Kathie’s latest Heavenly Ladders and Tables, and then noted it seems to relate well to that dream for she writes,
There is a mighty move being stirred – many great callings being released. But God is sending a great spirit of LIBERTY because we have to hear God for ourselves. It’s a wake up call for people who already think they are awake. It’s a new calling for many people who think they have nothing much to offer. God wants to break that box you have put yourself in or you have allowed others to put you in. (emphasis added)
Our minister’s teaching on how to move through opened spiritual doors was based upon Genesis 31:3-13 ‘Now arise’. Stressing amongst other things, our need to let go of past pain, self-reliance and self-imposed limitations, she led us into understanding freedom in the Lord by quoting Kathie’s prophetic word and references to Wilberforce and, as we’re connected to the Isles, the Hebrides’ Revival. Now, in reading her full account, I notice how an encounter by one of Kathie’s friends links into my reader’s dream of this weekend, as follows:
I am not sure what the total significance of that encounter is but I know it was monumental. Keys are being given to those who have been crying out to see the religious slavery broken off of God’s children. Keys to set the captives free, both saved and unsaved. The new Abolitionists are arising who will do whatever is necessary to loose the bound and oppressed.
Lindi, however, obviously didn’t have time to refer to Katie’s trip around the UK and to visions of ladders into the heavenly realms and ancient gates being opened. (Not that it mattered for several of us had distinct impressions of the Lord opening gateways, as happened during worship times with Joann McFatter when New Zealander Ian Clayton was here – sessions may be heard here.)
The Impact
BUT what a totally unexpected – yet welcome – impact all this has made upon me. Why? I’d been mulling over dis-believers’ claims about Chuck Pierce on Wales for, although not a regular follower, I recalled a couple of accurate predictions he’d made. I dug out and scanned my sparse collection of prophetical papers, as well as my note pad. There I came across a few words prophesying changes in England.
In particular I noted how Chuck’s words in 2008 and Christen Forster’s in 2012 seemed to pivot around what Bill Johnson had said about the Kingdom in England and the date of 1st September 2011 as “the day things changed in the UK” (here).
Therefore, I updated my Library today and then checked whether it was worth including that recent word on Liberty from Kathie.
Her remark, “I saw many ladders and tables being put in place” struck my spirit. Why? Its similarity spoke into my dream of 3rd September 2011 of things coming down from the heavens to various places in England for ‘setting up’ the Kingdom, as recounted in Father, Let Your Kingdom Come.
Hence, my being dazed – and dazzled – by these downloads!
Should you wish to read it, the new material is indicated with dates/numbers in red in my Library and its sub-page A New Era in the Church.
May the Lord bless you with His Spirit of wisdom and of revelation.
An ‘invisible jigsaw’ falls into place…
How does one describe a conviction of seeing things falling into place?
Since 1st August I’ve been in the last 1/7th of my personal year. Genesis states that on the seventh day God rested from His work of creation. So we have the concept of a Sabbath day, whereupon its best to rest – as Jesus said, it’s designed for us. In past times, land was allowed 1 year out of 7 to lie fallow and recuperate
As a boy my personal 7/7th coincided with the main annual school holidays. Each new school year would coincide with my own new year. In recent years I found it includes the Hebraic ‘head of the year’ or new year, Rosh Hashanah, and came to appreciate its special significance to all God’s people.
Whilst attending a Rosh Hashanah celebration the Lord blessed me with a continuous open vision as the rabbi taught us about creation. I’ve now realised the 3 subsequent 7/7ths have also blessed me with memorable insights as we approach and enter the holy ‘Days of Awe’. In 2011 it involved a word about the Kingdom being set up in the UK and which had been declared that same day by Bill Johnson at a Revival Alliance Gathering – for details see Father, let Your Kingdom come.
Much more came at – and after – the Alliance meeting in late August 2012. I’d hoped to have had time to tell about it other than a passing allusion in Back to School, but not so. The most memorable event was when the sound desk supervisor reported they’d had trouble monitoring the extra instruments and voices that suddenly came through the sound system!
We’d noticed mobile coloured spot lights up in the ceiling swinging rapidly in time to the worship too. The invisible musicians can only have been an angelic host, as stated in musician Martin Smith’s description. It is also covered in Anita Mathias’ report on Dreaming Beneath the Spires and RA 2012 Facebook page. For a full flavour of that ‘Spontaneous angelsong’ and superb worship times, visit Grace Media. [The footnote below has a link for this year’s gathering.]
This year there’s much material to mull over, as hinted at the close of Jesus and Israel. Meanwhile, be blessed with some things that may prepare you for what I want to share since receiving Ian Clayton’s teaching in mid-August. A lot of it is relevant to the church’s ‘New season’. Theologian and blogger T.E.Hanna recently posted some short pieces that plug into what I’m chewing over. So click onto these and check for yourself:
- “We are called to be revelators” – How Christianity Makes a Better Muslim
- “Our very design was to reflect the glory of the Great King throughout the midst of His creation” – 3 Glorious Reasons Why Heaven Misses the Point
- “We had all established our God-turf and drew a line in the sand. You would be accepted by us, so long as you first looked like us” – The Myth of Unity: How What Draws Us Together May Actually Be Drawing Us Apart
TE has the gift of making theology easy-peasy so may I suggest you take time to read and have a handle for what I want to write about soon?
Finally and to clarify; the jigsaw that’s falling into place is a personal one and thus not the same as the worldwide Invisible Jigsaw I referred to a few months ago.
Images from ‘Revival Alliance 2012 Live’ cd are courtesy of Haven Church and details for Revival Alliance 2013 in November may be found here. Hand and puzzle pieces image is reproduced by courtesy of Anusorn P Nachol at FreedigitaIphotos.net
Jesus and Israel; then, now and forever
In munching upon meditative ‘morsels’ from the opening of Hebrews 12, I didn’t expect my subconscious mind to mull over their meaning. I’d assumed those couple of blogs had put the subject ‘to bed’, so to speak – but no. That was on Thursday before going ‘incommunicado’ until Monday, as usual. Yet something started stirring in my spirit.
Two days later saw me digging into scripture before going to bed myself. How could I know I’d find out that its eye-opening conclusion is relevant to others. So if that’s the case for you too, or if you’d notice a similar coincidence, the details are as follows.:
Pointer No 1
After having referred to the faith of Old Testament and New Testament believers – or a ‘cloud of witnesses’ – being perfected, I sensed a bigger picture of the Lord’s purposes. Having written about ‘original’ and ‘spiritual’ Israel I recalled Jesus’ reply to a question posed after His victory over death, and which I’ve often pondered.
During that 40 day period Jesus spoke about things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. (That is, of God’s rule in human hearts, lives and situations.) Consider doctor Luke’s carefully investigated account, per Luke 1:3, of what had happened about 30 years earlier when Jesus gave his apostles this instruction (emphases mine):
And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” [Acts 1:4-8 NKJV – Biblegateway.com]
As the purpose of this post is to highlight specific verses, I won’t go into any depth other than give pointers to ponder, and the following as a lead-in.
‘Israel’ would have meant not only the dominant Jews of Jerusalem and Judea, but also the other eleven historical tribes of Israel. Jesus had told his close followers about the Kingdom, presumably in greater depth than during the pre-Resurrection years of public ministry, and that they were about to receive the One who empowered His ministry direct from their heavenly Father Himself.
Thus, it was logical that the apostles were thinking they’d all be ministering in the power Jesus had exhibited. Consequently, it was reasonable to suppose they would then change the religious and cultural situation in Jerusalem and Judea.
No doubt they had in mind the greatest period in their history under King David, as well as Daniel’s prophetic vision about removing the power of the supreme earthly empire, Rome (see Daniel 7:27). But Jesus knew differently. Had they been incorrect in their logical conclusion of restoring the Kingdom to Israel, then Jesus would have said so and corrected them. (He’d done that when referring to returning to God – John 14:2)
Nor did He rebuke them for such an idea, or even remind them He’d already told them the Kingdom would be taken away from Israel and given, “…to people (ie. Gentiles) who will produce its fruit” (Matt 21:23). No, He simply said it wasn’t for them to know the timing – and it was Father’s business and His alone, not even their Master’s!
Interestingly, the original Greek indicates a conditional ‘IF’ (ei) between those verses. In other words, “If (or when) the dipping in Holy Spirit happens, is it the time you-are-restoring the Kingdom to Israel?” (See Scripture4All Greek Interlinear Bible, Acts 1)
Therefore, the relevance of and restoration for Israel MUST be on God’s agenda!
Consequently, the perfecting of faith for living and departed Jews and Christians could well be part and parcel of that agenda. I think Jesus had already given the apostles a clue and they later shared it with Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles, or He may even have revealed it to him personally.
Pointer No 2
Also, Jesus would have had that in mind when describing the signs all believers should watch out for. He said there will come a time of, “great distress in the land and wrath against this people“. In this account, Luke writes that Jesus went on to say,
“…And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled…” [Luke 21:24 NKJV]
Pointer No 3
In his magisterial letter to the church in Rome, Paul described the differences between the OT and NT faith and what had happened to the Jews as a result of rejecting Jesus as their Messiah. He stressed they’d not been rejected by the Lord,
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
“The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; 27 For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” [Romans 11 NKJV]
I trust that my referring to these scriptures makes sense. It’s offered simply for weighing and consideration, maybe as an aid to further scriptural meditation? Yet more was to follow…
In flicking to and fro between these scriptures and adding to scribbled notes in my old NIV Bible, I spotted its note, Who Is Mechizedek? (see Topic). Hebrews 7 explains the similarities between this king of Jerusalem, who blessed Abraham, and Jesus Christ. Perhaps he’s an influential connection between OT and NT witnesses?
Surprise!
Just before preaching the next morning, our minister mentioned having come from Days of Wonder meeting in Cardiff with New Zealander Ian Clayton, where he’d given some insights on Melchizedek!!! Upon telling one of our group about this ‘God-incidence’, I was told the same reference had unexpectedly popped up for a friend. So the couple of days next week when Ian stops off outside Guildford during his tour of Wales, Scotland and Ireland should be very interesting indeed. I pray so Lord.
Revd John Kilpatrick: a season change
The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (Thus opens Luke’s account of Holy Spirit’s activity through the Apostles: Acts 1)
I wonder, could ‘God-incidence’ be one way of learning about the Kingdom? After all, we’re now in the church calendar’s post-Resurrection period.
Cynics and atheist’s would claim there’s no such thing as God-incidence – it’s fanciful imagination or, at best, only the coincidence of chance. Or it’s simply serendipity: the happy, beneficial occurrence of random, chance events. To believers in Jesus Christ, however, ‘God-incidence’ is just one of many blessings of being in a relationship with Him – especially when it’s instructive about Him and His ways. For example,
The day immediately after my hearing about God bringing a new season, as related by Dr Sharon Stone and associates here in UK, we heard pastor John Kilpatrick over the ‘pond’ in Alabama tell his congregation what he’d heard the Lord say. John introduced his message as follows.:
I got a message I couldn’t wait to preach this morning because every-thing that I’ve talked about so far is relevant. Man! Are y’all ready for this?….I studied all of Friday night at home…I went to bed…I woke about two in the morning and was awake ’til about six…as I lay there awake on the bed, Holy Spirit was just talking to me….
Man, I saw something…I should have seen it…I didn’t even think about it…I’d been busy with other things…but Holy Spirit brought it to my memory right there in the stillness of my bedroom…and the Lord said,
“Tell My people I have brought about a season change.”
John then considered the stresses of life and difficult issues where folk wonder why prayer isn’t doing anything to help and question the lack of response from God. Sound pastoral teaching edifies and encourages everyone. So we unreservedly recommend this for readers who need a strong uplift in their spirit.
It’s interesting that John taught from the prophet Daniel’s vision of the war against the saints by the ‘little horn’ – it prevails until the Ancient of Days comes and pronounces judgement in favour of the people of the Most High:
21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favour of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom. (Daniel 7 NIV)
To learn more, click to watch a briefer, edited version or better still, the full session. If you choose the latter then scroll to 45 minutes for the introduction. At the end John delivers several prophetical words followed by brief, closing worship. At 1hr 46m pastor briefly teaches everyone how to best receive his message and those words. Now this is astounding because what he instructs matches precisely what had been given to me only 6 hours earlier!!! Surely, this serendipity can only have been of God!
(At that morning’s service here, our minister taught about the prophetic gifting and we then practised prophesying over one another. One person had a picture for me that connects directly into and enhances an important one from 1996! Then, 6 hours later, the pastor over in the States used the same concept for everyone…WOW.)
So, dear reader, should you be in need of encouragement for whatever reason then do take time to watch, take in the teaching and wait on Holy Spirit’s words of wisdom. Be interactive! And He’s going to bring more next Sunday…
May you be mightily blessed by our Lord Jesus.
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