A FORTNIGHT THIS COMING WEEKEND…
Click on image for full details and to book attendance.
Read Dr Bill Hamon’s 2016: “God’s Spiritual World War III” and prophetic words for 2016 brought by Drs Jane and Sharon by clicking here and here respectively.
A week ago today, on 15th January, Simon Braker spent the morning with city leaders praying for Leicester and the nation. He reports on Facebook:
‘I felt the Lord speak – as we shift into this next season we have began (sic) to step over into a new position, no longer are we pushing for a move of his Spirit in the nation we are now on the other side as the trickle has began, there is the beginnings of a fresh awakening in the nation with increasing numbers coming to Christ and an increasing number of healings and demonstrations of his power invading earth, we must now shift in our thinking we are no longer seeking a move we are in the move, Gods call to us now is to keep our eyes fixed on him and seek wisdom in the stewardship of the new season, do not get distracted from the face of God by the works of God, do not worship his works or even his presence, stay fixed on him and worship his person!
‘The supernatural will continue to increase, as we move forward we must not become fascinated by this instead of him, signs are never an end in themselves they point to a destination in this case the destination is God himself.’
Visit School of the Prophetic Leicester to read about Simon’s subsequent intercessory meetings.
Brian Simmons, leader of The Passion Translation team, was blessed with this ‘golden nugget’ about Jesus’ Lordship over Time, to which I’d referred in my early post Why I’m on the Lookout. Also, The Nature of Time opens, “Thank you Lord that you exist outside and inside Time – you are Always and Now!”
Brian writes, ‘I hear His whisper…“I am the Lord of Time”, Continue reading
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (Reuters)
Some who read the previous post soon after its publication may not know the Archbishop of Canterbury has since explained on his official blog what he’d said in a televised interview.
I inserted that original material in my blog whilst prepping the draft because it illustrates what we’re seeing happen, even to believers, as prophesied about global events by Nathan Morris.
So I wrote as follows but have amended (emboldened text) the closing paragraph to reflect Justin Welby’s update:
‘Consider this with yesterday’s headline ‘Paris attacks made me ‘doubt’ presence of God, admits Archbishop of Canterbury’, as in yesterday’s BBC Songs of Praise. (See also The Independent and Daily Mail.) Justin Welby candidly admits the massacre caused him to doubt where God is and why it happened and that it made a “chink in his armour”.
‘BUT the Press fails to quote him in full – what’s new? In telling presenter Aled Jones of his seeking and engaging the Lord over the issue, Justin was asked, “What answers did He give you?” – he replied:
“He said, “In the middle of it”! And also an answer from the Psalms, Psalm 56 – ‘He stores up our tears in a bottle’. None of our sufferings are lost!”
‘See also Justin Welby’s official site for his Statement on Paris Attacks, as well as a blog published after this one was posted and in which His Grace explains Why Arguing with God is not the same as not believing in him. Interesting to read because it’s easy to infer from the references to two psalms how much the BBC edited out of the interview. What else would we expect in view of its jaundiced, inaccurate coverage of Israel, as monitored by BBC Watch?‘
[Hat tip to Anne Kelly for notifying me. Thanks Anne.]
Over lunch with William Smith, author of Feasting on the Father and his wife Susanna yesterday we discussed the undesirable and adverse effect of church leaders who let a controlling, religious spirit – which is demonic and thus divisive – quench things of the Holy Spirit within church; even resulting in churches splitting up! Now hasn’t that been a strategy of satan since the days of the first disciples and throughout church history?
There are even well-intentioned prayer meetings that study the Word of God supposing certain scriptures as suitable for the purposes of intercession, but which are adamant in not listening to what the Lord has to say, as though blocking ears when direct words or pictures are brought from the Lord! As Dr Sharon Stone oft states: “The religious spirit hates the spirit of prophecy” (let’s recall Revelation 19:10 – the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy).
So the news of an event I received the same morning, which would enable the Bride to discern and overcome the adversary’s strategies and facilitate moving into the new era of the church, would be exceptionally timely, essential instruction and ministry:
Harvest Ministries recommends Exposing the Spirits of Jezebel and of Antichrist to anyone in church leadership of any kind, is involved in the prophetic or has a healing ministry. Harvest Ministries is associated with The Revival Alliance.
This one day event is hosted by Harvest Ministries with teaching by Wes Boxall, who has pastored for over 20 years. He has done extensive research into the spirits of Jezebel, Anti-Chris and Mammon. He has discovered, startlingly, these spirits directly oppose and counterfeit the Godhead! These divisive spirits would like nothing more than to tear-down, divide, exhaust and otherwise incapacitate the church.
This day is likely be as shocking as it is informative!
However we, as the church, cannot afford to allow these spirits to influence our lives. As we step up, and step out, into our destinies and spiritual gifts, we must be on guard and resist the enemy.
For details of this event and to book online click this link.
Further Reading:
Today’s Lion Bites word from Glasgow continues the earlier Invite My Fire! and I pray it deeply blesses you too:
THE REFINING FIRE
Are you really ready for the heat to be turned up? With more heat comes more refining, more purity and a heart that ignites, burning with a fire for Him. The Lord is a consuming fire. Will you allow Him to burn up all the dross, so that what is left is pure gold?
Others may not like (they may be challenged by) what you carry. Because of the level of purity they may not be able to stand around you. Nevertheless, sons and daughters of the King, God will use you if you choose to allow Him to turn up the heat and ignite you afresh.
He will use His radiant, ‘on-fire’ ones like lasers. Just as a laser is super-concentrated energy that can cut out diseased flesh (in the hands of a skilled surgeon) to allow for new growth, so He will use those who allow Him to refine in the fire. Choose to be one who goes through the refining: be on fire, be pure, be concentrated, be accurate, be like refined gold. Speak out the Father’s words of life and truth wherever you go.
1 Peter 1:7
…so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Credits:
Awestruck! ‘Pieces’ of an ‘invisible jigsaw’ showered around me last Thursday. That’s the day normally spent blogging before weekends offline – but not so last week. Had it been as usual I’d have downloaded what’s in mind as a bridge between notes on two sessions by Neville Johnson. But the Lord more than made up for that in what He was to provide.
Last Thursday was a day’s retreat with the contemplative focus being ‘Sit, Walk, Stand’ at the nearby Acorn Christian Healing Foundation. ‘Quiet Days’ are ‘an opportunity to lay burdens aside and to allow God to minister to your heart, mind and body through His Holy Spirit’.
But I went with an agenda! – to catch up on several scriptures quoted in my blogs that week. Yet it seemed wiser not to overlook and speed by them, thereby missing what the Lord may have for me. My reading covers many fronts and blogging takes a great deal of time, so those verses had been plucked and stuck down without proper assimilation in my mind and spirit. I wanted to digest them decently in peace and quiet.
To say I was stunned by three events that day is no understatement – and what I’d fully intended blogging got amazingly augmented by the day’s events!
Before entering the chapel a few of us were looking at photos of paintings done during the recent creativity day. As the others chatted I had a sense of the Lord building upon that centre’s purpose for its new season. Upon entering the modern chapel, however, this would be confirmed in a surprising way..
Holy Fire
My eyes almost popped out upon being seated when I saw the limb of a tree placed in the centre of the floor. In its midst was a flickering flame, albeit imitation, from a brazier placed within the branches.
The reason chaplain Elizabeth Knifton had dragged this old branch into the chapel (and swept up its consequential trail of bits) was because of what had happened during that Tuesday’s powerful service for healing. Then, she’d had a distinct impression of the Lord saying the ground they’re standing on is holy and, therefore, to remove shoes – as in Moses’ encounter with the Lord at the burning bush.
For my part, however, what I’d previously noticed outside and thus mused upon during a service several months ago had actually come about. Also, Elizabeth’s explanation of what happened and why she’d made this presentation reflected my earlier thoughts!
During that earlier service I’d seen outside a pile of logs trimmed from the surrounding woods in the grounds. It reminded me of Gary Beaton’s photo of a pile of smoking logs but which had apparently shown flame-like angels. I was prompted to pray that such a spiritual fire would come inside the chapel and become a beacon of light in the region.
Sit, Walk, Stand
Next, Elizabeth introduced her opening devotional talk based on Paul’s superlative letter to the church at Ephesus. In teaching about our posture of sitting with Jesus Christ in heavenly places she soon went into the heart of my intended introduction to Neville’s message on the urgent need for us to be ‘heavenly minded’!!
Beginning with, ‘For we are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared for us in advance for today’ (Eph 2:10) Elizabeth went to preceding verses, ‘God raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus so that in coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace and kindness towards us in Christ Jesus’ (Eph 2:6-7).
I took particular notice that she connected verses from a different letter with this theme but which are personally relevant because they’re directly related to my testimony:
‘For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves’ (Col 1:13-14) – see Rescued from Satan by the Lord of Hosts.
Furthermore, the second pre-lunch message on walking in the Spirit not only mirrored the scriptures in my recent blogs but also referred at length to Enoch’s having pleased God by walking with him! (I’d underlined related verses in those posts.)
Personal Ministry
Flying up in the stratosphere after the morning’s events, a period of personal ministry brought the third major blessing of the day: although I was away from blogging it tied into what I would have written about – a heavenly perspective and becoming heavenly-minded. Wonderful how our Father knows our most intimate desires and thoughts, and fulfils them when aligned with His will.
After sharing my excitement with the Spirit-led chaplain and a ministry leader, these two handmaidens of the Lord prayed some scriptures over and into me. First, and perhaps most important are the verses describing the glorious visionary encounter Daniel had experienced, as in Daniel 10:10-21. (Very interesting this refers to the prince of Persia (Iran) and Daniel’s people, the Jews – demonic issues still continuing today!! AND I’d recently blogged with great difficulty about Jews searching for their true Messiah.)
Also with a relevant bearing are the vision of Isaiah (chapter 6) before the throne of God and his mission; Apostle John’s anointing as a visionary writer (Rev 1:10-19); a double reference to Joshua’s mission plus another from Exodus.
Confirmation of Scriptures
Although I’m used to frequent ‘God-incidents’ in my life and blogging, it’s impossible to become blasé. Such events are always surprising – and praiseworthy! The latest repeated and thereby confirmed the relevancy of scriptures and concepts blogged only days beforehand – AND of what would have been written that very day!!
Purely for information, they are:
Continued in Neville Johnson 2: the ‘BIGGER picture’ of post-blood moon era.
Further Reading:
Apostle Paul’s remarkable ministry in Ephesus is covered in-depth by Keith Lannon in Management of the Miraculous: Ephesus is Taken. His introductory premise closes as follows (with emphases mine):
‘The depth and totality of the work accomplished by Paul in Ephesus, as well as rippling throughout the whole of Asia, was such that we know and can see that in the last book of the Bible, it was acknowledged in heaven as a work that was especially significant amongst the entire world-wide church at that time. I see it as if the entire life of Paul was a learning curve in lots of directions that led up to a period of ministry which by its shock and significance, changed the world at that time. Paul had seen the sick healed before, but not on the scale of Ephesus. He had cast out demons before, but seen nothing like the witches and Wizards that were delivered in the former “City of Diana of the Ephesians”. He had pointed out people from the crowd before and ministered to them by the leading of the Spirit, but not as intense as in Acts 19. It was such an incredibly solid and comprehensive time of church building, that when the Lord Jesus gave John the apocalyptic prophecy of the book of Revelation, he only addressed the main seven church centres that were created and established by Paul’s work in this particular mission, at this time. No other church was mentioned or acknowledged by the risen Christ as He stood amongst the candlesticks. In fact, no other candlesticks were referred to apart from those in Asia. We are talking of serious culture and population impact with the gospel that is second to none in history, with a depth of foundation laying, and an awesome height of people/church building, that I am convinced has been unparalleled since. We are examining a period of missionary work that had heaven’s stamp of approval like none other….’
Images:
INVITE MY FIRE
I will come and cleanse like a roaring fire, clearing a way for you to complete the work I have given you to do. Ideas have become tainted, projects have lost their potency of holiness, and weariness has set in because the outcomes are no longer fulfilling the original vision and desire that I put with in you.
Remember that I commanded Joshua to burn the towns of the newly invaded promised land with fire, to claim the land. Repent – turnaround – and invite My fire. I will show you what needs to be burned away if you seek me on this. Then walk again into My promises. Take no prisoners. Do not be compromised. See that I can clear the way by cleansing anything that is not of Me and sending My Spirit to empower and re-envision you.
Psalm 97:3-6
Fire goes in front of him and burns up his enemies around him. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees it and trembles. The hills melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness and all the nations see his glory.
Credits:
More: see posts on this tag – Holy-fire.
REPRISE 14 September 2015; posted as ‘A September to Remember: my encounter with aliens, Hell and Jesus Christ’
What’s with September? Two Septembers were life-changing for me – the first, when I was born – the second was radical too, but not the same as being ‘born again’. (That spiritual event came later.)
The new one came a week before ‘life-long’ one’s 42nd birthday – moreover, it’s of direct relevance to everyone no matter their age, status, race, religion or none!
On 12th August Simon Braker noted the following on the Facebook page of School of the Prophetic Leicester. His reference to numbers 7 and 8 is particularly interesting as I’ve mulled over them for some months.:
In recent days I’ve found the Lord putting a strong sense of press in my Spirit to be pressing after him and that as a nation we have entered into our time of encountering him and harvest.
I have just got home from chosen camp with our dear friends Rod and Julie Anderson, I was woken up twice by a visitation of the Holy Spirit coming upon me very early on 7th of the 8th, I felt there was a prophetic word in it but it’s not until now that I’ve understood it.
7 is the number of fullness 8 the number of new beginnings.
Matthew 7:8 states – Because everyone who keeps asking will receive, and the person who keeps searching will find, and the person who keeps knocking will have the door opened.
I believe we have stepped into a season where doors have opened the seeking will find and those who have been asking will see answers.
I felt the Lord highlighting.:
Luke 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he told Simon, “Push out into deep water, and lower your nets for a catch.”
Luke 5:5 Simon answered, “Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll lower the nets.”
Luke 5:6 After the men had done this, they caught so many fish that the nets began to tear.
Luke 5:7 So they signalled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats until the boats began to sink.
These men were professional fishermen they knew what they were doing, yet there was no catch, they had been working all night but seen no fruit, but now the season shifts for them, it’s the same net, the same lake the same men and the same boat, yet what had been fruitless now becomes fruitful, unity comes about as a result of the abundant harvest not to get harvest but because of it, the presence of Jesus in the boat shifts their efforts into overdrive as they push out into the deep with him they see harvest with him this highlights the following about this new season we have come into.:
1) a season to push out into the deep waters with Jesus, a time to push out deeper into intimacy with him where we become increasingly sensitive to his voice
2) At the same time as we push in in prayer and worship we must also push out in signs and wonders for the harvest and set to work again in our great commission mandate
3) This next season of harvest will be of such a scale that the church must unite its efforts or the nets will split and the harvest lost
4) Luke 5:10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons and Simon’s partners. Then Jesus told Simon, “Stop being afraid. From now on you will be catching people.”
In this new season the spirit of fear will break off his church and a new courage will up in the going, I felt strongly that it’s only in the going that this courage will come.
Readers may be interested in next week’s School of Ministry conducted by Glasgow Prophetic Centre, whose aim is to teach, equip and activate attendees.
Click on the above image for link giving full details of what promises to be, “an intensive, week-long school of the prophetic that will revolutionise how you live and minister – in whatever situation or circumstance God calls you to!”
An inspirational, instructive post which should further stir our minds and spirits on the matter of sowing into the Kingdom. Thank you Joanne.
38 As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. 40 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” Mark 12:38-43
How many of us have heard the story of the widow’s mite as an example of sacrificial giving? Jesus made the observation that she gave more than all the rich people. He did not commend her for that. He just stated a fact after warning about the Teachers of the Law, who liked to devour widows houses! (Mark 12:38-43)
When he did talk about commending people, he used the example of the unjust steward! (Luke 16) Really? How does that work? I asked the Lord for his wisdom on that, because it appeared he was being contradictory.
I was at work, so he gave me an example from my business. Say I order…
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Figuratively speaking, my guardian angel may have knocked the postman’s hand and caused him to drop whatever he was delivering. Whilst he was picking it up, the angel must have deposited some ‘post’ for me to receive and work on Wednesday last week.
Upon opening the envelope I found another piece to the week’s jigsaw puzzle. Maybe it’s an important piece because what I was blogging on A vision: sowing into the Kingdom of God didn’t flow easily and I was unable to find any notes on the essential reference.
Bear with me, therefore, in revisiting Charlie Shamp’s ideas on sowing into the Kingdom so I can clarify any misunderstanding, as well as to update and look at any scriptural warrant for his opinion:
Whilst watching an open vision of money swirling around him, I half-listened to Charlie as he spoke on the value of sowing into a ministry. He made an unusual analogy I’d not heard before.
The usual pastoral approach is that, like any offering, sowing into a ministry is donating to the Lord’s purposes and we’re paying back a little of what we owe Him. Standing in front of Charlie I recall that “God is a debtor to no-one”, and yet in Malachi 3:10 He tells us to test him in tithing and promises to “throw open the floodgates of heaven”!
However, as Charlie said something that seems radically different to scripture I have reservations and intend checking it the next day. I didn’t do it at the time because he went on to talk in-depth about the availability of the ‘Age to Come’.
He addressed me direct and our gaze locked, “Consider what a banker does when offering a loan: he sets the terms to our taking the loan and expects it to be repaid”. Charlie implies it’s not unreasonable to do that with the Lord; that is, to set terms as well as remind Him of them and to call in the ‘repayment’, as in reaping fruit from the seed we’ve sown.
So I must seek the Lord on Charlie’s claim and check it against scripture. The next day, however, I’m nudged to look for a verse which isn’t directly relevant. But it leads to the answer I need, the notes for which I’ve now found in an email and reading as follows:
…Next morning I looked up ‘Age to come’ in my study Bible and found its reference in Mark 10:29-31 answers my reservation AND the footnote to which reads, ‘Jesus will be a debtor to no-one. The blessings he gives far outweigh material loss and persecution incurred in serving Him’.
Mark 10:29-31 reads: So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for My sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundred-fold now in this time — houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions — and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Courtesy Biblegateway.com)
This spoke to me personally in view of my experiences. Furthermore, in the parable of talents (Matt 25:14-30) Jesus instructs disciples to put what God gives us to wise use, to invest and multiply it.
Therefore, I conclude it’s not unreasonable when donating funds to His work to remind the Lord of those scriptures and that we’re entitled to expect the promised reward.
In addition, there’s no reason for not discussing this further with Father as His ‘sons’ and in being quite specific in our requests.
Those verses eased and satisfied my reservations. I hope they may answer your queries too?
NB: This matter is considered in greater depth by Joanne Rolston in That Poor Widow.
Eyeballing me as he speaks, I’m not fully attentive for I’m transfixed by an open vision right in front of me.
What I see swirling around Charles Shamp reminds me of those toy snow-scenes popular at Christmas. Also, perhaps you’ve seen how the wind can pick up and carry things away – like a ‘dust devil’ or tornado starting up – yet this one wasn’t going anywhere.
But this wind doesn’t bring invisible snow or dust: just money! – that is, currency notes – lots and lots of them! The space between us has become a blue-grey misty haze with the notes ‘swimming’ around him. Apparently, Charlie doesn’t see them for, although he may refer to something he senses during a meeting, this time he carries on speaking to everyone but I’m not listening as keenly as usual.
Charlie had started as we sat down after worship at the Passover-Easter meeting. Yet I remained standing, not so much out of politeness as he was looking at me, but because of what I could see in the spirit.
It was another of those times I’ve mentioned earlier: Charlie looks at someone and keeps eye contact for a minute or so as he teaches. Every time that’s happened to me, he said something that resonated on something with which I was very well acquainted. It’s not like a prophecy being delivered, yet it must be related to that because what’s said is relevant and increases my understanding – ie. they’re words of knowledge, wisdom and revelation.
This time what he says connects not only right into my experience as a bank officer but also into the open vision! He tells everyone about the value of sowing into a ministry and makes an unusual analogy that I’d not heard before from any preacher.:
Charlie is of the opinion that financial sowing is similar to lending money. (The normal approach is that, like any offering, sowing into a Christian ministry is donating to the Lord’s purposes and we’re paying back a little of everything we owe Him. I recall, “God is a debtor to no-one”, as He told Job and summarised by Max Lucado in God Owes Nothing.)
However, Charlie is saying – whilst I watch the money swimming around in the six feet separating us, “Consider what a banker does when offering a loan: he sets the terms to our taking the loan and expects it to be repaid”. So too, we may legitimately expect a payback when sowing by reaping some of the fruit that manifests. Moreover, we may remind the Lord.
This new concept of being a banker ‘setting terms for our sowing’ catches my attention because it’s about something with which I was familiar as a bank officer – but not what we’d associate with giving to the Lord.
Also during that session, I recalled what I’ve long known of the promise about the only test we may make of God. And He allows this ‘test’ to emphasise He’s providing a way to enable His people to answer His righteous complaint against their robbing Him! It is the foundation for all tithes and offerings:
“Test me in this”, says the Lord Almighty, “And see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it…”. (Malachi 3:10 NIV)
So I must seek the Lord on Charlie’s claim and check it against scripture. Upon doing so early the next morning Lord directs me to an appropriate scripture (see Note 1 below).
I’m reminded of the parable of talents (Matt 25:14-30) wherein Jesus instructs disciples to put what God gives us to wise use and multiply it.
Although applicable to all gifts He gives us, this parable’s focus upon money supports Charlie’s claim that, in donating funds to what the Lord is doing, we may expect and are promised a reward. Furthermore, as God’s children there’s no reason for not discussing this further with Father and in being quite specific in our requests.
NOTES:
Upon receiving William’s news on Monday I sensed, “The books are being opened”.
It blessed me to learn that he too, like fellow author Neil, had been encouraged by events after my mentioning him in last Thursday’s blog. Both friends had emailed me earlier that week and Bill forwarded an interesting online article that deserved a wider airing.
Last week, I intended blogging about the Iranian nuclear deal but realised it had to be in 3 parts. The first wasn’t thought of until ‘getting out of bed’. What became the second part was meant to lead into a look at questionable details of that deal. That part reveals the synchronicity between the final accord and a highly significant period in the Jewish Calendar. Its cross-posting from Breaking Israeli News had been quickly done but needed a brief introduction on the Thursday before my main task of compiling the substantive ‘stuff’.
However, as told in IF, I hadn’t got out of bed…, I was inspired the previous evening to make a note for beginning the combined material – only to wake up, get waylaid and need to re-jig my plans for blog-day.
As I got diverted into new but directly relevant material, I recalled William Smith is an author too and therefore provided details of his book, ‘Feasting On The Father’. Little did I suspect that another ‘God-incident’ was getting under way!
It was ‘time’ for Revd Bill’s book too, because on Monday he emailed, “I want to say ‘thank you’ for advertising my book afresh…The timing was so incredibly significant to me”. He was visited by a friend who’d read it and believes it’s a vital word for the church today.
Bill remains convinced God had him write it for a needy church and many who agree it’s an important essential word to the church encouraged him.
Some reviews:
And another:
“A beautiful book, well written and inspirational, taking the reader on a journey into the depths of the love, grace and provision of a loving Father God to His children. A cracking read!!”
Bestselling and award-winning author Dr Mark Stibbe remarks,
“A stunning piece of work! I am constantly being sent manuscripts, especially by new authors. If I’m brutally honest, many of these offer only scraps of revelation. Just occasionally a book comes my way that offers far more than that – a true feast of Abba’s wisdom and insight. Bill’s book is a great example of this. I unreservedly encourage you to come to the table he has so meticulously and lovingly prepared. Come hungrily and you will not be disappointed. A banquet of brilliance awaits.”
Description:
‘This book is an in-depth Bible study, centred on Song of Solomon chapter 2 and revealing the heart of a loving Father throughout the scriptures. Far from being academic theory, the teaching is a heart-to-heart talk and passionate exploration of how to enjoy God’s intended relationship every moment of our lives.
‘The Bible is essentially a love story – a book that reveals the heart of a Father towards his children. God does not keep his distance from us, nor is it his desire to punish us. On the contrary, his love compelled him to send his only son into an imbalanced world – to suffer in our place, and to bring us back to the Father as royal sons. Now, we are welcome to the table of the King of Kings…
‘The truths explained in this book have the power to change your life. Once you have feasted on the Father, you will not want to look back.’
Personal note:
One Saturday morning several years ago Nina and I took a quick drive to a meeting in Portsmouth convened by a couple we knew connected to Toronto Airport Fellowship. At the first coffee break a couple joined us at our table and got chatting.
Sharing a connection with the Gathering Place, Blandford, opened up conversation and ‘Revd Bill’ and I have since kept in touch. He’s a most encouraging supporter of my efforts at keeping the church informed and I’ve quoted him on several occasions.
SO Bill, this is to acknowledge your long-standing, unstinting support with immense gratitude.
Any readers puzzled by my reference to the Greek mindset as a Fundamental flaw in Western society (re Humanism & Europe-Greece crisis) will find this brief summary from Freedom Apostolic Resources Centre to be very helpful. It is also background material for their latest post on our relationship with Jesus, By Personal Encounter and Experience.
Mike Parsons –
Last time I shared with you a couple of PowerPoint slides relating to the Greek (Western) and Hebrew (Eastern) mindsets. This week I want to look just a little more closely at the contrast between them, and then I would like to pray for God to reveal where we are being robbed by our Western way of looking at things, and break it off us.
Here is the first of those slides again.
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Thankyou Bob D in Southampton for this ’round-robin’:
Many folks want to serve God, but only as advisers.
It is easier to preach ten Sermons than it is to live one.
Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited, until you try to sit in their pew!
People are funny – they want the front of the bus, middle of the road, and the back of the church.
The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.
Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on the front door forever.
Quit griping about your church – if it was perfect you couldn’t belong.
If a church wants a better pastor – it only needs to pray for the one it has.
We’re called to be witnesses, not lawyers or judges.
God Himself doesn’t propose to judge a man until he is dead – so why should we?
Some minds are like concrete – thoroughly mixed up and permanently set.
Peace starts with a smile.
Be ye fishers of men – You catch ’em, He’ll clean ’em.
Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
Don’t wait for 6 strong men to take you to church.
God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
God loves everyone, but probably prefers ‘fruits of the spirit’ over ‘religious nuts’!
God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.
He who angers you, controls you!
If God is your Co-pilot, swap seats!
Don’t give God instructions, just report for duty!
The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
The Will of God never takes you to where the Grace of God will not protect you.
We don’t change the message, the message changes us.
The best mathematical equation that I have ever seen:
1 cross + 3 nails = 4 given.
So well-timed in view of my recently ruminating over a personal word concerning Joshua and Caleb, as well as correspondence received today! ‘Tis also a good follow-on to my train journey of ‘Abiding in God’s Word’…
Mike Parsons
with Jeremy Westcott
We are looking in more detail at selected characteristics of the Joshua Generation. All those characteristics come out of relationship: they are characteristics of sons, not slaves.
Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and tutors… But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son… so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God (Gal 4:1-7).
If we are to have an inheritance, we need to know and…
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This essential follow-on has TRIPLE VALIDATION over 3 CONSECUTIVE DAYS on its subject of strongholds: – FRI; post gets published – SAT; in Windsor, Dr Sharon Stone teaches on identifying and demolishing strongholds – SUN; in Alabama, Rev. John Kilpatrick explains and ministers into strongholds in his 11th sermon on Overcoming an Orphan Spirit and Embracing Adoption!!! (Also, I’d drafted my upcoming post on a personal word about Joshua and Caleb.)
Mike Parsons
with Jeremy Westcott
Israel’s Promised Land speaks to us of our Kingdom inheritance. The journey they travelled was like ours, from slavery to sonship.
Coming out of Egypt’s bondage is a picture of our salvation.
Crossing the Red Sea is a picture of our baptism in water.
The pillar of cloud and fire is a picture of the baptism in the Holy Spirit (most of us have received that baptism in cloud: perhaps not so much in fire – though that is coming, if you have not encountered it already).
The wilderness: testing, preparation, transformation.
Finally, in crossing the Jordan they were embracing their destiny. But they could have done so a generation earlier:
Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.” But the men who had gone up with him…
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The importance of inheritance in Jesus Christ is becoming pronounced among bloggers and this good outline by Mike Parsons closes with an encouraging invitation to ‘engage’ with the Lord. Also check out my post on this in respect of End-times – it quotes a rebuke from the opposite camp to believers being ignorant of our inheritance!!
Mike Parsons
with Jeremy Westcott
Where a will is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it (Heb 9:16).
Usually, we receive an inheritance when someone has died, and left us something in their will. Jesus, the firstborn, has died for us. He received judgment so that we can receive blessing: an eternal inheritance.
The Hebrew word nachalah means inheritance, possession of property, or heritage. It is used 273 times in the Old Testament; on 183 occasions it relates to land as a gift.
The Hebrew word yarash means to seize, dispossess, take possession of, or inherit. It is used 255 times in the Old Testament; on 210 occasions it relates to military action.
Our inheritance, then, is given by grace as a gift but is received by taking possession of it. And there can be a significant difference between what God is willing to give…
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