What Jesus is saying to His Church…

STOP PRESS: Am interrupting preparation of the next post because the scripture I visited this morning was confirmed and reinforced upon opening today’s word from Glasgow Prophetic Centre (emphases mine):

I WILL CLEANSE YOU AND FREE YOU

“I am calling my Bride to purity and holiness.

– You ask me, ‘What does this look like in my life, Lord?’

– It is choosing to set yourself apart and living like my Bride, keeping yourself pure and spotless until the day of my return. Do not live like the other people do. Do not partner with sexual perversion and lust. But keep yourself spotless by refraining from the activities that the world sees as a ‘personal right’ and ‘normal’.

“You are called to be different to set a new ‘tone’ and a new ‘norm’ which is unsullied and holy.  Pay attention to what you watch, look at, how you act and what your mind is focused on. Let me help you focus on things that are pure, untainted and blameless in my sight.

Fix your gaze on me and I will enable you to walk free of all that has hindered you in this area. I will cleanse you and free you from all that entangles and snares you. Come to me.”

1 Peter 2:9-12 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Leviticus 18:1-5;30 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices. You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord. Keep my requirements and do not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before you came and do not defile yourselves with them. I am the Lord your God.”.

What was I studying beforehand? – and why?

In observing the debate on Gillan’s blog about the Anglican church’s deliberations over same-sex marriage I’d noted hardly anyone bothers with what the Son of God , our Saviour Jesus the Messiah, has to say on the issue.

What Jesus would say to individuals and churches today must surely be the same as 2,000 years ago, would it not?  He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8)  After visiting seven of the earliest churches in Asia Minor Jesus dictated a message to each one.

Therefore, ALL believers (clergy and laity alike) should take note of every rebuke and commendation, each good and bad point in those reports, learn from them all and make sure they’re applied in church today. As statted therein, Jesus “hates” all doctrine and deeds of idolatry and sexual immorality (“the depths of Satan”) that He observed in the churches of Pergamos and Thyatira in particular. (Chapters 2 and 3, Revelation)

Therefore, my receipt of today’s highly encouraging Lion Bites reiterated and confirmed this issue.

Monday’s Lion Bites is also directly applicable and I would emphasise its associated scripture:

CLEANSING FIRE

“Are you willing to be baptised afresh today – to be purified by the intense holiness and cleansing fire of God? Father God longs to turn up the heat, to burn up the dross – the sin that so easily entangles – so that we can stand before Him with clean hands and a pure heart.

“Are you willing… so that we can stand before Almighty God as a pure and spotless bride, holy and set apart for Him, the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords?”

Matthew 3:11-12   I baptise with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am – so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.

“London’s burning…”

Nathan 2Thus, proclaimed Nathan Morris on Sunday night as he ministered to the congregation gathered in packed Kensington Temple, the renowned Elim Pentecostal church located in Notting Hill Gate, London.

It could be taken as a prophetic declaration in keeping with Julie Meyer’s visionary song and Bobby Conner’s prophetic reference to a UK ‘Firestorm’. We knew of this only through being on opposite sides of the ‘pond’.

And what a way to travel…no planes, queues, passport control – no delays, no jet-lag!!  We were online in Mobile, Alabama and then z o o m e d  to London within a minute!

That’s how we got 1/4 way around the world without going outside our lounge. For three hours we ‘attended’ Church of His Presence, where pastor John Kilpatrick taught on the realisation of believers’ potential (along with 22 prophetic words). He spoke of unseen connections God is bringing about and opening doors -where’d we heard that before? (here) – doors that have been locked for 20 years! Pastor specifically included on-line members but my wife was unable to hear this because she’d been ‘zapped’. What he’d already said had ‘plugged’ her into Holy Spirit’s power socket – thank you Lord.

Rev John KilpatrickJohn’s homily was God Is Planning Something SO BIG, Even The Devil Can’t Stop It!  His excellent exposition on how the Lord will do this complements Sharon Stone’s prophetic words on ‘perspective’ and God’s provision, as well as those she’s just released this week for 2013 from the UK’s Prophetic Council. (See also, summary with introduction to prophecy.)

In announcing that their English evangelist was away on a home visit, and as a guest speaker at Reinhard Bonnke’s School of Evangelism, John’s assistant pastor said that Nathan had been invited at the last minute to address the evening service prior to the event. And because of the time difference, that service would be happening at about the same time as their own there in Alabama, USA.

So Nina wondered if there may be a live webcast for that London service. As soon as John had finished, I searched for Christ For All Nations’ site but its UK page just refused to load! (Overloaded?)  A quick ‘google’ soon located the hosting church’s website.

So from a 10.30 morning service to a 19.00 evening service was simple as pie, thanks to technology. With laptop hooked up to TV we took part in both services from our own armchairs. YET, a shock was in store for us…

Along with hundreds of online members we like being with the enthusiastic Americans but, ‘arriving’ at 7.30pm in London just after close of worship we landed with a thud!  Here, we found an ordinary, subdued English service even though it was composed mainly of youngsters and many nationalities!

Or, as Nathan had just started speaking, maybe they were surprised at how passionate he is? Definitely not the usual sort of speaker. Being fire-filled he cannot be anything but excited about his Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Nathan gave a brief outline of his past life of deep sin and how the Lord unexpectedly burst into his life, turned him around and set him ablaze. Then followed a couple of videos outlining his remarkable ministry in Africa and India and showing the revival and miracles at the Bay of The Holy Spirit in Mobile.

AN HOUR LATER, ALL CHANGED!  The congregation packing hall and balconies was  mightily encouraged and keen for more. Nathan always preaches the blood and cross of Jesus without compromise and after which signs and wonders follow. Tonight, therefore, the Holy Spirit’s fire fell.  Everyone was up on their feet on fire for and with Him and wanting more when Nathan ministered to almost everyone. Hence, his declaration in view of what was happening, “London’s burning”, as well as the fact that  people have come from all over London and the home counties.

What’s it like being touched by the Holy Spirit?  He affects us in different personal ways. For me it’s like a warmth and glow upon the face and often makes me feel I’m surfing. For those very sensitive to the Spirit the power may make us twitch and/or cry out. And it can happen ‘remotely’, as above whilst watching a live broadcast, or by the laying on of hands, as when Nina felt as though a thunderbolt had hit her when Nathan touched her as he passed by at Hull (account here).

A sample of the morning worship of Phil Wickham’s ‘Cielo’ with Martin Smith’s chorus My Heart Burns For You will help you to soar and appreciate that afternoon-evening. This clip of the same recorded in July features Lydia Stanley-Morrow, who too was in London .:

Click here for video of this morning’s worship led by Rebecca van Dijk and where Rev. Kilpatrick’s message starts at 1hr35min. (Rebecca starts those two songs at 19 min.)

Finally, an interesting start to the day happened in our morning service here in UK, but that’s for another time…(continued here)