Turn down, turn off and turn aside

A word from the Lord, laid on Pat’s heart, was given to us on Sunday (26/07/2015).

Pat shared, “August is a pivotal month, very special both individually and corporately. As the busy-ness of life slows down for the summer break so should we. Jesus is standing in the garden waiting for us to come aside during this time – come into the garden – to be still and KNOW that He is God.

He’s waiting to commune with us – to refresh and replenish so that when September comes – we are ready to run with the new things of God prepared for us."

A similar word laid on Yvonne’s heart was given to us a few weeks ago – it’s time to rest and replenish. All those who are weary – come into a place of rest.

The preach dovetailed with this word – the waiting is nearly over. The season of upheaval and change is drawing to a close. Many are exhausted from a range of personal loss, skirmishes and battles. Change, loss and uncertainty has caused our ground to shift – some have experienced the “suddenness” of divine intervention and moved into (and onto) new adventures with God.  

It's time to turn

Through scripture we heard the of the power in simply turning our heads. Looking away from the circumstance we're faced with - turning to look at God's dealing with others in dead-end places, desperation and isolation.

Dead-end places: Moses, reduced from being Prince of Egypt to tending someone else’s flock at the back of the dessert chose to turn aside to investigate the burning bush. God revealed Himself to Moses; said He’d heard the cries of the people; gave Moses the commission to lead the people out of captivity.

• Exodus 3: 1 to 10, Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn …… So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”  And he said, “Here I am.”

Graveyard brought to life: Mary, forever faithful to her Christ, heartbroken and weeping at the empty tomb turned at the voice of her risen Saviour and entrusted with the message, “He’s alive”

• John 20: 11 to 18, “Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”  She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

Heaven revealed in isolation: John on Patmos – turned to “see” the voice that rumbled across the heavens – all of heaven opened up to him to see the risen Christ in all His splendour and power.

• Revelation 1: 9 to 18, Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore."

Our circumstance cannot hold nor defeat us – respond to the invitation to commune with Christ Jesus. This August - turn aside from oppressive circumstances and busy-ness. Turn off the noise of the world.

Now is the time to camp, refresh, regroup and replenish. Ahead of us is a fresh touch from Jesus, a renewed hope and a renewed revelation of Christ. This is the preparation for September - get ready!

Be encouraged fellow believer with this scripture - 2 Corinthians 4 (7 - 18)

Cast Down but Unconquered: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, which the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed — always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body

Seeing the Invisible: Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are.

Posts linked to this message:

1. How to survive the waiting:  Outline taken from the book of Joshua
2. What are we waiting for: God's order and process from Zachariah 3
3. An out-pouring of agape love: Revelation of love that motivates us to share Jesus with the world 
4. The waters that spring forth: Reflection on the wells in South East London

(Italics & emphasis in scripture added for emphasis)

Struggle, equipping and victory on the streets

As the post writer I have to confess there is often an inner debate about undoubtedly divine happenings that cannot be explained in rational ways. The events churn over in your spirit while on the one side trying to make sense of it in your own life whereas on the other hand seeking the Father’s heart as to what He’s saying in and through this.

This post outlines things I still don’t really comprehend but feel the inner compulsion to write it up.  

What I do know is that in the here and now – this physical realm – this was a touch from heaven.

The events that took place are listed below but in two parts I believe this is what the Father is showing through this:

The formal church must move onto the streets and out of our buildings 

I have posted two similar messages in the past. One about the power of the prayer movement before the London Olympics in 2012 and also after the London riots. This post however gets more specific.

The Lord has assured that as we venture onto the streets in our neighbourhoods with the message of Christ:

• He is right next to us - beside us ALL the time,
• God is not restricted to areas and venues we feel safe with. God can show up anywhere and at any time - look to see HIM and look at the people we meet in a new way,
• He will stand in solidarity with us and equip us for every task,
• He will stand in power with us if we dare to believe,
• Where we've been punching the air trying to breakthrough the glass ceilings will give way.

What are the promises?

The culmination of the sequence of events listed below was being led to Zachariah 3.  Apart from the Father answering some questions about the events - the notation in my bible made me take note of what I'd written 3 years ago and dated 7/7.

I believe as we enter the new day and we transition into the new season the following will unfold:

1. New tasks: will be revealed possibly with a change in direction and a paradigm shift in thinking about "ministry" and doing "formal church",
2. New personal understanding, gifting, knowledge and skill set to meet the tasks,
3. New covering and clothing which I believe is the resourcing for the new task,
4. New authority to ensure His will is done here on earth as it is in heaven,
5. New boldness and courage - not to be afraid .... but indeed be happy! (Acts 18:9-10) says; "Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."

I don't see this as an overly religious type of happening or even a "movement" - somehow this will be organic and not boxed or labeled within any particular denomination or church type but a gradual awakening of believers to engage with the "world" in their context. It appears to be about applied faith - faith in action in shops, high streets, workplaces, schools, parks, visiting neighours - day to day life.

Let’s get out there and show Christ to the world!

With love and blessings

Joy

Enlargement through transformation

Expansion, growth and blossoming of natural talent and spiritual gifts to those called to be covenant people being molded into a unified community of believers. 

The assigned angel of our church (ie churches in Revelation) is present and overseeing the transition and transformation from old church into the new - multifaceted - a morphing into our own corporate identity, personality and kingdom purpose. 

The church will grow into the identity with a distinct separation from the past shape/format. The Father gave Steve a picture of light "bubbling" up from the ground creating an aura of light. 

The Scripture Isaiah 60:1-3 (as preached on 5/01/2014) arose throughout the prayer time; “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.”

• A sense of God establishing Justice on the earth - Justice is mentioned 3 times in Isaiah 42: 1-4.

• A confirmation that God will make us a light for the lost and will use us to open blind eyes and set the captives free - Isaiah 42: 6-7 

•  A confirmation that the former things have already taken place and that we should not dwell on them and that God is calling us into the new things that He is doing - Isaiah 42: 9 and 43: 18-19.

• A confirmation of the significance of singing a new song to the Lord - Isaiah 42: 10 and that as we do He will march out and defeat His (and our) enemies - Isaiah 42: 13.

Worship warfare: 

A word based on Isaiah 42: 1-17 and Isaiah 43: 18-19. 

Many of us have been asking why we are not seeing more miracles and healing. Isaiah 42:14 says that God has kept silent and held himself back but believe now He will start to move in amazing ways (verses 15-16).

Also - looking at the words that were circulated a while ago was struck by the word headed "God's people revolution" from 2011 bearing in mind Hugh Osgood's preaching this morning - "Wake up, Wake up, O sleeper, you have all the power given to you, it is time to stop talking about things but to take action"

There is also a connection with the Wake up tree (almond tree) - the picture of Moses with his arms raised holding his staff (rod) so the Israelites could win their battle, representing our role in the 
heavenly battles as we pray and get involved. Battles can be won and we will see God's kingdom established in our area.

Musicians that lead corporate sung worship will be part and parcel of moving the Church forward into the new stage of church life. 

2 Chronicles 20:20-22 is a key scripture: “So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, For His mercy endures forever.” Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

Compilation of prayers/words/pictures from Elizabeth & Steve

 

With blessings

The burning cross – adjust your gaze

Season of change, reshaping vision and release of destiny

As the proverbial clock struck midnight (2013/14) and sitting quietly with the Father I had a picture of a single cross on top of a hill. It was empty with only a robe draped on the cross bar.  I had to tilt my head upward to look up at it and as I stared at the cross it started to burn BUT WAS NOT CONSUMED.
 

The cross is central to 2014 and where Christ is celebrated, lifted up and worshiped unreservedly a ring of fire will be created - with the glory of God within. I was reminded that as Calvary and Christ’s sacrifice separates us from the past - 2014 will be a complete departure from the past. It’s as if a line has been drawn in the sand of time.

With the burning cross I was prompted by Holy Spirit to meditate on Moses’s experience of the burning bush (Exodus 3) – he had an unexpected encounter with God as the I AM, the course of his life changed forever. This experience with God brought to an end his season of isolation with the release of his commission, future vision and promise.

From the recounting of the experience in Exodus chapter 3 we see:

• Expect to hear, see and find God in the dry and mundane places of life,
• Recognise that we will have to adjust our gaze and acknowledge that mere coincidence is actually God’s hand working in and for you,
• Ascribe all good things to the LORD,
• God KNOWS your name – respond when you hear HIM call,
• He has heard the cries (and prayers) of HIS people and WILL act of our behalf to take possession of our inheritance in Christ Jesus.

This event in Moses' life changed the course of his life; he met the I AM, the vision for the future was revealed with the assurance that God was with and for him to ensure that the vision and commission  became reality.