Simeon and Anna

Prayer Is So Very Precious

When Jesus was eight days old, Joseph and Mary brought Him to the Temple to be dedicated to God. Simeon and Anna were already there, praying in the certain knowledge that God would send His Messiah in their lifetime, "on their watch". This is the promised Messiah who would redeem Israel and all of humankind at "just the right time".

Simeon and Anna had separately been spoken to by the Lord that they were to pray; each had persued this lonely task for years.

Right now, in our own time, many, many Simeons and Annas have been praying in affirmation of the hundreds of prophetic words which have been spoken over our city of Perth, Western Australia, in recent years.

There is coming a time when Jesus will reveal Himself to our fellow citizens as never before.

It is always good, where-ever it happens, when someone has that wondrous moment of clarity and they know, beyond any doubt, that Jesus is welcoming them into His life, that their spirit is awakening and lives are coming into a previously impossible fullness .. We are to expect tens of thousands to come like this to Jesus, gladly and hungrily, like thirsty wanderers reaching an abundant oasis in a vast desert. Our very materialistic and hedonistic city will change ..

These words have been given, in my hearing, by dozens of visiting missionaries, Bible teachers, evangelists, and by local ministers, intercessors, and preachers, and a great many "ordinary" Christians too. The words "tens of thousands" are a part of what Jesus has been saying to His Church.

Simeon and Anna knew only a little of what God was already committed to do, yet they prayed. Our prayer is part of our participation in God's work on the Earth. His work is sovereign yet in a great and powerful mystery, our participation seems to be vital to His timing.

I see it like this: when Jesus came to the Earth, He was fully man and, at the same time, He was fully God. When Jesus became a creature, with physical attributes, He was made a creature as we are, as a human being, a creature in God's image. A physical being with a spirit and the ability to speak; (this makes our humanity spectacularly awesome, doesn't it?)

So then, when Jesus had been crucified for our sins, rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven, He rose as a man; there are many witnesses, both in our Bible, and in histories of that time, which clearly state that the Man Christ Jesus lived, was crucified and rose into heaven. 

Very simply, this means that all of us Christians, who are children of God and who are in Christ, are also risen into Heaven with Jesus where we also participate in ruling and reigning with Him, hour by hour and day by day.

This makes prayer seem much more important, a vital part of our life with Jesus ..

Meanwhile, we wait and pray, and go about our lives in obedience to what Jesus has asked of each one.  Simeon and Anna are examples for us, we can see their work and be encouraged to press on.

Bless us all Lord .. Come quickly!

Favourite Bible Verses 

"It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him" (2 Timothy 2:11-12 NASB).

And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders, a Lamb standing as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.  And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.  When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.  "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth" (Revelation 5:6-10 NASB). 

".. golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" .. our prayers are so very precious, and every one of them gets heard in Heaven!

Amen.

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Praise Jesus.

Is This You?

About A Series Of Visions I Received From Jesus

Here's a story, a vignette really, a short film of a vision Jesus gave me.

Simon and Luke are friends; they were in the same class at school and have been in the same youth group for many years; now they go to the same church and move in the same circles of friends.

Luke is settled in a good job and pressing on with his life. Simon finished Uni a year ago and has been working. After church one night Simon shares with Luke that he wants to change jobs to engage more in his area of interest and to fully utilise his degree; he also thinks it's a good time to sell the old car he's had right through university and upgrade; get something sporty and near new.

Simply put, Simon is at a watershed time in his life.

Luke can remember when, years ago, the two friends sat by the sea at church camp and Simon shared his passion; a group had just talked about their time in India where they had been working with orphans and street kids. Simon's heart overflowed with Jesus' love and compassion for the children; all his years of helping with Sunday School were reflected in his excitement about the potential of this work.

As they talked, Jesus showed Luke Simon's heart, his passion, and also the watershed areas of his life. Very clearly Jesus asked Luke to undertake for Him, to make a massive commitment to His Kingdom.

"Simon", Luke said, "it appears to me that you are in a watershed time, several areas of your life are ready for change. Would this be a good time for you to give a year to Jesus; to go on mission for a year? You could go to India or Cambodia with an orphan ministry .. anything at all .. Jesus has asked me to share my wages with you 50/50 for a year. You'll be free to focus on working full-time for Him, and I'll be able to manage my life on the other half of what I'm earning .. "

My vision almost ends here .. I do not know what these young men decide and do .. But, over the following week or so I saw other visions, or short films. They included different young men and young women, but the themes were identical; one young person was ready to make a very big sacrifice so that the other could go work for Jesus on a serious project for a year ..

What excites me is that Jesus has initiated this idea. He's placed love, compassion, and the desire to serve the Kingdom of God into all these young people's hearts. It looks as though they, who only exist in my visions, are going to go with this great, and probably difficult, adventure. Each one will be very sacrificial, challenging, and need to be fully from the heart.

Is Jesus asking you to do something like this for Him? Is He asking you to split your income so that someone you know can give himself, or herself, to Jesus' work for a year? Or for 6 months? For 3 months? Or is He asking you to give $2000 or so, perhaps anonymously, so someone you know can go on short-term mission where Jesus can truly change their life?

Favourite Bible Verses

"Love is patient and is kind; love does not envy or boast, it is not proud. Love
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:4,7).

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the same measure you use it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38 NIV).

"Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back - given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity" (Luke 6:38 Message).

Praise Jesus.

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Amen.

Sex? Evolution?

Sex? Evolution? Can't Have Both?

A Protest By An Ordinary Man At All The "Evolution" Spin In Our World.

Life

There is something truly awesome about living things. Cars are pretty special, they go fast and look great. Computers keep improving, they now run airlines and send messages around the world in a second.

But cars and computers in no way reproduce themselves whereas every life-form does. Nothing that is not alive can do this. Most life-forms use two genders, male and female, who come together sexually and produce offspring.

Eureka!

I had a 'Eureka!' moment while Trish and I were watching a TV show about babies. How very complicated, and nail-bitingly precarious, are our reproductive processes! While graphic and heart-stirring, the documentary also included many gratuitous references to "Evolution".

  

"How can this be?" I thought. "That which gives us life and ongoing generations cannot be the result of countless random, accidental, unplanned, spontaneous changes over millions of years. There has never been any scientific proof of evolution bringing a more complex species". I felt violated at the distortion in this kind of commentary. As we all watch these lovely nature programs, a flood of intellectual, moral, emotional and spiritual corruption comes into our homes.

Media And Culture

Today we see a big increase in the air-time and print coverage given to the Theory of Evolution, usually it is presented as empirically proven scientific fact. Why is this? There is no body of empirical evidence which proves Darwin's "Theory of Evolution" or "Natural Selection". Moreover, even a quick look at life processes shows me, a very ordinary person, that Evolution simply cannot be real.

  

New technologies allow us to see into all manner of hitherto hidden life and activity. We can see the tiny bones inside an ear vibrating to effect hearing. Clear images show sperm cells battling their way up a birth canal until just one in many millions fertilises an egg. Spectacular!

  

What's My Beef?

Why do we see these wondrous displays of natural beauty alongside complete misrepresentation of the truth? How do clever, talented, highly educated people, (many with PhDs), not recognise the logical contradictions within the construct of the Theory of Evolution? How can they overlook all the soundly developed refutations and contrary evidence? Even Darwin had grave doubts about his Theory.

The TV show depicted human reproduction, from the twinkle in the eyes of the parents before conception, until the babies were born and feeding and bonding. For some days my thoughts were centred on these powerful images. Reproduction by two different genders is universal among complex life-forms, not just humans. It is also intricate and multifaceted, often symbiotic, and totally necessary for species to endure. Does reason suggest that this all came about accidentally and spontaneously, without need, design or will?

Evolution: A Perspective

Let us try and see how Evolution might work. We have often been told that an evolutionary step would take hundreds of generations to develop. Jesus lived about eighty generations ago, 2000 years. Hundreds of generations would take tens of thousands of years, myriads. Can it be possible that for tens of thousands of years, random things with no purpose would be developing across an existing species which could still function in daily life? These developments would not be complete, and would not work in a useful way. They would also have to be exactly parallel to another gender of other purpose-less un-planned, spontaneous developments as complimentary life-forms. But generation after generation, they would continue to develop, for no reason, with no driving force.

Now let's consider the arrival of the first life-form ever capable of sexual reproduction. It would have to be the descendant of a simple life-form; only simple life-forms can reproduce asexually. But being simple, it could not have the many interdependent, life-giving, and life-sustaining systems necessary to support the potential of sexual reproduction. All the needed components, hormones and control mechanisms of complex organisms would have to develop in the same phase as its two gender sexual reproduction capability; a titanic leap! A leap too far?

  

Evolutionists tell us that new species appear, without need or warning, with brand new shapes, functions and capabilities. After the arrival of a new un-sought, un-planned and un-designed life-form, with no previous experience or external teaching, it would need to find suitable food and appropriate shelter to sustain itself, then mature, it also would have to find a mate, complete its own breeding cycle, conceive new life, and produce offspring to make their way through the next iteration of life.

Moss

Mosses are one of the simplest life-forms to reproduce sexually. Here are the major working systems mosses need to have babies :

• Female structures must develop that produce egg cells (archegonium), or male structures develop that produce sperm cells (antheridium).

• Timing of these complimentary developments is vitally important, so that when the egg cells are ready, sperm cells are released.

• Sperms must be attracted to the eggs; because sperms each consist of just one cell, they are microscopically small and the relative distances they would need to travel are immense.

• Fertilisation must occur when the sperm and egg meet, from this a single cell zygote needs to form.

• The zygote will be the first cell of a new organism with its own genome. Two genomes, one from the male and one from the female, each comprising billions (yes, billions) of DNA bases will have to merge perfectly into one new fully functional genome, the core of the zygote.

• The zygote, or single cell of the fertilised egg, must then split and multiply many millions of times to develop into a new moss with the same characterises as its parents, including the ability to play its own role in reproduction. 

Complicated? Yes. Very.

These simple sounding steps incorporate an incredible array of complex components, hormones, enzymes and activities, each one exactly in co-ordination with others so they can work perfectly.

  

Imagine what it takes to produce an egg or a sperm cell; its structure and function would be completely unlike any other cell in the moss plant.

Then imagine the machinery to attract the sperm to the egg, then to fertilise the egg just once, (not multiple times by different sperms); how does this happen?

How do the billions of DNA bases from two genomes fuse into one new one?

How does the zygote's single cell become all the different cell types needed to make a new moss plant?

Accidentally? Spontaneously? Without need, design or purpose?

  

Human Race: Could Our Species Have Evolved?

An even more challenging question: "Where did the human race come from?" We know from learning about endangered species that a significant gene pool is needed to make a species viable and enduring.

How many human babies would need to suddenly exist? They would need to mature, this takes many years for humans, then be attracted into pairs, discover sex, and produce strong, fully formed babies of their own. They would also need to spend many years raising these babies to maturity, rather than considering them a handy source of food, or simply killing them "because they were different".

  

Would you need a hundred such babies? Babies randomly and accidentally formed, arriving within a few years of one another, and within walking distance of one another. Would you need a thousand babies? Humans are massively more complex than mosses, and we have seen that the complexity of "simple" mosses is awe inspiring. Ten thousand?

  

Physical And Technical Complexity

You probably know couples who have never been able to have children because either the man or the woman has a seemingly minor malfunction in their body. There are so many interdependent and complimentary systems at work in us; systems to provide mobility, fuel from food and air, energy distribution, growth, waste collection and disposal, communications, memory and learning, immunity, healing and more.

The adult human body is made up of about 100 trillion cells, 206 bones, 640 muscles, 22 internal organs and 45,000 kilometres (28,000 miles) of nerve fibres. Twelve major systems must operate correctly for us to function from minute to minute and day to day .

  

My own recent dealings with doctors have made me aware of our 54 different and terribly important hormones, and the organs which produce and manage them. How could the pancreas, glucose control, insulin and insulin management grow randomly and without need? In the 21st century we know there is a need, but "less complex life-forms" could have no inkling; besides, they could not influence their own development in any way. We are wonderfully made.

  

Symbiosis

A joy of learning about the natural world is to see the symbiosis present in every environment. In the rain-forest the tree canopy provides a home for the animals and birds and insects, and all the smaller plants, mosses, fungi and bacteria. Each of these is part of another creature's shelter, diet or breeding cycle. This same sprawling canopy, consisting of the leaves of millions of trees, must be big enough to attract the rain which is fundamental to every aspect of rain-forest life. Besides all this, the huge rotting trees which fell to the forest floor decades ago are the beginning of the entire food chain. For any of it to exist, it all must exist. How did such a great mass of inter-dependent life begin? Every ecosystem is symbiotic in a similar way.

  

Accidental And Spontaneous

Remember, "Evolution", if it exists at all, has no intelligence, no authority, no virtue, no consciousness, no force, no design, no will. Neither does "Nature". Scientists and Evolutionary thinkers talk about "an Evolutionary need" or "Nature required" as though these concepts are a reality, but they are not real; they are simply concepts, ideas from hindsight. Indeed, two major planks of Evolutionary theory and teaching are that no intelligent design or creative will was ever part of how the Cosmos exists or the millions of species in our world came to be. No part.

So the idea that the whole natural world including bugs, plants, animals and humans, developed through Evolution just doesn't make any sense. It’s just too complex. All the media spin doesn’t change this.

  

There, that's what I see.

Praise Jesus.

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Amen.

Jesus' Kingdom Advances!

World Prayer Assembly - Converge City Wide Prayer - Without Walls Glory Camp

Jesus is dancing, covering the whole room with twirls and graceful leaps, smiling and laughing, His face alight with love and joy, dancing a metre above our heads on an invisible floor as we worship Him and sing praise and hope and faith. This prophetic picture came as we were in a huge corrugated tin shed at our church camp, our "glory" camp; hundreds of us committing a long weekend to Jesus and to our brothers and sisters; committed, united, obedient ..

Is this a “today” picture of Jesus, head of the Church, His Body? I think so .. over three weeks there have been three events for the Church to come together to worship the God of all Creation and to pray:-

• World Prayer Assembly - Jakarta, Indonesia - 14 to 18 May 2012
• Converge City Wide Prayer and Worship - Perth, W.A. - 23 to 27 May 2012
• Church Without Walls Glory Camp - Perth, W.A. - 1 to 4 June 2012

Knit together .. every stitch a prayer

At each gathering there was agreement that the event was called for and planned by Our Father in Heaven, His Son Jesus and their ever-present Holy Spirit, and that God contributed by His manifest presence to all the preparations of the speakers, to those giving testimonies and those leading worship, to all the intercessors and to every delegate and volunteer. The three events were different in scope and leadership, yet they were remarkably similar in so many ways; they were 21st Century God events - Jesus in the World today. Jesus was present in all the sessions and presentations, during the many hours of worship and the countless hours of prayer and fellowship. Most people I spoke to attended these events out of obedience to a direct call from our Lord.

Our sense of unity, purpose, obedience, and progress was palpable. For myself, there is a certainty that Jesus’ plans are advancing tangibly in millions of lives, in families, villages, towns, cities and even in nations. Ministry groups are being given clear focus, direction and resourcing. Many new ministries, most tiny, some global, are being formed now, in real time.


Testimony after testimony proclaimed the worth and effectiveness of prayer: evidence was given of the clear and dramatic impact of prayer on crime, lifestyles and government directions. More and more Christians are moving beyond Church services and into the world, the marketplace. Prayer groups are springing up everywhere, especially in homes and workplaces, even in nations where Christian worship is prohibited!

Seven Scriptures were quoted and prayed again and again and again; seven Scriptures of promise calling for unity, for obedience and for prayer:

(2 CHRONICLES 7:14) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
 

(ISAIAH 62:6-7) I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

(HABAKKUK 2:14) For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

(JOHN 17:20-23) “My prayer is .. that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me”.

(ROMANS 15:5) May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.

(EPHESIANS 4:3, 12b-13) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace .. so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

(COLOSSIANS 3:14) And over all these virtues put on love, which binds everything together in perfect unity.

Amen.

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Bless Jesus.

Marriage Babies WPA2012

Prophetic Word: Marriage And Babies And Children And Blessing

World Prayer Assembly 2012 - Jakarta Indonesia

From 64 countries, about 10,000 people gathered in Jakarta in May 2012 for prayer, worship, sharing, prayer, teaching, fellowship, prayer and more prayer.

On the fourth day, more than 110,000 came to Indonesia's national stadium to pray and to celebrate Jesus' work in the world.

This epic meeting was linked live to 378 cities throughout Indonesia and also to all the World via Internet.

Jesus was alive and vital in all the Assembly events and during the many times of fellowship and bonding between the sessions. Countless new friendships were formed. He spoke to many of us there; here are two prophetic words He gave me for the whole Christian Church:

Jesus is saying:

As His beloved Church comes more and more into line with its true planned state, more Christians will find their true life-partner and marry. There will be less loneliness, and:

Many more babies will be born to Christian couples, many wombs which have been dry will be filled with babies as a blessing to their parents and the whole world.

Praise Jesus.


(Psalm 113:9)
He settles the barren woman in her home, as a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!

(Romans 4:19)
Without being weakened in faith, he didn't consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. Yet, looking to the promise of God, he didn't waver through unbelief, but grew strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Therefore it also was "reckoned to him for righteousness". Now it was not written that it was accounted to him for his sake alone, but for our sake also, to whom it will be accounted, who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead, who was delivered up for our trespasses, and was raised for our justification.

Since ..
Since Jesus spoke this Word to me in 2012 I have heard of many women who are now expecting a child who have been waiting a very long time .. some are carrying successfully after miscarriages or much difficulty .. Jesus is bringing more babies where wombs have been empty!

Praise His name!

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Bless Jesus.

Unity Healing WPA2012

Unity Healing WPA2012

Prophetic Word: Unity And Humility And Prayer Bring Healing To The Land And The People


World Prayer Assembly 2012 - Jakarta Indonesia


Jesus is saying:

"If my people" means MY people, ALL my people.

     All.

          United.

               Together.

                    As one.

                         Linked.

                               Brothers and sisters ..


(2 Chronicles 7:14)

".. if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land".
 

Praise Jesus!

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Amen.

Women? Yes!

Silent?

My Bible says "women should remain silent in the churches" (1 Corinthians 14:34). These words sound harsh and totally unlike the God I know and whose fullness we see in Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:19). Let us see why this is. Are these English words a true reflection of the original Greek New Testament Scriptures?

God Is

The great tapestry of Scripture shows that "God is love" (1 John 4:8) and “all God’s ways are just” (Deuteronomy 32:4). The Bible is God's Word, and God's Word is Jesus who died to "redeem us" (Titus 2:14) from the twin curses of "death and sin" (Romans 8:2); all of us: women and men, girls and boys. We enter His Kingdom (Acts 8:12) to "become sons and daughters of God" (2 Corinthians 6:18), “being knit together in love” Colossians 2:2).

New Covenant

Jesus became "mediator of the New Covenant" (Luke 22:15-20; Hebrews 9:15). His death, resurrection and ascension fulfilled all of Israel's ancient Law (Matthew 5:17) and transformed spiritual life for humankind. New Covenant hallmarks of Christian life are inclusion and participation (Acts 2:42-44).

■ "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).

■ "There can't be Greek and Jew, circumcision and un-circumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bond-servant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3:11).

■ “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Christian men and women receive Holy Spirit gifts - "brothers and sisters", (1 Corinthians 12:1-11), and are expected to:

"teach" (John 4:29; 1 Corinthians 14:26; 1 Timothy 1:3),
"prophesy" (Matthew 7:22; Acts 2:17,18), "every one of you" (1 Corinthians 14:1),
"speak in tongues" (1 Corinthians 12:28,14:26),

"interpret tongues" and
"discern spirits" (1 Corinthians 12:10),
"heal" (Luke 9:2),
"deliver from evil spirits" (Acts 8:7; Luke 10:20),
"lead churches" (Acts 18:26; Romans 16:7), and
"minister" in every way (Acts 16:14; 1 Corinthians 12:4-14; 1 Peter 5:2).

Men and women! 

Christian Life

Jesus said:

■ "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15)

■ "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons" (Matthew 10:8; Luke 10:9)

■ “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

Historians tell us:

■ Men and women sat separately in early Christian meetings, it is known that women would sometimes chatter or interject or ask questions.

■ Throughout history women had been excluded from education and from religious participation. Corinthian Christian women were in the midst of a radical emancipation (Isaiah 43:19).

■ Now Christian women were encouraged (Ephesians 4:11-13) to learn all about their faith and its written Word (Matthew 12:3,5; 19:4; Acts 2:42). For centuries all Jewish boys and youth had received formal Scripture teaching. Paul suggests that women now do this exciting learning at home with their husbands (1 Corinthians 14:35).

■ Our individual history comes from our traditions, our family relationships, faith traditions and celebrations; these help make us who we are.

Bible Translations

Bible translations abound, they were and are made by Christian scholars who love God and His Son Jesus; they work hard to faithfully bring us the Scriptures, none can truly be called "wrong".

■ Translators try to find the exact meaning of every Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic word or expression (many of which have no direct parallel in English.)

■ Different Bible translations have differences in wording, phrasing, sentence structure, even paragraph formation; each brings its own meaning.

■ New Testament Greek language has no punctuation; every comma, semi-colon, period, hyphen, paragraph and chapter has been carefully placed by translators.

■ “BROTHERS”, “MEN”, “SONS”: in Bible times these words were often used to address men and women; neither the intention nor the impact of the wording was gender specific (Luke 8:21; Acts 13:38; Matthew 4:19; Luke 8:21; Matthew 5:9; 13:38).

■ The challenge is to choose English language which correctly reflects God's intent when He "breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16) on the original author, in this case, on Paul.

■ Scholars show how the first letter to the Corinthians was structured in a Chiasm format; this is a word picture which shows that Church meetings should be orderly while being fully inclusive.

■ A few verses after Paul encouraged "that you all may prophesy" and that "all speak with other tongues" (1 Corinthians 14:1,5) he writes to those who speak in tongues: "be silent", to the prophets: "be silent", to the women: "be silent" (1 Corinthians 14:28,30,34). The exact same words and structure are used when he addresses each of these three groups. Was Paul simply teaching the whole Corinthian church to worship and minister in a considerate and orderly way?

The King James Bible had, and still has, a profound impact on Christianity. King James insisted that his translators adhere to certain rules where:

■ Words traditionally used by the Church were to be included, for example "church" was to be used in place of the scriptural Greek word "ecclesia" (which means “congregation” or "gathering of Jesus' people"). This rule can be seen to have encouraged the separation of the ordained church leadership from the laity (congregation), and of worship and ministry from everyday life. Today "church" is usually seen to be a building where we gather for "church", that is, for structured services, (not meetings), run, from the front, by ordained ministers.

■ The Greek Scriptures show Christian leadership as inclusive and equal. King James' rules biased his English translation towards cultural norms of his day. These were based on an inherited monarchy of absolute power, a rigid class system, and a long-established, formalised, hierarchical structure of ordained ministers in the church (where bishops were regarded as "princes of the Church" and lived in palaces).

Although King James' aim was to have the best possible English translation, his rules tended to overlay New Covenant Christian principles with many of the accepted cultural values of his century. We see the effects of this in our Bibles and our churches even today.

A Suggestion

I now use a number of Bible versions in my quiet times and my study. Each translation shines in different areas and in different ways. This helps me to grow my relationship with Jesus and our Father.

The Bible paraphrase "The Message" by Eugene Peterson is written in modern English and, I believe, expresses this passage in a way where Jesus' love and lordship shine through to include all Christians equally. What do you think?

(1 Corinthians 14:30-33 The Message) Take your turn, no one person taking over. Then each speaker gets a chance to say something special from God, and you all learn from each other. If you choose to speak, you're also responsible for how and when you speak. When we worship the right way, God doesn't stir us up into confusion; he brings us into harmony. This goes for all the churches - no exceptions.
(1 Corinthians 14:34 The Message) Wives must not disrupt worship, talking when they should be listening,
(1 Corinthians 14:35,39-40 The Message) asking questions that could more appropriately be asked of their husbands at home. God's Book of the law guides our manners and customs here. Wives have no license to use the time of worship for unwarranted speaking. Three things, then, to sum this up: When you speak forth God's truth, speak your heart out. Don't tell people how they should or shouldn't pray when they're praying in tongues that you don't understand. Be courteous and considerate in everything.

Teach Us All Things

God is God. He does not change or have favourites. We are all His favourites! When we find a Bible passage that does not appear to reflect the true nature of God and His Saviour Son Jesus, we have tools to help us find and cling to the truth. Jesus and Holy Spirit will "teach us all things" (John 14:26).

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Praise Jesus.

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Amen.

Assent? Obedience!

Obedience More Than Assent

 Here is something Jesus showed me, suddenly, in a flash. All the bits of what He was showing were there, right in the front of my consciousness:

It was the moment I became a Christian all those years ago.

I knew then that I agreed with the many preachers and teachers I had heard: the spiritual world is real, and it's Creator and Ruler is God, Father, Son and Spirit; and God is just and righteous and eternal.

I gave assent to the idea that to become Christian I would have to repent and offer my past rottenness and sinfulness to God in exchange for forgiveness and eternal life. I agreed with these propositions, but felt unable to take the next step.

Then something happened.

The preacher gave his alter call. I was standing quietly and praying. "Maybe next year" I said to myself, "I'm not ready yet".

Clearly I felt strong, cool fingers circle around my wrist and give a gentle tug, much as to say "come now, come with me". I looked around expecting to see Trish grinning at me. No Trish. No-one at all.

Who took my arm? Who gave me an encouraging tug?

Straight away I knew: Jesus Himself was calling me. The Creator and Lord of the whole universe came and took my arm: "Come now, come with me".

In a heartbeat assent was overtaken by obedience. My mental and emotional agreement was overwhelmed by Jesus' gentle and personal love for me.

Jesus wants me to do stuff for Him, simply because He asks. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10).

Obedience. In love, and from love. Hear His Word. Simply obey. Peace.

Hallelujah!

Real Life Today

Jesus has been speaking to Trish and me again over these past weeks. When big things are afoot Jesus speaks to both of us, separately and in different ways. When we realise this is happening we spend time praying together to find the essence of what He wants. It's happened before, especially around big changes for us or even for our whole family.

This time He is asking us to start a prayer meeting in our house one Saturday night every month. This is big. It will mean we'll spend half our Saturday nights working for Him, and our social options will be very constrained!

We are happy and willing to do what Jesus is asking. Even so I have been praying and talking with Him about it; so in a flash He reminded me of that day, more than a quarter century ago. Glory be!

Favorite Bible Verses:

(Luke 5:27)
After these things He went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, "Follow me!"

(John 10:27)
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me".

(2 Corinthians 1:20-21 (The Message))
Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In Him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting His Yes within us.

(2 Corinthians 7:15)
His affection is more abundantly toward you, while He remembers all of your obedience, how with fear and trembling you received Him.

(1 Peter 1:2)
.. according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Thank you Jesus.

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Amen.

Scared? He's With You - T9

Sharp, Stabbing Pain - Testimony 9

Since the (very big) day we loaded up, drove down South, unpacked and set up our tent, I had a sharp stabbing pain in my right side. I think it's where my kidney is. Sometimes the pain was shocking and, for a few seconds, I would be immobilised. I prayed for healing; the pains seemed to become less frequent but still hurt badly.

Recently we had a friend suffer from massive renal failure, (she also had a brand new baby). Her life was threatened, hundreds prayed, she is now off the critical list but is still very sick, (her baby is doing great). I became quite scared.

This was all happening at the end of a year when Jesus made spectacular progress in healing my body (and also my spirit and soul).

So, was my pain muscular or renal? Was my kidney failing? Was my health, even my life, at risk?

Then yesterday Trish and I went on a truly beautiful bush walk along the coast. Immediately we stopped walking the pains came and almost froze me solid. We stripped to our swim suits and got into the clear cool ocean. Trish swam and played in the waves. I was only able to immerse myself to my neck and be still; I felt stooped and stiff like a very old man.

Later, as we bought fresh supplies, I was considering getting checked out at the local Hospital Emergency. Then I (belatedly) consulted with our Lord: "Jesus, I sought healing from you for these pains; are you going to heal me? What is wrong with me? Is it my kidney or simply muscular spasms? Please Lord, give me a word or a sign".

Jesus replied (in a very Jesus kind of way): "John, does it hurt to poke and prod where your kidney is? Are you peeing regularly? As you normally would? Does it hurt to pee? Is there blood? (You will know if there is). Would I desert you (Matthew 28:20)?"

The answer to all these questions was "no"; Jesus is a "yes" person (2 Corinthians 1:20), but He will say "no" to sickness, demonic activity and sin.

Since that moment the pain has been gone! That was yesterday. This morning, on the last day of that year, I woke healed and knowing that I was to read these verses:

(John 6:6) "This He said to test him, for Jesus himself knew what He would do".

Jesus already planned to heal and restore me, no question. But He so wanted to reveal Himself and reassure and comfort me, that He waited until I, His beloved, came to Him.

(Psalm 20, of David) "May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble. May the name of the God of Jacob set you up on high, send you help from the sanctuary, grant you support from Zion .. We will triumph in your salvation. In the name of our God, we will set up our banners ..
The Lord saves his anointed. He will answer him from his holy heaven, with the saving strength of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust the name of the Lord our God.
Save, Lord! Let the King answer us when we call!"

When I (finally) asked my questions of Jesus, He answered - "yes"!

Thank you Jesus!

Favourite Bible Verses

(Matthew 28:20) " .. and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age".

(2 Corinthians 1:20) "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God'.

Amen.

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Amen.

Celebrate God's Kingdom

Jesus' Prayer - Concluding The CPI-Shine Campaign For CHOGM
29th October 2011

CHOGM: British Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meetings, held in Perth, Western Australia in November 2011.

The Commonwealth consists of 54 countries with a combined population of 2,100,000,000. Queen Elizabeth II is our head.

CPI: Commonwealth Prayer Initiative, set up specially for CHOGM in Perth. It was estimated that more than 600,000 people around the world prayed as part of CPI!

IN THE DARK OF NIGHT
At about four o'clock on the last Saturday of the CPI Shine meetings I awoke already praying and already fully immersed in Jesus' presence. It was still dark night, but light was all around me (John 1:4).

MY PRAYER
"Jesus, we are so thankful for this flood of grace for us all (Colossians 1:17); for CHOGM, for the leaders of the 54 Commonwealth countries, for the 2.1 billion people, for our Governments, local, state, federal and vice-regal. Thank you for the police and security forces, for the support people, for the volunteers and for the media. Thank you too for the protesters who remained peaceful, yet were free to express their views.

But even more Jesus, as your praying people, we thank you for the way you have led us over these many months. You brought each of us into CPI (John 10:27), and led our prayer so that it was directly in line with your plans (Psalm 9:1).

We rejoice to see you doing what you have had us pray for. We see that we participate in your work in the world. At the same time we grow in unity, and our unity encompasses all our diversity (Ephesians 4:3). We delight in knowing that this is all precious to you (2 Timothy 1:14). Nothing you do is wasted (Mark 14:4).

Every autumn, countless leaves turn yellow and red and fall to the ground; but not one is for nothing. The spring comes and brings new life (Titus 3:4-5). Suddenly, the whole forest bursts forth, vibrant and green, sustained on what fell in the autumn (Isaiah 61:11).

So with our prayers. Jesus you called thousands, and hundreds of thousands (Deuteronomy 1:15) to pray for our leaders and the CHOGM meetings and for the people. Already you have prophetically shown (Revelation 19:10) your hand in many, many ways (Jeremiah 33:3). By faith we know that we will see new life in every one of the 54 Commonwealth countries, in their leaders and in their 2.1 billion citizens. Abundant life (John 10:10) bursting forth (John 14:12).

Did all of us together pray 2.1 billion prayers? Did we pray for every Commonwealth person? By faith I believe we did; every one covered (Luke 4:40).

Thank you Jesus. We know this is not an end, now is just a pause in our walk and our work with you.

I pray that you continue to bless our new found Christian friendships and lead us all to be ever more united in you Jesus, for your Church and for the whole world (1 John 2:2).

We wait eagerly (Hebrews 9:28). In your Name, Jesus, we pray (Colossians 3:17).

Amen".

GOD'S VISIBLE HAND DURING CHOGM
(Just some of the things I, a simple intercessor, have seen):

• Hecklers began a noisy protest as preparations were made for the unveiling of the "Tree of Life" sculpture. The authorities were alerted and quieted the disturbance before our ceremony began. The hecklers' plans came to nothing - had they began their loud protest during the unveiling it would have been very disruptive.

• 144 years and one day previously, the then Governor of W.A. had unveiled the foundation stone for the Wesley Church where the "Tree of Life" now stands. The Tree was never meant to be there in the heart of the city, but rather in a park outside the CBD. The "birth" of the sculpture was a rocky road, for its very existence and for its home. Finally a wonderful central site was offered and the crafts-people went to work. Then, at the last minute, the Premier of WA (our political leader) had to say that, sadly, he could not unveil the monument. However our Governor (our Queen Elizabeth's representative) was happy, together with his wife and six-year-old daughter, to step in. The historical and spiritual significance of the two Governors and the 144 years was not known until later. Demonstrably our Government, at the highest level, is standing behind the prayers of our children, for the future of our country and the whole world.

• A leading Commonwealth delegation (and others too) threatened to return home and abandon CHOGM over issues of human rights. Newspaper headlines trumpeted "CHOGM Talks Derailed". Overnight prayer immediately availed to help quash this potential for harm, by morning the media were able to report that the talks were "back on the rails".

• Very different groups from many parts of the city-wide Church filled all the 24x7 CPI prayer time-slots at Wesley Church, right at the very centre of our CBD. When it appeared that some night-watch times would not be covered, more than enough people quickly came forward to complete the 24x7 wall of prayer.

• Chris, a Christian friend and brother, was a CHOGM volunteer. His overwhelming observation was that the volunteers saw peace, calm and co-operation during the event, "beyond anything in their experience"; a total contrast to the many threats of insurrection, violence and disruptive protest which had been aired beforehand.

• During the River Prayer Cruise a banner blew overboard into the water. It was considered lost; our ship was too big to turn and try to find it. The Water Police saw the banner fall, sped to the place, retrieved it, and gently came alongside our ship to return it. The banners were a significant part of our Shine prayer and they all have names; this banner's name is "Revival". So the strong arm of our Government rescued "Revival" from the waters, and returned it to the Church.

• At no time did any protest get out of hand or become loud, disruptive or violent.

• Throughout the CHOGM "city lock down" there was a widely recognised peace and gentleness among all the Police and other security personnel and the media.

• The weather was glorious.

• The final Shine meetings at Wesley Church did not have speakers assigned. Then for the "Men of Power" session Jesus sent Graham Power (Power!), founder of the Global Day of Prayer, truly a man whose power comes from obedience and commitment. For the closing meeting, "Women as Agents of Change", He sent Yodi (Dr. Ayoade Olatunbosun-Alakija) of the Transformational Development Agency; she is a vibrant, praying woman who is agent for extremely effective change at national and international levels! Grace, blessing and rich prayer flowed ..

Praise you Lord Jesus. Thank you Father.

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Amen.

Unity Through Prayer

Unity Through Prayer

Commonwealth Prayer Initiative - 2010 and 2011

EVERYONE I know who was praying for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings has been deeply impacted. There is a sense of awe that we (me? yes, even me!) would have been chosen by Jesus for this work. We have a new understanding of what Jesus, John, Peter and Paul were telling us as they taught again and again that when we are united, the darkness in the world will be overcome as the Kingdom of God advances "infinitely more than all we can ask or imagine according to the power that is working among us" (Ephesians 3:20).

Here are some thoughts Jesus has shared with me over the past few weeks:

UNITED - Bible Word Search

(Romans 6:5) For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.

(Philippians 2:1-2) So if there is any encouragement from being united in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

(Colossians 2:2) that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together, united in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ.

UNITY - Bible Word Search

(Psalm 133:1) Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell in unity!

(Romans 15:5) May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you the spirit of unity to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.

(Ephesians 4:13) until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

(Colossians 3:14) And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect unity.

OBSERVATIONS ABOUT CPI AND UNITY

•  Unity is modeled by the Holy Trinity; Father, Son and Spirit.

•  Unity is the most outstanding characteristic of CPI (Commonwealth Prayer Initiative).

•  CPI has a limitless variety of people participating across
nations, ethnicity and Church denominations, doctrines, and practice.

•  Traditional denominational barriers seemed to melt before the needs of CPI:

••  Many different local churches hosted the Thursday evening CPI meetings in Perth - each one would host for just one month then then another congregation would step up.

•• 54 days before CPI-Shine the flags of the 54 Commonwealth nations were presented to our Lord Jesus at St Georges Anglican Cathedral. The Bishop and his team graciously hosted and provided many resources for this launch - they welcomed all Christians and many Civil and Government leaders.

•• Shine launched at Challenge Stadium. Hundreds of Christians (many of whom did not know one-another) voluntarily worked together and brought a stadium-sized public event to a magnificent realisation, to the glory of God our Father and His Son.

•• For the next two days a Baptist Church and a Charismatic/Pentecostal Church welcomed the whole body of Christ, including many inter-state and overseas visitors, for joint prayer and sharing about Christian life in our diverse communities and countries.

•• Then for a week, Wesley Church, of the Uniting denomination, at the very heart of Perth City CBD, hosted 24x7 prayer. This ranged from quiet contemplative prayer to warfare prayer to very loud, exuberant praise and worship; altogether about 68 sessions led by more than 50 different people or groups. All of this was honouring to Jesus our King of Kings.

• Unity among Christians brought change at the CHOGM meetings. When some nations threatened to withdraw their delegations (over issues of human rights) the media announced "CHOGM Talks Derailed"; it seemed that no progress could be made. After overnight warfare prayer, unity prevailed among the praying Christians and then among the nations. The talks went ahead as planned, the media reported that "CHOGM was back on track". We will rejoice as we see the world change as a result; we expect to see change in all Commonwealth countries, especially those ruled by despots, by the corrupt and by warlords; Jesus can change the hearts of all He chooses. We know that God appoints all rulers (Romans 13:1), in His might and power He can bring change and extend their unity. So we pray.

Thank you Jesus for bringing your Church here to this wonderful place of unity, sense of joint purpose, and hope in Jesus Christ. We pray that you will continue to challenge and guide us and what we have seen will grow "that none should perish" (2 Peter 3:9).

Amen.

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Praise Jesus.

Healing the Lands

"Healing the Lands" - Jesus' Word at Commonwealth Prayer Initiative

UNITY

Today at a CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meeting) prayer and praise "Shine" meeting, Pastor Givera from Papua New Guinea gave breathtaking testimony of "the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ" coming to his town after the Christians there began to humble themselves, offer forgiveness, find common ground and serve one another and all of their neighbors . .

I thought to myself "yes, but" as we are prone to do. "Yes, but, he lives in a simpler place than our fast-paced Western city with our 200 years of denominational Church rivalry and history".

Givera shared that for some years now, on Thursdays, there has been a lively church meeting with people from fifteen to twenty different denominations and local churches, all celebrating Jesus and worshiping together. His town's population is less than 40,000. Fifteen to twenty! Here is unity!

MARRIAGE?

Then Jesus spoke to me: "This is not beyond your understanding; isn't it just like marriage? Like your marriage to Trish? Like any marriage of a man and a woman? And isn't it good training for our marriage, yours and mine, when I come for my bride, when I come for you? (Revelation 21:2). 

Well, yes! In so many ways . .

LOVE

After 31 years married, Trish and my love still grows richer and stronger; we learned early and often in our marriage that "love" is a "doing" word. We know that marriage is "very good" (Genesis 1:31), and also that both man and wife have to give, all the time. Give in service, in humour, support, encouragement, humility, empathy, forgiveness and in putting oneself last. "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). But the joys overwhelmingly outweigh the giving, they bless!

PERSEVERANCE

Early in marriage we learned to persevere; "persevere" is another "doing" word. We learned to persevere when the babies seemed always to be teething or sick. Persevere when pay after pay there was no money left for fun. Persevere when work took all the energy. Persevere when things just went wrong. "But love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8). The joys overwhelmingly bless!

JESUS

Most marriages reach a point where they are effectively over; there is no longer any forward movement, nothing seems to still bind. There was such a time for Trish and I but neither of us was prepared to give up our children. So, instead of separating, we turned to Jesus and asked Him into our marriage as a constant and equal participant. We soon found that "a three strand cord is not easily broken" (Ecclesiastes 4:12). And the joys overwhelmingly bless!

Our most precious relationships, of man and wife and of Christian and Lord, are surely modeled on God Himself, in whose image we are made. Our relationships are akin to His own relationship of Father, Son and Spirit; loving, poured out, generous, unbreakable, eternal.

WE ALREADY KNOW

What Pastor Givera and his brothers and sisters are living out in PNG is so very similar to that which is already familiar in many of our lives . . We know how to do unity, we know how to find God's will in the Church . . But how do we spread this throughout the church? I guess we pray .. Then it will take the application of a couple of simple "doing" words . . 

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Love: a "doing" word.

Amen.

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Praise Jesus.

The Kings Of The Earth

Jesus' Word For "Shine" At Challenge Stadium

At Challenge Stadium today, while preparations were ramping up for the Commonwealth Prayer Initiative "Shine" launch, I had some quiet time so asked Jesus "how shall I pray?" He answered with one word: "nations". When you think about it, the nations and their people are the focus of this whole thing: CHOGM, CPI, Project 54, Shine and Converge.

(CHOGM - Commonwealth Heads Of Government Meetings, our Queen, Elizabeth II heads the Commonwealth of 54 nations. 

CPI is a Prayer Initiative especially for the Meetings, the nations leaders, and the billions of people represented).

The word "nations" appears throughout Scripture. On the very last page of the Bible Jesus is telling the Apostle John what He is ultimately going to bring forth . .

(Revelation 21:10-11,22-24)   And He . . showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal . . And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it . . 

" . . and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it . . "

What promise! What prophesy!

The new Jerusalem is near. It will be home not just for us Christians, but the world's rulers will bring their glory and all those in their rule. They will join us, under Jesus' rule!

We know that God's will is “that none should perish" (2 Peter 3:9). We are part of God's "today" movement towards His goal.

Many in the world, especially in the media, say that the British Commonwealth of 54 nations, and the CHOGM meetings are anachronistic, paternalistic, and worthless. But we are assured by our own Lord Jesus that this is not true.

Over the past two years many, many prophetic words have confirmed that Jesus and our Father God are for the Commonwealth and her 2.1 billion people and that CHOGM 2011 will be a blessing to many millions as God advances what He has always planed!

Amen.

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Praise Jesus.