All you need is Love

It's interesting how a line from a beetles song actually hits the mark. Love is all we need, more importantly,God's Love is all we need. We are created by Love for love. To receive and give love is at the centre of creation. Adam and Eve walked in love with God in the cool of the day. Christians can now walk with Abba, and Jesus, in and because of the special gift of the person of the Holy Spirit. The Good news truly is too good to be true news.

Love is manifest in Jesus

God gave us Jesus, and Jesus gave us His life and His kingdom. What can we give Him in return? What have we got that He didn't create for Himself? Jesus has given us grace, and faith, to be able to give our hearts fully to the one who loves us. So we can all make a choice to respond to His love or ignore Him.

It's a lifestyle

I enjoy reading John's letters to the church. He was the one who laid his head on the bosom of Jesus, and Jesus didn't mind. There's a big hint for us. Love is a recurring theme for John. If you love your neighbour in deed as well as word, God is manifest in you. I dwell on the verses that encourage me to meditate on my union with God, and the truth that as we communicate with God all the day and night Agape is perfected in us. I want Agape to be perfected in me and push all fear out of my heart. So for me, walking with Jesus is a lifestyle, not something to be contemplated but something to be activated.

CAN'T GET AWAY FROM IT

I just can't seem to get away from it, John 17 that is. There is so much revelation in those few verses of scripture, and I'm sure Daddy is ministering these truths all over the church right now. Recently I added Kris Vallotton from Bethel Church to my podcast list and downloaded one of his Sunday morning messages Imitating Christ on my ipod. Getting back from a very relaxed and blissed morning with the Bridge Community today I thought I would listen to the message after lunch. Sitting comfortable I heard Kris say,' Now open your bibles to John 17...'
Thank you so much Jesus for loving us the way you do. It's such a privileged to be your bride.

COINCIDENCE?

I just popped down the town on the bus this morning following the leading of the Holy Spirit. After walking around a bit listening to the voice of the Lord I was beginning to get cold, and I thought about returning home on the bus. 'Don't get the hourly one, get the quarter past'. God spoke to my heart. With that I walked around the corner and met a woman I have known for years. We started to chat, and she began to unload the last 6 years of her life to me and the scary, weird situation with her parents. She is a single parent and I've often met her in town and passed the time of day, but this morning she was open to some real ministry from the Lord. I had the opportunity to pray with her regarding her family situation and to encourage her on her journey of discovering Jesus.
On the way home the Lord said that He was so pleased with me, and that He had sent H. not only to be ministered to, but to bless me too. Then He said, 'You have not finished your prayer for her. As well as asking Me to intervene, you must take authority over the situation. Bind what is bound in heaven son, and loose into that situation what is loosed in heaven.'
As soon as I got home I did exactly that. ISN'T GOD GOOD! 

Healed in His Presence

For a while now I have been praying for the presence of Christ on me to have an effect on the people around me. This morning I was meditating on 2 Cor. 2:14-15

'But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.'

Later on I found myself outside the store in Wildmill talking to D. who is in the St. Johns Ambulance and volunteers with us on Street Pastors triages. As we were talking L. a work colleague of her's came towards us from his car quite clearly in pain. When he got close to us I asked him what was wrong, he said he had just put his back out getting out of the car. I asked him if he had had trouble with it before and he said he said he had hurt it last year.


He was stretching tentatively and I offered to pray for him but I didn't touch him as he continued to move his torso about. In a very short space of time he was moving freely and said the pain had gone and was smiling. I later confirmed with D. that L. was fine and that he had indeed been in pain when he approached us from the car. It is as though the Holy Spirit confirmed to me that when people get around the presence of Jesus anything can happen.

REQUIREMENT

One requirement to radical obedience is the ability to hear. To hear God and to hear other people.This is best managed as I LISTEN. Simple?

Remember

Whatever else we think about as we walk with the Holy Spirit is that not only is He Holy, He is love. The anointing in us and upon us is love. God who is love desires His church to release love to the world. Our loving Father is so gracious, accepting, and merciful, towards everyone that we cannot grasp it this side of eternity. But know what? I'm going to have a try.

A KEY

To make sure I keep my eye on the ball, and stay in faith for a global revival, I'm going to go after a revelation Keith Moore has walked in for a number of years now. He has developed a lifestyle of thankfulness. I believe it's a major key in maintaining our close and precious walk with the Holy Spirit. No matter what is happening to me, no matter what the situation, I'm going to look to Jesus and give thanks in all things. Not for the situation but for the answer found in His word. To catch up with Keith and be blessed visit kcm.org and look in media.org

TRUTH

I'm in love with God, and God's in love with me. This is who I am and this is who I'll  be and  that settles it, completely.

FOCUS

What am I focussing on, what is my perspective? This question must be regularly visited as we journey towards full blown global, revival. If we focus on Jesus we will share the same focus and vision He had. Did He want to bring His Kingdom to earth in the here and now? Yes, but why?

The Lord showed me this morning that all the greed, power, and control in the geo political arena ; the warfare, famine, death, disease, addiction, poverty, rebellion. In fact all the negative stuff on the planet is in fact orchestrated by the agents of wickedness in the heavenly realms, and manifests on the earth. [see Ephesians ch.6]. Most of the time our focus is on the negative around us because it effects us, our loved ones, and the church. Unfortunately it seems that the church has fallen back into a defenceless mode here in our nation as the strategies against christianity increase. 

Jesus was a non conformist, but He was not rebellious. He didn't focus on the the political condition of Israel, instead He focussed on the oppression of the people caused by the works of the devil. He came to destroy the works of the devil John tells us. Luke explains in Acts 10:38 that Jesus was anointed by God to go around doing good, and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

Why doesn't the church do the same?

RADICAL OBEDIENCE

I'M NOT QUITTING, BACKING DOWN, COMPROMISING, SLACKING OFF, GIVING UP, OR TAKING MY EYE OFF THE BALL.

I NEED PRACTISE!

Before I go for a day or so with Trevor and Sharon Baker to be topped up and blissed, I thought I would tell you about today. I have been in the school of ministry with the Holy Spirit, and He has been impressing on me that if I minister it must be like Jesus. In town this morning I was strolling around listening for His voice and I saw a young man in the street who I think is a hari krishna. I heard a still small voice saying 'he has trouble with his eyes'. So I casually approached him and making eye contact I asked him if he had any trouble with his eyes.
'No.' was his direct reply. 'Oh', I said. 'I'm practising listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit to see if there is anything He wants to say to me about healing the sick, raising the dead, and casting out demons. You know just normal Christian stuff'.
The lad never said a word. Then I dried up, turning away I said, 'Have a nice day now.' Of course I had to resist the accuser from that moment on, but one thing has shifted.

I AM NOT GOING TO QUIT. WHEN I GET OUT THERE NEXT I'M STILL GOING TO LISTEN FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT.

UNQUENCHABLE

You cannot stop God loving, but you can quench the Holy Spirit. God's love is the most powerful force in the universe. God is love, and God is powerful. John tells us in one of his letters that perfected love (agape) forces fear out of our souls, for if we fear, love is not perfected in us.
I knew nothing about love as I grew up, you might as well have tried explaining nuclear physics to me as to talk about love. It is strange as you will often hear about love in our culture. It's in books, TV, films, everywhere, you can even hear people talk about love. But no one really understands love, unless they have been loved, and no one can love unless they have first been loved. God displayed His love for us in Jesus. Then Jesus told us to go out into the world and show God's love to others. He put His love in us at new birth, but sometimes our heads have to catch up and really believe His word to us.
The world is waiting to see how much the church loves each other, as well as how much the church loves the world.
Only a manifestation of Jesus in the church is going to cut it. John told us that in our union with Jesus, and our fellowship with Him love is perfected. It takes faith to release God's love to the world one person at a time. But it begins with an act of our will.
I am committed to love, as I am commanded to love, no ifs or buts.

Agape

All the way through Jewish and Christian history God's love has been displayed. In the gospels John seemed to have the greatest revelation of the love of God. He even had a revelation of how much Jesus loved him as he was secure enough to rest on Christ's breast, as often as he could. Paul told us in his epistle to the Romans that God had shed His love abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
But it was Jesus who gave us the command to love. To love God with all our hearts, minds, and strength; and to love our neighbour as ourselves. He then told us at the last supper that He was issuing another commandment. That we Christians love each other, so that the world would know that we were His disciples.
What happened? Two thousand years of grief, schism, bitterness, hatred, warfare, slaughter, and butchery. That's just between ourselves. How have we treated the world, the ones who are supposed to see this love?
We would rather not go there as it is too painful.
But Church it's got to end now.

Journying

Isn't it marvellous how God can tailor everyone's journey to suit His plan and agenda? I am so thankful that Father knows me better than I know myself. He must think I need a little 'stretch' as the school inspection is drawing near, and as a Governor I am experiencing the ripples of pressure. Anything to do with education freaks my flesh. I get very defensive around clever people and I'm always sure I'm going to mess up and I'll be told off. It goes back to my school days when my maths. teacher traumatised me. After having a self evaluation session with the head teacher this afternoon the Holy Spirit reminded me I can do all things through Christ, that He was not going to leave me, or let me get intimidated; let alone bullied.

To journey on the Route to Revival I must walk in the spirit, not in the flesh. Dad spoke to me the other day and said,  'You have to live every minute of everyday believing I am your Father and that am with you, and I will never fail you.'

I love you

They are the words I hear every morning and every night. The awesome majestic all powerful God loves me, and you. I don't know why, but I now I want to be loved by Him. If Britain slides into an Islamic fiefdom. or is controlled by PC I don't care, I'm committed to the love of God and giving that love away to whoever wants it. 
I'm going to bring the kingdom to earth even if it kills me. 

Works

Jesus said, 'If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me.' John 10:37  In His ministry Jesus spoke the good news of the Kingdom and the Presence of the Holy Spirit confirmed His message by miracles and wonders. The anointing on Jesus, the presence of the Holy Spirit, freaked the religious leaders of His day. They even told Him the works were done by satan. Is it much different today? The Holy Spirit turns up to do what He wants to do and often the church thinks it's demonic.
We, the church have plenty of words, but until we move consistently in the father's works we won't be believed.
Anyone with me on this journey?

Food for thought

I've always been transfixed by Jesus's words in John 5. 'Of myself I can do nothing, I only do what I see the Father do'.  
Jesus only spoke what the Father gave Him to speak, when the Father told Him to. He only did what the Father told Him to do, when the Father told Him to do it. That is an amazing life style, but it's what my heart yearns for.
In fact Jesus is what my heart yearns for, I don't want anything else now. I just want to be like Him.
Funny how I yearn for what I already am! When the Holy Spirit came to me He gave me a new spirit just like Jesus spirit. [If anyone is joined to the Lord he is one spirit]. Our spiritual reality is such that the church has not generally been taught the gospel.

Pleasing God

What I sense pleases God more than anything is trust. Can we substitute trust for faith? Sounds good to me. Jesus said in Mark 11:22 'Have faith in God'. So radically profound and world changing that it takes a long time to get it, well it did for me. Having trust in Daddy every minute of every day. Since the fall man has had to rely on  self confidence or self trust. Not for christians though, not since Jesus bought the kingdom Yipee. But if we walk around living the kind of life we did before the Holy Spirit moved in then kaput, we are right back to zero.
Was Jesus positive in His attitudes and mind set when He walked around Israel? Silly question?
Then why do we walk about with such pessimism?  

Current Trends

Just to keep you up to date.

http://www.christiantoday.co.uk/article/eu.seeks.to.end.discrimination.exemptions.for.uks.religious.employers/24695.htm

Continuing

How can I please God? Scripture says without faith is is impossible to please God. We must come to Him and believe who is is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. That's really childlike isn't it? In my natural thinking I would assume I had to behave or perform to please God. But Dad looks at it another way; it's all about relationship. God loves everyone, yes everyone on the face of the planet, that's why He sent Jesus to redeem us. But when faith is exercised and we receive the power to be called son's of God through Christ is God pleased? you bet. Is He pleased with His sons and daughters all the time? Yes. Because it's all about being loved, and returning that love, not doing. Daddy wants fellowship with us more than we can ever imagine. Does it matter about our behaviour? Of course. Holiness (separation unto God), and purity, keeps us close to Him, and the devil out of our lives. God is pleased with His children. If we make fellowshiping  with Him our lifestyle then we will not only please Dad, we will bless Him too.

What pleases God?

What pleases God, or to put it another way how can we please God? The Bible tells us many ways we can please God, for God has the capability to be pleased and to be delighted. What I suppose I'm asking is how can I please you Lord? I believe it is a very valid question, don't you?

Immersion

This morning I heard the Lord say to me. "You must immerse your mind in My Kingdom reality". How big this world appears in our individual and collective consciousness. We may not be 'sinning' as such, but I am sure the western church is basically very worldly, and carnal. What evidence have I for this statement?

Only observation.

Bill Johnson says that unbelief is putting faith in an inferior reality. This world is inferior to the Kingdom of God which was central to the life, and ministry of Jesus. If it were so for Him it must be so for me.

High Expectations!

As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognised Him [Jesus]. And they ran about the whole countryside, and began to carry around sick people on their sleeping pads or mats to any place they heard that He was. And wherever He came into villages or cities or the country, they would lay the sick in the market-places and beg Him that they might touch even the fringe of His outer garment, and as many as touched Him were restored to health. {Mark 6:54-56 Amp.}

Not seen this yet in a town near you? Keep praying and join me believing that even now this could happen to us in our locality. As He is so are we in this world. 1 John 4:17

I have felt burdened this year to meditate and pray focussing on John ch.17. particularly from verse 21. Just after this prayer Jesus was arrested. John doesn't seem to record the Lord praying in Gethsemene, but he gave Jesus's prayer of intercession for the disciples, and the disciples that followed from their teaching, a very high emphasis. I have also noticed that others in the Body of Christ are echoing this call to prayer.

At the heart of the gospel is the Agape love of God. That Love that came to earth incarnated in flesh, and lived and moved amongst the people for God is Love. Jesus was crucified, and raised from the dead that all of us may have a personal relationship with God, and have the power to be called sons of God. God's mercy flows from his unquenchable love. In his intercession Jesus prays that the world would know that God sent Him, because people will see the unity of the church. The unity of the Godhead would be manifest through the church for all to see. He prays that through this unity not only would people know that God sent Jesus, but they would know that God loves the church in the same way He loves His Son.

I don't know how this will come about only that it will because Jesus only spoke the words the Father gave Him, and that Father always answers prayers. My belief is that it will be fulfilled before Jesus returns, and my hope is that I will see it.

So much is involved

Even just a cursory glance at revival shows us that it is much more involved than we may at first perceive. Out of the Moravian church came a prayer revolution that lasted 100yrs. and their model of community life has never been bettered. In more recent moves of God whole areas of land have been transformed producing rich and vibrant crops; economies have been radically changed, as well as the people living there. Revival in the church, transformation of the nations. Personal revival, corporate church revival, lands healed and whole communities falling under the love and power of God. There is nothing that God cannot do given a yielded person. Didn't Paul say that we could pray for those things even outside of our imaginations? Wasn't it Jesus who said we can have everything we can believe for?
I think it must start with us. What is God saying to you today? Whatever it is it will fit in with His plan, and that's the important thing. 

What happened on the 13th. August 1727?

On that date in the church at Berthelsdorf in Saxony the Herrnhut community came together for a special holy communion celebration. As Zinzendorf  began a prayer of confession at 10am. the pregnant heavens over Herrnhut finally burst open and the power and glory of God descended on the assembled people. The Spirit of God came like a wind storm; mighty, rushing irresistible. The Love and Holiness of God [my emphasis] touched them like a fire stream: heart-warming, dangerous, and life -branding.
Taken from The Lord of the Ring, by Phil. Anderson [24-7 Titles]

Earlier in the year the community had been riven by internal division, and the young Count as the lord of the manor, had to exert leadership and courage, implementing a document of  'Manorial Injunctions and Prohibitions', swiftly followed by a 'Brotherly Union and Compact'. By mid June the community was a place of civic harmony and order as everyone had agreed to be obedient to the 'rules'.

Jesus gave the disciples a new commandment at the last supper. 'As I have loved you, you must love each other.' Love had to be restored to the Herrnhut community before God could proceed with His plans for them. At the Father's heart is community, flowing from His love for us. Jesus commanded us to love each other so people would see that we are His disciples. We need true repentance in this area before we can see what God has for the 21st. centry chuch, and what He has for the world.

Just to let you know that there is a brilliant ad. campaign running that allows churches to buy advertising space in bus shelters or radio, putting Christ into Christmas.  Christmas starts with Christ can be found at http://www.churchads.net/

A Few of My Favourite Verses

And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.
Also multitudes gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Acts. 5:14-16.

We need to spend a few minutes here just allowing the 'scene' to sink into our imaginations. This is the pattern for normal church activity. I don't know about you but I need to be 'radicalised' by the Holy Spirit as I have never seen or been in a situation like this in my entire Christian experience.

For this to happen constantly in every hamlet,town, and city globally would, in my opinion, constitute revival.

Can it continue till Jesus comes?

I find it interesting that they men attributed to leading the Welsh revival of 1859, and Asuza in 1906, both knew they had been called to be the catalysts for the move, but the revivals faltered. I suppose all revivals have had short term impact in reality, but wouldn't it be marvellous if the next move of God resulted in global revival right up until Jesus came?

Pentecost

The Holy Spirit came in power on the 120 disciples in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, and then in the book of Acts it seemed like half of the known world came into contact with the risen Christ. What would it be like today if the Holy Spirit fell in power on the global Bride of Christ?

Take a Step

All journey's begin with a step, even journeys that have no maps or plans. A journey in God needs no maps for He is the map, and He is the plan. We must take a step of faith and begin to pray for what we think is the prophetic, or rhema word from God to our own heart. Is your dream bigger than all that you have ever read or heard about? Is it bigger than anything that has happened on the earth before now. My prayer is for just that.

The Start

Where to start? The only answer today for any country, or continent is the manifest presence of God. This has been the truth since the upper room day of Pentecost. Every move of God has included people who were prepared to engage in prayer for an outpouring of His Grace, and Mercy.

What should we do? Are we aware of our own inability? Do we really desire Jesus more than anything else for ourselves, and our nation? What sparks revival?

I wish I knew.