FRUIT FOR THE HUNGRY

In this moment of time many are experiencing a fresh move of God's Spirit and loving His nearness and presence, getting excited about the things He is doing. Why is this happening now? Are we looking, wondering, asking questions as to what it is He is wanting to accomplish - beyond meeting our needs and making us feel good?

I truly believe it is a time to look wider, not focus down onto what is taking place but hold it before us and ask the Lord to show us the wider context in HIS plans.

Let us move quietly with Him, expectant and listening, allowing Him to accomplish His work in our lives to prepare us for something even bigger than what we can see.

In March of last year I had the following vision, and suspect it may be a part of this wider picture, so have posted it again for consideration.

In this vision I was sitting on the threshing floor (a place the Lord had been calling me to regularly in the last few weeks).

The pressing cry that came three times was: “Let the chaff go and the wheat remain”, and then straight after that: “Lord have mercy”.

There was a desperation in me that He would blow away the chaff in my own life, and I could see He was wanting to prepare me for something that was coming. I also saw that He was drawing my attention to the chaff itself.

Immediately the question came: “If I blow away the chaff, where will it go?”

I then saw a lake of fire. It looked like a forest fire burning at a low level. The flames were not leaping high but were constant and the wind was constantly blowing on them keeping them at an intense heat. The flames were fuelled by the substance they were burning on which seemed like thick oil.

Matthew 3:12 came to mind : “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire”.

Again came the cry: “Lord have mercy”.

Now I saw the fire being held back. There was a wall that it could not break through. There had been something built up that held back the fire.

I could hear only one word : “HOLINESS”.

With this word came the understanding that as the people of God pursue holiness, it is as if they are all turned with their backs to the fire, and they become the wall that holds the fire back.

I saw that the pursuit of holiness allows the RIVER OF GOD to flow, it keeps His people cool and flows over those around them, a cooling, healing stream.

I saw that the people of God had become TREES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS and were beginning to release life and healing to those around them, and especially to those who were huddled together terrified of the fire.

I saw the LOST. They were no longer ignorant, but were afraid as they saw the fire approaching and also saw those who stood between them and the fire.

THEIR EYES HAD BEEN OPENED TO THEIR CONDITION AND THEIR DANGER.

I saw the RIVER before my feet, it was clear and there were a few small fish swimming in it, but as I looked upstream I saw more, and larger, fish coming.

I saw God’s people STANDING in this place, and those in need coming and picking the fruit of these lives and putting it into their mouths – they were HELPING THEMSELVES to what the Lord had produced.

THE HARVEST HAD BEGUN.

The scriptures that came to mind as I was looking at this were:

Jeremiah 17:7 & 8

Romans 8

Galatians 5-16 – 6:10

Revelation 22

I was aware of the manifestation of the sons and daughters of God, those who chose to walk by His Spirit and turn their backs on the things of this world that kept their souls comfortable.

I was aware that the pursuit of holiness is not the pointing out of the faults of others, but individually coming to the threshing floor and falling on our faces, asking Him to have mercy and remove the chaff from our lives.

We turn towards You, Father, make us Your own sons and daughters in this time. Help us to stand as Your trees with our roots in Your Word, watered by the river of Your Life, always bearing fruit.

We put our trust and confidence in You alone.

STAY AND PRAY

O beauty ever ancient, ever new.

Too late have I loved you.

I was outside and you were within me.

And I never found you until I found

You within myself.

St. Augustine

Today I have felt constrained to stay still, sit quietly in one place, not running here and there, but quietly in His presence. Every time I sit still the Lord is there sitting with me, His presence strong and beautiful.

Obviously the question arises "Why Lord ... right now?" Why this almost tangible block to everything that would seem to excite and fulfil, even to things that You have called me to and enabled me to do? Why now?

I have watched and read as reports come of the Lord moving again in this day; reading of the excitement of 'revival' meetings that many are flocking to, even travelling long distances to be part of because God's presence is there and He is moving to do wonderful things in the midst of the people.

In the face of all of this, I felt today He was saying "Stay where you are and pray."

As I ponder this I believe He is showing something important for the days ahead. Yes ... we are hungry and thirsty ... longing for more of Him in our midst ... but still I hear Him saying "Stay where you are and pray."

Could it be that where we are right now is where He has placed us?

Could it be that we could miss something wonderful He intends to do in this place because we run off to another where the grass looks a little greener?

Could it be that our placing and our prayers are a little more important to the Lord than we ever thought they might be?

In past events have we perhaps missed the fullness of what He wanted to do because we chased after the obvious and were not willing to STAND in the place He put us and pray that He would manifest His presence there.

Just maybe, there are people all around us who will miss out on KNOWING the greatness of our God because we were off chasing it somewhere else instead of praying that He would come visit right where we are now.

All I can say is that He is causing me to sit still with Him and saying "Stay where you are and pray."

TRUE FELLOWSHIP

I am looking for the fellowship of the burning heart – for men and women of all generations everywhere who love the Savior until adoration becomes the music of their soul until they don’t have to be fooled with and entertained and amused. Jesus Christ is everything, all-in-all. A.W. Tozer

As I look at this quote, which has long been a favourite of mine, it brings me back to the great loneliness that many feel, even in the midst of the crowd and the events that are taking place around us.

Where are the burning hearts? Are they feeling alone and isolated simply because their hearts continue to seek only for true fellowship with Jesus Himself. They are not comforted by the words of man, or the worship that entertains and soothes the soul - no, their spirits are constantly searching, seeking, longing, for something that this world cannot provide.

In Luke 9:27 Jesus made an astonishing statement: I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of God."

Perhaps those with the burning hearts are those He would say that same thing to? Perhaps they are those who long for the mountain experience with Jesus where He opens up things eternal before their eyes, and with their own ears they hear the voice of God the Father speaking about His Son.

The wonderfully exciting thing about Luke 9:27 is that in this moment we meet Prophecy Himself speaking, Jesus THE Prophet speaks of what is ahead, and yet what exactly it meant was probably not clear to any of those present.

Luke 9:28 goes on to tell us About 8 days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. I guess they had been on mountains to pray with Jesus before, and this would have seemed like another such occasion as they set out.

Luke 9:29-35 tells us what took place on the mountain top and it is amazing to read - the wonder of Jesus' whole appearance changing as He stood in the presence of the great prophets and the cloud of His Father's presence.

In these passages we also see that what Prophecy Himself prophesied came to pass as the disciples were there with Him and were enveloped in the cloud of God's presence - they saw His glory, and Moses and Elijah standing with Him.

An eternal kingdom was opened up before them on the mountain, a kingdom where God still was with Moses in the cloud, and meeting with Elijah on the mountaintop! A kingdom where the glory of heaven is seen and wondered at.

Will those with the burning hearts be forever dissatisfied until they themselves have also seen this Kingdom? Are they those who live their lives longing for that which is to come in order that it will come, and perhaps are they those that Prophecy Himself has chosen to take with Him on a very specific journey?

Peter, who was there on the mountain top with Jesus, speaks to us out of this experience in 2 Peter 2:16-21 and gives us wonderful advice that resounds through the ages since:

2 Peter 2:19-21 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Lord let our hearts burn with a longing for Your Word, Your Truth, and to be 'carried along' by Your Holy Spirit.

STANDING FIRM

Right now much of my blogging comes from a wrestling with where prayer is leading us, who it is leading us to be, how we are to be, in these days.

In some areas and thinking, prayer has become one more weapon in our arsenal against the enemy, or a way of getting what we have decided we should have, rather than the expression of our intimate, loving, friendship with the Lord.

I begin to understand why the long-standing praying communities had 'rules' or guidelines set by the founder to hold the members in their pursuit of Jesus, and their expression of that.

I do not read of those who have kept prayer alive down the centuries having to be THE prophet, apostle, or leader in prayer. In recent times we seem to have moved from having to be prophetic, to needing to be apostolic, and now prayer has become the thing of the moment, with each stream being taken hold of by a man to needs to make sure it grows and accomplishes great things!

God's thoughts on these things are expressed well in His speaking about Jesus (our model) in Matthew 12:18-21.

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, til he leads justice to victory.

In his name the nations will put their hope.

How many bruised reeds, and smoldering wicks have been sacrificed under the feet of man's selfish ambition?

Much of the past warfare and 'breakthrough' prayer has used up a huge amount of human strength and ability. Now as God begins to reveal our weaknesses and human frailty, what will we draw on to fight? What weapons will He place in our hands?

If I am standing beside a giant who can conquer my enemies, tucked in under his great arm, I will feel safe and secure, able to join Him in laughing in the face of such enemies because He knows He cannot be defeated and I KNOW this to be the truth.

Does your prayer and mine bring us to this place of KNOWING our God, and therefore standing firm in the face of all opposition?

Culturally some will be warriors and others peacemakers, but we need to move into the culture of His Kingdom and life, for this is our strength and our hope,

Paul writes in Colossians 1

I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness - the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Is this mystery at work within you and I? Is this mystery at work in our prayer lives, and especially in the prayers that come forth from our lips?

Do we stand with the giant - the One who has overcome everything on our behalf and laughs in the face of His enemies, or do we feel as if there is something we have to do to help Him, or suggest to Him what He needs to do?

Surely this mystery Who dwells within us will be gloriously revealed if we will let Him have His way through and beyond ourselves, past our human noise and endeavours, and most especially in our prayer.

The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:11&12

So many want to DO (even with prayer), but so few want to BE (especially with prayer) - immersed in God in order that He might move.

PRAY FOR MARI

I don't very often put personal stuff or requests on my blog, but here is a really worthwhile exception!

I know that many of you who read this are great praying people, and so I wanted to let you know that my very dear friend Mari needs prayer right now.

She is a most precious and special person, one who loves and encourages everyone she comes in contact with. Her heart for the needy and underprivileged is really amazing, and she has outworked this in so many great ways here in NZ.

You will see a link to a blogsite here "Mari's news" which will tell you all about her current situation, updates, and help you to know how to pray. PLEASE PRAY ... God loves her and so do we. Thank you to all who do this, it means such a lot, and is the best thing that anyone can do.

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

For I am the Lord, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;

I give Egypt for your ransom,

Cush and Seba in your stead.

Since you are precious and honoured in my sight,

and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you,

and people in exchange for your life.

Do not be afraid, for I am with you ......"

Isaiah 43

Where are you going my friend?

For quite a long time last year, whenever I was in the car I seemed to hear an advertisement on the radio that began "Where are you going my friend...?" Then it proceeded to tell you where you should or could go. That was fine, but right now I only have the question and would not presume to suggest an answer!

Where are you going my friend? Are you following that indefinable thing that has burned in your heart as long as you can remember, the flame that occasionally leaps and burns brighter when a fresh wind blows on it?

Where are you going my friend? Are you following the pathways that logic and the world dictate; the pathway that circumstances have forced you on to; or maybe the pathway that leads to the fulfillment of your dream and ambition at the cost of someone else's?

Where are you going my friend? Are you being tried and tested, sifted like wheat, stripped of pride, fortune, ambition, strength, and wondering how you will take the next step forward?

Where are you going my friend? Are you finding yourself face down on the ground before your King, crying out in your passion and despair over things that He has placed in your heart that remain burning in your heart when everything around you appears dead or dry as dust?

Where are you going my friend? Are you pushing yourself towards your dream or passion, making a way, collecting evidence that you are favoured by God for all the world to see?

At this moment in time the question reverberates, and I would not dare to try to answer it, except to say that we are told there is only One way. I would dare to suggest that unless the path we are on aims us at Him, our Way, Life and Truth, then maybe we have taken a wrong turning somewhere along the way, maybe we are hearing a voice quietly whispering ... "Where are you going my friend....?"

When the authorities of the day were considering what to do with those unstoppable followers of Jesus, even to the point of wanting to put them to death, a wise man among them spoke words that it would do well to hold in our hearts as we walk into the time ahead:

"Therefore in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." (Acts 5:38 & 39)

Where are you going my friend ....?

"Acts...."

I just had a wonderful weekend with friends.  We laughed, ate, talked, played together in beautiful surroundings.  At various intervals we prayed for individuals, and finally for our beautiful nation and its people.  It felt like living in an "Acts" environment, our unity was not because we all met in the same building, or under the same banner, but because of our shared love and life in Jesus Christ which we were continuing to live even in this environment.

When I came back I was told a little of other meetings that had taken place in the city over the same weekend.  At one of them an invited overseas speaker had asked where our own prophetic people were.

I'd like to suggest that some of our own prophetic people were doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing ... they were meeting, ministering, praying and having fellowship in Jesus Christ. 

They were encouraging one another forward in a most trying and difficult time. 

They were praying for greater strength, anointing, and endurance to continue in the race.

They were listening to God speaking through various ones present and responding to His voice and heart in prayer.

They were wrapping their arms, love and prayer around those who have been wounded and grown weary along the way.

I know of others visiting and ministering in fellowships in 'off the track' places that important invited people would probably never get too.

Those of you who know me will understand that I am reasonably mild-mannered and not often given over to anger.  However, at the end of our prayer time something arose from deep within me and I found myself 'roaring' into the heavenlies the enormous pain and concern I feel for this nation, while others wept over the place we find ourselves at this time.

The following day I was back amongst the women and children who are representative of the pain and disfunction of this nation.  Monday night I sat and listened again to their stories, their courage, and their pain and anger.  Today, as a result, I am spending another Tuesday weeping.

"Where are our people?"

My prayer and hope is that they are crying out to God to be positioned by Him IN AND FOR THIS TIME.  I desperately ask that He would reach into our lives and bring His transforming truth before it is too late.  My heart's desire is that our itchy ears would be opened to hear His voice, and our eyes would begin to look for and desire ONLY His face.

Perhaps then there will be no-one coming to ask such questions because the answer will be obvious for all to see.

Dear Jesus, lead us in the paths of righteousness for the sake of Your Name.  Please give us eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand what is important in Your heart in this season.  Give us love for You and one another that truly shows who you are.  And please dear Lord, give us grace, grace, grace for this season.

THE PRAYER POOL

Our life in prayer is rather like going swimming!

Initially we are all playing, laughing, shouting and having fun around the edge, until we feel we need to get into the water. We either dive in, making a huge splash and disturbance of the water around us, OR ease ourselves in little by little, moving cautiously and barely making a ripple. Either way, we are eventually up to our necks in the water, immersed in it, feeling it all around us, becoming free and comfortable in this environment.

As we are comfortable, we swim more, and go deeper, until we are either treading water or under it. Ultimately we will be immersed in it, and so it is with prayer.

There comes a time when we are so immersed that our whole life, words, thoughts, actions, emotions, are simply woven with prayer, so joined that we don't stop and separate them to pray, but prayer flows in and out of everything we are, wherever we are. We BECOME prayer, rather than DO prayer.

At this point, it's as if we can breathe under water, and even when we hit really hot water, prayer explodes out of us in response, instead of being shut down.

Prayer begins as an external thing, but becomes an integral part of everything we are and do.

This leads us away from the noisy clamour and into a place where we can 'be still and know' our God. We begin to ponder His attributes and His greatness in our hearts rather than difficulties and circumstances, and so He become LORD in our lives, and over everything that concerns us.

Now we walk in and as prayer. We are full of thanksgiving and praise, and find the way is open when we speak to Him of what is in our hearts.

We are becoming those people the prophet Daniel speaks of who know their God, are mighty in the knowledge of Him, and can withstand the enemy!

We are held in a quiet place of humility, love, and wonder. We are in a place of becoming an unceasing prayer - as long as we have breath (which He gives us) we will be praying, because it is in Him we live, move and have our being, as He has instructed us to live.

2008 A YEAR TO GAIN WISDOM & TO SHINE and OF SPEAKING TO HIS SERVANTS THE PROPHETS

CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON

I see and feel the new year building on the horizon like great white cumulus clouds.  The year will be full and intense - are we ready for it?

Isaiah 19:1 See, the Lord rides in a swift cloud and is coming to Egypt.

The clouds look huge and intimidating, as if they block the way - it will be important to remember the composition of clouds, that it is possible to walk right through them.

This reminds us that only God can create - the enemy moves with counterfeit and deception.

This emphasizes the need to ask the Lord for increased wisdom and discernment for the year ahead.

SEEK WISDOM AND SHINE

Daniel 12:3 is the scripture I am hearing for 2008 ... (In a time of distress) ... Those who are wise (who impart wisdom) will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

I believe the Lord is exhorting us to seek Him for the wisdom that we will need in the coming year, in order that we will indeed shine for Him in the darkness.

We are made to shine!  Not so that men can gather and admire or bathe in the glow of our success, but so that the light of the world can be reflected into the darkness of souls and circumstances and shine in the darkest places in order that the darkness will flee.

Matt. 5:14-16  You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matt.13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  He who has ears let him hear.

Rev.2:1-7 speaks to God's people today - it is a critical time to take care of the lamp stands, to return to our first love, to get oil for our lamps, and to SHINE.

There continues to be an urgent sense of our need to gain wisdom in this time, God's wisdom rather than the understanding of this world.

Daniel 11:32 speaks of a people 'WHO KNOW THEIR GOD'  who will BE MIGHTY AND WITHSTAND the pressures evil, and says that even in the midst of great tribulation (v.33) "Those who are wise will instruct many".

How do we obtain this precious commodity that we so vitally need?  James gives us the answer in chapter 1:5 "If any lack wisdom he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

THEREFORE we hear again the words of Proverbs 8:11

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

WE HAVE A MODEL AND EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW

Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.

PROPHETIC EXPERIENCE 

Twice a year for the past 3 years the Lord has consistently led me back to Amos 3:7 and 8

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.  The lion has roared - who will not fear?  The Sovereign Lord has spoken - who can but prophesy? 

Amos is speaking "what he saw concerning Israel 2 years before the earthquake.."  The Lord was giving warning to the people of real shaking that was to take place.  In the light of that I take the highlighting of these scriptures very seriously.

Amos 3:4 "Does a lion roar in the thicket when he has no prey?"

It is time to cease from idle and soulish chatter and to listen intently for His voice.

Isaiah 21:3 & 4 speaks of the prophetic man's physical experience after having received a 'dire vision' from God.

"At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labour; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I hear.  My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me."

We remain men and women in physical bodies serving our God, and Isaiah reminds us that there is a physical price to be paid for the increased seeing and hearing that is required and is to come.

NEW ZEALAND

I see the two oceans meeting at Cape Reinga and see that the northern tip of New Zealand juts out into the collision of two great oceans.

New Zealanders will be sent out by God into the great oceans of humanity in the midst of great spiritual battle, and will be used to bring God's love and peace, even in the midst of collisions of culture and creed.  Many events, and the outworking of God's call, have been building the nation towards this.

The enemy would have us focus on politics and negative events in our nation and communities - even become consumed with these things - but the wise will continue to pray for 'ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to understand' what God is building at this time for His purposes.

There are many in our nation who have faced great pressure, pain and hardship, and are no longer afraid of, or bound by, the things they will face in this and other nations.

One national anthem continues to be a prophetic statement that has been sung and spoken over the nation for decades.  We would do well to continue to speak, pray and sing it in this day.

 Lord please  give us ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to understand what You are wanting to speak to us in these days.

INVITED GUESTS

This morning I was reading in Matthew 22 about the king inviting his friends to the wedding banquet for his son, and was astonished at how much it began to speak to me of the time in which we live, with some very serious implications.

We see that the king sent his servants to those he knew and was associated with - he wasn't sending a random invitation, they were to go to those that the king had already had communication with to tell them that it was now time for the banquet.  However, those who had been invited refused to come.

Again the king sent more servants to tell the invited guests that the dinner was prepared, everything is ready, "Come to the wedding banquet".  But they paid no attention and went off, "...one to his field, another to his business."  Those remaining mistreated and even killed the servants. Then the king was enraged and he sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city! 

Then the king sent out his faithful servants again saying "The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come.  Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find."

I had a number of thoughts about this as it relates today to the church and the nation.

- How important it is to be sure HE is sending us and to whom.  Our lives depend on it.

- Is this a sign and a warning for this time, especially now people are being directed to go outside the church and into the streets and community?

- What does this mean for the church, for the nation?

- Does our greatest danger lie with those who were invited guests but said no? 

- Who are those who have been friends and associates of the the king, but are now too busy with growing things and their own businesses to heed the call to come and celebrate at the wedding banquet?  So busy in fact, that they mistreat and even kill those sent to remind them of this great event?

All this should cause us to ponder and to pray; to read this important chapter over again; and to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts the directions that the King would give us in this hour.