Wednesday 25 November 2009

Personal Holiness

A while back, the Lord spoke to me. Fortunately I wrote it all down as He had me re-visit what He said just this morning.

Listen to what the Lord is saying now – “The days are coming when many shall turn to me. Those who doubt now, those who do not believe in Me now, those who have wandered off like lost sheep. I am raising a new end-time army of believers. Those who will believe despite what circumstances scream out to them; those who believe despite and whatever the world throws at them; those who will believe through the worst possible persecution – even unto death. The world is turning against Me”, says the Lord, “ but I already knew this before I laid the foundations of the earth. The world does not realise this, yet even if they did, yet they would still despise Me. And they will despise you too because you speak My Name – because you believe in Me and in the One I sent. Even so,” says the Lord, “because your hope is steadfast and is rooted in Me, yet will I uphold you; yet will I justify you even in the worlds eyes. Do not lose sight of My Kingdom for it shall be your reward. Do not bow the knee to anyone but My Son for He is your saviour. Always remember that I, the Lord God Almighty, love you and I am with you – even to the end of the age. I am your provider. I am your Father. I love you – even you.”

Is this not happening to us right now. Everywhere we turn, the enemy seems to be waiting with one 'problem' or another ready to try to afflict us. Even the Church seems to be ambivalent & yet the Holy Spirit is using us more and more to reach those considered un-reachable - outsiders - mis-fits - yet even these, when confronted by the Lord Jesus Christ, embrace Him with a passion and zeal that puts us and so many of the churches we visit to shame.

The Lord is speaking more and more to me, at least, about personal holiness - about returning to our first love for Him. Is this just me or are you getting that message too? Certainly the time of Amos 8:11 is here NOW. There is a mighty hunger and famine for hearing the Word of the Lord because that which is being preached right now is, in far too many places, 'ear-tickling' that the people want to hear as against that which they need to hear.

What am I saying ??? Be prepared for anything and everything - even unto death. The Lord is going to use any who are willing to lay down their life for Him. The harvest they shall inherit shall be beyond even their wildest dreams. The Lord will honour those who honour Him. Where is our loyalty today? What does scripture say?

"John 12:24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."

Just one question remains - will you die to self in order to live to Him? Will you return to your first love and give Him everything that you are, everything that you have, everything that you hope, and everything that you want to be? Personally, if there is only a 0.01% chance of me being involved in end-time revival, I will give up everything to be there. Then I will be able to say, like Simeon, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word." Luke 2:29

I Hope I have offended you in some ways! Although this was not my intention when I started, and it was not intended as a sermon, a quote comes to mind - "It is a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher" George Whitfield.

So I leave you with this thought - what will you do this day to serve the Lord?

Saturday 21 November 2009

Revival in Scandinavia

I have just come back from a 4 day, 11 meeting trip to Denmark. This is not so much a trip report as my testimony of what is happening and what is about to happen in Scandinavia.

The RoFMI (Rivers of Fire Ministries International) team has been on 30+ ministry visits since October 2008. In that time, we have been to Norway 4 times and Denmark 7 times – with more visits already in the diary. Why so many? Well, we believe that the Lord has promised us to be used to help bring revival to Scandinavia. Indeed, we believe He has given us a firm timetable of visits up to and including June 2010. So what is our testimony that backs up these claims?

In ministry this year we have seen miraculous healings, events, and words of inspiration and knowledge way beyond normal expectancy. We have seen cancer healed. We have seen people transported into meetings from miles away. We have seen barren-ness healed. We have seen miracles of healing after accidents that have flown in the face of belief and completely baffled the medical profession.

But these are ‘ordinary events’ to some people. What is it that affirms your belief that some sort – any sort of revival is coming to Scandinavia. First of all we have the Word of the Lord. This is backed up by the hunger we see in ordinary people who are becoming more and more desperate for ‘something more’ to life than just life without God and without seeming purpose. We are seeing the established churches in decline and seemingly either unwilling or unable to grasp what the Holy Spirit is quite clearly saying to them. We see the beginnings of revival amongst ‘outsiders’ – traditionally non-church groups like Gypsies and Bikers. People the world shuns yet who, when confronted by the love of Jesus, embrace it with a zeal that puts us all to shame who call ourselves Christians. We also see prophecy coming to pass amongst these groups. Things like people walking in off the street, not even knowing why, yet somehow knowing they have to be in the meeting.

But the clincher for us is an event so like the start of the Hebridean Revival of 1949 that it would shake even those who were part of that wonderful time. Very recently, in Norway, some old ladies were praying for revival. That evening they were joined by someone we know who ‘just happened to be in the area’, and who was invited along. That evening, 24 young people from all over the town, came to their house under conviction of sin asking how they might be saved! These were not one or two groups of young people but one here, two there, maybe even three in one group – but no more. The Holy Spirit not only convicted them of their sin but He led them to the only house in the town where these wonderful old saints were praying for revival.

To me, that seems to be perhaps the start of revival. Please people, please – don’t grieve the Spirit when you see these signs for yourself. Don’t shut Him out. Don’t stop Him. Open your arms and welcome Him. Be still – listen to Him and do whatever He says at whatever the cost. God is no mans debtor – He repays His ‘debts’ both instantly and with added blessing. We need revival not renewal. Renewal is for the church – revival is for the unsaved sinner. Revival is coming – Jesus is coming – soon. Very soon.