Here I come!

This startles me to say, I am a man of the Heart! I live whole-heartedly!

What does that mean? it means the word is my life, and His judgments, what are His judgments? They are just this, God's righteous law. God says numerous times in the Prophets "Judgment is coming!" the totally startling truth is that they never prepared. You read it! They harden their hearts, and they say in their hearts "That day will never come!" or "I will be fine in that day!" As if you could resist God.

This is obvious in the prophets when they make statements like "I seek to hide my counsel from God" or even more blatant, my idols will deliver me! You read it allowed and are amazed at finding that the Proud are going to RAGE, the IDOL worshippers will be ASHAMED, every thought of man will be humbled, Do I go on? the thoughts of man's hearts will turn to murder, their rebellion will reach to Heaven, and the outcry will come to God's ears.

I looked and I was dumb-struck. What he's saying is this: I am going to reward the thoughts of man's hearts, I am going to bring out their hidden thoughts, and it will startle them, without them even realizing it! What do I mean by that? I mean just that He brings rage out of man's pride just to wipe the earth clean of them! He makes the mouths of men vomit filth out just so that He can judge, convict and sentence them.

If this is not in your theology then you have misunderstood what God was saying. There is coming a Kingdom in which the inhabitants of the earth are subjected to conquering, and conquest. God's judgment will pour out on this kingdom and they will plunge into darkness. I want to show you the light at the end of the tunnel. Jesus Christ! he wants your heart!

What he has shown me he will show to others! what makes me significant, the only reason! is because I say it! Listen! I am His messenger!

What are the objects of your captivity?

When you are led away into exile, into captivity, it is easy to tell - by your clothes, by your appearance.

We have all carried around in ourselves the objects of our captivity, we have all turned aside to the right and to the left - while living here on earth we have been tempted by idols, done what we have wanted,

And now that God has led us away into captivity, the very things that He spoke against are the things that we carry around.

This is the idea behind the verse in Galatians "when you were children you were enslaved to things that were by nature not gods"

He says to us, RISE UP, throw off your prison garments, your captive clothes, and SIT DOWN, next to me. I will cover you in beautiful brooches, and in garments of righteousness, I will wed myself to You.

What makes us go back to the things that were captivity to us? it is because we have not given our hearts to Him, it is because the Spirit of God is grieved by our behaviors, and will not speak to us.

If only you knew the things that he will speak to you, the names by which He will call you!

I have only to give myself whole-heartedly to Him, and approach Him, "my Lord" and His comfort will come, and His truth you will know.

But you will say "What does He judge me for? I have committed unrighteousness, but He will forgive me. How can he turn around and judge me?"

But in that way you speak as one who does not know the severity of all that you have done, thought, or spoken on this earth.

It must be that He is just, and that your enslavement is the reason that you put on clothes that were not becoming of you. You put on things that made you beautiful on the outside but which corrupted your heart. All that you see around you burns up but you say "I will be fine in that day!"

We Lift You Higher!

I think that there are many things that we think about, and to give a blanket answer for all of them is a little foolish. But, this does not work with God.

You give Him everything and you put Him first and everything will work out.

I have had a mixed set of emotions today (especially after being graciously asked to allow some students to have personal time with God) - to rest.

Put your mind on Christ, and think upon His crucifixion.

Give your dreams, your plans of marriage, your goals for unity in relationships, your highest and best thoughts to Jesus and say "You have won my heart, now have it all"

You ask me, "why on earth would you do that?" I will tell you why.

He is the only way to salvation, He is the rock of my refuge, he is my fortress of strength, the horn of my salvation, my deliverer! When you look into Him, God says "the vilest offender becomes clean" He's not looking at the outside, He's looking on the inside.

I enjoy feeling sorrow, it is all because of Jesus.

He is real as real can be, the order that he does things in is true, sorrow to JOY

No one can play or know my heart as he does. Can you compare Him with anyone? The more that I know of what He has done for me, the more I know truly, even as I am fully known.

We Lift You Higher! Hosanna in the Highest!

Being struck by suns flares

Well, I was thinking of the verses in which Abner, is slain by Joab outside of one of the cities of refuge.

If you are living through the great tribulation, not even cities of refuge will save you from the vengeance of God towards the wicked.

It seems to me strange to take it out of context, so I will tell you what you must do in light of this (regardless of whether you believe in Jesus or not!)

What else? Pledge allegiance to Jesus.

I think that I have experienced God's JOY, in regard to rejoicing in the work of God in others - it's not in big mansions or even in the place of your dwelling, He has made this come from your heart.

The most cataclysmic exchanges will not occur in the larger things in life, but what God sees in your heart, where you by faith believe in Him, for what matters is the heart.

Sell all you have, finding a corner to burn, and when the prospect of leaving your own homes come, enjoy it, you are empowered by God's Holy Spirit to live extravagantly different from the way the world operates, and all that you do has reward.

There is nothing more depraved than a wicked heart, you will not find any rest when you are put to the test, you will come up as dross, and all that you have will be burned up, even yourself. You have only to run into the arms of Jesus who is fearful - Kiss the Son, lest his anger burn against you.

But those that come to this point will not turn, they will burn.

Light me, O Light of the World!

Being the disciple of Christ, He must be put first.

While in the prayer room today, I realized that the things I can pray for help me to think upon Him more.

Were not some of His last words recorded, "Are you able to drink from the cup that I drink? Are you able to be baptized with my baptism?"

My heart chooses to believe that when pressures comes, like now, what really matters is my love for God is real. So that said, I am going to meditate on His words

He met with His disciples, to celebrate the passover meal.

When He had taken the middle piece of unleavened bread, he broke it and said "This is my body, given for you, do this in remembrance of me"

When He had taken the Cup of Salvation, he said "This cup is my blood for the new covenant, shed for the remission of sins, do this in remembrance of me"

Now every time that we drink the cup, and eat the bread, we proclaim His death until He comes.

I pray just that as you consider the Lord's supper, that you too would be filled up with joy inexpressible, and that you too would rise up from whatever fears are now presently present. There is power in the blood of Jesus

YWAM Update: A Man After God's Own Heart

Hello there!

I feel like I need to begin with a simple story over dinner tonight. The snowboarder school just arrived on base here at Oxford, and I had the opportunity to sit down next to Sarah tonight who comes from Canada. I am currently holding onto a promise in the Bible: "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind"

I asked if she had support back home to be here, and she let me know that she indeed did! That was how she got here. My support situation is a bit different, I was able to let her know that I try to keep updates consistent so that you know what is happening. A few things have happened recently, that I have tried my best to let you know about, so that you can pray for me (but more importantly, just because I want to let you know!)

My support is made up of people. I don't have the problem that others do of having to go back to their own country to let people know what is going on, and what my needs are. The point I'm making and what I want you to know is this: God performed a miracle for me to get me back to Oxford, it is you! I am just on the receiving end of God's abundant blessings, that happens to allow me to be back in Oxford perfect timing for this school to start.

Another thing I was thinking about was, "how do I put into words what is happening to me?" - how do I inspire others, with what has happened for me? I thank God that you love me and I do not need to buy or sell to get to convince you. My defence is the truth! honest! The only reason I want you into my life is because I want you to know!

With God by my side, I have been able to take my time to answer the more important questions in life, like "what was it that really happened to me in Israel?" It has taken me a year to answer that. Another one is, "where are my plans taking me?" Or as James puts it "If it is the Lords will, we will do this or that?" God is leading me to goto Queenstown. But he's shown me that Oxford is home to me, and that I want to prepare as best I know how, by letting my heart rest, and learn how to teach.

While at church yesterday, I stepped out of my comfort zone, to testify of how God had opened the door to come back to Oxford, immediately afterwards I was thinking "oh I'm learning!" I need others desperately! this is because I was stepping out to speak in the Spirit. So exciting! yet so assuring too. What helps me in these times is to quiet down, listen for His voice, and recenter on Himself.

So a few weeks ago, when my friend Lara came round, I realized that I had been holding onto my own strength to handle my life. It came out like gushing waters, the result of which, I yielded to God. Since then, he's opened the doors to be back at Oxford.

I guess a question that arises in my heart is this "why would I be this open and honest with anyone?" to which maybe I don't need to say anything. But in the Spirit of God I have to say "I am not going to loose, no one is going to keep me from getting the truth out"

Funny how God can mould our circumstances to meet His ends - for which I hope you understand - they are all Him. I have lost everything because I have dared to live only for God's glory, and I am free! Dare to be outrageously different from what is "wise" It says in the word "you ought to become fools that you may become wise" - and this is what I leave with you.

I trust that I have not cast pearls before swine, because I know that the precious things of my heart are held in God, and they cannot be taken away from that place. I am daring to live as a man after God's own heart - and He says things to me that He will not share with anyone else

Learning the Teaching of God

I have to confess, today, I have found myself asking "What am I here for?"

After a few moments, I realized this may be a question that needs repeating often.

If I am to be a teacher, then I need to be able to teach, what?

Last night I was having dinner with my friends from Church, Pauline and Ken Whyte. They asked why I was going to YWAM Oxford, instead of going to Queenstown. This is still a question that needs much thought. But for now, I had to think about what to say. After a while (after sitting over dinner) I gave an answer. "There is a passage in the book of Isaiah that I have always thought about, but it didn't click, I couldn't make any sense of it" That was, until the pieces fit in place and I realized how simple it is. Now, the passage I am referring to is Isaiah 28:23-29

What else? that it brings importance to knowing, understanding, listening to and living by the Teaching of God. If it was so simple then why did I take so long to understand it? I have a few guesses.

Earlier in the chapter is a reference to a cornerstone that will be tested, tried, sure and precious, and anyone who believes in Him will be on a firm foundation. Then it says "I will make Justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plummet" meaning, when you lay a cornerstone it has to be perfect. If it is on an angle, or not perpindicular (at right angles) the foundation will not be stable.

This means that Jesus himself is the definition of True Justice and True Righteousness.

The word for wicked in Hebrew, literally comes from the word "crooked" or "not straight" When we believe in Idols, we are crooked.

It is the very reason why God actually punishes Israel (in this Chapter)

What is the connection between idols and the teaching of God? Literally, Christ. Christ is my Teacher.

Why is it so important to listen? it is because I am not the teacher, I need to listen, hear, obey, live by what I hear.

In Psalm 97, The Psalmist divinely inspired begins to denounce Idols. He calls them worthless and carved images of confusion. What? Try to find the connection here, God's glory needs to be the center of everything that we live, breathe and enjoy. Because God is the center of everything. Idols will pollute everything. Not just Idols, Pride does as well. And God must be worshipped.  Christ is the Glory of God.

The Murdering of Saints and Prophets (Rev 16:4-7)

I want to begin with a story that God has given me today, while at church.

I am celebrating God's glory in providing so I could come back to YWAM Oxford - it was instrumental in bringing corporate edification at Church today. My being a witness to what God has done in me, knowing that it is real brings edification to others. I believe this is what it means in 1 Cor 14, when it says "prophecy is for encouragement, correction, and exhortation"

What fabulous "Fellowship with the brethren" we had!

When the man was ambushed by thieves on the way to Jericho, he fell ill to many people that would not even cross the road to help him. Then he was helped by a Samaritan who walked the same road.

Our pastor was speaking about this a few weeks ago, I was reminded of it in the morning, when I was anxious for my situation (you can put anything in here) that if you extend a hand to him who needs help, you are loving your neighbour. Well, more accurately, you're demonstrating the kind of life that God has given us by His Spirit.

At the time, I was very encouraged, because that is the way that I am living! Is God looking down on us and saying "You should have done that?" No.

His Spirit dwells in us, being those that have believed in His Son for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus had to call Him "the Good Samaritan" to get the point across. This divides cultural boundaries, every stigma attached to the way you have been brought up, whether you were rich or poor, free or slave, it is the royal law.

It is funny that the question was "how do I love my neighbour?" because it is then making a precedent for how God looks at us.

I am not going to try convince you of anything, all I'm going to do is give you the evidence. God will do everything, over and above all that we ask, think or imagine, because He is Almighty.

I think we do not think enough of the True, Righteous Judgments of God. All His judgments are motivated out of His love. The phrase true and right, is only this, that God looks and says, these are right. The same "these are right" that come from His love for all His perfect commandments, and which motivate us.

Instead of convincing you, I will ask God for the pouring out of His Spirit. Then when the judgment of Revelation 16:4-7 comes, we will be agreeing with God. 

What idolatry? What Idols?

I am asking myself the question, in regard to my behavior of wanting to go play video games.

I know that according to the scripture, it is a matter of wisdom. (1 Cor 10:14,15)

I just ruined my own argument when I read the rest of the context. However, let us take one step at a time!

I suppose the reason that I'm doing it is because I want to make a God in my own image, one that I can decorate with gold and silver, ornaments, place gifts under and spend time with friends and family making merry and drinking and eating, partying.

Let me take this time to compose what is happening in my heart.

I want God's name to be remembered, and I am wanting His praise to endure to the ends of the earth. (Psalm 45:17)

Again, funny "coincidence"

I am wanting to call unto God out of a pure conscience (Psalm 24:4) and declare His salvation to the ends of the earth.  (Isaiah 45:22)

I am wanting to be convinced, Jesus Christ is better than the temptation that I'm experiencing

I am wanting to say to the Devil, I resist you, your cheap imitations and resist my own urge in my heart. That I will not worship Him, but I will worship the LORD, and serve Him only.

If these are any of your behaviors, then rid yourself of them! God himself is the only way to stand up under trial! I am wanting to be true! They choose their own gods, they say "deliver me! for you are my God!" But they are made out of wood and silver. This attitude is ridiculous! to be true is to say, "God you are my salvation!"

And to cringe at them when they blaspheme and call upon their God as a swear word. Who use the word Jesus Christ as blasphemy.

Truly, I don't want to be a part of that! and neither does the psalmist!

He says

A Psalm of David.
The earth [is] the LORD's, and all its fullness,

The world and those who dwell therein.

For He has founded it upon the seas,

And established it upon the waters.

Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?

 Or who may stand in His holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.

He shall receive blessing from the LORD,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

This [is] Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
 Who seek Your face. Selah

Lift up your heads, O you gates!
  And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!

 And the King of glory shall come in.

Who [is] this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
The LORD mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O you gates!
 Lift up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts, He [is] the King of glory. Selah

Confessing Jesus before Men

As it happens today, my Father is telling me to REST.

I want you to gravitate to that word, because it will describe EVERYTHING to you.

I know that doing this strikes men with FEAR. Atleast it does me. But did you know what? He is boasting about you in Heaven for confessing Him before man! This is all about my wedding. I am compelled to preach the gospel. My conscience within me flutters at the opportunity to confess Him before men. This is the honest truth! My conscience knows when I want to give God the glory for what He has done. This is preaching!

In fact, the ones that I am compelled to preach to, are the ones that don't know, and have never heard. This I imagine has something to do with a pure conscience.

I find my conscience within me saying "I do not want to resort to my own ways, and behaviors" Where this comes from is a round-about statement. I already gave you the answer, that I am compelled to make known what God is doing.

If you have ever felt what your conscience is speaking to you, I am sure you understand.

The point of this all is this. God told me to REST. He even threatened me with this: "If you do not rest, You will stop me from achieving what I am wanting to do in You" That was enough for me.

Only someone that is alive can REST. When we are alive you know it, because you are MOVING! More accurately, You know the truth in Your conscience. You know there must only be one way to be Alive, because you are now alive, and before you were not. I also theorize, to be ALIVE, is to be whole-hearted. There is a church that Jesus sent a letter to that were not alive. In fact, they were dead, compromised and failing in a mandate that He gave them, in all of this he rounds up with a statement about confessing Himself before Men.

The word for REST is also glory. Now there is one who the Spirit of God rested on. (This means, to fully dwell in, at home) But all we can do is BE RESTED. One rest began when you confessed that Jesus is Your Lord. The second rest has to do with choosing to be whole-hearted.

My Father is telling me to REST

Forerunner following the Leader go

Let me tell you how God has been moving on my heart today.

I will be moving back to YWAM out in Oxford. This sounds very simple, but as I have just shared, this is because while i've been at home, God has been testing my heart, to see where my heart lies. I give glory to God for bringing me back to YWAM.

I've been reading the book of Revelation, in which one of the predominant themes is prophecy. Today I was thinking about it all and recalled a TV program I watched yesterday. It is called "Undercover Boss" - of the importance, to not only say what you do, but do what you do, starting TODAY. Starting today, I am going to be taken an active role in the active prophesying that I've been involved in. I will be taking an active role in giving a conditional prophecy to anyone - Just as Jesus did when He prophesied over Jerusalem in Matthew 23

What kind of a leadership! This is cutting edge!

I am taking a day of fasting every week, where I am also wanting others to join in the practice. Not because of super spirituality but because it's a command, and because I want to love Him more, and I'm willing.

All these behaviors are the behaviors of a Son, because I am willing to learn and put my hand to the plow - I know that I will stuff up, what a word, that He will bring it to pass!

I will worship

I came out of time with God, feeling that I was somehow missing something, and that God had engineered it for me to seek and ask Him what was going on.

I've taken up a day of fasting, which is getting mixed reactions (mostly from inside of me) what am I doing this for? And yet, also wanting to be refined and purified further by God.

I sat down to play the piano with the song "Refiner's Fire" on my heart, specifically "Purify my heart, let me be as gold, and precious silver" But when I went to try echo what I was saying, I could not. My heart, refused to it.

I am wanting to say these things, to let you know the struggles and pressures that I am facing, living whole-hearted for God. Some of the things I struggle with are "do I really feel comfortable with God in my weakness" - with also knowing that God is comfortable with my weakness, why do I need to assure myself? But also, more probing, that I find the idea of dying so repulsive to me. The idea that I have to die to receive life in God is something that I just don't understand - honestly. But I want to. I want to have all these things - I want to be able to abandon myself completely to Him. I want to love Him and live for Him, secure in giving my whole heart to Him

In this I wanted to write what was happening in my heart in a song, and so I sat down to write. But this was when the things that I have just been sharing started cropping up.

It's not that I don't see those struggles and pressures that I am facing anymore, but I have to understand, that God is completely selfish in His own glory. Let me make sense of this. My heart wants to be abandoned.

Those things that people have said, and I have thought, fall to the ground, because when I suffer for God, I die.

God is wanting me to worship Him, NOW. (John 4:23) What I am longing for, and finding, is NOW what I have in God. What was suffering for me before, (my seeking, and my longing, and my struggling) is what God is to me, NOW. Like in Christ, in that he became our SIN, he is now the vehicle for God's ultimate kindness and consolation. What was death and dung to me before is like the fragrance of summer. He says "Come to Me!" (Isaiah 55:1,2) He says for the wicked "Forsake Your thoughts!"

Here are the lyrics to the song that I've written. Now you know where they are coming from

I Will Worship

I am struggling in the now but not yet
in the weakness knowing you have done it
my heart, why can you not do the things you want?
and why do I ask for what I do not yet have?

You are the rain coming down on me
I am going to watch
You break the sorrow, turn it to joy
I am burning in my heart

I will give up everything to make you great
my soul delights in praising Your name
my heart grabs a hold of Your river of life
I want to worship, all of my life

They Overcame (2)

Hey there,

I would faithfully like to exposit the first prophecy given to Isaiah in the book of Isaiah. This comes directly after His calling in Chapter 6. Two generations later, the Grandson of Uzziah is on the Throne of Judah in Jerusalem.

I have been wrestling with the assumption that the whole point of the Prophets is to "Repent", "Turn and Repent" or "Remember, Repent and Do" It just does not work with some prophecies given. I think of Hosea 1&2 which is a direct contradiction of this rule. In fact, all Hosea is called to proclaim is "You are not my people" and "I will not have mercy on you" - Sit under that teaching and die! Then what does he goto? The complete opposite. Hosea, how are we supposed to respond? Are you telling us that God is angry with us? That God also loves us? How do we respond? In fact, he's not asking them to respond in any way.

It is because there is a hidden meaning behind what is being said, that is clearly seen in the prophecy given to Isaiah for the King Ahaz. If you have a chance, read Chapter 7 of the book. I will be starting at Verse 10 and finishing at Verse 17

Moreover the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying, "Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!" Then he said, "Hear now, O house of David! [Is it] a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings. The LORD will bring the king of Assyria upon you and your people and your father's house--days that have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah."

I did not know what to do with this. God Himself is saying "regardless of the faithlessness of my people, I will provide a sign" So why did God give Ahaz a chance to ask for a sign? It was because He saw that Ahaz was struggling to believe, but He wanted Him to know in earnest, that "God is with us!"

But then, what is happening afterwards is this, because Ahaz responded in unbelief, He is now basing all that He will do - the Assyrian Invasion, on the state of His heart, had he believed in Him, he would have established Him. (Isaiah 7:9)

What a monumental expectation! He is wanting us to trust Him. In other words, it is with the heart that one believes. God bring on all that you are planning to do in our generation!

They overcame (1)

This will be the title on a series related to growing spiritually.

I would like to put the nail in the coffin so to speak, as I write this I'm fighting feelings of inadequacy and in particular, thoughts from my former way of life - using my freedom to go play video games.

If you are like me, the idea to go to another country and spill your blood for the witness to Jesus Christ, scares you. O, but it's worth it.

While going off to work last night, I was filled with grief, because I was alone, and because I was going to miss my friend, before she left to go back to Wellington. I had to sit down numerous times and simply be composed. However, it did not last, within a few moments, my vision became unclouded, I rose to work and did not stop! Why? because I grasped the reward. My work for Him is eternally rewarded. I am doing the work unto Him!

Let me change tack here. My friends, this is why suffering is crucial!

This is why suffering is temporary and it has a purpose.

You see I had been thinking to God, all that I am wanting is peace (Is 38:17)

The thing that you have to understand is this, I do not consider myself to really know what I am talking about, I am growing. This is how I want to grow.

My destination is set, I will say "God you have made these sufferings to come" It is God who has brought these sufferings.

What makes it worth it is seeing His face on the sea of glass, without hinderance crying out "I Love you!" What makes it worth it is the way that we holds my heart in pain and hurt. What makes it worth it is the look on my face when I realize his love is very peculiar!

If you don't choose Him you're only choosing temporary happiness and temporary sorrow - that is the only alternative! 

I want to finish with a passage from Revelation 15

And I saw [something] like a sea of glass mingled with fire,
and those who have the victory over the beast,
over his image and over his mark [and]
over the number of his name,
standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God.
They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb, saying:
"Great and marvelous [are] Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true [are] Your ways,
O King of the saints!

My commitment to love and protect my Jewish friends

I want to say from this moment on, I am going to give myself to doing all I can to protecting and loving my Jewish friends.

Starting this day I am confessing publically my guilt in what my Fathers have done by being partners with Anti-semitic hatred and their passive response to the hatred and bloodshed of God's people simply because of their bloodline.

I cannot wait, I have to act now, I am not waiting to the great tribulation to be a lover and rescuer for this beloved and chosen race.

Read this post

Bringing the entirety of the storehouse in (2)

I thought to name this, "What do you know of Harvests?"

I know that it is a faith-filled business. You plant seed not knowing if or when the harvest is going to come - You say "but there are seasons" But what if there is a famine,

I know that once you plant the seed you have to wait, you cannot make anything happen. In fact, you don't know what's happening, until that tiny little shoot comes up from the ground, because you have to plant it below the earth, where you have no sight.

However, there are many positives. A man with experience will be put over the whole harvest, Lets call Him "The farmer"

He will have servants who go out to sow the seed, let us call these "sowers"

He will have servants who go out to reap the harvest, let us call these reapers

In a certain place, Jesus called Himself "The Lord of the Harvest" (Luke 10:2)

I want to say, there is no harvest if you don't pray, because the "laborers" they are the ones that actually bring in the harvest.

All that I have said so far is pittance compared to the magnitude of Harvest.

Did you know that there are two harvests, this is what Jesus meant when he said:

"Do you not say, 'There are still four months and [then] comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! (John 4:35)

I have often heard the harvest in terms of a call to evangelism. It is framed like this:

Don't you know that the harvest is here? Go out and evangelize, if you don't go you will not be part of the harvest.

While this may sound right, God gave me a totally different way of looking at it. Not only is the first way rather offensive, it makes it sound like you're not doing your job. It makes it sound like "you terrible person, you are not being part of the harvest"

I think if Jesus were here today he would laugh and be besides Himself. then He would be angry, because they did not understand what was being said.

the call to the harvest is not a call to evangelism. In his parable, who do you think He himself is framing He Himself as? Let us look at the whole passage...

Therefore the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought Him [anything] to eat?" Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. Do you not say, 'There are still four months and [then] comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors." And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I [ever] did." (John 4:34-39)

This maybe a funny question to ask, just bear with me.

He Himself is this, The Farmer who looks out over the harvest fields and says "They are ripe for harvest" so let the harvest be collected. How is he sure the harvest has come? Because He Himself has come. He (In John 12) refers to Himself as the seed.

There is another thing to glean from this passage, it is this: "no one ever did anything without a reward" It has to be the Holy Spirit that is empowering Jesus to speak these words.

The end of the passage refers to one "who has labored" This is a reference to the importance of those coming before (Forerunners) who prepare the way for Harvest. I would like to infer from this that if you are not convinced we live close to the return of Jesus. Look at the signs, look at the nations, and look at the fields. These three distinctly different exhortations come from Matthew 24, Habakkuk 1, and John 4. They are different because they do not refer to the same thing, but they are connected. The "signs of his coming" are those things that show the hour is URGENT. In habakkuk, the exhortation comes from God saying to Habakkuk "you need to look higher than the front porch, look into the nations, see what I am doing" in a phrase this is exhorting us to be filled in our hearts. The third "looking!" is referring to the harvest, the ingathering of multitudes, the worshippers who worship God in Spirit and in truth.

I want to suggest the reason Jesus knows these are all happening, is because He is the whole point.

Getting back to the point of all this, the proper frame of reference to listen and hear what he is saying. Both the sowers and reapers have something in common, they both receive wages from the farmer. This is the joy of harvest. In fact, I couldn't just finish at wages. But for this sake, I need to say "don't do anything without a reward" Let this sink into your heart. You need to get out of your head, and even your heart, that worship and the glory of God are not connected. What you do for God is rewarded because He's the one you come to.

In the Westminster Catachism it writes:

Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever

However this is not true!

The enjoyment of God is to glorify Him they are not seperate!

I am enthralled in my heart when I say to God "I love the things that you do for me, you are wonderful and glorious, magnificent and indescribable"

This statement places a connection between the things He does for me, and the person of Who He is. This is why I am whole-hearted, I have found the one whom I can be whole-hearted for.

This raises a question. If it is not a call to evangelism, then what do I do?

I want to assure you, there are many responsibilities during harvest, not just the Farmer, not just the workers. There are different types, we are all priests, we all have been given a kingdom (which we will receive when He comes) We are not all apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, pastors. We have just to be ourselves, and ask God the question, what do you see in me?

Your part in the harvest is unique and cannot be done by anyone else. The irony in this statement!

There is much more that can be said.

I want to finish with a scripture from Proverbs

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,
And strength to your bones.
Honor the LORD with your possessions, 
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.
My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD,
 Nor detest His correction;
(Proverbs 3:5-11)

I want to suggest we have missed the power of these verses. I also want to make the connection between the verses and these verses found in Hebrews

And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? (Hebrews 12:5-7)

What is it, it is just this, "What do I know of harvests?" But I do listen, and this is my part. I, just like you, want to bring in the harvest in entirety. I, just like you, want to learn from the heart of God and be a good Son. I, just like you, mean to be whole-hearted in approaching God, and knowing Him.




It is certainly a marvel! my heart does not want to be ruled, but God has ruled my heart! I am fearfully and wonderfully made! My soul knows this very well

Where do your loyalties lie?

There is a pledge of allegiance to Jesus! What is the most important thing? Knowledge of God (Isaiah 5:13)

This is also the question of the hour in Matthew 16

"Who do you say I am?"

My word, the Lord is saying, "You are laying your heart before me, saying "I will go"" but when I lay my heart before you, you refuse to go.

Drink His words in all their glorious inconsistencies.

When you place Isaiah 5, and Revelation 2:8-11 together this is what you get:

In some of the curses that are pronounced against his people there are:

"Woe to you who call good evil, and evil good"

"Woe to those who rise early in the morning,
[That] they may follow intoxicating drink;
Who continue until night, [till] wine inflames them!
The harp and the strings, The tambourine and flute,
And wine are in their feasts;
But they do not regard the work of the LORD,
Nor consider the operation of His hands."

In response to this, God's response is "dig yourselves graves because you will put yourself in them" This is what is meant by "I will lay it waste" (in verse 6)

This phrase in Isaiah 5;5,6 is the center point of the direction of God regarding His vineyard.

We ought to think about the lengths for which God will utterly demolish his inheritance so that they will bear fruit. To bear fruit, implies, it is alive. He is saying "i will bring you to the point of death so that you will live" actually I think that a fair exchange.

I was thinking about how the exhortation to the church of Smyrna falls upon their ears. Jesus finishes the exhortation with these words "be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" I cannot imagine those that are under this threat of death thinking "I am going to run away" rather this place, the place of death will polarize you. If you are not willing, you simply will not go. You will turn tail and flee (like his disciples did) or you will prepare to die. The exhortation "be faithful until death" will fall on ears that will be exhorted to prepare for this.

What is running through their hearts (and minds)? I thought about Jesus exhortation as the First and the Last. In Daniel 7 it has these words:

"I was watching in the night visions,
And behold, [One] like the Son of Man,
 Coming with the clouds of heaven!
 He came to the Ancient of Days,
 And they brought Him near before Him.
Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
 That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
 His dominion [is] an everlasting dominion,
 Which shall not pass away,
 And His kingdom [the one]
 Which shall not be destroyed. (emphasis mine)

This is what they were thinking. as opposed to all other kingdoms on the earth, this one will not pass away, this one will not be destroyed.


In fact, their reward is mentioned in both Revelation 5 and Daniel 7. it reads thus:

'But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.' (Daniel 7:18)

Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.' (Daniel 7:27)




And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." (Rev 5:10)


They were looking for the reward of reigning with Him

We also have an exhortation from Jesus. I know what he is thinking in His heart as He says these words:

But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him [My] Father will honor.

"I am the First, I am pre-eminant, I am the highest and take precedence. I am the Last, I will be the ultimate end for which anyone lives, And now I am becoming Lord of Death and Life when I die and rise again"

These words are repeated to the church at Smyrna. The question is, "Come die with me!"

Why ought your allegiance be to anyone else?

We love the truth!

The gospel was not given to be treasured, it was given so that we would give it to others! When Messiah spoke and said "I will come to those who know the truth!" in John 3. There was a lesson he was pre-eminently teaching here. O, you have nothing! You have nothing to show for yourself! You think you're rich! May you become poor to become rich, may you become foolish to become wise! That thing you think you have, you do not have unless you give it! The next time you go and read the bible, don't pray "O god, would you reveal your word to us" - empty yourself of every shred of your own understanding - because it's not yours to give! It's Messiah! It is His! O the joy of giving up all that I know, that I may gain the truth in Messiah! This is where Messiah is found in the bible!

I would point you to the passage in 1 Corinthians 9, which is a brilliant theological exegesis of how the working of the Gospel has so permeated His being. He was a pharisee, Hebrew of Hebrews, circumcised on the 8th day, according to self-righteous obedience, blameless. But all that was of benefit to Him, became loss. If you take Messiah from the heart of the Gospel you take the gospel away, you may as well be fighting with wild beasts. You may as well breathe your last, there is no hope in that.

There is neither jew nor greek in the Gospel, what is there? There is Messiah. Messiah is all in all. You have it all wrong if you serve for the sake of others. It is Messiah's slave you have become. It means to be emptied of everything of your own will. Actually, What is going to come on the earth is this, a sifting, a testing of the gold and the wheat, and those who have come short (I'm not referring to people that have appropriated the blood on the doorposts) will not survive, why? because they do not have the truth.

I want to encourage you greatly, you have not yet come to dying, you have not come to riches, YET! overcome the world by saying "I am dead, Christ now lives!" This is a very good quality that God REWARDS, to keep on until you breakthrough. This is very biblical, what you will gain will never perish, you will be held in eternal honor and glory for the sake of Christ. What is the lesson learned in this? hopefully, when he says "Open your eyes!" you do not take offence! I can never pray that prayer enough. God take the blindness away from my eyes! Let me see your beauty!

Dream you Dreamers! (2)

I am writing this in memory of this day, last year (technically, I am writing this for tomorrow! God is giving me my desires!)

I have endeavoured to Dream with Jesus.

I want the world to know that I am ravished by His heart,
And I cannot keep silent!
This JOY of his presence, is FORGIVENESS, where we are united as one, growing together, and learning from the Teacher,

We have the privilege of being forgiven of our SINS
Only God can do that! But then, he makes us MINISTERS of that reconciliation.
You are Forgiven of Your Sins!
This is the heartbeat of Love
Join with me in remembering the catastrophe of the Son of God bringing Light into the World

When we are united together, we will truly be ONE in Spirit.
He was looking for Love, and He found me!

I can no longer classify myself as one of the many, i am OUT of the ordinary.
Make me dream during the day time. Only He can make my heart race and feel

The problem with the world accepting all these ideas, is that they are MIXED wine, and dross.
The beauty of Him choosing us is that he chose US.
My love would never tarnish His name or mine by offering forgiveness to any one else. It is personal and unique!

But He bleeds, he pours out, He dies. In Him the dividing wall has been crucified
and my heart is alive!

to receive is to say "God come in the flesh"
to believe is what He is wanting. Because this is His provision!

The Wine of His Presence

This phrase reminds me of a time when I was walking to small group one night, and I felt God say, "I am turning your water into wine"

There are some scriptures which come to mind. You could say I am an acquaintance of God's wine. It's one of those things hidden that God is expecting us to search out and find. Does that sound like God to you?

God chose the Israelites to be a garden of delight to Him,

But there is a startling group of verses in the book of Isaiah related to God, the Beloved, and Israel.
It is worth a read if you have not read it before. The verses I am referring to are in Chapter 5, at the beginning of the Chapter (read the whole chapter if you get a chance)

The word it uses for Beloved in these verses is also used in the Song of Songs, for instance
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love [is] better than wine.  (Song 1:4)
My beloved [is] unto me [as] a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of Engedi. (Song 1:14) (rough translation, He's totally startling, exciting!)
Behold, thou [art] fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed [is] green. (Song 1:16)
It is the name she gives to the Bridegroom, (whoops! I used KJV!)

The intriguing thing is, God's endeavouring to establish a vineyard,
God's evaluation of the situation
and God's accurate response to a vineyard which does not produce good grapes.

In other words, this whole affair, it is a hidden affair with God. I think that fits a description of my Beloved very nicely.

I had to ask the question today, "Where am I getting my food from?"

I'm so pleased that I get to ask that question of God, where no one else can.

The question I want to pose today is one that I feel needs asking. "Are there benefits to fasting?"

What connection does fasting have with wine? I am intrigued to find a verse in the Gospels.

And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
"No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.
"Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

Next time you fast, remember, Jesus really does want you to get something out of it. He wants you to get love out of it. And also, It's a new thing, He was giving them an example that no one had ever done before.

Putting these two scriptures together we conclude:
God is the one who will get rich delight out of His inheritance. He will be like a business man who expects a good reward for His investment. From the example of History, we conclude that God is dreadfully accurate in His prediction of what will happen to those who with His investment have not used it wisely (they squandered their wealth and longed for what pigs eat - a picture of willing to give up their privileged position as the heirs of God's promises and covenants)

By the way, there's a few more things mingled in there than what I started with. Can you spot them?
 He's chosen me to bear the good fruit of the best wine, the ancient wine, the old wine. The wine that has been preserved for ever and ever.

Why would I want to know this? It's because God is a jealous Bridegroom. REST in the glory of this!

O, what a reward, drink deeply of my Love, my Beloved! I will let Him gaze upon me, and give Him my love. He wants all of me! Don't take this reward away from me! God is a businessman! 

Behold, the Lamb of God!

After 500 years of silence, it was over!

Exploding onto the scene was a man, they came out to Him from everywhere to be baptized by Him in the Jordan.

The chief priests and scribes sent a group to inspect Him, and to find out who He is.

To which he replied,

I am, 'the voice of one crying
in the wilderness:
prepare a highway for God
make straight His paths in the wilderness'

It was finally over, the people knew that Messiah was coming, because here he was,
or was he? "No, I am not the Messiah, I am not Elijah, I am not the Prophet"

but that meant, who are you? why do you baptize?

Actually, the one that I want to focus on is not John, but on whom he proclaims. What erupts in my heart, and causes me to listen will be who He proclaims. John called himself, "the friend of the Bridegroom" that means, He gladly listened for the voice of the Bridegroom.

it was in this Spirit that he spoke, "He must increase, and I must decrease" - his whole ministry, all that he did, everything that He said, was for the sake of Him who He proclaims, and seeing He comes, the natural consequence will be that everything that He has come for in this time will disappear, and the one who will get the glory will be the one whom He was sent for.

Go find the love of the Bridegroom!

A heart for discipleship

Having been at a YWAM base being discipled for 2 years, I feel I can speak with some credibility on what I believe we need to adopt in the coming years.

I asked God "Give me wisdom for discipleship!"

In a matter of moments two things came to mind, which I would like to share with you

We have an insatiable desire to have our needs met in our hearts. This i call "the heart problem" or "the heart solution" what we need is to be whole-hearted. Where is the only one who guarantees security in our hearts and who will receive all that we have? These are just two of many needs of our hearts. However when I realised the whole point is to be whole-hearted. Woosh! This must be God's grace to hear from Him relating to very important things.

The soon expectation of judgment. Judgment is our friend, when we see things through God's eyes, we see clearly, we have freedom. God hates sin, God is jealous over idols, God's wrath is kindled against the wicked every day. What makes us think that we can indulge in pornography, murder our closest friends in anger, become jealous over what others have, desire anything other than God and expect to get off the hook?

Discipleship starts and ends with death.  If the person who disciples you has not told you this, they have lied to you.

We have a passage in Matthew 23 which I want to quote: (the whole thing ought to be quoted)

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples,
saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.

"Therefore whatever they tell you to observe,
[that] observe and do,  but do not do according to their works;
for they say, and do not do.

"For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear,
and lay [them] on men's shoulders;
but they [themselves] will not move them with one of their fingers.

"But all their works they do to be seen by men.
They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.

"They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
"greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.'

"But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher,
the Christ, and you are all brethren.

"Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father,
He who is in heaven.

"And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher,
the Christ.

"But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

"And whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men;
for you neither go in [yourselves],
nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

What is happening here is this, in the culture of the day, Rabbi's were seen as the actors and celebrities of the day, they got all the applause, did all the things for show, loved what people would say about them. There was a kind of doctrine that entered the church during the first century, which is called "Nicolaism" which means "Power over the people" it put into hierarchy what ought to have been flat-panelled.

The Lord Jesus pulled no punches when he said "I hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans"

I think what has happened is quite controversial. From my own experience, discipleship has been framed like this:

If you are a young christian, you need some older and wiser than you to disciple you, who has experience to teach and guide you in the path

But I'm going to be radical and say, this is not what the bible preaches. How do you think we will be known to be loved of one another? How do you think the world will know that Christ has sent us? Is it by waiting 30 years before we are asked to disciple? Is this what it says? Actually, all I can find is the opposite, Christ slammed the leaders of the day for not understanding, and making it all about them. He slammed the nicolaitans in the church.

Actually, what is taught is this: Everyone disciples one another. Being in YWAM, I have really benefited from this system. We live in community, live alongside one another, eat bread together, pray through faults, allow God to speak to the individual, and love on one another through pains and hurts (we all have them)

That is when Christ's love will radiate from within us, when the Spirit will be poured out through us, we will be able to hear from Him to goto Saudi Arabia and love those who destroy us.

Christ makes no apologies for what he says in regard to what the Rabbi's were doing wrong. He said "YOU are applauded, When it is Christ who is your Teacher!" They were taking his position. They were taking his place!

I think that's the way it was supposed to happen, though I am still learning, Yeshua ha Meshiach has called me to teach, is this right? is he asking me to teach straight away? Is he asking me to be discipled? Is he asking me to die?

When we take Christ off the highest point, away from the only one who will give us heart-felt joy, we become fascinated by peoples struggles and actually fall down, people were never meant to be the ones we turned to, gave our hearts to, it is always supposed to be Jesus.

In all of this, I have to say, I am in the same boat as you! I'm looking forward to the outpouring that will come in obedience to this commandment.

Christ is the highest point of my discipleship. He alone is the one who motivates me. I am not supposed to go about discipleship with some sort of army mentality, it has and always will be a family affair. We are isolated, we are paralyzed, broken, hurt, and ineffective to witness. We will not go unless God pours out His love in our hearts.

In ephesians chapter 4 it says that the body will be matured and come into the fullness of the knowledge of the Son of God. we are all to teach, evangelize, pastor, prophecy and set up churches. But God has anointed and set apart certain ones and called them "Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Evangelists, Pastors" for the equipping of the Saints. This equipping is more than just having confidence in your talents and abilities, it is Counting the Cost, saying "You are worth it Jesus" I will go because you have commanded me.

My joy is to equip the Saints, I do not need to apologize for that. Our love for Jesus is to be so strong that we count having our heads split open for Him a reward for his love - o Lord, give us mercy as you gave to David!

Bringing the entirety of the storehouse in (1)

When looking through my notebooks for today, I found a phrase that stood out to me, it pricked my heart. It is this "a heart full of love"

O, Lord, Fill my heart with love.

What this turned into is what has been placed before you today, "bringing in the entirety of the storehouse" - in other words, If you want God to greatly bless you, what is he saying to you? what is he wanting from you?

Now, I know that we cannot give to God.

There is a verse in Isaiah 66 which goes like this:

Thus says the LORD:
"Heaven [is] My throne,
And earth [is] My footstool.
Where [is] the house that you will build Me?
And where [is] the place of My rest?

For all those [things] My hand has made,
And all those [things] exist," Says the LORD.
"But on this [one] will I look:
On [him who is] poor and of a contrite spirit,
And who trembles at My word.

I know when you start, it seems simple. Goto God in the prayer room, tell Him you love Him, ask that he may give you all that you want, and hearing Him say "I love you, you are beautiful" (Song 1:15)

But actually that's where it stops.

Some people enjoy to die, some people enjoy to give everything to God when they do not have anything, some people enjoy being willing, teachable, and child-like, some people like the Father. This is where it begins. Though it would be wrong to say we're giving something to God (in the way that we goto church, goto bible study, goto prayer, goto the bible, goto worship services) it would be incredibly right to say, "Because I love you, I will say 'Awake, Awake! O North Wind, and Come! O South, Blow upon my garden, that it's spices may flow out. Let my Beloved come into His garden and eat it's pleasant fruits'" He is my inheritance from start to finish! Nothing left of me. Greek: "de ouketi"

Are my children being fed?
Are my children being clothed?
I will not forget them.
They are called "Ephraim" and "Caleb"
my sons are Faithfulness and Fruitfulness
They are my promises from my Husband

What is real to God?

Today, I am experiencing a flurry of activity which I am wanting to share. I was looking for rest just a few moments ago, now I have found it, I have found my rest IN HIM. This is His glory.

The question of the hour is, WHO IS ABLE TO STAND? (Rev 6:17)

I don't think anyone is wanting to be in the position where all that they have will fall to the ground. Really, the question, "What is real to God?" is the question that motivates us to ask "How do I find myself in the place of Safety?"

The question of the hour in the scroll that bears His name is marked by the temporal judgments of the Lamb being released on the earth, and the inhabitants crying out "Where is safety?" What is safety to God? well, everything that proceeds from His glory.

Let me try put these three streams together. We are those that have been bought by His blood, sanctified, made whole, pure, blameless. What is he wanting? That's a kinda redundant question, because we ought to know Him. The reason behind what he is wanting? He hates SIN, he is jealous for idols, He is angry with the wicked every day, He sees their works burning up without substance.

What is real to God?

He repeats a phrase, it's a very interesting phrase, which is "Let Him who has ears to hear, hear" My prayer for you is this, That God, would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation into the knowledge of Jesus, how beautiful he is, arrest your eyes to see the beauty of this man! may you know and experience the hope of his calling you, and the glory of his riches in You, and His great power toward you, that you may be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Dream you Dreamers!

What do you imagine would be the most important quality in knowing God?

We have knowledge of God. I know that God looks at the heart, it is the heart that matters most to Him. This is why when I am being led by Him, he will often lead me to say "You were right in choosing me" - I am the one you have chosen for this task. But it also means, I give you glory and honor because you chose me from before the foundation of the world.

This is what dreaming is, connecting with reality - connecting with God.

There is a verse in the Psalms which best describes what a dreamer is. It says in Psalm 126:2-3

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, [And] we are glad. 

It is equal to breathing. This is because we were made to be connected with God -

Though I speak somewhat strangely (as in, but not limited to, the saneness of my speech, 2 Cor 5:12,13) it is because my heart has breathed, and I have been filled with comfort, and JOY, and I am demonstrating the kindness and patience of God, in giving understanding to my heart, and that this is free to all, who want it, I can't take the credit for it! because I just begun this. May the difficult things we find needing to say come out fluently! Not all speech impediments come from stuttering.

If you would like to know more, Read the story of Joseph (Gen 37) with new eyes. And ask, "God, give me sleep and rest" 

The shepherd's crook

Just the other week, God was using his shepherd crook on me, it was because I was being led astray, and needed rescuing. It was because I took things people said into my heart - I did not know how to simply accept what people said, but not accept things into my heart. The funny thing is this, that I had been saying "why does God have to use shepherd crooks on us?" - as if the sheep would enjoy that happening, but its because he wants us to share in His glory. That means, let Him lead you. My most important change came from a revelation that if I was not a Son to my parents, I could not be a Son to my Father.

Do sheep complain about the shepherds leading? do they complain about the way He treats them? (like clay to the potter?) Do they feel harrassed, lacking any good thing? My shepherd is the glorious Father. He will not forget us, because we are made for His glory.

We have been asking the wrong questions.

I can tell when I hear His voice, because he speaks to me personally, He calls me by name, he whispers sweet nothings to me, and promotes me in His own time. All I ought to be thinking about right now, is "you are here and you love me!" that word ought, I cannot even call it a responsibility I place on people. Without Him, "my soul breaks with longing!" I truly love Him with all my heart.

In closing, I have to say, that I am deeply humbled by the love and affection that are mine because of my family at YWAM Oxford. May I always have the shepherd's crook used on me when He wants to promote me into JOY! I cannot say that I have ever needed rescuing so badly! I do not want to be like the person who exiles anyone that disagrees with them.

A Proposal of a challenge

Hello, I am going to propose a challenge to You.

Now, last year before I came to Israel, God was proposing a challenge of me, "How much do you want to get of me" He was putting this to me, as I was contemplating the journey to come to Israel. "How much do you want to get of me?" This is an offer that I did not refuse, after all, whatever I get of God, I cannot loose, So the more that I gamble the more that I will get from Him.

This year he has a new challenge to me. I had to present the first one in light of this one, because it gives clarity as to what the principals, and the actual dealings he is wanting from me, for this next one.

"I want you to not sin for a year"

Now that I had been reminded of what he did last year, I knew what he was asking. He was asking, are you considering me better than all that you have on the earth - are you going to live holy?

Are you going to trumpet the call to this generation, "live without sin" not as a secondary thing, but as a primary thing? Let me get this straight to you, I am also very precarious about this challenge he has presented me, the fear of the Lord is on me. But that's the promise that He gives us in his word. According to your word, let it be like rivers of living water coming out of my inner being! Sometimes I have to ask, "Why did you call me to this?" why me?

Why not someone else? But then, it must be said. We are broken not to make it impossible for us, but to work it out through us, and we are driven by God not because He seeks an end of us, but so that we would seek Him.

Overcoming SIN, how...?

I stand at a crossroads. May this be an encouragement to anyone that happens upon this page. I don't think that when God said "I want you to be holy, because I am holy" he was saying "unless you are perfect you cannot enjoy my presence" (though that has been intimated)

My own imperfections are brought out in His perfect light. Rather I believe that He has and always will be the joy of His people because He made that decision. He would be everything that we need Him to be (Exodus 3:14)

One of these perfections or excellencies comes in mercy. "Lord, my soul breaks with longing for your commandments at all times" What this means is that, the Psalmist is saying to God, I have longed for your commandments (your judgments) to the point that my soul breaks. These longings are upon me at all times.

I would like to share with you some insights that I have had in regard to his love

It is God's provision. We cannot get out of the flood of His mercy. It is because God is the one that is the initiator, as the ones that He loves, the revelation that we receive from His Spirit is perfect.

The quality of His love. Do I recoil when I have sinned? or do I hear his voice saying. "David after Nob" The more that I receive of His mercy - being that thing which is really himself, reminds me of how I have indeed changed. I love it when he shows me how far I've come - that His love is deepening in my heart.

It is faith in Christ. This runs against the grain of every tradition and doctrine that we have built up - ironically it is dead religion and compromise. How can we put ourselves in the place of God and say "I have the choice to decide if I am saved or not?" The beauty of my relationship with Him is that he activates all the things that need to happen, my God. I don't even want to, like the sheep he leads me beside still waters.

He Provides

What do you see when you look at the Bible? I see a story of providence. It's like God is communicating to us, "I will make it possible for you to enter into relationship with me"
While thinking about how God said to Abram "I will come back this time next year and you will have a Son" and of the response. "Abram believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness" the word for righteousness here means, "has favor with God" I had to ask, "what was fulfilled in Abraham's obedience?"

It was because God was saying, "I myself make provision for you to have relationship with me" Wow! you mean it has nothing to do with what I've done? Even 500 years later, when the Israelites were in bondage, God heard their cries, provided them a Savior, Moses, who would lead them out to Mt. Sinai. Even at Mount Sinai, it says in Jeremiah 31:32

Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

His provision for them as a Husband was giving them the LAW. Never did the law contradict FAITH, which said, "I will give you a Seed" - this giving is His provision. He provides at Calvary, raising up for the house of Jacob a Savior. We enter in by faith, having a relationship with Him.

 But those who establish their own good deeds to enter into relationship with Him, do not fulfill the law. It was like when Jesus said to the Pharisees "You read the scriptures because by them you believe you possess eternal life, but you are unwilling to come to me that you may have life" All the LAW is a curse, if you try to obey all the law, yet stumble in one part of it, makes you a law breaker and are charged as one. This is why we must enter into the provision of God, who makes the way possible. You see, God wants us to enter in he is not standing at the door saying, "you are too short, you are too tall, you are not smart enough..." He's set the perfect standard in the law so that those who enter in by faith are Sons.

What can I say to this? always enter into the provision of God for you TODAY, because he is your portion, he is your rest. Why should we be content with what we received yesterday?

Overcoming sin, just the beginning (2)

Oh, how I love your law!
it is my meditation all the day
You, through your commandments,
make me wiser than my enemies
For they are ever with me
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation
I understand more than the ancients,
Because I keep Your precepts
I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your Word
I have not departed from Your judgments
For You Yourself have taught me
How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way (Psalm 119:97-104 NJKV)

I was in a predicament, it was a grace given to me. How am I safe, when I have a heart that is an organ that does not stop beating! Oh, i felt like I needed some safety somewhere when I realized "o, the secret is to be whole-hearted!" that is because I found out what you need. You need the Father.

This came through a series of heart-wrestling sessions where I was forced to give answers to the things that arise in my heart. What am I looking for? I'm looking for safety. That is the name that He has given to Himself. "The Lord is my refuge, The Lord is my stronghold, the Lord is my fortress of defence"

What does the statement "answers to the things arising in my heart" remind you of? To me, it reminds me of David. Does it strike you strange, that at his choosing, God poured out his Spirit upon this man, to experience knowledge in the ways of God, he didn't just have luck or fortune (1 Samuel 16:22) The root of this issue is what happened at his calling. I believe it to be God pouring out his mercy in the presence of His brothers, which made a colossal change to everything in His life. The reason for this is this, the LAW is a PROVISION of God, so that we would enter into Him through faith.

Read: You will never get ahead of delight of the Law, for what it has revealed of God's nature to you, which is fulfilled in His Son being the Lamb of God, taking away the sin of the world. Paul says "Does the message of the grace of God abolish the law? No, it makes it glorious!" Everyone wants to obey God. Like David, we have times when we do not - and SIN. Here is how it all fits together. We WANT to obey God, God has made provision to OBEY him (not just try to) through His laying hold of us. He laid hold of me at the cross, because he did something for me that I could never do: that is, freedom from sin. This makes me hate sin. Get in touch with your heart!

YWAM Update: We Must Go!

Hello everyone,

Grace and peace be with you in abundance. I am hailing from the home of my parents in Christchurch, New Zealand. With some exciting news! I wanted to share with you, that I will be moving to Queenstown. Why is that, you ask?

This weekend I invited my friend Lara to come for breakfast and to share with her what was happening - God had used her to confirm a direction change to go to Queenstown. However, it wasn't to be! not in the way that I expected anyway.

You see, God had to show me that he is everything that I want, everything that I need, all my passion, desire, delight, sustenance, pleasure, joy, gladness, I'm out of my mind to be saying this!

WE MUST GO!

It's not enough to be sitting in your comfortable surroundings! it's not enough to be given what you want! It has to end with suffering and God's acknowledgement of the goodness of such a thing. Of suffering that reminds you of Jesus, not just reminds, has Him. In other words, "That I may Gain Him, that I may be found in Him"

You who are in your comfortable surroundings are making yourselves enemies of God. He does not condone comfort for the sake of people going to hell without a word

If this makes you tremble, then good, God wants to break your life apart, and show you that he is better than what you gave up, he wants to demonstrate His love for you. if you've never been through trials, then you will complain. But the truth is, no one can say that, not anyone in the world can say that they have never been through trials.

It's just that out in the world, the people will be like the "Lady of the Kingdoms" saying "I will be a lady forever" - totally disregarding all the persecution her lifestyle is bringing. Those who are lovers of the world are enemies of God.

This is his mercy to his church, that he wakes them up out of totally being no Godly good. He wants everyone, regardless of where they come from, adopting a martyr mentality.

Did you make the connection?
I started with God the Father, demonstrating and approving His love for us, by showing his acceptance of the satisfaction of His wrath in Christ. It says "It is finished!" in both John 19:30 and Revelation 16:17

This is then, if we are His sons and daughters, echoed, simply "He forgave me of my sin" now that I am a Son "I have made the choice that I want to give everything to Him because I believe what He has done to be more worth than anything else in life" - then when we are persecuted, tortured, imprisoned, God is giving approval of it, that ought to be everything because He is our Father and He is pleased.

Let me say this: He is worth it. Every painful emotion, every hurt, every circumstance, every confused thought, every moment of perplexity, distress, discomfort, disillusionment, just to be put into the right shape as a vessel and image-bearer of Christ. I esteem him greater riches than the treasures of Egypt (Hebrews 11:26)

My heart is not offended at anything that he has brought along my path, This is the power of his mercy. I could not do it without Him. 

Let me exercise what I believe just happened. Everyone needs to hear this! It can't be stopped! It needs to get out there! This is life! I was seized with fear over what people would think of this! Get over it! I just experienced the greatest pleasure in utter weakness. These are not in contradiction! 

Overcoming SIN, just the beginning

I just experienced something that I have to share with everyone. Out of the overflow of this is a thing that will forever change the way you do everything in life. I want to share this with you

Don't settle for only the family of God, go out as well.

Now think what about I just said!

You have to understand my predicament I am utterly ruined.

I was thinking this way "the next revolution is not the global missions movement" but it is "the Father's heart movement"

Did you know they are the same thing?

Let me explain.

I just EXPERIENCED the full glory of God while I was in my weakness. Point one! you cannot say I'm excluded, because this happened to me when I had nothing!

You see, what I was thinking was this, I'm utterly disillusioned, everything is in calamity, and the things that I enjoyed doing I no longer have any motivation for. Would you guess what these things are? they are spending time with Father, praying, reading the word, and EVERYTHING OF CREATIVITY RELATED TO GOD! who am I talking about? the Father!

For he said to me: "you must come to me because you want to" - it can't come out of dead religion. Equally he said "The reason you will continue to come to me is because you are a Son and you choose to" - this sustains me in the dead times.

I was pondering and thinking, If I have all these things that are wrestling with me, for my attention, maybe this is the time I ought to come to God with supplication. I had something on my heart, so i went and started playing at the piano.

Then I realized the Spirit was being poured out, so I took my voice recorder and started recording. It was motivated by a scripture in Psalm 77, and a statement, "these things will only make the song grow louder, and the little child in me will come out" (From Psalm 8:1,2) actually the inspiration was a song that I had wrote years ago.

Would you imagine what it was?

It was this (very simple)

I see a flame arising, coming from your consuming heart,
I see a fire burning, coming to meet with me!

Who am I talking about? the Father

whose glory, IS the thing that I am after. Am I going to disagree with the Spirit of God?

This is what motivates me to GO! what a profound paradox. did you just get that? I'm ruined, I ought not to be making decisions about what I am going to do.

All of you, hear this!

(I may put the song up later)

Here is the Song.

rapidshare link

The missing piece in the puzzle

Here are some things that I've noted about the Father recently:

Where I know that it was God's mercy, through Christ that I was forgiven of sin. I wondered, is that the end of it? The Father shows me that the mercy that was displayed, was to empower me to love Him.

Where the Father corrects me, and I'm struck and unable to say something, The Son is right there to show me that He is chastising me for my benefit, so I can rejoice!

When I am honoring my parents, and taking upon me the responsibility in making my own choices, it is the Father that gently speaks to me "I want you to know before you go, you are my Son and I love you"

Without the honoring of my parents, I have no ability to come to God as a child or as a Son, that is why He gave us parents. (but if this is perplexing for you, read on)

That when I am broken and needy, that is the time when God powerfully speaks His love to me

When I ask "why is it so hard to pray?" He replies, "you need to know that without motivation to come to me, it is just dead religion" to which he adds, "if you are sincere in your heart, then your love you show me motivates you in the hard times to come to me"

The Father does nothing out of compulsion, He is the creator of everything, he needs not to give a reason for the things that He does. If he is unequaled to anything in creation, then me being His Son, and created for His glory, Idols present the biggest problem to Him. In reply to his mockery of Idols in Isaiah 41, I can say "I will do good or do evil, I will show what the Father is like"

The reason I am chosen as a Son, is because my heart's desire is to see His face, his presence, he does not get that from the outside world. To be able to say "your face, your presence is what makes me who I am" that gives Him delight. This desire is in all of us, but God, awaken us to what you have done through your own Son, that we may fully grasp your glory.

I think this agrees with the testimony, "For yet a little while, [And] He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if [anyone] draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:37-39)

Let us be those who press in and see His face.

Returning to family

When I woke up this morning, I heard "The Spirit is my family"

or "You are my family in the Spirit"

There is a scripture in Malachi (which is repeated by an Angel in the book of Luke)

And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.

I have to let you know about the great thing that has happened today as a Son. Which shows where my heart truly lies. God provided an opportunity for me to honor my parents and fulfill the desire of my heart which was to be able to accept them into my heart.

The feelings that arose afterwards may help to show what has taken place in my heart. The first thought was this: Why have I not included my parents in everything before now? To which I realised, "I am your Son, and You are my parents" - I now have the responsibility to choose what decisions I make.

It leads onto the thing that is really on my heart, which is to honor my parents. I am now in the hands of God my Father.

But I suppose what God is really looking at is the heart. Here are some of the feelings that I've experienced into which I pray God would release all that He is into. 

Why ought not God to make all things good because He loves me?

My heart constantly wrestles, with that ultimate reality.

Being united to the Bridegroom!

Did he not pay for me so that I would no longer sin?

Is not His joy in forgiving me of my sin because He wants to demonstrate His love for me? and be with me?

I cannot simply be content with the thing that He has done in me, my heart churns and spurles, the ravished heart of God! This is the fire of His love.

Wait for the Bridegroom! Do not restrain yourself, do not shrink back! press forward!

The love of the law

I had the privilege while I was at home last night, to have a coming of age ceremony for my friend Steve. This was confirmed this morning with the scripture Hebrews 11:24-26

"By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward."

After he left I was talking with God about what had happened. You see, you could have mistook this for a time when I spoke alot and even that I have gained alot from last night (even though it was for Steve) It made me realize "I had been thinking of Steve the whole time"
There in is something that I want to expand upon. It says that "greater love has no man than this than that He has laid down his life for His friend" it also says in another place "if you love your brother, you fulfill all the law, because he who loves His brother will not harm him"
That means, when I am loving another brother, I am doing the greatest thing for Him.

There are somethings I had not connected together, but this is the best, keep your eye on the prize. The law of the LORD is my highest attainment, and gives me the highest JOY. It is in fulfilling the law that I am not only rooted, but also released into full revelation of God's purposes for me. For anyone who speaks like this, it has found it's connection in the heart, and it is in the heart that the LORD is looking at.

And if you are thinking "spiritual riches and the things of the heart are seperate" read what I'm saying, they are inseperable, he looks in my heart, that's exactly what I'm saying! my greatest JOY is Him! my bridegroom!

I have been broken beyond repair, my life has ended in the natural. This happened on the 2nd of June 2012. This is because I am the one that is taking up what he is saying. I am the one that has said "I live not for myself anymore" - I may not fully know, but I am known fully. My friends, give God all your heart! 

I want to finish with this. There was a missionary by the name of Hudson Taylor in which he was speaking to his congregation when away from the mission field. He put this metronome on the stage and set it ticking. At the end of his sermon he recounted the story of one man who had fallen overboard a moving ship. At this Mr. Taylor Shouted to the boat driver "Stop!" but he would not, after a while the boat driver said yes, and went back. By this time the man had drowned. By this time everyone was asking "What is the metronome for?" Then he finished His sermon with this. "Every tick of this metronome another man is drowning in the rivers of China and going to eternal hell!"

A young lady by the name of Amy Carmichael was at this meeting - when she heard this, it cut her heart. She went forward and said "I'm going!"

In her diary later she was recorded as saying. “The night I sailed for China, March 3, 1893, my life, on the human side, was broken, and it never was mended again. But He has been enough.”

If we will go, regardless of the things that would crop up in our minds, then we would be part of the greatest missionary movement in History.  (by the way, I am totally free to be who I am because I've given my heart to Him. What freedom!)

Love

The Lord said "I want you to make this the post" So here it is, a song.
the purpose is two-fold:
To show that this is the highest fulfillment of everything I desire
To show to You that He really can be everything that you want Him to be.
The interesting thing is, this is the overflow, which I would be sharing, because I do not work on my day of rest. So it is a fulfillment in that sense too.

Here are the lyrics!

If I have not love

My speaking my tongues and

In the form of angels and of men

Are like a clanging cymbal

If I do not have love

I can give my body to be burned

And it will not suffice me anything

Pre-chorus:

You have pierced my ear

You have given me the Spirit without measure (So)

Asctibe to the Lord from my heart

Ascribe to the Lord the glory and the emotional strength

Glory due His name

(pre-chorus)

So I will say to you

Come fill me up, yes, come fill me up

Yes I will say to you

I am no longer my own, I am no longer my own

I could give up everything

And in the giving it would be utterly despised rejected tossed aside, forgotten, trash and rubbish, it would be less than filth

To be remembered no more!

This is my vow to you! (my vow to you)

This is my vow:

I will give everything for You

And forget it all

For your love it is the highest goal highest treasure, highest attainment, I have you

 

The former things have gone

And the new has come

You won’t remember

They will no longer

Be remembered

They will be forgotten

Forever you’ll be My husband, and I will be your wife

I will be your bride

 

You are the promise of redemption

You are the promise of a husband

You are the promise of joy and delight

Trusting in the Father’s love

Hoping in the Father’s love

Hoping in the love, the love you have given

The love that you will mention on that day

On the day of your wedding

On the day of the gladness of your heart

You will mention my praise

You will mention my love

You will mention my gladness

My heart

And you will bind them like an ornament on my neck

That they will never be forgotten