Len Buttner - Eagle Ascend Ministries

The Eagle Way No 12

2011-08-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

My father, my father - the cry of this generation

“Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire [appeared] with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw [it], and he cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.” (2 Kings 2:12, 13)

Elijah was talking with Elisha, instructing, directing and encouraging him, in his work, and preparing him for his future ministry. Elisha was neither meditating nor praying, but engaged in edifying discourse with Elijah as a man apprehensive about the kingdom of God and his future ministry call among men and the nation.

In the mean time a convoy was being prepared from heaven, the Lord had sent for him—“a chariot of fire and horses of fire,” which descended upon them from the clouds - running towards them. Elijah was being taken away, with a heavenly envoy, carried as if ‘on eagles wings’ (Isa. 40:31).They appeared in the form of a chariot and horses, that he may ride in status, ride in triumph, like a prince, like a conqueror, yes, ‘more than a conqueror.’

The angels referred to in this passage of scripture as seraphim and cherubim, and their appearance here, though it may seem even to be below their dignity, answers to both those names:

1. Seraphim - signify fiery, “God is said to make them a flame of fire.” (Psalm 104:4).

2. Cherubim - signifies chariots, and they are called the chariots of God. (Psalm 68:17), and he is said to ride upon a cherub (Psalm 18:10), to which there is a quotation in Ezekiel’s vision of four living creatures, and wheels, like horses and chariots; in Zechariah’s vision, they are represented as such (Zechariah 1:8; 6:1).

As we compare Revelation 6:2, we see the readiness of the angels to do the will of God, even in the most difficult of circumstances in His services. For the good of those who will be heirs of salvation. Elijah must go away to the world of angels, and therefore, to show how eager they were of his company, some of the angles came to fetch him.

The chariot and horses appeared like fire, burning with brightness, not to afflict or consume, but to render his ascension and to be celebrated in the eyes of those that stood afar off who view it. Elijah had burned with holy zeal for God and His honour, and now with a heavenly fire he was refined and translated.

In the Book of Ecclesiastics’ 48:1, the fiery horses and chariot are considered as an emblem of that burning zeal, which Elijah manifested in the whole of his ministry: "Then stood up Elijah the prophet as fire, and his word burned as a lamp."

How Elijah was separated from Elisha. This chariot parted them both. The closest of friends must part; Elisha had protested that he would not leave him, yet now, it’s time to be left behind. Elijah was carried away – ‘He went up by a whirlwind into heaven.’ (2 Kings 2:12). The fire tends upward; the whirlwind helped to carry him through the atmosphere, out of the reach of the captivating value of this earth, and how he swiftly ascended through the heavens to the world of holy and blessed which we cannot conceive.

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Elijah had once, in his passion, wished he might die; yet God was gracious not to take him at his word then, but to honour him with this singular privilege, that he should never see death; as with a similar case in point, that of Enoch.
1. God showed how men should have left the world if they had not sinned, not by death, but by a fiery translation.
2. God gave us a glimpse of that life and immortality which is sometimes brought to light by the gospel of the glory, reserved for the saints, and the opening of the kingdom of heaven to all believers, as with Elijah.
When Elijah was taken off the earth, the Elisha ministry began. There is not one miracle accredited to Elisha while the Elijah ministry existed. When the day came for Elijah to be translated, all the people of God knew it. The sons of the prophets (God's people) knew Elijah would be taken that day. So when Elijah parted the waters and he and Elisha crossed over on dry ground. For us once we have crossed that river of death on to dry ground, we must not turn back or even aside. We must keep our eyes on Elijah. (my God, Jehovah).
When Elisha could not turn back or even tarry, then Elijah asked Elisha what he desired. God tells us in the Old Testament, ‘He will give us the desires of our heart.’ (Psalms 37:4)
^“And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, Ask what I shall do for you, before I be taken away from you. And Elisha said, I pray you, let a double portion of your spirit be on me. ¹⁰And he said, you have asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so to you; but if not, it shall not be so.” (II Kings 2:9-10)
Elisha never took his eyes off Elijah. He did not take his eyes off God - Jehovah. He never turned aside, but continued to the end of Elijah's walk.

"And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces." (II Kings 2:11-12)

Elisha cried, "My Father, my Father."

^“For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have you not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 4:15)

There are many instructors in Christ, but there are not many fathers. God has raised up few fathers with the Kingdom message. These are the Elijah ministries bringing forth the ‘double portion Elisha ministries’ on the earth today. Those, upon whom the early and latter rain will come upon, they will go forth in power, reclaiming that which rightfully belongs in the Father's kingdom.

It will be those who have the true Word of God in their mouths. Elisha expresses the passing of that great prophet, by giving him an expression of high praise, v12, “And Elisha saw [it], and he cried out, "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!" So he saw him no more.” Here is, a true spiritual father, as the pupils of the prophets are called their sons. This was the end of a remarkable ministry, one that was in many ways similar to the ministry of Moses. Both these prophets Moses and Elijah teach us important principles:

·Stood alone for righteousness

·Were associated with fire upon mountains

·Were associated with the desert

·Met God on Sinai

·Were chased out of their countries by pagan rulers

·Knew God’s miraculous provision for food and water

·Wandered in the desert for a period measured by 40

·Fasted for 40 days

·Were powerful examples of prayer

·Parted waters

·Had close associates who succeeded them

·Had successors that parted waters also

·Had mysterious or strange deaths

Elisha saw it: he received a sign by which he was confident of his request for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. He looked steadfastly towards heaven, ‘he saw him no more’ from where he was to expect that gift, as the disciples did, Acts 1:9,10, “ …while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. ¹⁰And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven...” He saw it for awhile, but the vision was at the moment out of his sight; and ‘he saw him no more.’ He rent his own clothes, as a sign he had of his own public loss and as a token of his grief and loss. Though Elijah had gone triumphantly to heaven, this world would be a lesser place without his ministry. Without doubt their hearts would be disappointed by the taking away of a faithful man, and a call for weeping and mourning.
Though Elijah’s departure made way for Elisha’s eminent ministry even though he was sure of a double portion of Elijah spirit, his loss was great for he loved him, and could not serve him any longer. Elisha had lost his father and mentor of his youth: My father, my father. He saw his own condition like that of a fatherless child fearful of the world, and felt in adequate.
^“And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah does rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.” (II Kings 2:15)

Isaiah also prophesied about the manifest sons of God.

^“The sons also of them that afflicted you shall come bending to you; and all they that despised you shall bow themselves down at the soles of your feet; and they shall call you; The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 60:14)
The sons of the prophets recognized the Elijah mantle, that there was a greater anointing. There is no record of the sons of the prophets bowing down to Elijah. But they did bow to the anointing that was upon Elisha, and they will bow to the Elijah mantle and anointing which is coming upon the manifest sons of God.
But before the Elijah mantle can be put on, the old cloth (the flesh) must be rent in two and discarded. The Elijah mantle will not hide the flesh, the flesh must go. When Elisha parted the Jordan, those same sons of the prophets saw a different Elisha.
The Elijah ministry is proclaiming the coming of these sons, but before the Elijah mantle can rest upon anyone, the flesh must be subject to the Spirit. We must become that sacrifice Elijah built on Mt. Carmel. We must be consumed by God. All the prophets of Baal must be destroyed in our lives. Only then will the Elijah mantle fall into place.
When Christ, left his disciples, He did not leave them orphans (John 14:15). When Elijah was taken up in the chariot, he gave them confidence in his prophetic office as if in this chariot; he was the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. Israel did not use chariots and horses in their wars, but Elijah was to them, by his counsels, reproofs, and prayers, better than the strongest force of chariot and horse, and kept off the judgments of God. His departure was like the routing of an army, an irremediable loss. "Better have lost all our men of war than this man of God.”
Our prayer for today is Lord - give us fathers that have a heart for this generation to raise up sons that will have a heart to pursue that Elijah mantle that will be consumed with the desire to do the will of God and to manifest the power and anointing of Holy Spirit.
LB 20/8/2011

The Eagle Way No 11

2011-04-21T23:18:00.000-07:00

A DOUBLE PORTION

Elijah an Old Testament prophet was used mightily by God in calling down fire and in other miracles including even raising the dead (1 Kings 17-22). On a certain day God handed out a number of assignments for him to do, including to anoint Elisha as a prophet to learn from and later, would succeed him (1 Kings 19:16).

Preparation:

God prepared each of His servants for their assignments, there were also "schools" of the prophets in Ramah (1 Samuel 19:18), Bethel (2 Kings 2:3), Jericho (2 Kings 2:5), and Gilgal (2 Kings 4:38).

Obedience:

One of Elijah’s strengths was to obey God’s instructions without a moment’s hesitation. Shortly after God spoke, he found Elisha ploughing in a field. Elijah threw his mantle on Elisha symbolizing he was choosing Elisha to receive God’s authority and to walk in his anointing. Elisha left everything, and committed himself to being Elijah’s servant for the next ten years.

There are two essential characteristics of an anointed person:

They give up everything for the cause.
They are willing to become nothing more than a humble servant until such time God appoints them to the position for which they have been called.

In 1 Peter 5:6 (NKJV) “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” The time came, for Elijah to pass on his anointing to the younger prophet.

However Elisha had a remarkable desire for more than Elijah was willing to pass on this young prophet. In our calling there will also be a time of testing that will occur to check out our heart attitude. It was no different for Elisha he had to pass a number of tests. God will test your faithfulness along the journey to our calling. We will read about an interesting series of events that took place which tested Elisha determination and endurance to receive his calling (2 Kings 2).

How did Elisha get hold of his “Double Portion.”

At each location Elijah prophetically tried to persuade Elisha not to follow him but to remain at that location, (v2, 4, 6) “Stay here, please for the Lord has sent me on to” teaches us something about Elisha tenacity and his motivation for acquiring such a noble inheritance from his master.

I do believe Elisha’s request for the “double portion” was not from a heart festering with selfish ambition, to become even greater than Elijah. Rather his aspiration to obtain a double portion was to develop into a vessel to demonstrate God’s power and glory on the earth. Elisha realized he did not have the capacity to fulfill the awesome responsibility of carrying on Elijah’s work. The “double portion” speaks of a multiplication of the anointing. The fact, whereas Elijah performed eight recorded miracles, Elisha performed sixteen.

Elijah’s and Elisha’s visited locations where schools of prophets were stationed. This symbolizes the importance of the prophetic words over our lives as we set our sights on the “double portion!” The call on Elisha’s life was confirmed by his dedication and determination to receive everything God had for him along the journey.

1. GILGAL means “Rolling away and Cutting away.”

In 2 Kings 2:1, Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal means “Rolling away and Cutting away.” There were things that Elisha had to cut away and shift away all that would stop him from his pursuit to receive his “double portion” before he could move onto Bethel. “I want you to stay at Gilgal,” but Elisha replied, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” Gilgal was the name of the place where Joshua crossed into the Promised Land. This was the location where the children of Israel were circumcised, so they named the place Gilgal, which means ‘rolling away’. This prophetically addresses the importance of cutting away the flesh life by having our “.........hearts circumcised” (Romans 2:29).

In Acts 7:51 we read, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.” The Lord is concerned about the condition of our hearts! Are we willing to do His will, to follow the commands of our Lord Jesus?

To have the “Double Portion” we will have to pass through Gilgal

1. Sadly many stop here, they do not want to crucify the lusts of the flesh.

2. They do not want to surrender their all.

3. The price is too high for many.

4. We will never know what could have been the full power of the anointing.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20). Those who have crucified the flesh live in Christ's (Gr: ‘the part of a person that is prone to sin’) with its passions and desires (affections and lusts) (Galatians 5:24).

This is something we need to regularly assess. The secret to the power of God flowing through the Apostle Paul, “I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31).

When you get to Gilgal you will have found ‘holy ground.’

Visiting Gilgal hurts, but it’s worth the glory that will be revealed after-wards! When Joshua arrived at Gilgal, the Captain the Lord’s of Hosts commanded Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand [is] holy." And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:15).

2. BETHEL means “The House of God”

Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please for the Lord has sent me on Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel (2 Kings 2:2).

To receive our “double portion,” we need to fully comprehend we are God’s tabernacle, the very dwelling place of the fullness of God. “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Our relationship with God is our union with Him, our consecration to the same end – one mind, one purpose and one life. The Holy Spirit would speak into the mind of his prophets (Elisha) to illuminate his spirit and saturate his thoughts, while nothing of a person is taken away, yet everything that was essential was revealed to enable the prophet to declare divine truth in all its fullness that was imparted to him.

“They were "holy men of God who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2 Peter 1:21).

3. JERICHO means “Fragrant”

Then Elijah said to him, "Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So they came to Jericho (2 Kings 2:4).

Jericho was the first major city the Israelite's conquered (in a rather unconventional way) as they took possession of the Promised Land. The city’s walls were reduced to rubble; Jericho became a symbol of supernatural conquest over the powers of darkness. Satan hates to see men and woman anointed with a “double portion,” so he will set up some roadblocks to try to hinder their progress. However, we are the fragrance of Christ (the gospel) to those who are perishing an aroma of death leading to death, and leading to eternal judgment. But to those who are being saved find knowledge of Christ to be an aroma of life leading to abundant life. The prophet is called to prophecy eternal destinies into lives.

“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15).

The enemy’s effective strategy is ‘discouragement.’ This can adversely affect prophetic men and women, particularly when they are anointed but the doors for ministry appear closed. We need to be reminded there are seasons for everything. There may be delays while God is preparing our hearts, remember, God’s delays are not His denials. Sadly, this is where many who are called, end their journey.

The waiting period is a time of humbling. Again and again, we die to our vision, allowing God to place his vision upon our heart. It isn’t easy; in fact it can really hurt, especially when we see others validated by those in authority while we continued waiting. As the war against an anointed person intensifies the journey can seem too difficult. Discouragement has the potential to take precedence over the desire for a greater anointing. Instead of rising up with determination like Elisha, many stop at the roadblock of discouragement. If anything is hindering your progress, be determined like Elisha – “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you”, put the past behind and move forward with perseverance.

4. JORDAN means “To Descend”

Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan." But he said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!" So the two of them went on.

Elijah discouraged Elisha again from accompanying him, Elisha remained with him, perusing something he desperately desired. Elijah places his mantle in the water (v8); a path was made so they could cross the Jordon. This speaks of stepping out in faith and seeing supernatural signs, wonders and miracles.

We need to fully understand what Jordan represents?

Elisha asked Elijah for a double portion of his spirit (anointing). Elijah replied, “You have asked a hard thing.”(v10) Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you;” Elisha’s eyes were firmly fixed on Elijah.

1. Elisha was fully focused and absolutely nothing whatsoever would distract him.

2. Elisha desperately wanted that double portion so nothing else really mattered.

3. Are you that desperate? The word ‘Jordan’ means ‘to descend’ this reminds us that in order to gain a “double anointing,” we are going to have a humble attitude. John the Baptist example "He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

4. In v.9 Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me,” v10 Elijah said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”

5. Elisha asked for the hard thing, the spirit of Elijah - the Holy Spirit is the Author of Elijah prophetic gift, the energizing power of his prophetic spirit.

6. And Elisha stooped down (descend) ‘took up the mantle of Elijah,’ (v13), within you lies an anointing that far exceeds anything you have known, if you allow Jesus to fully complete His work in you.

Jesus said, as He preparing to return home: “that we’d do greater works than He” (John 14:12). Like Elijah, Jesus left us His mantle; “Tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued (Gr: clothed) with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

The power from on high was in reference to being anointed with the power of the Holy Spirit. Elisha inherited Elijah’s mantle in order to fulfil his ministry to the nations.

The Hebrew word for ‘mantle’ speaks of it as being: ‘glorious; magnificent; large and honourable.’ The anointing that dwells in you by the Person of the indwelling Holy Spirit the ‘HELPER’ parakletos, Strong’s #3875 from para, “beside,” and kaleo, “to call” hence called to one’s side. The word signifies an intercessor, comforter, helper, advocate, counselor.

The Holy Spirit is alongside us to lead us into all truth, to guide us and strengthen us to endure to the end.

LB/23/4/2011

The Eagle Way No 10

2011-03-26T20:36:00.000-07:00

The Invisible Realm and Victorious Spiritual Warfare

In 2 Kings 6:8-17: The king of Syria probably Ben- Hadad II (860-841B.C.) was making war against Israel. In Chapter 6 and versus 9-14, through Elisha prophetic gift and spiritual enablement, he was able to inform Jehoram (King of Israel) of Ben- Hadad anticipated strategy of attack. In verse 11, the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing. Therefore Ben – Hadad sent a great army to capture Elisha. That the army came by night surrounding the city reveals that the Syrians did not really believe in Elisha's gift of discernment was to anticipate their moves to capture Israel were futile.

To believe the impossible one must first see the invisible. A lesson in which Elisha teaches his servant. This section informs us about the war between the two nations Syria and Israel and the prophet Elisha informing his people of the enemies tactic’s through his prophetic insight. (v12).

Here is the lesson: Prayer is the vital key to discerning our adversary’s stratagems. Further, the key to dispelling Elisha's servant’s panic was his vision being opened to see the invisible. NOTE THESE CRUCIAL WORDS: “Elisha prayed”! He did not ask God for another miracle to show his servant; Elisha prayed and asked for his servant TO SEE INTO ANOTHER DIMENSION.

The answer came immediately: “The Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and HE SAW. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”(v17). Seeing into the invisible is a key to victorious praying – discerning spiritual problems from God’s perspective rather than man’s, seeing the Adversary’s attack plan, and perceiving God’s angelic strike- force.

The lessons for us to learn from this encounter:

It is through prayer that the strategies of the adversary are discerned.
Prayer is the key to dispelling the panic of Elisha's servant.
It was only through eyes of faith in the spiritual realm that the resource could be seen.
So today, do not be afraid! Look up with eyes of Faith; the Lord has outnumbered your enemies.

The Eagle Way No 9

2011-01-31T11:41:00.000-08:00

The New Testament Prophet

"And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul" (Acts 11:27-30).

Agabus is an example of the “office” or “ascension gift” in the New Testament. (Ephesians 4:11, 12) “And He Himself [Christ] gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. V12, for the perfecting [equipping, making fit, making fully qualified for service] of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying [building up] of the body of Christ.”
A prophet is a spokesman for God, one who speaks forth by divine inspiration, moved by the Spirit of God and hence a spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation.

This role differs from the manifestations “phanerōsis” [an expression of] the gift of prophecy in the life of the believer (1Cor 12:7). A prophet [pro, “forth” and phemi, “to speak”] therefore, entails a Christ - appointed ministry of a person rather than the Holy Spirit – distributed gift through a person.

In the New Testament, this office was not sensationalized as it tends to be today.
Such an attitude is unworthy, both in the prophet and in those to whom he miniseries, and is certain to result in an unfruitful end. Paul the apostle was addressing such assumption of the prophetic office when he issued the challenge in “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant” (1 Corinthians 14:37, 38).
The spiritually minded will receive Paul’s instructions with apostolic authority. Those who reject them are responsible for the consequences of their ignorance. There is a calling for submission to spiritual authority rather than self-serving independence.

The office of the prophet cannot be taken lightly. There is nothing in the New Testament that reduces the stringent requirement for serving this role and ought to be regarded seriously, as written in (Deuteronomy 18:20-22) “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.' "And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?'— "when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”

Prophecy is nothing to be “experimented” with, for souls are in the balance in the exercise of every ministry.

Further wisdom may be gained by noting that on biblical terms there is more than one type of ministry by a prophet. The measure for us is the remarkable predictive gifts of prophets like Daniel, Isaiah, Zechariah, and John. The other traits of the prophetic office are seen:

1) Preaching- especially at a national or international level (John the Baptist)

2) Teaching- especially when unusual insight is present and broad impact is made in serving God’s people (Ezra).

3) Miracles – as remarkable signs to accompany a prophet’s preaching (Elijah).

4) Renewal – as with Samuel (1 Samuel 3:21; 4:1) or that called for by the psalmist and by Amos (Psalm 74:9 and Amos 8:11, 12).

This incident of Agabus resulted in effective action by the church rising to meet a challenging situation. This is a valid test of the prophetic office and calling. It is for edification and not for self promotion, but to build, enlarge, forth-tell and foretell into the body of Christ whether locally or globally.

The Eagle Way No 8

2011-01-12T19:29:00.000-08:00

John The Baptist Ministering

We need to become Strong in Spirit

"So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel" (Luke 1:80). NKJV

"And the child grew and became strong in character, and lived in the Desert till the time came for him to appear publicly to Israel" (Luke 1:80). WNT

We read in the last verse, of Luke chapter one verse eighty, a short account of John Baptist training and lifestyle. Though he was the son of a high priest, he did not, like Samuel, go up, when he was a child, to minister before the Lord in the temple. John the Baptist was in the deserts of Israel there he was prepared and made ready to preach a different message a message of the kingdom and to prepare the people for the coming of the Lord Jesus.

1) John’s life prior to his public ministry:
John was in the wilderness, prophets used the isolation of the uninhabited wilderness to enhance their spiritual growth and to focus on their message and mostly on God’s call.

By being in the wilderness, John remained separate from the economic and political powers so that he could prepare his life and message. He also remained separate from the hypocritical religious leaders of his day. His message was to be different, and his lifestyle was proof of his obedience.

2) Luke tells us about his spiritual growth during his early years:
“the child grew and became strong in spirit” [character]. This emphasis is on the inward man; by his reputation; by reason of conscience (the candle of the Lord) his character had become strong. He had strong judgment and strong resolution “waxed strong in the spirit” (KJV)

By this it appeared that he was filled with the Holy Spirit; for those that are strong in the Lord are strong in spirit. "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb (Luke 1:15). How important is our spiritual development to God not what we look like on the outside, or where you were born, or what kind of clothes we wear? God looks at the heart, and if you want to prepare yourself for ministry, start with your heart.

3) Preparation for John’s ministry took place in the desert, a place of solitude:
“He was in the desert;” not that he lived as a hermit; or cut himself off from the society he lived in. It appears he went up to Jerusalem at the feasts, and frequented the synagogues on the Sabbath day. But his regular residence was in the wilderness of Zuph or Maon, which we read of in the story of David. There he spent most of his time, in contemplation and devotion. His ministry education was not in schools, or at the feet of the rabbi.

John Baptist, ministry was in a place of obscurity at the age thirtieth years until God called Him forth “was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.” There is a time when your calling and ministry will be ready for public appearance a predetermined time, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (Habakkuk 2:3).

4) Some important principles to remember:

Many feel like God will never use them, I’m too old/too young, too something – wait for Him do not be impatient, wait for the appointed time; God's timing;
Be faithful where God has placed you;
Develop your life and get ministry training so that you will be ready for His call;
God will promote you from your wilderness place, when He has completed the training in your life, even from that place of obscurity to a place where His spirit will manifest in and through your life to the glory of God;
One of the reasons God has being giving you desert training, is to toughen your resolve, to deepen your determination, to enlarge our capacity for more of Him; to strength your character to be able to over come daily temptations;
In the desert you will learn things you cannot learn in the synagogues and the church; the intensity of increased pressure cause you to become strong in spirit;
In the desert the heat gets turned up, the fire burns on the outside and the inside of us, the fire burns up the dross, the impurities rise to the surface so that they can be dealt with;
The fire of the Holy Spirit also ignites a passion for our God, a hunger for the Bread of heaven a thirst for the Living water, a weeping for the joy of the Lord. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matt 5:6).

The Eagle Way No 7

2011-01-05T16:21:00.000-08:00

Earnest Perseverance in Prayer

Luke 11:10 -13 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. v11 "If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? v12 "Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? v13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

We are told to keep on asking, seeking and knocking. All three verbs are continual: Jesus is not speaking of single event, but of those that continue in earnest perseverance. These metaphors speak of a seriousness and passion; all too often, our prayers are merely desires cast up to heaven, this is not real prayer.
Jesus encourages fervency and constancy in our prayer commitment. We must come for what we need, as a man does to his friend or neighbour. If God does not answer our prayers speedily, yet He wills, in an appropriate time, if we do not lose heart but continue to pray.

We need to ask for the Holy Spirit, to show us what is necessary to pray for and to ask our heavenly Father for all His spiritual wisdom. For it is by the influence of the Holy Spirit that we are brought into the knowledge of God and ourselves. He leads us to repent, to believe in, and to love Jesus as our Lord.

All these blessings our heavenly Father is more ready to bestow on everyone that asks for them, more than a generous parent is to give food to a hungry child. And this is the advantage of the prayer of faith, that it quiets and establishes the heart of God. What can we expect from God, especially when we recognize that He doesn't owe us anything and that we don't deserve His grace and favour?

Jesus used this illustration of late-night guest to teach his listeners an important principle about how God treats us in contrast to the kind of treatment we might expect from friends or neighbors.

The rule of hospitality in biblical times required the collaboration of the entire community in entertaining an unexpected late-night guest. Whether the guest was hungry or not, a meal would be served. In a village it would be easy to know who had baked bread. Bread was essential for a meal because it served as an instrument for dipping and eating from the common dishes. Asking for bread from one's neighbour was both a common occurrence and an expected favour. To refuse to give bread would bring shame because it was a sign of inhospitality.

If a neighbour can be imposed upon and coerced into giving bread in the middle of the night, how much more hospitable is God, who, no matter what the circumstances, is generous and gracious to give us what we need.

In conclusion Jesus makes a startling claim:
“How much more will the heavenly Father give!” v13 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

The Lord is ever ready to give us not only what we need, but more than we can expect. He gives freely of His Holy Spirit that we may share in His life and joy.

Do you approach your heavenly Father with confidence in His mercy and kindness? "Heaven Father, you are merciful, gracious and kind. May I never doubt your love nor hesitate to seek you with confidence in order to obtain the gifts, graces, and daily provision I need to live as your disciple and child."

The Eagle Way No 6

2010-12-30T14:10:00.000-08:00

Seek His Face

This is my last article for 2010 it is in thanks giving to the Lord Jesus, for all He has done for us individually, as a family and corporately as a ministry. We have being blessed and highly favoured by our God. We have seen, our first grandson being born, we have experienced His provision for us, we have being in good health, new doors have opened for us in the ministry. We have seen God do amazing things in people’s lives, a testimony of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ working in individual lives, realizing breakthrough, healing and deliverance to His people.

The following scriptures in 1 Chronicles 7: 12-15 have impacted my life and many others in an amazing way this year.

“Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.” (2 Chronicles 7:12-15)

Many times God gets our attention in visions and dreams, He talks to us about what He wants us to do and it is so gratifying that He hears our prayers. I had a vision of the Lord earlier in the year and I saw His face in a vision, this changed me in a very deep way as I interacted with the Lord, I experienced His unfathomable and amazing love, a sense of His desires and purpose in a revelatory way. I perceive there were things God was saying to me through these scriptures in 2 Chronicles 7:12-15:

(1) Humble yourself – have an attitude of meekness, grace and love.

(2) Pray to God – in all things be in supplication and thanks giving for His guidance.

(3) Seek God’s Face – continually, be in communion with your God, for His will to be done.

(4) Turn - turn from any sinful behaviour, admit your sins, asking for forgiveness.

(1) Humble yourself

a) No pride or haughtiness: not arrogant or aggressive.

b) Meek – does not suggest weakness but controlled strength.

c) Reflecting, and submissive.

d) A humble apology, modest.

“God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favour to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5)

How can we draw near to God? (James 4:7-10)

a) Humble yourselves before God - yield to His authority and will, commit your life to Him; His control; willingness to follow Him.

b) Resist the Devil – do not allow Satan to entice you.

c) Wash your hands … and purify your hearts (lead a pure life).

d) Let there be deep sorrow and grief for our sins - express deep heartfelt sorrow for what you have done.

e) Bow down before the Lord - He will lift you up. (1 Peter 5:6).

(2) Pray to God

A) Prayer: an act of humble worship in which we seek God with all our heart.

B) Prayer: is an expression of an intimate relationship with our heavenly Father

C) Prayer: is asking God for guidance and waiting for His direction and leading.

D) Prayer: with any confession of sin.

E) Pray the Father: who makes His own love and resources available to us.

F) In prayer: we praise our mighty God in anticipation.

Regular communication helps any friendship and is certainly necessary for a strong relationship with God. Communicate with Him daily. In Acts 4, the early Christians were gathered in Prayer: "When they had prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost."

(3) Seek His FACE Continually

Why Seek His face because it is His command and His promise “Seek My Face” v14 “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face,...... then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

a) Not just seeking of His hand.

b) Not just seeking of His blessings.

c) It is a seeking of Him, His Presence, Him Alone!

Friendship with God was a true privilege for Moses.

"The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend” (Exodus 33:11).

Moses had one more request:

“Please let me see your glorious presence,” he said.¹⁹The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, ‘the Lord,’ to you. I will show kindness to anyone I choose, and I will show mercy to anyone I choose.” (Exodus 33:18, 19).

a) God and Moses talked face to face in the Tent of Meeting, just as friends do.

b) Moses found favour - God’s face is favour?

c) God chose Moses, and he relied wholeheartedly on God’s wisdom and direction.

This is not out of reach for us.

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that heard from My Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15).

a) Jesus called His disciples friends.

b) By extension, we are all His followers—we are His friends.

“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21)

Your life and ministry can reflect the presence of the Lord.

a) Make a willful change to your properties “seek His face" find the time.

b) God is calling us to draw near to Him a change of priorities.

“And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.” (Mark 12:30).

“One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek. That I may dwell in the house of the LORD, All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

“So that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;²⁸ for in Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:27, 28)

“This is the generation of those whose hearts are turned to you, even to your face, O God of Jacob.” (Selah.) (Psalm 24:6)

It is still a season to diligently seek His face.

(4) Turn from our Wicked Ways

a) Be repentant, be aware of our own iniquity.

b) Thoughts/actions not pleasing to God.

“For You have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling. ⁹ I will walk before the LORD, In the land of the living.” (Psalm 116:8-9)

It is a Process:

a) God promises to empower that which He first makes holy.

b) Do not hang on to things that He hates, change what He shows you.

c) When we fail - go to Him and ask forgiveness.

God promise us certain things that He will do for us in verses: 14 and 15

(1) then I will hear from heaven;

(2) forgive our sin;

(3) heal our land;

(4) His eyes will be open;

(5) His ears attentive to our prayers.

God’s confirmation to us is that He will hear our prayers and answer our prayers.

He will fully forgive us of all unrighteousness, and heal our land. This means all of us and all of those who call upon His name. God’s eyes will be observant and His ears will be attentive to confirm the prayers we have made. God is saying, He will show us, in small ways and in great ways, by signs and wonders that He has heard your prayers.

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Let our faith increase as we diligently seek Him

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Know that His ears are not dull to hear our prayers

"Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:1-2).

The Eagle Way No 5

2010-12-23T23:25:00.000-08:00

The same anointing that rested on Christ Jesus is available to His church.

“The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.v3 His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;” (Isaiah 11:2-3)

The Father is first named: God the Father, which may be taken, for God as God, or personally, for the first person in the Trinity, the God who and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; and He is described as the (LORD) “Jehovah” and ‘who was, and who is to come,’ eternal, unchangeable. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty’” (Rev 1:8)

“The Holy Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,” (Isaiah 61:1) (Luke 4:18) in all His gifts and graces, the infinite perfect Spirit of God, in whom there is diversity of gifts and operations. The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus, and abided upon Him. Jesus was not limited by measure, but without measure, the fullness of the Godhead dwelling in Him. “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.” (Colossians 1:19)

He shall have “the spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and knowledge;” (Isaiah 11:2). Jesus thoroughly understood the business He is employed to do. “He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" (Luke 2:49).

"All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” (Matthew 11:27).

He shall know how to administer the affairs of His spiritual kingdom in all aspects of it, so effectually answer the two great intentions of the kingdom, the glory of God and the wellbeing (salvation) of the children of men. All the terms of the covenant shall be settled by Him, including His ordinances, and all treasures of wisdom shall be hid in Him. Jesus our counselor shall be fully revealed by God to us.

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2).

All authority has being given to Jesus, He is before the throne of God, and He governs all things. “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6).

The Spirit of governance, by which He will execute all judgment commanded by the Father unto Him to execute. "And has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” (John 5:27). And from His fullness we might all receive the Spirit of grace, as members of the body of Christ from the head of the church who is Christ Jesus.

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” (1 Peter 5:10)

Conclude with: 2 Peter 1: 3-4 “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, v4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

· His divine power - Holy Spirit;
· Has given us - past tense;
· All - leaves nothing out;
· That pertains to life - what we are facing now, and things to come;
· And godliness - how to act like and be like our Lord in all things;
· Through knowledge of Him - as we get to know Jesus in our innermost being (the womb of our hearts) in an intimate way;
· Who called us by glory/virtue - virtue here meaning ‘moral excellence;’
· By which has been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature (all that Jesus is), having escaped the corruption of this world through lust - lust here means a deep desire/craving to have.

The Eagle Way No 4

2010-12-18T12:49:00.000-08:00

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105 seek illumination from God’s eternal Word and not from man’s finite wisdom, set your affections on doing God’s Word rather than on personal gain. The Word it is a lamp and a light. It discovers us, concerning God and our true motives; the Word illuminates that which otherwise would not have being known.

The Word shows us what is inappropriate, and could be perilous; it directs us in our vocation and in His ways. It helps us see the dark places we need to avoid in the world. The Word is a lamp that we may choice to set up; we can take the lamp of the Word in our hands for our own particular exploits.

“For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life.” (Proverbs 6:23).The commandment is a lamp kept burning with the oil of the Holy Spirit; it is like the lamps in the sanctuary, and the pillar of fire by night that led Israel.

Let us use this light to good use not only as a light to our eyes, to see God’s revelation in His Word but to follow a path that the Lord is leading us on, a path of righteousness, and intimacy. The lamp helps us discover things that are hidden by our own selfish desires, by our own blind spots; the light reveals hidden motives and unveils dark places that trip us up, ditches on the path towards His righteousness.

“For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.” (Proverbs 3:26). God has given to us a light to our feet and to our path, to direct us in the right ordering of our conversation, both in the choice of our words for each day and in the particular use of our words, blessing or curses for each day.

That we may not speak any false words or walk down any wrong paths and get lost in the darkness of deception or the subtlety of the devil. The devil is still asking us if we are Christians disciples and can we do this or that, he is still questioning our call, our motive, our anointing to follow Jesus. “And the devil said to Him [Jesus], If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." (Luke 4:3).

The devil heard the Father say earlier in ‘this is My Son who I’m well pleased!’ (Luke 3:22) “And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

The Word of God will helps us remember our calling and the way Jesus has called us to go, we need that light of His “rhema word” for the future path we are going to out walk.

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. (John 8:12).

Let Jesus shine His light on us to fulfil our destiny in Him, that we will lead others into the knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ, and find their destiny.

The Eagle Way No 3

2010-12-17T13:08:00.000-08:00

All the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge are in Christ Jesus.

As I was reading the Word of God this morning, the Lord spoke to me about treasures: “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3).

That all fullness dwells in Him Christ Jesus, the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. There is a fullness of wisdom in Him, as he has perfectly revealed the will of God to mankind. Beware; the treasures of wisdom are hidden not from us, but for us, in Christ.

Those who would be wise and knowing must make relevance to Christ. We must draw upon the accumulation which is laid up for us in Him, and draw from the treasures which are hidden in Him. He is the wisdom of God, and is of God made unto us wisdom.

“But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Righteousness: a term taken from the courts is God’s judicial determination to right every wrong. His gift to the guilty, which removes all condemnation, and puts them in a state of justification, including full acquittal from all charges against them.

Sanctification: is a symbol taken from the temple, showing the need for cleaning from pollution. It includes a renewal by the power of the Holy Spirit, which allows acceptance living before God and points to our ultimate perfection in His presence.

Redemption: taken from a background of slavery and debt, speaks of the freedom and final deliverance from all aspects of sin, including the resurrection of the body. That we may be free the soul from the very being of sin, and loose the body from the bonds of the grave: and what is designed in all, is that all flesh may glory in the Lord.

The Eagle Way No 2

2010-12-09T15:31:00.000-08:00

Eagle’s were Born to Fly High

"But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
When an eagle is kept in captivity even in large confines the eagles scarcely move off its perch. The eagle never flies but stares into the distance looking beyond the hills into the sky. The bondage is his cage and the mountain tops are his domain. His heart is in the sky soaring beyond but his body is perched in a cage. As we consider life’s restriction in a cage, we think of the bondage's many people in the church are restricted by in their daily life.

In Isaiah we are encouraged by what the prophet tells to do ‘wait upon the LORD,’ this will renew our strength, because then 'we will mount up like an eagle and soar.'

God will be our strength every morning. If at any time we have weakened, we shall recover as 'we wait on Him,' and so renew our strength. We will have strength to labour, strength to wrestle, strength to resist, strength to bear burdens. We will use this grace for godly purposes. Being strengthened, we shall soar upward, towards God.

‘We shall mount up with wings like eagles,’ so strongly, so high, so heavenly bound. In the strength of divine grace, ascending above the worldly issues, and even entering into a place of faith and trust in Him. We will press forward, towards heaven. We will walk, we will run, the way of God’s commandments, cheerfully and with enthusiasm (we shall not be weary), constantly in His presence. With renewed perseverance (we shall not faint); and in due season we shall reap. Be diligent in your waiting upon God, do not despair for timely, effectual relief, He comforts those who wait on Him.

Waiting on the Lord is the patient expectation that God will fulfil His promises in His Word and strengthen us to rise above life’s difficulties. It means for us to completely trust in God. God has created us to remain pure and holy and to be conformed to His image.

Every believer in Christ can experience renewal, as he lays aside those things that are inconsistent with the life Christ has called us to live by faith. As we run we will not be weary as we run we will not faint, stripped of all worldly anxiety and fears that would keep us from our intimacy with Him.

The Lord will renew our strength.

Seven ways of waiting on God:
1. Prayerfully; 2. Patiently; 3. Single – Mindedly;
4. Expectantly; 5. Longingly; 6. Quietly; 7. Continually.

The Eagle Way No 1

2010-11-25T16:53:00.000-08:00

Behold God is Doing A New Thing

Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)

The Lord is speaking to me about the year 2011 and that He wants us "to look, to behold" that He is about to do some "new things" in our lives, families, ministries, churches and business.

The year 2010 is gone, finished, it has passed on. We cannot reclaim the water that has gone under the bridge. We also cannot rest on the very great distance He has brought us, "thus far the Lord has lead us." As the new day of 2011 dawns, it will be another day, another new year, the time again to demonstrate our faith in Jesus as Lord.

A journey forward with new vision, knowing that God already inhabits the future destiny and promises for us, to provide us with refreshment on our journey, "rivers of living water." I have sensed a strong prompting to write what God says to me in the future, to write a weekly blog.

I've called it the "The Eagle Way" because I heard the voice of the Lord say, I'm pouring out an anointing on My people in the future to do great exploits for Me, "the anointing which you have received of Him abideth in you.” (1 John 2:27).

Your ultimate destiny is to manifest the particular and specific deposit of Christ that has being placed in you by the Father.
Embedded in the very fabric of your destiny is the enablement to fulfill it.
The Father is restoring us to His original condition to have the mind of Christ, He spoke destiny in our DNA.

“Maranatha” - come Lord Jesus

Meeting 10th October with Phil Elston

2009-10-09T15:27:00.000-07:00

Phil is a Prophet and Father from Sherman, Texas, he has been ministering around New Zealand for the last number of weeks.

We had a early morning meeting in our home. Phil shared some prophetic stories and he prayed and prophesied over Linda and I we were greatly encouraged by his prophetic input and in what God has called us to do.

Returned home on Sunday 27th

2009-10-02T22:48:00.000-07:00

We left for Heathrow after a good lunch with Ps Garth and Janet Lewis and their family, it was a great time to catch up. The plane left on time and I arrived safely in Auckland to be meet by my beautiful wife Linda, I was excited to see my wife after 3 weeks of UK ministry.
I believe the trip was an anointed time of ministry. The Lord meet many needs and many more were encouraged by the Holy Spirit.

Elim CC Cheltenham

2009-10-02T22:25:00.000-07:00

I meet at Elim CC, with Ps Gareth Lewis based in Cheltenham, one of over 500 Elim churches in the UK. A great church with a vision for care, compassion , honest friendships, relevant teaching, and worship.
On Saturday 26th September we ran a Prophetic School - started at, 9:30-11am on "Relationship with the Spirit"; and then "Revelation from the Holy Spirit," 11:30-1pm ; then "Revival power of the Spirit" focusing on: "How to heal the sick," 2-4pm.
On Sunday 27th September: we had two great services at 9am and 11am on "Blockages to Revelation," I was able to minister to a number of the congregation prophetically and to pray for the sick, the Lord graciously meet many needs.

A Meeting with Joe Shepherdson

2009-10-02T21:57:00.000-07:00

I meet with Joe Shepherdson on Wednesday 23rd September in London. He is planning to start a church in Hemlington, Middlesbrough. A church with a difference that will meet the needs of the community and help to impact the local community. A church that will seek the Lord and worship Him with all their hearts. A church built upon the Apostolic and Prophetic and upon the foundation of His Word. We were able to discuss the planning and future vision for the start of a new church plant.

Leaders Meeting

2009-10-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday evening 22nd of September I meet with the leaders of Ruwach CC we had an excellent evening of sharing and ministry on individual callings within the church based on Ephesians 4:11. And how important it was for each one of us to be encouraged as leaders to fulfill our calling and destiny in God. Ruwach CC has gifted and talented leaders at all levels of maturity.

Sunday Services at Ruwach CC

2009-10-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

We have two great services on Sunday 20th September, at the 10am service the church was filled to capacity with an amazing anointed worship, the presence of God was very tangible in the service. I ministered on "Offences" and number of people responded to the message. There was a time of personal ministry to a number of the congregation.

The evening service was Ruwach CC seventh year celebration dinner, what a great evening of fellowship and and sharing. Many in the church shared their journey to that point on how God had lead them and blessed their lives and how great is was to be part of a church that had a significant impact on Hayward's Heath. The testimonies were very encouraging, and to hear how God had turned individual lives around, their sorrow into joy. Glory to the Lord Jesus for He has done great things. I ministered on how God was calling a "A Prophetic Generation" to arise in these days. It was a real privilege to be part of Ruwach's journey, and I thanked Ps Jackie, Noreen and Elders for the opportunity to minister into the life of the church at Hayward's Heath.

Meeting with Scott and Candi

2009-10-02T10:57:00.000-07:00

On Saturday 19th September I traveled to London to meet with my daughter Candi and Son in Law, Scott Wilson.We had a great day catching up, had breakfast together and did some shopping around London flee markets. Scott and Candi filled me in on their travel news to Switzerland and Portugal as well as there plans to travel to Asia before retuning to New Zealand.

Goodwood Revival

2009-09-22T23:54:00.000-07:00

On Friday 18th September we experience revival of a different kind, we went to Goodwood Revival one of the most unique motor racing meeting in the world. Goodwood is the world's most authentic historic motor race meeting, staged entirely in the time capsule of the Fifties and Sixties.

We had a great time viewing motor racing, and vehicles like latest super car models manufacturers such as Alfa Romeo, Ariel, Bentley, BMW, Caparo, Jaguar, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Pagani, RUF and Spyker.

Hever Castle

2009-09-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

Ps Jackie and I went to Hever Castle we had a great time around the grounds and gardens. The castle itself is also an amazing place to visit.

Seek to Improve your Prophetic Gifting

2009-09-20T06:03:00.000-07:00

On Thursday night 17th September we meet as a Bible College to teach and minister on the Prophetic Gifts, we had over 60 people attend the meeting. We experienced a great flow of the Holy Spirit and a wonderful time together in ministry. We can testify that the Lord was present amongst us with a powerful anointing.

Leaders Meeting

2009-09-20T05:50:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday 15th, I meet with Ps Jackie and Noreen and ministered to the Elders of Ruwach Christian Centre we had a great time together. Since my last visit two years ago I had seen an amazing growth in the leaders.

Academy for Advanced Christian Education

2009-09-20T05:42:00.000-07:00

On Monday evening the 14th I attended the bible college with about 30 other students on the subject of Church Planting by Pastor Stephen Lamprecht, and Ps Jacky James it was a very interesting and worth while lecture on "The Church Planter."

Sunday Services at Ruwach CC

2009-09-15T05:56:00.000-07:00

We had two services on Sunday 13th September at Ruwach CC is was great to see how the church has grown since my last visit 2 years ago. There has being an amazing growth within the congregation in numbers and maturity. Well done to Ps Jacky and Noreen James and their leadership.The worship was anointed of God and in turn released the presence of God in the meeting we had a great time in the presence of the Lord in both services.

The Holy Spirit moved on the people in a powerful and wonderful way bringing healing and liberty of the Holy Spirit upon them, we were able to encourage many of the congregation with prophetic words and input.

Men's Ministry Time

2009-09-14T03:30:00.000-07:00

Ruwach CC had there first Men's Camp on 11/12 September at a beautiful site about one hour out of Hayward's Heath a huge country estate owned by "YWAM" called the Coachhouse.

The focus of the ministry was based on "Being Men" we had a great response from the men with powerful ministry time, God touched many of the men. I was encouraged to see the large number of young men hungry for more of the Holy Spirit anointing in their lives and a hunger to be used of God. We also watched an amazing DVD by Lewellyn Roberts his Testimony coming out of drug addition and how God is using him today.
We also had good food, good laughs and great fellowship.

2009-09-10T14:08:00.000-07:00

Had a great trip to KL and then onto London, I had an opportunity to speak to two men on the plane they both approached me about certain matters of a private nature, wanting counselling and spiritual wisdom, one was a Catholic priest and the other man was a scientist. My prayer was that the Lord would meet their every need.
I then went to Candi and Scott church and meet Pastor Andy at Holy Trinity Swiss Cottage in Finchley Road, for a prayer meeting and breakfast, we had a great time.

I stayed overnight in London at Russel Square, did some shopping for running shoes, I thought you never know I might just need them here in the UK?

Arrived today and was meet at the station in Hayward's Heath by Pastor Jacky great to see them again, Noreen is looking very well and so is Jacky.

UK MinistryTrip Sept 2009

2009-09-07T11:41:00.000-07:00

Leaving today on a very unusual misty morning for London on a 20 day mission journey.