Monday, January 29, 2007

3 in 1

No, i'm not talking about the Trinity, but a prophetic scripture that has 3 cool translations that I can't choose between.

(1) "A sound of tumult on the mountains, Like that of many people! A sound of the uproar of kingdoms, Of nations gathered together! The LORD of hosts is mustering the army for battle" (NASB).

(2) "Listen to the noise on the mountains. It is like the sound of a large army. It is the sound of kingdoms and nations gathering together. The LORD of Armies is assembling his army for battle" (GWT).

(3) "The noise of a multitude in the mountains, as of a great people! the noise of a tumult of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together! Jehovah of hosts is mustering the host for the battle" (ASV).

(Isaiah 13:4) - Kym.

The Secret of Power

Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8

He is risen, He is risen! Hear the cry
Ringing through the land, and sea and sky.
‘Tis the shout of victory, triumph is proclaimed,
Heralds of God announce it, Death’s distained.

Shout the tidings! Shout the tidings! Raise the cry
Christ’s victorious, Christ’s victorious cannot die,
For the bars of death He sundered, Satan sees that
he has blundered,
As the shouts of angels thundered “He is alive!”

Catch the shout, ye earth-born mortals, let it roll,
Till it echoes o’er the mountains from the centre of the poles
That the Christ of Earth and Glory death has conquered.
Tell the story, He’s the Victor! He’s the Victor!
So am I.

For this reason that my random He has paid,
I’ve accepted His atonement On Him laid,
He, the Lamb of God that suffered all for me,
Bore my sins, my griefs, my sickness on the tree

I am risen, I am risen form the grave,
Of my sins, my sickness, my griefs, and the waves
Of the resurrection life, and holy power.
Thrill by being with Him new life every hour.

Now the lightnings of God’s Spirit burn my soul,
Flames of His divine compassion o’er me roll,
Lighting power of God’s own Spirit strikes the power of hell.
God In man, Oh Glory! Glory! All the story tell

I have proved Him, I have proved Him. It is true,
Christ’s dominion yet remaineth, ‘tis for you,
Let the fires of holy passion sweep your soul. Let
The Christ Who death has conquered take control.

He will use you, He will use you. Zion yet has Saviors still,
Christ the Conqueror only waiteth for the action of your will.

Given in tongues by the Holy Spirit to John G. Lake at 2 am, June 18, 1910. Cookhouse C.C South Africa.
-Paul

Friday, January 26, 2007

Parable Time


The story is told of a man who visited a Corps with an angel as his guide. Various people were in attendance, however, there was something strange about it all. The band blew their instruments, but no notes were heard. The pianist moved her fingers over the keys, but no music was apparent. The congregation sang and the songsters arose, but silence remained. The Officer came to give his message and went through all the motions of preaching, but even then not a sound could be heard. Puzzled, the man turned to the angel and said, “What does this mean? I see that a meeting is being held, but I hear nothing”. The angel replied, “you hear nothing, because there is nothing to be heard. You see this service just as God sees it. These are not putting their hearts into it, so God hears nothing. He hears only that which come from the heart, and not that which comes from the lips only”. As the angel was speaking, towards the back they heard a little girl giggling. “Jesus is my friend,” she whispered to her mother, but she was met with a stern look. The angel continued, “The Father heard that!”.

- Kym.

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

He is speaking to His Army

Just got back from 'Boot Camp' - an awsome time of glory, physical and emotional healings, holy laughter, and salvations... just a regular Army camp :) Nathan Casey preached a powerful message on the first night about being light in darkness, and just as this call came there was a blackout! Seeing silhouettes of youth handing themselves to the Lord, followed by singing "Our God is an awsome God..." for almost an hour straight in the darkness will never be forgotten...all I could say was "God is here, and this is You!".

If you hav't checked out Andrew Bales blog ( http://beyondthebrook.blogspot.com/2007/01/prophecy-for-salvation-army-from-isaiah.html )
it is a must - read. Two days before Andrew posted the prophetic word the Lord told me something incredibly similar (17 Jan blog) : " However, along with uncompromising holiness, I believe it is humility that God wants to speak to His Army at this time: “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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). This humility is becoming the wagon as Christ become the horse, letting go of the reigns, having smaller heads and bigger hearts - less of us and more of Him."
Also, without knowledge of Andrews post, Kym (21 Jan blog) further supported its prophetic words: "Perhaps we ought to stop asking "is God speaking?", and start asking "are we listening?" and further speaks of 'less respectibility' and more 'irresistable conviction of the Holy Spirit'.

Amen - Paul.

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Dream

God is good! A friend recently sent me this dream. Perhaps we ought to stop asking "is God speaking?", and start asking "are we listening?".

'I dreamt that I was in some church hall with hundreds of believers around me sitting on wooden pews and they "came out of the woodwork" and each one of them was standing up and making a stand against some major issue in society that is immoral [eg. Abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia etc]. I was surprised that so many believers were making such righteous stands because many do not want to "rock the boat" and/or lose their reputation for the sake of Christ and I was utterly amazed to see such unity among believers which I have never witnessed before. I think the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said something along the lines that in the coming times, the Body of Christ [those who are the sheep of the good Shepherd and who are truly saved] will have a significant change of heart and will fall under the irresistable conviction of the Holy Spirit and in this way they will not be content to stay silent and/or tolerant when they should be protesting. Such a dream is a prophecy of the coming move of God that we are on the brink of and the change of heart in all believers that will follow as a result.'

Our gracious Father is repeating this message to His prophets and people over and over again. He must mean it!

Mercy, peace, and grace, - Kym

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

What about this ‘gold dust’ stuff anyway?

The manifestation of gold dust is not intended to be just a Church phenomenon, but a Church revelation. I believe that Christ will not return until He sees holiness, mercy, compassion, justice, and humility in the Bride. The reason why this blog is stressing the glory of God of late is that TSA are largely on the fore – front of mercy, compassion, and justice, and is further beginning to understand that it is as a ‘Holiness Movement’ that it will be paramount to Kingdom ushering; However, along with uncompromising holiness, I believe it is humility that God wants to speak to His army at this time: “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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). This humility is becoming the wagon as Christ become the horse, letting go of the reigns, having smaller heads and bigger hearts - less of us and more of Him. God will do whatever it takes to get out attention, and glory manifestations are a wake –up call that is only going to intensify. He is shocking His Body, and at the same time testing the waters as to whom will be open to His workings and Person.

Feathers, oil, gemstones, colored sparkle and gold dust are accelerating; the following is what part of the gold dust revelation may signify:
Gold is a substance that is highly-valued because of its rarity, beauty, workability, and durability; therefore, it is something that is seen to be precious, valuable, and sacred; it is a sign of wealth, power, and royalty. As gold signifies all of these things, Kings and Queens therefore display there gold - King David wore a gold crown. Something that is to be revered of and held in nobility is therefore adorned with gold, such as the Ark of the Covenant; the 24 elders of Revelation 4:4 “had crowns of gold on their heads”. When we think of God in the context of our ‘Highest Priest’ and ‘King of Kings’, a demonstration of gold is thus more then fitting.
As a sign always point to something or to someone, to receive the sign of gold is to see the gold that signifies something precious, valuable, and sacred - of wealth, power, and royalty. To receive the sign of gold is to thus see an indicator of its Giver; In Daniel 10:5 Jesus is therefore adorned in gold “ I looked up and there before me was a man dressed in linen, with a belt of the finest gold around his waist”; and Revelation 1:13 “among the lamp stands was someone ‘like a son of man,’ dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest”; God shelters His people with golden wings “Even while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold (Psalm 68:13) and “Out of the north he comes in golden splendor, God comes in awesome majesty” (Job 37:22).
God said to expect signs that would point to Himself. He did this in Acts 2:22, “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know”, and will be doing it today as such signs continue after the ascension: “I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke” (Acts 2:19). The manifestation of gold is a sign and wonder that points to His internal and external qualities, part of a visible representation of an invisible God.
In Chronicles 32:27 it can be seen that “Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made treasuries for his silver and gold and for his precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuables”. The God of endless riches and honor also has a treasury of his eternal valuables and blessing “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it” (Malachi 3:10-12). God has a treasury of gold that is open, and the reality of the gold of heaven is described in Revelation 21:18, “The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass”, and Revelation 21:21, “…The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass”.
As the manifestation of gold can be seen as a sign from heaven pointing to God, it is also an indicator of the manifest glory of God - the Hebrew word for both ‘gold’ and ‘glory’ actually come form the same root word. Gold and glory are intertwined as Gods ‘golden glory’, "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty. 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the Lord Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the Lord Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the Lord Almighty" (Haggai 2:6). Haggai 2 is indeed a passage for our generation; we are temples of His holy habitation, and He is building and decorating His house.
As gold is revered and honored (even as a counterfeit God and idol) in the bible, so it points to the reverence and honor of the real thing - the true Living God. So we look to the Giver of the gold, and not the gold itself; as Jesus said in Matthew 23: 17 “…Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?”.
The gold is for a reason, certainly to be enjoyed, but not simply to be played with. Gold is a representative pointer, pointing to Jesus and to His invisible Kingdom - the things that invisible are of the eternal realm, something that God is making visible in answer to the prayer “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
The manifestation can be seen as an outlet for seeking God; a means of humbling oneself into holiness admits His visible presence; a witness (to those present); as well as an evangelistically tool (such as showing unbelievers, scientists, etc).
Further, like a gold engagement ring, God can be seen to be adorning His Bride (the Church) in preparation for the upcoming wedding.
Gold may also be seen as a symbol of purity, that God is purifying his Church, “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness” (Malachi 3:3).

“…and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you” (Job 22:24-25)

“God is doing a new thing, and sharing with his people the glory of his face, and a little of his splendor is rubbing off in the form of dust, so that the individual may be edified, as with tongues, the Church strengthened, the sick healed, and the lost brought into the Kingdom of God” - Robert B. Smith.

Blessings!!! - Paul.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

For the Seers (and those who enjoy sparkle)

Our Lord is pouring out His Spirit and love on His beloved in new and exciting ways. His children and soldiers are increasingly receiving dreams and visions and manifestations of Glory involving the use of color. So, for those who may need some help in interpretation, here is the meaning of the symbolic colors you may encounter:

BLUE = Holiness, Heaven.
GREEN = Regeneration, Life.
RED = Sacrifice, Suffering.
BROWN = Repentance.
ORANGE = Danger / Harm, Energy.
PURPLE = Royalty, Wealth.
PINK = Healing of the Bride.
BLACK = Sin, famine, Death.
WHITE = Purity / Righteousness.
GOLD / SILVER – Refining Fire, Shekinah Glory.

A member of the household recently arrived from DHQ with many of the above colors glimmering on her hand – check the post below regarding this manifestation of God’s Spirit. As many colors appeared here, my interpretation of these many colors appearing (in an oil-like substance) is that God is Love and God likes Color!

Blessed are the child-like and humble in heart! - Kym

The Army is not Exempt….

The Salvation Army is not exempt….from the manifest Glory of God! The Living Christ is speaking new Life into old bones and blowing Fresh Wind into church doors. God’s glory has recently been manifesting in the form of signs and wonders in many churches worldwide, particularly among those congregations who are willing to accept that Yahweh truly inhabits the praises of His people. Dental miracles, healings, and gold dust from Heaven falling in meetings has regularly occurred (Check
http://www.cesnur.org/testi/goXgold_01.htm).
Recently my Salvo brother and sisters have manifested God’s lavish love many times in the form of gold dust, heavenly oil appearing on hands, and a hunger for more of our God (or rather, an openness to what He already has given us through the Lamb:). In Salvationist meetings, God is slowly but surely preparing hearts and minds for the coming Awakening of His beloved Army.

As we as a contingent of the Creator embrace the refining fires and healing glory that He is releasing within our Corps, we can rest our weary heads under the shadow of His wings and simply enjoy Him. Does our Father want slaves working feverishly in their strength, or sons and daughters who abide in Him, listen to His whisper, and embrace and enjoy His glory?!
One of the colored sparkles I have received in my hand in a recent Army meeting at Arndale was blue. Blue symbolizes Holiness and Heaven invading Earth – Amen to that for His Army of Salvation! - Kym

Monday, January 15, 2007

Poetry in Motion II

I wrote this poem recently, to complement the previous post, 'Band of Brothers'. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever! (just felt like saying that:)

Daughters of Deborah

Weepers of the Father’s heart,
Singers of the Spirit song,
Incantation of the angelic choirs,
Reservoirs of the impartation of love.

Kisses that make Yahweh quiver in delight,
Imparters of His Holy presence,
They are to darkness as the sun to night,
Elohim’s cassia and myrrh is their fragrance.

Planters of a thousand orchards,
Worshipers who enlarge the hearts of others,
Healers of the wounds of War,
Deadly archers in the heat of battle.

Faith that makes the mountains tremble,
Intercessors of Divine guidance,
They send demons pleading to their knees,
The merciful become merciless.

Citadels of purity and blinding holiness,
Prophetic awakening will hearken to their cry,
Rain drenches the camp as they minister,
Their spirit of wisdom will turn death’s river dry.

They dance in the delight of the Father,
Not ashamed to be joyful in Him,
To their sensitive hearts He will whisper,
In His Name unleash flames of fire.

Their communion is with the Lord of Life,
Hosts flock to do their bidding,
They pave the path to Catherine’s revival,
And throw living Water on the sleeping.

Grace that pours New Wine before the dying,
Collectors of manna in the desert sands,
They bring forth new life from the Vine,
Influence destinies with faith-filled prayers.

Warrior-princesses who laugh at danger,
Takers of the higher ground,
Blossoms of the Spirit’s gifts,
Cunning in Knowledge of the Way.

Dreamers of an unfolding vision,
Drenched in the inner glory,
Rulers of the flocks of Gilead,
Open heaven in religion’s sanctuary.

Women of Warfare who look ahead,
Stirrers of Bethsaida’s water,
They give out of love not obligation,
Turn the pages of TSA’s new story.

- Kym

Saturday, January 13, 2007

Once again...

Once again shall My church be a Salvation Army that occupies the city streets! Once again will My glory be revealed in the alley ways and the hedges. This is the place that Gideon will break the clay pots and let My glory shine. In the streets, on the corners, in every place My name shall be declared! Surely I will work with you! Confirming the word with signs following! No longer will the world hear the sound of bells on corners asking alms, but rather roars of My people declaring my power and glory! This is the hour to break the clay pots and let My glory be revealed in YOU!

IT IS TIME TO MARCH
I say to you O 'Salvation Army', it is time to march! It is time to shine! It is time that every street, every Samaria, every den of thieves and harlotries hear the sound of My people's feet! It surely is the appointed time to set the captives free! For see, I have poured this anointing on thee, to bind up and pull down, to set free, and to bind, to conquer and comfort, to set ablaze the earth and to shine. This is that hour, this is that prophesied by the prophet Joel, this is that time says the Lord.
Every place of business shall witness My glory. Every Athens shall hear the Truth declared, every Samaria will see My people there, they will, 'see and hear the miracles' that are done by My servants. A dispensation is upon you, unto the weak I will give strength, to the poor I will fill your baskets, to the lame and the cripple you shall leap and walk. For this is that which was prophesied in days of old, "Behold, the former things are come to pass, and NEW things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them..." (Isa. 42:9)

TIME FOR MARRIAGES TO BE RESTORED
Marriages that have faltered will now be restored. My generals will rise with wives and husbands by their side. In this hour two will be better than one. A double portion I declare to you says the Lord. A double portion. My Salvation Army is rising with healing in their hands, they will lay hands on the sick and they shall surely recover. In their hands will be My anointing for the healing of the nations. The deaf will hear, the blind will see, the mute shall speak. Watch and see these things coming to pass in thee. Watch and see...

SENDING TWO BY TWO
A time of appointing, sending them two by two, Surely My power will confirm, The places you go and the things you do, For I am with you, and I will work with you, says the Lord. In this hour 'three hundred' will cause the enemy to flee, The steps of two or three, Will again lead captive captivity, And the lost will be found and the captive set free! By the works I do through thee! Watch and see! Watch and see! A Salvation Army is marching through this land, Pulling down strongholds and revealing my divine plan, Hearing the words of My command, 'STAND! And having done all, STAND!' And I will reveal My power even through your hands! Do you understand? Do you understand?

THE LAME WILL WALK---FINALLY THE ADDICT WILL BE FREE
The lame man will leap, The blind man will see, The addict will be free, The skeptic will believe, By what I do through thee! Religion will bow at My feet, Giving up her captives and setting them free! Do you believe? Do you believe? A Salvation Army will march to this beat, The sound of eternity. The prodigal will hear the sound of his destiny. Jonah will come from the fishes belly, To declare My word and prophecy!

BUT YOU SAY, "I AM UNCOMELY"
This is the hour of the 'Uncomely!' Kings will bow and confess, The poor and needy will be blessed, The wind will blow from the North South East and West, Bringing life to dry bones, The orphan a family, the widow a home, Can you feel it blow? Can you feel it blow? Prophesy My people Prophesy! Say to the wind, "LIFE! LIFE" Say to the sinner, "You don't have to die!" "Jesus was crucified! " "He is alive!" "He is alive!" "He is alive!" My army is marching. My army is rising. My army will bring salvation like a flood.

Consuming Fire Min.: www.televar.com/~destiny Chad Taylor's email: destiny@televar.com

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Where Have The Hallelujah Bands Gone?

I found an interesting article in the Salvation Army Historical Society Magazine, written by Major Stephen Grinsted. It talks about Hallelujah bands- the way the first salvation army meetings used to be. Here are a few excerpts:

‘Hallelujah Bands were not a Salvation Army, let alone Christian Mission, idea. They started in the Black Country around Birmingham in about 1862 during a time of great spiritual awakening when thousands of men and women were being converted. (Led by Rev. T. Whitehouse)’

‘William Booth heard of Whitehouse’s exploits and he copied them. And not only did he copy them, Booth improved and developed them to greater effect.’

‘In June 1877 William Booth said: ‘I do not know where the name Hallelujah Band came from; all I know it is there, and has come to signify a certain sort of service different to the usual proper orthodox order of Divine Worship. We all know what that is like- first a hymn, then a prayer, then another hymn, then a chapter, and a sing again, then preach, another hymn, the benediction, home to dinner, then a nap.’

‘Booth continued: ‘Now the Hallelujah Band stands out in contradistinction to all this: it is the very opposite to what I call the dry, desolate, styled, one-man system. It begins with a platform crowded with the holiest and liveliest people you have with a sort of Chairman, who mostly stands and selects the most effective speakers around him, who deliver addresses from five to fifteen minutes in duration, interspersing with earnest prayers and enthusiastic song, bringing all to a close with a prayer- meeting and penitent form.’

‘Booth said that the four things necessary to an effective Hallelujah Band were a good leader, a hallelujah people, unity of aim on the part of the speakers and finally an ability to draw the net in at the close. The Mission Superintendents embraced these tactics and new vitality was breathed into The Christian Mission, which would soon became The Salvation Army.’

‘William Booth and his missionaries, Corps Officers and Soldiers freed up worship. They made it accessible and exciting. People were uplifted and as a result their lives were changed.’

William Booth talked about the Hallelujah Band being so different to the proper orthodox worship. He describes the orthodox worship like this. ‘first a hymn, then a prayer, then another hymn, then a chapter, and a sing again, then preach, another hymn, the benediction, home to dinner, then a nap.’

Does this sound like your standard Salvation Army meeting? This is exactly what William Booth didn’t want! He had been around these meetings, but he was stirred up for more. Have we completely done the opposite of what William Booth wanted?

Where have the Hallelujah Bands gone? The meeting that William Booth describes with the Hallelujah Band in it sounds incredible! I would love to be a part of that!The Hallelujah Bands saw in thousands of conversions to Christ. I’m not saying this is a formula for revival, but it saw results. It made worship in the Army exciting and free! Bring them back!

I think we need to pray for freedom in worship in Army Meetings! In fact let’s step out in faith and do it! Even if we are the only ones in the room being free before the Lord, it will set something off in your meeting, a true fire of the Lord, that won’t be extinguished.

I know someone who simply raised his hand to the Lord in a Salvation Army meeting. The next thing he knew, he saw others feeling free to do the same.

I want to encourage you to feel free to worship God however you need to in Army Meetings. The more people see others so overcome by the presence of the Lord and just so in love with God, I think they will seek after God’s presence more and more. One day in the near future I honestly believe that we will see complete freedom in worship in Army Meetings, flowing from a far more intimate relationship with God. People will be lead off the streets, come into a meeting and just be so overcome with God’s presence that they fall to their knees and confess that Jesus is Lord! This will be so awesome!

Wouldn’t it be interesting if we brought back Hallelujah Band style meetings? HBs brought new life into the very beginning of the Salvation Army, I wonder if it could do the same in the Army today?

Blessings!
Phoebe

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Poetry in Motion

Many worldwide in the Army of Salvation are finding (or at least they will) that the Lord is speaking unity of heart through the Spirit over different Corps, territories, and nations. Like pieces on a chess board, He is forming divinely-appointed relationships across nations and within individual congregations, and especially small groups as He breathes His breath on those who will receive.

The Lord gave me this poem as an expression of His heart for this remnant He is raising up. At the time, it was written with God's sons in mind, but may it be a blessing to the daughters too. God too is raising up Deborah's, the next poem will be specifically for them. BRING IT ON!!!

Band of Brothers

Empowered as champions of justice,
Equipped to stand in righteousness united,
Held in Abba God’s embrace,
With flaming hearts in Spirit fire they stand knighted.

Restorers of strength through kingdom proclamation,
Prophetic power unleashed through the banner of love,
Kind in mercy, tenderhearted in compassion,
Piercing eyes that dwell on things above.

Demon slayers marching from the east,
Beacons of light to the tides of the west.
Bastions of purity and healing to the sick, dying, least,
Weariness attacks, but under angelic wings they rest.

Royal sons of Christ’s inheritance,
Contrite in heart and glorious in humility,
A congregation born not of chance,
They rally and roar in passion: darkness flees.

Quietly knowing they are blessed,
Praising with boyish abandon,
Cherishing goodness and faithfulness,
Cravers of Fatherly discipline.

Out-muscling oppression and the corrupt,
Standing in the honor of integrity,
Hearts bursting in assured triumph,
By the General they are led.

Anointed oil drips from their brows,
Fearless and incorruptible in deed,
Inhalers of the Pentecost breath,
To the shadow of the cross they lead.

Armed to the teeth,
Reckless in abandon,
Holy washers of other’s feet,
Brotherly love makes it fun.

Wielding lethal weaponry and sword,
Beholders of inner resilience,
When praised they point upwards:
‘Worthy is the Lamb’.

The fresh force of the Army of Salvation,
Institution and respectability make them seethe,
Visionaries of Booths revival drum,
The will of the Father is their only creed.

Onward and upward, higher and faster,
Unwittingly have they been masterly trained and taught,
Shekinah presence flows in from their Master,
Hungry to praise - the glory of One is sought.

God Bless you! - Kym

Whisper from God

"Everybody's Thinking, nobody's Drinking".

- Kym

Saturday, January 6, 2007

No Neutral Ground

Matthew 12:30 "This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse. (Message Remix Version)

When you think about it, Jesus is making a pretty full on statement here. We are in a war right now, fighting to save lost souls. As soldiers of The Salvation Army we are fighting against the powers of darkness in order to win the world for Jesus. This part is all pretty straight forward.

The next part really hits it home for me. There is no neutral ground. With magnets, positive and negative forces repel each other. They cannot stay next to each other- it's impossible. And the same should go with good and evil - they oppose each other. Catherine Booth always used to talk about how these opposing forces should never be able to live comfortably together. There should never be neutral ground!

When we are sitting on the fence, when we are not out there saving souls, we are actually helping the enemy. We are allowing his work to continue- which is ridiculous!

To be blunt here, when we are not taking up a stand against the evils in our society & in our world, we are not fulfilling God's call for us & we give the devil room to do what he wants. Jesus has already given us all authority to do His work on earth and we have victory in Him! Jesus defeated the power of death and of the devil when He died on the cross and rose again!

So why do we still allow the devil the freedom to destroy this world when Jesus has already conquered him?
Why do we allow sex shops to stay in business and continue to destroy men's lives?
Why do we just sit by and watch teenagers have their hearts torn apart over and over by giving themselves sexually to each other, outside the covenant of marriage?
Why do we let the paralyzed stay paralyzed, when they could be miraculously healed in Jesus name, walking & jumping for joy!

As an Army at war for the salvation of souls, let's stand up and fight! Let's fight for the lost, the last and the least! Let's fight against the evils of this world and make a difference. Let's reach out to the hurting, the dirty and the dying- tell them about Jesus and the hope for which he has called us.

I want to send out a challenge for everyone reading this blog this week. For once, let's not take the neutral ground this week. Let's fight for what we believe in- take up a stand against the evils of this world. Don't stand by this week and see someone get picked on- stand up for them! Don't watch a homeless man go hungry- take him out for lunch! Don't let your friends go on more second without sharing with them the love of Jesus.

These are only just my ideas- there is so much more that you could do! Make a difference this week- even the littlest thing you do could make the biggest difference in someone's life. I'm just feeling that the littlest thing that someone does for someone this week, could turn someone from wanted to end their own life, to giving their heart and soul for Jesus.

We are in a war- let's stand and fight!

Blessings!

Phoebe

P.S. I'd be interested to hear if anyone took up my challenge this week- let me know how it goes!

Thursday, January 4, 2007

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient (possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation).
2 Corinthians 9:8 (Amplified Bible)

- Colin

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

Kingdom Gazing

‘So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal’ (2 Corinthians 4:18). I have been kind of enamored by this verse of late, because it basically speaks to me that everything seen in this world is temporary, so gazing at the things of the world is next to useless. I think this is why people want to see more then what is seen, because no person is comfortable with the thought of living in a world that is temporary or in decay (Romans 8:22). Is it just me or does there (maybe because of this uneasiness of mortality) appear to be within people of all walks of life that place in the heart that longs to see eternity, an inward witness that the best things are yet to be seen? Its funny when something really good occurs that it is very often passed off as something that is to good for this world or to be seen; expressions such as “this is out of sight!” or “that’s out of this world!’ seem appropriate.
However what really gets me thinking about this verse is that the Apostle Paul doesn’t just tell us not to fix our eyes on what is seen, but he tells us to fix our eyes on what is unseen! How can we look at something if it can’t be seen? Actually, we’re told not to just ‘look’ or ‘glance’ but to ‘fix our eyes’ on what cannot be seen; nevertheless it seems like an almost contradictory suggestion! However, in recent times, the instruction to fix my eyes on the unseen has actually dramatically improved my sight! Paul mentions ‘We live by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 7), yet I think I am discovering that by faith we are granted sight.
Recently at a conference in Bordertown the prophetic decree was given that the floodgates of heaven had opened, and that it was raining upon this Church. Incredibly, as many of us looked upwards, we could see with our eyes that it was actually raining indoors (ironic when there was a drought outside!). For the rest of the conference this ‘indoor’ rain could be seen in the building with physical eyes, and it would sometimes change direction and density. It was when the prophet looked at what God was doing in His Kingdom that the rain could be seen inside, and the Kingdom reality became an Earthly one in that church: ‘Your Kingdom come, your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven’ (Matthew 6:10). A secret of the Kingdom is that the Kingdom can be accessed, visited, and prayed down onto Earth today! Kingdom gazing is not looking at the world, not trusting in sight, but looking at the King and seeing what He is doing – it is at this place where the Kingdom can be seen on Earth. When the Kingdom reality of health (there is no sickness in heaven) comes to Earth through prayer and intercession, sickness flees. When the kingdom reality of peace (there is no turmoil in heaven) comes to Earth through prayer and intercession, worry and anxiety is no more. A missionary holding an orphan child – this is Kingdom love descending.
Did you know that we can be vessels of the Kingdom, and unbelievers can see the Kingdom in believers? In His book ‘When Heaven Invades Earth’ Bill Johnson accounts of when his youth group were playing music in a small circle in a shopping centre – the Kingdom was there by way of music and praise; lo and behold some people walking by began to manifest demons, one drug addict walked up to the group, took all his drugs out of his pocked, placed them on the ground, and kept on walking by without a word.
The Lord is showing me that the more we look (or fix our eyes) at His Kingdom reality, the more we talk and listen about the Kingdom, the more real this seemingly invisible Kingdom becomes. It is like those old ‘Magic Eye’ books, the more we gaze, the more the reality will pop out of seemingly nowhere, and the reality will become easier and easier to see next time, though to others we are looking at something that looks to them like a jumbled mess!
Lets fix our eyes on what is unseen, because what is unseen needs to be seen!!

Thy Kingdom Come…..Thy Kingdom be seen… :)

- Paul

Monday, January 1, 2007

A Message For The Ladies

God is calling the women of the Salvation Army to stand up and fight for a lost generation! As a women myself I know it can be very easy to fall into the trap of thinking women's ministry belongs in the kitchen washing dishes and baking cakes. These things aren't bad, but I know God wants more of us than that! The Salvation Army needs women on the frontline of battle and it always has.

In 1865 when the Army began, it was unthought of for women to preach. However from the very beginning Catherine Booth (co-founder of the Army!) was preaching and fighting alongside her husband William on the frontline- reaching out to the lost, the last and the least, bringing so many lost souls to Jesus. In another case there was a 16 year old girl called Eliza who became an officer! The Salvation Army has always been at the forefront of supporting women in ministry- this paved the way for other churches to follow!

God is going to do something so incredible in our generation which will see the women of the Army rising up away from cultural expectations and all the stupid stuff that holds us back, to rise up from all of that, and be involved in the biggest harvest for the kingdom that the world has ever seen!

In these days there will be 5 years old girls prophesying & healing the sick. There will be women working with teenage girls, healing their broken hearts in the name of Jesus and casting out demons of anorexia and bulimia. There will be women just so full of compassion and love, fighting for justice for the prostitutes & seeing them break free from prostitution and being won to the Lord. It is going to be incredible! God is going to manifest himself to us in increasingly more powerful and supernatural ways.

God is stirring up and raisin up more Catherine Booths & powerful women of the Salvation Army! I want to encourage you ladies (and even all the men out there) just to seek after God with your whole heart and just be obedient to Him- God will take care of everything else and He will use you in ways you never dreamed possible. Remember its not by your own might or strength (you can't do it on your own!) but by the spirit of God!

So remember ladies- let's support the men in the Army. Let's support women's ministries like home league, but remember there is more to ministry and life than that! Let's fight for lost souls to be won to Jesus! Go hard for God!

I would love to write more, but I'll keep it for future blogs :)
God bless,
Phoebe