WHERE IS THE FIRE?

“Where is the fire, the passion, the burning love and spiritual desperation, resulting in sleepless nights, anguish in prayer, someone daring to ‘go it alone’ with what looks like reckless obedience to the Holy Spirit? Where is there a new, deep, pure sense of spiritual urgency and Spirit inspired and Spirit fuelled enthusiasm? Where, oh where, is the fire, the passion, the anointing, the power, the glory? Oh for the glory days again!

Where is there a healthy fear [reverential awe] of God among believers? Where is the undeniable and pure Holy Spirit activity, conviction, anointing in life, word and emotions? Where is conviction of sin, deep repentance, whole-hearted, radical conversion?

I grieve over humanistic and psychological substitutions for the Holy Spirit’s work, and for sub-standard, flesh-tainted Ishmaels!” [Quote from “Moving Forward” by John Beaumont] https://hislife.co.uk/2009/10/24/moving-forward/

CONVERSATIONS

My wife and I talk about days we experienced during the charismatic renewal and the significant godly qualities which marked HIS people. Informal, simple gatherings of believers who loved Jesus and worshipped with breathtaking anointing. A love for one another that broke racial, denominational and ideological barriers. Anointed prophetic words of life and believers with a deep hunger longing to live consistently in the fulness of the holy Spirit. An obedience to God, a reverential fear of the Lord and meetings from house to house with no professional leaders trying to control activities.

It is a new day, we have a fresh start and that longing for Him is still fresh and alive within so many of God’s people.

Lord, ‘WE LONG FOR THE FIRE!’

The post MOVING WITH GOD appeared first on Hislife.

A BETTER WAY

There is a better way than this and we must learn to walk this grace path in wisdom. God imparts ministry gifts for the training of the Church in servant work. This can be full time if we are travelling too often to hold down a 9-5 pm job. Of course, there are ways around this which the apostle Paul examples through tent making. Mostly, local ministry need not be salaried. The Jesus way for servant leaders in the church is a plurality of eldership, speaking the truth in love and discerning the word of the Lord together. Too many churches reflect the same symptoms as the church of Ephesus.

“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance……..yet I hold this against you. You have forsaken your first [priority] love.” [1]

IS THERE A BETTER WAY?

My obvious question. Has God shown us a better way other than contacting a consulting digital specialist who comes into the situation and sorts out the issues for a fee? Having worked in marketing for over two decades I know the signs of ‘smoke and mirrors.’ It matters not what statement of belief a church advertises on its website. Most of them are much the same. The real test is how God perceives the body of believers. We may be working hard and persevering yet God’s assessment of the church of Ephesus was quite different. It is also unhelpful to add positions to individuals within a team. Terms like, ‘lead elder’ ‘pastor’ ‘worship leader’ and the list goes on.

There is an emphatic YES in my heart for the Church that Jesus has promised to build. He is even now at work in His Church, but it will be His way. Let us return to a plurality of elders and be done with this one man ministry, whatever the cost. As we gather together in our meetings let us come prepared in heart. Let us reject the entertainment style gatherings we have lived with for far too long!

A NEW WAY FOR LEADERS

God is more interested in the condition of our hearts than the words we use to attract outsiders into our meetings. He is more concerned about purity of motivation than religious obligation, lifeless sermons and unchanged lives. In the words of a book title… “discipleship is a long obedience in the same direction.“

We cannot compare leadership in the Church with the management of a business or use authority in the same way as politicians! Spiritual leaders are called to be servants of the Lord and not of church systems or man-made offices. A servant has no right to direct or control but only to carry out the expressed will of his master. The Head of the Church!

How wise the leaders who have taught by example the people to hear God for themselves. Can we find a fresh way forward in our churches to share fellowship with believers in other churches in our geographical area. Can we return to the Lord in our preaching and teaching so that every member of Christ’s body hears and obeys and grows into, “the measure of the full stature of Christ.” Will we pay the price for this high calling or settle for mediocrity?

LET US RETURN…..“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

[1] Revelation 2:1-7

The post A CALL TO RETURN appeared first on Hislife.

READ…PRAY…DIGEST…LIVE

“Can’t believe it’s taken me almost a month to read John.  I was flying through the chapters the first couple of days but soon realised it wasn’t that type of book. I love the way the chapters are short and punchy because it’s easy to pick up, put down and mull over for the rest of the day.  In that way, it felt a bit like a daily devotional.

HEART CONNECTIONS

Where we live and how we live we’ve struggled to make natural connections with people in our local community.  At work we find that conversation about Jesus occurs naturally enough but in our local community not so much. That being said, since living in our rural area we’ve intentionally tried to link in with a couple of structured churches.  The initial welcome and connections are lovely, but they quickly dry up when we don’t commit to regular engagement. 

REJECTING RELIGIOUS PERFORMANCE

We’ve initiated a couple of mealtime fellowship get togethers but whilst it appears everyone enjoys these and finds them intimate and encouraging, they fade away as the “obligation” to reach the lost steers towards more public events and venues. I’m currently trying to gently and delicately pull away from this whilst hoping to maintain the connection with a lovely missionary couple who feel passionately about setting up a church in our local town. 

Your book has reaffirmed some of my own convictions and encouraged me to seek the reality of Jesus in our everyday life rather than compromise again for “activities” for Jesus.

Thanks for writing it and for contacting me directly.  I’ve ordered a couple more for mum and dad. ”

CONVERSATIONS…observations, experiences and questions while on the Jesus way is available on Amazon UK . HERE and the US HERE

The post CONVERSATIONS – A RESPONSE appeared first on Hislife.

The apostle Paul flags up the blessing of discipleship in radical terms by our standards while praying. Ephesians 3:19 “that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” This is not a mystical or abstract statement but a practical reality. God has made a way for all disciples to live into His fullness.

Paul prays for the believers in Ephesus. “That we become rooted and established in love.” [1] Aware of the multi-dimensions of God’s extravagant, sacrificial and unconditional love for us. Paul continues to pray, “To grasp the dimensions of God’s love for us.” And, to know this same life-changing love experientially. [2]

Disciples. Followers. Apprentices of Jesus have an inbuilt awareness of this Way, because the Way is a Person! Paul once again reminds us. “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ.” [3] Let’s reflect on that statement for a while! It is transforming.

As we follow the Way, Jesus builds His Church as He declared He would. This work of building is a work of God’s Spirit within each one of us. It is an unseen work of the Spirit changing and transforming our lives and as a result His image and likeness is reflected in the community of God’s people. This is God’s true purpose for which we can be deeply thankful.

JESUS IS CENTRAL

Again, Paul helps us in our own praying. “We have not stopped praying for you, and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” [4] And we soon realise why Paul prays like this. In verse 10, “That you may live a life worthy of the Lord…………….and may please Him in every way……………bearing fruit in every good work………..growing in the knowledge of God.” Praying seems to be the real place where God shapes who we are to become.

The Church that Jesus is building is not ‘our church’ but His and only His. “And He is the head of the body, the Church.” [5] I would argue that our primary calling is not about ‘going to church’ but rather being church that counts. There is a vast difference!

FINDING A WAY FORWARD

Have we not been called to a unity of the Spirit? To living by faith….to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches?

If we are to “keep in step with the Spirit” by hearing and responding to His prompting, then surely that is the best way to maintain freshness in our relationship with Jesus. Every follower of Jesus can ‘hear God‘ for themselves. Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice!” [6]

BREAKING THE MOULD

It is important for us, as believers to be vigilant and aware when there is an undue emphasis upon organisational structure. This habitual action keeps our dependence upon church leaders. When this dependence continues it tends to produce staleness in us which is in contrast to God’s dynamic, life-giving presence amongst His community, the Church.

If our gathering together has become overly formal, locked in to tradition and shaped by frequent sameness and predictability then we must break the mould and throw away the template. The human body has trillions of cells each working and functioning. And when cells malfunction, the body acts with healing power to restore the problem. Why should the body of Christ be any different?

These changes will require a fresh hearing of the Spirit. And an acknowledgement that Jesus is in the process of building His Church. Let us pray for a new wave of radical responsiveness, confident obedience, sharpened discernment and clear seeing amongst God’s people.

[1] Ephesians 3:17 NIV

[2] Ephesians 3:18 “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.“

[3] Colossians 2:9 NIV

[4] Colossians 1:9 ff NIV

[5] Colossians 1`;18 NIV

[6] John 10:27 NIV

***OUR LATEST BOOK CALLED, ‘CONVERSATIONS’ [link] IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON***

The post KNOWING appeared first on Hislife.

HE IS PRAYING

When the Lord spoke to Ananias about going to visit Paul on Straight St He gives us a description of what Paul was doing – “he is praying.” – Prayer has a way of moving us away from our self confidence in to a dependence upon God. Prayer is the life source that shifts our perspective from a self-centred and limited space into God’s vast world. Faith-filled effort while waiting upon God frees us from complacency. We should not be surprised that Paul received revelation describing God’s glorious new creation plans and eye opening dimensions of His extraordinary nature. Paul was a man who knew how to give of himself in prayer.

I mentioned briefly in my previous post about my own personal devotion included praying Paul’s prayers in the first person. I found myself rereading Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and 2 Thessalonians as a start. But I discovered that Paul’s letters are peppered with prayer for the saints.

In the letter to the believers in Ephesus Paul prays and asks God that He, “may give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that I may know Him better.” [1]

“May have power together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know that love that surpasses knowledge – that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of Christ.” [2]

CALLED TO PRAY

These Pauline prayers seem radical yet they do open a way for all who participate in their reality to being and becoming like Jesus. Prayer, like nothing else opens the way to grasp the dimensions of God’s love, cultivate healthy wisdom and revelation and strengthen us with all power. These prayers prioritise our living as we call upon God “to fill us with the knowledge of His will.” [3] Our praying helps to carry God’s power from a humble heart to revolutionise the way we see Jesus building His Church, change our thinking as to His purposes and renew our faith in an extraordinary God.

It is my conviction that when the saints begin to pray and allow God to fill us with all the fullness of Christ then disciples of Jesus will be transformed. The Church that Jesus is building will make a powerful impact on society and God’s purposes of a new creation reality will be fulfilled in the earth. After all, “The Church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the Church. The Church is Christ’s body, in which He speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.” [4] May it be so!

[1] Ephesians 1:17 NIV

[2] Ephesians 3:19 NIV

[3] Colossians 1:9 NIV

[4] Ephesians 1: 23 The Message

I have personalised Paul’s prayers for emphasis.

The post PAUL’S PRAYERS PART TWO appeared first on Hislife.

SET OUR HEARTS

I’ve been rereading Paul’s letter to the ‘saints’ in Ephesus. ‘Saint’ is a word that seems dated or misplaced in our society relegating it to meaning those icons who stand watch over us in stain glass windows. But, let’s start by recognising that being a saint is God’s gift and not a title given by men and women. Have you noticed how often Paul uses this word in his letters to the churches. Let’s accept then that a saint is ‘God’s set apart one’ It is God’s gift in Jesus to all those who have been set free, rescued from the power of sin and death. We don’t make ourselves saints by achieving any goals or being exceptional. It is God’s pure gift!

PILGRIMAGE

I ask myself, is my heart still set on pilgrimage after years of walking with Him or have I been distracted from moving forward into God’s best for my life? Paul makes a radical statement which may be worth us all reading afresh.

“Praise be to the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed me in the heavenly realms, with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” [1] Again, pure gift! But what does this mean for a disciple of Jesus?

I pray that I would receive all that God in Christ has declared me to be. All that He has declared His Church to be! By receiving His gift, freely given in Jesus!

Am I still wholeheartedly following Jesus today as His disciple, seeing His way as a Life filled adventure or am I slowly stagnating in sameness, routine and mediocrity?

OPENED EYES

When I consider this second statement by Paul to saints in Ephesus I feel deeply honoured and grateful. I glimpse my true identity.

“I pray also that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know the hope to which He has called me, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” [2]

Jesus has made a way for each of us to experience the immensity of His grace, described by Peterson as “God’s take your breath away energy,” [3] and power, moving us on in His ways. What extravagant and lavish love! And this same extravagant love has the power to free us from being stuck!

DO I WANT WHAT HE WANTS?

I find these statements, discovered by Paul in prayer, helpful. If Jesus is LORD of my life then I want what He wants and the joy that He pours out of His grace, helps each one of us to be what He calls us to be. He has not left us to live this life alone but faithfully comes alongside to encourage, sustain and strengthen each one of us. What a remarkable and reliable promise.

By God’s grace we will not become stuck in dull routine but rather choose the Jesus way. By His grace alone we will resist trying harder, keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus, enthusiastically love God with a full heart and be sensitive to every prompting of the holy Spirit.

[1] Ephesians 1:3 NIV The prayer text has been ‘personalised’ to make it real.

[2] Ephesians 1:18 NIV

[3] Practice Resurrection – Eugene Peterson p. 62

******My latest book – “CONVERSATIONS……Observations, experiences and questions while on the Jesus way.” Available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover and Kindle. *************

The post AN HONEST APPRAISAL PART ONE appeared first on Hislife.

DEEPLY GRATEFUL

I have written several revisions of this new book, ‘Conversations’ which came out of a personal desire to understand the biblical story of discipleship. This particular writing project began as the result of numerous conversations with three other brothers over a period of about two years. I am deeply grateful for their wisdom and patience as they shared from their own perspectives on the beauty of transformed living, wedded to the effort of making right personal choices.

STORY

This book is a story about ordinary people, and is a mixture of experience and teaching, Living as a disciple of Jesus is only possible by His grace, wisdom and the power of his Spirit within us. My desire and earnest prayer in writing this book is to encourage His Church, His Beloved people, to capture the spirit of life-changing adventure, to hunger for Jesus and walk in His ways.

CONVERSATIONS is available in the UK on Amazon.

CONVERSATIONS is available in the US on Amazon.

Available in Paperback and on Kindle.

The post CONVERSATIONS appeared first on Hislife.

KEEPING IN STEP

The holy Spirit has surprising ways of bringing to mind insights which are needed to keep me in step with the Spirit both in the immediate today as well as wisdom for tomorrow. These words are the building blocks of life preparing me for my next step

PUZZLE

I love the way that we do not have to understand everything immediately but God gradually in His wisdom clearly reveals His heart’s desire to us. He knows best which part of His plans fit and where. Sometimes, just like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, the Spirit’s revelation slots into each other and builds a picture of God’s purposes within my very ordinary life and the lives of others.

I would like to share some of those seemingly disconnected parts with you. These observations may well help to strengthen, encourage and direct your own devotion to Jesus.

What an insightful statement about Jacob, a man known for deceiving his father and robbing his brother. In his last days while blessing his Grandchildren….”By faith Jacob,…and worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff.” [1] He worshipped God while leaning on his staff. An ordinary, everday occurence…BUT he worshipped his God. Therefore whatever we are ‘leaning’ on let us also worship God.

ACTS TODAY

In the Acts of the early Church we read about two people we hear very little about. However, they are described in a way that sets them apart by their way of life. “Titius Justus, a worshipper of God.” [2] “Lydia, a worshipper of God.” [3]

I am deeply challenged by God’s words to Moses.’ He was to confront Pharoah with the words of God. “Get up early in the morning, confront Pharoah and say to him; ‘This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: LET MY PEOPLE GO, SO THAT THEY MAY WORSHIP ME.” [4]

WORSHIP IN THE WILDERNESS

In other words go out into the wilderness and worship Me, I think that means the marketplace or the neighbourhood for us. Personally, I want to be known as a ‘worshipper of God.’ In the dry and barren places, in the places of uncertainty! In the weakness of leaning on my staff!

Worship is that quality of participating in God’s goodness and loving kindness as we declare not just with singing but with our whole being…body, soul, mind and heart as we love one another just as He loves us.

I find these words heart-warming…”Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.” [5]

[1] Hebrews 11:21 NIV

[2] Acts 18:7 NIV

[3] Acts 16:14 NIV

[4] Exodus 9:13 NIV

[5] Psalm 23:6 THE MSG

The post MEANDERING THOUGHTS appeared first on Hislife.

“Lord, You have been our DWELLING PLACE in all generations..” quite phenomenal insight for his day. “Before the mountains were brought forth or You ever gave birth to the earth and the world …from everlasting to everlasting, YOU ARE GOD.” Ps 90:1-2

I can see this revelation unfolding in the tent of ‘intimacy’. The depth of this cannot be underestimated! We all know this as a biblical fact. However, I am seeing this in the context of another pathway conversation that opened up on our arrival in Tauranga. A centrepoint in the powerful prophetic writing of Isaiah as he considers the vision of Cyrus instrumental in Israels return to Jerusalem.

“I AM the Lord, and there is NO OTHER; There is NO GOD besides Me. I WILL GIRD YOU…” Is 45:5

I am deeply aware that this imprint on the heart is substantial! Beyond understanding. Unfolding in the realm of birthing. The word GIRD is to embrace and equip …. I note that this is not related to task! It is a Kingdom principle of walking together with a growing awareness of being ONE!

My focus in the psalm slips down the page to “Oh, satisfy us in the morning with your love ..” Ps 90:14 here we are hearts wide open with an echo in the heavens of “Come up here … and I will show you..”

EVERYTHING STARTS HERE

In the tent of intimacy! … heart to Heart … a moment in time …a moment in … well, it really is hard to describe. There are some things within these moments that can only be known when you are there.

A ‘hedged in’ moment … a moment of transformation and transition in beautiful layers with horizons yet to be reached!

In that unfolding and seeing, I see Moses reach out in response. Not as before with debate and denial, or frustration but responsive in recognition!

“Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children.” Ps 90:16

FRESH TERRITORY

Now this is fresh territory for me! How is it that I didn’t see this all those years ago? Timing, I expect? Can I now carry this unfolding?

Let YOUR WORK … YOUR PURPOSE .. YOUR HEART VISION appear …be REVEALED! In the seeing, his heart explodes, and from his lips pours a response of recognition! Let YOUR GLORY … the very ESSENCE of who You are be revealed to the children! Wow! I will leave that thought with you because its outcome has significant variety.

In that transcendent heart to heart moment, Moses continues to empty his heart with emotive response.

“Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us..” Ps 90:17

This is likely to be what he was experiencing in those intimate moments in the tent. I reflect on what I have read of  Paul as he writes “The things that God has prepared for those who love Him. … God has revealed them to us through His Spirit …” 1 Cor 3:9-10 and continues with “…and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 2 Cor 2:14

The sense of Moses’ writing is the fragrant beauty of the Lord, diffused through His people! The image of the Father reflecting a life changing burst of heaven upon earth!

A REVELATORY OUTCOME

How amazing to stand in Grace where time meets eternity! When Heaven is on earth! Where in that moment nothing else matters. Moses has this realization …”establish the work of our hands..” Ps 90:17 establish the work and purpose revealed in intimacy … a tone and theme that echoes through all of time …

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fulness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him” Eph 1:7-10

Father in Heaven, how glorious is Your name!

Let Your Kingdom come with all the radiant and fragrant beauty of Your will being done in our world as it is in heaven.

The post A REVELATION…PSALM 90 – PART TWO appeared first on Hislife.

Contemplation is a wonderful experience in the presence of an Almighty God.

“You have prepared a table for me in the presence of the enemy, You anoint my head with oil and my cup overflows….”  …. with liberty I add ‘the Word you speak there brings Life, gives Grace, builds courage into the future’ Ps 23:5

A conversation started some 30 years ago between 2 closed doors! This has recently opened up a way that exceeded my expectation. I have been here before was the thought, but right now, it was a way that felt quite different. After what seemed to be a long time of waiting, a new horizon appeared before us. It is remarkable to discover that there is no time in heaven and therefore the encouragement to ‘wait’ can feel quite intense and at times relegated to the backdrop. Scripture however, is quite clear on the precise instruction to “wait on the Lord” in Psalms, with the hand in hand call to “come and talk with me”. Ps 27: 7-8 and 14NLT

THE IN DEPTH CONVERSATION:

“You have hedged me behind and before, then laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, beyond understanding” Ps 139:5-6NKJV

Today there is a sense of a fresh breeze at this moment in time. I stand in Grace with an open heart … open hands …exposed … beautifully in over my head. An entirely new and fuller discovery as more is revealed in conversation.

In this space, I wonder how Joseph felt in the pit … in Potiphar’s prison, hedged in and seemingly forgotten! I think too of Saul, zealously preaching Christ and confounding the Jews. He is then sent home to Tarsus for about 10 years. Forgotten, until Barnabas sees the new horizon on the streets of Antioch. This is an echo of David’s experience noted in Ps 139. “The hand of God laid upon me…” somewhere between anointing and reigning?

My wondering shifts a little as I consider Paul’s well known “God is in all things …” and I stumble, through a margin reference, to Moses between the first and second editions of the Ten Commandments historically believed to be carved on sapphire. I smile!

THE TENT OF INTIMACY

Exodus 33 tells us more than just the recorded text. There he is pitching the tent of intimacy! We see him ‘heart to heart’ with God Almighty. A reoccurring interface between heaven and earth! A confluence which reflects the heart of God since Eden. A man who has found grace in the sight of the Father. A remarkable set of events that takes my consideration to the astounding inference of ‘image bearer’ as recorded in creation, all the way to Paul’s teaching.

I can imagine Moses writing the Pentateuch scrolls in that environment. Written under the ‘hand of God’, The Torah reflects the heart of the Father for not just a people chosen to be His, but that the whole of creation to be brought together as one in Him.

Notably, Moses only wrote one psalm in the tent of ‘intimacy’! I have spent some time in that psalm in the last 30 years. It reflects and resounds so much of what happened in Exodus 33. It is a psalm of remarkable insight!

Part Two follows next week….

The post HEDGED…PART ONE appeared first on Hislife.