I will make a blog later on Rio (some amazing God-incidences, healings, and such a clear sight as to a way forward there. For now though a quick note on Belem. (I am on a borrowed computer and it downloads an email every 15 minutes or so – sorry for non-answers but they will have to wait till Brasilia.)
Belem is one of 5 major points of entry to the nation spiritually. I now know the others so it is very enlightening.
Tonight I begin a conference in Jacarapagua and am pleased to say that the churches in the region are working together at a new level, and also are working to connect with the city beyond their own 4 walls.
Yesterday was a great day.
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It is always good to come to this city which I first visited with Anderson Lima in 2003. I have been told of shifts since then. Last April we were in the neighbouring area of Mesquita and since then there has been a gathering of several thousands in the square and the mayor of the city prayed amidst tears over the sins of the city. The church in Jacarapagua has released a CD that speaks of what is coming – there is a 3 minute word I gave for the nation translated on there too. There is a growing unity here in this area.
While here my main input is going to be on the aspect of the church’s engagement in society…
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I leave in a few hours to go to Rio de Janeiro: city of 8 million, city of contrasts – rich and poor. I look forward to being with good friends there, and pray that the sessions on church in society will move something very significant.
I am coming toward the end of the time here in Florianapolis. It has been very good to be here, but it has not worked too well as a school. They have put two events together, so I am working with Coraiolla from Palmas (we did a school there with him 18 months ago) who carries a ‘revivalist’ anointing. Last night I finished about 11.00pm and then he went another 4 hours!! So we had a massive crowd last night, this morning they were all in bed! So to say we had a small crowd this morning would be to overstate the numbers present.
I was instructed years ago to follow the finger of God and that the Spirit of God would then manifest. I have carried in my spirit that Florianapolis is in a new era, there is a sweeping clean of the old regimes and that the gates are opening for occupation. At the end of tonight I had two people brought forward for prophetic ministry: the mayor of the city (not an evangelical believer) and a politician (a Catholic church goer). I was amazed to watch how the Lord spoke into the life of the city, into what has been taking place in the political realm. The pastor who has invited us here then went overboard to explain that he had told ‘nada’ to me about the city. This to me is a sign of the finger of God. He is most certainly speaking now of a modelling in this city of the church’s immersion in the city and the presence in the gates. I look forward to my time here – I say that because often I come to places and think how can we ever shift the religious mind-sets of the church.
And I also left with a copy in Portuguese of ‘Organic Church’. So am happy.
This is a very different city to where I have been. The streets are all-but without pot-holes, there is evidence of wealth around. I have an opportunity tonight and tomorrow night to address the business community here. This is very timely: the door opened here when I prophesied over a pastor last year in Brasilia. As a sign that there was something new coming, and that ‘the old voices would be silenced’ I said that within days of his return to the city there would be an exposure that would come that would be city-wide. 15 days later many of the masons, the business people and the mayor were arrested. The pastor had played the tape to the city council of pastors before the event took place so this was fairly well known. I had also spoken of a window of opportunity that would last 2 years otherwise there would be an entrance of a ‘church’ that would advocate wrong sexual practices.
enHnece I believe we are here at the right time. I am looking forward to making a connection at this time into the business community so that we begin to see people occupy what needs to be occupied.
I left Fortaleza this morning at 4.30am en route to Florianapolis. We extended the school to two more evenings and the numbers grew through word of mouth.
Yesterday I had a wonderfully challenging day being taken aorund parts of the city by Andrew who works with YWAM and into one of the most challenging areas where there is prostitution and drugs of every possible description. We entered the favella with a drug dealer on the gate, who greeted Andrew.
Journey to Jerusalem- Damascus and Syria 2nd-13th Oct
Returning to Leeds yesterday was like returning from a visit to Narnia, such has been the richness of all that we have tasted in the wonderful country of Syria. Whether its the smell of shisha pipes in the coffee shop at the eastern gate of the old city walls of Damascus, or the aroma of spices in the souq of Damascus, the sight of the hills of Lebanon or the Bedouin Shepherds by the road side, or the taste of sweet pastries, the many and varied salads and the wonderful fruit drinks that are served on every street corner, you will understand how our senses have been bombarded in an unforgettable way. The gentle welcome of the Syrians and their incredible gift of hospitality made all talk of axis of evil seem very remote indeed, not withstanding a courtesy visit to the local army barracks when we strayed too near the Lebanese border!
Today should have been the final day of the school but we are extending it two more evenings. Today I focused on false prophecy / false prophets. I found out later that it is a problem in this area, so it was not surprising that over 50% of the pepole came forward for freedom (I make it very clear that we are not talking about a word that was wrong, but of the spirit and practice of false prophecy). Again there were healings, for example, one woman had a compressed disc in her back for 15 years and she broke into tears as she discovered she was pain free for the first time in those years.
I have just returned in from a most significant time together. I sense we shifted something big as God gave some revelation. For some time now I have been pushing 5 years for the ‘old woman’ of Europe to come through, and 5 years for the ‘young child’ of Brazil to grow up.
Well I am here and have a few minutes break. This will go so quickly, but it is most encouraging thus far. First lady I laid hands on last night was instantly healed from a damaged right knee that had been that way in excess of 10 years, followed by a number of others today. The participation in the activations has been very high with good feedback from those both giving and receiving prophecies.
I am beginning to get insight on the city. I saw it as a trading place, unrightous trade takeing place back to Europe. Europe sitting as a vulture ready to promise benefits but spoiling the place. Turns out that this is one of the, or probably the, major port for the wort sort of trafficing. We have begun to pray into this: I see a wrong alignment here between economics and church, probably rooted in a military / church deal that was exploited for ecnomic reasons.
Certainly coming to places such as this it is very sobering. We have to see something rise up that will not be self-consumed but addressing the issues of the city from an incarnational approach.
This school (and I think the others) is being streamed on internet TV. You probably have to sign in but it is on: http://www.jehova-shammah.com.br
Will write more at the end of the school – although we might extend it by one more evening to Monday night.
Much of the material that will be central to these posts will cover perspectives on the 'gates' of society, the places of influence that shape the culture. If transformation is a desired outcome, such aspects as strategic prayer and understanding the redemptive gifts of places will play their part. As prayer opens up space, filling it will be vital, not in a controlling, top-down sense, but with a servant spirit. Finding appropriate terminology is difficult. Maybe 'transformation' is not the right term, perhaps 'transfiguration', where inner qualities burst through.
I have chosen to use the term 'gates' and although they can be defined any number of ways these are the seven ways I have chosen to group them by:
These are in two formats. Epub can be read in many ereaders, such as Ipad, kobo etc.; if using a kindle then the format will be mobi. If there are difficulties in reading the format an internet search should show any peculiarities for your specific ereader
Vol 1.1 Epub format Vol 1.1 Mobi format
Vol 1.2 Epub format Vol 1.2 Mobi format
Vol 1.3 Epub format Vol 1.3 Mobi format