Monthly Archives: May 2008

My transition

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So the last day of May… I feel like this year has exploded on the scene. Opportunities but in particular winds of change. When I flew in to Toulouse yesterday, the pilot said we are now coming in from the north as there has been changing winds here. (BTW forgot to say in Stoke on Trent at the public presentation the presenter quoted what the church has been proclaiming about the city – when the city begins to say what the church is saying that is always a sign of a major shift.)

Once these next few weeks take place I will outline a personal transition that I anticipate to make. It is 10 years ago (March 98) since I stood and wore sackcloth, and said that it was time for new clothing, the clothing of humility, that the way we had related had got us thus far, but that train terminated here. To move forward there would have to be a new way of relating. I had no idea what that meant for me – but within 3 months I was catapulted to begin to journey, first up and down the UK, then continental Europe, north America and more latterly Brazil.

Well in March this year I wrote – probably I am in a transition that will take place over the next 3 or so years… by May the time frame had been severely adjusted (shortened). I am in June going to explore more firmly what that means so that from July onward I can put anything in motion I need to.

It is both uncomfortable and also so life-giving. But it is the same winds that blew me in the fall of 97 / through early 98… they are blowing again now 10 years later.

I cannot say too much more now, but if you are facing transition – don’t be surprised in this season if the time-frame gets shortened for you.

A new land: across the lake

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Well I think it might be time to try and wind down these set of blogs. They are not the final word, nor the most accurate take on what is taking place. Again I do believe we are seeing something remarkable taking place but the main element for me is that it is indicating that as we respond to the impetus of God that there is a new dimension of his power available.

How we handle that is the key. It cannot be for our own promotion. Yes we publicise abroad the works of God, and yet there is also a time when he works quietly and in a hidden way, leading people to faith. Leaving them to answer the question of ‘who do you think I am?’

Over the past years I have been challenged about the wrong divide between church and world. Same as I was challenged about the wrong divide between churches (we are one body), so now it is finding how can we at one with the people around us and carry the presence of God to them as we live among them. This is a step beyond carrying the presence of God to them and we are not living among them.

Proclamation as we enter a place is probably different to carrying Jesus while living among people. It is this latter stage I think we are looking for to break forth in this move. Not just healings on the street, but God’s presence bringing health as we pray in the most natural of ways.

The window is open. I cannot go back to outpouring meetings to live my life – I have no idea if I will attend one or not – but I am looking for the opportunities that are increasing where Jesus will teach us how to walk the land again.

Let me close with this thought: we are to hunger and thirst after righteousness. We must make sure that we see this in its fullness. It must include signs and wonders (if we are talking the righteousness of the kingdom) and the marginalised must be able to recognise that good news is what they are hearing. The taking down of wrong powers and the empowerment of those on the edge: Pentecost being manifest.

Stoke on Trent

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I am taking a short break from the series of blogs around the current outpouring of the Spirit – more to come. I am on my way to France today, and expect that to be a time for intercession, the prophetic and healing.

The last two days have been in Stoke on Trent, finishing last night. I have been travelling here for the past 5 years or so on a regular basis and it is wonderful to track with them. There are green shoots all over the city, the level of connection to the city is wonderful.

The place is a model city: that requires diversity, amidst unity: otherwise Jezebel will run riot. The first morning I covered some of the material I have been blogging on regarding Lakeland. Releasing diversity but holding a unity is a challenge. I left feeling Lord you are wise. The presence of the Lord has been so tangible while here.

The major area I pushed into was that of politics. I was privileged to attend in the council chamber a public meeting where a report on the politics was given by a group set up to review the shape of the (failing) political scene here. The report is damning but sets out some ways for the future.

In my heart even before that meeting I had been carrying:

  • a model city has to model something new in politics
  • the old party system is dead – there has to rise up a new breed who will be together amidst differences for the sake of the city… so

I am looking for shift that is tangible over 2 months; for a new shape to arise that will be a model that will impact even Westminster. To do so I taught a little on:

  • the people of God take responsibility for the issue
  • God releases then an anointing for the task
  • the anointing releases the connections
  • the connections release the resources

So we await. Transformation is not about a style of meeting, it is not measured by what takes place in a building – it affects the gates enormously. The gate of politics is the immediate gate of battle here. Alongside that the issue of the next generation carrying a transformation DNA I see as a major focus.

Au revoir.

New centres?

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Whenever God moves he moves somewhere. The Day of Pentecost took place in an upper room in Jerusalem. It is a privilege to have God move in a particular place and if we are among those that God has touched that too is a privilege. There is then a responsibility as to what we do with what has been outpoured.

God is God and works beyond our boundaries (just ask Peter about his Cornelius experience!), so my language that follows is rather lame. There is though a big challenge for those who ‘oversee’ this. Are they going to be the new priests and now the blessing comes through them? Is there only one way to receive and there are those who are appointed through whom it is given? Of course the genuine challenge is that there is the anointing of God that comes on individuals, so we must focus more on attitude than on what we actually see practised.

If this is a move for the saints then we will need to be careful about new centres (places/ people). This is why I acknowledge Lakeland as a palce that God is using to open a window (an anointing has fallen there) and as a sign that a window has opened (the centre is Jesus, and the place to receive from is heaven).

Hunger for God is good (wow that is revelation!!) but if not handled right the hunger for God can feed the self-image that I don’t have God, or enough of God. True but not true!!

Now if we need to go somewhere because of the true impulse of the Lord, then we must go; if we find that the Lord has touched us in this season and we don’t know how nor when but that there is a new power, a new boldness… then perhaps we need to cross the lake and go to the other side [not original to me]. More on that tomorrow.

This is God but God…

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So a few of the thoughts thus far have been:

  • that we are seeing a new door open for the western church for signs and wonders; there is a release of power at a fresh level
  • we probably don’t know the full impact of this yet; when compared to toronto (and if there is some correlation to the 2 winds prophecy) we might not fully be aware that there will be yet more devastation to the kingdoms that have our names on them

Today a thought that we might develop and exlore is the ever-constant danger of reducing God to a move of God. We can say of a move of God ‘this is God’ in the sense that God is in it, he is the initiator. Such moves needs those who will pursue it passionately… but if also add the words (in attitude) ‘God is this’ then I consider that we are in great danger of missing what else he is doing. God is beyond the boundaries of where we find him – he is at work in the most obscure of places.

Sometimes a move of God proclaims how big God is – and sometimes by assuming this is now ‘God’ we actually reduce God in size.

Can we ever answer the question: Is this the main thing God is doing? We cannot ultimately say.

Signs of the kingdom are twofold: supernatural and justice. The resurrection power and the path of the cross come together to manifest these two signs in the earth. I am so glad of the supernatural element – how we handle the signs, how we respond to them, whether it gives us a status: those might be the bigger issues.

Alongside this type of thought is the exploration of a hunger for God – is this the same as a hunger for ‘the glory’; and how does a hunger for righteousness fit in?

In these posts I am seeking to convey that I totally believe this is a move of God – I think there is enough evidence, not just in Lakeland, but in homes to see that there is a fresh window here now. Not all stories are public – some Jesus seems to leave as ‘don’t tell anyone’ type miracles. But I also wish to explore things deeper than a simple polarisation of ‘this is God / this is not God’ as we have laboured hard in prayer over the past years for the coming to life of the body of Christ. This is very ciritical in the UK where I see the major dismantling taking place to give us another opportunity to be reshaped and poured out again in anonymity.

Thanks for every comment on the posts. Have a blessed day!!

2 winds

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Thanks for all the responses to this last post. I appreciate that 1) not everyone was around for the first wind – assuming that is 94, and 2) that it is never nice and neat – that is over and finished on such and such a date. After all every wind is the Spirit of God and, although perhaps accurate, to say this is the wind bringing such and such, if it is the Spirit then it is God who comes not simply a manifestation of God.

I write, from the perspective of one who was deeply impacted in 94. I would not have purused doing what I have given myself to over the past 14 years if it was not for that. However, I am also someone who needs to put my hands up and say ‘guilty’ of assuming that it was primarily about personal blessing and that it had nothing to say about church structures. I see the wonderful devastation it has brought to imperial structures, and the total disarming to the arrogance of people like myself (and not saying I am humble now!).

So I have journeyed as far as possible with integrity to the place of not looking for platform, nor title, as we are headed toward the release of the body of Christ.

Then there seems to me to be a new wind here which certainly includes a major dimension of the supernatural for miracles. How we handle this I think will be key. There are door openers who are anointed for a time and a situation – Peter for the Gentiles in the NT?

Opening a door and the door becoming the focus is two different things. Also what we do with testimonies is very key.They need to be told to bring glory to God, but who tells them, why and to whom is also key. Does God look to show himself the same way to everyone?

How we handle power, the mountaintop is key. We can be there and ask for tabernacles, not realising there is a demonised boy in the valley. We can be there and the disciples are still unable to cast the demon out.

These are awesome days – let us not miss them to the right nor the left. Perhaps it will take about 3-5 years before we gain a depth of understanding about these days… I think (for me) it took at least 7 years to understand that Toronto that marked the beginning of an era was also marking the end of a way of being.

Although away for the next few days I will try and get back on line with these posts, not with answers – so glad we don’t have ones – but to provoke dialogue.

Our responses at the low point help shape the way forward.

Brief report on Wandsworth (Tooting)

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I have spent 2 days up in the borough of Wandsworth – 2 weeks ago and this Friday gone. It is a privilege to go there to see the faithfulness of those who have dug in over the years. In Tooting what I see taking place is that people are being drawn together who are taking responsibility for the area. For those who are not title driven they can become participants in an apostolic authority – which I essentially see as opening up new territory.

There has been a strong ‘death / destruction’ over the area but the key way to counteract that is to become a source of life. We do not overcome death by resisting it but ‘life overcomes death’. So I see a strong source of life coming there: life that is added to the initiatives that spring from Wandsworth town and life that will re-align Balham. Balham I saw as a place of great diversity and creativity but it had become a stronghold now for the occult so was heavily oppressed. God is giving an authority and a responsibility to Tooting for Balham. Putney – a spirit of independence and separateness is something that needs to worked on at a later date.

Worship across Tooting was the ‘front’ key to open the door, then immediately behind the door is a harvest among children.

Off today with 8 days in Sutton Coldfield, Stoke on Trent, Toulouse (France).

By the beginning of July I am trusting that I will have some news to share regarding the current transition (many are feeling winds of change blowing) is moving and maybe even some thoughts as to what that means practically.

A prophecy from 87

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For today’s post I am enclosing a prophetic word that came through David Minor and as far as I am aware it came in 87. It talks of 2 winds of God coming… the first that included a major devastation and touched structures, the second a wave of power and miracles.

All prophecy must be weighed, and all prophecy comes in part, and can of course come through the filter of the one who speaks, however, I think there is enough in it to help us particualry if is to be read it through the lens of 94 and 08.

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A door opening symbol?

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Lakeland is both a door opener and a symbol that a door has been opened. So a little expansion on that.

I can compare this to Toronto… we speak of the ‘Toronto Blessing’: this does not mean that it belonged to Toronto, that everyone had to have personal contact with Toronto, or that something similar was not happening elsewhere. (In France in the Autumn / Fall prior to 94 there was, for example, an outpouring with all the same characteristics that was termed ‘the new wine’.)

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What do I think about…?

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I have been asked – as I am sure you have been asked – what do you make of Lakeland, are you going…? I plan to blog for a few days around this, not with ‘the perspective’, but given that Jesus asked his disciples ‘what do people say?’ and then ‘what do you say?’ So I can be one of the ‘what do people say…’ and then at your own level you will have to answer – and ‘what do you say?’

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Huge days… be bold

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These are huge days. And how do we interpret some of the events: a new level of the miraculous, cyclones, earthquakes, controversial embryo bills that might lead somewhere horrendous. We have a visit of the Dalai Lama to the UK… there is always a seeking to stir the waters through his work. Perhaps the Olympic flame with its journey over the past weeks has been used to stir powers?

I think one insight is that we must not separate the outpouring of the Spirit from the birth pangs that are evident in creation. If we do we could see some major catastrophes increase, and live through a move that offers so much promise stalling. When I watched the New Orleans flooding on TV I asked the Lord – how do we minimise the loss of life in these situations? I did not expect an answer, but as clear as any audible voice, instantly I heard:

where the church lives with a spirit of self-preservation it will release a loss of life in the community.

Here is an excerpt from a prophetic word brought in ’87. It might well be able to interpret the first wind as ‘toronto’ and the second wind as what is happening now:

In My first wind that is now upon you I will blow out pride, lust, greed, opposition and jealousy and you will feel devastated, but haven’t you read ‘blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven’? So out of your poverty of spirit, I will establish My kingdom. Have you not read ‘The Kingdom of God is in the Holy Ghost’ so by My Spirit, My kingdom will be established and made manifest. Know this also, there will be those who will seek to hide from this present wind and they will try to flow with the second wind, but again they will be blown away by it. Only those who turn their faces into the present wind shall be allowed to be propelled by the second wind.

I encourage those pursuing the (devastating) direction the first wind drove you in to now be open to a fresh wind. I had a phone call yesterday with Michael Schiffmann and we both agreed that there will be those who seek to use the current wind to propel themselves into the limelight… my perspective the shaking that will transpire will not take the 6/7 years from ’94 but maybe 3-4 years.

Bridges have to be built… the intersting thing I have seen in the Spirit is that many of the bridges is not built from where we are to where we need to go… they will be built from going, and seeming isolation, back to where we are. Let the forerunners rise up!!

Irresistible revolution

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Shane Claiborne was recently in the UK and I know his visit and his book has made quite an impact. An unassuming believer who does not shrink from the ‘hard parts’ of the Gospel. Friends in Manchester are dialoguing on the book, both through blog and podcast discussions on each chapter. Want to join in – they would love that.

Here is the link to the blogs: theIRchats.

The podcasts can be accessed from that page or if you wish you can subscribe to them directly. Click here for that.

On his second book (Jesus for President) Kester Brewin wrote:

Thanks so much to Shane and his people for sending me a copy of his new book, written with Chris Haw, Jesus for President. It’s gorgeous to look at and hold, fabulously designed, and perfectly balanced between seriousness and playfulness… starting with the title. Why can’t every Christian book be like this? I just hope people get it, and read it thoroughly as they think about the coming US elections.

Worst case scenario: Shane gets asked to be Obama’s advisor on something. As Campolo is quoted in the book: “Mixing the church and state is like mixing ice cream and cow manure . It may not do much to the manure, but it sure messes up the ice cream.” Stay pure and creamy Shane!