Posts Tagged ‘Maranatha’

Looking past the madness with hope

March 27, 2020

One morning in May 2012 I was clearly led to the following two scriptures while in the USA on business:

Jeremiah 4v13

“Look, he advances like the clouds, his chariots come like a whirlwind, his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! We are ruined.”

Daniel 4v34

“At the end of that time I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honoured and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.”

These two scriptures seemed to me to be ‘book ends’ of a process that was underway:

I believe that the first scripture was an announcement in the spirit realm of the releasing of a whirlwind in the life of America. There are moments when the restraining hand of God is lifted and we are released to the full consequences of our choices. I believe the whirlwind released ungodly legislation, social crisis, collapsing race relations, violence in the suburbs and schools, and increasing disconnection between political leaders and the people. This happened with extraordinary increase of pace from that time in 2012.

This will continue and escalate until the promised restoration of sanity comes – as described in the second scripture.

In the account of Daniel, we see Nebuchadnezzar reaching a point of utter insanity. He has fallen from a place of greatness to the point where he has lost respect, was degraded, looked shameful in people’s eyes and was unkempt and had apparently lost his mind. In 2012 I felt this picture described how the leadership of the USA would cease to honour the true God, after formerly speaking well of God. The whirlwind spoken of in Jeremiah 4 would bring trouble after trouble and the leaders would lead the nation into debased insanity.

I felt the words that God was giving to me were a powerful word of warning followed by a huge promise of hope:

There is coming a moment of revelation where those who have chosen the path of such foolishness that leads to national insanity will suddenly realise the truth. The Truth about the Living God; The Truth about the destructive consequences of abandoning God; The Truth about God’s sovereignty in the life of the nation.

That moment of revelation will bring a restoration that seems too amazing to even be possible! This restoration is coming but can only follow the humbling of the people and the leaders with sincerity and true acknowledgement of the Sovereign God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

I believe that God has not finished His purposes for the United States of America, but He will only take the nation to the next season on His terms. He does not compromise, and He will not share his glory with another. The best is yet to come, but first the whirlwind must do the work of undoing much that is in the way.

Since 2012, watching events with this thought in mind, I am convinced that there are strong parallels in the UK, and that much of our ‘madness’ is a shared thing.

This moment of restoration is coming. We must pray – “Maranatha!” – Come Lord Jesus!

The Whirlwind shaking America

October 2, 2015

I want to ask my American friends to excuse me for writing about your country. I know how irritating uninformed Brits can be! I feel compelled to write some of what I believe God showed me about the USA: This blog posting was prepared long before the awful events yesterday in Oregon.

In the Spring of 2012 I was on a business trip in the USA and I was given two very specific and related words from God about America. I believe this revelation was primarily to guide me in praying for this great nation. I felt that one instruction at the end of the ‘500 days’ (see earlier blog 3 days ago) is to share these words.

One morning in May 2012 I was clearly led to the following two scriptures:

Jeremiah 4v13

“Look, he advances like the clouds, his chariots come like a whirlwind, his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! We are ruined.”

Daniel 4v34

“At the end of that time I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honoured and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.”

I believe that the first scripture was an announcement in the spirit realm of the releasing of a whirlwind in the life of America. There are moments when the restraining hand of God is lifted and we are released to the full consequences of our choices. I believe the whirlwind released ungodly legislation, social crisis, collapsing race relations, violence in the suburbs and schools, and increasing disconnection between political leaders and the people. This is happening and has been happening with extraordinary increase of pace since 2012.

This will continue and escalate until the promised restoration of sanity comes – as described in the second scripture.

In the account of Daniel, we see Nebuchadnezzar reaching a point of utter insanity. He has fallen from a place of greatness to the point where he has lost respect, was degraded, looked shameful in people’s eyes and was unkempt and had apparently lost his mind. In 2012 I felt this picture described how the leadership of the USA would cease to honour the true God, after formerly speaking well of God. The whirlwind spoken of in Jeremiah 4 would bring trouble after trouble and the leaders would lead the nation into debased insanity.

I felt the words that God was giving to me were a powerful word of warning followed by a huge promise of hope:

There is coming a moment of revelation where those who have chosen the path of such foolishness that leads to national insanity will suddenly realise the truth. The Truth about the Living God; The Truth about the destructive consequences of abandoning God; The Truth about God’s sovereignty in the life of the nation.

That moment of revelation will bring a restoration that seems too amazing to even be possible! This restoration is coming but can only follow the humbling of the people and the leaders with sincerity and true acknowledgement of the Sovereign God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

I believe that God has not finished His purposes for the United States of America, but He will only take the nation to the next season on His terms. He does not compromise, and He will not share his glory with another. The best is yet to come, but first the whirlwind must do the work of undoing much that is in the way.

This moment of restoration is coming. We must pray – “Maranatha!” – Come Lord Jesus!

The Prayer of A Righteous Person is Powerful and Effective

December 31, 2013

 

Calvin prayer

 Photograph courtesy of Graham Jones

One of my key highlights from 2013 was this prayer written and prayed out by 12 year old Calvin Strong of Saint Helens.  In a one minute prayer – alongside 7 leaders from a wide spectrum of churches, Calvin captured the heart of prayer for Oneness and the hope of what the Church might be in the days ahead.. as you read this, would you pray along in agreement?

 Father God,

I pray for our churches, that there will be unity between the generations.

Help us to build strong relationships in You, which demonstrate Your love, to others.

As we face challenges let us be ready to support each other and offer comfort in difficult times.

May we be accepting of each other’s experiences and individuality.

In the sharing of wisdom and talents help us to show respect.

Through Your power help us, as a church family, to bring faith and hope to those who have none.

In Your mercy hear our prayer.

(hear our prayer)

Watch here as Calvin leads the stadium prayer gathering with his prayer

 

Standing together. On what basis?

December 31, 2013

    8 Representatives Together

You Tube video of 8 leaders prayer together 

With all that has separated the Body of Christ over hundreds of years there is a mountain of disunity that we need to deal with. At Saints in the Stadium thousands of Christians from all traditions and backgrounds came together to call on God to seek His help for the United Kingdom. Eight people from different denominations of the Church stood and prayed for Oneness in the Body in the United Kingdom.

There is only one God and Father. Centuries of separateness amongst believers for countless reasons does not change the unity of God. Standing together and singing or praying does not change the separation in our hearts. Issues of truth do not become flexible with us simply holding hands.

We can, however, take heart from the increasing number of leaders and church representatives who want to see a change and want to stand together on the basis that Jesus is Lord. We prayed for God’s help in the matter of heart oneness. God is answering this prayer.

Standing together declaring the Lordship of Jesus

The representatives praying at Saints in the Stadium:

Leading – Dennis Wrigley – co-founder of the Maranatha Community

Bishop Geoff Pearson – Church of England Bishop of Lancaster
Father Bill Keogh – Roman Catholic itinerant priest
Rosie Critchlow – Co-ordinator of Network Manchester
Pastor Phil Jump – Chairman of North West Free Church Council
Mr John Cavanagh – Prayer Co-ordinator for Together for the Harvest
Pastor Ayo Akinsanya – Senior Pastor of Deeper Life Church Merseyside
Steve Clifford – Director of the Evangelical Alliance
Calvin Strong – Young People’s Representative
 
Watch here