Who do you think you are?

On Sunday we ministered at ‘His Way’ Church in North Auckland. We have grown to love this congregation of passionate believers, disciples and worshippers and have enjoyed our times when we have not been ministering on a weekend and have gone there to join them in their worship.

We had a wonderful time this Sunday as God met people on a very deep level, healing, setting free and for many establishing a right knowledge of their identity in him and their inestimable worth and value – far more than the combined wealth of the planet could buy.

I felt to release a prophetic word that I had been sitting on for months waiting for the right time and situation to release it in decree over the nation. I have included it at the end of this entry. As I did Rob ministered prophetically in music. Then Rob followed that with a powerful teaching from Isaiah 60 calling us to Arise and Shine, knowing that the ability to do so comes out of the glory of the Lord rising upon us. He looked at what that glory is and the foundational need in each of us to answer two very important questions. “Who am I” and “What am I worth”.

The answer to these two questions must be settled within us correctly otherwise we will never fully take our place as the ‘sons and daughters of God‘ that creation has longed and groaned and waited for (to be revealed). He wove into this message parts from his teaching on Honour called “The Power of Honour”. He finished by singing a spontaneous prophetic song over the congregation calling them into the greatness of ‘who they are’ and ‘who God is in them’.

The presence of God came in a powerful way and many were ministered to and set free, prophesied over and released into knowledge of their ‘sonship’ (male and female). So when the devil comes against them now and says “Who do you think you are?” they will rise up in certainty answering “Devil, it’s not who I think I am it’s who I know I am!”

[If you want to get Sundays message contact 'His Way' Church but if you want to hear the full version of Robs teaching on Honour you can order the CD set ‘The Power of Honour’ from us by contacting us at nz@xpmedia.com or if you want to purchase it online go to www.creativefire.org.nz]

The Vision

During worship one day in a conference I became aware I was in a vision – in the spirit realm and spinning like a ice skater, like a top, round and round, faster and faster. As I spun a whirlwind began to form over the region where I was. It started out looking like a small tornado and then it grew until it was huge covering the whole region.

As the tornados top end reached the third heaven the earth end opened out wide. It became a whirlwind portal of glory (like a tube) and I saw angels start to dive into it. As they reached the earth they were spun out with great force into their assignments.

Then I saw other angels in the third heaven begin to throw things down into the whirlwind, into the portal. As I looked I saw that they were throwing down gifts and body parts into the whirlwind. I could hear talking in the Spirit “Just get them there as quick as you can, the demand is so great”. They were for those on earth (in NZ) who would stand and minister out of the whirlwind, who would take hold of the Kingdom with force – with passion and intent. They could reach into the glory and take the parts needed for those they ministered to.

Then I saw angelic horsemen ride out of the whirlwind and begin to ride around it’s outer perimeter (like Indians around a wagon train) but they protected not attacked. They kept back the forces of darkness from bringing destruction to the whirlwind and the children of God who ministered out of it.

Some of the horsemen reached into the whirlwind, into the portal and grabbed handfuls of it, handfuls of wind & also reached out and picked up people lifting them up behind them onto their horses. Then they rode out away from the portal to other places carrying the wind. At that point I became aware that other whirlwinds had already started over other towns or regions around the nation and what I was seeing over my area was simply a part of the whole.

Suddenly the whirlwind I was at exploded bursting open and a shockwave went out across the nation (like a nuclear blast shockwave) and a glory cloud covered the nation like a bubble that extended out into the sea to the territorial limits. I sensed that in it all the whirlwinds across the nation became one. I saw boats and planes coming from around the globe and as they hit the territorial limits they hit the glory.

I also saw in the vision that the violence of the wind scared some and because the whirlwind made a mess many rejected it as being something God would do.

Interpretation

I believe I was representative of the ‘Body’ in intercession in the vision rather than it being me personally opening this portal — Twirling like a top is a symbol of intercession/travail  chalal – 2490 – from 2342 –  to bore, to begin, as if by an opening wedge – often used to describe travailing dance Ps 96:9 1Sam22:15)

Intercession formed a link of power between heaven and earth. The movement of the whirlwind grew in effect the nearer it got to heaven – the tornado became bigger – wider as it reached toward there. Once that link was established it was able to fan out to cover more. First the vertical winning through in prayer and then the horizontal effect in the earth of the intercession.

The angels that dived in were angels sent out on assignment into the revival. They were enjoying themselves as they were spun out. I feel there was an ‘at last’ from them and that our prayers gave extra impetus to their sending. Angels throwing down things – I saw this and at first my eyes didn’t believe what they were seeing. My mind said the angels wouldn’t be so callous but it wasn’t callousness that made them throw them down it was sheer necessity the demand was so great that they just had to get them there the speediest way.

I believe God is saying that this season is a significant time to prepare in intercession for what God wants to release into our nation. This preparation is a vital part of releasing the whirlwind of God into this nation. It is opening a portal of divine power and strength. Healing will be a big part of it along with signs and wonders and unusual and extraordinary miracles.

It would not be a tame move – it would be violent and the violent (passionate, intentional people) would take it by force, they would be the ones who stand and minister out of it. I believe that while significant, the power released in the centre I was in was not the only release of this wind of healing. I saw other centres already with whirlwinds at the same time although this one was the largest and fiercest and the shockwave issued out of this one.

I hesitate to call what I saw a revival because I believe it is far more than that. It is a reformation and a restoration of the Church that I saw – a returning to God’s blueprint for the Kingdom of God and those who would walk in it.

Supernatural signs point to a Supernatural God

Supernatural signs that point to a supernatural God manifested themselves in plenty on Saturday night at the Xtravagant Worship night. We came hungry and prepared to press in to meet with God, and Heaven leaked through onto earth as we did.

At the beginning of the night we prophetically declared what God is releasing into our nation – a move of God that is uniquely Kiwi; a reformation of the Church that will be accompanied by extraordinary miracles, signs and wonders followed by a reformation of our society.

One of the seers on our team shared with us that at the beginning of the meeting she saw a cloud begin to hover in the room that opened into a portal of glory then a rainbow manifested itself from heaven down through that portal into the room. Angels bearing bowls began to stream from the rainbow into the room to minister.

We started to worship, having come to declare God’s glory and worship Him with abandonment of heart, and as we did it wasn’t long before He was attracted to our worship and hunger and began to manifest His presence amongst us.  During the evening many heard angels singing audibly in the room. Supernatural wind began to blow and was felt by many (the air-con was off in case you’re wondering). Gold dust began to appear and oil also began to appear on hands. Some people had feathers manifest by them as they worshipped or found them later on the floor. The presence of God was heavy and very real as a sense of holiness filled the atmosphere, yet at the same time a sense of joy and wonder filled peoples’ hearts.

There were some there who had never witnessed any supernatural manifestations of God’s presence before. They were deeply touched and shared with me later that they didn’t know God did stuff like this. People were ministered to as God gave words of knowledge and some were set free of bondages during that time.

Many were strengthened and encouraged and by the end of the evening we knew that heaven had come to earth and we had been blessed and strengthened to go and be a blessing, to embrace and push in to what God is releasing in our nation.

Seeing a baby born – priceless!

It’s been a busy couple of weeks as we’ve eagerly awaited the arrival of our daughter Tanya & Phil’s baby. Being at the birth was a wonderful experience - to see a baby born without enduring the pain yourself – priceless!

For everything else to do with a baby unfortunately you really do need a mastercard! But that’s another story really.

As a parent at the birth of a grandchild, you want so much to be able to help yet at the same time feel helpless, no matter how much you actually do. You would like to be able to rescue them from going through it all on one hand and on the other you know they will come through this knowing there is more to them than they knew. You stand there and watch making small noises of encouragement and all the while your heart is bursting with pride as you see them dig deep and go that bit further and push that little bit longer than they thought they could do and then at the end of it all is this precious bundle of love all wrapped up in a baby’s skin.

I am in awe at how this precious baby was loved even before she existed in this world. While they are still within their mother’s womb you feel this overwhelming love yet they have done nothing to deserve being loved, they have not yet smiled at you, grasped your finger with their tiny hand, said their first word or taken that first tentative step. Yet you feel this overwhelming sense that you would do anything or spend everything, no matter what it costs you – you just want them to know they are loved. 

It all sounds like how God loves us really, doesn’t it, and the birth of my grandaughter has given me a fresh revelation of just how much God loves us and was willing to do whatever it took so that we would know He loved us. Im sure this journey of grandparenthood will be as much a journey of discovery for me as it is for her and I find myself looking forward to it all very much and already making plans for how to show her the preciousness of who she is to us. 

Oh yes, by the way her name is Eden and she weighed in at 9lb 2oz. 

 

Nothing less than more!

I love the freedom of being able to worship without boundaries that restrict and hem you in. To me our Xtravagant Worship Nights are times like that. There are no restrictions on peoples’ worship – they can dance, they can sing, they can lay prostrate on the floor or soak laying on the seats. They can wave flags, sit silently or draw and write their worship. It’s a time where we have time and spend time extravagantly on worshipping God. 

What exciting journeys we go on in the Holy Spirit as He leads us – sharing His heart and, often, probing and exposing ours. Healings, visions, ministry to each other – it can all happen and possibly will. Each time is different but at the end of the evening it always finishes the same – with wanting more! More of God, more of His presence, more of His power, more! Nothing less than more will do. 

Can you get too much of God? Too much of His presence? No, I don’t think so. Is there a danger of getting presence focused and experience based? I hope so! Without experience a relationship is nothing. Without experiencing the other person’s presence a relationship is nothing more than an unsatisfying imitation of what could be. Of course I am not promoting an imbalance here but how long will we continue to settle for the ‘less’ when more is on offer?

I recently read an article by A J Butel on being a ‘presence based’ people, parts of which I have included below for you. More and more we see God calling us into a relationship like this and the Church to be a Church that carries His presence out into the world and releases His power as we go.

“We are being called to arise and shine as a PRESENCE-BASED PEOPLE—to be CARRIERS of His glory. We are moving into a time when we will begin to regularly and naturally demonstrate what we have been hearing and seeing and have had imparted to us.

However, there is a transitioning that is taking place and will now be accelerating. I feel that there is a further shaking that is coming to us which will not only be challenging, but absolutely exhilarating! It is a shake-down of any religious remnants, a shake-down of unbelieving mind-sets, a shake-down of pride and independence, a shake-down of disillusionment and frustration, and a shake-down of the fear of man.

And I see the Lord activating new realms of faith! Oh, such joy-filled, electric, expectant faith, where we will run FREE and UNFETTERED—emboldened by His love, strengthened by our unity of heart, propelled by His manifestation of power in and through us. There is a freedom that is coming to peoples’ hearts to receive and release God’s presence. Such a joy. Such a liberty in Him. Such an ease in His Glory.

I keep hearing, “He’s being poured out! He’s being poured out! He’s being poured out! He’s being poured out!”

The more we release His presence upon others—the more we dispense of this anointing, this warmth, this love, this joy, this light—the more He pours in. It becomes a CONTINUOUS CURRENT and generates LIFE, restoration, momentum and fruitfulness. Because freely we have received, so generously we will give! Wow! His oil is so incredibly abundant.

Do you want to go deeper into the Lord’s heart? Then release His Spirit on others. Seize those opportunities to share His heart with your world. Declare and decree His words of life and blessing around you. Give and it will come back to you FULL MEASURE, pressed down, shaken together and RUNNING OVER! “

Queens Birthday blowout!

Picture, if you will, a room full of passionate, on-fire-for-God, worshipping teenagers. You got it! It was loud, it  was hot, it was sweet! The presence of God filled the room and spilled over onto the city streets as those same teenagers who had worshipped and been encouraged and challenged by the great speakers at their conference went beyond the Church walls and shared what God had done for them. As a result there were words of knowledge, healings, and people were awesomely touched by the love of God.

This was the ‘Acts 29 Generation’ conference at Waiuku over Queens Birthday weekend where Rob led the worship times. The speakers came from NZ and the USA. Some were older, some younger but all spoke with a passion and reality of relationship with God that was tangible and evident in its power. God followed the preaching with miracles as people were healed – one young man was healed of foot problems, another person no longer wears glasses to see as God healed their eyesight and others legs grew in length as ordinary teenagers (not Pastors or superstar evangelists) prayed to an extraordinary God. Feathers manifested from another realm – and not as a result of sleeping bags splitting or pillows being thrown either, but just because God likes to have fun with his kids and show that He is God. 

The presence of God was tangible in the worship times and there were sessions even where the worship extended out to over two hours as the attendees encountered God in very real ways – not your normal conference timetable – but definitely led by the Holy Spirit. The worship team Rob worked with were all new to him and they did a great job of flowing prophetically with him in those times. Good work team!

Benji and the team from Te Anau did a great job organizing the conference and our thanks go out to them for all their hard work. It’s not easy to organize something like that from the other end of the nation.

It’s exciting seeing what God is doing as we watch the Church undergoing a radical and long awaited change. We are becoming who we were always intended to be – a power-filled, love-motivated group of radical believers in the eternal, radically loving God who has done and will do His utmost to win our love and bring us back into relationship with Him.

Te Anau in the Glory

Heavenly visitations, glory manifestations, angelic encounters, commissioning to the nations and Father love encounters – these all happened last weekend at the Glory School we held in Te Anau. The guys down there are hungry for God and pressing in to see even greater releases of the glory of God into their region and this nation.We were hosted by Fiordland New Life Church and Pastors John and Fiona Steffen. It was great to catch up with them again and help them build in the spirit this weekend.

Here’s something for you to tuck away and maybe pray through – they are going to be running a School of Supernatural ministry there in Te Anau next year – if you’re interested in spending a block of time being trained to move in both the power and love of God then maybe contact them for more details (benjicom83@gmail.com). It will be a powerful time of training, impartation and sending. These guys are seeing people healed on a regular basis out there on the streets as God shows up and is allowed to be God.

Even as we were setting up for the Glory School we felt the weight of God’s presence and the presence of angels. They left their calling card too – over the weekend we received quite a few supernatural white feathers that manifested as we worshipped. Also a couple of people had gold dust manifest on their hands as they worshipped. But it was the encounters people had with Jesus and the Father that were the most amazing. They came into two categories mainly – Father love encounters and commissioning encounters.

Someone asked why there were so many encounters that are full of fun and non serious unspiritual type stuff. As I thought about it the Lord reminded me that earlier in the year he had shared with me that NZ needed a fresh understanding and experiencing of the Father’s heart. (for more detail on that see the entries Prophetic Insights for 2009 -Day 6 Trust and Father issues). I have noticed at the last few schools that there have been quite a few encounters for people with the Father and I believe that God is doing something in our nation in that area in this season. NZ is called to be a nation that walks in the glory, that knows its society being transformed by the love and power of God. I see a day coming when families are restored and the Fatherless become fathered. So it makes sense that God would be working in that area in the church as hurts are healed and people restored to know His love so they can show His love.

But back to the school – here are some of the testimonies of peoples encounters with God as they told them. Let the Lord minister to you as you read them. These testimonies are from the students sharing in the feedback times.

• In the throne room, I was asking God for his heart and to change mine to be more like his. He told me that more time seated on his knee in the throne room hearing his heart would change mine.
• As I walked up the stairs to the throne room I walked past the great cloud of witnesses, so many of whom I knew – those who had prayed me into the kingdom and influenced me. In a time of anticipation about seeing ’God’ I kept walking as I continued to recognize the many faces, only to get to the throne to run up to God calling “Daddy, Daddy it’s you.”
• I’ve been asking God to change my mindsets lately and I saw Jesus standing in front of me and he made a fist and hit me hard in the gut and reached right up inside me and pulled his hand out and in it were little black things that were in his hand and they trickled through the hole in his hand onto the floor and I asked what they were and he said they were human paradigms and that he was activating the divine in me.
• I asked God if there was going to be hunting in heaven and he said “no this is what it will be like” and I found myself having a play tussle with a huge lion and he said “that’s what the relationship between you and the animals will be like in heaven” then I saw a toucan like bird and it’s beak was like made of sapphire. I had often said I would like to help look after the animals in heaven.
• I saw a chariot and stepped into it and God took me to France and Vienna and I had always thought they were tourist places but God showed me this vision was about missions and I saw places with children in cells and God said that was child slavery and I saw two kids really strongly and God said I want you to adopt them. (whether this is literal as in personally adopt or symbolic in some way is yet to be established)
• I saw a bright light coming toward me and thought it was an angel then I saw it was a dove and it landed on my finger and the Lord reminded me of Noah and the dove showing the land was ready and God showed me that the nations are ready to meet the creator in his fullness and I said God what do you want me to bring back and He said boldness (and then the young man prayed for us all and released that boldness to us).
• I have had a continuous experience from the beginning of tonight. It started in the worship time and continued on into the activations- I started off laying before the throne of God declaring his majesty and worshipping and God said “I’m giving you the weight I have of the nations, you’re not going to feel it now but you’re definitely going to feel it later on”. I thought I don’t know if I want that and then I thought okay God, give it to me. Then Lyn came along and touched my chest and then moved on and after she left I felt this huge hand settle on my chest and it was the Holy Spirit and he said “I’ve got you”. Then a little later I was standing before the throne again, at attention and God said “I’m commissioning you for something” and I thought oh heck. He said “turn to your left” and I turned and I was in Thailand in the walking street and I saw this crippled guy, his head was mashed and his ear and his legs were stunted and withered. God said “keep looking at him” and then God said “reach out your hand and pray for him” – I prayed for him and God healed him; a creative miracle. I was shocked and a crowd came and God said “I’m going to bring crowds to you” and then God said “turn to your right” and I didn’t want to because I felt something dark and heavy – I turned and there was all these people holding out broken hearts. I turned away and saw the Holy Spirit and his eyes were filled with tears and he said “I’m going to use you to mend the broken hearts” and I thought that’s to much for me and God said “I told you, I’m going to bring the weight I carry to you”. I said “I don’t want it” and he said “look behind you” and I looked and there was Jesus and two whirlwinds and his heart was pushing me to go and then the Holy spirit showed me his hand on my chest and said “you are not the one bearing my burden it’s me”. It seemed like he was showing me a whole pile of impossible things to do and then he showed me heaps of angels and said “they’re going with you and before you preparing the way”. 
• Another man told us later his encounter – He found himself in an experience where he was in a place and aware of a river off to one side but he was walking on a path and stooping to drink from muddy, putrid puddles that had maggots and other horrible growth around and in them. All the while the river was running alongside but he kept drinking from the dirty puddles. Then suddenly he was in the river and going under the water. The water was pure and living and filled him with life and he remembers swallowing some of it then found himself on the side of the river vomiting out all the putrid waters he had drunk with two angels ministering to him as he got rid of the rubbish he had swallowed while on the path. Then they put him back in the river and this time the river was like liquid fire that burned with an intense blue flame (like when Methylated spirits burns) and he saw as he lifted his hand out of the water that he burned but was not consumed. This man had a deliverance in the heavenly places as God cleansed him and ministered to him, bringing him back into the place of being cleansed, filled with living water and set on fire with the power of God. How cool is God. 

Well those are just some of the testimonies from this last weekend. God did way more than that but space is limited here to tell it all. God is on the move, New Zealand, preparing us, cleansing us and making us know His love so we can show His love; to know His power so we can walk in and release His power. Revelatory encounters are growing and people are being transformed by their encounters with God.

Keep pressing in for more release of the revelatory in your life and remember – YOUR ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD WILL CHANGE YOU- they will cause you to fall more in love with Him, more in love with His Word and more in love with people. You cannot have a genuine encounter with God and come away unchanged (unless you harden your heart toward him). God wants the world to encounter Him but to do that we, the church, must first encounter Him and know Him for who he really is – the God who is love and who is good, who loves to set people free and bring them into wholeness and fullness of relationship with Him.

From the ends of the earth

The last few days we have been in Invercargill which is the last city at the Southern most end of the earth from Jerusalem. (Apparently not the southern most city nearest Antarctica though – that is Ushuaia in Sth America so I’ve just been told). We’ve had a great time down here in the South Island and in the next report I’ll update you on what happened at the Te Anau Glory School – it was an absolutely amazing time.

But this report  a photographic one which includes some photos of our trip today to the bottom most point of the South  Island - Bluff – home of a few world famous things but probably the two best known are the Bluff signpost and Bluff Oysters. We had our photo taken at the sign and then headed up to the cafe where we sat drinking Roasted Addiqtion coffee looking out at wild seas. 

They are hardy people down here and not too fussed by the whole fashion and image thing. It has been freezing cold down here and yet we’ve seen people wandering around with bare feet not at all perturbed by the cold. As you’ll see in this photo we pulled up to the service station to fill up the truck and there was someone in their pyjamas filling their car.

 We saw further evidence of their hardiness as a  people as we watched a local fishing boat braving the waves at the Bluff harbour entrance as it set off out to sea to do some work. I’ve never been a huge fan of the way boats move and usually end up feeling sick just walking up the gangplank thingy so how these guys do what they do amazes me. I think they have either got to be foolhardy or brave – probably both in great amounts I think! Here are a series of photos we took as the boat went through the harbour entrance

        

But for me the highlight of our time here (apart from the ministry stuff) has been the fulfillment of a lifetime dream – to ride on a Harley!!! The Pastor of the church we are ministering at here owns one and took me out for a ride the other day – if you are a bike fan you’ll understand without words but if you’re not then let me describe it – wind rushing against your face, the sound of a powerful engine filling your ears and the fun of only two wheels, 1400+cc’s of engine and a bit of metal hurtling you forward at 100kms an hour (approx) – I couldn’t see the speedometer and didn’t want to. I just sat back and enjoyed it, laughing at the goodness of Daddy God and Danny, the guy riding the bike. Rob was alongside us on another bike as together we raced a storm front to see who would get home first. We both arrived at the same time – us and the storm and the first drops of big fat rain fell as we pulled up outside Danny’s house. What a ride – something I won’t forget in a hurry I tell you! Here are the photos taken of us on the bikes with Danny – okay they aren’t actually moving when we took the photos and I didn’t actually get to drive the Harley myself (sometimes being so short is a real bummer) but I don’t care  - it’ll happen one day 

  

The Culture of Conformity v the Culture of Faith

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original. Gal 5:25-26 Message Bible

God is calling a generation of fearless obedient warriors to rise up and step out in obedience to Him. He is calling us to leave behind our insecurities and desire to blend in with the crowd and to stand out as ones who carry the presence and power of God in our lives and release it into every situation we come into. So what stops us doing this? One of the biggest things that stops us is the culture of conformity that surrounds us. 

We live in an age where we strive for individuality yet look so much to our peers for approval that instead of experiencing individuality we live in a culture of conformity. We search for significance, for status – from our families, from our peers, from our jobs. We think we have significance because of what we do, because of our job, but what we don’t realise is that it isn’t the job that gives us significance – our job is significant because we are. It is us that bring our significance to the job. We constantly look for validation, yet we look for it from broken people instead of the one person to whom we should look – God. We buy the right car, the right house, and the cool clothes. We go to the new restaurant / nightclub to be seen in the right places. Our life is influenced by peer pressure and advertising.

The enemy isn’t so much interested in our gift as he is in our identity and our faith. If he can sideline us through our desire to be accepted then we will disqualify ourselves from the life of faith and our real identity will be stolen from us, leaving us always searching for significance.  It’s in knowing our identity and significance that our sense of purpose and destiny will be released. Purpose releases passion, and purpose and passion release faith, thus releasing the resources needed to fulfil the promise and receive the reward. Faith releases the anointing and the anointing breaks the yoke. 

 The culture of conformity causes us to be inward focused and our life is lived with our eyes on ourselves instead of on God. (It has been said that “One of the smallest of packages is a person wrapped up in themself.”)  The culture of conformity lets others make the decisions for us and a person living through the decisions of his friends isn’t really living.

Let’s take a brief look at the life of Saul

1 Sam 9:20-25  King Saul was a classic. Samuel anoints him king then on the day he is to announce it, Saul can’t be found – he is hiding amongst the baggage. He cannot see himself as God sees him. In his eyes he is a nobody and has no significance. His lack of self worth and identity were so bad they would eventually cause his downfall as king. 

1 Sam 15:1- Saul and the Amalekites –v24 Saul listened to the people and was afraid of them. This fear caused him to offer a sacrifice when he shouldn’t have and in the end it caused him to lose his kingship. Then he got caught out  - v30 He had sinned but he wanted Samuel to cover for him in front of the people. The people’s opinion of him was more important to him than God’s. He had learnt nothing. His identity and significance were still found in how others saw him not in how God saw him.

There’s nothing essentially wrong with dressing like your mates or doing the things they enjoy but when your friends decide how you live then you have a problem. God calls us to conform to one thing only – the image of Jesus and his righteousness. He says in Galatians – “It is for freedom that I set you free. Do not be conformed to a yoke of slavery.”

If we bow to the culture of conformity we cannot walk in the culture of the Kingdom of Heaven and faith.

Conformity says “Be the same as everyone else.”

Faith says “Be who you were created to be.”

Conformity says “Don’t rock the boat.”

Faith says “Step out of the boat altogether.”

Conformity says “Play it safe, stay with the crowd.”

Faith says “Live the adventure.”

Conformity says “Don’t believe things can be different.”

Faith says “I’ll make the difference.”

Conformity says “Listen to intimidation and fear. Let the crowd sway you.”

Faith says “I refuse to bow to intimidation and fear. I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me.”

Conformity says “Exist, but don’t really live.”

Faith says “Live life with passion.”

Conformity says “Be powerless – like us.”

Faith says “I am filled with the Spirit of God. The  power in Christ is within me and the weight and authority of the throne of heaven back me up.”

Wrong conformity ultimately brings us into a yoke of bondage. Any time we are in a place of bondage our effectiveness is diluted or negated altogether. Get set free. God calls us to be fulfilled in our uniqueness. He calls us to live a life of faith instead of a life of conformity; to be the change, to make the difference, to live life with passion for a cause greater than ourselves. What is that cause – Love for the King of Kings and the release of the Kingdom of God into the earth!

What will you choose today, the culture of conformity or the culture of faith? Choose faith and step out of the boat. Be the much loved child of God you are, and in knowing that place of identity and significance then step out and be the worshipping warrior you are called to be – releasing Heaven into earth. Go for it!

Glory released in life changing ways

You know, you cannot have  a genuine encounter with God without it changing you in some way. I have found that genuine ‘God encounters’ will cause you to love God more, reverence His Word more and feel more of His heart for people.  

We had an amazing time at the Glory School here in Auckland this past weekend and by the end of the weekend people could say that the above had definitely happened to them – they had encounters with God that changed them and will shape their lives from this weekend on. 

People came from all over the North Island to attend it. They came from Kaitaia, Warkworth, Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Te Puke, Taranaki and other places. They came with expectation and hunger and God did not disappoint them. By the end of the weekend they had encountered God in deeper ways than ever before and fallen even more in love with Him.

People had face-to-face encounters with Jesus, experiences in the third heaven and throne room, many saw and felt angels and about half the people in the room heard the angels singing in the worship on Sat night. What a glorious sound it was that filled the room – at first I thought it was Rob doing something on his keyboard but the volume was too great and the pitch way above what he was playing (I checked – that’s part of my job as host at the school).

As well as that we had at least three definite miracles of healing happen on the Saturday night during the worship. People testified to God completely removing pain from their bodies that had been there for months in some cases. As a result of God touching them all pain went and they were able to do movements they could not do before that meeting. 

Here are some of the testimonies from the school

• The Father was playing with me throwing me in the air and saying “Trust me, trust me, I’ll always catch you.” Then we played ball and He was throwing it to me and I couldn’t catch it so He lifted me up and said “You’ll always catch it when I lift you.”

• I was in the Father’s lap and it was white and soft like a feather bed and I was curled up in it totally safe. He said I was a warrior and that in the midst of battle to remember that that’s where I really was – safe in Him.

• My dad was always busy when I was a child. I saw a vision of myself and in it I was on the back of a toy plane/eagle and the Father was playing with me spending time with me, taking time to be with me. The later, sitting on a park bench where we had been playing I saw a little chubby girl unattractive and realized that’s how I saw myself then saw her change into a beautiful woman and felt God say He saw me as mature and wise and put a graduation cap on me.

• I walked with Jesus going past troops all standing to attention and I asked “Who are they?”  He said they’re angelic troops and trained to combat doubt, unbelief and hardness of heart – to break those strongholds. You can call on them when you need them.

• I felt a hand hold mine and lead me and then I was suddenly in a meadow and Jesus walked toward me, like Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, and we walked together then lay and looked at clouds together…I asked if I could rest my head on His chest and He said “Yes”, and I said that I wanted to stay here forever; He said that I could and I felt His love and asked for it to seep into my heart. Then He said “Take my love back to earth with you. Be my hands and my feet.”

• I found myself in a forest walking deeper into it. It was dark and the trees were tall and thick and in the middle of it I found a waterfall so clean and pure, and I knew that the water was alive, but it was in the dark forest.  I said “Lord, I can’t see the light. It’s so dark in here.” Then I was flying over the treetops over the land – I knew it was NZ – but the water was hidden in the forest, not flowing out into the land. The land was thirsty but the water wasn’t flowing. Then God took me into the throne room and the water was flowing from the throne, the river of God – pure, clean, alive and living, and the water was the same as what I saw on earth and He said “Take the living water back to earth with you.”

This last encounter is of particular prophetic importance and is, I feel, a word for the Church of NZ. The land is NZ and the forest, I believe, represents the Church – full of individual strong and tall trees but the living water is sheltered and hidden deep inside the forest (Church & individuals) and doesn’t flow out to the thirsty land. God wants us to go to a place of encounter with Him and from there to take the living water and let it flow from us into this nation and quench it’s thirst, bringing it back to life.

Acts 29… a new generation of torch bearers

Hi there everyone

We don’t normally include promotion for general events but Rob is leading the worship for this conference. It will be an awesome God weekend of signs, wonders, healing, salvation – the guys running it are NZ students in their second year at Bill Johnson’s School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding, California. These guys are seeing supernatural healings and miracles happen all the time – check it out!!!

 

Acts 29 Generation Conference; The Revolution Continues… The early Apostles knew the keys to unlocking heaven, so that they might see the Kingdom of God released on the earth. Acts is full of stories of the Kingdom of God being released on earth. The early church turned the world upside down and then set it on fire with the Holy Spirit. They moved in the fullness of the Love, Power and the Vision of Jesus Christ.

Acts 29 Generation is a conference aimed at empowering young people to move in the fullness of the love, power and vision of Jesus Christ. The book of Acts only has 28 chapters, the next chapter -Acts29- is in our hands, we want history to record that our Generation, like the early Apostles turned the world upside down and set it on fire!!! Last year, God visited a handful of hungry people. He touched our hearts and transformed our minds. Miracles, Salvations; the Power of the Spirit of God burst forth upon us. Heaven broke out and released a cry, ‘Heaven cries Freedom’. This year the revolution continues! We move again from glory to glory.

Prepare yourself for an encounter with the manifest Presence of God!!!!!!

Who - Absolutely anybody over the age of 13yrs. You just need a love and passion for God and a desire to further His Kingdom.

When –  Thurs 28th May-Mon 1st June 2009 (Queen’s Birthday Weekend). Rego’s start at 5pm on Thursday, our first meeting starts at 6.30pm. Acts 29 will finish at 2.30pm on Monday.

Where - Waiuku Town Hall, Queen St, Waiuku, South Auckland.

Cost -  $60.00 ea A deposit of $30.00 is required and is non-refundable. You will receive confirmation of your booking by e-mail.

EARLYBIRDS get a free Acts 29 tshirt. Earlybird cut-off 5th May. Late registrations get a discounted tshirt at $10. People who pre-register will get some special goodies. We will take door registrations. Those who register late can purchase a tshirts for $20, stocks are very limited. Food; You will need to bring money to buy food. There are no cooking facilities. Accommodation; Marae style accommodation is available. You will need your own mattress and bedding.

Queries and Questions: acts29generation@gmail.com Benji 0211541470 • Join an apostolic generation living for global revival

 Awesome speakers

 7/11 prayer meeting & 24/7 Prayer

 Treasure Hunts/ Community Outreach

 Be empowered to carry and release the Presence of God and realities of Heaven in a way that transforms your world

 Off the hook Heavenly Worship

 Speakers are:

 Ben Runciman, a young man who grew up in Waiuku and is now associated with Fusion Church in Auckland, he is just about to complete his second year at Bethel School of Ministry in Redding California. His ministry is very prophetic and has a life style of signs and wonders, healing and words of knowledge are a regular aspect of his ministry. He inspires and equips people to live a supernatural lifestyle, releasing the kingdom of God and sharing the love and power of God especially in the market place.
 
Matt and Renee Lansdowne, associated with Albany City Church, currently about to finish their first year at Bethel School of supernatural Ministry, in Redding California. Matt an Renee specialise in equipping the saints for supernatural evangelism. They are great communicators with a passion for God’s Presence and God’s people. They were recently in Ecuador with a team for two weeks, they saw over 200 people saved and over 1,000 creative miracles. They regularly see the impossible bow to the Name of Jesus.
 
Owen Braaksma, a young man from Waiuku AOG, who will be sharing testimonies from recent missions trips to Fiji, Africa, Thailand, Samoa and also what he has seen God doing in New Zealand. For such a young man he carries an exceptional boldness and faith which continually results in God doing the impossible. He relates to and inspires youth with real authority because he is himself only 17.
 
Pastor David Collins, Franklin Elim. Pastor David is passionate for Revival and the pursuit of God’s manifest Presence, His Glory. Pastor David will share words of wisdom for an emerging generation that is hungry for intimacy and encounter with the real and supernatural King of Glory.
 
Benji Alexander, of Fiordland New Life Church. Benji has a passion to see a generation sold out 100% for Jesus Christ and the dream of Jesus Christ- Global Revival. He will be speaking on devotion to Christ, and unlocking the promises of God through Covenant with Christ and Faith.

Overview of Door Keepers Ministry – Mike Livengood Michael and Linda Livengood partner with individual churches and in cooperative interdenominational meetings. They are on assignment – opening the door for individuals and churches to the manifest presence of God. They share what they have learned about ‘living’ and ‘leading’ revival. They navigate the brooding and moving of the Holy Spirit and bring others with them.  They seek God for what He would say in each ministry situation. The truths of God’s Word concerning salvation, Holy Spirit baptism and healing are expounded through anointed teaching and preaching.

Rob Packer, Rob and his wife Lyn are the national leaders of Extreme Prophetic in New Zealand. They have a passion and gifting in leading others into the Presence of God, into realms of glory and encounter where lives are mightily impacted and transformed. They are a catalyst in ushering others into their destiny in Christ. They have a wealth of experience and wisdom and will definately be leading us from glory to glory. Rob will be leading the worship.