Brisbane Christian Network- To connect and encourage

This blog is a ministry of www.brisbanechurch.com.au 

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God gave me a vision which I believe is prophetic of what He is wanting do in 2012.

In the vision I saw two lanes and in one lane I could see there was a long line of cars and in the other lane I didn’t see any cars at all and as I waited on the Lord He showed me that those people that are following in that long line of cars…they are at cruising speed…they are not breaking any rules…they are just doing what they need to do…but God is saying that there is another lane available that very few are on…it’s the inside lane… and God is saying he is looking for people who will pull out of that line of traffic (the mainstream)…and we’ve been taught that you submit but submission becomes dangerous when you are not fulfilling the call of God upon your life.

God is saying…it is time…He is looking for those ones to pull out from that line of cars and come in on the inside lane (it’s in the place of deep intimacy) because when you come on the inside lane an anointing of acceleration is going to come upon you. You’re going to put your foot down on the accelerator and you are going to find that you are overtaking those others…but as long as you stay in that other lane you’re not really going anywhere…you’re surrounded by people all going the same direction at the same pace…in cruise control.

God is looking for pioneers. He is looking for those who are willing to step out of that lane…put their foot on the accelerator by faith and he will pour out upon you an anointing of acceleration and favour.

Who wants that?

When you decide that you’re going to be one of those ones this year…that acceleration, that favour is going to come and God is going to bring you to a new level…promotion is coming in the Spirit.

There are many, many people that have been prepared and trained over many years and they are still in the line of cars.

They are not fulfilling what God has called them to do!

This is not a time for status quo anymore. This is 2012.

This is the year of Apostolic/Prophetic government coming into divine order.

This is a time when the Apostles and Prophets that have been hidden are going to come out. You’re going to see who they are!

They’re going to be the ones that want to accelerate and go with God.

They’re pioneers. They’re going to go into new realms of the Spirit so that others can follow.

Then when somebody breaks out and moves forward others in that line are going to say…if they can do it I can do it!

We’re going to have breakaway! We’re going to have Revival!

That same old lane is man’s way and many churches are still stuck in their little boxes. They’re still doing it according to the traditions of man.

It is not rebellious to obey God as some would think!

We submit to Him first. I am not promoting anarchy here but you need to know that you have to stand before God one day and He’s going to sayI gave you an opportunity that first day in 2012…what did you do with it?

Prayer

So Father here we stand at the door of 2012 and we believe God that you open doors and opportunities that no man can shut and these your people Lord have responded in their hearts to your Word…they say it’s time for acceleration…I am willing…I want to be one of those ones…so Father I release that anointing of acceleration to come right now upon your people in the Name of Jesus.

Lord bring them into that position they are meant to be in. Lord I pray for those that have had prophecies; that have had a call on their lives for many years and know they are not in the position they should be in…bring them out of the mainstream and establish them in the right position to bring Glory to your name.

Amen…praise God!!

This blog is a ministry of www.brisbanechurch.com.au 

Sign up up to comment or contact us to post . All views and opinions are representative of the author of each article and not necessarily reflective the theology, opinions etc of the  owners of this site or those connected with Brisbane House Churches, Organic  Churches or wider Chrsitian community.

Calling all those who want to connect online and pray together, share life, support each other. We can do so via Skype conference call. At this stage we are aiming this at those that live  in and around the Brisbane region (give or take a few hundred kilometres) Why?

Because we are hoping to develop a supportive network that should some who connect online  want to meet in person they could. Or if  help is needed- not just for a crisis but even for helping each other kick off a new outreach or help with a hard problem, it would be possible for those who wish to, to respond. This is hard if the prayer group is spread over the world.

Our suburbs (and sadly too sometimes our ‘churches’) are coming more and more impersonal places, where some live in isolation, need, mental illness, and there is no one to notice. we are not suggenting that online communities can replace face to face relationships but they definitely can provide timely connection and ministry. So no need to feel lonely and isloated, there are reources and people in the Body of Christ that you just haven’t discovered yet!

Time: Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays at 8:15 for 30 minutes.

We are also available at 5 am but have found in the past this was not a popular times lot-don’t know why it is such a beautiful time of the morning heheh???

Please register your interest for an evening one.

All you need is access to a computer, (some mobile ohones you can use as well)  headset with microphone, a fast computer connection. You can download Skype for free at http://www.skype.com/intl/en/get-skype/ and all calls to other Skype users are free. If you have a web cam you can even have a video call (not my cup of tea always as i am inmy daggies)

My skype name is melieday to contact me add me or if you need some help call me on 0400483765 email info@worshipaustralia.com

See you online soon

Simon and Mel

I want to go back to www.brisbanechurch.com.au website please

Are you a Christian song writer, musician, worshipper (well I am sure all of us in the family of God are worshiper but you know what I mean) Do you have a song that has emerged from your life that is reasonable quality recording that you want to upload to the channel . Then contact us Or why not start you own channel???

We believe that God is birthing unique creative ministries to come out of Australia. Simon and Melanie Day have been writing love songs to Jesus for many years. And mainly just singing them to Him. The music to be released on the channel was recorded a few years ago. Over the next couple of weeks ten will be uploaded and they plan to record some new songs by the end of the year and get those on the channel by 2011.

The songs are a mixure of  praise worship, prophetic and contemporary music. Simon and Melanie Day are currently working on soem tunes that can easily be sung in house churches . ie ones with not too many words so people can pick them up without song sheets or overheads and that are also in keys that the majority can sing along with

Over the last 6 months or so, I’ve gotten to know a few people associated with the House Church movement here in Brisbane. These folks have all ‘come out’ of denominational settings, and their experiences are far ranging indeed. Some have come from staid high church backgrounds, whereas others have come out of the more ‘happy clappy chappy’ pentecostal/charismatic’ streams of the church. One thing they all identify with, is the need to move on in God. This is a need to move on beyond the structures imposed by men and not by God, but it is NOT a ‘free for all’. The Lord takes the ordering of His church seriously – read Acts 2 through 7 to see why. I spent some 6 years in such a setting back in the 1980′s. I can highly recommend it, having done the rounds of denominational ‘churchianity’ for the last 26 years.

It’s not so much where we meet (either in a house, or a hall or somewhere else completely) – the question is “who are we meeting around?” If all the glory is going to pastor ‘such and such’ or to sister ‘so and so’, then Christ is not central and someone is stealing God’s glory. Leadership of such a group is essential, but the word tells us that our leaders will be known by their lives and example to the rest of the flock, (1 Cor 16:15-17, 1 Pet 5:1-5) and not by their posturing or party spirit. I firmly believe that ‘you are what you do’ in the body of Christ. Attaching sticky labels to people doesn’t seem to work too well any more, as those labels can quickly come ‘unstuck’ when the heat is on. True ministries to the body, are tried in the fiery trials of life, and they come with a ‘knowing’  kind of recommendation, from the Holy Spirit. (1 Thess 5:12-13)

Terms such as ‘Simple church, Organic church and House/Home church are used regularly, but when you visit some of these churches, you don’t always know quite what to expect. Some appear to be ‘church that we took back home with us’ and are a bit more formal, yet within that there is a great freedom. Others seem to be like spiritual halfway houses, that cater for and minister to the needs of those who are in transistion – exiting the institutional church (IC) and looking for greener pastures. I prefer to use the term “Network Church” as a means of expressing the concept as, in my experience, it works like a network of people who know each other through relational meetings, who have learned to share a measure of trust between them, and who have a balanced outlook as per their expectations. These folks are Spirit lead as to when and where they gather, and with who they gather. This doesn’t mean that they are “exclusive” in that sense. No one is excluded, but ‘gatherings’ take place at the leading of the Lord and they are usually for specific purposes – particular ministry, teaching, fellowship, prayer/praise etc. and almost all of them end up with, or begin with a shared meal, just like the early saints did.

The genuine ones in this move do not seek to promote themselves, and their only real desire is to promote good relationships with Jesus – to encourage people to hear the voice of God in this hour, to minister to their needs when able, and to keep themselves from bickering and/or entanglements with the denominations – fair enough. Most of the folks I’ve met over that time, have a genuine desire to move on and do something real for God. Many have felt stifled by traditional churches (and yes, even the so called ‘spirit filled’ ones, too) and this has happened in terms of them genuinely feeling that they have something to offer, but leadership and circumstances have prevented them from taking a ministry role thus far. While odd ones may be identified with a fringe  element that are promoting extremisms (eg: no recognised leadership or on the other hand, some form of legalism or cultishness,) most of these people have a genuine love for God AND His people , regardless of where and how they fellowship!

Some of these folks have been released into ministry roles only recently, after waiting in preparation for years for an opportunity. Well, Organic church or Simple church or Home church - call it what you will, has provided that opportunity. I might add, that those who are hosting such “gatherings” (as they are commonly called,) are by no means novices themselves. Many of these people who God is raising up have had Godly upbringings in the church scenes of their youth, or have had extensive experience in former leadership roles, and therefore have a wealth of Bible knowledge, experiences to match (including lessons learned) and could not be considered by any reasonable person, to be a danger to those seeking their ministry. They simply sense a calling out, to a ‘new move’ . I use that term hesitantly, but I can find no other appropriate term to use at this time. There are many failed movements (too numerous to mention here) but many of them missed God, due to poor timing, or too much of a ‘hands on’ controlling kind of approach. Lives were damaged and their street cred was reduced right down to zero.

Don’t be surprised if the people involved in the ‘old move’ begin to persecute those of us who have gone over to the ‘new move’. If you look back through the Bible and history in general, you’ll see that almost every time a persecution has arisen against the people of God, it was religiously motivated. The political arm of government may well have been the instrument of the acts of persecution, but there’s always been a religious spirit behind it. In the days of  Israel’s wanderings and eventual establishment, it was always pagan cultures (Canaanites, Amelikites, Sanballat, the Phillistines et al,) who all worshiped pagan gods. In the church age, it’s been the Pharisees, Saducees, then Pagan Rome, followed eventually by Papal Rome. Then finally the cults and ‘isms’ of  the last 150 years. In these last days, it will come from those who are stuck in the former moves of God (now dead works, mainly through their own backslidings as a movement,) who will come out against you, as you move on in God – don’t be surprised. People in ‘big temples’ get nervous when the next move of God takes away their following – and their livelihood!

Notice that I haven’t mentioned any names thus far? For good reasons too. This current (undercurrent?) move is one that is all of God. It doesn’t really have a name, and heaven help anyone who wants to put it in a box, put a lid on it, and try to control it. They will simply be swept away. God is leading His people in this hour by His Holy Spirit, to bypass the plans and ‘get rich quick’ ecclesiastical schemes of men. We need to hear the apostle’s words echoing down the tunnel of time:  ’Let us go forth therefore unto Him, without the camp, bearing His reproach’ (Hebs 13:13) and be that company of endtime believers, who call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart, desiring no material gain, reward or recognition for ourselves, and in so doing, bring many people to Christ, in these last days of our existence on the Earth, as we know it.

The world scene is hotting up both financially and spiritually. Regardless of what you may believe about endtime events, (the rapture, second coming, the Antichrist, Illuminati etc,) God will have His way, and no man or any corrupt scheme that is religiously or politically motivated will stay His hand. The church of the endtimes is going to be a radically different identity – an ‘organism’, rather than an ‘organisation’ – more radical than any other body of Christians in any age, particularly in the Western world. We will learn what it really means when the scripture says: “Where two or three are gathered, I am in the midst” (Matt 18:20) This is not just due to a downturn in financial futures. The world system, identified in scripture as spiritual and financial Babylon, must come to an end, as this was prophesied by the apostles and prophets centuries ago – it must happen (2 Pet 1:20,21 and 3:2-13). But as the outlook grows darker by the day, we, the saints of God must be encouraged, as the ‘uplook’ (‘look up for your redemption draws near’ Luke 21:28) is getting brighter every day too. 

In the meantime, get ready for the Lord to invade your current existence – allow Him to ‘clean up the house’ (your life) if that’s what it takes. Listen to Him through His Word, the leading of the Holy Spirit and the confirmation of mature, stable Christian people, who share your views. Don’t be waylaid by traditional allegiences, or false arguments to ‘stay within the system’ and reform it from within. It’s too late for that saints, if it could be done, it would have happened by now. One word of caution – if you are minded to leave an IC situation, do so for the right reasons – don’t just jump on the Organic church bandwagon because others are doing it. Do it at the timing and leading of the Lord, as if you do this out of His timing, you may well be in for a bumpy ride for the next little while!!!

Relax, seek the Lord, call upon Him for wisdom and direction (James 1:5-8) as to where to go, who to see, what to ask. Make your ‘headquarters’ in heaven, allow Jesus to truly be your Good Shepherd, and the Holy Spirit to be your teacher and your guide. The people of Israel were on their way to the promised land, but in order to get from Egypt to Canaan, they had to go through a wilderness journey. Surprisingly, they weren’t just following Moses, they were, in fact, following the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.  (1 Cor 10:1-6) If you feel that you’re ‘in the wilderness’ right now, then don’t panic – this is a part of the journey, but it is NOT home. You don’t have to be there in that hot, dry, windswept place forever. If you want to move past the wells of Elim (comfort zone) then saddle up your camel, and move on in faith, having heard from God as to the timing and direction you need to take. Your heavenly Father cares about you, as Peter said ‘cast all your cares upon Him, as He cares for you’  (1Pet5:7) and He will not abandon you to some religious social club. If you are truly seeking God with all of your heart, you will find Him, and He will find you – and also find a place where you fit in and can be used by Him, in this hour.

Austin Hellier

New Farm House Church Member

Many people believe in an ancient civilisation called ‘Atlantis’ wherein a race of advanced people lived in an idyllic paradise, created for them by their ‘gods’. They basically wrecked this paradise through civil wars and greed, as well as other factors, until the ‘gods’ punished them, to the extent that their island paradise sank beneath the waves of the sea, never to rise again There are many myths and legends surrounding the story of ‘Atlantis’, too many to mention in this small blog. Now the question is, do we believe the story or not? Well I for one do – sort of… I don’t believe that ancient ‘gods’ made this paradise for the earliest hominids on the planet.  Neither do I believe that apes were genetically altered by ‘ancient astronauts’ to become ‘man’ as we understand him today. I certainly DON’T believe in the folly of evolution – a fantasy that simply cannot be proven.

I DO believe that the one true God of the Bible created a paradise called Eden and placed mankind in the garden He had created for them. So what caused the ‘fall’ of man? What made them so bad that they needed to be ejected from this beautiful and idyllic surrounding? SIN! Man decided (both male and female) to do their own thing, to disobey the one and only rule God had stated, and thus lost paradise, and all in one day! Mind you, our original parents had some ‘help’…

In order to put Atlantis into the Eden context, there’s a few things that we need to understand.

1.Back in Noah’s day, the people of the Earth had committed many gross sins in the eyes of the Lord. They had committed sins of lust and murder and they had intermingled with fallen angels and produced a race of giants (called the Nephillim). According to ancient source documents, tThe fallen angels also taught humanity much wickedness through the black arts (witchcraft) and the basics of pagan religious beliefs.

2. Some Bible scholars suspect that this group of intelligent but evil fallen angels, also interfered with the genetic codes of many species during grotesque experiments. Think I’m a little off track here? Let’s consider the following. There was an advanced civilisation before the flood of Noah’s day, of that we can be sure. Here’s a quote from Genesis 4:19-22:

“19 Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. 20 Adah gave birth to Jabal; he was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock. 21 His brother’s name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute. 22 Zillah also had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Tubal-Cain’s sister was Naamah.“

3. From this above quote, we can see that the ancients who lived before the flood, had agriculture, (crops and herds) metallurgy (tools and weapons) and the arts (music, philosophy, sculpture etc) and so they were advanced enough to live in small village like settlements with all the food, tools and entertainment that they required. If you look at our modern day society we have advanced beyond these humble beginnings, but consider this. We came from the days of the horse and buggy, to motor cars, radio and TV, computers and space rockets, in LESS THAN 100 YEARS! That’s from about 1885 to 1969! So even the civilization at the time of Jabal, Jubal and Tubalcain, (Genesis chapter 4) could have advanced exponentially until the time Noah entered into the Ark (Genesis chapter 6). Science and technology aren’t the answer folks. Everybody thinks that living in the days of Star Trek (posited as being several hundred years into the future) will ‘fix’ everything. Baloney! More technology only makes mankind more evil – see the dust clouds from Hiroshima and Nagasaki as a moot point on this! What’s needed is a fundamental change of the nature of man, and this can only happen by divine revelation and intervention in human affairs. Man needs to recognise his need for a saviour, who can save him from his fallen nature.

One thing the ancients didn’t have, more often than not, was a good relationship with God. During the time after the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the garden, to the time of the flood, sin and wickedness had built up to a crescendo and God was grieved that He had created man upon the Earth. He purposed to destroy it, and all the evil works within it, finding only Noah and his immediate family to be righteous from that final generation. God instructed Noah to get wood, and to build an Ark (boat) according to some very specific dimensions. This vessel had three levels, with enough room to house animals, store food and accommodate eight adults on board, for a period of roughly one year – the time of the flood and its aftermath. This Ark was to be waterproofed, had a door built in one side, and a ‘window’ built in around the top to allow light in and air to circulate. In other words, God had designed a place of safety for humanity and the animals that would be rescued from the waters of the flood, which would destroy every living thing outside of the Ark.

”How did all this come about?” you may ask. Well, it started with a serpent (read magician, wizard, trickster,) hiding in a garden, who successfully tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God’s one and only command – DO NOT eat of a certain tree, and they couldn’t resist it. Lucifer then took over legal control of the Earth, and mankind learned to live by the sweat of his brow. He also learned that no sin is covered OR forgiven, without the shedding of blood. Many people think that Cain’s sacrifice was unacceptable to God, because it was the ‘works of his own hands’ and in a sense they are right. However, the point is that Abel’s sacrifice WAS acceptable to God BECAUSE it involved the shedding of an innocent lamb’s blood, thus prefiguring the fact that Jesus would one day shed His blood for all mankind, as a sacrifice for their sins. With Cain’s offering of grains and fruits, there was NO shedding of blood.  Isn’t it interesting to note that, even to this day, most pagan sacrifices consist of produce from the Earth, but hardly any of them (with a few more recent exceptions) involve the shedding of an animal’s blood! Ancient pagan religions always offered fruits and grains to their made up ‘gods’ at the different summer and winter solstices, apart from the ones who offered human sacrifices as well! Was Cain already Satan’s man outside the garden? Offering fruits, grains and his brother Abel, just like the post flood pagans would? Maybe!

Today, God in His wisdom and mercy has offered us passage on board an ‘Ark’ called the church. This ‘Ark’ is not a physical structure like Noah’s Ark was, it is a spiritual body of believers worldwide. It is made up of those faithful ones who name the name of the Lord, and depart from sinfulness and wickedness in their personal lives.  It is through acceptance of the offer of salvation, the free gift of God, through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ that fallen mankind can be reconciled to God, and become a part of the universal Christian church. When we accept the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, our sins are forgiven, and we have right standing with God the Father. We also enter into eternal life, which will continue on forever, with us in fellowship with God throughout all eternity, if we keep the faith that was handed to us at salvation.

Those who refuse passage on board this modern day Ark, will suffer forever the torments of the Lake of Fire – they will have no excuse before God – He will not hear their cries of protest, as every person’s conscience will convict them before a holy God. They will finally recognise their rebellion and unbelief for what it is – rejection of the sacrifice of God’s Son and the only way of salvation, through the name of Jesus.

So folks, you can believe in Atlantis and stay with it beneath the sea, lost in the mists of time and buried in your sins, forsaken of God – or you can repent (change your mind and turn towards the Lord) and be forgiven, and spend eternity with Him and fellowship with Him. The choice is yours. The ancient Edenic world, often called ‘Atlantis’ by some, will never rise from the ocean’s depths again. But you can rise in newness of life, if you accept the free gift of God, salvation through Jesus, by faith, through the grace of God.

Jesus Christ, His apostles and even some Old Testament prophets, refer either directly, or indirectly (via types and shaddows) to “the Bride of Christ”. Marriage, the union of a man and a woman for life, under God, is a type of Christ and his ‘wife’ (Ephesians 5:22 – 30). But is this ‘bride’ also the ‘body of Christ’ or is she something separate and apart from that universal, mystical body of believers? Admittedly there have been some ‘bridal’ teachings that have gone off the rails in the past, promoting exclusivity to those who believed them, and creating second class citizens in the Kingdom of God amongst those who didn’t! Legalism and cultishness are parked just around the corner from such ideas! It’s a fair question to ask: “How can a Christian be a part of the (mystical) ‘body of Christ’ and then at the same time be a part of that special group known as the ‘Bride’?

Mind you, I’m not sure I’ve got the answer to that question, Quite often those teachings are accompanied with others, such as insights into the Tabernacle of Moses and such like. Outer court, inner court and most holy place, are often seen in the same light as those who produce 30 fold for the Kingdom, and those who produce 60 fold, and finally, those who produce the ultimate 100 fold. Now you can begin to see where the ‘class distinctions’ come from. What I can say, is that whatever you produce for the Kingdom does, by and large, seem to spring forth from choices that were made in times past. (Remember the one, two and five talent men – Matthew 25:16 – 18?)

Those with a job, a mortgage and a family would find it nearly impossible to produce 100 fold for the Kingdom, in those circumstances. Whereas singles and retirees may find it a lot easier to produce 60 fold and even 100 fold, timewise. Overbalancing on this point could well end up in the erroniuos doctrine of “salvation by works”. To safeguard yourselves and those around you, you need to take on board that salvation is by faith, through grace and “not of works, lest any man should boast”. The life of a Christian is to be ‘Spirit led’ and therefore whatever works you are lead to perform must be inspired to you, from the Father heart of God. “Whatever is not of faith is sin” (Roms 14:23) the apostle Paul said!

Types and Shadows
Adam and Eve are the archetypal couple that show forth God’s intentions in eternity – his Son married to his chosen Bride – forever. God created Adam and then recognised the need for a companion – a ‘helpmeet’ as the scriptures put it. Adam was cast into a deep sleep and a part of his side was taken and in due time, a beautiful bride called Eve (mother of all the living) was presented to him. “For this cause, a man shall leave his mother and father, and cleave unto his wife, and they two shall become one flesh.”(Gen 2:24) In the same way, when Jesus died on the cross, blood and water came out of his side, and washed a beautiful (yet future) ‘bride’ clean of her sins, ready for eternal fellowship through ‘marriage,’ in the heavenly realm (John 19:34).

In Genesis 24 there’s another story about a patriarchal leader (Isaac) who marries Rebecca, and she bares him Jacob and Essau as sons. Abraham sent forth his unamed servant, bearing gifts, in order to find that bride for his son, Isaac, In the same manner, God the father sent forth the Holy Spirit, bearing gifts (of the Spirit,) in order to find a BRIDE for his son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The bride had to be of the same family (same DNA) as the son!

Here Comes The Bride!
In the OT book of Ruth, there is a story about a Jewish man (Boaz) who marries a gentile bride (Ruth) who bares Boaz a son, (Obed) who is in the line of king David, and therefore in the godly line of Judah, the tribe into which Christ was born. Ruth had lost her husband earlier on in the story, but was determined to follow wherever Naomi, her mother-in-law went. When they returned to Israel, Naomi regained her lost property and Ruth went to work for Boaz, gleaning the husks of the recent harvest so that they could both eat. This was a provision in Israel for the poor who were willing to work.

Boaz, a type of Christ, finds Ruth and gives her a better spot where she is more adequately provided for, and enjoys the protection of Boaz’ young men. Eventuall ,Boaz finds out that Ruth is a near kinsmen, and Naomi reassures her that “the man will not rest until he has settled the matter this day”. He then successfully redeems her through a local custom, after another man closer in the family refuses to redeem her, as she is a gentile by birth. Boaz gives the elders at the city gates his shoe, as a token that he has redeemed her, and that he is marrying her as well. “How lovely on the mountains are the ‘feet’ of them who bring good news…” (Isiah 52:7.) This speaks to us of Christ as head, and his bride, (in the form of the evangelists,) walking down through the pages of history together, with one shoe on (the protected church) and one shoe off (the unprotected = persecuted church). A “Jewish” groom marries a “Gentile” bride!

Modern Wedding Feast
If you’re having any problems following all of that, then consider this:

A man invites the whole neighbourhood to his wedding. He lives on a quarter acre block, which he purchased for cash, in anticipation of the marriage. The property has a large outside functon area, where much preparation has occurred. The house also has a fair sized lounge room further on inside the house. As the ceremony ends, the celebration begins. In the back yard, there are neighbours, workmates, friends and relatives. As the evening progresses, some of the guests begin to leave – “I’m tired” says one “I’ve got work tomorrow” says another, and in ones and twos, they leave. When the crowd has downsized a bit, the groom invites those left to party on with him and his bride in the large lounge room.

An hour or two later, there’s only a few guests left, and the groom announces that he and his newly wed bride will retire for the night. The remaining guests take the hint and leave together, wishing the new couple well for the future. Now – do the bride and groom remain in the lounge room for their wedding night? NO! Does anyone from the bridal party get to go any further than the lounge room? Never! All were invited, and more or less partook of the ceremony and the celebrations, but only one person was intimate enough to go with the groom into his inner most chamber – the Bride!

Bridal Teaching Number 1,304…
Now don’t all start throwing things in my direction just yet! I believe upon examination, that this company called the ‘Bride’ is in fact, a separate part of the body (shame on me!!!) In the same way that God drew part of Adam’s body (from his side – the part closest to his heart) he has also drawn out a part of his mystical body (the church) to become the bride – the ones closest to Jesus’ heart – the ’100 fold’ believers. A hint is found in the apostle John. He was the one who “leant on Jesus’ breast” at the last supper.

There are two significant points here -

1.) One is that the fact that John was leaning on Jesus ‘bosom’ (breast – John 13:23) is highlighted by the Holy Ghost – John was a forerunner of the ‘bride’. Jesus also said that ‘he should tarry until I come’ (John 21:19 – 25) – in the giving of the book of Revelation (Rev 1:1,2). If you search the book of Acts, you will not find a further reference to the apostle John much after chapter 8. He wrote a gospel, three letters and of course, the book of Revelation, but his life looks like it was a ‘hidden life’ in God, whereas the other apostles seemed to be more public and prominent.
Just like Moses, who was born in secret and hidden from wicked Pharoah, and like Jesus himself, who was born in secret (in Bethlehem) and whipped away to Egypt – hidden from wicked king Herod in secret. John had his “Solomon’s Porch” experience with miracles, judgements and so on. He was then persecuted for a time, but then protected, until his old age, when he was ‘brought out’ at the last times – near the end of the 1st century AD with all of his writings – the last of the 12 apostles. Moses was hidden, as was Joseph and Jesus, until the appointed time for each of them to come forth in their ministry. So will it be with the Bride of Christ – she is ‘hidden’ in the woodwork of the church, to be adorned as a beautiful bride, prepared – spotless and without any (doctrinal or practitional) wrinkles.

2.) The second one being that the ‘last supper’ itself was in a way, a type of the marraige supper of the Lamb. Jesus would not drink the fruit of the vine until the Kingdom had fully come on the Earth and he was sat at table with his ‘bride ‘in that marraige supper. So both the seed concept of the ‘bride’ is here evidenced in John, (leaning on Jesus’ breast being synonymous with Eve coming from Adam’s side, as well as the marraige supper of the Lamb being the final celebration of that mystical union between Christ and his eternal Bride!)

It is entirely up to each believer as to whether they will make the appropriate sacrifices, and be a part of that most intimate company. There is NO exclusivity – only free will choice – you decide! “You will find me, if you seek for me with ALL your heart!”(Jeremiah 29:13) Right at the end of the Bible, it states that: “The Spirit and the Bride say ‘come’, for whomsoever will may come, and drink freely of the water of life.” (Rev 22:17) Amen!

Such water flows from the river of life, that comes from the throne of God, of whose Kingdom there will be no end. It is a most triumphant moment in all of history, when the Holy Spirit and those who were redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, who became the bride, both invite and welcome the rest of redeemed humanity to come and taste, and see that the Lord is good. Although the setting is figurative, the invitation to salvation is real, and those who accept the offer will live in a state of ever lasting life, (eternal life) as they follow Jesus, their Lord and master, who lives “in the power of an endless life” (Hebs 7:16).

(You can contact Brother Austin Hellier on: mobile – 0431 388 677 or email him at <austin.hellier@gmail.com>)

If you want to enter into the things of God, then the Tabernacle of Moses provides a perfect pattern and guide to the pathway that leads to life. The tabernacle consisted of three basic enclosures. The first one was called ‘the outer court’ and it was basically the entrance to the tabernacle. You had white coverings hung around the border of the court, then you had four posts as the gateway to the court. Inside, you had the brazen altar, where the animal sacrifices occurred. Then a bit further in, you had the brazen laver – this was a large container of water, at which the priests washed before they went further in the service of the tabernacle.

Then you would come across five pillars – the entrance to the ‘inner court’. Inside this place you would then find three more objects – the table of shewbread, the golden lampstand, and finally, the altar of incense. It is this altar that I am interested in sharing with you. This altar was made of wood overlaid with gold. You will only find gold in the inner court – this stands for the nature and character of God. You will find NO gold in the outer court – only bronze, which represents the judgement of God on sin. (Rev 2:18 – Jesus has bronze feet = judgement, and burning eyes = discernment)

Back to the golden altar – at this altar, the priest offered up a special kind of incense, which stands for prayers, praise and worship. This altar stands before the veil – the entrance to the Holy of Holies, where the very presence of God would come and accept the Atonement sacrifice of blood, which represented the blood of Jesus, which would be a once and for all time sacrifice. The priest had to mix 3 herbs and spices together and then mix that mixture with frankincense - a sweet smelling ointment. This mixture was to be used only for the worship of God, and those who tried to use it at home as ‘air freshener’ were to be cut off from the congregation!

The three spices (stactye, onica and galbannum) were crushed using a mortar and pestle – a special bowl and crushing implement, until they were all ground to powder. Then the frankincense was poured in and the whole mixture stirred until it became a certain consistency, and was thus ready for use.

Now, the purpose of this blog is to show how our lives are like that of the priests, as they progressed through the tabernacle. So do we progress through our Christian walk with the Lord. We spend time with the Lord – literally in His presence – at the table of shewbread. This speaks to us of communion too, as the priest had to consume a quarter of a hin of wine ( about 900 mils - http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hin) meaning that both bread and wine were consumed, forthtelling the communion. The priest would also spend time in front of the golden lampstand, tending the lamps – each of the seven lamps had to have their wicks trimmed and their containers filled each morning and evening. There were 66 pieces of solid beaten gold, fashioned into one lampstand by Bezaleel, son of Uri, the master craftsman.

“Thy word oh Lord is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

So there were lots of things happening in the tabernacle of Moses at any given time, but what does the altar of incense and its sacrifice say to us today? The mixture of three spices speaks to us of the body, soul and spirit of a person, who has their self life ‘crushed’ out of them by some of life’s circumstances. After the dealings of God in their lives, the frankincense (the presence of Jesus) is mixed in a fuller measure with what ever is left, and becomes a sweet smelling savour to God – pure worship from a purified heart. Remember:

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth”  (John 4:24)

You see folks, it’s relatively easy to get past the 4 “posts” (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and come to a faith in God, but it’s not so easy to get past the 5 “pillars” (Rev 3:12) and make your way into the inner court. This inner court can become a rubber room if you enter into it with wrong motives. God will deliberately put obstacles in your path, just to see what you are made of, and if necessary, will spit you straight back out again (Rev 3:16) Of course He already knows what we are like, but wants you and me to see ourselves as He sees us! That’s why this journey through the “narrow door” (Matt 7:14) gets a bit stickier as you go along the pathway.

A pillar in the temple is a ministry gift – Ephesians 4:11). A pillar is a tower of strength is its own right, but its strength is only fully known when it stands alongside other pillars – standing on a sure foundation, (2 Tim 2:19)and holding up the ceiling (the standard  of the church) and that standard is the Lord Jesus Christ – speaking the truth in love, we grow up into Him – His nature, His character, and then we finally take on the mantle of His authority. the church then becomes the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Tim 3:15)

But in order to go through this final door, into the very presence of God, into the Holy of Holies, means that we must be rid of all elements of our old self life. The less of us there is, the more of Jesus there will be, exuding from us. Not our old carnal wants and dislikes, but the sweet spirit of  servant leadership that only Jesus can manifest in us – Christ in us – the hope of Glory! (Col 1:27) And after all the crushing and mixing is done, then we are offered up on the altar (see Romans 12:1) -

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

The only way you and I get to go through THAT door – through the veil, is as a vapour! Yes, the veil was rent in two when Jesus died on the cross, and the way to God through salvation was made open to all. However, there is a process that we must go through (it’s called growth) so that our newly formed relationship with the Lord will grow and grow so that we may enjoys His presence, and learn to worship Him in spirit and truth.

While I was in Ireland March 2011 I met Carla who has an incredible story to tell. Here is her story. 

Blessings Christine

God is showing me trumpets that are overhead… and He says that just as there are special feasts and seasons in Israel so are there times and seasons in the church.

This is a season God is releasing trumpets right across the earth.

He is raising up prophetic voices in every nation right now.

To all those who will reach up by faith and receive the trumpets he will use in powerful ways in the coming days.

He says I give a voice to those I appoint… so set the trumpet to your mouth and let the sound of the prophetic word be released.

Prophesy a new move forward!

It will bring order and direction and establish people in their positions.

I am moving you to new levels of authority and as you give yourselves to be My voice I will open up new areas for you.

You will prophesy over cities and towns and see great breakthrough.

Prophesy in your living rooms. Prophesy in your bedrooms.

Prophesy your own destiny. It’s not just for in the churches.

I see the trumpet is silver and silver speaks of redemption.

It is highly polished and looks new.

Now I see trumpets being blown and I hear a voice saying

“Make way for the King”

The bridegroom is coming for His bride.

The scene changes… and now I see the Lord is showing me a person lying down.

The hand of the Lord goes in and opens up the person’s whole abdominal area (like a ripping open) exposing the heart and the inner man.

This is something that has to happen.

He’s adjusting and pulling up some things and wrong beliefs and attitudes.

It’s like He is showing that He cannot use those with the trumpets to the extent He wants until He has done some things in the heart and the belly area.

There is a ploughing and divine intervention that must take place.

This is going to be uncomfortable but He is going to shake and stir and pull up because He knows what His plan is to get us in position and He knows the assignment he has for each one.

We cannot do this work ourselves.

There have been things that have been done up until now which have become strengths….ways of ministry where we have become confident because we have seen success but these have to go. We cannot keep doing things the same way.

It’s like we can’t stay intact as though we have it all together.

Now I see a pure white figure rising up out of the opened up belly of the person and God is revealing that our carnal ways are like the outside husk of a seed and the white figure represents the spirit person that is no longer locked in but released and this is what God is looking for.

So get ready there is going to be some discomfort and upheaval. There will be many changes…changes of direction, changes in the way you do things.

When these things take place you will know you are on track.

We cannot give 90% and hold onto the other 10%.

He gave everything and He wants us to give Him everything in return.

Ezekiel 33 v1-7

Prophetic word spoken at meeting on 8th October     Christine Richards

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This blog is a ministry of www.brisbanechurch.com.au

Sign up up to comment or contact us to post . All views and opinions are representative of the author of each article and not necessarily reflective the theology, opinions etc of the  owners of this site or those connected with Brisbane House Churches, Organic  Churches or wider Chrsitian community.

I have had a strong sense in recent weeks to release this prophecy which I spoke out in Brisbane in 2007.

We are hearing so much about “shift” lately that I feel God wants me to share.
Prophecies need to be read and reread  many times to get us into alignment with what He is doing.
There is a shift taking place in the Spirit.
In this shift I am causing great change to come across the whole earth.
It will be like a shifting of gears. More power will be released.
There will be a quaking and a trembling at My presence.
I am a supernatural  God and I am bringing a shift in the atmosphere so that my people will focus more on the supernatural…on the heavenly spiritual realm than the natural realm.

I want you to live out of your spirits.
I have placed the Kingdom of God within you but many of my people have closed Me in.
It is time to let the kingdom of God come forth from you and do those signs and wonders you long for.

The earth will shake, buildings will shake, people will shake as My presence and Glory is released,
says the Lord.

God bless

Christine Richards

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Walking down the gentle slope of the pasture known as Grace Abiding, Christian was headed out for the River of Life. He was shown the way by Evangelist, who had pointed to the King’s Throne way off in the distance. This river flowed from that large throne, all the way down to the Tree of Life, and Christian was determined to hop into the River and float down to the Tree and partake of its bountiful fruit – ” love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against which there is no law”. Christian had had enough of the fruit that Mr Badorchards had supplied to the local supermarket – Carnal World Outlets. Although the fruit had often come with great fanfare and fuss, that did nothing to improve its quality or taste – “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, selfishness, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” thought Christian to himself, just as he came to the bottom of the slope, and began to enter into the River of Life.

All of a sudden, he saw two men running towards him, shouting at the top of their voices. “Christian! – Christian!” they cried “don’t go in – that river is too treacherous for you to traverse very safely” they yelled. Christian baulked – he hesitated and then asked “Why say you that this River of Life is dangerous, good sirs?”

Pliable said “We have it on good advice from Mr Legality, that this river is capable of taking your life before you will see its end”. “And” said Obstinate “why would you want to loose your life in a river for no good reason?” he queried. “Why don’t you just take the barge down as far as the town of Morality, and be happy there, why go all the way good Christian?

That is a simple matter my man – heaven cannot be found at the halfway marker. One MUST go all the way, in order to obtain true life, for it is far more than just morality, but it cannot be obtained by the works of human hands, and so the bargeman will not be strong enough to shoot the rapids on the downward side of the stream.” he stated, matter of factly.

Christian then saw that neither of them were genuine in their quest for life. “But the Lord of all this domain hath clearly declared unto us, his servants, that if we want to save our own life we will surely lose it first, and inherit a spiritual life in its stead” said Christian. “That is no excuse to keep out of it” he finished.

“Maybe not good Christian” said Pliable “but Mr Legality was equally as clear – you cannot be saved by grace alone – you MUST work for God or loose you eternal salvation. Floating down a river is not even considered by Mr Legality as an act of grace, let alone a work for God – you are wasting your time Christian, and placing your very life under threat.” said he. “Indeed, Christian, there are many good works to be performed here on dry land. Take for instance, the building of the Bishop’s church” finished Obstinate. “Yes,” said Christian, “but is that the same as building up the Lord’s church?” he queried.

At this juncture, Mrs Righteous came running along the river bank waving her arms above her head. “Not another one Obstinate” she wailed. “The last one we helped out, got into the River of Life, and we were only able to help for but a short time ” she bemoaned. “After that, he disappeared into the Valley of the Shadow of Death. He DID lose his life good Christian, and was never seen by us again!” she wept.

“Perhaps your sojourn together was but for a short time?” he asked “And maybe this River of Life MUST go down through the Valley of Death, so that those who make it through to the other side will, after they have shared in the fellowship of His sufferings, be conformed to the likeness of His death, and so thus qualify themselves for resurrection power. Indeed ” stated Christian” if the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, dwells in them, then He shall quicken their mortal bodies, and give them that very promise of our Lord Jesus Christ. No matter if they die once, but live again on the other side where eternal life doth begin.” and with that firm statement, Christian jumped into the River of Life, and began to float away towards the darkness of the Valley, away from their steady but tear filled gaze.

“I warned him, “blubbered Mrs Righteous ” but he wouldn’t listen – having to undergo all of those trials alone, why he could be shipwrecked, beaten for his faith or marooned, poisened by dadly snakes, judged wrongfully by others that he meets.” she stammered. “He could also fall amongst false brethren” said Obstinate” who could then distract him out of the way which the Lord of the place has decreed for his life” “He could also be tempted by the carnal attractions of Vanity Fair, that devilish entertainment venue, just up and around the corner from the Valley” whimpered Pliable.

At that moment along came ‘Soulman’ and said “Good riddance to bad fellowship!” He licked his lips and then said to the three before him “we have warned many a sojourner on this path of the dangers that may well befall them on their way to the Celestial City” he stumbled at these words “… but they’ve not listened, and have gone into the river, believing that the Lord of all this place will keep and sustain them on their upward journey. It would be so much easier if they just stayed with us for a while, and took their ease with good sleep and fine food. Why the ‘Bishop’ of this world would welocme them into his domain, if they would but settle down, and become a part of the furniture, but no, not them”
“Onwards and upwards” said Mrs Righteous “Onwards and upwards,” echoed both Pliable and Obstinate, as Christian rounded the bend and began to fall down the water slide. He hadn’t seen the rather large sign (because his back had been facing it as he had floated past.) “Welcome to the Water Slide” it said, glaring at all those who could see it, but all too often, and usually far too late!

“Yaaaaaaahh! yelled Christian, as he went into a vertical free fall, and things began to fall off of him. Firstly, his long term ailment of sinnus itis left his body, then his cigarettes fell from his top pocket, disappearing into the falls forever, then some extra pounds fell off of his back pack, and then finally his walking stick took the plunge, disappearing beneath the foaminbg waters of the waterslide below. Quickly, he looked around to see who was with him, and no one had taken the plunge with him. Of all the people he had just seen or spoken to, not one of them had followed him into the River of Life, for fear of the water slide and the death that came with it…

At that moment back at the field of Grace Abiding, Mrs Righteous made her move – and found that she couldn’t. In fact, all four of them realised for the first time, that they were indeed ‘stuck in the mud’  of the River bank. “Well, there’s got to be a reason for all of this nonsense!” she spluttered. “Yes” said Obstinate, stating the obvious, “err – uuhmm – I know! God is a God of times and seasons, and – aaahhmm – all we have to do is wait until… until…” he trailed off. “Wait until the tide comes in again and washes away all the built up mud…” finished Soulman.

Back downstream, Christian was now fully entered into the Valley, and was repeating the scriptures to himself, fully confident and trusting in the Lord of the place, that his journey was ordered of the Lord. “He delights in my way” Christian said to himself, and then began to say :

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”  (Psalm 23:4)

Meanwhile the tide from the City of Destruction had fully come in, and Soulman, Mrs Righteous, Pliable and Obstinate had begun to feel their feet coming loose from the mud of the River bank.

“AAAhh – that’s better” said Soulman. “I feel like I’m standing on firmer ground, ” said Obstinate” poor Christian, all he had to do was wait on God with us, and he’d still be here.”

“Yes” said Pliable “a little more flexibility in his thinking would have saved him.”

“That’s what you get for being on the narrow way” said Mrs Righteous ” It’s such a narrow entry, not even your friends and neighbours can fit through it – serves himself right – we told him.”

All of a sudden, they were drawn in the opposite direction to that which Christian had gone. “Help!!!” they yelled out in turn to those who were further up the bank “help – the River of Life is taking us away – Heeeeeelllpp!!!…” they yelled, as the River took them past the local school, where Christian had first got his taste for the things of God – where revival had first sprung up in his heart – underneath the main bridge in the City’s centre, and all the way out to sea. None of them were ever seen or heard from again…

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Hey folks, 2012 was ushered in by my friends and I from combined churches, who spent from around 07:00pm on New Year’s Eve, until around 04:30am on New Year’s Day, worshipping and praising God. Of course, there were no drugs or booze at our ‘party’ but the Holy Ghost did show up in force and we had a wow of a time! Most importantly, a sister in the Lord prophesied that 2012 would be the year that God advances His church and His agenda, with little or no opposition from the enemy. I also had a second witness of this from a brother named Wayne, who fellowships amongst the house churches here in Brisbane, and am taking that as a second witness. A confirmation came through a prophet named Dave Collins at our meeting yesterday morning.

But not only that, it’s what we’ve been seeing with our own eyes of late, in this fair city.

About 6 weeks ago, I asked the Lord for a ‘discerning of spirits’ over the Fortitude Valley area – what is the name of the prince demon in that part of town? While still in prayer, it came back to me fairly soon – VICE – that’s the name of the demon causing so much death and destruction on our patch. We (the prayer group) began to meet in the early morning around 6:00am for 1 or 2 hours  five days per week, for the purposes of spiritual warfare, and after we had prayed, I would go down to the Valley each day and meet people, and share my vision for what the Lord wants to do. There’s a lot of people who have had damage done to their soul realm, and we believe that our work down there will be finding and consolidating lost Christians (people who have come to the Lord, but have not been gathered properly into the fold, nor taught God’s word in terms of discipleship and practical every day Christian living.)

We are believing God for 12 disciples, who will become the core group, and once they are trained and up to speed, will be used of God for all future local outreach and ministry. This might sound like doing it the hard way and yes, we could simply import a couple of dozen experienced people, and take the Valley by storm. This way  is God’s way – His plan, done in His timing is what will win the day. We have people who can teach, move in the gifts and who are individually and collectively very discerning, so we feel that we will be more than able to meet the needs of this immediate group.

This is a fantastic opportunity – to get in on the ground floor and see God’s work change lives, and grow people into strong, mature followers of Jesus Christ. This way, we involve the locals (who know the patch and all its people, places and events far better than any of us) and working with well known local identities will make it that much easier to cross any barriers that might otherwise block us from moving in beyond a certain point.

Feel free to show your support by emailing me at austin.hellier@gmail.com or call me on 0431 388 677.

God bless you all and thank you for your prayers,

Brother Austin Hellier

There’s an old, old saying in Christian circles – “a nation gets the government that it deserves”… In other words, we get an evil government, if we deserve one, as a nation! Australia was formed, at Federation (1st of January, 1901) with a Constitution, whose opening preamble states in part,:

“We the people (of various states and territories,) humbly relying on the blessing of almighty God, have agreed to unite in one indissoluble federal Commonwealth…”

Our flag reflects our western Christian heritage – the three crosses of Saint Andrew, Saint George and Saint Patrick. The Southern Cross, as seen anywhere below the equator, has been a national emblem from our earliest days as a crown colony, before federation. It hangs like a dagger over this “Great South Land of the Holy Spirit”, in anticipation of the final move of God in the Earth in our time – the last final ingathering of souls before that great and terrible day of the Lord comes to pass. People throughout many generations have fought and died under the Southern Cross, and in peacetime have prospered from hard work and wise government in times past. The Federation Star speaks to us of the fact that our country was forged in peace, and has stood united for more than 100 years without civil war or major internal ructions.

Our nation was founded on Christian principles, but has fallen away from them, by and large. It has replaced the nuclear family unit with other types of ‘families’. It has condoned abortion on demand and has gradually backslidden from a once sober and hard working nation, to a people who often spend more time in pleasure (drunkenness, drugs, gambling etc) than it does in more profitable pursuits. It has turned sports into an idols’ temple, with many strange gods that are worshipped each Sunday morning – anyone but the true God of the Bible. Have you ever noticed how the crowd behaves at a sporting fixture? Jumping up and down and shouting, etc? Try doing that while praising God in public, and you’ll be shouted down and ridiculed.

This may well be true, but that is not to say that the situation cannot be reversed, for the scripture teaches us that:

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14)

You see folks, there are consequences for ‘corporate sinning’ and this is no less true for the Church than it was for ancient Israel. The prophet Nehemiah knew this only too well:

“But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our forefathers so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces.Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress.” Nehemiah 9:36,37.

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Australia’s ‘foreign kings and princes’ are those who hold sway in the banking and finance community, and those who make up “the big end of town”. The average family needs both parents to earn a double income, just to keep their heads above water with a 1/2 million dollar mortgage, two cars, and a lifestyle which is often way beyond their means. Many people in the Church have also succumbed to this worldly system, rather than living by Kingdom principles (eg: sowing and reaping, giving generously, looking after the widow and the orphan, as the Lord and His apostles have commanded us). People don’t just love money anymore – they worship the god called ‘Mammon’ – an ancient pagan deity that was the god of money and false prosperity. Of course, the answer to corporate sinning is corporate prayer:

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”

(1 Tim 2:1,2.)

Further to that, the apostle Peter states:

“For it is time for judgment to begin in the house of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17)

No one wants to talk about these topics. No one wants to talk about judgement in the house – no one wants to talk about how Annanias and Saphira died under the judging hand of God, because they lied about money. How many people in the Church lie about money every week? Are you sure that you want to keep on doing that? Perhaps this couple had much promise for the ministry. Maybe they were home group leaders, or had influence with the city elders – who knows? What I do know, is that I’ve never heard a sermon on what happened to them and why, in 33 years of Christian living and experience. Not once! No one wants to go there…

All too often, we hear the sound of many voices saying “don’t judge me,” or worse still “you shall not touch ‘the Lord’s annointed’ (meaning those in the ministry, in terms of calling them to account)”. However, both Peter’s letter and the Lord’s own words in Matthew 7 exhort us to judge people, places and events. Predominantly, the word exhorts us to judge ourselves first and foremost (‘judge yourself, that you not be judged’ [by others]) (Matthew 7:1-5). We are enjoined to first remove the log that is in our own eye, if we are to see clearly enough in order to remove the speck in our brother’s eye. Having judged ourselves first ( in the light of God’s word) we can then prayerfully help others to see a way clear for them to repent and move on (Galatians 6:1,2). Later on in Matthew 7:15+, we are taught to judge (discern and evaluate) false prophets, so that those who are young in the Lord will not be deceived by them. ‘Good fruit does not come from bad trees’, Jesus said.

If we will not open ourselves up to the light of God’s word, and the discernment of our brethren, then we may well incur a ‘judgement’ in the house directly from the Lord. Paul told the Corinthians to put out the man who was living in incest. He also explained to them that the reason that some of them were sick and others had died, was that they had not discerned the Lord’s table (communion) properly, and that these things had occurred as a judgement on those who kept on sinning while partaking of the communion. Yet there are still many people in the body of Christ today, who still doggedly believe that God will not judge them, and that no one else has the right to either!

“Be not deceived, for God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6:7,8)

God must deal with His church first. A lady pastor  spoke recently to us about how God is sifting and testing His people at this time, and that we mustn’t be surprised at what might happen, or who it might happen to. (“Pastors Annanias and Saphira” all over again???). Otherwise, how can the Lord of all the Earth judge the world in righteousness, unless he first judges the Church, and in doing so, sets His own house in order first?

More than anything, the endtime Church of Jesus Christ needs a God-sent revival, and it’s here folks. Many of us across the city of Brisbane and surrounds have been moving in revival for the last few months, and the ‘stirring’ of God’s Holy Spirit that some of us sensed some time ago, has become a veritable ‘firestorm’ as the Holy Ghost begins to fan the flames of revival fires in the hearts of God’s people, and they begin to be set free and rejoice in the Lord once more. We have seen divine healings, as well as those who have been released from bondages, doubts and fears. Whole families have been transformed and several local communities here in the greater Brisbane area have been touched for the Lord, by His evangelising army. As the Lord has moved in revival, God’s people who are experiencing a genuine move, have responded to the call. Prayer meetings have began to spring up all across the city, as people feel the call of God to lay down their lives and make time to pray and believe for an ingathering of souls not seen before in this “Great South Land of the Holy Spirit” – amen!

Brethren, I want to leave you with this solemn warning, given by the apostle Paul nearly 2000 years ago:

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Tim 2:19

Sinning and ‘sainthood’ don’t mix and match – remember, there are consequences but there also blessing for obedience and the Bible is replete with them – too many to mention here.

Brother Austin Hellier

12 December 2011

email: austin.hellier@gmail.com

Mobile: 0431 388 677

Recently, the Lord has been speaking to some of us about ‘revival’. Some scoff at the concept, stating that it is God’s people seeking some kind of revitalisation – according to these ‘experts’ no souls will be saved, and those who partake will only create a little ‘bless me’ club, with everything returning to normal in a month or two’s time. And in certain cases they would be right – I’ve certainly seen that scenario play out before.

Real revival is where God’s people are cut to the heart by a certain conviction from the Holy Spirit, that things definitely need to change. Some make the mistake of trying to copy past revivals, where the Lord has worked in certain ways. Even when such events have occurred, there are still many detractors, only too willing to find fault with the new ‘move’ of God and its leaders.

People even criticised the Welsh revival – even to this day. God used a very young Evan Roberts and others to bring many souls to Christ. Their problem was that they really had no methodology, nor did they have much backing from those church  leaders of repute. One night, 16 people sat in a small room in southern Wales, and believed God for 100,000 souls. Nine months later, they had them. No one is going to argue with results like that!

What did they do? They had four basic principles that they adhered to in their own personal lives.

1. Confess and repent of all known sin.

2. Part company with any doubtful habits or associations in their lives.

3. Obey the leadings and promptings of the Holy Spirit

4. Confess Jesus Christ openly when opportunities present themselves.

Now, these are good principles for daily living in the life of any believer, and not just set aside for ‘revival times’. So what would the Lord require of us, in terms of a 21st century style revival? Big noisy bands, large video screens, famous preachers, and all housed in some giant auditorium for all to see? Some may end up there, but revival in our time definitely means a ‘revival’ of people’s hearts and minds towards the things of God.

True revival is not just about having a ‘good time in God’ – it’s about the repentance of the sinner, and the restoration of the soul. It is, I believe, a seeking of the solemn presence of God, where the Holy Spirit works in the life of the individual ministries first, so that He can later on do a greater work through them. Those who are drawn by the Spirit will receive what they need through clean vessels. As a result of these acts of Grace from the Lord, the people thus affected will then ‘fan out’ and ‘take the land’ for the Kingdom.

Some would argue that the church should be continuously in revival, and that this ‘atmosphere’ of revival is obtainable, providing that those involved are prepared to pay the price, in order to gain and maintain the presence of God. “Oh dear! brother Austin”, I hear some of you say, “is this your version of salvation by works?” Well, no it’s not. There are ample passages of scripture where some had to pay a price for obtaining such things.

Five wise virgins for example (Matthew 25) had to go and buy oil for their lamps, in order to stand in the midnight hour!  (Matthew 13: 45,46) The ‘pearl of great price’ parable is another example of paying a price to inherit the things of God. Of course, this isn’t money, it’s meaning is much deeper than money. It means to give up our old lives, then to spend our time in obtaining the means to grace (apostle’s doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayers – Acts 2:42,) and then having something vital to bring to a meeting – something that will build the body.

What else happens during a genuine, God sent revival? John Wesley was once asked whether he believed in sinless perfection. His response was that he did not. What he did believe in was a ‘second blessing’ which he simply called ‘perfect love’. This he believed, would keep those who had experienced it, relatively free from sin, as they would not want to sin against God nor man, whom they loved perfectly. The apostle John tells us that ‘perfect love casts out all fear’ (1 John 4:18) – fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of guilt through the bondage of sin (the law of sin and death).

So what’s all this about a ‘stable’? Christ was born in a stable. There was no room for Him at the Inn, and later on those who dwelt in king’s palaces sought to kill him – no room there either. The  ’Stable’ is indeed a lowly place. It has all kinds of strange people and animals within its environs.  ”Three wise men” speaks to us of wise eldership, who bring ‘gifts’ to those who are in the stable. Amongst them are ‘good shepherds’ too – overseeing the flock and leading them out to green pastures and still waters.

Then again there is a choir of angels, (both earthly and heavenly,)leading the worship of the saviour, who was ‘birthed; in this lowly stable of the Lord’s design. Strange animals too are present at this meeting held behind the Inn. There are bleating sheep, replete with the needs of any congregation of the saints. There are also ‘holy cows’ – the trappings of religious traditions which some find difficult to part with. Carve them up and Bar-B-Que them I say – and eat all of your holy cows for lunch, for they are not of any use to God or man, and must be dispensed with before true revival can begin.

Besides them are ‘golden calves’ – that which is of a mixture. There are many such golden calves in Christendom today, just as there was a golden idol in Gideon’s day. The golden ephod, was similar to a priest’s garment, and this was used in discerning the will of God in ancient Israel. It was also a means of the people of God worshipping past glories, a thing which the Lord doesn’t want us to do. Melt them down and give the proceeds to the poor! So while we can look back on past revivals and can see what the Lord has done, it is for us to move forward and see what God will do in our day.

Oh, and yes, there is just one more strange animal back at the stable – Balaam’s Ass. It was through the mouth of an ass that the Lord spoke to Balaam, seeking to halt the madness of the prophet, who was going to curse the people of God. (Numbers 22:21 – 38) God spoke through a ‘dumb animal’ in order to get the prophet’s attention, as Balaam thought he could get away with his evil actions, on behalf of the king of Moab. In the same way, there are many people in the body, who speak like Balaam’s ass – they endure the verbal ‘beatings’ of the popular ministries, in order to bring to the attention of God’s people, just how ‘mad’ some of those ministries have become.

Every move of God that ever was genuine, has started in a stable – but eventually most of them have ended up in a ‘cathedral’ – in our modern context, this could mean a ‘mega church’ cathedral. Let’s keep the move of God where it belongs, in the stable – in the place where Christ is born – birthed into the lives of new believers. Let’s keep it humble and simple, and glorifying to God and not to man. Let’s keep on listening to the braying of Balaam’s ASS so that we don’t miss the Lord’s intention, and in so doing become a curse to God’s people, rather than a blessing.

By Austin Hellier

This blog is a ministry of www.brisbanechurch.com.au

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