By Ian Johnson ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
A message inspired by the life of St John of the Cross 1542-1591
Song of Solomon 1:4
The king hath brought me into his chambers; we will be glad and rejoice in thee; We will make mention of thy love more than of wine
PSALM 36:8-9 You feed them from the abundance of your own house, letting them drink from your rivers of delight. For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see.
A BETTER TRANSLATION IS They shall be inebriated with the plenty of your house; and will give them to drink of the torrent of your delight, because with you is the fountain of life
Your love is better than wine!
When people drink wine they become influenced by it
Therefore we need the wine of God! Because when we become intoxicated in His love, we become abandoned to its influence! Our cry! Therefore is; Fill me with your love Jesus; Draw me away in your love Jesus! Cause me to be intoxicated in your Love Jesus! Because that sort of abandoned heart is possessed by that which it abandons itself to. (From the Book “Glory to Glory” www.papelim.org.nz/page18.html )
A Love sick individual in Church history, John of the cross 1542-1591 was Imprisoned for nine months in a cell six feet wide & ten feet long, with a window only two inches wide, he composed some beautiful poems and songs. Being so in love with the Lord he didn’t make sense to the religious so they locked him up in the hope he would see some sense. He came out more in love and distracted by the Lord than when he went inside.
In prison St John of the cross wrote. “In the inner wine cellar I drank of my beloved, and when I went abroad through all this valley I no longer knew anything, and lost the herd which I was following.”
He also wrote: “South wind come, you that wakens love, breath through my garden, let its fragrance flow, and the beloved will feed amid the flowers.
His experience proved that no matter where we are, The Lord has gone there before us, and His love will always be found by those who seek it. (See Psalm 139)
There is no depth, No height, no Width to which we can go, that when we get there we find our Lord and master, our beloved Jesus
There is a place before God, A place of abandoned love, A place that seems irrelevant to a religious heart. Where we can drink deep of the wine of God. The more we drink the more abandoned we become, Then we become separated from the herd, who are blindly following programs and systems. To the herd we seem useless, unable to make sense because of our intoxicated nature.
But out of the prisons come songs of abundant love. A place where we go on from saying “Lord Breath on me” to “Breath through me”
John of the cross said. “The Garden is our soul, When the Lord breaths into the soul he imparts, but to breathe through the soul (garden) is to put in motion the fragrance.
It touches everything around us, and brings transformation. When I think of this I think of some friends, who when we were ministering in Wellington, were touched by the Holy Spirit, He breathed upon our friends in the lift of the hotel in which we had been staying, they became intoxicated in his love and unable to move just went up and down in the lift. Every time the door opened the same girl was standing there looking in at this unusual sight, the Holy Spirit breathed through the situation and the fragrance of this abandoned action touched the young lady, who by the way was a Muslim, She said, I want what your God gives, and they led her to the Lord.
You see a lot of people would say, just lock them up, After all we have to have a good testimony before the world, we have to be seen to have it all together, I mean the world won’t respond to or understand that intoxicated behaviour Will they?
John of the cross sums it up by say “God blesses his bride by breathing through her flowering garden, opens all these buds and uncovers the aromatic spices of gifts, and riches; and disclosing this interior treasure and wealth, He reveals all her beauty. Then she is something wonderful to behold and pleasant to handle.”
The world is thirsty and dry, the last thing they need is our nearly empty bottles of putrid religion. Rather they need to feel the breath of God. To see the joy of an abandoned life. They will say, What’s going on here? They will smell the fragrance of an inner beauty, that only comes from the Holy Spirit. Something wonderful to behold and pleasant to handle!
David dancing with an abandoned heart before the Lord, offends Michal his wife (the religious mindset) she despised him, but it pleased the Lord!
Matt Redman sums this up in His song “Undignified” The song goes; I will dance I will sing, to be mad for my King and nothing Lord is hindering the passion in my soul. And Ill become even more undignified than this, some would say its foolishness, but ill become even more undignified than this.
When we approach the Lord we need to come as if we ourselves are in a cell with nothing in our hands. All we can do is bow low before his majesty and glory, and drink deep of the wine of His love. Not distracted by our requests or our pleas, simply abandoned to his love, there we become intoxicated and our dance will please the Lord. it is Sure there will be a Michal to remind you of how you really should behave in the courts of the Lord, but just listen for the sound of His voice saying “Well done thou good and faithful servant, enter into your rest” That’s all that really matters at the end of the day.
May Jesus breath through your garden in 2008.
IAN JOHNSON
ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
www.papelim.org.nz
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Monday, January 7, 2008
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Shalom Jerusalem
In the past couple of weeks I have been deeply burdened for Jerusalem, From the Ends of the Earth we love you and pray for your peace.
As I sleep I dream of Gods plans for you o city beloved, I see the giant wing of protection always hovering above you.
Before man even ventured onto the rock that was to become Salem. A place where Melchizedek worshiped and honoured the one true God.
A place where Abram who came from Ur took his only son
A place where God provided a lamb instead of Isaac
The place where over 3000 years ago David Ben Jesse again redeemed the
threshing floor
The place where Solomon built a temple and at its dedication the Glory of God fell so that no one could stand.
The place where the Prophets walked and spoke
The place of a second temple
The words and love of Messiah echoed in her courts & streets
his love expressed in a flow of blood from undeserved wounds
Tears expressed for its people. A place of Resurrection glory
Of tongues of fire and rushing winds, songs of redemption,
The rush of Angels wings, Guardians of the promise
have been heard through the generations.
Some even see the wings enfolding the mount called Zion.
Jerusalem city of God ~ Centre of the world ~
The heart beat of God is heard in you
The wings of the Hosts are fluttering over the city!
SHALOM SHALOM JERUSALEM!
Psalm 122 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be with you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.
Psalm 128 May the Lord continually bless you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live. May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. And may Israel have quietness and peace.
Psalm 129 May all who hate Jerusalem be turned back in shameful defeat
Psalm 132 For the Lord has chosen Jerusalem, he has desired it as his home. “This is my home where I will live forever,” he said. “I will live here, for this is the place I desired.I will make this city prosperous and satisfy its poor with food. I will make its priests the agents of salvation; its godly people will sing for joy.Here I will increase the power of David; my anointed one will be a light for my people
Psalm 146 The Lord will reign forever. O Jerusalem, your God is King in every generation!
Psalm 147 How good it is to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how right! The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel. He heals the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds.
Psalm 149 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King. Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the faithful rejoice in this honor. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands— to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glory of his faithful ones. Praise the Lord!
Shalom! Shalom! Jerusalem ~ City of our God
It would be wise for men to keep their hands of that which obviously belongs to God!
From the Ends of the Earth we say Shalom Jerusalem
Ian Johnson ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
www.papelim.org.nz
As I sleep I dream of Gods plans for you o city beloved, I see the giant wing of protection always hovering above you.
Before man even ventured onto the rock that was to become Salem. A place where Melchizedek worshiped and honoured the one true God.
A place where Abram who came from Ur took his only son
A place where God provided a lamb instead of Isaac
The place where over 3000 years ago David Ben Jesse again redeemed the
threshing floor
The place where Solomon built a temple and at its dedication the Glory of God fell so that no one could stand.
The place where the Prophets walked and spoke
The place of a second temple
The words and love of Messiah echoed in her courts & streets
his love expressed in a flow of blood from undeserved wounds
Tears expressed for its people. A place of Resurrection glory
Of tongues of fire and rushing winds, songs of redemption,
The rush of Angels wings, Guardians of the promise
have been heard through the generations.
Some even see the wings enfolding the mount called Zion.
Jerusalem city of God ~ Centre of the world ~
The heart beat of God is heard in you
The wings of the Hosts are fluttering over the city!
SHALOM SHALOM JERUSALEM!
Psalm 122 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be with you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.
Psalm 128 May the Lord continually bless you from Zion. May you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live. May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. And may Israel have quietness and peace.
Psalm 129 May all who hate Jerusalem be turned back in shameful defeat
Psalm 132 For the Lord has chosen Jerusalem, he has desired it as his home. “This is my home where I will live forever,” he said. “I will live here, for this is the place I desired.I will make this city prosperous and satisfy its poor with food. I will make its priests the agents of salvation; its godly people will sing for joy.Here I will increase the power of David; my anointed one will be a light for my people
Psalm 146 The Lord will reign forever. O Jerusalem, your God is King in every generation!
Psalm 147 How good it is to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how right! The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel. He heals the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds.
Psalm 149 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King. Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation. Let the faithful rejoice in this honor. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands— to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, to execute the judgment written against them. This is the glory of his faithful ones. Praise the Lord!
Shalom! Shalom! Jerusalem ~ City of our God
It would be wise for men to keep their hands of that which obviously belongs to God!
From the Ends of the Earth we say Shalom Jerusalem
Ian Johnson ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
www.papelim.org.nz
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Supernatural Encounters are for You
SUPERNATURAL ENCOUNTERS ARE FOR YOU.
IAN JOHNSON. ianjohn@xtra.co.nz www.papelim.org.nz
Before I was a Christian I seemed to have a lot of Spiritual experiences, (over 30 years ago) Most were not good encounters, all designed to hold me in fear of the supernatural realm. There were three beings who hassled me a lot as a Child, they weren’t nice at all. I once saw a huge horse and rider with open eye as he sped just above the ground along the road near our home.
When I became a Christian at the age of 18 all of this stopped, although I loved the moving of the Holy Spirit in my life and I had impressions of the spiritual realm. I didn’t "see" for many years. Mostly I think because my early experience had been negative.
I am greatly indebted to Kathie Walters for encouraging me that the supernatural realm & Angels are part of our inheritance as Sons of the most high God.(Kathie has some excellent teaching material and resources for sale on her website www.goodnews.netministries.org/kathie )
Many have been asking me about "How" to access the supernatural realm. So although I don’t have all the answers, I do have a desire to see all God’s children enjoy the realms of Glory.
Jesus said : "Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God." (Mark 10)
A loved Child generally always accepts that Father knows best, and is not afraid as long as the father is there also. This is the kind of Faith our Father delights in. When you, His child puts your total trust in God your Father, and says Daddy as long as you are with me I will be OK.
So step one is accepting that our supernatural Father lives in a supernatural world and wants to give us supernatural gifts. Accepting that, if we ask for a fish he won’t give us a stone. Come as a Child! Or with the faith of a child.
Hunger & thirst for all that the Lord has for us is naturally required, although you can’t force any thing. One thing supernatural Sons have learnt is that Jesus is our Sabbath rest. Hebrews 4:10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
The thing that limits us seeing into the supernatural, more than anything, is our frantic works and striving. God has a word for his Sons. "Chill out"
I’ve learnt that when the Father speaks, that is the time to listen, A good example of this was in the middle of a Jill Austin meeting I was really enjoying. The father said. Go and sit on the floor I want to show you something. Now I could have said, but I’m really enjoying this message and I might miss out on something. But I chose to sit on the floor and listen to the Lord.
Almost instantly I was carried in the spirit into a supernatural visitation. An Angel arrived, and instantly I was high above the clouds, much higher than I have been before you could see the arc of the Earth. I saw thousands, probably millions of chariots and Angels in groups of 3 to perhaps 30 all waiting. I asked "who are these and what are they doing," the Angel said "they wait" "Wait for what" I asked? "Instructions" his reply, "from the Lord" I asked? "No they already have instructions from the Lord; they wait for his people to see and to believe, He is the Lord of the harvest and he has harvesters assigned to instruct the host but most don’t see and don’t believe." "Are all these assigned to the harvest" I said? "Yes all" he said. "Come I need to show you more" I was in a place, on earth or in heaven I do not know. I saw millions all dressed in white and shining like the lightning’s of God, all shouting and praising and full of worship. The angel looked at me knowing my question; "these are the great cloud of witnesses cheering on the saints on earth they know that the saints of earth must command the host."I heard a voice loud and like liquid, "Tell my people I love to bless, and I love to full them with joy. Tell them to open their eyes to see; for they are not alone, I must bring in the harvest. This blessing I am sending out is for harvest, command the host, command the host!"
I could have missed it, if I had been more concerned with frantic learning, than listening to the Lords voice.
Step two then is rest in HIS works, this doesn’t mean you don’t do any thing, it just means we need to learn to do only what the Father asks us to do.
Kathie Walters says, God doesn’t anoint what you do, He anoints what he does! I love that saying, and it makes our walk so much more enjoyable.
Being Led by the Spirit is a natural expression of our supernatural walk. After all, Romans tells us, "Those who are led by the Spirit of God, are the Sons of God"
Recently I was talking to a dear friend who can’t see why seeing in the Spirit is all that important, She couldn’t see what relevance seeing Angels & Chariots, and supernatural signs had to being a Christian in 2007. My response is simple If we are being led by the Spirit as true Sons & Daughters, then we will have Spiritual experiences. On the other hand, if we are being led by Programs and a Greek mentality of excellence, which is really just another word for dead works we wont have spiritual encounters to the same level.
When I look at Church history most of the people who are remembered just wouldn’t cut it, in today's Greek thinking Church.
It requires a change of mindset, from Greek excellence to Hebrew belief in an excellent God, who does excellent things. Like all good Fathers desires to include His Children in his world, leading them into new adventures in the Spirit daily.
Step three is being Led by the Spirit. The more we allow ourselves to be led, the more Natural it seems to be in the Spirit.
For example Peter in Acts 12 was in prison, and an Angel came alongside him and dug him in the ribs and said get up, put your clothes on, and come with me.
So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was really happening. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate to the street, and this opened to them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. Peter finally realized what had happened. "It’s really true!" he said to himself.
Here is a good example of being Led in a very natural way, but he didn’t know if it was a dream or if it was real. I guarantee many of you who read this will say to yourself, I’ve had experiences just like that.
We have to learn to co-operate with our visions, that’s when they go from being dream like, to very vivid.
My first Chariot ride was just like that, Lying on the floor in a meeting I saw an Angel and chariot pull up beside me, not overly clear, but I knew it was there, The Angel said hop in, and I saw myself co-operating with the vision, and in an instant I was in the vision, it was real and clear see the testimony www.papelim.org.nz/page12.html
Like Peter, there is often a moment of wondering, is this real or not. The more we co-operate with the Holy Spirit in our dreams and visions, the more we will walk in the supernatural. But don’t be discouraged if you are not sure, because when Peter had his Acts 12 experience, He had just finished having his Acts 10 experience, which was the vision of the clean & unclean animals, and His call to include the Gentiles.
Its ok to wonder, but don’t let the wondering turn to unbelief. Just keep co-operating with the dream or vision until it is more real and clear.
Be alert to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I have had experiences with Angels and supernatural events, especially concerning other countries and ministries that have caused me to ask the Lord, why he was showing me. His answer has always been the same, He had tried to speak to others but they don’t obey the prompting to come aside.
One example of this is when the Lord showed me his plan for Portugal, I felt the prompting of the Lord to come aside, I obeyed and very quickly I was confronted with the Angel of Portugal, very awesome, the experience is recounted on my website www.papelim.org.nz/page12.html at the bottom of the Chariots testimony.
The language of the bible is full of, Come aside, follow me, Come up here. I’m sure I miss it as well, but I am learning to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit, no matter how inconvenient they may seem at the time.
Many of you will be getting ready to have a break over Christmas, and I know many use this time to seek the Lord. Just remember to be like a Child, rest in His works, be led by the Spirit of God and obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit. It may just open the gate into 2008. As Sons & Daughters soar in the Spirit this holiday season.
IAN JOHNSON. ianjohn@xtra.co.nz www.papelim.org.nz
IAN JOHNSON. ianjohn@xtra.co.nz www.papelim.org.nz
Before I was a Christian I seemed to have a lot of Spiritual experiences, (over 30 years ago) Most were not good encounters, all designed to hold me in fear of the supernatural realm. There were three beings who hassled me a lot as a Child, they weren’t nice at all. I once saw a huge horse and rider with open eye as he sped just above the ground along the road near our home.
When I became a Christian at the age of 18 all of this stopped, although I loved the moving of the Holy Spirit in my life and I had impressions of the spiritual realm. I didn’t "see" for many years. Mostly I think because my early experience had been negative.
I am greatly indebted to Kathie Walters for encouraging me that the supernatural realm & Angels are part of our inheritance as Sons of the most high God.(Kathie has some excellent teaching material and resources for sale on her website www.goodnews.netministries.org/kathie )
Many have been asking me about "How" to access the supernatural realm. So although I don’t have all the answers, I do have a desire to see all God’s children enjoy the realms of Glory.
Jesus said : "Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn’t have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God." (Mark 10)
A loved Child generally always accepts that Father knows best, and is not afraid as long as the father is there also. This is the kind of Faith our Father delights in. When you, His child puts your total trust in God your Father, and says Daddy as long as you are with me I will be OK.
So step one is accepting that our supernatural Father lives in a supernatural world and wants to give us supernatural gifts. Accepting that, if we ask for a fish he won’t give us a stone. Come as a Child! Or with the faith of a child.
Hunger & thirst for all that the Lord has for us is naturally required, although you can’t force any thing. One thing supernatural Sons have learnt is that Jesus is our Sabbath rest. Hebrews 4:10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
The thing that limits us seeing into the supernatural, more than anything, is our frantic works and striving. God has a word for his Sons. "Chill out"
I’ve learnt that when the Father speaks, that is the time to listen, A good example of this was in the middle of a Jill Austin meeting I was really enjoying. The father said. Go and sit on the floor I want to show you something. Now I could have said, but I’m really enjoying this message and I might miss out on something. But I chose to sit on the floor and listen to the Lord.
Almost instantly I was carried in the spirit into a supernatural visitation. An Angel arrived, and instantly I was high above the clouds, much higher than I have been before you could see the arc of the Earth. I saw thousands, probably millions of chariots and Angels in groups of 3 to perhaps 30 all waiting. I asked "who are these and what are they doing," the Angel said "they wait" "Wait for what" I asked? "Instructions" his reply, "from the Lord" I asked? "No they already have instructions from the Lord; they wait for his people to see and to believe, He is the Lord of the harvest and he has harvesters assigned to instruct the host but most don’t see and don’t believe." "Are all these assigned to the harvest" I said? "Yes all" he said. "Come I need to show you more" I was in a place, on earth or in heaven I do not know. I saw millions all dressed in white and shining like the lightning’s of God, all shouting and praising and full of worship. The angel looked at me knowing my question; "these are the great cloud of witnesses cheering on the saints on earth they know that the saints of earth must command the host."I heard a voice loud and like liquid, "Tell my people I love to bless, and I love to full them with joy. Tell them to open their eyes to see; for they are not alone, I must bring in the harvest. This blessing I am sending out is for harvest, command the host, command the host!"
I could have missed it, if I had been more concerned with frantic learning, than listening to the Lords voice.
Step two then is rest in HIS works, this doesn’t mean you don’t do any thing, it just means we need to learn to do only what the Father asks us to do.
Kathie Walters says, God doesn’t anoint what you do, He anoints what he does! I love that saying, and it makes our walk so much more enjoyable.
Being Led by the Spirit is a natural expression of our supernatural walk. After all, Romans tells us, "Those who are led by the Spirit of God, are the Sons of God"
Recently I was talking to a dear friend who can’t see why seeing in the Spirit is all that important, She couldn’t see what relevance seeing Angels & Chariots, and supernatural signs had to being a Christian in 2007. My response is simple If we are being led by the Spirit as true Sons & Daughters, then we will have Spiritual experiences. On the other hand, if we are being led by Programs and a Greek mentality of excellence, which is really just another word for dead works we wont have spiritual encounters to the same level.
When I look at Church history most of the people who are remembered just wouldn’t cut it, in today's Greek thinking Church.
It requires a change of mindset, from Greek excellence to Hebrew belief in an excellent God, who does excellent things. Like all good Fathers desires to include His Children in his world, leading them into new adventures in the Spirit daily.
Step three is being Led by the Spirit. The more we allow ourselves to be led, the more Natural it seems to be in the Spirit.
For example Peter in Acts 12 was in prison, and an Angel came alongside him and dug him in the ribs and said get up, put your clothes on, and come with me.
So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was really happening. They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate to the street, and this opened to them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him. Peter finally realized what had happened. "It’s really true!" he said to himself.
Here is a good example of being Led in a very natural way, but he didn’t know if it was a dream or if it was real. I guarantee many of you who read this will say to yourself, I’ve had experiences just like that.
We have to learn to co-operate with our visions, that’s when they go from being dream like, to very vivid.
My first Chariot ride was just like that, Lying on the floor in a meeting I saw an Angel and chariot pull up beside me, not overly clear, but I knew it was there, The Angel said hop in, and I saw myself co-operating with the vision, and in an instant I was in the vision, it was real and clear see the testimony www.papelim.org.nz/page12.html
Like Peter, there is often a moment of wondering, is this real or not. The more we co-operate with the Holy Spirit in our dreams and visions, the more we will walk in the supernatural. But don’t be discouraged if you are not sure, because when Peter had his Acts 12 experience, He had just finished having his Acts 10 experience, which was the vision of the clean & unclean animals, and His call to include the Gentiles.
Its ok to wonder, but don’t let the wondering turn to unbelief. Just keep co-operating with the dream or vision until it is more real and clear.
Be alert to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I have had experiences with Angels and supernatural events, especially concerning other countries and ministries that have caused me to ask the Lord, why he was showing me. His answer has always been the same, He had tried to speak to others but they don’t obey the prompting to come aside.
One example of this is when the Lord showed me his plan for Portugal, I felt the prompting of the Lord to come aside, I obeyed and very quickly I was confronted with the Angel of Portugal, very awesome, the experience is recounted on my website www.papelim.org.nz/page12.html at the bottom of the Chariots testimony.
The language of the bible is full of, Come aside, follow me, Come up here. I’m sure I miss it as well, but I am learning to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit, no matter how inconvenient they may seem at the time.
Many of you will be getting ready to have a break over Christmas, and I know many use this time to seek the Lord. Just remember to be like a Child, rest in His works, be led by the Spirit of God and obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit. It may just open the gate into 2008. As Sons & Daughters soar in the Spirit this holiday season.
IAN JOHNSON. ianjohn@xtra.co.nz www.papelim.org.nz
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
A Greater Glory is coming
There has been a decade of signs & wonders pointing to a greater glory to come. but really only a reflection of the greater glory, simply visible manifestations of something far greater to come. The greater glory is the Lord Himself. A revelation of His glory, The time of open eye visions of the Lord, of seeing him beyond what our feeble understanding is currently capable of. In the same way that we have five senses in the natural; See, hear, smell, touch, taste. we are to experience God with five spiritual senses as well? The Lord is bringing us to the time when His glory will be revealed, and men will fall down. Habakkuk 3 I see God, the Holy One, moving across the deserts, His brilliant splendour fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise! What a wonderful God he is! Rays of brilliant light flash from his hands. He rejoices in his awesome power.Pestilence marches before him; plague follows close behind. When he stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. Was it in anger, Lord, that you struck the rivers and parted the sea? Were you displeased with them? No, you were sending your chariots of salvation! You were commanding your weapons of power! You split open the earth with flowing rivers! The mountains watched and trembled. Onward swept the raging waters. The mighty deep cried out, lifting its hands to the Lord. The lofty sun and moon began to fade, obscured by brilliance from your arrows and the flashing of your glittering spear. You marched across the land in awesome anger and trampled the nations in your fury. You went out to rescue your chosen people, to save your anointed ones verse 16: I trembled inside when I heard all this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me,and I shook in terror. A greater glory is coming, It is the Lord himself, Legs will tremble & lips will quiver. If Moses and the Children of Israel could walk in amazing Glory, Signs & wonders in Egypt, burning bush, clouds of glory, pillars of fire, supernatural Mana, supernatural preservation of shoes & cloths, Angelic intervention, Audible voice of God, one on one encounters with the Lord, Signs & WONDERS; (Including, sea parting, Supernatural trumpet blasts, the finger of God writing on rock, and donkeys talking, flashing lightning's of God and rolling thunders of his presence.) This is only the former Rains. If the Apostles & early church could walk in Miracles & wonders, Angelic encounters and instructions, face to face instructions from the Lord, heavenly visitations, Resurrection glory as demonstrated first by the Lord, then in the life of the believers. Transportation & transformation visions & dreams, Audible voice of the Lord, the heavens & the earth shaking and nations transformed. This is only the latter rains Then the combination of The former & the Latter rains is upon us. An exploding glory of miracles, signs, wonders, provision, visitations, transportations. When he himself shows his glory, and we bow down low & tremble. Its new and its amazing, Its far beyond anything the earth has ever seen, although heaven has always been like this. Think about it! Heaven.... Full view of His Glory (See) Heaven ...full knowledge of the saints & Angels in worship (hearing) Heaven... Flowers and perfumes from heaven (smell) Heaven.... The fruits that grow by the river, the food of heaven (taste) Heaven... experiencing the rooms Music.. treasury..revelation.. word (touch) As it is in Heaven, so shall it be on Earth! This is the greater glory, we have no real idea of the expanse of this glory, only a hint in the book of Job. JOB 26:5-14 “The dead tremble in their place beneath the waters. The underworld is naked in God’s presence. There is no cover for the place of destruction. God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing. He wraps the rain in his thick clouds, and the clouds do not burst with the weight. He shrouds his throne with his clouds. He created the horizon when he separated the waters; he set the boundaries for day and night. The foundations of heaven tremble at his rebuke. By his power the sea grew calm. By his skill he crushed the great sea monster. His Spirit made the heavens beautiful, and his power pierced the gliding serpent. “These are some of the minor things he does, merely a whisper of his power. Who can understand the thunder of his power?” We think of the Glory of God in the terms of mans thinking, but his glory is far beyond our finite mind. Far beyond our feeble understanding, far beyond that which has ever been written about or spoken of. This is the glory about to be revealed in the next ten years, men will see it and fall face down in awe and wonder. We have seen a reflection of glory demonstrated through His servants, we have seen some signs & wonders, we have seen miracles, we have caught a glimpse of some aspects of heaven & His majesty, demonstrated through His servants. But these things are merely a whisper of His power. Think about it for a few minutes. Imagine the thunder of the act of creating the stars & the planets Imagine the thunder of the earth forming by his finger Imagine the thunder of the expanse of the void becoming substance These are some of the minor things he does, The greatest explosion of glory is about to be released in the earth! your ministry & mine are about to change forever No longer are we coming in a glory anointing or a fire anointing or a whatever else anointing. We are to become ushers, simply pointing to the greater glory, the unfathomable riches and the supreme majesty of the one who sets the boundaries for day and night. Oh that we would decrease that he might increase. John the Baptist is again crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord. Blessings & Love Ian Johnson www.papelim.org.nz ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
Saturday, November 17, 2007
An unstopable glory
AN UNSTOPPABLE GLORY (First published in March 2005) By IAN JOHNSON ~ ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
God wants us to have an eternal view ~ A vision of Heaven1 Cor 2: 9-10 9 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." 10 But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets. Satan on the other hand wants us to remain blind and uninformed! Because he knows that if we get a vision of Heaven we will be unstoppable in our quest to get our friends and family into heaven. Today I had lunch with a man who is what we call a New Zealand Maori Kaumatua, or leader. He is in His late 50’s, when he was 10 he and His family had no knowledge of Jesus or his claims on their lives. In fact they were deeply into the other side, having open visions of their tribal guardian and other spirits. His young sister got cancer and was dying; He loved his little sister and wanted to see her well again. One morning while he was milking the cow He saw Jesus appear to him on the cross, Jesus spoke to him and said I loved you so much that I suffered this for you. Then Jesus appeared to him in all His Glory and said then I became like this in order to set you free. Remembering that this was a 10 year old. He ran to His mum and told her what had happened; she struggled with it and suggested they call a local minister to see what he thought. He came and was amazed at the vision the boy had received, then suggested that he lay his hand on his little sister and pray for her. As he prayed she began to convulse and vomit a black substance, They rushed her to the doctor who examined her and proclaimed, this girl is healed, the only thing wrong with her now is a lack of food, give her a feed. That was nearly 50 years ago, she is still well today! This vision of the king of Glory changed this family forever, The man is on fire to this day, He has planted churches in remote parts of NZ and seen hundreds of lives transformed because heaven came down and changed his world view forever. Satan has deceived people into believing that Heaven is a boring place, One long Church service, where disembodied spirits float around playing the harp! But Heaven is exciting, it is a place full of glory, where the atmosphere is glory and as you breathe all your senses are filled with glory. When you catch a glimpse of heaven, you see things in an eternal perspective, Your flesh will never be the same again. When Satan was forcibly removed from heaven, he became bitter against God, and against man, and against heaven. Because he is no longer welcome there. It reminds him of the time that he used to be not only in heaven but in the very throne room of the most high God, as the worship leader. (Isaiah 14:12-15) So when God’s people start to seek an eternal view, indeed a view of heaven, Satan goes into a rage. He can’t stand it. He knows that the moment someone sees heaven and tastes it atmosphere, he has lost souls, because that person will be transformed by glory. This is the key reason people oppose a move of glory. The opposition is not inspired out of heaven but out of the realms of darkness. In the Garden of Eden man walked in pure fellowship with God, The atmosphere of Eden was indeed an atmosphere of Glory because God walked with Adam and there they had fellowship, Adam & God The glory of the Father was manifest there. But when man sinned he was cast outside the realms of glory, his vision of eternity and the Glory realm began to fade with each generation. Throughout the Bible times of revival come when the Glory of God is revealed, and individuals or cities or even nations catch a glimpse of the eternal realm of glory. So it is with us, many fall away or never start because we have no concept of the wonders of heaven. Or of the realms of glory set aside for those that seek Him! Satan has robbed our vision ~He keeps us occupied with programs, methods and earth bound services with little relevance to the eternal realm of Heaven ~He keeps our attention firmly fixed on the atmosphere of earth and its pleasures. That’s why it is important to recount testimonies of experiences in the glory of God. One can inspire two, and two can inspire four, and pretty soon satan has lost control. Yea!!!!Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong to our God; but the things revealed belong to us and to our Children forever! Colossians 3:1 since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honour and power. 2 Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth The term "set your sights" uses the Greek word "Zetro" the same word is used: A shepherd looking for his sheep Matt 18:12 Son of man seeks the lost Luke 19:10 Woman searching for lost coins Luke 15:18 Merchant seeking pearl of great price Matt 13:45 So there is an intensity in the seeking after heaven and the Glory of the kingdom where our King is enthroned, that is more than singing a couple of songs, taking an offering, reading the word, the activity we call Church! SEARCH, SEEK KNOCK until you find your own taste of heaven's glory.The other thing about the word "Zetro" is that it is present tense! In other words keep on seeking Heaven in the now! Many fear that we become too heavenly minded, and are of no earthly good" but in fact the opposite is true. Those in history who changed things the most had a heavenly perspective. The Apostles, Those who abolished slavery, Most modern inventions have come from heavenly minded people Great leaders over the centuries have been heavenly minded. The testimony of my friend who saw Jesus in all His glory when he was 10 and who still runs after this glory 50 years later should inspire us afresh to seek the Glory of God. To shake off a religion that traps us in form and not in life. One touch of the glory of God will ruin you for the ordinary for ever.Kathryn Kulman used to say "There is more, much much more! She was never satisfied with the ordinary, because she had seen and tasted the glory. My prayer is "Lord ruin us for the ordinary, show us your Glory" Ian Johnson
www.papelim.org.nz
ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
God wants us to have an eternal view ~ A vision of Heaven1 Cor 2: 9-10 9 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." 10 But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets. Satan on the other hand wants us to remain blind and uninformed! Because he knows that if we get a vision of Heaven we will be unstoppable in our quest to get our friends and family into heaven. Today I had lunch with a man who is what we call a New Zealand Maori Kaumatua, or leader. He is in His late 50’s, when he was 10 he and His family had no knowledge of Jesus or his claims on their lives. In fact they were deeply into the other side, having open visions of their tribal guardian and other spirits. His young sister got cancer and was dying; He loved his little sister and wanted to see her well again. One morning while he was milking the cow He saw Jesus appear to him on the cross, Jesus spoke to him and said I loved you so much that I suffered this for you. Then Jesus appeared to him in all His Glory and said then I became like this in order to set you free. Remembering that this was a 10 year old. He ran to His mum and told her what had happened; she struggled with it and suggested they call a local minister to see what he thought. He came and was amazed at the vision the boy had received, then suggested that he lay his hand on his little sister and pray for her. As he prayed she began to convulse and vomit a black substance, They rushed her to the doctor who examined her and proclaimed, this girl is healed, the only thing wrong with her now is a lack of food, give her a feed. That was nearly 50 years ago, she is still well today! This vision of the king of Glory changed this family forever, The man is on fire to this day, He has planted churches in remote parts of NZ and seen hundreds of lives transformed because heaven came down and changed his world view forever. Satan has deceived people into believing that Heaven is a boring place, One long Church service, where disembodied spirits float around playing the harp! But Heaven is exciting, it is a place full of glory, where the atmosphere is glory and as you breathe all your senses are filled with glory. When you catch a glimpse of heaven, you see things in an eternal perspective, Your flesh will never be the same again. When Satan was forcibly removed from heaven, he became bitter against God, and against man, and against heaven. Because he is no longer welcome there. It reminds him of the time that he used to be not only in heaven but in the very throne room of the most high God, as the worship leader. (Isaiah 14:12-15) So when God’s people start to seek an eternal view, indeed a view of heaven, Satan goes into a rage. He can’t stand it. He knows that the moment someone sees heaven and tastes it atmosphere, he has lost souls, because that person will be transformed by glory. This is the key reason people oppose a move of glory. The opposition is not inspired out of heaven but out of the realms of darkness. In the Garden of Eden man walked in pure fellowship with God, The atmosphere of Eden was indeed an atmosphere of Glory because God walked with Adam and there they had fellowship, Adam & God The glory of the Father was manifest there. But when man sinned he was cast outside the realms of glory, his vision of eternity and the Glory realm began to fade with each generation. Throughout the Bible times of revival come when the Glory of God is revealed, and individuals or cities or even nations catch a glimpse of the eternal realm of glory. So it is with us, many fall away or never start because we have no concept of the wonders of heaven. Or of the realms of glory set aside for those that seek Him! Satan has robbed our vision ~He keeps us occupied with programs, methods and earth bound services with little relevance to the eternal realm of Heaven ~He keeps our attention firmly fixed on the atmosphere of earth and its pleasures. That’s why it is important to recount testimonies of experiences in the glory of God. One can inspire two, and two can inspire four, and pretty soon satan has lost control. Yea!!!!Deuteronomy 29:29 "The secret things belong to our God; but the things revealed belong to us and to our Children forever! Colossians 3:1 since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honour and power. 2 Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth The term "set your sights" uses the Greek word "Zetro" the same word is used: A shepherd looking for his sheep Matt 18:12 Son of man seeks the lost Luke 19:10 Woman searching for lost coins Luke 15:18 Merchant seeking pearl of great price Matt 13:45 So there is an intensity in the seeking after heaven and the Glory of the kingdom where our King is enthroned, that is more than singing a couple of songs, taking an offering, reading the word, the activity we call Church! SEARCH, SEEK KNOCK until you find your own taste of heaven's glory.The other thing about the word "Zetro" is that it is present tense! In other words keep on seeking Heaven in the now! Many fear that we become too heavenly minded, and are of no earthly good" but in fact the opposite is true. Those in history who changed things the most had a heavenly perspective. The Apostles, Those who abolished slavery, Most modern inventions have come from heavenly minded people Great leaders over the centuries have been heavenly minded. The testimony of my friend who saw Jesus in all His glory when he was 10 and who still runs after this glory 50 years later should inspire us afresh to seek the Glory of God. To shake off a religion that traps us in form and not in life. One touch of the glory of God will ruin you for the ordinary for ever.Kathryn Kulman used to say "There is more, much much more! She was never satisfied with the ordinary, because she had seen and tasted the glory. My prayer is "Lord ruin us for the ordinary, show us your Glory" Ian Johnson
www.papelim.org.nz
ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
The sounds from the ends of the Earth
By Ian Johnson ~November 2007 ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
Isa 42:10
Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.
There is a sound about to be released in the Islands of the Sea & the ends of the Earth. The Journey has been interesting to this point. Here are some notes I have made along the way.
In Early 2004
The Lord asked us to carry the "Sound" from the ends of the earth into every capital city in Australia & NZ, releasing it upon the Musicians & singers wherever we went. To date we have been to Auckland, Wellington, Brisbane, Melbourne and in three weeks we go to Perth. In New Zealand our Prayer Workz ministry has been to several key points in the north Island of New Zealand., The sole aim has been to proclaim a release of the “Sound” from the ends of the Earth.
In December 2004
an Angel with a blue and white sash and a Star of David in it like the flag of Israel, came to me in the early hours of the morning in Melbourne and said the "Sound" of glory from the ends of the Earth has been heard in Jerusalem.
What was the Sound? Well the meetings we had just had were a mixture of Gentile & Jewish believers, the songs were a mixture of Messianic & modern Christian worship. We had come together as One new Man in Christ.
Also In Melbourne; this word came forward, I didn’t realise the significance of it at the time.
Its now of time of restructuring, you are now going into a transition time in preparation for greater Glory.
In January 2005
the Lord started to speak again; He said.
The sound of glory needs to be heard from the ends of the Earth. command the sounds!
In May 2005
I received this word in relation to New Zealand.
You sit in blindness not realising your call
You watch other nations and say I want that too!
But you, Oh nations at the ends of the Earth have a different walk
You are the South wind called to blow
Blow on Israel bones a dry
to share in her glory, As nations vainly stare
Great wonder, from death to life's breath, from life comes fruit
You have a different call, Oh nations at the ends of the Earth.
Its time to see in the Spirit
In 2006
During a visit to NZ by Kathie Walters, I was transported in an Angelic Chariot to several nations of the Earth, including Israel; I had several trips all from the Ends of the Earth (NZ & Australia) through many nations to the western wall in Jerusalem. On the last trip to the wall an Angel presented me with a Rod, I have carried this back to the ends of the Earth and believe it is a symbol of the authority that has been given to the Ends of the Earth to raise up the new sound. The call is clear. There is a new sound!
In Early 2007
The Lord spoke this word to me.
In new & fresh ways, instructions must now come from the throne You will soon receive clear vision, there will be angelic encounters. Super signs & wonders.
On the 31st march 2007.
The Angel breakthrough came to me in a suddenly moment in God. Breakthrough declared he had come to usher a move of breakthrough in New Zealand. The key word I think is Usher, it raises a picture of a marriage ceremony, as the guests arrive they are ushered into their rightful place. An indication of what time we are approaching in God. And a call for ministries and individuals to align themselves with the will of God for this season. If you need to move, then its time to move. We have resigned our role as Senior Pastor of Papatoetoe Elim Church because we need to align ourselves with the purpose of God in this season.
When seasons change it begins with subtle signs, and then when the fullness of time for change arrives, it is announced with strong equinoxes, winds blast and change is in full swing.
Up until now the change in the Ends of the Earth has come with subtleness and small signs.
But now there is a change coming! There is a “Sound” about to arise from the ends of the Earth. The sound will flow through the nations, as it rolls through nations; it gathers momentum Israel will respond. And the bride will stand as “One new man in Christ.”
"For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity." (Ephesians 2:14-16)
A Word 15th April 2007.
The intensity of Glory has changed the sound
Israel has heard the sound from the ends of the Earth!
Psalmists can you hear it?
Write it down and share the sound!
Intercessors can you hear it?
Proclaim it to your brethren!
Servants of the Lord can you hear it?
Prepare for the increase!
The Journey continues!
Ian Johnson
His Amazing Glory ministries.
www.papelim.org.nz
ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
Isa 42:10
Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.
12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.
There is a sound about to be released in the Islands of the Sea & the ends of the Earth. The Journey has been interesting to this point. Here are some notes I have made along the way.
In Early 2004
The Lord asked us to carry the "Sound" from the ends of the earth into every capital city in Australia & NZ, releasing it upon the Musicians & singers wherever we went. To date we have been to Auckland, Wellington, Brisbane, Melbourne and in three weeks we go to Perth. In New Zealand our Prayer Workz ministry has been to several key points in the north Island of New Zealand., The sole aim has been to proclaim a release of the “Sound” from the ends of the Earth.
In December 2004
an Angel with a blue and white sash and a Star of David in it like the flag of Israel, came to me in the early hours of the morning in Melbourne and said the "Sound" of glory from the ends of the Earth has been heard in Jerusalem.
What was the Sound? Well the meetings we had just had were a mixture of Gentile & Jewish believers, the songs were a mixture of Messianic & modern Christian worship. We had come together as One new Man in Christ.
Also In Melbourne; this word came forward, I didn’t realise the significance of it at the time.
Its now of time of restructuring, you are now going into a transition time in preparation for greater Glory.
In January 2005
the Lord started to speak again; He said.
The sound of glory needs to be heard from the ends of the Earth. command the sounds!
In May 2005
I received this word in relation to New Zealand.
You sit in blindness not realising your call
You watch other nations and say I want that too!
But you, Oh nations at the ends of the Earth have a different walk
You are the South wind called to blow
Blow on Israel bones a dry
to share in her glory, As nations vainly stare
Great wonder, from death to life's breath, from life comes fruit
You have a different call, Oh nations at the ends of the Earth.
Its time to see in the Spirit
In 2006
During a visit to NZ by Kathie Walters, I was transported in an Angelic Chariot to several nations of the Earth, including Israel; I had several trips all from the Ends of the Earth (NZ & Australia) through many nations to the western wall in Jerusalem. On the last trip to the wall an Angel presented me with a Rod, I have carried this back to the ends of the Earth and believe it is a symbol of the authority that has been given to the Ends of the Earth to raise up the new sound. The call is clear. There is a new sound!
In Early 2007
The Lord spoke this word to me.
In new & fresh ways, instructions must now come from the throne You will soon receive clear vision, there will be angelic encounters. Super signs & wonders.
On the 31st march 2007.
The Angel breakthrough came to me in a suddenly moment in God. Breakthrough declared he had come to usher a move of breakthrough in New Zealand. The key word I think is Usher, it raises a picture of a marriage ceremony, as the guests arrive they are ushered into their rightful place. An indication of what time we are approaching in God. And a call for ministries and individuals to align themselves with the will of God for this season. If you need to move, then its time to move. We have resigned our role as Senior Pastor of Papatoetoe Elim Church because we need to align ourselves with the purpose of God in this season.
When seasons change it begins with subtle signs, and then when the fullness of time for change arrives, it is announced with strong equinoxes, winds blast and change is in full swing.
Up until now the change in the Ends of the Earth has come with subtleness and small signs.
But now there is a change coming! There is a “Sound” about to arise from the ends of the Earth. The sound will flow through the nations, as it rolls through nations; it gathers momentum Israel will respond. And the bride will stand as “One new man in Christ.”
"For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity." (Ephesians 2:14-16)
A Word 15th April 2007.
The intensity of Glory has changed the sound
Israel has heard the sound from the ends of the Earth!
Psalmists can you hear it?
Write it down and share the sound!
Intercessors can you hear it?
Proclaim it to your brethren!
Servants of the Lord can you hear it?
Prepare for the increase!
The Journey continues!
Ian Johnson
His Amazing Glory ministries.
www.papelim.org.nz
ianjohn@xtra.co.nz
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
I HEAR HIS WINGS, I FEEL THE WIND
By Ian Johnson
St Columba wrote “Love does not concern itself with Order” and Acts 2 suggests that when love came to town in Jerusalem in 33AD it came with what seemed like anything but order.
120 souls in an up stairs room all waiting for the promise that Jesus gave, “The Spirit of God will come if I go away” Suddenly there is the most amazing sound, like the roar of a mighty rushing wind, yet it was coming it seems from heaven. Then just as suddenly flames of fire, bodies stretched to the limit by the power of God racing through them, strange language begins to flow from their lips; some began to fall over as if drunk. By now they had begun to spill out into the street, many had come running to see what the noise was, only to see drunken people at nine in the morning. Peter one of the twelve stood up best he could and decided he needed to address the situation, new power surged through his body, his mind was so alert as he opened his mouth, everything he had learned at the Torah school and on his mothers knee came flooding back to mind. He was on fire and full of the Spirit of Glory, so powerful was his message, that 3000 Jewish men & woman surrendered their life to the messiah.
Divine chaos is often a better way to measure the visitation of God, than a quick glance at the order of service sheet.
When the Holy Spirit comes to manifest the glory of God, he comes with power and with passion. The symbols we use for him are of a dove, but also of fire and of wind.
He breaks through into our normality and creates meaning and vitality.
He comes as a dove, but His wings create wind which fans the flames of passion. There is nothing that can ignite a passion for God like, wonderful Holy Spirit.
When we least expect him, He swoops into our dull, earth bound lives, and creates a wind driven fire, that flashes our faith back to life, and turns our confessions back to him.
Elizabeth of Hungry was born in 1207, and she was given in marriage to Louis 1V of Thuringia, whom she loved with a passion. She begged Louis not to go away on the crusades, but to no avail and he went any way, and he was killed. Following his death she would not be consoled and ran through the palace crying out in grief. One day she had an encounter with Jesus, the wind of the Holy Spirit was blowing upon her life afresh. Soon her human passion subsided and a spiritual passion for Jesus began to burn in her, the Spirit was fanning the flames. The Glory of God settled on her life, and she began to give herself and all her wealth to the poor. Her passion for the Lord and her addiction for his glory brought the love and the mercy of God into an explosive unity. When these things unite, Jesus is seen walking on the Earth again, and his glory is known and seen in a tangible way.
Divine discontent is the door to the longing and hunger that attracts the Holy Spirit, to the place that Paul said brings us to conformity to the image of Christ.
I am walking in a season of divine discontent, I’m no longer happy to be doing the same old same old, I can hear the wings of an approaching dove and I can hear the roar of a wind from heaven. In my humanness I could feel a little discouraged. But I hear the sound of His wings and I know he is strangely drawn to my discontentment. I can feel the suddenly of God approaching and I know he is about to bring a new season into my life.
T. S. Eliot wrote:
The dove descending breaks the air
With flame of incandescent terror
Of which the tongues declare
The one discharged of sin and error.
The only hope or else despair
Lies in the choice of pyre or pyre
To be redeemed from fire by fire.
Who then devised the torment? Love.
Love is the unfamiliar mane
Behind the hands that wove
The intolerable shirt of flame.
Which human power cannot remove?
We only live, only suspire
Consumed by either fire or fire.
Which fire will consume us? the fire of His glory or the fire of a discouraged life. I have seen too many people over a 30 year period walk away when the discouragement comes. They run from pulpit to pulpit to hear a word of encouragement, only to hear about a hard hitting and harsh God who wants then to clean up their act! Un-consoled they hide away in caves and in the darkness and pretend never to have caught a glimpse of Him.
We need the transforming power of the Holy Spirit; His glory transforms the meanest, the hardest, the most unlovely souls into firebrands of glory. Not because they have seen how bad they are, but because they have seen how Holy he is, and have felt the power of his love, they have heard his forgiveness echoed in the wind. And from a grateful heart they run headlong into this glory.
Annie Dillard wrote:
On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of conditions. They do not have the foggiest idea of the power they invoke, It is madness to wear straw hats to Church, instead we should be wearing crash helmets, Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares, they should lash us to our seats, For the God we invoke may just one day turn up and lead us to where we can never return from.
I hear the wings of a dove, I feel the wind of His Glory, I don’t know about you but I know there is a season Glory being released in the Ends of the Earth.
Amor non Tenet ordinam “Love does not concern itself with order”
St Columba
Ian Johnson ianjohn@xtra.co.nz www.papelim.org.nz
St Columba wrote “Love does not concern itself with Order” and Acts 2 suggests that when love came to town in Jerusalem in 33AD it came with what seemed like anything but order.
120 souls in an up stairs room all waiting for the promise that Jesus gave, “The Spirit of God will come if I go away” Suddenly there is the most amazing sound, like the roar of a mighty rushing wind, yet it was coming it seems from heaven. Then just as suddenly flames of fire, bodies stretched to the limit by the power of God racing through them, strange language begins to flow from their lips; some began to fall over as if drunk. By now they had begun to spill out into the street, many had come running to see what the noise was, only to see drunken people at nine in the morning. Peter one of the twelve stood up best he could and decided he needed to address the situation, new power surged through his body, his mind was so alert as he opened his mouth, everything he had learned at the Torah school and on his mothers knee came flooding back to mind. He was on fire and full of the Spirit of Glory, so powerful was his message, that 3000 Jewish men & woman surrendered their life to the messiah.
Divine chaos is often a better way to measure the visitation of God, than a quick glance at the order of service sheet.
When the Holy Spirit comes to manifest the glory of God, he comes with power and with passion. The symbols we use for him are of a dove, but also of fire and of wind.
He breaks through into our normality and creates meaning and vitality.
He comes as a dove, but His wings create wind which fans the flames of passion. There is nothing that can ignite a passion for God like, wonderful Holy Spirit.
When we least expect him, He swoops into our dull, earth bound lives, and creates a wind driven fire, that flashes our faith back to life, and turns our confessions back to him.
Elizabeth of Hungry was born in 1207, and she was given in marriage to Louis 1V of Thuringia, whom she loved with a passion. She begged Louis not to go away on the crusades, but to no avail and he went any way, and he was killed. Following his death she would not be consoled and ran through the palace crying out in grief. One day she had an encounter with Jesus, the wind of the Holy Spirit was blowing upon her life afresh. Soon her human passion subsided and a spiritual passion for Jesus began to burn in her, the Spirit was fanning the flames. The Glory of God settled on her life, and she began to give herself and all her wealth to the poor. Her passion for the Lord and her addiction for his glory brought the love and the mercy of God into an explosive unity. When these things unite, Jesus is seen walking on the Earth again, and his glory is known and seen in a tangible way.
Divine discontent is the door to the longing and hunger that attracts the Holy Spirit, to the place that Paul said brings us to conformity to the image of Christ.
I am walking in a season of divine discontent, I’m no longer happy to be doing the same old same old, I can hear the wings of an approaching dove and I can hear the roar of a wind from heaven. In my humanness I could feel a little discouraged. But I hear the sound of His wings and I know he is strangely drawn to my discontentment. I can feel the suddenly of God approaching and I know he is about to bring a new season into my life.
T. S. Eliot wrote:
The dove descending breaks the air
With flame of incandescent terror
Of which the tongues declare
The one discharged of sin and error.
The only hope or else despair
Lies in the choice of pyre or pyre
To be redeemed from fire by fire.
Who then devised the torment? Love.
Love is the unfamiliar mane
Behind the hands that wove
The intolerable shirt of flame.
Which human power cannot remove?
We only live, only suspire
Consumed by either fire or fire.
Which fire will consume us? the fire of His glory or the fire of a discouraged life. I have seen too many people over a 30 year period walk away when the discouragement comes. They run from pulpit to pulpit to hear a word of encouragement, only to hear about a hard hitting and harsh God who wants then to clean up their act! Un-consoled they hide away in caves and in the darkness and pretend never to have caught a glimpse of Him.
We need the transforming power of the Holy Spirit; His glory transforms the meanest, the hardest, the most unlovely souls into firebrands of glory. Not because they have seen how bad they are, but because they have seen how Holy he is, and have felt the power of his love, they have heard his forgiveness echoed in the wind. And from a grateful heart they run headlong into this glory.
Annie Dillard wrote:
On the whole, I do not find Christians, outside the catacombs, sufficiently sensible of conditions. They do not have the foggiest idea of the power they invoke, It is madness to wear straw hats to Church, instead we should be wearing crash helmets, Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares, they should lash us to our seats, For the God we invoke may just one day turn up and lead us to where we can never return from.
I hear the wings of a dove, I feel the wind of His Glory, I don’t know about you but I know there is a season Glory being released in the Ends of the Earth.
Amor non Tenet ordinam “Love does not concern itself with order”
St Columba
Ian Johnson ianjohn@xtra.co.nz www.papelim.org.nz
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