MOVIE “RISEN” The Tomb is Empty

Posted on by

“Risen,” directed by Kevin Reynolds and starring Joseph Fiennes, is the story of the manhunt for the corpse of Jesus Christ. Spoiler alert: They don’t find it.

Fiennes plays a Roman tribune named Clavius. He’s tasked by Pontius Pilate with crucifying the latest batch of Jewish rabble and self-proclaimed messiahs. The only catch? One of them really is the Messiah.

Of course Clavius, a good Roman military man, doesn’t think anything of Jesus. When the centurion at Golgotha admits, “Surely this Man was the Son of God,” Clavius lets him have it. Clavius is tough, and he’s immune to Jewish superstition—that is, until Sunday morning. For Clavius, that’s when all Heaven breaks loose.

The tomb is empty, the guards aren’t talking, and the Disciples of Jesus are spreading the news that He’s come back to life. The high priest warns Pilate that they’ll have an uprising on their hands if he doesn’t put the resurrection story to rest. So Pilate sends Clavius on a grisly, CSI-style hunt for the body of Christ.

That’s when our tribune has an encounter that shakes his pagan worldview to the core. “I have seen two things which cannot reconcile,” he says. “A man dead without question, and that same man alive again.”

This a powerful film, not just because it’s a respectful and riveting portrayal of the gospel accounts, but because it shows an unbeliever’s crisis of faith when confronted by the Risen Lord.

In anticipation of Easter, I cannot think of a better reminder of how Christianity, as Tim Keller puts it, forces us to “doubt our doubts.” The empty tomb is the most startling fact of history—something two millennia of skeptics have tried to explain away. But the evidence is just too strong. And “Risen,” like a good detective novel, follows that evidence where it leads.

For instance, the Roman officials and Jewish leaders had every motive to produce a body. Yet they couldn’t. And Jesus’ Disciples had nothing to gain and everything to lose from lying about the Resurrection. But their transformation from cowards to spiritual conquerors testifies that they, like Fiennes’ fictional character, saw something—or Someone—who rocked their worlds.

Make sure you take your non believing friends to see this challenging movie and what better time just before Easter.

 

 

GOD said to Bill, “You’ve got to get this Bill”

Posted on by

This is a great testimony. It’s authentic, It’s for real. You will be impacted by this testimony. I was, all Christians will resonate with and be encouraged by this message. If you don’t, then you are in a dark place and need help. Why don’t you contact Bill Towns.

SYRIA and an important END TIMES prophecy

Posted on by

Joel Richardson does a great job of expounding scripture concerning what is unfolding right now in Syria and surrounding countries in the Middle East.

Bible prophecies are being fulfilled in our time. Most Bible prophecies have already been fulfilled, particularly those concerning the birth, life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Surely, this is proof that the Bible is God’s Word.

Do you want to know God then spend time in His Word. The Holy Spirit is your  Teacher, Counsellor, Comforter and Healer. He will lead you into all truth, if you ask Him.

2016: Another prophecy that resonates with all I am hearing from our Lord.

Posted on by

At the foot of the Cross

Recognize this prophecy is directed at the church in America, but its core message is relevant to us all. It is an abbreviated version of a prophecy given by Clay Nash. It appeared in the latest edition of Charisma Magazine. Clay serves on the team of Network Ekklesia International along with Dutch Sheets and Ken Malone as well as Global Spheres with Chuck Pierce and C. Peter Wagner.

“Many are asking what this year will bring. I want to seek to communicate some things God is revealing to me and how they will mesh together this year.

The first word I am hearing out of His heart and Spirit is “surrender.” Jesus in His humanity asked His Father to let His cup pass from Him, only to surrender by stating, “Not My will, but Your will be done.”

The Lord spoke to me, “Those who surrender to My will are going to reap where they have not sown this year.” Surrendering is not just a decision but a process.

The second word I have heard is “to sharpen our focus.” I have determined that, this year, I will be as “intensely intentional” as I can possibly manage. I am not just sharpening my focus to do things right, but intentionally sharpening my focus to do “right things.” The airways are so full of sounds, and the sounds are distracting, to say the least. It is time we clear our slate and press in to recognize His voice.

The Scriptures state in John 10: “My sheep hear my voice” and the voice of a stranger they will not follow. It is not about not hearing the other sounds that fill the airways; it is about allowing the authority of His sound alone to have any influence.

The third word I hear is “harvest.” The harvest that is at hand will be unprecedented in nature. This will prove to be an authentic harvest, producing disciples and not just converts.

Now I want to address a word that God has been building in me for over a year now. This word is a word of caution and direction to the church and the leaders in our nation. A word that I pray can be heard by leaders far and wide and those with greater influence and those with significant but smaller sphere of influence.

This final word I have heard is, “Will you continue to pursue your Rachel as your desire or will you focus on the Leah of your life and produce a legacy of inheritance?” Joel 3:14 says, “Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of the decision.”

God began to speak to me about His church in our nation (USA): “Will you, My chosen, continue in your performance and preferences or will you surrender to a stance of submission, to obedience? Will you seek to impress the Ancient of Days in how well you look, how well you perform, and how well you speak or will you discern your heart and see that what is done is to impress those you desire to lead? Will you continue to make your worship so that it is the centre of your focus rather than My Presence and manifested presence?

I desire your obedience to emanate from your love for Me.

I have set before you a time to make wise decisions based on My will and a way that is not convenient. Will you seek to allow your preference to guide you, or will you yield, and allow My conviction to speak deeply to you and bring your heart to a place of surrendered passion?

“Will you choose Rachel—she who is beautiful, fancy and dignified—as the desire of your heart? Will you allow her beauty, the convenience of her attention and her dignified ways to influence your preference? I would desire that you shift in your attention and choose Leah—she who is plain, simple, undignified and uncomely, even dimmed eyed. For Leah, the ministry I have set before you, is surely not that which is attractive or convenient. For Leah will not attract the masses and give a look of success, but it will be the significance of your choice of Leah that can shift this nation from seven hard years of increased warfare and produce “deliverers” for this nation.

“It can be that even as from Jacob and Leah came forth a descendant, Moses, My deliverer, so it can be again. I desire to birth deliverers who can bring awakening that will establish reformation. It can be, says the Lord, as you choose Leah, out of obedience, over Rachel, no longer seeking to excel in the performance of how you look, but bringing forth an obedience that will produce fruit that will remain. From your obedience, I will birth a line of successors as strong as Moses and David. So choose to do My will and do not allow your desire to override My will.”

I ask us all to search our hearts and answer these following questions as we apply Matt. 6:6 (Message) “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace.”

Will we turn from that which impresses and engage the grace which produces?
Will we turn from the relocation of sheep from one holding pen to another?
Will we allow God back into our worship with simplicity?
Will we allow the Holy Spirit to be Lord once again, bringing God’s liberty to our services?
Will we turn from the fear of man and allow the Holy Spirit to do whatever He wills even if it offends church attendees?
Will we turn from needing the mass in attendance to finance our man-designed programs?
Will we realize that it is time to properly position ourselves by empowering the saints to move forward and do the works of God?
Will we remove the Rachel of ministry and no longer trust it as “eye candy” that draws attention to us and our ministry?
I pray this word pierces hearts to the point that services are called off and ministries are suspended until a fresh word from heaven penetrates hearts and causes not only a shift but also a tipping point in our nation.”

The church is the USA needs to repent of not listening to God and not doing His will. Sadly the church in Australia is in a similar position to the church in the USA.

 

GREAT TESTIMONY – “Religion is the problem”

Posted on by

Amazing how God met this indigenous young man at his lowest point in prison and then how revelation came over time. Make sure you watch this five minute testimony to the end. The message is prophetic for our time.

LIVING ETERNAL NOW – LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

Posted on by

The Bible clearly says we are to be “led by the Spirit”. It means being led by our recreated (born again) human spirit. Our spirit is in essence: conscience, intuition and in communion with the Holy Spirit that indwells our spirit.

This is what the Bible means when it says “you are the temple of the Holy Spirit” and “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

LivingEternallyNow_CoverA_Page_1

We are made in God’s image and likeness so it is no coincidence we have a triune nature: Spirit, Soul and Body.

With our spirit we are in contact with the realm of God.

With our soul (will, mind, and emotions) we contact the realm of men.

With our five physical senses we contact the realm of earth.

We need to be like Jesus when He was on earth and say all of the time, “Holy Spirit, not my will but your will be done”. Sadly, so often after we err, we say, “something was telling me not to do that”. That something was the Holy Spirit speaking to our spirit.

We all have a conscience but in born again believers the conscience is in communion with the Holy Spirit, therefore it should be guided by the Holy Spirit. This is why the Bible warns; those who violate conscience end up shipwrecking their faith.

If, we allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our Spirit and therefore our soul (will, mind and emotions) then the fruit of the spirit will be evident in our lives: love, joy, peace, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness, kindness, patience and self-control.  Also, some of the nine gifts of the spirit will flow and we will truly start to bring His Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven.

Living Eternally Now available as an eBook on Amazon.

PROPHETIC WORD FOR 2016 – The year of the rising remnant

Posted on by

The following prophecy by Rob Winters of The Prepare the Way International Revival Centre in Phoenix Arizona is very similar to what I heard at a recent ICCC Congress in Jakarta. It struck the right chord for me what about you?

Spiritual warfare

The year 2016 is a Jubilee year in which the Lord is liberating His remnant church from reproach, shame, doubt, cynicism and grief. It’s a year to proclaim and experience liberty in every aspect of our lives (Lev. 25:10).

For the past seven years (2009-2015) the Lord addressed His remnant as the Jacob Generation—who with clean hands and a pure heart daily ascended the hill of the Lord to seek His face in the secret place. This remnant received a promise of blessing from the Lord that will now be realized in this next seven-year season (2016-2022).

“Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He will receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face. Selah” (Ps. 24:3-6, MEV).

During this next seven-year season, the Lord is bringing forth His rising remnant as the Joshua Generation, who will accompany the King of Glory, the Lord of Armies, into battle. Indeed, the remnant church is entering a season not only of blessing, but also of glory and of war.

“Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, you everlasting doors, that the King of glory may enter. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift up, you everlasting doors, that the King of glory may enter. Who is He—this King of glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah” (Ps. 24:7-10, MEV).

In order to better understand the season God is moving the remnant church into, we need to contrast and compare the characteristics of the season we have exited with the season we are now entering.

INTIMACY versus AUTHORITY

Intimacy with God precedes authority in God. Over the past seven years, the Lord has been wooing His Bride into the holy place. Like Jacob, who at Bethel saw the angels of God ascending and descending upon a ladder through the gate of heaven, the Lord has beckoned His remnant to seek His face in the secret place. As the Jacob Generation has come to know the Lord and His purposes in the former season, He can now trust them with His authority and power as the Joshua Generation in this new season (Gen. 28:16-17).

KNOWING versus DOING

As the Jacob Generation, the remnant church has come to know God. Now as the Joshua Generation, the remnant church must do exploits for God. In these last days, it is crucial that the remnant church arise and expand the rule of King Jesus in the earth. Thy Kingdom come!

“By flatteries he will corrupt those who act wickedly toward the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and take action” (Daniel 11:32, MEV).

REVELATION versus REVOLUTION

The Jacob Generation, having come to a revelation of God, must now, as the Joshua Generation, lead a righteous revolution for God. Through the spirit of wisdom and understanding, we have come to know God’s ways, words and works. Through the spirit of knowledge, we have come to know God’s purposes, provision and power. However, in this next season, the Spirit of the Lord is entrusting to us His divine authority and power that we might lead a righteous revolution. Moreover, the spirit of council is revealing God’s strategic battle plans while the spirit of might is releasing God’s power that we might do exploits in His name (Eph. 1:17-19).

WAITING versus WARFARE

Intimacy with God requires waiting on God. As we wait upon the Lord, our strength is being renewed, enabling us to soar as eagles, run through a troop and jump over walls into the enemy camp. In other words, waiting on God produces the strength necessary to war with God. No less than five times did the Lord exhort Joshua to “be strong and of good courage” as he prepared Israel to possess their promised land and depose the giants of Canaan (Josh. 1:6-7, 9, 18; Josh. 10:25; Ps. 18:29; Is. 40:31).

ABIDING UNDER versus PRESIDING OVER

The Jacob Generation dwelt in the secret place of the Most High and abided under the shadow of the Almighty. In contrast, the Joshua Generation presided over the enemies of Canaan, trampling lions and serpents underfoot. In other words, the Jacob Generation retreated into the presence of God, whereas the Joshua Generation now advances into enemy territory (Psalms 91:1-2, 13).

CONCESSION versus POSSESSION

Jacob played “Let’s Make a Deal” with his Uncle Laban to obtain his prized possession—Rachel. After labouring for seven years for Rachel, Jacob was deceived into marrying Leah, Rachel’s sister. After making concessions to obtain what man had promised, Jacob became disillusioned. On the contrary, Joshua led Israel out of the wilderness to take possession of what God had promised. Likewise, the remnant church is entering into a season of possession, as it is our time to possess the promises of God (Gen. 29:18, 27).

Joshua 1:3 says, “I have given you every place that the sole of your foot shall tread, as I said to Moses'” (MEV).

INTIMATE WORSHIP versus WARFARE PRAISE

The remnant church is transitioning from ministering to the Lord to ministering for the Lord. As priests, the Jacob Generation worshipped at His holy hill at the feet of Jesus. As kings, the Joshua Generation, through high praise, now executes judgements secured from heavenly courts that bind rulers of darkness over nations (Psalms 149:5-9).

PREPARATION versus PROMOTION

Over the past seven years, the Jacob Generation has been prepared in the crucible of affliction and has found solace in the secret place—hidden away with God. Having passed the wilderness tests of affliction, neglect, abuse and silence, the Joshua Generation in this new season will arise, emerge from the shadows and experience divine promotion.

REPROACH versus RECOMMENDATION

The reproach of men experienced by the Jacob Generation will be overshadowed by the commendation of God.  In this season, the Lord will demonstrate that He has not changed His mind about the Joshua Generation by recommending and honouring them before men. Those that have stood in the remnant’s way in the past season will be of no consequence (Is. 61:7, Josh. 1:5).

OBSCURITY versus OPPORTUNITY

Years of obscurity will be swallowed up by divine opportunity. While God hid the Jacob Generation to protect and prepare them in the former season, He is now bringing the Joshua Generation to the forefront to fulfil divine destiny. Those who have been faithful over little for years will now be ruler over much. For many in the remnant church, 2016 will be a make-or-break year. God is opening doors for the remnant that no man can shut. Indeed, the remnant church is entering into a season of divine grace and opportunity that we must embrace by faith. It’s now or never! No more delay!

“The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder. Then he shall open, and no one shall shut. And he shall shut, and no one shall open” (Is. 22:22, MEV).

HARDSHIP & PAIN versus HARVEST & GAIN

Jacob laboured in the wilderness for seven years to receive and enjoy his prized possession—Rachel. During this painful season of preparation, God produced perseverance, character and hope in Jacob. In this new season, Jacob’s hope will be realized, as the Lord moves the remnant from a season of deference into a season of preference. The sufferings of the wilderness will not be worthy to be compared with the glory revealed through us in our promised land flowing with milk and honey (Deut. 26:9; Prov. 13:12; Rom. 5:3-5; Rom. 8:18).

INCARCERATION versus LIBERATION

Jacob suffered a form of incarceration for 14 years under his Uncle Laban, whereas Joshua was liberated from 40 years in the wilderness. The year 2016 is a Jubilee year in which the Lord is liberating His remnant church from reproach, shame, doubt, cynicism and grief. It’s a year to proclaim and experience liberty in every aspect of our lives (Lev. 25:10).

SANCTIFICATION versus SUPERNATURAL

The degree to which the Jacob Generation sanctified themselves over the past seven years will be the measure in which signs, wonders and miracles will be wrought through the Joshua Generation in this new season. Tomorrow is here! The time is now for the remnant to arise and the Lord to do wonders among us.

“Joshua said to the people, ‘ Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will perform wondrous deeds among you” Joshua 3:5, MEV

Rob Winters is senior pastor of the Prepare the Way International Revival Centre, an apostolic and prophetic expression of the ekklesia in Phoenix, Arizona. He is author of numerous books, including Prepare America! – Hope for a Nation in Crisis, Turning America Back to God and Prophets and Prophetic Ministry. For more information, visit his website at preparethewayint.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOD AS A TRI-UNITY IS FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HIS UNIVERSE

Posted on by

God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are each equally and eternally the one true God.

God is Love, is probably the most important claim Christians make about our Creator, and yet, without the Trinity it is incomprehensible. A perfectly loving Being cannot perfectly love if He is not sharing that love with at least one other, since perfect love exists between two distinct entities. Love demands a subject who loves and an object that is loved. Because God is immutable and self sufficient (His aseity) requires that His love is not dependent upon the existence of creatures (anything created).

By observing the Universe God created, we can see this tri-unity expressed in every aspect of that creation.

The Father is the Thought behind it, the Son is the Word calling it forth, and the Spirit is the Deed making it a reality.

We are made in God’s image and in God’s likeness so is it any wonder we are a Trinity – Spirit, Soul and Body. Is it also any wonder, that God established the family, the basic structure for mankind as a Trinity – Husband, Wife and Children.

God’s universe is a Trinity – Matter, Space and Time and each of these is a Trinity: Matter – Solid, Liquid and Gas, Space – width, height and depth and Time – past, present and future.

God has given us so many wonderful examples in His creation of ONE being a TRINITY.

Water is two atoms of Hydrogen and one atom of Oxygen (H2O) and it can be a solid – ice, liquid – water and gas- steam.

Light – white is made up of three primary colours, red, green and blue.
8764-trinity-color

The three Persons of the Trinity appear in a logical, causal order . The Father is the unseen, omnipresent Source of all being, revealed in and by the Son, experienced in and by the Holy Spirit. The Son proceeds from the Father, and the Spirit from the Son.

We “see” God and His great salvation by the Father sending the Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, we then “experience” their reality by faith, through the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit. 

The truth of God’s tri-unity is ingrained in man’s very nature, but sadly he has often distorted it and substituted a false god or gods in its place.