GOD HAS RAISED UP MARTYN ISLES TO MOBILISE AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIANS

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It was a thrill to see over 4,500 people turn up for the ‘Babylon’ grand finale in Melbourne last Friday night!

Over 4,500 people were in attendance and over 40,000 people watched the Livestream of ‘Babylon’ in Melbourne. You can watch the highlights by clicking on the video below.

Martyn Isles heads up the organisation Australian Christian Lobby (ACL). God has raised up this young man for such a time as this and he is being obedient to God’s call. On the ACL website it states:

ACL is a grassroots movement motivated by faith, together making truth public.

In Australia as well as across the western world, truth in the public square is being attacked and suppressed. The greatest stronghold of truth – Classical Christianity – is being pathologised and blamed for significant harms.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34

To this end, Christian institutions are being undermined. Churches are being pressured by new moral and legal norms. Individuals who speak or live consistent with truth are made prey.

To stand for truth in public as a relentless, unquieted, and effective voice is a leadership role that is desperately needed. It requires divinely inspired courage, wisdom, and endurance. Martyn has all three.

But the courage of one inspires the courage of others. And the truth, whenever it is spoken, will yield fruit. Silence is not an option.

Isaiah 59 records God’s displeasure at the paradigm in Israel which so closely mirrors the concerns articulated in Australia. In particular, the Lord marvelled that “there was no one to intercede.”

ACL seeks to ensure that such a statement cannot be made of modern Australia. To intercede for the cause of truth, righteousness, and justice in the public squares is our burden and our core business. This includes interceding for the cause of those who are made prey.

Through being a politically effective voice, ACL helps to see Christian principles and ethics accepted and influencing the way we are governed, do business and relate to each other as a society.

Over 220,000 individuals share ACL’s vision to be a voice for God’s truth in the public squares. Together, we are seeking to bring a Christian influence to politics. We want to see Christian principles and ethics accepted and influencing the way we are governed, do business and relate as a society. We want Australia to become a more just and compassionate nation.

ACL is non-party partisan, non-denominational.

WHAT HAS GOD ACHIEVED WITH COVID

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1. More focus on what’s important. One Christian wrote, “I feel like I’ve been more observant, it has forced me to slow down and see things that I wouldn’t normally see or appreciate.” Another wrote, “Less distractions. More time to focus on our creator. More time for prayer.” This pandemic is forcing us to prioritize and remember what’s truly important in life.

2. God has got my attention. Because of the removal of distractions, Christians are able to hear God and respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading. One Christian wrote, “God has brought His Word out loud and clear, spoken in song and on social media. His people, the Church, have risen and are staying connected and meeting needs.”

3. Reconnecting with family. This was one of the most popular responses. Being forced to stay at home, people are able to reconnect with family in meaningful ways. One wrote, “Very much enjoy working at home with my lovely wife.” Another shared, “The gift of extra time and conversation with my adult children that I didn’t expect to have.” A third wrote, “Given us sweet family time.”

4. Great interactions with neighbors. A famous command by Jesus is to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39). But since most of us live life on the go, we don’t have much meaningful time to interact with our neighbors. These stay-at-home orders that many of us are experiencing is changing all that. One Christian shared, “love seeing all my neighbors out in the pretty spring weather playing with their kids and pets.” Another wrote, “more opportunities to encourage others and talk about my hope in the Lord.”

5. Rest in God. Whether by choice or not, people are seeing the benefits of slowing down and finding the rest that only comes in God. One Christian wrote that through this crisis, she’s been able to “rest in God and depend more on Him.” Another shared, “I got closer to Jesus.”

If you are afraid of contracting this disease, pray to God to help you get over the fear of the virus. Remember, “The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control“. (2 Timothy 1:7, ERV)

If after prayers, you are still not able to banish the fear of the virus from you, stay home, stay safe, and keep trusting God (Philippians 4:6–7; 1 Peter 5:7).

The following scripture is one that has been helpful for me in tough times. Jesus made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit to be our comforter as well as our counsellor and teacher.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Remember, pestilence is just one of the end times signs that Jesus told us would warn us of His return to earth.

“Then he (Jesus) said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and pestilences.” Luke 21:10-11

JONATHAN CAHN ON THE JUBILEE AND ITS CONTROL OF HISTORY

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Jonathan Cahn joins Erick Stakelbeck on TBN’s Praise to discuss the restoration and significance of Israel, as well as Jubilee events. Listen as they encourage you to dig deep into the Word to see all that the Bible has correctly predicted, and to see that everything God says is true. God is in control of all events in the affairs of men and nations. You will be blown away by what Jonathan reveals. How did Jonathan discover this history in such detail? Jonathan reveals that He was blown away, as you will be, as the Holy Spirit revealed these events to Him. You will want to buy Jonathan’s book The Oracle where all of this history is revealed.

CHRISTIANS ARE ALWAYS ON THE MOVE BUILDING GOD’S KINGDOM

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When God called Abraham, he didn’t say, “You need to ascribe to these commandments, right principles, and correct beliefs.” Instead, God told Abraham, “Go from your country, your people, and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” How did Abraham respond?

“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him.” Genesis 12.4

He didn’t say a word. He got his feet moving.

When it came time for Jesus to assemble the men who would become His apostles and disciples, he didn’t command them to discern and discover all of the scriptural rules and laws to govern their conduct and learn what they should believe. No, Jesus called them and what was their response?

“Immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.” Matthew 4:22

They got their feet moving and so should we.

In the three short years that Jesus ministered on this earth, Jesus walked over 3000 miles. He was a man on the move. He was a man of imminency and intention.

Jesus took ordinary people, made by and in the image of, his Father, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, turned them into a community, a family, of fervent and dedicated apostles, disciples, and students, thereby launching the greatest social movement in human history.

By Jesus’ death and resurrection, He made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, to indwell the Spirit of every person who repents of their past rebellion against God and given their life to Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Submitting to baptism in water they have shown they have died to their old life and been born again by the Holy Spirit into a new life in Christ.

It is possible to be born again by the Holy Spirit and yet we quench His work in our lives thereby grieving Him.

The detailed message we are given of how Elijah heard from God is tremendously important.

What did Elijah hear after the wind, earthquake, and fire?

“And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:11-12

How did Elijah respond to the “still small voice“? He “went out..”. He got his feet moving.

“And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out…” 1 Kings 19:13

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30

It is obvious from this Scripture that it is possible to grieve the Holy Spirit and we are told that we quench His work in our lives when we ignore His “still small voice“. I know in my own life that I often am distracted by worldly attractions and miss God’s best for me which means I miss the joy that we get from serving Him.

Prayer is the way we stay in touch with God, Human beings were made to be in fellowship with God. Adam and Eve’s disobedience severed the link but thank God He asked His Son, Jesus, to restore the link. What does God do for those that relate to Him in love? The Psalmist puts it well when he said,

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalms 16:11

If we are obedient and get our feet moving when He asks us to go, He will guide our steps.

“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him because we keep his commandments and do what pleases Him.” 1 John 3:21-22

WHY DOES GOD PERMIT WHAT HE HATES?

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Why does God permit what He hates? Find out with special guest Joni Eareckson Tada.

Periods of awakening often coincide with periods of suffering for the people of God. The Bible indicates that Christians should expect suffering, for our Lord Himself suffered in this life.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” Matthew 16:24

Joni, from her experience, provides us with a good understanding of the place of suffering in the Christian life, reminding us of our need for the Holy Spirit to sustain us as we face personal trials and even direct persecution.

Love this gem of wisdom given by Joni: God permits what he hates to accomplish what He loves. Christ in me the hope of glory.

PROPHETIC UPDATE FOR AMERICA JULY 2022

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Jonathan Cahn speaking at the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America Conference on July 9th, 2022.

A fired-up Jonathan Cahn reveals how God is in control of events that are playing out in America today. The events follow God’s timing according to the Shemitah (7 years) and Jubilee (50 years). God ordained the timing of events for the nation He established, Israel, but could He use this timing for controlling world events? Jonathan Cahn shows that indeed God is controlling world events according to His schedule.

You will be blown away by the information revealed by Jonathan in this video. God is indeed in control of events and answers our prayers in ways that are way above what we expect.

We indeed need to pray for revival with the same zeal as you hear Jonathan in this video. God wants to use you just as he is using Jonathan. Are you seeking His will in this hour? The darkness is great but God is greater. Let’s get in step with Him. Be bold, be courageous, the time is NOW. Start living eternal NOW.

REMEMBER GOD IS IN CONTROL

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In times of great political change, major cultural transformation, and social upheaval like you and I see today, we have to remember that God is in control. 

Great article by Martyn Iles, God has raised up the Martyn Iles for His purposes in these last days.

This is of extraordinary comfort to the Christian. God knows His people and He cares for them.

That is the story of Scripture and of history. And that is your story. He will not leave or forsake you – that is one thing you can be certain about.

There is not one square inch of all creation over which God is not sovereign. He governs all things; He ordains all things. He sits above and behind all things and gives all things their meaning – including the government.

Daniel 2:21 tells us: “He changes times and seasons, deposes kings, and sets up kings.” 

Romans 13:1: Paul said: “there is no authority except God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God.”

God can’t be shut out of government.

Some want to say, “No, this is a secular society and God cannot come in.” But it’s not possible. It matters not whether the people in government have faith or not. God was, and is, already there.

And you and I are in a rare situation today – it’s called a democracy.

That means as Christians in this nation, you and I can be a voice of righteousness when leaders are weak, failing, or evil. It means you and I have an opportunity to speak up. We can tell the truth. We can mobilise.

Some may say, “Does political action really matter? Shouldn’t we just preach the Gospel?” My response would be: “Why can’t we do both?”

You and I need to be whole Christians. We need to be Christians who live and speak the Gospel in the workplace, in the community, and in the public squares. That’s when people will ask, “What’s different about you?” and they’ll come on the journey towards Christ.

That is desperately needed right now. YOU are needed right now – to be salt and light in a society that is gripped by uncertainty.

In difficult times the work of God becomes more urgent, not less. People need to hear the truth with more urgency and clarity because the stakes are higher.   

You and I are called to speak of Christ, represent Christ, and do good. To be salt to stop the decay, and light to drive out the darkness.

Democracy is a precious gift we can use to be the voice that our leaders sometimes are not.

And that leads me to the upcoming elections. If you want to know how you should vote, I will tell you … Vote for righteousness.

Don’t vote for the widest motorway or the biggest welfare cheque. Vote at a macro level for right and wrong.

Obviously, it’s never a perfect choice. But vote for the one who you truly believe will promote that which is good, and restrain that which is evil, more than the other. That’s what the government is meant to do!

ACL is here to inform you, equip you, and mobilise you to be a voice of truth and righteousness at a time when there are many conflicting messages, and when our government is making critical decisions for our nation.

MIRACLES TODAY

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Craig Keener’s new book: Miracles Today: The supernatural work of God in the modern world. is not about miracles that took place in the first century (see his outstanding two-volume tome Miracles for that); this book is about miracles that occur today.

Miracles Today: The Supernatural Work of God in the Modern World. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2021

Keener is not one to throw ideas against walls to see if they’ll stick. Keener is one of the best-known scholars of the Bible and early Christianity in the world today. He is careful with his research and documents everything. The point of the book, as the back-cover states, is to demonstrate via examples “that miraculous works of God, which have been part of the experience of the church around the world since Christianity began, continue into the present.”

This stated goal is admirably accomplished by Dr. Keener. He commences the book by addressing a few preliminary questions. What is a miracle, anyway? Why do some people assume that miracles don’t happen? Do many people witness miracles? Do only Christians report Christian healings?

He then launches into the main portion of the book in which he briefly relates the details of hundreds of well-attested miracles, but especially healings. This middle section comprises about 75% of the book proper. At the end of the book, Keener addresses a few more key questions people often wonder about miracles. Why don’t we see more miracles in the West? What is the role of faith? What about when healing is temporary? What does the Bible say about non-healing?

Let us not be tardy in praying for the sick but be on time in step with the Holy Spirit.

I appreciate Keener’s candid honesty in acknowledging that most blind people who have received prayer are still blind, and most dead people prayed for are still dead (pp. 137, 202). He comments, “What we call miracles are still the exception rather than the rule,” (p. 221). But his main point is that whether you or I have personally witnessed a dramatic miracle or not, many significant and verifiable miracles have occurred and still occur in answer to the prayers of God’s people all around the globe.

One other thing I appreciate about this book is Keener’s acknowledgment that more dramatic miracles occur more frequently on the frontlines of Christian evangelism than they do where the church is well-established (pp. 31, 33 135, 183, 201, 203). He still affirms, however, that such dramatic miracles sometimes happen in the West, too (pp. 151, 203).

Practically, this book reminded me to stay expectant when I pray. In any way He chooses, and at any time He chooses, God may do something momentous to display His glory and help those who witness His mighty acts of mercy to trust Him more fully.

IN WHOM DO YOU TRUST AND FOR WHAT?

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“I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings, you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday ... Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place – the Most High, who is my refuge – no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. ” Psalms 91:1-6, 9-11

Now, this magnificent poem does not necessarily mean that the faithful – those who dwell “in the shelter of the Most High”– will not get the pestilence or suffer the other afflictions mentioned. 

Satan used this Psalm in his temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:5-7), trying to get him to invoke its promise that angels “will bear you up” by throwing himself off from the pinnacle of the Temple.  But such an interpretation, Jesus points out, would be to put God to the test, violating Deuteronomy 6:16.

But those who trust God as their refuge will be delivered from the evil of the pestilence and from fear of it.

Look at these promises of God to David. They are yours if you hold fast to God in love.

“Because He holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect Him because he knows my name.
When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
With long life, I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalms 91:14-16

GOD AT WORK IN THE UKRAINE (PART 1)

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Miracles are taking place in Ukraine, despite the horror of war, according to the Deputy General Secretary of the Ukrainian Bible Society. Anatoliy Raychynets, who is based in the capital Kyiv, says more and more people are turning to Christianity to find light in the darkness since the Russian invasion began, and he says the power of God is preventing even worse devastation.

Day by day, women with small kids are running here outside our office in the streets to find the basement bombing room to hide themselves there. Many people are crying out to help them to get out of Kyiv.

Bibles bring comfort in the midst of devastation

“Many people haven’t eaten for 3 or 4 days. There are many elderly people living in apartments around my office who cannot go outside because of illness. They just sit inside waiting for a miracle that someone will come to them. They call us “Angels!” when we find they need medical help and bring medicine and bread.” Despite the risks, Raychynets and his team help distribute food and medical supplies to local people, along with Bibles and resources. He says that many people ask for the Bibles, even if they haven’t previously had a faith. “Yesterday we were in a park to deliver bread to elderly people who were coming together and waiting for us so that they could have fresh bread. I always have Bibles in my car so that children can have Bibles for the bomb shelters and I can distribute to basements where people, ladies and children are hiding themselves. But one lady saw the Bibles in the car and asked to have one.

“There were about 80 or 90 people there and they just came to the car and asked for the Bibles.  One man stood there with bread in one hand and the Bible in the other. He said ‘I think the Bible is more important than the bread. I have never prayed before. I have never been to church.’ He was about 70 years old and had never read the Bible. But he said he knew now was the time to come to God and be closer to God. “We meet so many people like that. Over the last two weeks here in Kyiv we are seeing people who had never had a Bible before, never prayed before, but who are now asking for us to pray for them on the streets, at homes, everywhere. “People are searching for their faith because they know a miracle has to happen to resolve this situation. We don’t see any diplomatic or other solutions, we just know and understand deep inside only God can make some changes and stop this horrible war.”

But even in the amidst of the horrors of war, Raychynets says God is at work and miracles are happening. “We are very grateful to all of you who are standing with us in prayer and solidarity. I want to tell you that with prayer we see so many miracles. I have seen personally many miracles over the last 16 days – when bombs or rockets have fallen but not exploded and lots of lives have been saved because of that. Russian tanks have been left because they were empty of fuel and soldiers have run off. “In Odessa, in the Black Sea, there has been a storm for four days and ships couldn’t come closer to the city to shoot rockets. So prayers are already bringing results and miracles are saving a lot of lives.” Even as a Pastor, Raychynets says it is difficult to see so much pain and suffering.

This difficult situation is already changing our nation and changing our attitude to life. People are standing together, people are helping each other. I see so much of God’s love, in spite of war here. I think that Ukraine will come out of this situation like a real Christian nation that believes in God. It’s very evident that God does use catastrophes for His purposes and sadly they are needed to bring people to understand what is truly important in life. God is in control of His world and only His eternal purposes are of real significance.