OUR PRIMARY MISSION – GET INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD

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Chan shared that his latest book, Until Unity, was inspired by John 17, where Jesus prays for unity among the Body of Christ. Though he didn’t want to write another book, the bestselling author felt compelled to do so after seeing the severe lack of unity among believers. 

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Francis Chan criticises Western church for lack of unity and obsession with busyness

“When I look at Scripture, I see how much God wants unity. This is why Christ died on the cross; to make the two one. And I see how Ephesians four says that we actually grieve the Spirit of God by our disunity. I really believe this is God’s desire. And I just saw the Church getting worse and worse, and I would see the way people would bash each other. We’re getting further and further away from what God wants.”

The Crazy Love author emphasized the power of silence, citing Exodus 14:14, which reads “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still,” and Proverbs 10:19: “When words are many, transgression is not lacking.” We don’t know how to quietly be in awe of Almighty God together. If we did, we’d find ourselves on our knees, in tears,” he said. 

Unity, Chan stressed, “has to start with Christ; it has to start with, ‘Wow, I was created in the image of the triune God.”

“But how many people wake up in the morning and have this reverent awe?” he lamented. “And because we don’t have that, and we’re not spending time marveling in silence at God and our oneness with Him, we try to jump to, ‘OK, let’s all get along.’ And I’m going, ‘No, we cannot all get along if we’re not in shock that we are one with Him and He’s given us His glory so that we can become perfect.’”

“The reason why we fight and the reason why we’re so sure of our opinions … is we don’t get into the presence of God,” he said. “All of this horizontal stuff is because we really aren’t truly, with all of our hearts, soul and mind loving Him, and entering into His presence.”

The author said he fears that many Christians are becoming the “Second Timothy 3 group that are always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth.”

“I don’t want to be one of those that are constantly acquiring information but not knowing it,” he said. “I worry about my friends, everyone else that grew up in the same type of evangelical faith that I did that it’s busy, and we don’t take time to meditate and know these truths. If we did, we wouldn’t be so quick to speak.”

“Get alone with the Lord,” he advised. “Let Him open you up. You may find issues and He may find issues in you that you need to know are wrong. You may have thought you’re just going in for a checkup, and He cuts you open. We’ve got to get back to getting people into the presence of God.”

UNITY IN THE SPIRIT AT PENTECOST

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Only when Christians have unity in the Holy Spirit will we begin to function as the true Body of Christ.

We must remember the night before Jesus was crucified He prayed for the unity of all believers. John 17:11,21-23

At the first Pentecost, the disciples were in a time of united prayer when the Holy Spirit came in a mighty demonstration of power. They were all baptised with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit did not just come upon a few of them or only upon the twelve disciples. All 120 of them experienced the
same Baptism.

Let’s pray now that Pentecost 2020 being celebrated Sunday, May 31st will be a time when we ask God for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit to equip us to truly function as the Body of Christ in the unity that only the Holy Spirit can endow.

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The Holy Spirit came to live within each of them

They all began to speak in languages that they had never learned. Cloven tongues of fire sat upon each one of them. The Body of Christ today must experience this unity of the Spirit. We must be baptised, once again, into one body, one mind, and one accord. We have failed to realise the tremendous power that emanates from being in unity. When we do, the world will see the greatest release of the miracle-working power of God that it has ever seen. We will be living, walking manifestations of God’s miracle-working power.

THE TIDE IS TURNING AS WE PRAY

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Christians must continue to join together in corporate agreement. In the midst of extremist views and divisive rhetoric, the tide is turning as the Ekklesia of God rise with a united voice on behalf of Australia.

South Australian Christians asked the nation to stand with them and pray, and it resulted in increased effectiveness of prayer as tens of thousands joined their voices to help in the fight to stop the SA abortion bill to full term. To those who interceded for the Walk for Life and the 39 Days of Mercy, Heaven has heard and freedom for the unborn is the answer – a turning of the tide away from the shedding of innocent blood.

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Adelaide- You truly were a ‘voice for the voiceless’ today! Over 3000 gathered in Adelaide this morning to stand and walk for life.

Many Prayer Groups have been calling for prayer and fasting particularly at this time for the unborn, in dire danger of the radical abortion bills that have swept Australia. Groups such as Canberra Declaration have done a fine job of initiating and coordinating prayer at this time.

The following scripture is appropriate:

“We feel a personal responsibility to continually be thanking God for you, our spiritual family, every time we pray. And we have every reason to do so because your faith is growing marvellously beyond measure. The unselfish love each of you share for one another is increasing and overflowing!”
~ 2 Thessalonians 1:3 (TPT)

PRAYER AND FASTING FOR UNITY BRINGS REVIVAL

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Wave After Wave of People, Broken Before the Lord’: TN Pastor Tells CBN News of Revival Sweeping His City

“There has been a 50-year history of intense prayer across our region and the last two years we’ve seen God lead cities of churches together to do prayer walks, crusades, and tent revivals,” he told CBN News. “Awaken Tennessee seems it has brought that extra Holy Spirit presence through prayer and fasting that we see exploding in church after church.”

Revival and Awakening Outpouring in Rogersville, TN (Photos: Provided by Barbi & Terry Franklin)

Revival is taking place in Tennessee after churches from various denominations partnered together in prayer and fasting, igniting a move of God’s Spirit that has transformed lives across the region.

CBN News has learned more about the revival that’s underway in Tennessee involving 1,000 churches across the Volunteer State.  It’s a part of “Awaken Tennessee”, a 30-day prayer and fasting initiative that launched on Jan. 26 and will run through Feb. 23.

The event is not about any one church or denomination. It’s been described by Pastor John Butler of the East Rogersville Baptist Church in Rogersville as a concentrated prayer effort across the state for true revival in our churches that triggers an awakening in local communities, the state, and the nation. The initiative started last year when Pastor Dave Clayton of Nashville’s Ethos Church was successful in getting 400 churches to come together to pray for every single resident of the city.  Awaken Nashville was a huge success, so this year Clayton and other organisers decided to invite churches in the entire state to participate. 

Butler said, “Every service for the planned conference was filled with God’s presence. People were getting serious about dealing with personal sin and people were coming to Christ for salvation. Thirty-year feuds were made right, relationships have been restored, and many masks had been removed. People made public confessions of sin, bitterness, and laziness about their involvement in God’s kingdom activity,”

TIME TO STAND STRONG AND STAY THE COURSE

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Francis Chan speaks to pastors, realising there is an urgency at this time to challenge leaders of the need to be courageous and fearless, and to prepare their flock for the coming of the Lord. Of the need to stay on course, despite the tragic end times events that are unfolding. Don’t judge those outside the church, but we do need to judge those inside the church.

He takes us to 2 Timothy 3. In the last days there will come times of great difficulty, people will be lovers of self, “lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God”, even having the appearance of godliness.

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3;1-7

He really challenges these pastors:

  • about loving their flock, as Jesus prayed to His Father that they would be one as we are one. Why? So that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
  • about teaching the truth of God’s Word.
  • about the truth of what can be achieved with the Holy Spirit.

 

END TIMES SIGNS ARE NOW IN THE CHURCH

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Francis Chan speaking to pastors on the church in the end times as spelt out in 2 Timothy 3.

“But know this, that in the LAST DAYS perilous times will come … He then goes on to say that people in the church will be lovers of self …. having a form of godliness but denying its power… always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the TRUTH.

Timothy goes on to say it is only going to get worse. “But evil men and impostors. will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is given for inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

CHURCH AS JESUS INTENDED & JOHN 17 UNITY.

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In John 17:21, Jesus said that the purpose—goal—of His church here on earth would be accomplished by the testimony of UNITY in His church.

Why is unity so important? “that they all may be one, as You Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe you sent Me” John 17:21. It matters—because when unity is demonstrated to the world, it will be the testimony that Jesus is who He said He is – the only Son of God, Saviour. When Jesus is thus “lifted up” then all men shall be drawn to Him.

Paul continued to emphasise the importance of unity throughout his writings:

 “Be eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3

This is the vision and purpose Christ has for His body here on earth. Sadly, the world does not see a unified church.

What is the biblical model for unity of the Spirit in the church?

The perfect and highest expression of unity of the Spirit was modelled in the early church after Pentecost: “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers. Fear came to every soul. And many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common. They sold their property and goods and distributed them to all, according to their need. And continuing daily with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-47).

Three distinct levels of unity of the Holy Spirit are actually expressed here:

Level 1 – Basics

(v. 42) “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers.”

Level 2 – Signs & Wonders

(v. 43) “Fear came to every soul. And many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.”

Level 3 – A lifestyle of mutual support and sharing all things

All who believed were together and had all things in common. They sold their property and goods and distributed them to all, according to their need. And continuing daily with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47).

Each of these three represents a progressively higher level of unity in the church, the body of Christ on earth. And, each of these levels is real, tangible, and measurable—just like the actual resurrected body of Jesus.

When you have time watch Francis Chan talk about church as God intended, with all of us using our Holy Spirit given gifts to further God’s Kingdom. Francis walked away from a church of 5,000 in California, when He was challenged by God that very few in the church were using their gifts, and the other issue was how many were really born again.

In the last days, will we see a church like that in the Book of Acts? Yes! we will, and in fact where the church is or has experienced persecution, we are seeing and have seen a unified church. In the Middle East, particularly Syria, the remnant church is unified and operating as the did the church in the Book of Acts and all three levels of unity are visible. The church in China that came out of 40 years of persecution under Mao, same story.

portion of this article was extracted from “Achieving True Unity of Spirit in Your Church” by Louis Posthauer. He is the executive director of Hunters of the Harvest Ministry.

SALVO’S UNDERSTAND CHURCH UNITY ESSENTIAL TO IMPACT COMMUNITY FOR CHRIST

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Listen to Miriam Gluyas, the Divisional Commander for Salvation Army, NSW & ACT talk about the value of UNITY that was expressed by all those attending the recent National Gathering sponsored by One Heart Australia.

Join a prayer network in your region that is praying for revival and the churches in your area.

PRAY AS JESUS AND PAUL DID – FOR UNITY

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JESUS PRAYED THIS PRAY FOR ALL BELIEVERS BEFORE  HE WENT TO THE CROSS

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” John 17:20-23

PAUL PRAYED THAT WE MAY GLORIFY GOD TOGETHER

“Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.         Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the Glory of God” Romans 15:5-7

Listen to Craig Groeshel deliver a great sermon on “Unity” and see what a church can achieve when it embraces Jesus command. Unity is not the same as uniformity. Unity with diversity.

National Solemn Assembly Gathering in Canberra October 24th & 25th, 2016

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Go to the website http://www.nationalsolemnassembly.com and register. This a must event for all Christians praying for revival in  this nation.

The 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting movement and the amazing testimonies by forty of our indigenous Christian brothers and sisters has demonstrated that God is using them to bring about a move of the Holy Spirit in our Nation that will transform it for His purposes.

The National Solemn Assembly Gathering, being organised by Indigenous Christian leaders from around Australia, in Canberra, in October of this year, is a KEY event to bring together Christians from all denominations, the remnant to be used for HIS purposes in this final hour of human history. Please get this message distributed as widely as possible to your praying Christian relatives and friends.

Make sure you watch Peter Walkers’s video and the other testimonies on 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting.