Whilst the Old Testament prophets were undoubtedly great communicators, their greatest attribute arguably was their ability to hear the voice of God. Their authority was derived from the fact that they were only saying what He had already said. Just like Jesus, their lives were shaped by hearing and responding to the Word of the Lord as a result of which they lived interesting, exciting and sometimes dangerous lives – but at least they lived!

If we are to continue to grow as the powerful, prophetic people that God has called us to be, then first and foremost we will be good listeners, training and positioning ourselves to hear the voice of the Lord above the tumult of the business of life, the noise of the crowd and the relentless drone of the multimedia world in which we live.

Secondly, we will be those who respond to what we have heard, disciplining ourselves to put the word we have heard into practice; increasingly sensitive and obedient to the voice of the Lord in our everyday lives.

Mary’s advice to the servants at the wedding at Cana stands the test of time and reminds us that the key to success and releasing the supernatural in life and not just meetings is simply to do whatever Jesus tells you to do. This week pray the prayer that was instrumental in Samuel the young boy becoming Samuel, one of the greatest prophets who ever lived. Speak Lord, your servant is listening!

Mark Lawrence

He mentioned that certain situations required particular attire: cyclists with their streamlined clothing and professionals with their smart suits. It reminded me of when people look at themselves in the mirror when they’re smartly dressed, confirming their identity (sometimes verbally) to remind themselves who they are. We can learn something of this, positively declaring that we are indeed clothed with the Spirit.

We also heard again (the ‘again’ is emphasised) about the Early Church being our benchmark, the minimum standard we should be attaining spiritually. If we’re honest, and I speak for myself here, we don’t see this amongst us fully at the moment. So what are we to do about it?

The Lord spoke to us at our Church in the Home this week about desiring the Spirit. He gave us a picture of a deer thirsting for water, committing everything to overcome any obstacle or restriction to fulfil its need and longing. It reminds us of Psalm 42, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so my soul pants for you, O God.” We prayed for God to renew our minds and enlarge our desire for him.

Praise God that he is not a miserly judge (Luke 18:1-8) who is holding back, but he freely gives the Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13). Our response: ask. Ask God, for he knows how to give good gifts to his children and he is not slow to answer and will not delay (Luke 18:7-8).

When we ask and mean it, God is faithful and fills us with his Holy Spirit. Then we will see his kingdom grow with miracle, sign and wonder. There is no kingdom advance without the Holy Spirit. So what will you desire?

Matthew Harkness

Excitedly, Vicky Whyborn and I boarded the breakfast flight for Charles de Gaulle, Paris, convinced we were fulfilling a dream she had experienced over a year before when she had seen me joining her on a bus headed for Manchester Airport in a particular hat I like to wear when I pray or prophecy. At the time we couldn’t think why we would be flying together but now we are going to join others in making prophetic declarations over France!

Finding ourselves sitting next to an affable French academic living in Wales and married to a Belgian, we became engrossed as he shared the presentation he had prepared to promote research into how a person’s native language can affect their perception of the world.

With conversation straying into creationism, we discovered that he had often visited a spirit-filled church in France as a teenager and we agreed that we would be praying for him.

Later, on the high speed TGV to Nantes I was astonished as I noticed my neighbour reading a book in English by the godly 14th century monk, Thomas à Kempis. We learned how this Chinese American art student, who had never encountered Christians before, was sincerely searching for God after being captivated by church art in Rome. Being artistic myself, I was fascinated by his story and over the next couple of hours Vicky and I became “living books” for him discussing how Jesus brought us into relationship with God and gave us a purpose in life.

Like Philip joining the Ethiopian on a journey, we were soon pouring over meaningful Bible passages together, sharing our love of God and our excitement at how we are invited to partner God in bringing heaven to earth. Amazed at the encounter, we conveyed our firm belief that God, seeing his great hunger, had sent two people to introduce him to Jesus.

The return journey was more of a challenge and I’d kept the elders in the picture asking for prayer by text. Travelling alone this time and despite every effort to make it, a train strike at St Gilles-Croix-de-Vie, a political demonstration in Nantes and heavy traffic through Paris resulted in missing my flight by just a few minutes.

Even a frantic impromptu shared taxi ride through famous Parisian streets, past the Sorbonne, over the Seine, views of the Eiffel tower, mounting pavements, sneaking down bus lanes and dodging trucks couldn’t get me to my plane in time. But it was a result for the Senegalese passenger going home to see family. I’d told him and the French Canadian taxi driver I was praying. Thanking me on arrival at the terminal, it seemed like my job was keeping the peace between them and changing the atmosphere in the taxi by singing to God!

Later that afternoon, lying down in my room at a nearby hotel, feeling utterly exhausted and really fed up that all flights were full until the next morning, I received a text from Dave Emmett reminding me of the word from Ben. I resolved to do more damage in the enemy camp as a protest at delayed journey.

In a busy nearby restaurant I soon got my chance. As I entered, the effusive Senegalese waiter delightedly informed me of his approval of English women and found every excuse to pass my table, grinning and making suggestions throughout my meal. On leaving, I told him that there was something better than the love of a woman – the love of God and passed him one of our Making Jesus Famous cards with details of King’s Church, swiftly correcting his assumption that it was my personal number!

Concluding that I am “a believer”, he introduced me to a smiling waitress from Ivory Coast who was very pleased when I told her that I had been in France to pray for the country and that my church family in Manchester sounded much like hers in Paris. Hearing this, the Muslim waiter asked me to pray for him there and then for his future. Still more to come!

On the return flight, I sat with a lovely Jamaican lady returning from a funeral, who I believe was a Christian, reading our Bibles side by side. I recounted how praying in tongues had strengthened me, healing me emotionally over a recent disappointment.

God is awesome and has been repeatedly showing me how he sends us on adventures, encouraging us to live in this world Sans Frontières.

Lis Herron

We’ve just received news of the successful graduation of the first 16 students from School of the Word in Canada. It’s great to hear how men and women from North America are being equipped and trained in taking the Gospel of the Kingdom to the world around them.

Dave and Richard spent a week each with School of the Word class in Canada over this last year and were able to impart to and share with the students in Canada their passion and heart for the Kingdom of God.

On Saturday 19th June, the class of 2010 from the School of the Word in the United Kingdom will graduate here in King’s House. For more information on all that is happening here in the UK with School of the Word, click on www.sotw.org.uk for more information

Gavin White

Street children
Some of these youth, which came off the street 5-6 years ago, are now leading the work among the street children. Every week they go out on the streets to gather the children for teaching, singing and a nice meal. It is done in three different places in the city. Children as young as four are among those gathered. As we come together in the open area in the centre of the city, it starts to get dark. The children sing with joy, listen very attentively to the word of God and pray with all their heart as they are lead in prayer. Then they have a meal with rice, chicken and vegetables.

The dump site
The school supplies are helping more than 5000 children go to school this year. It is also a powerful way of showing the love of God and we give both the children and the parents the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are now working at the big dump site in Cavite helping the poor families living there to send their children to school. On the picture you see some of the children at the dump site going home with new school bags. We will also start a feeding and daycare centre to bring change to the lives of the families living at the dump site.

Tone and Noralv Askeland

We would also happily see dads, childminders and grannies too! We provide a really welcoming, warm and dynamic environment that turns on its head what people expect of ‘church’ toddler group. We are clear about who we are and what we are doing.

Our vision is to see mums and their families saved and added to the Church. We expect those who come to experience the family of God and the power of God each week. We want to be known for the presence of the Holy Spirit.

In the first few weeks we have seen new mums every week and been able to get to know them. Mums have commented on seeing something different, being spoilt and a friendly warm atmosphere.

On our first week we received a prayer request from a lady for her friend’s little boy who was in hospital with pneumonia. His family had been told that he was quite unwell and would be in hospital for at least another 3 days. We prayed for him that morning.

The next day we received news that he was now well enough to be discharged from hospital. On our second week the lady returned with her friend and her little boy. He was doing well and we were able to pray for him for complete healing.

God has spoke to us about having a BIG vision for LoveMums as he wants to do BIG things through it. We are excitedly looking forward to week three!

Rachel Belton

LoveMums runs every Thursday from 10-11.30am (term time) at Cheadle Village Hall, SK81PQ

Since the weather was nice we sat outside in the garden! There is something about sitting in a garden together; it’s another aspect of home life, such a relaxing environment.

We started the evening by breaking bread together, after what Richard shared with us last week I came to the table knowing that it has been prepared for me on the frontline, right in the action of our battle against the principalities and powers in the spiritual realms! (Listen to this preach from Richard on the Missional Table in our Homes by clicking here)

We spent the evening looking at what is prepared on the table for us! As we looked into the word and discussed the subject we then spent some time writing down some things that we can rightly take from the table when needed.

We put them in the middle and one by one took them off and read them out. There were some powerful things people had written which reminded us of some of the promises God has made to us.

One person wrote that “all authority over the enemy has been delegated to God’s children”, another had put “he will command his angels concerning you”. There were many more encouraging words read out that night. People were touched, encouraged and strengthened by what everyone had shared.

It was in the comfort of feeling at home we discovered all these great things that God has prepared for us on the table. In Acts 2:46 they went from home to home breaking bread together, feasting at the table of the Lord day by day in each other’s homes.

After feasting at the table on Thursday night, it stirred me to want to go around more often breaking bread in other’s homes, on the battlefield, proclaiming the Lord’s death, proclaiming that he has won the victory, proclaiming who we are and who God has called us to be.

Kelly Shennan

Paul shared his own experiences in this area from his time as both the Human Resources and Finance director for Hewlett Packard. Paul testified to the challenges he faced in balancing his responsibilities as a father, husband and leader in his church, as well as keeping up with the demands and requirements of his work, which often involved extensive travelling. Paul was very open and honest, sharing with us the positive and negative outcomes that resulted from his decisions.

Handouts were provided as an interactive means for us to weigh up and judge ourselves on how well we thought we were doing with integrating our own lives and work as individuals. We were given the opportunity to share, on our tables, any issues that the handouts had helped us identity in our own lives that needed to change in how we managed our time and we prayed for each other in those specific areas.

Paul used an excellent demonstration by taking a glass tumbler which represented us as individuals. He then placed the eggs in the tumbler first, then the marbles and then the sand. The eggs represented important priorities i.e. family/friends, work, church, sleep and health. The marbles represented your hobbies/fun activities and the sand represented the not so important things.

Paul repeated the process but this time he placed the sand in the tumbler first then the marbles and the eggs last. However, two of the eggs could not fit into the tumbler because all the other things had taken precedence over the key important things.

As a student studying for a Masters degree, working full time and ensuring I make time to meet with the church, family and friends; I personally found the evening very beneficial. By the end of the meeting I had put action steps and deadlines in place to ensure that my work/studies (although very important) and other activities don’t take priority over spending time with family or at the expense of my health. Matthew 6:33 clearly says that we should ‘seek the Kingdom first’.

To me this means ensuring that before I make any decision and in planning how I spend my time, that I firstly spend time in prayer seeking God’s wisdom. As the body of Christ I am confident that if we do this everything else will come into order and our ‘work’ and ‘life’ will bring glory to Jesus Christ.

Leancia Donaldson

In the past I have become discouraged when I have tried to read the Bible all the way through and found it difficult. I think sometimes the sheer magnitude of incredible truth can seem overwhelming and too much to take in. However when I persevered God has made it real to me.

I’ve learnt as I’ve read the Word that “The Lord doesn’t look at the things human beings look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Sam 16:7). This is so often quoted but when you look at it in context, you realise God was choosing David out of a line of seemingly “more appropriate” men. He chose David for being David, just like he chooses you and I for who we are. It can be tempting to assume God has someone better for the job than us, when actually God chooses each of us as unique children. He places a seed in each one of us and when that seed is watered and fed in the intended way, we are enabled to do all He asks of us. We have such potential as people made in His image. David had such strength and character that he was known as a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam 13:14). His relationship with God always came first.

As we heard from Andrew Hughes recently we can’t neglect ourselves in relation to the things of God. Lack of time in the word and fellowship with God’s people will only lead to gradual deflation of our spirits.

There is so much to be gained by prioritising our walk with God. There is so much fresh revelation to be received. Each time I read something I’ve read before it’s like I’m reading it for the first time – another God-moment between me and my Dad who loves me and wants me to grow. God honours what you put into your relationship with Him. He is desperate to reveal himself to you.

If you are struggling to pick up the Bible or feel like the task is too big, then be encouraged. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s word to you. Put God first before the cleaning, before reading that novel or magazine, before putting the television on and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

I have been massively blessed by the Bible reading plans given out at the beginning of the year. I would encourage you to pick one up from the Help Desk.

Jane Barrow

There was much tension as the lads stood in front of Oblivion looking like they were about to run home; and indeed some made their excuses and headed off for lighter options. However many conquered – overcoming the queue line in order to face their fears! Well done Isaac, Liam and David!

The day had its ups and downs but only really on the rides – even the queue lines were a laugh. Many fun memories were made – including when Ruth-Anne unveiled a hidden talent as she won a giant dragon cuddly toy by smashing plates. Watch that girl.

Inevitably the Manchester Youth seemingly gravitated towards the fried chicken stall of Alton Towers, where everyone was able to hang out and just have fun!

The day ended in a concert that included bands Dweeb, LZ7, Bandwithnoname alongside a Scottish comedian. King’s Church Youth did us proud unleashing the best dance moves of the 5,000 strong crowd throughout the show.

Many eyes and cameras were focused on them. Good times – but guys, where are these moves on a Sunday morning? I’m sure that soon they will be showing the older members what we do in youth!

It’s sure to say that King’s Church Youth are some of the most hilarious, unique, best dancing, fastest running, crazy-faces-on-rollercoaster-making people I have ever encountered!

Dave Perkins