July 7th, 2010 by King's Church
When I was 7 years old my father sent me for a hearing test because he noticed that I stopped responding to his voice. Thinking the best of me he assumed that this might be a problem with my hearing not my willingness to do what he said! As it turned out my hearing was fine and we came to the conclusion that this was not a hearing defect but a heart issue. I could hear him perfectly well; I was either choosing to ignore what he said or more often than not I was simply distracted by more exciting things than doing what I was told.
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
June 24th, 2010 by King's Church
On Sunday 13th June Nathan spoke to us about being clothed with the Holy Spirit and with power from on high. Click here to listen to the message online.
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
June 14th, 2010 by King's Church
Even though I was given a prophetic word by Ben Matheson the day before departure, that the journey itself to Sans Frontieriès would be significant, I was unprepared for just how much of an adventure it would be.
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
June 10th, 2010 by King's Church
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
June 10th, 2010 by King's Church
The camps
We thank God for what he has done in the camps last month. Over 100 youths received Jesus and were baptized in water and the Holy Spirit. We studied the word of God, talked about what we learned and prayed together. The team of young people from Norway and Vietnam did an outstanding job in the camps. In Ozamiz, 60 youths gathered in a resort. Many are former street children that have had their lives changed by Jesus. Some of them are now graduating from college. Jo Jo and Helen are doing a wonderful work for the Lord.
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
