Expecting God to Come!!

The last few blog posts have been sharing personally about my current spiritual walk and my battle to re-discover the "first loves" of a relationship with God in Jesus Christ. My personal feeling right here in the UK at the moment is that I don't "see" much happening in the spiritual realm. I think Simon Cowell - the famous music mogul - summed it up personally last night in the UK's biggest music reality show - the "X-Factor". He was explaining why he chose quite a colourful act and he said;

"I think the world has become a boring place over the last few years ... I'm just so bored!".

I agree! The world is boring. It is full of misery, depressive news and dreary endlessness. Of course Cowell seeks his excitement through new and exciting acts - because frankly there's not much more excitement seen around in the church! Or is there? My thoughts fly automatically to my hero - Ern Baxter - and his prophetic statements on the church. Even though he lived, preached and died in the 20th century I still believe he is one of the most prophetic preachers on the church to walk this earth.

Terry Virgo wrote his special conference edition for the Brighton Leaders Conference in 2004 and it was about Ern Baxter. Here's the complete document. Terry wrote;

"Ern's expectation was just as Saul's kingdom collapsed so would the religion that regarded the Bible contemptuously, explained away it's unique authority and inspiration and failed to honour the activity of the Holy Spirit".

There is a move abroad I think to lay emphasis on the unique authority and inspiration of the Word of God. But I still think many churches fail to honour the activity of the Holy Spirit - simply by rendering Him redundant. It's not so much that Christians purposefully blaspheme Him and His work. It's just that church life has adapted swiftly to coping without His manifest Presence. As R T Kendall used to say - if the Holy Spirit was completely withdrawn from the church then 90% would carry on as normal.

Terry closed his Firstline article by saying;

"Welcome to our Leadership Conference where we intend to celebrate Biblical Christianity, honour the King and welcome the Holy Spirit. Let's gather full of anticipation that God has so much more to show us and so much more to accomplish in our day".

Sadly this expectation is unusual in so many conferences these days - and even more sadly next year will see the last Newfrontiers Leadership Conference in Brighton. Here's a few other conferences around the world that seem to lack this active anticipation of both the Word and the Spirit;

1. Sovereign Grace Ministries conferences refer to;

" ... Teaching is central to this conference ... Most of all we gather as pastors, around God’s Word, to celebrate the glorious gospel".

2. John MacArthur's Shepherds Conferences refer to;

"These are times when we gather ... (to) sit under the teaching of godly men".

3. The Together for the Gospel conference has a singular aim;

"They began a conference which occurs every two years and aims principally at encouraging other pastors to do the same—to stand together for the gospel ... The goal of these friendships, conferences, and networks is therefore to reaffirm this central doctrine of the Christian faith".

4. A little closer to home, the local head SGM church Christchurch held a conference called "(Co)mission" and they;

" ... gathered to enjoy the gospel of grace and be stirred by God’s passion for church planting".

5. Alternatively of course - the outstanding "Glory and Grace Conference" in Hong Kong happening this month;

"Whilst our focus is not on miracles but on Jesus, this conference will see far more miracles than any other Glory and Grace we have experience before! There will be greater impartations of freedom and assurances to access and activate the treasures of the unsearchable riches of Christ in an effortless administration of His grace".

So what's your point you may say? My point is if there is no expectation for God to actively visit His people during these times then it's most likely He probably won't. If conferences gather to "situ under teaching" then all they will hear is teaching. Don't get me wrong - I love teaching. But I'm so hungry for His Presence that I find I can't commit my scant resources to going to a conference where that expectation is not present. I've got thousands of sermon tapes at home where I can "gather to hear teaching". I want to feel His corporate manifest Presence!

My initial reason for writing this blog post was to re-introduce Ern Baxter's prophetic ministry and to re-publish some of his writings and think about some new transcripts. But I got distracted by this theme of "conference expectation". That translates surely into our day to day life - if we don't expect God to come in active Presence then the question is will He?

Let's increase our hunger for more of Him! Even though hunger pangs hurt so bad at times - the pangs are a sign that our hunger can be filled by God!

Together on a Mission round-up!!

I've been so busy with my new job at the hospital and the swine flu pandemic sweeping the West Midlands quite badly that it actually slipped my mind that this years "Together on a Mission" has been and gone. How horrendously shocking! The Brighton conference formed such a key part of my life for a number of years and I experienced God there in power like I have in very few other places. I'm not saying we'll never go back - it just didn't happen again this year.

Together On a Mission Conference, Brighton Highlights from Newfrontiers on Vimeo.

But that's not to say I'm fascinated to see and read what happened. And I truly rejoice especially to read the re-statement of the awesome Newfrontiers vision that is doing so much to change so many nations. The sessions will be made available here over the next few weeks. Here's a few bloggers that were there and were covering it;

Dave Bish wrote up an excellent summary post of what sounds like three outstanding messages from Terry Virgo. "Past, Present and Future". I will be doing my best to get hold of the DVD's of these sessions! I was especially encouraged by this statement;

"When we speak of being charismatic we say we are people who want to experience the Presence of God, knowing God actually is among us, who want our affections effected by Him and who eagerly desire the gifts that Christ and the Holy Spirit give to the church for her upbuilding. We are a charismatic people".

What better definition than that? It's not quite fashionable for many former charismatics to sneer at this term and speak of their "child-ish" days but now they have "grown up" and are into doctrine and theology. What utter rubbish. If anything it's more childish to reckon that there is something more spiritual about sitting with theology books than the very Presence of God! "Charismatic" needs a re-statement and it sounds like Terry has done an excellent job - as always. I'm sure there are many who would love to see Terry Virgo join the ranks of the "former charismatics" and begin courting him as a trophy for the cessationists. I'm glad that's not happening!

Phil Whittall - an elder from Shrewsbury Community Church wrote his posts here;

TOAM: Day 3 (the rest)

TOAM: Day 3 (so far)

TOAM: Day 2 (the rest)

TOAM: Day 2 (so far)

TOAM: Day 1

TOAM: Session 1

Off to Brighton


The Mobilise blog also followed the events from their side;


Together on a Mission day 1


Together on a Mission day 2


Together on a Mission day 3


Together on a Mission day 4

I was most excited to see that the CCK Life blog was also following the conference;

Together On A Mission - Day 1

Together On A Mission - Day 2

Together On A Mission - Day 3

Together On A Mission - Day 4

It seems clear to me that Terry Virgo's three sessions were one of the key points of the conference. I listened to his first session - "The Past" driving down to Bristol and it was truly amazing. Here's a couple of key quotes that stood out to me;

"The gospels promise the Holy Spirit is coming, the epistles write as though the Holy Spirit has come but Acts says how it happened.

This sounds so familiar to some excellent teaching on the baptism of the Holy Spirit that I learned at my home church in Dunstable. One of the common arguments often heard is that the baptism of the Spirit was limited to some promises in the Gospels and then the events in Acts. Stanley Jebb once wrote an article called "The Quiet Shout" documenting how the epistles are full of teaching about the baptism/sealing of the Spirit. Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones taught the same - the epistles write to a people who have received this down-payment from on high!

Back to Terry:

We will never understand how the New Testament church grew without having the dynamic of the Presence of the Holy Spirit - it is absolutely vital.

It is not whether you are worthy - it is whether He is glorified".

One final but rather unique perspective on the Brighton conference. Nigel Ring is well-known and well-loved in Newfrontiers circles as the administrator of their conferences and often faces the unenviable task of choosing when to interupt the flow of heavenly worship to bring those much-hated essential part of all services - the notices. He writes here about a breakfast meeting to keep the conference running smoothly - something not seen but much appreciated;

"Administration helps God-encounters".

Newfrontiers Conference in Europe!!

Many thanks to contributer Shawna for this really exciting link. The European Newfrontiers Conference sounded pretty exciting and obviously I have heard Rob's report on it here but the audio links are now available here! We have;

Session 1: An In Between People - Henk Kersten

Session 2: Mixing It With Faith - David Holden

Session 3: A Covenant Of Grace - Rob Rufus

Session 4: Moving Into More Faith - David Holden

Session 5: Being Obedient To Faith - Rob Rufus

Session 6: The Wrath Of God And The Grace Of God - Mike Betts

I am greatly looking forward to working through the sessions because sadly we missed hearing Dave Holden speak at last year's "Together on a Mission" - and he is one of my favourite Newfrontiers speakers without a doubt. I haven't heard Mike Betts or Hank Kersten before - but obviously I hope to bring out the transcripts of Rob's sessions as soon as my horrible week calms down!

Rob Rufus on God TV!!

Both Pete and I were very excited to turn on God TV today to see if we could follow anything from Lakeland in Florida - and to see that Rob Rufus was speaking!! It was his second session from "Together on a Mission" in Brighton last year and it was so awesome to re-hear the truths and the power that was being presented from the platform. I must admit it did make me so hungry to be back in a conference setting again soon and exposed to a ministry of grace and glory.

Here's a clip:



It is so excited to see the prominence that God has given to Rob and to the message of grace and my prayer is that it progresses and progresses. The world needs to hear it!! The world is desperate to hear it!!

The Joy of the Lord Being Your Strength!!

It's been an interesting week or so for both Pete and myself since the incredible Eastbourne Conference. Interesting being the operative word. The grace-hating spirit has really reared it's ugly head for us both at work and at home and it was a reminder to me of Rob's urging that we cannot jump from conference to conference for the spiritual highs and rely on that alone. We must walk continually - daily - in fellowship with the manifest Presence of God. I still haven't made up my mind yet about going to "Together on a Mission 2008". What's the point in being radical and planting radical churches if the glory of God and the manifest Presence of God doesn't accompany and overshadow what we do? So as yet Mark Driscoll still hasn't made my hit-list of must-hear speakers. In the past I used to go to conferences and seminars based on celebrity Christian speakers. As Rob Rufus said - we don't have that luxury anymore. The question is not - who's speaking but is God there in manifest power? Is that conference going to arm us to preach the Gospel not in Word only but power?

If the answer is - I'm not sure then should we be going? Could our money and our time be better well spent elsewhere? But I digress. Joy. Joy! The Bible says the joy of the Lord is our STRENGTH!! Why then did so many despise Toronto and the joy that it brought? Rob Rufus put me onto Heidi Baker but I must confess I haven't read or listened to much of her. So I was interested to see that she was speaking at a conference in Canada on God TV. Here's a clip:

Now if this awesome woman of God can speak at a conference and demonstrate the clear joy of the Lord and face trials such as her pastor's tongue and lips being cut out - then what chance would we have in facing similar trials WITHOUT that kind of joy? Rob Rufus said;

"The Church was never more in the will of God when they were no longer concious of themselves and were absolutely lost in the wonder of the knowledge and glory and bigness of God and the more sober the Church has got, the more out of the will of God they get and the less people get saved".

We need joy people! Pete and I spent a wonderful hour or so on the phone today speaking about grace and glory and Rob and every now and then joy would just consume us! In joy we can face any trial. In joy we can face any tribulation! I love Sam Storm's book; "The Singing God!". How do we get more joy? Get close to the One who is so so full of joy and at Who's hand is pleasures forevermore! I opened by talking about conferences. I want to sit under speakers like Rob or Heidi Baker who are so full of joy throughout all, that their delight in God is infectious!

Why Go to Conferences ... ?

Sorry for the delay in blogging. I've just worked an almost 36 hour shift with no break due to a bed crisis (I'm pretty sure the European thingy on health would have something to say!). But I'm back. I woke up this afternoon from a night shift feeling DRUNK. I tottered out of my bedroom just loving the manifest Presence of God filling the flat. Ephesians has got a point. Who needs wine?! Anyway I have got so much of Rob's ministry that I am trying to transcribe I am suffering from overload.

Here's the quote I wanted to post:

"How many of you are so sick and tired about people speaking about kingdom and theology and church and church pattern and principles of the Kingdom and yet you never feel the honey of heaven on their words or that they have just come from the realm of glory and there is deep intimate love because they know Jesus better than they know another human being on the planet?".

Rob Rufus - "Session 1 - Grace and Glory Conference in Sydney".

For all the criticism and the flack that Rob may take (I've had a few emails expressing horror at the "Fire!" video I posted!) you cannot deny that this is a man who is passionately in love with his Jesus Christ. And he may not be lecturing on "Church Growth" or "Cell" or "Planting Churches" but I would cross oceans to touch his heart because there's something contageous about his love for Jesus Christ. You come away thinking; "Wow ...". Surely that's the point of any conference ... and indeed local church as Janelle pointed out so well.

Re-Thinking Brighton

Everyone is well aware of my outspoken views and opinions on Mark Driscoll. I've always been aware of Driscoll's ministry from a distance but have never really got into it in much depth. However our paths became crossed when firstly my parent's church began to have a lot more to do with Mark Driscoll and his "style" of ministry - and then of course the announcement that Mark Driscoll was coming to "Together on a Mission 2008" - effectively ensuring I wouldn't be. However ...

No I am not changing my mind. I've still got no desire to hear Mark Driscoll live particularly although I am beginning to appreciate benefits to what he has to bring to the church. I read his interview for the Newfrontiers magazine with interest. The questions (as always) are so telling. For example, what would you say if you were asked; "Given your vantage point, what would you predict for the development of evangelicalism in the West over the coming 20 years?". In light of all I am learning about the true New Covenant from Rob Rufus's teaching (as well as Terry Virgo, Bill Johnson, Larry Tomczak and others) - I would agree with Driscoll's first point about the gospel. But then he says this;

"And call for dudes to act dudely".

And suddenly I know why I am not going to Brighton for the whole week. However gifted and useful to the Church Mark Driscoll maybe, I really don't want to grow and model myself on the kind of manhood he is propagating. I would rather learn from a website like; "After God's Own Heart" - and the plenty of positive male role models there are in the church who AREN'T ashamed to participate in all the activities that Driscoll would see as "un-dudely" (such as crying, singing intimate love songs to Jesus Christ and generally being quite comfortable with displaying affections and emotions).

That being said!

I have realised that I cannot miss being in the awesome atmosphere that is Brighton just because of one speaker. I got an amazing text today from my dear friend Luke which blessed me beyond words. The fact that he was courageous enough to text me what He believed was on God's heart challenged me. Newfrontiers is a people I need to be part of and among! They are the most faith-building people I have been privilidged to meet! I can't miss that. I can't miss the God-honouring worship that Kate Simmonds will lead us in.

So although we're not going to book for the entire week at the conference I have in fact booked the week off and we will probably be in and around Brighton. If there's room we will probably go for a few day visits and get to experience a taste of the worship and the Newfrontiers apostolic and prophetic speakers. I first thought when I heard about Mark Driscoll going to Brighton - that 2008 would be conference-less for myself. However in the lavish grace and providence of God that's no longer the case! But I still can't miss at least being at Brighton ... it's been too foundational in my life and to miss it - is a price to great to pay! I've got no shame in admitting I was wrong in declaring I wouldn't darken Brighton's doors while Driscoll was in town! I was wrong. If the manifest Presence of God is going to be welcomed and valued above all other factors then it doesn't matter WHO'S in town!

See you there Luke! And thanks again for being the voice of God's love to me today through prophecy when I needed it most! :-)

Rob Rufus's Travel Itinerary in 2008!!

What is your diet going to consist of in conferences in 2008 that you are going to? I'm becoming increasingly fussy and demanding! I don't want clever techniques or even academic head knowledge (although I love hearing professors of theology teach). I want GRACE expounded! I want a reminder of my RIGHTEOUSNESS in Jesus Christ taught! I want FAITH imparted by the hearing of the Word of God! I realised that one day I am going to give account for the money that I spent on going to the conferences I do along with the booked holiday time off work.

Although Rob and Glenda Rufus are staying based much more in Hong Kong in 2008 than in previous years, he is travelling to some key conferences that are worth being aware of. I know that most people are aware of how to get into the audio archives of his sermons but it is possible to find out information where Rob is going to be throughout this year. Hopefully this may make it possible for some to get to hear him a bit nearer to your homes rather than travelling to Hong Kong!!

March 2008

Glory & Grace Conference 2008. Jubilee International Church, Sydney, Australia. 26-29 March 2008.

Following the impact of the Glory & Grace Conference which Fini and Isi de Gersigny co-led with Rob and Glenda Rufus in Hong Kong in 2007, a similar conference will be held in Sydney at the end of March 2008, which will once again be co-led by Fini and Isi de Gersigny and Rob and Glenda Rufus.Jubilee International Church is a local autonomous church in Sydney, Australia, led by Fini and Isi de Gersigny and founded in January 1997. Their beliefs and methodology are based firmly in the Bible - plus nothing and minus nothing.

9-12 May 2008

Newfrontiers Northern European Conference. Delden, The Netherlands. 9-12 May 2008.

God has times and seasons in His purposes. We believe that God is intent on establishing healthy and expanding local churches joined in a sense of purpose together across the nations of Northern Europe. Relationships and friendships are forming and ministries to serve the churches are beginning to emerge. Momentum is gathering to plant new churches and to strengthen existing ones as many more people come to Christ. The Newfrontiers Northern European Conference is one of the events in which you can learn to hear from God, be equipped and encouraged together in your mission. Encouraged by the first conference in 2007, we believe that God has further plans for us to come together again in May 2008.

16-17 May 2008

Empower 08 Conference. Kings Church Eastbourne, England. 16-17 May 2008.

Kings Church is a church that primarily praises God because the death and resurrection of Jesus changed history, makes a difference in our community because that’s what Jesus did, tells people the good news because it sets people free, and sees God’s power transform lives because God called us to change the world.Breathtaking, the power of God breaking out – Empower 08, is a conference at which the special guest will be Rob Rufus.

18 May 2008

Conference. The City Church Canterbury, England.

The City Church Canterbury began in 1989 and is part of Newfrontiers, a worldwide family of churches together on a mission. They are a group of Christians, from a wide variety of different backgrounds, ages and ethnic origins, who all share the same vision for what God wants to do in and through them: To be a big community of radical disciples which impacts Canterbury and beyond for Jesus.

July 2008

Word and Spirit Conference. Joshua Generation Church, Cape Town, South Africa.

Speakers: Rob and Glenda Rufus - Fini and Isi de Gersigny - Michael Eaton.

Early July 2008. Joshua Generation Church aims to impact their city, nation and the world through living out a New Testament apostolic / prophetic Christianity.

July 2008

Word and Spirit Conference. Southside Church, Durban, South Africa. Early July 2008. Mike and Nicky Ward Southside Durban

Glory and Grace Conference (Hong Kong) - February / March 2009.

As promised at the end of the City Church International 2007 Glory and Grace Conference, we have already started planning a follow-up conference. Due to the Olympic Games that will be held in Beijing and the Olympic Equestrian Events that will be held in Hong Kong from 8-24 August 2008, we have decided to schedule the next City Church International Hong Kong Glory and Grace Conference for early 2009, either in February or March.

Glory Encounters Conference in Hong Kong!!

City Church International in Hong Kong have just announced a very exciting sounding conference in April following the "Grace and Glory Conference" in Sydney in March. It is called "Glory Encounters" and a number of us are feeling the prompting that we should go!! Although I haven't heard of the guest speaker Josh Mills before, I have every faith that Rob and Glenda Rufus wouldn't invite anyone who would grieve or quench the Holy Spirit but welcome Him in awesome power.

Here's the poster: