E@Church - Yay or Nay?!

There's a fascinating development going on at one of my favourite sites in the USA - Wartburg Watch. They have begun what's called an "E@Church" where anyone on the internet can follow their services and be ministered to by a pastor guy called Wade Burleson.

The premise of this new development is;

"In our three years of writing this blog, we have become aware that a fair number of people have been so hurt and disillusioned by the church that they have dropped out of attending church altogether. After reading story after story about painful experiences, we don’t blame them. We both have been there.

Yet, many of these folks want to be around other Christians as evidenced by the numbers who visit blogs. Most of these have maintained their faith, but some have walked away or are seriously questioning if this faith is real.

So we wanted to provide a place in which a reader could get some of the benefits of church without the requirements that are often inherent in church attendance. We look at this place as a kind of halfway point between no church and church".

Probably even three or more years ago, I would have turned my perfect little Reformed nose up at this and quoted Calvin et al as insisting that a "church" must be a "local body". Hurt or not hurt - I would have insisted - believers MUST go to church whether they like it or not. And let's face it - many don't.

But I think the experiences I have gone through personally since university have softened my heart somewhat to this approach. I think (like the WW girls organisers) that local church which acts like a real family - centered on trust - would surely be ideal. But I have never encountered so many hurting, broken souls in the religious world since my encounters with Sovereign Grace Ministries and their churches. And I think a "half way point" is actually not a bad idea anymore while many of us still continue to search for a new home (or even a place we CAN call home - not a pew we slip into quietly and run before the Welcome Team find us).

One comment that really struck me after E@Church's first "service" was by a dear lady called "Happymom" - who has suffered some horrendous abuse at a large SGM church after her little child was sexually abuse. Happymom wrote that she had never encountered such a "hope-filled message". And the issue of "indwelling sin" came up. Wade Burleson - the pastor - wrote;

"Interesting that you wrote “no mention of indwelling sin.” I just finished preparing a word of encouragement from Hebrews 10:17-18 for a week from Sunday. Those verses say, “This is the covenant … I will remember their sins no more.”

The message is entitled “Divine Amnesia” and it has challenged me to ask the question why so many churches put the emphasis on remembering what God forgets. There’s no denial I struggle with ‘indwelling sin.’ The question is how is it dealt with. I believe the teaching of the New Testament puts the focus on Christ and not the sinner, and until the sinner discovers the greatest ‘high’ is the most High, he will continually fall for the false high sin gives".

I agree with your assessment of Sovereign Grace Ministries. I had never listened to much teaching from SGM until I recently heard testimonies from people who have attended. I went back and listened to some of Mahaney’s messages, and others, who are in leadership at SGM.

You shall know the Truth and He sets you FREE!

I was shocked.

The emphases of their messages are all wrong. It’s as if they use grace to entice sinners into the church and then use ‘law’ and the exposure of sin to keep believers dependent on their church".

While I continue to remain eternally optimistic and hopeful for SGM and their future - I think the AoR report MUST continue to insist on this truth being put right - for the good of the thousands of hurting, needy souls still within SGM.

Exhausted of "Churchianity"?

I have had a rare and enjoyable day off doing some "DIY" and shopping - and as per usual have spent much of it glued to my iPhone catching up on events from around the globe. For me - this is usually through my Twitter account but also reading some of Brent Detweiler's extensive documents on the current SGM controversy. I really don't know how the man gets his sheer determination and focus to write so extensively on what he believes is right. And I share much of his concerns - SGM needs an overhaul and some honest confession from the top.

But I have to admit I find reading it all quite exhausting. Is this really "the Bride of Christ"? What does our heavenly awesome Bridegroom make of this? Surely there must be "more"?

Lou Fellingham's beautiful song "I will say" is like balm to my tired soul at this time (and I'm sure many others). Sadly there isn't a You-Tube video of this song live - but for those who haven't heard Lou's amazing voice - here is her singing "There is a Day".

I will say

"You give rest to the weary

You bring strength to the weak
As they wait in your presence
There is grace for their need

So I’ll wait, I’ll wait
Yes I’ll wait, I’ll wait for you

I will say of the Lord he is my refuge
I will say of the Lord he is my strength
I will say of the Lord he is my shelter, my hiding place

You can come in the silence
You can come in the noise
Bringing peace in a moment
Bringing comfort and joy

So I’ll wait, I’ll wait
Yes I’ll wait, I’ll wait for you

I will say of the Lord he is my refuge
I will say of the Lord he is my strength
I will say of the Lord he is my shelter, my hiding place
I will come to the source all creation
I will drink from the well that never dries
I will draw from the one who won’t grow tired
The lord of all

And I’ll wait, I’ll wait
Yes I’ll wait, I’ll wait for you
I will wait, I’ll wait
Yes I’ll wait, I’ll wait for you

I will say of the Lord he is my refuge
I will say of the Lord he is my strength
I will say of the Lord he is my shelter, my hiding place
I will come to the source all creation
I will drink from the well that never dries
I will draw from the one who won’t grow tired
The lord of all

You give rest to the weary
You bring strength to the weak

Re-Writing History - or Säuberung!!

Wikipedia writes;

"On 6 April 1933, the Main Office for Press and Propaganda of the German Student Association (de:Deutsche Studentenschaft) proclaimed a nationwide "Action against the Un-German Spirit", which was to climax in a literary purge or "cleansing" ("Säuberung") by fire".

The scenes are now well known in history volumes. Scenes of Nazis marching around heaps of books on fire. Around 25, 000 volumes were apparently burned.

There are very few things that enrage me to the point of fury - but injustice is one of them. In my meagre 34 years of life (just turned 34 yesterday!) I have seen two attempts made in the church to erase or alter history to the liking of it's leaders. And I cannot fathom why or how this is acceptable or in line with the Word of God.

1. The first incidence was at my home church in Dunstable. The elders under the leadership of Stanley Jebb (a man - incidentally I hold still in the highest esteem) made the decision to ERASE the ministry teaching audio tapes of the last 10 years of the church. These ministry tapes including visiting preachers such as Dr Ern Baxter, Charles Simpson, Terry Virgo and of course Jebb himself. The limited explanation I was given from the elders when I questioned this decision was that it was a "sincere" decision in line with the church's move from a reformed/Charismatic position to a functionally cessationist position. Fortunately I was able to rescue most of Ern Baxter's ministry tapes or a massive portion of my hero's ministry would have been lost.

2. The second incidence was more recent yet has been widely documented. It is well known that Covenant Life Church was founded and established along with People of Destiny International by Larry Tomczak AND C J Mahaney. However until this month - the history of Covenant Life Church and now-SGM firmly made NO mention of Larry's involvement or part to play in the history of this group of churches.

The history of CLC USED to read;

"In the 1970s, a weekly meeting known as “Take and Give” (TAG) drew thousands to the D.C. area for passionate Bible teaching. C.J. Mahaney, a young preacher converted in the wake of the Jesus Movement, was one of the leaders of TAG’s successful ministry. He longed for something more than an assembly of loosely connected Christians. C.J. and other leaders wanted to build a local church like those they saw modeled in the New Testament".

But thanks to the integrity and honesty of Joshua Harris and the other pastors, it is has now been corrected to read;

"Over a four-year period in the 1970s, a meeting known as “Take and Give” (TAG) began drawing as many as 2000 per week to Washington, D.C., for passionate Bible teaching and worship. C.J. Mahaney and Larry Tomczak, both young preachers converted in the wake of the Jesus Movement, were the leaders of TAG’s successful ministry. But they longed for something more than an assembly of loosely connected Christians and wanted to build a local church like those they saw modeled in the New Testament".

What I see in the Bible is the honouring and the preservation of history. For example in the Old Testament - the children of Israel were told to build a pile of stones to remember the Lord's working and involvement with His people in the past. The best church leaders are those who sincerely realise they have made mistakes and are happy to learn from them - such as Josh Harris seems to be doing. I hope the Bride of Christ will stop this really worrying practice - because what the internet is doing is preventing more and more the altering and erasing of history. And even if history can be altered and re-written - people do not forget their experiences of God.

I have written some blog posts on this blog that I blush to read - usually my angry vitrioles against SGM! But I have deliberately left them - because it is important to remember the effect that anger, mistrust and bitterness can have. I am so blessed that I can now sit happily in the same room as the SGM UK pastors and even hear them preach with no problems. The wonder of forgiveness and reconciliation!

Social Networking is Transforming the Church!

I've been thinking for a while how social networking (firstly blogs and then Twitter and Facebook) have been forcing change upon churches and particularly church leadership. Some church leaders like C J Mahaney and Dave Harvey are seeing the social networking medium as negative - and are seeing the open forum that many victims of SGM have as "assaults" and "attacks".

But what if there was a way to see it positively?

My friends Dee and Debs over at the "Wartburg Watch" wrote their version of the new rules that the perhaps more authoritarian pastors can expect;

In case you haven't noticed, there is a new set of rules in effect. Here are SEVEN of them:

(1) No longer can a pastor control his own press.

(2) The pulpit is no longer a one-way microphone. Because of the internet and blogs, there are so many microphones that it has become a dialogue.

(3) While pastors may perceive things to be one way, they need to assume that people are going to dig down deep for the truth and not just take the pastor at his word.

(4) Some pastors have been clamoring to be noticed, and they should not be surprised that some who come and take a look may not like what they see and dare to say so.

(5) Remember, anything a pastor puts on the internet lasts forever. If he attempts to remove the evidence, he needs to keep in mind that folks these days are savvy. They are documenting information BEFORE it is removed, and it will show up again…

(6) We highly recommend that pastors refrain from editing out portions of their sermons they put online or altering their transcripts. People are listening and taking notes…

(7) If you chastise from the pulpit, expect to be chastised in a comparable forum like the internet.

Guys, it's a whole new ballgame. Batter up!

Qualified for the Ministry?

Over the last couple of days a number of various blogs have raised the whole issue of what qualifies or disqualifies a minister of the Gospel - and it's been useful to consider the whole issue. I guess in a way this is a "blog-spot";

1. Phil Johnson of the "Pyromaniacs" has written a devastating critique of the danger of charismatic theology. His rationale (or lack of) is not Scripture but anecdotes on Paul Cain and his moral fall. According to Johnson - Cain's moral fall disqualifies not only Cain as a prophet but indeed charismatic theology. I am writing a response to Phil Johnson because I think this requires a longer answer.

2. Dave Harvey of SGM has blogged again reflecting on the independent panel assessment declaring C J Mahaney fit for ministry. The whole question seems to be whether C J was right to step down before declared fit or unfit - and the question as to whether the sins of pride, arrogance, legalism, blackmail and so on disqualify him - the panel think not.

3. Brent Detweiler has blogged a good post considering the SGM situation from his point of view. He rightly and acutely points out that we are not quite sure what C J has really confessed to - so how can we know whether that disqualifies him or not?

It is an important question. Dave Harvey uses the words; "public scandal" - and seems to think that the involvement of a public scandal would be the deciding factor. So therefore from Harvey's logic - we could assume that sexual or moral and financial failure (money, sex) would be the contributing factor. But what occurs to me is where they get this justification from. Scripture?

I've been discussing this issue with Pete Day and he noted some other well-known leaders and some of their sins of humanity. He said a good point regarding Johnson and Harvey's "logic";

Would he say that the whole of Martin Luther's ministry should be invalidated because of his hatred of Jews? Or indeed the whole reformation????

Would he say that Calvin's ministry should be invalidated because of his alleged consent to the burning of heretics?? Or indeed the whole of Calvinism????

Would he say that Paul's ministry should be invalidated because of his bust up with Barnabas???? Or indeed all of his epistles????

A Vital Principle To Live By

I was thrilled to get a seven volume present from my parents for my birthday - "Tracts and Letters of John Calvin - 7 Volume Set". In the introduction there is a fascinating comment about Calvin himself;

"The leading principle of Protestantism - the paramount authority and perfect sufficiency of Scripture - he (Calvin) undoubtedly did hold and strenuously inculcate, but he also venerated the early Fathers of the Church and scarcely ever omitted an opportunity of strengthening his views by showing how well they accorded with theirs".

Many people often ask why I quote so much from heroes. It's for this simple reason. I love and appreciate the Word of God. It is indeed perfectly sufficient. But we who are at the climax of the consummation of the ages have an awesome gift in church history - the "cloud of witnesses" - who have gone before us and who have written down their words and still speak even though dead.

We ignore them surely at our peril.

This is for ME!!!

My favourite song of the moment is a beautiful song recently written by Lex Loizides and the chorus goes;

"This is for me - this blood of Christ - washing all my stains, breaking all my chains;

This is for me - this death He died, taking all my sins and giving me a chance to live again".

Christian's aren't traditionally very good at what they see as "selfishness" in the Christian life. But there is a massive element of the good things God has for us that we will and do miss out as legalistic Christians if we cling to pious "humility" and not enjoy all He has for us. I've been thinking and writing a lot about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the Charismatic Movement these last few posts - this was sparked by Stanley Jebb's recent blog (who again has written a post on cessationism not arguing from Scripture but from bad examples of excess).

My concern is that the baptism of the Holy Spirit has so become masked in debate that we have forgotten the pleasures that God has for us in this empowerment from on high. I want to quote some passages from church history (taken from Dr Martyn Ll0yd-Jones; "Joy Unspeakable") that reflect what happens to people in this encounter with God. Stanley Jebb cites excess as a reason as to why the genuine can't exist. Here are accounts of the genuine. Dr Lloyd-Jones explains why quoting from the past is of use;

"I want to show you that this is something which has been taught and recognised in the Christian church throughout the centuries and by men belonging to various and varied theological schools. This is what to me is so interesting and glorious about all of this. That it cuts right across the various theological distinctions such as Arminianism and Calvinism and so on".

Dr Ll0yd-Jones first quotes John Owen;

"When He so sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts and so fills them with gladness by an immediate act and operation ... then doth the soul even from hence raise itself to a consideration of the love of God ... filling it (the soul) with gladness, exultations and sometimes with unspeakable raptures of the mind".

He then quotes Thomas Goodwin;

"There is a light that cometh and overpowereth a man's soul and assureth him that God is his and he is God's and that God loveth him from everlasting ... it is a light beyond the light of ordinary faith".

He then quotes another Puritan - John Flavel;

"His thoughts (speaking of himself) began to swell and rise higher and higher till at last they became an overwhelming flood. Such the ravishing tastes of heavenly joys, and such the full assurance of his interest therein that he utterly lost all sight and sense of the world ... still the joy of the Lord overflowed him and he seemed to be an inhabitant of the other world, he many years after called that day one of the days of heaven".

There was a wonderful song sang at Stoneleigh Bible Week during the Toronto blessing years called; "Days of heaven". I never really understood it but I think reading this I do. The sealing or baptism of the Spirit is a foretaste of heaven - so much so that it is as if heaven has come to earth!

And finally Dr Ll0yd-Jones quoted from one of my heroes - Jonathan Edwards;

"As I rode out into the woods ... I had a view that was for me extraordinary, of the glory of the Son of God ... which continued as near as I can judge about an hour; such as to keep me in a greater part of the time in a flood of tears and weeping aloud. I felt an ardency of soul to be full of Christ alone, to love Him with a holy and pure love, to trust in Him, to live upon Him".

Charles Simeon states; "To many, alas the sealing of the Spirit (or baptism of the Spirit) is mere foolishness but those who account it so speak evil of things they do not understand. Let us seek to experience it ourselves instead of censuring those who do".

I think that is suitably wise advice and a rebuke to those who seem to perpetuate a ministry of being "against everything". Yes there is error and yes there is excess. Yes people make mistakes and yes people fail. But that DOES NOT and CANNOT excuse abandoning and ignoring the very good gifts of God. They are real and they are genuine and free by grace. When was the last time you or I really enjoyed God? If you have to think then it's been a while and too long - particularly when it is His will and good pleasure to bless DAILY!

Don't Forget the Past!!

One of the most impacting sermons I've ever heard (and there are a few!) was by David Holden at Stoneleigh Bible Week 2000. He preached on the past, present and future and showed how each must be held responsibly in tension. He warned against living sentimentally in the past but not forgetting it. This sermon was even more impacting because a large group of us had come to Stoneleigh for the first time fresh from the dramatic changes at our home church in Dunstable. The eldership was relentlessly taking the church where they wanted it to go - into conservative reformed evangelicalism with no room for the Holy Spirit.

One of the most upsetting and concerning things to me was a decision the eldership made to erase the entire audio ministry of the church prior to 1991. Essentially everything that had a hint of the charismatic movement about it. I suggested to them (perhaps not very sensitively) that this reminded me of Nazi Germany and moves made to erase the past there. It didn't go down well! But it didn't change the decision. I decided then and there that I would devote my life to refusing to allow the past to be forgotten.

Much of my flat (and my extended library in my friend Pete Day's office) reflects this - books, magazines, audio tapes and now CD's - that speak of the great things that God has done in the past. Heeding Dave Holden's warning I don't want this to be a sentimental memory but an impetus to expect even greater things for the future. I don't want to go "back" to the charismatic days of Dunstable and the Anglia and Dales Bible Weeks (awesome though they were). I want so much more - I want everything the Bible promises! Promises of the nations flowing to Zion! Promises of Zion being a light to the world! Promises of the latter house being FAR greater than the former!

One of the framed pictures in my home is posted below - it reminds me not to forget how God can use great men and women to great purpose;

"God's Prophetic People" by C J Mahaney

One of the aims of this blog is to not allow anointed teaching and preaching to fade into and become forgotten by history - either deliberately or not. I've made it an aim of my life to preserve magazines, audio tapes and videos where I can that are like piles of stones - reminding the people of God about what God has done in the past. I was intrigued to find the following article by one "Charles" Mahaney in Restoration Magazine - November/December 1985. It's largely excellent. I don't know for sure if he would still agree with what he wrote - but here it is anyway for historical interest;

"God's Prophetic People" - C J Mahaney - Restoration Magazine - November/December 1985

What comes to your mind when you think of a prophet? Perhaps you've been influenced by the way John the Baptistis portrayed in many films; a hairy lunatic covered in dust, almost foaming at the mouth as he shouts out his weird message while no one seems to be listening!

The truth is that a prophet is just an ordinary Christian with an extraordinary message. His burden is to speak the "now" word of God so that the church is motivated to obey. And not only to obey but also to catch the prophet's own heart, and thus to become God's prophetic community.

God's goal is that the spirit of the ministries mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-12 - apostles, prophets, pastor/teachers and evangelists - should permeate the entire church. He is after a community of people who manifest the fullness of Jesus Christ, not just a handful of men who grow and mature while the Body of Christ in general falls further and further behind.

1. Provoking a Response.

Our concept of what a prophet actually is, then probably needs to change. People tend to label a man a prophet when what they actually mean is that he's an eccentric extrovert, not submitted to anyone. A true prophet however is both normal and under authority, in submission to others. Don't get me wrong. A prophet isn't alwasy the most acceptabe of people. John the Baptist was hardly a conservative man in a three-piece suit. His wardrobe - rough, smelly camel's hair and a leather belt (Matthew 3:4) - was definately different! If you had shared a meal with him you would have made sure it was at your place and not his. 'Locusts and wild honey' (v4) wouldn't have been the most acceptable of dishes! As for his tact in describing the Pharisees and Sadducees as a "brood of vipers" (v7) - I would say he definately hadn't read Dale Carnegie's book; "How to Win Friends and Influence People"!

Any true prophet will share similar characteristics. Bring him into a church situation and his word will have a cutting edge that sometimes hurts but always demands a response. The elders might have everything nicely sewn up until he comes in. Then situations are unlocked and people begin to respond to his word. They have begun to catch the prophetic heart. Soon they will be adopting a similar approach to his in their church life and so a prophetic community begins to emerge.

2. Spiritual VIPs.

Throughout Scripture God stresses the prophet's importance. We find Jehosophat urging God's people to "have faith in His prophets and you will be successful" (2 Chronicles 20:20). Amos declares; "Surely the Sovereign Lord doesnothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7).

God has purposely limited His actions to those things that He has revealed to His servants the prophets!

It is important to stress that they are servants first and foremost. God doesn't want proud, haughty men strutting around using their own discernment to wipe people out in the Name of Jesus!

Prophets are given as gifts to the body of Christ in order to inspire a prophetic church, one gripped by a clear vision of God's intentions for His people and the world.

Such a church, like the prophet is committed to obey the current word of the Lord without compromise, regardless of the cost. And it is motivated by an intense burden that has it's origin in the heart of God.

We should be crying out; "Raise up a multitude of prophets around the world, Lord Jesus!" because without them we will never see a "highway for our God" being built (Isaiah 40:3), nor shall we see the Lord Jesus returning in our generation.

Three Old Testament terms - vision, word and burden - characterise the ministry of a modern-day prophet and so show us what a prophetic community should be like. Often God follows this pattern;

He gives vision and then provides a specific word for the current situation which leads to action. Then as we continue in this word, sustained by an on-going burden, the vision becomes reality.

Let's consider these three terms in more detail.

1. Vision.

A prophet brings clarity and revelation relating God's ultimate plan to that particular generation. David "served God's purpose in his own generation" (Acts 13:36). The prophet enables us to do the same. We need to stop asking ourselves whether ours is the last generation before Christ's return and start living as if it were. Because it is the last generation for us!

i. Ultimate Goal.

The prophet's envisioning helps us to see the church, not as an irrelevant people ready for an irrelevant defeat, but as part of the generation that will see the restoration of all things, the making of the enemies of God into a footstool for His feet and the hastening of the day of the Lord.

He keeps before us a vision of God's ultimate purpose. As a result we don't allow either past experience or present circumstance to rob us of our faith to see God achieve what He said He would achieve for a generation of responding people. Vision also stops us heading in many unrelating directions at once. It prevents us from becoming discouraged and it keeps our motives right. No longer are we living just to receive personal blessing but to see God glorified.

ii. Consumed with Zeal.

God is on the move today. He has a world to reach and will not be frustrated in His plan. If you are unwilling to move with Him then you could be left behind! God wants to consume us with His vision. The disciples said of Jesus that zeal for God's house had consumed Him (John 2:17; Psalm 69:9). How about us? Does it eat us up inside when we think of how the world views the church as a building? It should! We need to say from our hearts; "God, Your Name is not honoured in this earth and I give my life so that in this generation whether Jesus returns or not, the church shall be the 'praise of the earth'"! (Isaiah 62:7).

iii. The "Now" Word.

In Luke 4 Jesus read from the book of Isaiah, sat down and said "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing" (v21). At that point all hell broke loose so to speak (v28-29). It's time for us to stop merely preaching Bible verses to the world and start saying "Take a look! Start showing the world the fulfillment of Scripture in the lives of God's redeemed people, the church". Jesus didn't go into the courtyard of the temple and say; "Can I have a word with all the people running the stalls?". He took a whip and drove them out (John 2:13-16) because he saw a lack of holiness in the house of God!

iv. A Holy Church.

God-inspired vision is inseperable from holiness. In order to fulfill God's vision for restoring the church there must come purity. Peter urged those who listened to him on the Day of Pentecost to be saved "from this perverse generation" (Acts 2:40 NASB). Though not a very tactful word to use, it was the truth. In our world today everything around us - politics, education, economics, entertainment and the judicial system is perverted. God is shaking the earth and all the security that man has sought refuge in (Hebrews 12:25-29). The trouble so often is that the church shakes with it!

God wants us to catch the vision of standing out as lights in the midst of a "perverse generation". Then he can channel through our pure hearts a word that will break the yoke of bondage in other people's lives as we confront them with the truth. That's what being a prophetic community is about!

v. Search for Reality.

The account of how Ananias and Sapphira died for lying (Acts 5:1-11) shows the importance God attaches to purity. God is restoring church discipline today. Our prophetic vision will mean that we no longer turn a blind eye to sin but confront it because of our burning zeal. The church didn't dwindle as a result of this severe discipline. Multitudes came to Christ (v14)! Why? Because people are looking for reality. I was brought up in a church where the ushers would stand at the back whispering all kinds of nasty things. Then when it was time to take up the offering, they would put on their holier-than-thou looks. As a young man I determined in my heart to have nothing to do with this sort of thing, I wanted to be part of something real, something that worked.

Many today are catching a vision of God's desire for the church and are sacrificing increased salaries, better homes and higher standards of living to see it achieved. I know one man who turned down an important job and a 50 per cent rise in salary because he would have to leave the area to which God had called him. Money and prestige couldn't compete with the sense of vision and purpose he had received from God. That's commitment!

2. Word.

Vision alone however is not enough. It must be translated into action. Prophets bring the word of God for a situation with the intention of turning the vision into reality. The prophet always starts by asking a question. It is not; "What will people think if I say this?". But; "What is the word of the Lord - God's heart and point of view for this situation?".

i. Facing People with the Word.

His frame of reference is not implications, other people's feelings or possible repercussions. His first and burning thought is; "Father what are you feeling and what do you want us to do in this situation?". This approach can often lead to the mistake belief that the prophet is insensitive to other people. But the truth is that to be a true prophet at all he must have a shepherd heart for the people of God. I once sat and listened to a pastor talking about someone in his church and was deeply touched by his love and concern but I knew in my heart that the person in question was involved in sin - and I said so. I didn't analyse temperaments. I spoke the truth in love. That is the prophetic heart of God. We've got to bring people face to face with the word of the Lord. We've got to think about what God is going to do if we don't obey. We've got to grow up in the love of God to where we can move in the fear of God.

ii. The Right Kind of Fear.

The Lord says that he highly esteems the person who "trembles at My Word" (Isaiah 66:2). Does it move us that we're going to be held responsible for the Word of the Lord that we hear? As a prophetic community we need to speak God's Word in love without fear of other people. A proper fear of the Lord overcomes the fear of man. For instance God might show you that a married couple are living in unreality. Each Sunday they argue in the car on their way to the meeting, until just before they arrive, they call a truce; "Let's commit it to the Lord - until later" and they put on their plastic smiles and their "praise the Lord" terminology for the duration of the meeting. You need to go to them - yes, you! - and speak the truth in love. You can't any longer treat such people by what they seem on the surface because you've been equipped by the prophets to see beyond the superficial, right into a person's heart. That's being a prophetic community.

iii. A Ripe Word.

We may have all the counselling manuals that are available, good though they are, but they can never replace the rhema, the power word of God in a situation. A propehtic word doesn't have to be profound. I remember once saying to a couple from the front; "The Lord is pleased with you". Immediately they both broke down in tears. That's the kind of word that I fight with the Lord before I bring. "Not in front of everyone Lord - I will tell them after the meeting. Give me something deep, heavy and impressive. It's supposed to be prophetic!". I obeyed after wrestling and they broke. You can say the same thing to someone else and they will simply reply; "The Lord is pleased with you too". Because that wasn't the Lord's particular word for them at that time. Instead of just telling people what has helped you, ask God what He thinks in a particular situation. That's the approach the prophets have equipped you to take.

Paul tells us not to let any "unwholesome or rotten word proceed from our mouths" (Ephesians 4:29 NASB). A word that is rotten was once ripe. I know what it's like to share a ripe word with someone. When he takes a bit there is an explosion of the life of God. But the same word used in a different situation will have little or no effect. People often make excuses for not obeying God's Word. "Not yet" is a common one. "The time has not yet come for the Lord's house to be built" they said in Haggai's day (Haggai 1:2). But when the prophets arrived with a ripe word, the word soon began (Ezra 5:1-2). A prophet exposes excuses. A prophetic people too will be ruthless in dealing with them.

iv. Hearing for Ourselves.

We are a people called to more than just quoting Bible verses and seeing no change. We have the very word of God for each situation. The prophets among us equip us to be led by the voice of God. We don't have to be content with secondhand revelation. We haven't come up to Mount Sinai where we send a Moses up to receive God's Word. We hav ecome to Mount Zion and go up to the mountain ourselves to receive revelation (Hebrews 12:18-24).

If you are not hearing the voice of God daily, just as you receive food daily then you are not fully alive in the kingdom of God.

Listen to God's Word, hide it in your heart and then obey it. Allow the prophets to train you to bring that word to other people.

3. Burden.

God wants to impart to His people not only His mind but also His heart and feelings. Scripture is full of His love, His anger, His brokenheartedness, His tender compassion. "Burden" means feeling the way that God feels about a situation. It doesn't mean becoming introspective and depressed but it is an emotional commitment that keeps us going to see the vision become a reality. Too often we read from Scripture or bring a prophecy in a flat, monotonous voice. Yet God wants us to convey His emotions - to feel the Word of the Lord, to let it be a very part of us.

When we prophesy about dancing, we should dance. When we talk about lying prostrate before God, we should do it - otherwise we are not being real!

i. "Appalled".

Ezra may have been a mild-mannered man, but the people's unfaithfulness caused him to tear his clothes, pull hair from his beard and sit down "appalled" (Ezra 9:3-4). Imagine one day knocking on your pastor's door to get a little counselling help. Then as you begin to talk together, he stands up, rips his jacket and shirt in two, pulls some of his hair and sits down appalled and horrified! That's what some people need. I've said to God that I am willing to feel the way He feel, except for the hair bit. And I am believing that if necessary I will be ready for that too!

ii. Oh God, the Church!

Nehemiah too, felt the way God felt. When he heard about Jerusalem's devastation he sat down and wept, mourned and fasted and prayed (Nehemiah 1:4). He was experiencing God's heart, knowing God's feelings. He knew that Jerusalem was meant to be the "joy of the whole earth" (Psalm 48:2). No wonder he wept at it's current plight!

When we see that God's purpose for the church today is not merely survival but triumph and worldwide impact and influence, we too will be deeply affected as we view the present state of God's holy city, the church.

Nehemiah's burdenn didn't produce passivity, discouragement or depression in his life. Neither should it in us. Rather, we will be stirred to pray and then build until God makes His church a praise in the earth.

A prophetic community then is a people seeing a clear vision, motivated by a current word and experiencing an increasing burden.

If this is not our present experience then let's cry together from our hearts; "Make us a prophetic community Lord Jesus!".

1970's and 80's Charismatic Resources

I remember one of the first times that Pete Day and I visited my favourite bookshop in London -Geneva Books - I was fascinated to talk to the gentleman who owns it. He is elderly but has a wealth of experience and I usually end up talking to him as much as I do sorting through the treasure trove of books for treasures! For those who haven't heard me mention this bookshop before, it is the largest collection of Reformed and evangelical books in the UK I believe and the cheapest!

But in one comment the owner mentioned that he had a past in the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement and had built up a considerable private collection of books that (regretfully) weren't for sale and he kept in a private bedroom somewhere in the large house. You can imagine I wished for a moment I was invisible and could go and have a peek!

Well ... recently I have thrillingly re-acquainted myself with my childhood friend J-D Laurence who is training for the ministry in Bristol. We exchanged a number of emails and most of them centrered around our interest in our charismatic heritage. J-D and myself are in a rather unique position in terms of being able to remember when our home church was charismatic and moving in things of the Spirit but also to be able to remember the transition from that. Many younger than us don't remember anything. And many older than us are uncomfortable discussing it.

So I to put together all my books, tapes and magazines that I have on the Charismatic Movement and make a page of resources that I primarily can take down to Bristol when I meet J-D but also keep for interest sake.

Books;

"Pre-Dales Bible Week 1977 Conference - Question and Answer Session" - Ern Baxter, Arthur Wallis and Bryn Jones - personally transcribed.

"Dales Bible Week 1977 Ministry - Binding the Strongman" - Dr Ern Baxter - personally transcribed

"God's World Purpose" - Dr Ern Baxter

"Secular Humanism - Man Striving to Be God" - Dr Ern Baxter.

"Thy Kingdom Come" - Dr Ern Baxter.

"Life on Wings" - Dr Ern Baxter.

"The Measure of Faith" - Dr Ern Baxter.

"I Almost Died!" - Dr Ern Baxter.

"The Beginnings of Church Life" - Dr Ern Baxter.

"The Beginnings of Christian Life" - Dr Ern Baxter.

"The King, the Kingdom and the Holy Spirit" - Dr Ern Baxter.

"God's Agenda" - Dr Ern Baxter.

"Vintage Years - New Wine Articles (1969-1979)" - Dr Ern Baxter, Charles Simpson, Don Basham, Derek Prince and Bob Mumford.

"No Well Worn Paths" - Terry Virgo

"From Refreshing to Revival" - Terry Virgo, David Holden and John Hosier

"Receiving the Holy Spirit and His Gifts" - Terry Virgo

"Does the Future Have a Church?" - Terry Virgo

"Restoration in the Church" - Terry Virgo

"The Tide is Turning" - Terry Virgo

"Divided We Stand?" - Gerald Coates

"What on Earth is This Kingdom?"- Gerald Coates

"An Intelligent Fire" - Gerald Coates

"Worship - a Heart for God?" - Bryn Jones

"The Radical Church - Restoring the Apostolic Edge" - Bryn Jones

"Revive Us Again!" - Bryn Jones, Terry Virgo, Arthur Wallis, David Mansell et al

"Restoring the Kingdom" - Dr Andrew Walker

"Apostolic Networks in Britain - New Ways of Being Church" - William K Kay

"House Churches - Will They Survive?" - John Noble

"These are Not Drunken as Ye Suppose" - Howard Ervin

"The Pentecostal Reality" - J Rodman Williams

"Renewal Theology - 3 Volumes" - J Rodman Williams

"Prophecy" - Bruce Yocum

"To the Praise of His Glory" - David Fellingham

"Christ's Radiant Church" - John Hosier

Magazines:

1. New Wine Magazine

New Wine Magazine - June 1969 - "New Wine in New Wineskins".

New Wine Magazine - October 1969 - "Empty Tomb - Jerusalem".

New Wine Magazine - November 1969 - "A Body Thou Hast Prepared".

New Wine Magazine - December 1969 - "Baptism".

New Wine Magazine - January 1970 - "Christian Television".

New Wine Magazine - January 1971 - "A Highway for the Lord".

New Wine Magazine - January 1974 - "Morals and Ethics".

New Wine Magazine - February 1974 - "Unity".

New Wine Magazine - November 1974 - "The Holy Spirit".

New Wine Magazine - January 1975 - "And He Shall Reign".

New Wine Magazine - February 1975 - "Deception".

New Wine Magazine - March 1975 - "Holiness".

New Wine Magazine - April 1975 - "Prayer".

New Wine Magazine - September 1975 - "Becoming a Servant".

New Wine Magazine - October 1975 - "The Restoration of Manhood".

New Wine Magazine - January 1976 - "Grace".

New Wine Magazine - February 1976 - "The Body of Christ".

New Wine Magazine - June 1976 - "Yielding to Change".

New Wine Magazine - July/August 1976 - "Evangelism; Personal and Global".

New Wine Magazine - October 1976 - "Unforgiveness".

New Wine Magazine - December 1976 - "Christmas".

New Wine Magazine - January 1977 - "Prophecy".

New Wine Magazine - March 1977 - "Binding the Strongman".

New Wine Magazine - July/August 1977 - "Kansas City Conference".

New Wine Magazine - September 1977 - "Overcoming Rejection".

New Wine Magazine - October 1977 - "Jesus Exalted" - Conference Transcripts.

New Wine Magazine - January 1978 - "Balancing the Goodness and the Severity of God".

New Wine Magazine - February 1978 - "Embracing Suffering".

New Wine Magazine - March 1978 - "Overcoming Fear".

New Wine Magazine - December 1978 - "Fruit".

New Wine Magazine - February 1979 - "Secular Humanism - Part 1".

New Wine Magazine - March 1979 - "Secular Humanism - Part 2".

New Wine Magazine - January 1980 - "Preparing for the 80's".

"New Wine Magazines - Ern Baxter Articles" - Collated Articles by Ern Baxter from New Wine Magazines - 1975+ - Personally Collated.

2. Restoration Magazines.

DVD's and Videos

"Rumours of Revival" - Interviews with Stanley Jebb, R T Kendall, Terry Virgo and Bryn Jones

"Derek Prince - the Man Behind the Ministry" - DPM

"In Depth with Terry Virgo" - God TV

"The Story So Far" - Terry Virgo Ministry Video at Stoneleigh Bible Week 1998

Audio Tapes

Although I have a large number of particularly ministry tapes by Ern Baxter and by Terry Virgo and by Stanley Jebb I have selected the tapes which give particular insight or teaching into the Charismatic Movement and the era of the 1970s and 80s.

Dr Ern Baxter

1. “The King and His Army” Series from the Lakes Bible Week 1975.

Note: This was the series of sermons referred to by Terry Virgo at Brighton 2004.

- The Head and Shoulders Man.

- The Decline and Death of the Head and Shoulders Man.

- Transition from One King to Another.

- The Army.- From Hebron to Zion!

2. “Where Are We Going?” Series from the Dales Bible Week 1976.

- Session 1 – “A Crisis Beginning”.

- Session 2.

- Session 3 – “Miraculous Living”.

- Session 4.

- Session 5.

- Session 6.

- Session 7 – “The Land, Located and Described”.

- Session 8.- Session 9 – “The Kadesh Crisis”.

3. “The Priestly Clothing” Series from the Anglia Bible Week 1983.

- Session 1 – “A Kingdom of Priests”.

- Session 2 – “The Linen Breeches”.

- Session 3 – “The Coat of Fine Linen”.

- Session 4 – “The Robe of the Ephod”.

- Session 5 – “The Ephod”.

- Session 6 – “Strange Fire”.

Terry Virgo

"The Story so Far" - Stoneleigh Bible Week 1998

"David and Saul - Part 1" - Brighton Leaders Conference 2004

"David and Saul - Part 2" - Brighton Leaders Conference 2004

Dr Stanley Jebb

I should note Dr Jebb has publicly changed his opinions on the majority of the content in the tapes below. However there are still remarkable insights into the Word of God and stellar Bible teaching which is why I have them.

"Reformed Doctrine and Charismatic Experience" - Life in the Spirit Conference 1987

"Charismatic Experience in a Reformed Church" - Life in the Spirit Conference 1985

"Ephesians 4 Ministries" - Life in the Spirit Conference 1986

So there they all are. Maybe not as big a collection as this mysterious one housed in London at Geneva Books but certainly some of my favourite and well-read. They keep reminding me that my childhood memories of my parents standing with arms raised worshipping God in Spirit and truth was not a dream. They remind me that hearing other church members bringing strange sounding prophecies and tongues was not heresy but was actually sowing seeds of a desire and a hunger for authentic New Testament church. They remind me that was indeed a season of refreshing from God - not to go back to and stagnate but to pass by and exceed seeking to do the works Jesus did and greater works also!