Stories of Blessing

Headache Healed
Two friends came to visit us.
We enjoyed each other's company.
After a little time one friend said:
"Hey, when I came here I was going to have prayer with you about my headache that I suffered overnight, but since I've come into your house it has gone."
Blessed in the Presence of The Spirit of Jesus.
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True Good News of Grace : two books to understand His Grace.

"So you think your mind is renewed" by Cornel Marais.

"a Matter of Life & Death" by Wayne Duncan.

www.newnaturepublications.com


They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different;
right and left they sent the demons packing;
they brought wellness to the sick,
anointing their bodies, healing their spirits. Mk6:12


Rash Healed
I noticed a rash on P's neck and spots on her face. She says she has been speaking against it; which we then do together. A day or so later, at a gathering to worship Jesus, a presence of the Holy Spirit is apparent. Later a speaker asked if any one has been healed. P checks her self, then asks me whether her face is clear. The spots and rash are gone. Good stuff, thanks Jesus. 

New Life
Listening to Bob Dylan's set list for Bluesfest;
it would be easy to become melancholic like in my old days,
if not for the joyous Hope, that for me, has only truly come in these last few years,
since i've understood for the first time about how finished is my condemnation from this world, because Jesus nailed it so completely to His Cross .... (breathe) !!!
No more tangled up in blue ... no more twists of fate .... no more Desolation Row ...
(all relevant songs in my life's journey of discovery)
Replaced by : ...
sinking into His Joy.... His gifts for his destiny in me.... a rockin' happy, drunk in the Spirit,
Love Kingdom.

Pain Relieved.
A pain in my back upper teeth that doesn't seem to be centered on any one tooth.
I did not want to take medication so i didn't, nothin heroic, just my choice throughout.
I lay my finger on the molars and I tell the pain to leave in Jesus name.
The pain leaves but i can't chew on that side because it is very tender under pressure.
I am thankful that the pain has gone though.
There is edgy pain when certain fluids like piripiri or curry moves into the teeth.
I feel blessed for the next few days, then
A joy sapping aching back tooth.
That lie, (that Jesus would not stop this pain because i'm not spiritual enough), wants to be uppermost in my mind.
Laugh at it, .... He has healed me no matter what the thoughts say in my head ... Hahahahehe ...
I finally get to sleep and wake with only a tenderness to chewing remaining.
It stays like that for a few more days. I keep enforcing the healing in Jesus name.
P and I take communion together.
I pray for a few people then speak for the complete healing that Jesus has gotten me.
I eat the half flatbread by using the teeth only on the tender side of my mouth,
i force the sweet new wine through those back teeth.
We watch a DVD from Downpour Conference 2011. Patricia King speaks on our Hope.
This following morning i am chewing toasted muesli using those same molars without pain and i have just eaten piripiri without any pain or edginess.
Thank You for bearing my pain on that Cross and whipping post, Jesus, Son of God.
Your Love knows no bounds, bliss to You.

Proverbs 20:3 "Any fool can start arguments; the honorable thing is to stay out of them." (GNT)

+“Persistence in prayer doesn't change God,
it shapes us for the answer.” - Bill Johnson

Quick Grab - On the Sermon

"Always looking for more information about someone doesn't mean you love that person ....
letting Jesus Love you is to Know Him ..." (my tweet on twitter hahe ya)

This Scene at the Athenian Academy of Plato

is used to depict the confluence of Religion, Philosophy, and Science.

(1Cor1:23)
But we preach Christ crucified,
unto the Jews a stumblingblock,
and unto the Greeks foolishness;
But unto them which are called,
both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God,
and the wisdom of God.


(1Cor2:4-5)
"But the Message came through anyway.
God's Spirit and God's power did it,
which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power,
not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else."


(vs10)
"The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface,
dives into the depths of God,
and brings out what God planned all along."

(1Cor4:20)
"God's Way is not a matter of mere talk;
it's an empowered life." 

-Should the sermon be the main event of the gathering of the church?
-Is the sermon needed for each meeting?
-Should the sermon be meticulously prepared or, delivered extemporaneously (carried out or performed with little or no preparation; impromptu.) so the Holy Spirit may influence the words.

-Is rhetorical (the art or study of using language effectively and persuasively) structure the aspiration in the sermon.
-Should the sermon be delivered from members of the whole church?
-Should the sermon be given only the pastor or a "qualified" visiting speaker?

-Should the sermon necessarily be a monologue?

(1Cor12:6) 

"God's various expressions of power are in action everywhere; 

but God himself is behind it all. 

Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: 

Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits."

(Ro.12:6)

"Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole,
not the other way around. [e.g. a mouth doesn't define the body!]
The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people.
Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of His Body."

(Ro.15:14)
"You seem to me to be well-motivated and well-instructed,
quite capable of guiding and advising one another."
[mutual encouragement and mutual ministry].

(Col.3:15-17)
"Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other.
None of this going off and doing your own thing.
And cultivate thankfulness.
Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house.
Give it plenty of room in your lives.
Instruct and direct one another using good common sense.
And sing, sing your hearts out to God!"


The seduction of the Greco-Roman Oratory.
500BC
Sophists produced refined rhetoric and could demand payment.
These expert debaters used emotional appeals, physical appearance, and sophisticated language to move the auditorium.
Orators of the eloquence of Chrysotom and Augustine brought their style to influence the previously dynamic nature of the Christian meeting.
A "multi"logue became a monologue.
The Reformers made the sermon the main attraction and were influenced by sermons from Augustine, Chrysostom, Origen and Pope Gregory (all influenced by greco-roman oratory).

Renaissance scholars provided sentence by sentence commentary on classical writings.
Calvin brought this analysis style to his church.
Puritans used this style to show flaws in Anglicanism.
Their sermons became highly structured, methodical, logical, verse by verse expositions of scripture.

The weaknesses of the "sermonator".
specialisation on subjects that are affecting the speaker,
rhetoric becomes a hallmark,

little audience interaction,
encourages group passivity,
entertainment expectancy when the speaker has little experience of the topic,
members become sermon connoisseurs judging  the speaker's performance,   
group dependency on the performer,
insinuates unworthy contributors,
practical equipping of the church comes from a "jack of all trades".

Systematic theology is the only basis for many ministries.
Outlining studies on:
God, Unity and Trinity, Creation,
Angelogy, Origin and character of man,
Soteriology, Pneumatology, and Eschatology,
using Greek philosophic principles and rhetoric.

[Worshiping and enjoying the Love & Spirit of Jesus should permeate a gathering - yes?]

ref. : Frank Viola and George Barna book - "Pagan Christianity"
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Quick Grab - On the Pastor

Cyprian (~250AD) - entrenched the separation of clergy and laity 

departing from the "all things in common" original church.

Pastor mentioned once in NT (KJV) Eph4:11
Priests mentioned 3 times but always in the plural (priesthood of ALL believers).
Pastor = shepherd
It is a metaphor for a function in the church rather than its present professional sense and title.
The same could be said for the following NT terms.
Bishops = overseers
Presbyters = elders
Deacons = helpers

A human trait is to restrain some believers and exalt others.
Moses was ok with everyone prophesying (Nu.11:26).
Israel's fear left only Moses to relate to God (Ex.20:19).
Israel wanted a human king whereas God was ok with Judges (1Sam8:19)

Self-exaltation sucks.
Judas' desire to be the efficient treasurer.
Diotrephes' desire to be pre-eminent (3Jo9).
The Nicolaitans, a religious group bringing false beliefs and ideas into the church.(Rev2:6)


[The five fold ministers (apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers and pastors in Eph4:11) were servants, imparters and equippers to the body of believers, usually itinerant, and certainly not the churches' overlords.
Their role much the same as one might bring in a trainer to improve one's skill in an interest].


By the time the apostles and their successors died out (through to AD100), people like Ignatius (~100AD) started giving pre-eminence to a bishop's office. He wrote like this .... "All of you follow the bishop as Jesus Christ follows the Father"....

Tertullian (~200AD) was the first to write the word "clergy".

Clement and Tertullian made a distinction between laity and clergy (late 100s early 200s).
Cyprian resurrected OT practices and stated that anyone who separated themselves from the bishop separated from God !  [sound familiar to any of you hurt by religion?]
Once this is accepted anything is possible. 
(even sacerdotalism - recognition of a divine human mediator to God)
By Constantine's time (300s) the church is politically and economically entrenched, using the cultural hierarchical rules of the day.

In the original church, recognition of Holy Spirit gifted members was instinctive and organic.
Ordain meant affirming a function for the body rather than placing one into an office.(Ac14:23,1Tim3:1,Ti1:5) Laying on of hands could also impart a spiritual gift.

With laity/clergy separated, ordination was a further elitism.
The reformers (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, 1500s) may have recovered the idea of the "priesthood of all believers" but kept the practice of the ordained minister sacred (to the extent of persecuting anabaptists who practised the concept that any member may speak in a meeting).
Calvin and Luther didn't like the office of priest (catholic connotations) so adopted terms like preacher, minister and pastor.
Calvin and Bucer re-instated the "cure of souls" (curate) role (diagnoses of maladies, cure, healing compassion) for pastors.

Frank Viola presents disturbing statistics on burnout for pastors being amongst the worst of professions.
Delinquency in their children, poor physical and mental health, divorce and family breakdown, church dissent and turning away from their belief.
Jesus has only left a sustainable, blessed and glorious church dynamic by sending us the Holy Spirit.
The pastoral system needs to be re-aligned to the bliss of His Will.

The reduction of the church to a small specialist group  operating over a large group has little resemblance to the multi-person participation in the early church which allowed the Holy Ghost to "divide (gifts) to every man severally as He will"(1Cor12:11).

ref. : Frank Viola and George Barna book - "Pagan Christianity"
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Oliver Cromwell

Portrait of Oliver Cromwell by Samuel Cooper. wikipedia

Cromwell ~ 1650

-terminated royalist and catholic control corrupting the British Isles

-believed the only true king was God;

-brought in freedom of worship for non catholics;

-advocated congregational control of local church governance;

-practiced an independent form of Puritanism;

-encouraged an educational freedom;

-as usual, church reforms, brought in by force, meant the reforms were short lived;

-puritanical hang-ups against a happy gospel were always going to be problem too !

Quick Grabs - A grab on "God could not look on sin." !

When Jesus said
"My God, My God why have you foresaken me?"
He was following the Jewish idea that you would go and relate to the rest of the words in Ps.22 .

Did this idea come from:
Hab.1:13 "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity": (KJV)

better understood in:
... But You can't be serious!
   You can't condone evil! .....
.... Evil men swallow up the righteous
   and You stand around and watch! ... (MSG)

and reinforced in:
Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us?
There is no way!
Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing,
not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: ......... Rom.8 

John Crowder busting some religious doctrines that God could not look on sin.

Quick Grabs - A grab on Liturgy = (order of service)

 Most of the following is from the Frank Viola and George Barna book - "Pagan Christianity"

The Mass was the re-sacrificing of Jesus for sins.
 Its liturgy based partly on Judaic Temple service, partly, Greek mystery rituals.
Gregory the Great (540AD): a generous and diplomatic administrator but influenced by paganism.

Processional music, banners, lights, special garments, and seating into which the "priests" would ascend as the singing neared its end, are all characteristics of Greco-Roman paganism.
[please note: people Joy worshiping Jesus with singing and music is the pinnacle, not those acts leading to man worship.] 

Martin Luther took the emphasis from Eucharist to the Sermon (the Word) in the liturgy used for centuries, stopped using Latin, used congregational singing, stopped the idea that it was a sacrifice of Jesus, and communion is for the congregation, big changes theologically, but not much else changed in his church liturgy:
Singing
Prayer
Sermon
Admonition to the people.
Lord's Supper
Singing
Post-Communion prayer
Benediction.

Calvin took away musical instruments and choirs and encouraged somber self abasement.
Bucer in Puritan New England fined children who smiled in church.
Calvin added:
Confession,
Collection of alms
to the liturgy, although the pre-sermon prayer could be spontaneous (but became routinely long).

Methodist' sermons and music were focused on winning the lost,
and so included a "mourners bench seat" and then the "Altar call".

Finney called sinners to the front to receive Christ.
He used "pragmatism" (if something works it should be used whether ethical or not, eg emotional manipulation) in his services.

Moody' (~1850) sermons focused on individual salvations and he saw church as a voluntary association of the saved.
He was heavily influenced by Plymouth Brethren view of end times (pre tribulational dispensationalism).

Pentecostalism (~1906) brought more animated worship with more acceptance of manifestations of the Holy Ghost. [People like John G Lake advanced an understanding of our authority in the healing ministry.]

Liturgy hinders spiritual transformation.
Encourages passivity.
Limits ministry.
Promotes an illusion that "going to church" once or twice a week means one is living the life.

[The New Testament has no liturgy per se.
The Corinthians were mixing in a lot of stuff so Paul gave outlines of how it should "look".

The Gathering should "look" dynamic in a culture characterised as the Holy Spirit brings love (affection for others), joy (exuberance about life), peace (serenity), patience (a willingness to stick with things), kindness (a sense of compassion in the heart), goodness (a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people), faithfulness (involved in loyal commitments), gentleness (not needing to force our way in life), self-control (able to marshal and direct our energies wisely); and He especially drenches the Church in Love, Faith and Hope.

Giftings, revelations (visions, dreams included), encouragements, songs, tongues with interpretations, and prophesyings operating within the five fold apostolic, prophetic, evangelic, shepherding and teaching ministries.
"Decent and in order" allows all to participate over time.]
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Peter -do you think he was crucified upside down ?

Jesus says :
"I'm telling you the very truth now:
"When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished,
but when you get old you'll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you
and takes you where you don't want to go."
He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God." (msge John 21)

To me, if Peter is martyred, that sounds like he is at least old when it occurs;
or, he dies at an old age, with others required to take care of him (nursing home style ha ha).

Peter says :
"I know that I'm to die soon; the Master has made that quite clear to me.
And so I am especially eager that you have all this down in black and white so that after I die,
you'll have it for ready reference." (msge 2Peter1:12)

There is debate about when this letter was written.

The Bible does not tell us how or when Peter died,
and history does not provide us with any (reliable) information.

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Paul - how did he leave this Earth - it would be nice if he was translated !

I was snatched from the jaws of the lion! 

God's looking after me, keeping me safe in the kingdom of heaven. 

All praise to him, praise forever! Oh, yes!

2Timothy 4:18

Paul is arrested in 58 AD by Roman troops who save him from being killed in a temple riot.
He is taken to Caesarea where he spends a little more than two years in prison.

In 60 A.D. Paul as prisoner is taken to Rome
When his case is heard he is acquitted in the Spring of 63 A.D.

Paul is back in a Roman prison in the city of Rome in 67 A.D.

When Paul writes again to Timothy,
He wants them to get there before winter with his coat, books and parchments. (2Timothy 4:13, 21).

Paul is deserted (2Timothy 1:15; 4:10) except for

Luke (2 Tim.4:11),

and such faithful ones as live in Rome ... (2Timothy 4:21). 

Paul hopes that Timothy may come and bring Mark also (2Tim.4:11).

Timothy did come and was put into prison for a while (Heb13).

"You'll be glad to know that Timothy has been let out of prison."

Jesus stood by Paul, in visible presence:

"That night the Master appeared to Paul: 
"It's going to be all right. 
Everything is going to turn out for the best. 
You've been a good witness for me here in Jerusalem. 
Now you're going to be my witness in Rome!"(Acts23:11)

"the Master stood by me 
and helped me spread the Message loud and clear 
to those who had never heard it."(2Timothy 4:17).

Paul knows the end is going to be great ... 2Timothy 4:6-8

"I've run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. 
All that's left now is the shouting—God's applause! .... 
He'll do right not only by me, but by everyone eager for his coming."

Earlier, Paul shows he had a choice to stay or go to Jesus. Phil.1:23"

"If I had to choose right now, I hardly know which I'd choose. 
Hard choice! 
The desire to break camp here and be with Christ is powerful.
Some days I can think of nothing better. 
But most days, because of what you are going through, 
I am sure that it's better for me to stick it out here."

The Bible does not tell us how or when Paul died,
and history does not provide us with any (reliable) information.

That Paul was beheaded or crucified is only speculation.
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