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Friday, 01 May 2009

  • Brokenness~ because the Lord was broken for us..

     

    at his feet

     

    (The following tract was written by an English Vicar and former missionary to Africa, a real brother in the Lord who ministered at the International Revival Conference in Switzerland and in 1970. "Please do feel free to use the leaflet on 'Brokenness' wherever and however you think it may be used to help. I need to learn every word of it afresh. While I wrote it out of a living experience, I find it can quickly become a lovely vision rather than a daily walk. I need so much to be 'broken' daily.")

    BROKENNESS

    Sometimes it is asked what we mean by brokenness. Brokenness is not easy to define but can be clearly seen in the reactions of Jesus, especially as He approached the cross and in His crucifixion. I think it can be applied personally in this way:

    WHEN to do the will of God means that even my Christian brethren will not understand and I remember that "Neither did His brethren believe in Him" (John 7:5), and I bow my head to obey and accept the misunderstanding, THIS IS BROKENNESS.

    WHEN I am misrepresented or deliberately misinterpreted, and I remember Jesus was falsely accused but He "held His peace," and I bow my head to accept the accusation without trying to justify myself, THIS IS BROKENNESS.

    WHEN another is preferred before me and I am deliberately passed over, and I remember that they cried, "Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas" (Luke 23:18, and I bow my head and accept rejection, THIS IS BROKENNESS.

    WHEN my plans are brushed aside and I see the work of years brought to ruins by the ambitions of others and I remember that Jesus allowed them to lead Him away to crucify Him (Matt. 27:31) and he accepted that place of failure, and I bow my head and accept the injustice without bitterness, THIS IS BROKENNESS.

    WHEN in order to be right with my God it is necessary to take the humbling path of confession and restitution, and I remember that Jesus "made Himself of no reputation" and "humbled Himself … unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:8), and I bow my head and am ready to accept the shame of exposure, THIS IS BROKENNESS.

    WHEN others take unfair advantage of my being a Christian and treat my belongings as public property, and I remember "they stripped Him … and parted His garments, casting lots" (Matt. 27:28,35), and I bow my head and accept "joyfully the spoiling of my goods" for His sake, THIS IS BROKENNESS.

    WHEN one acts towards me in an unforgivable way, and I remember that when He was crucified Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34), and I bow my head and accept any behavior towards me as permitted by my loving Father, THIS IS BROKENNESS.

    WHEN people expect the impossible of me and more than time or human strength can give, and I remember that Jesus said, "This is My body which is given for you …." (Luke 22:19), and I repent of my self-indulgence and lack of self-giving for others, THIS IS BROKENNESS.

     

     

Tuesday, 07 April 2009

  • The Lion of the tribe of Judah..has prevailed!!

     

    The Lord is good and His mercy endures forever.

    I will praise You Lord for you alone have redeemed my soul.

     You alone are worthy of all praise and honor and glory.

    I  will look to You Lord for help in time of need.

    You are strong and Mighty to save.

     I praise You even as the darkness grows. 

     I ask for the light of your countenance on my life.

    Lead me and guide me,

    Shepherd of my soul.

    You are the Victorious One!!

    You are the One who is worthy to open the scroll.

    The blueprint is set in heaven.

    Your Word is True.

    Father, protect your children from evil.

    May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it  is done in heaven.

    We choose to forgive those who trespass against us.

    We choose Your ways because they are higher than our ways.

    We Choose to walk in love even when we are not loved in return.

    We choose to believe that even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we do not have to fear evil

    ~For YOU are with us

    Even until the end of the age.

    We will say "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

    We are Your children.

    We will walk in Your ways.

    Teach us to walk in Your ways..

    You have given us many precious promises to hold on to.

     Help us to cling to You and You alone.

    Our safety is in the refuge of Your wings.

    Bring us close to You.

    Forgive us, Father, where we have sinned against You.

    Purify our hearts. Purify our minds.

    Keep us from following after the World.

    The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh

    and the pride of life.

    These are not from the Father but from the world.

    The World is passing away.

     Everything in the World is fading away.

    1John 2:15-17

    We ask for the love of the Father!!

    You are Everlasting and Eternal.

    Who compares to You?

    Set our hearts on Eternity and on Your Kingdom.

    Make us joyful in Your house of prayer!!!!

    (Isaiah 56)

    The Lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed!!

    (Rev.5)

    You have made us a kingdom of priests to our God

    Rev 5:10

    1 Peter  2:9, 10

    Let us be joyful in Your victory!!

    Come quickly, Lord Jesus

    light

Tuesday, 31 March 2009

  • When tears fall

     

     

     

    learning to walk

     

     

     

    looking to Jesus

     

     

    child

     

     

    I've had questions without answers
    I've known sorrow, I have known pain
    But there's one thing that I cling to
    You are faithful, Jesus You're true

    When hope is lost
    I call You Saviour
    When pain surrounds
    I call You Healer
    When silence falls
    You'll be the song within my heart

    In the lone hour of my sorrow
    Through the darkest night of my soul
    You surround me, You sustain me
    My defender for ever more

    When hope is lost
    I call You Saviour
    When pain surrounds
    I call You Healer
    When silence falls
    You'll be the song within my heart

    And I will praise You
    I will Praise You
    When the tears fall
    Still I will sing to You
    I will praise You
    Jesus praise You
    Through the suffering
    Still I will sing to You

    When hope is lost
    I call You Saviour
    When pain surrounds
    I call You Healer
    When silence falls
    You'll be the song within my heart

     

    at his feet

    I will praise You
    I will praise You
    When the tears fall
    Still I will sing to you
    I will praise You
    Jesus I will praise You
    Through the suffering
    Still I will sing to you

    When the laughter fails to comfort
    When my heart aches, Lord You'll be there
    When confusion is all around me
    And the darkness is my closest friend
    Still I'll praise You
    Jesus praise You

    Tim Hughes

    longing for you

  • Dark but lovely...

    at his feet

     

    "There is, for each of us, a point of choice, when we determine just exactly who we will be. Whether we will continue to stay behind the veil of our own darkness, or come close to Him despite it. It is this desperate longing to draw near to Him, even in the midst of our sin, which leads us to the place where His sheep feed and find rest. We remember anew that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). It causes us to see ourselves in a different light. We are no longer the “veiled.” We are the Beloved." – John Crowder

    after God

     

    Dark But Lovely

     

    I can't understand this work of grace

    How a perfect God would come and take my place

     

    The stars they don't move You, the waves can't undo You

    The mountains in their splendor, they cannot steal Your heart

    This God who is holy, perfect in beauty

    Awesome in glory is ravished by my heart

     

    Though I'm poor You say I am lovely

    Though I'm dark You say I am beautiful

     

    Somehow my weak glance has overwhelmed You

    Somehow my weak love, it has stolen away Your heart

     

     

    IHOP Song

     

     

Monday, 16 February 2009

  • Stop the Revival ??!

     

     

    I absolutely love reading Andrew Murray. He is one my favorite Authors.

    I was very surprized when I came across the following article when reading about his life and ministry.

    This is an example of what can happen in Revival.

    We  pray for the Lord to revive us. We all want the church to resemble what it should look like.It looks far different from the early Church, when the disciples moved in the power of the Holy Spirit.The question is; will we recognise when the Holy Spirit comes with fire?Are we ready for the Holy Spirit to move with power? Will we try to stop what He is doing because it doesn't fit our idea of an orderly service?

    I love this story..:)

    Andrew Murray's ministry emphasized the Spirit, yet his first response to the Spirit's work in South Africa may surprise you. When the Holy Spirit brought revival, Murray opposed and even tried to quench the Spirit's work. Perhaps we can learn from his experience.


     

    Andrew Murray (1828-1917) followed his father, Andrew Sr., in the Lord's service. The senior Murray prayed for 30 years that the Spirit would bring revival to South Africa. Yet, in his old age, the spiritual condition of God's people was stagnant. Evangelists were scarce. Congregations cried out for pastors. Few offered themselves for the Lord's service. Delegations were sent to Europe to recruit personnel. In the midst of this general malaise, the younger Murray stood as a beacon of hope. At age 32, Andrew Murray Jr. had earned a reputation as a young minister with exceptional abilities, intensity, and earnestness. His stirring messages often berated the deadness of the church. In 1860, the Lord brought Murray into a new stage when he moved to Worcester (S. Africa) to begin a new sphere of service. His first message coincided with a conference of ministers from congregations throughout South Africa. Before hundreds of delegates, Andrew Murray preached a powerful message on 2 Corinthians 3:8. His subject was, "How shall not the ministry of the Spirit be more glorious?"


     

    Revival Begins With Young People
    Soon after the conference, 60 young people gathered at the meeting hall. They sang several hymns and offered prayers. Then a 15-year-old black servant-girl stood up in the back row. She asked the predominantly white group if she could pray. The youth leader hesitated at this breach of social norms, then gave his assent. The young black sister read a hymn stanza and then began to pray a heartfelt prayer. The youth leader recalled, "While she was praying, we heard, as it were, a sound in the distance, which came nearer and nearer, until the hall was shaken; with one or two exceptions, the whole meeting began to pray, the majority in audible voice, but some in whispers. Nevertheless, the noise...was deafening" (Choy, 84). The Spirit's outpouring was manifested in fervent, spontaneous, and simultaneous prayer.


     

    While the young people knelt in earnest prayer, one of the church elders passed by. Hearing the noise, he ran to fetch the new pastor. When Andrew Murray entered wearing his clerical robes, he found the room alive with spontaneous prayer. The young minister was clearly agitated. He paced the room, calling loudly, "People, silence!" But the prayer did not stop. Murray shouted again, "People, I am your minister, sent from God! Silence!" It was as if no one heard him. Everyone continued praying and calling on God. Murray directed the leader to call a hymn. No one sang the song. The young people, traditionally obedient and respectful, could not be silenced. Prayer continued unabated. Andrew Murray then proclaimed, "God is a God of order, and here everything is confusion!" With that, he left the room.


     

    These events are ironic, for Murray's father had prayed for years for revival. The younger Murray had echoed that prayer. His sermons bemoaned the deadness of the church. He preached about the Spirit. Yet, when the Spirit brought revival, Andrew Murray did not recognize it. He even sought to quench the Spirit's move. Was it because the Spirit's manifestation did not match his theological concepts? Or, as one writer suggests, "Could it be that his ego was hurt because the moving of the Spirit had not happened as a result of his own preaching?" Was he offended "that he had not been present...to guide it" (Choy, 86)?


     

    Despite Andrew Murray's intervention, the revival continued. Spontaneous prayer gatherings occurred nightly. Simultaneous intercession replaced refined traditional prayer. Fervent prayer gatherings continued into the early hours of the morning. As the people dispersed, they sang joyfully in the streets. Larger facilities were needed to accommodate interested people.


     

    Help Arrives
    Soon after, Andrew Murray led a Saturday evening meeting. He read from Scripture, spoke a few words, and offered a prayer. He then opened the meeting for others to pray. An observer records, "During the prayer which followed his, we heard again the same sound in the distance. It drew nearer and nearer and in a sudden the whole gathering was praying....Mr. Murray descended from the platform and again moved up and down among the people, trying to quiet them" (Choy, 87). The pastor again sought to restore order. Andrew Murray was not yet ready to accept this phenomenon as the Spirit's work. However, at this juncture, the Lord intervened to assist Murray through this crisis. That evening a stranger had been standing at the door, observing the meeting. As Andrew Murray sought to use his authority to silence the prayer, the stranger tiptoed forward, touched the clergyman gently, and said, "I think you are the minister of this congregation. Be careful what you do, for it is the Spirit of God that is at work here. I have just come from America, and this is precisely what I witnessed there" (Choy, 87). That was the word Murray needed. At last he recognized that the Spirit was in control. There was no need of human restraint. From that time, Andrew Murray joined the revival whole-heartedly and was greatly used. People were saved. The lives of many were permanently transformed. Christians committed their lives to the Lord. From Murray's own congregation in Worcester, "Fifty young men offered themselves for the ministry of the Word, when previously it was almost impossible to find men for the work" (Choy, 81). That event was a watershed in Andrew Murray's ministry. He learned that the Spirit as "the wind blows where it wills" (John 3:8). We cannot dictate the Spirit's move. Rather, in cooperation we must yield to the Spirit. We cannot engineer revival, nor can we manipulate the Spirit. The manifestation of the Spirit cannot be dictated by us. The lessons Andrew Murray learned from this experience permeate all of his subsequent teachings and writings in books such as The Spirit of Christ and The Full Blessing of Pentecost.


     

    Murray's experience warns us not to be dogmatic concerning what is of the Spirit and what is not of the Spirit. We too have our concepts about how the Spirit is manifested. As believers, we also have our "norms" of Christian practice and worship. New forms of expression can make us uncomfortable. We may quickly condemn an unfamiliar practice as the flesh and not the Spirit. In our rush to judgment, we risk repeating Andrew Murray's experience in his encounter with the Spirit. Let us heed the warning, "Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thess. 5:19).


     

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