John 13&14: The whole world is shaking, whether that is political division in UK, USA, Europe and elsewhere, or the wars in Ukraine and now Israel; we are living in turmoil. I believe we are closer to the return of Christ than many imagine. Jesus opens chapter 14 saying, "Let not your heart be troubled - believe in Me - I'm going to prepare a place for you."
Baptised in the Holy Spirit
Acts Bible Study Chapter 11: In Acts 11, we see a significant shift in the early church's understanding of its mission, as it embraces the inclusion of Gentiles and expands beyond its Jewish origins. At Pentecost the Gospel began with the Jews, but Jesus came to save the world. We are intructed by Jesus in the Great Commission to bring salvation to all people. Jesus told the parable of the Wedding Feast: the invited guests didn't enter into the celebration, so we Gentiles have been invited. During the ministry of Jesus He healed the Centurion's servant; from this we can understand that Jesus came to save the whole world, just as He said in John 3.16, 'For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.'
Preach the Gospel to all
Acts Bible Study Chapter 10: This passage recounts the significant event where Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, receives a vision from God that challenges his understanding of who can be included in the Christian community. In the vision, Peter sees a sheet descending from heaven containing various animals, both clean and unclean according to Jewish dietary laws. A voice commands Peter to kill and eat, but Peter refuses, citing his adherence to Jewish customs.
The Day of Pentecost
Acts Bible Study Chapter 2: ‘When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.’ This chapter marks a significant moment in the early church's history, as it describes the empowering of the disciples by the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Christian church through the preaching of the Gospel.
An open door of evangelism
Revival and Persecution
Revival and Persecution arrive together. What caused the early Church to expand beyond Jerusalem? How did this Pentecostal Fire 2000 years later, reach you and I? The persecution of the early church caused the greatest missionary revival ever seen. Without this persecution, the early church would’ve stayed in Jerusalem, instead it compelled it to go into all the world.
The Lord will answer your prayer
There are periods in our lives when it seems God is not answering. But that does not mean God is not there, that He’s not listening. My father always used to say, that in the laws of physics, every action has a reaction. Every wave is followed by a trough. And every tough is followed by a wave. He taught me, our emotions and experiences vary. But under pressure, we mustn’t think God is not listening to us. The communist prison was the worst time in my life – yet God used it to work one of the biggest miracles in my life! When I look back, I thank God for that time! Like Habakkuk, there are times when we have to go through the despair, “How long will I cry and You will not hear?!”
The Fire of God through prayer
Do you want to see the Fire of God? An answer to prayer? Through prayer, call for and expect an answer to the specifics of your problem. Whoever you are. We have to re-examine prayer. If we today would pray like Solomon, with such Authority and such Power so that the Glory of God would come down! I urge you to read the entirety of Solomon’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 6&7 - it is one of the greatest examples of intercession in the Bible; there is so much we can learn here.
Power of the Holy Spirit to revive churches and nations
I want to see the Church break out of its traditions and constraints! Out of this pandemic I desire to see an outpouring of the Holy Spirit; to see miracles; for Holy Ghost Fire! God can do it! There is only one way to revival today: it is to stand firm on Biblical faith and through suffering and prayer, with repentance, God will honour us. That is why Jesus said, if you will come after Me, take up your cross and follow Me.
The first and latter rain of the Spirit
God has promised to pour out His Spirit on all flesh in the last days. Many individual believers, churches and even nations are waiting for revival, believing for the latter rain as spoken by the Prophet Joel. I believe we are living in that day! God wants to stir us into action; that is why He allows the crisis! Today we are facing the greatest challenge ever to the church and indeed to our faith.