michael's blog

I've come to see a little more why of all the things that could have been recorded in Paul's letter to the Ephesians concerning the way Paul prayed, one thing that prominently features is as follows:

that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, (Ephesians 1:17)

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I am pondering again the whole issue of house churches. Having participated in some of the best "megachurches" or "wannabe-megachurches" in the country, often led by some really great leaders, where the Holy Spirit IS definitely working, my heart still hungers for "something more". And it could never be what I have seen over the years in Australia amongst people who want to "be the church" and not "go to church". It can't just be a refuge for people hurt by ambitious leaders - people who want to do what is mostly comfortable and easy in the name of being "led by the Holy Spirit".

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My wife was telling me how when she first came to Christ she was very impressed with the love of Jesus, and how Jesus did so many things to lift her out of a bad place.

Its true, Jesus does lift us out of a bad place. Through Him, we get forgiveness of sins, new life, the hope of heaven, escape from hell, deliverance from the curse, new purpose and so on. Jesus even gives us a place and a function in His kingdom. Sometimes he even gives us a "ministry" - a platform by which we can influence others for Him.

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A friend sent me a link to a youtube video series which one of his acquaintances had sent him - with some guy, Phil Schneider, talking about his experiences working as a geologist and engineer with some of the alleged "underground bases" in the United States. On this video, Mr Schneider makes some outrageous claims concerning the presence of intelligent extra-terrestrial alien life forms that are at work on this planet, co-operating at some level apparently with elements of the US Government and Military to bring in a New World Order.

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I have to say to my shame that there are certain basic things I never much practiced concerning how to hear God's voice personally for myself. I believe the lack of knowledge here has limited the effectiveness of my communication with the Lord until now. Though I've heard God's voice on many things, there are also many things in which I know I have acted presumptuously, and the bad results made me question the wisdom of trying to get specific guidance outside of just reading the Bible.

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I was brought up in a part of the Anglican church where we were encouraged to read and study the Bible for ourselves. We were taught that the beliefs we have concerning theology and the gospel should be based on what the Scriptures say, and not merely on the pronouncements of "God's chosen leaders". Of course no church movement has really been able to follow this principle through fully until now, but it is a noble thing to at least espouse the principle.

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When you read church history, beginning from the time of the apostles and on through the rise of the institutional church, the Dark Ages, the Reformation, the Revival moments and the pentecostal/charismatic movements, it becomes very clear that Satan has always been trying to derail the Church of God.

It is the Church which is the primary object of God's love, and therefore the primary object of Satan's hatred.

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Dear friends, as I go on in the Christian life, I am coming to appreciate more just how important it is for us to give to the poor. We need to give time, physical resources AND the gospel to the poor. Without giving time, our hearts are not involved. Without giving food and other things, our love is empty talk, and without giving the gospel and God's Word, we neglect the true eternal needs of the very people who are most likely to be responsive to God's call.

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Dear friends in Christ,

Even before the Lakeland phenomenon broke out, I heard a report about Todd Bentley's meetings on the Gold Coast that dismayed me somewhat. It had to do with the way he raises money, by telling people that they should "sow" money into his anointing so that they can receive an impartation of it.

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