There is much spiritual warfare in this season. This is evident by assassination attempts, Israel fighting for its survival, fraudulent elections, abhorrent laws being put forward by godless politicians (late term abortion, babies surviving abortions left to die, euthanasia, gender issues, legalising prostitution etc.). We need to be able to fight, not flesh and blood, but in the heavenlies.
I attended the Dads for Kids (https://dads4kids.org.au/) Men’s Leadership Summit last weekend (9-11 August 2024) and had the privilege of giving the Father’s Blessing to all who were there. It was a wonderful time, many lives impacted as a bunch of blokes had a great time while talking through major issues facing us all. It was a life changing weekend that I recommend to all men. Thanks Warwick and Nathaniel Marsh, and the whole team for an amazing weekend.
Richard writes in his book about the French words for cursing and blessing; ‘malediction’ (bad speaking) for curses and ‘benediction’ (good speaking). He says if ‘bad speaking’ was powerful, then ‘good speaking’ should be at least as powerful and, with God, much more powerful!
We know this is true from the bible which tells us to watch what we speak. It is best understood from Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Also Matthew 12:37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.
As Dads what we say matters, our words impact our family especially our children. Controlling our words helps us control all aspects of our lives.
In Genesis chapter 25 Jacob gets Esau to sell his birthright, and in Genesis chapter 27 Isaac blesses Jacob. I will not go into the details, but Jacob valued his father’s blessing and Esau traded it for a pot of red lentil stew. Blessing matters and has power! Jacob later becomes Israel.
I asked the group at the Men’s Leadership Summit if they had ever been blessed by their own fathers. Only a few put their hands up, which was to me quite sad.
I asked a couple of Fathers with their sons to stand with the fathers’ hands on their sons’ shoulders as an example (thanks Warwick & Nathaniel, Rodney & Luke). We then declared a Father’s blessing over everyone and recommended they then bless their children individually when they got home. This was an impactful moment for many.
Here is the blessing we declared over everyone; please take it, adjust/adapt it personally for each of your children, and use it to bless each child separately. As you speak this blessing over each child in faith expect the Lord to answer this prayer and see what God will do. You can also pray a blessing over your wife!
I pray that our Father in heaven blesses each one of you who blesses others.
Father blesses his child
The Father’s Blessing
My child, I love you! You are special. You are a gift from God. I thank God for allowing me to be a father to you. I am proud of you, and I rejoice over you.
And now I bless you…. I bless you with overflowing peace, the peace that only the Prince of Peace can give. I bless your life with fruitfulness: good fruit, abundant fruit and fruit that remains. I bless you with success. You are the head and not the tail; you are above and not beneath.
I bless the gifts that God has given you. I bless you with wisdom to make good decisions and to develop your full potential in Christ. I bless you with overflowing prosperity, enabling you to be a blessing to others.
I bless you with spiritual influence, for you are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. I bless you with a depth of spiritual understanding and a close walk with your Lord.
You will not stumble or falter, for the Word of God will be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path.
I bless you with good friends. You have favour with God and man. I bless you with vision, direction, protection, health, healing, compassion, care, love, fulfilment, prosperity and all that God has for your life. I bless you with an abounding and overflowing love, from which you will minister God’s grace and Gospel of salvation to others. Many will hear of the Lord from your mouth.
You will minister God’s comforting grace to others.
May you have intimacy with the Father in heaven and that this will lead to knowing His heart in all matters.
You are blessed, my child!
You are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus.
I bless you with all of these good things in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
It is well known that most who served in the Anzac forces were believers in our Lord Jesus. Many carried bibles. I share three stories here. First, Harry Bell who lied about his age to join the Australian Light Horse and gave his life at the Charge on Be’er Sheva. Secondly, how both Australia and New Zealand fought to win the battle. Thirdly, Fighting Mac who was a chaplain for the Anzac’s.
Understanding the Gaza Conflict means acknowledging an unpopular truth: Palestinians are responsible for everything that is happening to them.
Up front I am a Zionist! To some this maybe a controversial statement for a Christian leader to make. Let’s consider what it means: A Zionist is simply someone who supports the idea of a Jewish nationalist movement that has as its goal the creation and support of a Jewish national state in the ancient traditional homeland of the Jews (Hebrew: Eretz Yisraʾel, “the Land of Israel”).
It is time to get the facts regarding the root of the Israel Gaza conflict. So here is a short summary that hopefully will clear up some misconceptions.
This morning while in prayer I was reminded again of 2 Chronicles 20 and felt to look at again verses 22 and 23 which has been thematic in prayer this year on Canberra Declaration and with other prayer networks.
The question of why we sacrifice is one that confronts Christians as we go forward with the Lord. It is often difficult to see why sacrifice is needed, or even the benefit of the sacrifices we make.
We see the example Jesus set in Hebrews 12:2 which explains why He suffered and died for us. This is the most awesome example of pure sacrifice of a innocent, pure, and holy person.
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.Continue reading “Why sacrifice?”
During WWII many B17 bombers returned from missions with flak and machine gun damage.
The USAAF decided to analyse the damage patterns and increase armour/protection for the damaged areas.
Before the planes were modified, a Hungarian-Jewish statistician named Abraham Wald reviewed the data. Wald had fled Nazi-occupied Austria and worked in New York with other academics to help the war effort. Continue reading “Battle Scars”
The account of the woman with the issue of blood is in all three synoptic Gospels, these short passages carry a powerful message. See: Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, and Luke 8:43-48. This short account is one of the greatest life changing miracles Yeshua performed on Earth.
One of the most insidious effects of the coronavirus pandemic that has held our world in a vice like grip for nearly 2 years has been an incredible spirit of fear.
Fear of the virus, fear of global agendas, fear of vaccines, fear of not being vaccinated, fear of Government overreach, fear of others with a different view, fear of authority, etc.
The fruit of fear is division and a complete lack of trust in the Lord. The level of fear, vitriol, and distrust between fellow Christians astounds me! So many spend more time chasing conspiracies (see below) than seeking and worshipping the Lord. We must not live in fear, but live in the love and fear of the Lord !! The fear of the Lord brings His peace.
We are exhorted on how to live in Romans 12 and the essence of this is God’s family love to Him and one another. Coronavirus fear has taken so many away from this core message. It’s time to repent from fear and start loving !! Continue reading “FEAR – Here is the cure”
This post maybe confronting for some people. Please know that at times we are all challenged and just take your feelings to God.
The deep longing and desire for us to have a significant and meaningful relationship with God and each other is a major driver for our lives. This is a God given call in our lives. When we have genuine connections with God and each other there is real joy.
We then (sometimes) play at church; we sit in a pew looking at the back of someone’s head, sing a few songs, shake hands and say God bless you. But! How often do we walk with people through their troubles, how often do we get to heart issues and really carry each other? Continue reading “Thoughts on relationships in the local Church – Fathers and Mothers”
It been so wonderful for us (Kym & Nel) to be praying together night after night in the Canberra Declaration Zoom prayer meetings for our nation of Australia during this Covid-19 pandemic.
There is always a good number of people praying each night on Zoom, and some are there every night. Warwick even had to purchase a larger package on Zoom to accommodate even more intercessors the time when our Prime Minister Scott Morrison came on the call to pray during the prayer intensive 29th March 2020. Continue reading “Zoom Prayer — Where to from here?”
In the last few days the word Passover (פֶּסַח Pesach in Hebrew) has come in prayer and worship as a prophetic statement from the Lord. It is time to declare Passover over the current world situation. This plague will pass over when we have the Blood of the Lamb over our lives.
Let’s consider what the true Passover is. First, it is the story of the final plague of Egypt (Angel of Death) passing over the Israelites who were captive in Egypt. (Exodus 12:12-13) All who had the blood of a sacrificial lamb painted on the door posts were saved from the death plague. It is in the Passover Lamb we are delivered. Continue reading “Jesus Christ the Passover Lamb”
In the last little while many Christians have been commenting on the Wuhan Coronavirus, and even some conspiracy theories regarding all sorts of situations which I won’t repeat. Bluntly this means some believers’ focus is way off.
Matthew 24 tells of wars, rumours of wars, pestilences, earthquakes, lawlessness, and deception.
It is obvious that these things are happening, and time is short. The key to navigating all of these things is in Jesus’ words in verse Matthew 24:6 ‘See that you are not troubled’. Continue reading “Wuhan Coronavirus, Wars and Rumours of Wars, Men’s Hearts Failing”
Reflecting on this year just finishing and the next year I have been considering what I call “The Big Three Commandments” which are the key to all we do as believers.
It is all about our daily walk with the Lord and Him outworking His purposes in our lives.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and strength Luke 10:27
Love your neighbour as yourself
…then flowing from those two…
Preach the Gospel, making disciples of all nations Matthew 28:18-20
