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 article will be edited as it is a work in progress]
Yesterday I had a very interesting discussion with Papa Gideon Chiu regarding Ephesians 3, especially Ephesians 3:9-11. These are my thoughts on this passage and contextual verses.
Ephesians 3:8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, [Paul establishes his credentials, recognising his past, the saving grace of God, and his call to proclaim the good news] Continue reading “The Purpose of the Mystery revealed in Ephesians 3”
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”
To me the most profound thing that Moses ever said is recorded in Exodus 33:15 which Moses says if you don’t go with us I’m not going. Moses would not take Israel on its journey without God’s presence. This is a profound revelation. The whole chapter is about the tangible presence of God and staying in step with God presence.
It is God’s presence that made the Israelites distinct from those nations around them. Without God, they were lonely, lost wanderers. With Him, they were following their Mighty Leader in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. Continue reading “Walking with and carrying the Presence of God”
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?”
As we conclude 75 days of online Zoom prayer since 19th March 2020 and finish the Pentecost celebration it is worth reviewing its significance in terms of God’s divine timing.
The word Moed (Hebrew: מועד, “Festivals” also “appointed time”) provides specific instructions for the rituals, observances and laws related to holidays and festivals. It also carries the idea of God’s dynamic powerful appointed time. Kairos is an Ancient Greek word meaning the right, critical, or opportune moment. Continue reading “Times and seasons – Moed or Kairos vs Chronos time – Harvest Time !”
Sunset today is the start of Pesach (Passover) and Matzah (Unleavened Bread) which goes until nightfall next Thursday. So this is a great opportunity to have a look at the feasts of God in the old testament.
There are seven main feasts in the old testament and three of these have a requirement to go up to Jerusalem. Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot are the Three Pilgrimage Festivals (Shalosh Regalim) during which the entire population of the kingdom of Judah made a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.
The Moedim (Appointed Times) of the Lord are often called the “Jewish Feasts,” but they are not solely for Israel. There are instructions for the “sojourner among you” to be able to participate along with Israel in the Feasts of God. Any follower of the Lord is eligible (but not obligated) to participate. We all will participate in the Olam Haba (the Age to come); see Isaiah 66 and Zechariah 14 when all of these feast are fulfillied in Christ. Continue reading “Feasts of the old covenant fulfilled in Jesus Christ (Yeshua Hamashiach)”
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”
