The Lord recently spoke to me about the state of our nation both Spiritually and Politically as I was coming back from a skiing holiday in the Alps.
As often when God speaks, particularly with me it's always at least partly through my experience, the physical reality is just a reflection of the spiritual reality. As God began to speak about the physical state of my (UK) nation and the reflection in the supernatural I do not think it was by chance that the very moment he spoke I found and felt myself in the following situation.
I had spent 6 days in glorious sunshine skiing in a wonderful part of the alps with access to various mountains for miles around, almost unrestrained which isn't far from the truth as we were able to take one chairlift to the next mountain time and time again and have what almost seemed like the run of the alps. On the Saturday it was time to leave and I awoke to the first drops of rain we had had that week with a foreboding that it was definitely time to leave (note: rain ruins the ski slopes in various ways, notably melting the snow if it's warm enough which it was!). We had truly been pampered for a week and although it was time to leave it was with a sense that the holiday couldn't go on forever however much I had wished it to - back to the reality of home, work and having to fend for yourself again.
However the rain soon stopped and the clouds lifted though we were somewhat relieved to not be skiing as the snow had already begun to melt from the bottom of the slopes and spring had trully arrived yesterday with a 13 degree heat. I'm not sure if I ever got my bearings right as to where I actually was even when I was there. We made our way across from France west to Geneva. In my mind Switzerland was east of France not west and as we meandered down the valleys it was odd enough to think that the easiest way of getting from France back to the UK was via Switzerland. As our coach meandered around the minor roads trying to avoid the Tolls on the Motorways all sense of direction, where we were, where we had come from and where we were going to was completely lost. It was particularly easy to get completely lost within the beauty of the surrounding mountains.
The feeling was just one of emptiness particularly given my present circumstances, that I had almost been hidden away from reality, escaping the cares of the world and after a week of bliss I was just about to get grounded in reality and come back down from the clouds (quite literally) with a large thud and be brought back down to earth.
This was the scene as God began to speak to me about upcoming political events reflected in the Spiritual and I only now appreciate what God was saying as I try and recount these events, at the very moment were we seemed to have descended from the mountain out of the meandering roads of the Alps God choose to speak.
Come the general election there would be a hung parliament that would leave a huge political vacuum in the nation (UK) that would reflect the spiritual vacuum. For 7 days there would be a huge void as Politicians struggled to forge alliances, belittle opponents and form Governments and more importantly there would be no person or persons to look to for leadership and for these 7 days we will be governed by no-one. The 7 days would represent 7 decades where the Church in this nation has failed to carry it's spiritual mantle, the physical vacuum these 7 days would bring represent the 7 decades where we have lived and will live in this spiritual vacuum. I believe God spoke to me about this time which is the 7 decades starting from the 50's and in which the final 7th day or decade would be between 2010 and 2020. Spiritually this time will be looked back upon as the total failure of the church and over the whole time the ten years between 2010 and 2020 would be seen as the worst failure.
Partly I believe this a warning from God about the judgement on the Protestant Church in this nation for failing itself, failing the nation and failing God. I have no response as to what this means or what God is calling us to do that I've not already given through other words (the threefold model in Daniel: unceasing night and day pray, fast and repent), it seems to me that God for the last 12 to 13 years has been speaking backwards to me. Starting with dreams of what the future may be, dealing with the medicine for our problem, dealing with the result of the problem and finally speaking about what will actually happen and what that problem physically will be. All I would suggest is other than recall what has been said before we need to wait to see what happens and hear His Voice in the chaos.
Why? That's a good question. It's interesting to note the foundation upon which the Protestant Church in the UK is built on. Namely the selfish greed of one powerful man. The Bible upholds a more stringent way for those in power, both spiritually and physically, one day all men will have to account their acts to Him but for those to whom is given spiritual or physical power they will be held responsible for what they did with it. Henry VIII rather than think with his mind choose foolishness, namely to use the organs held in his trousers rather than his head to think with. Not the first and certainly not the last but the implications of this action are profound.
I don't think in the physical sense of him being a man we find that any great surprise or revelation, probably sadly so. However because of who he was his actions have great consequences that are very grave indeed. Being a married man I understand there's something very strangely mystical that goes on when you promise before God to live and die for a woman and her only, Paul makes it a lot worse by telling us we must love her like Christ loves the Church. The breaking of such a promise has serious consequences, how can we justify our behaviour particularly when we are warned and told the level to which we must love. That the person who did so was the most powerful man in our nation at the time bares greater consequences. That he choose to birth the Church of England to break these promises leaves the Church in England in a very dire situation foundationaly that we have borne and lived out ever since. That this man choose to give himself the titles 'Head of the Church' and 'Defender of the Faith' is a total abomination to God. This is the root and foundation that the Protestant Church in England has. I won't go into the Biblical perspective as I'm sure we all know it but it should be noted there is something in us which is an abomination to God whether we are part of the denomination of the Church of England or not, it effects all Christians in the UK, particularly Protestant.
I'm reminded of the three warnings given to Soloman about restraint regarding power, money and woman, too much of anything, even a good thing, can be a bad thing but we should all make a particular exception to pay attention to these three, even if we have no power of responsibility, those who do should do more so. In terms of Government, democracy is formed from the voice of the people. One of the problems with what is about to happen is that this voice will be undecided, it therefore will be left to a select group of individuals to speak for all. This in itself is undemocratic and only leads to undemocratic decisions. We had thought we had witnessed our politicians sink to new lows yet we are about to see much worse. We have seen their greed but we have not seen their hunger and lust for power particularly when the position of that power is on a knife edge.
If there's one thing we will learn from our politicians behaviour it is that we must take the axe to the root. I believe the spiritual root of the churches problems in this nation is because we have allowed the spirit of witchcraft, unhindered into our building, therefore our timbers our now rotten and the body is riddled with cancer. The issue of witchcraft is complex and multifaceted and few truly understand it's nature. One of it's facets is Politics or the Political Spirit - simply this is making judgements based on alliances and allegiances rather than what is right and true. As this spirit is set loose unrestrained we will see a physical reflection of what is happening in our politicians that reflects spiritually what is going on (partly a least because there is more to it than just politics) in the church in this time, that is alliances and agreements being the deciding factor rather than truth, righteousness and justice. As with many things, the unity of the church cannot be maintained by human efforts but only by the Holy Spirit however good our intentions are. We must remember the political spirit in our Politicians that so abores us is in our Churches to and it is in us also.
For 7 days one or two seats will hold the balance of power, which for all who desire power that power will be so close and yet so far. As the overwhelming majority of our politicians switch to extreme Politik mode, they will barter and sell out, some will be bribed to change allegiances, some will take others to court to have results changed and those Minor parties that hold sway will make decisions based on power and position they are given. Many things will happen. Ultimately it will be left to one or two insignificant people with insignificant political allegiances who will not be swayed to decide where the balance of power lies and once this storm of seven days blows itself out normality will begin to be restored, at least politically.
I've stated the notion that democracy is the voice of the people. Actually the voice of the people will be heard as many will not vote in larger numbers than before. This is a crisis point in our society in regards to our thoughts about politics, rule, law and judgement but is also a warning to the church about our cultures view of the church which is exactly the same. The people's voice will be to deliberately not to choose a government, on the notion that the most votes wins doesn't work people will try deciding who should govern on the notion of a popularity contest - that either party a or b should win. The peoples voice clearly will state most people don't want to be governed by either of them and this will confound the problems, which will leave our nation in a precarious position until the next general election.
As the plain took off from Geneva Airport (and I'm still very much a giddy school boy in a plane awestruck at the sights my eyes behold as I also am in the mountains) I looked around at the magnificiant scenery particularly the Alps we were leaving behind. I never did get to find out exactly where Mount Blanc was, you'd think spotting the highest mountain in the Alps would be rather simple but it entirely depends upon from where you are looking and your perspective. Landing, skiing and leaving I must have seen it at least a dozen of times I just didn't realise which Mount it was exactly. As we left the Alps and Geneva and rose into the clouds to the north in the sky all scenery was gone. I awaited a break on the cloud but there was not even one. Not even as we began to descend as we approached Manchester was there a let up in the weather which was now raining very heavily as we descended further and further I waited for us to descend below the clouds so I could at least get a view when we were landing but it was not until right before we actually landed did we descend below the cloud. Welcome to Manchester, dark, wet and dreary.
As often when God speaks, particularly with me it's always at least partly through my experience, the physical reality is just a reflection of the spiritual reality. As God began to speak about the physical state of my (UK) nation and the reflection in the supernatural I do not think it was by chance that the very moment he spoke I found and felt myself in the following situation.
I had spent 6 days in glorious sunshine skiing in a wonderful part of the alps with access to various mountains for miles around, almost unrestrained which isn't far from the truth as we were able to take one chairlift to the next mountain time and time again and have what almost seemed like the run of the alps. On the Saturday it was time to leave and I awoke to the first drops of rain we had had that week with a foreboding that it was definitely time to leave (note: rain ruins the ski slopes in various ways, notably melting the snow if it's warm enough which it was!). We had truly been pampered for a week and although it was time to leave it was with a sense that the holiday couldn't go on forever however much I had wished it to - back to the reality of home, work and having to fend for yourself again.
However the rain soon stopped and the clouds lifted though we were somewhat relieved to not be skiing as the snow had already begun to melt from the bottom of the slopes and spring had trully arrived yesterday with a 13 degree heat. I'm not sure if I ever got my bearings right as to where I actually was even when I was there. We made our way across from France west to Geneva. In my mind Switzerland was east of France not west and as we meandered down the valleys it was odd enough to think that the easiest way of getting from France back to the UK was via Switzerland. As our coach meandered around the minor roads trying to avoid the Tolls on the Motorways all sense of direction, where we were, where we had come from and where we were going to was completely lost. It was particularly easy to get completely lost within the beauty of the surrounding mountains.
The feeling was just one of emptiness particularly given my present circumstances, that I had almost been hidden away from reality, escaping the cares of the world and after a week of bliss I was just about to get grounded in reality and come back down from the clouds (quite literally) with a large thud and be brought back down to earth.
This was the scene as God began to speak to me about upcoming political events reflected in the Spiritual and I only now appreciate what God was saying as I try and recount these events, at the very moment were we seemed to have descended from the mountain out of the meandering roads of the Alps God choose to speak.
Come the general election there would be a hung parliament that would leave a huge political vacuum in the nation (UK) that would reflect the spiritual vacuum. For 7 days there would be a huge void as Politicians struggled to forge alliances, belittle opponents and form Governments and more importantly there would be no person or persons to look to for leadership and for these 7 days we will be governed by no-one. The 7 days would represent 7 decades where the Church in this nation has failed to carry it's spiritual mantle, the physical vacuum these 7 days would bring represent the 7 decades where we have lived and will live in this spiritual vacuum. I believe God spoke to me about this time which is the 7 decades starting from the 50's and in which the final 7th day or decade would be between 2010 and 2020. Spiritually this time will be looked back upon as the total failure of the church and over the whole time the ten years between 2010 and 2020 would be seen as the worst failure.
Partly I believe this a warning from God about the judgement on the Protestant Church in this nation for failing itself, failing the nation and failing God. I have no response as to what this means or what God is calling us to do that I've not already given through other words (the threefold model in Daniel: unceasing night and day pray, fast and repent), it seems to me that God for the last 12 to 13 years has been speaking backwards to me. Starting with dreams of what the future may be, dealing with the medicine for our problem, dealing with the result of the problem and finally speaking about what will actually happen and what that problem physically will be. All I would suggest is other than recall what has been said before we need to wait to see what happens and hear His Voice in the chaos.
Why? That's a good question. It's interesting to note the foundation upon which the Protestant Church in the UK is built on. Namely the selfish greed of one powerful man. The Bible upholds a more stringent way for those in power, both spiritually and physically, one day all men will have to account their acts to Him but for those to whom is given spiritual or physical power they will be held responsible for what they did with it. Henry VIII rather than think with his mind choose foolishness, namely to use the organs held in his trousers rather than his head to think with. Not the first and certainly not the last but the implications of this action are profound.
I don't think in the physical sense of him being a man we find that any great surprise or revelation, probably sadly so. However because of who he was his actions have great consequences that are very grave indeed. Being a married man I understand there's something very strangely mystical that goes on when you promise before God to live and die for a woman and her only, Paul makes it a lot worse by telling us we must love her like Christ loves the Church. The breaking of such a promise has serious consequences, how can we justify our behaviour particularly when we are warned and told the level to which we must love. That the person who did so was the most powerful man in our nation at the time bares greater consequences. That he choose to birth the Church of England to break these promises leaves the Church in England in a very dire situation foundationaly that we have borne and lived out ever since. That this man choose to give himself the titles 'Head of the Church' and 'Defender of the Faith' is a total abomination to God. This is the root and foundation that the Protestant Church in England has. I won't go into the Biblical perspective as I'm sure we all know it but it should be noted there is something in us which is an abomination to God whether we are part of the denomination of the Church of England or not, it effects all Christians in the UK, particularly Protestant.
I'm reminded of the three warnings given to Soloman about restraint regarding power, money and woman, too much of anything, even a good thing, can be a bad thing but we should all make a particular exception to pay attention to these three, even if we have no power of responsibility, those who do should do more so. In terms of Government, democracy is formed from the voice of the people. One of the problems with what is about to happen is that this voice will be undecided, it therefore will be left to a select group of individuals to speak for all. This in itself is undemocratic and only leads to undemocratic decisions. We had thought we had witnessed our politicians sink to new lows yet we are about to see much worse. We have seen their greed but we have not seen their hunger and lust for power particularly when the position of that power is on a knife edge.
If there's one thing we will learn from our politicians behaviour it is that we must take the axe to the root. I believe the spiritual root of the churches problems in this nation is because we have allowed the spirit of witchcraft, unhindered into our building, therefore our timbers our now rotten and the body is riddled with cancer. The issue of witchcraft is complex and multifaceted and few truly understand it's nature. One of it's facets is Politics or the Political Spirit - simply this is making judgements based on alliances and allegiances rather than what is right and true. As this spirit is set loose unrestrained we will see a physical reflection of what is happening in our politicians that reflects spiritually what is going on (partly a least because there is more to it than just politics) in the church in this time, that is alliances and agreements being the deciding factor rather than truth, righteousness and justice. As with many things, the unity of the church cannot be maintained by human efforts but only by the Holy Spirit however good our intentions are. We must remember the political spirit in our Politicians that so abores us is in our Churches to and it is in us also.
For 7 days one or two seats will hold the balance of power, which for all who desire power that power will be so close and yet so far. As the overwhelming majority of our politicians switch to extreme Politik mode, they will barter and sell out, some will be bribed to change allegiances, some will take others to court to have results changed and those Minor parties that hold sway will make decisions based on power and position they are given. Many things will happen. Ultimately it will be left to one or two insignificant people with insignificant political allegiances who will not be swayed to decide where the balance of power lies and once this storm of seven days blows itself out normality will begin to be restored, at least politically.
I've stated the notion that democracy is the voice of the people. Actually the voice of the people will be heard as many will not vote in larger numbers than before. This is a crisis point in our society in regards to our thoughts about politics, rule, law and judgement but is also a warning to the church about our cultures view of the church which is exactly the same. The people's voice will be to deliberately not to choose a government, on the notion that the most votes wins doesn't work people will try deciding who should govern on the notion of a popularity contest - that either party a or b should win. The peoples voice clearly will state most people don't want to be governed by either of them and this will confound the problems, which will leave our nation in a precarious position until the next general election.
As the plain took off from Geneva Airport (and I'm still very much a giddy school boy in a plane awestruck at the sights my eyes behold as I also am in the mountains) I looked around at the magnificiant scenery particularly the Alps we were leaving behind. I never did get to find out exactly where Mount Blanc was, you'd think spotting the highest mountain in the Alps would be rather simple but it entirely depends upon from where you are looking and your perspective. Landing, skiing and leaving I must have seen it at least a dozen of times I just didn't realise which Mount it was exactly. As we left the Alps and Geneva and rose into the clouds to the north in the sky all scenery was gone. I awaited a break on the cloud but there was not even one. Not even as we began to descend as we approached Manchester was there a let up in the weather which was now raining very heavily as we descended further and further I waited for us to descend below the clouds so I could at least get a view when we were landing but it was not until right before we actually landed did we descend below the cloud. Welcome to Manchester, dark, wet and dreary.
