South African-born journalist, Charles Gardner, brings a second report on the signs of revival currently in South Africa.

The South African revival to which I referred in an earlier dispatch is now in full bloom, as evidenced by an extraordinary prayer meeting attended by an estimated one million people.

The ‘Call to Prayer’ – named It’s Time – came from farmer-evangelist Angus Buchan in response to allegations of corruption in Government, an intolerable crime rate, violent student protests, and immorality at many levels.

Call to Prayer

Affectionately known Oom Angus¹, the preacher has made a huge impact on the nation since experiencing a dramatic encounter with Christ in 1979. In recent years, he has focused his attention on men, imploring them to live up to their responsibilities by leading their families in prayer and dedication to God.

For seven years he held annual weekend camps at his KwaZulu-Natal farm Shalom, initially hosting just family and a few friends, but eventually drawing some 400,000 men. Similar events, known as ‘Mighty Men Conferences’, have since spread to other parts of the country as well as to the UK.

But with the country now embroiled in chaos led by a Government apparently steeped in corruption, Angus believed it was time to call Christians to serious prayer – and the venue chosen was 2,500 acres of farmland near the central city of Bloemfontein.

With the country now embroiled in chaos led by a Government apparently steeped in corruption, believers are gathering in prayer.

Believers responded by travelling from all parts of the country to set up camp, pray over many issues such as abortion, crime, injustice, and poverty, and draw inspiration from the beloved evangelist with his uncompromising message focused on living according to the Bible’s precepts.

“You will sleep with no-one until you are married!” he urged young men, adding (echoing a phrase used by Britain’s legendary Pentecostal evangelist Smith Wigglesworth): “God said it; we believe it and that settles it.”

Healing for Israel

An Israeli flag could be clearly seen fluttering in the breeze as a video camera panned across a sea of people stretching some 1.4 kilometers from the main platform, and strong gusts of wind accompanied prayers in scenes akin to the initial Holy Spirit outpouring recorded in the New Testament, (Acts 2:2).

I mention the Israeli flag to further support the thesis of my previous article on the subject: blessing the Jewish people is a key to revival, something the UK church has yet to grasp!

In addition to YouTube videos, I have friends taking part who have kept me informed of progress, and it is difficult not to see this as further fulfilment of Joel’s prophecy “In the last days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28). Such a time could quite conceivably coincide with the restoration of Israel along with the judgment of those nations opposing them (Joel 3:1f).

Blessing the Jewish people is a key to revival.

It’s Time is evidently inspired by the biblical promise of healing for Israel when God’s people humble themselves and pray.

When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain (South Africa has been suffering a severe drought), or command locusts to devour the land, or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chron 7:13-14)

I do not have an exact count of the attendance at this event, but my sources tell me that as many as 1.7 million people had registered beforehand. That is equivalent to the population of Tel Aviv, Israel’s largest city, and greater than Birmingham, Britain’s second city.Mighty turnout: Men gather in great numbers for the Karoo Mighty Men's Conference in the heart of South Africa's farming community.

Clearly, prayer leads to revival, along with blessing Israel as I have already emphasized. There is a distinct correlation between this move of the Spirit and a general understanding and support of Israel, to whom Christians are indelibly attached. If we cut ourselves off from our Judaic roots, the Church cannot truly exist (Rom 11:17f).

Churches in South Africa Today

Churches in all parts of South Africa – black and white as well as English and Afrikaans-speaking – are bursting with new life as they provide a counter-culture to secularists and humanists. They are especially a thorn in the flesh to the Government which is reportedly rife with corruption and virulently opposed to Israel - even to the extent of virtually cutting off diplomatic ties with the Jewish state. This is in spite of the fact that it was Jews who led the resistance to apartheid in the days of the whites-only Parliament.

Angus, who has led a similar gathering in Israel, has proved a huge inspiration as he urges men to run their homes, love their wives and exercise Godly discipline with their children, which leads to inevitable clashes with political correctness!

Moreover, the default position of many of South Africa’s churches today is an understanding of God’s everlasting love for Israel and of the church’s enormous debt to them – for the Bible, for their Saviour and much more. A friend of mine put it this way: “If you don’t believe in God’s plan for Israel, you’re a biblical atheist.”

The point is that these South African Christians have woken up, having come to love God’s chosen people. UK churches are in desperate need of gaining similar biblical truth.

For revival, you have to be in the right place with God so that, as far as is possible, his thoughts become our thoughts (see Isaiah 55). We don’t worship Israel, as they are human and sinful like us, but we do worship the God of Israel who has blessed us with his precious Word and with his Son, the Jewish Messiah, who is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

Fear vs Faith

I have re-visited my home country a number of times in recent years to see family and friends, and I became aware that it is no longer divided along apartheid lines, but between those who live in fear – the secularists who erect huge steel barriers to protect their property from burglars – and those who live by faith and in freedom, who love their neighbours and believe in the country’s future under God.

For revival, you have to be in the right place with God.

I appreciate that Jesus warned of deception in the last days, but I feel that sometimes we are in danger of straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel on this point. Author/preacher RT Kendall, writing of how Israel as a whole failed to recognize their Messiah, says: “We are all so sure that we would recognize the authentic Christ. You could not have told a Sadducee or a Pharisee that the Messiah would come to Israel without them knowing and acknowledging him. But he came and they rejected him.”²

There are many signs that this revival is authentic. And if we wish the same for our nation, we need to humble ourselves and pray, repenting of our wicked ways, especially over our treatment of God’s chosen people.

References

¹ Oom is Afrikaans for 'Uncle'.

² Why Jesus Died (Monarch Books), p40.

Clifford Denton concludes his series on Hebraic living by reminding us about the bigger picture.

Restoration of the Hebraic foundations of our faith will result in significant differences in the daily life of the Christian Church. Yet, it is all too easy to interpret our walk with God solely in terms of this life, becoming so involved in today’s steps on our walk that we take our eyes off the ultimate goal.

There is some merit in this, of course, when we consider that our ultimate goal is in God’s hands - we are able to leave the big picture to Him whilst doing our best with what is before us today. Jesus taught us to pray, “give us today our daily bread”. But being Hebraic also means that we live in the expectation for our eternal future, learning from our father Abraham who “waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb 11:10).

Being Hebraic is to live as if Yeshua’s return is both distant and imminent. This is one of the paradoxes of Hebraic faith.

Heaven and Earth

The Apostle Paul encouraged us to “seek those things which are above…set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col 3:1-2). If we busy ourselves overmuch with the down-to-earth perspectives of Torah we can easily get out of balance with those “things above”. Paul is not telling us to ‘be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly use’ (as a popular saying goes), but to have a heavenly perspective on our earthly life.

The writer to the Hebrews also exhorts us to “look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross” (Heb 12:3). Yeshua (Jesus) is the goal of Torah (Gal 3:24) and his eternal covenant promises are the goal of our halakhah (Phil 3:14).

It is all too easy to interpret our walk with God solely in terms of this life, taking our eyes off the ultimate goal.

True Torah observance would have led Israel to recognise the coming of Messiah. That many Jews did not recognise him at his first coming is evidence for the fact that we too could focus on Torah observance in a similar way, straining for daily observance of our faith whilst missing its chief focus.

The teaching of God (Torah) is to be directed to our love for one another in the context of our love of God, knowing that God’s love for us covers our daily walk to our eternal destination.

It is fitting, therefore, to complete this short series of articles by emphasising this balance.

Maintaining Balance

Throughout this series of articles, we have sought to emphasise the need for believers to strengthen themselves through the entire teaching of God. We must prepare our believing communities to be strong for the last days so that we will move towards unity of Jew and Gentile in the Messianic faith.

Let us also ensure that we ‘look upwards and onwards’ in our interpretation of God’s teaching, not only downwards to our daily needs.

This is a fallen world and will remain groaning (Rom 8:22) until Yeshua returns. Our walk with God will be within this troubled world and our discipleship will be through peaks and troughs of human experience.

It would be nice to think that we could so achieve both the spirit and word of Torah principles so we could restore this world ourselves (as restoration is often incorrectly defined among Christians). However, in reality, it will be an ongoing battle (Eph 6:10-18) to stand in faith through the troubled times preceding the return of Messiah. If we take our eyes off the ultimate goal, we will be disappointed at some stage - possibly frustrated.

This is the biggest of all subjects. We are between the Fall and the coming Kingdom. God’s teaching is meant to take us on our walk to that final goal, more than anything else. All the Bible’s teaching is to be taken in this context.

Jesus in All the Scriptures

Yeshua (Jesus) is the ultimate focus of all aspects of God’s teaching. This is a well-known Christian principle which we must not forget in our quest to be more strongly Hebraic. As we open out the depths of Torah let us remember that this well-known Christian teaching still remains true. The whole of Creation was through him and for him (John 1:3).

Let us look upwards and onwards as we interpret God’s teaching, not only downwards to our daily needs.

A study of his Name in Scripture illustrates the point.

His Name is woven through all the scriptures to give the highest purpose to all God’s teaching. When the angel announced the name of God’s son as Yeshua (Luke 1:31) it was a carefully-chosen name (see this Tishrei study). The name Yeshua means ‘salvation’. When we read the word ‘salvation’ in our English translations of the Hebrew Bible, we will find that it is yeshua.

This surely was God’s intention - that the highest focus of the teaching or meditation would always be the coming Saviour. He is central to all the history of God’s people and all God’s purpose in teaching his people. Scripture is woven together by his Name.

We can look up the many occasions when the word ‘salvation’ occurs in the Old Testament, and meditate upon how this should lift our thoughts and expectations to the fulfilment of Torah in Yeshua (Jesus). For example:

Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will accomplish for you today. (Ex 14:13)

Salvation belongs to the Lord (Ps 3:8)

The Lord is my light and my salvation (Ps 27:1)

The Hebrew word yeshua is the key-word of Torah, pointing to fulfilment in the Man Yeshua, at the time chosen by the Father.

This is one among many illustrations of how the Messianic expectation is woven into Torah. Another is in the construction of the Tabernacle, and another in the Feasts. Again, Yeshua is the central focus of all Torah. Torah observance has Him at the centre.

Yeshua is the Goal of Torah

If we understand Torah as the teaching of God, we can read all of the Old Testament as a teaching programme with an ultimate objective. Mankind was to wait for God’s permanent help in the sacrifice of Yeshua.

The Christian Church was right to emphasise this goal above all else in Torah, albeit that now we need to rebalance to other aspects of Torah, restoring the continuity of all Scripture and of God’s covenant purposes.

Surely God’s intention was that the highest focus of the teaching or meditation would always be the coming Saviour.

In completing this series of studies, therefore, it is important to highlight this as the main purpose of Torah and halakhah, as we seek to be Hebraic in the fullest sense in these last days. We will all be building testimony as we proceed on our walk of faith on this earth - until Messiah comes. This walk will be through many challenging circumstances (how else would a testimony of faith grow?). We are being perfected and will continue to be so until Messiah comes to make all things new. He alone is perfect. He was and is the ultimate focus of Torah.

God through Yeshua is faithful to His covenant with Abraham. All else is within that over-arching covenant, still waiting for its final consummation at Yeshua’s return.

Some of the week’s happenings you may have missed.

Will Theresa May’s judgment about what is best for Britain prove correct?

How rediscovering the Hebraic roots of our faith can help protect us.

Paul Luckraft interviews author Rosemary Bamber, whose book ‘In Time with God’ was reviewed on Prophecy Today last year.

It is always fascinating to discover how a book came into being, especially one which God has been blessing. Clearly such books don’t just ‘drop out of heaven’, so how did In Time with God come to be written?

Early Preparations

Rosemary Bamber came from an Anglican home and heritage but it was at an Easter Camp in her early teens that she was born again and baptised in the Spirit. Even as a child her hobby was writing stories and poems, so from an early stage God was preparing her for what he wanted later.

She studied Theology at college without being totally clear what the purpose would be, though writing did feature as a distinct possibility. After a series of short-term jobs, she settled into a permanent post as an English teacher in Adult Education, but never really felt this was satisfying enough to define her life’s work. She decided to seek God’s will further and in 2000 went on retreat to Ashburnham, which was to be a very significant turning point.

A Revelation and a Journey

During a prayer time there, God spoke to her: “You will write books with Hebrew words in.” This was so startling and unexpected - it had to be from God! Hebrew? A totally foreign language to her!

Further revelation came a short while later when a friend of a friend happened to mention evening classes in Hebrew, without knowing anything of Rosemary’s situation. Here was a sure confirmation, and when Rosemary found she could reduce her hours in Adult Education to pursue this, she immediately realised it was time to enrol.

Even at an early stage, God was preparing Rosemary for what he wanted later.

However, learning Hebrew was to prove a struggle. It is not an easy language and at times it was very difficult for Rosemary. But she didn’t give up as God had spoken, and he had further plans along these lines. In 2003 the opportunity arose to volunteer in Israel with CMJ (the Church’s Ministry amongst Jewish people), so Rosemary took a sabbatical and went to live in Israel for the first time.

Having become interested in the Jewish Feasts by this time, Rosemary now had the opportunity to learn more. She served in Jerusalem initially as a CMJ volunteer (2003-4), then at the Garden Tomb (2004-2011). Not only was she able to continue her study of Hebrew in the Land where it is spoken, she could also immerse herself in what the Feasts and Shabbat really mean to those for whom it is a regular part of life.

From Concept to Publication

In 2005, during this period of serving and learning in Israel, she came home for Christmas, and on Boxing Day went for a walk with members of the family. It was on this walk that the Lord intervened again. Rosemary felt a clear sense from God that she was to write the book that was to become In Time with God. She received in her spirit what the format of the book would be like, how to write it and what to study.

On returning to Jerusalem she now had a clear idea of the path she was to take, and found that opportunities to learn and study came her way most easily. Material for the book was readily available and she also kept meeting just the right people to encourage her with this project. The book was now in progress!

Rosemary received in her spirit the idea for the book, how to write it and what to study.

In 2006 she returned to the UK to write the first draft, followed by a second in 2008 and two more in 2010. By 2011 it was ready for others to see and offer their opinions. The main advice was that this kind of book would not find a ready publisher, so she decided to publish, market and sell it herself.

Miraculously, enough financial support came in at exactly the right moment to publish and print the first 500 books. Then CFI and Sozo Ministries put In Time with God on their online bookstores, which was a great help. And so, In Time with God Publications was born.

Waiting on the Lord for Fresh Ideas

At each stage, Rosemary needed to rely on and trust the Lord for help and wisdom. Now she reminds herself that when God spoke to her initially, he had said ‘books’ with Hebrew words in - not just one book! Writing In Time with God has opened up a new career for Rosemary and now she feels more fulfilled as a writer, serving God to the best of her abilities.

Other booklets have followed, as well as an allegory on the Feasts called The White Sheep, which was originally written with children in mind - but adults can benefit too!

More projects will undoubtedly follow as Rosemary continues to wait on God for fresh ideas and the means to bring them to birth. Overall her story is an encouragement to those who, at whatever stage in life, feel restless in what they have been doing so far and long for fresh paths to explore. Take time to be “in time with God” - who knows what may result!

For more information on In Time with God, visit Rosemary’s website www.intimewithgod.com. Read our review here.

The Lord’s prayer begins by us acknowledging and praising who God is and declaring His Kingdom and will to be our first priorities after worship. Then, within this context, the Lord Jesus tells us to ask for three specific things for ourselves: daily provision of bread, forgiveness of sins and deliverance from evil.

To me, it makes sense for us to ask for forgiveness and for deliverance from evil. But why are we told to ask for the provision of our daily needs? After all, doesn’t God already know what we need before we ask (Matt 6:8)? Has He not promised to supply all the needs of His faithful saints (Phil 4:19), just as He cares for the needs of all Creation (Ps 145:15-16)? Is He somehow forgetful, that He needs reminding of our needs on a daily basis?

No, God is not forgetful – and yes, He has promised to supply all our needs. So why must we petition Him daily for bread? There must be something more to this request than meets the eye.

A Heart Exercise

I believe that, at least in part, asking God to provide us with our daily bread is an exercise in humility on our part – an opportunity for us to trust the LORD with deliberateness and purpose; to prepare our hearts intentionally to depend upon Him.

Asking for our daily bread reminds us that all we have is supplied by God, keeping us acutely aware of our need of Him. This goes beyond the provision of our material needs, including spiritual nourishment that we receive in the person of Jesus Messiah – the Living Bread from Heaven, the Bread of Life. As Jesus is the Word made flesh, we also feed on the word of God (Deut 8:3/Matt 4:4; Jer 15:16; Ps 19:9-10), as recorded in Scripture, for our daily spiritual sustenance.

However, our deceitful hearts are ready to betray God at every turn; our natural instincts are to rely on ourselves (or on others, or on worldly things) – not on Him. Unless we are intentional about fighting these inclinations, we will not naturally seek to depend and wait upon God.

Perhaps this is why Jesus taught us to pray in this way – and why we must ask daily for our bread: to keep us in regular dependence upon the Father, not allowing space for pride to grow. Accordingly, the spiritual manna God has for us each day is not designed to last into the next – for we were never created to exist independently of Him, but totally and happily dependent upon His loving care.

The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. (Psalm 145:15-16)

Accepting His Provision

We have all had it drummed into us over the years that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. What if every believer started each day on their knees before the Lord, humbling themselves to rely upon and receive His provision for that day, declaring: “Lord, I need you to provide for me materially today. Lord, I need to you to feed me with the Bread of Heaven. Lord, I need you to nourish me with the Word. I cannot go further until you meet me with the food you have prepared!”

As we celebrate this week the awesome provision of Jesus’s sacrifice, His body broken for us, may we become ever more aware of our need of Him as our Daily Bread to fulfil, nourish and sustain us to do His will.

May our hearts be humbled to seek Him daily, to rely on Him and to accept from His hand the sustenance we need. And may our experience of walking under the covering of His precious blood extend not only to our assurance of salvation ‘at the end’, but also to new life “in all its fullness” here and now, through the power of the Resurrection and the promised Holy Spirit.

Author: Frances Rabbitts

Paul Luckraft reviews ‘Livin’ the Life’ by Steve Maltz (SP Publishing, 2017).

According to the author this is his 21^st book (p126), of which 18 are currently available. It is also the ninth to be reviewed on Prophecy Today UK. But this not just another shelf-filling addition to a growing list. Rather, it is the superb culmination of a nine-year exploration into the Hebraic and how it can and should impact the Church today.

As Maltz explains, it is an “attempt to summarise the journey so far and to provide us all with the tools to make a real difference in the way we understand and exercise our faith” (p223).

A Book to be Lived Out

But this is no mere ‘attempt’. It is extremely successful in recalling familiar themes from previous books and developing the ideas they contain, as well as in pointing the way forward, providing what the author calls “a route to the higher peaks” (p17).

Later in the book, we discover practical and well-proven ways of experiencing all that the author has been expressing. This is not an academic treatise but a book to be lived out, in ways available to all who are prepared to accept that something needs to change, and that ‘thinking differently’ is the key starting point.

The book is expertly conceived and well-written in Maltz’s own, highly readable style. We are treated to his usual touches of humour and adroit comments - though perhaps slightly less so than in earlier books, as Maltz realises the significance of his message. This is not an academic treatise, but a book to be lived out. The title, however, is typical Maltz, the apostrophe creating a neat double-edged meaning through aural ambiguity. Are we truly ‘living the life’? Do we honestly ‘live in The Life’ that is Jesus himself and which he offers to all his followers?

Truly Living

The introduction sets the scene by outlining something of the author’s own journey of discovery since his first book in 2009, How the Church Lost the Way. From time to time in this new book he quotes from earlier ones, and in particular he explains he is building on his previous book Hebraic Church (2016) and completing the story Introduced by To Life! (2011). But if you are new to Maltz, don’t worry! Start with this latest book and you’ll soon catch up.

Livin’ The Life is in three parts, Being, Living, Doing, housing an overall total of 25 short chapters. The heart of the book and the largest section by far is, not surprisingly, Living, whose chapters have titles such as Glory, Spirit, Worship, Evangelism, Giving, Leadership, Kingdom and Blessings.

In this section we are treated to a wealth of wisdom, comment, analysis and thoughtful challenges as to whether we really are living life as God intended.

Inevitably there is a certain element of criticism of where the Church has fallen short, for instance where it interprets ‘success’ in worldly terms, settling for compromise and being “tolerated as something that is doing its best but is mostly harmless” (p51). In this respect the chapter on leadership is very thought-provoking - but then the same could be said of many other chapters! Not so much food for thought as “a whole banquet for hearty discussion” (p91) to pinch the author’s own description of the chapter on Glory.

Being and Doing

The opening section (Being) is also highly significant. Here Maltz stresses a trinity of principles that will permeate the rest of the book. The first is to honour God, the second is to reflect Jesus and the third is to engage with the Holy Spirit.

With a chapter devoted to each of these plus a fourth to summarise them all, the author emphasises that these are the overriding objectives that should inform Godly decision-making and determine how we are to fulfil the book’s title of Livin’ the Life. We are constantly reminded of these principles in the chapters that follow. We are treated to a wealth of wisdom, comment, analysis and thoughtful challenges as to whether we really are living life as God intended.

The third section (Doing) is where we learn how to put this into practice, something that Maltz himself has been experiencing and making available to others in his Foundations conferences, which operate under the generic title of ‘Freedom in the Spirit’. In the closing chapters of the book he gives details of how the Lord has led him to develop not so much a model for a new style of conference but a set of ideas - ways of releasing people into freedom. As he says repeatedly in his books, it is about function, not form.

The aim is to “provide an environment where God can speak to us and where we can discover our true purpose, through the giftings He has given us” (p198).

This part of the book contains examples of how this has worked in larger conferences, and how it can work in other, usually smaller, settings and time frames. There are also testimonies and observations from those who have been to such events and had their lives changed through the ‘God moments’ that these occasions allow and encourage.

Maltz himself gives a personal testimony of such an unexpected ‘God moment’: an incident when, to his great surprise, he found himself ministering healing and seeing God at work. “’Wait a minute’, I thought. ‘This is me!’ Like many of you reading this book, this is not my world, this is what other people do” (p106). But not this time! Here was a fresh experience gained by being prepared to put his own theory into practice!

The final Appendix provides an overall practical guide with suggestions for the various activities, such as teaching, music, dance, drama, prayer, study, crafts and creative arts, all of which provide the life-blood of these gatherings, whether for a whole week or just a weekend.

Christianity Rediscovered

What was first expressed in Hebraic Church has become more clearly defined, or in Maltz’s words “the landscape is a little clearer” (p207), in Livin’ the Life. However, he also acknowledges that the practical outworking remains a fluid situation, which is exciting in itself. The encouragement to others is to try it and see. Feedback is always welcome!
The final Appendix provides a practical guide with activity suggestions including music, dance, drama, prayer, study and creative arts.

The book is subtitled ‘Christianity Rediscovered’, illustrating that the aim and challenge is one of “bottling up the atmosphere generated by the Church of the first disciples and those who shared their mindset and presenting it to the Church of today in a relevant manner” (p12). Maltz is honest enough to realise this is not always easy. Modern alternative worldviews owe so much to the ancient Greek philosophers and are now firmly entrenched, pushing the Hebraic to one side. He admits “This is our world, it’s not going to change overnight. Neither are we. But we can make a start…” (p15).

And making a start is what this book can achieve. Here is a writer on top form whose vision is bearing fruit. If you plan to buy just one book this week or this month, buy this one. To miss this book may mean missing the life that God intends for you.

‘Livin’ the Life’ (240 pages) is available to buy from the publisher for £10.

Read the book’s introduction on Steve Maltz’s website, Saltshakers, and find out more about the 2017 Foundations conferences by clicking here.

The message of Easter/Passover is the solution to the corruption of our time.

At Easter/Passover every year, for the past four years I have looked anxiously at the bare branches of the beautiful ash tree in our garden to see if the Ash Dieback Disease has struck. Once again, this year the first signs of life are showing which confirm that it has escaped the dreaded disease.

I know it sounds silly, but I’ve actually prayed over that tree and asked the God of Creation to protect it from the corrupting disease that is borne on the wind in our region of the country. Each year I thank God for the new life that I see in this ancient tree that is part of the natural heritage of Britain. And each year I thank God for the little enactment of ‘Passover’ in my garden - that the disease has passed over my home.

In the same way as Jeremiah got a message from the almond tree that he saw near his home (Jer 1:11), I see this ash tree as representing the spiritual heritage of the nation, under attack from secular humanist forces that aim to spread corruption and to destroy its Judaeo-Christian foundations.

Jeremiah got a message of warning that the nation of Israel was facing grave danger from corruption within and from armed attack that would come from outside. Only God could save the nation from the onslaught of the mighty Babylonian army but God would not save a nation that was filled with unrighteousness and corruption – a nation that deliberately turned its back upon his word.

Corruption Within, Threats Without

In the same way, God is warning us today of the dangers we face from the growing threats of terrorism in the world and the very real dangers of World War III on the horizon. If God did not save his chosen people Israel because of the unrighteousness in the nation, what makes us think that we are safe?

If God did not save his chosen people Israel because of the unrighteousness in the nation, what makes us think that we are safe?

We too are a nation that has turned its back upon God and there is a vast amount of corruption within our borders – even the Bank of England has been (allegedly) implicated this week in the corruption in the banking industry and fixing the LIBOR interest rates.

Promise of Being Created Anew

But Easter has a message of good news and new life and hope for the worst of sinners, which includes people like you and me. We may not be guilty of fixing interest rates, but we are all in need of what only Jesus can do for us – renewing our corrupt human nature.

Paul said that if anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation (2 Cor 5:17) – our sins are forgiven and we actually become a new person. This is the message of Good Friday!

But that’s only part of the Easter message. In the world of nature, death and resurrection are built into the very DNA of Creation. Jesus said that a seed has to fall into the ground and actually die before it releases new life. This is why he died for us and then rose from the dead so that through his resurrection, the power to live a new life is actually given to us.

Message of Life, Hope and Joy!

Charles Gardner has written movingly in this issue of Prophecy Today UK about the death of PC Keith Palmer, who was killed by a terrorist while he was protecting our Parliament. It was right that the nation recognised the bravery of this man who died a hero. But it is even more important that as a nation we recognise the death of Jesus who died a Saviour and who is longing to bless us and our nation with new life.

Death and the hope of resurrection are built into the very DNA of Creation.

The message of Easter does not end with Good Friday. It is not a message of death, but an offer of new life. It is a message of hope and joy! Many Christians believe that Brexit offers an opportunity for Britain to be free from the morally and spiritually corrupting forces of the European Union. But in order to walk in true freedom – individually and corporately – we need the spiritual new life and power of the Risen Christ, which is the message of Easter Day. It is available to each of us – it is our joy for today and our hope for the future!

Terror attack sadness points to resurrection gladness!

“He laid down his life for each one of us.”

An appropriate comment to hear around Easter/Passover, I’m sure you’ll agree.

The words are those of Jonathan Osborne, senior chaplain to London’s Metropolitan Police, speaking about the brave officer who died confronting a terrorist trying to attack Parliament.

Khalid Masood stabbed PC Keith Palmer after mowing down pedestrians with his car on Westminster Bridge. Monday’s funeral of PC Palmer was a sad day indeed for all of us, and for me it coincided with the funeral of a much-loved pastor as well as with the anniversary of my late wife Irene’s burial 17 years earlier.

But then I realised how it was all happening around Easter when Jesus, the Jewish Messiah and Saviour of the world, also laid down his life for us all. As the innocent Passover Lamb without blemish, he was led to the slaughter for our sake. For “we all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa 53:6).

I don’t wish to belittle what PC Palmer did – it is true that he gave his life to preserve our freedom, as so many soldiers have done over the years. And he is worthy of being called a hero. But our nation needs to remember afresh the debt we owe to our Lord Jesus, who gave his life that we might truly live, knowing and serving God without fear because of our certain hope in the resurrection to come, for which Christ has paved the way.

Certain Hope

That’s why neither of the two personal funerals to which I have referred was without hope. There was sadness, of course, at the earthly passing of loved ones, but it was accompanied by the joy of knowing they have gone to a better place and that we who believe will one day be reunited with them in glory.

PC Palmer is worthy of being called a hero. But our nation needs to remember the self-sacrifice of our Lord Jesus, who gave his life that we might truly live.

Yes, Jesus suffered the cruellest possible execution – and could have summoned legions of angels to rescue him. But he hung there for our sake. “For he was pierced for our transgressions…” (Isa 53:5). But “after he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied” (Isa 53:11).

The risen Jesus appeared to more than 500 witnesses (1 Cor 15:6). That he conquered death is a fact of history. But if you too want a certain hope of the resurrection, you must believe in Him (John 3:16).

The Apostle Paul writes of Christians: “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor 15:19f).

That fulfils the prophecy of Isaiah 25:8 – that “he will swallow up death forever” – and of Hosea 13:14: “Where, O grave, is your destruction?” And Paul answers the rhetorical question with a resounding: “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” (1 Cor 15:54-57).

I am so encouraged that the words of Jesus will be displayed on many London buses this Easter, thanks to the vision of Revelation TV founder Howard Conder. How appropriate too, coming in the wake of the London terror attack, that the iconic red buses should be reminding us all of how Jesus died for us.

Lighting a Flame for the Gospel

As we continue to celebrate 500 years since the start of the Reformation, we would do well to remember one of England’s greatest heroes, William Tyndale, who gave his life so that the entire English-speaking world would be able to know the resurrection power of Christ. He defied the leaders of Church and state by translating the Bible (then only available in Latin) into English so that “even a ploughboy” could understand it.

He was burnt at the stake for his troubles. But in doing so he lit a flame for the Gospel, and for freedom, that has since fired the hearts of millions to know, love and serve the Saviour who died on a cross in Jerusalem that first ‘Good Friday’.

How appropriate, in the wake of the Westminster terror attack, that London’s iconic red buses should be reminding us all of how Jesus died for us.

The Roman authorities, religious Jews and our own sin all played a part in the crucifixion of Christ. But ultimately it was God’s doing for, as Isaiah foretold, it had to happen – because “the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa 53:6) and “it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer…” (Isa 53:10).

When Irene died all those years ago, I remember so well how, at the funeral, I looked at the coffin and wondered how I was going to bear up, especially in giving the eulogy, when God spoke clearly into my spirit: “She is not here; she is risen!”

May that be your hope too this Easter and Passover tide!