J John on the future

March 3, 2010

My friend J. John was asked by Charisma Magazine in the USA to respond to the question:What will life be like for the church in 2020? He sent me a peek at his reply and it makes for fascinating and insightful reading.


Heading towards financial, moral and social bankruptcy it is hard to be optimistic about the future of Britain. Yet amid the gloom, I see rays of encouragement and hope. My predictions?

· The continuing decline in ‘Churchianity’ will lead to a void in which a genuine Christian faith will stand out clearly.
· The current affection for hedonism, consumerism and secularism will be maintained, but there will be a growing realisation that they do not satisfy.
· While the decline of the formal, traditional, institutional churches will continue there will be significant mega-churches in all the major cities that will be the new ‘cathedrals’ and a rapid rise in small, fluid fellowships.
· As society becomes colder, more detached and increasingly virtual, the attraction of authentic, caring, Spirit-filled fellowships will be compelling.
· As ‘book culture’ wanes there will a loss of biblical knowledge that will leave the church vulnerable to fads and heresies. This will be balanced by a growth in Christians who will hold to God’s word with a new seriousness.
· The failure of ‘multicultural’ philosophy and political correctness will produce some urban areas as no-go zones for evangelism. Nevertheless, there will a growing number of Christians, churches and martyrs.

It’s not going to be boring! And God is still on His throne.

J.John
www.philotrust.com

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Posted by Anthony Delaney

Lindz West of Lz7 on the skills of Evangelism

February 28, 2010

Lindz from Lz7 teaching on being an effective evangelist.

Manchester is his adopted city, he is a missionary to Manchester! Sept 27th his ‘this little light’ song will be released.

The government are right behind it: ‘Shine’ campaign = film young people doing something good. Put it on the website.
Momentum is building!

He has been doing evangelism full time for ten years. Employed by Luis Palau festival to preach to their youth, some massive crowds.

But the tough stuff is When you go onto a classroom etc with his work through the Message – there are walls to be broken down

Mk 1;17

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.

Ever been fishing!? Hard work! Chucking out the net is dirty work, and you need some skills, but ordinary people can do it.

When he did a sports science degree – he learned a definition of SKILL.

Skill is a learned ability to bring about a predetermined result with maximum certainty often with minimal outlay of time, energy or both.

So: do your work:,be prepared in advance! To be relevant to who you’re reaching.

Know your audience, be all things to all people to save some. What’s going to work best for this person?

Know your testimony. Be ready!

Break down a barrier!
Eg., body language. We communicate a massive amount non verbally.
Hand gestures: do you tend to point (aggressive) or use open hands?
If people are closed arms & legs, you need to change them from being closed.
Eye contact – use a visual sweep.

Don’t shuffle about in an uncertain way: the gospel is something you can stand on.
Stand confident in your faith.
In schools you learn at the sharp end. Any questions time!? That’s tough apologetics.
God has said to him, if you fail 7 times, get up 8 times!

When Lindz was in new York, ended up he ‘just happened’ to meet Chris Moyles. It took till 2am till the conversation turned to God. If Chris Moyles comes to Manchester, he will visit Ivy!

And it happened because the conversation turned to the opportunity.

Are you willing to be interrupted? Like Jesus was with Zaccheaus.

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Posted by Anthony Delaney

Not a matter of prayer- a matter of faith! Arnold Muwonge

February 22, 2010

Our dear friend Arnold Muwonge spoke yesterday at Ivy Manchester.

His main text was Ruth 1.21 I went out full, I came back empty. The title was RHYTHMS OF CHANGE.
Here are my notes on what he shared ; great stuff – and see the end for an important prophetic word from Arnold.

A man he knew came from Africa, when he was at home he could smell gas, but he got used to it. It took another guy coming in to be able to alert him. When you are cooking, you may not smell how good it is: needs a stranger to come from outside to smell it.
Arnold brings an outsider’s perspective!

There are three main actors in Ruth. It’s a great story.

BOAZ - A type of Christ. His character was integral. Dependable. He is faithful, rich (psalm 24), able to help, our provider. We must learn to trust him. He gives us everything. He will always turn up. We can be confident in him. He operates according to covenant. Our salvation is based on covenant.

NAOMI - a type of Israel. Goes away from God for what she wants. But God brings her back! She goes away from God because of her insecurities. To get her needs met. Ends up where she is not to be. Goes through the wrong doors. The wrong door can take 5 mins to open, & 10 years to close. Naomi is a type of israel. She left a place where she was actually full. We forget how blessed we are. Vs 21. Thank God for life, for salvation. The grace of God which keeps you.

RUTH is a type of the church. A Moabitess. A nation founded from & conceived from terrible immorality, considered cursed to the 10th generation. A rejected bloodline! Now we find ourselves on a place where we were never meant to be. There is grace. There is nobody God cannot save!

Ruth is a book of encouragement, of survival, through all the pain; they bounce back, by the grace of God. The devil takes hold of us in times of trouble. The devil tells you, ‘you are not loved by God, but if you follow my way, I will help you.’

But pain is not always negative : it can keep people together. We think pain separates; These three women, all they had in common was their pain & struggle, it was their only story-  at the beginning. Loss. Bereavement. Whatever you go through – God still loves you! Through their pain, they stuck together. Not all pain leads to death; it can lead to redemption! We can learn through our need, to seek until we find.

God may not say what we want, instead he says, ‘Be strong! Circumstances have no anointing to change the call on your life.’

One day, Naomi woke up and said, ‘I am going back to Israel – leave me alone.’ She realised there was something shifting, she was going! In Gods timing. We have created an intellectual God. But our God is a miracle worker!

People who are moving Gods way are not necessarily bothered whether everyone else comes with them. Its not about getting a vote. They say, ‘It’s my time now to step into what the Lord is leading me into.’ We may be misunderstood when we do that, even by the ones closest to us. Cf Hannah & the priest. Rom 8:25

Orpah kissed her and decided to go her way. That’s okay. She doesnt get condemned for that. She gets a blessing. We have to be big enough to do that; If someone chooses to go, that’s okay. They are out of your story, their contribution to it has ended – but God is still writing it! He is writing it in colour. We can become bitter that someone walked out, or we can look who’s coming in!

Naomi says; “Your God will be my God.” The commitment is what God uses, to use us. Ruth makes a commitment. There are people you meet, a community, who are different, but your prophetic destiny is mapped with the people next to you in church. You are not just here because its a good church. My breakthrough is in how I connect. Plug in!

Ask God, ‘How am I to play my part in the story?’

What made Naomi want to go? She recognised Gods timing; recognising what God is doing in my life, church, family. Ask God today, ‘What are you doing?’ and join him in that.

Is there a shift, a shaking inside you? God is going to give you a kick in your pants. You have been dormant long enough! God can use you!

Ruth, who was supposed to be rejected, ends up in Jesus lineage/ story. At the end of their life, they look back and see His hand was at work. But we must take a step!

Arnold closed his talk in the second service with a prophetic word for Ivy Manchester which he said he has had for two years for us:

“You have been talking for a long time about getting a large building and praying about getting a larger building – this is no longer a matter of prayer, but a matter of FAITH! Believe God for this!”

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Posted by Anthony Delaney

Pastors R Us! Debra Green evening talk

February 14, 2010

Debra Green : Equipped. Pastors r us?

What is the pastor gift? Shepherding? Can mean someone with divine enabling of others, taking responsibility to model & establish trust, lead, protect those within our span of care.

We can’t abdicate caring to pastors who are paid. We all should take responsibility to respond to need.
Pastoral care; 4 things to remember- CARE

C. Compassion. It starts here! Jesus looked at the crowd and had compassion. He saw they were hungry. Went to meet the need. Went to rescue the lost sheep. Moved to reach out. In your gut, you are moved toward a need. Splancnizomai. Not just a sense of duty, it’s more powerful. Break my heart for what breaks yours. We don’t all have the same concern about the same things & that’s OK.  Sometimes we just have to get involved, being spontaneously compassionate. You don’t need permission or a word from God to do that. But bigger issues, like ’should I go to Haiti?’ we need to check that and run through a bigger filter.
A. Aid (or Action). It’s not just a fluffy feeling – go to work! Cf Good Samaritan. Lk 10. Compassion got him to cross the road. He was a neighbour because he showed mercy. He came to his Aid, a stranger! There were all kinds of reasons why we has the last to be expected to help but he was there, doing what was needed: for a stranger: Mt 25:35-40. We are doing it as unto Jesus! He receives it himself. As a church we are to extend our pastoral care beyond the walls of the church! When someone dies, what can you do? Best thing is just be there with them & be kind. Send notes. Help practically. Offer to pray, sensitively! Give them space too.
R. Relationships. Jn 19:26 Jesus is in agony on the cross, he has nothing more he can give it seems, but then he sees his mother & best friend. Says, ‘Mother- here is your son.’ thinks of them above himself. Putting people together. We have to love & care for people. The bigger the church, it’s easier for people to fall through the net. Ring the person who’s missing, tell them you missed them! Nobody will be attracted to a church where there’s no love. People long for extnded family.
E. Empathy. So much more than sympathy. It’s a rich thing. Hebrews 4:15 , says Jesus knows how we feel, fully. So, he can fully empathise with us when we struggle. You can say, ‘I know someone who is able to know how you feel.’ in fact, when you have been through something – God can use you to help others with the same or similar pain or experience. You may have wondered why God allowed it? It’s valid to ask that. But one day you see it.

How to deal well with conflict in church.
10 steps
1. Come to me privately if you have a problem with me.
2. I’ll come to you privately
3. If someone comes to you with a problem about me, send them to me
4. If someone consistently will not come to me, say, ‘let’s go together.’
5. Be careful how you interpret me, i would rather do that myself! You might not fully understand my intentions.
6. I will be careful how I interpret you
7. If its confidential, don’t tell even one petson unless it will lead to harm to someone or danger.
8. I do not read unsigned notes, don’t bother sending them.
9. I do not manipulate, I will not manipulate, don’t let anyone manipulate you to try to manipulate me.
10. If in doubt, just say it. If I can answer without misrepresenting something or breaking a confidence, I will.

Pastoral care is just caring for everyone who God brings into your world. It’s not just for the church!

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Posted by Anthony Delaney

Barry Kissell – God’s answer to the culture.

January 12, 2010

Barry Kissell at the Evangelists Conference.

Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations conspire [a]
and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.  3 “Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.”

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.5 Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6 “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD : He said to me, “You are my Son [d] ; today I have become your Father. 8 Ask of me,and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You will rule them with an iron scepter [f] ;you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;be warned, you rulers of the earth.11 Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.Blessed are all who take refuge in him 23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
” ‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
and against his Anointed One.[c]‘[d] 27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people[e] of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

In 1972 first went to India, to minister with Michael Harper. He met with a missionary couple and learned from their insights before going, that helped.

Each decade we need to take a cultural check. We spend much of our time commenting on pur religious culture instead of what’s happening in the city?

Since the 60s, British culture has changed completely. Forces of secularism and Islam. We are froazen in the headlights of PC. But the time has come for us to speak.

Secularism is dominating every area of the nations life; family disintegrating, civil partnerships given same legal status as marriage. It is illegal to teach one man & woman for life in schools. Destruction of life in womb is just another choice. We experiment on embryos. It is illegal to teach that Christianity is true. Aggressively anti Christian media.

Change language and you change the world. Political correctness gags the truth. Homophobic? Racist?

Secularism has created a dysfunctional generation who cannot cope. They have had little if any exposure to the Christian faith, but fashioned by secularism. Many seek comfort in alcohol, drugs, celebrity worship etc.

What are the characterists of these kids?

Individualistic, independent, unmarried, with many unsuccessful sexual rels, unable to commit (especially men) experimenting with drugs, working for long hours. Looking for parental figures. Open to spirituial experience. Their poets are the rock stars. They are cynical about politics.

There has been a powerful invasion. Insidious. A cancer.

Militant Islam has relased demonic forces ti rise up and destroy our civilisation. Recent poll – half the nation is really worried about it. Future attacks may involve nuclear weapons.

This is the reality of the 2010 into which we are called to bring the good news.

HOW? As it has always been – this is the answer – THROUGH THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

At Antioch (Acts 11) they were seen to be anointed, and so they were called Christians = Sharers of Christ’s anointing’

How did God bring the good news? He anointed Jesus. He was filled –Luke 3:21

At his baptism, heaven was opened. The Father affirms his Son. Then he’s ANOINTED, the Holy Spirit, without measure.

And from his overflow, a limitless supply is available to us. Cf. Geysers, where the forces underneath push the waters out over a huge area – and you can get as drenched as you like. The closer you get to the centre, the wetter you get.

God poured out at Pentecost – on us! Without limit! God HAS DONE the outpouring. It’s the anointing which communicates the good news. God’s answer to the cultures need = the anointing of you and me! There’s no other plan! That we would be anointed. Not some special people, we are ALL special people!  If you belong to Christ, you have the Spirit. That’s what identifies us as believers.

At his baptism, Jesus accepts his calling and identifies with sinners – like us. For the anointing to work there must be IDENTIFICATION and COMPASSION.  We have the answer because we have the anointing! To what? Whatever! We need to be humble about it, but we have the answer! The more anointing we have, we can speak the answer. That’s the source of the change in the other.

What did the Holy Spirit do? Three things –

Mark says then the Holy Spirit drives Jesus into the desert

Then he anoints him to be good news for the poor

Then he urges Jesus onwards and upwards.

1) In the desert the Father showed Jesus the nature of the opposition, and how the battle will be fought & won.  OUR battle is NOT against flesh and blood. There is a power behind secularism/ Islam etc. In Matthews gospel (4:3ff) we see that this was a battle for man’s free will. With Adam & Eve’s disobedience, their free will was infiltrated. But Jesus broke the power of disobedience by perfect obedience. ‘It is Written!’

Every act of disobedience was broken as Jesus became obedient- even to death on a cross. He frees himself from satan in order to free everyone! Your ministry is to set people free who have been locked in the power of secularist thinking. There’s a spiritual power holding them. Only the anointing will break that! Nothing we have by nature can set them free. As Jesus advances, the demons are now in retreat. ‘If I by the power of God cast out devils, then the kingdom of God has come.’ When we come with the word, the demons are being challenged – by the anointing. Attitude to demonic?  If I am seeking to walk in the light, I will see the darkness. If it appears, deal with it NOW with authority, but don’t go looking for it.

In the desert, the anointing he’d received meant he could do miracles etc., but he used it to push back the anointing. It’s as if God were saying, “How will you use it?”

We believe the anointing is going to be coming more and more powerfully on more and more people. The question is – HOW WILL YOU USE IT?

It’s great that the Holy Spirit has moved over the recent decades. But I haven’t seen whole 7 vital churches growing and going out of that. Had thought, ‘well the Holy Spirit is moving, so loads of people will come.’ But we are going to see it – the Holy Spirit will be visible on us. People will want it, today or tomorrow – a harvest time. Everything else has been leading to this – and now it has got to go to the lost and bring them in. We must have confidence in the power of the anointing. David said, “I am weak, the anointed King.”

2)      The Holy Spirit anoints Jesus to be good news to the poor. You have to be able to humbly say that. ‘The Spirit is on me!’ If not, what’s the point? Before you preach – you say and know that! And ask for more!  The transforming power comes, the guilty are forgiven and reinstated, the blind see – it’s jubilee time! Freedom! The slaves debts are cancelled. We minister in that year.

3)      The Holy Spirit urges Jesus onwards to fulfil his calling. When the 72 returned with rejoicing that the demons submit, Jesus said to rejoice that their names were written in heaven – but  Jesus is encouraged!  Encouraged and joyful by the Holy Spirit. He wanst to do that for us.SHIFT from self reliance to reliance on the Holy Spirit, from what I can plan to what he can plan. Drawing the Holy Spirit into ALL ministry situations, asking ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’ Listening to the person – but In your inner heart – conversing. That’s when the key that frees the person comes. Refer everything we’re responsible for to the Holy Spirit. We are good at talking – spend more time listening to the Spirit. Just sitting and listening! You are not wasting an hour – you’re opening your whole being to him. He may not say anything, but if you are still you’ll know he’s God- (what does that mean?) you will know God better!

Keep coming back, and being dependent – again and again. Starting all over again, as if you had nothing in the first place.

Continually be asking people around us to pray for us!

God’s answer to this culture – is your anointing!

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Posted by Anthony Delaney

Capacity for multiplication

January 9, 2010

Is 54:1-4 (Message) Make your tents large. Spread out! Think big! Use plenty of rope, drive the tent pegs deep. You’re going to need lots of elbow room for your growing family. You’re going to take over whole nations; you’re going to resettle abandoned cities. Don’t be afraid–you’re not going to be embarrassed. Don’t hold back–you’re not going to come up short.

God said from the very beginning that we’re to be fruitful and multiply, but it can only happen if you keep on making room to grow, to be enlarged – whether as an organisation or an individual. Nobody can fill what it’s already filled.

I love that this scripture says we should not be afraid! Don’t hold back! Don’t let all our YESTERDAYS or our TODAYS keep us from all his TOMORROWS! Our growth is not determined by God’s willingness, it cannot be restrained because of God’s ability; it is ONLY constrained by our capacity for the opportunity.

A man was fishing but he kept throwing the big ones back. Someone watching from the shore asked why. “Because I only have a tiny frying pan!”

In recent years since I first heard it from Dr Tayo Adeyemi, I have made this prayer my own: God give me capacity for my opportunity! When God wants to do something great – he always expands the capacity, both to receive and to give.

In Luke 5: Jesus said, “let down your netS” – plural.

Peter said, “Because you say so, I will let down a NET” – singular. Sounds like he was being humble, actually he was being partially obedient. He didn’t do what he was commissioned to. We don’t honour God by shrinking back from faith. There was a miracle, and the net broke. The question has to be … how many fish would you have had Peter? If you had put out for more capacity.

In 2010 – the year of multiplication, Lord, Give me capacity for my opportunity!

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Posted by Anthony Delaney

Releasing our potential needs work

December 5, 2009


Malcolm Gladwell, whose books I love and who I heard speak this year at Catalyst 09, reminds us in this short video (click here to view) that releasing your potential is not about genes, talents or ability but about capitalisation. That means hard work! It’s getting up and paying the price, rather than resting before you even get tired! Attitude is everything.
Reminds me of the story Jesus told:
A man had two sons. He went up to the first and said, ‘Son, go out for the day and work in the vineyard.’
“The son answered, ‘I don’t want to.’ Later on he thought better of it and went. The father gave the same command to the second son. He answered, ‘Sure, glad to.’ But he never went.
“Which of the two sons did what the father asked?”

It’s no good just saying you will do something, or thinking it’s a good idea. Ideation without perspiration is constipation!

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Posted by Anthony Delaney

FAITH in God is reasonable. Faith in atheism is not. (John Lennox)

November 24, 2009

Notes from lecture at RZIM by John Lennox

Reasonable Faith.

When he started at Cambridge – someone said to him, ‘Oh you’re Irish, you all believe in God, and fight about him.’

He started to engage more with non believers. Has done so in unusual places. Eg communist atheism.  Russia. More recently debating eg. Hitchens and Dawkins. Comes from the conviction that Christian faith is not only helpful, but TRUE. And if we do not stand up, secularism or atheism will appear to win.

1 Peter 3.13 Can anyone really harm you for being eager to do good deeds? Even if you have to suffer for doing good things, God will bless you. So stop being afraid and don’t worry about what people might do. Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope. Give a kind and respectful answer and keep your conscience clear. This way you will make people ashamed for saying bad things about your good conduct as a follower of Christ.  You are better off to obey God and suffer for doing right than to suffer for doing wrong. Christ died once for our sins. An innocent person died for those who are guilty. Christ did this to bring you to God, when his body was put to death and his spirit was made alive.

This passage’s context = FEAR! We all contend with it. Subtle, peer pressure. Looking the odd one out. Not knowing your stuff. PC.

We are told to ALWAYS be ready to give a DEFENSE.

A REASON – a logos…

In the context of fear – nevertheless, get on and do it.

Apologetics is not a subcategory of philosophy. It is just what Christians have always been supposed to be doing. To clear up misrepresentation, misunderstanding. Not just to say WHAT, but WHY. To engage with our society and give REASONS.

Number 1 reason in survey why people don’t come to church = ‘They are not answering the questions we’re asking.’

The precondition for giving a defense is not how many books you’ve read. It’s ‘in your hearts, set apart Christ as Lord.’ That requires WORK.  Sanctify him,’ set him apart.’ Then you get the courage to break through the fear. When we start doing this, we’ll get into trouble. In Acts, the gospel is on trial time and again. The apostles were put on trial. Laws these days from Europe etc are looking to outlaw anything that looks like an exclusive claim, we’ll have to contend that Jesus is THE way.

Paul’s answer when under pressure? He described how he encountered the risen Christ. He was NOT a believer, but then he met Christ. So he stands before Agrippa (who accuses him of being under the God delusion – this is not a new challenge!) and gives his testimony and then says, ‘I’m not insane, what I am saying is TRUE and REASONABLE.’ Our world resembles Paul’s world more than any other age has, politically, philosophically and socially.

FAITH in God is reasonable. Faith in atheism is not. Atheists don’t regard what they have as faith. They think faith is an evil. Dawkins damns it, ‘Faith not based in evidence, is the principle vice of any religion.’ The clamour is for the eradication of religion because it doesn’t want to look at the evidence.

The claim of new atheists goes like this:

Faith = belief nor based on evidence

Science = belief based on evidence.

Many accept that without question. But Faith can be evidence based.

We have to look at terms. Dawkins definition of faith is wrong! Oxford English Dictionary. Faith = from Fides. Trust at its heart. Pistis (Greek) = trust. Faith = “Belief = trust. Confidence. That which produces belief, evidence and trust in it.” And this is how we usually think of the word. People used to believe in banks. But they showed there is not much basis to trust them with your money. If you are going to trust anyone, you have to have evidence or you are a fool.

Faith/trust/ belief. The Question is – what’s the evidence for it?

People say, “I won’t believe anything unless you can prove it.’ But in a mathematical sense? Logical? You’ll have infinite regress. It’s ONLY available in pure maths. Nowhere else is proof in that narrow sense. Not certainty. But in ordinary life, we have trust enough to put our life on it. Cf Flying a plane. Trusting your wife.

When you leave your field of expertise, you must check with the experts. What Dawkins/ Hitchens call and dismiss as faith = what we’d call ‘Blind faith.’ And that is of course dangerous, especially when linked with autocratic religious structures.

Is the faith required by the Christian system unreasonable?

Why was gospel of John written? In order that belief can be BASED on it. These statements are based in historical reality.

Paul at Mars Hill did not offer the resurrections as PRODUCT of faith, but a REASON for it, a basis. The resurrection as a fact is the basis on which the Christian can trust in Christ as the Son of God. Not a leap in the dark, but a step into the light, based on evidence.

It’s useful to notice that we use faith followed by  THAT or IN.

Faith in my wife

Faith that London is the capital of England.

One = faith in a fact. One = in a person. You usually need more evidence to trust a person than a fact.

So as Christians we don’t just have faith in a theory, or a worldview (it is all that) but its faith in a person.  A husband on wedding day has faith enough to trust in his wife, without knowing everything. We don’t know everything about God, but we have enough to get started – and as the relationship develops, so does the trust.  Trusting in relationships is multi levelled. Shared interests, etc – multi-orbed. Faith in God is too. There is evidence of all kinds. Can be built up. So the first thing that’s wrong with thenew atheists view of faith is that wrong.

Dawkins has said in discussion with Lennox, “Atheists have no faith.” The answer to that? “So you don’t believe it then?”

Hitchens says: “Our principles are not a faith, our beliefs are not a belief.’ Hmmmm….

They put all religions in the same pot, because they are all dangerous aberrations. That’s a failure of scholarship, because it’s obvious that not all religions are the same.

One of the main accusations new atheists make is that God is communicated out of the barrel of a gun, leads to violence etc. How do we answer that?  Look at the stance of Christ. Jesus was accused of terrorism by Pilate. That’s why his trial is so important. And he was exonerated. ‘My kingdom is not of this world, otherwise my followers would fight.’ The message you can’t defend with a gun is the one where you command them to follow the Prince of peace.

They also point out the unreasonableness of Christian faith, and say atheism had nothing to do with the massacres of Stalin, Mao etc., blame everything on God and nothing on atheism. We need to know our history!  Dawkins says he cannot imagine an atheist who would bulldoze a cathedral. Well Stalin used dynamite. Beware revisionist history.

Lennox endorses David Robinson’s book ; The Dawkins letters.

Also http://www.publicchristianity.com/historians response, the new atheists are outside their area and trying to rewrite history.

Dawkins says, “We are all atheists with regard to Odin and Zeus. It’s causing no problem to be A-Woden, what’s the problem with A-theist.’  He says its a negative and so can’t harm anyone. It’s no accident that he concentrates on A-Theism, denial of God, because he has a naturalist agenda.

In terms of the unreasonableness of faith he calls in the psychologists. However, Andrew Sims (President Royal college of Psychiatry) has written, “Is faith delusional?” and states that religion doesn’t damage but greatly helps mental health!

Freud saw faith = projection of your longing for a father.

Manfred Lutz says, ‘If there is no God, the Freudian explanation is spot on. But if there is a God, Freud will also show that there is in atheism a great desire for there NOT to be a God!’  That doesn’t deal in any case with the question, ‘Is there a God or not?’ For that, we have to look at EVIDENCE.

The idea that faith does not appear in science is wrong. All scientists are believers. They have to trust. They are commited to the idea that the universe is rationally intelligible, otherwise science is useless. The one incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible ‘ (Einstein).

So it’s not science vs religion. It’s materialism vs theism. Dawkins wants to argue science must lead to materialism. Not so!

Some say our brains are end product of a mindless process. From that, we get beliefs. Why trust that proposition? Logically incoherent to say that. You can’t do any science until you believe there’s reasonableness. it’s that belief in God which has inspired modern science.

Ford Car or Henry Ford. Which do you believe in? Choose! (that’s what the atheists want to say)

Ford car = laws of combustion.

Ford = designer and maker.

Two different categories!

The old chestnut is, “Who created the creator?” and so on…

Well you are there thinking about a created God, by definition. You are thinking of a created being to start with.

We agree, created Gods are a delusion. (idols). But there is an ETERNAL God.

You can choose to disbelieve that there is an eternal God.

You believe the universe created you? Who created your creator?!

The materialist’s ultimate reality – mass energy created everything. We believe God did it. Look at the evidence.

2 Comments | Apologetics, Bible, Christianity, Church, Creation, Faith, Jesus, Prayer, Religion, Theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Anthony Delaney

Christian faith is not a state of mind, but a state of existence!

November 18, 2009

These are taken from the notes I made as I heard Michael Ramsden speak at the Faith & Fantasy conference with RZIM. Parrs Wood, Manchester. last Saturday.
(this was definitely the highlight of the day, and in my opinion unfortunately the rest of the event went downhill a bit after it.)

Christianity is rooted in reality.
Oxford English Dictionary definition of philosophy = “use argument & reason to establish reality & truth”
BUT all those words, one by one, have lost their meaning to our culture, thanks to thinkers like Kant who contended that reality is what you make it. (Cf the Matrix)
The problem with that is, you are drawing a distinction between what reality is and the way reality appears to you. If you say everything is illusion, you may as well say everything is reality.

Establishing the category of truth when people believe there’s no reality becomes very difficult. Roger Scrutin’s response? ‘When someone asks you to believe there is no truth, they are asking you not to believe them.’

Wittgenstein said reason is a mathematical game. All is nonsense. So, philosophy is ‘patent nonsense.’Philosophy has simply become argument, so all you’re left with is fantasy.
In popular imagination therefore, faith has been reduced to “believing it that which you can imagine to be true.” (Dan Brown)

Consider the work of Umberto Eco. When he wrote, The Name of the Rose – the characters believe there is a truth, and set off looking for it.
But in another of his novels, Bordellino, it’s totally different. A main character is a man who forges letters to reveal the holy grail. Later, he sets off to use the made up materials, and the king observing this says, ‘you are insane.’ Why? You are following something you imagine to be true, with no relation to reality.

That’s how people see us, Christians, these days.

All Faiths are based in Thinking, Feeling or Doing (or any combination of all three).

In some religions it’s all about a pursuit of knowledge.
In others it’s an experience of getting in touch with the Holy
Or it’s a list - do these things and it’ll all make sense.

But Christianity is not at root a system of thought to be mastered, an experience to be tasted, or doing anything.

No. But Jesus Christ came into this world as God himself. Not just to give us new thoughts, feelings, or commands (although He does all those things!). But the Christian contends ‘I know WHO I have believed…’ Not What…

Jesus claimed equality with God. He died for that claim, it was considered so blasphemous.

Our faith is all about REVELATION. Hebrews 1.2 – He’s spoken to us in his Son!

So you’re not saved by getting it intellectually, believing however many ‘impossible things before breakfast.’ You’re not saved by doing certain achievements or by having particular experiences.

Our salvation is won for us, through the person and work of Jesus. it’s about receiving and trusting Him. We receive HIM. We become a new creation. We are born again. That changes who you ARE, which will of course change how you think, feel & act!

You’re part of a new family, and adopted in that family setting you now learn how you should think, feel & act. That’s why church is so important!

God reveals himself in Christ to show:
Who God is
Who we are
What the world is

And the revelation changes us!

Christian faith is not a state of mind, but a state of existence – it’s about who you ARE!

That’s why some who have been brought up as Christians end up floundering when they meet criticism as they enter the real world without having really known him for themselves. It’s also why we aren’t very good at defending what we believe because we present it on one of those three wrong bases: Therefore -

If people think Christianity is just an opinion (it’s what you think). Well so what?

If people think it’s just what makes you happy, ‘Well I’m happy anyway, thanks.’

Or if Christianity is just being a good person. “I know Hindus and Atheists who are better Christians…’

It’s more than all those things! It’s WHO you know.

If I say “I know Mary,” there can be two elements to the statement is a statement of reality: 1) she exists. 2) She’s TRUSTworthy.

We put our trust in a God who IS, and who is TRUSTWORTHY.

You can’t put your trust in one who isn’t there.

And faith is the only legitimate response to the God who is real, and trustworthy.

Questions Ramsden posed at the end – why not respond in your comments?

1) Can you answer the question, ‘Why are you a Christian?’ (not ‘How did you become a Christian?’). The answer probably has to be something about that you know Christ and its changing you.
2) Do you present Christianity as a system of thought, or feeling, or behaviour – or is JESUS truly at the centre of the presentation? The Goal of apologetics = that people trust HIM, not us.
3) Are you confident enough of why you are a Christian to tell others? The church has lost its voice, because we think we’re going to be shot down/ made to look stupid. Do you know who you are in Christ? We are not following cleverly made up stories!

All church heresy can be traced to a reduction of Christianity into what you think, feel or do.

Leave a Comment » | Apologetics, Bible, Christianity, Faith, Jesus, Prayer, Religion, Uncategorized | Tagged: , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Anthony Delaney

Doug Addison on Prophetic Evangelism

November 8, 2009

What a great night at Ivy Manchester!
As promised – here are my notes from Doug’s teaching tonight.
The talk will be up on the church website for download in a couple of days.

People say ‘I’m spiritual, not religious’
The world has changed, evangelism hasn’t caught up.
This is an addition to the toolkit: Prophetic Evangelism. 2 scary words!
He’s been PRACTISING this for years.
If we have a good product, with eternal benefits – but people don’t want it, we need a marketing meeting!

We have had good intentions – but that’s not enough.
We have to become missionaries to the UK.
What do missionaries do? Figure out what people already believe. Study the language and the culture – fit the message into where people are. Not changing the message, just changing the way you share it.

Most people are open to Jesus, and to the power of God. We have to come up with ways to connect with people.
Today, if people are spiritual, that’s half way home – cos God is spiritual – and he’s in a good mood! He’s really into loving people.

People say, ‘Do you believe Jesus is the only way?’
(Jn 14;6) – how do they know that verse? Someone else told them – ‘How to get a Christian off your back.’
Because people value choice. They value making choices.
To connect, you don’t major in what they don’t believe; because they’ll shut you out & not listen to the rest.

Look at the context of John 14:6
He’s having a meeting with the insiders group there. Not his preaching message to the world.

There was a time when we just had to draw them back to their Christian memory, in most of our society, there’s no memory of Christianity.

So if they ask, emphasise the WAY: ‘You’re on your own journey, you need to find that out for yourself.’

Not everyone who followed Jesus believed in him.
We need to let people follow.
So when we hear from God (which we should – we got an upgrade a while back – the prophetic is back).

WAY – TRUTH – LIFE = a three step process.
Show them the way, the truth takes care of itself, & we end up leading them to life.

In NT – they were followers of the WAY. Show people the way!
Jesus at a wedding- doesn’t give them a message or a Messiah- gives them what THEY think they need – the wine.
Give them what they need, time, love, service.

Doug found that decisions don’t necessarily make disciples.
Used to be people would make a decision then get an experience. Now people now want an experience and then they make a decision.

Look up the encounters where Jesus & disciples met unbelievers –
Eg Jn 1:47f When Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him, he said, “Here is a true descendant of our ancestor Israel. And he isn’t deceitful.” “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
Nathanael said, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God and the King of Israel!”

How do you KNOW me?

2 words of knowledge. It’s not that tough – all he told him was, ‘you’re an honest man.’

Word of knowledge = something about now, that gets impact. Encouragement. Opens people up to the gospel.
Word of wisdom = something that sounds too smart to be you
Word of prophecy = something about the future.
If you’re in the shallow end, it’s only 2 kicks to the deep end. Anyone can give encouraging words from God. It’s so easy, you’ll think you’re making it up, until they start to cry.

1) Use the gift to find the people. Wait for one who looks open. ‘I just took a course in encouragement, can I try it with you?’
2) We’re much more anointed OUTSIDE than inside.
3) People need to be encouraged everywhere!

John 4:16
He’s been talking about worship. At Jacobs well.
Jesus told her, “Go and bring your husband.” The woman answered, “I don’t have a husband.” “That’s right,” Jesus replied, “you’re telling the truth. You don’t have a husband. You have already been married five times, and the man you are now living with isn’t your husband.”
Not judging here!
He’s finding something to COMMEND. She’s got a mixed up relational life, but he finds something to commend – she’s honest!

If the enemy is having a go at you – it’s because the Lord has a great destiny in line for you!

We see people being pushed down – but the Lord has a great destiny for them – what they need is the power of Spirit to live it out.

Think about a person in your life who really needs God the most. Someone messed up. Now picture them saved, and filled with the Spirit. What ministry would they be drawn to? Worship? Evangelism? Finance?
Pray for them, see them as God sees them – potential.
This is what Jesus was doing.
See yourself like this.

People these days are into reality tv.
2 types:
1) You’re voted out – mean spirit, negative,
2) Makeover shows. Positive.
We need to have extreme prophetic makeover. Pimp my life! Do things to encourage people.

It worked for Jesus. A lot of Samaritans in that town put their faith in Jesus because the woman had said, “This man told me everything I have ever done.”

Jesus was only ever angry at religious people who pretended to know God but didn’t love.

OLD WAY vs New Way
Program vs Organic
Head knowledge about Bible vs No bible value, but may still love god
Prove it vs Experience it
Jesus is the only way vs Choices
Must pray the prayer vs Prayed it- no change
Truth!! Vs Absolute truth
Get conversions! Vs want to be loved.

We have to walk with people. Become the Bible for them.

What people think of Christians
Judgemental, narrow minded, out of touch, irrelevant, intolerant, no fun. After your money.
That’s not us.
We have to redefine this, one person at a time.

Tipping point; Malcolm Gladwell. 30 people can cause great change.
Paul stayed 3 or 4 years in various people’s

MASH units
MOBILE, ARMY, SURGICAL, HOSPITALs.

We need to be churches like that. By love and encouragement.

1. Get the wall down- word of knowledge. Something positive. Dream. Practical. Kindness.

2. Go from head to heart – Notice things they value. Clothing, tattoos, piercings. Music. Ring tones.

3. THEIR felt needs. Loved, listened to, practical help.

FOCUS on their experiences, gifts, calling/ passions.

Jesus operated in all the gifts the disciples did.
You should. Holy Spirit toolbelt. Pull out what‘s needed.
Practice!
The more you practice any gift, the better you get.

God is speaking all the time. Find something positive in their lives, because God created them.

You are strategically placed – and you didn’t even know it.

It’s the still small voice – learn to trust it.

If you see the –ve over people, you get a check in your spirit = a discerning spirit. How do you use that?
You’re seeing satan’s will. Don’t tell them satan’s will. Tell the opposite. To destroy the works of the enemy: ‘I can see that you’ve been under attack, been through a rough time – but God…!’

FLIP IT!
The kingdom of God is extremely positive.

Put words of knowledge into a sentence that makes sense to them. “When I look at you I see…’

Go out in twos or threes. Encourage people, and if you’re able to – tell them about God. Col 4:4 Please pray that I will make the message as clear as possible. When you are with unbelievers, always make good use of the time. Be pleasant and hold their interest when you speak the message. Choose your words carefully and be ready to give answers to anyone who asks questions.

Be salty – don’t throw salt in their wounds. Not insider language. Don’t speak Christianese.

Honour the process. Coming to Jesus happens over time. Find out where they are. Ask fact finding questions.
‘You seem spiritual.’
- I grew up in church
- I pray all the time
- I mediate…
Gauge where they are at and meet them there.

There’s an ANGEL in evangelism.
We need to bring the angel back into evangelism. Be the angel.
Ask God for the supernatural encounters!

2 Comments | Bible, Comedy, Faith, Healing, Heaven, Jesus, Manchester, Prayer, REVIVAL, Religion, Theology, angel, dreams | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Anthony Delaney

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