Over the last few years, a motorway north out of Christchurch has been under construction. Today the new motorway was open for walkers and cyclists. The photos do not show it, but thousands of people took advantage of this opportunity.
I rode along most of its length, 9 kilometres out and 9 kilometres back. A steady head wind on the way out and a tail wind on the way back, which is always the best way. The motorway will be fully open on Thursday.
I noticed last night that one of the television channels seem to have stopped calling the events in Christchurch a “mosque attack” and begun talking about a “terrorist attack”. The subtle change of words is concerning, because it changes the nature of the events.
When people say about the victims of the mosque attack, “They are Us”, it can be an expression of sympathy, but one implication is that this was an attack on us all. That is misleading. This was actually an attack on them. There was no attack on us. The only people killed and injured were Moslems.
This was not an attack on our lifestyle. It was an attack on their lifestyle. The people killed and injured were going to worship in a mosque on Friday afternoon. That is not part of the normal lifestyle here. Most people in New Zealand never go to worship at all, so they are not affected by such a threat. We are shocked, but the lifestyle of Moslems is seriously affected because they do not know if it will happen again.
I understand why the Prime Minister said of the murderer, “He is not us,” but that is also misleading. He is not a monster. He is a man with human DNA, and blood, muscles and bones, just like all of us. The difference is that he made some bad choices, perhaps because he was hurt, and then filled his heart and mind with the wrong stuff, allowing the powers of evil to get hold of him. That is not that uncommon. Many of us have done that at times. The difference in case is that he went further down the path of deception and dug deeper into evil.
Although he was Australian, he has lived in New Zealand for some time. There is plenty of hatred and anger in Christchurch, and a significant number of white supremacists live in the city. So in that sense, he is us.
Over the last few months, perhaps year, the level of violence seems to have ramped up in the city. Some really nasty incidents have occurred. Something to ponder is why has this been able to happen in a city called Christ Church, which means “gathering of people called by the Messiah”. Why have spirits of violence been able to gain a foothold in the city carrying the name Jesus? That is a challenge for people who follow him.
God's plans for Christchurch have not changed;
His purposes will be accomplished.
He will establish his Kingdom in the city;
His plans for Christchurch will be fulfiled.
This is the time of year when the internet prophets share their predictions for the next year. I have never seen the point, because marking off years is a human way of viewing history. God thinks in terms of seasons.
This year I am going to make a prediction.
I am not expecting the Holy Spirit to change his mind and do things that he has been unwilling to do up till now.
I am not looking for a political leader to rescue the church.
My prediction is simple.
More of the same will produce more of the same.
If the church carries on operating in the same way that it has for the last thirty years, it will experience more of the same. People will sing lively worship songs; listen to challenging sermons; a few people will be healed; and some people will decide to follow Jesus; but the tide of secularism, humanism and paganism that is sweeping Western culture will not be turned back.
But I do have hope. I know that God wants to do something spectacular in Christchurch, the city where I live. I know that he has a strategy to establish his kingdom here in a special way as a demonstration to the world. See God’s Strategy for Christchurch.
But God can only accomplish his purposes for this city, if the church will change the way that it operates; and do things his way. I know that God has plans to establish his kingdom here, and I know that the Holy Spirit is willing and able to do it, but I am not confident it will happen, because the church is unwilling to do things differently.
The entire church does not need to change. He just needs a remnant. A couple of hundred people who are sold out for Jesus, and willing to follow the Holy Spirit wherever he leads, could get things started.
God has a strategy for dealing with this stronghold over Christchurch. He will not attack it head on, as the casualties would be too great. He will defeat it by working from the edges and demonstrating his grace by healing unbelievers who live there. When God heals a person listening to the gospel, it is an act of grace, so the MIC spirit has no authority to obstruct the healing. The unbeliever is not under the authority of church leaders, so they are not bound by their commitments.
Sharing the gospel with people who do not know the Lord and seeing them healed is the most effective witness to Jesus. Healing prayer for unbelievers is the key to defeating the stronghold that controls Christchurch.
The gift of healing is primarily for unbelievers. It is essential for confirm the power of the gospel. One reason that the modern gospel is so ineffective is that the gift of healing has been shut up in the church.
People with a gift of healing should focus on praying for the lost. Praying for Christians is often messy, because they have too much junk, and need to have faith. It also provokes the MIC spirit unnecessarily. Prayer for unbelievers will usually produce more fruit.
God is raising up an invisible army in Christchurch that will win back the city for him. They will gather in small groups on the edge of the city, where they will not be noticed, either by the church, or the spiritual powers of evil.
The MIC spirit is strongest at the centre of the city where political and religious power is focussed. This makes the city centre a dangerous place to be. Starting there would be a mistake.
These small groups of Christians will be totally committed to Jesus. They will be drawn together by love for him and bound together by commitment to love each other. They will be able to support each other through the struggles and storms that come. They will stand together in Jesus while everything around them is shaken.
These followers of Jesus will have laid aside the things of the world that would encumber them. They will live simply on what God provides. They will share everything with each other and the people around them.
The anointing of the Holy Spirit will be upon them. As they follow his leading, he will release his gifts among them. They will be mighty warriors in prayer and be able to deal with anything that arises.
These people will be prepared for distress and equipped for victory.
When they share the gospel, they will pray for the sick. When people are healed the power of the gospel will be confirmed and the love of God manifested. Many will come to faith in Jesus.
As their numbers grow, the leaders will move out and start new groups. Lights will come on all over the place on the edge of the city. As the groups multiply, they will move towards the centre of the city. They will squeeze the MIC spirit from the outside, but because they are so many, they will be hard to attack. Because small groups are united by love, there will be no use of manipulation or control, so the MIC spirit will struggle to get a foothold against them.
When this invisible army is in place, the spiritual, political and business powers entwined together at the centre of the city will be swept away by an economic crisis. Those with authority will flee, because they are scared of the responsibility. Power structures will collapse as their resources disappear.
God will build his kingdom from the edges, as the invisible army rises up. This will be the time for the frontal attack. Without political, religious and business powers to work through, the MIC spirit will be dramatically weakened. It will not be strong enough to resist the invisible army.
The people of God will move into the centre of the city in the power of the spirit. They will care for people who are struggling. The gospel will advance in the power of the Spirit. Many sick people will be healed.
God’s Kingdom will come in Christchurch and will shine as a prophetic light to the nations. All the authority in this city will be submitted to Jesus and Christchurch will be filled with his glory. The Lord’s presence will be so strong that his glory will be visible.
Christchurch is controlled by a powerful evil spirit that has established stronghold over the city. Over the years, many people have made the call that Christchurch is controlled by a Jezebel spirit, but few have realised how powerful it is.
A corporate stronghold gets control of a city when the religious and political leaders all participate in a common sin such as pride, intimidation or manipulation to enhance their leadership. This corporate sin allows the evil spiritual power behind it to gain spiritual control of the
city.
This Jezebel spirit was given a place by civic leaders when Christchurch was being established. Unfortunately, church leaders colluded with it by relying on manipulation and control too.
If Christian leaders have given the evil spirit permission to be there, it may claim that they have surrendered their authority to it on behalf of Jesus. It can refuse to surrender to the name of Jesus, because it claims authority given “in the name of Jesus”.
Manipulation and Control
When we think of Jezebel, we think of seduction and witchcraft, but this spirit mostly works through manipulation and control, with a bit of intimidation thrown in. The Jezebel spirit has authority in any organisation or church where control and manipulation are at work. Those who submit to its leaders are opening themselves to the spirit of Jezebel.
This spirit can work through women, because they are sometimes skilled in manipulation. However, it is more likely to work through men, because they are often in positions of authority that they find hard to handle. They slip into manipulation and intimidation to keep the situation under control.
The Jezebel spirit uses Manipulation and Intimidation to Control people that are a threat to it (MIC). For that reason I often refer to it as the MIC spirit.
Christchurch Beginning
The MIC spirit came to Christchurch with the early settlers. Although the leaders of the Canterbury Association were godly men, it took much manipulation and manoeuvring to get the settlement under way. This gave the MIC spirit a place right at the beginning. Once Christchurch was established, the civic leaders maintained tight control using moral pressure to keep people in line.
The church followed the same pattern, using manipulation and control to pressure people into conformity to Victorian values. This collusion between church and civic leaders allowed the MIC spirit to establish a stronghold over the city that has continued to this day.
City leaders still use intimidation and manipulation to get control of the council and achieve their purposes. Although the Holy Spirit has moved in Christchurch, many church leaders have continued unwittingly to use manipulation, intimidation and control to keep their people in line. This collusion has given the MIC spirit authority to control the city. This broad base of authority makes this spirit hard to beat.
Christchurch has experienced storm, earthquake and fire.
1. Storm
In October 2000, a severe storm
damaged Christchurch. Winds reached 180 kph and many buildings had their roofs lifted off. The newly established Lyttleton Marina was destroyed; 20 boats sunk and dozens of others were damaged. The marina itself was smashed into little pieces.
2. Earthquake
In September 2010, the Darfield earthquake struck. It was followed by a more serious earthquake in February 2011. 180 people were killed by collapsing buildings. Thousands of buildings were damaged and most had to be demolished.
3. Fire
In February 2017, fire raged on
the Port hills at the southern side of Christchurch. A dozen homes were destroyed and a new adventure park with facilities for downhill trail biking was severely damaged.
People are now saying that Christchurch needs a break.
Christchurch does need a break. But unfortunately, when civic and religious fathers allow a Jezebel spirit to establish a stronghold over their city, it will not get a break.
The key is 1 Kings 19:11-12.
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
After destroying the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, Elijah had fled in fear and dread into the wilderness, after Jezebel threatened to take his life. When he collapsed in exhaustion, God sent and angel to cook a meal for him. After he had eaten, God led him for forty days and nights to a cave on Mount Horeb, the mountain of God.
God spoke to him and asked him to stand in the presence of the Lord and watch. The Lord was not in the storm. He was not in the earthquake or the fire. These were attacks by the spiritual powers of evil stirred up by Jezebel to intimidate and destroy Elijah. However, God had placed him in a cave where they could not hurt him.
God spoke to Elijah in a gentle whisper. He told Elijah what to do to get rid of the evil kings that dominated Israel.
These verses apply to Christchurch.
Many Christians said that the earthquakes were God’s judgment on Christchurch. Some will say that the fire is a judgment, but that is not correct.
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.
These events were attacks by the spiritual powers of evil led by the Jezebel Spirit that has a stronghold over the city. They know that God has a great plan for this city. He plans to establish his kingdom here in a way that will be light to the nations. They were trying to destroy the city, before it happens.
The earthquake failed to destroy God’s plan. It actually strengthened it by destroying the centre of the city where power resides. The spiritual powers of evil are now trying to obstruct God’s work in the city, by using the fire to feed fear and dread into it. They know that fear makes people easier to control.
We must be clear. God was not in the storm, the earthquake or the fire. He spoke in the quiet whisper that followed. God has many prophets hidden in caves in Christchurch. Now is the time for them to stand in his presence and listen to his still quiet voice.
God will explain to them how to destroy the evil stronghold that controls the city. He will explain to them how he will establish his kingdom in the city. Elijah confronted Ahab and Jezebel after Naboth was killed (1 Kings 21:20-24). The destruction of the house of Jezebel and Ahab was initiated by a prophet proclaiming God’s word and then running to safety (1 Kings 9:1-10).
The latest enemy attack on Christchurch has failed. God will soon release events that will see his Kingdom come to fullness in the city.
Restoration
The storm, earthquake and fire points to how God will bring restoration to Christchurch.
A spiritual storm will shake the foundations of the church and sweep away everything that is not built on Jesus and empowered by the spirit. This is what Graeme Cooke prophesied.
An economic earthquake will sweep away the political economic structures that controlled the city from the centre.
The fire of the Holy Spirt will fall on God’s people and the gospel will go forth with healings and miracles following. God will confirm his word with signs and wonders. As the gospel advances, the kingdom of God will come to fullness.
We have had a very mild warm autumn. The Port Hills to the south of Christchurch are still very dry.
Five years ago, we lived in Dunair Drive. This is how it looked after the earthquake, with silt caused by liquifaction being carried out to the street.
A couple of months ago, the earthquake-damaged police station in Christchurch was demolished by controlled explosion.
A week later it looked like this.
After three weeks.
Now most of the rubble is gone, with only the foundation and basement left to be dug out.
A new emergency response centre for police, ambulance and fire services is being built on a different site.
Replacing this infrastructure is an enormous strain for a city in a developed country with good insurance coverage.
In a less developed country, replacing this kind of infrastructure must be an impossible burden. That is why I cannot understand why the Washington warmongers send out planes every day to destroy building and bomb infrastructure in Syria, and encourages their allies to do the same in Yemen. What sort of warped logic thinks that this will make the situation better. You cannot do good by doing evil.
No, they are not putting a swimming pool under the house. Earthquake damaged foundations of this wooden bungalow in Christchurch are being rebuilt. The house will then be lowered back down again.
This machinery is preparing a section (lot) for building. The vibrating probe goes down into the ground and shingle and cement are put in from the top to increase the stability of the site, so a new house can be built.
Back in the winter, when the previous earthquake damaged house was demolished, the excavator got stuck in the mud. Its tracks had disappeared from sight. I do not know how they got it out.
Last week Roger Sutton the head of the of the Canterbury Earthquake Recover Authority (CERA) was forced to resign, after being found guilty of serious misconduct.
The incident turned into a fiasco, when two senior government officials, the States Services Commissioner and the Head of the Prime Minister Department and Cabinet organised a press conference to announce the decision, despite advice from their communications advisors that this would be unwise. Although he was bound by a confidentiality agreement, they allowed Sutton to speak to the gathered media people and attempt to minimise his guilt by claiming that all he had done was hug a few people. The victim of his offending could not defend herself, because she respected a confidentiality agreement.
The incident appeared like an Old Boys Club looking out for each other, but it revealed something about the spiritual state of Christchurch. Many Christians have suggested that the city is dominated by a Jezebel spirit. The strange event described above confirmed it.
Jezebel used sexual seduction as an effective weapon.
When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it, and she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out the window (2 Kings 9:30).
Therefore, when Roger Sutton was appointed to a senior role in Christchurch city, it is not surprising that his seductive tendencies began to manifest in his work place.
What is much less understood is that this spirit manifests more frequently in political manipulation and control. Jezebel was an expert at exercising control and power through political manipulation. She demonstrated this she got Naboth’s vineyard for Ahab.She wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city. Now she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; and seat two scoundrels beside him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death (1 Kings 21:8-10).
When Naboth was dead, Ahab took possession of the vinyard.
Political critics and employment experts were shocked by the way that the Roger Sutton affair was managed. They could not believe that experienced officials would be so unwise as to attend a press conference with a man who was guilty of serious misconduct. However, these two officials were acting out of the Jezebel handbook. Replace the dinner for elders and noble with a news conference the story read likes this.
Call a press conference and put Sutton up in front of the people on television. Place two scoundrels beside him and get them to testify in his favour (Christchurch Translation).
The goal was to build up, rather than destroy, but the process was the same.
The critics could not understand why the Head of the Prime Minister Department was present, and why he hugged Roger Sutton at the end of the press conference. Of course, there had to be two scoundrels present to complete the Jezebel script.
Until the spiritual climate in Christchurch changes, we can expect to see more of these political manipulations.
The interesting question in this situation is where was the Ahab Complex that is always present before the Jezebel spirit manifests. I suspect that he had gone to its home in Washington to visit Chuck Hagel.
Many are called to the far shores of distant and foreign lands, but increasingly God is awakening a new breed of ‘missionary’ called to bring change right where they live.
They say the hardest mission field in the world is the one you live in right now and in an increasingly post-Christian world that couldn’t be more true. There is a growing need for us to re-learn what it looks like to live as followers of Jesus, as leaders and as disciple-makers in every sphere of modern society. From politics, to business, to the arts, media, and entertainment, the Kingdom of God is breaking in and we’ve got to be the ones leading the way.
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This will be a great experience. To find out more go to MCX.
Spring has been early in Christchurch. The daffodils, hyacinths and crocuses have been beautiful, but are fading now. Freesias are budding. The tulips are bursting out.
Christchurch is flat except for the Port Hills in the south. Today we took a gondola ride to the top of the hills. We got a great view of the city, and could see the snow-covered southern alps in the distance.
Over the other side of the hills is the port of Lyttelton. The main access to the port is through a tunnel under the hill.
Blessed Economist enjoying the view.
Looking south east from the corner of Hereford and Manchester Streets. Earthquake damaged buildings being cleared for the eastern frame.
Further round in Cambridge Terrace, foundations are being dug for a new building.
The new building next door is nearing completion.
