Body Strength

A season of shaking is coming,
when many of the foundations that we trust
will be swept away.

God is calling together small groups of people
who can support each other through this storm
who can stand together in Jesus
while everything around them is shaken.

The will be sold out for Jesus.
doing Jesus will,
by obeying voice of the Holy Spirit.
They will lay aside the things of the world,
that would encumber them
and will live simply on what God provides.
They will share everything with each other,
and with those around them.

These groups of people will be drawn together by love for Jesus,
and bound together by commitment to love each other.
They will be mighty warriors in prayer,
able to go out together in the power of the Spirit.
They will be experienced with gifts of the Holy Spirit
and ready to deal with any situation.

These groups will be prepared for distress,
and equipped for victory.

The Ambush

An ambassador was travelling to a neighbouring kingdom with a gift and a message of greeting for the king. However, he was not what he appeared to be. He had really been sent to spy out the land by another king, a cunning evil man, who was planning to invade the kingdom that was ruled by a good king. (The good king is Jesus and the evil king is the devil.)

When the ambassador came to what had been the border, he was surprised to find that it was no longer there. He travelled many miles further down the road before he came to the border post. Those who were guarding the border had retreated far back into the kingdom.

As the ambassador travelled through the kingdom on the road to the king’s palace, he was amazed by what he saw. The crops had been neglected and were choked by weeds. No one had bothered to harvest the grain which was ripe and it had fallen to the ground and been eaten by the birds. In the villages, the people were sick and starving. In the streets men were fighting and killing each other. Everyone was a law unto himself.

In parts of the kingdom, wicked rulers had seized control. They dominated the people who lived in their "turf", making their life a misery.

As he rode into the city the ambassador passed a statue of the good king. Children were using it for target practice. Its face was almost smashed to pieces. The decrees of the king had been published on a notice board, but they were covered with so much graffiti that they were unreadable.....

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David Pawsons Burden for New Zealand (4)

God’s challenge to New Zealand was received in the 1980s, but it has not been acted on. People focussed on the economic crash, but missed the warning to be prepared. Many asked, "Is the crash coming now?" but few asked "What must I do to be part of the commando army?" People did not get ready, so God hand was restrained.

The economic crash could have been the 1987 share market crash, but it was not because God’s people were not ready, so he had to defer. The economic crash could have been triggered by the Asian financial crisis in 1997, but God’s people were not ready. The economic crash could have been triggered by the 2007 credit crunch, but it was not because God’s people were still not ready so he has deferred again.

The Lord seems to start an implement his strategy every 10 years, but because his people are not ready, he has been unable to bring his plans to fulfilment.

David Pawson shared his burden,
he also told us how to get ready.
People listened, but they did not hear
Crash, Crash, Amen, Amen! they said,
but no one got ready.
So God could do nothing,
he could not fulfil his word.
A word that is not heard,
cannot be fulfilled.

The church has had thirty years to prepare, but has done very little. Most Christians are still not a place where they could cope with a real economic crisis. Very few could be strong during a time of disaster.

Despite the advance warnings, we are not ready.

Pivotal Times
Very few Christians understand the critical times that we are living in. Most are looking around and see things falling apart. They are not worried, because they believe that Jesus is returning soon to rescue his people. They look forward to an economic crash, because that brings the second coming closer. They are not worried about difficult times, because they have blind faith that God will take care of them.

Rather than pondering signs and events and waiting for the second coming, Christians should be getting prepared to complete the task that God has called us to do. By warning his church that an economic crash is coming, God was giving us an enormous opportunity. Unfortunately we are not ready to take that opportunity. We are living in pivotal times, but the pivot is missing.

David Pawsons Burden for New Zealand (3)

The members of a commando army must be totally committed to their task. They are totally focused on their objective and will not let anything distract them. They will do what has to be done, even if it costs their lives.

Each member of the team will be extremely fit, mentally alert and totally prepared for their part in any operation. Each commando will have a task to do. They will have trained for that task until they can do it with ease. Any challenge that comes their way will be handled effectively.

Each member of the commando team will be equipped with a different weapon. One will carry a machinegun, another will be expert with explosives and others will be skilled with small arms. Each one will be trained in the use of their weapons and backing each other up. If one member of the team takes an injury, another will quickly step into his place.

The commandos will have melded together into a team. Their strength comes from the way that they support each other. Each one can go into action, knowing that the rest of the team will back them and do their bit.

These commandos can operate with very limited back up and support. They carry all the equipment in the packs on their backs. Commandos are able to live off the land, so they can operate for long period of time in hostile conditions without support.

The commandos understand the strengths and weaknesses of their enemy. They know how to strike where the enemy is vulnerable and they are strong.

Here are some of the things that I believe Christians must do to become spiritual commandos.

• Get out of debt.
• Learn to live simply.
• Share possessions.
• Reduce dependence on motor vehicles for fellowship and work.
• Make the spiritual gifts normal.
• Take hold of Christian healing.
• Learn to function as part of a team.
• Build real relationships with other Christians.
• Reduce dependence on a few powerful leaders.
• Learn to follow the voice of the Holy Spirit.
• Understand spiritual protection.
• Total dedication to Jesus.
• Learn to do God’s work in pairs.
• Start doing the One Another stuff.
• Get a vision for the Kingdom of God.
• Get out of debt.

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David Pawsons Burden for New Zealand (2)

During his visit to New Zealand, David Pawson was handed a vision about a Commando Army that had been received five years earlier. This vision confirmed his burden and explained how an economic crisis would bring revival. This vision described an economic crash that is not just another judgment on the world, but a key element in God’s strategy for accomplishing his purposes for this nation. This vision contained several keys to understanding God’s strategy.

• Most Christians would be shattered by an economic crisis. They have been blinded by wealth and drawn into a materialistic lifestyle. In an economic crash these people would be totally crushed.
• Christians have taken a worldly attitude into the church and starting running it like a business, paying their fees and leaving the professionals to do the work. Churches that are dependent on this money machine will grind to a halt during an economic crisis.
• The world forces will also be shattered. Satan has used the lure of money and material wealth to hold the people captive, so the crash will break his hold over many people.
• In difficult times, power flows to those who are prepared. The commando units are Christians who have prepared by learning to live simply without the trappings of the world. Their only motivation is love for Jesus and love for each other. They will have committed to serving each other and will know how to support each other through times of pressure. These Christians will know how to move in the power of God and will be able to minister to all people in all situations.
• The commando units will not be touched by the crisis. They would not be surprised by climactic events, so they will be strong at a time when everyone else is shattered and confused. Their powerful proclamation of the gospel will be welcomed by people looking for hope and peace in a sea of trouble.
• People of the world who gained meaning through wealth and consumer goods will be looking for a new meaning to life and will be ready to receive the gospel. The result will be a mighty victory for God.

God’s strategy is to economic crisis to shake up the worldly and loosen Satan’s hold on the nation. The problem is that he cannot shake the world system without also seriously shaking his church. His strategy will only work, if some Christians get into a place where they will not be touched by the economic crisis. The plan would succeed, if significant groups of Christians get prepared.

Timing is Critical
God did not send the flood until the ark was completed. If he had sent the flood sooner, Noah and all the animals would have been wiped out. This meant that the timing of the flood was partly in Noah’s hands. If he spent time preaching when he should have been building the ark he may have actually deferred the flood. In the same way, God could not send the economic crash until the commando armies were prepared. If he were to send a crash before they were ready, it would do too much harm to both the church and the world. The timing of this crash is not determined by economic events, but by what happens in the church.

When this commando army is ready God will drop the bomb.

God could not send this economic crash until his commando army ready.

What Happens Next (11) - Fourth Generation Church

To cope with the collapse of human government, churches will have to become fourth generation entities. Our weapons are spiritual and our goal is different, but our structures and organisation will have to be more like 4GW entitities.

Many years ago, I shared a vision of a the church as a commando army. I did not fully understand this at the time, but I now realise that if Christians are willing to take up this challenge, the the legitimacy of the state will be undermined. We can get ready for the time when,

the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever (Dan 7:18).

The Commando Army

Andrew Strom asked and interesting question in his weekly mail out.

The answer is here.
And here.

The answer is that the church is still not ready.

The need for a Commando army is greater than ever.