CHRISTIAN NEWS

 February - March 2012

 

It looks as though Great Britain could at last be coming to her senses. We were very quick to pray to Almighty God when we were up against Hitler’s powerful armies and the rest of the world thought our defeat would take a very short time. God raised up Winston Churchill to lead us to an amazing victory, but it’s not taken long for most Britons to reject God! How could we be so ungrateful?

Now the western world’s finances are worrying our leaders and it appears that this nation is coming back to it’s senses!

 

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; the people He has chosen as His own inheritance."

(Psalm 33:12)

God Bless Her Majesty the Queen!

It seems to me that, as every year passes, Her Majesty has become ever more forthright in proclaiming her Christian faith. In her latest Christmas broadcast, she has focused on the theme of hope in the midst of adversity – Christian hope!
The Queen said, "Finding hope in adversity is one of the themes of Christmas... Jesus was born into a world full of fear. The angels came to the frightened shepherds with hope in their voices: 'Fear not', they urged, 'we bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord..”. The Queen said, "God sent into the world a unique person -neither a philosopher nor a general (important though they are) - but a Saviour, with the power to forgive." She added, "Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities. It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God's love. In the last verse of this beautiful carol, 0 Little Town of Bethlehem, there's a prayer:

O Holy Child of Bethlehem

Descend to us we pray

Cast out our sin

And enter in

Be born in us today

It is my prayer that on this Christmas day we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God through Christ our Lord," she ended.

 

Then there was the Prime Minister's speech to mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. David Cameron declared that, "Britain is a Christian country and we should not be afraid to say so." He added, "The Bible has helped to give Britain a set of values... which make Britain what it is today... A return to Christian values could counter the country's moral collapse."

Earlier the Royal Mail issued its Christmas stamps including references from the Gospels. The verses declare: "thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins... and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

It is possible that we are seeing a national change of mood, reflecting God'sreviving work in the heavens? Keep praying!

(With loving greetings from all the Revival team,)

Something New Happening in Israel!

BIBLE STUDY: Psalm 81:1-5

 

In just 3 days, at the end of November 2011, first in Jerusalem, then in Haifa, more than 6000 Holocaust Survivors and their families - Jews who did not know Yeshua - came from all over Israel to hear David Hathaway demonstrate from their own Jewish Scriptures that the God of Israel sent His Son - who lived and died in Israel as a Jew - to deliver Jews like them from the fear and shame of the past, and give them a new hope for the future.

These were not Messianic Jews - but unbelievers who actually asked to come to the meetings! Thousands of them came forward to receive Yeshua, and He demonstrated His love with miraculous healings.

Leaders of the Holocaust Survivors said, "We went through the Holocaust alone. Our hearts are filled with joy that in this world there are people like you who remember us who survived that hell and butchery. We have children, grandchildren and great­ grandchildren - you cannot understand the effect your preaching will have on them!"

One Israeli tour guide in Israel, a born-again Messianic Jew, commented: "Christians come in their thousands... to 'support' Israel -they hold meetings, I take their tour groups there, but not even the greatest 'evangelists' reach one Israeli. The realisation of what has happened in these 3 days to my people has 'hit' me! Thank you for bringing Jesus to our people!"

3,500 new people started following Jesus. A leader explains: "Everywhere we went the Gospel was preached, we met people at McDonalds; in the subway and even under the shower in public swimming pools. We reached every kind of person.

(Prophetic Vision; Premier Christian Radio)

 

Christian...Put your Trust in God - whatever your circumstances!

A main item of Christian News is the Christian Enquiry Agency.
There are ten reasons to be glad, because it has been 12 months since the Christian Enquiry Agency launched the website:

www.christianity.org.uk and it’s been a very happy first birthday.
Here are the 10 reasons why they are celebrating.

ONE

Thirty thousand people have visited the website during the first year. The numbers have crept up to 100 per day as the word has spread. Chances are that half a dozen people are looking at the website at this very moment. Why not pray for them!

 

TWO

Nearly 300 of those have clicked ‘Find out more’ and contacted the agency. Who sent them the Gospel of Luke in a very colourful edition and answer a question about the Christian faith, find a local church, pray for them, or start an email conversation. We give what they ask for and only what they ask for.

 

THREE

For the last few months it has been possible to view: www.christianity.org.uk from a smart phone, so people can find answers about Jesus Christ anywhere they happen to be.

 

FOUR

Just as many requests arrive by post. Their address appears in many magazines and booklets, and they are able to send information about the Christian faith to anyone who writes to FREEPOST WC2 947 South Croydon, CR2 8UZ

 

FIVE
It is now possible to donate money online to support the work. Please tell your friends how easy it is. All they have to do is to visit: www.christianity.org.uk/give

 

SIX
A new series of web-pages is available online to give help and hope to people who are struggling through the difficulties these challenging years. People worry about redundancy, debt, illness, bereavement, dementia, addictions and loneliness.

 

SEVEN

During the Olympic Games the Christian Enquiry Agency will be the organisation that follows up all the conversations about faith that takes place with spectators, with tourists, with sportsmen and sportswomen and they will hand out cards leading people to their website where a huge increase in enquiries will happen during the summer.

EIGHT

Peter Graystone and Pat Flynn work together in the Croydon office to write the website and respond to anyone seeking information about the Christian Faith...And they love it! So please write www.christianity.org.uk at the foot of every email, church newsletter, poster or website. That’s all you need to do, Peter and Pat will do the rest!

 

NINE

Best of all, through dozens of ongoing email conversations there are dozens of people whose lives are changing for the better

There is (S), who is so determined to have a new life with the strength that faith has given her, that she has gone to rehab to make her life less chaotic.
There is (J), who had no idea that encountering Jesus would make sense of the big questions he has about the reason there is human life on earth. He wrote, ‘what you are telling me is not what I expected at all: something in me is changing.

There is also (I), who feels so different in the church he’s been linked up to, that he has changed his name to mark it.

‘The fact is that Christianity.org.uk is a fantastic thing and long may it continue!'

 TEN

Christian Enquiry Agency says, “This has been possible because you have prayed for us, supported us, and encouraged us. Thank you, thank you, and thank you!”

(2 Corinthians 8:9).

The Gospel is not about pointing a finger at others and highlighting their evil ways; it is about being made aware of the fact that we are "all sinners and fall short of the Glory of God." (Romans 3:23). One simple point that the protesters perhaps forget is that - in a worldwide context - every one of them (even those on Benefits) belongs to the richest 1% of the world's population! As for Paul, in similar fashion to his approach in Athens, he would no doubt have taken time to understand the situation and then begun to expose the many forms of idolatry that keep people (protesters included) from

having a right relationship with the living God through Jesus. As a result, some would have come to faith(Acts 17:34)!

This is a world full of inequality. Protests may focus the national conscience but, ultimately, it is only the Gospel message that can change the hearts of both the modern-day "Zacchaeuses" and all others. I trust you will be encouraged, as you read this Bulletin, to see that God is still very much in the business of changing hearts.

Broken Britain?

I am writing this edition of the Prayer Bulletin as stock markets tumble. Europe and America have massive debt problems and we have dire warnings of a "double dip" recession.
Sadly our malaise is not only financial.
 Social, political and religious commentators are still trying to explain the violent and mindless rioting that hit so many of our English cities in August.

Personally I feel the Prime Minister was pretty accurate in his analysis when he described the disorders as a wake-up call for our country. He went on to say that there has been a "slow-motion moral collapse" in the UK:
"Irresponsibility, selfishness,- behaving as if your choices have no consequences; children without fathers, schools without discipline, reward without effort, crime without punishment, and rights without responsibilities...

“These, in David Cameron's view, are some of the excesses of our permissive society that led to such extreme disorder. But, having reached this conclusion, can politicians do anything to radically alter the extraordinary selfishness of a society that believes it has a right to instant gratification no matter who is hurt in the process?

I hardly need say that the only real antidote to such moral collapse - to use Mr Cameron’s own words - is for the fear of God to fall upon the nation. There is only one way in which this can happen: through an extraordinary effort of Gospel proclamation, together with intense and earnest prayer for revival. As the people of God, it befalls us to acknowledge our calling and stand in the gap for our land.”
"Source: Ian Milmine With loving greetings from all the Revival team,)

Meanwhile, Christian charity CARE has called on the Prime Minister to re-engage with the Broken Society agenda which he promoted vigorously when in opposition. Dan Boucher, CARE's Director of Parliamentary Affairs, said, "The reasons for the riots are complex. It is very unlikely that there is any one single explanation. A key element in the mix, however, is undoubtedly the place of the family and the role of fathers in particular... When in opposition, David Cameron spoke at great length about the Broken Society and about how a Conservative government would fix broken Britain. He was very clear that one of the key drivers of the Broken Britain phenomenon was family breakdown and fatherlessness..."

 ChristianInformation.co.uk would add that the main problem is the nation turning away from the Bible, and from our ancient laws, that are based upon the Word of Almighty God.

Christian – Be of good courage!!

Most people are fearful for the future! But Christians don’t need to be fearful. Jesus told us that, although nobody knows the date of the end times, there will be signs – many of which we’re seeing now. Such as earthquakes, roaring seas and strange tides, famines and other natural disasters: Nation will rise up against nation; there will be wars and rumours of wars,- events like the Arab Spring - but the end is not yet. Jesus tells us, “When you see these things start to happen, look up, for your salvation is drawing nigh!” (Luke 22: v6)

Effective Evangelising

Although evangelising methods of delivery are changing:
 the Gospel message remains exactly the same.

*For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, not even one.

*The wages of sin is death.

*Jesus alone can save sinners.

*There is no other name given under heaven by which any person can be saved.

We dare not squander the opportunities God is giving us.
(Source: Dr. David Jeremiah – Turning Points)

                       

More about the above stories plus many additional items www.revivalmedia.org