Spiritual High Places.

Spiritual High Places.

Why the high place? Why is it that spiritual practitioners and witches use the high places on earth to practice their craft?

A high place is symbolic. Elevation is said to bring one closer to the Divine. Mountains and hill tops are often seen as sacred places as it’s the closest one can get to the divine or celestial beings.

The bible frequently mentions high places. They’re considered sacred areas as they’re as close as one can get to the heavens, which is believed to be the realm of the divine and celestial beings. The high places mentioned in the bible were frequently used in relation to Yahweh (God) but also associated with idolatry and forbidden worship.

High places offer both a vantage point and isolation, making them perfect for rituals in both visibility and secrecy, being both spiritually potent and protected from prying eyes.

Pre-Christian traditions and ancient occult practices used natural high places, or stone circles for festivals and spiritual rites. Height being linked to spirit communications in summoning the dead, or attaining transcendence.

Witches too, are depicted as gathering in open fields or cliff tops in order to channel the ‘other-worldy powers.’ The idea of these open spaces was intended to show a detachment from earthly structures.

Storytelling in all it’s forms, from cinematic to literary, use high places to evoke a sense of the dramatic in order to heighten images around forces beyond the human realm.

King David purchased the threshing floor of Aruanah, in order to build an alter to the Lord. Why a threshing floor, or why this particular threshing floor? Threshing floors were used to separate the wheat from the chaff and were often positioned in high places, located on elevated ground. For this reason, they were ideal for divine encounters and sacrifices.

At this site, the angel of the Lord was seen standing by the threshing floor, marking it as the site of God’s mercy against the plague that was upon the nation at that time. In fact, the site for Araunah’s threshing floor, later became the place of Solomon’s Temple.

Today, we don’t need to go to the high place to worship, for we are the temple. We can now go inside ourselves and worship from there. “Lift up your heads, oh you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” Psalm 24:7-8.

To lift the head, evokes a looking up to God, a welcome and ushering invitation to the Great I Am. Gates and doors are viewed as metaphors, an invitation to open oneself to Divine presence, to loose the grip of pride, fear, sin and invite the glory of God to enter the heart. An open heart, ready to hear what the Lord has to say.

As we humble ourselves in prayer, as we open our gates and doors of the mind, heart, eyes and ears, let us pause a moment and listen. Listen to what the Lord has to tell you today.

 

 

Instruction vs Execution.

Instruction vs Execution.

Today we’re looking at 2 Kings 9:3, the prophet Elisha instructs a young prophet to anoint Jehu as king over Israel, telling him to pour oil on Jehu’s head, declare him king and then instructs him to flee without delay.

Elisha mentions a short quote and asks that a prophet repeat that brief passage to Jehu but once there, the prophet gives Jehu quite a lengthy citation, rather than the fleeting one as instructed. The question is; why? Why a long sentence and not a short one?

In taking such liberty this brings to the fore a fascinating glimpse into how divine spontaneity and prophetic authority work hand in hand.

Elisha tells the young prophet to go to Jehu, anoint him and say; “Thus says the Lord, I have anointed you king over Israel.” Elisha concludes that the prophet flee immediately, once the message is delivered.

While the prophet was instructed to flee, to avoid potential harm from the current king and his wife (Ahab and Jezebel), Jehu is expected to rise and take charge after his anointing.

When the prophet actually meets Jehu, he delivers the words spoken by Elisha but also adds a much longer prophetic word, including a divine charge to strike down the house of Ahab, a declaration of vengeance for the blood of God’s servants and a prophecy about Jezebel’s gruesome death.

That’s not what was asked of him, so why does the prophet expand on the matter?

There are a number of explanations for doing this;

1. Some scholars believe it to be prophetic inspiration in the moment, perhaps having been overtaken by the Holy Spirit and led to speak these words.

2. It’s also possible that Elisha only gave a summary of instruction, where the full speech was not written down in the scriptures but known to the prophet.

3. Or maybe it was more of a ‘thematic emphasis’ where an underlying idea is central but there’s room for expansion. This is an invitation for Jehu to not just be crowned king but also commissioned as an agent of justice.

4. Perhaps it’s a ‘narrative technique.’ The distinction between a brief instruction and the full speech used in effect, to build suspense before delivering the full weight of God’s judgement through the prophet’s words.

5. Lastly is the fact of spiritual insight. God’s word overflowing human boundaries; a connection between God and a deeper revelation through the prophet himself, turning a simple task into one of justice, truth or divine timing.

Intention is the pulse, animating both instruction and execution, the inner compass that guides towards meaning. It isn’t just the goal or outcome – it’s the why beneath the what.

When we read scripture, we need to open the pages of our book with an inquisitive mind. We need to ask the five w’s and how. What, when, where, why, who and how. Picture yourself in the story. Ask what the story means in relationship to yourself and where you are in life. In doing so, God’s word takes on new meaning. It challenges us to go deeper.

In going deeper, we find the hidden gems, the nuggets of gold; things we see which are relevant to us. Isn’t that the intention of reading God’s word, to find the relevant truths buried within its pages?

Ask what is the central message, what’s the author’s main point, why was the passage included in the bible. Look at what’s happened before and after the verse. How does it relate to you, to others, to the story itself?

When you ask questions, when you dig deeper and scratch well beneath the surface, then you’re approaching what Jesus is looking for in a disciple. Jesus spoke in parables because not every word spoken was for every person. But those who came back later and asked, those were the people who got the deeper revelations. That’s what I want; deep revelations, all of what Jesus has to offer. I’m assuming that’s what you want as well.

Shalom.

Shalom – Anarchy and Chaos Leave...

When using the word ‘shalom,’ we tend to think peace, wholeness, health and prosperity but it’s deeper than that even. Today, there’s no direct translation from any modern language but it beautifully captures ancient Hebrew pictograph language. And while I can’t write in old Hebrew, I can see that each single symbol represents a picture and I’ll do my best to describe it here:

Shin; to destroy.

Lamed; to teach, to learn and also a shepherd’s staff.

Vav; to secure or connect.

Mem; chaos and disorder.

When placing these images together they form a layered image. The image means – to destroy the authority that causes chaos. It encompasses connection via learning and teaching (a heart that understands wisdom) in peace through the shepherd’s staff.

The shepherd’s staff? Jesus is the good shepherd, using the crook (curve) of His staff to direct His sheep in the way they should go and beating off the beasts of the field with the with the shaft (the straight end of the staff). Direction and protection.

As followers of God, this is what we’re meant to do; protect and direct. We’re to remove anarchy and chaos and bring in peace. 

While no modern language directs the phrase in this way, the way the ancient Hebrew scripts conveys the concept of no war but restoration, peace and wholeness, the meaning of shalom today is used and is more than just peace but also the absence of conflict or war. 

The word shalom goes even further still, as such to say ‘to make good or restore,’ not just regarding lost or stolen items but also an overall sense of fullness and completeness in mind, body and estate.

In Aramaic salam is a close rendition of shalom, a similar sounding word referring to the hope of world peace and the end of war, while the Hebrew shalom gets straight to the heart of the matter, in restoration.

And it goes even deeper again. Shalom is an inward sense of completeness/wholeness. It brings with it an inner tranquillity. Used as a greeting, shalom offers wholeness, well-being, best wishes and peace, plus an end to strife.

True shalom is inseparable from justice. Psalm 85:10 states “Righteousness and peace kiss each other,” meaning that peace without justice isn’t biblical.

What a great way to start a conversation; Shalom – Anarchy and chaos leave. Peace come. When someone greets you with shalom, they aren’t just wishing you a peaceful day, they’re also blessing you in body, soul and spirit.

Jesus said in John 14:27; “Peace I leave to you, my peace I give to you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither be afraid.” This formed part of the farewell discourse Jesus had with his disciples before His crucifixion – a promise of peace which is different to the proffered world view. A verse of comfort and reassurance, restoration, inner peace and strength, regardless of the challenge’s life throws at us.

There’s only one way to attain this peace and that’s through a relationship with Jesus. If you haven’t invited Him into your life, if you want the peace that surpasses all understanding, now’s the time to ask Jesus; Come Lord Jesus, come.

An Afterthought or an Intentional Placement?

 

2 Kings 13:20-22

20 Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year.

21 So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet. 

22 And Haz’a-el king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Je-ho’a-haz.

In reading the above verses, it felt to me as if passage 21 was an afterthought. 20 and 22 spoke of invasion and oppression, while amongst the clamour of it all - a man was buried. Not only was he dead and buried but he also came back to life. Did this not surprise those who were present?

A sacred moment in time. A narrative jolt in the centre of the horrors of war. A cinematic moment of a body tossed hastily into the prophet’s tomb and a springing to life as the dead men’s bones touched. A miracle in the middle of disaster.

Was this passage an afterthought or an intentional placement?

Let’s look a little deeper, shall we? Earlier in the story, Elijah performed eight miracles. Elisha had requested a double portion of Elijah’s anointing. Upon his death, Elisha fell one short of that double portion, having fifteen miracles and not sixteen. The sixteenth miracle, lingered and was made evident after his death.

This last miracle, a posthumous testimony, reinforcing God’s power not being bound by time or mortality. A symbol of hope in crisis. A glimpse of the mystery of resurrection. With Israel under threat and Elisha now gone, this sudden resurrection is a flash of reassurance from the Divine.

This fulfilment of prophecy bridging the gap between the ministries of Elijah and Elisha. It’s as if the author is saying – remember, Elisha’s words still matter, still account to the truth.

Although a seemingly flippant moment in time, passage 21 embodies the foreshadowing of the resurrection; a foreshadow of Christ’s resurrection power that was yet to come.

So, while it may feel like an afterthought squeezed in-between momentous events, the event itself is momentous, a kind of divine exclamation point; a startling reminder of God’s power transcending even death.

A posthumous echo where the dead still speak and of others which are also mentioned in the bible; Elisha’s bones, Abel’s blood, Joseph’s bones (moved to be buried in the Promised land), Samuel summoned from the dead by the medium Endor, Elisha and Moses transfiguration – all testifying to Christ’s glory.

What do you think? Having read this story in a new light, do you view this passage as a spontaneous gesture or something intentionally crafted?

Australis, the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit.

Why is this term used and where did it originate?

The phrase “Australis; the great south land of the Holy Spirit” derives its origins from the Portuguese navigator Pedro Fernândez de Quirôs while sailing under the Spanish flag in the early 1600’s. The phrase carries spiritual weight as well as historic.

Quirôs landed in Vanuatu in 1606. At that time, Quirôs believed he’d landed on Terra Australis Incognita, which was thought to have been a mythical continent of the south. Declaring; “I take possession of all this part of the south as far as the pole in the name of Jesus…”on Pentecost Sunday and continuing with; “which from now on shall be called the Southern Land of the Holy Ghost.”

There was a spiritual significance to the declaration, which many Christians have embraced, even though Quirôs never actually reached Australian shores. Songs such as “This is the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit” resonated deeply within Christian ranks.

Discussions amongst historians sway between Quirôs’ political zeal and prophetic insight; an interplay between an earthly and heavenly calling. We must remember, though, God’s kingdom is not bound to geography. God’s kingdom is to transform lives.

There’s a rich tapestry between Revelation and the transformation to spiritual identity with divine patterns, national calling and Holy Spirit leading to destiny. Revelation isn’t just apocalyptic but rhythmic and structured. The seven churches, seals, bowls and trumpets each speak a message to the believer. A calling to repentance, perseverance and spiritual awakening, with progressive waves of judgement and mercy bringing justice and restoration.

Constant praise and worship lift our vision for this great country ensuring Australia’s spiritual future is secure. Intimacy with the God aids the augmenting of justice and reconciliation, bringing spiritual portals over the nation. These portals are thin places where angels move freely and echo Revelation’s vision of heaven colliding with earth.

The great south land of the Holy Spirit is a calling; a calling to embody the fruits and gifts of the Spirit in the nation. Australia, a place of spiritual gold, where people come for truth and healing. A Holy presence, a visible glow over the land, where even the indigenous see the spiritual as essential - a lens for revival as historical wounds heal, relationships are restored and communities empowered.

Australia, a place where kingdom identity reflects Christ’s character. A character of humility, mercy, justice and love. Where the Holy Spirit guides, convicts and comforts, through compassion not conquest.

Spiritual portals opened through worship. Gateways between dimensions where the veil between the physical and spiritual becomes thin, highlighting connection, insight and even the supernatural.

Jacob saw angels ascending and descending through what he considered a portal. A moment in time, through deep prayer and worship of spiritual alignment can act as temporal portals. People who engage in prophetic and healing ministries function as living portals for divine activity. Energetic shifts and sudden changes in atmosphere reveal a portal presence, where spiritual traffic increases and divine encounters occur.

Not all portals are positive. Some attract fear, confusion and demonic activity. Be sure you’re opening portals with the King of King’s beside you. Be sure you move in prayer, worship and scriptural word. Close harmful portals with declarations of spiritual authority.

Angelic warfare enter gateways and are not to be taken lightly. Unfolding cosmic battles are not just symbolic but reflect true spiritual dynamics. Portals are not neutral zones. They are contested spaces where angels and demons clash. Demonic portals are opened through the occult, through trauma and through rebellion.

Certain areas of geography as well as divine timing can aid prophetic encounters. Hebrew festivals can often open a portal and bring in a divine visitation. Moments of deep surrender, prayer or prophetic calling heighten spiritual activity. Sincere worship aligns the heart of man with the heart of God, triggering angelic movement, visions and revelation.

Musical instruments have long been used as rhythm and sounds pierce the atmosphere, mimicking heavenly worship and activating divine presence. Consistent worship and prayer cultivate locations where heaven and earth touch. It’s not through force but alignment.

Portals are places of assignment where protection and purpose, revelation, healing and transformation take place. Ceaseless praise influence government, justice and prophetic insight as God’s glory and presence are revealed. Visions and mysteries are uncovered in these moments when we restore throne-room worship here on earth.

Peace and restoration are released when faithfulness and obedience are held before the Almighty. A room, a corner of the house, an outdoor spot is all it takes. Prophetic worship and music declaring the promises of God echo the model Kind David gave us, creating a heightened spiritual sensitivity and discernment. This practice will align you to heaven’s rhythms.

Try it for yourself and see if what I’m saying is true. Be open, be honest, be sincere and watch and see what happens. You might find yourself in amazement.

Moving in the Prophetic.

I know I’ve said this numerous times now, but I’ll say it again; when God raises you from glory to glory, you think it can’t get any better and yet, somehow it does. We’re then raised to another level of glory and then another and then another. Sometimes I wonder how high it goes. 

Not all that long ago, I mentioned I’d been anointed in prophecy but that I didn’t expect too much to happen straight away, as God moves slowly. I was expecting something to happen 5 to 7 years from now. Happily, I’ve been rather surprised at the speed at which this is moving. I actually didn’t know it could/would happen this fast. Not that I’m anywhere near the level spoken of but we all have to start somewhere right?

Two things have happened recently. One; my car needs a windscreen replacement after a rock hit it and it cracked. Two days before, I only then found out I have intermittent wipers. (A long story.) Had I have called on the day the rock hit, the insurance company would have asked if I had intermittent wipers and I’d have said no. They would then have ordered the wrong windscreen. God’s perfect timing. 

The other thing; often when I walk, I hear footsteps behind me. This has gone on for a good few years. I’m always turning around to see who’s there. There’s never anyone around. Three times yesterday evening while walking to church, I turned around after hearing footsteps and as always, no-one was there. Last night the talk was on angels. Angels follow after us as we walk through our day. I’m wondering if that’s what I’m hearing. 

I heard music one night at John’s. I can’t remember what time but late into the night or early morning. I thought it was odd. Perhaps John’s got the tv on. I got up to look and no, the tv wasn’t on. There was no music playing but I was still hearing it, so it was spiritual, not earthly. It was a soft sound and I looked into it only to find a you tube clip on hertz and music. 

Somehow, I knew it was 432 hertz. There’s also 440, and 444. It was an incredibly interesting clip. 432 aligns with nature, 440 is harsh and 444 aligns with nature but also carries power. So, it’s going to be interesting listening to the music. 

I don’t really know one note from another and I don’t know that I’ll be able to tell the difference between one and the other. But I shall have a listen and see what happens. People who listen to music at 440 often report being depressed afterward, according to the clip, whereas the opposite is true if you listen to 432 and 444.

Anyway, my apologies if I’ve mentioned this already. 

But, coming back to the prophetic, I’ve had a number of encounters already. The latest being church up here last week. I was praying for a church member who was struggling with different issues. The following week I told him God had a word for him. 

God said this man had been here before but this time it hurts more deeply because he didn’t expect it to come from the church (I don't believe it was the church but his perception of it, which is just as important). I mentioned that the talk on forgiveness (yesterdays’ message) was very apt as when we take offence, we build a wall and once the barriers go up, it’s hard for the message to get through. This man agreed. I said God is giving him a deep shaking and when, not if (because God sees the end from the beginning), when he overcomes this, he’ll never again enter this place of pain. Also, that God was enormously enamoured that he would even still come to church with the pain he is carrying. 

Later that evening the minister came up and thanked me for speaking to this fellow. This morning at prayer group, Pastor thanked God for the change of heart this man has had. It is God. It was through prayer that I received the word and it did take courage to step out and give that word. I’m not at all experienced in prophecy. I just have to trust (have faith) that what I’m hearing is of God. 

I’ve had two other encounters which have had favourable results, so there must be something to it. 

I also had a dream a few nights ago that I grew a beard and it grew overnight. A beard represents wisdom and maturity. A fast growing beard can also signify prosperity. 

Well, that’s my news of late. Always a story to tell. Oh, I have many more but I do try to not inundate busy people. Lol.