As always, we offered our time of gathering to the Lord as a blank canvas, for which we had no preconceived idea or agenda. A verse was offered during our opening time of worship:“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (Jn 3.8). In human terms we are keen to know where we are going, indeed, we may think we need to know where we are going as well as how we will get there. However, Jesus suggests that for those embracing ‘life in the Spirit’ this should not be so. Are we willing to live in this way? We were reminded of the example of the apostle Philip suddenly finding himself relocated to another place (Acts 8.39-40). There is also the example of the Celtic saints, who set off in small boats, allowing the wind to take them where God willed.
Word: Jesus came down to be like us. We ‘go up’ to be like Him.
Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father – 3 references were shared: Ps 110, Luke 22.69, Eph 1.20-21 – If we are in Christ, then we too are seated at the right hand of the Father, as we are seated with him in the heavenly places (Eph 2.6). This is a position of authority in Christ. What does the Lord want to teach us? There is a need for us to listen with open hearts, not to try and understand with our human mindsets. From our position in Christ, we are no longer looking directly at the Lord but, rather, looking in the direction He points out to us. We not only listen, but see through our hearts (Eph 1.18). Our prayer in the Name of Jesus is not an assertion of ‘our’ authority, but an expression of our oneness with Him in heart and mind, within the relational embrace of the Trinity. He is the One with all authority and power and the nature of His power is Love, because he is Love. We experience God’s Love through our hearts. Therefore, we need to learn how to exercise power and authority in Christ, through our hearts, in Love.
Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing (Jn 5.19) and He delighted in doing the Father’s will (Ps 40.8). Obedience to the Father is not simply doing as we are told or following the Law. Even Jesus had to learn obedience and this was through suffering (Heb 5.8). Obedience also requires faith (Rom 1.5). At a deeper level, our delight in doing God’s will is rooted in a love for Him and His Word, resulting in a heart that is fully and joyfully submitted and obedient to Him. Biblically, our will is situated in our heart. The orientation and submission of our hearts to God determines our freedom to move within the flow of his Spirit.
An image of a bird gliding was shared with the words of a song: “on eagle’s wings you raise me up”.
Jesus promised His disciples that they would be “…clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24.49). We need to be prepared to take off the ‘clothes’ of the world.
We spent the remainder of the gathering asking the Father to show us what He is doing (from our ‘ascended’ position in Christ). As each person shared what they were shown, everyone prayed in agreement for the Lord’s will to be done. We commend this pattern of prayer to all. Our prayer is related to the mobilisation of angels, who do the Lord’s bidding and who help us in the ever increasing spiritual battle.
Below are 2 further contributions, prompted by the way the Lord led our gathering:
A Word given to the Nottingham Maranatha Group on 14th February 2025
My people, when you pray, let it be as if this were the first time you uttered these words to me: every day, your prayer is new and fresh – even though you may have said what you say a thousand times.
Remember that a moment is a lifetime and a lifetime is a moment for Me. It is the work of the enemy to discourage you, to convince you that your prayer is futile repetition and that God does not hear or care. Do not be troubled by these thoughts or fears: they are unreal and deviant, thin fictions propagated by the one who contemptuously calls Jesus “the Nazarene”.
If you understand that your prayer is constantly a renewal of faith to My ears and filled with the life of my Holy Spirit, you will understand that your persistence is a sign of your faith: it is an endurance of which my servant Paul spoke to you, an endurance that brings many into God’s Kingdom. When you feel downhearted or that your prayer is not answered, take courage: you are being undermined because your faith and your prayer are so valuable to Me. You may safely leave the time and the way to Me for the whole of creation is given into the Lordship of Jesus – and nothing is too small to matter to me.
Do not confuse discipline with pointless repetition: the discipline of prayer is also essential in soaking lives in the water of new life. Whether one or many, I will find them in the end if you are faithful in prayer.
So, My people, your prayer is a great weapon against the forces of evil. Only the faithful wield this weapon: you are people of power because you obey Me faithfully. Obey Me in the constancy of your prayer.
A Poem given to Kate 15th January 2021:-
Royal Government: My Sons & Daughters
All of my children are at their own stations
Positioned for purpose in the life of their nations
To each of my daughters, to each of my sons
I give my instructions to see nations won
Each one is so different, each one has a part
Each one is a child after my loving heart
To some I’ve entrusted a life of deep prayer
Yet others assigned to bring mercy and care
And when there is war and My call up is made
I send them My angels to bring them My aid
And when there are tryings and testings as gold
Great faith and endurance come forth from the bold
I’m shaping the nations through My children dear
I’ve been training them well, so they will not fear
Those young men of faith are so pleasing to Me
And My lovely young women, who do valiantly
These children have grown up to show forth My glory
And I will uphold them, for I write their story
Their rewards are in heaven, their rewards are on earth
For these are My children, they have Royal birth
And this is My mystery, this My revelation
That My children dear, in all of the nations
Are those I’ve prepared to come close to My side
For I’m making a people who will be a Bride
A Bride for my Son, the Son once on earth
The Son Who now has all glorious worth
The Son who sits now at My righteous Right Hand
King Jesus, who’s governing over the lands
My children are rising, they will soon be seen
From heavenly places where they’ll intervene
In nations and governments throughout the world
With my Royal Standard – God’s Banner unfurled
My Standard flies high, over cities and towns
Where my sons and my daughters are wearing their crowns
And using My sceptres of justice and power
Declaring My Kingdom to earth in this hour
And I will enforce the decrees that they make
They’re speaking decisions I lead them to take
For I am the Lord and My Voice will resound
From heaven to earth My Voice splits the ground
My Kingdom will come on the earth as in Heaven
For I overcame the Pharisees leaven
Their yeast was conspiring to work through the dough
But I’m the true Bread and daily I’ll show
That I am the Way, the Truth and the Life
I am the true Peace and I will end strife
My sons and my daughters now have my Royal Seal
To bring Truth to earth and Life that is real
They’ll show up the counterfeits, that look so appealing
Yet bring evil darkness, the true Light concealing
For I am the Light of the world and I shine
A spotlight on children I’m proud to call Mine
Sons and daughters arise – you’re commissioned and ready
I’m showing the world that I’ve held you so steady
Keep looking to Me, your great Father above
And govern this earth in My justice and love.