Websites
|
|
|
|
|
Storms over Britain: who is to blame?
In the political domain the 'finger-pointing' of our blame-game culture has been much in evidence. Clifford Hill looks 'under the surface' of the deluge through a spiritual lens.
by Clifford Hill
Feb. 2014
The closing ceremony of the Olympic Games 2012 in London broadcast to the world a demonic incantation calling upon the spirits of the underworld to flood Britain. These are the words they used:
 "I call upon the spirit of Autumn. The spirit of water, of the ebb and flow of emotion; of open seas and running streams, of cleansing rain; spirit of the evening sun, of twilight and of Autumn. I call upon the spirit of Winter. The spirit of earth, of the womb of creation; of the night and the snows of winter, deep roots and ancient stones".
It was deeply offensive to Christians to hear words of pagan rites being broadcast to the world as representing the spiritual heritage of our nation. If it was offensive to Bible believing Christians how much more offensive it was to God!
For far too long we have allowed secularists, humanists and spiritists to speak out unchallenged as though they are representat ives of the spiritual and cultural heritage of this nation. When the closing Olympic ceremony was broadcast to 750 million viewers acro ss the world it was a deliberate insult to Christians and a serious denial of the God of Creation who has blessed this nation for hund reds of years and brought us through the 20th century - the most violent in world history - with two world wars that threatened our ver y existence as a nation.
In 1940 the whole nation was called to prayer at the time of the Battle of Britain when the remnant of our army was miraculousl y rescued from Dunkirk across the Channel: and a spirit of confusion caused Hitler and the German High Command to fail to follow up with their victory in France by an invasion of England. Winston Churchill, addressing Parliament, stated that this was a miracl e and an answer to prayer. Some three months later when the German air force had failed to defeat the RAF the nation was called once aga in to a day of prayer, thanking God for his protection of our small island.
The closing Olympic Ceremony 2012 was a disgrace and a deliberate insult to the God of our fathers. He would be fully justified in saying that we had invoked the spirits of the Earth to flood the nation and now we are suffering the consequences. It is time t o call the nation together for prayer once again - but this time in repentance and asking God's forgiveness that we have spat in his face and spurned the God who has loved us and protected us in times past and who is still calling out to us now and warning us of the gr eat danger that lies ahead.
The storms over Britain today are a foretaste of the tsunami of economic and social chaos that will descend upon us in the near future unless there is a spiritual change in the life of the nation
 The Rev Dr Clifford Hill MA BD PhD is a sociologist and theologian. His pastoral ministry has been in inner-city areas of London including a long ministry in the East End during which he also held a Senior Lectureship in the Sociology of Religion in London University.
He was the founder of the Newham Community Renewal Programme, one of the largest urban mission organisations in Britain. He also founded Prophetic Word Ministries which had an extensive international ministry from 1982 to 2005 with its flagship magazine, Prophecy Today. [The magazine continues now under a new title 'Sword', a new editor and the focus is on declaring God's Word into the church in the belief that the judgements which Dr. Hill warned of are now self-evident.]
Clifford is the author of more than 30 books, covering a range of subjects including race and community relations, socio-political studies, biblical commentaries and research studies on the family, as well as many journal papers, tapes, CDs and other resources, including some written jointly with his wife Monica. Their latest joint venture is a study guide of the Seven Churches of Revelation - Ephesus to Laodicea.
Other articles can be found at the Issachar Ministries web site. |
Clifford Hill, 14/02/2014
|
(page
1
2
3
4
5)
| |
|
Colin Ford |
14/02/2014 20:03 |
Dale,
Most of those revivals apart from the Hebridean one that you mention, happened before the nation of Israel was born in 1948. Part of the reason I settled on Lewis was because corporately the Island honours the Sabbath. However there is much ritualism and formalism up here. Although I have met some folk that pretty well believe exactly what I believe!
Not one man, woman or child who earnestly prays to God is "wasting their time". But we must be careful what we pray for? This is why our eschatological beliefs are of paramount importance. If you are not a pre-millennial believer (And I believe that you are not) then you would pray for revival?
It is my earnest prayer that the Lord will return very soon and inaugurate His literal Kingdom on planet earth, as the Scriptures clearly teach.
Many Christians believe in a crucified Saviour, but NOT in a Coming King.
Ed. Thanks, I will read.
|
| |
|
Dale Munday |
14/02/2014 20:30 |
Frankly I can't see the relevance of the birth of the nation of Israel in 1948 to the subject of praying for true spiritual revival in our land right now. I don't want to stray onto the eschatologic path because we would wonder way off the subject of storms over Britain. However, I gain the impression that you would not participate in a prayer meeting for revival because of your particular eschatological views? If indeed the present extremes in the weather pattern is related to the nation's spiritual decline, then the call to pray for repentance and revival should be long, loud and clear.
|
| |
|
Vic Cameron (Guest) |
15/02/2014 00:20 |
Old covenant, legalistic and the type of ranting that gives Christianity a bad name!
|
| |
|
Vic Cameron (Guest) |
15/02/2014 09:20 |
DIG for Friday the 14th of February.....the floods in the UK are NOT the judgement of God.....1 John 2 v 2
Well, it has started; God is getting the blame for the unprecedented floods in parts of the UK.
The “prophets of doom” and the “repentance brigade” have started shouting about the levels of sin in the UK; about bills to allow gay marriage, about pagan prayers at the olympics, about institutional church going into partnership with secular societies in schools, about removing posters of the Ten Commandments for our schools.
They are telling us and proclaiming to the country at large that God is to blame for the flooding.
And I thought it was because of record rain levels, because we have not dredged the rivers and because we are building too many houses on flood plains; just shows how much I know!
They wants us now to repent, to plead for forgiveness, to cry out to Him for “spitting in His face”, to fast; all in order to persuade Him how much we no love Him so that He will let the waters recede, and of course not send something worse later on.
You can probably tell from my tone that I do not believe this; in fact this type of “Christianity” really ticks me off.
The God I know is a good and loving God (James 1 v 17).
The God I know said that He would remember the sin and iniquities of men no more (Hebrews 10 v 17).
The God I know has already judged our sin and made a payment for our sin through the finished work of His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (1 John 2 v 2).
Jesus’ death and resurrection was payment for the sins of the whole world, even for the sins of what would seem to be those terrible sinners in the south of England and especially Somerset.
If God, and I say if God, is judging and punishing the sin of the UK, then He is saying that Jesus’ work was not enough; He would be saying that what I call Jesus’ finished work is actually not quite finished.
If God is still judging our sin as the prophets of doom are telling us then He could not have been satisfied with the payment Jesus made.
Friends, the payment Jesus made was way more than enough, on the cross Jesus said “It is finished”.
We have been reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5 v 18 ad 19) as we have already been forgiven through the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1 v 7) and Colossians 1 v 14).
God is not judging our sin, or anyone’s sin anymore as Jesus has already paid the price in full; we now live under the new covenant where our sin is not being judged.
We no longer live under the old covenant, we are living in a different time where God relates to man in a different, new and better way; in a way where He no longer sends floods as a judgement or punishment.
Do not allow old covenant and legalistic prophets of doom to tell you that God is to blame for these floods or for any floods.
Believe that God is a good God, and believe that Jesus has indeed paid the complete price for all our sin.
Speak this out today.....”Thank you Lord that you are a good God, and thank you for the finished work of Jesus Christ, through which all sin for all time for all people has already been dealt with”.
1 John 2 v 2.....And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world
|
| |
|
Steve (Guest) |
15/02/2014 10:15 |
Well said Vic. My God is a good God who loves this Nation. The ridiculous incantations used at the closing of the Olympics were appropriate for a secular festival of human achievement. I pray for God's great grace for the UK. In our loss and suffering maybe we'll see Christians out helping and making things better. That's what Jesus would have done.
|
| |
|
Realist (Guest) |
15/02/2014 12:12 |
Realist, what you have said leaves God's sovereignty out of the equation
Au contraire - what I have said takes full account of God's Sovereignity.
People talk of choice - repent, or else - but repentance is a gift from God and not a natural resource which can be trawled from the religious reservoirs of godless men.
If this nation is to be saved it will be God Himself who will have to take the initiative
And the vehicle of that saving will be the individual salvation of many i.e. 'Revival', and revival - true revival - and on a scale that has never before been witnessed in this land.
But alas - God's word does not promise revival in these last days - God promises, not unnaturally, that which we are experiencing - A great falling away. 2 Tim 3.
Someone has mentioned previous revivals - specifically that instigated by John Wesley - but that was not a revival of the true Gospel of Christ - that was the birth of Methodism - an Armenian corruption of the true gospel of Christ
|
| |
|
Penny Lee |
15/02/2014 12:43 |
Well, I am praying for revival, and I will keep on praying for revival. Whilst the general trend is for the UK to move further and further away from God, that doesn't mean there will not be incidences of revival as a result of the earnest prayers of God's people. I believe people will continue to be saved right up until the day Jesus returns.
As for God being a God of love - of course He is but He is also a God of judgement and we deceive ourselves if we think that continued deliberate sin will be overlooked. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross is not a 'carte blanche' for us, individually or as a nation, to continue on in sin. The UK has rejected God very publicly and we will suffer the consequences of this.
Of course not dredging rivers, and building on flood plains, has exacerbated the flooding problem but God gives wisdom to leaders when they acknowledge Him - and as above, Churchill is an example of this - so equally God can also leave leaders to make foolish decisions which lead to the problems we are seeing today. We don't need to be surprised at what's happening though, especially wild seas and Christians being taken to court for holding to their beliefs. We only need to read Luke 21 (verses 25-28):
"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
|
| |
|
Colin Ford |
15/02/2014 12:49 |
I would resspectfully remind Vic and Steve that Jesus Christ is not some new improved God that came out of nowhere nearly 2000 years ago. Many 'Christians' do create their own Jesus by misinterpreting, or shall I say twisting the Scriptures?
He is the Almighty Creator God; John 1.1-3 KJV, John 1.10-11 KJV, Colossians 1.17-18 KJV etc.
He is a "consuming fire" Deuteronomy 4.24 KJV, confirmed in the New Testament in Hebrews 12.29 KJV. The Apostle tells us "He is the "same yesterday and today and forever" Hebrews 13.8 KJV.
In His first Advent Jesus "came to save" John 12.47 KJV, 1 Timothy 1.15 KJV. When He comes again, He will come as judge and "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" Revelation 19.16 KJV and will judge the dead "according to their works" Revelation 20.12 KJV.
The Saviour said "why call ye, me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Luke 6.46 KJV. There are those who call Him Lord that will not be saved, Matthew 7.21-22 KJV.
Jesus spoke far more about hell than heaven, there are those Christians who believe that the Ten Commandments are "done away with". They ARE the way of life, the way TO life is through the blood of Christ. No man can keep the law, that is why He came ( Ed. I don't want to digress down this road too far)
Let us not be deceived. Without holiness no man shall see the Lord, Hebrews 12.14 KJV.
The Bible does forewarn us that there will be "perilous times" 2 Timothy 3.1 KJV, at the end.
|
| |
|
Vic Cameron (Guest) |
15/02/2014 16:17 |
Hi Colin, thanks for replying to my comment, good to debate these issues in a reasoned and sensible manner.
I do need to take you up on what you reply however (and am happy of course for you to do same to me).
Your comments make the classic error I fell of much of Christianity today; law and grace are mixed, and we end up with a mixture of old covenant and new covenant teaching.
For example, what you say about the 10 Commandments; they are the way of life, the way of life, yet you say no man can keep the law. What is it? Do we have to keep them or not?
God has never changed, I completely agree with that, however the way He deals with man and deals with sin has changed, and changed because of the cross and the finished work of Jesus Christ.
We are now under the new covenant, now that is not an excuse to live a life of sin; however sin has been dealt with (1 John 2 v 2) and we have been reconciled (2 Corinthians 5 v 18 and 19).
We cannot mix law and grace, either we have to keep the 10 Commandments and all the other regulations or we do not because Jesus has done this for us.
Now I am not advocating people to live in sin; sin is evil and horrible and has consequences, but under the new covenant I believe Scripture is clearly saying there is no current judgement.
|
| |
|
Darrell Brady (Guest) |
15/02/2014 18:00 |
I believe that God is loving but also correcting. After the ongoing annihilation of the church in Iraq,Syria,Egypt and the ME in general, whom do you believe is responsible? What would Jesus think?
Britain has been at the forefront of the mass destruction of men, women and children in all these created warzones. Did you believe we would get away with these mass murders.
Many, many so called Christ followers call for the further destruction of Iraq and even Russia....!
Test your consisences (not your leaders,pastors). Use your God given intelligence and reason. Where is this guna end?
Nemesis maybe!
|
(page
1
2
3
4
5)
|
|
|
