09.02.2006
This is what I believe God brought to my attention at the IWT board of reference meeting yesterday. Those who were present will realise it is highly contextual. This is submitted for testing and prayer.
- Nets: I brought a torn net I picked up in the street along with me (and showed it to several people after the lunch). It relates to a prophetic warning God gave me 10 years ago about the 90% long term fall out from a revival in Mar del Plata, Argentina. The words are “there are too many holes in the net”.
The net is relational networks of mothers, school and youth groups etc. outside the church that God wants to raise up to “hold the catch” from IWT.
- Reformation: this relates to the holes in the net through which the fish swim out. The greatest obstacle to the wholeness of the net is resistance formed by the “clergy – laity” distinction. Where pastors and priests will not let go of control schism will come with resultant loss of divine favour. This is an urgent issue.
In relation to my question about the patterns of ministry and IWT (“fractals”). I believe these patterns are universally replicable i.e. can be reproduced globally leading to world wide network of prayer, ministry etc, providing the above reformation occurs.
- Age: in my forming devotions yesterday I believe God drew my attention to Zechariah 8:1-6, “The word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: 2 Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath. 3 Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain. 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. 5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. 6 Thus says the Lord of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts?”
Typologically, Zion is Perth, and the comment below holds true. “Too often men and women are apt to measure a city’s significance by its business, professions, and industry, its buildings, its wealth, its art and culture. Zechariah suggests that we measure the significance of our cities by their effect upon two groups easily overlooked – the old and the young.” (T.C. Speers).
The difference is age between Brian Whitehurst with his walking staff and Joel McGill the IWT Coordinator has great potential spiritual significance. The spiritual authority exercised by IWT in this city will depend greatly on their mutual respect. This must function as a model for the whole campaign.
Additionally, I sense it is vital to maximise youth/children representation at all levels. This including youth on the Board of Reference etc.