Phillip Hughes Why? Personal Matters God has a prophetic purpose in the midst of painful events; “Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it? “For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his … Continue reading →

Sometimes the Christian life seems to be something too difficult to live.  Sometimes there is too much pain, emotional or physical or even spiritual.  It seems as if God is just ignoring our prayers for the difficult times to be … Continue reading →

Come Again Isa 64.1-9; Ps 80:1-7, 17-19; 1 Cor 1:1-9; Mark 13:24-37 Introduction I cannot recall a sermon topic which has been more of a challenge to my own spirituality than this one. With teaching on the Second Coming of … Continue reading →

In the Book of Revelation the Old Testament images are given new meaning in the context of the creation brought into being by the Lamb of God who reigns forever and ever.  The Old Testament temple worship is seen in … Continue reading →

Fire Personal Matters Listening to speakers at three meetings in two states over two consecutive days can be very demanding, especially when you test men’s words by Jesus’ testimony; “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matt … Continue reading →

Introduction I set out to understand the difference between the conscience of a believer and that of an unregenerate person.  Along the way I decided that something which Jesus has done must have transformed the conscience, because there are differences … Continue reading →

Sweet Wine Personal Matters Spiritually it has been “a long time between drinks.” Though often feeling close to God and hearing him clearly it is a long time since I have experienced a radical empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Acts … Continue reading →

Rest Again Personal Matters Restless sleep, pastors’ meetings in disorder, Indigenous Christian leadership burning with anger, young people in addiction; surrounded by such things I sensed clearly: God is restless and that he is missing the enjoyment of his rest. … Continue reading →

The Spirit of the Kingdom                                                                             Mark 1:1-20 Introduction God is working today to turn his people inside out, from a Church focus to a kingdom focus. Christ did not teach us to pray “your church come” but “your kingdom … Continue reading →

My Father’s Business Personal Matters Last Saturday about 15 people with a mutual interest in Christ’s kingdom in the workplace gathered for mutual support and prayer. One of the brothers shared quite passionately of seeing lovely young people join a … Continue reading →

Inheritance: God’s and Ours                                                                  Eph 1:3-22 In places the content of this sermon could be experienced as distressing, but its purpose is to relieve trauma. Introduction The future of the Anglican Church in WA will be decided by our … Continue reading →

Nailed Beauty Personal Matters Early last Friday I was asking the Lord what the Church today is NOT seeing about him as her Husband. The Lord’s reply was very embarrassing. He started to speak to me about his hand as … Continue reading →

Uncompetitive Glory Personal Matters We are all competitive by nature. This came home to me with particular power the other day when Donna was playing the card game “Snap” with our 3 year old granddaughter. Donna managed to call out … Continue reading →

The Lamp of the Lamb Introduction Revelation 6 describes the world’s response to the Lamb of God opening heaven’s scroll releasing war, famine, pestilence and death on the earth, “everyone…hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks… calling to … Continue reading →

A word about this post I wrote the first version of this in July 2007.  When I opened this I was surprised by the fact that I had these thoughts so long ago.  Some of the ideas found here are … Continue reading →

The Fellowship of the Wounded Personal Matters Someone approached me recently saying; “The Lord said to me; ‘Speak to John, he’s a ‘wounded spirit’ too.’” This humble testimony was the foundation of our conversation and what I believe will prove … Continue reading →

Building on Christ   Readings: Ex 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Ps 19 Phil 3:4b-14 Matt 21:33-46 Introduction The story goes that early in the 1700’s the dean of St Paul’s London walked into the church on Easter Day and decided there were … Continue reading →

John 10:17 –      The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life…[1] The Lord began to speak to me from this Scripture a number of days ago revealing the personhood of God in it.  As human … Continue reading →

Real Evil Personal Matters If exposing evil means uncovering the difference between appearance and reality I must first get my own life in order. I have always been able to make comments that no-one, even Donna, can gauge whether I … Continue reading →

A Door Open In Heaven “After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven!” (Rev 4:1) Personal Matters In the economy of God times of dark evil precede the most intense revelation (Isa 9:2). As I headed … Continue reading →

In the book of Revelation there are letters to seven churches.  In my most recent reading of Revelation one of these letters stood out as something rather scary.  The words of Jesus to the church must be heeded as they … Continue reading →

Forever Father Personal Matters Sometimes the small unarticulated things are the most foundational; permanence in relationships is one of these. When I was about 4 my father sort of “disappeared” from my life, he was still around, but given his … Continue reading →

9.9.14 Personal Matters In an early morning prayer meeting in Wesley Church I sensed a very strong disturbance in the heart of God, but one followed by a wonderful promise. The key passage is Joel 2 which contains a divine … Continue reading →

Grand Child[1] Personal Matters Sometimes the deepest truths come in the simplest ways. In my last teaching I shared how the “book of life” has many pages, and as each one is turned we learn new things about our heavenly … Continue reading →

The Other Book Personal Matters I was recently chatting with a close friend who finds it hard to step out in his God given authority despite the rest of us long telling him he is clearly called of the Lord. … Continue reading →

Israel Introduction The topic on which I have been asked to speak today, “Israel”, is one of massive proportions, momentous implications and causes some of the deepest of divisions amongst Christians. To discuss “Israel” historically, racially, politically, geographically or simply … Continue reading →