Great Southland Revival (Review)

Great Southland Revival – Tracing the Spirit’s Flame from Acts to Australia gives a good summary of the work of God among His people in the world and particularly in the Antipodes. God empowered His gospel workers with His Spirit to turn the world upside down Down Under with the power of the Gospel of His Kingdom. Perhaps instead of “Down Under” we should use “Right Side Up”?!

As can be expected, the book uses much Pentecostal/Charismatic jargon to detail the story’s movements of the Spirit of Christ down through the years. It is good to see that the book supports a victorious Christ “down here”, i.e., an optimistic rather than a pessimistic eschatology:

“What began in the book of Acts made its way to the farthest reaches of the South Seas. The dream of the psalmist has been fulfilled: “The Lord reigns; let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.” (Psalm 97:1). And now, few regions in the world are better prepared for that great Revelation scene when the enthroned Lamb is worshipped by the vast multitude from every nation, tribe and tongue.” p. 262.

Likewise, it is good to see the book deal with more than conversions, but also considers the impact revivals have on nations and what happens if they fail to continue honouring God for His gracious, special and transforming visitation(s). For example, I was also grateful for a helpful key to understanding an area of Australian politics:

The methodist presence in the labour movement eventually faded. Discrimination drove large numbers of Irish Catholics – the majority from working class suburbs – into the ALP [Australian Labor Party], ultimately reshaping it as a Catholic workingmen’s party. For decades, the ALP served as a conduit for Catholic social teaching. It was only from the 1960s that Labor, like other parties, became secular and more hostile to Christian values.” p. 244.

With the following wise disclaimer provided by the authors, this Australian reviewer wholeheartedly endorses this very illuminating book:

Human and even demonic meddling may well be present in a revival. But that does not mean that God is absent. In fact, it could count as further evidence that we are witnessing the spiritual frontlines of a battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness.” p. 283.

In the words of that old hymn 679 in the Revised Church Hymnary, we sing and pray to the Triune God these words of Albert Midlane ((1825-1909):

1 Revive Thy work, O Lord,
Thy mighty arm make bare;
Speak with the voice which wakes the dead,
And make Thy people hear.

2 Revive Thy work, O Lord,
Create soul-thirst for Thee;
And hungering for the Bread of Life
O may our spirits be.

3 Revive Thy work, O Lord,
Exalt Thy precious Name;
And, by the Holy Ghost, our love
For Thee and Thine inflame.

4 Revive Thy work, O Lord,
Give power unto Thy Word;
grant that Thy blessèd Gospel may
In living faith be heard.

5 Revive Thy work, O Lord,
And give refreshing showers;
The glory shall be all Thine own,
The blessing, Lord, be ours.

WHEN AMERICA SNEEZES

“When America sneezes the world catches a cold.”

Picture from Web

Unlike America, in Australia voting in elections is mandatory. We get fined for not at least doing something in the ballot box. To show their disdain for the selection of candidates, some “voters” have been known to draw rude pictures on the ballot paper rather than vote for anyone. In a way, I suppose this is much the same as staying away from the ballot box – just like many Christians do in America. I’m sure I saw the number estimated around 25,000,000 stay aways. And I'm sure I saw at least one Christian online or somewhere who wanted to try to do something about this. He/she wanted to raise the number to 125,000,000 or something! What in the Sam Hill is going on in America?

Will American Christian “stay aways” inflict a severe cold on Australia simple because Paul the Apostle is not running this year? Some genius somewhere actually thinks that voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil! Why wouldn’t anyone vote for less evil? Let’s see, we can either vote that Australia gets a deadly case of pneumonia and probably dies or just a bit of a cold.

What happened to loving God and your neighbour as yourself? Why would you inflict further chaos on your own country and the rest world just because none of the Apostles are running for president? Haven’t you American Christians, like the rest of us, had enough with all the rammed down your throat antichristian Woke agenda? Green New Deals? Etc.? Then vote out the lot that are less “Christian” and vote in the lot that are more “Christian.” No, the Apostle Paul is not on the ballot. So what if maybe Western nations have broken the Solemn League and Covenant or whatever? How is an American Christian not voting going to help anything?

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Psa. 118:8). Part of trusting in the Lord and not putting confidence in man is getting off your couch and doing something, yes, something right, right for you and for your neighbour - even as far away as Australia. To help save the rest of us from the total collapse of our countries, dear brother and sister Christians, please vote!    

THE KINGDOM Every Square Inch (Release)

 Out now on in paperback Amazon! https://amzn.asia/d/efWitwi

“The Kingdom Every Square Inch” is divided in three parts,

* The Kingdom Defined,

* Living in the Kingdom,

* The Kingdom Coming.

Different views on the ‘The Kingdom’ are presented, more so the Two Kingdom idea. Although the authors are not academics, the book is not void of deep theological discussions. It is presented in such a way that every Christian would benefit from reading it. In 500+ pages the authors discuss subjects like:

* The Groaning Kingdom

* The Flood

* Common Grace and Providence

* Jesus Christ, the King

* The Static Kingdom (the already)

* The Dynamic Kingdom (the not yet)

* The advancement of the Kingdom (the ‘kingdom’ parables)

* The Church within the Kingdom

* The Civil Magistrate

* Counterfeit Kingdom

* The spheres of God’s rule

* The subjects of God’s rule

* The Structures of God’s rule

* The Significance of God’s rule

* Kingdom Law

* The Kingdom and baptising the nations

* A new heaven and a new earth

* Thy Kingdom Come

* The Kingdom of the Son of God’s love

* The Consummated Kingdom

The book is well documented with an extensive list of researched resources.

AUSTRALIA ON TRIAL - Accusations and Defence (Review)

 

“In writing this book, my objective was to contribute to the continuous project of improving our great nation by offering balanced perspectives.” p. 114. Dr Sufi has succeeded in his objective. He shows the warts as well as the beauty spots that make up the face of the nation of Australia. Its people and its history, its religion and its politics, real and/or perceived racism are all discussed in a fair and balanced fashion. Praise and putdowns, accusations and exonerations, pros and cons are weighed in the balances of public opinion as well as critical thought. Conclusions are drawn, positive conclusions. Australia is a great country!

This book is very helpful in giving a brief overview of Australia’s past through the present while considering current issues. 

ECHOES IN THE WIND (Review)

Roger Marsh’s Echoes in the Wind flows like a creek after heavy rain. The story runs with twists and turns as it gains momentum, evoking a huge range of appropriate emotions; happiness, sadness, anger, laughter, tears, pride. Yet, as with eddies and flows, there is tension and relief throughout.

You might guess certain things about the past of one of the characters, adding to the overall tension as to when and how the person is going to explain it all as Marsh carefully opens and skilfully unpacks the heavy baggage they had been lugging around for years. Cathartic!

If asked the genre of Echoes in the Wind I would have to say, “Romance.” Okay, maybe “War Romance.” However, this is no $2 romance novel. The subject is too weighty for that. Marsh delicately explores the complexities of human interactions and the immediate and ensuing emotions. An external battle often becomes a battle within.

Echoes in the Wind perfectly captures the intricate nuances of Aussie “black-humour” and the way Aussies have made swearing into an art-form. Warning! Roger Marsh’s wee book is a symphony of expletives.

Great read. Well done Roger. Bullseye!

See author interview at: https://youtu.be/q-AMT7PLxrk?si=FN8Dak2SCVvS85YT

PEACE

 

Peace

Picture from Web

‘Jesus wept’ (John 11:35) is the Bible’s shortest verse. Who hasn’t shed a tear over the loss of a loved one? In 1873 Horatio Spafford penned the hymn ‘When Peace Like a River’ shortly after receiving a telegram from his wife with the words ‘Saved alone…’ The ship in which his wife, Anna, and their four daughters had been crossing from America to England, had sank. No doubt Horatio and Anna shed many tears of grief, yet could sing, ‘It is well with my soul.’ How so? Where does this peace come from? ‘But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope’ (1 Thess. 4:13). Jesus wept even knowing He was about to raise Lazarus. Just as we grieve with Jesus when loved ones die so we rejoice with Him when He cries, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ (John 11:42b). There’s our peace: Christ has conquered death!

As recorded in the previous chapter, Jesus had already said, ‘I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it up again’ (John 10:17b-18a). It was as if Jesus had said, ‘Do you want Me to prove it? Then watch this, ‘Lazarus, come forth!’ How could Horatio and Anna know peace in their grief? Belief!

Martha and Mary were Lazarus’s grieving sisters. ‘Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (John 11:23-27).

Never having seen Jesus raise a loved one from the dead, we can only imagine what it would’ve been like for Martha and Mary: tears of sorrow turning into tears of joy. Yet this is the peace that Christians have. ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’ (1 Cor. 15:55).

The older I get the more I think about my own mortality. I’ve no sooner made my peace with death, when that peace is disturbed. “I’ll miss my wife, my children, my grandchildren.’ Then peace returns, ‘I’ll see Jesus face to face, and I’ll see my loved ones who have already died in the Lord.’ But I wish I was more like Paul, ‘For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor…’ (Phil. 1:21-22). Facing the death penalty, Paul was at peace with his own death, but he didn’t really want to leave his gospel work half finished. While my own desire is to see my family safe in the Lord’s arms, I’m also not overly happy with the prospect of leaving them. This is what I mean about my peace with death being disturbed. We’re back to those ambivalent tears of sorrow and tears of joy. The disciples experienced something similar when told Jesus was going to leave them, ‘You now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you’ (John 16:22).

Jesus wept. Why? ‘Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” (John 11:36). But was Jesus perhaps also contemplating His own future death and resurrection for our sins and our everlasting peace with God? ‘For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross’ (Col. 1:19-20).