You will be pleased that the Elisha Code will be soon available on Amazon in hardcover as well as paper back and Kindle ebook.
Tina Friesen on the Elisha Code
5.0 out of 5 stars
An inspiring read
Reviewed in Canada on March 14, 2024
The personal devotion and passion of the authors shines through in this well written book. The Elisha Code touches on many aspects of Christian living as the writers till the soil and sow seeds in anticipation of a coming revival reminiscent of the Jesus Movement both experienced. The book awakens a yearning for a ‘Book of Acts’ Holy Spirit out-pouring accompanied by signs and wonders. The concept of the Elisha code is derived from the premise that Elijah prepared the way for Elisha’s double anointing in the same way John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ. It asks whether we are seeing forerunners of a new awakening today and challenges us to prepare our hearts.
You will notice that Isaiah 61 begins by saying: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me. The Hebrew and Greek words for the Holy Spirit is Ruach and Pneuma, which is the same word used for wind or breath. Think of a pneumatic drill powered by the air, the wind. Everything about Jesus is related to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of the Father, the Spirit of Truth, the Paraclete our comforter and counsellor, and the Holy Ghost, from the German Geist for Spirit. The Holy Spirit is compared metaphorically to Clothing and a higher power in Luke 24:49), to a Dove in Matthew 3:16, to a Pledge and Earnest Money in 2 Corinthians 1:22, to a seal in Ephesians 1:13, to Fire in Acts 2:3, to Oil in Acts 10:38, to water in John 7:38, to Wind in John 3:8, to breath in John 20:22, and to wine in Ephesians 5:18. What is your favorite biblical image for the Holy Spirit?
Matthew 1:20 tells us that Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Matthew 3:16 tells us that the Holy Spirit descended like a dove upon Jesus during his water baptism by John the Baptist. Luke 4 tells us that Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for the forty days of Lent. In John 14:26, Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would be his representative on earth when he returned to heaven. The Holy Spirit is mentioned over 90 times in the New Testament. In recent history, the Holy Spirit was often the forgotten third person of the Trinity. As the Nicene Creed puts it, the Holy Spirit is worshipped and glorified with the Father and the Son. He is not an impersonal Star Wars force. He is God. The Holy Spirit is not a something. He’s a someone, a person. The Holy Spirit has an amazing personality that you would enjoy getting to know.
Do any of you, by the way, know who Muslims think that the Holy Spirit is? Because they reject the Trinity, they shrink the Holy Spirit into just being the Angel Gabriel.
John 14: 16 tells that the world (and often many of us church folks) neither sees or knows the Spirit of Truth. Many of us had accurate theology about the Holy Spirit without personal experience of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:17-18 quotes Joel 2:28-32 that God in the last days will pour out his Spirit upon all people, on both men and women, young and old, even upon the servants. The Good News is that hundreds of millions of people, especially in Africa, are experiencing a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit. Most Anglican Christians live in Africa, well over forty to fifty million where they are experiencing a wonderful Spirit-led revival. Each of the three times that Janice and I have ministered in Africa, we have come back refreshed and renewed in the Spirit.
You will remember how in Luke 4, Jesus preached from Isaiah 61 in Nazareth. It did not end well, as his home town rose up, attempting to throw him headfirst off a cliff. What is it about Isaiah 61 that was so upsetting to his home town crowd?
To say that the Spirit of the Lord has anointed Jesus is to affirm him as the Messiah, the anointed one, in Greek the Christ.
Jesus’ mandate from the Holy spirit in Isaiah 61 is to proclaim good news to the poor. The term gospel means good news. The term evangelism or evangelical means to share good news. Historically, the poor are the most open to the good news. The poor can be those economically poor, but also poor in spirit. You will remember that Jesus said in the beatitudes ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God.’ Blessed are those who know their need.
Isaiah 61 vs tells us that the Holy Spirit sent Jesus on mission. Part of that apostolic sending is to bind up the broken-hearted. Has Jesus ever done that for you? Has he ever used you to bind up the broken hearted? Why is it so essential to the gospel to bind up the broken hearted?
Isaiah 61 tells us that through the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus will proclaim freedom for the captives. E. Stanley Jones describe these captives as those who have been disinherited and exploited because of race, class, social standing, and lack of education. 2nd Corinthians 3:17 tells us that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Romans 8:15 tells us that through the Holy Spirit, we as children of God are no longer slaves to fear. The Holy Spirit set my hero E. Stanley Jones free from a sense of inferiority. His father was an alcoholic who had sold most of his family’s furniture to feed his addiction. God reminded Jones according to 2nd Timothy 1:7 that God has not given me a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind. The baptism or soaking in the Spirit is a baptism of God’s love. Has anyone experienced freedom from captivity in their Christian walk? Has anyone experienced a baptism of God’s love in your life? What was that like for you?
Has anyone been released through the Holy Spirit from darkness, as Isaiah 61 talks about? This reminds me of Isaiah 60 “Arise and Shine for your Light has come”. The Holy Spirit is vital in our being released from all forms of darkness, including physical and emotional sickness. Often the inner healing happens before the physical healing. Forgiveness of deep inner hurts often results in remarkable physical healings. Countless millions in Africa, Asia, and South America have come to know Jesus personally when they experienced the healing power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told us in Acts 1:8 that we shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, and we shall be witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth, including Crescent Beach.
I am so grateful that this is the year of the Lord’s favor. How many appreciate the favour of the Lord in your life? In the creeds, the Holy Spirit is called the Lord of Life. Judaism and Christianity are all about embracing the gift of abundant life. We live in a culture of abundant death where abortion and MAID attempt to remove suffering through eliminating human beings. Romans 8:6 tells us that the mind governed by the Holy Spirit is life and peace. Romans 15:13 describes our being filled with joy and peace so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Does anyone need less peace and joy in their lives?
You will notice that Jesus did not quote the second half of the verse, which refers to the Judgment of the Lord which awaits his second coming. As we say in the Creed, he, Jesus, shall come again to judge the living and the dead.
I love how Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, comforts all who mourn, and provides for those who grieve in Zion. We are very aware of how many Israelis have been deeply grieving since the October 7th massacre. Jesus said in Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” We are called in 1 Corinthians 12:15 to weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. 2 Corinthians 1:4 says that the Father comforts us in our sorrow that we can comfort others with the comfort that He has given us.
Has God the Holy Spirit ever given you beauty for ashes, as mentioned in Isaiah 61:3? What did that look like for you? The oil of joy is such a gift where life is weighing us down. That is why Paul reaffirmed in Philippians 3:3 that the joy of the Lord is our true security. What are we tempted to trust in for our security?
How many have ever put on a garment of grumbling? How did that work for you? Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, puts on us a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. There is something very radical when we give thanks while others curse. E. Stanley Jones said after a massive stroke that he still could give thanks, sometimes because of, and sometimes in spite of. How has giving thanks and praise brought breakthrough in your life? Has anyone ever heard of Merlin Carother’s book Prison to Praise?
How many of us want to be oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor? In this world of chaos and destruction, we need to be deeply rooted in a way that displays his splendor.
We live in a difficult time when everything that can be shaken is being shaken. Hebrews 12:28 tells us that only the unshakable Kingdom will remain. The Spirit of Jesus is helping us to rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; The Spirit of the Father is enabling us to renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. That is incredibly good news in this time of gross darkness, particularly in BC.
Jesus in Luke 11:11-13 said: “What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So, if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” God only gives good gifts. We don’t need to fear giving over our will to the Holy Spirit, who is a good and loving God. Galatians 5:25 teaches us that since we live by the Spirit, we need to keep in step with the Spirit. I Corinthians 6:19 reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
All born-again Christians have the Holy Spirit living inside of them, but it is still too easy according to 1 Thessalonians 5:19 to quench the Spirit, Ephesians 4:30 to grieve the Spirit, Act 7:51 to resist the Spirit, and Isaiah 63:10 vex the Spirit.
It is such a joy, as Romans 8:26 puts it, that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses, that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans. Many scholars see this as an allusion to praying in the Spirit, to speaking in tongues. Nicky Gumbel calls it a love language. Some have the misunderstanding that speaking in tongues is always an ecstatic experience, and so they seldom speak in tongues unless they are a spiritual high. Rev. Dennis Bennett, the author of the best-selling book Nine O’Clock in the Morning and one of my Anglican heroes, recommended that people pray in tongues in their prayer closet on a daily basis. I compare speaking in tongues to flossing one’s teeth. It is best done on a daily basis, whether one feels like it or not. Over the past forty-five years, I have observed that daily speaking in tongues does not guarantee spiritual maturity, but it can help one grow in their prayer lives.
Nicky Gumbel says that you can be filled with the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues. There are no first-class and second-class Christians. Nicky also says that all Christians can potentially speak in tongues. How many of you have ever heard of Vicar Alexander Boddy from All Saints Anglican Church in Sunderland? Janice and I visited there on our last trip to England. The Holy Spirit poured out on that church in 1907, and for the 25 years, countless people came at Whitsuntide/the Day of Pentecost to receive an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps the most famous recipient was the Bradford plumber Smith Wigglesworth, who after receiving his prayer language, went on to have a world-wide healing ministry. Has anyone heard of Smith Wigglesworth?
Being filled with the Holy Spirit again and again, according to Ephesians 5:18, makes us more fully Trinitarian, not just conceptually, but also experientially. It is not mere coincidence that we are water-baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. At the end of every worship service, we are blessed in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Healthy revival and renewal is always deeply Trinitarian. Jesus lays down his will to the Father. John 16:13-14 tells us that the Spirit of Truth points not to himself but to Jesus. The Spirit helps us experience intimacy with Jesus, making us more Christocentric and therefore less eccentric, as in off-centered. As Nicky Gumbel puts it, it is the Holy Spirit who makes Jesus real to us. That is why the Alpha Course weekend with the three talks on the Holy Spirit is such a gift. More than 24 mi E. Stanley Jones said that ‘every rediscovery and re-emphasis on Jesus has brought and still brings revival and renewal. This Lent, we all need to more fully receive the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Bishop Peter often says that breakthrough comes through surrendering our will. What if this Lent we actually surrendered to the Holy Spirit? What if we let go and let God the Holy Spirit take control? How many are willing to ask God for a fresh Isaiah 61 outpouring of the Holy Spirit this Lent? Let us pray. Come Holy Spirit and fill us afresh with abundant life. Amen.
March 3rd 2024 All Saints Sermon by Rev. Dr. Ed Hird
““Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show you compassion. Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night, so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations— their kings led in triumphal procession. For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish; it will be utterly ruined. “The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the juniper, the fir and the cypress together, to adorn my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place for my feet. The children of your oppressors will come bowing before you; all who despise you will bow down at your feet and will call you the City of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel. “Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through, I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations. You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. Instead of bronze I will bring you gold, and silver in place of iron. Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones. I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler. No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor. The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation. I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.””
Have you noticed how Isaiah 60:10 says that foreigners and their Kings will rebuild the open walls of Jerusalem on Mount Zion? Vs 20 tells us that the everlasting Light of God will cause the days of sorrow to end. The Jewish people have seen so many days of sorrow, sometimes from people who claim to be Christians. Historically, many gentile nations have often robbed the Jewish people rather than generously bring them the wealth of the nations. Do you remember the first nation that robbed Israel and then blessed as they left? Exodus 12:36 calls it the plundering of the Egyptians after four hundred years of slavery. It is not rocket science to observe that nations that curse Israel and the Jewish people never do well, for as Jesus said in John 4:22, Salvation is of the Jews.
How many of you have a friend, family neighbour or colleague whom you would like to come to know Jesus personally? In the Jesus movement revival, we led countless people, including some of our Jewish friends, to Jesus, largely because we didn’t know any better. Most of our Christian friends were hiding in the closet about their faith until the Jesus movement happened. When Jewish people in Israel prophetically receive the wealth of the Nations, I am believing that this will include receiving what Romans 11:33 calls the depth of the riches of the wisdom and[i] knowledge of God! Paul tells us in Romans 11:25 that in the last days after the full number of the gentile nations have come in, there will be an end-times revival in which all Israel shall be saved. That is why we need to keep praying expectantly for our Jewish friends for a turning to the Lord and a removing of the veil. Do I hear an amen?
Both Bishop Peter and I have talked a lot about the Bible-based Chosen TV series, which is distributed first by Lionsgate Films on the large movie screen, and then on the Chosen App, YouTube, Prime, and Netflix. It first came out in 2017 and is now in its fourth of seven seasons. More than 600 million people already have watched the Chosen series. How many have watched any of it yet? What was your favorite episode?
New research reveals that roughly half of the viewers of The Chosen are not Christians. As mentioned last Sunday, the darkness out there is getting so gross that many of the unchurched are getting curious about Jesus the Light of the Nations. The research shows that Gen Z and younger, many who know nothing about Jesus and have never been to church, are loving the Chosen series. They can’t get enough of it. Here’s an advance tip: Season 5 of The Chosen will spotlight Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem for Holy Week. Season 6 and Season 7 will include the crucifixion and resurrection. You won’t want to miss it. How many of you are willing to check out the Chosen series? More importantly, are you willing to invite a friend or family member to watch a chosen episode with you? It is one of the easiest ways to do evangelism in this gospel-resistant culture.
How many of you love Isaiah? I deeply love Isaiah. I am genetically related to Isaiah who is now four years old. His mom chose this name because the prophet Isaiah spoke about beauty for ashes, an anointing of joy for a spirit of heaviness. How many of you have met any of our grandchildren? If you have met Isaiah, you will never forget him. Our grandson Isaiah is full of life, bubbling over.
As you know, All Saints is currently doing a five-week Lenten sermon series on Isaiah entitled “Arise and Shine, All Saints.” The New Testament quotes the book of Isaiah 71 times. Isaiah is the most Christian, in Hebrew, the most messianic book in the Old Testament, which Jewish people call the Tenach. How many of you know what the term Tenach stands for? It is an acronym for the three section of the Old Testament: 1) Torah (Law, the first five book), 2) Neviʾim (Prophets), and 3) Ketuvim (Writings, or the rest of the Old Testament).
Isaiah 2:5, as quoted by 1 John 1:9, calls us to walk in the light of the Lord”. Isaiah 5:20 warns woke people, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.” Isaiah 7:14, as quoted by Matthew 1:22, prophesies that a virgin will give birth to God’s son, one of his names which is Immanuel, God with us. Isaiah 9:1, as quoted by Matthew 4:15, calls Jesus a light in darkness. Isaiah 9:6 prophesies that Jesus the Messiah will come as a baby. I love the beauty of the King James Version which Handel’s Messiah drew upon “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 11:1, as quoted in Luke 1:31-33, calls Jesus the root of Jesse, King David’s father. Isaiah 28:16, as quoted in Matthew 21:42-44, calls Jesus the rejected Corner Stone. Isaiah 29:18 & 35:5, as quoted in Matthew 11:5, prophesied that Jesus would cause the deaf to hear and the blind to see. Isaiah 40:3-5, as quoted by all four Gospels, predicted the coming of John the Baptist who would prepare the way for Jesus the Messiah. Isaiah 42:1-4, as quoted by Matthew 12:18-21, prophesied that Jesus the Messiah would be gentle and not crush the broken.
The strongest and longest OT prophecies about Jesus are found in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53, which is never read nowadays in the synagogues. Many of my messianic Jewish friends have come to know Jesus, who they call Yeshua, by reading Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. There was a Jewish person who was first shown Isaiah 53 and asked who it was talking about. He said, “Well, it’s obviously about Jesus. But I don’t trust your New Testament.” He was then amazed to discover that this was not from the New Testament but the Old Testament.
Have you noticed that Isaiah 60 keeps telling us in verses 3, 5 to 6, 11 (even in Isaiah 66:12-13) that those coming to the Light of Jesus will bring the Wealth of the Nations? The King James Version called this the Wealth of the Gentiles. In Hebrew, it is called the wealth of the Goyim. In 140 places, the KJV translates the term goyim as the heathen. The words ‘heathen’ and ‘nation’ are often interchangeable in the KJV, as in 1 Chronicles 16:24 “Declare his glory among the heathen, his marvelous works among all nations.” This is where we get the word ‘ethnic’ from (ethnos in the Greek). To be called heathen did not mean that you were uncivilized, just not Jewish. Those of us who are not Jewish and love Jesus are actually Christian heathens.
Now when business people, economists and politicians hear the term Wealth of the Nations, what person and book comes to mind? Adam Smith’s 1776 book Wealth of the Nations. How many of you have ever read Wealth of the Nations? How many of you have ever taken a course of economic? I want to invite you up for a little dialogue.
In 1776, Smith’s second book The Wealth of the Nations was so popular that he became known as the Father of Economics and the Father of Capitalism. For some people today, Capitalism has become a negative word associated with Scrooge-like greed and cutthroat business practices. Karl Marx blamed capitalism for all the world’s ills.
Most people have no idea that Adam Smith was a devout Christian economist. In his two books, including his lesser-known book The Theory of Moral Sentiments, God was mentioned a total of 403 times. Biblical economics is based on our being faithful stewards, realizing that all things come from God, and of his own have we given him (1 Chronicles 29:14). Stewardship in the Greek is the same word as economics (oikonomos, manager of the oikos, the house). Smith wanted everyone to earn a decent living, saying ‘No society can surely be flourishing and happy of which the far greater of the members are poor and miserable.’ Smith observed how God transforms private interest into public good by his invisible sovereign hand.
Born in 1723 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, Adam Smith never knew his father who had died five months before his birth. Smith regularly attended the local church with his devout mother Margaret. His strong Christian faith is often ignored or minimized by modern economists. You cannot really understand Adam Smith without appreciating his 1759 book The Theory of Moral Sentiments:
He said: “As to love our neighbour as we love ourselves is the great law of Christianity, so it is the great precept of nature to love ourselves only as we love our neighbour, or what comes to the same thing, as our neighbour is capable of loving us.”
Adam Smith was not just a philosopher and economist. He was also an early psychologist and sociologist who served at Glasgow University as Professor of Moral Philosophy. He was such an academic rock star in Glasgow that the university bookstore even sold a bust of his head what he was still alive! Smith was fascinated about what made people tick, especially how emotions/sentiments affected our life choices and ethical decisions.
With most of his students training to become ordained clergy, he taught them extensively about natural theology, how God our creator impacted our natural world:
…every part of nature, when attentively surveyed, equally demonstrates the providential care of its Author, and we may admire the wisdom and goodness of God, even in the weakness and folly of man.
Smith was struck by the miraculous order of God’s good universe. He called the universe God’s machine, designed to produce at all times the greatest quantity of happiness in us. Romans 8:28 reminds us how all things work together for the good.
Since he was fatherless, Smith deeply appreciated that God was indeed our heavenly Father. He commented that ‘the very suspicion of a fatherless world must be the most melancholy of all reflections’, leaving us with nothing but endless misery and wretchedness.
All the economic prosperity in the world, said Smith, can never remove the dreadful gloominess of a world without God our Father. Smith taught that with this conviction of a benevolent heavenly Father, all the sorrow of an afflicting adversity can never dry up our joy. Smith, who sometimes suffered from depression, knew that because he was not cosmically alone, he had reason to keep going. After experiencing academic burnout, he left Glasgow University, serving as a European tutor for Henry Scott, the future Duke of Buccleuch and his brother. While in Paris, he became friends to Voltaire and the French physiocrat economists, led by Dr. Francois Quesnay, the Royal Physician to King Louis XV. After the tragic death of Henry Scott’s younger brother, Smith returned home, never to visit Europe again.
Let me ask you a question: Who first brought the wealth of the nations to Israel as predicted in Isaiah 60? None other than the wise men who brought their three gifts to Jesus the Messiah of gold, myrrh, and incense. Haggai 2:7 says that the gold and silver belong to the Lord. My scientist brother-in-law had a great bumper sticker “Wise Men Still Seek Him.” Isaiah 60 Vs 5 prophetically said “Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.” Where did we get the idea that the wise men came on camels? From Isaiah 60. Where did we get the idea that the wise men or magis were kings? From Isaiah 60 vs. 3 and 11. And also in the prophecy of Psalm 72:10-11, it says “May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.”
What reason did Isaiah 60 give that the wise men came to visit Jesus? The darkness became so gross that they were drawn to the light. Have you noticed in 2024 that the darkness is getting pretty gross? I am believing that many unchurched people in 2024 will be so grossed out by the extreme darkness in BC that they will come to this glorious Lighthouse in Crescent Beach. We the people of the light need to be ready to welcome them with open arms. These lost, broken people will not come to the light already cleaned up and fixed.
According to Matthew 2:2, what led the wise men to that perfect light? (the Star of wonder, Star of night) That reminds me of a song.
Did the wise men visit Jesus at his birth? Not likely. Likely over 40 days later. Perhaps a year or two later. Do you know, by the way, why the wise men were late for Christmas? Being men, they wouldn’t ask directions.
How many wise men does the bible say came to Jesus? It doesn’t say. It just said three gifts. Their names were not likely Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.
What was the final thing the wise men did after they gave Jesus the wealth of the nations? They worshipped him. Did you know that the JW New World Translation bible wipes out any references to worshipping Jesus, retranslating proskuneo as merely obeisance, whatever that means? How many of you believe that Jesus the King of the nations is worthy of worship and adoration? That reminds me of a chorus: O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore him
O come let us adore Him
Christ, the Lord
Why do we have an offering of our tithes and sacrificial offerings each Sunday in our worship service? Because Jesus is worthy of our worship, worthy of receiving the wealth of the nations. Do I hear an Amen?
Jesus, in sixteen out of the thirty-eight recorded parables, spoke about stewardship. As we seek first God’s Kingdom, our needs will be met. (Matthew 6:33) Jesus tells us in Luke 16: 11 “if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” Money is small potatoes in God’s eyes. The true wealth of the nations is about love, forgiveness, justice, and God’s Word.
Abundant living depends on abundant giving. Jesus taught that it is better to give than receive (Acts 20:35). Tithing our first 10% to God and then giving sacrificially expresses the truth that God the King owns it all, and we are his Kingdom caretakers. E. Stanley Jones told the story of a poverty-stricken boy named Colgate who met a steamboat captain who encouraged him to give his heart to Jesus and give one tenth of all he made to God. The boy promised both, and through his Colgate Toothpaste Company, ended up giving millions to serving others.
What might happen to Canada in 2024 if we chose to lay the wealth of the nations at the feet of Jesus’ unshakable Kingdom?
This Sunday we continue in our Lenten series on spiritual principles from the book of Isaiah. The Rev. Dr. Ed Hird will be preaching this week. His text is: Isaiah 60:10–22. The title of his sermon is: “Receiving The Wealth Of The Nations.”
So come, join us as we worship the triune God together. Here’s the announcement:
Church @ Church this Sunday—the 3rd March at 10:00am
In case you missed it, you can find last week’s service (The Second Sunday in Lent) HERE. https://youtu.be/LXrMiYfsWJ4 Arise & Shine: Isaiah 10:1-9
Important Dates for this week:
Ladies’ Refresh 10:30 every Tuesday at the church.
All Saints Prayer and Bible Study 7:00pm Thursdays at the church. “Proverbs—helping us navigate life.”
Peter and Jenny on Holidays: Monday 19th Feb. to Thursday 21st Mar. See the Rev. Dr. Ed Hird (778) 881-3857 for all church matters.
Don’t forget: Daylight Saving Sunday 10th March “Spring forward” (set your clocks one hour ahead).
All Saints Community Church Potluck lunch after the service Sunday the 24th March. Everyone welcome.
Maundy Thursday Seder Dinner. 6:00pm Thursday the 28th March. Special Guest: Marty Shoub. Sign up at the back of the church. Everyone welcome.
Good Friday Service 11:00am Friday the 29th March All Saints Church Everyone welcome.
All Saints Community Church Beach Clean-Up. Holy Saturday 30th March. Meet at 9:30am at All Saints. Everyone welcome.
Easter Sunday Resurrection Service at All Saints, 10:00am Sunday the 31st March. Everyone welcome.
Alpha is coming to All Saints—Details soon. See Sally Start for details.
If you have any further questions, or need help in any way, don’t hesitate to contact me.
Thank you Church. Stay vigilant and prayerful. Love each other deeply and keep Jesus at the very centre of everything you do. Blessings on all you do.
The peace of our Lord,
Peter Klenner Bishop and Pastor All Saints Community Church Crescent Beach 604.209.5570
““Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord. All Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth will serve you; they will be accepted as offerings on my altar, and I will adorn my glorious temple. “Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests? Surely the islands look to me; in the lead are the ships of Tarshish, bringing your children from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”
Isaiah 60:1-9 NIV
What was God’s first command in the Bible? “Let there be light, and there was Light” (Genesis 1:3). 2 Corinthians 4:6 said that God, who said ‘let light shine out of darkness’, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Jesus. That reminds me of Graham Kendrick’s song Shine Jesus Shine.
There are over 230 references to light in the Bible, including today’s passage. Light in the Bible and in Lent symbolizes holiness, goodness, knowledge, wisdom, grace, hope, and revelation. Have you ever thought of the desert season of Lent as a time of spiritual photosynthesis? The Father of Lights, referred to in James1:17, uses sunlight, water, plant life, and carbon dioxide to create the very oxygen that we breathe. I was surprised to discover that 70% of the oxygen we need to breathe comes from ocean plant life. No wonder that so many people find it energizing to go for a walk by Crescent Beach or on the White Rock promenade. Have you noticed when people most want to come to Crescent Beach, when it is full of light, especially in the summer? You can think about Lent as a 40-day photosynthesis season of learning to spiritually breathe more deeply before the explosion of resurrection light at Easter. Darkness and selfishness out. Light and generosity in.
How many think that light is a particle? Raise your hands how many think that light is a wave? How many think that it is both? How many have no idea?
Speaking of Light, I had no idea that Thomas Edison’s family were United Empire Loyalists, refugees fleeing to Canada in the aftermath of the American Revolutionary War. Thomas’ grandfather Samuel Sr. even took part in the Canadian conquest of Detroit during the war of 1812. But frustrated with inequalities in Canada, his son Samuel Jr. joined in Mayor William Lyon Mackenzie’s 1837 unsuccessful plot to liberate Toronto from Canada. As Samuel Edison Jr. fled with his family to Ohio, Canada lost one of the world’s greatest inventors: Thomas Alva Edison.
How many different inventions did Edison patent? 1,069! Edison of course is best known for the creation of the world’s first usable lightbulb. Realizing that a lightbulb needed a power source, he went on to create the world’s first electrical power station. Edison was very close to Henry Ford. Their families went camping together each summer. Ford once commented: ‘To find a man who has not benefited by Edison and who is not in debt to him, it would be necessary to go deep into the jungle.’
His father & teachers saw Thomas as stupid because he was hearing-impaired and asked too many questions.
His mother Nancy, who always stood up for him, eventually pulled him out and home-schooled him herself. Edison later said: ‘My mother was the making of me; she let me follow my bent’. At age 12, he began selling newspapers and snacks from 6am-11pm to railway passengers. one day he was fired for setting the train car on fire while conducting chemistry experiments.
Edison aimed to produce one minor invention every ten days and one major one every six months. Inventing for Edison was as natural as breathing.
As Edison brought physical light, so Jesus brings spiritual light to the darkness and confusion that we all face on a daily basis. God’s glory is another word for God’s manifest light. The word epiphany is another word for light breaking out in darkness. As God’s glory rises upon you, it is like a beautiful White Rock sunrise shining its light on our Christian walking group every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. How many have ever walked in the Light with us? Walking is the healthiest exercise in our over-sedentary culture. A poster at my gym said: “sitting is the new smoking.” How many of you are willing to cut back on sitting and spend more time this Lent walking in the Light?
Jesus said in John 8:12 & 9:5: ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’. John 1:4 tells us that in Jesus is life, and that life is the light of people. The good news in both Isaiah 60 and John 1:5 is that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. God’s Light is more powerful than even gross darkness. Have you noticed that our society’s darkness is getting more gross, losing all common sense? Even many non-Christians are being shocked by how dark and nonsensical our Canadian culture is becoming. Some non-christians are even so desperate that they are tentatively checking out the Light of God’s church. We need to be ready to welcome these unchurched people with open arms. As Is 60 vs. 3 predicts, Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
2 Corinthians 11:4 tells us that Satan hides his darkness by pretending to be an Angel of light. The devil is the great pretender. He loves to dress up in costumes. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says that Satan the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ. That verse reminds me of Hank Williams’ song ‘I saw the Light’.
? Have you ever driven in the dark of night, forgetting to put on your headlights? How did that go for you? Many Canadians often try to drive in the spiritual dark without the headlights. And we wonder why our country is in so much trouble. That reminds me of Psalm 119:105: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
Many young Canadians have never even heard of the Ten Commandments, let alone try to follow it. The rules don’t matter any more. Right and right, good and evil are just about not getting caught. You may have seen the bumper sticker: “Don’t steal. The government hates competition.” Increasing political corruption leaves many Canadians tempted to despair about a future for their children & Grandchildren.
The theme for our four-week sermon series on Isaiah 60 to 61 is “Arise and Shine.” Where do you need to arise and shine more in your life?
How many of you remember your parents saying to you early in the morning ‘Rise & Shine’? Perhaps you in desperation even sang this to your kids. How did they react? Did they always want to arise? We desperately need a fresh awakening, an arising in our nation. Many of us want to hide under the cover, saying Go away Jesus, let me sleep, just ten minutes longer.
Jesus the Light of the world calls us the Light of the world in Matthew 5:14. He challenged us to not hide our light under a bushel. Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Would it be accurate to call Jesus the laser beam of the world? Light illuminates our darkest secrets. Lent is a season of self-examination, as we let God’s light shine on our foolishness: “we have done those things that we ought not to have done, and done those things that we ought to have done.” As AA puts it, denial is not just a River in Egypt. We are truly as sick as our secrets. Ephesians 5:13 tells us that all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
In 1975, the Canadian politician Tommy Douglas said: “Israel is like a light set upon a hill – the light of democracy in a night of darkness.” It’s remarkable that more Jewish people, especially during the current troubles in Israel, are turning to Jesus the Light than at any other time in the last two thousand years. They are realizing that technology and science alone will not save them. During the revival time of the Jesus movement, many of my Jewish friends came to know Jesus personally. I sometimes joke that the Jesus revolution was so powerful that even Anglicans and Jewish people got saved. It is not easy for Anglicans like myself to get saved because we are often jaded with religion and think that we are already Christians in some vague sense.
Globally this year, antisemitism has gone up 235%. Sadly, in Canada, with the Oct 7th massacre, antisemitism has gone up 800%. I very much appreciate how Bishop Peter and our All Saints team sent letters to our two local Jewish synagogues expressing our care and support. Let’s all say hi now to Bishop Peter, Jenny, and their parents in Perth, Australia.
Marty Shoub who will again be leading our All Saints Seder supper, said that a recently released female hostage while in the dark Hamas tunnels kept praying out loud Psalm 27, ‘The Lord is my light & my salvation, of whom shall I be afraid?’ and the terrorists did not touch her sexually, because they could see that she was filled with light.
Canada today is at a crossroads morally, spiritually, really in so many ways. Jesus’ cross of light is at the centre of the Canadian road, the way that Canada needs to follow. There is true light and counterfeit light in our current culture. Not all light is true enlightenment. How many of you love to gaze at the stars? You may remember Pinocchio’s song Starlight, starbright, first star I see tonight. Stars come out most clearly when it is darkest. Similar to the Menorah of Israel, Jesus is our Light in the darkness.
1 John 1:5 & 7 tells us that God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” To walk in the Light is to turn from fear to faith, from hate to love and from self-centeredness to other-centeredness.
Light is actually a spiritual weapon in the war against darkness. The Star Wars light saber is a pale reflection of God’s sword of the Spirit, the Bible. E Stanley Jones said that the only good weapons are those that overcome darkness by light, evil with good, and hate by love and the world by a cross of suffering. Martin Luther King Jr said “Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.”
E. Stanley Jones said that ‘intrinsically love is light and hate is darkness.’ As 1 John 2:10-11 puts it, “Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.”
Ephesians 5:14 is calling us this Lent to awake from sleep and rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Rise and shine all saints. Prepare your hearts for the coming revival.
In conclusion, I want to share with you a prophetic word from a LinkedIn associate Pastor Francis Bashir, Lahore, Pakistan, in the Punjab. He had no idea that I was preparing this four-week sermon series on Isaiah 60 to 61.
“Today shall mark the beginning of the ultimate breakthrough your destiny has been waiting for. The Lord shall do abundantly more than you can imagine. You will receive that good news you have been waiting for. People you don’t even know will speak and work for you. You shall not fail at the edge of your breakthrough. The promises of the Lord shall surely come to pass in your life. You shall celebrate for the rest of this year and beyond. You Are For Signs and wonders. The time for your glory to shine has come. Therefore Arise and Shine For Your Light Has Come. It is Well With You in Jesus Name Amen.”
How many of you want to rise and shine this Lent? How many of you are willing to let your little light shine in Crescent Beach, White Rock and Surrey? Let’s pray, as we sing This Little Light of Mine.
Kimberley Payne, author 5.0 out of 5 stars A fresh look Reviewed in Canada on February 22, 2024 I started reading the Bible earnestly over 20 years ago and I’ve read it cover-to-cover at least 10 times. What I didn’t expect when reading The Elisha Code was to be surprised by learning something new. This book offers a fresh look at the connection between Old and New Testaments. Well done!
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It is refreshing to read a Canadian author with a great breadth of interdenominational experience and a deep love for the Lord Jesus Christ. Roger Helland is a consummate story-teller who holds one’s attention through his extensive chapters. The title Pursuing God’s Presence accurately names what this book is about, and what motivated Roger to write this book. I highly commend this book to others, as it has a contagious feel to it, inspiring me and hopefully many others to more fervently seek the Lord’s presence in Canada.
Roger Helland exhibits in his book The Devout Life a consistent passion for renewal of the Inner Life, flowing over to the outer life. Pietism is not well understood nowadays by many, even including those with pietist denominational heritage. Reading The Devout Life has strengthened my conviction that God is wanting to fan into flame a personal fire in each of us that will play a part in coming revivals. I highly recommend this book as a tool for personal and corporate renewal.
After careful review and significant deliberation, Word Alive Press was thrilled to announce the winning manuscripts for our 2023 Braun Book Awards!
2023BBA_Winners 2023 Non-Fiction Winner David Kitz and Dr. Ed Hird, The Elisha Code and the Coming Revival
“We are thrilled to receive this award. The award serves as a validation of the truths found in The Elisha Code and the Coming Revival. Together, let’s discover and walk in those truths for the glory of Jesus.” — David Kitz and Dr. Ed Hird To order on amazon.ca, click here.
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