I thought I would revisit an amazing experience that I had back in 1998. I was praying about the ‘double portion’ that I believe is still available in these Last Days. At the time we were staying near Wai-iti Beach in Urenui with some friends. I was crying out to God. “Where is the God of Elijah?” “Where is the Spirit of Elijah and Elisha?” “Where are the miracles of bible days?” I remember reading this verse in Zechariah that spoke of the double portion that is available for those who trust in the Lord.
“Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee;” Zechariah 9:12
At the end of Pukearuhe Road near where we were staying there was an old Maori Pa (fortress - stronghold) that I had been exploring earlier in the day. It was rich in history and it was here that the last Christian martyr died back in 1869. After reading this verse in the bible I felt excited about the possibility that God could be saying to me to re-visit the fortress that night to receive a double portion. I also considered myself to be a ‘prisoner of hope,’ as I too was waiting for God to fulfil His promises to me. Joseph in the bible was a prisoner of hope as he waited for God to fulfill His promises to him, releasing him from the Egyptian prison to reign in power.
I decided to go back to the Stronghold about midnight as there was a very bright Super Moon. I walked down the road praying in tongues hoping something was going to happen. I sat on a park bench right next to the cliffs that overlooked the sea. Everything was very bright and I noticed that someone had carved into the wooden table I was sitting at, the words “Jesus loves you.” Amen, this was a God moment. Next minute two mature lambs came running up the hill towards me intending to sit under the table at my feet as they hadn’t seen me there. This was a sign to me of the double portion coming to me – amen? Unfortunately when I spoke to them they got a fright and ran away. The next thing I noticed was that the earth was shaking from the big waves that were crashing against the cliffs at full tide. I learned later that it was a ‘King Tide’ bigger than the usual ‘Spring Tide’ and was also the Harvest Super Moon. As I felt the ground shake beneath my feet, the Lord reminded me of Haggai chapter 2:6-8 where He said there would be a great shaking of all things before the return of the Lord - The Desire of Nations.
“For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.” Haggai 2:6-8
As I looked at this verse later, I noticed that in the midst of all the shaking God was going to herald the return of the Desire of Nations - Jesus, and that He was going to do something great for His Church. Even though there would be a ‘shaking’ of all things before the return of Christ, God still has great plans for His Church He wants to fill His house with His Glory. He says that the glory of the latter house would be greater than the former. We Christians are called the House of God, and I felt the Lord say that my best days are yet to come and would be in the midst of great shaking.
Although nothing miraculous happened for me that night, I knew that this experience was from God. It has helped keep my vision alive through the years. Little did I realise what a great shaking was coming on the earth back then and they would all be signs that Jesus is coming soon. I was made aware last week of all the things that have come upon the earth since 1998.
1998 – The Google Search Engine opened up the world through the internet on computers, for good and bad.
2000 – Y2K. The internet released a flood gate of Conspiracy Theories, one being Y2K and unfortunately it was mainly Christians that shared this fake news and it all came to nothing. Sadly there were no apologies for spreading these rumours and gossip.
2001 – The World Trade Centre attack. This started the War on Terror and our awareness of a new weapon called Suicide Bombers. I had heard of Kamikaze Pilots in WW2 who gave their lives to kill enemy soldiers but now everything was on a whole new level against civilians.
2001 – 1st mobile phones with internet access.
2003 – It was due to fake news that Iraq was invaded and Saddam Hussein captured. No weapons of mass destruction were found.
2003 – Android smart phones came on the scene.
2004 – The Asian Tsunami 100‘ high killed 230,000 people. Up until then most people thought a Tsunami was some type of Japanese Sandwich. Tsunamis come from earthquakes shaking the earth. God said everything would be shaken and not only a tsunami of water but a tsunami of evil was flooding the earth.
2004 - Facebook took the world by storm distracting young and old. It was great to meet up with old friends but also spread so much misinformation and filled many hearts with fear.
2005 – YouTube also opened up a can of worms for people to find out virtually anything from how to make bombs to commit suicide and be radicalized by Muslim groups.
2005 – The London Bombings. Suicide Bombers killed many on buses and the tube trains back then. We were in London at the time and it was a very fearful time.
2006 - Twitter came onto the scene allowing radical groups to spread their plans and views in an instant, sparking well organised riots.
2007 - Iphones were introduced to the world
2008 – A major world wide recession.
2010 – The Arab Spring and upheaval in Muslim countries.
2011 – The ChCh EQ. Things were now getting close to home
2011 - Kim Jong Un elected to power in North Korea and a threat to world peace.
2011 - Another major Tsunami in Japan.
2012 - Putin was elected in Russia
2012 – Xi jiping was elected in China
2014 – The rapid rise of Isis across the Middle East.
2014 – The people fleeing the problems there caused a European Immigrant crisis.
2019 – The ChCh Mosque Massacre in New Zealand.
2019 – The world wide Pandemic of Covid19 and all the resulting division, conspiracies and fake news that spread fear and division.
2021 – Jan 6th attack on the Capitol in the USA
2022 – Ukraine War
The Tonga volcanic Eruption in early 2022 resulted in causing major floods for Australia. There was the White Island eruption. Murders happen nearly every day now in New Zealand and now we have a Ram Raids epidemic. Brexit and the death of the Queen have shaken up Great Britain. In the past we looked at the USA and the UK feeling safe with them being there as bastions of sanity but now that has been thoroughly shaken. Even the Church is being shaken with famous ministers falling like Brian Houston.
What are we meant to do about all this? Jesus said.
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh.” Luke 21:28
Jesus tells us than when all these things come upon us we are to look up. We are not to look down but look up. What does this mean? Don’t be overcome and depressed by all the problems that are taking place around us, but look up to Jesus and His word. I believe this can be the Churches finest hour. This is our hour to shine in the darkness. Isaiah says;
"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.” Isaiah 60:1-3
God has raised us up for such a time as this. Elisha asked Elijah back in the day for a double portion of His power and Elijah said that he was asking for a hard thing, but if he could see Elijah when he is taken from him it will happen, and Praise God it did. What does this mean for us today? Our true Elijah is Jesus and if we can see Him in the midst of all the distractions and darkness around us we too will experience the double portion. Its our destiny.
Paul said that we were to set our minds on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father.
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your a life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
As we really see ourselves seated in heavenly places with Christ we will experience His resurrection power. It makes us overcomers. The message to the last Church Age, the Age of Laodicea says.
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Revelation 3:21
Its very important to know these things, for Knowledge is power. Jesus said that we are to know these truths.
“On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” John 14:20
We need to know that Jesus is in the Father, and because we know that we are in Him and that He is living in us it we too are there in heavenly places. This is how we will be able to do the works that Jesus did and even greater. John 14:12
Haggai says that the glory of your latter house can be better than the former. You are the House or Temple of God. God has better things for you if you believe.
“If you believe you shall see the glory of God.“ John 11:40
You too can have better days in the midst of all these troubles. At the Marriage of Canaan the Master of the banquet said after Jesus had turned water into wine that the best wine had been saved for last. John 2:1-10 I believe there is a prophetic word here for the Church and that is that God has saved some amazing things for the time of the end. The better wine is for you.
“Though your beginning was small, Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.” Job 8:20
The book of Job says that even though your beginning was small your latter end can be very great. Job after his trial ended up having twice as much as he had before.
“After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10
The bible says that we Christians are to be like palm trees.
“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.” Psalm 92:12-15
Palms trees bring forth their biggest and best harvest in their old age and this can be for us too. You can’t stop getting old but you can experience the promises that help us not to decay. You may say that its not working for me but these things have to be fought for. God has given us His promises, they are our weapons which we use against the enemy. Remember that even though the children of Israel were given Canaan Land they still had to go in and fight for it. Fight the good fight of faith.
It’s also interesting to note that in the midst of this Haggai verse, the Lord reminds us that the Silver and the Gold are His.
“The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.” He is saying that even though there is a shaking going on all around us. He can still supply all our needs according to His riches in Glory. Amen