Date: 25-Aug-2024

Name: Barry

Topic: KINGS MEN AT THE PADDOCK

Content: 

Fellowship: Kings Men At The Paddock

Fellowship as Christians, typically is a coming together to pray, worship and break bread as in Acts 2:42.

 The fellowship here at MAGH has been a blessed space for us to teach, preach, testify and share. This had had a profound impact on my spiritual life and has elevated my integrity beyond my wildest dreams.

Today is a testimony of a fellowship experience of mine only this weekend of another group of Christian men, praying, worshiping and breaking bread.

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron,

So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

 Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

John 17:11

Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

 I was invited twice this week to attend a men’s conference at “The Paddock”  which runs twice a year from Thursday to Sunday on a property in Pingelly, 280 km from Perth.

Ronnie was the second person to ask and I never refuse that man. He introduced me to MAGH, Armadale Foot Soldiers and the Vietnam mission.

 Suffice that my life has changed so dramatically for the better just by saying yes to his requests.

 Bless you Ronnie.

 Friday Night

 We arrived at The Paddock at 8pm on Friday and the hall was already filled with men finishing dinner. Soon after, the band set up and worship began.

 There were 100 men present and here is a photo just before worship.

To be present, singing with this many men was at times so overwhelming that I could feel my heart swell out of my chest.

It is said that angels are all male and they worship constantly in Heaven. This felt like the earthly version and please play the snippet of the audio file as an example of what the worship was like.

This was the largest gathering of men I have been involved with and I know many here have seen this and more.

 At one time during the fellowship I sat next to a South African brother and he described a gathering of 480 000 men in the province of Natal. The singing he said could be heard all through the valley.

 Could I imagine that number gathering in Australia?

 Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Testimony 1

 1 John 1:6-7

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 A moving testimony was shared by a man who had suffered sexual abuse as an 11year old by a family member in the UK. He had since moved to Perth with his immediate family, though affects had affected even his adult life.

This resonated with many present who also were abused as children. The protective father’s heart of those present was touched and we prayed for healing in all of our lives.

We were blessed to have a place to sleep, again through Ronnie’s connection of a friend who has a spare house in Pingelly!

On a freezing night, instead of bunking in cold dormitories or tents, we spent our time in a tropical climatised house.

Praise God!

 At the house, we continued praying for each other for healing and blessings and after about three hours of sleep we’re ready for the next day.

Prayer Point 1.

Father God, thank you for the opportunity to fellowship with Christian men who seek you and worship you. Holy Spirit, please guide us as we come together as one supportive body in Christ Jesus.

Saturday Morning

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.

We arrived back at the Paddock at 5am and we found Ps Chidi, pacing and praying by himself in the hall. What a mighty man of God, faithful, tenacious and obedient.

I know at this time, there were men of MAGH already up since 2am in fervent prayer, led by Ps Lakers, another appointed general for God’s works.

 It is astonishing to be surrounded by men of such integrity. They are the iron that that sharpens iron!

Soon, more men appeared, adding to the prayer group.

It is cold and dark and the men look weary, though obedient.

Prayer turned into worship as the band fired up again.

The songs of praise were so stirring that many men including myself had eyes streaming with tears.

Does it get any better? I think not.

Basking in the presence of the Lord, filled with the Holy Spirit. Our eyes fixed on our Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ.

Testimony 2

Galatians 6:2

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Then there was another testimony by a young man of faith, struck by a debilitating disease of the hand, and he is a carpenter.

Our hearts were softened by his journey of at first, questioning God, to accepting, and then staying faithful in our Lord that He is still in charge and being grateful for the beautiful things in his life.

We then prayed for healing and strength for this man of God.

 Prayer Point 2.

 Holy Father we prayer for each other that our faith increases and we give you all our hearts. It is the posture of our heart that is important to You and not our works.

Testimony 3.

1Colossians 6:18-20

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 This testimony was shared by a brother who professed his struggle with sexual sin. Is was raw and honest. We all know this struggle and when the call went up to the men to come forward for prayer, many of the fellowship went to the front.

 This was so moving and in my heart I know that we should have all gathered together. In fact, we were asked also to pray over ourselves.

 There is something authentic about men coming together to pray. We drop our masculine countenance and allow our vulnerable side to show. Healing can then start to take place.

 Prayer Point 3

Lord, let us come to you as a body to pray over ourselves, to keep focussed on you and therefore have no focus on the sinful things in our lives. Both cannot be done simultaneously. Let us make the choice today to be near you at all times and wash us from all iniquity in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

 

Ps Lakers. 

Prayer Points: 

 Prayer Point 1.

Father God, thank you for the opportunity to fellowship with Christian men who seek you and worship you. Holy Spirit, please guide us as we come together as one supportive body in Christ Jesus.

 

Prayer Point 2.

 

Holy Father we prayer for each other that our faith increases and we give you all our hearts. It is the posture of our heart that is important to You and not our works.

Prayer Point 3

Lord, let us come to you as a body to pray over ourselves, to keep focussed on you and therefore have no focus on the sinful things in our lives. Both cannot be done simultaneously. Let us make the choice today to be near you at all times and wash us from all iniquity in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.