From my many decades of carrying the cross around the world I have learned many things from the Bible and from life experiences. I am sharing now one of the most important things. I have learned to look at the world not just with my physical eyes but in the Spirit. Seeing who I am in Christ and focusing on Him even in the face of war and shattered dreams. You can live in victory and peace no matter what the difficulty. Jesus is the way. Read this column and rejoice!
From the cross springs peace, life and hope! Living in the Spirit, a Life Lesson from the Road For many people their lives seems to be like a roller coaster full of daily, monthly or yearly emotional ups and downs. The idea of living a life free of emotional pitfalls seems to be an illusive dream. There are even many Christians that do not believe we can live such lives. We do not have to live in spiritual frustration. There is hope. I remember preaching many years ago in a church about 'living in the Spirit' and how we did not have to live in constant ups and downs in life. The pastor rushed up to the pulpit and told me to sit down. With great anger and a huge emotional explosion he said that we could not live this life of victory in the spirit. He sure manifested that he was not Spirit filled. Some visiting pastors called me the next day and said my sermon was fine but the pastor was having many problems and they just took him over when he heard about living in the fruit of the Spirit.continued below..... Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five
Often people striving in the flesh to live a Spirit filled life quote Old Testament scriptures in explaining dry periods and crying out to get God to hear, and seeking God even though they were children of God. There are many verses in the O. T that show these outbursts. But we are living now in the New Testament under a New Covenant. God's Presence is no longer in the physical Temple that was in Jerusalem but in the saved follower of Jesus. With the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell the follower now our body is where the Temple is as God's Presence is within us. Glory! We don't have to 'come into His Presence'. We are already 'in' His Presence. We don't have to have music to worship but true worship is now in Spirit and Truth Jesus said. We don't have to plead and cry and shout and beg for 'God to show up'! In a church meeting when I hear the pastor or worship leader begging God to 'show up' I think, I'm here, God is here already in me! What this type of thing does is to make people go back to Old Testament thinking where the Spirit would come and go. Now live in the glorious victory of grace with the fruits of the Holy Spirit in our lives. But the roller coaster Christians finds a New Testament passage hoping to justify this. It's when the Apostle Paul writes; "for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I...oh wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of death? (This is the old Saul trying to live under the old law) I thank God through Christ our Lord...for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hast made me free from the law of sin and death...but you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you...for you did not receive the spirit of bondage that makes you a slave again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father...and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together...for I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Here Paul is comparing the old man under the law with the new man in the Spirit in Christ Jesus. I suggest you read Romans chapters 7 and 8 without taking a break between chapters. In the original there were no chapters, this was added and causes confusion in this passage. If we are not careful one's poor theology makes church and meetings addicting. The only time some people 'feel' God is in a meeting pumped with excitement or in some cases meditation produces the 'feeling' some need to experience God. No wonder many can't live a 24/7 life in the Spirit. Many beautiful people exhaust themselves running from place to place trying to get a Jesus fix to help them make it. John was on the Island of Patmos in prison, suffering but he was 'in the Spirit' and the Lord gave him the book of Revelation. I did not walk around the world carrying the cross on hype but in the real and glorious Presence of Jesus with me every moment, every step, and every breath. I'm not saying that a follower of Jesus does not go through tough times. The loss of a loved one, illness of ones self or others, wars, disasters etc happen to us all. What I am saying is that when such happens we need to know the glorious Presence of Jesus and the comfort of the loving Father and the fruit of the Holy Spirit that should still be filling our hearts even in pain and suffering. The apostle Paul gives a long list of his sufferings and yet he was not complaining but still praising the Lord. (2 Corinthians 11:16-33) In all I have gone through in my life, my struggles and even failures never, no never have I ever felt abandoned by God or His love and mercy. I have found strength in knowing that Jesus is Lord of all and Lord above all. He is the Lord of Hosts! I have never fallen out of His Arms but have fallen into His mighty Arms where there is peace, forgiveness, love, mercy, grace and hope. I have had to trust Jesus for everything and that is beautiful. Oh, dear friend don't let the latest news and the things you see and hear rob you of the glorious blessing of being a follower of Jesus. After all the evil that had been on this earth since creation we have the Angel proclaiming the wonderful news of the birth of Jesus and the Hosts of Heaven were praising God and sharing peace on earth! I truly love you all on our E Letter, thanks for your e mails and prayer requests. I care and hurt with you as you share your struggles. That is why I have written this article. Please let us end with these life changing word from the Holy Scripture: "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh...if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, and self control. Against such there is no law. For those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let is also walk in the Spirit! Galatians 5:16-25 "Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God and the peace of God which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus...finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatsoever is honest, whatsoever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is of good report, whatever is worthy of praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:4-8 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, Oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer" Psalm 19:14 Have a peaceful, fruitful and blessed life living in the Spirit in Jesus Christ our Lord. Pilgrim followers of Jesus, carrying the cross and the message of Jesus around the world. Arthur, Denise and Sophia Blessitt Luke 18:1 Andrew Wommack Ministries "Charis Bible College" Arthur will be speaking "Live" at 9am MT or 11am ET. Friday Nov.16th. You can view this streaming event from anywhere in the world. Just "Click Here" "Hallelujah Hollywood" Dec. 15, Please check our website for times, route of the crosswalk and place of the rally. Come join us and the TBN family. Glory! Three Crosses were used in carrying the cross around the world in every nation and major island group, they are behind my desk. E mail your prayer requests and I will print them off and lay all of them on the crosses as a covenant to God to pray for you daily. These request will be on the crosses until this Christmas. Denise, Sophia and I will be praying daily for all these request. It will be a blessing to pray for you. I felt the Lord tell me to do a prayer fast of not praying for myself till Christmas. He said "You pray for others, I'll take care of you". We will keep your request private until Christmas and then shred them. The cross are almost totally covered with your prayer request. I'll send a photo in the next E Letter.
The Lord Jesus
awoke me in the night to write this letter. The Glory of the Lord is real and is
being poured out upon this earth and through the eyes of God we would probably
see a totally different world than is reported in the news or often experienced
by many. The Bible says God spoke "As truly as I live all the earth
shall be filled with the Glory of the Lord" (Numbers14:21)
"From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the Lord's
Name is to be praised" (Psalm 113:3).
All my life I
have sought to live in the "glory". I was saved at seven and for years I'd climb
up in a tree and visit with Jesus all night. God was so real, His glory so
wonderful and my prayer and passion has always been to be more like Jesus. My
road of glory started as a child in my mother's lap as she sang songs and told
me stories of Jesus. I surrendered to preach at fifteen and I've never stopped
personally sharing Jesus wherever I go with whomever I meet.
Greenland
I shared Jesus
with friends at school, gave out gospel tracts, shared Jesus in bars where my
dad was drinking. Preached in jails, rescue missions, juvenile detention
centers, old peoples homes and in the streets. From a child to teenager to an
adult nothing has been more important and thrilling than leading people to
Jesus. Every sermon I preach always ends with an invitation to receive Jesus.
From starting churches and pastoring in Mississippi to Montana to California and
Nevada I've been an evangelist. From starting the ministry on Sunset Strip in
Hollywood, putting the cross on the wall of His Place and carrying the cross in
1968 I've known the covering of His presence and Him filling me with His glory.
No matter how dark, hopeless, sinful and lost the place and people were I've
always felt the absolute glorious presence of Jesus...everywhere! Love flowed
from my heart for the lost to come to Jesus and tears filled my eyes and still
do. Since Jesus called me to carrying the cross across America, Dec. 25th, 1969
the cross has been my constant companion. Whether walking, preaching, or TV
programs you will see the cross there. I just crossed the 40,000 mile mark this
summer of walking around the world.
Alaska
Many
ask me where do I see the glory of God? Where do I see God moving? My answer:
"Everywhere I go"! Many say when is revival and awakening coming? My reply is
"Now"! Jesus said long ago to His disciples "I will establish my church and the
gates of hell will not prevail against it!" Don't give me puny, self pity,
discouraged and miserable words about this world. Jesus is in charge and working
out His plan and purposes for the glory of God.
Remember Jesus
said "All power is given me in heaven and in earth...Go...into All
nations...preach the gospel to every person...and I WILL Be With You ALWAYS!
We are serving a
Mighty God! No man on this earth puts fear in my heart. God controls our every
heartbeat and breath and death is every person's destiny. Some people say the
Jesus Movement died. If they say it died for them it did. But I've been living
in the Jesus Movement all my life. It started with Jesus two thousand years ago
and has never stopped. Things got 'religious' back in America but for me walking
the roads of the world I've had no time or desire to get religious. All we have
is the cross for an altar, the sky for a roof and the sounds of birds and big
trucks for the music. I've been walking a different road from most preachers and
people. It's called the Road of Glory and I'm still on it.
Afghanistan
Thanks
to TBN TV we have possibly the world's largest school of witness (evangelism) in
the world. Our program "The Message of the Cross" is seen worldwide on Tuesdays
at 4pm and Thursday's at 3am PST. I train millions all over the world how to
share Jesus where they are in their everyday walk. There are 49 half
hour programs for viewing which are archived at itbn.org. These programs
are filmed outdoors sharing Jesus with people one on one and we're receiving
thousands of glorious reports and igniting a fresh spirit of witness worldwide.
I host "Praise
the Lord" worldwide on TBN TV to tens of millions a month and focus on Jesus and
lead guests to share about their conversion, share tips on following Jesus and
how to share Jesus and then have them issue a call for salvation. I also preach
a message on these programs with a call to receive Jesus.
For the past two
years I have given a fifteen minute explanation and invitation on TBN
immediately following the movie "The Passion of the Christ". The thirty two
showings of this have been seen by over a hundred million people with thousands
upon thousands of people saved. Just unbelievable glory.
The movie "The
Cross" has been shown in thousands of churches around the world. It is now
perhaps the most shown movie on mission fields after the "Jesus" movie. It is
now in every nation and major island group supplied by us with thousands of
glorious reports of changed lives!
www.blessitt.com is a
worldwide base for evangelism and inspiration. Ten of my books are now available
free for online reading. Plus a list of every nation with stories and
photos.
Afghanistan 2
Our cross walks
are growing even more powerful. The response in Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch,
Parker, etc in Douglas County has been staggering. I tried to carry the cross
the past two days and walked a total of three miles because so many people were
stopping to talk, pray and welcome the cross. Joggers, walkers, cyclists, cars
and trucks stop. Many wait in line to talk, some weeping while they wait. I get
hot from standing in the heat but not from walking. What a wonderful problem.
Out of this have come home meetings, lunches to talk and minister and local
speaking meetings. I can tell you people are hungry for Jesus.
When we were in
the far north this summer carrying the cross we had profound encounters about
Jesus with people coming to know Him. We took a drive over to Skagway, Alaska
where the cruise ships dock at the end of the inland passage. I tell you it was
just glory on that main street. Thousands of tourists from all over the world in
a village of 900 people. One tour bus stopped in the narrow street blocking
traffic and off jumped the famed Dawson Dolly rushing up to hug me. She is a
mighty witness for Jesus and soon a crowd had gathered around us and she and I
witnessed to them. People prayed with us, five families there on that one street
had seen the movie the Cross.
On our flight
back from Yellowknife NWT Jesus arranged for a lovely lady to sit by me who had
a very great need. We visited, prayed and she made a commitment to Jesus. I gave
her the last movie I had. She was heading to a funeral of a young friend who had
just been murdered. Our route had been changed to travel on this particular
flight and the airline had changed her seat and moved the person sitting next to
me so that this young lady could sit by me. I prayed with five people flying
back. The glory is Here and Now! From the people I know around the world they
are reporting unprecedented response of people receiving Jesus and mighty
awakening.
Orkney Islands UK
As we have
walked the roads of this world some people have seen the physical human person
carrying the cross and the message of Jesus and have offered food, water and a
place to sleep. Others have pressed a coin in my hand to help with the journey.
Many never seemed to see a man who was hot or weary or hungry or needed a place
to lay his head. That is fine but oh the beauty of those that saw us and cared
for our needs as we have tried to meet the needs of others. What a trail of
glory that is. I know the language of religious hype. But Oh, God keep if far
from me. Sometimes the Jesus I hear preached and taught seems so distant from
the Jesus I read of in the Bible and know as my Savior and friend. I hear some
Christians talk and I feel so alone. Like we don't fit. The road of the pilgrim
is long and the journey makes one tough on the outside but soft and tender of
heart. We have so much to learn of Jesus.
Palestine Westbank
Let me bring
this to a conclusion. As for me and my house: Denise, Sophia and Arthur, we
shall serve the Lord, follow Jesus and seek to live in His Way. Until my last
step and last breath I shall proclaim Jesus and Him crucified, resurrected,
ascended and ruling Lord and call people to know and follow Him. I will seek to
train others in how to share this good news.
But we
need help! Denise and I have a renewed vision and zeal for reaching the
nations. The Cross mission is from God and God blesses and will bless those who
are a part of His mission to lift up Jesus. When Moses was old he went out to
fight and stood on top of the hill with the staff of God in his hands and sat on
a rock. "As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were
winning, but when he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses'
hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron
and Hur held his hands up on one side, and the other so that his hands remained
steady till sunset...So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. Then
the Lord said to Moses "Write this on a scroll as something to be
remembered" Exodus 17:11-14.
We have fought
the devil and proclaimed the message of Jesus in every nation and are still
walking, preaching and sharing Jesus on foot, on TV, radio, internet, movies
etc. Some of our partners have stood with us for decades but today we need new
people to stand with us that we may keep the cross up and keep on winning the
battle and harvest.
Who
will step up and help hold our hands up in the battle for
souls?
I
want to focus on the messages I am to bring. Prepare well for the teaching of
the Message of the Cross and stay on the cutting edge of what Jesus is calling
us to do. Our financial needs are a distraction and a weight. Your support can
lift that burden.
We are
praying for 'active partners' not 'passive observers'. We humbly ask
you to share with us in this God-given ministry. The cross is the heartbeat of
God, because Jesus came to the earth to die on the cross for the consequences of
sin. The cross is the symbol of freedom from sin. Nothing delights God more than
lifting up the cross and sharing Jesus who liberates people around the world
from hell and brings them into the kingdom of God.
Your financial
support will keep lifting up the cross and Jesus in reaching the nations. "But
I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself". John
12:32.
God willing
October 27th I will be 72. Jesus has given me a world of experience. He has
given me a treasure of knowledge in understanding and of sharing Jesus with
people in all conditions and religions.
In this
area God gave three words: Impart, Equip, Evangelize.
All of what we
do combines to become a unique school of witnessing reaching millions for Christ
and training millions to be sharing Jesus in this harvest!
The
Call: We need 'Active Partners' to help in this great
mission: Families, ministries, churches, foundations and individuals.
Some of you live
overseas but this is a world mission. You can join in support.
You have
followed us and prayed for us and many of you came to Jesus or began sharing
Jesus through this ministry. We welcome you to pray and to become a part of the
witness and support team. Remember that Denise and Sophia are as much a part of
this as me. We travel together. We minister together. We are one.
I truly feel led
by Jesus to let you know that we need support. Many cheer us on and love us but
do not send any support. I need someone, some people to stand with us. To lift
up our hands as we lift up the cross. Moses' hands lifted up the Staff of God.
Our hands lift up the Cross of Jesus.
Response
and Action
You can make a
donation online right now and be a part of reaching the nations.
"Active
Partners" not "Passive Observers" to "Impart, Equip, Evangelize".
From
anywhere in the world donate using the link on our homepage atwww.blessitt.com
Front page lower left hand side is the link.
From the
U.S. only you can also make a donation from our
We are a
501 3c non profit ministry incorporated since 1967.
You can
go to your bank and have your bank make an automatic monthly donation from your
bank account to our ministry and mailed to our post office by your
bank.
I feel
confident that many of our friends will step up and join in support. Blessings,
Joy and Peace in Jesus Name
We
deeply thank our faithful supporters who have stood with us. God bless you in
every way. We are joined as a family, united in lifting up Jesus and sending the
message of the cross...Jesus and the cross to all the world.
We love
you.
Love, pilgrim
followers of Jesus,
Arthur, Denise
and Sophia Blessitt, Luke 18:1
Please pray for
The Message of the Cross filming at the end of July and early August.
Sophia starts
the 3rd grade at a Christian school nearby. It is new for her as we moved.
Thanks for your support and prayers. You our partners have been so generous in supporting this cross mission and cross walk around the world. Together we are a mighty witness for Jesus. Thank you and keep us in your prayers as we pray for you and ask God to meet your every need. Thanks for praying about our home/office. We have now moved in and all is wonderful. Thanks for supporting us in the mission and calling of Jesus. We love you all. God bless you always. Pilgrim followers of Jesus. Arthur, Denise and Sophia. Luke 18:1
For some truly good news of Jesus moving in the world today I invite you to read some of the e mail I have received. I know this is long but you need to see the power of the cross and the life changing power of Jesus. It's time to return to the Cross and open witness. It's all about Jesus. Now be blessed as you read. You may want to forward this to friends or share with our church or pastor or friends. God bless you all,
Pilgrim followers of Jesus: arthur, denise and sophia.
Luke 18:1It was on 27th August, 1997, when my brother Arthur blessitt come to me. we travelled to the mountain and after completion of the mission, he was crying with full of tears in his eyes. He was holding a picture of a man and thanking him for all his blessing and mercy for completion of the mission. When I see the familiar face, I asked him who is this man. He said why, I said I know this man. He said how, I said I use to see me time and again in dream. Arthur was astonished and asked me, when, where, how. I narrated the story to him. His eyes were full of tears and floating tears were falling down on the land. He hugged me and said you are great. I was astonished to hear his words and emotion. This was the time, he introduce my Lord Jesus and said this is Lord Jesus.
This was the day, my life was completely changed and I left my tourism business and fully joint humanitarian services. For last 15 years I am exclusively working in humanitarian organization helping the poor, needy, women and children. I am happy to see my Lord many time and speaking with him time to time. When I am in trouble, God is coming to me and speaking with me. God give you to me and my ailing daughters to help her to support her and to send back her to me. Syed
You will beleive or not, but this is 1st time in the history of Chitral, Pakistan that Christmas is officially been celeberated in Chitral. Local Government Head cutting Christmas cack with the followers of our Lord!! This is just 12 years back, no body know His name in these mountain region, but today over 1000 brothers and sisters are openly celeberating this event. Those were the days, when one was prosecuted with many threats and dire consequence, there was one lover of our Lord who follow the way to never surrender and this is the result that in this city how many others followere are !!!!!
Thanks to our beleived Lord for HIS BLESSING and we see the mericale of Cross in the mountain since you been here.
Attached herewith is a local news paper clips which is showing the picture of Christmas Cack cutting celeberation. Thank you Lord Jesus and Thank you brother Arthur blessitt, for this wonderful gift. The community is now demanding for establishment oc Church in Chitral. Wow!!!
This is a gift on the occasion of Christmas and new year, and we hope to see next Christmas with more brother and sister. This was my policy and strategy and I was working for about the decade.
Thank you Lord and Thank you brother,
Your missing brother.
Saw your show on TBN 1-24-2012 from 6:00 to 6:30 Birmingham Alabama. When I was about 12 years old (1972). My family and I went to heard you speak for a week at Hunter Street Baptist Church. You challenged the students to take their Bible to school and we did. I remember the JESUS yell and the church elders thought that it was not proper for the church. So you led us outside on the steps and told us to "wake the neighborhood". I think we did. Thanks for the memories and wish you well on your travels and ministry.
I'm Albert Bogle. I was the lead singer with the Living Stones the band that played with you in Glasgow and Dundee. In one of the Park's a young man went forward and committed his life to Christ. His name was John Proctor, today you might be interested to know he is a Professor of New Testament in Cambridge England. I ended up a minister and evangelist with the Church of Scotland.
I have rolled thru alot of hard roads thru the years. U however, DID the stuff! I hope to meet with u sometime.
Ur alright. J.
Dear Arthur, Im so pleased to see you, I was only 10yrs old when you came to cannon hill park birmingham in the early 1970's I gave my life to Jesus that day, I was a child in care, broken, hurting, worn out, abused, but Jesus touched my life, and now nearly 40yrs on Im still learning lol, still walking with him, and so excited about Jesus, that spark never goes out, I run a global prayer network, and speak in various countries. Jesus really touched my heart the day you spoke, and I will be forever grateful to you for your courage, your love of Jesus and the word that changed my life and turned it around. God bless you Arthur love in Jesus Heather Wales UK
Dear - Arthur, It has been a great blessing to many in our villages, especially my home village (SAKILA) where Arthur preached in our muddy walls building in 1973. We are using our laptop computer and villagers are gathering in great numbers to see and to hear "The Cross" movie. Many are touched and blessed to see dvd of the Cross in the villages of Africa (Tanzania) Pray for our mission. Many are crying in joyful tears, as are giving their lives to Jesus. This week we have our mission represantantive from Malawi and Mozambique, and they are blessed to see the DVD of the Cross for theri very first time. They will go back with the news. We are travellng from one village to another, in homes and in simply made church houses and many are flocked to see the cross, and many aare giving their lives to the Lord in Tanzania. Pray for our - INTERNET RADIO/TV - MINISTRY of our mission.
Dear - Arthur and Denise, Yesterday I called you on phone and left the message. I was in the remote villages for weeks showing DVD of The Cross and I just come in the city (Arusha) to check my emails, then back to of African villages where many are hungry to see - THE CROSS.
Some at our first church's village (SAKILA village) believers who saw you preaching in our - Muddy walls church building, holding Joshua in 1973, are still alive and they give the testimonies of how they saw you , before crowds flock to watch THE CROSS (DVD)
We have two - Laptops that we use, and we have to go to te city to charge them each in every two hours - villagers has never seen TV or DVD so they are excited to see The Cross. We need at least 20 DVDS; Projector; Petrol generator; Sound system
We apeal for our friends to support orur mission so that we can show THE CROSS to the larger crowd. Pastor - Nixon Issangya
Hi Arthur, I heard you as a very young Christian in UK in the 1970's, you encouraged me then, the other week as a fat fifty- odd year old preacher I used you as a sermon illustration whilst expounding 2 Cor 5.1-10; almost everyone in the congregation said how you had encouraged them in your travels with the cross. So I thought I'd say Hi and Bye and thank you and say God Bless you brother.
Dear Mr. Blessit. I was in Berlin Olympic stadium in June 1981 at a rally. Suddenly you stod there with the cross. You spoke to to crowd and then started to go away. I was drawn to you like a magnet. You were surrounded by so many people that I realized that I had no chance. But suddenly a miracle happened. You stood in front of me and said:"I´m thirsty". I "happened" to have a can of lemonade and when I handed it to you I felt like giving it to Jesus. Then you laid your arm around me and prayed for me. I felt the love of Jesus so strongly that I never before or after have felt. During all these years the memory of that moment have helped me through hard times. I wanted to tell you and thank you, but not until now have I known your adress. God bless you and your family! Mona from Finland.
Dear Arthur, it's sure you cannot remember everywhere you've been, but who knows... if you remember this small country Luxembourg where you've been in 1980. We had a good time together in the streets of our small country. You came back later and preached at Pentecost in the cathedral of Luxembourg together with Pastor Richard Wurmbrand. After so many years, I suddenly saw you recently on TBN channel, looking some years older but still young in heart and spirit!! I myself carry a wooden cross on the roads of Luxembourg every year before Pentecost, where we celebrate annually our "Feast of Joy". Our community is called "Auberge de Dieu" referring to Luke 10,25-37. We have a large ministry in the area of the railway station in L.city. During the last 20 years, many people who were lost found a refuge here and they are found in the arms of Jesus. If you are ever able to come back to Luxembourg, I am ready to go with you again to evangelize in our country. Last time by your testimony, I was delivered from all fear to testify the Lord publicly! Thank you so much.
Many lost people should find the love of God: JESUS!!! Halleluja!
Albert Franck - catholic priest
thank you so much for writing back, we absolutley loved the movie and the book. We were so moved and the love you have for are lord and savior. That now for the first time in my life i am stepping out and telling people about jesus christ and are ministing to people at homeless shelters with the word and our music.And when we play are music i feel such an anointing come over me like i have never felt before.Thank you so much for touching are lives and helping us to step out and tell people about jesus christ. God bless you and yours and may god continue to bless you cause you have blessed us and made us better christians. Barry/Anna
I have watched your movie " The Cross" was thinking about purchasing it for my dad but did not get to it. I would really love it and I know that he would be so blessed if you could send us that movie. He always preached about a man who carried a cross and walked the streets of Papua New Guinea (specifically Madang) and would always talk about how it took someone from America to come to PNG just so he could get saved and know the truth and the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that he is going to be so thrilled to have it and knowing that it was from you would make it even more special. God is moving in PNG like never before, thousands of people have come to know Christ as their personal Lord and Savior as a result of your "seed". The Lord is using my dad as well as other pastors in PNG to accomplish great thing for His kingdom. Thousand of people have come to know God as a result of you obeying God and going to a country where you did not know of. I just want to say THANK YOU so much for listening to God's voice and coming to my country. About 25 years ago, you came to my country and started preaching and my dad got saved as a result of that. I just want to say THANK YOU. I have so much to tell you about what the Lord has done in my life and my family's. He is now a pastor and national overseer of a ministry that the Lord had entrusted him with and we have over 50 different churches in Papua New Guinea and over 60 pastors. I would love to keep tell you some of the amazing stories that the Lord have done. I m his daughter. My dad is back in Papua New Guinea but I m in the states currently in college. Esther Dii
Hello, i am Pastor Daniel i am pastoring a church in Europe in the country of Ireland and i have a small testimony. During the late decade of the 80s you visited the country where i was born, the country of Mozambique in Africa, by then our country was in a civil war, when you (Arthur Blessitt) visited our church, the Assembly of God in the Capital Maputo, during the service you seid God was showing you that there were young people inside that church who were going to travel the world to preach the gospel to the nations, i was still strugling with my sins, i was in a extreem poverty, i did not have any hope of a future, i was seating in the last banch line of that church, when you pointed at the direction i was seating and said there is one of this young man, i was between 18 to 19 years old, when you said that i felt a power arrising me, the same power puxed me to the corredor, you pointed to me and said young man, Jesus is going to use you arround the world, is going to take you to many nations, is going to use to cross the oceans to different continents of the earth to preach the gospel. Everyone in that church including myself could not that believe it that much given the poor conditions, the suffering, the lack of means, lack of opportunities it was humanly impossible for that to happen, i did not have any hope even for the following day due to civil war, etc...
God made His way, Jesus changed my story, took me to the bible institute for training, in Swaziland from 1991 to 1994, after that i have worked as an associate pastor, missionary, evangelist, pastor, gospel singer, bible teacher, etc... I served Jesus in south america (Brazil, Paraguay) for 8 years, i have served Jesus in South africa, Swaziland, Mozambique..., I have preached in Europe serving for 3 years in Portugal and Spain, i preached in Germany, Holland, Sweeden, today i am serving as a pastor Church in Ireland and the Uk, you may see some of my work on my facebook page on the name of "Daniel Magaia", i am a black man pastoring a church which is about 98% composed of white people, living in Europe. Today i am 42 years of age, I never forgot how God used you that day and always i have spoken about you arround the world. Thank you for let God use you.
Dear Arthur Blessitt My name is Margaret t Stratton on 21st Oct 1978 in Perth Western Australia you came as the guest speaker to a womens aglow invitation I was not saved and saw you being interveiwed on tv my friend gave me her ticket you preached on the women at the well as I entered the building I wanted to cry all through the meeting I cried with out stopping when you gave the invitation I did not want to put my hand up but it went up when I went forward I could barely see through my tears surely the HolGhost was in the building when I was with the councilers a the back something happened I had what to me seemed like a Damascus Roa experience and encounter with the Holy Ghost I was on a glory cloud for about 6 months I beleive I recieved an impartation as the thing that is strongest in me is the desire to introduce people to our Savoir the Lord Jesus Christ this is the first opportuniity to tell you about my incredible dynamic experience Iwas the first one to be saved IN MY WHOLE FAMILY is now serving the Lord my son belongs to World Harvest Church for 18 years my daughter leads worship my grand children are in music team this is incredible fruit from your ministry Mr Arthur Blessitt thank you so very very much for answering the call of God and for coming all the way to western aust all that long time ago you are one of my heroes I am now 75 and cant wait to catch up with you in Heaven
Bro. Blessitt was holding a revial in Goodwill, LA. when I was 12 years old I am now 56. I ask God that one spring night to come into my heart and I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. That same night that I walk down front there was about 36 that was saved that night. That was just one night of the revial, we still had 6 more nights. I dont know how many got saved during that revial but Bro Blessitt preacher on given your life to God. Sharon
we absolutley loved the movie and the book. We were so moved and the love you have for are lord and savior.That now for the first time in my life iam stepping out and telling people about jesus christ and are ministing to people at homeless shelters with the word and our music.And when we play are music i feel such an anointing come over me like i have never felt before.Thank you so much for touching are lives and helping us to step out and tell people about jesus christ. God bless you and yours and may god continue to bless you cause you have blessed us and made us better christians. Barry/Anna
I met you about 25 years ago at a church you were speaking at in Phoenix, Arizona. I can't remember the name. After you finished speaking, I quietly waited in the back of the crowd that swarmed you to give you a letter to deliver to your then secretary. What I remember the most about that day....is seeing Jesus in your eyes. Even after I left the church a few years later filled with doubt and questions searching many religions for the answers I never forgot that day I saw Jesus in you. I use to pass out your Jesus stickers as I street witnessed in those days. After 24 years of wandering in the wilderness, in the darkness, today G-d answered me through a series of increasingly dark dreams of the last days. When I dreamed of hell and the anguish of those who were trapped and the watchers who closely guard those gates against anyone being saved.....All my doubts and questions about Yeshua being G-d's Son and our Moshiach was gone in an instant and now
I KNOW that He is. And then I remembered you. Thank you. Patricia
Your "Life Lessons from the Road", Vol 1, title- "How to Judge Others" was a big help to me! Didn't know there were so many verses dealing with not judging. Haven't heard many preachers touch on this. It was good to be reminded that all truth will be revealed one day and that we don't have to justify ourselves here and now. God is indeed a just Judge. Thank you for the "Weekly Life Teachings-Lessons from the Road" series. There is so much truth in them!
I have to apologize to you for thinking that you were some kind of nut for carrying the cross all over the world. I repent of being so shortsighted and ignorant that Jesus had called you to this mission. I read your book and it was one of the most profound experiences I have ever had reading a book. I am so ashamed of myself of thinking the shallow thought I had about you. I have never read about anyone who had such a intimate walk with the Lord. Now I pray to the Lord, "Lord, give me the sweet, loving,
commpationate heart of Arthur Blessitt. Thank you for your book and your obedience to the Lord. You have deep affected my thinking and the profound insight you have giving me to be more obedient to the Lord's voice and obey what He wants me to do.God Bless you sweet Arthur, Theresa
I now live in UK and Australia (depending where the ministry workload is. In Australia I have a friend named Pastor Dan Armstrong from Toronto NSW north of Sydney, who sends me his newsletter regularly. Dan ministers a lot to the Aboriginal people and in his latest newsletter has included an amazing story of how you led a drunk aboriginal man named Mile Williams to Jesus on one of your visits to Australia. The account is in the newsletter page attached, together with a summary of what has happened in Mike's life and ministry since. I don't know if you knew these facts but I trust they will encourage you. Sue and I have just returned
from a ministry trip to the outback.
We stayed at Mimili community at the home of an aboriginal couple called Mike and Tapi Williams. Mike is the Pastor of the Mimili community church and for many years he has traveled throughout the APY Lands evangelizing and encouraging the local churches. In doing so he has endured much hardship and personal suffering. In sharing his experiences with me as we sat on his verandah late into the night it sounded like St. Paul telling of his struggles to preach the gospel in his day (2 Cor. 6).
With a twinkle in his eye Mike said to me that about the only thing he didn't share was being shipwrecked which would be a little difficult in the desert!
Mike, as a young man, had been wild and dissolute, spending his days fighting and in an alcoholic haze, without hope. One day he and a group of his cronies were in Darwin in the dry bed of the a river sleeping off a huge drinking binge. Mike said,
"I just happened to open my eyes and saw an amazing sight. A tall white fella was walking along the path at the side of the river bed carrying a big white wooden cross." Mike staggered to his feet and called, "What you doin', what you doin'." The man stopped and said, "My name is Arthur Blessitt and I am traveling around the World telling people what this cross is all about!" Arthur put down the cross and sat on the ground and told Mike the Gospel story, that Jesus died for the sins of the World and especially for Mike's sins. Then he stood, lifted the huge cross onto his shoulders and began to walk along the path.
"Let me help you" Mike called out, and for a little distance he carried the cross for the white fella. Just before they parted Arthur Blessitt turned to Mike and said, "One day you are going to take up the cross and follow Jesus wherever He will call you to go". As we sat on the verandah under the Milky Way, the Southern Cross shining so brightly Mike said, "Those words pierced my heart, and forgiveness and love for Jesus rang in my ears until I gave Him my life and took up my cross and followed Him". I saw the tears of thankfulness in Mike's eyes and thought that Arthur Blessitt probably has no idea what followed from his brief encounter with an unkempt character who staggered up from the dry river bed and helped him carry the cross. But Arthur's faithfulness to Jesus that day brought another soul into the Kingdom who took up his cross and led many others to Jesus, many of whom are out in the desert country today doing the same. Mike is planning a great gathering from all the communities next Easter. The Theme he has chosen is "It's time to come back to the cross" "This is the intervention that is needed in aboriginal communities" says Mike. It is what is needed in every village, town and city throughout this Nation, to be reminded again of what Jesus has done for us all.
IT'S TIME TO TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM!
I've just come out of a hernia op after tossing
pianos for 30 years. Interestingly I was born in Ghana to British
science teacher parents with a pyloric stenosis, a
block in my stomach. I now have a scar from my birth running into
another scar where they did the hernia. I am a
human zip.
Why is this all relevant? Well a subtle change has
to occur concerning the Cross and the Church.
Watch this. In Revelation it says how the Word is
sweet to the taste, but in the stomach it is exceedingly bitter.
As a broad generalisation the Church for 2000 years
has taken the "sweet pill" of the cross, the forgiveness, the amazing free
grace
of Christ ....but as it was ingested, this Word was
never carried through all the digestion system. There has been a
blockage.
The church has had a pyloric stenosis....and who
knows...even a hernia.
Our perception of the Cross has been the blood of
Christ. But ask anyone during a communion what on earth
the bread is about, and you'll find everyone's
eyebrows become furrowed? Or at best some well instructed Bible
lover
will return a reply which is straight off the top
of his head. Straight out of his thinking, but absolutely no revelation at
all.
As a general rule, nobody "gets" Galations 2:20.
The I have been crucified with Christ bit.
Even on TBN you should be fine talking about the
forgiveness through the Blood of Christ, but go any further and you'll get
problems.
I have confidence in you guys, that you have taken
the Cross further. That it is not merely a forgiveness emblem to
you.
Jesus took every single one of us, every last trace
of the whole Adamic order into death in His Body. We were all
there.
We talk of God's love, but actually Jesus set His
face. He was ruthless. He so hated Arthur Denise and Chris that, without
asking
us beforehand, before we ever knew anything about
it, He pulled all of us into His Body death with Him and took us all to the
Eternal municipal
waste dump, and incase there were any signs of life
and struggle, kept us in His death for 3 whole days. He finished us
completely.
Then the Father made a sign to the Holy Spirit to
come and give life to His mortal Body. Only, Jesus caught us up in Him as
well.
And the Greek for "hidden with Christ in God" is
"interleaved" like the Viennetta ice creams Denise will know. We are so
interleaved with Christ
nobody has a clue where He starts and we finish.
And this is the meaning behind John 17. This is the Body death of the
Communion.
This is the anchor we have in Hebrews which means
we're gonna make it as Christians.
Except nobody knows.Somehow Arthur you knew. Cant
understand how on earth you picked that up in the States?
They know about the forgiveness bit and like a
sweet morsel of food they ingest that bit, but virtually the whole church leaves it at that. That is all they know.
Somehow Arthur, you picked up it was more than that. You see unless the Word
passes
right through us,and is fully ingested, the world
never sees Christ in Arthur and Denise form walking around. All they see is
sinner Arthur and Denise continuallyasking forgiveness from one Sunday to the next. And
this is why it is so hard to get more evangelists. Because, as marvellous as it
is to be forgiven, you are still the same sinners,
even though born again, and you feel fraudulent going around telling people
about a salvation that only half works. So this is why
Rheinhard Bonnke, Morris Cerullo and yourselves waste so much energy trying to
raise
up evangelists. it's exhausting.
Jesus has a better plan. Kill them all and raise
them on the 3rd day! How ruthless!
Yes, but how effective!. And 3000 were added the
first day.
But Arthur wasnt working up a sweat trying to raise
more evangelists! Nope. On the day of Acts Arthur was nowhere to be
seen
but somehow God still managed it!
Understand I have the highest respect for you guys,
but I'm just trying to sharpen you as you go round with the most
lethal
Watching the news and TV of the Middle East is very familiar and moving for Denise and I. There is a huge upheaval underway in many nations there. We've carried the cross in every one of these countries & have friends in all these lands. The danger of war, chaos, death and destruction are everywhere. Followers of Jesus are growing in the Middle East with many turning to Jesus yet at the same time great repercussions are coming to the Believers. A great dispersion of about three quarters of a million Christians have had to flee Iraq. There has been a church there since just after the day of Pentecost. The result of the war there has reduced the number of Christians in half! Yet, these suffering followers of Jesus are seldom spoken about. We understand as we've been with all the Middle East groups with the cross. At this explosive time Jesus is calling us back. We will give more details in our March E-Letter. We will share Jesus and help oppressed Christians. It will be a very dangerous and expensive trip. Please pray for this crosswalk even now and pray about a substantial donation of support to help send us again into the Valley of the Shadow of Death for Jesus. I know that you care. Please pray for your brothers and sisters! We will extend help to many needy Believers. Many of the greatest followers of Jesus are suffering there and I weep. Oh, Jesus use us to extend Your loving Hand to them and bring more to know You as Savior. To see photos and read about our crosswalks in Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Iran, the Gulf States, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Tunisia, Turkey, Algeria, Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, Morocco, etc., please go to the following link and click on the nation you want to read about. This will help your praying and understanding. www.blessitt.com/list_nations. Please pray that more religious freedom and not oppression comes as a result of all this turmoil. Yet we must know that Jesus said 'All power is given unto Me in Heaven and on Earth'. The Hand of God still raises up and casts down, Blessing and Praise to the Lord of Hosts.
The U.S.A also needs Jesus!
We are going full steam ahead with walking the streets & roads, tv, training people and sharing Jesus everywhere. Killing, greed and hate are ripping the heart and soul of our great nation apart. We are moving out to help reach our land for Christ. We have more outreach news coming. Glory! The only hope is in Jesus. Anyone in Christ is a new creation...the old is passed away and ...and all things become New! Evangelism and leading people to Jesus changes people! They move from Darkness into Light from the Power of Satan unto the Power of God. Be a witness, love and share with others the life changing message of Jesus unto Salvation. Let us go without fear to carry out the 'Great Commission' to Go into all the world and Preach the Gospel to every person.
Latest News
January has been a very beautiful time with Jesus. Have had some wonderful times with family. Denise had a birthday. She is now.....? Ha. Sophia also had her 7th birthday in early February. I am surrounded by love from my seven children, ten grandchildren and my wife. How truly blessed I am and how blessed we all are. I hosted 'Praise' on TBN TV from Costa Mesa, CA, plus I taught a training seminar about sharing Jesus. I was a guest with Paul Crouch Sr. and Paul Jr. as they interviewed Barry McGuire ('60's Rock Star, 'Eve of Destruction' etc.) and me. We talked about Barry coming out of Whiskey a Go-Go nightclub in the summer of 1969 and there I was chained to the cross on Sunset Blvd. He was stoned on drugs but looked into my eyes. He said, "Hey man, what's happening?" and my reply was one word "Jesus!" He immediately turned and walked away never to be the same again. Barry said "I saw nothing but compassion, love and concern pouring through your eyes toward me. I saw the love of Christ in your eyes." He came to Jesus about a year later and became a great leader of the Jesus Movement and is still today singing for Jesus full time at the age of 76. Paul Crouch says it was one of the most classic and moving programs ever on TBN. It was so good to be with Barry again. We did some rallies in New Zealand back in the 80's. It was very emotional to be with him on TV and also talk about the Jesus Movement. You see the 'Power' of one moment...one word 'Jesus' and where it led forty two years later and the road keeps going, at least for a while more. It would amaze you to know the many lives that have been changed, saved, blessed in the way of the cross. We've been working hard on getting the new website up and running, creating new content and editing existing content. We'll let you know as soon as it's done. Please pray about this. We've booked our airline tickets for the Middle East!
This Month's Special Feature
One of the best things I've ever done was to have the art work set up and these plastic covered cards made. All over the world people want them. In stores and restaurants in America I give one out, other people see the card and want one too! It opens the way to share Jesus and bless others. They put the card in their wallet or purse. It has universal appeal. For the month of February only we will send you ten of these Palm Cards when you make a donation to support this ministry or place an order from our online store. This will bless you, your family and friends. To donate or order please go to www.blessitt.com Remember we have "the Cross' film, book and audio cd also at the online store.
Upcoming Events
TBN 'Praise' from Denver. Live taping February 10th at 6pm. Will be aired on Wednesday February 16th 7pm PST and 10pm EST. For seats call 303-650-5515. Arthur will be hosting: Pastor Mike Ware, Dave Powers and Dr Doug Weiss. Las Vegas, NV. "Walking in the glory with the cross - The Cross in Sin City!" Thursday 17th February 7pm - showing of the film 'The Cross' at Abundant Grace Church, Origin Business Park, 7391 Prairie Falcon Rd, Las Vegas NV 89128. Church office at 702-655-3619. Friday 18th Feb. 7pm - 'Cross-Walk' prayer meeting at Abundant Grace Church. Saturday 19th Feb. 'Cross-Walk 2011'. Walk with the cross and Arthur down the famous 'Fremont Street Experience' at 5.30pm. The garage is located on North 4th St and Las Vegas Blvd. Start at 6pm and walk 8 blocks north to the Plaza Hotel, turn around and walk back. Info: 702-655-3610 (Abundant Grace Church Office). Come join us in this mighty and historic cross walk and witness with thousands from Las Vegas and across America! Be a part of this Jesus weekend. Sunday 20th Feb. 10.30am and 6pm. Arthur will speak at Abundant Grace Church. Pastor Rob Wright.
Greetings from Denise & Sophia
Both Sophia and I have had birthdays in the last two weeks. I remember God's word that says "Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them". Psalm 139:16. What comfort and peace there is in knowing that God knows the future and it is in His hands - I just pray that we may always be sensitive to His Holy Spirit and want nothing more than to be obedient to His call and I desire for all of us what I pray for Sophia each night, and that is, that her greatest desire in life is to do the will of God. Now that Sophia's birthday is over she's excited about Valentine's Day! She just told me that she is so happy that God gave her us as her family! And that she 'Loves Jesus soooooooo Much!' May we all love Jesus soooooo much - just like a child! "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven". Matthew 18:3. Love Denise & Sophia.
A Scripture for You!
"Therefore comfort (encourage) one another and build up one another, just as you are doing". Finally, brothers, rejoice, be made complete, comfort one another, be like minded, and the God of love and peace will be with you". I Thessalonians 4:11 and 2 Corinthians 13:11.
Blessings, pilgrim followers of Jesus - Arthur, Denise & Sophia Blessitt. Luke 18:1.
Arthur Blessitt as I heard him in 1972Having heard this fiery preacher fearlessly leading hundreds to Christ in Trafalgar Square London 1972...I
would have naturally kept Arthur travelling around the world speaking to masses. Job done. Obvious!But no...God gives him the specific , I believe, intercessory call to walk the cross around the globe. Makes no sense humanly. But if you understand intercession...a bit like when they marched silently first around Jericho...it makes all the sense in the world literally!
Thirdly I was arrested by his last day of walking after 38 years. How he felt to lay down flat on the cross and fully identify
with the death of Jesus. I was so excited to read that and it showed me a dimension that I just hadn't seen. By the 80s I had felt God say to me how important this Crosswalk was in opening the world up to the gospel. But what I hadn't seen until now is that there was a whole new level to it...and this is unique to our time .For the first time in history masses are going to understand "our identification with Christ " This affects our ability to walk things out. Only the privileged few understood this in time past...and Arthur's last act on the morning of the last day was so prophetically charged....because it was saying from now on we won't just understand the Cross for forgiveness of sins...but will understand that we died there...and from now on it's Christ living His Life out through us. It's like a fore runner of a whole burst of revelation that will run through the whole Earth!!!+++++++++++++++++++
So what's going on?
All over Facebook friends are talking about different aspects of what the Cross has done for us.
Dan Bowen has just done a post on the subject :the Cross ,without the resurrection and the ascension is meaningless. In answering him and agreeing with him,I saw that God has meticulously prepared us for what went on at the Cross. In relative terms, the death of Christ followed by His resurrection all took place within 3 days. If you were not in the vicinity, you would not have been aware of any of it. So for hundreds of years leading up to it, God instructed the Jews to set up a tabernacle so detailed, it was effectively a slow-motion, frame by frame account of what was going to be accomplished at Jerusalem. And then, if that was not enough, He then used someone who was only converted later, the Apostle Paul, who could not be diverted by any external aspects of living with Jesus for three years, to give a similar Holy Spirit Xray of the entire process from a Spirit point of view. We can catch this in the letters he wrote, and (if it was Paul also,) we can read more in the letter to the Hebrews. Key of David meetings can be like a titles sequence for a movie or documentary. They flag up what is about to occur....but often at the time, our understanding of the titles sequence can be pretty sketchy.If you know this blog, you know I have an agenda. But when I go into a key of David meeting or any Havant meeting, I drop this agenda and along with the others try to pick up what Jesus , the now Jesus, is saying. Through song, prophecies scriptures,sovereign waves of the Holy Spirit, He brings out the key threads of that meeting....and sometimes it may seem like nothing.
In 2008 I brought a word about the Father's house, but had no idea of its centrality in the months ahead. A year later I brought a song about the sound of God moving the heavenly furniture of His headquarters into its rightful place...the throne room. This word was behind the video series, and also the subject of Jack Fortenberry's book (unbeknown to him or me) "Corinthian Elders". I "hear" sounds of adjustments being made in the Body of Christ and ministry. Paul Noble has also prophesied about this in the Facebook group "Prophetic Voice" and is very much the subject of the last blogposts.
Some of the latest Key of David "smoke signals" have not been through me, but people like Hannah Morton and Peter Stott and Helen Rubio on the "the Lamb/Lion" and the "meaning of the Cross".
With this in mind I publish the Facebook conversation Lydia Grewell and I had as we first read Arthur Blessitt's gob-smacking account of his Cross Walk in his book The Cross.
I feel now is the time to share that the Cross is more than we ever knew.
It is a walk. It is life for us. It is meaning for us.
It unlocks everything that has eluded us. It is not religion. It is death. Very real death to what we thought was us.
But it is life for us. A very real practical down to earth faith life.
I do not hold with those who do not meet as the Church. This is as mad as a married couple saying,"I've got the marriage certificate,I do not need the marriage bed!"
We meet together now precisely because we have been fused all week with the Saviour.
We meet , because we can put everything down, and gather together exclusively with our Corporate Lover Jesus. And folks, smell those oils!!
But, Church, there is life outside of the bedroom. And this makes up the last 3 chapters or so of Song of Solomon. "Leaning upon our beloved as we come up out of the wilderness- FUSED with Him."
There is a Facebook Group I was told about today called Arthur Blessitt Official Site "The Cross" movie and Crosswalk.
I wrote about Arthur as an example of one who walks "in the order of Melchizedek" His publisher kindly emailed Lydia Grewell and myself after this post, offering us early copies of The Cross to review. It is not an easy task, because the book is what it is: strands and threads describing a wonderfully unique calling and intercession. Here is our conversation interspersed with a couple of extracts from the book:
Arthur writes:
"THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS
The cross is perhaps the most well-known symbol in the world. From its origin as an instrument of suffering and death it has become—through the suffering and death of Jesus Christ—a symbol of life, love, hope, and salvation. On the third day Jesus arose and ascended to the Father, and now he ever lives to make intercession for us. The good news of the gospel is focused on the cross and the shed blood of Jesus for our sins.
I have had the humbling privilege of giving well over half my life to the calling of carrying the cross from nation to nation. I've walked tens of millions of steps. This has been a journey not just of walking, but of walking with a cross—feeling its weight and hearing people's love or reproach for the cross.
Today, as I was thinking about this chapter, I took a walk with the cross. The sun was shining brightly, so I could see the shadow of me carrying the cross as I moved along the street. Tears filled my eyes as I remembered tough days in the jungles or deserts or war zones. I remembered walking in rain, in snow, in heat, and in cold. I remembered people coming to the cross and finding new life and salvation. And, yes, there have been rejections, but I choose not to magnify those occasions. In the shadow of the cross I have lived, traveled the world, raised seven children, and found welcome and love all around the world.
I am encouraged by what Jesus is doing today. After having carried the cross in every nation, I can say that the world is open to and hungry for the good news of Jesus and the cross. The only problem is that the laborers are few, as Jesus said.
As I complete this mission, I feel peace. Jesus is ruling and reigning in the world today. The church is triumphant, and people around the globe are welcoming Jesus. In the shadow of the cross you see firsthand the glorious kingdom of God all around the world. You see the suffering and resurrection of Jesus that have the power to set us free and change our lives. As followers of Jesus, we face great challenges. But Jesus is with us, and he has all power.
I have also felt the agony of the cross as I walked among people suffering from war, hunger, injustice, and oppression. Tears often wash my face as I walk. The weight of the burden of the lost and suffering is heavier than the physical weight of the cross. Yet I walk on....."
*******************************
more from this chapter
"As I journey round the world,I find the cross to be a universal symbol of God's love that can be understood in spite of language and cultural barriers. One of the most wonderful responses came from Poland, where I carried the cross each year from 1981 to 1984. The welcome I received in Poland and the understanding the people had for me and this pilgrimage with the cross are the greatest I have ever known. When I looked into their lives, we connected instantly. They could see the struggle , the hurt, and the living faith in me, and i could feel their struggle and hurt and see their battle for faith."
it, to be close to it, to touch it. The wonderful people of Poland had suffered greatly—and were still suffering—for their faith under the oppression of communism, and they were thrilled to see the symbol of their faith being carried through their country.
I stood at a village church for two hours while a steady flow of people came in and cried. A sweet woman who helped the priest couldn't speak. The priest told me the Nazis cut out her tongue when she was in Auschwitz. She cried and cried. The cross meant so much to her.
As I walked in a large open field, I could see people—thousands of people—coming across the field from every direction. They were running toward the cross. I couldn't believe my eyes. People left their work; they came on foot, on bicycles, in cars, on horses, and in wagons. They were crying, smiling, and laughing. It was awesome.
At the edge of a wheat field, where the nearest house was at least half a mile away and the closest town farther away than that, a huge crowd gathered. Cars and trucks stopped on both sides of the road. The traffic jam must have stretched for half a mile.
Crowds of people just kept coming as I walked through Poland. They filled churches and overflowed into the streets. Some drove many miles to see the man carrying the cross. People kissed the cross, and they kissed me! In the villages, people waited along the roadside for me to come to them. Word would spread, and masses of people would run across fields to see the cross.
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Peter Stott of Havant astounded us last summer with recollections of helping drive the provided landrover down for Arthur as he prepared to go into Europe in the early 70s. Peter worked at this time supplying vehicles.Some 10 years before the existence of Havant Church, and while Peter was still up north.+++++++++++++++++++++++Facebook conversation with LydiaChris 7th Feb2009, if you've seen my post you'll know the Arthur Blessitt book has arrived, and I'm riveted. You know what might be cool is to share comments here, then cut and paste our conversation onto the blog.
I'm only a few pages in but I already see so many parallels in the way he has been led and my own life. He has had this amazing singular calling, and the physical practics of his life have been so different. But the various tests he underwent in order to learn to do exactly what the Holy Spirit was telling him to do - I identify with that...also the friction it can cause in your environment....looking forward to getting right into it.
Chris wrote
at 09:52 on 13 February 2009
Have nearly finished Arthur's book. Reminds me of Forrest Gump without the disability. Talk about walking with history. will do more hopefully with you after 7days or so.
Lydia 13th February Yeah, funny it does remind me of Forrest Gump kinda too I actually just got back into reading Arthur's book today, and am enjoying it..........
Chris 23rd February 2009
.I finished Arthur's book and I feel slightly overawed even trying to make any comments.
Here are some of the things that hit me.
The reality of following Jesus moment by moment...what I call operating in the Now experience of Jesus, this
Priest who operates in the order of Melchizedek...knowing no beginning or end of days.
Pulling all the strings on the right hand of. God the Father....running the whole show from heaven and mediating His plan
through and in the Power of His Holy Spirit.
Secondly, having heard this fiery preacher fearlessly leading hundreds to Christ in Trafalgar Square London 1972...I
would have naturally kept Arthur travelling around the world speaking to masses. Job done. Obvious!But no...God gives him the specific , I believe, intercessory call to walk the cross around the globe. Makes no sense humanly.
But if you understand intercession...a bit like when they marched silently first around Jericho...it makes all the sense in the world
literally!
Thirdly I was arrested by his last day of walking after 38 years. How he felt to lay down flat on the cross and fully identify
with the death of Jesus. I was so excited to read that and it showed me a dimension that I just hadn't seen. By the 80s I had felt
God say to me how important this Crosswalk was in opening the world up to the gospel.
But what I hadn't seen until now is that there was a whole new level to it...and this is unique to our time .For the first time in history masses are going to understand "our identification with Christ "This affects our ability to walk things out. Only the privileged few understood this in time past...and Arthur's last act on the morning of the last day was so prophetically charged....because it was saying from now on we won't just understand the Cross for forgiveness of sins...but will understand that we died there...and from now on it's Christ living His Life out through us. It's like a fore runner of a whole burst of revelation that will run through the whole Earth!!!
Fourthly...Perhaps the greatest simplest key of all
How do you walk the Cross round the Earth/ complete the huge things
God calls us all to do??? ONE STEP AT A TIME!!!!
What has been hitting you in the book?
Lydia Grewell wrote
at 00:23 on 24 February 2009
Hey Chris
I loved the same things as you Chris! I loved how he described walking through the fields and letting God tell him which way to go, even though he already knew the most straight and sensible path. I so appreciated that part that God told him he was in training. I had a similiar couple of things this past summer where I felt compelled to go a certain route in my car one day and I was filled with joy, I had no idea where I was going or why, but I just knew God wanted me to. This happened a few times and I sensed it was God preparing me to listen to his directions. So to me this was awesome to get confirmation of by reading Arthur's testimony!
I also loved the whole aspect of one step at a time. God is the I am, the God of the now.....each day has enough troubles of it's own right! So to hear his whole life journey, which was HUGELY profound, that he just focused on ~ one step at a time was a wonderful truth and example for others. God has been helping me to remember to be faithful in the little and to follow him day by day!
I didn't get through the book, so didn't read the part about him laying on the cross, but when I read it in your comment it really struck me as profound, seriously. I pictured our death with Jesus by picturing myself on that Cross.....it's so true, most do not know that they died, their old adamic nature died with Christ! So to see this with a visual is WAY COOL!!! Thanks!! I must go finish the book........Peace to you Chris!!
Chris About Arthur's book. Didn't you see the correlation with Forrest Gump? Whereas Forrest Gump was not screwed up by a great intellect...and is a story...Arthur has willingly chosen to lay his own ideas aside and rigorously follow God's calling...yet finding the same thing..that he has literally walked into the history
books...or rather, walked in a Gump fashion into the frames of historic events, without being recorded as such. If you read Brother Andrew "Light Force" you will find a similar walk. About 10 years before the rest of the world he was identifying the rise of the extremist muslims. Nobody else saw the impact of the threat to come.
Similar "nation-bending" activities are happening through Nicholas and Pam right now.
I found Arthur's meetings with USA presidents together with his impact on Arafat, and iin Burundi absolutely amazing.
Lydia Grewell I read a bit more last night.....yes I see it the correlation, I hadn't read up to the point where he had been in all those situations with Pat Roberston in the (1980)March, and Yasser Arafat and Billy Graham, in our prior chat.......the more I read the more I am so blessed and amazed and really provoked even!! This guy had his gaze so fixed on Jesus and was so determined to walk out his calling.........Wow!! He sure got an aerial view/big picture of the world huh? The movie will be wonderful and powerful, I truly hope!! Hope to read more today..............
Lydia Grewell wrote at 15:43
Chris, I haven't finished the book yet, but was able to get done 2 more chapters, and boy does it just keep getting better! I read the chapter where Arthur talks about sharing Jesus with all kinds of people and I just love his humility and his heart, what an example!!
Chris Welch wrote
That chapter was so great. It is amazing that after 38,000 miles of sharing Jesus in 38 years…Arthur Blessitt has found that people do not have a problem with Jesus. They have a problem with the church…or with Christianity as practised. I like it when Mark Stibbe said Jesus began his ministry in a wedding feast providing wine at a banquet….and His current ministry hasn’t changed much!!!! It was a bit like that today in both our meetings. I haven’t a clue any more whether I would call them 2nd or 3rd level meetings. All I know is that since the Florida Outpourng Havant meetings have been like golden honey poured down on everybody. Back to the book I was reading the beginning again. Actually that is where the report of his final day of the journey is.But you can see how from the beginning, he like all of us put up these walls as to what we can and can’t do. Then the festival organiser says “I’m in charge here and sure you can come up on stage and preach. Then in the chapter There are No Walls you see how Arthur went absolutely everywhere….though the Israelis said the Arabs won’t let you pass. And the Arabs said the Israelis won’t let you pas. And people said “You’ll never get on the Great Wall of China….and you’ll never get into North korea! etc etc What an encouragement. Today when I was reading about his second wife receiving dreams and visions about many lands….but no missionary organisation would take her because she’d not done Bible college. And I thought again “We don’t have to submit to restrictions….our only mandate is to believe for the Melchizedek Order….to believe for the real stufff….though the fake seems so enticing.” And sure enough God only teams her up with one of the most significant ministries of the 20th Century…..even though no one else would have her. I still get a kick out of how God sent some of the most significant people of 1973, still under an amazing anointing and vision, all the way from Houston to our little old grammar school near London.
Chris Welch wrote at 23:22
And since that time I've always been encouraged to believe for the totally outlandish!!!! There are loads of books on ministry and doctrine...but how good to learn from one who has spent his whole life doing it. Just about every page of Arthur's book is packed with extraordinarily useful real life stuff about walking with Jesus and being used to share the love message of Jesus.
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Arthur writes in "Roads of Glory"
If you asked me to close my eyes and say what comes to my mind when I think about walking with the cross around the world, it would be the faces of those who gather around the cross. The faces are of many colors, and the people speak hundreds of languages. They may be smiling or they may be weeping, but they know that they are feeling the presence of the Lord.
I am not saying that I am holy or that the wood of the cross itself is holy; but I am saying the hand of God is upon this walk, and people experience his glory as the word spreads that the cross is coming down the road. Time and again I have seen people come in anger but melt into tears as they draw near to me and the cross. Hundreds of thousands of people have touched the cross or me and rubbed themselves as if they are blessed just by the touch. They feel something they have never felt before. I stop with every group and proclaim that it is Jesus who blesses and saves, and I share how to invite him into their lives.
The glory of the Lord touches people, because the Holy Spirit of God is present in such a way that they are drawn to the cross and Jesus. Even individuals who are devoted to other religions experience the miracle of God's glory that travels on the road with the cross and me. They feel love and mercy in a way they have never felt before. Only God knows people's hearts, but millions have heard the message of Jesus and prayed to receive him.
I often speak of the bubble of glory that seems to surround the cross, me, and anyone with me on a trip.Many say they have seen a glow surrounding the cross. But for sure I know that when people get within fifty to one hundred feet of the cross they are aware of the glory of God.They may not describe it in those terms, but they feel something within. Many get goose bumps or cry or break into a smile. I have seen people who were coming to attack me, raging in anger, become totally calm as they draw near the cross.
Hard hearts often melt. Time and again I have said to tough men full of hurt and anger, "Here, feel the weight of the cross." As they lift the cross, the power of the Holy Spirit breaks through, and I lead them in prayer as they weep. Brokenhearted people weeping with pain and grief have been healed as we talk and pray.
I always say, "Jesus did it. Jesus drew them. Jesus saved them. Jesus is present in the glory of God that the people feel."
These people come from every walk of life. They are battle-hardened soldiers who melt before the cross with tears in their eyes. They are old women and little children, eating, smiling, and feeling the love and glory of God as they gather around the cross.
It is the glory of the Lord on the battlefields, along the roadsides, and in the homes and churches of the world. The glory is present when I just walk down the road. I know that I have a glory team at all times: God who is Father, God who is Jesus, and God who is Holy Spirit! This thought alone is enough to set my feet dancing on a hot road in the desert.
The following stories give specific examples of experiencing the roads of glory as the cross is carried around the world……. the Amazon reference is here
