Speaking to the hill (mountain; Mk.11)

ACTS 17:22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.17:23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

The picture on the left is "Mars Hill" of Britain, right in the heart of Edinburgh, a place of homage to philosophy and the thinking of man. At Mars Hill Paul was dealing with Epicureans and Stoics, and coming out of this have come the Cynics bearing a Hellenistic perspective that has affected the move of God that brought renewal to England's historic churches (as prophesied by Smith Wigglesworth) but not to Scotland.

The attack on Christians in Scotland, therefore has been five times higher than the attack on Christians in England and Wales. This has manifested in a number of ways that are being identified in this initiative paper with the use of the Apostle Paul's experience at the Greek Mars Hill, a Mars Hill reconstructed in Scotland.

ACTS 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
17:32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
17:33 So Paul departed from among them.

Paul's credibility to deal with philosophical issues was questioned at Mars Hill and likewise over many years of ministering into the situation in Scotland our credibility has been questioned greatly in Scotland, and so we deal with this issue first.

Credibility

Lindsay and I firmly believe we have Scottish credibility in making these comments under God, having been married in Scotland and experienced many of the attacks outlined in this paper. Lindsay was brought up in the Church of Scotland Parish Church system never receiving the understanding of what it means to be born again, a revelation she received and accepted in South Africa. Lindsay's father was a Kirk Session Treasurer at Blair Atholl firmly asking the question as to wheretheir allegiance lay - the Kirk or the Lodge?

I was brought up in a revivalist Mission Hall in Liverpool, where my father had been Pastor having been a WEC missionary in Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau in Africa, his training coming through Rees Howells at Swansea.

We know of our "no reputation" by the establishment, a requirement for the revivalist to be successful in, and so we are aware of our lack of credibility by the world, and our credibility in God. Look out Scotland - WE IN THE NAME OF JESUS ARE COMING BACK TO SCOTLAND SO AS TO RETURN BACK TO THE CHURCH ALL THAT THE GOD OF THIS WORLD HAS STOLEN! II Cor. 4:4 We are battlers determined to see out the victory in Scotland. We have taken part in spiritual warfare throughout the country and know this is the time of restoration of all things back to the Church - the ESTABLISHMENT "CHURCH" already dying on its knees in its corruption, paganism and lies! We know - as all of you living in Scotland know - THE ESTABLISHMENT SET UP IS CORRUPT AND SINKING!

PROVERBS 6:30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
6:31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

Infiltrations into Church life in Scotland have been many over the years but we identify in this paper what we believe are the three main ones relevant today;

• Masonry and the doctrine of good works - all roads leading to God as long as you are "good". Within this context we deal with the philosophies entrenched in Scottish society, philosophies that have to go from the Church before revival can come.

The celebrated evangelist D.L. Moody wrote about freemasonry; I do not see how any Christian, most of all a Christian minister, can go into these secret lodges with unbelievers. They say they can have more influence for good, but I say that they can have more influence for good by staying out of them and reproving their evil deeds. You can never reform anything by unequally yoking yourself to ungodly men. True reformers separate themselves from the world. But, some say to me, if you talk that way you will drive all the members of secret societies out of your meetings and out of your churches. But what if I did? Better men will take their places. Give them the truth anyway, and if they would rather leave their churches than their lodges, the sooner they get out of their churches the better. I would rather have ten members who are separated from the world than a thousand such members! Come out from the lodge. Better one with God than a thousand without Him! We must walk with God, and if only one or two go with us, it is all right. Do not let down the standard to suit men who love their secret lodges or have some darling sin they will not give up!

For further information visit the Saints Alive Website

II Cor. 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Freemasonry in the "Church" has brought about a hierarchy in the "Church" a separation of those who are respected - that is "Church" elders often controlled by Lodge members who are placed in position to bring "order to the Church". This control overrides even spirit-filled born again ministers from fully completing their call in God, their role in God first being to rid the Kirk from these outside controls that have ministered into the already demonically placed feeling in Scotland of being "unworthy" anyway. Paul ministering to the Corinthians states to "come out from among them" and become a son of God, joint heir with Jesus himself; Rom. 8. Our righteousness is in Christ Jesus - not through any good work we do to apparently please Him!

Picture gives the evidence of the link between Masonry and the Church of Scotland - Dunkeld (Church of Scotland) Cathedral, Perthshire.

ROMANS 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

I identify three philosophies coming out of the Mars Hill monstrosity;

STOICISM

If you do not come from the Calvinistic camp of Christianity in Scotland, then you will be seen as being "doctrinally unsound" and disrespectful of God. Within this context comes about fatalism, an acceptance of the inevitable. God has decided it and there is nothing I can do about it!

There is no talk of the authority we have as believers, we simply grovel to the Almighty Being (the unknown God of Mars Hill) and he may grant us salvation if it is his divine will.

II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Calvin himself was of Stoic background, Stoics emphasizing in their philosophy a logos, pneuma, world-reason and soul according to Irvine, this being the case it is found that those who hold to Calvinism/Stoicism can often feel their lives running in different directions, God, therefore, being the cohesive factor in their lives. The perfect plan is manifest, therefore, in the logos but because the logos is manifest with world reason, the result is one that emphasizes world reason's perspective of God because to the Calvinist reason and logos are one of the same thing. Calvin's first published book was De Clementia by the Stoic Seneca.

The Hebridean revival came about when man forgot his reason, however, allowing God to take control of the human mind set and replace this with His, those of the "reason" belief having meetings in opposition to the Duncan Campbell revival meetings because to the human eye none of the meetings made sense. One website attacking many of the Lord's anointed today is called "Let us Reason", and it is through reason that much of what God has desired to achieve in Scotland has up to now been thwarted. This is the doctrine of the Stoics Paul was ministering into in Greece and we are tackling in Scotland.

I COR 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
I COR 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Within Stoicism everything is determined, a belief that encourages fatalism and a logic where one can participate in divine life, not by dying to self as depicted so strongly by Campbell in the Hebridean Revival, but by human reason. Within this context of unbelief it is nearly impossible to bring about miracles because of the Calvinistic style stoical belief that makes it impossible to change fate, human beings being called to submit to it with honour and dignity. This doctrine of providence is what we are taking on in Scotland.

The scripture declares that the letter of the law killeth but the spirit giveth life and those portraying the logos as their way of life misunderstand the way scripture is meant to be used. Paul calls us to put on the whole armour of God taking the sword of the Spirit which is the Rhema Word of God, that is the Holy Spirit bringing back to our remembrance that which we have learnt; Eph. 6. Revival is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit manifesting Himself through us, speaking out Rhema words of life and enabling us to fulfil the Great Commission, God having promised us to confirm His word (Rhema) with signs following.; Mark 16.

EPICUREANISM

This philosophy teaches that knowledge comes from sense experience, an idea alien to Biblical teaching.

HEBREWS 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Pleasure and pain are determined, therefore, by sense experience, the conclusion coming through what is enjoyed is good and that which is not enjoyed is evil. Coming out of this belief has come Hedonism which teaches that pleasure is the greatest good. The philosophy brings about a "couldn't be bothered" attitude because in the Christian perspective and it is the infiltration into the "Church" we are dealing with here, then God is in his heaven happy in pleasure so why not you do the same thing?

Pleasure rather than impassioned dedication to the call of God is endemic in Scottish Church life, God looking for the commitment of Mary Slessor so as to fulfill His heart felt ambitions for the nation.

CYNICISM

This philosophy encourage self sufficiency, and so when the man of God who hears from God calling His Church together declares the corporate Word of the Lord, the cynic will criticize and pull down because he knows it will never work! He is cynical!

The experiences of the past in Scotland have made many people cynical about the future, and I expect many people might well be cynical about this call to Revival, which is why we need to move from sense knowledge to heart knowledge from where we can believe that the Great Commission can be fulfilled in Scotland.

Acknowledgement: Hellenistic Philosophy (300BCE-200CE)

• Sectarianism and the infiltration into Churches and Christian ministries of Para-military fund raisers in the 1980's to support the then conflict in Ireland.

This is an area Christians in England may not comprehend but Christians in Scotland and Ireland know exactly what we are talking about here.

Scotland's First Minister Jack McConnell to B.B.C. Panorama described Sectarianism as "Scotland's secret shame", this whole concept undermining (according to the Panorama programme) Scotland's new image to the World. http://newsrss.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/4284023.stm

FC Celtic vs Rangers

Within Scotland there is a belief that we are fighting for God, and this manifests itself in a way that even allows an evil to become a good for the greater good. At one of the heights of the sectarian conflict in Ireland, therefore, ministries, Christian businesses and Churches were infiltrated by individuals who would transfer funds and/or goods from these ventures to fund violent conflict based on sectarian interest. This brought about tremendous suffering for God gives a vision to a movement, and those called of the Spirit look to support these ventures, but those working for what they perceive as a greater good - transfer those funds into what they see as the major defence of the faith! An evil therefore becomes a good - and society in Scotland at this time allowed this to happen.

Within this context of sectarian infiltration have come massive mistrusts, not only between Catholic and Protestant but between Catholic to Catholic and Protestant to Protestant, this division often being engulfed into a rivalling clan to clan division situation that only full national repentance can cure. Often when there are meetings these mistrusts can manifest with one party being friendly but not open to another, there being so many hurts and mistrusts around that a true openness one to another seems impossible. Oh! For the power of the living God!

• Controls and Manipulations of "Christian" Ministers of all backgrounds and persuasions. Respecting a "Minister" is still very much part of Scottish society. This can be a good thing and a bad thing, the latter manifesting through ministers and pastors taking control of their congregations isolating them from God's unique call upon their lives.

My wife and I have witnessed this right across denominational barriers, in new Church situations of Pentecostal/Charismatic background as well as in the "establishment". It is right for there to be respect for Ministers of the Gospel and indeed the Word declares not only respect but double honour!

I Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
5:18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

This double honour does not entitle a minister to control and manipulate the lives of others, the Minister's role being to bring the conditions for individuals to hear from God and go forward according to that purpose, the congregation recognizing in the corporate sense that in the Church there can only be one vision - that vision, however, having to be in line with the Great Commission; Mark 16.

This is how we perceive Church:

a) The Word of God is given Priority - not the control of individuals.

John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

b) Control from the religious spirit - will drain the individual through false application of law - ministering to the "Scottish unworthiness spirit".

John 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. (logos not the rhema)

II Cor. 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

c) Passion quenched - Ministers are called to encourage and not quench!

An African brother was really going at it in a prayer meeting, binding this and that, and loosing this and that and I could feel the Western style atmosphere looking to quench this brother's enthusiasm. In many churches a Minister would have a "little word". God, however, never gives a little word - HE only deals with big ones and I was led to pray for more boldness for our African brother.

I Thess. 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
5:20 Despise not prophesyings.
5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

d) Love for the Doctrine - before love for the Giver of the Word

The scripture declares that in all things Jesus must have the pre-eminence, yet the interpretations of men in line with the stoic-Calvinistic spirit that encourages the reason of man takes charge over those moving by the Spirit - controlling the Spirit-Filled Christian with humanism rather than the liberty of the spirit.

COL. 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

HALLELUJAH! Be encouraged!

The hill (mountain) of philosophy, masonry and earthly thinking is cast into the sea.

MARK 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Picture shows what is known as Scotland's National Monument situated on Calton Hill (Mars Hill) Edinburgh, a partially completed replica of the Parthenon, and is commonly referred to as Edinburgh's Disgrace, a disgrace not because funds were not available to complete the idol, but because the replica is of an Athens building dedicated to the Greek god Athena the Virgin, a disgrace to a Christian nation like Scotland - Time has come to cast into the sea along with all of Scotland's false gods!