The Tabernacle Blog

Over 10 years ago while Mark & Helen were members of Wycliffe Bible Translators, they began to be stirred by ‘thin places’ that litter the landscape of the United Kingdom & Europe as they led teams of young adults on missions tours.

These ‘thin places’ where the distance between heaven & earth is so tangibly thin, began for them what is now their pursuit, creating such spaces for the presence of God. Affectionately they call them “Tabernacle Spaces”; a reference to the Tabernacles (special set apart places) of Moses & David that occurs in the Scriptures.

Over the years as they have lived in Germany, Australia & USA, Mark& Helen have witnessed the emergence of such ‘Tabernacles’ in the privacy of people’s homes as well as in public places such as church buildings.

From the very beginning, they have held a somewhat detailed vision of establishing a place where the nations would come to simply be in the presence of God. This ‘watering hole/presence place‘, they are now contending for in Sydney from the gateway of the Blue Mountains.

The vision they have seen is a property with one building centrally upon it surrounded by nature & space.

This building is the ‘Tabernacle space’. It is an open, accessible space full of light, continuous worship & the beauty of His presence. It is His space touched & filled by His presence.

Here people can freely seek God personally and corporately.

Mark & Helen are called to cultivate & nurture such a consecrated place devoted to Him. They are excited to help foster an atmosphere of praise & worship that delights the Father’s heart as people encounter His life changing presence, freedom & love!

For nearly 10 years now they have been & are seeing this in their ministry but believe that God wants to greatly increase this through a dedicated public Tabernacle Space.

K Johnson (USA)

“I love the pictures of Kurrajong, it’s so “outside the camp” & yet close enough in. There’s a good “feel” to that area …I just asked Him and I believe I heard “it’s the place where My glory dwells”. His land, Kurrajong is … a High Place for sure.

Scripture, as you know, says He rides the High Places of the earth … I see horses in the Spirit riding through/across that territory. I seem to be seeing horse’s hoofs pounding the ground … like a horse would just before riding out.

There are horses a plenty in that region not of this world, I can see it. They seem to be loosely gathered and milling about like you’d see in a movie when they come together before charging off on some adventure or purposed ride! I can see the breath from their nostrils as they neigh in anticipation, nodding their heads up & down. They are filled with purpose and really excited about it. This is sooooo coool. So powerful & beautiful and fearsome. They seem to be facing down the hill … maybe that’s where they’re headed? So maybe this is something that’s happening in preparation for something God is going to do in the (near) future(?) there… Their eyes seem to be blood-red in color, though not in a bad way, but good. I think of the Blood of Jesus, of course, and the “washing of the water of the Word” for some reason.

I also think of the Scripture in Revelations that says Jesus was riding on a white horse with His rode dipped in blood and the name “WORD OF GOD” written on Him. Hmmm, is there a blood cleansing of the land and people going back into the past (roots?) to present the Lord wants to do, for reclaiming and restoring the heritage of the Lord there, maybe in preparation for what He wants to do in the (near) future?

I don’t know that I can see the riders really clear, but I do see swords being brandished and waved about from these riders, which I believe are angelic hosts. Yes, they are brandishing swords, pure white silver swords, clean & pure (emphasis on pure — PURITY).

OK, now I see it raining, a plentiful rain spread abroad over the entire area … gentle and saturating and deeply penetrating and cleansing and refreshing and life-giving. Cleansing and life-giving.

Now I see blue skies over those blue mountains. And His Light so bright but not from the physical sun. Just deep blue skies and bright, bright light over the land & people. And a golden “hue” over the landscape.

I also seem to be seeing those swords now being driven into the ground, as if the riders, after doing what they were commissioned to do, are now staking the ground upon which they rode; they are exaulting the King for which they fight and ride – Jesus: yes, they’re in celebration at this act of driving their swords into the ground.

Oh, and I’m beginning to see new growth shooting up from the ground, the best way to describe is like what I would imagine is the beginnings of tall grass springing up.

I also sense there are clearly defined borders to that area for what God is wanting to establish there in … I wonder if He would show you these boundaries, like He did so clearly to Abraham for Israel’s Promised Land? Remember how He told Abraham to walk the land in Genesis 13:17 saying, “Arise, walk in the land through its length, and its width, for I give it to you.”
I almost see like a fortified wall around the area in the Spirit, kinda like the stone wall around Biblical Jerusalem, or cities in Biblical times. Is there a “Nehemiah’s wall” to be built (in the Spirit) around the land He’s claiming for His own there? One that would separate it unto Him for His Glory?”

JM Goatley – 5yrs old (Aust/NSW)

On his way home from school & just as we were turning from East Kurrajong Rd onto Putty Rd, JM suddenly burst out..

“I just saw an angel. He was standing in front of the street sign. He was big with wings & was holding bibles in his hands & had a sack of bibles at his feet.”

Anita (Aust/Canberra) – a Pioneer of Healing Rooms Australia

“I was out walking today & sensed this from the Lord for you.

* You are stewards. Where in the past you had been living by faith in receiving from others, now He’ll give abundantly so you can steward it to others. Some will come & say how can you have all this, your a Christian, you should be poor. This relates also to His presence with you. Where you have tended that in your home, now it will be extended into the world and others will be bought into that space where His presence dwells.

* I believe strongly that all this is going to be given to you. It will be given to you, simply put in your hand.

* 10 years ago in Sydney, I had a very detailed vision. I was in a large house on 5 acres. It had a cottage out the back & a leafy garden that was all important to the open heaven that was in this property. The central house was a presence place, heaven was open there on the second level & I saw rooms to stay in there. The entire second level was an open heaven zone. I saw colors of pink & grey, & there was a water feature there also like a found or pool. I saw leaders & normal people from the nations of the world coming in & going out of this place. The ground floor had a communal eating area, shops with bread & herbs in them. At the entrance of this property was a straight driveway which led to the central house. It was lined with roses. The driveway curled around to the front door & completed in a circle going back out onto the driveway. The gardens on the driveway & out the back where the cottage was were filled with the presence of the Lord. He had saturated this place & this was the place of His dwelling that drew the nations of the world. I beleive you are stewards of such a vision as this.

*I heard the words, “Time to take the next step. Step out!” Praise Him for what He’s doing as He indicates & declare it into reality.”

D Spakman (Aust/Vic)

“As I was praying for you tonight, I heard the words “Willow Glen”. I went & looked it up in Google maps & was amazed to see that there were only a few ‘Willow Glens’ in Australia, one of them being in Kurrajong.

I sensed that this was the name of a property also.”

A Graham (Aust/SA)

“As I was waking up this morning, I had an impression of a house with a leafy garden and a separate unit or studio. Somehow I knew that it related to your need for a house in Sydney and the requirement for a Tabernacle space. I had the impression that the studio and garden would be central to the Tabernacle space.

As I pondered this I felt led to do a quick internet search for such properties in Kurrajong (where you feel the Lord is drawing you).”

Joshua H – 11yrs old (Aust/NSW)

“I see God having you live/dwell in Kurrajong on the Grose Vale side around Willow Glen Rd.”

R Wilson (Aust/NSW)

“I see a house. It is beautiful. I see wide verandas around it.”

K Traill (Aust/UK)

“This morning there was such a strong stirring in me. I went to your blogs & was reading your latest blog Helen when suddenly it was like I was in labour. I was crying and weeping and groaning and praying urgently in tongues while clutching my belly. All I could sense was that, ‘it was happening – I was giving birth’.

While this was happening I had some music on in the background and towards the end Misty Edwards song in the days of Noah came on and she was singing about the flood and the scoffers coming and that when the rain came it was too late. I prayed for God’s mercy to overcome and then again I felt Him tell me He trusted me, and that He was searching for more people that He can trust.”

R Lunnon (USA)

“As I was praying for you, I am picturing a mother giraffe giving birth. Don’t giraffes have to give birth while on the move as a defense from predators?

I believe the Holy Spirit wants me to give it to you also… The word ‘pioneering’ keeps coming to me. You are clearing ground in the Spirit. Pioneering can feel like a lonely job at times. Do not look at the response or the result in the natural. Another word that comes is ‘primer.’ You are priming the spiritual atmosphere.”

Dr O Gray (Aust/NSW)

“I sensed the phrase today, “Sydney welcomes you”. Simply you are wanted, valued, appreciated, friends – you are welcome.”

Pastor A Gilbert (Aust/Vic)

“I saw a vision. You were both in a watering hole/lagoon and you were immersed in it up to your necks. There was beautiful surroundings of Australian bush (eucalyptus etc.) and it was a beautiful day with the sun shining. You could see your heads above the water, and it seemed you were both drinking the water and also inviting others to come in and swim/drink also. It was refreshing water.

A Bible verse comes to mind, Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the LORD is good, blessed is the one who takes refuge in him”.

Dr S Vogelmann (Germany)

“I was praying for you, and I saw a picture of a house. It was a beautiful house. It had 2 levels & it simply fell out of the sky. Around it were hills & mountains in background. I saw you looking up at the sky & suddenly it just fell down at your feet. The look on your face was one of complete astonishment.”

K Johnson (USA)

“In the quiet early morning hours this monring, I felt the Father placing you upon my heart by the Spirit. While reading in the Psalms, the Spirit highlighted Psalms 44.

“2. You drove out the nations with your hand,
But them You planted
You afflicted the peoples, & cast them out.
3. For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword,
Nor did their own arm save them;
But it was your right arm, you hand, and the light of your countance,
Because You favored them.”

Several things jumped out at me for you. In the remembering God’s works in the days of their fathers, it was HIM alone who planted them (vs2). There’s that  word “planted” again & again in the context of it being His doing. I know you get this, though I really feel the Lord wanting to drive this truth deep into your hearts & spirits, like a stake; staking out the ‘ground’ or ‘soil’ of your innermost being with this truth that HE is going to plant you, HE is going to do this, HE will indeed do what is needed to make this happen, to plant you according to HIS will. He’s wanting to greatly strengthen or stake your faith so deep in HIM because it is by faith & His supernatural act/intervention that you will possess the ‘land’ He’s wanting to give you.

Though they had a part in going & possessing the land, it was NOT what they did that got it for them, but it was the hand & move of God going before them because He favored them!

The Good Shepherd has so faithfully prepared you by having you on a walk & path you’ve been on over the past 10 years or so. Because walking this path has required a walk by faith & trust in Him for all things,& yet beloved, I feel the Spirit saying that to cross over, enter in & possess what He’s prepared for you will call upon, stretch & require even more faith, trust & confidence you have in Him as you’ve never yet experienced.

I see Him asking you to play your part in the natural, for whatever that looks like, & yet saying to never place even the slightest trust or faith in what you’ve done, for to even consider thinking in the slightest “because I did this, therefore I will get this” would work against the truth that it is only HIM in every way who is going to do it. How this is going to play out is going to be a great testimony of the Lord, so that the way you crossed over, entered in & possessed will bear the fullness of His Name & Glory!”

Rev D Crabtree (Aust/NSW)

“20 yrs ago my wife & I had a vision where we saw a place set up exclusively for the presence of God. It was where Pastors & leaders especially could come out of the city of Sydney, getting away to ‘soak’ in His presence. It was a place pure with His Presence. We desired to do this but God asked us to start a church instead. There is a huge need for such a place in Sydney.”

L Roberts (UK)

“As I was praying for you, a picture of a house came to mind. It was a lodge –  a very nice, spacious lodge with timber (?)/wooden beams on the outside and very large windows on the upper level.  The house was nestled in a forest, and (I think) there were mountains behind it to a distance.  To be honest, it reminded me a forested, mountainous scene from Colorado USA.”

L. Harvey (USA)

I was praying for you this morning & the Lord showed me a picture. I saw a two story house with a wrap around porch. It didn’t seem like there were any other houses around it. There seemed mountains in the near background.

K Johnson (USA)

“Early this morning I believe the Lord showed me in the Spirit a picture of you both standing at a gate and looking out from there over something. 

The ‘homeland’ prophecy was received while sitting under a tree, whose roots were exposed above ground, pointing northward.  Strangely, I felt the Holy Spirit saying to look northward. 

Ezekiel 47, verse 2 begins, “He brought me out by way of the north gate…” – this could be the gate I saw you both standing at, which “felt” as though you were looking out to the north.  This could mean this place He has for you is to the north, or perhaps this was you looking out over the nations from this place while there, or perhaps even both???

This was a high place overlooking a field and the city below.  The name of the two-way, single lane road nearby is called “Shiprock” road (“ship” & “rock”).  I arrived early in the morning and it wasn’t until some time had passed before people began traveling to and fro, back and forth along this road . . . coming and going, going and coming. Because I saw this specific tree & place in the Spirit before finding it in the natural, I do believe there is prophetic meaning for you in these details I share here.”

K Johnson (USA)

“Beloved friends, the Father says He’s giving you a homeland. When He finally brought and settled Israel into her Promised Land, so too is He wanting to bring you into His special place prepared for you, and He is going to plant you in it: yes, it is a planting of the Lord’s choosing as a home base for you, a place where He will cause you to take root in, and from this place He will continue to send you out into the nations, though now the nations will begin coming to you as also . . . like streams flowing out and in, so you and the nations will be flowing out and in, coming and going, going and coming, coming and going and going and coming.

As the water flows from the temple in Ezekiel 47:1-12, so will His River flow from this place where He is planting you: rivers that will flow out into the nations through you – rivers of His Presence for healing and life.  The rivers that will flow from this homeland He is going to show you and bring you into are rivers of His Presence . . . His Life . . . His healing and reconciliation . . . and of His Love; all flowing from this homeland He is going to bestow to you here on earth for His dwelling.

Beloved He gives this to you as inheritance by way of promise according to His desire, and He will plant you here so you fully possess it: it is here He will open a highway to the nations for you to go out and them to come in; you and the nations, coming and going, going and coming, and the Glory of His Presence will spread out into all the earth from this place as rivers of living water, for He says it is a gateway through which He will pour out His Spirit and Glory upon the nations in the times ahead.

As a foreign embassy is sovereign territory of that nation though it be in a foreign land, so is this homeland inheritance fully His, given to you for His Glory, and you will possess it.  You will possess it.  You will possess it.  For He has made you His ambassadors in the earth, and from here will He reveal Himself to many, issuing Heavenly “visas” to the nations to some while causing a change in course for others.  And He gives you, beloved, a new favor and authority in a Fathering spirit for the nations and those He’s sending and bringing you to, both young and old.

“Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously.” (1 Chron 17:9) ”

K Johnson (USA) received July 6, 2010

“In this “end suddenly” for you, a new door is opening, a new beginning, one that has been placed in your hearts some time ago but which He’s reserved the finer details until this appointed time He’s now bringing you into.”