God Saved The Queen

This is the Truth Network. Welcome to Running with Horses, a podcast devoted to inspire you, concerning a relationship with Almighty God that empowers you to accomplish things you never thought possible. Shirley Weaver wants to take you there.

And now, here's today's episode. As you know, we have just witnessed an outpouring by the people of the United Kingdom concerning the death and 10-day follow-up to the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history, maybe in all of history. These services really gripped my attention. They caused me to realize the importance of someone like Queen Elizabeth II, who prioritized her faith, although primarily in a private way. But it was the strength that carried her, promoted her, and allowed her to occupy this position with such dignity and respect. It really speaks to everything that we know about the way that God puts integrity into the life of every born-again believer, no matter what your state in life. But today, it is important to me that on the world scene, with rulers from many nations actually present, others possibly watching by broadcast, others seemingly uninterested, but listen, they really can't be. You know, when the voice of authority is speaking, you really can't ignore or deny it. And so as I have followed the last 10 days, now 11 days, today is the day following the private burial of the Queen.

I just want to give some attention right here to some of the things that were said internationally before what is estimated to be an audience of 4 billion people. Perhaps some have never heard the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, maybe have never heard a witness, a testimony, or imagined that someone in a place of authority could prioritize servanthood over power, albeit the Queen of England had power. It just was not the priority in her heart or mind, which I believe explains this wonderful testimony that we are hearing about now. Several services, different events, many outpourings by the people of the United Kingdom, but also others from other countries travel to be a part of this last opportunity to pay respects to a very honorable, wonderful woman. And I heard someone say in one of the commentaries that frequently in a setting, in these settings where she would serve internationally, she would be the only female, everyone else on the platform would be men, she being the only female, the only woman, the only lady, and that it didn't diminish her at all.

I really love that. I love that part, the way that God made them male and female, and she had an understanding of who she was, right? Let's fast forward to the very last church service in this 10-day celebration, which is the one that really stood out to me because of the, I don't know what it was. There was such an anointing, a presence of God throughout everything. Of course there was, but in this service at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, led by the Reverend David Conner, who is Dean of Windsor, he would be an Anglican pastor, essentially a pastor. I believe he's a bishop. This man led this service, and I just want to read from two passages shared by Reverend Conner, speaking under what I sensed was a very strong anointing. You could hear it, you could sense it, if you were observing by video or by television, you could actually see it.

I thought the anointing was tangible. The choir had just sung from Psalm 121, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from which my help comes. My help comes from the Lord, who has made heaven and earth. And then the remainder of the psalm sung by the choir, a psalm being sung, how beautiful. And then the reading, the part of the service that is the reading, was from Revelation 21, verses 1-7, and I was just reminded the very first chapter of Revelation gives this blessing. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and take it to heart that which is written, because the time is near. So the blessing was on the reading of this passage from Revelation 21, and as you heard, as I heard, as others around the world became the hearer, the blessing of the Lord came on the hearing. I mean, I think it's just stunning to realize that the Lord made this display of His Word, and it's all because of the life of this individual. This was my favorite part of the whole service, Revelation 21, 1-7, Rev. Conner reading from the King James Version under what I say was a really strong anointing.

I want to just read this. I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people.

And God Himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write, for these words are true and faithful. And He said unto me, It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto Him that is a thirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be His God, and He shall be my Son. The promise, the promises, the power, the eternal plan that was described there. And you know, we understand from just some easy research that for someone in this position, plans for a funeral are in place long in advance because it will be a state function.

It can be very elaborate depending on the nation. But again, the plans are made and in place for some time. I understand these plans have been in place for decades really. But the individual leader is an important part, plays a very important role in the planning. And I heard several commentators remark that Queen Elizabeth had very much involvement in what would take place, what would be said and how. And I can just see her choosing these passages.

I don't know that she did, but I can imagine that she may have. This passage from Revelation 21 was followed by several prayers by other ministries, excuse me, other ministers who were there leading the ceremony. And all of those prayers reflected the testimony of this life from this person.

I want to just read one to you. Remember, O Lord, Thy servant Elizabeth, who has gone before us with the sign of faith and now rests in sleep, according to Thy promises, grant unto her and to all who repose in Christ refreshment, light and peace through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, merciful Father and Lord of all life, we praise Thee that Thou has made us in Thine image and that we reflect Thy truth and light. We give special thanks for the life of Thy daughter, Elizabeth, for the mercy she received from Thee and for the example that through her life of service, love and faith, she has set before our eyes. Above all, we rejoice at Thy gracious promise to all Thy servants living and departed that we shall rise again at the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We pray that in due time we shall share with our sister that clearer vision when we shall see Thy face in the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Amen. The eternal promise to those who acknowledge the lordship of Jesus Christ in inviting Him to be their Savior. This prayer was followed by other prayers, including the Lord's Prayer read by the entire congregation there in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

The entire congregation said it this way. Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever.

Amen. This series of prayers and other things that took place too, which I won't go into, was followed by the committal of the coffin, the body of the Queen, and just before that took place I saw something that I think is so important for the people of the United Kingdom and really by observance for the rest of us in other nations that all of the congregation stood for the presentation in silence of the instruments of state. There are three. The instruments of state that were received by the Dean of Windsor Castle who then placed these instruments on the high altar. The three instruments are the crown, the orb, and the scepter. These are the instruments of state representing the monarch's power. The orb probably, you know, our favorite, it represents the church in the center of the government.

The faith of the believer in the center of the way that they rule and lead. So again, these three instruments of state, the crown, the orb, and the scepter were placed on the altar of the church. As the Queen leaves this world, will not need those anymore, but the one who succeeds her will. So the hymn that was sung began this way. These two lines, Christ is made the sure foundation and the precious cornerstone. As that song was sung, you know, I just have to say again, I could sense a strong anointing on this service. I can imagine what it may have felt like to be present there today, that day, yesterday, Monday, September 19th, just to clarify, that then as the coffin is lowered, the Dean of Windsor reads Psalm 103, beginning in verses 13 through 17. And you can visualize this committal taking place right in front of everyone as the coffin, which has been center stage for 10 days, is now being removed and is descending, as it were, into the earth.

This is what was said. Like as a father pitieth his own children, even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him, for he knoweth whereof we are made. He remembereth that we are but dust.

The days of man are but as grass, for he flourisheth as a flower of the field, for as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone, and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the merciful goodness of the Lord endureth forever and ever upon them that fear him, and his righteousness upon children's children. Go forth upon that journey from this world, O Christian soul, the Dean is continuing here, in the name of God, the Father Almighty, who created thee. So the pastor is really speaking to the departed soul of Queen Elizabeth.

You know, we're not dead at that point, actually more alive than we've ever been, because we are with him, those who know the Lord. And having read Psalm 103 and finishing up in Psalms, in verse 17, with that blessing, the Dean then said, Reverend Conner then said, Go forth upon that journey from this world, O Christian soul, in the name of God, the Father Almighty, who created thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, who suffered for thee, in the name of the Holy Spirit, who strengtheneth thee in communion with the blessed saints, and aided by angels and archangels, and all the armies of the heavenly host. May thy portion this day be in peace, and thy dwelling in the heavenly Jerusalem. Amen, he said. Amen, he said. Wow.

Wow. You know, I think if I had been in that building to hear that blessing and that committal prayer, it would be difficult to restrain yourself. There would have been, at least in your heart, an exuberant halal, a great hallelujah.

The blessing that came over the people went like this as they were dismissed. Go forth into the world in peace. Be of good courage.

Hold fast that which is good. Render to no one evil for evil. Strengthen the fainthearted. Support the weak. Help the afflicted. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Amen. Listen, there's one final thing that took place that grabs your attention. The final thing that took place was the singing of the national anthem. And as I was watching by television, the camera focused on the queen's firstborn child, Charles, who is now king in her place. And I want you to think of this, that an entire congregation of people, possibly the whole nation following the service joined in the singing, and those of us who are not a part of that nation could also join in this blessing. And so the camera is on the face of Charles, now king of England, and these words are what he heard.

This is what his ears, his heart, and his mind heard. Come many. God, save our gracious king. Long live our noble king. God, save the king.

Send him victorious, happy, and glorious. Long to reign over us. God, save the king. You know, when those words are spoken and it's understood that the reign of a man over a people is only to the degree that the man submits to the reign and the lordship of Jesus Christ over him, then is the fulfillment of this blessing seen in all the earth. I believe that that is what we have just seen in the life of Elizabeth, queen of England, that the words save our gracious queen were the blessing that enhanced her life, that resonated to her many times, and that we believe will with the new king, Charles. And I just want to say, whatever leader, whoever leader, whoever the nation, wherever it is who receives this kind of blessing and commendation from the people who are under the authority of that leadership becomes, this leader becomes so blessed and enabled by God to hear him clearly. And where there are men and women today who refuse to hear the voice of God and do not submit, I do fear for and pity them because the blessing of the Lord demonstrated in the life of Elizabeth on behalf of her nation, for her nation, for the people of the United Kingdom, this is a glorious testimony. This is a governmental anointing on display.

If you ever want to know what a governmental anointing looks like, a real one, a true one, one that fears God, you've now seen it. The world has now seen it and witnessed it over the last 70 years. And just in conclusion, I want to say you may be like me and did not realize all of this. Perhaps you didn't know that this story was unfolding in the life of this woman. Maybe you heard negative things. Maybe you've even heard the sins of the monarchy both in our lifetime and back for hundreds, thousands of years. Maybe you've heard stories of corruption within the extended family.

Maybe you've heard those things. And the enemy sees to it that we do hear those things. But today, it is important for those who know the name of Jesus and who honor the testimony that has just been laid out for all the world to hear and to ponder and to consider this Jesus, this Son of God, whose presence in someone's life produces such a story of service and integrity. We have to say, we have to acknowledge that these things are happening right before our eyes and let God be true and every man a liar. Let God's testimony be true and that that is lower, that that the enemy inspires is in fact a lie. I just believe that today, I've said before, I believe that when someone leaves the earth, that the gifts and the callings of God on their life remain, that those gifts and callings are dispensed, as it were, like a mantle that comes out over all of the body of Christ, the ecclesia, that we all can rise to, ascribe to and imbibe of this testimony and of this life lived in the presence and the fear of Almighty God, so that those who fear the Lord, those who fear Him, are distinguished here in the passages of Scripture that were read at her service. The merciful goodness of the Lord endures forever and ever upon them that fear Him. So I want to say by faith today, for you and me, we receive by faith the portion of the mantle that was on Queen Elizabeth that God has ordained to come upon you and upon me, that we are able to imitate her life to the degree that she followed and imitated the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And I want to commend all of this, which is really just my observation. It's really just my thoughts, which we can't, we just can't move on beyond this time without giving testimony to the testimony that we have heard. And I want to say for you and for me, you know, we do have the mind of Christ. That means we do have the thought life, the mind, the abilities and the endowments of a king. We are called to govern in this life to say, Kingdom of God come, will of God be done.

We have the mind of the king and we speak as he speaks. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support this podcast, please share it with others. Post about it on social media or leave a rating and review. Don't forget to check out the show notes or visit acleartrumpet.org, where you can subscribe to Shirley's email list. Download the ministry app and purchase your very own copy of Shirley's 365-day devotional, Running with Horses. Thanks again, and we'll see you next time.