On His Majesty's Service

By Irene Knights

On His Majesty's Service describes one small servant, who believing in the unconditional love of God for all, recounts her extraordinary supernatural adventures, with her feet on the ground, whilst her spirit soared with the Father to search and rescue souls who needed help in getting home.

The author, Irene Knights was given a path designed just

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shulamite
• Release date: Mar 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9780994212412

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On His Majesty’s Service

Author: Irene Knights

Adelaide, South Australia

Copyright © Irene Knights 2015

Publisher: Shulamite

Illustrations: Mary Knights

Editor: Mary Knights

To contact the author: [e-mail]

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry

Creator: Knights, Irene, author.

Title: On his majesty’s service / Irene Knights.

ISBN: 9780994212412 (ebook)

Subjects: Knights, Irene.

Spiritual life--Christianity.

Christian life.

Jesus Christ--Teachings.

Dewey Number: 248.4

The author/editor and publisher gratefully acknowledge the permission granted to reproduce the copyright material in this book.

Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and to obtain their permission for the use of copyright material. The publisher apologizes for any errors or omissions and would be grateful if notified of any corrections that should be incorporated in future reprints or editions of this book.

All Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to Jesus, Prince of Peace

‘…Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end…’ (Isaiah 9:7)

And to my incomparable friend and teacher, the Holy Spirit.

* * *

My heartfelt thanks to all the Pastors, Ministers, Priests, brothers and sisters I have known and who have companioned me on my journey. For family members especially John and Suzanne, and my friends who turned up just when needed, to give practical help and shelter. You are all a treasure to me.

To my daughter Mary, my thanks are beyond words. Without her professional assistance, her artistic talents and giving of her time, this book would never have been completed.

To my son-in-law Greg who has shared his enthusiasm to see my book come to fruition.

* * *

The manuscript which formed this book was written in 1993. Unforeseen circumstances changed the course of my life and the manuscript was kept in a briefcase for 21 years. It was not until 2013 that I could bring myself to open the briefcase and read of the events of times past and now am able to speak about my incredible awakening and journey that God had planned for me.

It is my prayer that all who read this book will see and realise the wondrous unconditional love of the Lord and the incredible blessings that we can receive when we commit to following Jesus and trust totally in God

Irene Knights

Chapter 1– Stranger In Paradise

When Jesus saved me, it was in a face to face encounter that revolutionised my whole being and awakened my slumbering spirit. It took place on a never to be forgotten evening, the likes from which I can still draw strength when I recall it. It was a Pentecostal church and on that night I thought I had stepped into heaven, for I had never heard singing like that which was emanating from the congregation. People seemed to be ‘lit up’ and before the evening was done, I too was to be set ablaze with God’s fire of love, a fire which grows in intensity and is unquenchable.

In the church, the teaching of the scriptures was paramount and thorough. I read line upon line, precept upon precept until the pages of my Bible were filled with blue, green and red pen. I read and inwardly digested the Scriptures and though I believed them, much of it had yet to become revelation and ultimately would bring life to me and thence to others. I was not to know this at the time and neither had any inkling that God was about to unfold his plans for me.

It was my seventh year within the church and on a particularly pleasant Sunday morning, a small sand coloured stone fell before me, landing on the church organ that I was playing at the time. The small stone bounced merrily along the keys from left to right. This phenomenon had been happening for several days and I now had a collection of five small stones. All had appeared as from nowhere and landed before my startled eyes. The first one occurred in the street and though I picked it up and kept it, I thought a bird must have been carrying it in its beak and dropped it. Then it happened, whilst I was seated at the dining table at home and again at my desk in the workplace.

I have to admit that I was slow to catch on, for more stones appeared this way and also grew in size with the seventh one being an inch across compared with the first one which was the size of a pea. Finally it dawned on me that someone was trying to get my attention. I still have the stones as a reminder of my slowness to follow the scent of the Lord and though I was given no understanding at the time regarding their significance, I was to find out soon enough. I sought the Lord on the matter and was amazed when He said it was time to move forward and come out from the midst of my brethren. My reaction was, ‘This can’t be of God. He would not want me to leave them.’ I felt faithful and loyal to the church where I was ‘saved’ and mistakenly thought I owed them my allegiance. But I was to learn that our allegiance is first and foremost to God alone. I said to the Lord, ‘But what about the others? I can’t leave them.’

He said, ‘I am speaking to you, will you get up and move? Do as I say.’

At last, He had got through to me and I knew that if I did not do as He asked I would have only myself to blame. I expressed my feeling by writing in my notebook and I wrote, ‘Though my knees may tremble and shake, I will obey Thee, though I quake!’ Amen. Within a week I had extricated myself from membership. A church elder, who was a faithful servant of God, came to visit me on a Saturday morning. He was only doing his duty and wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing. As he counselled me, though I wavered a little in my conviction that this was God’s will for me, something made me stick to my decision. I must have appeared very stubborn for he gave up trying to convince me and prayed for me instead. As he did so, I had a vision of a man with brush and dustpan sweeping up the crumbs and then, not knowing what to do with them, lifted the edge of the carpet and threw the bits underneath. It was funny and typical of the way that my Father in heaven, sometimes spoke to me. It was a relief to me and it seemed everyone would get along fine without me. We parted on good terms and we had done the right thing by the Body of Christ.

A feeling of contentment overwhelmed me as I sat in the kitchen, about to enjoy lunch. Then the Lord spoke to me so clearly I looked around, expecting to see Him standing there. His said, ‘I have much for you to accomplish for me. Are you willing? It will cost you; the price is high. Go about your tasks today and ponder on what I have said. When you have thought about it, give me your answer.’

I was stunned. At that moment I felt I could do anything for him; climb mountains, dig ditches, confront the enemy, fight the foe; you name it. Feelings and thoughts chased around inside me as brief intimations of the hazards to be confronted assaulted my mind. My heart was racing, for suddenly I had a vision of Jeremiah suffering deprivations and ridicule, and I knew that God meant business. It had gone clean out of my head that grace is given for any task we are asked to do and that God does not ask anything of us that is beyond our capacity to perform.

The afternoon was spent in preparing the evening meal and pondering. Arguments for and against were going on inside my head. I finally came to the conclusion that Jesus was dearer to me than my own life and that all I wanted to do was please my heavenly Father, at any price. It was four in the afternoon, when I sat down once more and said, ‘Heavenly Father, I have thought it over and I am willing. I want whatever you want, dear Lord.’ He did not answer me but a sweet sensation swept through me and I sighed with contentment.

That night as I lay down to sleep, a mighty unseen power took hold of me in what I can only describe as a transport of delight, drawing me forward. It was like the sensation of being in a vehicle which takes off suddenly and throws the driver backwards with the force of its movement. There was a transcending of time and space.

I was suddenly in a desert place. I could see the ripples on the sand as I, seated in the back of an army jeep, sped over the dunes. I was holding on to the sides of the jeep for dear life, as we were travelling so fast. There were others sitting with me but I could not see their faces. In the distance I saw a city surrounded by light. The buildings were a conglomeration of flat roofs and domes, some with crosses on the top. The whole city shone as if the roofs were painted with gold leaf. I recognised this as the Holy City, Jerusalem. With this vision, words came to me.

‘If it pleases the King and if I have found favour in thy sight that you would send me unto Judah unto the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may rebuild it.’ (Nehemiah 2:5)

The adversary was never far away and retaliated in no uncertain manner, buffeting my body and bombarding my mind until I doubted that I was saved. To make matters worse, people telephoned to warn me of my rebelliousness in leaving the church. I thought that perhaps I was not hearing from God after all. I was scared silly, because many of these people had been Christians much longer than me and experienced in the study of Scriptures. I complained to the Lord, saying, ‘are you sure you meant me? Just look at the state I’m in. I’m a mess, I’m hopeless.’ I had thought that all would be plain sailing and it had not taken me long to forget the warning that there would be a price to pay. I had forgotten to readjust the armour and hold up the shield of faith and the adversary found my weak spot – ‘doubt’ – and he used it. I felt I was running the gauntlet whilst unseen ‘things’ snapped at my heels. Then I cried loudly, ‘Help me, God.’

I was lovingly answered as He said, ‘Now that you have tested your wings, do you want them clipped again? Stand fast and hold on to me, your anchor. It is me, your Lord calling you out. Be pleased to know me as you do. Many a high calling has been lost through fear of others. If you child will trust me, I will do a work in you which you would not have thought possible. I am your teacher, your captain. Come to the high places with me – I will make you to walk as the hind. You will not fall but run and leap, and you will reach that wonderful mountain peak and glorify your God,’ (II Samuel 22:32-34) and, ‘He who has put his hand to the plough, does not turn back.’ (Luke 9:62)

After this, the buffetings of the evil foe became even worse and I wished I understood why it was. Sometimes, it would be as if I was being chased from pillar to post until exhausted, I turned and confronted this unseen ‘thing’ which seemed to smother me. One evening, I remember fighting with my fists flailing the air, feeling like a boxer up against the ropes, being pummelled. These terrors I could not discuss with anyone, least of all my Pentecostal friends who believed, as I did, that as Jesus had put all things under his feet triumphing over them at Calvary and so it should be that way for me. I was sure I was failing somewhere.

On a warm evening, after feeling pressures all day and struggling to fend it off, I went outside and sat on the veranda and looked at the stars, hoping to gain comfort, for I found it difficult to pray. All at once, I was aware of an angel to my left and the Lord Jesus standing in front of me on the lawn whilst I watched from my vantage point. To my right was a black snarling panther, crouching, ready to spring. The Lord Jesus, looking stern, pointed at the panther and said, ‘I have taken away her filthy garments and given her a clean robe.’ Then it was as if a turban was being unwound from my head and thrown away and a new turban replaced it. Instantly the tension subsided from the top of my head to the soles of my feet and I was at peace.

It is written in Zechariah 3:1-5, ‘Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebukes you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?’ Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, ‘Take off his filthy clothes.’ Then he said to Joshua, ‘See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.’ Then I said, ‘Put a clean turban on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the Lord stood by.’ This was one of the many ways in which God was intending to show me the reality, figuratively speaking, of the Holy Scriptures. I had to live them out and experience them firsthand. Since the outset of my conversion, I seemed to be led in the oddest way which did not conform to any of the prayer meetings which I attended as God would show me things which, on speaking them out, meant nothing to those whom I was with. Also, I was strong in prayer and loud with it, directing my petitions to the Holy One of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and so on when no one else did. I wasn’t after popular points and I did not receive any. However, these prayers were all of my Lord’s doings for the Scriptures pertaining to the Jews and Israel was being shown and opened up to me by the Holy Spirit. I was being shown God’s promises and plans for His ancient people, the Jews, which had direct impact in the world and within the church.

Another thing which got me excited was the mystery of intercession. I had read many books about people’s experiences with the converting love of Christ in their lives and the many miracles which people had experienced, but the books which really got me excited were those about intercession. One of the first Christian books I had bought was written by Rees Howell, who was an intercessor. I could not put the book down but read it over and over again. God asked many strange things of this man in order to teach him obedience. Some things were publicly humiliating. An intercessor cannot conform to the normal cultural and courteous manners which society demands. They can’t do anything just because it’s the ‘right’ thing to do. The intercessor’s life becomes an open book and it is like living in a goldfish bowl under constant scrutiny. Though not without its comic side either. Rees Howell was asked to walk into the town without his hat on a Sunday. It was unheard of and the height of bad manners in the little Welsh township where he lived, especially when he met the ladies and had no hat to raise. Eyebrows were raised instead! It was a test of obedience.

This man has been referred to as a Prince with God. I would cry to my Father, ‘Oh, I want to be like that for you, make me to be your little intercessor. Teach me what it means to stand in the shoes of another.’ I couldn’t see any way of achieving this end but I wanted it to happen.

After leaving the church fellowship, I enquired of the Lord, ‘What do I do now?’ In no time, I received the answer by telephone. A friend called Joan was asking me if I would be interested in going to a prayer meeting on a Sunday afternoon. I gladly accepted for I had spent some time with her in prayer and the times were always fruitful. I asked the Lord again if it was what He required, and I was told to look at a Scripture.

‘As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place, with lyres, tambourines, flutes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them, and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hands find to do, for God is with you.’ (I Samuel 11:5)

I was told where to meet my friend and the others with her and then we would go to the place assigned for the meeting. We met on a hill, my friend and her company were standing around chatting, waiting for me and others to arrive. As they saw me approaching, Joan lifted up her right hand and said, ‘Praise the Lord. Hallelujah.’ We were quite a motley crowd, misfits, all from different churches. These were the prophets to whom God had led me.

After this initial gathering, we were to meet often at weekends and not always with the same people or at the same place but a few of us always managed to get together somewhere to seek the Lord’s will. Mostly, we would begin by praise and worship and perhaps a song or two, unaccompanied, then we would stand silently waiting for instruction. Nine times out of ten, the prayer would be focused on Russia, and the plight of Jews referred to as ‘Refuseniks’ who were being denied passports and visas to emigrate to Israel or anywhere else. At that time, we knew they were being scandalously and horrendously treated within the borders of that secretive continent, known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or in short, the USSR.

It is understood among those who pray about this situation, that God had been preparing safe houses and making provisions in parts of Europe for the Jews who eventually were going to come surging out of their restrictive circumstances. There must have been years of prayers to bring about their release for nothing can happen until God has found those of us who will share the burden with Him. Finally in 1993 the whole world witnessed the miracle of prophesy fulfilled when thousands of Russian Jews returned to the land of their forefathers. I have a friend called Norma who lives in Israel, who in a letter to me, wrote that this event was seen as a miracle by everyone there and was described as being a ‘second exodus.’

Another need brought to our attention. It was the threat which continues to this day against the land of Israel. In the Spirit we would get a vision of the Western Wall in Jerusalem and we would see Jesus the Messiah walking amongst His people, touching and embracing them whilst His tears fell. We were shown weapons of war trained on all sides of their borders, and understood that even the sea no longer could provide them protection now as submarines and ships can carry long range missiles. In prayer, we came against these weapons of warfare. Suddenly we all burst out laughing as God revealed to us that He would scoff at their silly weapons and cause them to fail! I saw comical pictures of rockets and shells going plop in the sand without blowing up and others backfired and turned back on the perpetrator. The Lord said to me, ‘They will be duds!’ All present confirmed this to be so. When chemical weapons were spoken of, we had symptoms of nausea but these soon passed as we prayed against them. The Lord said that these would not be used but if anyone dared to do so, an ill wind would blow the poison back on the perpetrators. These prayers could have been in preparation for the Gulf War of 1991 however, we cannot say that with certainty. When the war did occur I remembered the things that were shown to us at that time. I wrote to my friend Norma, and told her not to be afraid for God was protecting them and chemical weapons would not be used. I was taking a risk telling her this but I also felt the prompting of the Holy Spirit to let her know. And it was so, as chemical weapons were not used. God watched over His people, guarding them jealously.

I was amazed at the diversity of the Holy Spirit’s teachings and though I didn’t understand everything He said to me, I accepted and acted on it. Listening to our own mind is one thing but when it is the inner voice, there is no doubt who is speaking because grace is given to prompt one into responsive action. This was the case when I was enjoying myself gardening one day. I was getting my hands right into the warm soil and was engrossed in what I was doing when suddenly I was astonished to be told by the Lord to drop everything and go indoors. I hurried in through the back door and into the room which I used as my place of prayer. My shoes had soil clinging to them but I did not want to waste time taking them off. I knelt down at once for now I felt the power of the Holy Spirit all around me.

I heard the Lord say to me, ‘Watch and do not speak.’ A scene appeared before me. It was a cavernous underground room, the walls were of dark bricks, the floor of cold flag stones and the atmosphere felt dark, oppressive and gloomy. A long flight of stone steps led to what appeared to be a wooden trap door, which was shut. The whole scene made me think of a dirty underground railway station and it was full of confused people trying to find their way out.

The stone steps were crammed with men and women holding battered suitcases and children clutching dolls or some favourite toy in their little hands. I saw at once that these were Jewish people. The sound of the people moaning and crying was awful and I sensed the fear and hostility that filled the atmosphere. It came to me that I was looking at some of those who were victims of Auschwitz.

The Lord spoke again saying, ‘Now pray.’ I did, using the language of the Holy Spirit. I let it pour out of my mouth. Immediately a loud shout went up from the people on the steps. The trap door was opened up and bright light streamed down on the bedraggled crowd. They began moving upward to the light to exit through the door and out into the open. There were guards standing around, wearing grey uniforms and the big overcoats recognisable as the German Army, their rifles slung over their shoulder and holding big Alsatian dogs on leashes. On seeing the Jews moving upward a guard moved forward menacingly, the dog straining at the leash, snarling and barking. The people cringed in fear and so did I seeing all this, for I felt that I was there with them in this awful place.

I asked the Lord, ‘What shall I do?’ Quickly, the Lord interjected, ‘Pray for him; forgiveness.’ To the best of my ability and in haste I prayed, terrified in case I was too slow. Immediately the guard softened and became gentle as a lamb. The dog quietened and wagged its tail in a friendly manner then both joined the queue of people on the steps! My heart leapt and tears of relief stung my eyes. These people had died in dreadful circumstances, making it impossible for them to think of anything beautiful beyond the horrors of the moment. It was as if time had stood still – how I cannot say as it is beyond me – but I do know that everyone who died in the Holocaust or in any other persecution of Jews down through the ages shall be rescued and pardoned by the Lord and brought into the light of the Lamb of God. They even might be amongst those who will come back with Jesus and all his saints and warring angels to give Satan his final demise. I had just witnessed a beautiful scene which filled me with awe and hope such as I had never imagined. The Lord dismissed me at this moment, telling me to go back to my gardening but not to forget those things which had been shown to me.

I had always enjoyed working full time but due to sickness culminating in a major operation and a long period of readjustment I had to retire. I worked on Melbourne Street in North Adelaide, South Australia and just a short distance away from my place of work stood a little catholic church whose doors stood open all day. Every lunch time I scurried off to the church, breathing a sigh of relief as I entered the tranquillity of the inner sanctum, eager to have a communion time with Jesus. Without fail, he always came to meet me. The nuns lived in the priory at the back of the church and sometimes a nun would enter to perform some little task near the altar. Her silent oblation as she passed in front of the lamp burning in the sanctuary would send shivers along my spine. On Fridays a nun would enter the organ loft to practice the hymns and this was an added bonus to the wonderful time I was having in the Lord’s presence.

I liked to sit on the third bench from the front, letting my gaze rest on the pretty flower arrangements, the altar, the cross or the small candles which had been lit by someone, having said their prayer and left. After silent contemplation, Jesus, dressed in a white garment, would step forward and talk to me. I did not speak but let the Lord tell me what He had to tell me. It was a question of listening and learning, like a child in school.

He explained about the refiner’s fire, how I must go through it again and again, so that I would become like the finest tempered steel. One day He held a Marguerite daisy in his hand, demonstrating from it that the petals represented the many natural attributes given to me. He intended to break off each petal of the carnal nature as I became able to bear it and He would re-fashion it and put it back anew and the golden centre of the flower was as Him. The centre would hold me together whilst the re-fashioning was taking place. He said I had to trust Him implicitly and keep my face turned towards Him, just as the sunflower turns its face to follow the sun.

Wonderful discoveries in the realm of the spiritual were happening all the time to me but though I tried to apply the right attitude to all that was ordinary and necessary for daily living as well as trying to please all, I was finding it a long haul walking from mountain peaks to valleys or wherever God had placed me in spiritual warfare or prayer. I was learning, but lacking balance. I had the feeling that one foot was stretched to heaven and one foot was on the earth and nowhere in between. How could I manage to bring the two together to gain poise, balance and serenity, to say nothing of this marvellous peace I had heard so much about? I was God’s own but felt I was in such a mess that I was ashamed to call myself Christian. I felt I was letting Him down, never realising that it was to be out of the whirlwinds and unrest that God would perform a work in me which I never would have thought possible.

On one occasion in the little church, Jesus held in his hands an earthen water pot, and explained how the potter would smash it if it were not up to standard. The earthen vessel represented me and my Lord explained, I was to be smashed many times through a process of trials and testing but then He would once again, as the Potter, lovingly begin to rework the clay and mould me anew. I walked back to the office that day, pondering on how long this work would take and in what way when I spotted a cardboard tube, measuring about fifty centimetres, lying on the pavement. I picked it up and could see inside a piece of heavy tracing paper, drawing paper and a picture. The university was nearby so I guessed an art student had dropped the package but I was not able to return it as I did not know who it belong to. As it was, I was meant to find it and have kept it to this day to remind me of my Lord’s teachings. The picture which was to be the art lesson for that day was an earthen water jar showing signs of having lain long in the earth before the archaeologist found it. Cracked and with a piece missing, it was still beautiful. I laughed at my find; I was so happy to know that I was in good hands and would be moulded according to the Potter’s desire.

I was being given a taste of paradise, yet that very joy was alienating me from my own family. I was called ‘cranky’ and it was murmured by some to others that ‘she’s gone funny’ and those others looking askance, all knowing, and hinted that it was to do with my age. Yet another suggestion was that people like me turn to the Lord to make up for failure in my love life! There was nothing I could do to justify myself and the more I tried, the worse I made it, stammering over the simplest of sentences. It’s awful to hear people saying you are completely idiotic, especially when that is exactly how you feel!

People can appear heartless and accusing, never knowing the hurts and pain within a soul that only Christ can heal in due time. I will never forget hearing what could only have been the voice of God upon arriving in Australia, after living for twenty years on a tropical island in the Indian Ocean. I was standing on