SYDNEY – Australians were well into preparing for Christmas and New Year celebrations this Monday morning (December 15, 2014) when a meteor ploughed into the heart of this city and shook the nation.
It came in the form of a hostage crisis – still ongoing as I write – as a man reportedly walked into the popular Lindt Chocolate Café in the city’s Martin’s Place adjacent to the parliament of New South Wales and, wielding a machete and a shotgun, took between 12 and possibly as many as 50 civilians hostages.
Within minutes, as tactical police officers, fire trucks, armoured vehicles and reporters deployed to the scene, images streamed across the land and around the world of patrons inside the shop pressing their hands and faces against the shop windows, while a black flag bearing the Muslim *Shahada prayer was displayed over their heads.
Hundreds of people were evacuated from the immediate area, and for hours – as I write this from a location just north of Sydney, beginning about 90 minutes after it began – bewildered and shocked Australians (including my hosts) have been scrambling to ascertain the whereabouts of family and friends known to be in the CBD of Australia’s largest city.
Unbroken news coverage is ensuring that the whole nation is glued to this story that has so rudely interrupted the holiday atmosphere hitherto pervading the land.
According to unconfirmed reports, the hostage taker possibly has an IED (improvised explosive device) in a bag. The iconic Sydney Opera House was closed down shortly after the crisis began when a suspicious parcel was found inside. That has since been cleared. Five hours into the siege three hostages appeared to escape and as I publish this we’re waiting to hear what information they brought out with them.
Commentators on Sky News National TV are saying how all around the world people are watching this. And they have expressed the fear that the machete reportedly seen with the suspect may be used in an attempt to cut off the head of one or more of the hostages in front of the bank of cameras outside.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has told the media that there is no indication of the motive of the “offender” at this stage, there has been no contact with the man, but admitted that security forces are treating this as a terrorist attack.
NSW Premier Mike Baird told reporters: “The police are being tested; the public are being tested…but we will face it head on. We will remain a strong and democratic civil society. We will get through this.”
And Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called on his countrymen to ensure that this event “does not change Australia.”
While Abbott was primarily strengthening the nation against efforts to terrorize it, in the wider sense many would hope that this would serve as a wake up call to Australia about the nature of the threat posed by Islam.
And while I have no physical evidence to directly tie this event with my reason for being in Australia at this time, I cannot disconnect it from the bigger picture.
I flew into the country on November 22 and am here for five weeks – bringing a message to Australian Christians to stand firm against the pressure on the country to unilaterally recognise the non-existent ‘State of Palestine.’
Time will show whether the ‘Palestine’ question is behind the act of terror today.
The government of Prime Minister Tony Abbott has taken a moral stand on the question of this state, refusing thus far to go along with the current European rush to vote recognition of it.
As a result, Muslim Arab ambassadors have lined up outside the offices of Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to threaten Australia into changing its stance.
But even during my time here the Federal Parliament has begun debating a motion calling for such recognition from the government. That debate has been suspended with the summer recess, and is set to resume some time after Parliament reconvenes on February 16.
Today, within an hour of the news breaking from Sydney, the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) announced that this Wednesday it will submit a United Nations resolution to the UN Security Council calling for Israel’s forced eviction from Judea, Samaria and ‘Eastern Jerusalem.’
The wording of the resolution reportedly requires Israel to end its “occupation of Palestine” within two years.
More than 150 United Nations member states have already recognized Palestine, and the European Parliament is scheduled to vote on this matter on December 17 – the same day the PLO plans to submit its resolution.
Christians in Australia have responded with intensity to the word shared in the south-eastern part of this country as I have spoken on the Sunshine Coast, in Brisbane, on the Gold Coast, in and around Melbourne, in Canberra, and in greater Sydney area where this drama is now unfolding, and where I will be for another two days.
A core team of Australian Christian leaders has drawn up a motivational letter to circulate among the people I have been speaking to, along with petitions to both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Many in this land believe Australia is being confronted with an opportunity to position itself rightly regarding Israel. Concerns expressed wherever I have gone – that the majority of Australians are apathetic and feel untouched by conflicts emanating from the Middle East – have led some to voice the belief that something terrible may “have” to happen in this land to wake it up to the dangers.
As this drama continues to unfold, I am joining with the people of this land in prayer for the hostages, and asking that the lessons that need to be learned will be learned without a terrible loss of innocent life.
*The Shahada declares that “There is no god but Allah and Mohammed is his messenger.”
Stan, We continue to stand and pray for Israel and Australia, as you wing you way back home to Jerusalem via New Zealand.
I pray that the message you have shared by faith and in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit will take root in the hearts and mind of Australian watchman and we will continue towards and pray as we se the lords plans and strategy unfold in these uncertain and perilous times.
I pray that Australia will decide to stay on the side of The Lord and His people, Israel, and that we will not be counted amongst those nations being judged in the valley of Jehoshaphat as we read in Joel 3.
We look forward to you leading and guiding our next “walking in the dust of our Rabi ” tour to Israel this coming April where we can stop and watch over Those ancient walls and pray for the Peace of Jerusalem. http://www.ucb.com.au/israel-tours
Shalom and Gods speed
Ian & Mandy Worby
Hallelujah!
God is giving Australia and New Zealand an assignment in these last stages of the real PassionPlay.
Riveting message here in Auckland today, only wish it had been recorded, not filmed. It needs to get out, we need to muster the troups, am preparing a letter as the holiday ends, that the light will shine and the Southland of the Holy Spirit will be just that!!!
Todah rabah!
This afternoon I visited Martin Place, Sydney, and walked the length of Martin Place up to Phillip Street. As I commenced my journey from George Street, moving up Martin Place, there, cordoned off with metal see through fencing, were the floral tributes laid down in memory of Tori Johnson, and Katrina Dawson, who were both killed at the final stages of the Martin Place siege, Monday 16 December 2014.
The floral tributes continued onto the next block at Elizabeth Street, and were spread out, looking like a sea of colour and the sweet fragrance of those bouquets was carried on the breeze. So many thousands of bouquets, so many heart felt words of support, so many thousands of people had passed through Martin Place these last several days.
As I stood outside the barrier that had been erected outside the Lindt Café, the black plastic still blocking out the windows, I looked back down Martin Place and observed the Christmas Tree, and then I looked up Martin Place toward Macquarie Street, and observed the Chanukiah with three lights lit.
In between these two traditional symbols of Christmas and Chanukah, one at each end of Martin Place, were all of the people and all of the flowers, and still people were writing their messages in condolence books.
Although, one week out from Christmas, and during Chanukah, this tragic event unfolded, let us remember that the Light of the World, Messiah, is always with us, and has caused darkness to flee.
As Australians come to terms that a terrorist act has taken place in Sydney’s iconic Martin Place, let us be the ones who comfort those who mourn and let us show the Light of Messiah this Christmas and Chanukah.
Stan, as an Aussie who has been watching the seige unfold I am thrilled at the peaceful way that all involved have dealt with the crisis. As a Christian I am glad that we haven’t reacted to the horror that evil inspires. I am proud to be an Aussie and the way we are coping with the aftermath is commendable. Courage and honour have been evident in this nation this week. I pray it stays that way. Have a lovely stay and best wishes of success in your endeavour. Pity Tassie isn’t on your agenda!
Stan
Where are you speaking in Sydney? Would love to hear you in person
Shalom
Ron McLay
Spot on Stan. Sadly, commentators are missing the root cause. Islam is still carrying the banner of a peaceful religion!
I believe it is just starting time to look up.
Isaiah 13:11-13 (KJV)
11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.
12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
GOD is GOD!! And there is none other! The enemy’s “rage” is more apparent with each new day. May The LORD of Armies show Himself to the hostage takers. May the Lord lead PM Tony Abbott in righteousness and give him the courage of Joshua. We will be praying along with you for the hostages and thank you for sending this . You being there at this time in not a co-incidence. The Lord, Who sent you to Australia is your refuge and He is a strong impenetrable tower. May all His blessings rest fully upon you Stan and your family in your absence.
One more dead terrorist has entered hell. Hope the Aussies will stand firm and continue to be a friend to Israel, although the Bible says Israel will be friendless at the end. The sorry policies of the USA has us under God’s curse, because we no longer bless Israel.
Stan,
God has give you wonderful opportunities to proclaim HIS promises of to all these different people and we that spend tome with you will never be able to see these happening without realizing the Greatness of God’s promises.
Bless you as you strive for the faith.
Wayne & Anna Marie Helmuth
Stan, I am resending this because I made to many mistakes in the other one, I have macular degeneration in both my eyes and it is dificult for me to see.
Stan, the steps of a good man are oreded by the Lord, I am so happy you were there to encourage the peolple at this horrific time with Gods wonderful word.
The only hope we have in this dark world today is Jesus , Gods Only Begotten Son ohn 3:16, He is the light of the world, it is His word and our obedience to it that will being us into life everlasting with out sin/evil in it. PTL
God told Moses in Exodus 33:12 that He knew him by name and that he had found grace in His sight. Moses ask Gos in..Exodus33:13 “Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight…”
God was telling Moses that he was pleased with him because he hated evil, which is sin, which is going against Gods word, Moses loved the Lord and always honored His words., there was only one exception in this and that was when Moses allowed evil/sin in his life when God said speak to the rock and Moses in anger to the actions of the people, hit the rock, Moses payed for that sin by not being allowed to enter into the promise land with his people. God for gave Moses because he had a repentant heart and l God allowed him see the promise land before he took him from the eartth in natural death. God hid Moses body so that satan could not use it to deceive the people. Disobeying Gods word is serious, we must allow the grace of God to be our teacher…….
Titus 2: 11&12″ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation appeareth unto all men. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”…
May God empower His Saints who are alive (but possibly slumbering), all over the Globe to stand up and fight the enemy by alighning our minds with His goals and agendas for His Beloved Israel!!
Stan,
Excellent. We’ve been watching the events in Australia as well. What has been relayed here, so far, is that the Aussie police/government are not considering this “terrorism”. They are not broadcasting the name of the kidnapper, but saying he is well known to them. What the media emphasis may be that this person is mentally unstable and not a terrorist. (Terrorists have not been known to be mentally stable, have they? sigh). Yet, this IS terrorism, as you well know from your experiences in life and in Israel. I pray that the media and governments stop making excuses for it….and call it what it is. Your article well lays out what the events are; and how Israeli’s live with it everyday.
Stan,
God provides you with such astonishing opportunities, and we pray for you as you continue to serve Christ Jesus in all these countries.
Wayne & Anna Marie Helmuth
I do not have cable television so I did not hear about this ongoing hostage situation in Australia till this morning while listening to the radio. My prayers go out to the innocent people being held hostage by this clearly disturbed person. I pray that God will send His angels to surround and protect them and that He will soften the heart of their captor so that he will release them unharmed.
Dear Stan,
Thank you for this update. We indeed also pray that this abhorrent siege would end without loss of life and that Australia would stand STRONG and in FIRM conviction with The God of Avraham, Yaacov and Yitzack and His LAND.
Bless you and your Family for being in Australia at this time to speak the TRUTH and be His Voice.
Wishing you Chag Hannukah sameach.
Your friends in Fish Hoek,
Brian and Anne
YES ! Thankyou for bringing the message to us ! I saw you in VIC .
Thanks for this article, Stan. May the Lord bless you and keep you in His protecting arms.
Living in the state of South Australia I have been following this drama of the Lindt Café siege in Sydney. It has plenty of local TV and radio coverage, along with many guest experts on terrorism and counter-terrorism. Dramatic and scary as home based violence and threats to people we know, it is only a foreshadow of more that is to come.
The intensity of Satan to murder millions of souls before “the appointed time” will only grow more and more ferociously. And in Islam the children of Hagar are plentiful and willing to serve their father.
We must be busy preaching the gospel of salvation and promoting the truth that is Christ Jesus as the only Lord and Saviour for believers. We must be busy in the Lord.
Time is running out for everybody.
Ah, yes. Another wake up call! In the USA 9-11 was a wake up call that lasted about six months of wake up time. People got religion for six month and them promptly fell back to sleep. The Islamic menace was never properly addressed and our political correctness quotient took over. And now we also are headed for an Islamic state. God uses our enemies to bring us to repentance. The Assyrians always make good wrath bringers. They brought it to Israel and not are bringing the Assyrian menace to the rest of the world. Welcome!
Hi Stan, Are you coming down to Tassie whilst in Australia? Judy