{"id":15,"date":"2024-10-16T01:19:46","date_gmt":"2024-10-16T01:19:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prayermountainbohol.com\/10things\/?p=15"},"modified":"2024-11-26T03:26:02","modified_gmt":"2024-11-26T03:26:02","slug":"chapter-6-gifts-callings-and-mantles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/prayermountainbohol.com\/10things\/chapter-6-gifts-callings-and-mantles\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 6: Gifts, Callings and Mantles"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cBut the manifestation of the Spirit
is given to each one for the profit of all.\u201d
\n1 Corinthians 12:7<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Gifts, Callings and Mantles<\/b><\/p>\n

So Jesus asked me to talk a little about Gifts, Callings and Mantles but it\u2019s a little hard to explain. So I asked Jesus to just tell me what the real difference is between these things: What is a gift verses a calling verses a mantle? … but he just laughed at me!<\/b><\/p>\n

I want to define these things carefully, scientifically, academically: how is a gift not the same as a calling? How is a mantle unlike merely having a gift? How is it that a calling pulls us into a task or job or duty and that determines what gifting we need to use? Am I not right to ask these things? But now I see things quite differently. And also, what good is a gift if you won\u2019t use it? Or a mantle if you won\u2019t walk in it. What good is a calling if you denounce it? And if we can walk in a higher realm \u2018beyond gifting\u2019 why continue to talk about gifting at all? <\/p>\n

So I asked Jesus to explain how these things differ and really he just laughed at me but it was like you would laugh at a child asking a question that they just can\u2019t easily understand. <\/p>\n

Kids ask their parents silly, sometimes embarrassing questions and they do it in innocence but also in ignorance. Mommy, where do babies come from? Mommy, if you love Daddy so much why are you always upset at him? Mommy, if you want to lose weight like you always say why don\u2019t you just stop eating? … kids say the sweetest things! <\/p>\n

So that\u2019s how I understand Jesus laughing at me when I asked him to explain Gifts vs Callings vs Mantles to me. Maybe I just wasn\u2019t ready to understand the answer yet\u2014but also later I began asking the question a bit differently as well. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4<\/b><\/p>\n

Anyway, He asked me to talk a little on this and I\u2019ll say first that Gifts, Callings and Mantles in the body are mentioned primarily in three chapters: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.<\/b> You can stop and read that now; go ahead. I\u2019ll wait. <\/p>\n

Welcome back! So you see that Romans 12 seems to be focused more on how the \u2018Body at large\u2019 functions, but both 1 Corinthians and Ephesians 4 say it is how things are \u2018in the church\u2019\u2014and Ephesians 4 is focused only on the five named core ministry roles or functions that are needed to \u2018equip the saints to do the work of the ministry\u2019\u2014Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher\u2014<\/b>which people call the \u2018Five-Fold Ministry.\u2019 So these are callings, roles, and not so much \u2018offices\u2019 as they are \u2018functions\u2019\u2014but it\u2019s interesting what is missing from this list as much as what is included. There\u2019s an evangelist, but not a healer. There\u2019s a teacher, but not someone doing deliverance. <\/p>\n

These Five are the roles needed to be the equippers for the rest of the army which is made up of the \u2018regular\u2019 members of the Body. The Five equip so that \u2018everyone can do their part\u2019\u2014meaning they prepare the regular saints to be able to do the bulk of the actual day-to-day legwork of the ministry, which is the daily healing, deliverance, miracles and so much prophetic, pastoral care, mercy giving and daily family care kinds of ministry\u2014it\u2019s not just for the Five to do all the work. The model of ministry you have in your mind where there is only one minister, a pastor, who only talks, only on Sunday and only in Church is WRONG. Even the way you see a pastor is mostly Man\u2019s model of what this role looks like. Everyone in fact has a part to play in the ministry to the Body\u2014if they are willing and if we allow them to\u2014so having a few leaders do everything while the rest of us watch is not the way it is meant to be. We need more than pastors and the Five-fold are supposed to merely be the equippers. Selah\u2014(just let that sink in for a bit!).<\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Romans 12: Each is Given a Measure of Faith <\/b><\/p>\n

But let me start with Romans 12, and I\u2019ll first point out that 12:3 says \u201cEVERYONE has been given a measure of faith,\u201d <\/b>and so while not everyone has the same function or gift or purpose or calling or ministry\u2014but yes, everyone has been given something to contribute linked to their measure of faith. This is a gift to everyone, so everyone has been gifted faith in some measure and so everyone has a role to play in the Body to help in some way. <\/b>No part of the Body is without a role they are meant to contribute. <\/p>\n

Similarly Ephesians 4:7 reads that each one of us was given a strength or a grace as a gift as he ordered it. Each of us? You mean everyone<\/i>? Yes, again that\u2019s the intention. <\/p>\n

So let me say again the traditional model of church ministry where you have churches with mostly only pastors, who mostly only minister in talk, and mostly only do that inside the church building and mostly only on Sunday\u2014is wrong. This is not how God designed the Body to function, as this is not what meets her needs. <\/b>Traditionally they only allow room for very few ministers, often only one or two people in only one or two roles: a pastor and a teacher let\u2019s say<\/b>\u2014and they make everyone else, the \u2018laity\u2019 or the lay-people who are the rest of the members of the community and who mostly only come once a week, just for an hour or two, mostly only to listen, give some money and then go quietly back home. I can\u2019t get into all of it here now but this idea of ministry is deeply flawed and wrong on so many levels. <\/b><\/p>\n

The people in the Body have many kinds of needs Jesus wants to meet, and so He has empowered his people to serve in many different ways to meet all of those needs. So everyone has been given a different measure of personal faith, a different interest, a different \u2018gift\u2019 or \u2018grace\u2019 and so a different or unique kind of ministry they are meant to give to help meet those needs. If everyone is allowed \u2018to do their part\u2019 you end up with many types of ministries bearing many kinds of fruit into the community making the people strong in many different ways. <\/b><\/p>\n

So I say the Kingdom is like making a salad with more than 20 different ingredients: three kinds of lettuce, kale, red and green peppers, red and white onions, sliced radish and spring onions, bean sprouts and broccoli, topped with seasoned salt and pepper mixed with coriander, seasoned cro\u00fbtons, raisins, cashews, tuna, Genoa salami, diced ham slices, provolone cheese, some cheddar in cubes, grated Parmesan cheese on top and three choices of dressing!! That\u2019s not a salad, that\u2019s a feast! The gifts of God reflect the needs of God\u2019s people, <\/b>so if you use the gifts you will release God\u2019s intended blessings into the lives of his people, making the whole body strong:<\/p>\n

1 Peter 4:10\u2014\u201cAs each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.\u201d <\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 12:7\u2014\u201cBut the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all [some versions say <\/i>\u2018for the common good\u2019]\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Words without Power? Logos minus the Dunamis!<\/b><\/p>\n

So people need personal ministry for many private issues, and warfare and intercession for the community, deliverance, evangelism, focused ministry for people walking out strongholds of addictions or lifestyle sins\u2014you need youth ministry, mothers\u2019 ministry, child care, music, IT, finances, prayer for the government, businesses, police, hospitals, the military, Wednesday night home groups, Saturday afternoon outreach in the park, Sunday night services of more intimate worship and ministry, healing, prophecy and discipling in ministering in the power of the Holy Spirit, community outreach in many forms, school prayer if not \u2018in\u2019 then at least \u2018near\u2019 the school, men\u2019s meetings in the City, youth retreats on a ranch, prayer weekends, couples weekends, orphanage support training, addiction support groups … maybe you can see why in 1 Corinthians 4:20 Paul said the Kingdom of God not is not a matter of talk (logos<\/i>) but of power (dunamis<\/i>)<\/b>. Talk is cheap but dunamis <\/i>changes things!<\/p>\n

But when you only have a pastor, who only gives teaching sermons, only on Sunday, only in the church building and only from 10am to 11am … well, can you imagine a salad of only two ingredients? Lettuce and raw onions? And go light on the lettuce! <\/p>\n

This is ministry of the logos<\/i> without the dunamis!<\/i> That\u2019s how you end up with Man\u2019s Church without the benefits of God\u2019s Kingdom. <\/b>A people with only \u2018faith in man\u2019s wisdom\u2019 but who lack having \u2018faith in the power of God\u2019 cannot meet the needs of the people of God because you must be flowing in the gifts and power of the Spirit to do that. That is how God designed the gifts to function in the Body so as to meet our needs, all of them\u2014and no substitution of Man\u2019s ways can improve on this ministry paradigm.<\/p>\n

Jesus said you will receive dunamis<\/i> when the Holy Spirit comes on you, the dunamis<\/i> raised Christ from the Dead and is the power now alive in us transforming us into his image. At least first, and maybe just for now let\u2019s be very clear that ministering only in logos<\/i>, or only in \u2018word\u2019 or merely in \u2018human understanding of the written text\u2019 does not bring power, and so cannot build the Kingdom in people\u2019s hearts. A flow of the Holy Spirit is needed to do that. <\/p>\n

And this is exactly why Paul explained how he ministered but people read those things and think, \u2018Oh, that\u2019s just Paul being weird.\u2019 But no, this advice Paul gives us is how the Holy Spirit trains all people who serve him. It\u2019s how the Holy Spirit trained Paul, and how he will train us too, if we are willing to accept it. <\/b><\/p>\n

I am talking about how Paul said he prayed in Ephesians, but more importantly how he explained he ministered in 1 Corinthians, chapters 1-2. This is one of the Keys of the Kingdom God showed me: minister in a demonstration of the Spirit and power,<\/b> not merely in eloquent speech of the logos<\/i>. Paul said he did this so people\u2019s faith would not rest on man\u2019s wisdom. <\/b>This is what cultivates a community of people with head knowledge of the logos <\/i>but no intimate connection or power of the Spirit of God to back it up. So Paul said instead he purposefully ministered \u2018in a demonstration of the Spirit and Power.\u2019 Why? So that way your faith would rest in the Power of God. <\/b><\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 2:1-5\u20141<\/sup> \u201cAnd I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom <\/b>declaring to you the testimony of God. 2<\/sup> For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3<\/sup> I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4<\/sup> And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5<\/sup> that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.<\/b>\u201d<\/p>\n

Demonstrating power can be simple: lay on hands, heal a person\u2019s broken heart, cast out demons, destroy demonic chains and strongholds, prophesy and heal and just let God move to meet people\u2019s needs, thus proving God is indeed among you but also building people\u2019s Faith in the Power of God to meet their needs and be their daily personal companion. <\/b>Regular believers already have so many spiritual gifts and each already has a measure of faith\u2014but you may never even know it until you ask and let them help.<\/b> <\/p>\n

Every time I was in a meeting and asked God to pour out healing gifts he said the people already had them. They just didn\u2019t want to or didn\u2019t know how to use them, but they already had gifts of healing\u2014and most of them already knew it, too! So be mindful to always minister in a demonstration of the Spirit and power, and actually it\u2019s really quite easy; and start small if you need to, it will grow. <\/b>Why this is important, why it is a Key of the Kingdom, is clear when you see what happens when you don\u2019t do it. If you preach in high-sounding Ph.D.-level Greek and Hebrew \u2018word salads,\u2019 you develop Pharisee-minded religious loyalists who only preach the logos<\/i>, who fight to defend the logos<\/i>, who love and kiss and caress the logos<\/i>\u2014but when God actually shows up in person they have no idea what to do and usually end up persecuting Him. Paul was more learned than ten of us put together and yet he chose not to reach people in pride, from his high-born status and superior learning and knowledge … he said instead he came \u2018in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling\u2019 … humble … but demonstrating the Spirit and Power of God. <\/b><\/p>\n

God told me yes, people don\u2019t think Paul\u2019s explanation of how he ministered is for them to follow and so they discount it as just being for Paul, but this is how the Holy Spirit trains everyone to minister. Minister not in eloquent speech but in a demonstration of the Spirit and Power. <\/b>This is so important it is one of the Keys of the Kingdom he asked me to teach on in my other book The Foundations of the Kingdom<\/i>. The City in Heaven has 12 foundations, at least the wall does. Each of these represents a different Apostle, a different truth, a different aspect of the Glory of God. A car needs about 12 systems to all work properly to run well. A good salad needs more than two ingredients. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

See the Unseen<\/b><\/p>\n

And you may not realize it yet, but ALL ministry begins with prayer. You say no, we just went to the park and handed out tracks and we led someone to the Lord. I\u2019m sure you did, but I am also sure before you decided to go someone was begging the Lord to send someone to the park to reach those lost people first. All ministry begins with prayer. And if you had spent a few days praying before you went, you\u2019d reach more than one person and could do it without the paperwork. I love tracks and like giving people something to read, but the power is not in the paper but in the Holy Spirit moving when you hand out the paper. People focus too much on what they see and can physically do but they neglect the prayer that is the power behind their efforts. So yes, make a nice leaflet, print it out, use it. But the more heartfelt prayer and even sacrifice that goes into the preparation, the more effective the ministry will be, even if it\u2019s just handing out tracks. <\/p>\n

So what were we talking about? The Spirit? Power? Gifts! So yes, EVERYONE has a part, everyone has a measure of faith, everyone has something valuable and effective they can contribute to the overall effectiveness of the Ministry, even if all it is, is having two friends over once a week for coffee to pray for the youth who are handing out tracks in the park. So this is the first lens through which you need to view gifts: Everybody has a role to play, if they are willing to do it, if you let them. <\/b><\/p>\n

Second, I\u2019ll also say this: gifts are not given to reward you for being good or because you are special: they are given to enable you to help other people and to meet their needs in God\u2019s service. <\/b>In a way it\u2019s not about you, it\u2019s about THEM that you are gifted. This is a second lens through which people ought to see their \u2018gifts.\u2019 So everyone has a gift, and it\u2019s not about you.<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Support Ministries Outnumber Public Ones<\/b><\/p>\n

Third, consider that not very \u2018gift\u2019 is for public ministry. One is for giving money, another is administration or something like running an organization or a meeting or an outreach. Mercy is a gift, and \u2018giving mercy\u2019 is a role mentioned in Romans 12, and we have maybe never seen that on stage! Good! Nor should we! It\u2019s the kind of thing that usually needs to be done in private, within a family, within a home! <\/p>\n

So not everyone is needed to be a \u2018public\u2019 minister, since not all work God has for us to do is public in nature, nor is all of it within the Church, nor is it all to people who are already Christians. Jesus told me how little we understand the Gospel, that it is not only for the Sons but for the World through the Sons. <\/b>If he wanted to destroy the world, he said, what could ever stop him? This is what he asked me! No, he wants to reach the world and bless them through his people actually, and THAT is the real purpose of the Gospel. So you can see the scope of ministry is very broad, and you can say every pair of willing hands is needed, but still not everyone will have a public role. <\/p>\n

I think of an aircraft carrier and on a large vessel it takes 3,000 crewman just to run the ship and 2,500 more to support the air wing. The ship however only has 30 to 50 to 80 aircraft! So for every 50 to 60 crew only one airplane can be supported. <\/p>\n

Certainly not all \u2018gifts\u2019 or \u2018roles\u2019 or \u2018callings\u2019 are highly visible, many are not meant to be seen publicly, and so many are therefore not \u2018respected\u2019 or \u2018sought after\u2019 but what would happen if everyone wanted to sing on stage and no one wanted to run the sound system, or lights, or child care, or do the maintenance, or handle the finances, or the IT? So not every role is sought after but every single role is still necessary. <\/b><\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Character & Unity balance Gifts & Diversity<\/b><\/p>\n

Next, note that in all three chapters on gifts, more time is devoted to character and teamwork than on the actual gifts. Why? <\/p>\n

Gifts make people proud\u2014it\u2019s true. They are tempted to become selfish, egotistical, arrogant. So more time is spent talking about the need to be kind, humble, forgiving, in cooperating, and being humble\u2014oh, I said that twice\u2014in working as a team … in Romans 12 it is most of the chapter. In 1 Corinthians also, which leads right into the \u2018Love Chapter,\u2019 Chapter 13. In some cultures \u201813\u2019 is seen as an unlucky number or whatever but not in Hebrew, as 13 is known as the number of Unity and Love!<\/p>\n

So 1 Corinthians 12 is on gifts, diversity and character and this leads right into the most famous chapter on love and unity. That is not coincidence. Gifts and diversity are always discussed in the context of character and unity. Take that to heart. <\/b>Then Chapter 14 deals with how we use and should understand these gifts, but also about teamwork, cooperation and order.<\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Your Identity … Being Gifted or Being Loved?<\/b><\/p>\n

Finally, in 1 Corinthians 12 Paul says so much about gifts and the different ways we serve God and from which we do draw our identity and base our self-worth sometimes even. We should not really do that, but we do. It\u2019s OK, it\u2019s not a crisis, embrace your gifts and calling and let\u2019s keep growing. But yes, seek the gifts! Our faith empowers our gifts but there is also a gift of faith! He even says finally in 12:31 to \u2018earnestly desire\u2019 them and also to seek the \u2018best gifts\u2019 as well! Go for the Gold!! These things are already so excellent!! However … there is yet an even more excellent way. <\/b><\/p>\n

A \u2018more excellent\u2019 way means it is a \u2018higher\u2019 way, and means it\u2019s also more difficult to see at first. This means to me it\u2019s more \u2018heavenly,\u2019 more \u2018spiritual\u2019 and so less like the \u2018natural\u2019 or \u2018earthly\u2019 ways we come from and are used to walking in. <\/p>\n

People will therefore have a harder time to find it and walk in it if they are yet carnal and fleshly basically\u2014but it is plainly open and available to all of us now. Why not seek to walk in it today? But anyway come as you are, and yes, seek the gifts, and yes, seek to lay hold of the greatest gifts you can imagine\u2014but actually there is yet a better way than only having gifts. <\/b><\/p>\n

He then gives us Chapter 13 on Love. Gifts are so important and people are suffering and you can help relieve their pain and confusion right now. Why wait ten years to grow up to start helping people who are hurting? So do it now\u2014heal, prophesy, deliver, intercede, teach, counsel, put your hand to whatever task you find in front of you to do\u2014and even new believers often begin to function in some area of spiritual gifting right from the start!<\/b>\u2014yet there is still a higher way than this, which means at least two things: 1. There is a realm beyond the gifting and 2. There is something better than having an identity based on our service roles and jobs … Jesus eagerly served, yet he didn\u2019t identify with any of the roles of service he so gladly and wholeheartedly engaged in\u2014not as much as he identified as a beloved son. <\/b><\/p>\n

This is the higher vision that 1 Corinthians 13 in the context of Chapter 12 and 14 is supposed to ground us with. Do the work, seek the gifts, be a minister … this is already so excellent!!<\/b> But love will draw you above all gifts, acts or roles into an identity based on being loved, focused on who loves you\u2014your Heavenly Father!\u2014and this is even MORE EXCELLENT! <\/b>This focus will cause you to act out what you are taking in, which is love. So do the work, use the gifts, be a minister … but Love is a Key to the very heart of God\u2014and touches the people you want to reach in a way even miracles cannot.<\/b> Not a fake, easy love, not a carnal, selfish love, not just loving pretty young girls in flower-print dresses. No, He told me the Key of the Kingdom is to \u2018Love the Unlovable.\u2019 This kind of Love is unconventional, he told me; so it can sometimes be inconvenient\u2014you can even consider it \u2018un-natural\u2019 because it is in fact \u2018super-natural\u2019\u2014but this Divine kind of Love that his Spirit gives us is the Love that never fails. Not even in the End Times. <\/p>\n

The experience of God\u2019s love reflects in and through you causing you to identity as \u2018a son who serves\u2019 more than just being a person with a special gift or popular ministry. Such a \u2018higher\u2019 identity also empowers you to serve in whichever role you are needed in at the moment\u2014ministerial or mundane\u2014and helps you not get hung up in pride only willing to do the \u2018important\u2019 things. It\u2019s the simple things that matter so much to God in fact.<\/b> Playing with the kids, wiping the table, giving the dog some water in fact, not just doing \u2018the ministry.\u2019 That\u2018s what he so often reminds me! <\/p>\n

So becoming \u2018a son who serves\u2019 is more effective than only being a prophet who prophesies, or only a healer who heals. You can use gifts and prophesy, heal and preach out of ego, pride, greed and all kinds of other fleshly motives actually. Did you know that? It\u2019s good and even necessary to have confidence and identity in your gifting<\/b>\u2014but if this becomes pride, greed or selfishness it is definitely counterproductive to why we are called to serve. But if you first love people, if you first love, if you first are a son, and first see other people as a brother in need, you can see how easily this fulfills the service of God through us, yes quite easily, even \u2018naturally.\u2019 They need a healing, a revelation, a miracle or just a hug and a smile and a simple word of encouragement. So ask God to empower you to give to them whatever they need, and sometimes its not as complicated as you fear. But what if you prophesy, heal and preach but they walk away feeling belittled, looked down on or disrespected? Isn\u2019t this plainly what Paul was saying in 1 Corinthians 13? <\/b>So seek the gifts, use the gifts, but there is yet a better, more excellent way than only ministering in gifts. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

View Gifts through these Lenses<\/b><\/p>\n

So let us view Gifts, Callings and Mantles through these several lenses first: 1. Everyone has a measure of faith <\/b>and a grace to empower them to serve in some way; 2. These opportunities are given to you to help other people; <\/b>3. Not all ministry is public <\/b>in nature, but it is all necessary; 4. Character and Unity are more important <\/b>than gifts and callings and are in fact what holds it all together; 5. Our Identity as Sons <\/b>must transcend only identifying with our gifts and ministries; 6. There is a higher realm than walking in gifts.<\/b> Jesus didn\u2019t have \u2018gifts\u2019 and the Spirit is given without measure or limit; and 7. There is yet a HIGHER WAY, a more excellent way than just gift-based ministry which is walking in divine Love. <\/b>You don\u2019t need a gift to love people or make them feel loved by you or by God. <\/p>\n

We are being empowered to minister to people and this word means to serve. \u2018To serve\u2019 means \u2018to minister.\u2019 To minister means to serve. Again, you don\u2019t need a gift to love people. <\/b><\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Spiritual Gifts\u2014What are They? <\/b><\/p>\n

So as a simple way to say it a \u2018spiritual gift\u2019 lets you walk in a supernatural power, what the Bible calls a \u2018grace\u2019 or what the church calls an \u2018anointing,\u2019 and it lets you walk in that without having found it through your maturity, growth and sacrifice. You are too immature to do it on your own at first so it is a \u2018gift\u2019 to help jump-start things. <\/p>\n

Romans 12 says gifts empowered by grace are prophecy, ministry (or \u2018serving\u2019 people), teaching, exhortation (which is like preaching), giving (money), leadership and showing mercy. <\/b><\/p>\n

Then 1 Corinthians 12 talks about manifestations of the Spirit and includes word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healings, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues. <\/b>These are not roles but manifestations linked again to gifts empowered by the anointing of grace. <\/p>\n

But he then does list roles or callings God has appointed in the church being first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. <\/b>He begins with roles and ends again with manifestations. And no specific mention of musicians or child care unless they fall under helps or administrations maybe. But also no mention of pastors either. <\/b>So far he does not see the need for them. Most churches only have pastors\u2014but so far Paul skips them altogether!<\/b><\/p>\n

And wait, do these lists reflect any church you\u2019ve ever seen? Would you ever think to describe your church this way? <\/b><\/p>\n

Finally in Ephesians 4 he says these five roles are given for the equipping of the saints and the edifying of the Body: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers<\/b>. Finally the pastors are mentioned!\u2014at last!\u2014but only as one role among many! <\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to reconcile Paul\u2019s ministry vision with the modern church landscape. This revelation is not what titles Men appoint, but on what gifts, functions and services God empowers. <\/b><\/p>\n

Also note, Jesus had no \u2018gifts.\u2019 The Apostles never discussed who had what gifts to do what part of the ministry. They all did it all. Some of the greatest miracles came through a dishwasher, Phillip, who was only a deacon and lunched, I mean launched a revival in Samaria without anyone\u2019s help until the apostles came later only to help with the follow-up. There were people healing in Jesus\u2019 time who weren\u2019t even in the group of his disciples and apostles. They were total strangers to the 12 who asked Jesus to make them stop! But Jesus said, Chill! <\/i>So titles are meaningless and gifts are important\u2014but also there is a realm beyond the gifting where anyone who has become intimate with Jesus and the Holy Spirit can access ANY GRACE at ANY TIME to do ANY good work to meet ANY need ANYONE has. <\/p>\n

2 Corinthians 9:8\u2014\u201cAnd God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.\u201d <\/p>\n

The fullness of the Spirit without limit or \u2018measure\u2019 is available to all who are prepared to accept it. The gifts are still important Jesus told me when he said this to me, so yes, seek the gifts, especially the greater ones. <\/b>But there is yet a higher way. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Variation on a Theme<\/b><\/p>\n

And not only are there different gifts, but the same gift can manifest very differently in different people and at different times or places. <\/b>One gift can manifest in ways that are borderline on or even overlap into the operation of other gifts and it becomes difficult to understand what just happened\u2014was it prophecy, discernment or word of knowledge? Was it a healing, deliverance or a miracle? Well, the easy answer is … it was the Holy Spirit. <\/p>\n

People identify with having a gift, but every miraculous manifestation can happen without having any gift at all by simply flowing in the Holy Spirit <\/b>directly by faith, confidence, intimacy, and authority. Sometimes all you do is watch as the angels do it all! What gift is that? Being a spectator? Once in a while Jesus himself makes an appearance. Don\u2019t obsess over \u2018your gift\u2019 and what it can do (and so be limited by what it cannot do). Seek more, be faithful with little, keep pressing in, God will surely add. Just don\u2019t be target fixated on only what you can do yourself in your own \u2018gifting.\u2019<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s why I say you should always remain aware that the gift in you is never for you or about you. It is about meeting the needs of the people around you; it is for the common good. <\/b>So start with what you have, seek more, always seek to grow and expand, and when God thinks you are faithful he will add. Note, I said when God thinks you are faithful, I didn\u2019t say when you judge yourself to be faithful or when people around you approve of you being ready to go higher. What does their perception or opinion have to do with God\u2019s judgment? Or mine for that matter? Or yours? So be faithful, be sincere, be diligent\u2014things will naturally mature and expand. And yes, you do benefit a great deal from your gifts, but it\u2019s still not about you. You are but a servant, serving the needs of the people, faithfully serving the Master. <\/p>\n

1 Corinthians 12:7\u2014\u201cBut the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all [or \u2018the common good\u2019]\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Grace: Empowerment, not Forgiveness <\/b><\/p>\n

And these things become even more clear when you understand the true meaning of Grace, or charis<\/i>, which has nothing to do with forgiveness as people think it does. It is also not favor, as God favors no one in that sense. Grace or charis <\/i>means strength or power.<\/b> In human speech it can mean kindness or to give a free gift, or the free gift itself. But when Paul used it in the Bible it is charis<\/i>, or power flowing from the Holy Spirit to impart to you any ability or strength or gift, <\/b>and this is what is released when you use that gift or minister in the Spirit, and is also what flows into the people to meet any need they have. <\/p>\n

Charis <\/i>or Grace is Paul\u2019s word for the Anointing actually. <\/b><\/p>\n

So this is where a mature person realizes they can flow in ANY \u2018gift\u2019 and in fact it\u2019s no longer a \u2018gift\u2019 in that sense anyway. Did Jesus have \u2018gifts\u2019? The Holy Spirit is the source of all power and anointing, all manifestations are manifestations of Him. A gift is not necessary to heal or prophesy or whatever, if you can flow in the Holy Spirit without hindrance. Seek the gifts, but there is a realm beyond the gifts, Jesus told me. <\/b>It\u2019s probably enough to just call it something like maturity, full faith, authority, or maybe spiritual union with the Holy Spirit\u2014it\u2019s really just walking in the fullness of Kingdom! And sure we can all do that!!<\/p>\n

And the visions God gave me to explain grace confused me at first until I understood what man had taught me on grace was just totally wrong. For example Grace is the empowerment of God to overcome sin, not the permission from him to keep doing it\u2014that\u2019s more like mercy and forgiveness. But no more forgiveness remains if you keep sinning after knowledge of sin comes. Grace however will give you the strength to stop sinning. Grace is the power of God flowing to you so you can do anything he wants you to do, including prophesy or heal, have peace or wisdom or ANY strength to meet any need you have\u2014it even includes money he told me! <\/p>\n

What I realized is that it sounds like what we call the anointing but that\u2019s a word Paul almost never used. Look it up! To describe the flow of the Holy Spirit TO HIM to strengthen or empower him, or THROUGH HIM to do any feat or ministry, or INTO or TOWARDS ANYONE to help, heal, teach or meet any need they have\u2014the word Paul used to describe the flow of the Holy Spirit in all of these cases was charis<\/i>, or grace\u2014so yes, it\u2019s what Paul called the anointing, and what modern Bibles call Grace. When you realize this such verses become blazingly clear: <\/p>\n

2 Corinthians 9:8\u2014\u201cAnd God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.\u201d <\/p>\n

Romans 12:6\u2014\u201cHaving then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;\u201d <\/p>\n

1 Peter 4:10\u2014\u201cAs each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.\u201d <\/b><\/p>\n

2 Corinthians 12:9\u2014\u201cAnd He said to me, \u2018My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.\u2019 Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.\u201d <\/b><\/p>\n

Hebrews 12:15\u2014\u201clooking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;\u201d <\/p>\n

Hebrews 13:9\u2014\u201cDo not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, <\/b>which is of no benefit to those who do so.\u201d (NIV)<\/p>\n

Ephesians 4:7\u2014\u201cBut to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ\u2019s gift.\u201d <\/b><\/p>\n

2 Peter 3:18\u2014\u201cBut grow in the grace and knowledge <\/b>of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.\u201d <\/p>\n

James 4:6\u2014\u201cBut He gives more grace. Therefore He says: \u2018God resists the proud, but gives grace <\/b>to the humble.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n

2 Corinthians 8:6\u2014\u201cSo we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.\u201d <\/p>\n

And many more verses as well. Grace is strength; it enables us in every way we need and we also call it the anointing. How this is the same and how it differs from the \u2018power\u2019 or dunamis<\/i>, I\u2019m waiting for Jesus to explain to me. So charis<\/i> (grace or strength or the anointing) and dunamis <\/i>(power) are different ways the Spirit of God manifests in reality\u2014it\u2019s not symbolic, not ceremonial, not in word or logos <\/i>only, but in truth, in reality. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Go with the Flow <\/b><\/p>\n

So having access to the flow of Grace to empower us in any way we need at any time to meet any need means once we are mature and can walk in the faith to do that, the empowerment of a single gift (and so the limitation of not having any other gift), simply becomes obsolete. If you have faith and don\u2019t doubt, tell that tree to get lost! Tell that mountain of a problem to go take a hike!\u2014or rather a swim!<\/p>\n

But we don\u2019t start there and Jesus did remind me that the gifts are still important and we are to seek them, especially the better ones. <\/p>\n

So seek the gifts, receive the gifts, impart the gifts, use the gifts and anyway it does not matter HOW God moves … via a gift, an anointing by grace, an angel swinging a sword, the Holy Spirit moving sovereignly\u2014How do you know what is the real mechanism behind what God is manifesting in you or through you or around you when you minister or pray? You don\u2019t! It just works! And praise the Lord for it! It matters not what the source of empowerment we walk in is: gift, faith, grace, an angel or just dogged determination: as long as we know what to do\u2014and what God will do when we do it! It\u2019s all Him anyway. Keep your eyes focused on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, not the vessel, gift, method he uses or the madness all around us. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

The Five-Fold from Chapter 4 <\/b><\/p>\n

And the list of callings that people understand the most clearly (they think) is in Ephesians 4, which lists: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher. However people still have a very carnal idea of what these roles look like. There is a carnal version of an apostle, a flesh\u2019s version of a pastor, a worldly version of a teacher and what they teach, do and etc. Watch to understand the flesh\u2019s version of every role and duty God mentions in the Bible. Be on the lookout for the counterfeit and it will help you not be deceived\u2014but nevertheless only the Holy Spirit can teach you what the authentic actually looks like!<\/p>\n

What I mean is suppose you are a teacher, does that mean you have a gift of speaking well? Being organized? Being highly educated? Is being highly educated a spiritual gift? Anyway, people quickly push you into a carnal mold of something like a university professor and make you say all kinds of things in Greek and Hebrew to sound fancy\u2014or they insult you for being ill-prepared, ill-equipped … or just plain ill. <\/p>\n

If you are actually called to be a teacher of the Lord, it is not the same thing as being an academic lecturer. The primary thing you are imparting is not knowledge of facts but spiritual revelation from the living flow of the Holy Spirit. Paul talked about this in 1 Corinthians 2. The World\u2019s enlightenment is blindness and God\u2019s wisdom is kept hidden from them; it is secret\u2014so we have to learn his \u2018sacred secrets\u2019 from the Holy Spirit and then this is what we teach. <\/b>You cannot build the Kingdom in people\u2019s hearts any other way than through the Holy Spirit\u2014having knowledge of the logos <\/i>alone cannot even do this. <\/p>\n

The word Apostle is the same word as Missionary actually\u2014do you see missionaries wearing gold chains surrounded by an entourage of pretty young girls in tight skirts? Well, I\u2019ve met people who call themselves \u2018apostles\u2019 who do that! There is a carnal version of every calling or role or title or position, doctrine, concept, chapter and verse the Bible mentions. <\/b><\/p>\n

What\u2019s more is I\u2019ve seen prophetically gifted pastors, healing gifted musicians, teaching gifted prophets and wealth-gifted evangelists (evangelists with a Romans 12:8 gift of \u2018giving\u2019 money to help meet peoples\u2019 financial needs I mean).<\/p>\n

So thinking this over and seeing no clear alignment with gifts and callings is when I asked God how is a \u2018gift\u2019 aligned with a \u2018calling\u2019? I think if you listen you can still hear him chuckling. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

When YOU yourself are the Gift<\/b><\/p>\n

Next they say well, in Ephesians it says. \u201cGod gives people the gift of being an apostle\u201d\u2014but there is no such thing as a gift of being a pastor or apostle or any minister role actually. What Ephesians says, and you may want to read it carefully, is that Jesus gave gifts to the church, he gifted the church with apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Do you see the difference? There is no gift of being a pastor, that\u2019s a calling\u2014YOU being a Pastor are in fact the gift to the people. <\/b>The Apostle himself is the gift. There is no such thing as a gift of apostleating. <\/p>\n

It is confusing language especially when he says there are prophets and teachers because there are gifts of both prophecy and teaching but EVERYONE in fact needs to be able to teach Paul said, and also said that \u2018ye all may prophesy\u2019\u2014but yes, there are skills of communication, presentation, organization, public speaking\u2014but so much corrupt human reasoning seeps into our thinking that the \u2018teaching gift\u2019 or \u2018calling\u2019 makes many churches look like a secular college professor\u2019s lecture hall\u2014and they can teach for hours without the Holy Spirit ever even showing up at all!! They can teach hundreds of sermons from ideas the Holy Spirit never even taught them! Talk about having faith in man\u2019s wisdom!<\/p>\n

So a pastor himself is the gift and he may be empowered with any gifts you can name: <\/b>teaching, prophecy, healing, faith, miracles, mercy, giving money, any manifestation of the Spirit: word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discernment and other things we don\u2019t think about: military warfare prayer anointing, music, spirit travel, laughter, glory manifestations\u2014you name it. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

The Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets<\/b><\/p>\n

But the Flesh makes a carnal version of everything in God\u2019s Word. So a problem we often face is when a person walks as a pastor after the standards and model of ministry that Man creates, and serves as a mere mortal would. This is itself already great Error\u2014but then they go on teaching human doctrines, human understanding, and using the methods of the Flesh to administer the gospel and it only makes things go from bad to worse. Jesus told me the way most people minister in church WILL NEVER produce his Kingdom. <\/b>There really is a camp of unwise virgins!<\/p>\n

So the need for error correction is also why the church needs prophets.<\/b> The church is built or established \u2018on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets.\u2019 Well, first that means the historic 12, and the Old Testament writers of course. But also it is mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 for ministry here and now, and the role of prophets is clearly so effective to correct errors of carnal thinking so common in man\u2019s teachings, doctrines and habits in the pulpit. Men make mistakes, we don\u2019t always understand the Scriptures as much as we need to; we are doing our best but having that carnal mind of the flesh is like sleeping with the enemy. How can we escape the error when it is so much a part of ourselves\u2014Prophets to the rescue! <\/p>\n

Moreover the Kingdom of God needs to be DEMONSTRATED to take effect, and is expressed through many behaviors especially the laying on hands and coaching in supernatural ministry, and intercession and all kinds of practical ways we operate with and the through the Holy Spirit. It cannot manifest only by preaching sermons. It is the dunamis <\/i>not the logos <\/i>that releases the blessings inherent within the Kingdom Paul said. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Callings\u2014God\u2019s \u2018Plan A\u2019 for using You<\/b><\/p>\n

So gifts are a place to start it seems. And then you can think of a calling as when you become more serious about serving God, maybe you make a career change to serve him full-time? Callings are roles more than just manifestations of the Spirit. And it\u2019s also basically like a plan for God to use you that is usually <\/i>chosen for you before you were born. That is why it is \u2018beyond repentance\u2019 or \u2018beyond the walk of repentance.\u2019 People fail, walk away and sometimes die unjustly and so God redistributes callings to faithful people like in Matthew 25 to complete the tasks he originally assigned those other people to do. But even if \u2018second-hand\u2019 like this God still knew it would play out this way before you were born, so it\u2019s still something he knew and so chose for you \u2018beyond your repentance.\u2019 <\/p>\n

But let\u2019s say in normal cases you get saved and ask God how you can serve him and he says something to you like he did to Jeremiah, \u201cBefore you were born I called you as a prophet to the nations.\u201d Healing, miracles, apostles, power evangelism, these are all the commonly understood difficult \u2018jobs\u2019 or callings God chooses people to serve him in. <\/p>\n

But what I finally realized is that actually the \u2018best job\u2019 might just be to simply sit in his lap in the palace and love on him! Isn\u2019t the person chosen to stay at home with the king and just be loved on the one with the greatest \u2018calling\u2019?<\/b> No books, no seminars, no videos, just private love\u2019s embrace. Why are combat, riches and public leadership roles better callings? Are they? Well, they affect more people for good! Sure, but can\u2019t I have real impact on the world by privately spending my time in intercession with the King in secret? Can I not move mountains and overthrow kingdoms alone from my prayer closet that you never even knew was happening until they report it in the international news? What can stop me in any way when I enter the courts of the King and pray\u2014even in private or in secret?<\/p>\n

I mean Jesus said sow and reap. But look at the sparrows, and the ravens, they don\u2019t sow or reap, but the Father still feeds them. And what about the Wild Iris that was more beautiful than even Solomon! <\/b>This is how God clothes some people\u2014it\u2019s not all about combat and warfare, platforms and ministry video likes and shares. <\/p>\n

Are we sure we understand what he meant when he said there is \u2018yet a more excellent way\u2019? <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

God is like a Nebula\u2014Oh, so are We!!<\/b><\/p>\n

Or like one week I was training people to hear God\u2019s voice in what we call \u2018communion\u2019 but which Jesus just calls having fellowship with him. And we were learning to help people by ministering to them like a kind of prophetic coach. Having a friend sit with you and help you ask questions carefully just helps you focus and interact better with the Holy Spirit especially when learning how to hear God\u2019s voice for ourselves. We gently ask things like, \u201cDo you see Jesus? What is he wearing? Ask him, Why is it that color? What is he doing? Ask him, Why are you doing that? Jesus, who are you? Who am I to you? Do you love me?\u201d Things like that … <\/p>\n

So I was training a boy to be a minister or a coach which I used to call being a \u2018co-pilot\u2019 since we\u2019re not the ones flying the plane! They are! <\/b>So this boy needed a person to coach and I figured I\u2019d do that part this time, why not?! And he was rough and pushy and well, that\u2019s why we practice! But this is what happened to me and how I met the Lord that day. <\/p>\n

So I sat in the presence of God and asked to see him so I could get to know him better and suddenly I had a very clear vision of a nebula in outer space! Really!! I was seeing into outer space!<\/p>\n

First I saw a planet close up that was to my upper right, and it was so close I could only see about a fourth of the curve of its outline. I saw stars ahead and when I looked to my left I saw a nebula at a distance with all it\u2019s colors and cloudy form and with the vibrant colors you see in space telescope images, vibrant and beautiful. It\u2019s hard to appreciate the scale or scope of this view since the nebula has 30 or more new stars in it, each one would be separated by a distance of more than the size of our solar system and they were all in one huge cloud cluster. It must have been a vision on a VAST scale. <\/p>\n

But I had asked God to let me see him so I could know more about him but looked around this vision for a few moments and was instead thinking about our future in heaven, having heavenly bodies, a heavenly time scale, limitless possibilities and knew that some day I could personally visit any of these stars. Angels don\u2019t need space ships! And they travel faster than the speed of light, too! Yes, I would come back here and visit these stars myself some day. <\/p>\n

But after thinking of this for a few moments I just sighed and said … but today that\u2019s not really important for me to do and not really possible the way I want to do it. I don\u2019t need to know what is going on in some distance star system right now anyway. Even if I knew it, so what really? We have important matters here now to deal with on Earth in my life and community. And I was just hoping to talk to God not tour outer space. I had asked God to let me see him so I could know more about him and this was beautiful but … so I said, \u201cOK, God, never mind all of this. Instead can you just tell me more about who I am,\u201d and then he spoke! <\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cExactly! Who are you?!\u201d <\/b>he said, loud and clear! I was shocked that he was actually communicating to me this whole time! Then as he spoke he gestured with his hands and it\u2019s hard to explain this without showing you but He first said of himself, \u201cI Am …\u201d <\/b>and he gestured his hands to open up something like he was revealing a mystery, and didn\u2019t exactly speak but made like a sound to punctuate his movement, like the sound hmmm!<\/i> How do you spell the sound you make when you are agreeing with someone without saying \u2018yes\u2019 but you say \u2018um-hmm\u2019\u2014it was like that sound. I can\u2019t spell that but let\u2019s say it\u2019s \u2018hmmm.\u2019 <\/i><\/p>\n

And he did this three times, each time his hands expanded and became more open, saying he is revealing himself to us in one way, and then it gets Bigger and then it gets BIGGER still. So he said, \u201cI Am … hmmm, hmmm, hmmm.<\/i>\u201d<\/b> So he was saying here I am, and then you see I am more, and then you see I am even much, much more still.\u2019 He said that nonverbally but much like a person might demonstrate a non-verbal idea in a class or in a video. <\/p>\n

But then he said the same thing about me! \u201cYOU Are\u2014\u201d<\/b> and he made the same hand movements and sounds of \u201chmmm, hmmm, hmmm,<\/i>\u201d<\/b> but towards me, in my direction, about me and because I\u2019m a little smaller his tone changed a little too … <\/p>\n

That was a lot of non-verbal communication, I hope you can understand it. So it was a very short statement actually like this … \u201cExactly! Who are you? I Am … hmmm, hmmm, hmmm. YOU <\/i>are hmmm, hmmm, hmmm.\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

Then like a cascade the revelation hit me in waves! Nebula!!! The I AM!! I am his offspring! I am like him only on a vastly smaller sense, but we are of the same nature! I really am his offspring! Oh, the revelation washed over me in waves and waves! Let me try to explain!<\/p>\n

The name of God revealed to Moses is \u201cI Am …\u201d They won\u2019t always write this but often use the initials only, YHWH, which people added vowels to and pronounce as both Yahweh and Jehovah. This is called the Four Letter Abbreviation of God\u2019s Name or the \u2018Tetragrammaton\u2019 or Tetragram\u2014note, the Bible does not call it that, people do. It is the letters: yodh, he, waw<\/i>, and he<\/i>. It is related to the verb \u201cto be\u201d but the tense is not normal. The tense is an ongoing, continuous but also seems to express a future reality (or revelation). It can be said to mean \u201cto be\u201d or simply \u201cto exist\u201d but there is movement in it they say and so it is also \u201cto cause to become\u201d or even \u201cto come to pass.\u201d Confused yet? I also heard someone say it means, \u2018I am what I am\u2019 or \u2018I am all that I can be\u2019 or \u2018I am whatsoever I want to be\/am\/will be.\u2019 <\/p>\n

This is why when I wrote it I followed it with the ellipsis, the three dots\u2014\u201c…\u201d\u2014I used this because the phrase seems not to be finished yet. He does not change but he is always revealing more of himself to Mankind, and even to Angel-kind for that matter I suppose! So not just the \u201cI Am,\u201d but the \u201cI Am …\u201d.<\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

A Diamond\u2014God\u2019s Multi-faceted Perfection <\/b><\/p>\n

I had also seen a vision of a large diamond with clear facets and it was slowly turning in front of me and God said, that while there are aspects of his character that he has revealed to Mankind, areas in which he exists in perfection\u2014there are other areas of his character that he has not yet revealed to Mankind, areas we do not know even exist yet and so have no words for to even describe!\u2014yet he exists in these unnamed facets of character\u2014and he exists in them in perfection. <\/b><\/p>\n

Beautiful! Amazing! Awesome! So the \u201cI Am …\u201d\u2014but what this means for US, as his offspring, is that like him, more aspects of our character are always being revealed too\u2014who we will be is not yet revealed\u2014but it comes as a reflection of him. <\/p>\n

1 John 3:2\u2014\u201cBeloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be<\/b>, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him<\/b>, for we shall see Him as He is.\u201d<\/p>\n

God cannot be defined adequately by any one name or one characteristic\u2014likewise neither can we! We are made in his image. We are being transformed into his image, from Glory to glory. As he is so are we in this world\u2014these verses mean so many things! More than we ever dared to believe! <\/p>\n

This is why he showed me a nebula! <\/b><\/p>\n

A nebula is not clearly defined. I mean it is a THING, but where it starts and where it ends is undefined, undefinable. However, as we all know, it is where stars are born. <\/b><\/p>\n

The righteous shine like stars; we are all stars, yet star differs from star in splendor, but that is what he makes us IF we are IN HIM and so yes, we are all now being made into stars! <\/b><\/p>\n

So what single word or position, character or role defines us? What gift or mantle or title defines us? Honestly? None of them can adequately define all we are or do, or will be or will do. Maybe that\u2019s why Jesus chose to call himself \u2018son\u2019 more than anything? What this means to me also is that to know better who I am I need to start with ever increasing revelations of who HE is.<\/b> As he is so are we in this world, and if we don\u2019t know who he is, or worse Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:16, if we only know him carnally, after the flesh, which is where we all start, but if we stay there then we can never know him truthfully, and never really know who we are either. So we must no longer see things of God merely in the flesh. <\/b>We must not see God, Christ or ourselves in the Flesh. We did once, but we must do this no longer.<\/p>\n

Again 2 Corinthians 5:16\u2014\u201cTherefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.<\/b>\u201d<\/p>\n

And 1 Corinthians 3:18\u2014\u201cBut we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, <\/b>just as by the Spirit of the Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Seek to Know Him FIRST<\/b><\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, this is what Jesus told Mitt Jeffords in \u2018My People are Perishing,\u2019 which I shared partially in Chapter 3, that his people are perishing for their ignorance and Jesus said, it\u2019s because they seek to know themselves more than they seek to know him. <\/b>And this lingering ignorance of Him makes us unable to trust him or come to him or draw near to him, or believe his words, or have faith in the Love he has for us. We need to seek to Know Him more <\/b>and this is what will blossom in our hearts as his love, and will define our identity so we can see who we truly are. So it is not so much about what we do, or how we serve or what our callings are\u2014but who He is and Him dwelling within us. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Preparation for a Personal Journey<\/b><\/p>\n

And also a ministry calling can be so vague and highly variable that when it begins to come to pass it could look like nothing anyone has ever seen before. <\/p>\n

But I want to be like Benn Hinn!\u201d Do you? Are you sure? \u201cWell, OK, then I want to be like Heidi Baker!\u201d Be careful what you wish for! And what if God says OK, so be it! When the blessing begins to unfold you might think you\u2019ve been cursed! \u201c<\/b>Why is everyone hating on me?! Why is everything going so horribly, horribly wrong?\u201d But you said you wanted to be like them? \u201cThat\u2019s not what I meant!\u201d Oh, you meant you wanted the fame and money and adoration and huge ministry budget\u2014but without the struggle of preparation, growth, purification and maturity. OK, well you\u2019ll get there, just keep growing, purify your heart, transform your thinking and persevere<\/i>\u2014the key root word here being \u2018severe.\u2019 <\/p>\n

When God blesses you in some cases it is what begins your training and this season may last a long time, but where you start is usually not a happy place. People feel cursed when the preparation begins\u2014they really do. But this is actually proof that you are already blessed. <\/b>But it\u2019s confusing and painful and that\u2019s when they often reach out for prophetic confirmation, \u201cAm I even on the right track? Why is God so mad at me? If I\u2019m being blessed then why do I feel so awful?\u201d <\/i><\/p>\n

I remember when God touched me with Holy Fire and it purified me\u2014and I was bedridden for a week! I had many visions and saw in the heavenly realm; I overcame the spirit of Death which says \u2018Quit! Give up!\u2019\u2014I never have to give up because I always have Tomorrow; Jesus told me I have an \u2018eternity of Tomorrow\u2019s\u2019 explaining this victory over the Spirit of Death to me! And when that painful detoxification week had passed I had a new spiritual sense and could discern holy (or unholy) ground just by walking near it. He afterward asked me to take off my shoes whenever his presence showed up. My feet were sanctified, I was sanctified. But if you asked me how, it was very painful and no one could help me understand what was going on. <\/p>\n

So yes, it\u2019s confusing when God trains and prepares you. And when your version of your ministry calling starts to happen it could be impossible to even recognize it for what it really is, especially at first. Thinking of Moses in Midian for 40 years, David running for his life for 14 years I think, Daniel in exile from his youth to old age, Paul who went back home to Tarsus for something like 14 years also and Joseph of course who God trained largely while in prison. <\/p>\n

These hardships were the blessings of their callings beginning to manifest. <\/b>The preparation looked like they were cursed, but no, they had already firmly received his blessing and were growing into their roles. <\/p>\n

So it may really be impossible to predict beforehand what it will look like when your calling finally begins to manifest, or what it will look like then it comes to maturity afterwards either for that matter. You see that guy who said, \u201cJust forget the past! Behold I am doing something totally NEW that no one has ever even thought of before!\u201d <\/b>Well, that\u2019s the guy you\u2019re working for! <\/p>\n

So rebuke the devil when you are uncomfortable, confused, rejected, in pain, lonely, divorced, arrested, fired, hated on by your close family and friends and even the neighbor\u2019s dog. I don\u2019t think you should ever \u2018go gentle into that good night\u2019 assuming it is a good night that you are going into. Because first, how do you know it\u2019s not Satan trying to attack you? You don\u2019t, so protect yourself. <\/b>Second, God calls for a squeezing and if Satan hears about it he will surely double your trouble! If you\u2019re going to quit, it\u2019s going to be now, so both Satan and the people he uses team up to make God\u2019s painful preparation much, much worse than it has to be. Let me fall into the hands of the Lord but not into the hands of the enemy or the people for that matter! But if we persevere we will always come out on top because God also turns all things around for good for people like that. And whatever Satan did for harm will be recompensed double. God even doubles the double. <\/p>\n

Again, IF we persevere. <\/p>\n

In truth people do quit and are found wanting in the Lord\u2019s scales. You may be born for something, called, equipped, prepared\u2014but still reject it before doing any of it\u2014and he may eventually invite someone else to fill the empty position that was intended for you! This happened with Elijah who quit, Judas who went rogue, Steven who was martyred, and the entire tribe of Ephraim in Psalm 76. Having a gift or calling is only an offer, as we discussed in such length in the last chapter. Remember that whole talk about Will Power!? <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Finally … Mantles<\/b><\/p>\n

So there are gifts which we are told to eagerly desire. And there are callings, which is where you are commissioned (by God) to serve him and you may use any number of various gifts in those roles, etc. … but then as you mature and things get more serious, more spiritual then we have mantles. Here\u2019s an odd thing.<\/p>\n

While many have callings which define their roles of service at first, it seems people mature into them and they may even begin to define the calling! A mantle seems to be one level beyond, like when the power and authority really begin to solidify.<\/p>\n

Steve Brooks shared many years ago on Sid Roth that he was seeking God for a mantle for a long time, for several years I think he said, before God released it to him through a prophetic dream. He saw a pile of mantles represented by articles of clothing which were even being guarded by enemy demons, keeping them away from anyone ever using them again. <\/b>The demons were distracted by a team of angels and he approached the pile and pulled out a sweater or pullover that was his favorite color and the exact kind of clothing he prefers wearing around the house. It was his exact heart\u2019s desire. The Lord explained that it was a mantle once worn by a famous saint in Ireland and Scotland more than a thousand years ago. When that saint died, whom the Lord named, there was no one on earth ready or qualified to carry it, so it laid dormant <\/b>for more than a thousand years until Steven readied himself to wear it, sought the Lord earnestly for something special, and was given this saint\u2019s mantle to wear. <\/p>\n

A few weeks after this event the same kind of supernatural characteristics of that previous saint\u2019s walk with the Lord began to manifest in Steven\u2019s life: healings, miracles, angelic visitations, etc. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

And Stephen the Martyr\u2019s Mantle goes to …<\/b><\/p>\n

Another testimony I want to share is from Pastor Walter Hallum whose own daughter was killed in a plane accident. He was grieving so deeply and the Lord visited him one night and explained many things to him to help him understand and heal, and one of the things he talked about was mantles. <\/p>\n

He said this is actually what happened to Paul the Apostle who while still known as Saul the Pharisee stood over the stoning of Stephen approving of his martyrdom, and the men threw their robes at Saul\u2019s feet. <\/p>\n

This is in Acts 7:57-58, and Jesus told pastor Hallam, who I once heard testify on Perry Stone\u2019s show, that this mention in Acts is a sign to us to the fact that Stephen\u2019s calling to preach all over Asia … would then pass to that man, Saul. Saul, later called Paul, was faithful and finished Stephen\u2019s job so they BOTH got their eternal rewards, Jesus told him. Amazing how God thinks!<\/p>\n

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Are Mantles just for Ministry? I don\u2019t know!<\/b><\/p>\n

In my own life the Lord told me that I had a ministry calling from birth, maybe because of my grandparent\u2019s prayers? I don\u2019t know. But when my mother prayed for me while I was still in the womb after her father died, she asked God to use me\u2014and so God doubled my calling. However, I had no mantle until many years later when I began walking in that realm, doing the work, learning, carrying the responsibility and weight of that duty, walking in its knowledge, experience, authority and power. <\/p>\n

I also have a mantle of making magazines, of all things, which I used to do in Hong Kong, both for secular and for ministry purposes, but for me I think the mantle is what I use for his service only, but I don\u2019t know for sure. How can you separate the two? Later I also sought Him for a healing gift and He imparted to me the mantle of healing ministry, which I saw as a great white cloak made of long pinions or wing feathers. He stressed it was not only a gift but the ministry of healing. He used me as a prophet for many years in Hong Kong but at the time I never really saw a prophet\u2019s cloak on me or felt its weight or at least knew that\u2019s what it was. I felt a heavy weight on my shoulders in prayer often but could not discern if this was his hand or his mantle or an angel or what it was. Maybe other people saw it, maybe they needed to. I just stayed busy doing my job and yes, taking it very seriously!<\/p>\n

But when I came to the Philippines after serving Him as a prophet in Hong Kong I needed a break; he said to \u2018hang it up for a while.\u2019 I needed to heal and rest but also I had a new phase of my assignment which did not require this set of skills or anointings. And He used strange grammar to tell me this. He said, \u201cHang up the prophet for a while and put on the pastor.\u201d <\/b>I saw myself taking off a long robe, the prophetic mantle, and hanging it on a hook and changing my robe. <\/p>\n

So while I actively carried his prophets\u2019 mantle I was not really aware of it\u2019s presence until later when I took it off. That\u2019s a little strange. <\/p>\n

So these things are roles, duties, I don\u2019t say \u2018uniforms\u2019 because people simply fake those all the time, but I realized I had an identity as a prophet, I used to be a lawyer, and a university lecturer, and a magazine publisher, and now I was going to again be a pastor, but more like a missionary. So just who am I? Am I really so many different things? Oh, this is the Nebula Vision, isn\u2019t it? <\/b><\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Habitations: People Abandoning their Callings<\/b><\/p>\n

And I guess I\u2019ll share another example, this one from a dream I had. I publish this as \u201cFleeing Their Habitations\u201d and after I asked Jesus to explain it to me, he talked to me over two days to tell me his interpretation of it. I saw people leaving their apartments and dormitories and they left behind everything they owned. Jesus said this represented the Great Falling Away happening right now and people were leaving the places, or habitations which God had made for them in his Kingdom. And all the things he gave them were left behind. \u2018I AM the Joy,\u2019 he said, \u2018you cannot leave me and take it with you.\u2019 They left behind piles of abandoned personal belongings, mostly in my view was clothing and shoes and things, which we began to go through and take anything we wanted and I asked Jesus if this was wrong, like was it stealing or something, and he said, \u201cNo, it\u2019s in my word.\u201d He directed me to Matthew 25 the parable of the talents and said these were gifts, callings and mantles that he had given to people to serve him in his Kingdom but the people had abandoned them when they abandoned him <\/b>and these were tasks now being left undone. He said he would give them out to a faithful few, a redistribution of wealth, and went on to describe more meaning in the rest of the dream\u2019s symbolism. <\/p>\n

A related part of the dream he said he was restoring to me the mantle of publishing I used to carry but which \u2018fell off\u2019 during my training in his service as a prophet. This was not symbolized as a garment or a robe but as a computer printer and it was pink. Why pink? He said it\u2019s pink because it was for meant to be used for evangelism, it was for \u2018babies,\u2019 and not to forget that! So it was a pink printer, but it was still a mantle. <\/p>\n

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Dormant Mantles being Reactivated <\/b><\/p>\n

And maybe you can see why I am very careful not to give so many opinions on what I think this is all about, because Jesus only showed me a few things and there is so little clearly shown in the Scriptures! It\u2019s confusing because biblically only Elijah was revealed to have a discernible mantle, which was famously passed onto Elisha. <\/b>There was no talk of Daniel\u2019s mantle, or Abraham\u2019s, or Jonah\u2019s, or David\u2019s or Paul\u2019s or whomever\u2019s. <\/p>\n

I do think they all had \u2018mantles\u2019 of some sort but there are just so few verses about it, without more prophetic insight what is taught is just so much human speculation, which I dislike. <\/p>\n

And Steven Brooks also saw that many mantles are dormant because there are so few qualified people to carry them yet.<\/b> We are however hearing God say that the End Times ministries in what the Bible calls the Later Rains will have ten times more grace poured out on Earth than in previous times! So God will surely make a way that all his previously begun ministries and these dormant mantles will be revived, if he needs them to be, and so God will accomplish his will and finish what he started. So for us, again, this means be faithful, be steadfast where you are and with what you have, and don\u2019t give up when things get hard. Seek more and since there are many opportunities for the faithful right now, he will add, if we are faithful!<\/p>\n

But also note: Steven Brooks also saw the demons were guarding these mantles, keeping from being found or picked up by people again as well.<\/b> If demons are doing this then they are actively blocking people from understanding and discouraging people from seeking God for a gift, or a calling or a mantle and surely harassing people to quit walking in those roles who have them, or enticing and tempting people away from carrying them faithfully\u2014even telling them they do not exist at all!\u2014whatever works to keep those mantles dormant! <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Authority is from Intimacy, Knowledge, and Power <\/b><\/p>\n

So to me, all I dare say is that a mantle seems to be a way to empower a person with more than mere gifts or an offer of a calling but with real authority and power. <\/b>You can look at it from the other side and maybe say the mantle is when the calling matures and you begin to walk in real power and authority. But that\u2019s tricky too because authority comes from a few things: One, the main one, is Intimacy<\/b> with the Lord he told me. <\/p>\n

But what also brings authority he said to me is Knowledge, <\/b>which must be specialist knowledge of how the Lord works in the spiritual realm, specifics for that assignment, and background knowledge maybe of the history of who has been doing what beforehand in that area, good and bad, and of course what God said he will do about it. That means to impart that knowledge a LOT of prophecy is needed on what God is doing there, why, when and how. God shares his secrets with those who fear him. And authority is never wielded accidentally. <\/p>\n

A third component in authority he told me is the Power <\/b>to use it, since it is not an easy thing to walk in. So a mantle then is an expression of authority, it may itself be the authority, but which is made up from Intimacy <\/b>with the Lord, Knowledge <\/b>of both the assignment and how spiritual things work, and the Power <\/b>to exercise it. He only just told me this so I can\u2019t really say a lot about it, but that\u2019s what he\u2019s saying: Authority has three things to it: Intimacy, Knowledge and Power. <\/b><\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Authority Over Cities <\/b><\/p>\n

And people may not understand this yet, because we are blinded to the unseen by what we outwardly can see\u2014God keeps telling me to see the unseen!\u2014so we often have no real idea what is actually going on behind the scenes but one of the real aspects of being a prophet is totally private and unseen and that is being the spiritual authority over their assigned territory. <\/b>God actually said in Jeremiah 1:10\u2014<\/p>\n

\u201cSee, I have this day set you over the nations
and over the kingdoms:
To root out and to pull down,
To destroy and to throw down,
To build and to plant.\u201d<\/p>\n

This authority cannot be faked by yelling at demons loudly, or carried by dressing with a costume you bought on Amazon, or achieved by wearing a funny hat or speaking with a funny tone of voice. Don\u2019t even try it!<\/p>\n

Is this power merely the mantle manifesting? Or is it just their maturity as Sons of God, the measure of a mature man in Christ? Is it the same thing? Both? I really have no idea\u2014maybe. <\/p>\n

But people very wrongly think they are a prophet because they share a revelation in a video, or finally get invited to talk at a conference, or have a lot of opinions about unusual topics. This is their ego run amok not evidence of a real mantle or position of authority. So then they wear a crazy outfit to make it more convincing, and use a strange title, and try to act up in public\u2014but a real prophet would never do things like that. I mean it!<\/b><\/p>\n

A real prophet who has been wrestling all night long or maybe every night for many weeks against a regional power, suffering under the pressure, combating with the help of angels and Jesus himself, and finally, FINALLY after weeks and weeks, after they\u2019ve lost weight, they\u2019ve gotten no sleep, they\u2019re dizzy from the exertion and finally the local Mayor quits, or gets arrested, or dies, or gets saved, or whatever brings a natural punctuation to the supernatural struggle that has been raging in the unseen realm for weeks and weeks. <\/p>\n

Does he want to draw attention to himself at McDonald\u2019s? Is he chatting with the pretty young staff cleaning the tables? I think he\u2019s probably nursing a coffee in the corner table by the toilets where no one will talk to him because if they do he will suddenly unload a million weighty secrets that are whizzing around in his mind and any one of them could utterly destroy the tiny, little bubble of ignorance that you live in. \u201cOh, what do you do?\u201d … \u201cOh … well … no, I won\u2019t tell you, please just go back to cleaning your tables and just … just, leave me alone.\u201d <\/p>\n

That\u2019s how a true prophet often carries the burden of the weight of warfare\u2014especially during the struggle, and especially when it\u2019s warfare over a million or two million souls who remain blissfully unaware of the warfare raging all around them for their freedom. Yes, the Joy of the Lord is our strength, and I honor Bobby Connor for carrying an authentic mantle and remaining so joyful throughout. I think Jesus was like that. He was a man acquainted with sorrows but he was also filled with joy, unspeakable. But even Jesus had a few hard scrapes and if you annoyed him at the wrong time, in the wilderness temptation, in the garden when he was sweating blood, you may not be glad that you did. Remember the fig tree?\u2014But Jesus needed to carry that burden alone\u2014only he could do it. And maybe it was better they were all asleep to give him his much needed personal space. He often withdrew to be alone with the Father, and was publicly upset a few times as well. I know Elijah quit, Jeremiah wanted to die, Jonah I think never ate another fish fillet for the rest of his life, and not a few prophets were also killed. The burden is real, the price is high. So go into your cave to brood alone like a grumpy bear if you need to, but I do think this too shall pass and we shall overcome and walk again in the joy of the Lord. I know we\u2019re all going to look back later and laugh, and so if it\u2019s going to be funny THEN, then it\u2019s funny NOW! The Joy of the Lord is our strength! <\/p>\n

Nevertheless real prophets almost NEVER try to draw attention to themselves, and never in my experience do so by wearing funny clothing, or speaking in an overly mystical manner, or acting spooky and aloof. Be warned!<\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Nouveau Rich Nonsense<\/b><\/p>\n

Or he\u2019s an example you may understand better\u2014have you ever seen people who pretended to be rich? They over-act, they embellish, they brag and flaunt their supposed wealth. In college I had a friend whose dad was a Green Beret and multi-millionaire and who lived in Hong Kong. He was in the process of buying a McLaren F1 sports car for driving in the US when I lost touch with them. His older US drive was a pearl coated Porsche 911, but in Hong Kong traffic what did he drive? A Mercedes Limousine? A BMW 7-series? A Bentley? No, he drove a Ford Festiva or something like that, one of these tiny burner cars you can throw away after using it for two years. Are you joking!? You\u2019ve got to be kidding me?! It\u2019s embarrassing to be so wealthy and drive around in THAT! That\u2019s what my friend, his son, said! No, his dad said, it\u2019s very practical. It\u2019s small so it\u2019s easy to park, and who cares if it gets scratched? Yeah, but no one knows you\u2019re rich! Good! Don\u2019t tell them! He bought his son at college a Ford Probe, a sports car, in cash, just so his son could get around campus. He wasn\u2019t one to waste his money, but he really had it to spend. And if you met him aside from the aura that glowed around him like a fiery cloud, which I could easily discern in the Holy Spirit, but otherwise you would never know he was so rich and powerful. <\/p>\n

A person who is actually wealthy does not act at all like people pretending to be, who want to draw unnecessary attention to themselves in all the wrong places at all the wrong times. <\/b>Real money carries the weight of the real responsibility, the benefits and the danger with them all the time but you may sit right next to them at Burger King and never even know it. <\/p>\n

What I mean to say is people who have no real weight of authority are always trying to appear to be more spiritual, more mature, and to have more clout than they really have\u2014but a real prophet carries this mantle of power and authority privately and may sit next to you on the bus and you would never even know what they carry. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Government Ministers<\/b><\/p>\n

And unless you were closely acquainted with a prophet you may never be privy to this knowledge, but God will frequently deal with this one individual personally on matters of divine governance over the whole territory, city, state or country. <\/p>\n

This may be one reason why when Elijah was fighting Jezebel he declared a famine and then moved right near her hometown in Syria where she came from. That was the base of the demonic power that had invaded and taken over Israel. Why not just cast it down? Well it was also God\u2019s judgment on the people which allowed it to take over. Repentance was needed. Hence the showdown on Mt. Carmel where he proved Yahweh is GOD, turning their hearts back to him and then the people <\/i>seized all the witches and sorcerers who ate at Ahab\u2019s table\u2014400 plus 450 is nearly 1,000 victims and yes, Elijah led them down to their execution\u2014but the people were the ones holding them. So this was also their act of repentance, their work of faith. <\/b>People today sometimes can\u2019t handle the truth or understand how things really work. <\/p>\n

Later Elisha moved to Dothan near the seat of Jezebel\u2019s government with Ahab in Samaria. He was the agent of God\u2019s government, as they were the agents of Satan\u2019s and he moved to where all the action was. <\/p>\n

You will not see this published on-line, but if you meet a mature prophet you may hear them talk about conversations they\u2019ve had where God tells them, \u201cHow long are you going to let that oil spill last?\u201d … God was waiting for that woman with authority to shut it down! Or, \u201cA Muslim invasion is coming and you need to pray for a week to stop it or it will ruin my plans for the development of the prophetic ministry in your area.\u201d That happened to us here. We prayed and the invasion was obliterated! <\/i>What a lucky coincidence! Or \u201cHow long are you going to let AI run amok?\u201d … \u201cWhen are you going to stop those wildfires?\u201d … When people are faithful God rewards them by giving them authority over cities, don\u2019t you know that? The price is high, but so is the reward. <\/p>\n

So people who want to fake their authority and try to appear to have more than they really do often wear funny clothing or give themselves strange titles or act mystically weird. It\u2019s sad because if they actually wanted real authority, all they would really have to do is just humble themselves, be faithful and responsible and God would usher them into that position; there is no need to fake it by wearing a funny hat! Oh, unless you are unwilling to pay the real price! Oh, now I get it! <\/p>\n

So people often don\u2019t know what is really going on behind the scenes and think, \u2018Oh well, this city is blessed, and that one is cursed. How did this happen? It\u2019s a mystery!\u2019 But no, it\u2019s not. It\u2019s because of the choices of those people living there, and the actions of the power-holders who are either evil and bind the land to Satan or are faithful and destroy the works of the Enemy. If there are no faithful people willing to \u2018stand in the gap\u2019 the whole town suffers\u2014the town, the city and the country may suffer as well! <\/p>\n

Now someone will stand up and say, \u201cNo! That\u2019s not true! We ALL have the authority of Jesus in us; we ALL have that power.\u201d Sure … so show me! Use it! Do that job, we\u2019re waiting for you to do it! So yes, we all have that potential <\/i>within us but not everyone is willing to pay the price to walk in it<\/i>. To walk in that level of authority you need to be in a totally different frame of mind, a totally different lifestyle, different habits, sacrifices and pleasures than you are walking in. And no, you can\u2019t achieve it by simply wearing a funny dress. Many are called, but few are chosen because what he told me, yes, the price to do that is high. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Pr\u00eat-\u00e0-Porte<\/i>\u2014Ready to Wear!<\/b><\/p>\n

So reflecting on these things, we can say that if a mantle can be \u2018passed on\u2019 then it exists separately from the wearer. If it can be \u2018put on\u2019 and \u2018taken off\u2019 as it seems it can be, then like using a gift or following a calling, wearing a mantle is affected by your choices and obedience\u2014it\u2019s your willingness and desire to keep wearing it, to keep at it. So Elijah quitting is a real deal breaker. He was no longer willing to wear that duty and God excused him and replaced him with Elisha. <\/p>\n

People think a mantle is only and always for prophets; others say it\u2019s only in the Old Testament. They say these things because of the example of Elijah and Elisha, and as there is no clear mention of it elsewhere. But this is not what Jesus told me. It is certainly mystical and personal and I do think there are \u2018secular\u2019 mantles as well as ministry ones, such as for mayors or geniuses or presidents or whatnot, but yes, ministry mantles are very much real and still active today and are not just for prophets. <\/p>\n

For me I carry one. I carry several it seems, and like Joseph\u2019s coat of many colors, God\u2019s work is multifaceted and diverse and yes, people still get jealous over you wearing it. But so much is unseen and only the Holy Spirit can explain it to us correctly, and I just remember Jesus laughing at me when I asked me to explain it to me clearly, so I\u2019m tired of so many people telling me their wild opinions as if they were gospel truth but without any direct revelation from Jesus that what they imagine is true or not. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Amazon Returns<\/b><\/p>\n

And why is it noteworthy that Elijah dressed funny? <\/p>\n

When the apostate king of Israel sent messengers to inquire of his health from the demonic pagan \u201clord of the flies\u201d and sent his servants on a two or three day journey to find out his future\u2014they came back in just a few hours it seems because Elijah stopped them before they got too far out of the palace and answered his question\u2014and sorry, not sorry, but he would in fact die. <\/p>\n

The king asked who gave them this message and they said they didn\u2019t know but he was \u2018hairy\u2019 or wore a \u2018haircloth\u2019 garment, and a leather belt or something like that but which was obviously very unusual and distinctive to their sense of fashion and style in 9th Century BC Samaria. The king said, Oh! I know! That\u2019s Elijah, the Tishbite! He sent 50 soldiers to demand he come to explain himself but they became somewhat embroiled in their duties. Fifty more followed in the heat of the moment and took something like an extended smoking break. The third captain had a moment of inspiration! \u2018I want to live!\u2019 He reconsidered serving this order while still hot so instead got on his knees and begged Elijah, \u2018Please don\u2019t kill me! Please, please, please, please, please. <\/i>I don\u2019t want to die!\u2019 Nice that he had some sense seared into him and instead asked Elijah politely to please come if it was not too much of an inconvenience. God permitted him and he told the king he would die, he was not arrested, the king died and all was well. <\/p>\n

So ever since then, people who wanted to appear to be important prophets also wore similar \u2018haircloth\u2019 garments as a costume. <\/b>This was mentioned many years later, maybe 200 or 300 years later, by Zechariah in 13:4-5 that God would move and NO MORE would people parade themselves around like a prancing prophet wearing a costume mantle of haircloth or \u2018coarse hair\u2019 to deceive people <\/b>into believing they were real prophets. <\/p>\n

You see if a prophet indeed wore such an outfit, a uniform, to show his position and authority, this is exactly what would happen today. People would just fake it. <\/p>\n

Incredible that later still John the Baptist whose ministry was foretold in Malachi and Isaiah and who could come in the spirit and power, meaning the anointing and \u2018mantle\u2019 of Elijah and would \u2018turn the hearts of the people back\u2019\u2014this being a reference to Elijah\u2019s showdown at Mt. Carmel by the way!\u2014and when he appeared, how was he dressed? <\/p>\n

Matthew 3:4\u2014\u201cNow John himself was clothed in camel\u2019s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.\u201d <\/p>\n

Mark 1:6\u2014\u201cNow John was clothed with camel\u2019s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then someone will say, \u201cSee, here\u2019s a valid biblical precedent that prophets do dress like that!\u201d and so we\u2019ll again have them dressing up, claiming their fancy dress is proof they\u2019re walking in the power of a real prophet. Didn\u2019t we just go over all this? There is really nothing new under the sun! OK, fine just ask them \u201cYou have the hairy sweater, but where are the bugs you\u2019re supposed to eat!?\u201d Grasshoppers or locusts and all that? Hmmm? <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

Playing Games with Pergamum<\/b><\/p>\n

I actually don\u2019t care how people dress. If you feel like it\u2019s time to wear sackcloth and ashes, do it! I\u2019m not in the fashion police, but in my experience people who dress up to call attention to themselves often feel insecure in their position and are trying to get people to listen to them using man\u2019s ways and fancy gimmicks. Others really may be frauds. <\/p>\n

We had a guy come to our church and he said he had a prophetic word from the Lord! Wow, was he a real prophet? I hoped so! And when he began preaching he said the word God gave him for our church was from Revelations and it was in fact the word to the church in Pergamum!\u2014I was shocked that he would dare to give such a serious rebuke to our church so casually, but two things: First, when he read the verse he skipped the entire rebuke! <\/b>Second, he went off on a riff on \u2018white stones\u2019 <\/b>and had a little pouch full of them, and every time he made a point about being \u2018forgiven\u2019 and given a \u2018new name\u2019 he would take out a new pebble, hold it up, say his word of encouragement, drop it on the floor and take a new one, make a new statement, drop it on the floor, get a new one, over and over. Well, people need to understand God\u2019s love and forgiveness. <\/b>But they also need to repent first <\/b>and know truthfully how God views their sinful behavior.<\/p>\n

I got up from the meeting annoyed, not very entertained and certainly un-edified but then God spoke and said, \u201cOh my word for this church IS Pergamum. And I\u2019m SERIOUS!\u201d<\/b> Woah! I looked into it and it terrified me! I published an article on this prophecy and you can read it on-line or in 8+Splash<\/i>, but I will also share much of that in Chapter 7 in just a few pages, but Pergamum is a MESS! Leadership control, exalting leaders as untouchable, mixture with the world, persecuting true believers (Antipas), they therefore have Nicolatains and Balaam which are false teachers, hirelings who devour and destroy and oppress the people, and do it for a salary\u2014and this is where \u2018Satan has his Throne\u2019 or his style of authority. I\u2019m not even barely scratching the surface and you\u2019ll need to look on-line or in 8+Splash <\/i>for the full revelation, or just keep reading into the next chapter. But only the people who overcome this demonic mixture will be given the \u2018white stone with a new name\u2019 by the way, not everyone in Pergamum, especially those who are perpetuating the sin. <\/p>\n

All I want to say is the man came with a \u2018serious word from the Lord\u2019 and I suppose in a way he had it, but he treated it like a game and the gimmick of his bag of stones was more important to him than ministering the truth of the word. This prophecy in Revelations is no joke, but that man\u2019s \u2018ministry\u2019 was. <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

All Gimmicks and Costumes, but no Power?!<\/b><\/p>\n

I mean, let me ask you a question, are there any prophets you know personally? Are they all about gimmicks and wardrobe and showing off their latest prophetic fashion accessories? Or are they quiet, focused and make you a little bit … nervous? <\/i><\/p>\n

Do you think Elijah was like one of these guys with props, wearing a costume like he was headed to a fancy dress party? Was he like that? Was Samuel? Or Moses? Or Elijah? Oh, I already mentioned Elijah\u2014how about Elisha? Or Daniel? Or Jesus? <\/p>\n

Do you think Isaiah preaching naked for three years or Ezekiel not being allowed to grieve even when his wife died, or Jonah post-fish was anything like one of these YouTube prophetic actors and showmen with their funny costumes or prideful interpretations? <\/p>\n

<\/br><\/p>\n

We just don\u2019t have time for this! <\/b><\/p>\n

I\u2019m certainly not saying every YouTube prophet is false. But so many are just showmen, and not the greatest ones either\u2014and when I can tell people are playing games, and just not taking God\u2019s word seriously, I just walk away. I have no time for that. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m not saying these pretenders are full-on false prophets, it\u2019s more what the Bible called people who act in presumption. And what are we to do? We are not to fear them. So I\u2019m not going to stand on a soap box to expose anyone, but I simply don\u2019t have time for them. I\u2019ve seen the council in heaven. It terrified me. I\u2019ve been beaten for the gospel and spilled a lot of blood. It took me many weeks to be able to even use my arm again and thankfully my broken nose healed straight. I\u2019ve heard Jesus cry in pain over his apostate church and when my wife left Him and left me and left my daughter he didn\u2019t let me cry, whimper and grieve\u2014no, instead He DOUBLED his flow of revelation to me and started really telling me his heavenly secrets, preparing me for the next season of my service to him overseas. <\/p>\n

God knows how upsetting this is to me, but also told me not to worry about these \u201cfalse sheep, worthless teachers of Egypt and Babylon\u2014they have their place, their end, their doom is coming upon them lest they repent. Don\u2019t fret.\u201d <\/b>When I get worked up that\u2019s what I need to remind myself. Don\u2019t fret. God has it all under control. <\/p>\n

So if people have God\u2019s word and that\u2019s how they want to handle it, with fancy gimmicks and a long robe, well, I won\u2019t judge someone else\u2019s servants. And God asked me sometimes to take an interest in these misguided ministers, maybe they just need fathers and mothers? But normally I don\u2019t have time for people who are turning the ministry of Christ into a carnival, a circus, a joke like that. It\u2019s right and good and hard to be Joyful in the Spirit\u2014but true Joy is not being goofy, or wearing a costume, or selling prophetic jewelry. <\/p>\n

So let us seek the gifts, embrace the callings, wear the mantles we are being given to wear … this is already so excellent\u2014and yet there is still a more excellent way.<\/b> <\/p>\n

Seek to KNOW him first, and then you will know who you truly are … and this is how you can fulfill his calling of you by walking in divine Love\u2014use the gifts he has given you and serve the people sincerely, edify the Body with the power and authority you carry, all for the common good\u2014but also do not neglect finding and walking in that more excellent way!<\/p>\n

Amen!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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