Ten Things on Prophecy . . .<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n
The Lord asked me to write a book on Ten Things on Prophecy <\/i>and to put me at ease also said I should just have a casual fireside chat <\/i>with people to discuss the issues I raise in this book, which in a way took the pressure off. I want to be both biblically and spiritually correct in what I share because I have seen too much carnage inflicted on the Body of Christ by the substitution of Man\u2019s Ways, Man\u2019s Wisdom and Man\u2019s Carnal Mind in place of the Wisdom of God, the Attitudes of God, and the Thoughts of God\u2014especially regarding prophecy. And I don\u2019t want to be guilty of the same wrongdoing that I find so prevalent! <\/p>\n
We\u2019re dealing with Prophecy\u2014God revealing his mind, emotions and thoughts to us. Why would we want to know what people think about it really? If God is actually the one speaking, actually the one teaching, why not ask HIM what he thinks instead? <\/b>So maybe you can better understand what I mean when I say I do not value people\u2019s opinions\u2014not nearly as much as I treasure God\u2019s prophetic word! I hope you are not offended. But once you experience being taught by God himself you\u2019ll surely understand what I mean. Comparing the value of Man\u2019s Ideas against true divine revelation God said, \u201cWhat is the Chaff to the Wheat?\u201d<\/b> But hey, if you want to eat a big bowlful of dried up chaff, go right ahead! Be my guest! But as for me, I think I\u2019ll pass!<\/i><\/p>\n
That\u2019s why, despite being considered highly educated and somewhat experienced, when He asked me to write this book on prophecy I was at a loss to really know what to say. I am very slow to make up my mind on topics I can\u2019t easily see, or hear or touch\u2014which means spiritual things mostly. I want divine truth, not more opinions\u2014even when they come from me!<\/p>\n
But he asked me to write a book on Ten Things about Prophecy <\/i>so I started to collect my ideas and just as I began to write\u2014he gave me a vision which revealed God\u2019s heart about Prophecy to me\u2014and his heart was full of grief! <\/b><\/p>\n
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The Vision of an Engagement Gift<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n
What I saw was a handsome suitor giving an expensive engagement gift to his future bride. It was obviously something valuable and that he put a lot of thought into. <\/p>\n
The only problem\u2014or rather the first <\/i>problem was that the lady didn\u2019t understand the importance of what he was giving to her or value just how precious it was. And so she hesitated taking the gift from him and it was just long enough of a pause, just wide enough of a gap to allow an Enemy to SWOOP in <\/b>between them and snatch the gift right out of her hands before she took hold of it! <\/p>\n
Not the worst part yet!\u2014as the Enemy soon found a way to twist and manipulate and contort that gift and fashioned it into a kind of weapon and immediately began to attack the lady with it<\/b>\u2014the Gift that was meant to be a blessing to her as a token of his Love was now causing her pain and sorrow instead! <\/p>\n
And oh! I felt his grief so deeply and then realized the Gift was Prophecy\u2014<\/b>the handsome suitor yes, was Jesus, we are his Bride-to-be, and the grief the Lord let me feel\u2014HIS grief\u2014is such a powerful motivation to understand how to prevent the Enemy from having any more access to this gift, or the ability to harm us, his Beloved with it. <\/p>\n
It took me over 18 more years of learning and maturing before he said it was time to write this book, which I now hope will help us be better stewards of Prophecy, to enable it to become an unprecedented blessing to the Body like never before\u2014like it was meant to be. And to put an end to the Enemy being able to cause us any more harm or grief with it! <\/p>\n
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The Realm Beyond Gifts <\/span><\/p>\n
So I have been prophesying for about 30 years by now and over 12 to 15 years ago the Lord invited me to serve him as his prophet. When my confidence grew, when I experienced deep inner healing and my openness to listening to him increased I began to be able to hear him talk to me in long conversations that were two-way dialogs where I could ask him any question <\/i>and he would explain his views to me on so many important topics. It was not having a \u2018gift\u2019 that enabled this <\/b>but several other factors instead, as everyone can hear his voice for themselves if they would just quiet themselves down and listen<\/b>, which we will talk about soon. <\/p>\n
This was when I began to be taught by God which I never knew was even possible the way I was then experiencing it!\u00ad\u2014so this was when I began to learn so many things from Jesus that were not quite the same <\/i>as things we taught in church. He was exposing Man\u2019s Ways of thinking to me and explained the Flesh, the enemy of God WITHIN US\u2014which He said is simply the Human Level Understanding, the Human Level Intellect, the Human Level Perception, Human Level Desires and Human Level Motives. So yes, people can be a Christian and live in the Flesh, people can minister prophetically but still do so in the Flesh. <\/b>So this is what is largely behind the corruption of Prophecy in the church: it is simply Man\u2019s Ways, the natural, carnal mind, the Flesh\u2019s earthly thinking\u2014but which is also unfortunately under the dominion of the Enemy who can control and manipulate it. So the Flesh, as bad as that is, is also subject to the Enemy because it has no defense to its corrupting influences. <\/p>\n
The Enemy dominates the Flesh, Jesus told me. <\/b><\/p>\n
So yes, there are two enemies we are wrestling against which are corrupting Prophecy: Satan and the Fallen Nature,<\/b> both of which must be overcome to allow this wonderful Gift to bring us the benefits, joy and treasure he intends for it to bring. <\/p>\n
But fully addressing the division between those who Walk in the Spirit and those who Walk in the Flesh, the Sheep and the Goats, the Wheat and the Tares, The Wise and the Unwise Virgins\u2014well, that is a large topic for another day, and maybe another book! Maybe even a different author?<\/p>\n
So this vision of the Gift the Holy Spirit showed me tells us these few basic things: First<\/b>, believe it or not but Prophecy is an expression of God\u2019s love, even when it is a challenging word of correction or rebuke! (Revelations 3:19). <\/p>\n
Second<\/b>, our lack of eagerness to \u2018lay hold\u2019 of it has given the Enemy freedom to abuse us with this choice Gift to us. It is partly because of our negligence, so our diligence and eagerness to lay hold of it will help remedy this fault. (1 Corinthians 12:31). <\/p>\n
And Third<\/b>, our motivation to do a better job at handling the Prophetic Ministry should mostly be a reaction to alleviate his Grief, so it should be rooted and grounded in Love. Love ought to be our primary, driving motivation to improve the ministry of Prophecy<\/b>, not pride or selfishness! That seems quite elusive, almost impossible\u2014yet it is also a mandate for the body!! <\/p>\n
And what I hear him say often is yes, to desire the gifts, it\u2019s a noble desire to want to be a servant of God, a minister I mean, seek the gifts and walk in the callings\u2014this is already so excellent\u2014but there is yet a more excellent way. (1 Corinthians 13!) This means above all and everything we ought to seek to get to know him better.<\/b> He is our great Reward, he is our great Destination. This is what will transform us and enable us to love like him. We don\u2019t need a spiritual gift or a ministry platform to love people! <\/b><\/p>\n
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The Rainbow Within<\/span><\/p>\n
And it may be the topic for another book, but I saw one day that a rainbow is made up of millions of raindrops, but in fact every single raindrop has within it the entire rainbow.<\/b> This is like Christians, and especially Spirit-filled Christians. <\/p>\n
Because just like the same white sunlight shines into each raindrop, and passing through them produces a vibrant display of the full colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet …. likewise each person who has the Light of the Holy Spirit shining into and then through them are each like a living prism, just like those raindrops, and so what was once \u2018invisible\u2019 to people now passing THROUGH US is suddenly manifested and visible to the dark and dying world. <\/b>The Spirit of God, living and active within us is able to meet a very wide range of very different needs in many different situations in many different types of people through us: mercy, kindness, healing, prophecy, wisdom, finances …. and as he flows though us we can each reveal ANY PART OF THE GLORY OF GOD to reach any need in the dark and hurting world we come across. <\/p>\n
So while in a group when you step back you can easily see some who are the Reds others who are the Blues, as some are more geared towards Evangelism, others Healing or still others Prophecy\u2014but because the full spectrum of the rainbow of God\u2019s beautiful graces is within each individual raindrop, each individual Christian, if they would just yield to the Holy Spirit within them they would be able to manifest ANY COLOR of the diversity of the ministries of the Holy Spirit to meet ANY need they are suddenly presented with and at any time. The Bible says:<\/p>\n
2 Corinthians 9:8<\/b>\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
So it\u2019s certainly true what Paul said, that EVERYONE can prophesy. Moses revealed God\u2019s heart saying he wished ALL of God’s people were prophets and his Spirit would be poured out on everyone. Joel saw this was going to happen\u2014and at Pentecost Peter actually experienced it happening. Amos said it\u2019s like hearing a lion roar, when the Lord God has spoken, who can help themselves but prophesy! So really it\u2019s absolutely true, \u2018Ye All May Prophesy!\u2019 <\/p>\n
And if everyone could prophesy, maybe everyone should? Wouldn\u2019t that be wonderful?! <\/b><\/p>\n
Or maybe I can say it like this: Prophecy is already EVERYWHERE. It affects Everything, it is in Everyone, especially those who are believers, and all that we do is somehow linked to it\u2014God does NOTHING unless he reveals his secrets to his servants the Prophets first\u2014NOTHING! And God\u2019s secrets are with those who fear him. And people don\u2019t realize it sometimes but God actually talks A LOT\u2014his thoughts to each of us are like the sand on the shore\u2014so the more we interact with him, the more we embrace his personal direction, the more we will prosper! <\/p>\n
If you don\u2019t yet think Prophecy already affects your daily, mundane routine you will still have to admit that at least ALL MINISTRY is directly connected and affected by it. <\/b>Preaching, teaching, pastoral care, evangelism for sure, but especially the core Kingdom ministries of inner healing, deliverance and direct fellowship with the Holy Spirit\u2014God gives wisdom, timing, planning, business ideas, medical solutions, legal tactics to deal with police raids, family crises, political struggles and academic pursuits … prophecy is meant to be interwoven into EVERY ASPECT of every human endeavor for all of God\u2019s people\u2014and for the benefit of many others who are not. Prophecy is a revelation of God\u2019s mind. <\/b>So why would anyone not want to learn more about it, and be able to experience it more often? <\/p>\n
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So Who is this Book for?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n
Someone will then raise their hand and ask, \u201cBut who exactly is this book for?\u201d Well, in my opinion, it\u2019s for anyone affected by prophecy, or who wants to know more about hearing God\u2019s voice or how God dynamically works with his people by his Spirit. That means just about everyone! Maybe I get a little excited when I discuss it, but I do not think I am overstating this. Paul also said to follow the way of Love and eagerly desire the spiritual gifts, ESPECIALLY Prophecy! <\/b>Why? Clearly because of the tremendously beneficial effects prophecy has on the Body and in all areas of our life, especially if you want to prosper in what you do and be successful.<\/p>\n
2 Chronicles 20:20b<\/b>–\u201cHear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; <\/b>believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n
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So let\u2019s just have a casual \u2018fireside chat,\u2019 shall we?<\/span><\/p>\n
So I can\u2019t, nor do I want to rattle off a long list of rules or doctrines. I don\u2019t think that way\u2014nor has Jesus ever taught me like that! But what I can do is sit down with you, as you grab a warm cup of coffee, and we can have a little fireside chat<\/i>. That\u2019s what Jesus asked me to do, and that way we can just talk through some of these difficult issues surrounding Prophecy and what it means to us in the Body of Christ to whom this engagement gift was given\u2014and maybe even have a little fun in the process!<\/p>\n
And as Jesus used culturally relevant analogies to explain the Kingdom to the people he preached to, to explain Prophecy I just realized I unintentionally, and against my better judgment, started by talking about Rainbows\u2014and ended by discussing Unicorns\u2014but at least in the middle I was able to make the point that Prophets are like the Race Car Drivers of the Body of Christ <\/b>which I think is the most appropriate analogy\u2014that or being like astronauts. I do hope it will help me connect to my target audience! We\u2019ll soon find out!<\/p>\n
So let\u2019s just have a casual talk to discuss a few things to draw out God\u2019s thinking, find God\u2019s wisdom and in doing so finally expose the Flesh\u2019s corruption and unravel the Enemy\u2019s abuse of this vital Gift. Wouldn\u2019t that be well worth our effort?<\/p>\n
Prophecy is a serious business but we can still have a little fun talking about it. I only hope I am not offensive<\/i>, or CONFUSING or intimidating<\/b> because prophecy by nature can be all three!<\/p>\n
So let\u2019s just try to have some fun and demystify this mystery, unwrap this gift and admire the beauty and wonder of what Jesus our Bridegroom has already given us who are his Bride with this carefully-chosen and very valuable wedding gift\u2014Prophecy! <\/p>\n
So shall we get started? <\/p>\n
Let\u2019s do that right now!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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