This is Not a Competition - It is About Unity

 

This is Not a Competition – It is About Unity

September 19, 2011 [09.19.2011] – 6:16 AM

My heart has been heavy all day yesterday and even from the point of arising this day.  The thing that is upon my heart is the Body (Bride) of Christ; God’s own people.  Some say the Bride (Body) is ready to receive the King (the Head of the Body) Jesus (Y’shua).  I sadly disagree; we are NOT ready YET.   

Perhaps some are ready, but not all are ready.

However, the Father is doing a quick work amongst us.  He has been working all along, pruning, purging and purifying us, step by step, but now, the work is expedited (accelerated).  He will have a holy people.  Christ will have a holy Bride, without spot or blemish.

What’s the Beef?

The beef or problem is this.  With the topic of ‘prophets’ and ‘prophecy’ or ‘prophesying’, there comes a divide (division) in the Body of Christ, with different beliefs manifesting.  The purpose of this writing will soon be revealed, but first, I must lead up to it.

Are There Prophets Today?

There are those who are convinced that there are not any prophets today, believing that the office of the prophet ceased and ended with John the Baptist.

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John (spoken by Y’shua (Jesus) [Mat 11:12,13]

It is not my desire to debate, but I would like to share what I believe the Lord revealed to me.   On this, I will stand my ground; therefore, it is His glory alone.  First of all, Y’shua (Jesus) was speaking about how the law itself and the previous prophets, right up to John the Baptist, all pointed to His (Jesus) coming for the salvation of mankind.  At the time that Y’shua spoke the above scripture, John the Baptist was sitting in prison.  Soon afterwards, he would be beheaded.

If all prophecy ended and there were no more prophets after John the Baptist (as many believe, using the above scripture), then what of the rest of the apostles?  We know that there were false prophets amongst the people of that day, but we also know that the apostles and other disciples of Christ did prophesy.

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [Act 13:1]

And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:   Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.  [Acts 13: 6-7]

If all the prophets were gone when John the Baptist died, then was the apostle John out of order?  What about when the apostle John wrote Revelation?  Was he a false prophet?  Perish the thought.

This article is not about whether there are prophets today or not, but I am establishing my stand, which is that I believe that there are prophets today; also that many are not necessarily prophets, but they do prophecy either once, twice or several times.  I am merely leading up to the heart of this writing, which shall soon be presented here.

Are There False Prophets Amongst Us Today?

Oh yes, indeed, there are and we were forewarned.  For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect (Jesus forewarned) [Mk 13:22]

We see those who call themselves prophets often defending themselves with the scripture from 1Chron 16:22 and Ps 105:15:  Touch not My anointed and do My prophets no harm.  If you come against them, they say that you will be cursed and that God will ‘deal with you harshly’…perhaps even unto death!

This makes me angry.  In the services where the false prophets are leading, you will hear strange things, see strange happenings and witness strange ‘fire’, along with strange ‘manifestations’.  When I was searching to learn more about Jesus before committing, I was taken to a church service in the city of Toronto… around ’99 or 2000.  It had been the ‘home’ of the Toronto Blessing (which was no blessing at all).

False Prophets and Strange Fire

The leadership in the church had changed the name from the Toronto Airport Vineyard (TAV) church to Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship (TACF), some years before I went.  It was near the Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  (I come from British Columbia.)   

There were signs up all over the place that said, Catch the Fire!  When I asked about it, I was told that the fire was the Holy Spirit and you were welcome to catch the fire or ‘catch the Holy Spirit’.  In other words, if I could get ahold of the Holy Spirit, I would know because His ‘fire’ would come upon me.

I do know that people talk about TACF’s ‘worldly’ music, but I cannot remember the music part of the service.  I think that I was more overwhelmed by the large crowd, as well as all the people that were there from all over the world.  Maybe the people I went with were late.   I do not remember, as we lived almost two hours from that part of the city. 

There were many introductions of people from all over the world, such as Africa, England, New Zealand, India, and many other places.  I cannot remember all the countries with representatives now, but there were many chairs onstage and many people in the front rows from these countries, who went up to give testimonies.

Every testimony spoke about how the ‘Catch the Fire’, or the ‘Awakening’ experience (the meetings had a couple of different names) had started a revival in their area.  In retrospect, there was more talk about what the ‘church’ (Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship) had done for them than about what Y’shua had done for them.

Go Into the World – Help Others Catch the Fire!

I do not remember much preaching being taught, except that the pastor was speaking about most churches being too inflexible, being afraid to ‘move’ in the Spirit of God and something was said about people who get so heavy into the word of God that they quench the ‘holy’ Spirit…that adage: So heavenly-minded to be any earthly good. (a lie)

Prophets prophesied about revival, the new move of God, mantles, the anointing and the fire, which was evidence of the move of the Holy Spirit.  There was something said about those who caught the fire should or would go out into the world and help others to catch the fire also.

Just before the ‘fire’ fell, there was a strange noise going through the audience.  People were speaking or singing in tongues; musicians plucked or pounded at instruments.  It did somehow seem to go together.  Even though I wasn’t a strong believer, I found that I wanted the move of God.  I found that I desired to see His hand in my life.  I wanted to ‘catch the fire’, but I didn’t and to God the glory alone!

After that, a man was on stage asking if we were ready to be revived by God.  I cannot remember word for word, but basically, he talked about revival, new anointing and the Lord moving upon the people with fire.  We were to ‘catch the fire’ and it would spread to others.

Signs and Wonders

As stated, I cannot remember all of what was said because it was long ago, when I was searching to find out more about Jesus.  Before I knew it, the people I came with were moving out into the aisles and open areas.  The service was held in a huge area, almost like the floor of a warehouse, with seats and a stage.  However, there were large, open areas between the seats and the stage and between the aisles. 

People had spoken onstage about the ‘gold teeth’ or ‘fillings’ that the Lord had given them and they would open their mouths and point to the tooth.  I remember thinking that would be cool, to have a ‘sign’ from God that He loved me and wanted to bless me.

Now that I know the Lord, I realize that He would not give a person a gold tooth, or a gold filling, but rather, He would restore the whole tooth.  (Think about it.  Did Jesus give those with lame legs, a couple of cosmetic, prosthetic limbs or did He restore them completely and whole as they were meant to be?  Just a thought…)

The ‘Fire’ Falls

Men were calling down, “Fire!”  “Holy Spirit, come!  Revive us!”   “Move on Your people Lord.”   “Fire!  Fire, fire!”   Most of the people who had spoken on stage were going through the crowd, praying and touching people, shouting, ‘Touch - touch, touch, touch!”   “Catch the fire!  Catch the fire!  Receive it, receive it!”  Not one person came near me to pray.  I figured that there were just too many people and I did not stand out in the crowd.

Folks were falling down all around me (slain in the spirit, it’s called); on their backs, on their sides, on their stomachs.  Some were curled up in a fetal position and almost every one of them was jerking, shaking, groaning.

They were weeping, wailing or agonizing, as though they were in great pain, as they clutched their stomachs; or they were laughing… uncontrollably (drunk in the Spirit). 

Others were jumping over the chairs from one row to another; running around making strange animal noises, such as barking (like dogs), howling (like wolves), clucking (like chickens), monkey noises or snorting like pigs.  Some crawled on all fours or sat half on and half off the chairs. 

Some were on their faces, prostrate, while others just knelt with uplifted hands, either swaying or still, with their heads bowed.  Music was playing and many were ‘soaking’ in the presence of the Lord.  (‘Soaking in the Lord’ is not an expression I see in the bible.  We are to worship in spirit and in truth.)

I stood there feeling bewildered and saddened because I thought that I was so sinful that the Holy Spirit would not touch me.  I had no way of knowing that the Lord was PROTECTING me, not condemning or rejecting me.  Now, I thank Him that I was untouched by it all and I do give Him the glory; only the Lord could have protected me from that ‘unholy’ spirit, at that time.

Again, be forewarned!  For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, IF it were possible, even the elect (Jesus forewarned) [Mk 13:22]

Some false prophets are easy to discern because they point to themselves or their ministry and rarely, if ever, call attention to sins, repentance, Y’shua (Jesus), the cross or the blood of the Lamb.  Jesus took our sins upon Himself and died in our place, so that through Him, when we repent, we would be reconciled back to the Father. The false prophets and teachers also clearly avoid the most unpopular topic of picking up our cross daily and dying to self.

False prophets speak enough of the truth to lure people in.  There is a saying about false teachers and false prophets, with the words they speak being likened to taking rat poison.  When a meal is prepared to poison the rat, it consists of 99% good food and 1% poison.  It is the 1% that kills.

With the false teachers and prophets, their words are 99% truth and 1% deception; and it’s the 1% that kills.  False prophets use scripture and do actually mention Jesus, but it is not the Y’shua of the gospel. 

Witchcraft Welcomed in the Churches –  Discernment?

A few years after the ‘Toronto – Catch the Fire’ experience, I was in Phoenix, Arizona, full of fear and still not committed to the Lord, still searching.  About seven or eight of us decided to go to this church in Phoenix, which was not far away.  There was a gentleman visiting there from Africa, who was a prophet with an apostolic ‘anointing’, as well as being an evangelist. 

This man wore the amazing clothes that many wear in Africa, the long, colorful flowing robes and headdress.  He spoke of many things, but I would like to mention the story that he shared that really struck home with me.

He said that this shaman was on a public bus in Africa and was frightening the people with displays of his power, the witchcraft which he practiced (the speaker did not elaborate on the displays).  He went on to share that there were two young boys on the bus; one was about 14, the other was about 17 or 18.  The younger boy had just asked Jesus to be the Lord of his life.  He was speaking to other people on the bus about Jesus (Y’shua). 

The shaman had been sitting at the front of the bus and overheard all that was being said by the younger boy.  He finally stood up, looked at the young lad and said, ‘My god is stronger than your God and I will prove it.  Be silent and speak no more of this Jesus.’  The new convert was immediately silenced, unable to speak, even though he tried.  

The people gasped and trembled over the power that the shaman possessed.  However, the older lad had been a believer for some time and was stronger in the Lord.  He knew that Christ lived in him and that Jesus had all authority.

The older lad stood up and said to the shaman.  ‘My God is greater than your god because greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.  In the name of my God and in Jesus’ name, I command you to be silent and speak no more.’  The shaman went to laugh, but no sound came out.  No sound came out when he tried to speak.  He got off the bus, running and the people were amazed as they looked at the older boy.  They became more interested in hearing about this Jesus.

I found the story quite interesting.  For whatever reason, I do not know why, but after about five or so minutes after hearing the story, I approached the women that were with him.  There were three women, all dressed in beautiful, colorful African attire.  I whispered to one that I wanted to welcome them to America.  I stated that I was like them, in that I was not from America, but was from another country… Canada.  The woman smiled, seemed delighted and suggested that I go up for prayer.

I replied no, but I thanked her.  She insisted and rose up, took my arm and guided me towards the platform at the front of the church.  She said something to the guest speaker, but I did not understand the language.  In English, the man said to come up on stage.  I had no choice; all eyes were upon us.  Then he asked what I wanted prayer for.  Frankly, I did not know what to ask because I had no intention of going up, but I had to think of something quickly.

I whispered, ‘Cigarettes… I need to be free of cigarettes.’  The man began to speak in tongues, but I do not know if it was African or the tongues mentioned in the word of God.  Something was happening to me.  I could feel anger.  (Why was I angry?)  The man turned his back on me, as he walked across the large stage, speaking to the congregation.  (I can’t remember what he was saying).  

As he walked away with his back towards me, I had a pack of cigarettes in my hand and for whatever reason, in my anger, I was going to throw them at him.  I raised my hand to take aim and suddenly he turned towards me and glared.  The look in his eyes was something I had not seen before and will never forget.

The cigarettes dropped from my hand onto the stage and our eyes met.  He spoke in some language and the next thing I knew, I was on my back on the floor, jerking, trembling, writhing like a snake and … I COULD NOT SPEAK!  There was a boy, about 12, with a video camera filming me.  I wanted to tell him not to film me.  I wanted to tell the people that this was not the Holy Spirit, but I could not speak!

I began to weep and I suppose the people thought that I was moved by the Holy Spirit, but I was weeping because I could not speak and because my body was shaking, slithering and trembling.  I grabbed my stomach because of a strange sensation that was going through me.  Then, I began to cry out to God in my heart… I was confused and I still cannot remember what I was praying.

Other people began to come up on the stage for prayer and the African boy who was filming me moved on to other people, who were falling down, crying, yelling, making all kinds of noise – jerking, trembling, shaking.  

About five more minutes passed and just as suddenly as that ‘spirit’ had come upon me, I was released.  It took a moment or two before I realized that my body had stopped slithering, shaking and jerking.

Slowly I returned to my seat.  My mind felt numb and I was still confused.  One brother who had driven us all there in his RV said, “Wow.  The Lord really got ahold of you, huh?”  I just shrugged my shoulders and sat down, stunned.  

There were a few hundred people at that church.  A collection was taken up for a ‘love offering’, to give to the prophet (guest speaker) and his entourage, who ‘faithfully ministered’ to the American people.  He was invited to return in a year.

You see, the African man, who came to the churches in America, came as an evangelizing prophet and missionary form his country because missionaries from America had gone to his country, Africa.  Over a period of several years, the American missionaries had led many to Christ Jesus, including the two boys on the bus; one of which caused the mouth of the shaman to be silenced.  Eventually, the shaman (using witchcraft and powers from the demonic side) got his voice back.

The Shaman Exposed by God/Yhwh

The African man, the prophet with the apostolic anointing – the missionary visiting Phoenix, AZ was that shaman.  Surprised?  A few months later, I committed to the Lord.  A few years after committing and remaining faithful, the Lord led me to the truth about the African prophet.  

The shaman had acted on an idea about pretending to be converted, avenging himself for the time he was silenced.  He would do this by deceiving Christians and they would ‘support his cause’, his work. He decided that he could make a very lucrative living at cursing the Christians in the name of Jesus, if he handled it properly.  He became a prophet (spirit of divination, sorcery) and called himself a missionary.  

He made connections with visiting American missionaries, promoting himself as a prophet, an apostolic evangelist.  Witchcraft was in the churches in America.  Where was the discernment of the leaders?  They welcomed this man.  How many others walk right into the churches, undetected?   I left Arizona about three months later, to return to Canada.  I do not know if the shaman is still being booked at American churches.

I have known witchcraft, right in my face, as well as the Kundalini spirit and its evil.  Yes, I was delivered by the grace, mercy and power of the Almighty God (Yhvh).  (Some years earlier, He had delivered me from legion, but that’s another story.)  It’s all to the glory of God alone!

The power of the Kundalini spirit is called ‘power of the snake’ or ‘serpent power’.  It comes from Eastern religions and is NOT from God.

How Do We Discern True from False?

The Word of God tells us:

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try (test) the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  [1Jn 4:1]

There are only two ways that I know of to try the spirits; the first is by the Word of God and the second is by the Holy Spirit.  There are no other ways that I know of.  If it does not line up with the word of God, do not receive it.  

If we cannot find the subject in the word of God, pray and wait upon the Lord.  He will reveal truth to you when you ask for truth.  He will never deviate from His word.  He IS Faithful and True; He IS the Living Word, the Bread of Life.

Some people will admire today’s prophetic people, or those who give prophetic messages.   Many worship an angel that spoke to them.  (Yes, some people see angels, but be guarded, there are those who appear as an angel of light, but are not as they appear to be; they are familiar spirits or demons.  That is a whole other topic and I’m not going there now.)

My point is, do we admire people or angels?  The apostle known as John the Revelator, feared and bowed down to the angel who appeared to him.  It was a TRUE holy angel of the Most High God.  

What was the angel’s response to John’s behavior?  It is the same that we must keep in mind also, whether we are dealing with people or angels.  Do we follow after the arm of flesh or take the hand of God?

And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.  [Rev 19:10]  

Jesus the Christ (Y’shua the Messiah) is King, Lord, prophet and high priest and is the ONLY way to the Father, our Creator.  The main purpose of prophecy is to turn people’s hearts back to the Father, by repentance through the Blood of the Lamb, who died in our place, so that we may be forgiven and reconciled back to Almighty God.

Prophecy also warns of God’s judgment upon sinful people and nations.  There are also numerous examples of personal prophecies in the word also.  One example is that of Elisha the prophet and his instructions to Naaman the leper, so that he would be healed.

There are prophets today that will tell you that they are celebrating a day of atonement, and that they are celebrating the ‘Judgment of the Lord’, stating that in Christ, the Lord’s judgment towards all is: salvation, healing, deliverance, revival, love, forgiveness, a future, a hope and a destiny in CHRIST!  

No mention of sin; no mention of the cross; no mention of repentance and no mention of the Blood that Christ Jesus shed; no mention of the Word of God or holiness or obedience.  This is from one of the churches in the 2011 Catch the Fire group. False prophets!  

What God Says about Judgment

The word of God reveals EXACTLY what His judgment is all about.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  [1Pe 4:17]  

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day  [Jud 1:6]

Today, there are thousands upon thousands of prophecies given through people.  We are to try every spirit to see if it is of God.  Personally, the Lord has never given me dates, except for 911’s 10^th anniversary, when the media and many prophetic people were warning of a possible attack.  The Lord told me nothing would happen on that day (I blogged it); 

911 - It Will Not Be Today!

however, many give prophecies with dates.   We are all to be responsible and will all be held accountable.

A true prophet, speaking from God, is accurate in what he/she says.  Anyone can speak, if the Spirit of the Most High gives them utterance.  Consider Balaam’s infamous donkey.  No one should get puffed up, thinking they are more than they ought.

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, you old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:  [Joel 2: 28; Acts 2:17]

If it does not come to pass, we are not to fear them or believe them, for they have spoken presumptuously. When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. [Deu 18:22]

Slaughter Due to the Prophecy of a Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

To me, Harold Camping and his date of May 21, 2011 for the rapture, not only proved that he was a false teacher and a false prophet, but even a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  Some people I know were laughing about Camping's prediction for the rapture on this date because his dates have proven false in the past.  I had not heard of Harold Camping before this.

I wasn't laughing because so much is being taught about a 'pre-trib rapture' (an escape from responsibility) that it actually makes me angry.  When I read a news report about the slaughter of hundreds upon hundreds of men, women and children known as the Hmong people, I literally broke down crying. 

The day I heard about the slaughter back in May 2011, I was so shook that I could barely get the words out when I tried to share it with a couple of people because I kept getting choked up and fighting tears.  I would have to be silent some moments in an effort to regain my composure.  For months afterwards, I had to fight these emotions if the topic came up.  

I had experienced this false teaching when a pastor had once tried to show me in the bible that there were three (yes 3) raptures, pre-trib, mid-trib and post-trib.  I could never see it when he showed me the scriptures, although I tried.  I am grateful to the Holy Spirit now that I could not see it.  Never in my wildest imagination did I think a false teaching would be the cause of death of multitudes!

I had never heard of these people before, so I searched to find out more about them.  The Hmong people are an Asian group (one of the subgroups of Miao ethnicity) of people living in tribal mountain areas North Vietnam (coming from parts of China, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand).  Read here about  the Hmong people

These people were already suffering due to persecution from the Communist regime.  Seven thousand people gathered on a mountain to praise God, believing Jesus was returning that fateful day, May 21^st, 2011.  They came from a small village that had no church.  All they had was a small shortwave radio, which aired Harold Camping's services and teachings.


Sadly, they believed in the pre-trib rapture and looked forward to meeting Jesus/Y'shua and leaving this world that had shown much cruelty and persecution to them.  So many were slaughtered by police and military police at gunpoint (2 pastors were beheaded), that they were buried in mass graves that were bulldozed over.  I still weep even as I type this.

Men, women and children were killed, many arrested, while others fled to the jungle (forests) – Jacob Prasch reported this.  Mr. Prasch is a Hebrew-speaking bible teacher and  an evangelist to the Jews.  His story and his website are found here:

http://www.moriel.org/About_Moriel/About_Moriel-Jacob.html

Jacob Prasch went over there to help the Hmong people.  Bob Unruh, from WorldNetDaily also reported on it, adding to his report with news about a woman who slit the wrist and throat of her two daughters and herself, rather than see them go through tribulation.

The quick action of a neighbor saved them.  You can read the entire report yourself here: 

http://www.eaec.org/desk/07-14-2011.pdf

When Harold Camping heard about the slaughter of Hmong people (also known as Montagnards), he had no remorse or pity. 

Harold Camping’s response?  “I don’t have any responsibility.  I can’t be responsible for anybody’s lives.  I am only teaching the Bible.  I am not teaching what I believe, as if I am the authority.  I am simply teaching what the Bible says.  And I don’t have spiritual rule over anybody.”  
Those were Mr. Camping’s words.  On June 9, 2011 (19 days later), he suffered a stroke, so he could not comment further.  See both reports at the above link.

Harold Camping and people like him are dangerous wolves in sheep’s clothing, taking no responsibility and believing they should not be held accountable.  

We should try (test) every spirit, to see if it is of God or not.  Absolutely; that is what the word of God tells us to do; and yes, that would include anything I put up here or say.  Absolutely, follow what the word of God directs us to do.

This subject can go on quite in-depth and that is not why I wrote this; but I am sharing where my heart is and what the Word of God says.  A couple more remarks…

Beware of those who sell their prayers or prophecy for a love-gift (tsk); this is nothing short of fortunetelling, or at the very most, greed and covetousness in the name above all names. Many say they will pray for you or give you a prophecy, but first you must pay them.  Do you take the risk that that prophet is not operating under a spirit of divination?

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbereth not.   For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them to down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;  [2Pet 2:1-4] 

The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:  [2Pet2:9]

You Shall Know Them by Their Fruits

There are godly men and women, who love the Lord and whose fruit is plentiful.  They also love their families, the brethren and the lost.  They warn, exhort and encourage, as led by the Father, yet there are people claiming they are false.  

To me, the internet is both a blessing and a curse.  It is a fantastic tool to search out knowledge and to even use to reach out to people, yet there is also much misinformation, disinformation and lies.  If anyone has a ministry, especially a teaching or prophetic ministry, and they are well-known or have been around for awhile (TV, radio, magazines) popular with the leaders of other religions and rubbing shoulders with politicians, you can just about be guaranteed that you will find that someone - somewhere has spoken against them.

Many are walking in error, true and mammon is their god... but there are good ministries also.  Most often, they are not well-known or popular.  That is how it is...
 

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.  

Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: [Acts 7: 51,52]

Even when Jesus asked, ‘Who touched me?’, the time that the woman who touched the hem of his garment, a Pharisee doubted that Christ Jesus was a prophet.  

Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spoke within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.  [Lk 7:39]

I believe prophets should be held accountable and should be accurate, when speaking for the Lord, but before I end the subject; I would like to add this.

Take everything to the Lord.  Remember that the purpose of prophecy is to turn people from sin to repentance; to point them to Christ and His finished work on the cross.  If a prophet prophecies and a nation repents, like Ninevah, God can stop the judgment given in or spoken about in that prophecy. 

It doesn’t mean the prophet is false.  It means the purpose for the prophecy was fulfilled; the people repented and God showed mercy, for He is a good God and His mercy endures forever.  Jonah was not a false prophet.  Sadly, false prophets will use the story of Jonah to validate their error.  Harold Camping did not, nor was he overly concerned.  Some say his stroke was poetic justice, but I say, we should not rejoice over this.  We should grieve and hope such people come to repentance.

Isaiah went to king Hezekiah and told him that he was to get his house in order because he was going to die.  Hezekiah wept upon his bed and prayed to the Lord.  God gave him fifteen more years.  Was Isaiah a false prophet?  No, Hezekiah received the word from the prophet and prayed.  The Lord showed him mercy.

Everything must be considered.  A true prophet will turn the people to the Lord, through Christ Jesus (Y’shua) and not to themselves or to worldly things, such as lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life.  So, that is all I am going to say on this subject for now. 

Getting Down to the Nitty-Gritty ─ The Heart of the Matter

Now I come to the part of why I wrote this article.  It is about why I have been heavy-hearted and why I wept off and on, all day the day before yesterday; then arose yesterday with the trouble still upon my heart.  

First, I had to write about where I stood regarding prophets; that I do believe in them today; that they are a part of the five-fold ministry (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers); that they are accountable for all that they say; that all that is said must be tried (tested) by the Word of God (scripture) and the Holy Spirit.

Then I had to share part of my exposure to a couple of prophetic experiences, to give you a better understanding of where I am coming from.  The Lord has been gracious to use me to speak forth a word at times, along with many, many other vessels.  

Even when Elijah ran from Jezebel and sat under the Juniper tree, the Lord told him that there were 7,000 prophets who had not bowed their knee to Baal – and that was after Jezebel had killed a great number of God’s prophets.  So, even in Elijah’s day, there were thousands upon thousands of prophets, whom God used to speak forth His word, even after Jezebel slaughtered countless of them.

It Is Not A Competition - God Must Be Glorified and the Body of Christ United

1)   (THIS LAST, but surely not least, reason is the VERY HEART of this message.  It is the REAL reason why I brought up prophets or prophetic words at all.  THIS is what made me weep off and on for a day…and now, although I thought this blog might take me an hour, I am now on my 2^nd day of writing it.  The heart of this message, the very reason for it, is written below.)

2)   There is such COMPETITION between some members of the Body regarding prophecy, or that which we hear our Lord speaking to us, that it absolutely shocks me and grieves my heart.

This is NOT a competition, brethren!  We are in this together – it’s about unity as one body, (the Body of Christ Y'shua/Jesus of Nazareth) with a common mission and a common goal.

Many of us visit prophetic sites, or pop in to see what certain people are saying.  I think it is wonderful for us to support one another and encourage one another.  Just as in the physical, so it is in the spiritual, in that each part of the body works together harmoniously.  The hands do not compete with the feet.  The eyes do not compete with the ears.  

Yet, here is what is burning inside of me.  Some folks hop from site to site, and I honestly think they forget what they heard where.  They will say something to you that you had just blogged or spoken, or you know that someone else had recently said as from the Lord.  Yet, they say it as though the Lord spoke it to them, when you know, it just wasn’t so.

I am not sure if I am explaining this right, so I will endeavor to expound.  There are two things that trouble me about people ‘stealing’ from others and giving the impression that the Lord spoke it to them.

First, it’s dishonest and truthfully, the Lord will surely speak to them also, if they spend time with Him.  In fact, oftentimes, these same people have shared things that the Lord spoke to them and it’s excellent.

Secondly, this is NOT a competition.  Some make a point of letting you know that they believe what you are saying, as confirmation, but they want you to know that God told them FIRST.  What?  Are we little children, fighting for the affections of the Father and who is the favorite kid?  I mean, seriously.

Who cares who the Father told first?  In fact, if truth is told, it was all spoken way before us, through the Father’s only begotten Son, Y’shua – Jesus the Christ and the prophets of old.  I get excited when someone has heard the same or similar message as what the Lord has told me because it is confirmation and at times, it is a sanity check.  

Some things are just plain heavy to hear and it is surely good to have brethren who are hearing the same.  In this day and age of great deception (which is increasing moment by moment, as the shadow of the Anti-Christ is over the land, although there are many antichrists, as in Y’shua’s day), it is imperative that the body stays in unity.

Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. [1Cor 14:29-32] 

See that?  That ALL may learn and be comforted!  This attitude of Abba told me before He told you, or I put it out there before you did – it’s ridiculous, acting like spoiled little children.  Yet, it is more dangerous than that.

To me, if it is important that someone is ‘recognized’ for what they said and when, are they seeking to be pleasers of men or to please God?  Yet, the dangerous part is… do they seek to share or take the glory from God?  He will not share His glory… no flesh shall glory in His presence!

If we are ‘stealing’ prophetic words from others and looking for the glory (to have people be impressed), then we better get on our knees and repent to the Father.  There is no need for this.  The Head of the Body, which is Jesus the Christ, speaks the same message to the Body.  He is not the author of confusion.

We will either have similar messages or the messages will all fit together, like pieces of a grand puzzle.  I believe the Father does this, so that NONE of us will be lifted up with pride; that we will do justly, love mercy and walk humbly before our God.

Now maybe you understand why I wept… it is just playing into the hands of the enemy and it means that our motives for sharing are impure.  The enemy wants to divide and conquer. 

If you can have an army turn on itself and fight within, then the enemy will win because the soldiers will wear themselves out fighting each other AND they will not hear the enemy approaching or see an attack coming.

We need to stop competing!  We need to unite, as one, with all members working together harmoniously.  This is a HEALTHY body.  We need to be getting ourselves ready.  The King, our Bridegroom is coming!  Let’s stop this foolishness, especially if we desire to be used as vessels of honor. 

It is for HIS GLORY ALONE!  Let us just be glad that He uses us at all; it is merely our reasonable service.  Let Him finish purifying and purging us, so that we will be without wrinkle, spot or blemish.  Look up, look up, look up… our King is coming soon!

We need to know judgment upon our land is pronounced and happening.  We need to be seeking God in repentance (as the Lord has spoken this for years now, and as is posted many times in archives)...and as He has spoken through MANY (countless) willing, obedient vessels, many of whom were born and deceased long before us.  

Please hear the Lord in this hour!  Please do not weary of the message...get right with God.  We will go through trials and tribulations.  Let Him finish purifying us; we must be ready; we must be holy...our King is coming!  shalom in Christ†

Selah

For His glory†

a servant and daughter of the King                               dovesofthevalleys4@gmail.com