The Prophetic People - Part 3

This is my 3rd installation on the topic about the prophetic people in the Philippines. The first post that I shared was giving emphasis on godly character and the principles one must have for those whom the Lord has called for such a ministry (or whatever ministry for that matter) which was taken from Bill Hamon's book "Prophets: Pitfalls and Principles". 

The second post dealt with the idea that no matter how unique our giftings are and even if we came from different backgrounds, there is a need to emphasize a basic standard for us to move in the prophetic. This standard is found in the bible and unless we dive more into the word, accuracy and the fullness of the gift will never be accomplished.

On this 3rd blog post, I wanted to talk more on how the Lord confirmed my prophetic gift and in what way have I used it to help others. Please take note that I would only speak as one person out of the many with the same prophetic gifting.

The Birthing of A Calling

It was around 2002 or 2003 when I accepted the challenge of being a campus minister after listening to messages from our local church and in so many people about fulfilling the great commission. I would really believe that it was not out of emotion that I said "yes" to the Lord.

In the summer of 2003, my brother and I joined some fellow youth as part of the Negros for Jesus campaign as volunteers. Doing everything - from setting up the stage, sound system and doing mimes and dramas for the crusade. 

At the end of the month-long crusade, the organizers decided to have a one day seminar about discipleship and my brother and some of the youth leaders were assigned  to handle the youth.

As I was doing my devotional early in the morning, I asked the Lord what was the right message for the youth as I would love to challenge them on something that was really intended for them. The Lord led me to a specific chapter in Ezekiel about the dry bones and how it relates to the youth in general.

Although I was excited over the idea of sharing something new, I also asked the Lord for a specific word for the season. And the words just flowed as I wrote everything in paper. It was like fire inside my belly that I didn't stop until I wrote the words "and the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy...."

Now, let me tell you that this was not the first time I wrote something like this. My old journal has a lot of writings relating to what God was sharing to me. But this time was different, it was so specific that I asked the Lord for confirmation. 

I just said a simple prayer asking the Lord to confirm what I just wrote and if I heard him right. I even remember asking him to confirm my gift of prophecy so that I can speak what he intends to speak through the youth.

In such an appointed time and season, 20 minutes after our group devotion that Pastor Jill challenged the group to respond on the devotional which was all about the great commission. Brian, Viz and I were the only people who went to the center to answer the challenge.

There were a couple of pastors together with pastor Jill when they laid hands on me and Pastor Jill suddenly shared a prophetic word. It was so specific when he spoke these words:

"I see in my spirit you standing on a cliff. And while there, I saw your ears grow big and you were hearing from the Lord. And the Lord says "Continue to speak in the dark places, continue to speak in the spiritual realms...."

It was at this moment that I felt a very strong anointing that fell on me. And I believed deep in my heart that God was confirming my gift of prophecy. And of course, with the fire of a new experience, I shared what the Lord has placed in my heart for the youth that day.

But the confirmation didn't stop there. 

After the crusade, I took the spiritual gifts assessment test and it showed prophecy, teaching and administration as my strongest gift. Later that year, during a conference in Bais City, God used 2 women from the States who confirmed my gift of prophecy as well. I haven't spoken to these women about my gift and desire to be used by God through this new found gift but still, the Lord confirmed it.

The next year, God sent a Prophet as a speaker in our youth convention in Bais and at the last night of the event challenged me to speak prophetic words to someone in front of 600 youth! And I took the challenge by sharing a short word to Kuya Jonathan, the hubby of Ate Charna, our National Director back then.

It was at this time wherein Deborah, our speaker confirmed the strong gift and anointing God has placed in my life. She specifically mentioned that this gift that I have will make me stand in kings and princes of the world. I would stand and speak boldly like in the days of Daniel and the prophets and if I'm willing will speak to nations and leaders. These same words were spoken by another prophetic voice by the name of Becca Greenwood. 

The words "if you are willing and obedient" was always in the 3 prophetic words given to me in a span of 2 years that until now, I have diligently followed every time I speak.

Where am I getting into this?

I wanted to give a personal example on how God calls someone to move in the prophetic in such a time as this. Giving a clear understanding on how God calls someone is very different from how a believer would speak "prophetically" by faith alone.

When I say by faith alone, I'd like to take consideration that a lot of known prophetic teachers and movers are speaking about everyone being able to speak prophetically without clearly taking in consideration that not everyone can and will be able to speak prophetically by will or by practice alone.

Okay, hear me out before you raise your eyebrows into this one. 

I strongly believe that everyone can directly hear from God - and that he uses people to speak to others as well. These people are no different to those whom the Lord calls to minister differently through other gifts stated in the bible.

But the bible also clearly says that "some..." and not "all..." can prophesy. It speaks of "desiring prophecy..." but clearly gives the distinctiveness of such a calling and gift to a few.

Am I being bias on this? I am not! I would love to see men and women move in the prophetic but I also want to give better and clear understanding on what the word of God says about these things.

I'd like to end this blog post by sharing to you 3 things that can help you personally determine if God has given you such a gift. Here's what you can do:

• Take the spiritual gift test to identify your gifts and ministry
• Ask your pastor and leaders God has placed in your life for confirmation
• Check your experiences and see if you've been into situation wherein God used you to speak to others or had that strong feeling of understanding the situation even when no one shared to you regarding the situation

If you're getting positive results on the 3 bullets mentioned, then I believe we don't have to argue if the Lord has given you the gift or not. Of course, there are a lot of other things to consider before we really get to the bottom of such a discussion but I believe the things mentioned above can help us better understand this issue for now.

On my next blog post, I'll be sharing on how do we determine those who are called in the prophetic office and those called to prophesy to a person, a group or in the whole body of believers.

But more importantly, we will also try to discuss on how a prophetic movement or people differs from a select few who are being called in this office.

In ending, I would like to ask a few questions to you my dear readers:

• Have you ever tried speaking to someone through prophecies?
• If yes, how was it and how many times?
• If not everyone are called to prophesy, who do you think can do it without being biased?

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The Prophetic People - Part 2

The bible has a lot of examples we can follow when it comes to the prophetic movement. It's a vast treasure of men and women who have been called to rise up in such a time for God's people. Amazingly, God raised different people of different background to accomplish his plans. 

Specifically, even in the prophetic calling of a person, God still uses men and women of different background today. I would say that this is part of God's purposes to bring uniqueness in the prophetic ministry. I also believe that although we came from different backgrounds - we work for the same cause, serve the same Lord and must have the same standard when it comes to ministering to the body of Christ.

Why set the same standard?

I truly believe in the authenticity of God working in the lives of many people through the prophetic mantle God has placed under the Office of the Prophet and whom the Lord has activated with the prophetic gifting. 

But we also understand that we have to set standards or everything can get chaotic. I have seen gifted men and women of God who missed their true calling because of the enemies tactic. Truths being thwarted because of many other reasons. 

I also have personally seen how our gifts when aligned and used correctly bring people to their destiny. Wherein God is revealed and honored because of the faithfulness to continue and align our gifts, our cause and purpose for the glory of His name alone.

Where do we base our standards?

Like any other gifts, we are bounded on scriptures. As Paul instructs Timothy, it is our unconditional text when it comes to ministering. It says:

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God^[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work...."

2 Timothy 3:16-17

God's infallible word brings clarity to why we do what we do. It has all the ingredients to align ourselves to God's truths and words for the season. Simply put, the main and only basis when we speak words of prophecy is God's word. 

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears (1 Cor. 13:9-10)

The word of God is complete and if the things we speak is not aligned to it, as what Paul speaks of, it will disappear. This practically means that whatever we've spoken of will just vanish in thin air. It will not bring life to the people we've spoken to and missed it. 

As a prophetic people, God has given his words through the bible. I personally experienced being reared in the word of God before he activated my prophetic gift. It is very dangerous for us to move in the prophetic without understanding the importance of being founded in love and of the word of God. 

We become as what Paul describes as "clanging cymbals" if the words we speak would only bring confusion instead of clarity. Heaven and earth (and everything we speak of) will pass away but His words (the logos and rhema) will never pass away. 

God has placed the prophetic ministry to become His voice to the nations. And as a prophetic people, we have the responsibility to bring clarity and break down the enemies tactic and identify which is true and authentic to what is false. But above all, we ourselves must submit to the final authority God has given all believers - His words through the bible.

Unless we read and study it, we will never truly become prophetic and practically misses the point on why God placed his words first before he called us into being.

Questions for Discussions:

• How often do we study God's word for personal use?
• Since God's word is our basis for prophetic standards, what verses can you give that speaks of prophecy, prophetic acts and manifestations?
• How will we bring correction and alignment for those who have missed the point?
• Do we use God's words to train others in the prophetic? How?

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The Prophetic People - Part 1

The Philippines will celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the country and I strongly believe that unity and a sense of pride (the good side of it) will bring many to a new season in their local churches. I also believe that God will bring clarity on biblical partnerships and break down denominational walls as we come along and celebrate this season.

When the church moves forward, new signs and wonders takes place. When the church accelerates, men and women rises up to answer the heed of God's call. But how do we identify these people? Are there blueprints to follow in identifying these people?

I strongly believe that God is raising up prophetic leaders in His church in the Philippines. They are, as what I would call, prime movers in the prophetic for such a season. I am not an authority on these subject but if you may, I'd like to share my thoughts on who they are, what they do and how they can impact the local churches and the nation.

First of, I'm not going to speak about physical appearance because God is not a respecter of it. Whether your thin and small or short and big or whatever, He can use you mightily! 

He doesn't look at the appearance but on the heart. When we speak of the heart, we actually speak of his character as well. So, let's start with the character of the believers God is raising up in such a time as this.

In order for us to understand clearly how God will use the prophetic people in this season, we must first consider how we can recognize them. Please take note that I am not just speaking in the Office of the Prophet but in every office gifts the Lord has placed in the body of believers. God will always build the man first before his ministry.

In this first part of a series of blog posts, I'd like to share to you the 10 M's in a person's life that has to be aligned to God's mandate. This is taken from Bill Hamon's book "Prophets: Pitfalls and Principles". 

Here's the list below:

1. Manhood - (Gen. 1:26,27; Rom. 8:29; Heb. 2:6 & 10; 1 Tim. 2:5)

God makes a man before manifesting a mighty ministry because He has to have his identity even when you take out his position, message or ministry. 

His personality is important. The person is also evaluated on his test of character and not on his performance in the pulpit. Simply put, people will always look at how he walks his talk.

2. Ministry - (2 Cor. 6:3; Matt. 7:15-21; Deut. 18: 20-22)

The ministry God has placed in these people doesn't offend other ministries in the body of Christ. Importantly, this ministry moves with power and demonstration (of miracles and healing).

They walk in the Holy Spirit's anointing and fruits are seen with the people they minister to. Prophetic words and words of knowledge and wisdom works effectively in their preaching that people confirms the authenticity of the message, the accuracy of knowledge and the evidence of positive results in the person's life.

3. Message - (Eph. 4:15; 1 Tim. 4:2; Mark 16:20)

Ministers should always speak the truth in love, present truth, and life giving. Their message is balanced with scriptural and doctrinally sound and spiritually right. 

The person's life message is confirmed by God himself through His written word, the bible. God confirms His word (the rhema) and not the person, pride or reputation of the one bringing the message.

4. Maturity - (Jas. 3:17; Gal. 5:22; 1 Cor. 13; 1 Tim. 3:6)

The person God uses should have the right attitude, not immature in his dealings with others and has strong evidence of heavenly wisdom.

The fruit of the spirit manifests in the life of the minister which speaks of Christ-like character. He's dependable and steadfast in all that he do personally or in ministry which gives evidence to biblical knowledge and maturity in Christ.

Lastly, he's not a baby christian. Period.

5. Marriage - (1 Pet. 3:1,7; Eph. 5:22-23)

If the minister is married, he is a good example of a godly family. He makes his priorities straight - God first, his family next and then his ministry.

This actually brings a clear picture on how our life will exemplify the relationship as a church and bride to the bridegroom, which is Christ Jesus our Lord.

6. Methods (Tit. 1:16; Rom. 1:18; Rom. 3:7-8)

These people are rigidly righteous (which basically means, are pretty much into wanting to do it the right way). They are ethical and honest, men and women of integrity without question.

They are not manipulative and does not do things to deceive people and strongly walks in the lifestyle of doing it the right way based on scriptural methods.

They walk in their anointing and calling that brings good results but does not focus on the end results especially when done the wrong way.

7. Manners - (Tit. 1:7,3:1-2; Eph. 4:29,5:4)

Simply put, they are unselfish, polite, kind, gentlemen or a lady, they are not loud but are discreet. They have proper speech and communication in words and mannerisms.

8. Money - (1 Tim. 3:6, 6:5,10,17; Luke 12:15)

They have no “Craving for wealth and resorting to ignoble and dishonest methods of getting it. 

They are careful not to fall for the love of money and materialism which destroys his testimony. They don't use their gifting and ministry to manipulate people in giving money for their own personal purposes.

Specifically, we must not walk in the fate of Achan, Balaam and Judas in such a time as this.

9. Morality - (Col. 3:5; I Cor 6:9, 10, 18; Eph. 5:3, 1 Cor. 5:11; Matt. 5:28)

          They are virtuous, pure and relates to proper relations. The stand for biblical sexual                       purity in attitude & action. They don't dwell on wrong thoughts of desire and does not do or take opportunity to act on it.

10. Motives - (Matt. 6:1;16:15 & 16; 1 Cor. 13:1-3)

Are we here to serve or to be seen?  

Do we fulfill personal drive or God’s desire? 

What is our true motivation?  

To minister or be heard minister?  

To herald the truth or just to be heard by man. Are we motivated by God’s love or lust for power, fame, name, etc.?

To end, I'd like to ask you a couple of questions for understanding:

• In what areas do you believe are you stronger? How is this evident in your life and ministry?
• In what areas are you struggling about? What are the things that you're doing to avoid these "pitfalls"?
• Does the 10 M's should apply to everyone? If yes, what will happen if you are walking in the prophetic anointing but falls short in some areas considered in Bill Hamon's book?

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My 2013 Prophetic Mandate

Do I really have something to give for such a season?

This question has been bugging me for quite some time now. It probably made me awake most of the nights as I think over it and tries to answer this nagging question. But seriously, probably this is one question that has brought many of us into exploring many things. 

A couple of months ago, I thought of reading books about prayer and intercession and ended up stopping at the middle page. I got interested in deliverance ministries and bought a couple of books relating to the topic. I am also into prophetic ministering and has been trying to get copies about it ever since I got a hold of Bill Hamon's book about prophecy and the prophetic movement. 

I've been getting great insights on Hiram Pangilinan's "Handbook on Personal Deliverance" relating to the "how to's" before, during and after in such a ministry. Books about "breaking the threefold cords" of Jezebel, Athaliah and Delilah activated my thirst to understand and learn more about what is going on in spiritual warfare and how to stand ground and move forward.

But the greatest learning came from the personal experience of ministering to leaders and the youth in a conference in Cebu last October wherein speaking words to release destiny and free them from their past paved way to their true calling and identity.

Where am I going with this? 

I believe the Lord is placing me in a season wherein I am learning to use my gifts of prophecy, discernment and teaching to be in this kind of ministry. Personally, I believe that I'm coming into the last leg of my season wherein I shall fulfill the very words given to me not so long ago with the promise that if I'm willing, favor from men and of God will be with me.

And I'm afraid about it. 

I guess it's normal to be afraid if you're coming into a new season wherein all your gifts are being heightened. To be honest about it, I am very keen in discerning situations and can move in my gifts smoothly when needed unlike before. Personally, I have seen that my wisdom and the thirst to learn and go deeper with the prophetic, how to minister to others accurately and speak boldly to them has heightened.

These two evidences and prophetic words have been said about these for the past few months are probably confirmations to where the Lord is leading me. 

Of course, I've been praying about it and we'll see where this leads us in such a time as this. But more importantly, I have to exercise and use these gifts for me to grow in it and lead others on the same direction. And surely, this season is exciting as ever as we see the generation whom the Lord called to rise up and take the nations for him move forward with confidence and accuracy.

Speaking of this season, the Lord gave me this word through some Facebook friends and I'd like to share it here as closing:

"I feel like you are a man of humility, that you are drawing the grace of heaven by your humility... and to maintain that awareness of how big He is. 

I saw a picture of you going from one town to another, God sending you from one place to the next. I believe you are on (or about to be on) a great adventure of "being sent" with different assignments in each area. Sometimes it will be to minister to an individual, others a group, sometimes to serve and help people with natural circumstances.

I also see you leading other men, a group of young men, encouraging them to pursue God and the Word. The way you carry yourself already has the attention of others, and before too long men will start to fellowship with you more-and-more while asking spiritual questions. 

Lastly, I see you as a man willing to do ANYTHING He asks you to, and there will be times when you're asked to do hard things... to go to dark places... but I just feel like He's encouraging you that His grace is sufficient and it will be worth it from an eternal perspective..." - Jeff Symons January 8,2013

"A pool of fresh living water. you sit beside it. Amazed at the wealth of wisdom and truth that it holds. You know the waters so well that you could smell in the vessels where it is held. I see you putting your hand on the water by the lake and out comes gems. You separate the ones for you to hold on to while the others are for sharing. God says "this year more shall come! that you would need a truck to hold the revelations and treasures that I would give to you!'

People near and far will go to you to hear what God has to say. You will declare with boldness and with clarity what is in God's heart. Transformation for many will take place. Some will walk in sadness for they can not receive or take in what God has for them. The LORD says "as you see me ..you shall find me! More shall be given to you for you have asked and I am answering! Do not be afraid to show your heart for it is there that my treasure is... " 

Ignite, teach and encourage.. I will be magnified as you open your mouth! - Elaine Eleazar, January 3, 2013

" Declaring an abundant harvest of souls for the glory of God! Move in your destiny and calling! Impart, train and equip God's army! No turning back.

He has given you the sword of the Spirit to do battle and break every stronghold that keeps the ministry of reconciliation and bringing back the prodigal sons and daughters to the Father!

Make war and snatch their very souls from destruction and chaos. Praise, declare and claim victory! - Maybel Vallado, January 4, 2013

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A Good Article About Maturity in Using our Prophetic Giftings

This is one good article I read a couple of years ago that taught me how to use my prophetic gifting correctly. Jonas Clark's insight on how we, as prophetic ministers, should act in every situation the Lord places us. 

I know some might not agree with everything he mentions but open your understanding and see what God has in store for you in such a position of influence. 

Mature Prophets In The House of God

Jonas Clark

Mature prophets know how to flow in the house of God. Our society is filled with those that come into our churches who have formerly opened themselves up to New Age mysticism, witchcraft, the occult, and spiritualism. To protect the flock from false anointing and familiar spirits, there is a proper order in which the Holy Spirit likes to flow. When you understand this order you will compass biblical prophetic operations.

Mature prophets understand how to work within the local church. Scripture declares, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17). That is not to say that one has the freedom to do just whatever he or she wants to do during a church service. The Word says, “Let all things be done decently and in order (taxis).” Order, from the Greek word taxis we get our English word taxi. “Taxis” means an ordered flow. Those in prophetic ministry understand the meaning of taxis within prophetic operations. Prophetic operations sometimes occur during church services. Let’s review some suggested guidelines for an ordered flow.

PROPHETIC TAXIS

Our society is filled with those that come into our churches who have opened themselves up to New Age mysticism, witchcraft, the occult and spiritualism. Because of this it is important “prophetic taxis” be taught and prophets submit to the order of the house as set by their leaders.

“Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:39-40) 

The Apostle Paul taught to “covet prophecy” but urged to do so “decently and in order.” To reverence our God and flow in the liberty of the Holy Spirit I suggest there is a proper order that the Holy Spirit likes to flow. That order we will call prophetic taxis sets the stage for prophecy within local church services. It also helps protect the flock from false prophecy and the working of familiar spirits.

With any move, revival or prophetic voice from the Holy Spirit, it is the responsibility of the local pastor (set-man) and church leaders to set biblical parameters in receiving, judging, encouraging and guiding in the move of God. This includes guidelines for prophecy and order within the local assembly. We do that through such things as study of the Word, prayer, reverence toward the Lord and worship. There are many biblical examples for preparing the house of the Lord all given by the Spirit such as Moses, Exodus 25:40, and David, 1 Chronicles 28:10-12.

As order is established within the local church the Holy Spirit can move freely and minister to the congregation “dividing to every man severally as he wills” diversities of gifts, administrations and operations (1 Corinthians 12).  When this takes place the spiritual dynamics within the assembly are amazing as the Holy Spirit empowers believers to grow and mature in the Lord.

With these boundaries rightfully in place, any move of the Holy Spirit creates strong stable Christians, not flaky ones. Therefore, spiritual submission to the order of the house always brings about spiritual stability that guards the flock and allows the Holy Spirit to speak without hindrance. This means that guidelines for prophetic taxis must be set within the local church.

Because of the spiritual nature of our church services mature leadership is a must. We offer the following guidelines for prophetic operations during local church services and give examples of general prophetic error. Again, these are incomplete and suggested. They may change according to your particular church’s leadership and culture.

CAREFUL WITH “GOD SAID”

You have probably heard someone preface a prophecy with the words, “God said.” It can be used so often that we become callous to the saying and don’t pay much attention to it. There are times when God speaks prophetically, yet there are other times when God doesn’t say anything. If you are not sure that God said anything then say something like, “I sense that God is saying.” Later in this essay we will give examples of people that used those words, “God said,” inappropriately.

BECOME A KNOWN PROPHETIC MINISTER

Become a known prophetic minister within your local church under the approval of the church’s leadership.

David sinned by arranging the death of a faithful servant Uriah and taking his wife Bathsheba. In response the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to tell the king a story of a stingy rich man that robbed a defenseless poor man of his only pet lamb. After hearing this “David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man and he said to Nathan, As the Lord liveth the man that hath done this thing shall surely die and he shall restore the lamb fourfold because he did this thing and because he had no pity.” Nathan responded to David, “Thou art the man” (1 Samuel 12).

This was a dangerous prophetic meeting. Any prophet other than Nathan could have been killed for such a prophecy. Nathan, however, had a personal relationship with David. Because Nathan was a recognized prophetic voice in David’s life he received Nathan and repented of his sin.

I attended a special church service with a prophet from our ministry. After service we were invited to a private dinner with some veteran ministry gifts. The prophet with me wanted to share a prophetic word with the leaders at the dinner. I wouldn’t let him for several reasons. First, I didn’t have a witness in my spirit to the word. Second, he was a young prophet in training. Next, the timing was inappropriate and the topic sensitive. Finally, he would not have been received as a prophetic voice since he was unknown to these particular leaders. When it comes to personal prophecy, prophetic ministry gifts are “better received” when they are recognized as from the Lord. This is the lesson we learn from the relationship between Nathan and David.

KNOW THOSE THAT LABOR AMONG YOU

As already said if a person is a ministry gift from Christ set in the local church that ministry gift should be recognized by the local pastor or set man. If the local pastor or set man does not recognize a person as a prophetic gift then that individual is not sent as a prophetic voice to that particular congregation. I present this as proper order. Scripture says, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you” (1 Thessalonians 5:12). Some come like sheep to our churches acting like prophets who are ravening wolves. We can only know them by their fruits. 

“Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-16) 

It takes time to know people by their fruit. The only plant that grows fast in a garden is a weed. We are not judging one’s salvation but we are rightfully inspecting their fruit. Pastors are responsible to know their flock. This also includes those allowed to labor prophetically. Scripture confirms this, “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks and look well to thy herds” (Proverbs 27:23).

USE CAUTION WITH AMBIGUOUS PROPHECIES

Ambiguous prophecies can be confusing and are open to many interpretations. Use caution with them. Remember not everyone that comes into a local church came for the same reason you did.

“I appeal to you, brethren, to be on your guard concerning those who create dissensions and difficulties and cause divisions, in opposition to the doctrine (the teaching) which you have been taught. [I warn you to turn aside from them, to] avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites and base desires, and by ingratiating (good words) and flattering speech, they beguile (deceive) the hearts of the unsuspecting and simpleminded [people].” (Romans 16:17-18 AMP) 

There is personal prophecy that is nothing more than “smooth sayings,” witchcraft or those prophesying out of their own imaginations. When the Holy Spirit speaks it will be expressly and whatever God reveals will be understood. To speak expressly means in a plain and definitive way.

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1 Timothy 4:1) 

To manifest the Holy Spirit through prophecy exalts the lordship of Christ and not man. Scripture declares, “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). We urge extreme caution with ambiguous directive prophecy, visions or dreams and encourage you to present them to your spiritual leadership to be judged. Your pastors offer a safety net with their biblical experience and spiritual astuteness.

AVOID DARK SAYINGS

I define dark sayings as prophetic experiences, including dreams and visions that are difficult to understand. I am insistent the Holy Spirit is capable of express communication. Christ does not give revelation without the ability to grasp what He is saying. All spiritual experiences need to be judged especially directive prophecy, dark sayings, dreams, and visions.

Some have mystical dreams that are not from the Holy Spirit. Perhaps this is happening to some when they sleep. We willfully choose to serve our Christ each day. When we sleep our will relaxes and we enter a dream-type state as our body shuts down to sleep. Our spirit is like a filter that picks up on things in the spirit realm throughout the day or even around us at night. It is these things that we may dream about in that sleepy realm. If those dreams, however, are only dark sayings that can be interpreted many different ways, they should just be ignored. Wash everything, including dreams, with the written Word of God. Remember our God is not strange, weird or mystical. He speaks expressly.

DISCERN HOLY SPIRIT OR VAIN IMAGINATIONS

Mature prophets understand the difference between the Holy Spirit and imagination. Imaginations (images and pictures) form within the spirit of your mind. God created us with a seeing ability. If I were to say, “Dog,” for example, you would see a picture of a dog in your mind. You would not see the letters d - o - g. If I were to say, “Tree,” you would see a picture of a tree in your mind. You would not see the letters t - r - e - e. The point is that people think and see in pictures. That is the way God created you.

The Word says the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to profit us. To one is given the word of wisdom and to another the word of knowledge (1 Corinthians 12). It does not say, to one is given the manifestation of a picture of knowledge or a picture of wisdom. This means we receive a word but that word is seen through pictures. Some, however, are not hearing anything from the Holy Spirit but only seeing pictures formed in their own imagination. The danger is when they tell others God told them something when He didn’t say anything. It may be nothing more than pictures seen inside one’s own imagination. Again, discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit or vain imaginations is important. Here are examples of people wrongly prophesying.

CHANGE OF MIND

One person told me that God sent them to the grocery store to buy a certain product. On arrival they found the store out of stock. They told me God spoke again saying, “Now go over to the other store and they will have it.” Was God unaware the first store didn’t have the product? Did God just simply change his mind or did this person never hear from God to start with? I hope you chose the latter.

THUS SAITH THE LORD

A pastor in Amsterdam, Holland told the story of a person standing up in church declaring, “Thus saith the Lord, just as Noah led the children out of Egypt” ...silence…. “Thus saith the Lord, I made a mistake…. Just as Moses….”

GOD TOLD ME TO TELL YOU TO READ THIS

I was standing on the platform worshiping the Lord during a service with my eyes closed. A woman left her seat heading toward me. She plunged her Bible into my stomach startling me saying, “God told me to tell you to read this Psalm right now!” I responded, “Not now, go and sit back down.” She was offended and left the church. Did God really speak to her?

YOU’RE GOING TO DIE

A certain man was not acknowledged as a prophetic ministry gift at our church, Spirit of Life Ministries, Hallandale Beach, Florida. He said to me, “Thus saith the Lord, because you have not accepted me as your personal prophet you will die in thirty days.” This was a sad day for me. I was forced to deal sternly with this man.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO WORK

Another said that “God told him” not to get a job and work because he was to live a total life of faith. We found that he was around fifty year’s old living off his mother’s social security and had put his foreign wife out to work on his behalf. This man was using “God said” as an excuse for laziness.

THROWN OUT

Another person wanted to give a prophecy not in the right flow (taxis) of the church service. When not allowed to deliver it right then he stood and began to cast the devil out of the pastor. He was thrown out of the church by the ushers.

REBUKE YOUR PASTOR

A man showed me a video of a prophet telling him to rebuke his pastor and set him in order. He asked me to judge the prophecy. I told him he did not have any authority to rebuke his pastor and the prophecy was not from the Holy Spirit. The man got angry with me and said I needed deliverance. If I would have agreed with the prophecy, however, then surely I would not have needed deliverance. 

All of these are real life examples of Christians that violated prophetic ministry. We love them but must uphold an atmosphere of prophetic taxis in our churches and ministries. Our God is not a flake. By keeping the right order in the house of God we raise mature prophets.

STAY CONNECTED DURING SERVICES

Some groups are notorious for having their own thing going on during a church service. During services it is important to get into agreement with your pastor. Don’t lay hands on, pray for, or prophesy to someone while the church service is in progress. No private ministry please. Keep an atmosphere of faith, reverence, worship, intercession, agreement, and expectation. 

During some services deliverance takes place. During times of deliverance stay in your seat and don’t touch people who are being prayed for unless asked. We had a woman in our church that was slain in the Spirit and laying on the floor. A friend started to pick her up and escort her back to her seat. The ushers saw her and stopped her because they knew the Holy Spirit was not finished ministering to her. A few moments later the lady was delivered from the hold of an evil spirit. Had her friend succeeded in taking her back to her seat it’s likely she would have been robbed of her deliverance. As already said, “Let all things be done decently and in order (taxis).”

APERCU

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1. The Greek word taxis means an ordered flow (2 Corinthians 3:17).
2. The Apostle Paul taught to “covet prophecy” but urged to do so “decently and in order.”
3. prophetic ministry gifts are better received when they are recognized as being sent from the Lord. If a person is truly a ministry gift from God, set into a local church, that ministry gift must be recognized as such by the local pastor or set man.
4. If the local pastor or set man does not recognize a person as a prophetic gift then that individual is not sent as a prophetic voice to that particular congregation.
5. “The Holy Spirit speaks expressly” (1 Timothy 4:1). To speak expressly means in a plain and definitive way.

(c) Jonas Clark

www.jonasclark.com

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Prophetic Word for 2013: Decade of Acceleration and the Supernatural!

I highly respect Jonathan David, the apostolic and prophetic mentor of my pastors in my home church. He shares in the video what God is doing in 2013 as a confirmation of what we believe as a decade of destiny for the belivers wherein it will be a time of accelaration and the supernatural! Hear him speak and believe in your destiny!

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2013 and The Year of The Harvest

I am amazed on how the Lord confirms his word for this season. Last December 29, 2012 I asked the Lord for insight to what is in store for 2013 and I wrote this on a certain group in Facebook who are into prophetic ministering. Below is the excerpt on what I shared on the group:

"Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Habakkuk 1:5

I really believe that we are moving into a new direction wherein the harvest field is now ripe and the harvested will now transition to the position to harvest. It's an exciting year of multiplication wherein God himself will make those "loaves and fishes" multiply for (resources & manpower) that those who will witness it will testify that "surely, the goodness of the Lord is seen!" 

"I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living." - Psalm 27:13

"He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!"

Our God is always in the business of new things. From creation to the timely ending of 2012 He has shown greater things for His bride this year and new beginnings are spreading like wildfire to those whom He has called his own. 

Walls will break, barriers will fall and the trumpet of the Lord - the sound of breakthrough shall be heard in all the land. It shall be a sweet shout of victory for those who were in distress and a battle cry to those who are positioned for such a time as this. - December 29, 2012 6:09 PM

I got an email from ElijahList and got the word from Rick Joyner sharing about the great harvest for 2013:

The Great Commission Is About To Be Fulfilled

We are in the times of the beginning of a new epoch for Christianity. True apostolic Christianity is being restored to the earth. This will result in nothing less than the greatest manifestation of Christ on the earth since He Himself walked the earth.

The last and greatest charge that the Lord gave to His disciples before His ascension was to fulfill "The Great Commission." The single greatest failure of Christianity has been a devotion to making converts instead of making disciples. This has led to superficial Christians and superficial Christianity. This is about to change, and The Great Commission is about to be fulfilled.

We could easily spend all year exploring the depths of understanding in just the first sentence of The Great Commission, and it would be a year well spent. We will spend the whole year on the entire commission, and we will not come close to exhausting all that is contained in this message.

There is a spirit of revelation being released that will help us to see the depths of God and His purposes. Along with this, we will see a hunger increasing for knowing Him better and deeper. So our devotion this year to understand The Great Commission with more depth is to seek to walk in it and do our parts to help the Body of Christ fulfill its mandate. Let's begin by reading it:

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

When the Body of Christ recovers this basic mandate, it will arise and mature into all that it has been called to be. That day is now at hand.

The Great Commission focuses and encompasses our full purpose in Christ.First we must become His disciple. A disciple is a student, but in Biblical times it was much more than just a student. A disciple lived to know their master and to become like their master. A disciple of Christ lives to know Him, to become like Him, and to do the works that He did just as He commanded us. Until we do this, we have not matured as we should. Regardless of how superficial our Christian life has been, this can change now and will for all who seek to walk in their full purpose.

Rick Joyner

MorningStar Ministries

Email: info@morningstarministries.org

Yes, Lord fulfill this message in such a time as this! Amen, amen!

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