This is not a deep, spiritual message, but a very simple one I feel a need to share...
God has been dealing with me specifically about the calling and responsibilities of the Watchman, but also that of the entire Five-Fold ministry. He has shown me that many of us have neglected the callings on our lives, or don't realize the responsibility they carry.
Too many in the Body of Christ are satisfied with having a title, but that's not enough. We must WORK THE OFFICE that has been assigned to us. So many of us are missing it, and condemning ourselves due to sheer disobedience. Yes, we preach Christ. We pray for one another. We fast and attend services regularly, yet HE KNOWS YOU NOT! I keep hearing the Lord say in this hour, "Obedience is better than sacrifice."
Specifically to the watchmen, God is yet speaking. He does nothing without first warning His prophets, and so much is taking place in the spirit realm. Are we seeing and hearing from God? If so, are we sharing what we hear with the Body of Christ? If not, are we getting in position to seek Him on behalf of the Body? As watchmen, this is our job. We are to minister unto the BODY OF CHRIST.
When attacks, judgments or even blessings come toward the Body of Christ, whether they be from the Father or from the enemy, we SHOULD KNOW what is coming. If we do not, we are out of place. What a great responsibility! Yes, but there is no other choice. If we are called, we are called. Our warfare is truly in prayer and proclamation. DO NOT ALLOW THE ENEMY TO SHUT YOUR MOUTH!
Concerning the watchman, the Lord also showed me that many stepped into this position as Isaiah, and God honored it. In essence, some desired the gifts that have allowed them to SEE what is coming. Just as Isaiah did, some proclaimed, "Here am I, send me." Others never volunteered, but were drafted into the job, as Ezekiel was. How we are appointed is not the focus at this point, but how we shall move forward.
We must keep one another strengthened and encouraged at this time. It is time for the prophets of God, specifically those set as watchmen, to wake up and take an active role. I see many of us developing prayer lives that require 5-8 hours of consistent prayer. Some of us will begin to lose sleep if we aren't already. Some may need to take some time off work and lock in. If you have keys to your church, go and seek quiet time with the Father. It is imperative. It may just save your position in the Kingdom!
"Seek, see, hear, speak," says the Lord. I don't know about all of you, but after all I've been through, all I've sacrificed, I do not want to be condemned for the sins of another simply because I failed to warn. Don't allow your calling to condemn you!
~~~~~
1 Corinthians 7:20 (Young's Literal Translation)
20 Each in the calling in which he was called—in this let him remain;
21 a servant—wast thou called? be not anxious; but if also thou art able to become free—use it rather;
22 for he who is in the Lord—having been called a servant—is the Lord’s freedman: in like manner also he the freeman, having been called, is servant of Christ:
23 with a price ye were bought, become not servants of men;
24 each, in that in which he was called, brethren, in this let him remain with God.
~~~~~
Ezekiel 33 (Young's Literal Translation)
6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Monday, March 27, 2006
The Ministry of the Watchman
by Chip Brogden
Let us take up the topic of the ministry of the watchman with a text from Ezekiel 33:7
7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
The watchman is a prophet and intercessor called to bring the Word of God to Israel, the Body of Christ. We use the term watchman to include both roles of prophet and intercessor.
Most people liken the prophetic ministry to prophesying and speaking of visions and dreams from God. This definition is too narrow and opens us up to misunderstanding. The function of the prophetic intercessor, or watchman, is best defined as taking place in the course of four stages: Revelation, Intercession, Proclamation, and Restoration. We will discuss these areas more particularly in a moment.
We must use the Scriptures as our sole authority for defining and determining the job description of the prophet. Whatever the popular thought or current practice may be, we are not interested in mans notions of what a prophet should be or what everyone else is doing. Taking the passage from Ezekiel as a springboard, we make the following observations:
1) "I have set thee a watchman." Prophets are not self-anointed. Prophets are not called by a denomination or installed by men. Prophets do not receive a prophetic ministry through the laying on of hands by another prophet (but it certainly may be confirmed by another prophet; that is not the same thing). One does not decide to become a prophet, neither may one volunteer their services to be a prophet.
God reserves the right to set His own watchmen, and this He will do according to His will, and according to His timing. We do not know why He chooses the ones He chooses. It is a work of grace. Many prophets are selected from birth or from childhood. John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit within his mothers womb. We dare not intrude into this holy work by setting up our own prophets or stepping into a place that God has not put us. It is Gods Hand, and no other.
2) "Unto the house of Israel." The prophet speaks primarily to Gods people, the house of Israel. The New Testament church is the spiritual Israel of God (Galatians 3:39; 4:21-31). Watchmen do not speak to the world writ large, casting their pearls before swine. They are called to exhort, edify, rebuke, and build the Church of God, building upon the foundation that is laid already in Christ.
The prophet does not usually bring a one size fits all generic sort of message that speaks to the universe. It is typically a surgical strike, directed and honed to penetrate a particular thing in the Body of Christ, with Spirit-led precision that cuts through the formalities and niceties to get to the guts of the task at hand. The very nature of the of message cuts to the quick and makes some gnash their teeth. Even so, God has set Watchman in the Church for its own edification, comfort, and protection.
3) "Therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me." Why doesnt God speak directly to His people? Why speak indirectly through a prophet? The prophet is called to speak warning. It presupposes that the house of Israel has sunk to such a low degree that God may no longer speak directly to the nation. He must use a man to speak to men.
We may argue that we are all priests and the Lord may speak to us just as He speaks to prophets. This is the spirit behind Korahs Rebellion:
Numbers 16:2,3
2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
Let us not quibble about through whom the Word comes. The watchman is on the wall and is looking at things from a different vantage point. He sees things you cannot or will not see. Since God has set him there, it would be a mistake to ignore the warning he brings. If God can use a donkey to rebuke the madness of Balaam, certainly we should pay particular attention to one who comes to us in the name of the Lord.
Let us receive the prophet in faith and judge the message he brings with righteous judgment, not murmuring because God chooses to warn us through someone else and not directly. Usually it is because God cannot get through to us directly that He is compelled to send a prophet to arrest our attention. Prophets are a last resort, not a primary expression for God or the preferable vessel God would use. If we will not obey the written Word, God will send a prophet to speak the Word to our face. Thus it is that if they will not hear the LAW and the PROPHETS, they will not believe even if Christ should rise from the dead and tell them directly (Luke 16:29-31). To reject the one that is sent is to reject the One who sends (Luke 10:16).
This in a nutshell is the ministry of the watchman. The discharge of the burden of the Lord through the watchman may be properly classified as falling into four areas, in chronological order.
First, there is revelation. True ministry must be based upon God-given revelation, not theological degrees of head-knowledge. We may speak from knowledge but knowledge alone does not impart life. If it did only educated people would be saved. Christ says the Spirit quickeneth; the flesh profits nothing (John 6:63). That quickening is the operation of the Spirit to impart revelation to us. That, coupled with knowledge, is sufficient.
Prophets do not bring new truth. Revelation is simply a revealing of what is already true and bringing it to bear upon our heart and soul. Revelation is based upon insight into the written Word of God, not into visions and dreams and prophecies. These other things are simply tools for expressing the Word, they are not the Word; no more than the water hose is water, it simply delivers the water.
I am sure you have experienced revelation in the course of your Bible study. A passage may be read for years without making an impression upon us. One day the light of God shines upon the passage and we understand the meaning; we know the intent; we enter into the Spirit of the Word and it becomes exceedingly precious, meaningful, and real to us. This is revelation.
If it were simply a matter of study we could just say study your Bible more. But it is not more study that we have need of; it is prayerfully pondering and meditating upon the Word day and night until the Spirit bears witness with our Spirit and we discern the meaning by way of revelation. Christ spoke the Word, yes; but without the quickening Spirit mixed with faith in the hearers, it will not save. Hence, the prophet (and every minister of the Gospel) must have revelation into the Word to speak with authority and impart life to the hearers.
Let us only speak what God reveals to us by way of revelation. We will surely speak less, but our words will be all the more weighty and full of life. If an individual cannot wait upon the Lord and receive fresh insight into the Word and experience the quickening of the Spirit upon that Word, they cannot minister in any capacity and bear lasting fruit.
Once the prophet has received revelation, he must enter into intercession. We must pray for many reasons. For one thing, the revelation is known to the inner man but the mind is unable to express it. It is yet in an embryonic state and must be drawn out from the spirit. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out (Proverbs 20:5). As we wait before the Lord He will begin to give us understanding and words to express what we have seen. This process cannot be hurried. It may take days, weeks, months, and sometimes years to give expression to what we have seen.
Perhaps you have risen to speak or share something God has shown you. You know what you are trying to say, it is near and real to your heart; but after two or three sentences you seem to hit a brick wall. You find yourself talking in circles and take your seat more burdened than ever. There seems to be no liberty in your ability to relate what you know. This occurs when we have not lingered in prayer and received from God words and understanding with which to properly express what He has shown us.
And, we must pray not only for the proper words, but for the proper timing. He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him (Proverbs 27:14). We must wait for Gods timing in giving the Word. Many prophets assume that when we have a Word from the Lord we may then take it and shout it from the housetops. This is not usually the case. Most of the time we are simply called to pray and intercede. If the Lord sends us to speak, well; if not, we will pray. You may pray and pray and pray without outward change. Then one day the Lord tells you to arise, gird up your loins, and get thee to Zeraphath. Then let us make haste. Until then, we will wait for His timing as well as His method of expression.
When the timing is right, then the prophet moves into the third stage of action, which is proclamation. Some think proclamation means prefacing things with Thus saith the Lord and speaking out in an authoritative voice. While this does happen it is not the only way, and probably not the best way.
Here is the situation. God has planted a word in our heart. We will be uncomfortable until we find release through prayer or through proclamation or both. Let me explain. If you are burdened of the Lord to intercede for an individual, your spirit will give you no rest until you have prayed through (some of you older folks knows what it means to pray through). Praying through is nothing more than making intercession until the Lord lifts that burden and heaviness off our heart. If we try to neglect or ignore the burden to pray it simply becomes unbearable. We must pray through to obtain release, just as opening the valve of a pressure cooker releases the steam and reduces the pressure.
The same is true of revelation. The prophets of the Old Testament referred to this as the burden of the Lord. Until we effectively discharge the burden we will be most uncomfortable. Jeremiah referred to it: Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay (Jeremiah 20:9).
How do we discharge the burden of the Lord? After we have received revelation, and made intercession, we will know the best course. Sometimes we will find release through writing, such as Isaiah. On other occasions we may compose a song, as David. Or we may write poems and verse, as Jeremiah. We may act out the word dramatically, as Ezekiel. Or we may thunderously speak the Word as Moses, Elijah, or John the Baptist. We may speak in parables as the Lord Jesus. The tools, methods, and ways are different, but the underlying principle is the same. God will give different expression to the proclamation of the Word, and He will be pleased to use the prophets differently in accordance with their unique gifts and personalities.
But the work is not finished when the word is proclaimed. For the prophet is not merely interested in proclamation, but in the fourth stage of his ministry: restoration. Our mandate is to tear down, destroy, and level; afterwards we must rebuild and raise again. We must pray in the promises of God and keep watch over Gods people, encouraging them to full and complete obedience, standing in the gap to avert the very judgment we may have just pronounced upon them.
We should readily see that the ministry of the watchman is primarily one of hidden, secret prayer and fasting. The true test of the watchman is in the prayers that he utters privately, not the prophecies that he utters publicly. Let him fail or make a fool of himself in public and God will still use Him; let him fail in the prayer closet and he will be discarded as a prophet. Those who think the prophetic ministry is all about visions, dreams, prophecy and spiritual gifts had better rethink their position. It is self-denying, thankless, often unseen and unappreciated labor in secret prayer.
In summary, we conclude that if the Lord was pleased to set watchmen over Israel of old, He is certainly pleased to set watchmen over the Church today. But as we have seen, the ministry of the watchman is more likely to be found in the prayer closet than the pulpit.
May God give us grace and increase the ministry and operation of the watchman!
Let us take up the topic of the ministry of the watchman with a text from Ezekiel 33:7
7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
The watchman is a prophet and intercessor called to bring the Word of God to Israel, the Body of Christ. We use the term watchman to include both roles of prophet and intercessor.
Most people liken the prophetic ministry to prophesying and speaking of visions and dreams from God. This definition is too narrow and opens us up to misunderstanding. The function of the prophetic intercessor, or watchman, is best defined as taking place in the course of four stages: Revelation, Intercession, Proclamation, and Restoration. We will discuss these areas more particularly in a moment.
We must use the Scriptures as our sole authority for defining and determining the job description of the prophet. Whatever the popular thought or current practice may be, we are not interested in mans notions of what a prophet should be or what everyone else is doing. Taking the passage from Ezekiel as a springboard, we make the following observations:
1) "I have set thee a watchman." Prophets are not self-anointed. Prophets are not called by a denomination or installed by men. Prophets do not receive a prophetic ministry through the laying on of hands by another prophet (but it certainly may be confirmed by another prophet; that is not the same thing). One does not decide to become a prophet, neither may one volunteer their services to be a prophet.
God reserves the right to set His own watchmen, and this He will do according to His will, and according to His timing. We do not know why He chooses the ones He chooses. It is a work of grace. Many prophets are selected from birth or from childhood. John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit within his mothers womb. We dare not intrude into this holy work by setting up our own prophets or stepping into a place that God has not put us. It is Gods Hand, and no other.
2) "Unto the house of Israel." The prophet speaks primarily to Gods people, the house of Israel. The New Testament church is the spiritual Israel of God (Galatians 3:39; 4:21-31). Watchmen do not speak to the world writ large, casting their pearls before swine. They are called to exhort, edify, rebuke, and build the Church of God, building upon the foundation that is laid already in Christ.
The prophet does not usually bring a one size fits all generic sort of message that speaks to the universe. It is typically a surgical strike, directed and honed to penetrate a particular thing in the Body of Christ, with Spirit-led precision that cuts through the formalities and niceties to get to the guts of the task at hand. The very nature of the of message cuts to the quick and makes some gnash their teeth. Even so, God has set Watchman in the Church for its own edification, comfort, and protection.
3) "Therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me." Why doesnt God speak directly to His people? Why speak indirectly through a prophet? The prophet is called to speak warning. It presupposes that the house of Israel has sunk to such a low degree that God may no longer speak directly to the nation. He must use a man to speak to men.
We may argue that we are all priests and the Lord may speak to us just as He speaks to prophets. This is the spirit behind Korahs Rebellion:
Numbers 16:2,3
2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: 3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
Let us not quibble about through whom the Word comes. The watchman is on the wall and is looking at things from a different vantage point. He sees things you cannot or will not see. Since God has set him there, it would be a mistake to ignore the warning he brings. If God can use a donkey to rebuke the madness of Balaam, certainly we should pay particular attention to one who comes to us in the name of the Lord.
Let us receive the prophet in faith and judge the message he brings with righteous judgment, not murmuring because God chooses to warn us through someone else and not directly. Usually it is because God cannot get through to us directly that He is compelled to send a prophet to arrest our attention. Prophets are a last resort, not a primary expression for God or the preferable vessel God would use. If we will not obey the written Word, God will send a prophet to speak the Word to our face. Thus it is that if they will not hear the LAW and the PROPHETS, they will not believe even if Christ should rise from the dead and tell them directly (Luke 16:29-31). To reject the one that is sent is to reject the One who sends (Luke 10:16).
This in a nutshell is the ministry of the watchman. The discharge of the burden of the Lord through the watchman may be properly classified as falling into four areas, in chronological order.
First, there is revelation. True ministry must be based upon God-given revelation, not theological degrees of head-knowledge. We may speak from knowledge but knowledge alone does not impart life. If it did only educated people would be saved. Christ says the Spirit quickeneth; the flesh profits nothing (John 6:63). That quickening is the operation of the Spirit to impart revelation to us. That, coupled with knowledge, is sufficient.
Prophets do not bring new truth. Revelation is simply a revealing of what is already true and bringing it to bear upon our heart and soul. Revelation is based upon insight into the written Word of God, not into visions and dreams and prophecies. These other things are simply tools for expressing the Word, they are not the Word; no more than the water hose is water, it simply delivers the water.
I am sure you have experienced revelation in the course of your Bible study. A passage may be read for years without making an impression upon us. One day the light of God shines upon the passage and we understand the meaning; we know the intent; we enter into the Spirit of the Word and it becomes exceedingly precious, meaningful, and real to us. This is revelation.
If it were simply a matter of study we could just say study your Bible more. But it is not more study that we have need of; it is prayerfully pondering and meditating upon the Word day and night until the Spirit bears witness with our Spirit and we discern the meaning by way of revelation. Christ spoke the Word, yes; but without the quickening Spirit mixed with faith in the hearers, it will not save. Hence, the prophet (and every minister of the Gospel) must have revelation into the Word to speak with authority and impart life to the hearers.
Let us only speak what God reveals to us by way of revelation. We will surely speak less, but our words will be all the more weighty and full of life. If an individual cannot wait upon the Lord and receive fresh insight into the Word and experience the quickening of the Spirit upon that Word, they cannot minister in any capacity and bear lasting fruit.
Once the prophet has received revelation, he must enter into intercession. We must pray for many reasons. For one thing, the revelation is known to the inner man but the mind is unable to express it. It is yet in an embryonic state and must be drawn out from the spirit. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out (Proverbs 20:5). As we wait before the Lord He will begin to give us understanding and words to express what we have seen. This process cannot be hurried. It may take days, weeks, months, and sometimes years to give expression to what we have seen.
Perhaps you have risen to speak or share something God has shown you. You know what you are trying to say, it is near and real to your heart; but after two or three sentences you seem to hit a brick wall. You find yourself talking in circles and take your seat more burdened than ever. There seems to be no liberty in your ability to relate what you know. This occurs when we have not lingered in prayer and received from God words and understanding with which to properly express what He has shown us.
And, we must pray not only for the proper words, but for the proper timing. He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him (Proverbs 27:14). We must wait for Gods timing in giving the Word. Many prophets assume that when we have a Word from the Lord we may then take it and shout it from the housetops. This is not usually the case. Most of the time we are simply called to pray and intercede. If the Lord sends us to speak, well; if not, we will pray. You may pray and pray and pray without outward change. Then one day the Lord tells you to arise, gird up your loins, and get thee to Zeraphath. Then let us make haste. Until then, we will wait for His timing as well as His method of expression.
When the timing is right, then the prophet moves into the third stage of action, which is proclamation. Some think proclamation means prefacing things with Thus saith the Lord and speaking out in an authoritative voice. While this does happen it is not the only way, and probably not the best way.
Here is the situation. God has planted a word in our heart. We will be uncomfortable until we find release through prayer or through proclamation or both. Let me explain. If you are burdened of the Lord to intercede for an individual, your spirit will give you no rest until you have prayed through (some of you older folks knows what it means to pray through). Praying through is nothing more than making intercession until the Lord lifts that burden and heaviness off our heart. If we try to neglect or ignore the burden to pray it simply becomes unbearable. We must pray through to obtain release, just as opening the valve of a pressure cooker releases the steam and reduces the pressure.
The same is true of revelation. The prophets of the Old Testament referred to this as the burden of the Lord. Until we effectively discharge the burden we will be most uncomfortable. Jeremiah referred to it: Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay (Jeremiah 20:9).
How do we discharge the burden of the Lord? After we have received revelation, and made intercession, we will know the best course. Sometimes we will find release through writing, such as Isaiah. On other occasions we may compose a song, as David. Or we may write poems and verse, as Jeremiah. We may act out the word dramatically, as Ezekiel. Or we may thunderously speak the Word as Moses, Elijah, or John the Baptist. We may speak in parables as the Lord Jesus. The tools, methods, and ways are different, but the underlying principle is the same. God will give different expression to the proclamation of the Word, and He will be pleased to use the prophets differently in accordance with their unique gifts and personalities.
But the work is not finished when the word is proclaimed. For the prophet is not merely interested in proclamation, but in the fourth stage of his ministry: restoration. Our mandate is to tear down, destroy, and level; afterwards we must rebuild and raise again. We must pray in the promises of God and keep watch over Gods people, encouraging them to full and complete obedience, standing in the gap to avert the very judgment we may have just pronounced upon them.
We should readily see that the ministry of the watchman is primarily one of hidden, secret prayer and fasting. The true test of the watchman is in the prayers that he utters privately, not the prophecies that he utters publicly. Let him fail or make a fool of himself in public and God will still use Him; let him fail in the prayer closet and he will be discarded as a prophet. Those who think the prophetic ministry is all about visions, dreams, prophecy and spiritual gifts had better rethink their position. It is self-denying, thankless, often unseen and unappreciated labor in secret prayer.
In summary, we conclude that if the Lord was pleased to set watchmen over Israel of old, He is certainly pleased to set watchmen over the Church today. But as we have seen, the ministry of the watchman is more likely to be found in the prayer closet than the pulpit.
May God give us grace and increase the ministry and operation of the watchman!
Saturday, March 18, 2006
CRUCIFYING Christ yet RELEASING the Enemy
God has been dealing with me all night about the state of the church. I've been unable to sleep, tossing and turning as God has been speaking to me about the grief and disappointment He has with those who claim part of the Body of Christ. Of course, He dealt with ME first. Then, the Lord had me read a very familiar passage of Scripture, Mark 15:1-24. As I read the passage, I could literally feel my heart beating from the pain and disappointment I felt.
The Lord showed me how we continue to reenact this very event every day. We choose the liar, the thief, the robber, the murderer...satan, and we crucify Christ afresh EVERY DAY. "Where are my followers?" asks God. "Where are my ambassadors, those who have been called to represent me in the world?"
Saints of God, how many times will we continue to let the enemy loose in our homes, our churches, our schools, our countries, our world...and crucify Christ? We know the enemy's agenda, yet we allow him to "slip" in everyday. Where is the HOLINESS? Where is the PURE WORSHIP? Where are the saints WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE?
John 10:10
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
We know the enemy is rampant, but he is making progress ONLY because we allow him to do so. It's time for God's people to stand up and fight. Yes, this is a spiritual battle, and we must be VIOLANT in the spirit.
Ephesians 6
11Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
Saints, we simply cannot stand without the armor of God. We all know this scripture, but so many fail to carry their armor at ALL TIMES and in ALL SITUATIONS. This is such a serious manner. Every day, we are sacrificing holiness and allowing the enemy to slip in, subtlety. Very slowly, but surely, the enemy is gaining a foothold. I've often heard my grandmother say, "The devil may win the battle, but we know who wins the war!" Well, that sounds good and cute, but I'm tired of the enemy winning the battles! I want him disabled, crippled!
12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
Ahhh! When will stop taking this thing personally? Correction and rebuke are a gift from God. We must do what we are called to do, especially those who are part of the Five-Fold ministry. That is to (1) perfect the saints; (2) do the work of the ministry; (3) perfect the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4). God cannot do these things through us without calling and instructing those He has divinely called to exercise correction, in decency and in order. The thing to remember is that this thing is not personal. We are not even that important. This thing is much bigger than us! There is an enemy that must be defeated! When the devil is attacked in us, we mustn't reject the correction because WE feel personally attacked.
13Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
Praise God, saints. This is a time when WE MUST stand for PURE HOLINESS. It will not be hard, but it is completely necessary. God has no more time for believers with spins of spaghetti. We MUST stop allowing the world to dictate what we can and cannot say, how we discipline our children, what we can and cannot watch on television, etc. STAND on the Word of God, both the rhema and the logos, Amen.
14Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
My God. What is TRUTH? The Bible tells us that we shall know it, and it will make us free. It is only by the Holy Spirit that we can know what truth is. We must seek God - stay in His face. So much looks GOOD, but is not of Him. We know we are not walking in TRUE HOLINESS because we lack integrity and moral character as a Body. I'm going to talk about me for a moment. Showing up on time to work, but being late to the house of God DOES NOT SHOW MORAL INTEGRITY. My God. Yes, we all make mistakes, but we must NEVER LOWER OUR STANDARDS! We must always strive for God's best - HOLINESS! I don't believe it's impossible to do. So many say, I can't be perfect. No one told that to Enoch and Elijah, two men whose faith literally brought them to the point that flesh could no longer contain them. Reach!
15And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
BOLDNESS! We need holy boldness, that when the enemy shows his face, someone will stand for the sake of the Gospel! Acts 1:8 tells us we are endued with power when the Holy Ghost comes upon us. Where is it? Who is speaking the Word in boldness against opposition? Who is performing miracles? Who is walking in unwaivering faith? Who always has an answer for the faith that lies within?
16Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
We must BELIEVE GOD at his Word. This is a faith walk, but the sad truth is that many of us LACK FAITH. We don't believe what God says ourselves. My God, I feel the heart of God here. There is such a burden for His people to turn back to Him and stop trying to fix things our way! Oh, there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is DEATH. We must stop doing what we think or feel is right, and just obey the voice of God.
17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
The Word of God! Our salvation through Christ, mixed with the Word of God can change so many situations in our lives. By salvation, we have a right to declare the Word for ourselves. We don't need the world anywhere in this occasion. Saints, let's just be crazy enough, for one moment, to believe the Word of God. AMEN.
18Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).
God is truly bringing me to a place of constant prayer and communication with Him. I hear people say often that you can't constantly communicate with God and that He is not always speaking. I'm am learning to differ with such. I'm finding that if I listen, and even sometimes when I don't want to listen, He is speaking. Most of the time, in fact, it is a word of correction FOR ME. My God chastens whom He loves, so I rejoice and praise Him for it. Let's all learn to stay in His face. WE MUST. A time is coming when this relationship with God will be all we have. The time is approaching when there will be no more (legal) churches, bibles, Christian Yahoo groups, etc. Who will be able to stand? Will we then allow the enemy reign in our lives, and again crucify Christ?
Mark 15
1AND IMMEDIATELY when it was morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes and the whole council, held a consultation; and when they had bound Jesus, they took Him away [violently] and handed Him over to Pilate.
2And Pilate inquired of Him, Are You the King of the Jews? And He replied, It is as you say.
3And the chief priests kept accusing Him of many things.
4And Pilate again asked Him, Have You no answer to make? See how many charges they are bringing against You!
5But Jesus made no further answer at all, so that Pilate wondered and marveled.
6Now at the Feast he [was accustomed to] set free for them any one prisoner whom they requested.
7And among the rioters in the prison who had committed murder in the insurrection there was a man named Barabbas.
8And the throng came up and began asking Pilate to do as he usually did for them.
9And he replied to them, Do you wish me to set free for you the King of the Jews?
10For he was aware that it was [because they were prompted] by envy that the chief priests had delivered Him up.
11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to get him to release for them Barabbas instead.
12And again Pilate said to them, Then what shall I do with the Man Whom you call the King of the Jews?
13And they shouted back again, Crucify Him!
14But Pilate said to them, Why? What has He done that is evil? But they shouted with all their might all the more, Crucify Him [at once]!
15So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, set Barabbas free for them; and after having Jesus whipped, he handed [Him] over to be crucified.
16Then the soldiers led Him away to the courtyard inside the palace, that is, the Praetorium, and they called the entire detachment of soldiers together.
17And they dressed Him in purple [robe], and, weaving together a crown of thorns, they placed it on Him.
18And they began to salute Him, Hail (greetings, good health to You, long life to You), King of the Jews!
19And they struck His head with a staff made of a [bamboo-like] reed and spat on Him and kept bowing their knees in homage to Him.
20And when they had [finished] making sport of Him, they took the purple [robe] off of Him and put His own clothes on Him. And they led Him out [of the city] to crucify Him.
21And they forced a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the field (country), to carry His cross.
22And they led Him to Golgotha [in Latin: Calvary], meaning The Place of a Skull.
23And they [attempted to] give Him wine mingled with myrrh, but He would not take it.
24And they crucified Him; and they divided His garments and distributed them among themselves, throwing lots for them to decide who should take what.
The Lord showed me how we continue to reenact this very event every day. We choose the liar, the thief, the robber, the murderer...satan, and we crucify Christ afresh EVERY DAY. "Where are my followers?" asks God. "Where are my ambassadors, those who have been called to represent me in the world?"
Saints of God, how many times will we continue to let the enemy loose in our homes, our churches, our schools, our countries, our world...and crucify Christ? We know the enemy's agenda, yet we allow him to "slip" in everyday. Where is the HOLINESS? Where is the PURE WORSHIP? Where are the saints WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE?
John 10:10
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
We know the enemy is rampant, but he is making progress ONLY because we allow him to do so. It's time for God's people to stand up and fight. Yes, this is a spiritual battle, and we must be VIOLANT in the spirit.
Ephesians 6
11Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
Saints, we simply cannot stand without the armor of God. We all know this scripture, but so many fail to carry their armor at ALL TIMES and in ALL SITUATIONS. This is such a serious manner. Every day, we are sacrificing holiness and allowing the enemy to slip in, subtlety. Very slowly, but surely, the enemy is gaining a foothold. I've often heard my grandmother say, "The devil may win the battle, but we know who wins the war!" Well, that sounds good and cute, but I'm tired of the enemy winning the battles! I want him disabled, crippled!
12For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
Ahhh! When will stop taking this thing personally? Correction and rebuke are a gift from God. We must do what we are called to do, especially those who are part of the Five-Fold ministry. That is to (1) perfect the saints; (2) do the work of the ministry; (3) perfect the Body of Christ (Ephesians 4). God cannot do these things through us without calling and instructing those He has divinely called to exercise correction, in decency and in order. The thing to remember is that this thing is not personal. We are not even that important. This thing is much bigger than us! There is an enemy that must be defeated! When the devil is attacked in us, we mustn't reject the correction because WE feel personally attacked.
13Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
Praise God, saints. This is a time when WE MUST stand for PURE HOLINESS. It will not be hard, but it is completely necessary. God has no more time for believers with spins of spaghetti. We MUST stop allowing the world to dictate what we can and cannot say, how we discipline our children, what we can and cannot watch on television, etc. STAND on the Word of God, both the rhema and the logos, Amen.
14Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
My God. What is TRUTH? The Bible tells us that we shall know it, and it will make us free. It is only by the Holy Spirit that we can know what truth is. We must seek God - stay in His face. So much looks GOOD, but is not of Him. We know we are not walking in TRUE HOLINESS because we lack integrity and moral character as a Body. I'm going to talk about me for a moment. Showing up on time to work, but being late to the house of God DOES NOT SHOW MORAL INTEGRITY. My God. Yes, we all make mistakes, but we must NEVER LOWER OUR STANDARDS! We must always strive for God's best - HOLINESS! I don't believe it's impossible to do. So many say, I can't be perfect. No one told that to Enoch and Elijah, two men whose faith literally brought them to the point that flesh could no longer contain them. Reach!
15And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
BOLDNESS! We need holy boldness, that when the enemy shows his face, someone will stand for the sake of the Gospel! Acts 1:8 tells us we are endued with power when the Holy Ghost comes upon us. Where is it? Who is speaking the Word in boldness against opposition? Who is performing miracles? Who is walking in unwaivering faith? Who always has an answer for the faith that lies within?
16Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
We must BELIEVE GOD at his Word. This is a faith walk, but the sad truth is that many of us LACK FAITH. We don't believe what God says ourselves. My God, I feel the heart of God here. There is such a burden for His people to turn back to Him and stop trying to fix things our way! Oh, there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is DEATH. We must stop doing what we think or feel is right, and just obey the voice of God.
17And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.
The Word of God! Our salvation through Christ, mixed with the Word of God can change so many situations in our lives. By salvation, we have a right to declare the Word for ourselves. We don't need the world anywhere in this occasion. Saints, let's just be crazy enough, for one moment, to believe the Word of God. AMEN.
18Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).
God is truly bringing me to a place of constant prayer and communication with Him. I hear people say often that you can't constantly communicate with God and that He is not always speaking. I'm am learning to differ with such. I'm finding that if I listen, and even sometimes when I don't want to listen, He is speaking. Most of the time, in fact, it is a word of correction FOR ME. My God chastens whom He loves, so I rejoice and praise Him for it. Let's all learn to stay in His face. WE MUST. A time is coming when this relationship with God will be all we have. The time is approaching when there will be no more (legal) churches, bibles, Christian Yahoo groups, etc. Who will be able to stand? Will we then allow the enemy reign in our lives, and again crucify Christ?
Mark 15
1AND IMMEDIATELY when it was morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes and the whole council, held a consultation; and when they had bound Jesus, they took Him away [violently] and handed Him over to Pilate.
2And Pilate inquired of Him, Are You the King of the Jews? And He replied, It is as you say.
3And the chief priests kept accusing Him of many things.
4And Pilate again asked Him, Have You no answer to make? See how many charges they are bringing against You!
5But Jesus made no further answer at all, so that Pilate wondered and marveled.
6Now at the Feast he [was accustomed to] set free for them any one prisoner whom they requested.
7And among the rioters in the prison who had committed murder in the insurrection there was a man named Barabbas.
8And the throng came up and began asking Pilate to do as he usually did for them.
9And he replied to them, Do you wish me to set free for you the King of the Jews?
10For he was aware that it was [because they were prompted] by envy that the chief priests had delivered Him up.
11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to get him to release for them Barabbas instead.
12And again Pilate said to them, Then what shall I do with the Man Whom you call the King of the Jews?
13And they shouted back again, Crucify Him!
14But Pilate said to them, Why? What has He done that is evil? But they shouted with all their might all the more, Crucify Him [at once]!
15So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, set Barabbas free for them; and after having Jesus whipped, he handed [Him] over to be crucified.
16Then the soldiers led Him away to the courtyard inside the palace, that is, the Praetorium, and they called the entire detachment of soldiers together.
17And they dressed Him in purple [robe], and, weaving together a crown of thorns, they placed it on Him.
18And they began to salute Him, Hail (greetings, good health to You, long life to You), King of the Jews!
19And they struck His head with a staff made of a [bamboo-like] reed and spat on Him and kept bowing their knees in homage to Him.
20And when they had [finished] making sport of Him, they took the purple [robe] off of Him and put His own clothes on Him. And they led Him out [of the city] to crucify Him.
21And they forced a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the field (country), to carry His cross.
22And they led Him to Golgotha [in Latin: Calvary], meaning The Place of a Skull.
23And they [attempted to] give Him wine mingled with myrrh, but He would not take it.
24And they crucified Him; and they divided His garments and distributed them among themselves, throwing lots for them to decide who should take what.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Premature Birth (by Apostle Tonita Patterson)
Glory to God! I feel a need to share this word, spoken through my Pastor, Apostle Tonita Patterson. Take heed...
I expect the prophets to pick this up....Prophets are subject...to prophets I KNOW YOU
Premature Birth
blown through His living ram's horn
http://itiswritten.evangel-list.com/
God is dealing with me to cry out against a spirit that needs to be approach TODAY.....Premature Birth...Those that know they are to give birth but they are refusing to let the Doctor and midwives assist in this BIRTH PROCESS....I was talking To Prophetess Gayden on this subject and she added they do not want COACHING....YES LORD....They think they can do it on their own...
This demon is causing many to want to give birth out in the wilderness with no one around where no can help..Where the there is no sanitize delivery room.
There is a spirit that is running around rampant of WANTING TO BE SOMETHING IN GOD...But refuse to be trained...Refuse to take correction...Refuse to Go through the Spiritual birth Process....
Many want to go straight into ministry but they do not want to be lifted by those that God have sent to correctly lift them....They do not want to go into THE DELIVERY ROOM...
And once the person begin to operate in the BIRTH process the one that needs birthing runs, and calls them their enemy....They now are an ANGRY PREGNANT servant with out a proper place of delivery...They run around looking for people that will agree to their out of order process of birth..Many Cyber Space Prophets and Apostles but what are you in the CHURCH....Who have CATCH YOUR BABY....
What you have to understand ANOINTING OF THE 5 Fold....The Mid wife is the first to touch your baby...If you are birthing your own baby...YOUR HANDS is the first to touch it OUT OF ORDER...The Midwife is to hand you YOUR BABY....
As an Apostle you have to have been Birthed...Are you running from the birthing process?
Rebuke is not to kill...Correction is not to destroy..but because this spirit has adopted the idea that everyone is against them...No one is TRULY walking in the anointing to help them...Everyone is against them and they refuse to hear IT IS NOT TIME TO PUSH...All they know they fell the push but they do not see where the position of their baby......It is okay...Stop premature pushing....Let Your baby take the correct time to process and develop....STOP BEING OFFENSIVE and walking in ERROR....You feel the push but the midwives know when it is time to push.....
The Mid wife touches the baby before the one that gives birth does...Guess what they will see the BABY before YOU as well.....
Breech--- Birth where the baby comes out of position...They birth and out position baby...One that allows the feet to go first...Too many premature births..Unhealthy babies...Too many babies that is on life support because the place of birth was not clean...
God is speaking to YOU that feels the need to PUSH but have not allowed anyone to assist in prenatal CARE...Be ware of this trap of the enemy...Many are calling their MID WIVES their enemies...They have rejected their coach...Sure you might feel the PUSH but is it time...Do you see the position of the head?
I expect the prophets to pick this up....Prophets are subject...to prophets I KNOW YOU
Premature Birth
blown through His living ram's horn
http://itiswritten.evangel-list.com/
God is dealing with me to cry out against a spirit that needs to be approach TODAY.....Premature Birth...Those that know they are to give birth but they are refusing to let the Doctor and midwives assist in this BIRTH PROCESS....I was talking To Prophetess Gayden on this subject and she added they do not want COACHING....YES LORD....They think they can do it on their own...
This demon is causing many to want to give birth out in the wilderness with no one around where no can help..Where the there is no sanitize delivery room.
There is a spirit that is running around rampant of WANTING TO BE SOMETHING IN GOD...But refuse to be trained...Refuse to take correction...Refuse to Go through the Spiritual birth Process....
Many want to go straight into ministry but they do not want to be lifted by those that God have sent to correctly lift them....They do not want to go into THE DELIVERY ROOM...
And once the person begin to operate in the BIRTH process the one that needs birthing runs, and calls them their enemy....They now are an ANGRY PREGNANT servant with out a proper place of delivery...They run around looking for people that will agree to their out of order process of birth..Many Cyber Space Prophets and Apostles but what are you in the CHURCH....Who have CATCH YOUR BABY....
What you have to understand ANOINTING OF THE 5 Fold....The Mid wife is the first to touch your baby...If you are birthing your own baby...YOUR HANDS is the first to touch it OUT OF ORDER...The Midwife is to hand you YOUR BABY....
As an Apostle you have to have been Birthed...Are you running from the birthing process?
Rebuke is not to kill...Correction is not to destroy..but because this spirit has adopted the idea that everyone is against them...No one is TRULY walking in the anointing to help them...Everyone is against them and they refuse to hear IT IS NOT TIME TO PUSH...All they know they fell the push but they do not see where the position of their baby......It is okay...Stop premature pushing....Let Your baby take the correct time to process and develop....STOP BEING OFFENSIVE and walking in ERROR....You feel the push but the midwives know when it is time to push.....
The Mid wife touches the baby before the one that gives birth does...Guess what they will see the BABY before YOU as well.....
Breech--- Birth where the baby comes out of position...They birth and out position baby...One that allows the feet to go first...Too many premature births..Unhealthy babies...Too many babies that is on life support because the place of birth was not clean...
God is speaking to YOU that feels the need to PUSH but have not allowed anyone to assist in prenatal CARE...Be ware of this trap of the enemy...Many are calling their MID WIVES their enemies...They have rejected their coach...Sure you might feel the PUSH but is it time...Do you see the position of the head?
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