Tuesday, July 18, 2006

TRUE PROPHETS, Are You Ready?

This is a message of encouragement for the TRUE PROPHETS. When I finally accepted the office God called me into, He told me I would be a prophet like Elijah. I always admired Elijah, because the Bible expressed his fears. Yet he was dedicated to what God called him to do, and he was bold in his assignments, yet humble in the presence of His God.

This morning, the Lord brought the Scripture to me, and showed me the TRUE prophets of today going through the same thing Elijah experienced after challenging the Baal worshippers to call on their God. We all know the TRUE God answered by fire...

1 Kin 19:1 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had slain all the prophets [of Baal] with the sword.

First of all, let's be honest. When the true prophets of God walk as they have been called and ordained to do, it's always the "punks" in the spirit that run their mouths. Yes, the true saints of God know how to get in their Father's face and inquire when there is question. Those who do not know how to tap into the Spirit are those that run around the church, looking for other demons to talk with and share their opinions. Hmm... Saints, we put too much emphasis on the talkers and sometimes miss the fact that the demons are where we need to focus our attention. Ahab was never a threat... He was just an informant. Stop stressing over the gossipers in the Body. That weapon formed will not prosper. Instead, focus on the demons that are rising to attack your very life and and ministry.

1 Kin 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.

When we begin to tear down the altars that have been built to idols, demons will be discomforted. How do you know when you are doing a work for God? Opposition comes. Discomfort brews. Yes, things will get hard. Saints, we must prepare ourselves to lay down our very lives...even to risk the lives of our family members. When some of us speak against the false gods in the "church," we must be prepared to RISK ALL. Don't underestimate the peoples' loyalties to their idols. Some are willing to die for their false gods. Are we willing to die for the true and living GOD?

1 Kin 19:3 Then he was afraid and arose and went for his life and came to Beersheba of Judah [over eighty miles, and out of Jezebel's realm] and left his servant there.
1 Kin 19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a lone broom {or} juniper tree and asked that he might die. He said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers.

Oh, can I be real? God is allowing many of us to come into a place where we are literally fighting through hell! Yes, it seems like your entire world is crumbling down. God showed me something about His prophets - they completely rely on Him. Some of us are being stripped for the sake of the anointing on our lives - that the gifts and callings may be perfected. God is seasoning prophets that do not depend on the flesh and things in the natural. He is raising prophets that listen only to Him, and not the testimony of man. Even moreso, God is stripping us in the natural, so no man can lay claim to us. We belong to the Father, and He will share His glory with none other. Are you ready to be fully committed? Again, it will cost you everything! We will get scared sometimes. We may even run and tell God we give up. If I can be honest, I've already been there LOTS of times. "God, I can't do this....Lord, why me?...God, I'm not strong enough." I'm learning it's okay to feel that way sometimes, because God is truly bringing death to the flesh! We must die to self, so that we instantly operate when instructed.

1 Kin 19:5 As he lay asleep under the broom {or} juniper tree, behold, an angel touched him and said to him, Arise and eat.
1 Kin 19:6 He looked, and behold, there was a cake baked on the coals, and a bottle of water at his head. And he ate and drank and lay down again.
1 Kin 19:7 The angel of the Lord came the second time and touched him and said, Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.
1 Kin 19:8 So he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

Now we have the difference between a true prophet and the witches that want to prophesy. When God calls, the TRUE prophets answer. The TRUE prophets obey, even when they want to give up. TRUE prophets recognized God's authority, and love His Word. TRUE prophets cannot survive outside of His presence. Yet, TRUE prophets will literally die if God separates Himself from them. They are completely dependent upon the Father. TRUE prophets can't even think for themselves. They can't have personal opinions for long. They have CONSTANT AND CONSISTENT discussions with the Father, to the point that His personality becomes their own. Ahhh.... Have you spoken to a TRUE prophet lately? They don't have a Word just on Sunday morning. God is ALWAYS talking to them about something. They receive CONSTANT streams of revelation. They are always being built up, chastised and sharpened by the Father. They are always ON ASSIGNMENT. Are there any TRUE PROPHETS who thought you were strange? People said you are "too deep." No, you're a TRUE PROPHET of God!

1 Kin 19:9 There he came to a cave and lodged in it; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah?

Yes, even the prayer life of a prophet is different. You can't just utter words of prayer to the Father, say "Amen" and be done. NO, a prophet always hears back from God. TRUE PROPHETS don't necessarily have to "schedule" prayer time. Why? Because God is CONSTANTLY talking. Everything contains revelation. It cannot be turned off. That's the office!

1 Kin 19:10 He replied, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I, I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

This is what God is preparing us for. In many of our churches, the TRUE PROPHETS are getting angry. We KNOW the voice of the Father, and we know His heart, because we are always in His face. GET READY TO BE UNPOPULAR. Get ready to be hated. For some, you will be THE ONLY one in the congregation. If you KNOW you hear from God, stand your ground. Elijah knew He was the only TRUE PROPHET of God in the land, and he understood that his life was in danger. Yet, he refused to allow the idols to live. Hmm.... What have you killed lately? When will the TRUE PROPHETS stop talking and complaining? When will we just start attacking the enemy in the spirit realm? How much more are we willing to tolerate? How much more does God need to strip us before we are free enough to fight?

Yes, God told me that some of what I'm going through is just to toughen me up so that I won't hesitate to FIGHT. When you have nothing to lose... you're more likely to come out swinging! Be encouraged and get ready to GIVE YOUR ALL, true prophets of God!

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