Category Archives: Church

Click on following links for: Part 1,  Part 2,  Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6.

What is the price for rising above entry level prophesying?

3. Faith

One of our Father’s frustrations with Israel in the Old Testament was the nation’s lack of faith in Him.

“Yes,” they would proclaim, “God showed up at the Red Sea. And yes, He fed us with manna in the wilderness. But this time is different, how can we trust Him to help us now?”

Over and over again, Israel turned its back on God and sought comfort and help from idols they could see and touch. Finally, God allowed Israel to be removed from His sight; and its people were scattered to the winds.

Why?

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (Hebrews 4:2)

Sadly, faith has taken an unfair hit in the last few years. So much so, that any person who mentions that Christians might need to increase their faith levels risks being labeled a “faith nut”. Someone to be ignored and castigated by other believers.

Part of this may be due to the Word of Faith Movement’s overemphasis of prosperity and healing. And part may be due to the overemphasis of love in our modern worship songs.

But mostly, I believe that, like Israel, we believers are not really sure God will show up and help us in our times of need. After all, we prayed, and yet, our car was repossessed or our home was foreclosed on or marriage ended in divorce or a loved one died.

So how can we trust God now?

I have been there, done that, bought the t-shirt and sang the song. But yet, when the divorce happened, when the vehicles were repossessed, when the loved ones died, when the apartment tossed us out, when the dumpsters became a source of food and when the friends all left, who could I trust?  Who?

A man in the midst of a horrendous trial said it best:

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him… (Job 13:15)

Yes, when you stand up to prophesy, the Holy Spirit may not show up. You may look and feel foolish; others may point at you and snicker. Maybe, even the whole city will ridicule you aloud.

Scripture terms this as presumption on your part. It is not a sin and God will not hold it against you. He will correct and work with you on your mistakes.

Yet, having a prophetic word in your mouth and being prompted by the Holy Spirit to speak it, but then not doing it because of fear (lack of faith) is a sin. One which will hinder your walk with the Lord.

…let us prophesy in proportion to our faith. (Romans 12:6)

(Continued in Part 8)

*I have used the word prophesy in a general sense to denote prophecy, words of knowledge and words of wisdom (1 Corinthians 12: 8-10).

Click on following links for: Part 1,  Part 2,  Part 3, Part 4 and Part 5.

What is the price for rising above entry level prophesying?

2. Grace

Jeffrey Dahmer, the convicted serial killer of seventeen men and boys, was bludgeoned to death on November 28, 1994. Afterward, a local pastor stated that Dahmer was a born-again Christian.

An enraged newspaper columnist wrote the following about Dahmer’s born-again status. “If God saves wretched monsters like Jeffrey Dahmer, then I want nothing to do with God. Nothing at all…ever.”

Of all of God’s attributes, grace has to be the “ugliest duckling” of the bunch. After all, how could a just and holy God save a guilty, wretched monster like Dahmer? Or for that matter, how could God save a guilty man like me?

For the first eight years of my Christian journey, I did not link grace to the prophetic gifts. I just figured God chose me because He knew I would be His workhorse willing to pray, study and fast so that I could be the best prophetic voice possible.

Though I knew grace was defined as unmerited favor, I assigned grace to the Baptists. They were the “grace guys”, not me. I was a prophetic machine-gun with a hair trigger and the safety off.

But sadly, my prophetic words often had some legalism attached to them. Are you wondering, how that was possible?

A pupil is not above his teacher, but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher. (Luke 6:40)

The teachings I studied and the church I attended, all put grace on the back burner. It was there, but not in a significant life-changing way. Thus, my beliefs contained a legalistic tilt to them rather than a grace-filled one. More than a few, “Thou shalts” and “Thou shalt nots” flowed out of my mouth.

Then, I started hanging out with an older couple, Marion and Morris. They were solid grace-filled believers; and soon I wanted their revelation of grace for myself.

Yet, it was not easy for me to change. I had a mountain, seven years high, filled with legalistic teachings which needed to be overturned within me. So, what did I do?

I sought the Lord. I memorized and meditated on scriptures over and over again. Until one day, a divine revelation flooded my inner being, erasing my past teachings on grace. I knew that I knew that I knew that my life, my calling, my prophetic words depended on the Lord’s grace, and not my own works.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them… (Romans 12:6)

Many of  you probably know accurate prophetic voices who do not agree with me on my grace teachings. And yes, I would agree this has been true up to the present.

But there is a New Wind Blowing in America, and it is my belief that now a believer has to have a positive revelation of grace to rise above their present prophetic level.

(Continued in Part 7)

*I have used the word prophesy in a general sense to denote prophecy, words of knowledge and words of wisdom (1 Corinthians 12: 8-10).

In my lifetime, I have watched tattoos shift from just appearing on the arms of a few sailors into being accepted by many who are in the mainstream of America.

Whereas, the old-time sailors, often, wished their tattoos would disappear after their tours of duty ended, not so with today’s aficionados.They love tattoos and want more.

And guess what? Many Christians are going along with the trend. John 3:16, crosses and Jesus are some of the popular tattoos appearing on exposed skin.

As for me, I have struggled with tattoos.

You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:28)

So, what’s your thoughts on tattoos? Like? Don’t like? Could care less? Or what?

Swimming Upstream appears at this blog site on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It’s  a little of this and a little of that, all written  to encourage and exhort believers in their Christian journeys.

Starting on Monday, Swimming Upstream which appears on this blog, three times each week, will try something different. There are numerous issues which I personally have struggled with in the past, am struggling with now and probably will be struggling with in the future. These same issues may be thorns to you, too. I don’t know, but let’s find out, okay?

I will start out by giving a short statement outlining my thoughts on a subject, and then ask you for your ideas. You can write a quick comment or a volume; that’s up to you.

Hint for Monday’s discussion: Leviticus 19:28

*picture of baby is my youngest grandson, Eric, born in 2004.

Over the years, I have read books and listened to tapes by and about many prophets. Each has contributed some insight for my own life and calling.

Swimming Upstream appears at this blog site on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It’s  a little of this and a little of that, all written  to encourage and exhort believers in their Christian journeys.

Click on following links for: Part 1,  Part 2 and Part 3.

The Who’s Who List of socialites sat in the tea garden, listening to the internationally acclaimed concert pianist performing a Mozart concerto.

When the pianist finished, the ladies clapped their hands. The pianist stood and bowed.

One lady, sitting near the  pianist, proclaimed, “Oh, I would just give anything to play the piano like him. Just anything.”

The pianist pivoted around and stared at the lady. “No, you would not,” he said.

The crowd gasped at the man’s rebuke of one of New York’s most respected women. How dare he make such a disrespectful remark?

Tears streamed down the embarrassed lady’s face onto her Paris designer dress. In her hurt, she defiantly mouthed, “Yes, I would.”

The man stepped toward her. “No, you would not,” he proclaimed. “Because if you truly meant that, you would have given up your childhood and your teenage years practicing the piano. And even now, you would be willing to give up eight to ten hours everyday practicing so that you could play like me.”

He pointed toward her. “You see, there’s a price to sit on this bench. I’ve been willing to pay it and you haven’t!”

This story illustrates a truth, one that is especially true about the prophetic gifts.

Now, as I mentioned in the comment section of Part 2 to jeremiah17:

Perfect character is not a mandatory requirement for the spiritual gifts. But just like a soldier in the U.S. Army, there are different levels of marksmanship for these spiritual tools or weapons. Consider the spiritual gift levels to be akin to marksman, sharpshooter and expert.

To raise above the entry marksman level demands godliness and a continuing effort to be like Jesus…

The Body of Christ needs believers who are willing to pay the price so that they rise above the entry grade of just giving low-level prophetic words. We need sharpshooters and experts for what’s waiting ahead of us, just over the horizon.

So, what does the price involve, right?

*I have used the word prophesy in a general sense to denote prophecy, words of knowledge and words of wisdom (1 Corinthians 12: 8-10).

(Continued in Part 5)

Let’s say, somehow, someway, you have decided to obey 1 Corinthians 14: 39, and be a prophetic person which the Holy Spirit can use to speak to His people.

Good decision, but let me ask you a few questions, okay?

At what point will you quit prophesying?

Will you quit if you prophesy about a person on her deathbed that she will live and not die; and yet she dies?

Will you quit if a prophet calls you out in front of a crowd and prophesies that you are not called to prophesy?

Will you quit if all of your family thinks you’re a nut?

Will you quit if all the pastors in a city think your prophecies are in error?

Will you quit if you prophesy that a man will win the presidency; and he doesn’t?

I’ve gone through all of the above and more, and I can tell you, it was unpleasant. In fact, a part of me – each time – felt like crawling into a cave and never ever walking out again. You know, loving the Lord from inside my little cave, just me and Jesus.

One memorable morning, after receiving a blistering rebuke from an internationally-known prophet, I was standing on a ladder, wondering about my calling. Was it really worth it?

As I dipped my brush into a paint bucket, I looked up. There right above me was a gigantic yellow-jacket wasp. Without provocation, it swooped down and stung my forehead.

Ouch! Double Ouch! It was unbearably painful.

And guess what? Then, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said:

“Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead, do not be afraid…” (Ezekiel 3:9)

You need to make up your mind that once you put your hand on the prophetic  plow, you never look back (Luke 9:62). Just keep on prophesying. If you make mistakes, ask forgiveness, learn the lessons, and then, keep on prophesying.

And if you can’t do this, ask the Lord to give your prophetic anointing to me. I have countless believers I am praying for, they will use it.

Swimming Upstream appears at this blog site on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It’s  a little of this and a little of that, all written  to encourage and exhort believers in their Christian journeys.