 I think we are having a "terminology limitation" in the prophetic.
This week I read where a man I believe is a wonderful, valid, reliable, and healthy prophet and leader was advertising an experience as a basis for communicating that experience, and the marketing line is "I saw Jesus in heaven, and He gave me a message." I have no doubt that his communication is from Jesus, and I am sure it will provide some insight. I can also see that from that point of revelation, he has developed a polemic about current conditions that is not part of the original vision. That is also great! I hope he will include the actual, written down at the time, communication of the revelatory experience, so the kingdom leaders can judge it for interpretation, application, and implementation. I hope it will not be another "aren't you impressed with this experience" presentation that becomes a good reason for him to be famous and received as mature. Neither of those two things are what revelation experience are for, of course, and I hope he releases that. I do not think he went to heaven and saw Jesus. I think he is using that common descriptor of a revelation experience that occurred "In the Spirit." I believe his experience is valid. I do think this kind of presentation adds to the confusion already at work and does little to improve the message Jesus gave him. I also think that his commentary on the vision may become more obvious that the vision itself because his discussion of the process already makes it clear that what he has done to process it may not have been part of the prophet process such a global revelation should require. Once that is available, we can attempt to speak into it, but will be too late, since the revelation commentary will already be published. I do not think this man is part of the problem. I merely wish to say, presenting a revelatory experience with this language feeds into the present circus performance atmosphere clouding prophecy from a pathway to greater maturity. As many people seek to describe their spiritual experiences, they may be making a mistake that the Paul avoided. By inspiration of Holy Spirit, he carefully avoided saying that "he went to heaven to see Jesus" when he did, in fact, have such an experience. However, he could not properly describe where he was during the experience. That is, under inspiration of Holy Spirit, writing Bible text, Paul did not specify the location of his spiritual experience. He was given permission to say, "I was in paradise." He was not given permission to verify, "in the body" or "out the body." So, in fact, we have "I went to heaven and saw Jesus" in the Paul. He was not given permission to describe his experience as anything other than spiritual. He characterizes the experience as "someone was seized and carried into." He doesn't offer any context for these being something that every believer should experience on a regular basis, nor does he use it to do anything other than set up the discussion of his thorn in the flesh, calling his "boasting" unprofitable. That is, using this experience to validate himself would be have no merit. Why? To avoid the confusion, now becoming a pandemic misunderstanding, even becoming a marketing ploy for seer conferences and sign ups, Paul does not describe or characterize, interpret, or construe his revelatory experiences with any of our modern "gotta prove it or lose it" mentalities. He just simply says, "This happened." We have no such experience in John or His Revelation. I get the idea that "come up higher" has meaning, but I have no context, nor does John provide one, for the kinds of communication we have expanded into in our present forms. John says, both in chapter one and chapter 4 when he sees the door open and the voice says, "Come up here!", "I was in the Spirit," not "I went to heaven and saw Jesus.Spiritual Experiences People use the phrase, "I went to heaven and saw Jesus," to describe visionary impressions and experiences they receive while "in the Spirit." They seem to assume they actually went somewhere, but they went "in the spirit." They went into visionary experiences in dreams, visions, or trances. I would concur. I have these kinds of experiences. How often and for what reasons, I wouldn't say because they are not for public consumption, not anyone else's business, do not serve to validate my spirituality or level of spiritual importance, nor are they part of my identity. Of these experiences, I would share those that involve a directive in my apostolic calling, those that are specific to an assignment to the kingdom citizens, and those I have permission to share. After that, I would still have to wonder why the idea that "we all need to get into some 'realm' is even pertinent. Opening people up to the spiritual reality without the same principles, processes, and protocols available to safeguard them and others in the prophetic is a very odd pursuit, and contrary to the basic logic of revelation. I have written about the open vision I had March 7, 2003 in a University of Ministry class. This was the beginning point of my first book in Portuguese for Brasil, later published in English by Destiny Image, The Spirit and Power of Elijah. I was in the vision, prophesying out loud and being recorded for more than an hour and a half. That vision is still being unpacked, but it took me to a nation to deliver a message to a nation. That vision includes the Americas, and I am living in the continuing fulfillment of it today. I saw Jesus in several settings, from above the earth looking down, from the earth looking into the earth, from the earth looking into nations. I was in the Spirit. I didn't go to heaven to see Jesus anymore than Paul or John or anyone else. I experience heaven in the Spirit from where I was at that moment. So does everyone else. Paul makes this very clear, following up with the focus of his experience: the thorn in his flesh that followed the revelatory experience. Paul makes much of this and little of the trip to paradise. Paul makes much of his experience on the road when Jesus knocks him down and yells at him in front of all this friends. He makes a particular point about pride with respect to his involuntary "taken up" experience.Validation I think the context of a revelation is pertinent. What breaches protocol is the idea that "going to heaven and talking to Jesus" makes the revelation something of higher value, scope, authorization, or validation at another level. This idea always, without exception, leads to a false perception of personal importance. According to the Bible. Paul experienced something from satan that beat him up for that very reason, an opportunity to become weaker and in greater need of grace by humility. The idea that such an event would become a great opportunity to sell books, market training, or validate him as someone of greater spiritual superiority would have shocked Paul, as it should shock us today! It also leads to a pervasive sense of false entitlement, equality, and expectation upon the part of tens of thousands of believers who have valid experiences but assume because the experiences were part of this special dispensation of revelatory ambience they and the revelation rise higher in value and validation. This causes amazing levels of disappointment when others do not give their revelation value at the same level, and nearly always includes the expectation of personal value expansion. The "I go to heaven" validation causes tens of thousands of believers to demand a role they have not authority or calling to receive. Then, when that isn't made available to them, because of kingdom cultural principle, processes, and protocol, they become offended. All unnecessarily! This perception is fed by the way we handle these experiences, describe them with some presuppositions not included in Scripture, and the present circus environment about prophetic things. We may be creating perceptions in people's minds about revelatory operations and functions that contribute more to confusion and lawlessness than to healthy prophetic process.Spiritual Imagination When your spirit imagines, the context is dissimilar to your own mental imagination. Through experience, you learn to discern the difference, and until you do, spiritual leaders help you discern the difference. However, in the prophetic process, once revelation arrives, it must be communicated. That communication step moves revelation from the spirit into your mind. It didn't originate in your mind because it is not the product of your imagination. It is the production of spiritual imaging or imagination. Immediately the perfect revelation steps into the prophetic process, the process requires the revelation to stand up to accountability. That is, you must immediately become accountable to other people with expertise and experience about communicating revelation once you've received it, and to be accountable to them you first communicate what was revealed to you. Without the process, you are left to your own imagination. You are left to communicated with yourself what you receive in your spiritual imagination. You immediately begin to mix the two. You cannot trust the revelation to remain pure once that happens. Some people experience something spiritual by spiritual imagining or imaging and contextualize it as "I went to heaven" when they were not in heaven. They were visualizing a spiritual reality that many people mistakenly call, "heaven." One "seer and revelator" says she visits the planet heaven all the time. (She doesn't, since heaven isn't a planet but a spiritual condition.") The idea that heaven is actualized the way she communicates shows that some possibly legitimate experience in spiritual imagination is being communicated at times; but once she gets that something into her own imagination, the possibilities are endless in error. She ends up in gross error of Bible teaching, but uses "Jesus told me" as a validation point. Some of it might have prophetic value. The circus that follows has none. I wouldn't say she was a false prophet as much as I'd say that most of what she says isn't true. And, I would suggest that someone ask her to stop talking her imaginations. Sadly, popular sources sometimes quote her as if she is valid. She is not a valid source because the mixture is much more her own imagination, not SpiritFirst revelation from God.Realms I still can't get the idea that we seek "realms." I hear this said over and over and it is meaningless because there are no realms. Even the "realms of Glory" descriptor forces me away from Bible terminology. The problem is that "realms" can mean anything anyone wishes it to mean without a Bible context, and often does. A realm is simply the area ruled by a king. "Different realms" makes no sense the way we use the term. Are we attempting to say that there are fourth and fifth dimensions of reality? I hope not! That is baloney. Are we trying to describe "close but far away" aspects of spiritual reality into which we enter by our spirit? Again, more new age mindset error. We could discuss kingdoms to discuss realms. We could say Jesus was brought back from among the dead, and we could use the term "realm of death," I suppose, to speak of that kingdom of death. I don't understand why we would, however. We could speak of the realm of darkness. Some speak of "realms of darkness," and I suppose they wish to describe different territorial authorities that operate in that kingdom, but the realm of darkness is, technically, one realm governed by the ruler of darkness. In this case, we could ask why the use of the term describes spiritual reality better than saying, "Rulers of the darkness." Again, Ephesians lists three rulers as operating in "this present darkness," so the idea of different realms doesn't help us. It produces confusion.How Thins Really Work in the Spirit"How Things Really Work in the Spirit" is essential to the valid practice of and in spiritual reality. We know nothing legitimately about spiritual reality except by God and through God, and the Source of that revelation is the Bible so that we can judge the validity of spiritual experience by that revelation of "How Things Really Work in the Spirit." Anything that borrows from a worldview other than the Bible is an error. Everything that describes spiritual reality that isn't from the Bible must answer to the Bible, because God revealed the "How Things Really Work in the Spirit" in the Bible. He does not reveal them to people outside that context, as further revelation, expansions of mysteries, or update the Scriptures through present revelatory experiences. He revealed Himself in the Bible and how He does stuff in the Bible so when we encounter both God and God at work, we recognize Him. Actually, anything that borrows from a worldview not sourced in the Bible, opens the door to deceptions from demon teaching. Because everything other worldview is from demons, we either test all things by the Bible and Holy Spirit capacities of discerning the character and spiritual conditions of sources, or we are thinking what demons think, a means of deceiving mankind. These "realms" ideas are mostly fantasy stuff, and those that are valid are lost in an inadequate way of communicating a spiritual experience. They all need prophetic process, in any case, so the idea that we enter realms remains a completely beside the point to the process of revelation. We should be training and maturing people in communicating, interpreting, applying, and implementing revelation. We should not be encouraging people to do "fly aways" into their imaginations, seeking out "realms," thus producing an increase in christianized gnosticism. We are creating a problem for which we have no solution, in other words, because we are training from the wrong point and perception of "How Things Really Work in the Spirit." We cannot hope to improve on God's point of view, and training from His point of view will always produce the best results. Why look for a circus performance? To what end would we wish to find a bizarre approach when God has given us an excellent one?ClarificationsI train prophets. I train intercessors. I train seers and watchmen of the intercessory type. (A seer is not prophet; we have popularized the use of this word "seer" because we wish to have a way to distinguish prophets who predominately see.) I train men and women in the practice of prevailing prayer, praying in the Spirit, operating SpiritFirst in both worship and prayer. They get into the spirit, their own spirits, and then that alignment opens the way for SpirtFirst interaction through Holy Spirit, wherever Holy Spirit takes them. That gets the job done. They learn to live SpiritFirst, to move from soul dominated to Spirit dominated. They learn how to differentiate between what they are thinking and what God is revealing. Some prophets see. Some prophets hear. Some prophets burst forth from the spirit with a message. The idea that levels of "prophet" can be measured by exotic, deeper realms, off the charts galaxy travels, or visits to the planet heaven are for comic books like "Spiritual X Men" or "Seer Man," a guy in a suit with a mask that looks like his eyes are extra large. Our marketing stunts are not producing the one thing our teaching should be producing: maturity. I know exactly what a visionary person means when they describe experiences because I have them. I know what a seer experiences because I experience it. I know what a person with revelatory impressions experiences because I experience revelatory impressions of the several kinds available in the spirit. So, all those that are gonna say that this article says, "Don Lynch doesn't believe in visions, seeing Jesus, or revelatory experiences" will be wrong. What I don't see as valid, what I do see as unnecessary and confusing, are the marketing claims of people doing exactly opposite of Paul and John in terms of the presuppositions of the Bible about revelatory experiences. Here, I am addressing a limitation in describing revelatory experiences that leads to all kinds of unnecessary offense, dysfunctions, malpractice, confusion, and outright error and bad teaching. I am addressing the way we are using these spiritual capacities to market something, using exaggeration, the hype side of being spiritual often used to make forms of revelation appear more spiritual. Marketing these exaggerations to sell their products and fill their conferences, and get people signed up to their hype sessions on the internet. In summary: 1. We do not need to get anyone into the realms by teaching them how to imagine something. If you get people into SpiritFirst mode, they will experience what Holy Spirit has decided they should. Anything else is simply asking for error. The idea that "we should all prophesy" also means "we should all visit heaven" is a bit nutso. The idea that we all need to be the same in terms of revelatory function, and all we need do is get into some seminar so "we can become just as heavenly as the leader is," is also beside the point in a really big way. The fruit if these excursions into fantasy is abundantly available, and it is all bad fruit. That is not how things really work in the spirit. You are engaging people in personal imaginations just as dangerous as "open yourself up to the universe" mysticism. You are preparing people for error when all you need do is activate the gifts of the Spirit and teach them to enter SpiritFirst alignment, since Holy Spirit does the rest. Those online seminars that really prepare people do this and offer them a safe place to make mistakes and receive correction. There are several I would recommend. 2. We do not need to create the idea that it is more spiritual "to visit heaven and see Jesus." When such an event provides a higher form of validation, the experience itself is minimized by the message received. Being in the Glory is common to people who can operate SpiritFirst. So, they are going to have intense experiences with God without going to heaven and seeing Jesus. They are going to create terrible, unbiblical misunderstandings acting as if "eyes open" to angels and Jesus in the room is "higher faith" or "deeper spirit" or safer, kinder, holier, better, more spiritual, or validation of a higher calling in the kingdom. So, when you use the phrase, "I went to heaven and saw Jesus, and He gave me a message," you are actually describing a prophetic, revelatory experience in which the appearance of Jesus in a spiritual context was necessary to the message itself. It is not a "I want the world to know that you are special and better and more spiritual so they will think everything you say is better and more spiritual than other people." That is not true. A person may deliver one powerful, valid, authentic message and then start teaching error the next week because they assume that everything they ever imagined has been validated by seeing Jesus in the context of heaven. Paul says, "Not me!" We say, "It is normal for people to have revelations." Then, we completely contradict ourselves by producing a list of "this is better." It is either normal, or it isn't normal. It cannot be normal and abnormal, right? We cannot convince ourselves that all should prophesy, then create some categories of superiority in order to place and position ourselves as "deeper and more spiritual." We lack intellectual honesty when we do. We cannot create these special categories to market ourselves and our training sessions either. Dr Don Lynch http://drdonlynch.com/?p=8910
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 "A sleeping saviour and a demonised community" A prophetic word for the body of Christ in Australia. By David Balestri September 2017 Mark 4:35 – 41 NKJV 35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” Mark 5:1 - 20 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” 8 For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” 9 Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. 11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” 13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. 14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. 18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. Reflections · It took a storm to cause the disciples to cry out to Jesus in their midst · The storm awoke the disciples out of their familiarity of how they understood Jesus in their midst · They were exposed as vulnerable in the place that many of their key leaders considered was their strength (Sailing) · They were exposed to a dimension of the glory of God that was transcendent, that demanded an elevated sight from them (who is this) · They were exposed to the higher order of faith and Spirit bending the natural order to its obedience · They were so focused on the storm and engrossed in the present moment of the challenge and yet chapter 5 shows us that they were on a journey towards a significant encounter with a demonic environment · They are faced with a humanised demonic challenge that is desperate for deliverance · It is a significant challenge as its scope is legion meaning many · Deliverance and mercy is manifested and healing comes · The leaders are spooked that someone has been able to fix a problem that they were powerless to manage Date:12th of September 2017 Prophecy for the body of Christ Contrary and buffeting winds have come across the body of Christ in this nation. Many are panicking and running frantic across the land trying to awake Christ in the church but have found Him to be asleep. Some have begun to faint in their hearts and question wether God even cares about what is going on. This season has been sown by lethargy and a self-reliance in the church as well as an assault by the powers of darkness to trap an entire generation of souls. Though there is a definite demonic assignment in this scheme it has been allowed by God in His providence to come upon the body of Christ at this time to awaken her to attention and focus her back onto Christ in her midst. If the body of Christ will have eyes to see and ears to hear she will discover a heightened dimension of the power of God in her midst that she has not experienced for many generations in this land. The answer and way that God will move will astound her and she will see the Son of God afresh in a manner that will prepare her for the greater battles of the kingdom that lay ahead of her. It is a day of standing firm and also great humbling before the hand of God for the body of Christ in the land. The current battle is just a part of a greater journey of kingdom advance that the body of Christ will need to engage in in the days to come. Irrespective of how the current crisis outworks itself the thing that remains true no matter what is that the general societal climate of the nation has run towards a much more secular and humanistic position. The false securities of political politeness and even moral moorings have become unhinged and will slide into deeper demonic allegiance for the immediate season in front of us. However this will provoke a time of great encounter between a demonically manipulated culture and a faith filled Christ focused church that will bring the answer of hope, deliverance and freedom from the bondage that many will find themselves in. Their will come a time of great desire for refuge to be provided in the body of Christ from the demonic bondages and depravity that popular culture will have embraced. As society begins to find hope, refuge and salvation within the dimensions of the Christ communities, there will come a bewilderment by the civic leaders who thought that they had given society all the freedoms from moral standards and eternal truths that they had cried out to them for. David Balestri Applications · It’s the day for believers and movements to stand on the word of God and be firm in their convictions about the absolutes of scripture · It’s a day to be wise and make sure that we are being led more by the voice of the Spirit than the news or social media feeds · It’s a day not to panic and declare that the sky is falling upon us, but rather to respond out of a spirit inspired position that emulates Christ in all things · It’s a day to make sure that our foundations are in Christ alone by the power of the Spirit and not in the strength of our own natural resources · It’s a day to position our people in a way that they will be equipped to minister Christ with the gentleness and purity of doves and the cunningness of snakes · It’s a day to keep eternal perspectives front of mind and pursue heavenly wisdom for the times in which we live. (14th of September 2017) www.newpropheticdimension.com David Balestri PROPHETIC IMPRESSIONS TO ASSIST THE “HOLY NATION”, THE “CITY OF GOD” DURING A TIME OF GREAT TRANSITION:
As an APOSTOLIC COMPANY we have the responsibility to accurately express and advance the THRONE’S STANDARDS AND AGENDA in all things.. Our lives, jobs, careers, relationships and activities must be seen as windows through which we demonstrate Christ to a world increasingly sliding into moral, political, ethical and economic chaos! We must therefore be engaged in an active pursuit of the values of Jesus Christ and we must be fully prepared to maintain contact with the “world” and influence them with the values of: (1) Integrated community life (2) Corporate ownership (3) Covenantal loyalty (4) Movement away from singularity, isolation, and individuality (5) A moving toward the reality of joint-ownership and a church without walls which comes into reality when sons come into deep COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP with one another built upon their mutual joining to an apostolic “fathering” source. (6) Understanding that Christ is our Sole Sovereign and His authoritative position over all human life. (7)Movement back into our original operational environment – ETERNITY! ... being governed only by the THRONE AND THE ONE SEATED UPON THE THRONE! (8) Being governed by the “Apostolate” - apostolic councils based upon covenantal joining of the “tribes” through true authentic apostles of Christ, worldwide… JESUS ALWAYS HAD A HEART FOR THE NATIONS Every son must have this inner vision...a vision of the multitudes groaning for redemption. We must be motivated by the desire to demonstrate a different standard to the world. The emphasis must be on displaying the internal glory of Father through the Church: the right mentalities, pure lifestyles and excellence that causes the “world” to experience the prophetic statement of Jesus Christ: "By this shall all men know that you are My disciples... By your love one for another." We must break free from the "fear of the world syndrome", insularity and wrong eschatological viewpoints, understanding that our responsibility is to interface with the “world” and be a true expression of God to the world. The Church must be of such superior standard and quality that the world is captivated by our lifestyle and drawn to find refuge and answers in us. (Micah 4:1-2) INDICATORS There will be major policy shifts in international economics and policy shifts will occur amidst increasing crisis! Great political struggles lay ahead for RSA...there will be an intensifying of political upheaval as all hidden secrets of the hearts will now be exposed! An acceleration of the BRICKS BLOCK agenda is underway as a GLOBAL SHIFT OF EPI-CENTRES from North/West to South/East is underway to both DISCONFIRM and TRANSLOCATE HIS THRONE’S AGENDA from North/West to South/East to EQUALISE the knowledge of the LORD'S GLORY on the Global stage! The billions located in South and East have been readied to hear the Lord’s omnipotent Voice through ones sent in representation of HIS THRONE! The door to Islamic states will swing wide open as the Lord deal decisively through crisis in these lands…all to COMPLETE HIS KINGDOM purpose in the globe! An empowerment of the economically marginalized will be accelerated ...simultaneously there will be great pressure on the nations of the north and west as the shift towards economic empowerment of the south/east is being realized. There will be increasing pressure to secure economic deals for the well-being of previously advantaged nations...but the push to equalize economic progression in former "left-behind" nations will cause the north and west to adopt policies which will seek to secure their economic competitiveness in the previously disadvantaged nations. There will be a Re-alignment of nation states because of re-defined political and economic loyalties amidst the huge battles for economic security and survival. In the midst of all of this, there will be a global internal re-arrangement of the attitudinal life of the Church...the push toward Oneness and relational realignment will now become imperatives that will define life within the Church. There will be a push into aligning with the policy statement of King Jesus as when He first hammered out His 8 statements of beatitudes in which He unfolded His divine worldview! Internal corruption...greed...unfair competition...rivalry for control of the economic resources of the earth will lead to disadvantaged nation states to trade precious ethical, political and moral principles for economic stability! However...the pressure of conformity to the corrupt standards of Babylon will bring about a definite line of demarcation between the True and False Church. Great apostatizing will occur as the pressures for conformity to the earth’s corrupt standards in all realms that affect human life is underway! The hidden, true apostolic Church, forged in the crucible of apostolic wisdom will rise into its "mountain" status. It will suddenly arise into a place of prominence and the nation's will come and say, "teach us your ways"(Micah 4:1-3) In the midst of the perplexity of the human condition and those who refused to submit, commit and conform to true apostolic patterns and standards for life will find themselves splitting away from dead movements as the Lord destroy the last vestures of stubborn resistance to the demands of the kairos of the Lord. Shaun Blignaut 31 Dec. 2016 #apostolicreformation #Prophecy #Prophecy2017 #prophet #Kingdom #church #Apsotolic #newpropheticdimension Biblical Principles Concerning Ethics and Protocols Relating to New Testament Prophetic Ministry!5/8/2017 Biblical Principles Concerning Ethics and Protocols Relating to New Testament Prophetic Ministry
APRIL 23, 2012 Originally compiled by John Paul Jackson and Marc Dupont Editing team: John Paul Jackson, Marc Dupont, Loren Sandford, John Sandford, Jim Goll and Bobby Connor The Preamble Within the contemporary church the term, “prophetic ministry,” can mean a great many things. Therefore we have attempted to outline a brief description of biblically based values and practices for New Testament prophetic ministers and prophets. The following are intended primarily for those called to trans-local ministries to the church at large. However, we also acknowledge many of these principles can be applied to individuals whose prophetic work does not extend beyond their local church.Some persons labeled as “prophets” may be more accurately categorized as “prophetic ministries.” While they may minister to the church at large, they primarily operate within the occasional “charisma” gift of prophecy. Others are called to bear the ministry of a prophet consistently as a primary calling. An established prophet will not only operate in the gift of prophecy, but will carry seasonal prophetic burdens and messages from God the Father to the wider church, and sometimes even to nations. His or her emphasis may be much more “the word of the Lord,” as opposed to “words from the Lord.” They may, at times, even give a prophetic rebuke or warning to the church, which should always be a message of grace, postured within the Father heart of God. Our heart in preparing and submitting these values is neither to police, nor to correct any known individuals or situations. Rather, we are simply endeavoring to articulate biblical standards that can help ensure long-term fruitfulness both for prophetic ministries and the recipients of those ministries. Revelation 19:10 states: “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Therefore, we wholeheartedly believe that the overriding theme, goal and vision of any biblically based New Testament prophetic ministry should be to make known the Person and ways of Christ Jesus. And while a prophetic ministry may often be accompanied by revelatory words, signs and wonders, healings and miracles, a true prophet will always seek to champion the Person of Christ, the gift-giver, more than the gifts. Because God’s will is for each disciple of Christ to be conformed to the image of Christ, we believe, as well, that God calls those who represent His will, voice, and ways to be living testimonies of Christ-like integrity, lived out within the context of healthy relationships that provide accountability. The goal of our presentation is Christ-like love and service from a pure heart. We do not present these principles and protocols from an assumed posture of authority or elitism. The spirit in which we present them is two-fold; Firstly, we desire to offer this as an appeal for Christ-centered unity of purpose among current prophetic ministries. Secondly, we wholeheartedly desire to see our colaborers bear witness to who Jesus is in every facet of ministry as they seek to prophetically serve the Body of Christ. Biblical Principles Concerning Ethics and Protocols Relating to New Testament Prophetic Ministry I. Concerning Beliefs and Practices 1. The Bible, as the perfect revelation of Jesus and the infallible word of God, is the absolute standard for weighing and assessing all revelation (2Timothy 3:16, Col 2:18-19, John 1:14). A. While I treasure spiritual experiences from the Holy Spirit, I will not place subjective experiences and discernment above the Bible (Rev 19:10; Col 2:18-19). B. I will not allow my emotions or pride to rob me of utilizing the Bible as my standard for weighing a revelation and any interpretation I may attach to a revelation. C. I will always speak a Bible-centric message. D. I will seek to draw all who hear me toward a greater relationship with the Father through Jesus, and to make the name of Jesus known in a biblical way. 2. God values His Word as the expression of His name and nature (Psalms 138:2). Therefore, we hold truth as a necessity in prophecy. A. I will always try not only to speak truth, but to speak prophetic words in a way that reflects the loving heart of God. B. I will determine to always lovingly speak prophetic correction in such a way as to avoid condemnation toward those who receive the prophetic word. C. I will intend to always communicate hope for change through the transforming power of Jesus. D. I commit to reflect the nature of my God by loving people more than my gift. E. Prophecy is a word from God. I will try to speak it with both humility and confidence. F. While fearing God, I will not fear man. Whenever God directs me to release revelation I will not hold back through fear of man, fear of offending those with whom I am in relationship, or fear of losing popularity and/or opportunities to minister (Galatians 1:10, Proverbs 29:5). G. I commit to God’s call on my life to proclaim the ways and will of God ahead of the “success” of my ministry in the eyes of man or the church. 3. I believe that prophetic accuracy is essential. I believe that the method and manner of delivery (the heart) of a prophecy is also important. A. I understand that voicing words from God is a responsibility not to be taken lightly. I aspire to have 100% accuracy in all I say. B. I will admit when I am wrong and take steps to acknowledge, repent and make restitution for my error in a prophecy or its delivery, in a manner appropriate to correct the error and the reason for the error. C. Repentance and restitution must also be appropriate to my sphere of influence and the scope of the prophetic word (Psalms 138:2). 4. If I do give an errant prophecy, I commit to full repentance. This will include: A. An apology. If I gave the prophecy to a private party, my apology must be to that party. If the prophecy was given to a group such as a church or the public, the apology must be given to that group. B. Biblical repentance does not mean saying, “I’m sorry” only to God, but also to those I have hurt. Most importantly, I must communicate that I am deeply concerned about the harm I have done or the hurt I have inflicted, and I will do whatever else is needed to help heal the wounds I have caused. C. With the help of wise counsel, I will seek to find if there is anything in my heart that caused this error, and deal with it through confession, repentance and action. D. I commit to continuing in accountability to a safe and loving authority whom I believe will support me and help me walk in integrity. I will not remove myself from this process even if painful to me and/or it seems that those to whom I am accountable are not treating me fairly. E. I believe there are consequences to all actions. If my error is particularly serious or repeated, I will be willing to take time off from prophetic ministry until I and those in authority over me have discerned that I am ready to resume ministry. 5. Concerning supernatural manifestations, I will not substitute the seeking of angels, angelic activity, or other supernatural manifestations, over the seeking of God, His presence, and the truths contained in Scripture. The source of all truth is the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 11:14; Col 2:18-19). A. I believe that the character of Christ in me is more important to the Kingdom than my gift. It is the application and manifestation of God’s Word in my life. B. I will not fall prey to idolatry by seeking to generate, initiate or exaggerate supernatural manifestations, no matter what may be expected by the church culture in which I speak. C. Likewise, I endeavor to allow the Holy Spirit to initiate how and when He releases supernatural manifestations and/or ministry through me. D. If God does speak to me through angels, or causes certain manifestations, or gives particular types of revelation, I will communicate what I hear and see only as God directs. I will do so without elevating myself, my experience or revelation in any way that might detract from the Person of God Himself. 6. Understanding a prophetic word is vital to its implementation. Therefore, I commit to being open to discuss, with appropriate leaders within the Body of Christ, the prophetic words I receive and interpretations of those words. I will endeavor to do so because prophetic gifts are given to serve the people, not to promote the one who prophesies. 7. Words from God should encourage, train and equip the Body of Christ to conform to the image of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-16). I will endeavor to always help the Body of Christ perceive the Person of Christ more clearly and to hunger for Him and His ways (Col. 1:8-10, Eph. 1:17-18). 8. Ephesians 4 ministries are to equip the Body of Christ to receive, develop and mature, rather than to cultivate an audience of spectators for our gifting. Thus, we hold in high regard the priesthood of each believer in Christ (1 Peter 2:5; Romans 8:14; Isaiah 61:6). A. I commit to preaching sound doctrine rather than dividing the Body of Christ through non-scriptural doctrines designed to amaze my audience and develop a following (2Tim 4:3-4).B. I will not use the gift God has given me in a reckless manner that might cause others to stumble or misunderstand God and His ways (Jer. 23:32). C. I commit to help Christian leaders and trainers discern between the operation of God-given spiritual gifts and human psychic abilities (Daniel 2:27-28; 4:8-9). D. I commit to help train the Body of Christ to discern between true, Holy Spiritinspired revelation and mere human intuition, New Age pseudo-spirituality or psychic abilities (1John 4:1). E. I will intentionally try to communicate revelation and the interpretation of revelation in ways that encourage, strengthen, and comfort the recipient(s) of the word (1 Corinthians 14:3). F. I will seek to avoid prophesying anything that controls or manipulates the lives of others. G. When giving a prophetic word, I will seek to always encourage hearers to biblically and prayerfully weigh it rather than to take it without consideration (1 Corinthians 14:29). 9. I commit to help train the Body of Christ to discern between genuine encounters with God and other pseudo-spiritual experiences, as well as to help the Body of Christ understand the various degrees of revelation and their relative levels of importance.10. I commit to refusing to prostitute the revelatory gifting God has given me by attaching a fee to a prophetic word* (Micah 3:11). A. I will not use a prophetic word or prophetic ministry to manipulate people to give financially to me, and or the ministry I lead (2 Peter 2:15). B. I will not lead people to believe that the prophetic word will be triggered or influenced by a gift. *Accepting honorariums, gifts or travel remuneration is acceptable. This is different than prophesying for an agreed amount of money, and is equivalent to a pastor receiving a salary. II. Concerning My Life in Representing Christ Jesus Prophetically 1. I commit to living, modeling and championing the character of Christ. I believe Christ-like character to be more important than operating out of gifting (2 Cor. 7:1). A. I choose to consistently promote and model the ways of Christ more than simply communicate revelation. B. When it comes to representing Christ Jesus, I believe that I not only have a message, but that I am the message. 2. I believe that wisdom from above is “reasonable and peaceable.” I will place high value on Christ-like humility, and shun prophetic arrogance (James 3:17). 3. I commit to having an accountability group in place to whom I will hold my lifestyle, marriage and ministry accountable. A. I commit to living a life free of substance abuse, love of money, extra-marital sex, pornography, pride and unforgiveness/bitterness. B. I commit to living out God’s high value of love and covenant emotionally, spiritually and physically with the “spouse of my youth,” to the best of my ability. C. I will guard my heart and make a covenant with my eyes not to look upon another in a lustful manner. 4. I commit to being free from both the love of money and the love of appearing successful in the eyes of man. I commit to choosing venues to host my ministry, based on the leading of the Holy Spirit as opposed to the size of the crowd or financial remuneration. 5. I commit to being not only a person of prayer and worship but a continual student of the Bible and the ways of God. 6. I commit to honor the Lord by honoring and strengthening His delegated authority in the Body of Christ. A. I will honor and strengthen local pastors and church leaders as God’s-appointed shepherds and gatekeepers for their local congregations.B. I will not usurp the authority of the local leadership in the Body where I am called to speak. 7. I commit to perceiving myself as a servant to both the church at large and the local church as God gives me opportunity. A. I will not view congregations and other ministries as mere platforms, or tools to facilitate my vision and calling. B. I will not steal another leader’s people or leadership in order to build my ministry. 8. I commit to financial, ethical and moral purity, and will not use the Body of Christ to advance my ministry nor build my own empire. My endeavor is to imitate Jesus’ example of servanthood, and only do as I see the Father doing. III. The Nature of Authentic Prophetic Ministry Bible-centric – Bear/bare witness, expose, declare and establish the truth of Scripture. Salvation-centric – Declare, teach and demonstrate the gospel of the Kingdom of God with signs and wonders following (Mark 16:20). Jesus-centric – Edify, comfort, encourage and exhort believers and the church in the way to Jesus as well as the way of Jesus. God-centric – Demonstrate in word, deed and manner the character of the Father: love, righteousness, justice, compassion, mercy, majesty and holiness. Sovereignty-centric – Bring glory to God alone. His name, His acts, and His Glory are inseparable. He exercises His will through His Omniscience, Omnipotence, Omnipresence, Immutability and Eternality, as He chooses. #biblicalprotocols #propheticministry #prophecy #prophet #ministry #kingdom #newpropheticdimension #maturity #Jesus God’s concern for the prophetic is both maturity and authenticity.
The first principle might be summed up in the phrase, “The spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet.” The second principle might be summed up in the phrase, “Many false prophets will arise to distract and draw away God’s people.” God’s perspective on both of these principle thoughts is “continue to be faithful” so that immature prophets and false prophets do not move you from the prophetic. We are commanded to pursue prophecy. All of us. It is singular that Paul singles out what moderns tend to despise and exalts the gift of prophecy above other gifts. Prophecy at any level carries the ideas of representing God as a communicator for God. It means to reveal what is hidden by communication of past, present, and future conditions in a way that reveals what God is doing, designs, determines, decides, and delegates. Prophecy means communicate by speaking outward what arrives inward. 1 Peter 4:11 “If anyone communicates, he should communicate as if the very words of God are his message.” [Or, speak representing and communicating for God.] Preaching be prophetic, but prophecy is more than preaching. Preaching is fundamentally declaration with demonstration that calls for response or action, an announcement that demands acceptance or rejection by the very nature of the message. Apostolic preaching will leave people with a choice, and the choice usually means “change to be changed” or else you miss what God is doing right now. Prophetic preaching simply carries prophetic function into preaching. Prophets typically speak of the past to analyze history from God’s perspective, the present to reveal what God is doing, and the future so we can prepare to fulfill the what-God-wants. The gift capacity of prophecy is available to all believers functioning with a kingdom Ecclesia. In no case can the gift capacity properly function in or through a person should have no shareholder relationship with kingdom Ecclesia. We also have prophets as a kingdom leadership function or dynamic preparing and positioning kingdom citizens to do the work of ministry and bring the Ecclesia into maturity of influence and impact. In any case, as has always been true, prophetic communication is tested. The New Testament tests answer to the New Testament operations and functions, of course, and the tests focus upon the motivations, heart conditions, and spiritual sourcing of those that represent God in communication for God. [See both 1 Corinthians 14:29 and 1 John 4:1) Jesus tells us there are pseudo or false prophets (Matthew 7:16, 20). The fruit, or what they produce, we test by motivation, heart condition, and spiritual sourcing. While we can certainly expect to hear from God in ways that require us to wonder, through strangers speaking from no other context but spiritual revelation or from people with less than perfect prophetic polish – note the difference between immature and false in the testing – we should usually receive prophecy from people known to us or known to us by their validation within the kingdom Ecclesias. Contrary to all modern positivism about prophecy, authentic prophecy is inherently condemning and convicting, judgmental and exposing of hidden issues from the past and present conditions of the heart that call people to repentance. This is apparent in Paul’s discussion: 1 Corinthians 14: “But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be exposed by connection (to their past wrongs) and judged up by evidence presented in what you say. As they listen, their hidden heart condition will be manifested by what you say, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, ‘God is truly here among you.’” Many people assume prophecy to be about the future, a way of obligating God to provide what they want, so they approach prophecy like the lottery, hoping to gain a guarantee of good, success, and happiness. This approach to prophecy is witchcraft! Prophecy reveals what is hidden and can be as much about the past and present as the future. God guarantees the Bible to be perfect. No such guarantee applies to prophecy. Each of us has responsibility to “test” both the spirit and the person. Do not be intimidated by this part of the prophetic process! Measure the intention of the person, the setting in which the prophecy is given, the basic message in its simplest form, and the authenticity of the revealing of hidden things of the heart. We should always test prophecies that sound “too good to be true” and overtly positivism for manipulation. While we should test all prophetic words, we should assume that God has a purpose for revealing hidden things, and test the word in that context. Paul says, “Do not devalue prophecies by despising them.” It would seem that the very nature of the prophetic gives us opportunity to devalue or despise and degrade them. Paul appears to assume that there will be ample opportunity for the revelation of hidden things to be dismissed for various reasons. Testing prophecy doesn’t mean debasing it, but mining it for the value. Keep the good and throw away the rest. In other words, the “you’ve won the lottery” prophet doesn’t leave much to be dismissed. People are eager to believe this word. It is the revelation of hidden things that require us to devote time and prayer that give value to the word. Despising prophecy comes by dismissing it, and dismissing it often comes because of experiences with immature or false prophetic voices. Of course those that fail to test it at all would actually be devaluing the word, collecting prophetic words in a scrap book makes them more like fortune cookie scripts that do not require us to take them seriously. Test the person as much as the word spoken by the person. The word can be accurate but the intention of the spirit behind it intimidation or manipulation. Especially test the words that come without context of kingdom structure. Those that refuse accountability for their words should be dismissed no matter the accuracy or desirability of the word because these words arrive outside the protocols of prophecy. They demean all prophetic function by refusing to follow kingdom protocols. Even if the first words are pure, the foundation eventually becomes polluted with dysfunction. People often prophesy to create the need for themselves, and they soon require that you make them a filtering system for your entire life: they need to be needed and feed their personal need desperately. You become a control point for their desperate sense of inadequacy. The prophetic process requires submission at each step: revelation, communication, interpretation, application, and implementation. None of those step occur in a vacuum. At some point the revelation must blend with other revelations in order to achieve it intended end. Because prophecy is so powerful, healthy, and essential by design and definition, we need to deal with the prophetic seriously. As we would test the integrity of a surgeon or attorney who involvement in our lives would carry long term effects, we should both embrace the provided prophetic ministry and test its integrity. Prophetic ministry moves us to maturity, deals with our limitations, fits us into the Ecclesia where we serve the kingdom, and provides for our health and well-being. We value it so much that we insist upon its fitness for function. “Do not despise or devalue prophecy” doesn’t mean “be gullible and naïve.” A healthy judgment of the prophetic is essential. Everything should stand up to scrutiny. The “I speak for God so just take what I say because I say so” should cause you to run. The humble and meek prophet will still have the courage to speak without hesitation, but the beating heart of God will be heard in the word. After all, Jesus did say “Many false prophets” would come. The level of immaturity in the prophetic alone should make you consider the prophetic word carefully. However, the false and the immature are two very different things! The false prophet made give you an accurate word but the motive is to manipulate or intimidate, to gain something from your amazement, or to make the prophet a source for your life. The false prophet seeks a following, validation, money, fame, or honor. Seeking anything from the prophetic function brings some level of “using spiritual power to get what I want” into the process, a subtle but deadly witchcraft. On the other hand, waiting for a perfect prophet will leave you empty of prophetic function! The false will move you off course by some measure of deception. Some false prophets move you away from your assigned leadership. Some false prophets want your money. Some false prophets have an agenda of self-righteousness, a need to prove themselves to someone or somebody, a pathology of emotional or mental dysfunction that the use of a spiritual capacity enables. So, proceed with eyes and ears open before you open your heart. On the other hand, do not so avoid risk that you devalue prophecy. The prophetic process protects you and those prophesying. Follow it. Bring what you receiving into the open: it is a revealing of hidden things so it should not be a private matter. If you do not wish to submit your life to leaders and your revelations to their consideration, you are simply dysfunctional yourself and make the prophetic dysfunctional as well. If you are not expert in Scripture, improve, but always humbly assume that God has provided someone to lead your life who has greater expertise and experience. The Bible is the text book for prophecy. Accountability is the place of safety for all involved. And, leadership is the kingdom was to maturity. By honoring your leaders, submitting to their discipline, you mature in a safe environment where hidden things revealed are valued as treasure and applied to the blueprint of your personal destiny. Don Lynch www.freedomhouse.rocks Lynch on Leadership: One of the misunderstandings of fathering arises from the idea that they need to step back and let the young ones do the stuff, stop participating, to make room for a "next generation."
I've been reading these "younger than them" discussion pages for some time now, filled with "move over, we're here now" and a form of honor that says, "we young ones need to have some silent shadows behind us as we lead, to speak some advice in our ears sometimes." The subtle yet obvious thing about them all is deep dishonor with heavy makeup that says, "It's our turn now. Shut up. Sit down. When needed, you will be acknowledged. You had your chance and blew it. We are the ones God is using now." First, a generation is everyone alive at any given moment. Life is the measurement of a generation, not a time line. So, we have a generation with people in their 90's as well as their teens. There is not younger generation thing to discuss in the first place. Second, God hasn't told those who are older than thirty-five to go to hell for failing so you can take over the kingdom. Stop acting like Paul was thirteen when touched by Jesus and kicked out all the other apostles to finally get things right. Third, age has nothing to do with it. Working together by assignment and alignment with those who are expert and experienced as elders is more Biblical than some assumption that Jesus is sending a new type of leadership now because He is tired of the previous one and the new leadership is young. Fourth, building networks of younger people from this bias, throwing some crumbs of honor at some people older than you are to look humble, is repeating the same mistakes you say you wish to avoid. Fifth, these grouping nearly always prophesy what has already been prophesied, preach what has already been preached, do what has already been done, but believe it will all turn out better because they are doing it. It is foolishness. It is nothing more than wax walls that melt in hot sun! The subtle, "it's our turn now" stuff is as rebellious as the 60's and creates a charismatic Woodstock. It reprocesses the blacktop, laying it down again with a fresh coat of oil, making the surface look new when it is nothing more than the same material on the same road going no further than it did before. There is a hellish method as old as Eden to separate generations by creating division in the age groups. The more recent efforts merely underscore the prevailing spiritual conditions that diminish our opportunity to turn the hearts of fathers and children toward one another. And, the opportunistic leaders who use these methods always end up in the same dead end detours. The phrasing about religious spirits are really code for "anything older than 5 years that doesn't wear our clothes." The commonly used "controlling leaders" phrase is code for the fact that you don't want to build something from scratch but empty out the youth from existing networks to avoid doing the fathering labor that has been going on to prepare the kingdom for this season. The "God is raising up a new bunch" is code for "we need to scrap all God has done to get the kingdom ready and start over as the leaders ourselves." It is just a big waste of time and energy used to build unneeded redundancy into the present kingdom situation. Jesus has been in preparation for this moment, and blending what is with what is coming next is His method, not your "It's our turn now" form of starting everything all over from scratch. Drop the thing behind you and get with some people who have been at this while you were growing up. You will find out that the infrastructure is all ready for you and the fathers stand ready to see you become all God created you to be while helping you avoid making these silly mistakes, the mistakes we are watching you make right now, the ones we recognize so well because we made them already. Don Lunch CEO at Minstry Matrix The Day of Divine Disturbances
Prophecy: "Divine disturbances will I bring upon this nation. Many will just see upheaval and chaos but I will be in it. I am going to shake the lethargy that has settled on this land. Scripture: Isaiah 2:17-22 NIV 17 The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day, 18 and the idols will totally disappear. 19 People will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth. 20 In that day people will throw away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and idols of gold, which they made to worship. 21 They will flee to caverns in the rocks and to the overhanging crags from the fearful presence of the LORD and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth. 22 Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem? Application:
Prophecy: This shaking will be in my church also, many things that she has embraced and is focused on I am not in. Scripture: Matthew 7:21-23 NIV 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Application:
Prophecy: These things must be stripped away and pruned off her if she is to manifest the life I have placed inside of her. Scripture: Luke 13:1-9 NIV 1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” 6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8 “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ” Prophecy: The prophetic work of tearing down and building up will be in play concurrently. Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1-3 NIV 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, Application:
Prophecy: I am going to reconfigure the authority structures within my body. Movements of the past that have not migrated into my current season will experience a diminishing of my voice whilst other companies that have embraced a journey will find my favour and strength within them. Scripture: Matthew 11:11-19 NIV 11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 Whoever has ears, let them hear. 16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17 “ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” Application:
Prophecy: I will draw people together whom have not worked or ministered together before by a frequency that will be released through my prophetic grace just like John the Baptist who prepared Israel for the coming of Christ, so will this prophetic frequency prepare the heart of my church for the manifestation of Christ in her midst. Scripture: Matthew 3:1-3 NIV 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ” Application:
Prophecy: There is a great work of kingdom advance in front of my church, many are running to false finish lines and declaring that the end is near, that it's time to exit, but I say it is not time to prepare to exit but a time to prepare to possess the earth and extend my glory in the nations. Scripture: Isaiah 11:9-10 NIV 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. Acts 2:9-11 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Application
Prophecy: Keep pressing into this season, as there is much to be revealed and many of the seals to be broken off my eternal word. Scripture: Revelation 5:9-10 NIV 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. John 4:12 NIV 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. Application:
Prophecy: It's time for the equippers to come forth, having been reconfigured by apostolic doctrine and trained in the grace of the kairos time of my spirit. Change, unlearning and an upgraded dimension of hearing needs to take place in my body. Scripture: Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up Ephesians 2:20 NIV 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. Application:
Prophecy: Some will not engage out of distraction and poor teaching, some have been conditioned in such lethargy that they will struggle to rise up out of their slumber. However I will raise a company within my body that will answer this call. Scripture: Romans 13:11 NIV 11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Ephesians 5:14 NIV 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Matthew 26:40 NIV 40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Application:
Prophecy: Currently the apostolic and prophetic have seen a humble response to this frequency to date, however with the increasing maturity and accuracy of this message emerging, many new hearts will be activated. It's a day for my leaders in the Body of Christ to reason together about how to respond to my activations in the earth. A mature, deliberated and careful response needs to be entered into if my church is to see the manifestation of my goodness such as they desire in the land. The fivefold ministry will need to come together and out of mutual submission, work together for the wrestling forth of my mind. Competition, jealously, strife and party spirits will need to be repented of and surrendered so that the ability to see can be restored and deepened with regards to my mind." Scripture: Isaiah 40: 9-11 NIV 9 You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. 11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Acts 15:22-28 NIV 22 Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. 23 With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings. 24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements Application:
David Balestri 7/9/16 www.newpropheticdimension.com www.marketplacecoach.com.au www.marketplaceinvasion.com.au David's in the field
I was asked to say what I saw for the church in Australia in the coming season at the Peace international Apostolic Summit in Rockhampton tonight, following is an extended version of what I shared: "The people of this world are acutely aware of Chronos (natural, linear) time, however as kingdom people we are to discern the Kairos timing of God on the earth. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;” Hebrews 1:1-2 NKJV A new day had dawned upon the earth through the arrival of Gods' Son in Christ. A new Kairos season/time had dawned on the church and she needed to hear the speaking of God through this new context. The pioneering stage of this apostolic - prophetic reformation has transitioned into the establishing stage of the work. We live in a key moment in this nation with regards to God's purposes in the release and expansion of the apostolic - prophetic reformation across the land. We as a nation have had the apostolic season breaking in upon us for over 20 years and as a church in the nation we have in general been resistant to this move except for some small pockets of embrace and migration amongst some churches and ministries. This season of leanness is now over and the next 20 or so years will not be a repeat of the last 20. Many David's in the fields will begin to emerge across this nation, they will be men and women whom God has nurtured and developed in the back fields of the kingdom out of sight. “Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.”” I Samuel 16:10-11 NKJV Their hearts have been tested and their integrity proven towards the Lord through seasons of loneliness and obscurity. God will begin to sovereignly link these emerging champions in the Lord relationally, they will begin to find one another and stand with with each other, accelerating the work of God in reformation dramatically. “Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said: “ We are yours, O David; We are on your side, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, And peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.” So David received them, and made them captains of the troop.” I Chronicles 12:18 NKJV As a result of this apostolic synergy many who begin to migrate into this move of God and will be upgraded and configured at a much greater speed than those who embraced this move in the pioneering stage. “And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”” Matthew 20:6-7, 12, 16 NKJV This will manifest itself in a mighty releasing dimension upon the saints, sending them powerfully into the marketplace equipped, anointed and configured to become champions in the land! “Now these were the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel.” I Chronicles 11:10 NKJV David Balestri May 2016 "There is a demonic assignment to frustrate my purposes in the nation of Australia amongst my key apostles in the land, it is an assignment of containment and also disillusionment.
Some of my ministers vacillate from confident to discouraged almost week to week. Others go from clarity to confusion just as quickly. They will have to fight this challenge and breakthrough in prayer, partnership and repositioning! - Prayer remains the first steps in humbling hearts and releasing of my grace. James 4:6 NIV “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” A fresh commitment and rediscovery of the place of prayer will need to be reestablished in the hearts and calendars of my leaders. Colossians 4:2 NIV “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” - Partnership and activation of the saints in kingdom communities I have placed them over. The apostolic must filter into greater activation of the saints in their midst. Some of their sons must rise up as champions in the marketplace and congregational expressions of ministry. It cannot remain that leaders stand at the forefront of kingdom activity and a great chasm is between them and the kingdom churches they serve into in the out working of this apostolic dimension in the life of the saints Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” - Repositioning speaks to the stripping away of inaccurate positions Jeremiah 1:10 NIV “See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.” - Within their own hearts (ambitions, modes of leadership expression, spiritual understanding of how I want to relate to them in this season) - Within their leadership teams (secondary leaders must be recalibrated and some need to be reassigned) - Within the life expression of their kingdom communities (apostolic doctrine and sound, culture and engagement with their cities and assigned territories must become redefined and actioned) The retooling of the prophetic will be a master key for these ministries, as they learn to embrace and engage with it they will discover an acceleration of ministry like they had hoped for and to date but as yet have not fully experienced. This will have to come as a growing revelation to them and will not be forced upon them as their natures would cause them to resist it. David Balestri 22/6/16 #Apostolic #Prophetic #Kingdom #Kingdomcome #Marketplace #ministry #church #Jesus #demonicassignments |
AuthorDavid Balestri is a Prophetic voice in the body of Christ championing the distinctives of the word of God in the prophetic dimension Archives
March 2018
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