04/01/2024
Dear Sheepfold,
We are slowly re-emerging from the backside of the desert. It's been a unique and unusual journey, and I'm looking forward to sharing with you my personal experiences with the Great Shepherd, Jesus.
For now, allow me to challenge you and encourage you at the same time.
St. John the Divine once wrote, "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:5, 6 AV)
Did you catch that? Christ has made US kings and priests unto God. All too often many Christians are content to simply attend a brick and mortar church building and let the person behind the pulpit do the thinking for us and act as the voice of God on our behalf. As priests, or the mediary between God and man for spiritual guidance and communication, we can communicate with God on our own without the interference of someone else.
Years ago when I was a young teenager, I'll never forget the time when a good-hearted lady approached me during a church services supposing to "hear from God." Like most in the charismatic movement, she believed she had a "word" for me. I allowed her the opportunity to whip herself in to an emotional frenzy until she was able to speak what she believed God had to tell her.
"If you don't stop what you're doing, the end thereof will prove destructive," she forcefully said. I replied, "What is it I'm supposedly doing?" I replied. She continued: "You know what you're doing, and you need to pray and ask God what it is you're doing so you can repent of it." I replied once more, "Since you're under the anointing, and God is speaking to you, please tell me what I need to repent of!" Her final statement was, "You need to seek God yourself and have him reveal it, but I know."
Curious to see what God had to say, I did as she instructed. I searched my soul and my heart (Psalm 139:23) and asked God to reveal any wrong doing I was actively participating in at that time in my life. I prayed and prayed, and the Lord never said a word to me, and I could not think of anything I was going at that point in my life that would "prove destructive." But I repented anyway, because I did not want there to be any obstruction between me and the God I loved.
Fastforward a week later, and the same lady approached me at church again and asked me if I had prayed about things. I told her I had and that there was nothing God said to me or revealed to me that confirmed or prophecy.
It sort of broke my heart that I burst her bubble regarding her false prophecy, but the incident did challenge me at the age of 18 to begin thinking about the idea that if God is all powerful, why would he need someone else to speak to me? If God had something to tell me, He can do is personally! And that's the point.
Particular to the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement, there are too many people who believe they are gifted with the means to speak for God, or that God is going to expose people's sins to others and have them go to the erring person to warn them of pending danger and doom. Guess what? Under the New Covenant in Jesus' blood, that doesn't happen.
If you are a Holy Spirit filled person, the Holy Ghost will speak to you directly. Not only that, you will know the sting and itch of sin when you do it. You won't need another person to come to you publicly or privately and try to shame you for things you are not doing, or maybe doing. God will talk to you directly in His own way.
I begin every prayer with "search my heart, O God. Make me ever new." I do that because I value my relationship with the Father, and my journey and relationship with Him is between the two of us.
Imagine having an earthly brother or sister, and you upset your mother or father. Your mother or father is not going to communicate to your sibling that they are upset with you and then tell them to tell you that they are mad at you. Your parents will come to you directly to let you know what's up! THe same applied with the Heavenly Father. If the Father senses enmity between you and He, God will find a way to communicate with you one-on-one directly with you and without a go-between.
We have direct access to God thanks to the blood of the Lamb. I don't need someone to speak to me on behalf of God. To me, that insults His sovereignty when people claim, "The Lord spoke to me and told me to tell you...."
Sit down and shut up! No He didn't!
People who try to speak on behalf of God are often times condescending and arrogant. Then they tack on the title "prophet" because it sounds cool. Well, it isn't! Especially when you become enlightened to the fact that God will deal with you and reveal things to you directly!
- Jeremy
