Basie Martins

Body of Christ: The Next Five Years Let me be clear at the outset. I’m not making a prediction. Nor am I prophesying. (That being interpreted means, stoning is off the table.) What I’m about to share are simply deep impressions I have of what I envision happening in the body of Christ over the next five years. I’m by no means claiming immaculate perception. But right or wrong, I do expect these things to take place. There will be a restoration of the full message of the kingdom of God. Over the last 50 years until the present day, when the kingdom of God has been presented, it’s usually piecemeal (only one or two aspects of it are emphasized), it’s couched in legalism and guilt, or it’s presented in highly academic manner void of any practical application. I see this changing over the next five years. The blistering, high-voltage, deeply-subversive, earth-shaking kingdom message will begin to be unleashed in the earth again. Many who are called to the Lord’s work, but who are presently in a holding pattern of waiting, will be released to minister. A number of well-known leaders from different streams in the body of Christ will begin co-working together. They will no longer stay in their safe comfort zones and religious cliques. Related to the above, God will begin laying the groundwork for a powerful ministry team to emerge and cut loose in the world. This team will bear the kingdom message together. The Lord will raise up a tribe of Christians whose devotion to Jesus Christ and His kingdom will be just as radical, absolute, and unshakable as the devotion that the members of ISIS have to their cause. (Without the violence and barbarism, of course. I’m speaking about their level of allegiance.) A growing number of Christian Millennials will be stirred by the Spirit of God to hunger and thirst for the deeper things of Christ. This hunger and thirst will spread worldwide…. – Frank Viola Click on this link to read more: The Next Five Years All local resources on this website are free of charge. Please help us by sharing it with your friends through the social networks. Social network sharing buttonsRead more

The False, the Called and the Commissioned It is of great importance when it comes to the Body of Christ and when it comes to one’s mandate, to be greatly aware of the difference between the commission and the calling, while also being aware of the outright or the unintentional false. And this implies the prophetic within the Body of Christ. Again, we need to remind ourselves that despite so many people calling themselves prophets, many are not called unto such a ministry or even commissioned. Many are just self-professed “prophets”, or wrongly appointed or released into such an office. This has caused great harm to the Body of Christ. One should be reminded it is folly to ignore the true prophet and how the Lord leads the prophet to speak and to act. It is just as dangerous to heed a false prophet. Indeed, a prophet is called to be obedient, and never rebellious. A prophet speaks not out of his own will or imagination, or to benefit the self but only to glorify God and to speak as the Lord leads. There is often a debate on what is a false prophet. Is it merely someone who is not a believer at all and who intentionally causes deception and anarchy? Or can it be a believer who speaks unintentionally words that come not from God? When it comes to false prophets, does the falseness imply to the prophecy itself, or the person? And then, to say someone is a false prophet is also an oxymoron, because if someone is a prophet, then he cannot be false. If someone is false, then they surely are not a prophet, but someone who is pretending or deceiving. We need to understand that there are those who are non-believers, planted for a purpose to speak “prophetic” words within the church. Such words are nothing more than divination. Then we also find those who are believers (even to the loosest of terms) but do speak not the truth, both in fact intentionally and unintentionally. Such believers are not called to be a prophet. Some of these believers know they are not called to such a mandate, so they fake it, and then you get those who are clearly under deception themselves they stand in the office. Let us first look at the concept of the false prophet in the New Testament. It says the following: Mark 13:22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 2 Peter 2:1 [Destructive Doctrines ] But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them and bring on themselves swift destruction. 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. And also Matthew 7: 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Take note of Mark 13, which speaks of false christs, which is an oxymoron. If you are not Christ, you are false, which includes the horde of people and demons pretending otherwise. Consider there is the argument that in every instance where the false prophet is mentioned in the New Testament that it never refers to a believer. This, however, cannot be proved. What we do read is the existence of the false teachers and the false prophets in the midst of the Church, but if they are believers or not this cannot be ascertained. We do read that they come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves and they will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. One can argue that surely a believer will not intentionally seek to deceive and bring others to a state of deception. After all, if we look at the Scriptures, it speaks of deception, bringing in destructive heresies, and being like ravenous wolves. All of these do not sound like the character and nature of a believer. Or does it? Let us also look at what it says of the false prophet in the Old Testament in Ezekiel 13: And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy out of their own heart, ‘Hear the word of the Lord!’ ” 3 Thus says the Lord God: “Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing! 4 O Israel, your prophets are like foxes in the deserts. 5 You have not gone up into the gaps to build a wall for the house of Israel to stand in battle on the day of the Lord. 6 They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord!’ But the Lord has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed. 7 Have you not seen a futile vision, and have you not spoken false divination? You say, ‘The Lord says,’ but I have not spoken.” 8 Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you,” says the Lord God. 9 “My hand will be against the prophets who envision futility and who divine lies; they shall not be in the assembly of My people, nor be written in the record of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord God. 10 “Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace Here we find that the false prophet speaks out of his own heart, moving in divination (witchcraft), therefore operating by a different spirit and leading the people away from God through a process of deceptive seduction. This, therefore, links up to 1 John 4 verse 1 which speaks about not believing every spirit. Jesus warned false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive. The only way for counterfeit signs and wonders to be performed is through the demonic, thus a different spirit. It says in Jeremiah 23: 16 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the Lord. 17 They continually say to those who despise Me, ‘The Lord has said, “You shall have peace” ’; And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’ ” To find what we find regarding the false prophet is that there is an intentional deception, not speaking by the Spirit of the Lord and that their words at worthless and of no weight. The Lord also reminds us that a true prophet is known by his fruit, thus his relationship with the Lord. So, let us first accept the reality that there are false prophets in the church. And we need to accept that some of these false prophets are intentionally planted to sow division and deception. They seek not to bring the truth of God but to sow confusion, and to bring harm and destruction. After all, there is a spiritual war raging daily between the Kingdom of Light and the devil’s kingdom. The battle is over souls. So indeed, they are the ravenous wolves and they come to bring division, discord, and strife. The question remains, can a believer thus be classified as a false prophet? This will imply intentional deception, speaking out of his heart, and being led by a different spirit. Remember, such false prophets are classified as ravenous wolves. This is a tricky point of debate because the reality is that there are believers out there who believe they are operating in the Holy Spirit but are operating in a different spirit. It is a matter of being deceived themselves. They are therefore under a cloak of deception. This can easily happen as a result of a lack of spiritual maturity, not being accountable, and not being open to correction and rebuke. There are believers who also follow their own agendas, who seek to pursue their own will, and who seek to pursue a different purpose, which would take them on a path of conflict against the Lord Himself. They will also act like ravenous wolves, for their intentions are based on the Self and the need for self-exaltation, thus driving a need to promote their own agenda. Consider then, are those who prophesy with a different agenda, or even are deceived by being seduced by a different spirit, truly by definition serving the Lord? If their intention is not to serve the Lord, then it is clear cut they are false. Yet, if they are serving the Lord, yet their prophecy is misguided or selfish or even seductive in nature, how then shall they be classified? False or misguided? Again, we need to remind ourselves the Lord said “they shall be known by their fruit”. This implies a true prophet is one that has a close walk with God and has completely yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit. You can therefore say that one has to be aware of the reality that there are false prophets, thus implying those who intentionally seek to cause harm and destruction and that there are believers who are merely misguided or seduced, who intentionally or even unintentionally cause harm to the Body of Christ. Either way, they should not be listened to, for both parties will and shall cause harm, and both parties will and can introduce false doctrine and spread lies and deceptions. For a believer, there is the danger to fall into a trap of seduction, spreading false words and teachings under the guise of seductive “prophecy” (thus divination) if one does not continually check your heart, guard your mind, and remain open to correction, first and foremost from the Holy Spirit. After all, how many preachers and teachers are not speaking false doctrines in the church today? Is there an intention to deliberately cause harm, or are they convinced by a deceptive spirit or by their own imagination of the seductive nature of the mind of the validity of their theology? Whatever the case, if they seek to deliberately cause harm (thus not a child of God), or are only leading others astray unintentionally by allowing deception to saturate them, they must not be listened to. This also implies to the prophetic. We, therefore, need discernment and we need to be led by the Spirit of the Lord regarding the prophetic word and those who claim themselves to be a prophet. Either someone is ordained and mandated by the Lord to stand in the office, or they are not, be it a believer or a non-believer. Yet, many do fake the calling, or are convinced of their calling, or are intentionally claiming the title for their own gain and profit. We need discernment when a word is spoken deliberately to seduce or deceive, or when it is merely misguided or has hidden agenda. Now, in light of all this, one also needs to take note that there are indeed prophets in waiting in the churches that are also at times speaking words that are not always accurate, or even misguided or colored in. This is because we need to understand the difference between the calling and the commission. When Jesus called His disciples, He didn’t call them to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers right away. He simply called them to follow Him. And as they followed Him, Jesus promised that He would make them into “fishers of men.” So there was a calling on their lives, yet for 3½ years they followed and learned from the Master. The disciples left their nets immediately to follow Jesus, but they were not made into fishers of men immediately. There was a season of training between when Jesus called them to follow Him and when He commissioned them to preach the gospel. We read in 1 Kings 19: Elisha Follows Elijah: 19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. 20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” Like the disciples who heeded the call to follow, so did Elisha heed the call to follow. Elisha was at the time farming, but when the mantle was placed upon him, he was already walking in his calling. The calling was thus already on Elisha, it just has to be stirred and brought to life by another prophet. Obedience to the call of God is thus about following Jesus. We all have a calling on our lives as disciples of God, but there is a time and season before we are commissioned to step into that calling. As we continue on our spiritual walk, we must focus on following Jesus, staying obedient, learning, growing, and maturing for then the commission will come. As shown, Elisha is a great example of this same process. When Elijah was sent to him to anoint him to be prophet in his place, Elijah threw his mantle (symbolizing his office and anointing as a prophet) over Elisha. As we follow their story we find that Elisha served Elijah, who then went through an apprenticeship or mentorship season with the senior prophet while he was the prophet in training, until 2 Kings 2 when Elijah is taken up from Elisha in the whirlwind. Elisha cried out: “My Father, My Father.” At this occurrence, the mantle of Elijah fell and Elisha picked it up and all the sons of the prophets who watched said surely the spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha. At this point in time, Elisha’s call to be a prophet turned into a commission. David also went through this process. Remember the prophet Samuel anointed David when he was a mere shepherd. David had a call on his life to be king, but it took a while before he became king (his commission). Take for example also the Apostle Paul. We first meet Paul as Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of the church, who has a divine encounter with the resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus. When Ananias is sent to Saul after his conversion in Acts 9 verses 15 and 16 the Lord said to Ananias: 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” From Jeremiah 1:1 we learn that Jeremiah was a priest, the son of Hilkiah, the High Priest who found the Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:8). In verses 2 and 3 we are told that his calling was in the thirteenth year of King Josiah’s reign (BC 627) and that his ministry continued to the eleventh year of King Zedekiah when the Kingdom of Judah was destroyed by the Babylonians (BC 586) – a period of just over forty years. In Jeremiah 1 verse 5, Jeremiah was told that long before he was born, God had chosen him for this important task. He was to be a prophet, not just to the Kingdom of Judah but “a prophet unto the nations”. He was called by God and charged with an awesome responsibility. He was to speak God’s Word to Judah and the nations, to his own people and the world. That Word would determine their destinies and because it was God’s Word, it would surely come to pass. And, importantly, whilst making God’s warning very clear to Judah, the Gentile nations would be left in no doubt that it was God, not them, who was removing His people from the land. So we learn from Jeremiah even though he was fulfilling the task of a priest, Jeremiah was called for something else … the prophetic. And that prophetic only stirred to life when the Lord called Jeremiah unto prophetic service, just as the Lord called Samuel. Still today, God could directly speak to His servant to begin walking in the calling until they are commissioned, or the calling can be confirmed by another servant of the Most High. For those in the prophetic, you will find the commissioned prophet speaking to the prophet in calling. Saul was shown what he was called to do, which was his calling, but yet he did not get to walk in the fullness of that call until many years later in Acts 13. We read in this chapter: Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Paul didn’t immediately step into the commission of being an Apostle declaring the Good News to the Gentiles. He first went through a long period of learning from the Lord. Thus a journey from calling to being commissioned. In Acts 13 he was set aside and commissioned. If David had to go through a process from calling to commissioning and if Elisha had to go through such a process along with Paul, then this implies every believer goes through such a road of preparation. After all, Jesus also went through this process! For 30 years there was a calling on the life of our Lord, even though He was the Son of God. Only when he was baptized by John the Baptist did the Lord step into His commission and ministered and fulfilled His commission 3½ years later. There are no shortcuts on the way to one’s commission; therefore stepping into one’s calling. We must yield to the process for it is the process that we must all go through on the road from calling to COMMISSIONING. This is the road of discipleship, of being mentored, of being trained, and spending a lot of time with the Lord. It is through reading our Bible, listening to spiritually mature people, and waiting on God in prayer we will know what to do, where to go, how to get there, and how to act. When God is calling us to do something for Him, He will do what is needed to get His purpose accomplished. Along this journey, we shall become certain of His will, and He will bring us into position and equip us to fulfill the calling. Therefore, we must take note there are prophets in the church today who have been called but who are not yet commissioned. They still must undergo a process of refinement, maturity, training, discipleship, and mentoring. And this is where the road for the prophet in calling gets tricky because during this stage one can easily misinterpret the Word of God, speak out of the flesh, speak out of the imagination, or speak out of place. It takes plenty of time with God, with other mature prophets, and a journey of character and growing spiritually, to move into a position of being commissioned where the prophet in calling speaks as the Lord leads. This is not an easy journey, and this journey can take many years of being refined, becoming mature, and growing closer to the Lord. We read the following in Ezekiel 3: 23 So I arose and went out into the plain, and behold, the glory of the Lord stood there, like the glory which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face. 24 Then the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and spoke with me and said to me: “Go, shut yourself inside your house. 25 And you, O son of man, surely they will put ropes on you and bind you with them so that you cannot go out among them. 26 I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and not be one to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious house. 27 But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house. In Ezekiel 2, we read of Ezekiel’s call to be a prophet, which was a calling that had rested most likely a while upon Ezekiel until it was revealed by the Lord. In Ezekiel 3 we read how the Lord commissioned him to be a prophet, and how the Spirit entered him. We read how the Lord said that Ezekiel will only speak when God allows it to be so. This, therefore, speaks of complete obedience, trusting the will of God, and submitting and yielding in humility to the Lord’s ways. The reality is that a commissioned prophet walks in maturity, for he has learned to trust, to be obedient, and how to move with the Spirit of the Lord. A prophet in calling learns such matters on his journey. While he may operate in the prophetic as the Lord leads, yet at times because of the journey towards greater maturity, such a prophet in calling is at risk of coloring in a word, adding according to his own perceptions or even speaking out of the flesh. He is therefore not false, not even misguided, but sadly on a journey from calling to being commissioned. This is therefore a time of learning or refining the call and drawing closer to God until the commissioning is settled. Thus in the Body of Christ, we need to be aware that we sit with commissioned prophets who have been anointed, appointed, and ordained by God to speak His Word. Of them, there are no excuses if they speak falsely or lead people astray, for they should be completely submitted to the way, will, and truth of the Lord and speak as led just as the Lord led Ezekiel. They should be mature, for remember, man does not determine the commissioning, only God. So if the Lord sets apart the commissioned prophet, then the prophet in the eyes of God is ready to be God’s spokesperson. For them, it is very dangerous to speak falsely, or not obey God. But then, we also sit with prophets in calling, who are learning and training, and along the way, they will make mistakes. They are therefore not false but should be mentored, corrected, and equipped in order not to cause harm, strife, or confusion. Again, this is a process, and they will learn with time. It is critical importance for them to be mentored every step of the way, in case they cause harm unintentionally. And then, we do sit with the misguided who believe they are prophesying, and even though they do follow not the Lord, they are not called or commissioned to be prophets. Their intent at times is unclear, but if not ordained or appointed by God, their words should be taken with great caution. We should also discern when someone is moving by the gift of wisdom, knowledge, or prophecy. When the latter applies, the person is then moving in the Spirit but is still not a prophet of the Lord. Finally, we sit with the false prophets, who speak not of the Spirit, but by a different spirit, and thus by their divination they cause destruction and harm. They must be exposed and their words areRead more

The Mandate and the Journey For the prophet, obedience is of paramount importance to walk in the office, and to walk in God’s commission. Part and parcel of obedience is to remain obedient to the mandate. There are many prophets who want to do it all and they run around trying to accomplish all kinds of tasks. They are overzealous to the point of being disobedient, and once you are disobedient you become rebellious. A rebellious prophet treads on dangerous ground. A prophet cannot simply go where he wants to go or say what he wants to say. A prophet needs to be assigned to a task by the Lord, and just so the words he speaks must be assigned and where he treads must be assigned. A prophet steps into dangerous territory if he forgets to be obedient at all times. A prophet must know his assignment, his task, and his duty, every day. He cannot do as he pleases, for this was the problem of the kings of Israel of old. A prophet does as the Lord commands, when the Lord commands, and how the Lord commands. So while prophets may be called and then commissioned, do they truly know their mandate? Do they know what God has called them to do? Sure, you are a prophet, but what message are you called to deliver, to what target audience, and in what mode or form? Are you called to be a prophetic worshipper, or one standing on the watchtower, or are you called to speak over a nation or nations, or are you called to dream and share visions? Are you called to speak to the Body of Christ or the heathens, or are you called to equip other prophets or are you called to equip, train and teach prophetically? Are you called to speak judgment, to edify, or to correct or to restore? The mandate applies to all believers, and for the prophet it is of critical importance. Each and every prophet is different, with a different message, a different style, and a different approach. It all depends on your mandate, and so we must make sure what is our mandate. We will find in the Old Testament that the prophets did not just jump into the calling. They sought assurance from the Lord, and they moved in great humility. Moses had a number of excuses when the Lord called him, including that he was not qualified to fulfill his calling. Moses’s response after all to his calling was to say, “Who am I”. Exodus 3:11 tells us how Moses questioned his qualifications to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. “And Moses, said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Moses even questioned his calling because he cited a lack of knowledge. Exodus 3:13, “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?” Moses was so hesitant to step in his calling that in Exodus 4:1 he truly questioned his belief in his ability to fulfill his calling. And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will, say The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.” And also … Exodus 4:10, “And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” Moses even wanted the Lord to send someone else to do the Lord’s work, which led to Moses being assisted by Aaron. Was Moses’ reaction all negative, or do we rather find a great sense of humility and a quest for certainty? After all, Moses repeatedly pressed the Lord if He had made the right choice. This reminds us that a prophet must always remain humble. A prophet is not some sort of superior and elite servant of God but only seeks the serve the Lord in truth and with integrity. Moses did not boast about himself, but rather wondered why would the Lord choose him. We find in Numbers 17 how God assures the entire Israel that Aaron as the High Priest of the Levite’s is God’s chosen vessel, supported by the prophet Moses. At the time the people were constantly grumbling, with so many leaders of the 12 tribes wanting to take charge. So we read: 17 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and get from them a rod from each father’s house, all their leaders according to their fathers’ houses—twelve rods. Write each man’s name on his rod. 3 And you shall write Aaron’s name on the rod of Levi. For there shall be one rod for the head of each father’s house. 4 Then you shall place them in the tabernacle of meeting before the Testimony, where I meet with you. 5 And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose will blossom; thus I will rid Myself of the complaints of the children of Israel, which they make against you.” It was of course the staff of Aaron that blossomed the next morning. Thus Aaron was also assured that God had called him for the task. This demonstration of God’s power is also testimony to how the true prophetic will always triumph over the counterfeit and whatever else may oppose the Lord’s work. In this case, the staff of Aaron blossomed, silencing the voice of those who opposed him, just as Aaron’s staff swallowed the staff of the Egyptian magicians. Thus God’s power and God’s intent, His will, and purpose shall never be silenced when it comes to the prophetic. In Isaiah 6 we find the prophet crying out: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.” Again we find great humility, for this is the mark of the prophet. In Jeremiah 1, the prophet answered the Lord’s calling by saying: 6 Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” His doubt and humility were answered by the Lord: 7 But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. Gideon was one of the judges of Israel. He may not be regarded as a prophet according to the very definition, but he moved powerfully in such a manner that his actions were powerful prophetic manifestations. After all, his story (Judges 6-8) is remembered largely for the account of his leadership of the valiant 300 men and their destruction of the Midianite army, which brought 40 years of peace and relief from harsh Midianite oppression. What may be an even more interesting facet of this story is the need that Gideon had for assurance from God. Early on, Gideon asked three times for a sign, and later, God offered an opportunity for Gideon to gain some needed assurance. So when it comes to the mandate of the prophet, assurance is most definitely needed. The prophet needs to know that he is on the right path and that he has been called. There is nothing wrong with asking for assurance. It simply means the prophet wants to make sure that he is doing what the Lord has mandated and ordained. So it is good to seek assurance, for it shows humility and a determination to know what is true and proper. Of Ezekiel’s mandate we read in chapter 2: And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.” 2 Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. 3 And He said to me: “Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. 4 For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ 5 As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6 “And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. 7 You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. 8 But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” Of Jeremiah’s mandate we read in chapter 1: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.” Of Isaiah’s mandate we read in chapter 6: 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” 9 And He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 10 “Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.” 11 Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate, 12 The Lord has removed men far away, And the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. 13 But yet a tenth will be in it, And will return and be for consuming, As a terebinth tree or as an oak, Whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.” Of Amos’ mandate we read the following in chapter 7: 14 Then Amos answered, and said to Amaziah: “I was no prophet, Nor was I a son of a prophet, But I was a sheepbreeder And a tender of sycamore fruit. 15 Then the Lord took me [j]as I followed the flock, And the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ 16 Now therefore, hear the word of the Lord: You say, ‘Do not prophesy against Israel, And do not spout against the house of Isaac.’ 17 “Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Your wife shall be a harlot in the city; Your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword; Your land shall be divided by survey line; You shall die in a defiled land; And Israel shall surely be led away captive From his own land.’ ” Consider Elijah, who God appointed as a man of the desert regions to go before kings, bringing the message of warning and repentance. We first read of Elijah in 1 Kings 17: Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” About 870 BC, northern Israel’s decadence had become so evil that God stepped in. He called a “country boy” from the remote desert territory of Gilead to be His spokesman. Elijah was devoted to God; deeply concerned and grieved by the idolatrous behavior of his people. Elijah knew that God’s wrath toward Israel’s behavior was long overdue. The apostle James would later speak of Elijah’s faith saying, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit” (James 5:17-18). Like many of the prophets, Elijah did not seek to be God’s messenger. Instead, God chose him for the job. Once called, Elijah did not hesitate to take on his mission, even though it appeared that his life would be threatened by the wicked king. As a young man, Elijah embarrassed the petulant King Ahab, angered his wicked wife, Jezebel, rebuked a nation almost totally given over to idolatry, and proved that Baal was no god. Elijah was also the first prophet in Old Testament times to raise a person from the dead, while Elijah was also taken to heaven in a chariot of fire without experiencing death. Elijah was a prophet who thus stayed obedient to his mandate, to the point that Peter, James, and John saw Elijah on the mountain where Jesus was transfigured. Elijah’s ministry lasted a mere 24 years, but he is considered to be one of the greatest prophets in Old Testament times. His greatness had nothing to do with his family tree, his education, his personal wealth, or his assets. In fact, James emphasizes this point by saying, “Elijah was a man just like us.” Elijah’s greatness stemmed from obedience. This is because he dedicated his life in service to God and glorified His holy name, especially at a time when such behavior was politically and religiously incorrect. Now, let us consider the life of John the Baptist. We read of his mandate in Matthew 3: In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ” What is significant about John is the prophecy in Malachi 4:5,6: “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.” Malachi chapter 4 describes an impending judgment from God. This will occur on “the day” of ultimate reckoning. While Moses is representative of the Law, Elijah is representative of the prophets. John the Baptist would fulfill the “messenger” prophecy of Malachi 3:1 (Isaiah 40:3; John 1:23). Remember, it was John the disciple who denied that he was the prophesied “Elijah” of this verse in Malachi (John 1:21), not John the Baptist. It says in Luke 1: 3 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” It also says in Matthew 11: 11 “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. It should also be noted that Jesus said that Elijah was still to come (Matthew 17:11), a statement made after John the Baptist’s death. Maybe Malachi had in mind a separate, later reappearance of Elijah, as in Revelation 11:1–13. This moment in the end times might involve Elijah himself or someone, like John the Baptist, who comes “in his power.” What is, however, clear is that John the Baptist appeared in the spirit and power of Elijah at the time of his ministry. Keeping this in mind, in 1 Kings 19 (NKJV) we find Elijah escapes from Jezebel. 19 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” Did Jezebel complete her vow to do to Elijah what he did unto her and the false prophets? No. Yet, that vow was spoken in the spiritual atmosphere. Let us fast forward to the days of John the Baptist – a man in the spirit of Elijah – and who was also in the wilderness. Remember Jezebel could not get hold of Elijah because he was in the wilderness. In 2 Kings 9, we read how Elijah anointed Jehu as king of Israel (which formed part of the prophet’s mandate). In the same chapter from verse 30 to 37 we read of Jezebel’s violent death at the hands of Jehu. Thus Elijah appointed the king who would take the life of the one who had persecuted the prophet. Yet, is this the end of the matter? In Mark 6 we read; 21 Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. 22 And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23 He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 24 So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!” Let us understand that what was in operation here was the Jezebel spirit working through Herodias, who manipulated Herod just like Jezebel manipulated Ahab. And so the Jezebel spirit got the revenge upon Elijah for the spirit of Elijah was operating through John the Baptist. We read the following in Matthew 14: At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” The question that needs to be raised is, was John the Baptist mandated to speak out against Philip’s wife, Herodias? This would imply he was around the palace to do so, instead of the wilderness. In the days of Elijah, the Lord protected the prophet against Jezebel, but here we find another prophet carrying the spirit of Elijah being legally handed over to the Jezebel spirit, and so the vow of Jezebel was fulfilled. This speaks of the legal right that was given for the execution of John. Was he therefore disobedient to God for speaking out, for this placed him in a position of being noted, arrested and thus recognized by the Jezebel spirit? Whatever the truth of the matter, it reminds us to remain very close to the Lord, to remain obedient, and to remain truthful. We must be very careful what we speak, where we tread, where we go, and what we do, for there is a spiritual war going on and there is plenty of demonic activity seeking legal ground to devour God’s children, including the prophets. And a prophet can come under severe demonic attack if he steps out of his mandate and assignment, thus seeking his own will and way. Therefore a prophet must be careful not to be overzealous, for this can be very dangerous. A prophet can only speak as the Lord leads. This is why the prophet must be careful of pride and arrogance, thinking he can do as he wants. Scriptures prove the dangers of a prophet disobeying the Lord. Regarding the appointment, in 1 Kings 19, we read how Elijah found Elisha son of Shaphat, and threw his cloak around him. Elisha was therefore chosen and mandated for a task. And so he followed Elijah until it was time for himself to step into his commission as a prophet. The first thing we see about Elisha is that he was a plowman. Here he was, plowing with his oxen to break up the tough rugged ground. He would remain a plowman to the end of his life although God had a whole new ‘ground’ in mind for Elisha. It wouldn’t be the hard natural ground that would concern Elisha after this point. God had an even harder ground for Elisha to plow. It would be the hard hearts of the Israelites themselves that Elisha would now be concerned with. When Elijah threw his mantle around Elisha, the called prophet didn’t have to ask ‘what’s going on?’ He knew exactly what that meant. Mantles were typically made of animal hair and were generally worn by kings and prophets. They were symbolic of the owners calling, position, and authority. So Elisha didn’t have to ask Elijah what was going on. He knew. This was a passing of Elijah’s calling and position onto Elisha. So from the passage, we see that God chose Elisha. Elisha was simply going about his normal daily business of plowing the fields when God came through his prophet Elijah and sought him out. We see also the seriousness of Elisha’s response. How seriously did Elisha take this call from Elijah? Well, this is answered when we read how Elisha slaughtered his oxen as a sacrifice and burnt the plowing equipment to cook the meat. There was therefore no going back. In doing this we see a great example of someone leaving behind the old life when the call of God comes. Jesus said it well (as normal) “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62). Let us read 2 King 2:1-6 Elijah Ascends to Heaven: 2 And it came to pass, when the Lord was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel. 3 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent!” 4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they came to Jericho. 5 Now the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from over you today?” So he answered, “Yes, I know; keep silent!” 6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” We saw earlier that Elisha had forsaken all to follow Elijah and minister to him. He was willing to submit himself to the will of Elijah and follow him wherever he went. In 2 Kings 2, at each stage, Elijah tells Elisha to stop and not to go any further with him. At each stage, Elisha’s determination to press on and not leave Elijah is seen. Elisha was determined to walk in his mandate and calling. Truly, a prophet must be passionate, convicted, and determined to maintain the course as Elisha maintained his course by accompanying Elijah. This should be the heart cry of the prophet, to follow the Lord and to be obedient and faithful unto the assigned mandate. In I Samuel 3 we read of Samuel’s calling. At the time Samuel worked under Eli in the service of the shrine at Shiloh. Once Samuel responded to the Lord’s call, the Lord told him that the wickedness of the sons of Eli had resulted in their dynasty being condemned to destruction. In the morning, Samuel was hesitant about reporting the message to Eli, but Eli asked him honestly to recount to him what he had been told by the Lord. Upon receiving the communication, Eli merely said that the Lord should do what seems right unto him. We also read: 19 So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord. Samuel grew as a prophet because he remained obedient and faithful. And so we read that the Lord let none of his words fall to the ground. This means all that God spoke through Samuel came to pass because of the prophet’s obedience. Of his mandate, Samuel fulfilled different roles as a prophet. He was for example a key figure in keeping the Israelites’ religious heritage and identity alive during Israel’s defeat and occupation by the Philistines. After 20 years of oppression, Samuel, who had gained national prominence as a prophet (1 Samuel 3:20), summoned the people to the hill of Mizpah and led them against the Philistines. The Philistines, having marched to Mizpah to attack the newly amassed Israelite army, were soundly defeated and fled in terror. The retreating Philistines were slaughtered by the Israelites. The text then states that Samuel erected a large stone at the battle site as a memorial, and there ensued a long period of peace thereafter. Samuel was of course also a king-maker. Samuel initially appointed his two sons as his successors; however, just like Eli’s sons, Samuel’s proved unworthy. The Israelites rejected them. Because of the external threat from other tribes, such as the Philistines, the tribal leaders decided that there was a need for a more unified, central government and demanded Samuel appoint a king so that they could be like other nations. Samuel interpreted this as a personal rejection, and at first was reluctant to oblige, until reassured by a divine revelation. He warned the people of the potential negative consequences of such a decision. Samuel first anointed Saul to be king, followed by David. As a prophet of the Lord, one must therefore make sure of one’s mandate, in order to walk in victory and to walk in God’s purpose. On his journey of discovering his mandate, or when discovered, the prophet must always remain mindful to keep the journey. This is because the devil will do anything in his power to distract the prophet, to ensnare, enslave, to confuse, to discourage, and to even discredit. The devil wants the prophet to be carnally minded, cynical, depressed, disillusioned, overwhelmed, and emotionally unstable. The devil does not want a prophet that is focused, determined, stable, and at peace with the Lord and himself. In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul writes: 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. A prophet must adopt this mindset – run the race, fulfill it, and do so with certainty and strength in resolve. A prophet must discipline himself to remain committed, humble, dedicated, loyal, faithful, and obedient, always following the leading of the Holy Spirit. The devil is constantly trying to entrap us through our thoughts (this is why 2 Corinthians is so important), through sin and carnality (this is why Galatians 5 verses 1 and 13 is prevalent), and through religion, traditions, legalisms, philosophies, and worldviews (for this reason 2 Corinthians 3 is important and also John 8). Again these things the prophet must guard and take note of. Let us remember Matthew 7:15 (NKJV): 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. A wolf in sheep’s clothing is of course an idiom of Biblical origin used to describe those playing a role contrary to their real character with who contact is dangerous, particularly false teachers. The New Testament is full of Scriptures regarding the false teachers and false prophets, and Jesus warned about the world in John 10. God is warning us to be careful of those with false intentions, false motivations, and ill intent, even though they appear godly. Thus for the prophet, he must equally be careful with whom he associates, partners, mixes with, befriends, deals with, and even walks a path with it – in and out of ministry. 2 Thessalonians 3 comes to mind: 13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy but admonish him as a brother. A prophet should hold onto Psalm 1: Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law, he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. After all, a prophet must listen only to the Lord, be in His counsel, and not listen to rumors, fables, myths, and heresies. A prophet must be spending a lot more time in the presence and counsel of God than in the counsel of man, for the prophet’s guidance and wisdom comes from God and not from man. After all, a prophet is not called to speak what man says but speaks only as the Lord leads. For the Lord says many are coming in wolves’ clothing, and many are coming as the fowler to ensnare and to entrap and to lead us astray. Yet the prophet must be aware of such dangers, and the constant strategy of the enemy to distract the prophet, and eventually silence him. Discernment, and being aware flow from time spent with God, for there in the presence of the Almighty God grants spiritual vision, understanding, wisdom, and knowledge of how to tread, where to tread, and the seasons of all things. Galatians 2 speaks about Paul’s journey to Jerusalem with Barnabas to present the gospel that he was preaching among the Gentiles. We read the following: 4 This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. So a prophet must be constantly aware of the threats against himself, against the church, and the strategic warfare employed by the enemy. This is vital in order for the prophet to overcome, to continue walking in victory, and to continue on the journey of his mandate. The prophet must thus be aware and alert for many are infiltrating the ranks of the prophetic for the purpose of ensnaring, enslaving, and for the purpose of entrapping, and the purpose of caging. They will do so through false doctrines, false teachings, false agendas, and deceitful intentions, even downright occult intent, to devour and steal. They are agents of darkness. This reminds me of the Book of Jude which says: 8 Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. The prophet must realize the enemy is on the prowl and he will devour those that slumber and who fall for his traps and snares. So the prophet must remain vigilant, be awake, discern at all times, test all things, and be led by the Spirit. For then the prophet shall continue the road and shall overcome. As the prophet spends time in the counsel of the Lord, then surely the Lord shall guard his heart and mind. The prophet must continually pray for discernment, guidance, wisdom, strength, and victory in the Name of Jesus. As mentioned, the devil will try anything and everything to silence the prophet, to get the prophet to become disheartened and to become disillusioned. This is why the prophet must spend time with the Lord, grow in character, and grow spiritually, so he may remain vigilant and aware of the craftiness and the strategy of the devil. After all, the devil will use tactics such as intimidation, persecution, and rejection to silence the prophet, or at least to force the prophet to go astray in word and deed. A prophet will often be opposed by the truth that he speaks – just look at the lives of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel – and on this journey, many will ridicule, mock, and even slander the prophet. Intimidation will always be great to silence, or to rather force the prophet to follow the masses, to fear man, and to adapt to the changes of the time. Yet the prophet can and must never allow himself to be intimidated. Just look at the life of Daniel who was thrown into the lion’s den, along with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who endured the furnace of fire. They were not intimated, neither was Moses and of course, neither was Jesus. We read of Jeremiah’s woes over his unpopular ministry as a prophet in chapter 20: 7 O Lord, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; Everyone mocks me. 8 For when I spoke, I cried out; I shouted, “Violence and plunder!” Because the word of the Lord was made to me a reproach and a derision daily. 9 Then I said, “I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name.” But His word was in my heart like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not. 10 For I heard many ]mocking: “Fear on every side!” “Report,” they say, “and we will report it!” All my acquaintances watched for my stumbling, saying, “Perhaps he can be induced; Then we will prevail against him, And we will take our revenge on him.” 11 But the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail. They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper. Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten. 12 But, O Lord of hosts, You who test the righteous, And see the mind and heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them; For I have pleaded my cause before You. 13 Sing to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For He has delivered the life of the poor From the hand of evildoers. 14 Cursed be the day in which I was born! Let the day not be blessed in which my mother bore me! 15 Let the man be cursed Who brought news to my father, saying, “A male child has been born to you!” Making him very glad… 18 Why did I come forth from the womb to see labor and sorrow, That my days should be consumed with shame? Jeremiah speaks here of his inner struggles to cope with the mandate of being a prophet. The words that Jeremiah spoke were met with great resistance, and so he was scorned, mocked, ridiculed, and even intimated. Jeremiah even cursed the day he was born, so grieved he was by the struggles he endured. Indeed, because of what Jeremiah spoke he had become a reproach and a derision daily. It is not easy to be a prophet and to keep the journey. There are great struggles, for one becomes often a reproach because of the Truth spoken. And yes, intimidation will be evident, along with constant demonic attacks. Yet the prophet must endure, and find his hope and strength in God. For the prophet, it remains a journey of keeping guard over the gate of his heart and mind while the storms scream around him and the tormenters known on the door. Let us remember Mark 7: 17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) 20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.” The prophet should thus guard against deception and lies and falsehoods. Each and every prophet should stand guard and raise the alarms when the enemy tries to infiltrate. But if the enemy can draw us away from the ‘gates’, meaning away from the prophetic mantle/calling, or make the prophet apathetic, or make the prophet spiritually blind or deaf or mute, then who will raise the alarm? Thus it says in Ezekiel 33: 7 “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. Thus, the enemy does not want the prophet to sound the alarm, thus the prophet fails in his mandate and thus the blood is on his hands. For a prophet stands his ground and remains standing on the watchtower, he shall surely cry out, and he shall surely warn, correct, encourage and declare God’s will which brings deliverance, hope, restoration, and even healing. Thus the devil wants the prophet to leave his post – thus his mandate – by turning a blind eye, or by becoming distracted or even becoming spiritually lethargic, apathetic, and even backslidden. Indeed, if the prophet is caught up in his own world of inner chaos and uncertainty, becoming spiritually blind and deaf, who then shall sound the alarm? The prophet must thus remain mindful and aware of the devil’s schemes, for the devil also uses bribery and striking deals. The devil tries to distract the believer, and thus the prophet, with his bags of tricks. Idolatry, spiritual adultery, the gratification of the flesh, the exaltation of the Self, and the love for Self-will are means and ways how we become spiritually blind and deaf to the ways of God. And a blind and mute and deaf watchman is of no use. A distracted watchman is of no use. A slumbering watchman is of no use. So yes, let the prophet keep the course, no matter the struggle or the intimidation or the persecution, for the Lord shall sustain just as he sustained Elijah when fleeing from Jezebel. A prophet must guard his heart, remain in the Truth, remain in the counsel of God, and remain in the Spirit, for then he shall walk in spirit and truth. RiaanRead more

A Prophet of Character AsRead more

The Choice Lies Before Us Our entire spiritual journey along with our free will boils down to either choosing to walk with God (LIFE) or choosing the way of the world (DEATH). Regarding all the death, chaos, anarchy, violence, and abuse in the world, there is a simple explanation for why the world is witnessing so much tragedy and sadness. It is because so many people in the world have chosen not to believe and FOLLOW the one true God and His ways. There is a real difference between knowing of Him and knowing Him. The Lord once spoke something in my spirit that is so simple in truth but so profound: Those who walk not in Life (submitted to Jesus) will never be able to truly appreciate the sanctity of life or uphold the sanctity of life, for they have chosen the way and value of death. This is why we sit in a world of war, violence, anarchy, chaos, and death because the world has not chosen to follow the Lord of life. The world is rife with substance abuse (self-destruction), murder, war, abortions, child abuse, human trafficking, and the list goes on. Why? Because this world has chosen to forsake God, therefore LIFE (spiritual, emotional, physical), and therefore we are witnessing a complete disregard for the sanctity of life and thus the complete destruction of mankind. Where death reigns in the heart of men, then death will have its way. As the value of life depreciates, the world will drift further away from abiding in the Lord who is divine life. For those who do not walk in the life of God (truly and utterly submitted to His will, way, and truth in Spirit) they walk in the ways of death, and such death will always seek to destroy life. Jesus destroyed the sting of death, not only applying to eternal life but destroying the power of death on earth. But we have to choose to abide in the Lord and abide in life, lest death has its way in our lives (and death manifests in many different ways – not just physical death). For this reason, our very planet is dying (wildlife, environment, fauna, and flora) because the sanctity of LIFE on this planet is not upheld. The ONES who are to uphold such sanctity is the human race, created by the Lord, yet the human race has chosen not the way of the Lord and has thus by own choice and design chosen to be ruled by DEATH and thus inflict death not only against the planet but each other. The Lord created man in the first place to be stewards of this planet, but the deeper mankind has fallen into sin and even chose to deny Jesus after the resurrection, the greater wickedness has been manifested on earth. It is the mandate of the Church to bring this world back to Jesus and thus back to the value and sanctity of life. Our problem is we have rebelled and disobeyed God, Jesus is the only answer to the world’s hatred, anger, divisions, and cruelty, for this is the way of death. Only when we submit to the Lord and walk in His life, shall we truly begin to defend the sanctity of life. The Lord mourns, yes He mourns, for this world and yes, even many in the churches, are no longer following Him and so allow the world to dictate their path of destruction. For let us remember, the devil comes to steal, kill and destroy. He hates life, for he has rebelled against God. Indeed, there is a spiritual battle that wages on earth, and the battle deals with life and death! And this is no game. This is reality. God has come to give us abundant life, while the devil tries to steal such life. While God grants us life and life in abundance, the devil seeks to destroy, to kill, and to deceive. The Lord throughout the Scriptures proved His authority when it comes to granting life, while the devil has since his fall been busy trying with a counterfeit move to lead people to death. And so we need to understand, when one talks about life, it is life in the spirit, soul, and body. It is about life in the spirit that manifests into salvation and thus eternal life. It is about life in the soul that manifests into the wellness of the mind, heart, and emotions. It is about life in the flesh that manifests into the wellness of the body and walking in the health of the Lord. As a counter move, the devil comes to seek and destroy, meaning he wages a spiritual war against man – the centerpiece of God’s creation – but he does it by attacking the spirit, soul, and body. The devil is clearly intent to enjoy dominion over man, which means taking control of man’s spirit, soul, and body. He does this by leading the world away from the Lord to embrace a different reality and a different truth so that the world no longer walks in life but allows the devil to have his way. We need to understand this is no game. Man has first been made in spirit, then born into the flesh, and will return to the Lord as spirit. There is a very real and definite war being waged against man, and this war is surely one of life and death. We need to understand that if we truly wish to enjoy life in abundance – in spirit, soul, and body – there is no room for compromise, and there is no room for the world to infest and corrupt us. It is simple. As soon as we allow the devil into our lives, and as soon as we allow this world to creep into our soul, then we allow death to enter our state of being. It says the following in Romans 8: 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Take note of verse six … “the mind governed by the flesh is death”. You see, if we live in carnality, seeking this world above God, we will ultimately run the risk of having our mind governed by the flesh, and the flesh (meaning the ways of this world) is hostile to the ways of God. Only when we lead a life in the Spirit can we truly walk in life! Yet this world will lead us down a downtrodden path of chaos and lawlessness. It says in Romans 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Again, there is only death to be found in this world, for the world leads us to sin and to cast our minds not on God but on the ways of darkness. Want to walk in life? Then seek the Lord above all! It is written in 1 John 2: 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. Again, the same theme of “living” – we shall live when we do and follow the will of God, and not the will of this world or the devil. This is the crux of the Lord’s Prayer which is to seek the will of the Father. So if we choose this world or the way of the devil, then we choose death which of course translates not just into physical death. There is spiritual death, which comes from forsaking God, idolatry, and spiritual adultery. There is the death of the soul, where depression, anxiety, fear, doubt, anger, unforgiveness, and bitterness takes hold of our thoughts and our emotions, leading us down a dark path of self-destruction and self-loathing. We have to realize that Satan first attacks the soul (mind, will, heart). A soul that is darkened by the devil’s influences can lead to a spirit forsaking God by accepting the way of the world. The devil is for now the ruler of this world. And as the soul becomes corrupted by the cold grip of the devil – allowing for death to seep into our lives – very soon it manifests into our flesh, where our actions, behavior, and moral conduct rarely reflect the glory of God but the immoral ways of the devil. Let us, for now, look at Deuteronomy 30: The Offer of Life or Death: 11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. 15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In the Old Testament life and death translated into blessings and curses for the Israel nation. Under the Law of Moses, the Lord presented to His people a very simple choice – follow God and live, or disobey God and die. Take note of verse 15: See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. We are either going to follow God and live in abundance – spirit, soul, and body – or we are going to choose to allow ourselves to become infested by the world and therefore suffer the touch of death – spirit, soul, and body. This Scripture also closely relates to the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 7: 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. With the wide and the narrow road, the Lord is teaching about choice. We either have a choice to go His way or the way of the world. Thus we have a choice to choose between life or death. It is interesting to note that there is no middle path in the teaching of Jesus – there is thus no compromise. Again, the lack of the middle path alludes to the following truth as spoken by Jesus: Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. We cannot, therefore, walk both roads. We cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and the devil. We cannot live for the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness. We have to choose! The choice that lies before us was even underlined in Jeremiah 6: 16 This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ You see, we have a choice but sadly we have forsaken the path of life to seek another path (the broader way) and so we have gotten lost along the way. If we are not walking in the shadow of the Lord then we cannot hear the voice of the Master. So often people will say that the Old Testament has got nothing to do with the modern-day Church. This is where we make our biggest mistake. The Lord has never changed and the foundation of the spiritual war remains intact. It has always been a war over life and death. Nothing has changed. The Lord demands obedience, faithfulness, holiness, and purity in order for us to lead a life of life, while the devil calls for man to disobey, to be unfaithful, impure, and unholy so that death may destroy and harm. Why do we think this world is in such a grip of death? Is it not because the world has chosen to follow after other gods – choosing death over life? This world has chosen to follow a different truth masked by a myriad of philosophies, ideologies, and religions. This world has chosen to embark on a road that leads to hell’s door. Are we then surprised that the world is in the throes of war, famine, and plague? To be honest, very few people of the 7 billion on the planet truly walk in life, meaning they are utterly devoted to God, to His Truth and ways. There are but a few who refuse to compromise, who still treat sin as lethal, and who follow a path of holiness and purity. If the vast majority of the planet follows after the ways of the devil we should not be surprised that we see death and destruction around every corner. After all, we live in a world of fear, rumors, conspiracy, conflict, violence, and dread. We live in a world where we fear dreaded diseases, poverty, injustices, and xenophobia. In the midst of all this turmoil, we must be vigilant not to turn our ears or eyes to such manifestations and deem it to be the final reality of all things, for this will then cause fear and anxiety. We must not listen to rumors, talks of conspiracies, propaganda, and hate speech, for this sows fear, confusion, and deception. Such is the work of the enemy. Turn your eyes and ears upon the Lord and the Lord alone, for He is the author of our faith, He is the Alpha and the Omega of all things and He alone holds all power in heaven and earth. No one else. Why fear the world? Why fear famine, plague, and violence? Why live in dread? Is not the Lord of Israel the God whom we serve today? Is not the One who shook Egypt with the 10 plagues the One who still rules and reigns? Is not the One who provided for Israel and protected them in the wilderness the same One who holds the keys of life? Why fear? Why dread? For those who indeed shelter beneath the shadow of the ALMIGHTY God shall not be moved and shaken, for indeed, peril and fear and dread surround us, but fear not cries the Lord! Choose life or choose death in this day! It is either the world and its conspiracies or God and His Truth. It is either being a slave of the world ruled by the hand of the devil or being a Son or Daughter of the Most High King. Is not the Name of Jesus above all Names? Is not the Blood stronger than any famine, plague, or disease? Is not the Blood capable of delivering us from all our afflictions? Is God not mighty, almighty, all-powerful, and majestic? Why then fear? Believers, we need to turn our ears to God and listen to His voice and His voice alone! Turn your eyes to Jesus and to Jesus alone! Obey the Lord, forget Him not, forget not His ways, forget now what He has done, and be led by the Spirit. War and conflict and violence have always plagued the earth, for such is the way of death, yet God of Life will rule and remain standing when all is done. Today, now, repent of one’s fears, repent of one’s lack of faith and trust in the Lord, repent of your sins for indeed the Kingdom of God is at hand for look, our days are turbulent and persecution and perversion arise but has the Lord not commanded not to worry, not to be anxious and to keep on praying? If we seek life, we need to seek God, thus His glory for there is life in the Glory of God! There is no darkness, death, or destruction in the Glory! It says in Habakkuk 2:14: For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. When the earth is covered by the knowledge of the glory then this earth will be alive and full of life! The glory is not just the Lord’s presence, but it is the very life that He brings and by that life, we are sustained. How we need to walk in God’s glory, for the Glory of the Lord is life; it is the prosperity of spirit, soul, and body! The Glory of the Lord is the power of God, the healing of the Lord, and His sustenance to a weary soul! How we need to crave and yearn and seek after the glory of God. To carry His glory places our focus on God and makes us God-conscious of His holiness, purity, of His character, nature, and love. If we truly carry His glory, it will redefine the way we operate and function – for those who allow the Spirit to take them from glory to glory. It means certain abandonment unto God and alienation from the Self. Our motivations, intent, and thoughts will be centered on His Will, His compassion, His love, and His desire to see a lost world saved. It will place our hearts in alignment with His. We become God-conscious and not self-conscious in all that we do, say, and think. Alas, how we need to urgently recapture the centrality of glorifying God in our lives and work, for this will lead us to life! Too much of what passes for evangelical Christianity is man-centered or even self-centered. God is reduced to a means to some other end, whether it is my own self-fulfillment or the welfare of others. The results are disastrous for worship, discipleship, and for witness. Worship either becomes tepid, or it becomes an experience we offer to people as a sort of consumer product rather than the adoration and consecration we offer to God. If the glory of God is our supreme passion, this will redefine both the goal of our task and the manner in which we pursue that task. The goal of our task is that the earth is filled with the knowledge of His glory as the waters cover the sea. Our passion is to see Him receive the glory that is due His Name from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. Everything else is simply a means to that end. A passion for the glory of God will also redefine the manner in which we pursue our task. If our supreme goal is to glorify Him, then we shall indeed walk in the weightiness of His substance. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3: 18: And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. It is therefore clear by Paul’s writing that it is those who turn to Jesus and thus to the Spirit that will begin to walk in Glory which should be reflected in our walk. Yet, an ever-increasing glory and a transformation speak of a process of self-denial, a journey of sanctification and abandonment unto God, and the continuous seeking after truth. The entire Bible from Genesis to Revelations provides clear instructions on how to lead a victorious life as a believer in the Lord. Take note of the following two Scriptures. Firstly, it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:13 Be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. Thus, a victorious life consists of the following: a) Peace among all b) Addressing unruly behavior c) Showing comfort d) Upholding the weak e) Showing patience f) Not repaying evil for evil g) Pursuing good h) Rejoice always i) Pray without ceasing j) Give thanks to the Lord k) Do not quench the Spirit l) Do not despise prophecies m) Test all things n) Hold fast to what is good o) Abstain from evil Secondly, it says in Romans 12: 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Thus, a victorious life consists of the following: a) Love without hypocrisy b) Cling to what is good c) Show brotherly love d) Be fervent in Spirit e) Patient in tribulation f) Bless those who persecute g) Repay no one evil for evil h) Live in peace i) Abhor evil j) Seek after brethren’ unity In such ways, we must walk to taste the victorious life of Christ. 1 John 5:4 (NKJV) says “for whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” In Christ, we can lead a victorious life and a life of overcoming fear, uncertainty, strife, and hopelessness. For Christ is our hope of glory and in Him, we do not have to fear for the battle belongs to God! He is the Light, the Way, and Life. We can overcome and be victorious when we keep our eyes upon Jesus. Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life; those who know Him will know His voice; He is the only Shepherd and He is the only way to the Father. Jesus is all and everything, for all has been made for Him, unto Him, through Him, in Him and all is upheld by Him! For millenniums the world has been led away from Jesus by following many different other voices, so many different paths, so many false ways, and so many false shepherds. Jesus is the only Voice that we must listen to, He is the only Way, He is the only Shepherd, and He is the only answer and the only way to the throne room of God the Father. For centuries the voice of man has tried to replace the voice of the Lord in providing truth, but there is only one true voice and vision. Jesus is Wisdom, yet all the false wisdom presented through thousand ages has drawn us away from the Lord. It is all about Jesus, yet all that is false has now for so long drawn our eyes from the truth and the answer, the salvation and the glory! God does not call us to build on any other foundation but on the only foundation of Jesus. For God is faithful and true, yet the world and His people have for too long not adhered to His Voice and His Wisdom. For too long our eyes have not been turned upon Jesus and for too long we have failed to build on the only foundation which is Jesus. We have preached and taught so many doctrines, built on so many other foundations, yet the only true and everlasting foundation of Jesus has been discarded. Anything that draws our fully devoted love from the Lord is idolatry. All that the Lord desires is for us to return to Him, remember Him, honor Him, worship Him, and give Him all the glory. When we look at ourselves, there is either condemnation or commendation. When we look at ourselves and not God, our failures and weaknesses either overcome us or our pride and hunger to be gods overcome us. When we look at ourselves, there is the world and imperfection, there is the reminder of the flesh and our past, and there is the control of the emotion, the gratification of the senses, and the sharp realization we are but human. Yet, when we look not at ourselves, casting away self-absorption and self-centeredness, but looking upon Jesus, beholding Him in all His holiness and splendor, we see the author and finisher of our faith. We then behold the majesty and the glory, we see the resurrection and the life, and we bow before the Rose of Sharon, the Lilly of the Valley, the Lion of Judah, and the Lamb who is worthy to open the seals. We behold the truth and the power, and we know, yes we know, He is God and He is Lord! With our eyes upon Jesus, this world fades, our past and future fade, for only the here and now is where we long to live and breathe. With our eyes upon Jesus, we see His plans, His ways, His perfection, and His beauty. With our eyes upon Jesus, we know in our hearts that His grace and mercy are new every morning. Truly, his grace is sufficient for us. His grace makes us strong when we are weak and by His love, we are forgiven and strengthened to reign with Him. With our eyes upon Jesus, there is peace, there is hope, there is comfort, there is joy and there is the cry of the heart just to worship and serve. All the shackles and burdens shatter. All that remains is His perfect and pleasing will. Oh, let us lay down our ways and follow completely His will! Oh, with our eyes upon Jesus, there is only one desire and only longing: to worship Him and to glorify Him. There is the only desire to live and please Him! Oh, by the power of His love, by the power of His grace, by the power of His touch, we bow the knee, our hearts melt, and we know that He is God and we are but man! With our eyes upon Jesus, everything in this world pales in comparison and fades away. At His feet, we lay down our crowns, we lay down our plans, our ways, our deeds, and our pride and we surrender. At the feet of God, our longing is stilled, our thirst and hunger quenched and we can be at peace. O, the Lord says be still and know that He is God. Let us be still, our eyes upon Jesus, our hearts upon Him, beholding Him, crying out for Him, seeking His touch and love, for then we will be satisfied and then we will be free. Let us behold Him, love Him, and cherish Him. He seeks our hearts and He seeks our love. Who shall listen to His voice, who shall heed His wisdom, and who shall run after Him and sit at His feet? With our eyes upon Jesus, there is settled faith, there is a certainty, there is assurance and there is comfort. With our eyes upon Jesus, there is trust, there is calmness, for we know no matter what storm, no matter the trials and tribulations, no matter the days of splendid joy or the days of fire and ice, our Lord Jesus is faithful and true, always walking with us. Oh, to look into His eyes, for there is fire, there is holiness, there is so much love, there is so tenderness and there is so much peace. Oh to hear His voice, for there is so much authority, there is so much kindness, yet both are like the thunder and a peaceful river. Oh the Lord is beautiful and gracious, kind and true, yet we have not looked upon Him for all of our days. He is the host of the army, the prince of peace, the great high priest, and the great high judge. He is the power and He is the might! Yes, He is the answer and the truth. He is the Life and the Way. There is no other foundation and there is nothing else. He desires our comfort, our love, our worship, and our praise. He desires our heart and spirit, all of it, so He calls for obedience and submission. Yet with our eyes upon Him, with our eyes beholding the cross and the empty tomb, how else but to abandon all to walk in His love? Let us not look at the failures of this world, but let us look at Jesus. He is the answer and He is coming back to rule for all time. This world is already covered by His glory, yet we fail to see His Spirit. This world is already covered by His love, yet we fail to surrender to Him. This world is already covered by His peace, yet we fail in our unrest for our eyes are not on Him. Jesus: You are the Son of David, the Righteous King and the only one to be praised and worshiped. Let us again hear Your Voice, follow your Wisdom and bow the knee to you as our only Shepherd. The wisdom of man is but feeble and not the way. Let us then shout it from the rooftops and the mountains, let us speak the word in the valleys and the forests, let us worship in the towns and cities, for God is King and Jesus is the only way, truth, and life! Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] – To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. (Ephesians 3:20-21) Let us always remember we are God’s children, His sons, and daughters of faith, and that we serve a Father who gives what His children ask. Let us remember that we are filled with the resurrection power of Jesus, working through and in the Holy Spirit, that we are able to do all that God has called us to do, that we are victorious, alive, free, brought into the light, bought by the precious Blood, cleansed, consecrated, sanctified, adopted, anointed, called and blessed! Let us remember that Satan’s power has been crushed and he has no more hold over God’s children. Satan’s lies and deceit deserves to be torn down, crushed, broken, bound, and made useless. Let a cry arise in the hearts of the children of God that we are powerful, loosed, walking with authority, walking with faith, dancing, singing, rejoicing, for the hand of the Lord is upon us. His Spirit moves us to greater heights and destinies. We are magnificent, not yet perfect, not yet pure, but broken in humility, filled with praise, filled with a new song for the Lord, filled with great wisdom and knowledge, all to the glory of the Lord! We shall not be condemned, we shall not be ridiculed, we shall not be pushed back and we shall not be made to feel weak in error! Hallelujah, praise Him, and worship Him. At His feet there is surrender, there is forgiveness and there is peace. He is the fulfillment of the Law and the mediator of the New Covenant. By His blood we are free! With our eyes upon Him, there is vision and understanding. Oh let the Lord awaken in us the living truth. Let His sword cut through our spirit and soul, burning into us the living epistles of His word and truth. Praise Him and glorify Him! He is the answer to all and everything, for all ages and all ages to come. He is love and He is compassion. He is the Alfa and the Omega. He is the authority and life. He is Lord over all. Riaan EngeRead more

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