Agreeing With God About Israel

Agreeing with God is the way to success

Tomorrow, 10/8/13, I leave for Israel for a month with certain specific purposes in mind.  I will be adding to this Blog periodically so if you are interested in what I'll be doing as an eye-witness account of life in Israel for Israeli's in general and for Believers in Yeshua, please check back to see what I'll sharing with you.

This certainly is an historic time for Israel and (consequently) for the world. Does that sound like an outrageous statement? When God tells us to "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem," it isn't just about Jerusalem.  He goes on to say, "May they prosper who love you," meaning those who love Jerusalem.  This prosperity isn't a word to only mean financially, but don't we need prosperity in every area of our lives.  Those of us who are Yeshua's want spiritual prosperity in every way God has made available to us, don't we?  It may sound like an outrageous statement to say that our love for Israel, of which Jerusalem is the capital, is the plumb line for whether we are spiritually prosperous or not, but here are the facts, folks.

Jerusalem is called "the city of God."  Zion is another name for Jerusalem.  Psalm 87:2,3 says, "The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the other dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God. Selah."  Selah means, stop and give this some insightful thought.

Scripture tells us that at some point the nations of the world will come against Israel -- but God will fight for her to keep all His promises to her for shalom, which does not mean just peace but wellbeing and - here's that word again, prosperity.  The United Nations is certainly representative of the "nations of the world," is it not?  And the UN as that representative has proven to be anti-Israel. Why?  Why would such a tiny nation as Israel, no bigger than the state of New Jersey, seem to warrant such animosity from the rest of the nations?  It doesn't make sense. At least in the natural.  But if we look at it as Israel being God's representation in the world that He will one day reclaim the whole earth as His own, we can understand why the Adversary of God is so fearful of Israel's existence. In Hebrew the word for adversary is satan (which rhymes with baton). It's a title - a statement of condition, in this case, one who is against God; it not a proper name. 

Israel is the only nation in the UN assembly that has no right of vote. Picture a two sided list: One side is all the nations in the world with a vote in the UN, the other side, the not-allowed-to vote
side, has only one - Israel.  Why? Is it a picture of the world against God? Not that Israel is always godly; it's not, but God's promises remain and will be fulfilled. Our part is to agree with Him so we're included on the God side of the prophetic list.

Recently Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave an historic message to the UN Assembly.  He spoke as if he were the leader as perhaps King David would have spoken if he were leader of Israel at this time. He spoke Biblically. He spoke God's word and God's truth for this time - and for all time.  Below is a transcript of his message.  I suggest that in the coming days, there will be little more important than each of our decisions than which side of the page we will align ourselves, for or against Israel. 

We do not support Israel because we like her politics, or her leaders, or because of any reason other than God likes Israel!  God has put His name, that is to say His reputation as the Sovereign and Faithful Almighty who promises and keeps His word, on what happens to Israel. Does that mean He doesn't love or care for those who may in ignorance (without knowledge) be unaware of His ways?  Of course not.  He offers the same forgiveness through Yeshua to those who create BIG sins as He does to those who create little sins. A sin is a sin is a sin.  It may be worth mentioning here that it is reported by those in the know that literally millions of Muslims throughout the Middle East and elsewhere have been coming to faith in Yeshua. And when they do, they no longer hate Israel. Isn't that a God-sized miracle (not that all miracles aren't.)  

In my Bible study just last week we were studying the story of Jacob and Esau and who got the blessing.  There is so much that is applicable to today going on there. Its as if that day reverberates down to us now. May I mention that Jacob didn't steal the birthright promise from Esau, Esau had already relinquished it to Jacob; he gave it away to him over the issue of a stew, a soup.  Years later, Isaac wanting a stew, a soup before he blesses Esau, "mistakenly," as far as he was concerned, gave the blessing to the one God said was to have it before the boys were born - Jacob.  Note: Be careful of your decisions when you're hungry!! 

But the astounding backstory to all that is how God reveals to us first Isaac's terror upon realizing what just happened. He begins to tremble violently. Why such fear?  Was it because he realized he was about to act against God's explicit will and bless the wrong son? Which, not incidentally, would have affected the whole course of history.  We are then also shown the agony of Esau. Read the story in Genesis 27.  It's very explicit if you can picture what was taking place and the emotions involved here.  We are not given such insight into Jacob or his mother's feelings other than that Jacob really ought to get out of town to flee from Esau's anger.  Twenty years later Jacob returns and there is a very touching scene of reconciliation between the two brothers.  Even today, such a reconciliation seems to take place in the hearts of  descendants of  bothJacob and of Esau when they come to Yeshua - who has taken down the middle wall that separates them.  See Ephesians 2:12-14.

What we see here is that God, knowing all the animosity that would take place for generations later, even though the choice was for Jacob and not Esau, shows us that He intensely cares about the feelings, the agony, the pain, the sorrow, the loss of anyone in the throes of life.  He sees our hearts. Many angry people are those who experience Esau's same kinds of emotions. Apart from Yeshua there is no hope for release from those angers and frustrations.  The great miracle today is that there is an increasing number of people of every language and nation, who are aligning themselves on the side of the list with Israel - which is to say, with God, even if the governments of the world do not.  Which side are you on? 

Following is PM Netanyahu's speech. It is ricocheting around the world as the word of the Lord  coming from Jerusalem, though it was spoken in NY.


Benjamin Netanyahu: Thank you, Mr. President.

I feel deeply honored and privileged to stand here before you today representing the citizens of the state of Israel. We are an ancient people. We date back nearly 4,000 years to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We have journeyed through time. We've overcome the greatest of adversities.
And we re-established our sovereign state in our ancestral homeland, the land of Israel.
Now, the Jewish people's odyssey through time has taught us two things: Never give up hope, always remain vigilant. Hope charts the future. Vigilance protects it.
Today our hope for the future is challenged by a nuclear-armed Iran that seeks our destruction. But I want you to know, that wasn't always the case. Some 2,500 years ago the great Persian king Cyrus ended the Babylonian exile of the Jewish people. He issued a famous edict in which he proclaimed the right of the Jews to return to the land of Israel and rebuild the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. That's a Persian decree. And thus began an historic friendship between the Jews and the Persians that lasted until modern times.
But in 1979 a radical regime in Tehran tried to stamp out that friendship. As it was busy crushing the Iranian people's hope for democracy, it always led wild chants of "death of the Jews."
Now, since that time, presidents of Iran have come and gone. Some presidents were considered moderates, other hard-liners. But they've all served that same unforgiving creed, that same unforgiving regime, that creed that is espoused and enforced by the real power in Iran, the dictator known as the supreme leader, first Ayatollah Khomeini and now Ayatollah Khamenei.
President Rohani, like the presidents who came before him, is a loyal servant of the regime. He was one of only six candidates the regime permitted to run for office. See, nearly 700 other candidates were rejected.
So what made him acceptable? Well, Rohani headed Iran's Supreme National Security Council from 1989 through 2003. During that time Iran's henchmen gunned down opposition leaders in a Berlin restaurant. They murdered 85 people at the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires. They killed 19 American soldiers by blowing up the Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia.
Are we to believe that Rohani, the national security adviser of Iran at the time, knew nothing about these attacks?
Of course he did, just as 30 years ago Iran's security chiefs knew about the bombings in Beirut that killed 241 American Marines and 58 French paratroopers.
Rohani was also Iran's chief nuclear negotiator between 2003 and 2005. He masterminded the -- the strategy which enabled Iran to advance its nuclear weapons program behind a smoke screen of diplomatic engagement and very soothing rhetoric.
Now I know: Rohani doesn't sound like Ahmadinejad. But when it comes to Iran's nuclear weapons program, the only difference between them is this: Ahmadinejad was a wolf in wolf's clothing. Rohani is a wolf in sheep's clothing, a wolf who thinks he can pull the eyes -- the wool over the eyes of the international community.
Well, like everyone else, I wish we could believe Rohani's words, but we must focus on Iran's actions. And it's the brazen contrast, this extraordinary contradiction, between Rohani's words and Iran's actions that is so startling. Rohani stood at this very podium last week and praised Iranian democracy -- Iranian democracies. But the regime that he represents executes political dissidents by the hundreds and jails them by the thousands.
Rohani spoke of, quote, "the human tragedy in Syria." Yet, Iran directly participates in Assad's murder and massacre of tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children in Syria. And that regime is propping up a Syrian regime that just used chemical weapons against its own people.
Rohani condemned the, quote, "violent scourge of terrorism." Yet, in the last three years alone, Iran has ordered, planned or perpetrated terrorist attacks in 25 cities in five continents.
Rohani denounces, quote, "attempts to change the regional balance through proxies." Yet, Iran is actively destabilizing Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain and many other Middle Eastern countries.
Rohani promises, quote, "constructive engagement with other countries." Yet, two years ago, Iranian agents tried to assassinate Saudi Arabia's ambassador in Washington, D.C. And just three weeks ago, an Iranian agent was arrested trying to collect information for possible attacks against the American embassy in Tel Aviv. Some constructive engagement.
I wish I could be moved by Rohani's invitation to join his wave -- a world against violence and extremism. Yet, the only waves Iran has generated in the last 30 years are waves of violence and terrorism that it has unleashed in the region and across the world.
Ladies and gentlemen, I wish I could believe Rohani, but I don't because facts are stubborn things, and the facts are that Iran's savage record flatly contradicts Rohani's soothing rhetoric.
Last Friday Rohani assured us that in pursuit of its nuclear program, Iran -- this is a quote -- Iran has never chosen deceit and secrecy, never chosen deceit and secrecy. Well, in 2002 Iran was caught red-handed secretly building an underground centrifuge facility in Natanz. And then in 2009 Iran was again caught red-handed secretly building a huge underground nuclear facility for uranium enrichment in a mountain near Qom.
Rohani tells us not to worry. He assures us that all of this is not intended for nuclear weapons. Any of you believe that? If you believe that, here's a few questions you might want to ask. Why would a country that claims to only want peaceful nuclear energy, why would such a country build hidden underground enrichment facilities?
Why would a country with vast natural energy reserves invest billions in developing nuclear energy? Why would a country intent on merely civilian nuclear programs continue to defy multiple Security Council resolutions and incur the tremendous cost of crippling sanctions on its economy?
And why would a country with a peaceful nuclear program develop intercontinental ballistic missiles, whose sole purpose is to deliver nuclear warheads? You don't build ICBMs to carry TNT thousands of miles away; you build them for one purpose, to carry nuclear warheads. And Iran is building now ICBMs that the United States says could reach this city in three or four years.
Why would they do all this? The answer is simple. Iran is not building a peaceful nuclear program; Iran is developing nuclear weapons. Last year alone, Iran enriched three tons of uranium to 3 1/2 percent, doubled it stockpile of 20 percent enriched uranium and added thousands of new centrifuges, including advanced centrifuges. It also continued work on the heavy water reactor in Iraq; that's in order to have another route to the bomb, a plutonium path. And since Rohani's election -- and I stress this -- this vast and feverish effort has continued unabated.
Ladies and gentlemen, underground nuclear facilities, heavy water reactors, advanced centrifuges, ICMBs. See, it's not that it's hard to find evidence that Iran has a nuclear program, a nuclear weapons program; it's hard to find evidence that Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapons program.
Last year when I spoke here at the UN I drew a red line. Now, Iran has been very careful not to cross that line but Iran is positioning itself to race across that line in the future at a time of its choosing. Iran wants to be in a position to rush forward to build nuclear bombs before the international community can detect it and much less prevent it.
Yet Iran faces one big problem, and that problem can be summed up in one word: sanctions. I have argued for many years, including on this podium, that the only way to peacefully prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons is to combine tough sanctions with a credible military threat. And that policy today is bearing fruit. Thanks to the efforts of many countries, many represented here, and under the leadership of the United States, tough sanctions have taken a big bite off the Iranian economy.
Oil revenues have fallen. The currency has plummeted. Banks are hard-pressed to transfer money. So as a result, the regime is under intense pressure from the Iranian people to get the sanctions relieved or removed.
That's why Rohani got elected in the first place. That's why he launched his charm offensive. He definitely wants to get the sanctions lifted; I guarantee you that. But he doesn't want to give up Iranians' nuclear - Iran's nuclear weapons program in return.
Now here's a strategy to achieve this. First, smile a lot. Smiling never hurts. Second, pay lip service to peace, democracy and tolerance. Third, offer meaningless concessions in exchange for lifting sanctions. And fourth, and the most important, ensure that Iran retains sufficient nuclear material and sufficient nuclear infrastructure to race to the bomb at a time it chooses to do so.
You know why Rohani thinks he can get away with this? I mean, this is a ruse. It's a ploy. Why does Rohani think he - thinks he can get away with it? Because - because he's gotten away with it before, because his strategy of talking a lot and doing little has worked for him in the past.
He even brags about this. Here's what he said in his 2011 book about his time as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, and I quote: "While we were talking to the Europeans in Tehran, we were installing equipment in Isfahan."
Now, for those of you who don't know, the Isfahan facility is an indispensable part of Iran's nuclear weapons program. That's where uranium ore called yellowcake is converted into an enrichable form. Rohani boasted, and I quote, "By creating a calm environment - a calm environment - we were able to complete the work in Isfahan." He fooled the world once. Now he thinks he can fool it again.
You see, Rohani thinks he can have his yellowcake and eat it too. And he has another reason to believe that he can get away with this. And that reason is called North Korea. Like Iran, North Korea also said its nuclear program was for peaceful purposes. Like Iran, North Korea also offered meaningless concessions and empty promises in return for sanctions relief.
In 2005 North Korea agreed to a deal that was celebrated the world over by many well-meaning people. Here's what the New York Times editorial had to say about it, quote: "For years now, foreign policy insiders have pointed to North Korea as the ultimate nightmare, a closed, hostile and paranoid dictatorship with an aggressive nuclear weapons program. Very few could envision a successful outcome, and yet North Korea agreed in principle this week to dismantle its nuclear weapons program, return to the NPT, abide by the treaty's safeguards and admit international inspectors."
And finally, "diplomacy, it seems, does work after all. Ladies and gentlemen, a year later, North Korea exploded its first nuclear weapons device."
Yet, as dangerous as a nuclear-armed North Korea is, it pales in comparison to the danger of a nuclear-armed Iran. A nuclear-armed Iran would have a choke hold on the world's main energy supplies. It would trigger nuclear proliferation throughout the Middle East, turning the most unstable part of the planet into a nuclear tinderbox. And for the first time in history, it would make the specter of nuclear terrorism a clear and present danger. A nuclear-armed Iran in the Middle East wouldn't be another North Korea. It would be another 50 North Koreas.
Now, I know that some in the international community think I'm exaggerating this threat. Sure, they know that Iran's regime leads these chants, "death to America, death to Israel," that it pledges to wipe Israel off the map. But they think that this wild rhetoric is just bluster for domestic consumption. Have these people learned nothing from history? The last century has taught us that when a radical regime with global ambitions gets awesome power, sooner or later its appetite for aggression knows no bounds.
That's the central lesson of the 20th century. And we cannot forget it. The world may have forgotten this lesson. The Jewish people have not.
Iran's fanaticism is not bluster. It's real. The fanatic regime must never be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons. I know that the world is weary of war. We in Israel, we know all too well the cost of war. But history has taught us that to prevent war tomorrow, we must be firm today.
And this raises the question, can diplomacy stop this threat? Well, the only diplomatic solution that would work is one that fully dismantles Iran's nuclear weapons program and prevents it from having one in the future.
President Obama rightly said that Iran's conciliatory words must be matched by transparent, verifiable and meaningful action. And to be meaningful, a diplomatic solution would require Iran to do four things. First, cease all uranium enrichment. This is called for by several Security Council resolutions. Second, remove from Iran's territory the stockpiles of enriched uranium. Third, dismantle the infrastructure for nuclear breakout capability, including the underground facility at Qom and the advanced centrifuges in Natanz.
And, four, stop all work at the heavy water reactor in Iraq aimed at the production of plutonium. These steps would put an end to Iran's nuclear weapons program and eliminate its breakout capability.
There are those who would readily agreed to leave Iran with a residual capability to enrich uranium. I advise them to pay close attention to what Rohani said in his speech to Iran's supreme cultural revolution -- Supreme Cultural Revolutionary Council. This was published in 2005. I quote. This is what he said:
"A county that could enrich uranium to about 3.5 percent will also have the capability to enrich it to about 90 percent. Having fuel cycle capability virtually means that a country that possesses this capability is able to produce nuclear weapons." Precisely. This is why Iran's nuclear weapons program must be fully and verifiably dismantled. And this is why the pressure on Iran must continue.
So here is what the international community must do: First, keep up the sanctions. If Iran advances its nuclear weapons program during negotiations, strengthen the sanctions.
Second, don't agree to a partial deal. A partial deal would lift international sanctions that have taken years to put in place in exchange for cosmetic concessions that will take only weeks for Iran to reverse.
Third, lift the sanctions only when Iran fully dismantles its nuclear weapons program. My friends, the international community has Iran on the ropes. If you want to knock out Iran's nuclear weapons program peacefully, don't let up the pressure. Keep it up.
We all want to give diplomacy with Iran a chance to succeed, but when it comes to Iran, the greater the pressure, the greater the chance. Three decades ago, President Ronald Reagan famously advised, "trust but verify." When it comes to Iran's nuclear weapons program, here's my advice: Distrust, dismantle and verify.
Ladies and gentlemen, Israel will never acquiesce to nuclear arms in the hands of a rogue regime that repeatedly promises to wipe us off the map. Against such a threat, Israel will have no choice but to defend itself.
I want there to be no confusion on this point. Israel will not allow Iran to get nuclear weapons. If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone. Yet, in standing alone, Israel will know that we will be defending many, many others.
The dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran and the emergence of other threats in our region have led many of our Arab neighbors to recognize, finally recognize, that Israel is not their enemy. And this affords us the opportunity to overcome the historic animosities and build new relationships, new friendships, new hopes.
Israel welcomes engagement with the wider Arab world. We hope that our common interests and common challenges will help us forge a more peaceful future. And Israel's -- continues to seek an historic compromise with our Palestinian neighbors, one that ends our conflict once and for all. We want peace based on security and mutual recognition, in which a demilitarized Palestinian state recognizes the Jewish state of Israel. I remain committed to achieving an historic reconciliation and building a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
Now, I have no illusions about how difficult this will be to achieve. Twenty years ago, the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians began. Six Israeli prime ministers, myself included, have not succeeded at achieving peace with the Palestinians. My predecessors were prepared to make painful concessions. So am I. But so far the Palestinian leaders haven't been prepared to offer the painful concessions they must make in order to end the conflict.
For peace to be achieved, the Palestinians must finally recognize the Jewish state, and Israel's security needs must be met.
I am prepared to make an historic compromise for genuine and enduring peace, but I will never compromise on the security of my people and of my country, the one and only Jewish state.
Ladies and gentlemen, one cold day in the late 19th century, my grandfather Nathan and his younger brother Judah were standing in a railway station in the heart of Europe. They were seen by a group of anti-Semitic hoodlums who ran towards them waving clubs, screaming "Death to the Jews."
My grandfather shouted to his younger brother to flee and save himself, and he then stood alone against the raging mob to slow it down. They beat him senseless, they left him for dead, and before he passed out, covered in his own blood, he said to himself "What a disgrace, what a disgrace. The descendants of the Macabees lie in the mud powerless to defend themselves."
He promised himself then that if he lived, he would take his family to the Jewish homeland and help build a future for the Jewish people. I stand here today as Israel's prime minister because my grandfather kept that promise.
And so many other Israelis have a similar story, a parent or a grandparent who fled every conceivable oppression and came to Israel to start a new life in our ancient homeland. Together we've transformed a bludgeoned Jewish people, left for dead, into a vibrant, thriving nation, a defending itself with the courage of modern Maccabees, developing limitless possibilities for the future.
In our time the Biblical prophecies are being realized. As the prophet Amos said, they shall rebuild ruined cities and inhabit them. They shall plant vineyards and drink their wine. They shall till gardens and eat their fruit. And I will plant them upon their soil never to be uprooted again.
Ladies and gentlemen, the people of Israel have come home never to be uprooted again.

 

 

    

  

SILENT NIGHT - Yom Kippur in Jerusalem

My long time Israeli friend Elhanan BenAvraham (Ben Avraham means Son of Abraham) sent this out on Yom Kippur which is the Biblical Day of Atonement.  For those who pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for the Jews, this will provide a way to pray. May your heart be touched with Intercession for Jerusalem,for Jews everywhere and even for Israeli's enemies. Amen. 

“The Day the Earth Stood Still” was a movie made many years ago, but that title could well describe Jerusalem and the Land of Israel on the Day of Atonement.  On this holiest day of the Biblical year the nation stops almost completely, and its inhabitants are quiet in thought and prayer in collective memory of four thousand years of history. Many meditated on the surprise attack by Arab armies on this day of fasting and prayer back in 1973, which was a devastating but thankfully unsuccessful attempt to destroy this small nation. Now the roads are void of traffic, the skies are clear of aircraft, and the only sounds are that of  prayer murmuring in the synagogues.

On the eve of Yom Kippur I stood beneath a half moon on a hilltop of the Mountains of Judah along with representatives of several Israeli congregations, and I gazed out over the plains of Sharon, the sun setting over Tel Aviv and glimmering on the Mediterranean Sea. There was an almost absolute silence over the land, almost disturbing, not even the song of a bird.  And throughout the Holy Land small groups of the flock of Israel gathered together to fast and break forth before the Holy One of Israel to beseech mercy and forgiveness in the name of the Lamb of God slain to take away the sins of the world. They would mount up into His presence in the name of the Breaker prophesied by Micah (2:12-13; 7:18-20) to stand between the King of Israel and the re-gathered Jewish people from every nation on Earth, the lost sheep of the House of Israel who are without altar and the blood of atonement (Leviticus 17:11; Hosea 3:4-5).  

In the name of Him who “died not only for the nation, but for many scattered among the nations” (John 11:49-52) we stood and opened our souls in gratitude and joy for our own forgiveness, and like Moses offering our own lives as intercession, crying, “But now, if Thou will, forgive their sin- and if not, please blot me out of thy book which Thou hast written” (Exodus 32:32).  And like Paul, praying, “I would that I myself were accursed, cut off from Messiah for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites to whom belongs the sonship and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple services and the promises” (Romans 9:3-4), which is the true spirit of intercession.  With Jeremiah we prayed, “shout among the chiefs of the nations, proclaim, give praise, and say, O Lord, save thy people the remnant of Israel” (Jeremiah 31:7).  

As a household of priests and Levites we came into the holy place to offer the blood of another on the altar for the sins of our people, crying, “Remember thy covenants and promises in the face of the deadly threats to your people and land by those who hate Zion, whose wish is to annihilate us from the face of the earth.”  We stood in fasting and prayer throughout the night and day between the uncleanness of the children of Israel and the Holy God and sought forgiveness, crying, “Have mercy on thy holy name and inheritance, for your name is written in Judah and Jerusalem and the nations are watching, for why should they say, Where is their God? Fulfill thy promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for their sakes, and for the sake of Yeshua, the king of the Jews. And for our enemies whose fondest wish is to destroy, who are lost and swept along in the deep darkness and curse of Islam, we pray that the people who walk in darkness shall see a great light, and the light will shine upon them” (Isaiah 9:2). 

May our prayers be heard.

Elhanan  9-14-2013

WHAT YOU SEE CAN REFLECT WHO YOU ARE

 How we see others is  often a reflection of who we ourselves are.

 

When God showed me what I am about to show you, it put a great many things into proper perspective. We have learned well that what we reap we will sow.  It’s an agricultural statement which Yeshua was making to people who for the most part grew their own food.  If you plant corn, or barley, or cucumbers, you will get corn, barley or cucumbers.  All seed will “bear fruit unto its own kind” (Genesis 1:11, 12).  This, of course, applies to humans and animals in that we have babies that are the same species we are. This applies to natural seed, but it also applies spiritually.  Paul speaks of having “sowed spiritual things in you” (1 Corinthians 9:11).

When we sow seeds of any kind, there will be a crop of whatever we plant. But how does this work spiritually?  If we sow seeds of faith, believing God for something that we know is His will, we can expect to receive from Him.  In that memorable fig tree incident, “…Jesus…said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:21-23).  The apostle John, after many years of living by the Spirit of God has this to say:  “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him” (1 John 5:14, 15). 

Wait! Aren’t there just too many “if’s” in that statement? Well, that’s the way of the Kingdom of God.  If we, then He!  If we will, then He will.  Much of what we receive from God is dependent upon us, upon our faith in Him, and upon living according to Kingdom ways – living, desiring, speaking, and loving as Yeshua lived, desired, spoke and loved.  Notice this isn’t about works but about trusting in Him, living from the life of God within us. It’s really not hard. After all, He lives within us by His Spirit. We are never expected to “be” like Yeshua on our own; the Spirit of God is within us to empower us be all God wishes us to be.  That’s what grace is – the empowering to be godly, to be as God is.  Grace doesn’t just mean we’re forgiven, grace means we can live graciously, forgiving and encouraging, meeting needs in others by the power of the Spirit, just as Yeshua did.  As He did all He did trusting in God in peace, so can we.  

I recall one incident when I came to that realization. It was one of those days when I had tried so hard and failed to be all I thought I needed to be.  I went to church that morning not feeling the least like a victorious believer.  My pastor was praying for a woman in need up front at one point and asked me to come forward and help.  Figuring this wasn’t the best time to tell him that I wasn’t even sure I was saved, I started up the aisle toward him, all the while praying: “God, hear my prayer. Please. I’m just going to have to go down into where You are inside and pray from there.” I was thinking that was what to do only in times of emergency.  When I laid my hands on the woman and began to pray, it was with power I knew wasn’t from me. As I walked back to my seat my only thought was, “Oh! That’s how it’s supposed to be.” From then on, I try to be aware to live from the life of God within me. That is the way He meant for us to walk through life – in joyful and peaceful dependence upon Him.  No striving, not trying to be good or be effective, just doing whatever it is we do while trusting that God is working through us.

I once did an extensive study to see why God blessed some people and others seemed far from blessed. I made a chart of blessings and why, and what seemed like curses and why.  In the end I came to see that the difference was between dependency and independence.  Depending fully upon God, leaning on His goodness and presence with us leads to the blessings of God, whereas an “I’ll do it myself” way of life limits us to only who we are.  There’s a saying, “God helps those who help themselves.” But it’s not really Biblical.  Benjamin Franklin wrote those words in his Poor Richard's Almanac in 1757. What is Biblical is that God helps the helpless,. Speaking of God Isaiah said, "for You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat..." (Isaiah 25:4) Our dependence upon the Lord begins with our salvation,  "For while we were still helpless, at the right time Messiah died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:6). Even Yeshua Himself stated often that He only did what He envisioned the Father doing. In other words, there was no independence in Him.  Even Yeshua was entirely dependent upon God to minister to people:  “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). 

Perhaps it just occurred to you that Yeshua sowed only good and loving seed, yet he reaped (received back) rejection and cruelty. That’s true, but the more important issue  for us here is what was His internal dialog?  Did the way others acted toward Him affect how He  behaved toward them?  Or did what happened affect His faith in His Father?  Or for that matter, how He saw Himself?  Those last four words don’t seem to quite apply to Yeshua, do they?  They seem to be about an ego that we as fallen people are always wrestling with that He didn’t have. I wonder if He even had an internal dialog with just Himself, but rather His every thought was in dialog with His Father. After all, even though He suffered all things as we do, until His Gethsemane experience where He began to fully experience an identity with the Fallen nature of man, He wasn’t trapped in any demands of His ego. But we are. The Fall brought separation from God, as we are all to well aware.  Even for those of us who are saved, we still deal with some measure of separation. But we’re learning day by day, by God's grace, how to live beyond that in union with Him, aren’t we?

I recall realizing as a new believer that God ‘heard’ every thought I had so I decided to just think to and with Him. It has been a way of life for many years, making God my constant companion. Often He “speaks” back to me in my thoughts, giving me insights and understanding of something I didn’t have moments before. It may even come in the form of a question causing me to think through something that hadn’t occurred to me till then. On occasion He will even say something quite funny to me making me to laugh out loud with surprise and delight. I’m sure that part of us being created in His image is that we have a sense of humor because He has a sense of humor. Would joy be devoid of humor? I doubt it.  

I recall the first time I heard Him say something back to me that seemed funny to me.  I was trying to plow through laundry for three children and get my house cleaned – ordinary housewife things, but I felt overwhelmed with getting the job done and then getting dinner ready and said to Him, “Lord, why do some people seem to have so much more time than I do.” I didn’t expect an answer but immediately I heard in my thoughts, “Everybody gets 24 hours” causing me to laugh out loud as much from surprise as that the words came with a sense of mirth. I’m not sure I would use that word mirth for anyone but Him. Mirth brings a certain sense of joy or gaity for its own sake.  

So how do we avoid having our own ego, our own self image be affected by the unkindnesses we experience in our lives, for we all have them.  It has to do with what we sow. Yeshua never sowed an unkind word or thought – ever.  Even when He was railing at the Pharisees, He was trying to get them to see the error of their ways so they wouldn’t perish. His motive was compassion, not judgment.  He made it clear, “I do not judge… for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47).  We’re all very familiar with John 3:16, but it is followed by John 3:17 which says, “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” 

Well, what about us? Do we judge others? Sometimes we think we are helping people by making them aware of their sin and there is a place for that.  “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted” (Galatians 6:1). Spiritual people speak with gentleness, not accusing judgment. Yeshua put it this way, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye” (Luke 6:42).  A hypocrite in those days was one who acted in a play; who was ‘acting’ as someone they are not. The spiritual application is one who has the form of godliness without the power, or who assumes an appearance of piety and virtue, but does not have a true grasp of true life of the Spirit in restful dependence upon God.    

Not judging does not mean we are not to discern motives. We must discern good from evil, wise from unwise, careful from dangerous, etc. The Bible is clear about all that. There is even a gift of discernment that He gives for the benefit of the body.  But discernment is not judgment. We are not to condemn others any more than Yeshua did when He walked the earth - and died - in love and compassion. How much more love and compassion could be expressed than “Forgive them, Father, for they do now know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34) on behalf of His murderers?  Judgment is God’s job. Only He knows the hearts of men:  “O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, Who tries the feelings and the heart” (Jeremiah 11:20) – “…for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sam’l 16:7)

Unfortunately we are not as gracious as Yeshua all the time. So what happens when we do judge? When we sow seeds of judgment, will we reap a crop of judgment?   Here is the startling reality – at least it was for me when God revealed this to me.  When I judge others, it’s not that I will necessarily be judged by others, but that I WILL THINK others are judging me. I plant my own crop of self-judgement when I judge others.  Let’s say someone speaks lies about others, they gossip and speak fabrications of things as they see them, in other words, opinions which are never the whole story.  The reaping may not be that someone will gossip about them – because they may be surrounded by godly non-gossiping people – but that they, within themselves WILL THINK other people are gossiping and saying similar things about them.  We expect people to be as we are, even though it may well be unconscious. How we see others is a reflection of who we ourselves are (...the reason for the picture of the swans above.) I once knew a man who was involved in things he knew he shouldn’t be; he was living a lie. He tended to call other people liars, something the other people wouldn’t have even thought of doing.  We all know those people who won’t go to church because they see Christians as hypocrites. I wonder what place hypocrisy plays in their lives.  What we say about others often reflects much more about us than those we’re talking about.

Paranoia is the continual awareness that others are against you.  The trouble is, many of us warrant those thoughts because of the thoughts we have toward others. We are to be “building one another up, not for tearing down” (2 Corinthians 10:8). This applies first of all to the authority of leadership, but to each of us.

There is another side to this and that is that we often see in others what really is in ourselves that we don’t like or are trying not to see. It's often been called our "shadow self." This isn’t psychology; this is Bible truth. What we judge in others may in fact be what God is trying to make us aware is in ourselves.  I always think of Mother Theresa when I come upon this verse:  “To the pure, all things are pure” (Titus 1:15).  I find it a very convicting verse, how about you?  I doubt there was anyone, including the most destitute and sin-ridden in the world’s gutters for whom she would not feel loving compassion and be moved to help them. Her heart, for all we know, was pretty pure and so she saw people as purely worthy of God’s love.  What we see in others, often reflects more of our own character than the people we are judging.  Call someone rebellious or arrogant, and if that’s what you see in them, perhaps there’s a log you need to attend to before you can show them a better way by your own actions and words. 

So there you are: What we say or even think about others are seeds which will sprout into our own experiences in life, including in our relationship with ourselves, and certainly with God to whom all judgment belongs.  I leave you with these words of Paul who had to learn this himself:  “Finally, brothers (and sisters), whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8,9).

Peace!

A Prophetic Word - A Standard for The People of God

The following is a Word that was shared at The River at Jacksonville on August 25,2013. Many prophetic words remain relevant long after they are given. I sense the Lord is saying that this is a standard that He wants to impart to His people for the days ahead that we might be His lights as individuals and lampstands (menorahs- Revelation 2:1) as congregations, in an increasingly darkened world, based upon Isaiah 60:1,2:

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you."

Since these words were originally prophesied to Israel by Isaiah regarding her eventual destiny, should you use it to pray for yourself, others, or the church at large, please consider using it as a format to pray for Israel as well.  Here's the word: 

 

"I send My blessings to you of much joy in My presence in a deeper measure than you have known before, of health and well-being, of Shalom and joyful expectation for the things ahead that I will put in each of your lives, together and individually. I speak wholeness, health, great hope and a grand "HalleluYah" to your inner most beings.  I have anointed you to be the presence of My light in any darkness you encounter, the voice of overcoming faith in the midst of trouble, and confidence in Me in places of doubt.  I am enabling you to be  “handlers of hope” and keepers of Kingdom reality to all with whom I would have you speak.

I surround you with favor, with light, and with shalom. I send angels with power to watch over you at all times.  I speak deliverance to each of you from anything that would hinder the quality of life which Yeshua died to give to you.   I send a wall of fire to be maintained around you for protection, and the fire of the Spirit to be upon you for anointing at all times.  I surround you with the atmosphere of the Kingdom of God wherein is only goodness, grace and the glory of the Almighty.  

I will make real what has not yet manifested of My salvation in your lives.  Speak into being what ministry and calling you have yet to walk in to come into fruitfulness with faith and confidence that I will bring it to pass. What you have in your heart to do for Me, believe that I have put it there so that we can do it together.  As you seek Me in confident faith that I am true to My Word, I will align your faith with Mine for My highest will to be done in, and through, your lives. 

I speak great faith to you to overcome all that would try to threaten, weaken, or shortcut your effectiveness or My plans and callings for your lives.   Where there is or has been any disappointment or discouragement, where there is or has been darkness in the places where you have walked through, where there has been rejection or unkind words, I will bring the deepest inner healing as you look to Me in trust, so that you are entirely free in the goodness and full redemption I have purchased for you with Yeshua’s blood.  And in that freedom, be as healers of every sickness of body or soul that you come upon. 

As you keep your trust entirely upon Me, nothing will threaten you, for your lives will be hidden in Me.  As you abide in Me and I abide in you, you will continue to be a blessing to many. You will walk freely in soul and spirit in Me as you learn to rest fully in Me in the deepest parts of your innermost being. Strive not; fret not. It is in rest that you will grow and live in the full redemption I have provided for you as you allow Me to renew your mind through My Word.   

Bless those who do not bless you, that every door to the enemy would be shut in your lives so that what the devil means for evil will be turned into Kingdom good in your lives and the lives of those to whom you impart My love and before whom you live out My truths.  

I am faithful to My Word.  As you believe My Word to be your only reality, My words will bring sweet peace to your souls and a new and deeper closeness to Me and to each other.  Believe for that which Yeshua's death has made yours. You have been fully restored to God so are they not all possible?   It is not only My desire but My plan that all you are and do will be for My glory as you join with Me in participation of the redemption of the world.

Lonnie Lane   8/25/13 

* * * *  

 Lord, for all You are, and for all you have done for us, we thank You, we trust You, we adore you for the goodness, the glory, the favor, the joy, for Your sovereign authority at work in our lives, and all that is ours to enjoy by the gift of Your great grace.  Help us, Lord, to be ever faithful to You at every level of challenge and to live so as to be “the way” for others to come to You.  Amen. 

 

LIVING BY THE SPIRIT

FOLLOWING THE WINDS OF THE SPIRIT

Periodically someone finds my articles on the Messianic Vision website ( www.sidroth.org ) and writes with a question or two. This gentleman wrote with several.  Having already determined through emails with this man that he has sincerely sought the Lord and is born again, I'm assuming these issues are ones of discipleship. Sensing from the Lord that others have similar questions, I have added to my response to him below.  Here’s what he wrote and then my expanded answer.

Please also see Speaking in tongues and prophesy to more of his questions in the article below this one.

His Questions: When a person receives the Lord spirit how are they different than regular person. Can the spirit go away and come back or stay there forever?  Can the person that received the Lord’s spirit live a normal life on this earth? We live in a sinful world -  how are we to communicate with people in business, worker and so on? Can an individual talk to God directly and communicate with Him? How can we spend time with the Lord when we have a lot of things on our mind? Do you receive the blessing and the spirit at the same time? I still have not been able to receive the Lord's spirit and feel it in my body and my soul.  

My Answers:  First of all, if you didn’t already have the Spirit of God at work in your life, I doubt you would be looking for answers to these kinds of questions in order to be closer to Him. When you want more of God, it’s really Him drawing you to Himself. I suspect the reason you are troubled by these questions, is that you have not had the chance to be properly taught many of these areas of life in the Spirit. I thought about entitling these two articles, “Things your church didn’t teach you but should have if this information is new to you.”  Discipleship is not always a high priority in our churches, especially to equip new believers with the whole picture of what we have in God.  

For a sense of the whole picture of what your salvation really entails, you are welcome to check out my Meeting Jesus ~ Knowing God discipleship e-book on this blog. 

When a person receives the Spirit through accepting that Yeshua paid the price for their sins and welcomes Him into their lives as Lord, they now have the very nature of God living within them. Isn't that amazing?!  It's really the way God had created Adam and Eve in the first place, to be one with God through His Spirit which Adam, as the first human, received when God breathed life into Him and he became a “living soul.” Breath and Spirit are the same word in Hebrew - Ruach. That kind of “living” means having the Spirit of God within him. Other creatures (animals, etc.) were created to live in the natural, but God's breath breathed into Adam made him "alive" with the Holy Spirit of God, able to interact with God at the highest level. Imagine the intelligence and power they must have had!  

When we accept Yeshua's death on the cross for our own sins, we are restored back to the relationship with God that Adam and Eve had before they sinned. Yeshua said in John 17 in His farewell prayer at the last Passover supper, that he was giving to His disciples the glory which God had given to Him (John 17:22). That means He was giving His disciples, which includes those of us who are His disciples today, who follow Him, the Spirit of God. When we have His Spirit, we begin to think different, act different, speak differently, and the things we now desire are godly, while ungodly things begin to lose their hold and interest for us. We may not feel anything different, or we may. But feelings are not the measure, our actions are as our character is affected. We begin to live "by the Spirit," aware of God in our lives where we were not before. 

Living a normal life: We actually live a more normal life than people who do not have Yeshua in their lives.  We can be free from fear because we know God is caring for us; we can make wise decisions because we have the leading of the Spirit; we can be healthier because He is our healer; we can have more peace in our lives and more sound mindedness because, “He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). We are assured of an eternity with God so we have no fear of death.   We do not have to fear poverty or lack, because God has promised to meet our every need. We have a sense of satisfaction in our lives because we do what we do unto or for Him. We have forgiven those who have hurt us or disappointed us so we do not carry any bitterness or anger or resentment.  And if we have any cause for grief or sorrow, He has taken it on the cross so we can release it to Him and His Spirit will bring comfort to us.  We can love when others cannot. We can be free when others are bound  in so many ways.  Yes, we live normal lives. We are so free sometimes that others who are not free may resent our freedom and tell us there’s something wrong with us, but it is they who are not normal. Normal is to live the way God intended us to live, with Him in peace and joy. 

A person living in awareness of God in their lives is likely to be so grateful to Him for His goodness to them and their desire to please God (not to earn His favor, but just because we want to make Him smile, and don’t want anything to come between us and Him), they are not likely to be drawn away by things that would cause the Spirit to withdraw their sense of His presence.  Even King David cried out to God when he sinned, “Take not your Spirit from me.”   Yeshua said, "I will never leave you or forsake you."  That can be counted on to be true throughout the life of a person who is His. He never lies. He is always faithful to His word.  That does not mean that someone does not have the freedom to deliberately walk away from Him if, for some misplaced reason, they choose to reject God and opt, by an act of their will, for something they know is clearly against God.  I’m not talking about a sin we get caught in and hate. I'm talking about rejecting God or choosing to do something you know is not His will, valuing the thing higher than Him, or without caring what He thinks.  I cannot think of a more unwise choice.

We must live by what we know is right in God’s eyes, even when it is not regarded as right to others. Sometimes that’s a difficult choice to make. The fear of man is a trap, but reverence and obedience to God is life and peace.  Our consciences tell us what is good and profitable in the ways of God.  Trust Him to lead you. Ask Him daily to give you wisdom for each day.  Many of us have gotten ourselves into difficult situations, big or small, because we didn’t heed the gentle warning of our conscience, which is God’s gift of wisdom to us.  When you sense something is not clear or right, ask him right where you are,  “Lord, what’s wrong? What do I need to know? Give me wisdom.”  What comes to your mind is likely what He is wanting to show you. He will always protect you if you look to Him.  That’s not to say things don’t happen in our lives that are difficult, or take a while to iron out. They do not necessarily mean that we have failed somewhere to know right from wrong. We live in a fallen and sinful world and “stuff happens.”  We learn from every incident to be more like Him in our choices – and our responses.  As a person whose sins have been erased by the shed blood of Yeshua, God does not look at us as sinners anymore. He looks at us as His beloved children whom He is teaching to grow up to be like Yeshua. He’s promised to do that. We cooperate with obedience but only God can make us God-like. 

Speaking With God.   Of course, you can speak to God. I speak WITH, not just to, Him every day, throughout the day. You have been restored to God through Yeshua's death and resurrection (HalleluYah!) so you have access to God. He will also speak to you if you listen. We must all learn how to listen to God. I started by reading Scripture and writing down what it meant to me or what I thought God was saying. I would write down questions about what I thought the verse or passage was saying, or what it meant to me personally.  Then I would ask, (I still do it even today), "Lord, is there something you wish to tell me about this?"  And when something came to mind, I would write it down in my journal. I soon realized it was as if God was answering me in my thoughts.  Often, going back and reading your earlier journal entries will give you insight you need for today on something you wrote down a while back. This is a good way to begin to learn to hear Him. But most of all – listen! 

Keep in mind that the Bible tells us to test the spirits. Not every spirit is the HOLY Spirit. There are some unholy spirits out there. Be sure that what you are hearing lines up with what the Bible says and that your spirit bears witness with peace and not confusion to what you are ‘hearing.’  Dismiss it if it doesn’t. 

To get back to the question, yes you can speak to God, and you can expect Him to respond because He already said so: "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). You can come confidently, though always with utmost respect. Speak what you wish and just as importantly, listen to what He's saying.  You are unlikely to hear an audible voice - that's rare - but you will receive an impression or a thought that is His way of speaking to your heart.  Most of all, read your Bible!  Know the Word and you will know what He's saying to you because you will come to know, as you read more and more, what the ways of the Lord are and the way He thinks.  

Thinking With God.   What about spending time with God when your mind is full of things? THINK WITH GOD!  Invite Him in on your thoughts. I realized as a new believer that God was already able to hear me think, He knows everything, so why not "think to God," to make my thinking a part of my relationship with Him. So whatever I'm thinking about, I talk to Him about in my thoughts.  Just like if you shared your thoughts with someone you live with. After all, you do live with Him!   Don't separate Him from the everyday parts of your life.  Allow Him to be in ALL of your life. Enjoy Him even in your smallest thought. You can think to Him, or talk to Him. It doesn't matter. He's there with you.  You can enjoy His presence in your life and deepen your love for him by His constant companionship when you include Him.

I’m not sure what this gentleman mean by "receiving the blessing."  Yeshua Himself in your life is the greatest blessing.  He comes into your life when you ask Him to and are sorry for sin, and that you have lived your life apart from Him before. When you ask Him to be Lord of your life - it's like getting married. You are saying "I do want to live the rest of my life with You." Be assured that He took you up on it and has come into your life. There is no higher blessing than to be one with the King of the Universe, joined to Him by His Spirit. 

At any rate, do not fret. God will bring clarity to you as you keep seeking Him. Just do so in rest that He loves you and will bring you to the place of understanding all things in time.

Don't try and fix the parts of you that aren’t lined up with God or receiving God as you think you should.  Yes, repent from sin. but keep in mind that repentance in the Bible doesn't mean saying you're sorry; it means turning away from the sin and turning toward God. Its an about-face; a determination to abandon the sin.  You may need His help to do it, and He's there to help you. Lean on Him for His help.  Really, only God can change us, only He can do that fixing!  Turn over to Him to make the changes in your that you're wanting. I do it all the time: "God, make me more like Yeshua.  Lord, take away every part of me that is not pleasing to You or profitable for me, naturally, spiritually, financially, relationally.....  Be Lord of my life in every way and teach me all You want me to know about You. .... Make me aware of where you are all around me in my life...."  These are the kinds of things I pray.  Live from the awareness of YESHUA WITHIN you, not from the Adam within your natural self.  Adam will never get you to heaven or to the peace of God.

The Lord has already given you His Spirit. Yes, we wait always for more of Him, but as you have already opened your heart to Him, be assured He is already there with you and in you - forever.  Assume He's there. Stop waiting and start living in Him!  It's that easy.  Some people miss it because it IS that easy. He has already done all the hard part for us.  

PROPHESY AND TONGUES

 

LIFF IN THE SPIRIT IS A BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE
OF LIGHT SHINING IN THE SHADOWS

This is Part 2 of the questions someone emailed to me. I do not know this person but he presented an opportunity to share some things which will hopefully prove helpful to some of you reading this.

The Question. When someone receives the blessing (of) speaking in tongues what is the meaning? I already opened my heart and (I’m) waiting for the Lord to give me the spirit.  A Prophet and receiv(ing the) Holy Spirit - are they the same or not?  

My Answer.  No, they are not the same. Everyone who is born again will receive a measure of the Spirit of God.  There is a baptism of the Spirit that generally comes to a person after they are born again, though it can happen all at once. Speaking in tongues is generally the sign of one who has been baptized in the Spirit. It is through the power of the indwelling Spirit that one can prophesy.  But not everyone who receives the Spirit of God will or can prophesy. On the other hand, anyone with the Spirit of God can prophesy on occasion – and should!  Tongues are for every Spirit filled believer in Yeshua and so should being able to prophesy.  Someone may speak a word to another person as an encouragement or pray something that they are declaring will come to pass and be prophesying and not even realize it.  If we are sensitive to the Spirit of God and practice being attentive to Him and listen for Him to speak to us, then we can be equipped to speak a word prophetically. I must say, though, that unless we are in a church environment that encourages the prophetic, we do not have an opportunity to develop or practice the gift.  That’s why small groups or home groups are such fertile ground for developing spiritual gifts.

 However, not everyone who speaks a prophetic word is a prophet.   A prophet, or someone who can prophesy on a regular basis, comes from the Spirit manifesting one of the spiritual gifts in that person's life in the same way that God gives pastor, teachers, evangelists and apostles.  The Holy Spirit gives all those spiritual gifts, including prophesy, for the benefit of the congregation or someone else, never just for the benefit of the person who does the prophesying, although the one giving the prophetic word may be blessed in being able to bless someone else with the word. Paul said we should all desire the better gifts which would include prophesy.  But having the gift is not for the prophet's benefit but for other people.  Nor do we receive an ability to prophesy because we have earned it somehow; that's why they are called "gifts" because they are “freely given" by the Spirit. And we cannot seek to prophesy so that it will make us feel closer to God or be the measure of His acceptance of us.  It isn't so we can feel accepted or a bit more special to Him.  None of that is valid. We do not seek to prophesy for our own advantage. Prophesy is almost never about “us” but about others. True prophesy is birthed out of compassion for people.  Compassion was Yeshua's motivating impulse for all He did and said.  

BTW, There are 50 verses using “compassion,” in the Bible, 27 of them in the Old Testament, and 23 of them in the New Testament, if you would like to do a word study for some understanding of God’s compassion.  Studying God’s Word isn’t just about information, it’s impartation that brings transformation to our lives. Studying compassion in the Bible will make you more compassionate. The Holy Spirit will work it in you as you take the Word seriously.

I would stress to you that until you get the very basic foundational issues of your relationship with God, and His love for you, etc., cleared up in your mind, you are not likely to be prophesying the mind of God to anyone.  It could be muddied. Another example: A woman came to our women’s bible study who obviously had a prophetic gift. She could pick things up in the Spirit easily. But when she gave the words, she couched them in her own discouraged and negative mindset as she had been wounded spiritually and it came through when she spoke the words.  When it was pointed out to her gently and lovingly, she was too defensive to receive it. She was the prophetic one and so what she said was right, as far as she was concerned.  Prophesy should edify, exhort and encourage – the Three E’s.  As said above, we will speak out of our own character.  

There are many self appointed prophets speaking words that are supposedly words from God today which are in grave error and can mislead people. When they are flattering or draw you to the prophet rather than to God, or if they make you fearful or discouraged, I would be wary of them.  Even when God convicts us of sin, He does it lovingly with the sense of great hope of being set free. He is never condemning; neither should any prophet be. I am all for hearing from God prophetically, but the Bible is very clear that false prophets who give false prophesies are dangerous and God warns against them.  Only the truth will set us (or keep us) free!

Tips on Giving Prophetic words. We can speak what we believe may be prophetic words from God without all the fancy and high sounding "Thus saith the Lord...." kind of words.  You can more safely (and humbly) say, "I'm hearing (or seeing, or sensing) that God might be saying......” and share what’s on your heart.  If it’s to a group, you can add if you feel so inclined and the situation warrants it, “I’m submitting this to you to judge the word” as the New Testament tells us, “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge” (1 Cor. 14:29). Admittedly that’s difficult in the way our church services are set up. That works much more easily in smaller groups. But a person who gives a prophetic word should always be humble enough to be open to the discerning of the word by others as to whether it rings as truly from God or not.  If we are in a loving community of believers, there should be no shame in learning what’s of God and what isn’t. We’re all learning together.  I gave a word recently that I after I gave it, wasn’t sure about myself. I judged my own word and then told everyone just that.  Later a spiritually mature person told me they felt it was from the Lord. It was good to get that confirmation. 

If it’s a personal word – and many words we call prophesy are really or include “words of knowledge” (awareness of something going on in the person’s life) rather than predictive prophesies –  leave it to the person whether they receive it or not. That’s between them and God. It’s never for the prophet to interpret the word for the person they’re giving the word to, or to press them to receive it.  It may make no sense to the prophet but can be personally meaningful to the person receiving the word.  If it's a true word for the person, they will get a witness in their own spirit's that it's true.  If not, you only shared what came to you.  You didn’t risk being called a false prophet. 

If the word was truly from God, it doesn't need all the attempts to make it sound like it really is. The Spirit of God will make it real to the person.  That way, we have avoided any pride in being "a prophet" but we have delivered the word with humility before God and the other person(s) and left it to the Lord to make it real or not to the hearers. 

While every believer is capable of prophesying on some level, not everyone is a prophet. God will occasionally give prophetic words to his people to meet a need of the moment, or a word of encouragement, but that does not mean they are now a prophet.  Someone might be able to function prophetically as they speak a word of encouragement or address an issue prophetically, by giving a word of insight or a Scripture verse that cuts right through to resolve an issue.  But the “office” of a prophet is an entirely different matter. They carry a responsibility and authority that is far greater.  Thanks be to God, there are prophetic people today who walk in great power and revelation and yet, are still quite humble before the Lord. Their words are usually quite significant and rock solid.  There are levels of that kind of prophetic authority. Some will speak to people about their lives, others to things concerning church congregational issues, while others are given insight into political issues, on local, city, state or national issues or even international issues. They have the authority of God to speak things into being at those levels. It is best not to enter into speaking prophetic things in arenas that you don’t know for sure that God has trained you and given you authority in.  A army private or even a second lieutenant should never take the authority or responsibility of a general.  For more on this, see John Paul Jackson’s book, Needless Casualties of War.   

Receiving a word of prophesy.  It’s hard to remember what is said to you, so it’s a good thing the words come from God; He will remember. It’s helpful to take notes or record it on your cell phone if you’re able. You should have a yea and amen in your spirit when you receive a word from God.  Usually the word should confirm something that is already on your heart or something that rings familiar or true to you.  It may even bring peace to something that has troubled you for a long time. The sister of a friend of mine had died, much to his distress. He didn’t know if she was in heaven or not. He was watching a Sid Roth TV show ( www.ItsSupernatural ) one night, stretched out on the couch,.  The guest on the show had a word for someone watching. He said, “I see you lying on a couch with your feet up and you are troubled because you do not know if your sister is in heaven or not. God wants you to know that she is. Be at peace.”  Now that’s the kind of word that’s a joy to receive.

Be careful, however, not to be woo'ed by the showmanship of some prophets who appear as if they are a bit more special than everyone else because they can prophesy.  I attended a meeting where a prophet was ministering to people, giving them words as he walked around the audience. He had a microphone on so we could hear all the words.  But for some reason, he was asking, “Do you receive the prophet?” as if he was an Old Testament prophet and “receiving” him would be equal to receiving the word of God. (This was the case in ancient Israel when God had only one or a few prophets at a time who by the Spirit spoke only the pure words of God.).  What could the people he had standing up by  their seats say but yes. I was glad when he didn’t come to me for if he had asked me that question, I would have had to say (quietly to him, not in the microphone, I would think), “I know nothing about your life or character. I will judge the word to see if I think it’s of God but accepting you is not an issue.”  That’s an extreme case, but crazy things are out there today.  Be discerning!

If there's pride and any kind of exalting themselves in the person giving the word, I would discount what you’re hearing from them.  The gift of prophesy is subject to the prophet (1 Cor. 14:32).  That means we speak out of our own character.  Take every prophecy that you hear to the Lord if it seemed meaningful to you and ask Him to confirm it to you. Actually, most prophesies should confirm what you already sense in your spirit.  Beware of flattery. As an example, I was asked to speak at a conference where words were being given that this one was going to have a great ministry that would be known, and that one was going to be famous; it went on and on. There was much joyful shouting about all that but a word about being quiet and reverent in His presence in order to know truth from error in these days we live in fell flat.  Was their preference for “ear tickling?”  “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires” (2 Timothy 4:3). I fear some were being set up for great disappointments or worse, attempts to make the so-called prophetic words come to pass if it wasn’t from God.  

Speaking in Tongues.  While I am now addressing the issue of Tongues, you will see how it also is intertwined here and there with prophesy.

Once we receive the gift of Tongues, and every believer can, we can speak in tongues at will, just as we speak in English. We must open our mouths and put voice to the words. It's quite supernatural and yet is the most natural thing to speak in tongues. Paul said that he spoke in tongues more than anyone else around him. Considering his revelation, it must be a good thing.  Speaking in tongues edifies or strengthens us spiritually, to be more sensitive to the Spirit. For someone who desires to prophesy, speaking in tongues is very important.  It builds up your spirit.  

God always speaks when he is about to do something, beginning with "Let there be light!"  He speaks through us all the time, even when we don't realize it, to encourage or affirm, or lovingly advise others.  He may use us as we pray in tongues prophetically to declare something that He wants to do, as if we’re calling it into reality, pulling it down out of heaven, so to speak, to manifest on the earth. This would be another form of prophesy, which is prophetic prayer.  We can declare things into people’s lives at the leading of the Spirit.  And when we are speaking in tongues, it allows God to "speak" things into our lives, or the lives of others when we pray in tongues for them, especially when it is accompanied by an interpretation. 

We are often speaking what is beyond what we understand at the time. So unless God gives us the interpretation or the sense of what we’re speaking, we may not know what God is doing through the prayer. That is more the case than not. But even so, our spirits are strengthened by the speaking in tongues.  I enjoy singing in tongues and even the lovely melodies are sometimes what seem Spirit-led as I don’t think I would have come up with them on my own.  Other times it seems to be more of a chant when singing in tongues.

Often speaking in tongues will bring us new insight into something.  God may give us insight or even the sense of the person we’re praying for even when not with them. We can be praying privately for others in tongues.  I have prayed for people in the Spirit, that is in tongues, and for one person that I have my thoughts on as I’m praying for them, I might hear the words in tongues come with strength, strong and firm, even directive. And then I switch to thinking about another person I want to pray for, and suddenly the tongues become soft and tender as I sense God’s gentleness toward them.  It likely has to do with the need in each person’s life at the time.

I personally have never received a direct interpretation from my tongues or someone else's. But I know people who speak in tongues and can give interpretation. I know one couple where the wife gets the message in tongues and the husband gets the interpretation.  Let us all pray that God will increase the gift of tongues and interpretation, as well as prophesy, for the benefit and edification of the Body for surely we have a great need to hear pure and powerful words from God that are consistent with His word in these days in which we live.  

I hope this has cleared up some issues or been helpful for you in some ways.  Most of all, enjoy that Yeshua is in your life, that you are in Him, and you're His.  I end with a word from Paul: 

“I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.” (1 Cor. 14:5).  Amen.