An Open Message To Those Who Sense a Prophets Calling ...

The Prophet Comes to Upset that which is Set Up ... i read and talk to our Lord about so many of your posts regarding prophets, particularly regarding you skeptics and just straight up unbelieving ... i thouroughly understand why satan has muddied the waters so much about this particular calling, because the calling forth of the prophet(s) is the most dangerous to the continuation of his strong delusion of both the saved and unsaved, but particularly to the saved ... If the trumpet blaster of God to repentance is instrumental in Jesus waking up His apostate Bride to Joel chapters 1 & 2, the devil knows that his time is no longer short, but over! ... i'm also praying for all of you who may have this calling, but discount it by thinking/saying that you don't want to be judgmental, that you're so concerned by the beam in your eye, that you don't want to call your fellow believer(s) on the speck in theirs ... But the problem is saints that as a collective Church (particularly here in America) our beam is now the size of a Sequoia, and God wants to point this fact out! .. So God's advice to you, as He's had to do with just about all the prophets He's called in the past, is to stop making excuses and go on and sound the alarm ... REPENT! ... You're not warning anybody, God is! ... You're not waiting on anybody to heed, God is! ... And you're not judging anybody, God and His Word is! ... You're just His unwilling instrument of grace to His delivery of warning, and He fully understands why (as listed below) why you're so unwilling, but you'd best remember that He's known you from before you were set in you mothers womb His purpose for you, not because you're anybody special or perfect, not because you're sinless, but because HE CHOOSE YOU! to be His spokesman ...Let me share with you something that the Holy Ghost let me know some time ago ... Do you know how satan and his fallen determine which folk on earth are called of special consequence to the purpose of God? ... In the spiritual realm the forces of darkness follow the family lineages that have a huge, more than usual, entourage of gaurdian angels surrounding them! ... Those of you called as God's prophet(s) right now, at this very moment, are surrounded but such a mass of gaurdian angelic beings that if you could but catch a glimpse would completely blow your mind, and you can best believe that if you were not protected in the invisible in such a way satan would have already killed you ... But thank God for Jesus!, and all the angelic forces of light at His command to care and keep us until such a time as He calls our task done, and He either brings us to glory, or comes in glory to take us all ... So saints if you know you've got the true prophetic calling as God's spokesman to repentance then stop making excuses, and stop being afraid, for no harm, hurt or danger can come to any of God's anointed unless He authorizes it ... You are covered in His blood, called according to His purpose, powered by the Holy Ghost, all the while surrounded by a multitude of His angels, for the pupose of calling His Bride to REPENTANCE! ... He wants Joel chapters 1 & 2, so take no thought, instant, in season and out of season, and proclaim, "Thus saith the LOrd of hosts .... REPENT"! ....Below is a check list gleaned from a writing by Leonard Ravenhill ... If you identify with it, then you know what He has called you to do ..."TRUE PROPHETS" ...- The prophet in his day is fully accepted of God and totally rejected by men. -The prophet of the Lord is aware of both these experiences. They are his “brand name.”-The prophet comes to upset that which is set up. - His work is to call into line those who are out of line! - He is unpopular because he opposes the popular in morality and spirituality. - The function of the prophet, as Austin-Sparks once said, “has almost always been that of recovery.”THE PROPHET IS GOD'S ...- detective seeking for a lost treasure. - The degree of his effectiveness is determined by his measure of unpopularity. - Compromise is not known to him. - He has no price tags. - He is totally “otherworldly.” - He is unquestionably controversial and unpardonably hostile. - He marches to another drummer! - He breathes the rarefied air of inspiration. - He is a “seer” who comes to lead the blind. - He lives in the heights of God and comes into the valley with a “thus saith the Lord.” - He shares some of the foreknowledge of God and so is aware of impending judgment.- He lives in “splendid isolation.”- He is forthright and outright, but he claims no birthright.- His message is “repent, be reconciled to God or else...!”- His prophecies are parried.- His truth brings torment, but his voice is never void.- He is the villain of today and the hero of tomorrow.- He is excommunicated while alive and exalted when dead!- He is dishonored with epithets when breathing and honored with epitaphs when dead. - He is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, but few “make the grade” in his class. - He is friendless while living and famous when dead. - He is against the establishment in ministry; then he is established as a saint by posterity. - He eats daily the bread of affliction while he ministers, but he feeds the Bread of Life to those who listen. - He walks before men for days but has walked before God for years. - He is a scourge to the nation before he is scourged by the nation. - He announces, pronounces, and denounces!- He has a heart like a volcano and his words are as fire.- He talks to men about God.- He carries the lamp of truth amongst heretics while he is lampooned by men. - He faces God before he faces men, but he is self-effacing.- He hides with God in the secret place, but he has nothing to hide in the marketplace. - He is naturally sensitive but supernaturally spiritual. - He has passion, purpose and pugnacity. - He is ordained of God but disdained by men.- The prophet is violated during his ministry, but he is vindicated by history. BUT WHERE, OH WHERE, IS THE PROPHET? ... - Where are the incandescent men fresh from the holy place? - Where is the Moses to plead in fasting before the holiness of the Lord for our moldy morality, our political perfidy, and sour and sick spirituality?GOD’S MEN ARE IN HIDING UNTIL THE DAY OF THEIR SHOWING FORTH. ...- They will come. - The missing person in our ranks is the prophet. The man with a terrible earnestness. The man totally otherworldly. The man rejected by other men, even other good men, because they consider him too ....- austere, - too severely committed,- too negative and unsociable. GOD HAVE MERCY! ... SEND US PROPHETS! ...Let him come daily from the throne room of a holy God, the placewhere he has received the order of the day. Let him, under God,unstop the ears of the millions who are deaf through the clatter ofshekels milked from this hour of material mesmerism. Let him crywith a voice this century has not heard because he has seen avision no man in this century has seen. God send us this Mosesto lead us from the wilderness of crass materialism, where therattlesnakes of lust bite us and where enlightened men, totally blindspiritually, lead us to an ever-nearing Armageddon. Matt.10[19] take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. [20] For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.2Tim.4[2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.Also read/listen to both the books of Amos and Joel for added tempered steel in your spiritual backbone ... Then beginning right now STAND flat footed, and ram rod straight, and allow the Holy Ghost to call the Church to REPENTANCE THRU YOU! ... Amen

That's funny. I always thought that the definition of a modern-day "prophet" and a Spirit-filled Christian were the same thing. In fact, I'm convinced that they are. It's arrogant to say that, unless you're a "prophet," your power, as given by the Holy Spirit, will be less. The Holy Spirit is available to all not just a select few. That is God's promise.I would suggest evangelical, born-again Christians tend to their knitting, forget the prophetic movement, pursue knowledge of the Holy,and concentrate on obeying Jesus in your life and by preaching the Good News to all people everywhere.

Pastor EdP,Would it be safe to say that you don't sense a prophet's calling? ... '0)You wrote ...Quote;"That's funny. I always thought that the definition of a modern-day "prophet" and a Spirit-filled Christian were the same thing". Apparently not, as is attested by the sad state of Christ Church today" ... That's like saying you thought that an ancient prophet, and a Law bound everyday Israelite were the same thing ... If that was so our Bibles would be a few Books short of the major and so called minor prophets ... Apparently there was a huge difference, or our Lord would not have had to raise one to call to REPENTANCE a multitude ...- The prophets work is to call into line those who are out of line! - The function of the prophet, as Austin-Sparks once said, “has almost alwaysbeen that of recovery.”Quote;"In fact, I'm convinced that they are" ...Really? ... Who convinced you? ... The Holy Ghost, or the master deciever? ... "There is a way that appears right unto a man (even a saved one in a pulpit), but the end result is death" ... Which in the preacher/pastor position really concerns God due to the consequences of such a conclusion leavening an entire congregation ... Comfortably convinced leaders, priests and kings in Israel of old, pastors and preachers now, is why it's necessary for God to send His emergency men in times of crisis, and we are as a Church in crisis ... Why? ... According to Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel chapters 1 & 2, etc. it's due to "faulty" leadership ... It's Church leadership that God sends His irratating prophets to first, and it's that same Church leadership that's first to stone the prophet ... Bottom line is self convinced priests and laity and God convinced prophets are at complete odds with one another, and the former will attempt by all possible means to kill the latter, until God's judgment falls ...- The prophet is a “seer” who comes to lead the blind. - The prophet in his day is fully accepted of God and totally rejected by men.- The prophet is unpopular because he opposes the popular in morality and spirituality.- The prophet is violated during his ministry, but he is vindicated by history.Quote;"It's arrogant to say that, unless you're a "prophet," your power, as given by the Holy Spirit, will be less. The Holy Spirit is available to all not just a select few. That is God's promise".Amen ... i didn't say that unless you're a "prophet" your power, as given by the Holy Spirit, will be less ... That would be arrogant! ... - The prophet faces God before he faces men, but he is self-effacing.What i'm saying is that because so many so called modern day Spirit filled Christians aren't excercising that power, or their gifts from the Spirit as He chooses to give them, that as in days of old, it necessitates our Lord to raise up those more intense than others content in their luke warmness, with their addition groves and high places, along side their true worship of Him ... - The prophet is dishonored with epithets when breathing and honored withepitaphs when dead. Quote;"I would suggest evangelical, born-again Christians tend to their knitting, forget the prophetic movement, pursue knowledge of the Holy,and concentrate on obeying Jesus in your life and by preaching the Good News to all people everywhere".Amen again ... If only that was what we were doing ... If only God's priests were of such an actual heart, mind and spirit, but we're not ... That's our problem, we're tending to "OUR" knitting, instead of our becoming God's own handiwork ... That's exactly why there's a need for the true prophetic ... And what do you mean, "Forget the prophetic movement"? ... Brother Pastor the prophetic movement hasn't even started yet! ... Satan has certainly sullied the false prophetic movement with the likes of what brother Strom has recently endured, but the gates of hell itself cannot stop the movement of th true prophetic movement to the repentance of Christ's ruptured Church to rapture ... If you don't believe this, then you don't believe the latter day promises of the book of Joel, and then what are you gonna do when a true prophet of God instead of posting to you over the internet, actually stands in your midst? ... Mark these words, "That day is coming"!- The prophet lives in the heights of God and comes into the valley with a “thus saith the Lord.”- The prophet shares some of the foreknowledge of God and so is aware of impending judgment.- The prophet's message is “repent, be reconciled to God or else...!”If God's priests, preachers, pastors and laity were on equal par with the acute awareness of the prophet regarding the jealousy of the Most High ... the word/office/calling of prophet would be non existent, and we wouldn't even be having this conversation ... but apparently that wasn't the case then, and it's not the case now ... Amen

All prophets, must have apostolic authority. The list you provided in your original posting came from Leonard Ravenhill, as you said. I would think something so important would come from God, and would be included in New Testament Scripture. I would follow God's command and not follow a man or a woman just because they claimed to know what they were talking about. The devil can also appear as an angel of light.Prophecy outside apostolic authority can be safely ignored because it is not a threat to the authority of Scripture. Praise the Lord for that. See: 1 Corinthians 14:28-33, 12 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 2All declared "prophets" must be immediately challenged by Bible believing Christians to prove without a doubt that they are operating entirely within the Word.

One more thought, then I have no more to say on this subject. Read the Word for more details.Pentecost eliminated the need for prophets just as Christ's death eliminated the need for priests and other intercessors between man and God. Before Pentecost, the Spirit only filled a select few. Now the Spirit is available to everyone. If the Spirit moves you to prophesy, remember that everything must be done in order according to God's Word. 1 Corinthians 14:33, 37-40

Pentecost eliminated the need for prophetsCan you show me in scripture where it talks about this?Is there a difference between the office of a prophet and a believer prophesing?Grace,Doug

1 Corinthians 14:28-33, [29] Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.[30] If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.[31] For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.[32] And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.[33] For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.Amen ... When i speak of calling to repentance in a prophetic mode i'm not really dwelling on it in the sense of a church setting/gathering setting as set out by this scripture, but moreso of an individual message to every person/saint one meets ... My thoughts are formulated from the exhortive calling/ministry of the prophet as Christ's gift to His NT church, as opposed to the gift of prophecy as given by the Holy Ghost ... But either way, i'm hoping that you as a pastor, if a true no strings attached message to REPENT is coming thru via prophesying, that you'd not stop it ... i know that when my calling first began to manifest itself i was in a Baptist church setting and pastor straight up wasn't having it, so our Lord moved me to a Pentecostal C.O.G.I.C ... My experience there, as with others of my calling, is that pastor wasn't having it either if the prophecy went against his program ... Our Lord has always operated me in decency and in order because i'm fully aware of the importance of the pastor/preacher and have always been sent directly to him with "thus saith the Lord" ... Both our Lord and myself know the fragility of church leadership when it's authority feels threatened, as they have a tendency to either ignore, or explain away (scripturally most often) the threat ... But as i've asked my pastor on a number of occasions, "Why is it that i'm supposed to believe that our Lord spoke to you in regards to how He's gonna bless me if i give you toward your physical building fund, but you can't believe me when i tell you that He's said that you must do a Joel chapters 1 & 2 towards the Builder, and it ain't gonna cost you no $$$ to do so"? ... Brother Pastor you should be glad that true prophets don't attempt to use scripture to explain your calling away, as much as pastors do it in reverse ... But all the explaining away in the world ain't gonna stop the coming ripping off of the covers regarding the apostasy in Christ's priests and laity ...2 Timothy 3:16[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: Amen ... The same scripture you use to preach forgiveness from, is the same scripture the prophet uses to preach repentance from ... Same scripture, different office, for a different purpose ... Bottom line is the Church (particularly in America) is in need of repentance, beginning with the leadership, and yes it is written, but if you don't heed you can rest assured that God is gonna send somebody to pull your coat tail ... God's the same yesterday, today and forever, He did that then and He's doing that now by the very fact that we're having this discussion ... God did not seperate the OT from the NT, satan did, and he did it for the very reason of your arguments ... Trouble is that so many pastors have made the buck stop with themselves and have placed in the backs of their minds that it ain't lawful to have Salome's moms ... Then God throws a black eye in the game by sending John the Baptist ... As i've said before you may cut off my head either figuratively or literally, but until such time i'll straight up be telling you that you're wrong!2 Peter 2 ... Speaks of both "false prophets" and "false teachers" ... It's apparent that prophets are not the only ones capable of being false, as there are also loads of false preachers, pastors and laity ... i get pretty much suspicious of any person who claims a message from God which requires an an allegience to that person as our allegience only belongs to God, or sizable chunks of cash from my wallet, but no such alarm goes off when i hear a saint proclaiming repentance, and strict adherence to God's will, Word, and way ... Problem is i don't hear much of that if any, and certainly not with any convicting strength from most pulpits i've sat under ... The present day school of preaching seems to be that of "the kinder, gentler Jesus Claus and Christ Genie" ... Well God's tired of it, and if he can't get his preachers to say it, he'll raise up His prophets ... Again if pastors did their jobs, they nor the laity would ever have to be bothered by God's worrisome, loathsome pests, called prophets ...One of us is dead wrong, and whichever it may be, may the Spirit of the Living God set us straight ... In Jesus name, for His sake, kingdom and righteousness ... Amen

Pastor EdP you further wrote ...One more thought, then I have no more to say on this subject. Read the Word for more details.Pentecost eliminated the need for prophets just as Christ's death eliminated the need for priests and other intercessors between man and God. Before Pentecost, the Spirit only filled a select few. Now the Spirit is available to everyone. If the Spirit moves you to prophesy, remember that everything must be done in order according to God's Word. 1 Corinthians 14:33, 37-40OK, then this is my finall thought to you as well ... Someone should have told the Holy Ghost this before He inspired Paul to pen ...Eph.4[11] And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; [12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: [13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:And John, the Revelation ...Amen.

If you don't believe this, then you don't believe the latter day promises of the book of Joel, and then what are you gonna do when a true prophet of God instead of posting to you over the internet, actually stands in your midst? ... Mark these words, "That day is coming"!RahmanI wonder if you realize that this is the language of the latter rain movement, later known as the manifested sons of God. You are presuming, as many do, that these OT prophecies are predictions of a future ‘revival’ and your theology is built on your eschatology. This has been my complaint often in these postings. It is the eschatological foundation of Art Katz. It is basic to the writing of Jesse Penn Lewis; a different era is coming before the Coming of the Lord. The question is, is it true?The whole thesis of the Latter Rain movement is that a different kind of time is coming. Different to anything that has been before. The language has been used that Christ’s works will be surpassed by a new generation of prophets and apostles. Christ they say was ‘alpha man’ but the latter day church will be ‘omega’ man. The Kansas City Prophets and their fellow travellers contend that the effect of these super-apostles and super-prophets will be that the church will be seen as the only answer to the world’s problems. The rulers of the nations will come to the church for counsel and the kingdom of God will spread over all the earth.For myself, I don’t believe what you call the ‘latter day’ promises of Joel are any ‘latter’ than the Day of Pentecost. On that day Peter said ‘this is that’ and it has been since. The coming of the Spirit was the beginning of the last days. There are no ‘latter days’. This is the day of salvation and it has been so since Acts 2. This era stretches from the Day of Pentecost to the Day of the Lord, and the Bible does not teach that there is to be a special era with special signs before the Lord’s coming.I know that many will disagree with me but I regard this theology as being the real reason that the charismatic movement has descended into such chaos.

Acts 21, in response to PastorEdp's statement:9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. 10 And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” Acts 21:12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 21:14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” In ChristJeff

The first two combatants in this thread may consider the mind and ministry of Christ, the attitude of the Lamb and the ministry of life and peace.Both combatants have some homework to do concerning the understanding of the role of the prophet and the prophetic office. The major consideration to be undertaken would certainly include matters like submission to the lordship of the Holy Spirit unto a tempered relation to the body of Christ, the Church and its purposes. We find little of this truly prophetic mode in the small notes exchanged so far.Please, allow for temperance.We do indeed sense a prophetic calling, but it finds expressions of a very different kind in comparison to some very modern modes.Lars W.

You are right, Brother Greg. There were so many pies being thrown around at the time that I must have forgotten to duck. Here is what I should have said and WHAT I BELIEVE. I don't think I'm contradicting myself in this.First: ANYONE who is filled with the Holy Spirit has the capacity to prophesy, but this is at the Spirit's pleasure. The person just can't say on his own, "Now I'm going to prophesy such and such."Second: The office of prophet might have been active during the lives of the apostles, and that might be why Paul wrote about it. But I'm not entirely convinced that the last Biblical prophet was not John the Baptist. However, the office surely disappeared after the death of the Apostle John at around 100 AD.This is what I believe and I hope I've made myself clear. I apologize to anyone who was offended by my poor choice of words.PS: That's what you get when you forget to ask the Holy Spirit's guidance in responding to something like this.

Brother Greg you wrote;Quote:"It appears that much of this conversation may be going off in the wrong direction because of the way that Rahman has phrased certain things". You are definitely right on this one, and our Lord has dealt with me about my opening to this thread as i was praying about it this weekend ... i wrongly started out ...Quote;"i read and talk to our Lord about so many of your posts regarding prophets, particularly regarding you skeptics and just straight up unbelieving" ...Well He's made me to further see that much of my concern in what i believe to be my calling, although not as bad as i once was, is STILL TOO MUCH ABOUT ME, about my being rejected, and that has to completely stop! ... i got real convicted this past weekend about wasting valuable prayer time on "woe is me, nobody believes me Lord" ... He's let me know that He hasn't called me to argue or defend my calling, He's called me only to be His one note instrument in this particular time, that note being ... WEEP AND REPENT!... As much as i meditate on such scriptures that talk about being rejected, and being spoken ill of, rejection is still a tough pill if ALL OF SELF isn't out of the way ... The gist of this thread was supposed to be an encouragement to any one else sensing a prophet's calling, to dismis the rejection, and just continue to do what the Lord is telling you to do regardless ... it is amazing to me tho how much opposition one can get from within when the message is as simple as the repentance method of Joel chapters 1&2 ... The word says "he that recieveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall recieve a prophet's reward", not he that is made, convinced or persuaded to recieve ... So from now on i'll just say (at any forum) what the Lord lays on my heart, and may the chips fall as they may ...Brother Ron you wrote;Qoute;"You are presuming, as many do, that these OT prophecies are predictions of a future ‘revival’ and your theology is built on your eschatology. This has been my complaint often in these postings". i've read your feelings on this subject which is why i don't even attempt to refute them ... We all believe as we all believe, until such a time as the Spirit confirms or disavows our beliefs ... i wouldn't have responded to Pastor EdP had i not allowed my "self" to get into it ... Thank God that He knows i'm not perfect, and continues to discipline me past "self", and i thank Him that i'm getting better ... You know you once told me to, "cut myself some slack" ... Not only do i wish i could do that, i wish i could just cut myself loose from this commision my faith tells me God has me on ... But i can't, because way deep down inside of me i know that this is what He wants me to do ... As i said to a friend of mine in discussion of this very topic this weekend, "i feel like either God's gonna make something break for me (in regards my ministry), or i'm gonna break" ... As i've said to Pastor EdP, "Brother Ron one of us is dead wrong, and whichever it may be, may the Spirit of the Living God set us straight ... In Jesus name, for His sake, kingdom and righteousness ... AmenBrother Lars you wrote;Quote;"The first two combatants in this thread may consider the mind and ministry of Christ, the attitude of the Lamb and the ministry of life and peace. Both combatants have some homework to do concerning the understanding of the role of the prophet and the prophetic office. The major consideration to be undertaken would certainly include matters like submission to the lordship of the Holy Spirit unto a tempered relation to the body of Christ, the Church and its purposes. We find little of this truly prophetic mode in the small notes exchanged so far. Please, allow for temperance. We do indeed sense a prophetic calling, but it finds expressions of a very different kind in comparison to some very modern modes".Ouch brother Lars! ... i hear what you're saying But you're so right when you call me a combatant for when it comes to the matters of Christ and Christianity that's eaxatly how i see myself ... as a rough hewn soldier alternating from standing behind my LARGE shield of faith and wreaking havoc with the Sword of the Spirit ... i preach soldiering, the whole armour of God, and who our battle is against everywhere i go ... i make many of the guys in the mens group at my church sick with the analogy, and then gag them even further by letting them know that it ain't me that they want to tune out, but God's Word Himself ... But please understand that when i find myself engaged in a contest with a fellow saint (as with Pastor EdP) i don't concider that mortal combat as he's my brother in the Lord, but as sparring (with scriptures like these in mind) ...1John.4Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.Eph.6[10] Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.[11] Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.[12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.[13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.[14] Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;[15] And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;[16] Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.[17] And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:[18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;Heb.4[12] For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.2Tim.2[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [16] But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.Pastor EdP,Please forgive me if in my exasperation/enthusiasm that i offended you in anyway ... Even sparring amongst fellow believers can take on too much roughness when one forgets that it's all about Christ with no place for self whatsoever ... AmenSo brother Greg, i too apologize to anyone who was offended by my poor choice of words. But i'm so glad that "all things work together for the good of WE that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose" ... He's used this thread to make me see my "self" even more, and how that there is no place for my "self" in His service ...Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity ... Amen.

Brother Ed, the office of the prophet better not be gone from the church, because we all would be in serious trouble. The gift of prophecy anyone can operate in, but the Office of a Prophet is different. The Old Testament prophet WAS in one sense The Word Of God(would you guys please misunderstand me right here?), whereas the New Testament prophet is subject to the authority of The Word. I guess you have seen some major errors, but please read the Good Word Of God again. I'll try to define a few things better here later on. However, the prophet's office must be something that's ought to be precious to the Church since it's under such pressure and misunderstanding. Come let us reason together with the Lord and each other in a humble spirit. God bless, Daniel

Brother Rahman, the apostle John was a rough soldier too at first. He and his brother were called Boanerges by Jesus, sons of thunder. They had a temper. As you know, John stood at the cross watching our Lord Jesus crucified, giving His life for all of us. What took place in the heart of John we know little of, but his letters keeps coming back to this point: “Love each other”. Brother, you are not the only one with zeal and a temper. I know I'm one of those men who likes to be right and I'd die for it too. The worst part is when we kill for it, if not physically so with words and attitudes. But that's the way of Boanerges, the way of the Lord is to die, let the corn of wheat die. The blessed second chapter of the letter to the Philippians tells us about the humble mind of Christ. Read it, brother, together with me. Our old man is not too keen on dying, as we all know. Death is not pleasant, and our ego wants to get off the cross and take back the glory of God at all costs by all means. God has given us all things in Christ, and when we let go of ourselves we can receive all His precious gifts. Looking at our own abilities won't do us any good, no matter how skilled we might be. The only offer acceptable to God was the Lamb Of God. All victory belongs to Him, all praise, all glory, all power and so forth. Let us reason and pray that the humble heart of Christ might rule in us all. If we'd meet someday, I'm sure you will not be too impressed of me, and frankly neither am I. But you might understand that my faith is not about what I can achieve, but in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for ME. For ME He gave His life. Only in Him can I be what I'm supposed to be, and live like I'm supposed to live. Let us show each other love from Christ in this forum. Yours truly Daniel

Sons of thunder! ... now i do like the sound of that! ... But amen Brother Daniel ... Phil.2[1] If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,[2] Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.[3] Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.[4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.[5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:[6] Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:[7] But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:[8] And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.[9] Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:[10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;[11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.[12] Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.[13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.[14] Do all things without murmurings and disputings:[15] That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;[16] Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Come on guys. Let's all have a big group hug. That's wht I love about this place, we can have the most heated discussions, yet still come out friends:-).I work on the key operating princple that I will know nothing but "Christ and him crucified", and that everything else is further understanding of the above (kind of a reverse "That's enough about me. Now what do you think about me."). As far as this whole 5 fold ministry thing, I figure if God wants to use me as a prophet, well that's none of my business. I just need to submit to His beckon.To use a tool analogy, I'm the shifter (for you guys in the States I'll say "monkey wrench"). If my master wants to use me as a spanner, to open a 1/4" or 5/8" nut, none of my buisness. If he wants to use me as a hammer to loose a part, none of my business. Hey, even if he wants use me to crack wallnuts, as long as I'm being used (**edit** or should I say, 'as long as I'm useful), I'm happy.I once heard a wise man say, the "God promotes, and man recognises." I see alot of people who claim to be this and claim to be that, but most end up like the Levite and the Pharisee on the road to Jerico, hoping that a Samarian will help the victim. Let's face it, I never hear Ray Comfort, or Jesse Morrell refer to themselves as evangelists, or Ravenhill and Tozer refer to themselves as prophets (remember when a prophet was someone who spoke the "long ignored, cold hard facts"), or dare I say, Keith Daniel call himself an apostle. They simply do the work, and we recognise their "title" (for want of a better word).In the words of an old Mitsubishi commercial, "Please consider".

Elijah was a man---MAN----subject to like passions ect... brothers-- look at all the prophets in the bible.They came from different back grounds socially and economically and educationally.If you look closely God made it appear as if He didn't want to exclude any cross section of society from this calling. As always God the Holy Spirit is looking for an open heart to burden with His will.These weren't different or special men, they were just willing vessels.The bigger question is , are we willing to be God's obedient vessels?