Guidelines for Discerning Prophecyby Pam Clark
I love getting a word from the Lord, I am sure that is like many of you. There are many prophecies out there and just like church services, not every prophecy is for everybody.I have been to meetings where some just thought it was the most powerful move ever and I felt it was only ok or even boring, and then there were times where I was blessed and no one was nearly as excited as me. Ever been there? It happens. We are all hungry to hear from God. God is incredible, magnificent, awesome and exciting. Some people take this concept and market it. We need to have our discerner radars on... But sometimes God's dealings with us are not so pleasant because He is disciplining, and sometimes what we thought was God was really the enemy at work. One thing we know that we often need, and often want, is change! We were created to change. It's a good thing if you are changing in the right way. There are many prophecies that I find predictable. Some prophecies are just exhortation of Scripture and I will NEVER fault that prophecy if it is not twisted. The Word is the Word and final and it's God's Bedrock. So I will never cast aspersions at what God states is His Foundation. If I know it already or it doesn't really apply to me specifically, I bless it anyway. It's God's Word and He is The Word! If it is not for me at that timing, it is for someone else to whom I belong in the Body of Christ. So Scripture prophecies are never ones to doubt even if they don't have great personal meaning at the moment. Other prophecies prophesy God's wrath and judgment. God has not finished judging this earth, except by the work of the Cross in believer's lives, but works of the flesh are being and will continue to be judged until the new heaven and new earth come down to abide. We are that City, the new Jerusalem, the Bride, the Lamb's Wife, but we aren't there yet -- we aren't whole, complete and purified. We will be, by His faith in us and His mighty power working within us to accomplish this, but we are still on the journey. The Bride of Christ is not just one who is primping. She is not to be worshipped, honored and adored; she is to serve Her Husband and prepare for Him, not just by looking "cute" but by becoming an able Wife, with Proverbs 31 fruitbearing abilities. There are a lot of prophecies about the Bride, but is She able? Is She a strength? Is She a mother? Is She a ruler over her house? Does She provide for others? Do Her works and Her Husband rise up and call Her blessed? Selah. The Husband is tending His Wife and preparing for life with Her, not to just put Her on a pedastal for all to worship, but to co-labor in joy together. Are we of the same Spirit? There are multitudes of prophecies against the religious. Religious people, religious institutions, religious spirits and religious works. These acts and people are those who do things with no feeling or heart in it. It is just traditional. We must be very careful how we judge here. I met God in the mainline denominations and later in life got Spirit filled and full of the awesomeness of God but did not know always how to handle it. In comparison as I looked back, the past seemed dead. I gloated, and then was brought down, to my shock. What happened??? I had arrogance. I had pride and the Lord plainly spoke to me that I would not have one blessing of today without the blessing and foundation of yesterday. I thought the glory of the fruit bearing branches was greater than the trunk that sustained me. The Lord showed me if I cut the trunk, I lost the root of my sustenance. I got the message. So when people attack religion or speak prophetic words against it, I always listen with "both ears." What are they really saying? Jesus was harsh with Pharisees and religious leaders who knew the Way yet blocked it by teaching traditions of men rather than the Commandments of God. The enemy's best work seemed to be through these people yet they were still left in place until the new could be accomplished. Just as wheat needs the chaff until it is developed inside, to some measure we need religious structure. The institution can point us in the right direction but it's up to us to go on with God individually. The Law is our Schoolmaster until faith comes and then we are to grow up into Christ, the Anointing. (Galatians 3:24) The prophecies I get the biggest "red flag" on are prophecies of exclusiveness. "This is for those ones of you who are special...." and their purpose may not be to lift you up but to bring you down. We all want to be special and we are in Christ. But when the word makes you exclusive and set apart above others, it is a false prophecy. There are different levels of maturity but it is a maturity of servanthood ability, not elevated positioning. One of the biggest stress reliefs I find is being able to "let down" with those of like precious struggle of serving. But when some want to include me to be a part of a special leadership class of people, I reject it. It's not God. It has upset many but I don't care. It's not His Spirit. And in those times of stress reliefs, I know it is only for a short season, then back to work again! We do not come so far only to go back to wallowing in the mire! We receive and we give, we receive and we give, it is a flow. If we receive and we try to horde it up, we become fat and heavy and we cannot roll with the flow of giving out to receive more. Yet if we allow God to stretch us, He will, and then we will be full of His new treasures and the old! Anything that is really of God is permanent. It may seem new because He has added elements -- He is quite awesome -- but The Word structure will remain the same. Oh how I hope you understand that! Some people feel very spiritual, all fat and stored up, when they are really becoming wasted. So what am I saying? Beware of flattery! The Scriptures plainly say in Daniel and Jude that flattery will be an effective tool of Satan's in these end times. Blessing is nice. Encouragement is needed, but beware of flattery! Don't judge others by what is going on in you always. When things seem to get stale, get ready to stretch! It's time to grow!!! The other thing that Satan will use in last days is a spewing out of unclean words--this will be in the form of condemnations, mockeries, put downs, threats, railing accusations, false accusations, lying words and vanities. It is just an evil force we must put up with for a season but only for a season. God will judge! Our part is to be sensitive to the true will of God and learn how to get our guard up, not just for our benefit but also for the benefit of others. Because of offense, many will wax cold, Jesus said, but he who endures to the end will be saved. If you are going through a hard time, keep reaching out until you find in the Body those who can help you and restore life into you. Every joint supplies and God wants you where He has you so that you will grow and be able to contain His glory! Last night a friend of mine called me up and said, "Pam, do you want to hear my story about weeds?" I thought maybe I do. So I said, "What is that?" It was a good story. He said, "I was out pulling weeds in the yard and then I had to go in because it started raining. After it stopped raining, I went back out and the weeds were so much easier to pull up! Do you get the Spiritual application of that?" And I went, "Wow, yes I do! The Word made it easier to get out the weeds!" There are weeds in our lives that we must deal with and God does not want us to pull out the wheat (good stuff) with the bad. We need the proper applications to get the vile from the precious! Be discerning! It was a great parable. Realize that God has a big Plan. Not only is He working in your life, but He is working in the lives of everyone else to bring them to a knowledge of His Truth and that Truth is that Jesus died for them because He loves them. Some people get very possessive and arrogant with that truth. If people do not measure up instantly and immediately, they do a number on them. Be wise!!! It is His kindness and love that leads to repentance. God has a world wide plan and I can't even begin to say I understand the whole concept of it, but He does begin with the Truth, and then He builds that Truth in Love. When you are judging and discerning prophecy, look for Love. God is Love. He is your life and this earth life is not all there is, there is an eternal life of great dimension for every living soul. Remember this, as King David encouraged himself in Psalm 56:9-13:
In God, will I praise His Word: in the Lord, will I praise His Word. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid; what man can do unto me? Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto Thee. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: Wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living? Pam Clark
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