"I Want a Word!"by Pam Clark
There are false prophets out there who like to feel important and so they study to see what people want and like to hear. Some will even charge money and the people gladly pay. God never charges for His ministry just as He does not charge for salvation, but if you are not willing to give of yourself to the Gospel--which includes finances--then one wonders if you really are receiving the Truth because the Truth goes on--it continues and has maintenance costs--unless you have found another way? Prophets make jokes among themselves about the people who come up to them--total strangers--and ask "Do you have a word for me?" WHY should the prophet have a word for you??? One friend tells me the response she gives when people do that is: "Yes! Read your Bible!" because often they are too lazy to do that--they want someone else to do their work, they want someone else's lamp oil. They don't work out their own salvation and usually don't like that response. People neglect to see prophets and other ministers as human beings. They think they can barge in on another human being's life and just demand ministry and expect to have it on the spot, in perfection, and if it is not there, they even feel justified bad-mouthing and slandering the ministry. WHO is wrong here? Another prophet friend of mine said he was at a meeting where the couples mixed themselves up so they were sitting with different spouses in order to test the prophet. He said he always asks if couples are married, and always advises others to ask that, but when asking in this situation and finding out they did that, a wall went up. The people were testing or tempting the prophet. I wonder what God thinks about that? Are people tempting God when they demand His spokes-people to perform for them? How often do they pray for their ministers? How often do they minister to them? How often do they help them? How often do they thank them? I am not saying that to "get stuff out of people" but God has instructions in His Word on how the people are to treat the ministers--not just on how ministers are to treat the people!! A workman is worthy of his hire. How much do you give doctors for their healing skills? In what ways do you thank God and His ministers for what they have done for you? People expect full time ministers to have the skills and attitude of perfect saints when they do not require that expertise and character from themselves or others. That is not respecting God! And God will not allow any human to take His place as God--He calls that idol worship and great sin. That is why it is so often said that prophets should confirm the word that God has given you. Another thing that is wise to know about prophets and that is in some ways, just like other professions--they have a "language." God often speaks symbolicly to prophets and these symbols have meanings to the prophets! There is a "church world" language with common expressions and there are individual languages that God will have with His servants! All of these imply developed relationship and a developed relationship with God with the individual is the goal of any true prophet for His people. Beware the prophet who makes you dependent for information from their words alone! You are being set up by the enemy! On the other side of this, God's ministers are there because we need "experts." I like this definition of an expert: "An expert is anyone who knows more than you do about a subject!" Good ministers are studied and gifted. And they can impart gifts and information that you did not have before, but there is the principle of freedom that should effect (or cause) the individual's relation to be in freedom or to stay in freedom. In that instance they may not confirm something you already knew, but if they do not point you to the Word of God, you could be deceived and not even know it! Why should I say to a person who comes up to me, "Do you have a word?" that "Oh God wants to bless you and prosper you!" That is the word that most people are looking for. How am I to know if they are even saved? Sometimes I can figure it, but if the anointing is not there, why should I be a walking book of life on every person I meet??? Did God make me that way? No. If I come to your store, will you give me for free everything I want? No. The anointing is usually brought about by prayer, praise and worship. Has that atmosphere been set up when you ask for a word? Even wicked Saul knew to bring a gift (or a spirit of sacrifice) before the seer. God is looking at the heart! It is fun to minister in the anointing but there is a price involved to walk in it. The competitor for the true prophetic is divination. It is the prophetic gift perverted and operates by familiar spirits. Spirits don't die. Many have been around for thousands of years and somewhat know the territory! How much did your mother know about you as a child and you could not figure out for the life of you how she knew that! She'd been around--she knew. Diviners call upon the spirit world and this is real temptation to the prophet and intercessor, especially when God is saying "No" or "Wait." Do you know that you can be defiled by false words? Some have been called and want power at any price and will compromise. There are many who are developing prophets and are learning the best way to walk in their giftings. Were you an expert on Jesus when you got saved? Not everyone is an expert prophet, even though they are called to that ministry! Anyone who is saved can lead another to the Lord, but you can learn better ways sometimes of doing it. There are some ministers who get in sin and when they do, the gift can come out perverted -- 50% right and 50% wrong! Or 70% and 30% or worse or better. If you are walking in the Spirit, you can often discern it, but this can be confusing to people. They want to throw the whole gift out when God gave it to us for our good. But just as with every gift, there is responsibility. Another thing that scares me when people come up and say, "I want a word!" is the accountability I have before God to get that word right! I do not want to be frivolous or careless with the gift. I know I am not 100% all the time and the longer I walk with God, the more developed I become. Somedays I am stronger than other days. To the degree that I have walked with God and know His Word, I can minister out of that and it is not uncommon for the prophetic gift to kick in. But I do not want to be responsible for misleading someone by just coming up with "a word." Some people put demands on you that can shame or mock or intimidate and some forget that you are only a person who has human needs as well. There is a not a prophet anywhere on this earth that did not need the atoning work of the Cross applied to their lives as well. Just as you, prophets have to confess their sins. God says "Touch not My anointed and do My prophets no harm." A true prophet or minister labors in their gifts to minister to you. They lay down their lives so you can receive more from God. God takes it personal! Ministers can only operate in what God has given them to operate in. I don't expect the mechanic to advise me on cooking, even if I pay him for fixing my car! There are different gift areas in ministry. Many want the church to have an abundance of luxuries without ever giving to that church! Is something missing here? Perhaps you have never thought about these things. That is why I am writing this. But also we need to understand that we can block and hinder the gifts and blessings of God by not handling them properly. Remember how Uzzah died for mishandling the Ark? He thought he could help and touched what he was not supposed to touch and he died! As you walk properly in the Lord, the gifts will come to you! Do you want a word? How much word have you given??? Have you supported the work of God? Have you supported His ministry work? Have you respected it? Do you obey the Commandments? If you don't, you are not in Covenant. Jesus said, "If you love me, KEEP My Commandments!" Start with the Ten Commandments. See how you line up. That can solve a lot of problems! Do you really want a word? What if you hear what you don't want to hear? This article may be something you didn't want to hear but a teachable spirit will be a blessed one, and God will honor your faithfulness in Him.
Jeremiah 23:
34 "And as for the prophet and the priest and the people who say, 'The oracle of the LORD!' I will even punish that man and his house.
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