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by Pam Clark
"Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (NKJ)
Luke 12:42-48 But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." (NKJ)
Mark 14:65
Now, that doesn't mean that everything I receive I reject. There are limitations to what I can read and do. But lately there has been another wave of "insulted prophets." I too received an anointed commissioning when I got my calling. I had a tremendous encounter that forever changed me. At the time I was not even aware that there were other prophets in the land and I was very uncertain as to how to respond. I had to learn what was going on. I did carry a righteous indignation for the things that are wrong. I had been hungry for the Lord and then received and wanted everyone to know Him as I did. Some called me a zealot for a season! And there is nothing wrong with zeal if it is guided correctly. Since we are called to be disciples and make disciples, that means we are equipping people to be STUDENTS of ..... HIM! I don't see where that graduation cap is ever given except on His Judgment Day and then we hear "Well done" or not. But when the Sons of Thunder wanted to call down fire from heaven on those who opposed them, Jesus said, "You know not what spirit you are from" in that activity. I think we all have the emotions of wanting to "nuke" some things when they work against us, especially when we see serious injustices. But some just act out the lack of attention they desire (and maybe even needed) by blasting others when they don't attend or adhere to "their form" of righteousness. Instead of going to the lost - who really need the message of God - they send their words to those in the camp who basically have the understanding of what is going on in the Christian world and how it works. But they want to be recognized as someone special, and sometimes, feared. I guess we could call it prophetic intimidation. Now some of this may just be working through personal issues - in some respects, I have to admit that I have had my learning curves. But if one is REALLY hungry for GOD, they will seek to do it HIS way. Do His servants beat His servants? Well, yes, some do, but are they supposed to? What is Jesus' response? This arrogance is what has turned many away from the Church and thus the Living God. They are perishing for lack of knowledge and it's laid at His current disciples' feet. What Would Jesus Do??? What I am referring to is a spirit. When you raise children, even in the Christian camp, there are times that you have to be firm. But insulting, no. There are MANY people in great pain who have been called demonic and witches or Jezebel when they were trying to work through their childlike understandings and forsake their pasts and learn about Him. Children are messy! But I am speaking to the more mature who are prepared to know better. Are you beating His servants - with your words, with your actions, with your soulish spirit? Do you have to be right? At any cost? Even to the flock of God? Teachers will hold a greater accountability! I have seen these pit bull dogs in the camp that can come at you. They have come after me. But what is the correct response? You must preserve your own soul but there are times you need the agreement of the true Body to stand with you against injustice. Troubling times are coming (and are now here) to expose and unite the true believers. We must learn how to act and respond in the Spirit. I have seen cliques of injustices. There are churches and groups that I believe that God will judge for their unrighteous judgments against others. It's hard when you have to separate from them where you were once involved or wanted to be, but you have to realize that maybe God was doing you a favor because He did not want you to be like them. The Lord will correct His Camp! Joshua was a righteous man but when He saw the Angel of the Lord and was bold enough to ask him just whose side was he on, his camp or his enemy's, the Angel replied "Neither." He said he was the Captain the Lord's host, and Joshua fell down and worshipped. We have but one Father. And He is real and big enough to deal with the problems, even when the forces are big and strong. Our problem and my problem is that we just don't want to wait, but God's justice does come. And usually it breaks your heart when it does but it comes when God knows that the fewest souls will be hurt by it. He acts on behalf of His Body, His whole Body. He acts when even though people are hurt, they can still survive. God always holds the trump card, for He is the Resurrection and the Life. God allows sin so that we can see His righteousness over our own. There are hard lessons but there are also glorious ones. We need to find His Spirit over the spirit of man's and not see these strongholds of belief systems that do not represent Him. Today men and women preach a prosperity that is all about the flesh. Now, I am not talking about nor opposed to any financial blessings that can be used for the good. Believe me, you don't do ministry and service without money. But when people tell you to give for the blessing, are you paying attention to what they are saying "the blessing" is? Does it make you closer to God? People DO have real financial needs and there are helps for that. There are ministers CALLED to help others in different areas. Jesus said the poor have the good news preached to them and that is that they don't have to be poor anymore. They can overcome. But there is a difference between the ministry of finance and the Lord of all. Godly ministers produce Godly results. There is also a difference of training people to correct knowledge and beating them over the head when they get it wrong. True prophets will be mocked, just as true Christians will be. It just goes with the territory, but that does not make it right. "Oh Jesus, you are prophet, tell us who hit You!" There are some evil folks who will do an evil set up just to torment you. How did Jesus respond? With silence. Some ignorant people can be lured in with troublemakers. The book of Proverbs tells us to beware of those who want temporary and selfish gain, saying it will lead you to harm. But just as the thief on the nearby cross repented when he saw the Light in Jesus, those who are true in spirit will repent when they see the better way. But some who SEE the better way will not repent and Jesus said to them, "Because you say you see, your sin then remains." Are God's ways enough? Are they good enough? Do we have to resort to strong arm and offensive practices? Does that not show personal weakness? I had a discussion the other day with a person who said if they ever had a church, they would let the sinners come in and act out any way they wanted and not turn them away. I saw her heart in the statement but she had never had a church or group meeting. Some things are in place for the good of all. If it is established upfront and with gentleness and kindness, most everyone understands the discipline. But we are not trying to be "exclusive" if we are trying to win the souls God created for Him. Some doors are shut in our lives so that we will find that which can help us. Now I can relate to you many sad stories of injustice - even in the church - but is that what God does? Does He spend His time in lamenting or does He say that we are overcomers through Him? Are you religious? Do you "have to" worship God certain ways or you are just "left out"? Maybe God wants something more of you than your response to a man made program. Maybe where you are or think you want to be is not where He wants you! He wants you to learn of HIM. He wants you to see Him in others. We really have to learn how to identify the true servants and ministers of God again! Some serve a lot and are never given any recognition except in the Spirit. Some will hold great places in Heaven, but hold very little place here. If you lust for man's recognition, you have a pride of life problem. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life are snares, we are taught. If people do not receive "your kingdom" are you offended? Or is God enough for you? Set yourself free and think like Him! Whom the Son sets free is free indeed. If you are of His Spirit, you will find life in His Spirit. The enemy wants you to think that his way wins. Some have real battles of whose "rejection spirit" wins. But that is not HIS Spirit! The character of God is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (or self discipline). It's righteousness, peace and joy in believing. Is someone saying to you that God is different from that? Think about these things. Learn to discern the difference. Wrong things are never God. Don't believe the lies of no alternatives. It's a big world out there. There are six billion people in the world today, all with gifts that can be used for God. Don't focus on the wrong, but look for the treasures hidden in each one out there. They are there! As you seek, you will find. It takes Spiritual eyes to see Spiritual things. And against His Spirit there is no law. And it's not that hard, you just need to be attentive. We need to cease performing for man and start performing for God. Do the lost need "a word" or do the saved? Come on! You can say you are hungry for God but if you do not feed Him what He wants, should He feed you? The meat He desires is lives changed to receive the good. Anyone can complain! Anyone can find what is wrong. Is that a real prophet - who can only find what is wrong? True prophets successfully correct. They bring forth good things. They deal with the real issues and not just candy coat. But the results are for God. How well do you know Him?
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