"PROPHECY CENTRAL"by Pam ClarkIn the United States and other places, there are centers of prophetic ministry. Like in Old Testament times, there are today Schools of the Prophets. This is wonderful, especially if the continuation of the prophets is to survive because even if you are divinely called, training is needed.There are some that want to believe you can be called and that you have no need of training. But you do! You have to grow in your knowledge of Scriptures and practical application and even in ministry. Jesus had to grow in wisdom and stature and learn obedience through the things that He suffered! So if He did, why not us??? When the anointing used to come on me for writing articles, I used to think even the typos were holy. They weren't but I wanted to be so careful in handling the gift correctly that it all seemed so sacred. But after a while I learned that the Spirit goes far beyond human circumstances and if there is a better way, do it that way! That better way does not compromise the integrity of the Word or the tenets of the faith. It will not lie and/or go against the Truth. The wisdom of it will bless others in and for the Kingdom of God and God Himself will be pleased. There can be evangelism centers, prayer centers and prophetic centers -- all good for what they do. But the wisdom of God for the big picture goes beyond these centers. Church grounds are holy and should be respected, but the work of the Kingdom goes well beyond the walls of the church or ministry center! We need to be about our work. We need to be about our callings. That means we need to be about Our Father's business! Jesus, as our Example, showed us it was among humanity meeting the needs of people. And this is done in many different ways. It is sad to me when people make super holy ministry locations or people. We all want them to be holy and they should be, but the focus should not be upon the location or the leaders but the needs! There are a number of "Prophecy Central" locations or other type centers in this country, and people tend to set them up as leadership (thus idolizing them) and not the Holy Spirit! Their way becomes "the only way" in people's eyes and even competitive with others and then God can be missed! Leaders are forced into a box and their personal growth and work can become stunted or warped! Babies need to learn, but if they can't get off the bottle, they will never grow up. Gatherings should be a delight and refreshment for the mature, finding sharing their experiences as a way of life, not a way of giving and taking orders. The Law is our Schoolmaster until faith comes (Galatians 3) -- when we are mature and can walk this thing in the power of the Holy Spirit. When we can take our praises from God and not men, and hear His orders and see good fruit, we have begun to arrive at a level of real maturity. I am grateful that God has raised up ministry centers. But every ministry center should be about the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, not exalting men. Only one man was perfect and that was the Son of Man Jesus Christ. He SPENT His life on earth for people and thus has a GREAT REWARD - us! Jesus was the supreme Prophet, and is, but His focus was not on building schools or centers. However, He trained in them! He didn't just walk into the pulpits of His time without background appovals and training! He didn't not connect with the system and neither did the Apostle Paul, but the gift inside of them went beyond the system while still blessing the system! So often we want to get locked into "The System" looking for approval when the Kingdom of God is trying to expand through us!!! Then people get into power wars and all sorts of foolish things. "Prophecy Central" should be inside of you. YOU should be expanding the Kingdom in your day to day love walk, maturing in the gifts of the Spirit in your life. It's where your joy and fulfillment and life is! Don't just seek to get a blessing but HAVE THE BALANCE of being a blessing! When I get too self focused, I know it's time to give out. When I get spread too thin, I know it's time to set myself up to receive. I don't go and worship man, I go to fellowship and experience others and see the wonder of God working through them. I can't be them but what I see encourages me! I don't have to be perfect! I don't have to be all knowing and all sufficient! He is at work within me to do HIS pleasure! It is wrong for me to try to be like others. My gift and my call is to be like Jesus and to love others in the way He has fashioned for this vessel to release Him. No one can steal that! And I will hear and I have heard "Well done," and so can you. Just keep up the good works and worship. It takes work, training and discipline. It takes yeilding and dying to self and giving. It takes submitting and helping others. It's a life of joy if you will seek to find THE WAY. It's not about men or in men, it's about and in Jesus! It's Christ in you, the Hope of Glory in you and through you and in the Body. Deny any part of that and you are incomplete and lacking. You need others! You need God! You need balance and most of all, you need love. In Him you have it all. Colossians 2:9 For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Don't be snared by looking to man. BE A BLESSING!!! Love, Pam
|