Off to the Florida Healing Revival ! Update !!

Well it has been a couple of weeks since Teresa and I went to Lakeland Florida to check out what was going on there.

We got there on the morning of April 26, caught a quick nap and went to the morning services being held at Ignited Church, where the revival started.

The Praise and Worship music at the beginning was good and then they introduced Dr. Clarice Fluitt to the platform as the speaker. Even though she was well known to the crowd there, we had never heard of her nor knew what to expect. All I can say is WOW ! Her message was filled with the Agape Love of Father God and with the flow of The Holy Spirit. Many came forward to give their lives to Christ and to ask God to forgive them of their sins.

We rested and reflected that afternoon and then made the short trip over to Auburndale where the revival had moved to, after out growing the smaller venue. We stood in line patiently waiting to get in and conversed with many people from all over the U.S. who we were standing by. The biggest thing I kept hearing was how “Hungry” they were for more of God.

I noticed my left arm started twitching pretty hard and about that time a young lady we had met that morning came walking by. I stopped her to share with her about that morning and the fellowship. I noticed a cloth type brace on her left arm. I knew right off that this was why my arm had been twitching. I asked her about it and she said it was from “carpel tunal” and that it had been bothering her. I asked her if I could pray for it and I “know that I know” that she received her healing. She walked away rejoicing!

We finally got in to the facility and Teresa and I were in the very tail of the last group to get in, before the max capacity. We got in and couldn’t find a seat but we stayed and just worshipped God the Father from where we were. There was such a “presence” in that place. I have felt the “healing presence” before and I knew this to be what I was feeling in my spirit.

I truly believe God to be on the move at Lakeland Florida, in spite of or despite of what things may look like or sound like to the natural mind. Why does God use some of the people that He uses ? I can only think of what happened for me personally when I got “called” to do this ministry that God has placed on me. Of all the people and of all the places in the world, why me and why here, is what I asked the Lord. He reminded me that in His Kingdom, the least shall become first [or greatest]. I can honestly say that I felt like Saul of Tarsus, when he had been “called”, and I said “well God, if you can use a murderer like Saul, then surely you can use me”. Saul, later Paul, says in Galatians 1, that he wasn’t “called by man” but by God, and a few verses over from that he says that the things that he spoke of was given to him by the revelation of Jesus, taught by the Spirit [paraphrase mine].

The end results of any ministry work, small or large, should be that people would come to know God The Father through the Son, Jesus Christ. We can’t go into anything with blinders on, unable to tell God on the move from whatever else may be on the move. BUT, we can’t go in with preconceived notions of who, what or where God will move, therefore, hindering God’s Spirit from moving. As I stated in my original post a few weeks ago, “if this is not from God, then it will fail”, But if it is from God, then those who are opposing this move, are struggling against God. I believe that as there have been many attacks on Christianity and it’s authenticity over the centuries, Christianity has stood the test of time, therefore let this “outpouring” stand the test of time.

All the “arm chair quarterbacks” out there making judgements and taking stabs at this move would do good to remind themselves that there were some weird goings on in Jesus ministry as well. I am certain that someone thought it weird when Jesus picked up some dirt and spit in it and rubbed it in the eyes of a blind man. There probably was some “naysayers” around on another occasion when Jesus laid hands on a blind man, without a complete healing right off the bat. It took 3 tries. Those naysayers were probably grumbling right off about “see I told you he wasn’t a true healer” and then went off to tell others about it. I KNOW IT DOESN”T SAY THAT IN OUR BIBLE ! I am just making reference to those who would try and disprove something before they have had the chance to test it over a period of time!! The heart of man seems to never change when it comes to these things. That is until it happens to them personally!! That’s why we call it a “testimony”. When we have personally gone through something and seen the hand of God move on our behalf, NO AMOUNT of naysayers can change our minds. WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW !!

In closing and in all fairness, we went to two morning sessions at Ignited Church and there was more teaching and a sense of closer one to one ministry there then what was going on in the evening sessions. Do I regret going ? NO ! Not at all.

I learned a few years ago about “running all over the place to be where God was moving”. The same God that you are seeking at these meetings is already here within each of us, for the Kingdom of God is within you, says The Lord Jesus!   Jesus tells us to GO ye therefore……. ! We should strive to remember that the best way to get more of God, for those of us who are hungry for Him, is to give some of Him away. Has anyone seen the Kingdom of God from you today ?? Has anyone felt HIS Agape Love from you today ??         GO, GO, GO !!! Spread the Good News !!

Love in Christ Jesus

Jake

 

 

Stop Porn in Marriott Hotels !

I just joined Focus on the Family Action and other pro-family
organizations in a very important effort calling on Marriott
International to stop peddling porn in its hotel rooms.

My letter will be personally presented to Marriott officials
on May 14 at an unprecedented meeting between Marriott and
pro-family leaders. To have your voice represented at this
meeting, please click here:

http://www.focuspetitions.com/145/petition.asp?PID=16506056&NID=1

Thanks!

Pastor Jake Kilgus

Opening Doors !!!

After 8 years of being called to do a “work” in this rural South Carolina town, God has opened the doors for His people to come and Worship HIM in Spirit and in Truth.

Living Bread of Life will have it’s first service on Saturday May 3, 2008 at 7:PM. We will be right in the middle of the area of town where God wanted us to be. Many have warned us of how ” rough that area ” is. BUT, I say ” THANK JESUS !!” Let your Glory shine from this place!!!

 

Friends, I ask you to keep us in your prayers as we begin to minister to those who are “lost” in a dieing world. As we reach out to the drug addicts and alcoholics, to those who are caught up in poverty and welfare, to those who are even caught up in religion, We covet your prayers.

Thank you dear saints for your prayers and words of affirmation in our work here.

Our Ministry is based on Isaiah 61 and I invite you to read it and pray for us in that manner.

 

Be Blessed and if you are ever in this area, feel free to come by and fellowship with us.

Love in Christ Jesus

Jake

Letter from Zimbabwe ! A plea for help !

This is a copy of an e-mail we got this morning from a missionary in Zimbabwe. For obvious reasons, the name is not posted.

I felt compelled to share this with you all and ask for your prayers for all of those caught up in this terrible plight. Especially pray for our Christian Brothers and Sisters who are still there, answering the call, at all risk.

Here is the e-mail;

(Letter from Zimbabwe sent in by  … name withheld for his protection)
I reckon that these are the last days of TKM and ZPF. The darkest hour is always before dawn.
We are all terrified at what they are going to destroy next……..I mean they are actually ploughing down brick and mortar houses and one white family with twin boys of 10 had no chance of salvaging anything when100 riot police came in with AK47’s and bulldozers and demolished their beautiful house - 5 bedrooms and pine ceilings - because it was “too close to the airport”, so we are feeling extremely insecure right now.
 You know - I am aware that this does not help you sleep at night, but if you do not know - how can you help? Even if you send your guardian angels to be with us - that is a help - but I feel so cut off from you all knowing I cannot tell you what’s going on here simply because you will feel uncomfortable. There is no ways we can leave here so that is not an option.
 

I ask that you all pray for us in the way that you know how, and let me know that you are thinking of us … that’s all. You can’t just be in denial and pretend/believe it’s not going on.
To be frank with you, it’s genocide in the making and if you do not believe me, read the Genocide Report by Amnesty International which says we are - IN level 7 - (level 8 is after it’s happened and everyone is in denial).

If you don’t want me to tell you these things-how bad it is—then it means you have not dealt with your own fear, but it does not help me to think you are turning your back on our situation. We need you, please, to get the news OUT that we are all in a fearfully dangerous situation here. Too many people turn their backs and say - oh well, that’s what happens in Africa. This Government has GONE MAD and you need to help us publicize our plight— or how can we be rescued? It’s a reality! The petrol queues are a reality, the pall of smoke all around our city is a reality, the thousands of homeless people sleeping outside in 0 Celsius with no food, water, shelter and bedding are a reality. Today a family approached me, brother of the gardener’s wife with two small children. Their home was trashed and they will have to sleep outside. We already support 8 adult people and a child on this property, and electricity is going up next month by 250% as is water.
 How can I take on another family of 4 —–and yet how can I turn them away to sleep out in the open?
I am not asking you for money or a ticket out of here - I am asking you to FACE the fact that we are in deep and terrible danger and want you please to pass on our news and pictures. So PLEASE don’t just press the delete button! Help best in the way that you know how.

Do face the reality of what is going on here and help us SEND OUT THE WORD.. The more people who know about it, the more chance we have of the United Nations coming to our aid. Please don’t ignore or deny what’s happening. Some would like to be protected from the truth BUT then, if we are eliminated, how would you feel? “If only we knew how bad it really was we could have helped in some way”.
[I know we chose to stay here and that some feel we deserve what's coming to us]
For now,— we ourselves have food, shelter, a little fuel and a bit of money for the next meal - but what is going to happen next? Will they start on our houses? All property is going to belong to the State now. I want to send out my Title Deeds to one of you because if they get a hold of those, I can’t fight for my rights.
 

Censorship!—-We no longer have SW radio [which told us everything that was happening] because the Government jammed it out of existence – we don’t have any reporters, and no one is allowed to photograph. If we had reporters here, they would have an absolute field day. Even the pro-Government Herald has written that people are shocked, stunned, bewildered and blown mindless by the wanton destruction of many folks homes, which are supposed to be ‘illegal’ but for which a huge percentage actually do have licenses.
 

Please! - do have some compassion and HELP by sending out the articles and personal reports so that something can/may be done. “I am one. I cannot do everything, —but I can do something.. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do. What I can do, I should do. And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do.”

 

 

Off to the “Florida Healing Revival”

Hi guys,

 After much prayer and thought, Teresa and I are heading on down to Florida to check out the move of God at Lakeland Florida. In case you haven’t heard, there is a move of God going into it’s 4th week. There have been many miraculous healings, some with documented doctors reports, but more importantly there has been many come to The Lord Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.

I know there will be many who will speak out against this “move” and say they don’t believe it to be of God. All I can say is, do like me and go check it out for yourself!

When there was contention between the Apostle Paul and the other Apostles, people were sent to check him out. They were able to see first hand what was going on before making a rash decission or pass some wrong judgement.

I encourage everyone to think of this, “If this is not from God, then it will fail and fall to the wayside, BUT if it is of God then you will be fighting against Him”.

The site will not be moderated after Friday, so if you post then your post may not appear until Monday.

Love in Christ Jesus

Jake

Why pray amiss ? A look at Acts12!

I was recently re-reading Acts12 and as I was reading it again, I got something I hadn’t even seen before.

The story is of Peter being imprisoned and his subsequent release from prison by an angel of The Lord. All of this is great stuff and we have read it and heard it preached, BUT, here is where I want to take you.

In Verse 12, when Peter appears at the door of the house where others had been praying, presumably for him, they didn’t believe it was him.

The Holy Spirit hit me with this, ” Why bother to pray for something if you can’t even believe in it when it happens?”.

Jesus taught us that if we pray, believing, then we shall receive. [Mark 11:24]

Here these people had been praying for God to intercede on Peter’s behalf, and when HE does, they can’t believe it is true.

That really sounds like the “Church” of today. Most of them praying for something from God and really not expecting God to answer their prayers.

Lord, I believe, BUT, help my unbelief!!!

That’s a sad statement! BUT, yet it is true of many today in their prayer life!

Why is it that they can trust God for their Salvation, but have difficulty trusting HIM for anything else?

God loves us more than we can imagine. We can not fathom that kind of Love. He is looking for someone to Love HIM back, with all our heart!! Not half of it. Fully Love Him and Trust Him with all of your heart and your need. HE won’t let you down and you can REALLY BELIEVE it to be true !

 

“A Sinner Saved By Grace.” Well, which one are you ? Repost#2

I have decided to repost this with the link to the original post. For some reason it never would post out into the varied areas it was sent.

This is an important message and has already received many views and post.

http://lbolm.wordpress.com/2008/03/21/a-sinner-saved-by-grace-well-which-one-are-you-2/

“A Sinner Saved By Grace.” Well, which one are you ?

A few years ago I was in a Southern Gospel singing group. One evening we were singing a song we had sang several times before, but as I was standing there waiting to come in on my part, I felt the Spirit of God The Father speaking to me and HE asked me that question. We were singing a song titled ” A Sinner Saved By Grace”, and He said to me, “Well, which one are you?” I had been brought up in a denomination that taught we are all sinners, and as I reminded God of that HE said this to me “Is not what My Son did on the Cross good enough for you?” I got a sinking feeling deep inside as He continued to say “Every-time you say you are a sinner, you may as well walk up to Jesus on the Cross and slap Him in the face and say to Him, it’s not enough!”Over the course of the next couple of years, Holy Spirit began to show me the error in this teaching of those who have come to Christ and to the Kingdom of God, that they are sinners. Let me make this clear from the very beginning, ”I ain’t all that”, and I still slip up from time to time, BUT, I am not a sinner anymore.

I know all the teaching that goes with the  mind set of “we are all sinners”.

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

This is probably the most quoted verse that is used for that purpose. Another is ;

 1 John 1:10
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

There are a few problems that are overlooked just in the wording of these two verses. Both use the “past tense” “have sinned or have not sinned”, which doesn’t fit into the “present tense” of a person who has accepted Christ into their life. This is further backed up with “and his word is not in us”. For those of us who have accepted Christ, His Word in now in us. Let’s look further at what The Word says about those who have come to the saving Grace of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Romans 5:19
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Romans 6:18
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

We are “new creatures” [ 2Cor.5:17] “made free from sin” [Romans6:18] and “made righteousness of God” [Romans 5:19 and 2 Cor. 5:21 ] through Him, Jesus Christ, “who knew no sin”. Christ completed role of the “perfect Lamb of God” on the Cross at Calvary has washed our sins away as “far as the East is from the West” [ Psalms 103].

Let me put it to you where even a child can learn it.

A doctor practices medicine and has a continuing role in that. That is what a doctor does!

A lawyer practices law and has a continuing role in that. That is what a lawyer does!

A sinner practices sin and has a continuing role in that. That is what a sinner does!

BUT, those who confess Christ Jesus with their mouth, repent of the evil sin nature, they are set free from the old and are to NOT “practice sin”. They are NOT sinners  any longer, but Saved by the Grace of God and the Perfect Redemption of His Son Jesus upon that Cross.

Romans 6 : 1

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?  3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  7For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:  9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

As we reflect on the work of the Cross and the Perfect Lamb of God, during this season we celebrate not just the Cross, but the Resurrection as well, for without the Resurrection, our Faith would be in vain.

As Christ died and was Resurrected, so are we, who have partaken of His Grace. We are dead to the old man, and resurrected as a new man.

I find it easier, nowadays for me NOT to sin, then it is for me TO sin. Why? Because I have found out who I am. I am Not a “sinner” any more, and I have found out who I am, “saved by Grace”.

I know who I am, and Whose I am!

My question for you today is this, ” Is not what the Son of God did on the Cross enough for you ? How long will you slap Him in the face and send Him back to the Cross ?” [Hebrews 6:6]

Who are you ? “A Sinner” or are you ” Saved By Grace”?

Faithfull or Faithfilled ?

I got a wake up call the other morning about 5 AM. You know the kind! The one where Holy Spirit is talking and you can’t go back to sleep until He is finished.

I heard this resounding thought over and over, “Faithfull or Faithfilled ?”

I listened as Holy Spirit began to reveal the difference and then show me that most of todays churches are at a “Faithfull” position, but God the Father wants us to be in a “Faithfilled” place.

A “faithfull place” will get us to respond to the direction of the Word. Jesus told the disciples to get in the boat and go to the other side. They were “faithfull” to respond to Him. When the seas got rough and they saw Jesus walking by them on water, Peter responded by getting out of the boat, on the Word of Jesus. He was being “faithfull”. The difference is this, had Peter been “Faithfilled” he would have kept walking on water and not gotten off focus of Jesus.

 We are told to ” Keep our eyes on the things of Heaven” and to “press on through”, to ”finish the race”. That can only be accomplished by those who are “Faithfilled” not just “Faithfull”. Don’t get me wrong being “Faithfull” is a great thing, but it will never get us to the place of a “Faithfilled” life.

Being “Faithfull” will get us to church on Sunday morning, BUT being “Faithfilled” will get us to BE the church 24/7, 365 days a year. It is BEing what God has called us to BE.

Being “Faithfull” has a many of people in the Body in a place of “waiting on The Lord”, when being “Faithfilled” gets them to step out of the boat and do the “vision” or “thing” God has called us to.

Being “Faithfull” kept the woman with the issue of blood, faithfull to the doctors and to give all she had to them, BUT being “Faithfilled” got her to press through the crowd and to the feet of the “Great Physician”, Jesus Christ.

When we are “Faithfilled” we walk not by sight or sound, not by hype or emotion, but by the “Confidence” of a “Faithfull” God ! He is able to “perform and perfect” for He is the “Author and Finisher” of our Faith.

There truly is a difference between a person who is “Faithfull” and one who is “Faithfilled”. The “Faithfull” person is always trying to obtain what the “Faithfilled” person already has obtained, for the ”Faithfilled” person already ”sees” what God “sees” for them. They not only “see” it in the Spirit, but begin to act on it in the natural. The only way to really walk in “true faith” is to walk in The Spirit.

“Faithfull” people send “Faithfilled” out into the jungles of Africa or wherever God has told them to go. A “Faithfilled” person doesn’t mind walking up to a complete stranger and sharing the Gospel, while a “Faithfull” person thinks it is for someone else like a pastor or evangelist to do that sort of thing.

The church is full of “Faithfull” people, some of who claim to be “Born Again”, but they are still just like the “old man” who hasn’t died of his self yet. A true “Faithfilled” ”Born Again” believer will push on in spite of and despite of the circumstances or events that they are currently in or have gone through. They will “keep their eyes on the prize” and not lose focus on the Promise of God, Jesus Christ!    

My prayer for all of us is that we will become more “Faithfilled” in our journey with The Lord Jesus Christ !

The Perfect One !

1 Corinthians 13:10
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

To my knowledge there has only been one that was perfect, that being Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

That being said, most of the “Church” today certainly looks for ALL who are in the Body to be perfect. There seems to be little room for error, especially when it comes to the use of Scripture, prophecy, or doctrine. Now I am NOT advocating a “just do as you please”, “every man doing what is right in his own eyes” type of belief. To be honest, that is what has gotten a lot of the Body in the shape it is in already. Everything that we do and say should be measured against God’s plumb-line and until Jesus comes back, that plumb-line is HIS Holy Word.

Part of the problem, however is how mankind has built his own kind of doctrine and beliefs based own his own knowledge or interpretation of God’s Word. Let’s take a look at that scripture again in the context of which it is written.

1 Corinthians 13:9-11 (King James Version)

   9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

There is not a man on earth today that has FULL revelation of God and the Perfect One, Jesus Christ. We only “Know in part”! It is totally unrealistic to hold any human to the test of perfection. We can NOT excuse things that are not of God and those things have to measure up against the Whole Counsel of God which for right now at least, has to be HIS written Word.

There in gets us back to the original issue of whose doctrine do you believe, when this church says this and this church says that. That is why we have to have the Full Five Fold ministry of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher, to guide us and equip us with the FULL Gospel of the Kingdom of God.  

Ephesians 4 :1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,  2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;  3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;  5One Lord, one faith, one baptism,  6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.  7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

 8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. {he is Jesus}

 9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?  10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

[ If He gave those Gifts to the Body, Why does the Body at large, reject those Gifts that He felt we needed then and still do today?] 

 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, [we ain't there yet folks] and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

[ we certainly ain't there!!!! ] excuse the slang word 

14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.  17This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

 18Having the understanding darkened,  [knowing in part] being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  19Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

NO WHERE in scripture is it, that we are to rely on part of the Gifts that God gave us through Jesus. Based on The above scripture, those gifts should be in place until Jesus’ return!!

Now back to why I am given to post this particular blog.

There are those in the various “churches”,”denominations”, “movements etc., that seem to believe that they have “The Church” revelation “down pat”. That is why there is so much strife in the Body today. It is literally being ripped apart by what could only be termed as “intolerance”. Intolerance is rooted in prejudice and always separates rather than bring harmony. Intolerance is rooted in ignorance, which causes fear of the unknown, forgetting the fact that NO ONE has FULL KNOWLEDGE of God at this point in history. Intolerance works best in a “closed mind”, which is rooted in an unteachable spirit. Intolerance won’t listen to reason or see outside of what it knows, which there again is only in PART. Intolerance will take God’s Holy Word and use it against God’s own people! Intolerance creates an atmosphere of “Holier than Thou” and says that it is “my way or no way”, even trying to pass it off as God’s Way, though his heart gives him away. Intolerance wants the “God of Mercy” for himself, but the “God of Judgement” for someone else. Intolerance looks for the wrong with others, without examining his own heart. REMEMBER THIS KEY THING!!!!!

God always looks at the heart of man, for in it is the true side of man found!!!

The Bible is full of people that God used in mighty and varied ways. Yet many of these same people made mistakes along the way. BUT, God didn’t discard them !! It is a shame that so many of God’s servants  are getting “beat up” on, or “stoned” if you will, because of intolerance!

If a person has been called by God to be a Prophet, as in the office of Prophet, then they should walk in the fullness of that and that includes being held accountable for their “words” that they deliver, when they are giving a “Thus saith The Lord” type of message. If they are giving specific dates and times, they should be held accountable for those things as a representative of God. When these things don’t come to be as spoken, then we should judge them according to God’s plumb-line.

 We should not get caught in the trap of judging the “word” spoken, by looking at the person giving it. Balaam was a prophet of God, whom even kings recognized the fact that he would only speak what God said and not what they wanted to hear [ so much for the "feel good" NT prophecy of today's prophets]. That being said though, Balaam fell into the lust for money later. David himself of course was known as a ” Man after God’s own heart”, yet fell into the sin of murder and adultery. Samson broke his covenant with God, by breaking his Nazerite Vow, YET, the God of Mercy, The God of Second Chances, still used these men and many others to complete the task at hand. God is Sovereign and can and will do as He sees fit to do. He has the final say in ALL these issues. He will use whomever He wants to use,whether man would use them or not. Who is man that he should say who should be used as a messenger of God or not. “For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God” and not one of us are in a position to cast “stones” at someone who may have missed what he or she is saying, remembering that “we know in part” and “that which is perfect” {Jesus} has not come back yet. 

 The Gift of Prophecy is not a controlled thing in that the TRUE prophecy comes from God, and “He is not a man that He should lie”. This should be the measure for a “Thus saith The Lord”. BUT, Paul tells us in the verse above that we “prophecy in part“. This clearly indicates that when one is speaking a “word”  that is not a “Thus saith The Lord”, then that “word” is given in “part” because of the “know{ledge} in part”. It is best to keep that “word” silent and let it be judged by the “witness of others” because “prophecy is subject” [or can be kept] to those who are able to judge it. Once that “word”  is found to fit the criteria of “edifying the Saints”, then let it come forth.

 One would do well to remember that there is a difference between “conviction” and “condemnation”. “Conviction” may come in the form of a word that may make a person examine his heart and then to turn away from the wrong in their life. “Condemnation” rarely makes someone examine his heart for the good in it, but makes him focus on the wrong in it and usually doesn’t do any good. “Intolerance” sees the sin, while the Agape Love of God sees the person and knows their heart. “Intolerance” condemns, while “conviction” leads one to the Saving Grace of God!!

When that which is perfect, Jesus Christ, does return, will he find a body that is beaten and battered by persecution from the enemy or a “self-mutilated” body, weary from the inward desires of man?

Even so, Come quickly Lord Jesus, Come!!!