Persistent Prophetic Warfare

Comment: This is not your typical prophetic word. This is a prophet clarifying the prophetic work to which many of us here in the northwest are called. Understand the warfare that you are a part of, take appropriate action, and do not let anything stop you.

Persistent Prophetic Warfare

From my experience there are two “branches” of Persistent Prophetic Warfare. There is what the Persistent Prophet continually does to wage war against the forces of darkness. And, there is what the forces of darkness continually do to wage war against the Persistent Prophet.

Of course, this is also generally true for ANY Child Of God. All born-again believers WILL have to wage war against the forces of darkness – it is written – and WILL suffer backlash and setbacks from that effort – which is also written. There is NO escape. It is our collective reality – and God has made this struggle plain in His Word. From God’s point of view, we are clearly to expect – by faith –  that there will be victories, and we are also clearly warned that there will be struggle.

It was the same for Jesus Himself. 

But I am writing about that particular subset of the overall battle called “Persistent Prophetic Warfare.” And more importantly, about the enemy’s objective and the tactics meant to bring Persistent Prophetic Warriors down.

The scriptural references that apply are legion, I know you know them, so I will be limited in using them and write more from my heart. 

Let’s assume that if you are on my email “to” list [where this article was first published],  that I consider that you already know you have a Prophetic Call of some kind – whether it is the primary Call on your life – a complimentary or secondary Call – or you have intimate knowledge about or experience with those that do have a Prophetic Call. Let’s also assume that as “experienced” prophets we have already exhibited decades of proven experience – and have had ongoing struggle as we have “walked out our faith.”

We have been Persistent Prophetic Warriors.

The enemy is not stupid. When satan sees that you are being obedient and affective – especially long term – he will do whatever he needs to do to “take you out.” He will also be persistent. He will continue to attack your day job, those to whom you report to – like bosses or supervisors, your finances, family, friends, your prophetic “vision”, your health, etc. ...even your effort to continue on with life itself. Misunderstanding, rejection, weakness, shame, embarrassment, disappointment, doubt, fear, and sickness may be your “familiar reality.” You may even be called in front of legal authorities multiple times and find yourself having to repeatedly defend yourself for things you may or may not have actually done. Your family, friends, Christian friends, and co-workers may question you and turn away from you many times.

At points you may loose your prophetic vision too – as these things repeatedly rise up to overwhelm you – and not just in ones and twos – but multiple avenues of warfare coming against you over and over – and over long periods of time.

Effective Prophets sometimes fight on with few friends understanding what they are doing. Effective Prophets may feel the sting of isolation and wonder why they have so many victories, so little recognition, and so much struggle and discouragement. Prophets will know the Juniper Tree. 

And, if Satan can’t destroy you, he will try to distract you.

He will try to separate you from your First Love – and divert you away from your Calling and mission.

He will try to keep you focused on material things: your money, house, cars, clothes, tools, other worldly possessions, and the struggle to get and maintain them. He will try to make work and your ministry overwhelm you: with diverted time, an appeal to selfishly excel, and constant dissatisfactions with procedures, policies, bosses and co-workers. He will try and disappoint you with your family and friends. At times they will be indifferent toward you, neglect you, and – as in my case – outright reject you. He will try and bring fear into your life through the personal, national and international issues we are all facing. He will attack your health, ability to rest, cause you to be dissatisfied with your own level of fitness – and anything or everything else about you. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Satan will use whatever he can to separate you from the Love of Jesus, the Voice and Power of the Holy Spirit, the Absolute Care of our Heavenly Father, and the CALL He Himself has placed on your life. 

You will have Battle Fatigue. 

You will have battle fatigue. Not much fun, huh?

Hardened combat soldiers – those who continue to wage effective war on the battlefield against the enemy – ARE going to be the enemy’s target.   

Experienced Prophet warriors – those who continue to wage effective war against the forces of darkness and win – ARE going to be satan’s target. 

Both are going to face exhaustion. Both are a great threat to the enemy – and the enemy is going to direct his resources toward the greatest threat. 

There is that element of combat experience where the soldier and Prophet get to the point that life and death, victory and defeat don’t matter.

Continue the Fight.

What matters is continuing the fight. Because continuing the fight is right. 

So, be careful to face up to the fact that you are in this thing – Persistent Prophetic Warfare – for the long haul – and that in a certain sense (understand this with godly wisdom) “you” don’t matter.

What matters is far greater than ourselves or any earthly kingdom. What matters is Jesus and the Kingdomof God – and that in the heat of battle you continue to recognize the enemy, continue keep your weapons aimed at him, and continue pulling the trigger.

If victory comes, which it most surely will, there will come a time when your Reward is made known.

Jesus Himself will not forget you – either in the fight or afterward.

The Holy Spirit will continue to empower you and be your Advocate – both in the fight and afterward.

And, our Father will both dry your tears – and bring ultimate judgment.

As it is written: “God is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” 

He Himself said that He would “neither leave us nor forsake us.”

Be persistent. 

Keep pulling the trigger.

Unlike combat soldiers, Prophetic Warriors have an unlimited supply of weapons and ammunition – and our Leadership does not fail.

Regards, Scott

Scott Wiley Arnold

Missouri USA

September 18, 2009

Via Northwest Prophetic

THE EVERLASTING ETERNAL GOODNESS OF GOD

--Kriston Couchey

GOD IS GOOD

God is good! This is a definition of who He is. More than that, God has ALWAYS been good. There never was a time that He has not dealt with man based upon His goodness. It is false belief that somehow God was not good before Jesus came to earth, and after His death and resurrection somehow God decided to be nice. Scripture records God saying of Himself, "I change not.” Before the very founding of the earth out of the eternal goodness of God Jesus was slain to reconcile men to God. It was not that God needed a heart change toward us; we needed change of heart to be able to relate to a Father in whom there is no darkness and only goodness.

JESUS REVEALED THE GOODNESS OF GOD

Jesus came to bring the light of God to the world.  In truth, He is the expression of God’s goodness to men that revealed the Father to men. Jesus is the embodiment of God the Father; revealing the good nature of Father, and in the process revealing and confronting the state of men’s hearts.  

Father God is so good that evil (that which is not good) cannot remain in His presence. It is by the cross that we are cleansed of sin and made holy in the sight of God the Father, and by means of that cleansing we are given Grace to walk Holy by the gift of the indwelling Spirit of God. Grace truly is ability to walk holy as Jesus did. It is the influence of God upon man that makes him like God in character and able to stand in the light of truth without hiding.   

HARD TRUTH IN LIGHT OF GOD’S GOODNESS

As the revelation of Christ continues to unfold in this hour we must have a confidence in the goodness of God. Many who have limited Him by their own definition of goodness will be unable to move forward in this day until they come to grips with the truth of the goodness of God that is unlike what they have defined Him as.

I want to take a walk through scripture and bring to light the actions initiated by a good God that some think are “bad” and declare to you that even these actions were rooted in the goodness of God. We have had enough people defining the box of goodness God must stay in. Now it’s time to let His truth give us a reality check of a goodness of God that is outside the box of our comfort.  

God was good when He...

God was good when He destroyed the earth and all of its inhabitants with a flood. Ge 6:17 And I, behold, I do bring the flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is in the earth shall die.

God was good even when He (God) slew the son of Judah. I Chr 2:3b And Er, Judah’s first-born, was wicked in the sight of Jehovah; and he slew him.

God was good when He (God) rained fire and brimstone out of heaven. Ge 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven…

It was the out of the goodness of God that He (God) smote the land of Egypt with plagues and killed the firstborn. Ex 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

God was good when fire came from Him (God) and killed Korah and his men. Num. 16:35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

God was good when fire came from Him (God) and killed Aaron’s sons.  Lev. 10:1  And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not .2  And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

God was good when He (God) smote Uzzah who tried to steady the cart holding the Ark. 2Sa 6:7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

God was good when He told the Israelites to kill every man women and child when going into the Promised Land, when he rose up Jehu to kill Ahab’s son and wife, when He sent Satan to test Job, when He used Assyria as a razor to judge Israel, when He sent Babylon in judgment against Judah., and on and on…

How is it that God was good and did these things? He did them because He did it for love. He loved people too much to let sin overtake them. He loved people too much to allow evil to remain and plant its cruel seed and put people in bondage and abuse them. God is good and has good intent in all He does.  But what about the New Testament?  Did God change? Is He better than He was then?  No, He is still the same. Salvation is secure from before time. And His goodness is set from eternity.

NEW TESTAMENT GOODNESS

God was good when by the Holy Spirit Peter pronounced judgment upon Ananias and Sapphira and they died. God was good when a messenger from God smote Herod and he died eaten by worms. God was good when Paul “…full of the Holy Spirit…” pronounced blindness upon Elymas the sorcerer and he was led away blind. God IS good even with the MANY New testament scriptures that speak of eternal and temporal judgment that is STILL coming upon all who live ungodly and do not believe on the son of God.

If God has always been good throughout the history of mankind, then we need to face some hard facts about what God’s goodness looks like. We can all accept that every good gift comes from our Father, but can we accept that those who choose evil and refuse to walk in the light by believing in and embracing God’s goodness are condemned or judged?

Scripture says that “… light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil”. Jesus came to bring a sword that would divide those who hear and believe in the goodness and love of God, and those who chose to hide from the light of God’s goodness to continue to in self-serving wickedness. Scripture then goes on to say, that those who do not believe are “…condemned already”.

The payment for sin is done, but the seed of evil sown still reaps a harvest, and the harvest of evil is destruction. Jesus is clear in speaking about the time of harvest at the end of the age. There are those counted as sons of the evil one, and those who are sons of the Father. All who do wickedly (sons of the devil) will be removed and burned, not as a punishment or smiting for sin, but out of love that does not allow evil to persist and plant it’s cruel seed that defiles, puts men in bondage, and abuse those God loves.

God is TOO GOOD to allow evil to persist in His kingdom as it unfolds. He is removing for love that which destroys the people He loves. For that reason, the goodness of God is seen in judgment, judgment that discerns what is born of Him and what is not, and removes that which is not so that His people may be preserved. That is a true aspect of the goodness of God.

In His Love and Goodness

Kriston Couchey

Correcting Prophetic Inaccuracies

I was asked the other day, "When a well known prophet gives a national prophetic word and it ends up being completely wrong, how should the prophet address it?" Excellent question.

This strikes me as another way to ask the question, “Who is responsible for inaccurate prophetic words?”

If there was such a thing as an ideal world, everybody would take responsibility for their own stuff. But that doesn’t happen, and there are at least two ways that it doesn’t happen that make this a complicated question:

First, it has appeared that prophets with big public ministries don’t often take responsibility for their prophetic words. There are a few that DO take responsibility when they find out something was predicted correctly, but most don’t slow down enough to even recognize either when a word is fulfilled or when it’s proven inaccurate.

The other side is that I can’t really affect whether the national prophet will, in fact, acknowledge and respond to an errant prophecy. National prophets generally haven’t made themselves accountable to me, so my expectations have no real effect on their actions.

Second issue: so many prophetic declarations are worded in such a way (I make no statement about intent here: this is just the way it is) that it’s hard to clearly interpret and apply portions of the word, and therefore, it’s hard to judge the word (1 Corinthians 14:29). For example: the word is about an earthquake: but is it a literal, physical quake, or a metaphor for God shaking things up? And does a 3.4 quake that knocked a pencil off of a teacher’s desk somewhere qualify as fulfillment when we were all clearly expecting the earth to open swallow a region whole?

But let’s face it, the people receiving a prophetic word are more likely to be invested in the word than a prophet that’s travelling through, heading towards their next meeting. That’s not a criticism, it’s just recognizing how the “real world” interjects itself into the ideal.

This leads me to a third issue. I’ve long been an advocate of the concept that when a prophet gives me a word, it’s now MY word; it isn’t theirs anymore. And therefore I am the one who needs to take responsibility for that word: I need to nurture it, feed it, cherish it, and help it grow to fruition.

And I need to discern it. It certainly saves time and energy if I can successfully discern a word BEFORE I encounter the conditions stated in the word. I’d much rather recognize beforehand if a prophet was adding something of himself into the revelation, rather than wait till afterwards.

Note that it may not be the prophet that’s adding something to the word: it may be my own expectations. I met a woman who was praying for the death of her pastor’s wife. “But God said I could have anything I want! I want him, and she’s in his way!” And I’ve run into lots of prophecies that have been taken way beyond the original word that was spoken.

So yeah: if the prophet is aware of having given a word that turned out to be inaccurate, it would be appropriate for that prophet to take responsibility for the mistake, acknowledge it, and (how does one do this?) apologize to those who were misled by it.

But whether or not they take responsibility for a word that they’ve given to me (or to a group of which I’m a part), still I have responsibility for the word, which is now mine. I need to discern it (“judge it”) even if I’m late in doing that, and if it’s bogus, I need to toss it out.

I’ve done that with a lot of words recently. I find myself frustrated with a number of national and regional prophets who drop a prophetic bomb and move on, or who prophesy so vaguely that they are essentially mumbling gibberish in God’s name.

More than once, I’ve stood with a group of people on behalf of my region and renounced a prophetic declaration that we’ve judged to be inaccurate, false, mistaken. Sure, it would be better if it came from the prophet that spoke the word, but if they don’t, then somebody needs to. I often find myself following these sessions up with prayers for the prophets whose work we were just correcting.

Nor’west Prophetic
nwp@northwestprophetic.com

Organic Apostolic Networks

 - By Ron McGatlin

Can there be a truly spiritual organic church with Christ Jesus as Head in the framework of Apostolic Networks?

To answer this we will need a cohesive understanding of the definition of the terms. Words mean different things to different people, and in this time of major shifting in the worldwide church many terms being used are not clearly defined in the minds of believers.

Human or natural thinking will never fully grasp the spiritual reality behind spoken words of spiritual concepts. The Spirit is always involved in communicating spiritual truth. Therefore, we are reaching for spiritual definition words regarding the renewed formation of the works of God on Planet Earth.

Apostles and Apostolic Networks are major terms to be considered in the current reformation. The restoring of apostles and apostolic works are serious areas of concern that are in process of being defined and understood. The natural minds of most people immediately consider networks to imply structure and organization. The term apostolic is generally construed as office of authority within the network. Very soon the chief apostle concept comes into view as a headship position in the network. And not long after that the structure of additional offices of “spiritual” authority of pastor, prophet, evangelist, and teacher become considerations.

Conflicts arise in our understanding as the Holy Spirit intervenes in our process of logical natural thinking with God’s revealed spiritual concepts such as:

· The practical reality of Christ Jesus as the Head of His church

· The clergy/laity order exposed as ungodly

· The brotherhood of all believers at one level revealed

· The exposure of the business-corporation style of church as ungodly

· The religious order of the institutionalized church exposed as ungodly

· The hideous hidden mixture of sin and godliness in Christians

· The revelation that the division of godly faith practices from practical life activities such as business, home, recreation, education, and governments is inordinate.

The list goes on as greater truth continues to be revealed and one after another of our time honored beliefs and practices are seen as faulty and in need of either being dissolved or greatly altered and purified.

Our traditional concepts of leadership and networking are challenged by the biblical and spiritual revelation of these things. Therefore, we may have begun to adjust our leadership and networking ideas to some degree but may not yet be free from the old patterns of traditional natural thinking. Giving things new names and calling it spiritual is not enough.

God is not bringing us to traditional leadership and natural networks with spiritual overtones. He is not even taking us to networks based primarily on relationships with one another. If we network based on relating to one another it is very easy to begin to esteem one above another and establish invisible hierarchical order and arrangements. Yes, relating to one another is a very important secondary part of spiritual networking. But it is secondary to the individual intimately relating to King Jesus by the Holy Spirit. A spiritual relationship with one another begins with being fully connected to God through the indwelling Spirit of Christ. There is a significant difference between networking in the HOLY SPIRIT and natural networking around spiritual things.

God is seeking a Spirit network without man’s government or man’s intervention but with man’s cooperation in the Holy Spirit.

One cannot join a true spiritual network. No one can appoint someone into a spiritual network. Human recommendations will not get you into a spiritual network. A spiritual network is a spiritual thing. One is added to the network by the Holy Spirit. Spiritual networking is a connecting of spirits of just men made perfect coming together with God, Jesus, and many angels. Jesus is the mediator, and the registration desk is in heaven.

Heb 12:22-24: But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

If this seems too ethereal for us we may need to adjust and become just men made perfect (mature). We need to grow up spiritually and be fully baptized in the Holy Spirit that our spirits may assemble with the Spirit of Christ in the new covenant reality of walking IN THE SPIRIT.

The apostolic spiritual network that God is sending down from heaven under the headship of our Great Apostle is called the New Jerusalem. It is the ruling city of the worldwide kingdom of God. The patterns of all life in the kingdom emanate from the city whose builder and maker is God. Nothing enters the network that defiles. God does not visit His people there; He dwells among them. All love, all power, all wisdom dwells with His people and is imparted to us as He wills. This is the grace imparted for the purpose of ordering the world to the kingdom of God. This is Christ in us by the Holy Spirit to rule and reign with Him now on this earth.

God is not sending a replica of heaven on earth. He is sending the reality of heaven to earth in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit in His people. God is not delegating His authority on earth. He is authority on earth dwelling in His people - His network of pure, holy, humble people who have died to the old and are alive only as Christ lives in them. In reality Christ is alive on earth living in His people who are dead and yet alive by the Spirit and abide in the Spirit of Christ.

Natural organizational gathering and networking of the church began around the third century when the Holy Spirit pulled away from the church religious systems that man had developed. Although reformation began around five centuries ago we are yet seeking to fully realign with the Holy Spirit and be cleansed of the man-made systems that have prevented the fullness of corporate life in the Holy Spirit.

All of the Christian religion group divisions of history from Catholicism’s variations to protestant religion with its many denominations and divisions such as orthodox, liturgical, evangelical, Pentecostal, charismatic, prophetic, various streams, and more recently apostolic networks have all functioned tied to natural networking. Most if not all of the historical religious groups and networks operated in something far less than the true spiritual networking of the Holy Spirit as presented in the heavenly New Jerusalem.

Most of the diverse groups of history remain today in some form, each stuck in their past experience. However, the revelation from God of restored truth has continued to advance in generation after generation toward the truth of Holy Spirit led living in the spiritual city of the living God. We are yet struggling today to return to the preeminence of Christ in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has been made out to be less significant when in reality the Spirit of God is God, and without the Holy Spirit we have nothing of Jesus and the Father in our lives today. It is the season to be transformed to live in the Spirit in the New Jerusalem lifestyle.

The Vision is for all spiritually mature believers to - Pray – Hear – Obey , and for all spiritually immature believers to be trained by the more mature (elders).

Vision of possible spiritual city-wide gatherings
Imagine the scenario of no more Sunday morning weekly church gatherings with the people divided into many different congregations. Instead think about citywide or area-wide gatherings. Now, imagine that instead of traveling from church to church the apostles or visiting sent ones move from Kingdom Revival Center to Kingdom Revival Center. OK, what is a Kingdom Revival Center? A Kingdom Revival Center (KRC) is citywide or area-wide gathering of many groups. The KRCs hold meetings as led by the Spirit, perhaps monthly, but normally not weekly. Also as the Spirit leads the KRCs may hold a series of special meetings several nights in a row. Warehouses, store fronts, and other rented or donated facilities will do for the KRC gatherings.

The many groups that gather monthly at the KRC meet individually in homes or other facilities such as businesses, barns, basements, or whatever every week or more often as led, on whatever days or evenings as led, in groups called The Groups or Jesus Groups or something generic. The Jesus Groups or The Groups are not called prayer groups or fellowship groups or Bible studies or home groups because all those names point toward and emphasis for the meetings.

This is not an organization but a pattern and, of course, there are many variations as Holy Spirit leads. Probably the most central structure to this is businesses and homes. Men who may be business people or professional people or ex-ministers can help deal with administration issues in the different areas once they grasp the general pattern which will have many variations as the Spirit shapes them for each different area or city.

Okay, this is all from the vision or dreaming process, but it will check out with God and is a start to losing our old mind sets.

Where is the starting point?
· Getting the vision from God,

· Getting excited about the vision,

· Praying the vision back to God,

· Preaching the vision everywhere you preach,

· Sharing the vision with individuals,

· Write the vision and publish it,

· Move with the vision when the opportunity presents itself, · Stay on track with no other diversionary visions.

Where are the resources for all this?
The people and the money are locked up in church buildings, operating expenses, and leadership salaries. Traditional church leaders will cooperate as they catch the vision see the work of God becoming a real organic spiritual network led by the Holy Spirit with many men and women arising from the pews and fulfilling the call on their lives in the groups. The elders would lead the immature in the groups to intimate relationship with Jesus as their Lord and Head of the church (ekklesia). These ones are trained but sitting in pews in traditional churches. These are powerful assets to be released to the Body of Christ.

The facilities already exist in homes for the group meetings and businesses or rented halls and stadiums for the citywide or area-wide gatherings of the groups.

Pray – Hear – Obey Ask God for a vision and pray for the vision He gives you. Listen and move in obedience in the next step He reveals to you. Wait upon Him, and watch for the next step to open before you.

As the declining economic conditions erode the lifestyles and available funds of families, all these things will move in the direction of the vision of God for an organic spiritual network of believers to bring in and train the harvest of souls in the gospel of the kingdom.

Keep on pursuing love.
It never fails.

Ron McGatlin

www.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net

The Gift of Prophecy and Marriage

"But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort." (1 Cor. 14:3 NIV)

I believe the gift of prophecy is one of the most neglected of the spiritual gifts. Personally, I don't prophesy as often as I should. But I'm beginning to see a wonderful way in which prophecy can be used to bless others.

One of the ways in which God is teaching me to use the gift of prophecy is in my marriage. The bible says that when we prophesy, we speak comfort and encouragement to others. The most important person in my life is my wife. I want to speak comfort and encouragement to her as often as I can. I know the enemy would love to destroy my marriage. But I want to strengthen it.

One way to strengthen your marriage is to speak prophetically to your spouse.

We spend a lot of time with our husbands and wives and say a lot of things to them over the course of a day. Some are good and some are not so good. Prophecy is a way to speak better things to them than we would otherwise.

The trick is to recognize where our thoughts and words come from. There are three 'places' that our words can originate from; our soul, the enemy and the Holy Spirit. I've spoken from all three places and reaped the fruit of them.

Most often, speak from the realm of our emotions, opinions, thoughts, experiences, values, etc. These things lie within the realm of our soul.

When we become angry, envious, unforgiving or mistrustful it is easy for the enemy to plant thoughts in our mind. If we speak these thoughts, we speak the mind of the enemy.

But if we wait until the Holy Spirit gives us His thoughts and we speak what He says, we speak the mind of Christ.

I've spoken from my soul and found that it lacks the power to solve problems & reconcile differences. I've spoken from the mind of the enemy and found that it only makes my problems worse. I'm learning to wait for the Holy Spirit to inspire me before speaking. It's a process that takes time and patience to develop.

When talking with my wife in an area that she's struggling in, I mentally scan what I know from scripture and find an appropriately encouraging verse. (Prophecy isn't bible bashing - its intent is to encourage) Sometimes I'll mentally scan what I remember from her dream journals or past prophetic words and recite to her a promise God gave through them. I begin to speak what I remember and in a short time the Holy Spirit gives me more to say. That's one way to prophesy.

The results are quite amazing. Instead of heated arguments that push us apart, we draw closer together. At the end of the day, your spouse has been with someone who has affirmed God's promises and destiny for them.

If there is the power of life and death in the tongue, death is imparted when we speak the mind of the enemy, but life is imparted when our words carry the power of the Holy Spirit. I'd encourage you to consider waiting for the Spirit to lead you in conversations with your husband or wife.

"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy" (1 Cor. 14:1)

So You Want to be an Apostle?

by Teresa Seputis

Apostles get to do some really neat things. They get to be leaders, establish doctrine, perform signs and wonders, teach and equip believers, impart spiritual anointings into others, preach, prophesy, etc. So it is not surprising that a lot of believers wish the Lord would appoint them as apostles. After all, we are all hungry for God, hungry to be close to Him, to hear His voice clearly, to move in His power and anointing. We desire to "be all that we can be" in Christ. So it is natural that many desire the "apostle" job description.

At least, it is natural for many to desire the "up side" of being an apostle. But did you know that there is a hefty down side as well? Someone once explained it to me this way: "You have to 'pay a price' to be anything significant in the Body of Christ." God is looking for those who are willing to count the cost and then pay the price. He can't use us until He refines us, and there is always a big price tag in being refined. The greater the call of God you desire on your life, the bigger the 'price tag' for it will be.

Let's look at some of the "costs" of being an apostle. There are many costs that we will not cover, but here are five worth noting:

1. Many Apostles Work Hard And Are Never Recognized By Church At Large
2. Some Apostles Are Called To Be Self-Supporting Instead Of Being Supported Financially By The Church
3. Some Apostles Are Given "Obscure" Kingdom Work
4. Most Apostles Are Persecuted Or Suffer For Their Faith
5. Most Apostles Are Called To Become Martyrs

Many Apostles Work Hard And Are Never Recognized By Church At Large

The first thing most people think of when they hear the word apostle is "spiritual leader" or governing authority. But most of what the apostles in the Bible did was hard work. And, similar to the prophet who is not appreciated or honored in his home town, many apostles do not get respect and honor from those they serve. In fact, a lot of apostles are taken for granted.

Paul was one of the "greatest" apostles in the book of Acts. He probably accomplished more than any of the original "12" (really 11 because Judas killed himself and Mathias was elected as his replacement). Paul planted more churches, personally lead more people to Christ, wrote more scripture and established more doctrine than any of the others. God anointed him and used him very powerfully. Yet Paul was not recognized as one of "God's greats" in his day. In fact, he was seen by many as lower than the original 12. He was not widely respected. There were times when he had to spend time justifying the fact that he called himself an apostle.

Paul wrote 1 Cor. 9:1-27 to defend his Kingdom works because they were not very appreciated. He uses a bit of sarcasm in the first half of this chapter to make the point that people look down on him and his work. He went on to share that he humbled himself voluntarily to be able to preach the gospel, that people may be saved. The reason Paul wrote this section is because he did not have the recognition and respect that should accompany his God-appointed position. Paul was taken for granted, he was not appreciated, even though he may have very well been the most powerful and effective apostle who ever lived.

Again in 2 Cor. 12 we see Paul defending his ministry, giving his spiritual qualifications and also his demonstrations of God's authority. For instance, Paul reminded the church at Corinth of the signs, wonders and miracles he did among them in verse 12. He shared how he poured himself out for them, but they didn't seem to appreciate it. In verse 15, he cried out, "So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?" In other words, he was saying that all of his self-sacrifice and hard work was not appreciated.

In Gal. 2:8 we see Paul had to define himself as an apostle, because he was not automatically recognized as one, "For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles."

Some Apostles Are Called To Be Financially Self-Supporting

There were times where Paul worked a full-time secular job and then would spend his off hours preaching and evangelizing. He did this in Corinth. Acts 18:2-4 says, "And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks."

Technically, Paul should have been supported by the church because of the important Kingdom work he was doing. He even argued that point in 1 Cor. 9:6-12. But, for the sake of the gospel, Paul humbled himself and took a secular job so he might support his "real" job of doing Kingdom work.

Today, we find that God gives apostolic calls and mandates to some people. Once they have received this call, they do not let anything stop them from achieving it. If the funding (the finances) is not there, they go out and work a secular job to finance the ministry. Ideally they should be supported for the Kingdom work they do (see 1 Cor. 9:6-12). But if the support is not there -- and often it is not there -- they do not let that stop them. They go out and work a secular job to "pay the bills" and they also work a full-time ministry job to do what God has called them to do. In other words, they work hard to be able to do Kingdom work.

Some Apostles Are Given "Obscure" Kingdom Work

Jesus appointed 12 disciples, 11 of whom became apostles. Luke 3:13-16 records it as, "When morning came, He called His disciples to Him and chose 12 of them, whom He also designated apostles: Simon (whom He named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor."

The book of Acts talks a lot about Peter and even more about Paul (who was not one of the original 12). But it does not talk much about the other 10 disciples.

John does get mentioned in Acts 3 where the lame beggar is healed, he is arrested with Peter in Acts 4, and ministers impartation with Peter in Acts 8. Philip is mentioned multiple times, but we are not sure which Philip is being talked about. There is Philip the apostle and one of the original seven deacons was also named Philip. For the sake of this discussion, let's assume that it is the apostle Philip who is mentioned here preaching in Samaria (Acts 8:5-12), converting and baptizing the Ethiopian (Acts 8), and on a missionary preaching journey from Azotus to Caesarea (Acts 8:40). Judas, not Judas Iscariot but the other disciple named Judas, is mentioned only twice. The book of Acts briefly mentions the two James (one is martyred in Acts 12:2, and the other James receives a message in Acts 12:17, speaks in an assembly in Acts 15:13 and is visited by Paul and Luke in Acts 21:18).

  

Five (half) of the apostles are mentioned only in Acts 1:13 as being present at the day of Pentecost when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit: Andrew, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas and Simon.

Do you realize that the Bible gives more "press" to Stephen, one of the original deacons and first martyr, than it does to most of the apostles combined? Stephen first shows up in Acts 6 as one of the original deacons. A large portion of Acts chapter 6 (verses 8-15) and all of Acts chapter 7 are devoted to Stephen. His burial is mentioned in Acts 8:2. Did Stephen have more important work than 10 of the apostles? This is just speculation on my part, but I don't believe that he did. I believe these apostles probably each had as powerful and amazing stories as Stephan did, but God choose not to make the details of their lives public to us.

Jesus spent three years personally training these 10 men. He commissioned them as apostles. It follows that God had real and significant Kingdom work for them to do. Yet the Bible is strangely silent on what that work was. I am sure it was important and foundational for God's Kingdom. But their apostolic work was obscure in the eyes of the church. It will become known and rewarded at the time when we all stand before God's throne. The point is that not all apostolic work is visible to the church at large; much of it is done obscurely, away from the "public eye."

God advances His Kingdom through His apostles, but that advancement is not usually easy. A lot of times there is opposition from men and demons. That opposition brings us to the next two costs.

Most Apostles Are Persecuted Or Suffer For Their Faith

Suffering for Christ does not sound like very much fun, does it? The truth is that God can call on any of His servants, not just the apostles, to suffer for Him. History is full of examples.

However, God frequently does call on His apostles to suffer for Him. When God commissioned Paul as an apostle, suffering was part of that commission. We read of this in Acts 9:15-16, when God sent Ananias to pray for newly converted Paul to restore his sight. It says, "But the Lord said to Ananias, 'Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.'"

Paul was not the only apostle to suffer for the Lord, they all did. Acts 5:18 gives us one account. It says, "They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail." Acts 5 goes on to recount that God supernaturally delivered them from prison and sent them back out to the streets to preach. They were again arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin. They were commanded to stop preaching Jesus, refused, and were publicly beaten and released. God did not protect them from persecution and suffering, but He was with them in it. Their response is recorded in Acts 5:41. "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name."

There are many other examples of the apostles suffering persecution, being arrested, beaten and even killed. Peter appears to have had many trips to prison. And so did the apostle Paul. In Romans 16:7, he writes, "Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was." The apostle John was imprisoned on the Island of Patmos because of his evangelistic activity (Rev 1:9). It was in that prison that John had an incredible vision of the last days, recorded in the book of Revelation.

What is the modern-day equivalent? Are the apostles of today persecuted and opposed for the Kingdom work they do? Of course they are. Physical persecution still happens in some parts of the world. Many stories have come out of China and the former Soviet Union about believers being thrown into prison, having their possessions confiscated, being beaten or sometimes killed. In other parts of the world the persecution takes other forms. Sometimes there are false rumors, slander and false accusations against them, because of the Kingdom work they are doing. Sometimes the persecution comes in the financial area. But it is my personal belief that we may once again see physical persecution (beatings, murders, arrests, etc) in the Western world in my natural lifetime. And if this occurs, it is very likely that the Lord will ask many of His apostles to suffer for His sake, that the gospel may go forth.

Most Apostles Are Called To Become Martyrs

Jesus said it Himself in Luke 11:49, "Because of this, God in His wisdom said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute'" (NIV). Paul commented on it in 1 Cor. 4:9, "For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men."

The Bible has many of examples of apostles laying down their lives for Christ. Tradition has it that most of the original 12 disciples were martyred for Christ. Right from the start of the church, the Jewish religious leaders wanted to exterminate those God was using to build His Kingdom. In Acts 5:27-33, we see that the Sanhedrin wanted to put all of the apostles to death.

There is the case of Stephen. Stephen was a deacon, not an apostle. He had received an impartation from the apostles through the laying on of hands (Acts 6:6) and began to do apostolic-type of works, preaching with power, working signs and wonders (Acts 6:8). Then Acts 6:9-13a says, "Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called) - Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia. These men began to argue with Stephen, but they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke. Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, 'We have heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.' So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified" against him. This lead to Stephen being martyred in Acts 7. The result was that persecution came on the whole church. Acts 8:1 says, "On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria." Paul, known as Saul before his conversion, was given authority by the Sanhedrin to persecute believers. In Acts 22:4, Paul reflects on his pre-conversion persecution activities. He says, "I persecuted the followers of this way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison."

The apostles were not exempt from this persecution. King Herod executed apostle James (Acts 12:2). They were about to execute Peter, but God supernaturally rescued him (Acts 12:3-12). Tradition has it that at a later date, Peter really did lay down His life for the Lord.

Paul's life was constantly put at risk just because he was an apostle. The book of Acts chronicles many of the attacks on Paul's life. Here are just a few of them:

Acts 9:22-24

Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him.

Acts 21:30-34

The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul.

The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks.

Acts 23:12

The next morning the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

Despite some people's impressions to the contrary, being an apostle is no way to (as the saying goes) "make friends and influence people." It was high risk, high cost, and involved suffering, pain and death.

I believe that the reason the opposition against the apostles was so great was because the spiritual warfare surrounding them was so great. The apostles were actively building God's Kingdom. As a side effect of their activity, Satan's kingdom was being torn down and dismantled. Satan did not want to lose his territory and that is why he fought back so vehemently.

Not a whole lot has changed. God is using apostles today to build His Kingdom, just as He did in the early days of the church. Satan's kingdom is still being torn down as God's Kingdom advances, so Satan is still going to fight back.

I believe that the Lord will ask many of His current-day apostles to lay down their lives for the gospel and become martyrs.

Closing Remarks

When you look at all the things that are part of being an apostle, it becomes a bit less glamorous. If God has called a person as an apostle, there will be a supernatural grace for the times they are asked to die to their own desires, work hard to serve ungrateful others, to work hard and receive very little appreciation or recognition, to suffer persecution or even lay down their own lives for the gospel. If God has called you to be an apostle, there is nothing to be afraid of because His anointing and grace will be on you during those difficult times. He will always equip and enable you for anything He calls you to do.

But if He has not called you to be an apostle, then perhaps you should stay clear of this very costly and very risky calling. It is far better to find out what God has called you to do and be. Then you can fulfill your destiny in His power and anointing, being highly effective for God's kingdom.

By Teresa Seputis, Godspeak International

The Order of the Kingdom

Kriston Couchey 

A NEW THING COMING FORTH

When Jesus began His ministry on the earth, even John the Baptist questioned whether He was the one they had waited for(Luke 7:19). John's expectations were dashed as Jesus ignored the Roman occupation of Israel, and didn't try to change or gain influence with the religious and political establishment of His day. Instead, He offended the establishment by spending His time loving and bringing wholeness to the broken, the sick, and the destitute, and the outcasts. These nobodies flocked to Him to the embarrassment and anger of those who were in power. His inner circle of leadership were unlearned and poor men.

Like John, many today are expecting God to strengthen the existing political, economic, and religious systems of men; and bless and enhance them with kingdom life. But it is not to be so in this unfolding age. As in Jesus day, a new thing is coming forth. Father Himself is revealing His heart in sons who have left their dependence upon the systems and ways of men to walk as bearers of the Love of God to the broken and destitute. The most powerful force mankind has ever seen is Love made flesh in the form of the first-fruit Jesus Christ. The seed of the first-fruit has germinated and has been growing and maturing and is now bearing fruit; the sons of God manifesting the very heart and Love of God to all of creation with authority. A new order is emerging; it is the order of the kingdom of God, it is an order of the heart of God in His people, it is the order of Love!  

A KINGDOM ORDER OF LOVE

This order of Love is not coming forth to enhance to make better previous systems or works that have been part of an age of sin and death. The order of God that is now unfolding is an order of an age in which sin and death are being completely placed under His feet (you and I are His feet). This unfolding age is being trumpeted from the heavens and the signs of this awesome transition cover the earth. The powers of the earth are shaking and all man has built is cracking and failing. The order of his kingdom is an order of Love that the current political, economic, religious, and military powers of man CANNOT contain, nor can they stop it's coming forth. This kingdom order is emerging in fullness as the stone uncut by human hands turns to dust all nations and their systems built upon the wisdom and works of men. The order of Love coming forth in this day is much different then the order and structure of society as we have known it up till now. Here are some of the differences: 

LEADERSHIP OF LOVE

Man's political and religious systems have placed emphasis on leaders with position and title. While position and title exist in the kingdom, these are simply an expression of the love one possesses. Father gives authority for the sake of expressing love. The gifts are tools to express the Love that God places in His people. In the kingdom order greater authority is expressed and possessed by those with the greatest love. There is coming forth a relational order of love among the people of God that far surpasses titles. Those who have come to relationally express their gifts in self sacrificing love will be given greater gifts and authority; while those who have gifts and authority but have not increased the "talent" of love will find what little "authority" they have will be given to others. Leadership is coming to be known for greater love that far surpasses their gifts. People will honor and follow the love of God in others and not seek to exploit a gift. True love relationships are taking predominance in God's people and the manner in which we have related is drastically changing from that of title to one of love relationship.  

LAW OF LOVE

 Religion and the laws of men's governments have enacted rules and requirements for people in an age where sin and death have made it necessary for law to keep people in check. Jesus made it clear that the one who loves God and others fulfills the law. The rules of men's systems are irrelevant when men by nature love each other and have written within their hearts the law of God. This order coming forth is one in which political and religious institutions find they have lost relevance as men and women are transformed by the Love of God. People will no longer need an external controlling influence to live in peace with their fellow man. As in Jesus day, there will be jealousy of the kingdom order of love that invalidates man's institutions; jealousy that will bring persecution. 

THE ECONOMY OF LOVE

Today's economic system is based upon supply and demand, capitalism, free-markets, and usury. The economy of the kingdom is not based upon any of these factors, but is based solely on love. It was love that caused the New Testament believers to give all they had to meet the needs of others, not considering what they had their own. It is religion that has relegated giving to a law of tithe from an age of law, when Father's intent is that the order of love meets everyones needs. Love makes unnecessary an economic system built by man's desire to gain wealth. A new order of love turns to dust and crushes the political and economic systems of men that depend upon natural resources to live. Our Father gives all things abundantly to those who ask, and uses men whose hearts are full of His love to do so.  

THE POWER OF LOVE

What the arm of man's flesh cannot do the love of God can do. While men cannot conquer a well defended city, love can conquer the hearts of the most hardened sinner. God's love is bringing down the forces of darkness that encroach upon the earth. Radical Islam, ethnic strife, and the wars that rage over resources cannot stand against the power of a life laid down in sacrifice for love. No country and their warriors can establish the kingdom with the arm of the flesh. Only the kingdom of God coming forth from His warriors of love can do so. No military was able to stop the spread of the gospel out of the mouths of the early witnesses moved by the love of God. That same self sacrificing love will bring down the very principalities and powers that empower the forces of violence, pride, and greed that threaten to overtake the earth today. 

THE ARMY OF LOVE

There are warriors coming forth today out of the most desperate places. Jesus came upon the scene preaching the kingdom to the outcasts, sinners, broken, and weak. It was these that He was able to reach because they KNEW they were in need. It was this ragtag group of people filled with the Love of God that turned the world upside down. These became the leaders of God's army in their day.

Where is this order of Love manifesting today? It is manifesting among the brokenhearted, the cast down, those bound in chains and weak, and those who mourn. It is coming forth from impoverished nations whose people have been oppressed of the devil. Its coming from Indian Reservations among people who have been stripped of their dignity and heritage. It is coming forth from prostitutes finding real love in Christ. It is coming forth from street gangs, from bars, and from prisons. It comes forth in the group homes and halfway houses that cannot correct what Father alone can heal. There is coming forth an order and force of the kingdom that exercises great authority because it is motivated and moved by Love. There is a simplicity in what Father is doing, meeting mankind where their needs are because of His love. Father is calling us to be part of that order, the Order of Love.  

Isaiah 16:1-2 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to preach good tidings unto those who are cast down; to bind up the wounds of the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those that are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favour, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn...

In His Love

Kriston Couchey

kcouchey@gmail.com

http://my.opera.com/Boanerges/blog/