In talks with my good friend David he told me that a critical spirit will masquerade as a prophet. I met a man who said he had been gifted with a prophetic gift. He was one of the prophets associated with my church.
We met a couple of days ago for a date and I was excited to meet a “man of God”. I was hoping he would be different than most men are.
He wasn’t. He was immoral like all of the rest and he spoke no words of wisdom at all to me that night.
The next day we talked on the phone and I revealed to him some revelations that God had given me about my writing career. He spoke evil motivations into those revelations and said I was writing for money.
I have never written for money but I intend to because writing is to be my occupation. My writing will have to support me in order to be my occupation. I can’t write very well if I am homeless, neither can I fulfill my financial responsibility as a single mother to my children.
Then he said I had a skill-I should go back to nursing. If he would have been in the same room as me I would have punched him.
Then he told me he was anointed to be a writer and sent me some writing of his. I refused to critique it because I did not want to be cruel but I saw no anointing.
He told me before he met me that he would not rip me apart. He lied. He not only spoke against me but spoke against God’s calling on my life and the passion that God has given me to reach others through my writing.
I am relieved that God has given me the discernment to spot a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
If I prophet does not encourage you to follow the will of God they are not from God.
If a prophet does not speak wisdom they are not God ordained.
If a prophet is not righteous in their behavior and actions they are not God fearing.
If a prophet tries to put you in subjection and rips you from your passion that God has called you to they are a control freak.
I only had one date with this man and that is all I needed to know that he was not a man of God and certainly not a prophet of God. There will not be a need for a second date.
Gracie, this is in response to your post Jan 16, 2.05.
I can just imagine God, Jesus and all the host of Heaven sitting around waiting for what you are going to write next. Of Course God and Jesus already know, duh, but no body else does. And then Jesus telling everyone, ” this is going to be a good one”
The next part of this post are my opinions only and are not in any way anything other than my private thoughts and musings about how things could have happened.
Now to your more series point about Saul. At the time of Stephen’s murder, I don’t think he was feeling to sorry for Stephen. Right after that act he was all fired up to go kill more believers, trouble makers. So he went to the big wigs and got permission to go to Damascus to do just that. I am sure he had a long list and blood thirst in his eyes and heart.
But here is the deal. God reads and understands what is in our hearts. We can not hide it or cover it up where he can not see. What we do, good or bad, is only seen by man, but God searches the heart.
There were many out to kill the members of this new sect. Many if not all were doing it to gain promotions in the Jewish Hierarchy. Better jobs, pay and benefits. Paul was doing it because he really thought he was doing God’s will. So God sees what motivates Saul. A true passion to do God’s will, not for his own benefit, but as a soldier of God.
So Jesus takes that passion to do what is right in God’s eyes and turns it around. He takes that energy and points it in the right direction. So at Stephen’s murder I don’t think Saul was sorry or moved by his compassion on those who killed him. But it was the unquenchable desire to do God’s will, in his heart, that drew God’s attention to him.
So Jesus blinds him, says a few choice words along the lines of ” whats up with this”, sends him to Damascus to meet a person that will slap him across the face a few times to “make him see the LIGHT” and the rest is history.
Got your last message. Had to trash it though because that was a bit of information I have had to conceal and to bring it up again could be a red flag to some individuals. Thanks for pointing that out.
Message received. I expected that exact response.
Now for some more musings.
So Stephen never actually meets Jesus “in person” right. But he does receive the Holy Spirit which is where his conviction comes from. And he goes down, ‘not swinging” but with total grace. Awesome.
Then we have Paul, who was a murderer in the name of God. But God blinds him and talks to him in person, ” Why do you persecute Me” After that, how could you not be a believer? It would be impossible not to believe your own ears and what you have seen with your own eyes.
Which brings me to Peter. Peter was one of the first. He was there when the blind were made to see. He was there when the deaf could hear. He was there when the lame could now walk. He was there when the dead were brought back to life. He was there when Moses and Elisha came down from heaven to be with Jesus before he was Crucified. He even offered to build them a tent to sleep in. And then not 12 hours later, he doesn’t even know who Jesus is. ” I don’t know that guy, what are you talking about?”
So, this has always been a point of contemplation for me. Paul, who had a WOW experience and became a believer. Peter who had a live it every day experience and became a believer. Or Stephen, who only heard the WORD and became a believer. We have more in common with Stephen than with either Paul or Peter.
Gracie, I hope you had a chance to read the Grace post I sent you this morning. I had a much better day today after reading those words.
You have been my friend when I needed one and for that I will always be grateful. I really love the way you write with such passion. I hope I have inspired you in some way with my comments and if I have ever offended you in any way I am truly sorry.
You ROCK Gracie.
I glanced at the link you sent me but I want to read it in the morning when I can absorb it. It was a wonderful post. Thank you so much for sharing it with me and thank you for your continued encouragement and persistent following of my blog. I am glad I have been your friend. As far as inspiration – well you do that every day for me.
Thanks dear one.
I will tell you what is more tragic. Someone who has money and does not have to worry but uses the money to control and manipulate others to bend to their will. That’s what happened to me. I spent the last 25 years in Aspen in the summers and skiing in the winter. But I would never kiss the ring of the God Father, father in law. We managed OK until he came after my daughter with his manipulation and control efforts. I was unable to stop him from controlling my x, his own daughter, with his money but not my daughter.
If I did not raise her up in the way she should go, I would be concerned, but she will not depart from it. Oh the stories I can tell.
But the people with money have their reward now, we set our sites on forever, the real gift of eternal salvation.
My parents are well to do and they tend to try to control with their money also. I know what you are talking about. It is ridiculous what money can do but saying that I would not be in the place I am without my parents generousity and I love them for all that they have and haven’t done for me. They are good for the most part although they do have narcissistic tendencies.
Sure Gracie. You can use any of my words if it furthers your ministry.
I still cry out to my God every day “why is this happening to me” and that’s over a year after separation. To cut to the chase, I really loved this woman, a lot. So it hurts, a lot. But I raised a daughter that is even more powerful than me in the spirit, a truly awesome child. And please don’t get the impression that I am a Godly man, because I am far from it. I have a bad boy streek in me a mile long. I just try to live by the Fruits of the Spirit, that’s all.
Gracie, I would like to share with you something I wrote way back in 1981. I was at UT in Austin and there were always street preachers on the soap box in the main square. Anyway, there was some drama and I decided to write a letter to the Student Newspaper. I don’t think I ever mailed it, but I still have the letter.
In this letter I wrote over 30 years ago I ended with this quote:
” If God allowed his Son to be Crucified and his Profits to be murdered, what is going to happen to us. Think about it.”
That was some pretty powerful thinking out of a 21 year old kid.
Good Night Gracie.
I would like to read the letter. I don’t mean to be an editor but I believe you may have meant prophets murdered not profits murdered. I get the impression that God would be all for profits being murdered. lol
When I was in 8th grade my English teach plopped this big read book on my desk written by some guy name Webster. She told me I was going to need it for the rest of my life. I’ll type that letter for you when I have more time, but I would ask that you keep it private. The words were the musings of a 21 year old after all.
Sounds like a plan… Mr Mystery man. lol Looking forward to it. Read may mean red in your latest comment. It is funny because even though you misspell words I still know what you mean but I really have to think about it. lol So it is all good.
I am glad you have a sense of humor. I have this letter that I typed on a good ol fashion typewriter. I am not going to type all of it again, just the salient points.
The letter was entitled ” The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge” Proverbs 1:7
I wrote ” Before one can understand the Love of God they must first understand the Fear of the Lord. Just as our fathers on earth can not correct our mistakes if we have no fear of them, so it is with children of God who hold no fear for Him”
“According to Christ all who believe in Him will take up their cross daily to follow Him. This is what our friend Cindy and Jeb do. They are the fourth seed in Luke chapter 8. (Gracie, these were the two street preachers on the soap box those many years ago) ” If just one person starts to think about God because of their sermons then they have done the job they set out to do. They stand justified before God. Do we as students stand justified before God when we mock and humiliate these servants of God. I do not think so”
” I witnessed one of Cindy’s speeches one day on the west mall. I can understand how Christ and all the Prophets before and after him must have felt. People were throwing all sorts of stuff at her. One person was holding a snake in his hand while he mocked her and it dedicated on him. He then proceeded to throw the excrement on her. Real mature for college students don’t you think. Two thousand years ago they would have been throwing stones.”
(This last paragraph really blows my mind. What must have I been thinking back then)
” When the apostles were stoned and beaten they counted that as a plus for themselves. They were happy to be counted as worthy to suffer for the name of Christ. Seem to me Cindy and Jeb fit this mold. The more people humiliate them the happier they are. Christ asks the apostle Peter ” I give my life for you, are you willing to give your life for me”. Cindy and Jeb are willing. Am I ? Are you? Obviously this question must be answered within ones self”
(and then I ended”)
If God allowed his son to be crucified and his servants to be murdered, what is going to happen to us? Think about it”
Gracie, what is really sort of ironic is this letter I wrote those many years ago could have been the lesson we learned today in church. Anyway, maybe there is a story you could write about based on the musings of a 21 year old kid. I think I may have been wiser back then than I am now. Who knows?
Sweet.It makes me think I may be a coward to be writing a blog and sitting in such comfort in my living room but the reach that God has made through this blog astounds even me. We all have different roads to travel and some may not be the role of the martyr but none is so revered as that role.
You call me Mystery Man. I reveal a lot to you just as you reveal much of yourself in your posts. Here is a small bite of a letter I received from my daughter several years ago.
” I am so thankful to be able to be around such a kind, loving person every day. You really are the best role model I could ask for. The faith and trust you have in God inspires me every day, and hearing stories from your life encourages me to live out the Gospel”
One time we were just yaking and she told me ” Dad, you know you teach the Gospel ALL THE TIME.” I really didn’t know what she was talking about and she said ” Dad, you live it”
So Gracie, your Mystery man somehow managed to give his daughter the two greatest gifts I could ever give her. The first and most important is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. And the second is how a husband should treat his wife and children. She is a witness to how I treated her mother so she knows where the bar is set.
I asked her the same question I will ask you. If someone would give you a Billion Dollars but all of your faith would be wiped away and you would have no chance to ever Know Jesus for the rest of your life on this earth, would you take it? You could fly around on private jets and have servants and never ever worry about money, would you take that deal?
And then flip the coin. You meet someone that has a billion dollars and you tell them there is something more valuable than all of that money, but they don’t know Jesus, would they take it?
So who has the more valuable gift?
What is more tragic is someone who has money and does not have to worry about life or expenses and they fail to share with those that do.
Gracie, your post are thought provoking and kind of fun to read. What you are doing is just like those street preachers were doing, just a different form of communication. And yes, not one is going to through snake crap at you but still, if just one person learns from what you write then you also stand justified before God. You have a whole lot more courage than I do. Well, actually we both stand justified before God because Jesus is justified before God and it is through him that we are justified, not what we do or say. But I bet He smiles when he reads your posts.
When I think about those street preachers from years ago I am reminded of one of the most courageous characters in the Bible, from my perspective, and that would be Stephen. And this is why. He never walked with Jesus or even met him in the flesh. But, oh boy, did he believe in Him. He died a most horrible death being stoned to death just for trying to get people to understand the gift that was offered. While he was being killed his last words were asking for forgiveness and redemption for those that were killing him. And who was there encouraging the stoning? SAUL.
You had me laughing at first when you said that what I wrote would bring a smile to God. I think of it as God writing through me because without Him I would fall flat on my face. So I consider myself God’s ghost writer in essence.
Then you struck my heart with last paragraph. I wonder how much Stephen’s prayer had to do with Paul’s conversion? Sheesh boy, now you have me diving deep.
You are so right. Prophetic words should never tear down.. only build up. We all need to be aware of “wolves in sheep’s clothing”… I pray that God will bring both of us the spouse that He has planned for us and that all the desires of our heart will be fulfilled this year, 2014.
Amen sister! I ask your prayers for me in this area. My libido is very high and I have to continually stomp on that to get it to quiet down. I am currently dating a man who is very kind but I don’t want to cross the line and sin with him.
Hi Gracie. I gather from this post that your spirit of discernment is on red alert. Mine is too. If anyone ever makes you feel bad about yourself or ” less than” run, don’t walk. I lived with that for 15 years and I just don’t have time for that anymore. It’s just not worth it.
Before I say anything else, I love your writing style and content. If I didn’t I would not keep coming back to read your post. It is amazing how many people have such excellent writing skills and bring so much value but are unrecognized.
As far as your date goes, well, you got the guy pegged. I really can’t add to what you already know.
I will leave you with this. My daughter and I have this posted on the frig and I truly want to live by it, although I fall short every single day. Actually, I fall short on just about everything every single day.
But, I digress,
Ephesians 4:29 ” Don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen”
I just love that one. So, if you are on a date and the person says something other than words that “build you up” just say ” check please”
Wright On (pun intended)
that is one of my favorite verses ever! Thanks again for commenting on my blog. I appreciate you. Let me know what you think about the blog tomorrow. It has been simmering on the back burner of my brain for some time now.
Simmering. That’s almost as good as “you got me at hello”
Good night Gracie.
lol You are so funny sometimes.
Gracie, I admit I can be a goofball from time to time. I am still going through the pangs of soul separation so if I can add any levity to my daily life I try to, and if I can make you smile for just one second, well that’s pretty cool too. There used to be this guy I knew that lived by the motto ” don’t take life so seriously, you’ll never get out of it alive” This guy’s seventh grade teacher told him that one time and it stuck. I am still trying to find that guy.
Recently a friend of mine told me about a lady called Kat Kerr I think that is her name at least and he told me to stream her August series of sermons. It is about loosing soul ties. I need to do that and call back the things that were lost or stolen by Satan. Look her up she is a blazing stream of light!
Love this.. Ephesians 4:29. That is how I have tried to raise my children because I never want them to hurt anyone the way that we have been hurt. Words should build up, not tear down. Thanks for sharing your words of wisdom. Many blessings to you and Gracie Lynne…
And the same back to you dear sister. hugs!
Gracie and Secretangle,
Over the last 20 years I can’t tell you how many times I have walked through the room and the x would be on the phone trashing some very nice person. I would gently admonish ” take the log out of your own eye before you try to take the spec out of your brother’s eye” She just would not listen. And Ephesians 4:29 was taught to my x by my teenage daughter, but again she wouldn’t listen. My baby girl led her own mother in Bible study once a week, but she just would not listen. When you really love someone and they just won’t listen, what do you do with that?
You stop talking to them and start talking to God about them. He is the only one who can transform a person’s heart. Then you ask God to give you His love for them because it is His love that they need more than yours.
Btw can I reference your comment in my post for tomorrow?