Thanks for sharing this and the link of this group. . .
So I can see that many who posts in that sites, are learning to hear like any others -- meaning that what they have expressed in their own words a) may not be the word of the Lord by adding their own interpretation of what they saw and heard. and b)not fully understanding what the Lord is doing for they are just a young learner.
This is fine and part of the learning process. These people needs to be praised and encouraged to continue their learning walk with the Spirit. I'm sure there are good gems from them to be retrieved. However, you need the Holy Spirit yourself to filter out all the learning mistakes they are doing and only extract what is coming from Him. . . .
Concerning, America being in the receiving ends of woes -- I do expect this to happen also. It's been like 10 years the Lord send Jonathan Cahn to give us this warning.
I do not believe that it will come from China or Russia; but rather from Mystery Babylon's next move as they no longer can bring havoc in the Middle East anymore since Russia last move in bringing in the S400 that can bring down any aircrafts within 250 miles of radius. (see
Post#178547)
Also I expect some natural disasters coming from the Lord to shake some sense into us.
You're aware Elle that your view of learning how to prophesy is unorthodox? In fact, the idea of learning to prophesy was so foreign to me that I almost dismissed it immediately. But then I thought maybe I should look at that idea more carefully. For one thing, like you said, those who get these revelations initially may not be able to tell the difference between their imagination and a revelation. On the Z3 site for example, it's common for the person sharing their dream or vision to give a caution that they aren't sure it's from the Lord and directing people to prayer and the scriptures. That's a good sign and healthy. I think James has the same struggle here on Maritime. A lot of what he writes in his blogs is inspiring but at times he mistakes impressions for inspiration and is offended when we doubt some of his material and/or thinks he's being persecuted because he's not always believed.
I fully believe James has had some direct revelations from the Lord. His conversion story sounds authentic and some other things - just not everything. It's not that anyone here is intentionally trying to offend or persecute this brother who we should love and respect. It's that each one of us has a God-given responsibility to compare the revelation of a peer with scripture.
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Those teachers who have not a progressive religious experience, who are not learning daily lessons in the school of Christ, that they may be examples to the flock, but who accept their wages as the main consideration, are not fit for the solemn position they occupy. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves,” the word of God declares, “and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood.” “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.” Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2. These words are spoken to the teachers in all our schools, which are established, as God designed they should be, after the example of the
schools of the prophets, to impart knowledge of a high order, not mingling dross with the silver.
But false ideas and unsound practices are leavening that which should ever be kept pure, institutions in which the love and fear of God should ever be first. {CT 281.3}
Our church has become so enamored with their own agenda there is very little of the Spirit they hear. That is why God is circumventing their process and bringing in others who have learned DIRECTLY from Him instead of the errors of their peers.
Have you ever made a recording of a recording of a recording? What happens is the signal degrades till the flaws are amplified over and over.
God's bible is fresh, but the putting away of the Spirit of Prophecy has hindered the work. Instead of dealing with issues our God told us to deal with through His servant Ellen White, they have focused on psychology and earthly pursuits.
Where in the Spirit of Prophecy does it say a pastor gets a free house and $65,000 a year? Or free schooling for their children when others are put out of the schools for not making the multi thousand dollar payments? Only the rich get a Seventh Day Adventist schooling?
The school of the prophets is for those who listen to the word above anything. But even in the days of Jesus they had been stagnated and He as a child could share more truth than they could bear. Was Jesus just more gifted? Or was this because of confidence in the word of God and the Spirit who wrote those words?
When a child prays God hears them. Not because of their knowledge but because of their faith.
Faith is essential to learning in the Spirit.
Some have greater faith than others and their lives should be lifted up as an example and encouraged. I was so excited to be told by God that He loves me and He wants me to learn under His guidance, then I came and shared my experience and was immediately shot down by every leader I met in the church. WHY?
Just because I claimed that GOD had lead me to the Sabbath truth and the SDA church, they could not take credit. They could not reign me into their line of thinking. They refused to baptize me for over a year, when other people who went through a two week Leo Schreven seminar who were still smoking and drinking were baptized right then. On the seventh day of my fast when God showed me the Sabbath truth and I heard His voice tell me to join the SDA church I was given total victory over drugs and alcohol like a gift through faith, and I left what I was being groomed for, a multi million dollar job of rock musician/ recording artist/ sound engineer. Most of the 55 new members of the Fairbanks SDA church who were baptized the same day God taught me about the Sabbath continued doing the same things in their lives they had before claiming the title SDA, making no change, yet some were made deaconesses and deacons in their first month being baptized, and I was put out of the congregation because God told me to contend with their desire to change the church and ordain women elders.
I can tell you how God thinks on this if anyone is interested. But very few are. This is a testimony of why there are no schools of the prophets any more. When prophecy is ignored what makes them think they are working for God?
"The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. “
Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God’s remnant people in the true testimony.—Selected Messages 1:48 (1890). {LDE 177.5}
I love the Spirit of Prophecy and scripture and I am blessed for it, to give to others, but very few want to learn. Everyone seems to have their own opinions of what this verse means or that. No unity in knowledge of the truth.
There has not been even one time that God has shown me something that I could not find total support for in the Spirit of Prophecy, yet even my closest brothers in the church find something to argue with.
I am not perfect, but the God who teaches me with no one else involved IS perfect. He knows what He meant when He wrote those words through the prophets and He shows me directly. Then I present it faithfully and people fall all over themselves to try to hurt me or challenge the message. So much so that I have wanted to be rid of the church many times. That is my flaw. I am a son of thunder. I do not revel in it.
But my God encourages me to stay, even without a place to congregate (which makes me very sad). He tells me to continue to pay tithe and offering on everything He gives, to a church that not one person has tried to contact me from in over 6 years.
How many of you could endure that much? My wonderful wife, the miracle of miracles in my life has seen it all. God led her right to me. She supports everything yet the church that we were married in has not even contacted her in 6 years. They sent a police officer to tell us not to come to the Andover church any more because I stood up against a lesbian elder. How many of you would still be desiring to be part of this church?
I am blessed because I have not given up hope or faith in God. I will be victorious and those who persecuted me will fall by the side. EVERY SINGLE PERSON who abused me have left the church. No longer calling themselves SDA.
I fear for them and pray.
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