I find myself with no tasks on my agenda for today except to read a book, watch TV, nap, or as I always do, enjoy my wife’s company.
The Cheap Detective is on presently with Peter Falk. It’s a movie parody of Humphrey Bogart movies. It has an all star cast. It came in third it’s opening week behind Grease and Jaws 2. Funny movie.
Then there’s the book I’m reading. ENLISTED, Navigating Your Prophetic Assignment, by Charlie Howell, III. It’s a very good book. It has to do with recognizing the calling of a Prophet. Not just someone who operates occasionally in the gift of prophesy. It’s an area of teaching I have known for years of being mentored under Dr. Kelley Varner. The difference is nothing in what is said between the two. Only I got practical demonstration under Dr. Varner.
The gift of prophesy being used in a service by someone is to lift up and edify (same thing either way). To operate in the office of a Prophet, however, is to give direction and correction. The office of a Prophet is to give aim to people in the direction they should go or tell them things about themselves that no one else knows.
I was given a word by God to give to someone once and I knew what, when and where about someone and I gave it only to be corrected in front of the congregation. It was to be in the office of a Prophet that this word was to be given. Dr. Varner was gentle with me in doing so, but I have seen him declare the validity of a word given to be not so by another individual around the same time frame. I learned by practical application from these episodes. I sometimes still wonder was I really to be groomed for the office and not the gift. I still see things about people. What’s to say I’m not, although I claim no fame to the office. I do know from more than two or three my younger son is called to the office of a Prophet. I still encourage him to follow that path.
I’ve been given visions even at an early age. God took me up in a vision when I was a young teen while in Church one Sunday. He showed me the people in the church pews. He said to me something that saddened me. He said not all these people sitting there were His. Only a few where truly His. He said to not worry myself. Every church in the world has a mix of those that are not His and those that are. Then I was reminded of the wheat and the tares growing together till the harvest when they would be separated. I was to be the grain to be harvested into keeping. Even now at my old age I still know this to be so. It’s my sureity of my faith. I was saved, I have been being saved and I will be saved in the end.
I’ve encountered men of God more times than I can count, but I’ve also encountered the enemy of our souls first hand more than once. I don’t understand why, but I’m never afraid of the enemy, except to say that I know he’s defeated. I’m like David of old who when confronted by Goliath ran toward him with five smooth stones of which one was loaded. That one met its mark and killed the enemy. The enemy lost his heard that day. Respect for the five-fold ministry has always been in me and David knew even one of those as smooth stones had the ability to end the enemies forward march.
I guess my unusual day does have meaning. I’m old and still have much to say. It’s what keeps me going. I love God. I’m His. He is mine. Wheither I’m here or standing in His presence all is well. I’m eternal because of the sacrifice He made through His Son Jesus. My sin has been removed for all time and I recognized my name was written in the Book of Life over 2000 years ago. I accepted that gift. Today is your day if you have not opened your gift. Today is your day to know for sure you are one of those that He knows personally. Don’t be someone that occupies a pew. Be one that occupies themselves in God.