The Well
The Well |
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Connecting Hope to the Hurting | |
Wednesday
May 21, 2008
"Go and tell my servant David, 'this is what the LORD
says: Are you the one to build me a temple to live in? I have never lived in a
temple, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until now. My home
has always been a tent, moving from one place to another. And I have never once
complained to Israel's leaders, the shepherds of my people Israel. I have never
asked them, "Why haven't you built me a beautiful cedar temple?"'
"Now go
and say to my servant David, 'this is what the LORD Almighty
says: I chose you to lead my people Israel when you were just a shepherd boy,
tending your sheep out in the pasture. I have been with you wherever you have
gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies. Now I will make your name famous
throughout the earth!'"
2 Samuel
7:5-9
God blessed King David, and he recognized where the blessings came from. As he looked around him and assessed his blessings from God, he hungered to build a palace for the Lord. So, David summoned the prophet Nathan and asked him about it. At first Nathan thought that was a great idea, but then the Lord spoke to Nathan and told him that wasn't in the plans for David. God gave him several messages for King David, but today's verse is the verse that stood out for me.
Can you look back over your life and realize that God was with you all the time? Can you look back over your life and see the things God brought you through and how He wants to use your life's situations for His glory? Has God breathed a word of prophecy through someone for you?
God has released prophetic gifts in many of His people today. The gift of prophecy that is being released is for the purpose of building up the church. This is not the prophecy as in Isaiah, Jeremiah, etc., but a personal gift of prophecy that calls forth the hidden treasures or spiritual gifts within the Believer.
A few years back I read Rick Joyner's book, The Prophetic Ministry. In that book he explained the need for the prophetic word today for each and every Believer. Personally, I feel that is one of the reasons the revivals at Toronto and Brownsville are continuing. Not only are people being saved, not only are people being set free through praise and worship, and not only is God's Word being taught, but people are receiving personal prophecy and walking away with a fresh sense of God's purpose for their lives.
At first I was leery of all of this prophecy stuff. I wasn't familiar with it and didn't understand it. However, I am a person who has an inquiring mind (I don't buy the Inquirer however), and I began researching it and going to meetings where prophecy was ministered. I began to receive in my spirit the words that certain ministers spoke in my behalf. However, I would get alone with the Lord and with His Word to test what had been spoken and nine out of ten times the Lord affirmed for me the prophetic words spoken on my behalf.
I also went slowly in this aspect of the Holy Spirit because at one time I was addicted to astrology. I wanted to be sure I wasn't walking down that path again. Then the Lord pointed out to me how often wise people like King David sought the prophets of their time for wisdom and discernment. I think God is doing this again.
Lord, help us to look over our lives and allow You to show us what You want use for Your glory. If You want us to receive a prophetic word from an anointed minister, please lead us in that direction. We hunger to hear said of You about us, just as you did King David, that we are a people after Your own heart.
