Tag Archives: bible

Contrast Teaches

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There are many lessons that God teaches me through the art of contrast.

Recently, I purchased a $5 McDonalds’ gift card to have in my wallet for the next time that I saw someone in need. Just knowing that it was there, shifted my attention to the details of who might need help the most. For the two weeks that I have had the gift card in my possession, I haven’t noticed anyone in need … or at least nobody that God would point out as one who would receive the gift. Yes, I realize that it’s a small gift, but to someone it might signal that the world is less harsh, that there are those who see their pain, or even that God is providing their needs. So it’s a gift worth giving.

This morning, I was sitting alone at McDonalds. I had earphones on listening to praise music while I enjoyed breakfast. A few booths away were two teenage boys. They were neatly dressed and happily enjoying breakfast of their choosing. Another young man, carrying a backpack, approached the counter and patiently awaited for a server to take his order. He only ordered a cup of water, which I know because the server was sure to yell it loudly, non-discreetly into the kitchen.

I wanted to give the young man the $5 gift card. Wasn’t that why I had it? But, as I always do, I asked the Lord if that was His will. I was surprised to hear Him say “No”. It pained me to see the young man clearly hungry. He was just a boy. Why would the Lord withhold His help from him? Over the next few minutes, I continued to ask the Lord if I could help the young man. The Lord’s response was the same.

The contrast that I saw was that the two situations seemed to be based on parenting. The two boys appeared to have a quality family life, their needs provided, and happiness that comes from contentment. While the other boy might have hoped that he had a home or parents to rely on. I realize that I’m making that assumption with little information to go on. My compassion wanted to reach out and help the other young man feel valued, but God withheld it.

What did I learn from that contrast? I’m not sure just yet. That $5 gift card may have been there to teach me more than to help someone. What do you think is the lesson?

Authorized Signature

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When the boss signs your paycheck, he is authorized to have money withdrawn from the bank as payment. The boss can have other authorized signers available to also sign the paychecks. But if someone who is not authorized to sign, signs the paychecks, the bank will refuse to withdraw payment. Is that a correct statement?

When God puts authority on someone to deliver healing, they have His authority. When God sent the disciples out, they were able to do miraculous wonders. But those who were not sent by God did not have that same ability.

If all that is true, then why would someone who is not sent by God for the specific purpose of delivering His healing to an individual be able to have His authority? They wouldn’t. God can withhold His healing power until it is delivered appropriately. You can have all the people in your church praying for you, you can have the church ministers lay hands on you, you can have a gallon of anointing oil poured on you … and still not have God’s authority. God decides who He sends. It’s not rocket science. God is the boss, and you are not. If you keep refusing His messenger, the healing will not come. But don’t believe me … ask God yourself.

Yes, this was a message for you.

The Road of Least Resistance?

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It’s been 15-20 years ago since I led women’s ministry at two churches. The one church was mostly wealthy older women who didn’t seem to have a hunger to know God, and the other church was full of younger women who had so many hurts and were starving for a touch from God. The contrast was amazing and taught me something valuable.

If we are comfortable in our lives we can play what I call country-club religion. We can pray before meals in public and participate in group Bible studies to feel like we have given God His due. But when we are needy, whether it be through illness, financial hardships, abuse or loss, suddenly we are willing to put more effort into knowing God and His will for our lives.

We should thank God when He puts a great need before us if it leads us to intimacy with Him. But if that need only leads to more country-club religion rather than a true hunger to know Him, it has no value but to reduce us. Listen, God can reduce us to nothing. What use are we to Him if we are too busy enjoying the gifts and not the gift-giver.

While I believe that we should be thankful to God for the loved ones that He brings into our lives, like spouses, children, grandchildren, and dear friends, we cannot ignore God and expect that He doesn’t see.

All these years later, after walking away from women’s ministry into deliverance and prophetic ministry, the contrast of a willingness to know God intimately is so very obvious. Yes, there are times when I miss the fellowship with the ladies who I adored, but I wouldn’t trade my time with God. No regrets here with my determination to set myself apart to know God. I will walk intentionally on the path that He has for me. Will you?

Are There Still Prophets of God Today?

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Recently, a woman commented on one of my social media posts insisting that there are no prophets of God today. I know where she gets her false doctrine having been brought up in the same non-charismatic religious beliefs where God is mute, distant and is confined to the pages of a book unable to communicate with us except through Scripture.  Below are Bible proof texts to help her and others have better understanding. My preference would be that each person would learn to hear God for themselves, then they wouldn’t need to believe me or receive a prophetic word from God through me.

“The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV)

Spiritual gifts are an anointing from God. Some gifts are embedded in our spiritual DNA. Those gifts reside in us and will be used by God when we are yielded to Him. Other gifts require a manifestation of the Spirit of God. The gift of prophecy is in both the service gifts and the miraculous gifts.

Spiritual Gifts of Service: “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” (Romans 12:4-8 NIV)

Miraculous Gifts of the Spirit: “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NIV)

I’m not sure when the woman mentioned thinks that the Holy Spirit became unable to manifest power to speak words of prophecy to or through believers, but the Bible clearly says that we should expect to hear God if we belong to God (Reference John 8:47). God doesn’t need permission from anyone to supernaturally empower believers as He chooses.

In all seven letters to the churches in the book of Revelation we are told “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Why would we need ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches, if we were not supposed to bring a message forward to the churches when false doctrine is being taught?

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21 NIV)

Introduction Page

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The Covenant Voice of God
The Rogue Prophet Magazine
Draft 7/7/24

It’s likely that many churchgoers have never experienced what it’s like to walk with the Spirit of God. As a result, they cannot fathom the overwhelming presence of God or His supernatural anointing. They miss out on fellowship with the Almighty. Some are not even sure that He is real.

As one who grew up in the church, I was instructed to study a Bible, not to walk with God. It was if God were dead and all we had left of Him was a book of instructions. But then … I heard the voice of the Almighty speak to me in prayer. Everything changed! When we commit to covenant relationship with God, we are promising on oath to obey Him wholeheartedly. How can we obey Him without hearing His voice? We are often taught by pastors to interpret the Bible and follow rules agreed upon by the church. How does that process create intimacy with God? God is not a book, and He’s not dead. God is Spirit. I’m so disappointed with the church leaders whom I trusted to teach me to know God. They never once told me that I should expect to hear God’s voice. They wasted every opportunity to teach me true obedience to God. I promise you that I won’t waste my voice of truth. I will teach believers to know God.

In this edition of The Rogue Prophet Magazine, we will study what it means to have faith, grasp spiritual discernment, revisit the Biblical stories of those who heard God speak, discuss the profession of faith versus the covenant oath of allegiance, and walk through steps to discerning the voice of God. There is so much that I want to cover in these pages. But I realize that it’s difficult to navigate the unknown and to set time aside to earnestly pursue hearing the voice of God. I have tried to condense this study as much as possible while still bringing the most important topics forward. My hope is that if I can help you get to a place where you are hearing God’s voice, then you and God can take it from there. I’m counting on you to give this your best effort! God is too!

The covenant relationship is integral to hearing the voice of God. If you are not in unbroken covenant with Him, you cannot expect productive prayer conversations between you and Him. Initiating or restoring a broken covenant are prerequisite to being positioned to hear God speak direction for your decisions. If He’s not your only God, then He won’t take second place or share His throne.

You will need to decide how much you are willing to sacrifice to make God priority. Wholeheartedly actually means wholeheartedly. One day, the Lord is going to call you to step into the destiny path that He has uniquely ordained for you. Will you willingly lay down all the encumbrances and follow Him? Can He trust you to be faithful with the anointing? If not, why should He bother speaking to you?

“but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.” (Jeremiah 7:23 NIV)

Christianity is Monotheistic

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If you are attending a church that teaches that there are three gods (aka trinity) that church is not a Christian church.

Christianity is monotheistic, meaning one God. To be clear, there is only one God. God is His title, much like “mom” and “dad” are titles. God’s name is Jesus. Just like your mom and dad have names, you don’t call them by their names, you call them by their most excellent title. However, if you’re introducing your parents to someone, you would use their names. When I’m talking to God or about Him, I refer to Him as God, but when I need to be specific for others, I use His name “Jesus”.

God is Spirit. When God, as Spirit, wanted to make His presence known on earth, He created a flesh and blood frame delivered through the human reproduction process. God provided the daddy seed implanted in a human woman named Mary. Mary gave birth to the flesh and blood frame. She did not give birth to the Spirit of God who created her. The invisible Spirit of God put on visible flesh and walked out ministry on this planet.

The title “Son of God” refers solely to the flesh and blood frame that was created by God. Jesus is God. He is God’s Spirit. He is the one and only Spirit of God. The flesh and blood frame was temporary but the Spirit of Jesus is eternal. He is the first and the last. Jesus is the one and only God. There are not three gods in Christianity.

If you want further explanation about this, please reach out to me. The “three gods” doctrine is the major false doctrine in the churches today. You should only have covenant relationship with one God, not three. If you are not in covenant relationship with God, you should not expect to hear His voice in prayer. I truly want to help you know how to hear God so that you can have fellowship with the Creator. It’s my mission in life!

Gender XYZ (Page 3 of 4)

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Flesh vs. Spirit

“For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.”
(Galatians 5:17 NIV)

On the following page we will study the subject of spiritual warfare, but before that, let’s look at how the spirit and flesh are two separate bodies. The physical body is visible while the spiritual body is unseen. The physical body is temporary, and the spiritual body is eternal. The spiritual body is created in God’s image. God is Spirit. (God made Himself visible in temporary flesh over 2,000 years ago to be the final priest and final atonement sacrifice so that we can have direct access to God for covenant restoration conversation.)

Parents don’t need to teach the physical body how to grow. They can guide nutritional eating and healthy lifestyle habits, but they are not involved in choosing the physical attributes of their offspring. Parents can however aid in the spiritual growth of their children. They can encourage spiritual connection to God and be an example by listening to God in prayer, studying the Bible, and living in obedience to the will of God. They can display the fruit of the Spirit that is evident when walking with the Spirit of God and under His anointing.  But, if instead, a child is raised to prefer worldly ideas to God’s will, they will not mature spiritually and will likely abandon any connection to God.

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:5-8 NIV)

Invisible Spirit (God’s Image)

•“God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24 NIV)

•“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image…’” (Genesis 1:26 NIV)

•“and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to the God who gave it.” (Ecclesiastes 12:7 NIV)

•“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV)

•“So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44 NIV)

Breath of Life Scriptures: (from adjacent page)
Genesis 1:30, 2:7, 6:17, 7:15, 7:22; Job 12:10, Job 27:3, 33:4, Isaiah 42:5; John 20:22

“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9 NIV)

(Please see graphic on page)

Gender XYZ (Page 2 of 4)

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The Gender Reveal:
God knits together the physical body in the mother’s womb using the parents’ DNA. The decision of male or female gender is exclusively God’s to make as He creates the child in the mother’s womb. God sovereignly chooses the key identity characteristics of each person. It’s not by chance. It’s by design.

“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16 NIV)

With sonogram and blood testing technologies available, expectant parents can know the sex of their unborn child even before the baby is fully formed. However, the gender of the child is never a surprise to God. God chooses the physical and spiritual body of every individual. He doesn’t make mistakes nor is He ever unsure of His plans.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.” (Psalm 139:13-15 NIV)

Flesh Versus … :
“See now that I myself am he! There is no god besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.” (Deuteronomy 32:39 NIV)

God is sovereign over life and death, both physical and spiritual. Let’s look at the physical body first where male and female characteristics are most obvious. The physical body is created by God in our parents’ likeness while the spiritual body is created in God’s image. God is Spirit. The spiritual being will either go to Heaven or Hell (as determined by God) when the physical body dies.

God breathes the “breath of life” or the spiritual being (created in God’s image) at birth. The spiritual being is separate from the physical being and is not part of the reproduction process. The physical body dies but the spiritual body is eternal.

•“The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 33:4 NIV)

•“This is what God the LORD says—the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:” (Isaiah 42:5 NIV)

•“But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them.” (Rev. 11:11 NIV)

•“And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’”. (John 20:22 NIV)

“Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7 NIV)

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Why Catholics Are Not Christian

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*Christians would never bow down to Mary or dead saints. We are expressly told to bow to only God. (Please don’t try to tell me that Catholics aren’t actually bowing to Mary when they pray to her. They are actually talking with the dead when they ask her or other dead saints to intercede.)

*Christians confess their sins to God and receive forgiveness from Him. Catholics get absolution from priests. Completely the opposite of going to God directly as afforded by the cross.

*Christians do not call pastors “Father”. Catholics call their priests “Father”. I can only imagine how that offends God.

*Christians do not participate in Ash Wednesday rituals. There is no mention in the Bible about that cultish practice.

*Christians do not believe that the communion emblems actually become the body and blood of Christ. All of the bread/cracker or juice/wine elements are bought (can you say “Walmart”?) not handed down from Heaven. Yet, the Catholic church and the denominations founded from it, believe that a priest must bless the emblems and personally feed it to the congregants. Christians believe that the emblems are symbolic and take Communion as memorial pieces to the price paid to give us direct access to God.

*Even the Christian Bible is different from the Catholic Bible.

*The Catholic cross still has Christ hanging on it while the Christian cross depicts Christ’s resurrection with an empty cross.

Let’s add to this. What other differences are there between Christianity and Catholicism?

Identity Proud!

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I proudly identify as an American. I’m not ashamed of my country’s heritage. This nation was formed for God’s purpose of freedom from religious persecution. The pilgrims were a small group of Christians who settled on largely uninhabited land. Rewritten history is being sold to our children and causing them to be ashamed of their homeland.

There are over 2 billion acres of land in the United States of America and over 6 billion acres on the North American continent. When the pilgrims first settled here there were about 60,000 indigenous people. There were only about 100 pilgrims in the first settlers. I can do the math, if you can’t. So please stop believing that our Christian ancestors came over here and stole from the Indians. There is absolutely no reason that on 2 billion acres of land that they could not have peacefully coexisted. There are bad apples in every tribe and people group. The devil and spiritual forces of evil are real. Spiritual war is real. We cannot discount that many of the settlers and indigenous people were friendly and worked together to form a more perfect nation.

God chose for me to be an American. I choose to honor Him by having pride in His choice. He chose for me to be born a female. I honor His choice. He chose for me to be “white”. I honor His choice. He chose for me to be this age. I honor His choice. He chose who my parents and siblings would be. I honor His choice. He chose the number of children that would be born to me. I honor His choice.

God chose for Christian pilgrims to arrive in America. Will you honor His choice? God chose for this nation to be a place free from religious persecution. Will you honor His choice? God chose to accept leadership in forming the Constitution of the United States of America. Will you honor His choice?

I’m not god, nor are you … honor God’s choices! In God We Trust!