TO GOD BE THE GLORY

The Prophetic Anointing

It was near Oberlin, Louisiana, 1977, under the tent that the prophetic part of my ministry began to work.  After I was introduced to a fairly large crowd of people, I sensed an unusual stir in my belly, which I knew to be from the Lord. Suddenly I was prophesying about a preacher that would commit suicide and take his congregation with him.  I described the event in detail and said it would be a sign that the Word of the Lord had come to that area.

The prophecy was fulfilled a few weeks later when Jim Jones took the lives of Congressman Ryan, most of his party, his congregation and himself.  It shook those that heard it and saw it come to pass.  

Since that time I have prophesied many, many national and world events.  Sometime before a congregation, but mostly when I am praying with a group around me.  The prophetic anointing is much different than the beautiful healing anointing.  Even if you were to whisper under that kind anointing it will thunder as to rattle the windows, and sometime rattle your bones as well with a holy fear.

I was shut away last year on a long fast, while praying and seeking God.  He showed me things to come to pass.  I saw my own eyes, which were searching up and down the isles and pews where I attend church.  I saw my eyes as they went into many homes of those that attend there, then they begin to search out across America.  I saw them looking out over the world, and finally Bangladesh, and then a voice spoke and said “even at this moment a great storm is thrashing and flooding Bangladesh. Thousands there are loosing their lives”.  I had no access to any type of communication, but found out days later that it had happened at the time I had the vision.  However, in the vision, as I beheld my own eyes, the voice of the Spirit spoke to me and said, “I will restore the eyes of the prophets to the church”.  

It is so sad that the leadership of the modern church world today understand little or nothing of the need for today’s prophets.  Their eyes are so blind to the absolute necessity of this valued ministry. Many leaders do not so much as believe there are modern day prophets. The Lord will send to the church those with that kind of anointing and let it be displayed in a small way. If the people and leadership do not pick up on it, see the need and nurture it, the nature of Jesus is so sensitive, after some tender pleading will turn away.  The assembly is the looser due to either ignorance or hardness. It is so very sad. “Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears…” Jer.9: 1 (Note: beware of the self proclaimed prophet that is assertive and demanding to be heard.  The Spirit of Jesus is always gentle and unobtrusive)

Oh dear brother and sisters in Christ, don’t you want more of Him?  Are you satisfied with what you have?  Isn’t there a hunger way down in the depths of your spirit crying out for more of God?  How can we be satisfied until we behold Him face to face?  If you will pick up on the least little thing of God and follow it to its ultimate conclusion, the way will become brighter and brighter until we finally behold Jesus face to face.  Let us not be satisfied with what we have regardless of how good it may be.  There is more to come in ever increasing abundance until we see Him in all His glory.

The devil said he would destroy me in that motor home behind the tent in Ocean Springs.  To be perfectly honest, he almost did on a number of occasions, but the Lord has delivered me in every situation as He promised that he would. In every attempt to destroy me, the devil turned out to be a liar and a defeated foe.  In each case, I find a deeper revelation of the grace and goodness of God in his infinite love.

Many things I have learned over a many troubled way.  One of the most valued lessons is to not be so interested in personal reputation.  With this type of ministry, good people that do not understand you will slander you. I’ve been called radical by some and charismatic by others.  If you go about trying to establish a reputation, or protecting it, you will loose out with God, or at best, be a defeated weakling.  Cast your cares upon Him and become reckless.  He will never let you down.  Learn how to suffer, to be persecuted and rejected in quite, humble submission, knowing that God is working out something better than gold in your life, for your good. Learn to rejoice in it all.  

Young minister, if you are sitting around just waiting for a pat on the head and the approval of men, there is a good possibility you will never get it.  Get your Bible and go to a busy street corner and say “devil get back”, then preach with salty tears coursing down your cheeks.  Be assured that you will eventually do some good.  

Don’t refuse any doors. You may go into a church that holds to a theology different than yours. I have done this many times. Since you are not the Pastor, with the responsibility of shepherding or leading the people into one pasture or another, or beside certain kind of waters, just preach from where they are. Keep an earnest desire to lead them just a little closer to the Lord.  Help them to fall in love with our wonderful Jesus just a little bit more.  If you will talk salty, they will thirst for more.  You can usually pray for their sick and do good in so many ways.  I went into a large denominational church. The Pastor was hungry for more of God.  I was able to lead him further on.  We have been commissioned to go into all the world.  That is not only geographical but the spiritual world as well.  Jesus is the light of that spiritual world 

Never be argumentative, confrontational or put on a “more holy” air.  Avoid dogmatism at all cost.  It is an ugly, deformed child born of a union between human pride and a religious spirit.  It is a dead turn off.  Let them that willfully remain blind stumble over the rocks (the letter of the Word).  While they cut and bruise themselves on the Rock, you and I will continue to draw water for the thirsty and honey for the hungry from the same Rock.  Therefore, don’t get bogged down with the letter of the Word.  Highly educated scholars of the Greek and Hebrew seldom agree as to its interpretation.  There is no way that I could intellectually settle their debates.  I’ve learned to just simply go to the letter, read and draw on the “supply of the Spirit” (Philippians 1:19).  You have a teacher.  It is the Holy Ghost that abides within.

The letter of the word is as the Cherubim that turn away, with a flaming sword them that try to enter into it with sin or impure hearts and unchristlike motives.  They are turned every which way, but they cannot enter.  Therefore, they stand at the door with great oratorical ability, and great learning, debating, hindering some hungry forlorn soul, yearning for the tree of life within.  Avoid them, it is only death and destruction for those that give heed. Don’t die with your hand on the threshold of the door.  Let others grind and crunch on the letter, but you learn how to draw on the Spirit. Oh, glory to God.

It is in the Spirit where every need is supplied. You must learn how to transfer it over into the natural world where it is needed.  Remember that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. You must learn how to go to Him and through Him.  He is the door to the Spirit where we have all our needs met, whatever they may be.

The tent was set up in the outskirts of one town where there was a powerful move of the Spirit. People would sit on their porches and listen to the joyful, heavenly sounds and the preaching of the Word.  Conviction was gripping the hearts of those around about. We had climbed the great mountain of God toward the end of a service one night and were looking over into the glory land.  We scarcely knew that we were in the world.  In walked a very large man with blood in his eyes carrying a large butcher knife.  “I will kill the preacher” he screamed as he headed for me.  The glory of God was so much upon me that if the man would have cut me to little ribbons; it would not have mattered.  This old world had absolutely lost its attraction.

Saints, have you ever climbed that mountain of God’s holiness and glory?  If you ever do, you will never find a place again to become discouraged or to turn back in this old dark sin cursed orb.  You will forever see yourself only as a pilgrim and a stranger just passing through only for a few days.  You will see yourself only as a borrower of these worlds’ goods, possessing nothing here. All your treasures are waiting for you when you get home, there to join that happy angel band, looking upon Jesus, the lover of your soul.

I watched as he came toward me.  He got as close as one of the end center poles and froze. He had a blank look in his eyes, frozen like a concrete statue.  He stayed that way about a half-hour when finally a little lady went to him and said “you had better get yourself out of here”.  He became unfrozen, turned and ran from under the tent as hard as he could go, disappearing into the night. We never saw him again. It is a dangerous thing to oppose God.  He could have fallen dead right there, but God was merciful to him. 

Oh saints, Oh preachers, I long for you.  So many are falling so short of that place where God wants you.  I see many, so very many hindered and I feel so helpless.  I understand how the Lord could lament when he saw the people scattered like sheep having no shepherd.  Jesus is pleading, “come unto me”.  He wants us to learn of Him.

Pastors will rightfully chide the flock about being faithful with their tithes and offerings, as they should do.  The Pastors feed well on the natural things that are furnished by the flock.  In most cases they live better than the average saint does.  There is certainly nothing wrong with that.  However, is it asking too much of the preachers to fast for a week, two or three until something comes down from heaven to deliver the people from their diseases, sicknesses and to bind up the broken and bruised?  What would happen, if all across America, pastors would not accept another blessing bestowed upon them by the flock until they come to a place in God through fasting and wearing calluses on their knees, that they can deliver “the children’s bread”?  I believe we would have a greater revival to break out than ever before.  If we deliver not the goods to the people, how can we have integrity of heart in accepting the people’s material blessings? Maybe we ought to read again Ezekiel 34.

I don’t mean to be strident, but we need to be dug up and exposed to the light. I need to be reproved often and stirred again to a deeper consecration.  You will have the sick and the diseased, suffering with every malady that you can think of the next time that you face a congregation to preach. Will your heart not be stirred with compassion for them?  Those little darlings have been so good to you, facing and fighting the devil all week long to bring their little hard earned tithing and offering into the “store house”.  Our hearts should be filled with love and appreciation for their sacrifices and dedications.

There is a price to pay for God healing and miracle power, lets pay it. Our listeners are good enough to come out and listen expectantly to our preaching. How can we send them away empty without feeling condemned? Their love is so pure.  They want their preacher and his wife to look the best, drive the best, live in the best, and wear the best.  How can we do less for them?  

I feel like I need to go to my knees again right now, and see if I can do a little better from now on.

May the blessings and goodness of our God overtake you, is my prayer. Amen.