Prophetic Teaching
by
Patsy Grubb
(G.C.P’s)
Integrity: honesty

Honour : (on or upon one’s )
(a) acknowledging personal responsibility for one’s actions.
(b) pledging one’s reputation as to the truthfulness of a statement, etc.
(c) promising obedience or good behavior.

As Christians, representatives of Christ Jesus, it is our responsibility to ensure we do not discredit or dishonor God by representing Him inaccurately within the context of our daily lives. I am not talking about being perfect people all of the time. I am referring to how we conduct ourselves in situations in which we witness behaviors and ethics, etc. contrary to our beliefs and Christ’s teachings. For example - How do we respond to injustice in our work place? Do we ignore it ? Do we get angry about it but not speak up ? Do we respond in the same spirit or simply mind our own business?

God requires that we make a stand for justice. This is imperative regardless of the cost. Even if we do not address injustice by verbally speaking out against it we must address injustice with our actions. We must be a living example of justice within our work place and broader community because that is both the battle ground and the harvest God has entrusted to us for this time. Regardless of what flows down from the top we must always conduct ourselves with integrity, and we must honour our word, promises, agreements, and commitments regardless of the consequences. We must weigh our words, measure them and only speak them if we can do as we say.

It is imperative that we honour the authority over us even when that authority is not Godly because they have been placed in that position by God and He will work within us what He desires through our honouring of that authority. Honouring authority does not mean however, adopting ethics, standards, etc if those standards etc are contrary to God. If we truly honour God we will adopt the standards, ethics, etc . that He has set for us.

Compromise is not an option when it comes to justice issues. Our behavior must reflect our conviction. If we do not stand for righteousness in our everyday lives, how will we be counted as righteous in times of true persecution?  If God alone sees our efforts to stand for what is good and right, is it not worth the battle?

Prophetic Teaching
by
Patsy Grubb
(G.C.P’s

I am constantly amazed at the innate ability creation has to adapt to changing surroundings and circumstances. God in His infinite wisdom has caused His creation to be as  resilient and flexible as it is diverse.

There are creatures who live in water and yet in times of drought bury themselves deep in the earth to survive until the next wet season arrives. Camels who like to drink once a week, however, survive for much longer periods without water. Trees that require fire in order to reseed. Animals who shed their skins or lose or lessen their coats through malting, depending on their needs. Lizards and reptiles that drop their tails in order to escape predators. Animals that have the ability to blend perfectly with their surroundings through colour change. Everywhere we look in nature we can see amazing examples of adaptation, often due to extreme circumstances and of course due to the  natural cycles of life.

We as humans seem to be in many ways less willing to adapt to our surroundings and /or circumstances, preferring instead to control our environments very carefully in order to minimise it’s impact upon us. We take every opportunity to control every aspect of our lives to ensure our safety and security lies within our own hands. We invent and reinvent ……….. surroundings, gadgets, relationships, communities and entire lives.

Rarely do we embrace that which will strengthen, discipline and develop us, but rather we search out that which will comfort, appease and pleasure us; often to our great detriment. Regardless of our need or desire we will always control from a base of fear. Fear will always be at the heart of control regardless of our consciousness of it.

Just as we seek to control in the natural, we also attempt to control in the realm of the soul. In order to feel safe and secure we distance ourselves from our negative experiences and the resulting emotions and begin to create an environment or false reality that enables us to feel less threatened and less hurt. Pain is an alarm system that warns us that something is not right, out of balance or order. It is a powerful indicator. However we tend to mask pain to gain temporary relief rather than investigating the origin /source of it. We begin to erect barriers and structures around us that enable us to better deal with the situation/experience and the pain thereof. We deal with our pain and discomfort and for a time are satisfied, however, because the source has not been found and treated it is only a matter of time before the pain and discomfort returns often in a greater measure and so the need for greater control arises. For many this process is repeated time and time again until they are surrounded by mechanisms that allow them to cope ,to exist, but have robbed them of any quality of life.

When we receive the revelation that we must deal with our pain at the source, in order to be free of it, we then find ourselves with the unenviable task of having to dismantle the very structures we have erected for our self protection, in order to get to that original source.

By nature we take that which God has made simple for our sake, and inadvertently complicate it until we become almost lost in its complexities. Our pain and grief along with the structures we have put in place to deal with them become like a giant spider web which entangles us. The more we struggle to escape the more entangled we become until the very fear we have been seeking to avoid paralysis us and causes us to become devoid of life.

Our only true escape from fear is to surrender to the love of God.

John 4:18 tells us, “there is no fear in love: but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

In order to be free from fear and the subsequent need to control every factor of our lives and the lives of others, we must allow ourselves to be filled and perfected by the love of God. Only then can we be truly free to be all that we were created to be. Just as God Himself ensures the rising and the setting of the sun, the ebb and flow of the tides, the phases of the moon, He Himself has orchestrated a perfect plan for our life.

In order to truly live we must draw what we need from the source of our existence, not try to manufacture for ourselves that which we believe we need.

The perfect love of God is the only true source of total security and it is freely available to everyone through Jesus Christ.

My prayer would be that we swiftly find freedom in surrender.

Prophetic Teaching
by
Tony Clark
(G.C.P’s

I was out shopping the other day and noticed a couple walking together and John 1:12-13 was impressed upon my spirit.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13

I believe that what God was speaking to me about was not in relation to people being born of God, but more the fact that there are things being birthed out of the will of man and the will of the flesh that are far from the will of God – So much goes on in this world that originates in self will and fleshly wants and desires and is far from what God intended and is not birthed in Him nor is it pleasing to Him.

In relation to marriages and relationships, in the world and in the church, many people follow “a way that seems right to man but it’s end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12

People get into relationships for all kinds of reasons, without consulting God and their God given leaders, and because of fleshly wants and needs, or because they have been wounded in their hearts, try to fill the voids that are created, and look to relationships for comfort or to escape the pain they feel, but this can result in compounding the very problems they are trying to fix in further damaging their hearts, relying on and trusting in others instead of God – who is the only one that can heal them. Ask me how I know this!

In particular I felt the Holy Spirit focusing on the fact that there is a lot being done in the earth that is not of Him and is purely the will of the flesh and the will of man. This grieves the heart of God.

One prevalent incorrect attitude in the church that God has been highlighting to me is that “If it’s God’s will then it will happen, what I do doesn’t affect that.” (Which is really eastern philosophy). But the fact remains that there is a lot happening in our lives that is not His will and some things that He has willed for us have never happened, because we are resisting Him and we have another way of doing things that we think will get us what WE want, and get our needs met.

A scripture that comes to mind is that “All things work together for good to those that love Him, to those who and are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 – People love that scripture.

We can look at this to mean that no matter what I do, all the trouble I get myself into, all of the things I choose over His will, all the results of me doing things my way: God will in some way make it all work out for me and get me where I need to be and fulfill His will for my life. But I wonder whether doing our own thing, our own way and resisting Him is what He meant by “those that love Him” in this verse – when we know that to love God is to obey Him?

And there is grace, God is amazingly long suffering and patient with us, and we all go through stages of learning and immaturity, where God allows us to mess up and teaches us, in and through our experience, and although there are still consequences for our actions somehow we get to where we need to be because of His favour. But then there’s a time to grow up, as we become more aware of the consequences of our actions and what our sin does to the heart of God, to ourselves, and to others, and find that the grace that once sheilded us from the harshness of the penalty of sin is meant to empower us to live a holy life so that we can honestly continue to say “I love You” without contradicting ourselves by choosing our will over His every time. That’s not Love.

Another scripture – “The steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord” Psalm 37:23

I once wondered whether this meant that the things I found myself doing were predestined or controlled by God, and that I had very little real choice in the way I did things. But once again it’s the righteous man that has his steps ordered by the Lord, the man that is led by the Spirit, not the fleshly man that walks according to the lusts of his evil heart. As we choose Him, and are led by Him we will walk in His perfect will.

I feel that the plan of God in this dispensation is to have men and woman that are led by Him, that are no longer controlled by the lusts of this world, that have chosen Him, over themselves, and their own desires and will, and have truly come into the reality of “It’s no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” When a people like this are alive and well on this planet we will see great fruit and a massive harvest for the Kingdom of God, because its what He does that is perfect and it’s what He does that brings the result. We cannot do anything of value without Him, our “good works” are really selfishness and bear little real eternal fruit in God. But coupled with the Holy Spirit, led by God every action will send ripples into eternity.

God loves us, and patiently works His perfect purpose in us, but I cant help but feel that things are getting more serious, and there is a lot more required of us than there has been in the past, because time really is short. We can have our own lives and our own plans and our own agendas but we will miss out on so much!

“I know the thoughts(plans) I have for you, thoughts(plans) of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 

The only thing that will last is what we do in Him, everything else will fall away. There is such reward (of GREAT magnitude) for those that will choose His way, and only they will taste of it.

Get healed, seek God, submit to your leaders, repent of your sin as the Holy Spirit makes it visible, as He convicts, and trust in the God who can do ALL things!

Prophetic Teaching

by Glenice Mills

(G.C.P’s)
As I was reading the Bible the other day, I was reading Acts 10 when the Lord dropped on me and particularly highlighted a verse that spoke of the character of a man called Cornelius. The Lord began to speak to me of this man and the ‘type’ of this man in the Apostolic/Prophetic time that we live in.

Acts 10:1-2 “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.”

In the Amplified Bible this verse says that Cornelius was a devout man who venerated God and treated Him with a reverential obedience, as did his household.

What a man he must have been!! This was in a time when he had not yet had an understanding of salvation and of the cross of Jesus Christ. Somehow there was something in the integrity of this man, in his relationship with God and something on the inside of him that was sealed with the Spirit of God, that he was able to know the power of the name of God. He was a man who knew God, and he was a man who walked and lived his life as a Godly man. Here was a man who was spoken in Scripture, whose life was defined not only by what he did (he was a Roman Centurion), but who he was as a man of God.

As I was reading this I was humbled but also excited by the fact that here was a man who was acclaimed as one who walked in the fear of the Lord. Here was a man whose life and reputation was spoken of, not once, but twice as one who walked in the fear of the Lord. I began asking the Lord what was different about this man that he was renowned as one who lived his life this way, what was there about this man that he was spoken of in this way, that he was known by all around him and further a field as one who walked in the fear of the Lord? This man had this reputation, it was known, it was spoken of, and it was defining. As you read about him there are some keys that speak of his reputation but also the influence he had to those close to him.  He played a role which had a huge consequence that changed history because of who he was.

Some keys to his reputation:

He was a devout man. Devout means to reverence, to have a sacred awe, to have a reverence exhibited especially in actions, reverence or awe that is well directed. All his household feared God as well.

He was a man who displayed the Fear of the Lord, he modelled it and he was able to reproduce it to those of his household. There was a generational blessing on his household because of his obedience.

He had influence over many lives, obviously he had a wife and family and servants, plus the hundred soldiers he had charge of. What a powerful statement to have been spoken over someone. He clearly lived his life as an example, one that was reproduced to others.

He gave alms generously. He was known as a generous man who gave to the poor. His reputation must have been so, that he was known for his generosity and many obviously benefited from it.

He prayed to the Lord always.  He had a close relationship with the Lord and communed with Him in prayer constantly. People must have noticed the time he spent in prayer and the sacrifice involved. His prayers were effective - they were spoken of as being a memorial before God. He had a spiritual encounter with an angel who spoke to him and gave him instructions that he was obedient to put in place. His relationship with God was such that he was entrusted to carry out a message by God. God knew that he would fulfill all that he was told to do, such was his obedience.

He had the respect of those under him - when he gave instructions they were carried out. He was a man who walked in authority, but he also had the respect of those under him, again displaying righteousness and integrity in all he said and did.

He was a just man. For this to be said of him he must have spoken up at times over issues of justice. It was noticed by those around and about him that he did what was right, and because of that he earned respect.

He had a good reputation among all the nations of the Jews - in his role as a Roman Centurion. His conduct in the way he lived his life and the way he led his soldiers was noticed by even those outside his ‘people group’.

He was an effective leader - he called his relatives and close friends and they came - he was a man of influence and when he spoke all obeyed him without questioning. He must have been proven trustworthy. Maybe he had gone through trials that tested those close to him but he had come out always doing what he said, hence he was one to be trusted.

He was humble - he fell at Peter’s feet - he acknowledged who Peter was. He was instrumental in Peter getting the revelation that all men can come to God - that there was no partiality in God - it established Peter’s call. He was ready to receive all that Peter had to say. He recognised Peter as a man after the Spirit, he discerned that Peter was a man of God. As a result the Holy Spirit was poured out on all of them - he and his household received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. God honoured him for who he was and he was one of the first to receive the new truth of the Holy Spirit.

These days we don’t speak of the defining attributes of a person. We are good at acknowledging what a person does, we may speak of a person’s character, but we don’t speak of the depth of who a person truly is. It is that statement that defines a person. It is an acknowledgment of the depth of the character of that person. It really exposes the shallowness of relationship that we have in this day and age. It is a rare thing for someone to look at a person and then define them in God. I began to think of ones at Forerunners and it was really difficult to say and define a particular person as like an aspect and attribute in God. At Forerunners there were only two that I could say who were truly defined, that I could put a Godly definition on. They were:

Lynne: a woman who knows God
Margie: God’s love.

In some ways it is easy to speak of someone and define them by a particular function they do, but it is a deeper truth and deeper revelation to clearly define, speak of, and acknowledge someone because of the depth of the seal of the Spirit of God on them. I don’t know if what I am writing is making sense but it is something that is beyond our minds, it is something that is discerned, it is a revelation of God’s unique spirit that is placed on a person and is integrally an aspect of that person that defines them in God. It is God in them.

I asked the Lord why, what is it that defines a person in God that brings them to a place of being esteemed highly by those close to them and those in the wider community?

I sense the key is maturity.  Perhaps it is when true ‘maturity’ is attained that a person’s reputation is spoken of, that they are then esteemed and acknowledged for the depth of character that has been forged through the testings of their life. They are ones who have stood firm through the trials and testings of God. They have learnt to fully yield to God.

It is profound and it is a truth that is yet to unfold in the church. The church has not come to a place of maturity to even be able to acknowledge and be confident in, and of itself, to be able to ‘know who a person is in God’. In Scripture there were examples of where a person’s name was synonymous with them and their character. For example Peter was known as ‘the rock’ and Barnabas was known as ‘the encourager’. These were titles that defined them, they came about from the life they led but also they came about from who they were to become. It is a depth of revelation of who a person truly is. It is God’s seal on that person.

As God raises ones up at this time He is calling the apostles and prophets forth in many areas in the community. He is and will be calling ones out who have been hidden as the Lord has done the deep work. They will be defined by their character and their unique attributes that God has worked deep in their lives. They will be like as Cornelius, one who fears the Lord, one who has influence, one who is sovereignly placed in pivotal areas of society, who can and will have a huge effect in changing the foundations to put in the new. The Lord is stripping and pulling down; but these ones will be used to build and to plant. They will be the ‘new breed that is arising’. It will be in many sectors - the finances area - stockbrokers, financiers, in the area of politics, in the area of law, and in the church. I was thinking about Marc Dupont and he is one of those who is of the type of Cornelius - one who knows and walks in the fear of the Lord.

Oh Lord my heart cry is to be as Cornelius, that it is spoken ‘she is one who walks in the fear of the Lord.’

Prophetic Teaching

by Glenice Mills

13th July 2008

Why is it that some don’t believe God is really who He says He is? Why is it we quickly revert back to old actions, old ways of thinking when we should know better? Why is it that we progress at various rates? Why do some easily and quickly bow to circumstances, fears, anxieties even after much ministry? Why do some never seem to progress? Why is it that even though people are Christians, go to church, they continue to lead double lives? Do they know God? Are they saved? How do you define salvation? Why do some have an inner resolve to change even though difficult, and others go back to ‘being stuck’ in their victim thinking, actions, behaviour, words? What influences our rate of progress - personality, past, generational iniquity?

TO KNOW GOD IS TO BELIEVE GOD, TO BELIEVE GOD IS TO KNOW GOD!

We are told in Philippians 2:12 to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. 1 Peter 2:2 says: Like newborn babies you should crave the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto completed salvation.

Quite clearly salvation is a process, a process that requires a walk in the fear of the Lord, and as we do this we grow into maturity. The reality of this is so huge, it is not easy to get a simple answer to the ‘why’s. In a nutshell these answers can be quickly answered by such words as negativity, unbelief, old coping mechanisms, going back to what is safe, ownership, control - where we want control and won’t allow God to take control, where we don’t have a revelation of the fear of the Lord and our levels of maturity. I was seeking the Lord and it is so huge that to get a straight forward answer to these questions is difficult.

He said for me to start with the word ‘perserverance’.