The Word Illustrated #60--The ineffective prophet

The Word Illustrated #60
© Pamyla Floyd
9/9/2010

The ineffective prophet

To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: -- I Corinthians 12:10

Many in the body of Christ are with gifts they use for the glory of God. Some are born with their gifts; others are given gifts in life. In I Corinthians 14:1, we are encouraged to follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that we prophesy. The gifts and callings of God are not withdrawn, but they can become ineffective.

When we step out of the will of God, we are telling Him that we can handle our lives better than He. The prophet out of order will:

• Take advantage of others because of their gifting
• Take (steal) what he/she feels they are entitled to
• Use their gift to glorify themselves rather than God or edify the church
• Engage in activities against the flesh, because they feel that they can

When in a rebellious state, any word given becomes cancerous to the person/church that it goes out to. The prophet’s vision is clouded, and they cannot differentiate whether they are actually hearing from the Spirit of the Lord, or seeing through their vain imagination. The receiver is left in a state of confusion, because the word does not bear witness with their spirit. They do not confirm anything that the Lord has already told them, they are words that fall to the ground null and void. Confusion is of the devil, and is he is pulling the strings, putting their life where he wants it, in his hands.

Prophets are people set apart; they have to hear and move, by the voice of the Lord, and not by the influence of man. If not girded with the amour of God, they experience doubt and unbelief. Next, depression sets in, paranoia begins to take over, and they continually look over their shoulders like a criminal on the run. Not only is their sanity threatened, but their very lives are on the line at this point! satan comes to kill, steal and destroy, and he seduces with acceptance and the promise of friends. he wants to and will silence for good any prophet whose ears he can shut from hearing the voice of the Lord their God.

Now the health of the ineffective prophet is under attack as he moves to take your life. If this is you, and you have been living a life outside of God’s standards, I suggest that you confess your sins, ask forgiveness and begin taking the steps to get back in right fellowship and service. I also suggest that you team up with a trustworthy intercessor with whom you can openly pray with. Remember, you are a priest and a prophet, and that you can do all things through Christ which strengthens you! I’m glad to see you back.

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, or want help in leading someone to Christ, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Reference Scriptures:
Proverbs 18:6 -- A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men –
Romans 11:29 -- For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance

Note: The illustration is of a man holding onto the wing of an airplane with an exclamation point over his head. He is tied onto the wing by a rope

The Word Illustrated #42--Dust off your gifts

The Word Illustrated #42
© Pamyla Floyd
5/3/2010

Dust off your gifts

A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men – Proverbs 18:16
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During these both rough and uncertain times, many of us are facing economic hardships that we might not otherwise have had to deal with. Even more of us however, have gifts that we have pushed deep into the back of the closet. They were probably not used in the areas we earned our living in. Some of us were told that we could never make a living do the very thing that we loved, and would do, for exactly nothing!

These are the gifts that I am speaking of, those we might not have even cared much for, but were good at. These could be the very things that God uses to bring us out of our personal economic depression. Reach back into the closet and dust off your gifts. They are needed now more than ever! If we ask, our Heavenly Father will show us a way to use them even now. Yield yourself to His Holy Spirit and He will show you the steps to take.

Some of us clean, sew, cook, repair, listen, teach well, among other things. Many times our gifts were laid aside because the income did not follow. I emplore to look again at the thing or things you put down. Ok, the income may not have followed before, but you are a new creature, with a different mindset. If the love is in the work, it will be noticed and the income will abundantly flow.

Take time to think about and be honest with yourself about the things you may not have necessarily cared for, but that you are good at. Go before the Lord in prayer, and go on from there. You never know which door is standing wide open waiting for only you to walk through it! Jesus promised a more abundant life, it is up to us to grab hold and possess it!

God bless,
Pamyla

If you want to know how to ask Jesus into your heart, or want help in leading someone to Christ, please visit my Salvation page. If you want prayer or need help finding scriptures to stand on, please email me: thewordillustrated at yahoo dot com

Reference Scriptures:
Proverbs 8:12—I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions

II Chronicles 15:7—Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded

Note: The illustration above is of a woman in thought, thinking about the gifts that she has laid aside.

The Word Illustrated #23--I Corinthians 7:2

The Word Illustrated#23
© PamYla floyd
07/24/2009

I Corinthians 7:2--Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Fornication—The Greek pronunciation is Porn ea, which interpreted means, pornography

We are to live by God's standards, struggle or not. It is a commandment from God, not a suggestion or comment.

Jesus is able to keep us in all things, if we allow Him to. No one wants a gift that has been opened and recently used! What if the bow were shredded, the wrapping torn, wrinkled and poorly taped. By now, you may not want to accept the gift, let alone open it.

This is what happens when sex is used inappropriately. You both know that your sweetie will sleep with someone they aren't married to. Over time, satan uses this open door, to slowly eat away all that was built up, before you walk down the aisle.

Yes, things can turn around, but why go through all of that! We can use our time more wisely by getting to know, love and grow, more with the one we so earnestly prayed for!

For those of us who are struggling in this area, we can repent, and ask forgiveness. Remember, He blots out our transgressions for His own sake and will not remember our sins!

Next, we need to find scriptures that relate to what we are going through, write them down, meditate on them (keep on our mind) and speak them aloud, so that they become part of us.

Prayer joined with fasting introduces divine intervention! Not only will our spirits be refreshed, but our relationship with the Lord will be strengthened. We can also ask Him to send us an accountability partner who we can be honest and frank with.

After all, no one wants to go on their honeymoon, to catch up on television-- because the gift is nothing new to look at.

Reference Scriptures:
Proverbs 6:25
I Thessalonians 4:3

God bless,
PamYla

If you would like prayer, just hit reply. If you want Jesus to come into your heart, please visit my Salvation page.

Note: the image is a digital illustration of a female hand holding a tattered, worn and torn gift box.