The Coming Change in How We Train Leadership

There seems to be a great need in the Body of Christ in the way we train our leaders but most especially our ministers. What do I mean by this? It has been my experience that our top leaders, those who train and lead our ministers have been taught to chase the wrong things. As a result of their training they are passing on those flawed leadership priorities. We have so far deviated from the Biblical pattern of raising up our leaders that we no longer seek to duplicate the methods Jesus used and instructed His disciples to follow.

I do not wish to disparage or blame anyone for this tragedy only to look for and diligently pray that we return to the biblical examples left us by our Lord and savior. It has been said that 1800 ministers a month in the United States are leaving the ministry. In our own denomination the average age of our pastors has increased dramatically and churches that need qualified ministers are taking longer and longer to fill. I talked with a pastor just the other day who said he does not know any pastors who enjoy what they are doing but rather are going through the motions in obedience to their calling. This scenario is not new to me, for over ten years ago a beloved minister was sitting in on one of our elder’s meetings and when it was over and the elders left, he began to weep. He said very sadly, “Bob you are the only pastor I know that still loves what he is doing. The rest of us are just being obedient.” Obviously, he was speaking from deep wounds and did not speak for everyone. Yet there are far too many Godly men and women who fit Ezekiel’s sad vision.

Ezek 37:1-3 NKJV

37 The hand of the Lord  came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord , and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.

2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.

3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

In many ways this vision of Ezekiel is a perfect picture of much of the ministry today. Broken, scattered, divided, and dry. Where is this frustration coming from? How many men and women of God must be sacrificed on a broken system before we seek to find out what is wrong? I write a great deal on the broken men in leadership but what about the precious wives who are often times the ones who suffer the most? I remember my precious wife once had the wisdom to say to me, “Honey, I will always love you and always be your wife, but I will not stay here to watch this church destroy you. I will be at my Mother’s. and when the Lord releases you from here I will be ready to go with you.” Her wisdom was great enough for me to change what I had been falsely taught and put my family first. I changed very quickly and was able to save my marriage and my sanity. I learned that the first church I must pastor is my own family. It is here that we learn the real skills that matter in Godly leadership.

How did we get where we are, and why I am I writing like this? Yet more importantly is “how do we change?” The dear Holy Spirit is taking many of us down into this valley of dry bones and requiring us to walk up and down in it until we see just how dry, how divided, broken, and lifeless it truly is. May He keep us there until we are ready to totally give up on the present system and allow Him to put His words of life into our spirit and empower us to Prophesy until our ministers are filled with life and power once again.

Ezekiel walked this valley so thoroughly that he knew no human plan, program, or strategy could bring life into this valley. Indeed, it is our confidence in programs and plans that has largely created this valley of despair.  There is a place for programs, but they must never be the priority. For many decades now, we have run to conferences and seminars to learn about an effective program that we can take back to our churches to see them grow. Yet how many conferences have we attended that focused on the top priority of Christ likeness?

The error it seems is that our leadership think that Christ likeness is something we are responsible to gain on our own time, and it is their responsibility to teach us methods and programs. In reality, we must see the passion of our leaders to be like Christ, and the relationship building they are doing to pass that passion on as their chief priority.

I have and still do love my leaders. Yet in all of my interactions with them, I cannot remember a time when I was inspired to be more like the Christ life reflected in them, save one. This is a great departure from the admonition we receive in scripture.

1 Cor 4:16 KJV

16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

1 Cor 11:1 KJV

11 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Phil 3:17 KJV

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

It is very difficult to write on the need for change without becoming negative. We must not allow ourselves to walk in criticism or use negative methods to bring about the change that is needed. We must always remember it is Christ who is building His Church and the gates of hell will never prevail against it, but we must also know when Christ is speaking to us about change.

I will try to state how I see that our present system works. As I have watched over the past thirty years of ministry, I have seen some amazing things happen. What do I mean by this? In my area the leading cutting edge ministry, when I first came to this region, was the ministry of a church called Resurrection Life. It seemed they could do nothing wrong, and that everywhere they started a church it grew to a thousand or more. Right now, that ministry is waning and another ministry is gaining prominence and every church it starts seems to grow in the thousands. Yet when we look more closely at these ministries we are seeing that it is almost if not all transfer growth. One of our good churches lost 600 members to the Harvest Ministries.

Here is what I see happening. These ministries have come up with a program and method that is superior to other ministries in caring for the flock. So much so, that they draw great numbers of transfer growth. Many of our own sheep have flocked to them. Yes, indeed they do have a great system of caring for the members of other churches. They are superior in their abilities to meet the needs. Yet I have not seen the kind of Christ-like change in the members they have gathered. Do not mis-understand me in what I am saying. I am very grateful for these ministries and what they are accomplishing. Still it is not the pattern that is impacting the unsaved with believers who are the salt of the earth and the light of the world.

Perhaps, I can better state it like this. There once was a factory that produced the most delicious food. When asked how much of that food they were able to bring to the market and sell they said, “Oh, we cannot sell any, we need all that we have to feed and care for those here in the factory.” Then another factory came along with better methods of producing a tastier product, and they grew much larger than the other one and they were asked, “How much of this excellent food are you able to make available for others to buy?” They too responded, “Oh, we do not have any leftover, we need all that we make to feed our workers.” This is what I have seen as the pattern for much of what we see here in America. Can you see what I mean? Oh I know that some of what we have is getting out saving the lost and reaching the world but, dear one, it is very little. It seems we need all of our strength and energy just to care for those we have. We must not disparage what we presently have, but we must recognize the truth of what we are calling church growth is not really the church growth the Lord is after.

Yes, and I can say that at one time the ministry that I led developed a better system, and many flocked to what we had. I, too, counted that as a kind of success and found identity in the “church growth” that was happening under my ministry. Yet I am here to say there is a better way. Earlier this year I heard the Lord say I am going to take Oak Crest back down to its very foundations, so that what is built again is built upon me. My character changing presence will be the priority, and programs and methods will be in their proper time and order. Indeed, I was called into the Holy of Holies to experience what the Lord wants to do.

In my next article I will begin to share “What the next move of God will look like” and how it will change how we do church.

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Apostle Robert D. Rogers

www.onemillionvoice.org

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THE BURNING ONES ON FIRE FOR JESUS

 Hearing from God is perhaps one of the most important and delightful skills we need to develop in our Christian walk.

Rev. 2:7 

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

This phrase is repeated seven times in the book of Revelation, two times in Matthew, once in Mark, and similar phrases are recorded in scores of places throughout the Bible.  It is very clear that the Lord loves to communicate with us. Yet He says My ways are not your ways and My thoughts are not Your thoughts. Nevertheless, He is more than willing to teach us His ways and renew our minds so that we can grasp His thoughts. Whenever the Lord gives us a command, He also provides us all we need to obey.

I have had the delightful joy of hosting two conferences entitled, “Fire Conference.” I gave these conferences this title because the Lord spoke to my heart that He had thousands of  “Burning  Ones” in which He was going to anoint for the specific purposes of  discovering and destroying the works of the enemy and others who would be used to “clean the garbage from His Church.”  Our ministry team has felt for a long time that we should host a Fire Conference on the other side of the state.  Recently, Pastor Steve Totten of the Riverview Church of God asked if I would come and do a conference at his church in downriver Detroit on the theme of “Hearing God.” After a few days he called back and said, “Would it be alright to call it a “Fire Conference?” Oh the wisdom of God is so wonderfully delightful.   

Jer 33:3 NKJV

3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.

I tell you, I got so excited I could hardly contain myself. All of you who attended our Fire Conferences in Muskegon will not want to miss this third Fire Conference. We have gathered some very anointed men of God that will help you fulfill your calling and destiny. Pastor/ Prophet Michael Arp is being powerfully used of God in giving personal prophecies and Pastor/ Prophet Steve Totten is hearing from God at a phenomenal level and has the anointing and skills to uniquely train and impart to God’s children. I feel like I have one of the most important words I have ever been given and will share it in the opening night of the conference. Dear one, this word has the power to transform you life, family, ministry, and city. I believe it will ignite you in a way that you have hungered for a long time.

Once again, I call out to all the Burning Ones (you know who you are because your heart is already burning from these words) to gather at this FIRE CONFERENCE 3 as God commissions and imparts to us His end-time anointing and strategies.

Information concerning the conference is as follows:

Friday February 26      7pm    Opening session Apostle Robert Rogers

Saturday Feb.27         9:00 a.m.         Reignites with powerful classes

                                    1:30-3:30         Plenary session which will include a Panel of Apostles,                                                                         Prophets, Pastors, Teachers and Evangelists who will                                                                       minister on the subject “Contending for Your Prophetic                                                                        Word.”

 

Contact information is as follows:

Pastor Steve Totten

Apostles,                                                                         Prophets, Pastors, Teachers and Evangelists

 

Phone 1 231 944 8877

Pastor Totten is including a free copy of one of the most important books ever written on understanding our dreams and visions for those who pre-register. Visit their web-site for directions— Riverview Church of God, Riverview Michigan.

http://www.riverviewchurchmi.org

Map to Riverview Church of God in Michigan

Yesterday, I received a package in the mail that contained a beautiful booklet written by one of the precious Burning Ones who attended our Fire Conferences. The booklet detailed her miraculous journey to Heidi Baker’s missionary training school and the resulting church she and others planted in Zimbabwe. I’m not saying if you attend this conference that God is going to call you to Africa, but I am saying that part of the motivations and anointing she received to accomplish her call came from these FIRE CONFERENCES.

Father, I now Prophesy to the East, to the West, to the North, and to the South and call all those you have ignited to attend this conference. Give them the supernatural funds needed for expensive and divine scheduling. 

May the Lord be glorified as we gather to be supernaturally equipped for our end-time service to Him.

 

SEE YOU THERE!

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Apostle Robert Rogers

www.onemillionvoice.org

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WHERE DOES BURNOUT AND BITTERNESS COME FROM?

Hope you are blessed by this archive article from June 26, 2012. It is a good reminder to help us live by grace, God’s wisdom and understanding, not by works that wear us out.Do you know what an enabler is? It is someone who sacrifices far more than the Lord requires through a false concept of what truly helps others. Pastors-more than any of the other five-fold offices tend towards this tragic pattern. Many well-meaning wives are also prime candidates for the title “enabler”. An enabler allows others to coast while they make all kinds of sacrifices, this practice allows those who the Lord wants to grow and mature to remain largely unfruitful. One of the difficulties of resolving this deadly habit is that “enablers” often draw a sense of personal value and satisfaction from uncalled-for sacrifice.

I have watched scores upon scores of men and woman continue in this habit for many years. The end result is always the same – burnout and bitterness. Enablers often live in a dream world that “one day the one I am sacrificing for will wake up and become what he or she should be.” The sad case is that, more often than not our sacrifice strengthens their selfishness and lack of initiative, until ultimately the person or church or ministry is blind to our sacrifices. In cases like these, both parties end up in destruction. The enabler becomes more and more bitter and the one being sacrificed for continues in increased selfishness and blindness.

The enabler relishes in the fact that people often see them as martyrs. They love the thought that they are able to do so much while others do so little. They at first grow more and more satisfied in the praise of others at their ability to get so much done. This spurs them on until the day comes when they find they have no time for personal renewal, no time for rest and reflection, and no time to just enjoy and wait upon the Lord. Withoutknowing it they have started down the path of burn-out and bitterness.

The enabler, who at one time was so sweet, sensitive, and caring continues in their sacrifice, but slowly becomes hard and bitter, until one day they find themselves in a desperate battle just to survive. Their strength is almost gone, their resources are used up, and they see no help on the horizon. They are one step away from divorce or quitting their ministry, church, or denomination.

I cannot tell you how many times I have looked across my counseling desk into the eyes of a one time tender and sensitive man or woman of God who has lived the life of an enabler. Instead of that gentle soul I have so often been used to seeing, I gaze into the eyes of a bitter and hardened child of God. They have gone into what I call a “survival” mode. Their eyes often remind me of a cornered animal, full of fright, hopelessness, and desperate anger. In truth, I am often haunted by those vacant but bitter eyes. I always say, “Why didn’t I see this coming and try to warn them?” Yet, I also know that unless they see it for themselves they will misinterpret my efforts at help.

Now to one whom the enabler has sacrificed so much for. If I could define the one thing that results from being surrounded by those who are willing to sacrifice for us, it is that we are becoming increasing blind. This blindness can become so acute that we believe we are the ones who are really sacrificing. There is a subtle voice whispering to us that “we deserve” the special treatment we are getting. After all, our position is one gained by personal sacrifice and a willingness to work harder than others. “We deserve” becomes the mantra of the “gobbler”. That may be an extreme term, but one that seems to fit best the person who no longer sees that their well-being is slowly taking the lives of others.

Have you ever heard the term “armor-bearer”? It is a beautifully biblical term. Yet one that is fraught with danger. An armor-bearer is one who is called to come alongside someone the Lord is using in a mighty way to help alleviate them of the duties they might have that would keep them from their main task. Armor bearers, too, are there to help protect them from unseen dangers and attacks. When accomplished in a biblical way this can be a very healthy and fruitful relationship. Sadly, I have often seen this position being abused by the one being served and the astonishing thing is it seems the armor bearer often enjoys it. How sick is that? To every true armor-bearer I would warn to be aware when you have crossed the line from a God-given helper to an enabler.

To those of us who find that the Lord has sent many godly-helpers, there is a warning as well. Indeed, it is true that God calls some men and women to very visible and important roles. Yet, our Lord gave us an example of who is the greatest in the Kingdom when He took a towel and girded Himself and began to wash the disciples’ feet. How easy it can be to become callous to others’ sacrifice that we might be free to accomplish what the Lord has called us to do. Surely to remind ourselves that the Lord is no respecter of persons and sees all of us equally. Perhaps tomorrow we will be called to serve the very one the Lord is using to help us accomplish our visible task.

 

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Apostle Robert Rogers

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Climbing The Mountain Of Grace II

What do you do when you find yourself in an impossible situation? Many say, “Well I work harder,” or “I build my faith,” or “I go on an extended fast.” All of these are good and right things to do, yet, I have found that the assignments that are truly from the Lord cannot be accomplished by any human effort. The good news is that this is where “God’s Grace” enters the picture. No wonder the Lord desires to grant His Church a deeper understanding of the power of grace this year. I do not know of another season where the accumulated challenges of the Church have ever been greater. On every hand we find ourselves surrounded by an ever increasing hostility and opposition. When 1,800 pastors a month are quitting the ministry in the United States, it isn’t because they have not tried to do the will of the Lord.

Opposition all the way

No, in many cases it is that they have faced so much opposition for so long that they have exhausted all of their strength. If only we could help these men and women of God and ourselves truly understand the passage from the book of Zechariah that states:

Zech 4:6-7
6 So he answered and said to me:
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts.
7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ‘ “(emphasis mine)

The book of Zechariah has much to say to us today for the prophet was sent to encourage and strengthen those commissioned to rebuild the temple of the Lord, especially the Governor Zerubbabel and the high priest Joshua. These two men had all but given up on the hope of ever rebuilding the temple. Just too much junk and rubble, too much division and complaining, too much self-seeking and jealousy, and too much opposition. Perhaps you too feel the same way about your life, your marriage, your job, or your ministry. If so, follow with me as we take a look at how God chose to revive a nation and especially two men regain their faith, excitement, and joy. Thus enabling them to return to the task the Lord had assigned them.

In truth every rebuilding process begins with removing of the rubbish and rubble that has accumulated. The sad truth is that sometimes we get so used to the rubbish that we no longer see it. We often stumble over it, walk around it, but perhaps no longer think of cleaning it up. Some people eventually find their security in the amount of trash that surrounds them. I once knew a family that could only function in “crisis mode.” If there was not a crisis, they would create one. The sad thing was that they were the pastor and wife of a church. They even taught their people to constantly live in crises mode. Of course this all finally ended in tragedy for the family. They ended up in divorce, their son was killed in a house fire, and many other tragedies followed them. In short, their life habits drew a constant barrage of taxing and crushing failures. Our spiritual lives too must begin with a removing of the rubbish and trash that surrounds us. The word of God calls this repentance. Zechariah shares this wonderful truth with God’s children after an angel asks the question, “How long Lord of Hosts will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah? Listen to the Lord’s beautiful response to the angel’s question:

Zech 1:13
13 And the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

Can you see it? The season is about to change. The Lord had allowed a time of correction to come upon Israel, as a matter of fact seventy years of it, but now the fresh wind of mercy and grace is coming to the chosen people. Even so that is the message I have received from the Lord for this year. There is a new season that has come to us. A season of a fresh understanding and experiencing His Grace!

14 Then the angel said to me, “Shout this message for all to hear: ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and strong.
15 But I am very angry with the other nations that are now enjoying peace and security. I was only a little angry with my people, but the nations inflicted harm on them far beyond my intentions.
16 “‘Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I have returned to show mercy to Jerusalem. My Temple will be rebuilt, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and measurements will be taken for the reconstruction of Jerusalem.’
17 “Say this also: ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The towns of Israel will again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and choose Jerusalem as his own.'”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation

If we put these words into a more personal form they would read like this:
“My love for you is passionate and strong says the Lord who is the head of the armies of heaven! I am angry with those who have been persecuting you and have no intention of changing – they think they can go on and rest in their peace – but that is all about to change. The armies of heaven will come against them! I have returned to show mercy to you, your families, and your ministries. I will cause you to prosper again, but not in the things that have only temporal value. I will cause my spirit to change you into the “image of My dear Son.” That is what true prosperity and success look like.

Oh, how these words stir me. When the Lord chooses to breathe upon passages of His word, there is a powerful freshness that accompanies the reading and declaring of the word. That is what I am experiencing as I read and pray over these passages from Zechariah. I hope and trust the same Spirit of truth and revelation is being imparted to you from these writings. Still we must see what preceded these kind and comforting words spoken by the Lord of Hosts to His beloved children. Here are some of the verses that were spoken first. They have to do with the absolute need of “repentance.” Oh, what a sweet word repentance is. It is a call to brokenness and humility. A call to acknowledgment and accountability and it is the door to all of the Lord’s great blessings. Never let us cringe when we hear the word “repent.” It is a call to remove the rubbish so that the true rebuilding process can begin.

Zech 1:2-6
2 “I, the Lord, was very angry with your ancestors.
3 Therefore, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.’
4 Don’t be like your ancestors who would not listen or pay attention when the earlier prophets said to them, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Turn from your evil ways, and stop all your evil practices.’
5 “Where are your ancestors now? They and the prophets are long dead.
6 But everything I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said. As a result, they repented and said, ‘We have received what we deserved from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He has done what he said he would do.'”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation

In our next writing we will pick up this wonderful process of restoration. The Lord says, “I am going to send you a new group of men to work with you – men who have vision and are builders!”

See you in the next writings.

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Apostle Robert D. Rogers
www.onemillionvoice.org

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IT’S TIME FOR THE BRILLO PAD II

Oh the beauty and creativity of the Lord. I have found that if we will wait upon him and be teachable as a little child, He will open to us His mysteries and teach us all we need to know. This was just what happened as I waited on the Lord according to Rev. 3:20.

Rev 3:20-21

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

NKJV

          The Lord indeed means what He says. So I just sit down on a daily basis confessing and speaking this verse and I discover Him waiting at my heart’s door. If I will go over and open the door, He comes in. Just like He said He would do. Not only does He come in, but He brings a spiritual meal of immeasurable creativity with Him.

In my most recent encounter the Lord handed me an old fashioned “brillo pad” and with it told me to clean the sword of the Lord that had become encrusted with centuries of fleshly and carnal ideas, methods, and doctrines. The second day I was cleaning the sword of the Lord I heard Him say “It will take Holy Spirit muscle for this job. So I yielded myself a little more purposely and began to see some words begin to appear as I scrubbed with the cleansing steel wool. The first word I saw was this one “Intercessors” as I continued to scrub I saw a ‘+’ sign. I became increasingly absorbed in what I was doing and then saw the next word. It was “Prophets.” I redoubled my efforts and then saw the ‘=’ sign.  It then looked like this:

Intercessors + Prophets =

But what did it equal?  As I continued the task the Lord, He entrusted me and the final two words appeared. I now had the whole message.  It read:

Intercessors + Prophets = Sub-Station

Let us understand this was engraved on the sword of the Lord.  I prayed and meditated on this message.  As I then looked up the word Sub-Station, it all became clear. Let’s see what you we are to understand when we put it all together.

A substation is a part of an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system. Substations transform voltage from high to low, or the reverse, or perform any of several other important functions. Between the generating station and consumer, electric power may flow through several substations at different voltage levels.  Wikipedia

As I thought about what I was reading I recognized what the Lord was trying to teach me. It was this:

“When Intercessors and Prophets work together correctly, they can transform my power into usable energy for the Church.”

Not only was this the key to distribution, but also contained in this revelation is the desperate need for the power of the Lord in a form that the Church can use.  This implies that prayer alone is not enough and that prophesying alone is not enough. They must work hand in hand to accomplish the work of the Lord.

Beloved prayer in its purest form is for the discovery of the will of God. Did not the Lord teach us to pray this way? He said when you pray say, “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”  Prayer indeed is many things. Yet in its purest form it is meant to bring our hearts into agreement with what the Lord wants done in the earth.

One of the best examples of this is when the Lord appeared to Abraham to tell him that He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. We find Abraham immediately began to intercede for this city. Abraham was passionate and persistent. Do you remember this verse?

James 5:16-17

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17

NKJV 

The second verse I want us to see is this one from the book of Ezekiel.

Ezek 37:10

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

KJV

In military terms we might describe it like this. Intercessors load the right shells and Prophets pull the trigger.  Said alternatively, they give the “command” to “fire”. What is the difference between someone who prays and an intercessor? I would put it like this. An “intercessor” is one who while in prayer has had their heart transformed to desire the will of God above all things. A true intercessor should be a very mature prayer. Dear one – there are millions of people who pray who are not connected to a Prophetic anointing and indeed there are Prophets who have not yet matured enough to want the will of God above anything else in their life.

What the Lord seems to be saying to us is when the mature Intercessors are intricately bound to the mature Prophets; the Lord’s power will be distributed and made available in a form the Church can use. The key word here is “mature.”  When I speak of maturity I am not speaking of the one who can pray the longest or the one who can prophesy the loudest. I am talking about the character and nature of Jesus Christ. Remember the Lord said, “I only do what I see the Father doing” and “I delight to do thy will oh Lord.” The Lord once spoke to me and said, “Leave the sword of the Lord in its sheath until is totally impregnated with my ‘heart’. When the sword is filled with my heart takes it out of its sheath and accomplished my purposes in the earth.

I think we fail to understand just how precious the ministry of the “brillo pad” is too the Lord at this time. Many are trying to build when the site they are trying to build on is strewn with rubbish. Just as in the days of Nehemiah the first order of business is the removal of all the rubbish that has accumulated on the site where the temple of the Lord is to be rebuilt.

Neh 4:10

 10 And Judah said, the strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall

Yet how does the connection between the intercessors and prophets work in the practical world?  By the grace of God we have had a pattern that has been working for the past five or six years. It works something like this. As an Apostolic – Prophet I have the privilege and time to wait upon the Lord several hours every day.  In this wonderful time of communion the Lord often speaks to me through the spirit of revelation either through visions, dreams, and of course through the enlightenment of His Holy Word. When the time is right I share these things with the intercessors and they begin to pray them out. As they pray, a greater anointing for proclaiming comes upon me as well as greater revelation. The intercessors then share what we have heard from the Lord and a process we have come to call: “analytic, catalytic and the voice of God” begins.

Let me explain where “analytic, catalytic, the voice of God” came from.  Some years ago my son Bob came to me with a dream. He said, “Dad, last night I had a dream in which one of the elders said, ‘Pastor we do not understand the Prophetic.  Would you explain it to us?’  In the dream, Dad, you said, ‘Of course – the Prophetic works like this: one thousand analytic, ten thousand catalytic and one million the voice of God.’”

The interpretation of that dream is:

Once we prophesy the word of the Lord – that word is judged or analyzed.

That is what analytic means.

Generally speaking, analytic (from Greek ἀναλυτικός – analytikos) refers to the “having the ability to analyze” or “division into elements or principles.”

Dear one, there are many so called prophetic people who get offended if we judge what they have said. That is unscriptural as well as prideful. We need others to carefully examine what we say and we need to be accountable for what we speak.

Once the word has been “judged correctly,” the intercessors begin to pray over it and distribute it to as many as they can. When ten thousand begin praying and proclaiming (prophesying), the word now becomes “catalytic”.  It begins to become active and operative. Yet it is only when a “one million voices” are proclaiming the word of the Lord does it indeed become His voice.

This process also works in reverse order. Sometimes it is the “intercessors’ who hear and the Prophets who distribute.  The great issue is that there are millions of praying people who are not connected to the Prophets and there are perhaps just as many prophets who are not connected to those are faithful prayers. This must change. May God grant you and me the Wisdom to connect with the Prophets even as the Shunammite Woman did.  As a result of this connection, the greatest desire of her heart was granted! Dear praying one, is that not what you long for?  This article is getting a little lengthy, but I need to add something the Lord led me to write at the beginning of 2012. I believe it will be a great blessing to all of us.

I have received a vision from the Lord that I believe will bring great insight and blessing to the family of God. I heard the Lord say, “There is an urgent need to revive what has been prophetically spoken to my people over the years; the year 2012 is the year for these prophetic promises to be realized. Yet, unless certain steps are taken these promises will remain unfulfilled.”

I was immediately impressed to once again read the story of the Shunammite woman. If you remember, she was one who perceived that the Prophet who passed by was a holy man of God. It is only when we are able to recognize and value the prophetic anointing that we can receive the blessing the Lord is seeking to bring into our lives.

2 Kings 4:9

9 And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually.

Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

Many of you have fulfilled this first requirement and “perceived and valued” the Lord’s Prophets. As a result of your faith, the Lord has caused a prophetic word to be spoken over you. Yet, much of what the Lord spoke has not yet come to pass. Please understand something about the Prophetic; in almost every case when a Prophetic Word is spoken to us, it is given to us as a seed. That seed must be planted in the good soil of faith and cared for with diligence; it must be watered, hoed, and fertilized. Just as there are many enemies to a natural seed, there are many enemies of spiritual seeds. These parasites include unbelief, discouragement, offenses unforgiveness, and sin. Very rarely does the Lord give to us an unconditional Prophetic Word. If you will notice, the Shunammite woman made an investment in the Prophet.

2 Kings 4:10

10 Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.

Investing in the Prophetic with our faith, words, and deeds is the next step in developing the promise the Lord has given us. We can do this in many ways, but let us understand what the Lord is after. He is after more than just bringing a Prophetic Word to pass in our lives. He wants us to BECOME PROPHETIC.

Numbers 11:29

29 And Moses said unto him, “Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!” (emphasis mine)

So we must ask ourselves, “How does the Lord make us a Prophetic People”?

Once again the answer is recorded in this story of the Shunammite woman. As a result of her desire to honor the prophetic and make provision for it in her home, (I just heard the Lord say, “Have they made a provision for the Prophetic in their home?”), she received the greatest longing of her heart. As you know, she was barren. To be barren in the natural or the spiritual is a terrible thing. When we are unable to conceive the promises the Lord wants for us, life has little to offer. Yet, when we become spiritually healthy we find that “conception” is not only natural and easy, but fulfilling and delightful.

Here are the words the Prophet spoke the the Shunammite woman:

2 Kings 4: 14-16

14 “What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.”

15 Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.”

So we see now why some of the Prophetic words spoken to us or over us have not yet come to pass. Let’s review a few of these.

• We must perceive and value the Prophetic Word as well as the prophet.
• We must make room and provision for the Prophetic in our home. That is, literally honor the Prophetic in our house and our heart.
• Invest in some way into Prophetic Ministry.
• Understand that the Lord wants to do more than just fulfill our prophetic promise. He wants to make us a prophetic people. That includes building into our lives the nature and character of Jesus Christ the Prophet.

As we study this passage, we find out that this precious woman received the prophetic promise she had so desperately desired and enjoyed the fulfillment of this promise for a short season, but then her prophetic promise died. Has this happened to you? Dear one, if this is true in your life I want you to take heart. This is the pattern revealed all through scripture and it is the process by which the Lord develops his Prophetic People. The Shunammite woman will reveal the pattern to us of how she became not only one who received the Prophetic Word but was used by God to “resurrect” that promise. We will cover these steps and I will reveal the vision the Lord gave me concerning 2012.

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Section I – Reviving Your Prophetic Word in 2012

Chapter 2

A Year of Wisdom

Many have been asking, “What will the year 2012 hold for the believer?” I have had the joy of waiting on the Lord for the past years concerning what each new year will look like to the believer who embraces the Prophetic Purposes of God. The one overwhelming Word I heard from the Lord was that He was ready to impart unprecedented Wisdom to those who would seek His face. Wisdom has many definitions, but one of the most needed definitions for God’s children is this one, “Wisdom is the correct application of Knowledge and Understanding”. In other words, in this definition, “Wisdom” is to know what to do and then to actually implement it in each situation. I truly thank God for both Knowledge and Understanding, but what I have found is that most believers already possess both of these wonderful blessings in great measure, yet their lives remain unchanged. Marriages and relationships have never been more strained, finances and resources seem beyond the grasp of many, and frustration is at an all-time high. It is also important to understand that the knowledge available to the average believer has never been greater. 

This excerpt from the Lord is available as a complete eBook titled: LEADING THROUGH YOUR DREAMS – 2012.  It can be received by request from:

          Penny Johnson – 231.773.1220  oakcrestcog@msn.com

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APOSTLE ROBERT ROGERS

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WHERE DOES BURNOUT AND BITTERNESS COME FROM?

Do you know what an enabler is? It is someone who sacrifices far more than the Lord requires through a false concept of what truly helps others. Pastors-more than any of the other five-fold offices tend towards this tragic pattern. Many well-meaning wives are also prime candidates for the title “enabler”. An enabler allows others to coast while they make all kinds of sacrifices, this practice allows those who the Lord wants to grow and mature to remain largely unfruitful. One of the difficulties of resolving this deadly habit is that “enablers” often draw a sense of personal value and satisfaction from uncalled-for sacrifice.

I have watched scores upon scores of men and woman continue in this habit for many years. The end result is always the same – burnout and bitterness. Enablers often live in a dream world that “one day the one I am sacrificing for will wake up and become what he or she should be.” The sad case is that, more often than not our sacrifice strengthens their selfishness and lack of initiative, until ultimately the person or church or ministry is blind to our sacrifices. In cases like these, both parties end up in destruction. The enabler becomes more and more bitter and the one being sacrificed for continues in increased selfishness and blindness.

The enabler relishes in the fact that people often see them as martyrs. They love the thought that they are able to do so much while others do so little. They at first grow more and more satisfied in the praise of others at their ability to get so much done. This spurs them on until the day comes when they find they have no time for personal renewal, no time for rest and reflection, and no time to just enjoy and wait upon the Lord. Withoutknowing it they have started down the path of burn-out and bitterness.

The enabler, who at one time was so sweet, sensitive, and caring continues in their sacrifice, but slowly becomes hard and bitter, until one day they find themselves in a desperate battle just to survive. Their strength is almost gone, their resources are used up, and they see no help on the horizon. They are one step away from divorce or quitting their ministry, church, or denomination.

I cannot tell you how many times I have looked across my counseling desk into the eyes of a one time tender and sensitive man or woman of God who has lived the life of an enabler. Instead of that gentle soul I have so often been used to seeing, I gaze into the eyes of a bitter and hardened child of God. They have gone into what I call a “survival” mode. Their eyes often remind me of a cornered animal, full of fright, hopelessness, and desperate anger. In truth, I am often haunted by those vacant but bitter eyes. I always say, “Why didn’t I see this coming and try to warn them?” Yet, I also know that unless they see it for themselves they will misinterpret my efforts at help.

Now to one whom the enabler has sacrificed so much for. If I could define the one thing that results from being surrounded by those who are willing to sacrifice for us, it is that we are becoming increasing blind. This blindness can become so acute that we believe we are the ones who are really sacrificing. There is a subtle voice whispering to us that “we deserve” the special treatment we are getting. After all, our position is one gained by personal sacrifice and a willingness to work harder than others. “We deserve” becomes the mantra of the “gobbler”. That may be an extreme term, but one that seems to fit best the person who no longer sees that their well-being is slowly taking the lives of others.

Have you ever heard the term “armor-bearer”? It is a beautifully biblical term. Yet one that is fraught with danger. An armor-bearer is one who is called to come alongside someone the Lord is using in a mighty way to help alleviate them of the duties they might have that would keep them from their main task. Armor bearers, too, are there to help protect them from unseen dangers and attacks. When accomplished in a biblical way this can be a very healthy and fruitful relationship. Sadly, I have often seen this position being abused by the one being served and the astonishing thing is it seems the armor bearer often enjoys it. How sick is that? To every true armor-bearer I would warn to be aware when you have crossed the line from a God-given helper to an enabler.

To those of us who find that the Lord has sent many godly-helpers, there is a warning as well. Indeed, it is true that God calls some men and women to very visible and important roles. Yet, our Lord gave us an example of who is the greatest in the Kingdom when He took a towel and girded Himself and began to wash the disciples’ feet. How easy it can be to become callous to others’ sacrifice that we might be free to accomplish what the Lord has called us to do. Surely to remind ourselves that the Lord is no respecter of persons and sees all of us equally. Perhaps tomorrow we will be called to serve the very one the Lord is using to help us accomplish our visible task.

In our next writing we will seek to define what we should do to slowly move away from either being an enabler or a gobbler. The process must be done with grace and wisdom, understanding that part of our gifting has been out of balance, not that we are to completely stop being who we are.

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Apostle Robert Rogers

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