Seeking After Prophecy
Instead of Seeking First His Kingdom & His Righteousness

 

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,” Matthew 6:33.

Something that I have pondered over from time to time is how some of us seek after prophecy, rather than seeking Him.

This can become a divine distraction; something that is a gift from God, now can at the same time, cause us to become so preoccupied with it, that we are seeking this first, rather than God.

It’s almost like someone shopping at a candy shop. One can see all of the different types of candies from caramels, chocolates, jolly ranchers, and all other types of sweets.

There are so many of them, and they just “beg” for our attention, every time we open up an email, log onto a Social Network site, or just surf the web.

God uses prophecy as a means to encourage, exhort, comfort, as well as to warn, correct, direct, and counsel His people.

But when we are “always” searching for the newest “word,” or looking for what our favorite prophet or intercessor or whoever, has to say, then perhaps we’re beginning to drift away from hearing from God on our own, and not seeking Him and His Kingdom first.

I realize that I am one who sends out words from the Father on a regular basis, but I also want to seek Him first, not prophecy. The same can also be said about the dreams and visions that we receive from the LORD.

They also can be a source of so much preoccupation that we are always analyzing every dream we have, wondering what God is saying in it, even though at times, some dreams are “just regular old dreams.”

Visions from the LORD are different from dreams, but the same thing can happen with them as well, as we just seek the vision and not the one who gave it.

Perhaps this is why we need to be grounded in the word of God. Without it, we can become so one-sided in our walk and personal journey with God.

Of course it’s also true that some just read the word and read the word, and they don’t have the Spirit. These are those who have “the letter of the law,” but not the “Spirit.” For the letter killeth, but the Spirit gives life, (2 Corinthians 3:6).

Many years ago the LORD showed me an analogy, a very simple message about the importance of a balance between these two aspects:

1993

“Learn to balance the Word of the Spirit with the written word. For when you can do this, you are on your way to maturity, for both are needed.

The revealed Word that is spoken, is said out of an understanding of My written word. As a tent has stakes in it which represents My written Word; it anchors the tent and holds it in place.

But what would the tent be holding up? It takes on the shape and contour that I would embody unto it. So, in the same way, the voice of the spirit is represented in this way.

Let the tent rise to its full potential in me. Let its pitch and its sides fall where I want it to. And know that you are all tents of Mine,” would say the Lord.

“You are all being perfectly joined together in Me, for the ministry of teaching My Wword, and the spoken word, are both needed.

And so, this tent is the tent that must be strong. Its stakes must go down into the very ground on the foundation of My written Word.

But let the breeze blow, and let it blow through the fabric of this tent. Let it seep in through every crevice and stitching of the fabric of My Holy Spirit.

For it is woven by my hands; I AM the master craftsman; I hold the tent by My son, Jesus Christ. He holds the very fabric together, and by His stripes, nothing will cause this tent to fall.”

Thus would say the Spirit of the LORD, the one who has made every tent for its purpose.

So, without the tent stakes, the word of God, the tent will just blow away. On the other hand, without the Holy Spirit, the tent is just a tent, it cannot breath, there is no life in it. Both are needed.

To conclude, God has set up in His church different ministries and giftings.

We all have a place and a function to perform. The ministry of the prophetic is important to hear what the Spirit is saying to us.

We need the teaching ministry to ground us in the word so that we have the details and instruction for our journey.

Without the evangelist, those that gather others into the kingdom, then the fields are empty.

Without the true shepherds, the sheep are left without clean and good pastures to graze in.

And lastly, without those who are called as true Fathers, then the body is devoid of leadership.

And yet there are many leaders who lead each in their own way and capacity. There truly are many members of His body.

First published October 18, 2013.

 

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

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Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?

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