Of the increase of his government and peace, there shall be no end. Isaiah 9:7
Clo DiPilato
Author and Editor of this website
Reserves All Rights, 2011
Author and Editor of this website
Reserves All Rights, 2011
HERALD OF HIS KINGDOM
A Call to Intercessors
A Prayer for Our Cities
Getting the Burden From God
Prayer Warriors Intro
Prayer Warriors, Prophets and Faith I
A Prayer for Our Cities
Getting the Burden From God
Prayer Warriors Intro
Prayer Warriors, Prophets and Faith I
A Prayer for our Cities
16And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. Luke 5:16
Clo's Articles on Prayer:
Outstanding Articles on Prayer by Other Intercessors and Prayer Warriors:
Selected Prayer Websites, and
E-books on Prayer:
Prayer in the Christian Life
by JR Miller
| The Golden Gate of Prayer by JR Miller |
| The Power of Persevering Prayer by Andrew Murray |
| Ed Corley's Teachings on Prayer On this one, you must check the left side navigational panel of his website. HIGH QUALITY teaching on prayer!!!! |
Prayer Warriors, Prophets and Faith, Part One
Image is Everything
As I was writing this article, the Spirit of the Lord came upon me to address some things through prophetic insight. This is a bit of a hard word, but I feel if I soften what the Lord has given to me, I will be in disobedience to the Spirit of God.
We are in serious times, and God is dealing with the misuse of the ministry at all levels. We are coming to times when God's people are going to be in the forefront as never before ministering in reality, and NOT in theatrics and showmanship. A purging and pruning is coming to the Church, even if God has to "strip the bark clean bare" in order to get the representation of Himself that He desires to be manifested in this earth. I know many of us have been experiencing it on a personal level, and it's going to be manifested on the corporate level, as well as on the "stellar" level. What do I mean by the "stellar level"?? You'll understand as you read the article.
About prayer warriors who take hold in faith........
I have found that there are two types of "prayer warriors" who are "successful" in ministry. Much prayer is always at the root of any accurate prophetic ministry.
This first group addressed through this article are those who are very concerned with the present state of things, and temporal issues. If you are in this group, you would want to carefully seek the Lord to see if He has something higher for you in His purposes. If you know someone who is caught up in this type of ministry, give them the benefit of the doubt that they really do love the Lord, but just do not have the maturity to see beyond present spiritual gratification to the bigger picture of eternal values. Because much is being done to be seen of man, they have their rewards here and now, and will gain little in God's eternal kingdom.
For this type of "Prayer Warrior", image is everything.
These are prayer warriors who know how to turn the search light off when it comes to the dealing of God to their own soul. They pray with fervent energy, will rise up early and stay up late, will spend many days in prayer and fasting, but somehow they manage to be able to pray for ministry needs and success and giftings and anointings, but they never let the Spirit of God come to do a deep work within that changes their own nature. I think among these are the very ones who will be cited as being those who say in that day of the Lord's review, "But Lord......didn't we prophesy in your name, etc. "
21 ¶Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23.
These particular prayer warriors build monuments to themselves. They always name their ministries after their own name. They only use the Name of Jesus for the advantages of it. Notice how all they DO, they DO in the Name of Jesus, but as far as truly knowing the Lord, Jesus denies them. They know how to work the laws and principles of the faith, and it WORKS. But those things will never buy relationship with Him. It's because though they are willing to spend endless hours in prayer and fasting to get power, they are not willing to submit to the fires that will bring their nature into conformity to His Nature, and His NAME is HIS NATURE!! This reminds me of the Lord's counsel to the church at Laodocea:
4 ¶And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Now, I want you to catch something in the above portion of scripture. Jesus speaks of the Laodiceans as being "lukewarm". Because gifts and callings are without repentance, this scripture is NOT talking about being "lukewarm" in the manifestation of the gifts. You can be redhot in your gift, and lukewarm in your soul!!
If this particular group of "prayer warriors" were actually interested in giving glory to the Name of Jesus, they'd submit to His dealings so that their whole lives would be a testimony to Him . They'd take the counsel He gave to the Laodicean Church to heart.
When a ministry is not built on the Name of Jesus, it t takes the boundless amount of soul energy the original founder had to carry it on. Who has that energy, since they "did it all"?? There are very few powerful "second generation" anointings coming forth of this brand of "prayer warrior". But this foundation of the Name of Jesus again and again proves to be the "stone that the builders rejected". Why? Because the Name of Jesus brings an offense!! Better to say "the man upstairs", or that "guy in the sky" . To boldly say His Name, and that you recognize and honor Jesus as God Almighty manifested in the flesh will get you in trouble.
I found it quite interesting when I recently listened to a great exhortation to faith and deliverance from generational curses. This well-known minister managed to carry on for his half hour television show without even ONCE mentioning that the power is in the Name of Jesus!! He got all the principles out there, and I was really being blessed by what he was saying. I kept eagerly looking forward to the name of Jesus. It never came. I made the excuse for him that in the real services on location at his local church , surely they are mentioning the Name of Jesus, and not leaving Him out!! They just need to leave Jesus out so they won't offend the television audience and maybe lose donations.
Mentioning the Name of Jesus may get you moving in a very impressive level of power. But actually building on the Name of Jesus requires a whole lot more than throwing money to a ministry. It brings you face to face with the nature and character behind the Name, and a reverencing of God, and a bringing forth of fruits. (Read Matthew 42:33-42).
42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Matthew 42:21
These "Image is Everything" Prayer Warriors are usually legalistic in their approach to ministry because the worth of their ministry is based on "image", and so anything that would damage the "image" is not tolerated. Image is first and foremost the most important thing, and being able to boast about a dedicated prayer life is one thing that does help the image.
God honors prayer. Their prayers will get answered. Their anointings will be powerful and mighty, and will be manifested because they prayed. They faithfully prayed, and they will not be denied. Their ministry is not about a relationship with God that brings inward correction when there is a lack of integrity. It is about what is portrayed to the world of power and manifestation of their giftings.
Remember, Balaam was not a false prophet because of what he SAID, he was a false prophet because of unresolved character issues, and misusing the gift of God for selfish gain. Do you realize you can use the gift of God for "selfish gain" in other ways rather than just about money?? I could go into detail, but that would make this too lengthy. Again and again and again, I come under the conviction of the Spirit regarding the motivation behind any ministry endeavor. I know I am not alone in this matter. Beloved, it's just not all that important to God that we have a flourishing and successful ministry image. ( Someone recently told me I'd never have a ministry that would amount to anything because if it was to happen, it would have already happened. My flesh reacted by being offended. But now, I am rejoicing because it truly sets me free to speak as the Lord anoints me to speak forth because there really isn't much at all for me to lose!)
These prayer warriors have gifts honed to perfection. That is because the most important thing to their world is their gift. Their gifts will NEVER betray them. They can hear from God about what color dress you wore last Tuesday, who you slept with last Monday, and where you went to church last Sunday. They can make you shake in your shoes that you might get caught in your own sin and uncleanness. You hear that the "prophet" is coming, and you're checking out your own soul every which way and on your face repenting before God because you know this "prophet" who is a prayer warrior who spends hours in the throne room is coming to your city.
But for some reason, this very same prophet who can hear reams from God about sins of others, storms on the horizon, and the rise and fall of national leaders have NO conviction whatsoever when it comes to hearing a word from God about abusing and misusing the sheep if someone is found not to be advantageous to his/her ministry. They can cut you off in a flash without caring one bit that they have wounded you. You are very dispensable because they have never cared about your soul, but only the workings of their own ministry machine, and any cog that keeps the wheel from running as it should needs to be replaced as fast as possible.
They will not spare your soul because of your crying. You'll be just fine. I know of a ministry that boasted in their ability to let people go. I heard first hand how they had dismissed about 50 people from the same position in a space of about 5 years. All because somehow they would have hurt "the ministry".
They feel no remorse whatsoever about using their ministry as a vehicle to their own financial success riding over the backs of those who struggle to make ends meet by commercializing a gospel and making merchandize of God's people when the Lord says, "Freely ye have received, freely give." Just what was Jesus talking about when He said, "Freely ye have received, freely give":
¶These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
Jesus was talking about the fact that the gifts they had received of demonstration and power were freely given to them, and these should be freely ministered to others. It was not just talking about the simple gospel message of a free salvation. They didn't get to charge registration fees for holding a revival service.
Now, is it a contradiction when the Lord says "freely give", and then turns around and says in the same breath that a "workman is worthy of his meat"?
Comparing scripture with scripture, we find that the "workman" refers to those who "labor in the word and doctrine". It does not refer to one who has the manifestation of a gift in operation in his/her life. This tells me that the signs and wonders were accompanying the preaching and teaching of the Word. So, the Lord was saying they were entitled to an offering, but they were NOT to charge for their gifts. If you are advertising your ministry based on your gift, and then charging ridiculous honorariums and conference fees because you use your gift as the drawing card, how do you square such a thing with what Jesus said???
We never see the Apostle Paul giving one word of advice to those he fathered in the faith as to how they should charge for their spiritual labors. Rather, He spoke directly to God's people, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn." 1 Corinthians 9:7-9. Paul took this directly from the Old Testament Law. Deut 25: 4.
What does it mean not to "muzzle the ox" that treadeth out the corn. The natural feeding habits of oxen is to graze. As the ox was fulfilling his usefulness in the field, he would be free to graze. Here is what the dictionary tells us "graze" means:
Main Entry: 1graze
Pronunciation: 'grAz
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): grazed; graz·ing
Etymology: Middle English grasen, from Old English grasian, from græs grass
intransitive senses
1 : to feed on growing herbage, attached algae, or phytoplankton
2 : to eat small amounts of various foods several times a day
transitive senses
1 a : to crop and eat in the field b : to feed on the herbage of
2 a : to put to grazeb : to put cattle to graze on
3 : to supply herbage for the grazing of
- graze·able or graz·able /'grA-z&-b&l/ adjective
- graz·er noun
Pronunciation Key
The animal, the ox, instinctively would know his own limitations, and not take more at one feed than he could naturally tolerate for the mechanisms of his digestive system. If you read about historical oxen, it's interesting to note that their helpfulness to humans was so valued they were literally worshipped in some societies. Hmmmmm. Think about that one!!
An unmuzzled ox could eat whatever he desired to eat, and was obviously trusted not to rake the fields clean of it's harvest. The people of God ought to be able to trust the servants of the Lord to freely receive from the works of their hands in the work of the ministry without fear they'll end up fleecing the flock because they are given to an insatiable appetite of greed. But the people of God need to be careful they don't "muzzle the ox".
4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. James 5:4
I recently had a vision, and it kept coming to me over the course of several days. It was a room full of stacks of money, and the money was bundled by different colored bands. I never got close enough to the money to see the actual denominations of the bills. It could have all been one dollar bills, or a thousand dollar bills, or a variety. There were simply tables and tables and tables full of money. It seemed in this vision, I had access to this money. I saw myself filling my arms with as much money as I could possibly hold, and then trying to manage it so I would not drop it. The Spirit spoke to me, "You are to only take what you need." So, then the money dropped out of my arms because I knew that I had to come to a place of discerning what I truly needed because I felt the seriousness of the Spirit, and that there would be a great grieving if I lied to the Holy Ghost about what I needed to "take". I actually felt a great foreboding that I would even be killed, if I took more than what I needed!! In the issue of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) , they lied to the Holy Ghost about what they were giving. Beloved, by the word of the Lord, I will tell you that finances are going to come into the kingdom of God, and it's going to be the temptation to lie to the Holy Ghost about what we are taking!! Be careful!!!
The Holy Spirit within me is so offended by the commercialization of the truth, and the merchandizing of the gospel that I get some of these "commercial Christian websites (usually prophetic in nature)" and I am literally sickened when I open them. Because I have a great respect for truth, and in no way wish to come against the Lord's anointed, I cannot bring myself to "deleting" their mail. Instead, I save it in a folder to be opened at another time. I know other friends who are true in the spirit will end up forwarding me any true word of the Lord where I don't have to wade through half a dozen advertisements to get to the pure word. Thank the Lord for these ones!!
Yes, I know that paper and postage and printer's ink and marketing all costs money. That is a no-brainer. But when you put your advertisements at the top of your website instead of the word of the Lord on your "prophetic" website , just what spirit is motivating you? I think it's the same one that motivates the used car salesman and the cheap mattress company. Is it the desire that the people hear from God a relevant word that will help them to draw closer to the Lord, and navigate their way through perilous times, and be encouraged in their faith, or is it your need to make money off the word of the Lord?
Some defend these ones by telling me how "sincere and sweet" they are. A person can be very sincere, and be sincerely wrong. How can one sit as a judge over the word of the Lord through the mouths of His prophets and give commendations of their words, and not yet be able to hear from God that you've taken God's house, which is to be a place of prayer, and made it into a den of thieves. How does the conviction escape you? How do you manage to understand and explain such deep revelatory teachings and prophecies, and yet so thoroughly sear your consciences so that you cannot even hear and understand the clear teachings of scripture?
It would be better for you to repent and go work the night shift at 7-11 than to continue as you are doing. Haven't you read about the sons of Eli in 1 Samuel 2 and 3? Don't you know about how the Apostle Peter talks about false teachers and false prophets who will make up stories to get the people's money? Read all of 2 Peter Chapter 2.
When Jesus drove out the money-changers what was that all about? People had come from long distances to be at the temple. They were selling the animals used for sacrifices to poor people who could not afford them at exorbitant prices. Do you have a gift of God that people can't have because they can't afford what you're charging to get into your conferences?
What about "scholarship funds" for special retreats, etc? That is quite noble, but if you're the poor person on the receiving end of it, how do you get to the money without being embarrassed?? The poor are certainly way too proud, aren't they!! They should be very thankful for the hand out. (Of course, I am being facetious!) Beloved friend, what would happen if we ministered out of the true provision of the Lord rather than from the level we fancy ourselves to be at, when we are NOT there? Isaiah spoke of a principle: It's called "line upon line", and "precept upon precept", and "here a LITTLE and there a LITTLE". It's found in the 28th chapter of Isaiah.
This "image demon' that is rampant in the church wants us to bypass all prayer that would bring us to the throne room for the purpose of seeing the Lord high and lifted up as Isaiah saw Him. It would not do at all to find ourselves for days on our faces before God over a "woe is me for I am undo, and I'm a person of unclean lips, dwelling in the midst of an unclean people" attitude when "the ministry" demands we pray more about our power and our gifts and our special visitations and revelations than about being more like Jesus!
"Image" has so invaded the church that moving and ministering in simplicity has almost become virtually impossible!! It's a spirit that has overtaken us and run roughshod over us as the church of Jesus Christ.
Here is the word of the Lord straight out of the scripture for those who engage in the practice of misusing the ministry for selfish gain, and are overly concerned with image. It may be wonderful to be riding on the wings of great charismatic, end-time, third-wave, third day, kingdom (and whoever I've forgotten) revelatory popularity, but you are setting yourself up to be the martyrs of the faith and are you sure you've got the right stuff to stand in that day of adversity and persecution?? Doesn't matter how much time you've put in "burning out for Jesus" and in hours of prayer and fasting. If the image of successful ministry is at the root of your desire rather than the desire to come forth in HIS image and likeness, believe me, you are NOT prepared for what will be coming your way, and you've made yourself a sitting target like a duck at a carnival. In the day of adversity, a willingness to stay hidden and humble is going to preserve God's people, not as "running in fear" but in having sense enough to discern the times. You're worth a whole lot more to God's purposes here on planet earth in tumultuous times if you're alive and ministering to a humble few hidden in some cave in the woods than if you're some dead super-star.
Jeremiah 45:1 ¶The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
2 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch;
3 Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.
4 Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.
5 And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest. Jeremiah 41: 1-5.
Review of the "Image is Everything" Prayer Warrior:
1. Praying is to be able to successfully operate in gifts for the ministry advancement.
2. Praying is rarely about coming into relationship with the Lord.
3. Praying is rarely about coming to understanding of personal shortcomings and things in need of correction, though much will be discerned in the lives of others, and will set others in awe of the gift of knowledge in operation.
4. This prayer warrior's name recognition is much more important than the Name of Jesus. (They love to refer to themselves in the "third person", as if they are talking about someone else, just to make sure their name gets "out there".)
5. These prayer warriors have gifts that are outstanding because ALL attention is on the gift, and never on character.
Their gifts will never betray them.
6. Praying is always about gifts and ministry, and never about character and personal sacrifice, except for what others should sacrifice to service the "Image is Everything" Prayer Warrior's ministry.
7. Do not automatically dismiss these "prayer warriors" as false prophets, and be careful about making such a judgment. Rather pray for conviction to come, and their eyes to be open.
End of Part One.
Always in the Love of Jesus,
Clo DiPilato
We are in serious times, and God is dealing with the misuse of the ministry at all levels. We are coming to times when God's people are going to be in the forefront as never before ministering in reality, and NOT in theatrics and showmanship. A purging and pruning is coming to the Church, even if God has to "strip the bark clean bare" in order to get the representation of Himself that He desires to be manifested in this earth. I know many of us have been experiencing it on a personal level, and it's going to be manifested on the corporate level, as well as on the "stellar" level. What do I mean by the "stellar level"?? You'll understand as you read the article.
About prayer warriors who take hold in faith........
I have found that there are two types of "prayer warriors" who are "successful" in ministry. Much prayer is always at the root of any accurate prophetic ministry.
This first group addressed through this article are those who are very concerned with the present state of things, and temporal issues. If you are in this group, you would want to carefully seek the Lord to see if He has something higher for you in His purposes. If you know someone who is caught up in this type of ministry, give them the benefit of the doubt that they really do love the Lord, but just do not have the maturity to see beyond present spiritual gratification to the bigger picture of eternal values. Because much is being done to be seen of man, they have their rewards here and now, and will gain little in God's eternal kingdom.
For this type of "Prayer Warrior", image is everything.
These are prayer warriors who know how to turn the search light off when it comes to the dealing of God to their own soul. They pray with fervent energy, will rise up early and stay up late, will spend many days in prayer and fasting, but somehow they manage to be able to pray for ministry needs and success and giftings and anointings, but they never let the Spirit of God come to do a deep work within that changes their own nature. I think among these are the very ones who will be cited as being those who say in that day of the Lord's review, "But Lord......didn't we prophesy in your name, etc. "
21 ¶Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23.
These particular prayer warriors build monuments to themselves. They always name their ministries after their own name. They only use the Name of Jesus for the advantages of it. Notice how all they DO, they DO in the Name of Jesus, but as far as truly knowing the Lord, Jesus denies them. They know how to work the laws and principles of the faith, and it WORKS. But those things will never buy relationship with Him. It's because though they are willing to spend endless hours in prayer and fasting to get power, they are not willing to submit to the fires that will bring their nature into conformity to His Nature, and His NAME is HIS NATURE!! This reminds me of the Lord's counsel to the church at Laodocea:
4 ¶And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Now, I want you to catch something in the above portion of scripture. Jesus speaks of the Laodiceans as being "lukewarm". Because gifts and callings are without repentance, this scripture is NOT talking about being "lukewarm" in the manifestation of the gifts. You can be redhot in your gift, and lukewarm in your soul!!
If this particular group of "prayer warriors" were actually interested in giving glory to the Name of Jesus, they'd submit to His dealings so that their whole lives would be a testimony to Him . They'd take the counsel He gave to the Laodicean Church to heart.
When a ministry is not built on the Name of Jesus, it t takes the boundless amount of soul energy the original founder had to carry it on. Who has that energy, since they "did it all"?? There are very few powerful "second generation" anointings coming forth of this brand of "prayer warrior". But this foundation of the Name of Jesus again and again proves to be the "stone that the builders rejected". Why? Because the Name of Jesus brings an offense!! Better to say "the man upstairs", or that "guy in the sky" . To boldly say His Name, and that you recognize and honor Jesus as God Almighty manifested in the flesh will get you in trouble.
I found it quite interesting when I recently listened to a great exhortation to faith and deliverance from generational curses. This well-known minister managed to carry on for his half hour television show without even ONCE mentioning that the power is in the Name of Jesus!! He got all the principles out there, and I was really being blessed by what he was saying. I kept eagerly looking forward to the name of Jesus. It never came. I made the excuse for him that in the real services on location at his local church , surely they are mentioning the Name of Jesus, and not leaving Him out!! They just need to leave Jesus out so they won't offend the television audience and maybe lose donations.
Mentioning the Name of Jesus may get you moving in a very impressive level of power. But actually building on the Name of Jesus requires a whole lot more than throwing money to a ministry. It brings you face to face with the nature and character behind the Name, and a reverencing of God, and a bringing forth of fruits. (Read Matthew 42:33-42).
42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Matthew 42:21
These "Image is Everything" Prayer Warriors are usually legalistic in their approach to ministry because the worth of their ministry is based on "image", and so anything that would damage the "image" is not tolerated. Image is first and foremost the most important thing, and being able to boast about a dedicated prayer life is one thing that does help the image.
God honors prayer. Their prayers will get answered. Their anointings will be powerful and mighty, and will be manifested because they prayed. They faithfully prayed, and they will not be denied. Their ministry is not about a relationship with God that brings inward correction when there is a lack of integrity. It is about what is portrayed to the world of power and manifestation of their giftings.
Remember, Balaam was not a false prophet because of what he SAID, he was a false prophet because of unresolved character issues, and misusing the gift of God for selfish gain. Do you realize you can use the gift of God for "selfish gain" in other ways rather than just about money?? I could go into detail, but that would make this too lengthy. Again and again and again, I come under the conviction of the Spirit regarding the motivation behind any ministry endeavor. I know I am not alone in this matter. Beloved, it's just not all that important to God that we have a flourishing and successful ministry image. ( Someone recently told me I'd never have a ministry that would amount to anything because if it was to happen, it would have already happened. My flesh reacted by being offended. But now, I am rejoicing because it truly sets me free to speak as the Lord anoints me to speak forth because there really isn't much at all for me to lose!)
These prayer warriors have gifts honed to perfection. That is because the most important thing to their world is their gift. Their gifts will NEVER betray them. They can hear from God about what color dress you wore last Tuesday, who you slept with last Monday, and where you went to church last Sunday. They can make you shake in your shoes that you might get caught in your own sin and uncleanness. You hear that the "prophet" is coming, and you're checking out your own soul every which way and on your face repenting before God because you know this "prophet" who is a prayer warrior who spends hours in the throne room is coming to your city.
But for some reason, this very same prophet who can hear reams from God about sins of others, storms on the horizon, and the rise and fall of national leaders have NO conviction whatsoever when it comes to hearing a word from God about abusing and misusing the sheep if someone is found not to be advantageous to his/her ministry. They can cut you off in a flash without caring one bit that they have wounded you. You are very dispensable because they have never cared about your soul, but only the workings of their own ministry machine, and any cog that keeps the wheel from running as it should needs to be replaced as fast as possible.
They will not spare your soul because of your crying. You'll be just fine. I know of a ministry that boasted in their ability to let people go. I heard first hand how they had dismissed about 50 people from the same position in a space of about 5 years. All because somehow they would have hurt "the ministry".
They feel no remorse whatsoever about using their ministry as a vehicle to their own financial success riding over the backs of those who struggle to make ends meet by commercializing a gospel and making merchandize of God's people when the Lord says, "Freely ye have received, freely give." Just what was Jesus talking about when He said, "Freely ye have received, freely give":
¶These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.
9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,
10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.
Jesus was talking about the fact that the gifts they had received of demonstration and power were freely given to them, and these should be freely ministered to others. It was not just talking about the simple gospel message of a free salvation. They didn't get to charge registration fees for holding a revival service.
Now, is it a contradiction when the Lord says "freely give", and then turns around and says in the same breath that a "workman is worthy of his meat"?
Comparing scripture with scripture, we find that the "workman" refers to those who "labor in the word and doctrine". It does not refer to one who has the manifestation of a gift in operation in his/her life. This tells me that the signs and wonders were accompanying the preaching and teaching of the Word. So, the Lord was saying they were entitled to an offering, but they were NOT to charge for their gifts. If you are advertising your ministry based on your gift, and then charging ridiculous honorariums and conference fees because you use your gift as the drawing card, how do you square such a thing with what Jesus said???
We never see the Apostle Paul giving one word of advice to those he fathered in the faith as to how they should charge for their spiritual labors. Rather, He spoke directly to God's people, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn." 1 Corinthians 9:7-9. Paul took this directly from the Old Testament Law. Deut 25: 4.
What does it mean not to "muzzle the ox" that treadeth out the corn. The natural feeding habits of oxen is to graze. As the ox was fulfilling his usefulness in the field, he would be free to graze. Here is what the dictionary tells us "graze" means:
Main Entry: 1graze
Pronunciation: 'grAz
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): grazed; graz·ing
Etymology: Middle English grasen, from Old English grasian, from græs grass
intransitive senses
1 : to feed on growing herbage, attached algae, or phytoplankton
2 : to eat small amounts of various foods several times a day
transitive senses
1 a : to crop and eat in the field b : to feed on the herbage of
2 a : to put to graze
3 : to supply herbage for the grazing of
- graze·able or graz·able /'grA-z&-b&l/ adjective
- graz·er noun
Pronunciation Key
The animal, the ox, instinctively would know his own limitations, and not take more at one feed than he could naturally tolerate for the mechanisms of his digestive system. If you read about historical oxen, it's interesting to note that their helpfulness to humans was so valued they were literally worshipped in some societies. Hmmmmm. Think about that one!!
An unmuzzled ox could eat whatever he desired to eat, and was obviously trusted not to rake the fields clean of it's harvest. The people of God ought to be able to trust the servants of the Lord to freely receive from the works of their hands in the work of the ministry without fear they'll end up fleecing the flock because they are given to an insatiable appetite of greed. But the people of God need to be careful they don't "muzzle the ox".
4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. James 5:4
I recently had a vision, and it kept coming to me over the course of several days. It was a room full of stacks of money, and the money was bundled by different colored bands. I never got close enough to the money to see the actual denominations of the bills. It could have all been one dollar bills, or a thousand dollar bills, or a variety. There were simply tables and tables and tables full of money. It seemed in this vision, I had access to this money. I saw myself filling my arms with as much money as I could possibly hold, and then trying to manage it so I would not drop it. The Spirit spoke to me, "You are to only take what you need." So, then the money dropped out of my arms because I knew that I had to come to a place of discerning what I truly needed because I felt the seriousness of the Spirit, and that there would be a great grieving if I lied to the Holy Ghost about what I needed to "take". I actually felt a great foreboding that I would even be killed, if I took more than what I needed!! In the issue of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) , they lied to the Holy Ghost about what they were giving. Beloved, by the word of the Lord, I will tell you that finances are going to come into the kingdom of God, and it's going to be the temptation to lie to the Holy Ghost about what we are taking!! Be careful!!!
The Holy Spirit within me is so offended by the commercialization of the truth, and the merchandizing of the gospel that I get some of these "commercial Christian websites (usually prophetic in nature)" and I am literally sickened when I open them. Because I have a great respect for truth, and in no way wish to come against the Lord's anointed, I cannot bring myself to "deleting" their mail. Instead, I save it in a folder to be opened at another time. I know other friends who are true in the spirit will end up forwarding me any true word of the Lord where I don't have to wade through half a dozen advertisements to get to the pure word. Thank the Lord for these ones!!
Yes, I know that paper and postage and printer's ink and marketing all costs money. That is a no-brainer. But when you put your advertisements at the top of your website instead of the word of the Lord on your "prophetic" website , just what spirit is motivating you? I think it's the same one that motivates the used car salesman and the cheap mattress company. Is it the desire that the people hear from God a relevant word that will help them to draw closer to the Lord, and navigate their way through perilous times, and be encouraged in their faith, or is it your need to make money off the word of the Lord?
Some defend these ones by telling me how "sincere and sweet" they are. A person can be very sincere, and be sincerely wrong. How can one sit as a judge over the word of the Lord through the mouths of His prophets and give commendations of their words, and not yet be able to hear from God that you've taken God's house, which is to be a place of prayer, and made it into a den of thieves. How does the conviction escape you? How do you manage to understand and explain such deep revelatory teachings and prophecies, and yet so thoroughly sear your consciences so that you cannot even hear and understand the clear teachings of scripture?
It would be better for you to repent and go work the night shift at 7-11 than to continue as you are doing. Haven't you read about the sons of Eli in 1 Samuel 2 and 3? Don't you know about how the Apostle Peter talks about false teachers and false prophets who will make up stories to get the people's money? Read all of 2 Peter Chapter 2.
When Jesus drove out the money-changers what was that all about? People had come from long distances to be at the temple. They were selling the animals used for sacrifices to poor people who could not afford them at exorbitant prices. Do you have a gift of God that people can't have because they can't afford what you're charging to get into your conferences?
What about "scholarship funds" for special retreats, etc? That is quite noble, but if you're the poor person on the receiving end of it, how do you get to the money without being embarrassed?? The poor are certainly way too proud, aren't they!! They should be very thankful for the hand out. (Of course, I am being facetious!) Beloved friend, what would happen if we ministered out of the true provision of the Lord rather than from the level we fancy ourselves to be at, when we are NOT there? Isaiah spoke of a principle: It's called "line upon line", and "precept upon precept", and "here a LITTLE and there a LITTLE". It's found in the 28th chapter of Isaiah.
This "image demon' that is rampant in the church wants us to bypass all prayer that would bring us to the throne room for the purpose of seeing the Lord high and lifted up as Isaiah saw Him. It would not do at all to find ourselves for days on our faces before God over a "woe is me for I am undo, and I'm a person of unclean lips, dwelling in the midst of an unclean people" attitude when "the ministry" demands we pray more about our power and our gifts and our special visitations and revelations than about being more like Jesus!
"Image" has so invaded the church that moving and ministering in simplicity has almost become virtually impossible!! It's a spirit that has overtaken us and run roughshod over us as the church of Jesus Christ.
Here is the word of the Lord straight out of the scripture for those who engage in the practice of misusing the ministry for selfish gain, and are overly concerned with image. It may be wonderful to be riding on the wings of great charismatic, end-time, third-wave, third day, kingdom (and whoever I've forgotten) revelatory popularity, but you are setting yourself up to be the martyrs of the faith and are you sure you've got the right stuff to stand in that day of adversity and persecution?? Doesn't matter how much time you've put in "burning out for Jesus" and in hours of prayer and fasting. If the image of successful ministry is at the root of your desire rather than the desire to come forth in HIS image and likeness, believe me, you are NOT prepared for what will be coming your way, and you've made yourself a sitting target like a duck at a carnival. In the day of adversity, a willingness to stay hidden and humble is going to preserve God's people, not as "running in fear" but in having sense enough to discern the times. You're worth a whole lot more to God's purposes here on planet earth in tumultuous times if you're alive and ministering to a humble few hidden in some cave in the woods than if you're some dead super-star.
Jeremiah 45:1 ¶The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
2 Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch;
3 Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.
4 Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.
5 And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest. Jeremiah 41: 1-5.
Review of the "Image is Everything" Prayer Warrior:
1. Praying is to be able to successfully operate in gifts for the ministry advancement.
2. Praying is rarely about coming into relationship with the Lord.
3. Praying is rarely about coming to understanding of personal shortcomings and things in need of correction, though much will be discerned in the lives of others, and will set others in awe of the gift of knowledge in operation.
4. This prayer warrior's name recognition is much more important than the Name of Jesus. (They love to refer to themselves in the "third person", as if they are talking about someone else, just to make sure their name gets "out there".)
5. These prayer warriors have gifts that are outstanding because ALL attention is on the gift, and never on character.
Their gifts will never betray them.
6. Praying is always about gifts and ministry, and never about character and personal sacrifice, except for what others should sacrifice to service the "Image is Everything" Prayer Warrior's ministry.
7. Do not automatically dismiss these "prayer warriors" as false prophets, and be careful about making such a judgment. Rather pray for conviction to come, and their eyes to be open.
End of Part One.
Always in the Love of Jesus,
Clo DiPilato
Companion articles to this one can be found by scrolling up the page, and finding articles that are highlighted on the menu.
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