I love how fair God is. He works by principle. If you get understanding of His principles and both spiritually and logically apply them, you'll come behind no one. On the other hand, if you think you can take shortcuts or circumvent the ways of God, you'll end up disappointed, and in some cases even full of confusion, hurt and having an offended spirit that others are not affirming you as you feel they should be doing.

There is more than one Bible story that illustrates the "pathway of principle" preceding a positioning in prosperity.
(And please don't let the word "prosperity frighten you, as if I speaking of some strange new doctrine. When I say "prosperity" I mean the well-being of a person in every area , and especially in relationship to the promises of God coming to pass in the life of the one who is said to be prospering.)

Lessons of faithfulness, humility, consistency, submission to authority can be traced in the life of David before he arose to the throne. It can be seen in the life of Joseph before he was appointed governor over Pharoah's house. It is evident in the sovereign workings of God in the life of Moses. It is very apparent in the life of Joshua. Because this is a blog, I'm not going to detail the lives of each person, but if you would like to do a Bible Study on it, you'd soon see how principles Jesus taught are exemplified in their lives.

But for this particular blog, I'd like to encourage you to avail yourself of the spirit of understanding by asking the Lord to make real to you this verse found in the book of Isaiah:

9Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

NOT FINISHED...continue within the next few days.

6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Psalm 122:6

I love the timing of the Lord. God makes everything beautiful in His own time!! For many years now, I have seen God's people engaged in a 'love affair' with Israel. They love to learn more about this land of heritage for both Christian and Jew. If they are of means, they'll make pilgrimage to behold the sites etched in their memories from Sunday School lessons, sermons in Church, books they may have read, movies they may have seen, and especially that which comes from their perusal of Holy Writ.

But for some reason, this sentimental, heart-stirring occupation, or 'pre-occupation' with the Holy Land has utterly escaped me!

My sense of the present reality of the Lord Jesus Christ living, working, and moving in the lives of people today, (whether in those initial stages of wooing them to the love of the Heavenly Father by bringing them to the reality of the 'born-again' experience, or further into their ongoing walk with the Lord) has been my clear focus. I have been seeing his handiwork in the lives and hearts of people, and for me...this has greatly surpassed the history of either Judaism or the historical backdrop of the Christian faith.

In my 'present-tense' delight in all God is and how He is revealing Himself NOW, spiritual nostalgia simply has not been a matter given much room in my life, except to acknowledge that the foundations of our faith is laid in Zion, by way of a Stone. A tried Stone. A precious corner-stone. The foundations are laid in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and Israel was the land of the nativity of God-incarnate. From time to time, I would pause to reflect on this great truth. Yet, it still never came with desire to travel to Israel to 'walk today where Jesus walked'.
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So now, it is with great wonderment that I find myself strongly impressed by the Spirit the necessity of praying much for the land of Israel, and especially for the 'peace of Jerusalem'. Why now, Lord?

One might conclude this does not require any great revelation of the Spirit because a day doesn't go by that the cable news channels are not filling us up with information regarding the present status of issues facing Israel, and because of a strong alliance between America and Israel, we feel and are greatly affected by what happens in Israel.

The nation of Israel hardly knows at all the absence of conflict. So, why now? Why now is my spiritual ear more tuned to hear within this word of the Lord, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem?" Is it because it comes with promise of prosperity? Is it because God will "bless those that bless Israel?"

Or perhaps it has to do with a seed sown by the Spirit of true empathy. God does hear the cries of people who are oppressed. What could be more oppressive than to live constantly in fear of enemies who wish to snuff out your life? Israel has always known enemies that wish to snuff out their very existence. The thread of this fact can be traced back to Biblical times when Israel was still in the loins of Abraham. And that should be a separate article!!!

Surely, God would alert the caring Christian to pray for Israel, and for that matter, any place on the face of the earth where people are suffering in oppression of one form or another.

But the clearest incentive to 'pray for the peace of Jerusalem' comes out of this scripture, and coincides with God establishing His kingdom rule in the hearts of His people.

This blog is simply introductory to an article to be coming online soon.

...as it was shown thee in the mount, so shall they make it.
Exodus 27:8. How many times does this phrase appear in reference to the building of the tabernacle,"as it was shown thee in the mount"?

In order for Moses to have vision to instruct others to build, he had to be in the mount. In order to be in the mount, he had to "go up". Without an ascent, there is no vision.

David gave instruction to Solomon regarding building of the temple, and it was" by the Spirit". See 1 Chronicles 28: 9 on, and pay attention to verse 12. "And the pattern of all he had by the Spirit".

Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Isaiah 2:2-3.

Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Psalm 24.

He that hath...

Clean hands. Hands speaks of our actions. All we actively
DO requires the use of our hands in some way. If a person has an upright life before the Lord, their hands won't be extended to reach for unclean things, or things that would defile the temple of the Lord, which we are. Their hands will be used in things that are appropriate activities for a clean and healthy life style in body, soul and spirit.

Pure heart. A pure heart speaks of our motives and intentions. The Bible tells us that God searches the hearts, and tries the reins. He wants us also to search our own hearts. He wants us to consider what is behind our actions, even the ones that might seem outwardly very noble. Is there actually a hidden agenda, or ulterior motive? If we are going to ascend into the hill of the Lord, we must have purity of heart. This article assumes the reader already has given their heart to the Lord, and has invited the Lord Jesus into his or her life. That is the very first thing that must be done in order to have a pure heart.

Has not lifted his soul up to vanity. I believe this speaks to us of actively maintaining a spirit of humility. It is so easy to become proud. Especially if we have mastered the disciplines of having 'clean hands and a pure heart'. Many have questioned why the Lord doesn't use them in greater ways when they know how 'good' they are. Knowing how much we deserve from the Lord because we have done everything right and then dwelling on that fact causes the chest to begin to swell.

What is the antidote for this spirit of pride? It's to quickly recognize the mercy and goodness of God, and how that there is NONE that doeth good, NO NOT ONE according to the scripture, and if we possess any ability to do the right things, and make the right choices it's because the Lord has granted us an amazing special grace to accomplish these things. When we lift our souls (our mind, will and emotions) up to vanity, we are giving ourselves credit that belongs to God.

Nor sworn deceitfully. I read this part of the verse in a few different versions of the Bible trying to get a better understanding of what this means. Remember all these things are attitudes or activities that keep us from ascending into the hill of the Lord, or into a higher realm His presence.

This is actually is often the very thing a person will do in attempt to get the attention or a reaction from God, but it is something that repulses Him. When we "swear deceitfully", we are attempting to manipulate God by giving Him ultimatums, or making vows we don't intend to keep, or that are impossible for us to keep. It often starts like this: "Lord, if you do such and such, then I will serve you." We treat God as if He owes us something, when He has already given His all for us!!!!

Check the right side-bar to access a link to the full article which inspired this blog post.

Clear your spirit!!! Don't be tempted to be a prophetic scatter shooter. What is that? It is someone who has a hard word of the Lord for another person, and because they don't have the courage to give that word directly and simply to the person it's for, they throw it out there for everyone, hoping it will hit it's truly intended target. Sometimes this method works, but often what happens is that a very sensitive soul who doesn't particularly need that word at all will receive it, and ends up in unnecessary inner strivings, and sometimes even under heavy condemnation over something God never intended for them in the first place!!

How do you know you're 'scatter shooting' prophecies?? You know because when you give a word generally, you have someone very specifically in mind whom you feel needs that particular prophecy, and you're actually hoping and praying that they will 'get it'.

If I were to give examples of how I've seen people needlessly wounded because of someone's scatter shooting prophecies, this article would be entirely too long.

For myself, in the early years of my own prophetic development, I had a pastor who said something from the pulpit one time that really 'stuck', and was always a standard for me. He said that if he had someone in mind when he got up to preach a sermon, the Lord would not allow him to preach it until his spirit was clear. This has really steered me away from feeling free to prophesy controversial prophetic words when I have a specific person or group in mind.

Of course, with prophetic gifting comes a knowledge often of who would benefit from certain prophecy, but having a right spirit void of irritation causes a purer word to come forth. And it
often is a matter of just waiting until the spirit is purified. I believe this is what happened with the Prophet Ezekiel at the River of Chebar when the Lord caused him to wait until the anger within his own spirit was diffused:

14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.
15 Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
16 ¶And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. Ezekiel 3:14-17

When I haven't been faithful to this conviction, the Lord has dealt with me very sternly. When the Lord has used me to bring a hard word of the Lord to expose something, or bring a word
of correction, it’s usually been after there has been a dealing of the Lord cleansing my own
spirit of any irritation regarding the word being spoken. That way, the fire is in the word, rather than in the heat of my own spirit. That is where it belongs. Consider Jeremiah 20:7-10.

Seek the Lord to give you courage to speak His Word within the boundaries He has set so that it's going to the true heart of the matter. Ask him for the timing and unction on when to deliver it a more direct manner, and you'll be surprised how the Lord will bring the opportunity, and anoint you with a spirit of gentleness and grace so that you are confident you handled it in the right matter.

Notice, I didn't say you'd have a spirit of gentleness and grace so that you are received because sometimes, it's NOT about you and how you deliver the word of the Lord. You could mix it a cup of sugar, and top it with whipped cream and a cherry, and the hearer would STILL be offended!!! Why? Because conviction is not always comfortable.

Also, there are other factors that can come into play within the hearer of the word, such as a deliberate determination to dig in the heels on a certain matter, or a stubborn spirit that will misinterpret the word. Some times the mind or spirit is clouded by personal offenses, or other struggles in life.

Here's an example: One time, I gave a sister a word of the Lord that God was going to allow her to be tested so that her metal would be proven, and the people would know she was His servant, approved by God. In my presence, she seemed to receive what was said.

A couple of weeks later, the pastor came to me, quite disturbed with me for offending this woman, as he told me she was very angry at me. She went to him and said 'I don't have to prove myself to anyone!' Apparently she was in the midst of feeling personally offended by some of the people in the church, and because of it, she wasn't hearing correctly. In actuality, the word was very encouraging, and a promise that God was going to develop her into a trustworthy woman of God, but she heard it completely differently than what was actually said, or the spirit in which it was delivered!!!


What is the point? You cannot control how people will receive the word of the Lord, and when you step out in being used prophetically, it's important to understand the territory you're dealing with, and have confidence in the Lord regarding the motive and content of your own heart because very often you'll be judged as being quite different than the person you see in the mirror whom you know has been through some very serious dealings of the Lord to bring you to the place where you even have the courage to speak His word at all!!!

Another thing to take into consideration is the fact that words which would be considered corrective in nature in the New Testament were more often administered by someone in a pastoral or teaching capacity. I am thinking especially about Paul's dealings with the church at Corinth.

If you're not operating in that realm of authority, there's a good chance if you receive a stern or strong word for someone, perhaps you're just to hold the matter up in prayer!! You may be truly hearing from the Lord, but not everything we hear is to be spoken.

I find something quite interesting!! When considering revelational gifts, three are given this designation: the
word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, and discernment. Notice that there is the 'word' of wisdom, and the 'word' of knowledge, but not the 'word' of discernment!! This is because more often than not, discernment is not to be handled as a'word' for someone, but rather as a warning in the spirit to be carefully considered in a place of prayer until there is a word of wisdom on how the discernment is to be applied.

In closing, let's review how we know we are 'scatter shooting' with prophecy, and how do we avoid doing it?

If you have a person very heavily on your mind when you are delivering a hard word of the Lord in a general manner, know that you are most likely 'scatter shooting'. Ask the Lord to either use someone else to give that prophecy, or hold it until you're not so focused on one or just a handful of people.

Pray for timing and anointing and courage to go in person to the one who truly needs that word.
Sending words “anonymously” is totally unacceptable, and does not show the courage of a true prophet of the Lord. One should only send prophetic words through the mail if you know you have heard from the Lord you are to deliver it in this manner. In the Bible, we have those who wrote as they were moved upon by the Spirit, and we have those who spoke prophetically as they were moved by the Spirit. If God gives you a word to speak, that doesn't mean you're supposed to run home and write it down!! It means you're to obey the Lord and speak the word.

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Scriptures of men writing the word of the Lord are too numerous to list here.

Lastly, realize that God allows for people who are honing their prophetic skills to make some mistakes, and if you feel you've been personally wounded by the immature scatter shooting of a prophetic servant of the Lord, forgive that person, and determine that going forward, you'll use caution not to behave in the same manner! Pray for that servant of the Lord to come into a greater dimension of wisdom in the operation of the gift of God in his or her life!

Finally, I feel it's necessary to add one little 'disclaimer'. There are always exceptions to the rule. One who is mature in their ministry will know when the Lord is convincing them that a word must be brought in a general way that seems it could apply very personally to one or just a handful of individuals. The Lord may wish to warn others who might have a propensity toward the behavior being addressed, or God may be confirming something to someone else in the midst, and that confirmation can only be realized through a generally spoken prophetic word. When we make hard fast rules, we put God in a box, and also bind ourselves up spiritually, and that's counterproductive to God's ultimate purposes in the use of prophecy and all things prophetic.

Let all we do be done with a servant's heart, and in the love of God!!

Always with love from your sister in Jesus,

Clo DiPilato

Are we so concerned with our destiny that we lose the day to day reality of the impact of our daily walk?