Month: March 2022

What Is Spiritual Grooming?

Spiritual “grooming” is a form of manipulation and control that takes place when someone who seemingly has authority over people.

“Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” Acts 20:26-30 KJV

God Wants to Expose What Spiritual Grooming Is….

Spiritual “grooming” is a form of manipulation and control that takes place when someone who seemingly has authority (their own authority not God’s) over people.

These manipulators lead you into doing something or performing an action you would not normally do, and you find it very uneasy and uncomfortable.

Then if you feel pressured and uncomfortable about it and wish to not do it, then you will be made to feel that you are rebellious and disobedient to the man or woman of God!

Word Check : Does not The Word of God say, “Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established?” (2 Corinthians 13:1)

Would it make sense that if God expected you to do what a spiritual leader said, would not God confirm it to you first?

You no longer answer a priest, prophet, pastor, bishop, apostle, or a title of doctor in the front of a title, or whatever they say they are.

You answer to God first and foremost. You do not follow them. Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” (i Corinthians 11:1)

A Spiritual Groomer is a deceiver, who also manipulates and withholds approval of you if you resist something that they want from you, when you are not comfortable with the act.

The goal of these manipulative people is to break down your own supernatural resistance and brain God gave you, so they gain personal advantages in your life. Put NO trust in man!

This Is a Very Scary Time to Be Alive and Not Know the Truth in the Scriptures

True men and women of God speak for Him. False men and women, who claim they are God’s ministers, speak and do what will ultimately be best for themselves.

They promote their own causes, and they cause divisiveness with those they have trapped in their web of deceit.

For example, I have even seen where false ministers cause division between marriages, for example, and they demand loyalty of them regardless of the contention they cause in their home, because the false ministers make themselves God’s equivalent.

They want you under their influence. They want you and everything that ‘YOU’ means!

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1.

Those who operate under a false ministry, appeal to your needs, and once they meet those needs, you are now obligated to them.

Once they invest in you, their motive in meeting temporal needs, is to meet that leader’s objective; which is to become part of them and their brand of Christianity, so they can control and manipulate you into serving them, instead of serving Christ freely.

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides. of the north, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:12-14 KJV.

God is raising up truth and fruit producers; people who are uncompromisingly right with their words and actions. However, what makes them different is their great transparency, integrity, and honesty before The Body of Christ, and if need be, the world.

Important Point : When these precious truth producers miss it, they are quick to repent to The Body. If there are none who repent, that is your warning to get out of that place!

There are many who run to and fro, who major on titles and lofty positions in Church and religious organizations, announcing “I am Prophet so and so”, and “I am Apostle that”.

They also demand that you call them by these titles too! Like “Bishop this” and “Scribe that.”

They purchase lofty titles even in magazines, internet and television, they have said, “I will ascend the mountain into heaven and exalt myself and my Throne of Authority!”

Beloved of God, They Will Bewitch You!

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?” Galatians 3:1 KJV

These deceivers say that God promoted them to high levels of religious prominence, even in some spirit filled organizations.

They are even found among non-denominational spirit filled assemblies and found on Christian television, having multitudes of videos without end.

Those who promote themselves do not realize that every word they speak or write, is being judged by God Almighty.

These pride-filled, head-stomping, title-seeking, ladder-climbing, pew-jumping deceivers will find out there is nothing spirit-filled at the top of man’s pursuits, except for ministry organizations that are led and full of evil spirits.

Serving Christ and His people has nothing to do with anything like a political campaign to win the lofty seats in towers and castle walls.

Obtaining positions in religious Church organizations and businesses is a dog-eat-dog world. This is not the way that The Church of The Living God began, nor how it is now or will end!

Being an apostle, prophet, or any type of leader in the Church is a life of loving servitude. As we mature, we must find the way of laying down our life, the way Jesus laid down His Life for His Friends.

The true Church of Jesus Christ is a spirit-fed; spirit-led life of surrender to the Cross, as we pick it up daily.

We must take ownership of our condition and the words and oaths and the effects of what they have done in our lives. Until we admit our sin and take ownership of our condition, we can never be set free!

Own your words and be responsible and accountable with them. If you say you are going to do something, you better back up your words with your life and actions, or no one will believe you!

Living this way will always cause a superficial life of skimming the surface with people and there will be no lasting fruit. Your ministry will never go further than those limits because we live a life of words.

Stick to your words and back them up with your life, or you will never be taken seriously. Chicken scratching, trying to be the early bird with the worm, not realizing you cannot fly and you are stuck in the limits of the coop.

With the Eagle, it is not so, because when we learn to mount up in prayer, worship, and study and we will soar on the wings of the wind of The Word of God!

If we don’t back up our word and live a life of integrity, honesty and loyalty. we will live superficial lives.

If our word is not our bond, no one can trust us. When we sign an agreement that we will pay so much for a service or item, and we don’t pay it, no creditor can trust us. What is worse, is God cannot trust us.

Important Note : I cannot, nor can you, help anyone if they think they know everything. I can only do what The LORD says, and once I have done everything He said, my job is over.

I am not responsible if the person rebels, The LORD removes me from that situation.

Our conversations or WORDS, not only speak, but are written in the way we present ourselves.

We also speak with our body language, mannerisms, and experiences. It is The Will of God to be holy with every word and in all our conversations dealing with mankind, business, and the world.

Important Note : When truth producers miss it, they are quick to repent to The Body. If there is supposedly leadership and they sin, make mistakes and blunders and never publicly repent, that is a sure sign of the timing with the warning to get out of that place! It will not get any better!

As I close, the things I have written are things I have experienced in my life personally and I am not writing about some theory, or some schools teaching or book, or someone else’s experience.

My teaching and writing came directly from my prayer life as I abide, and I listen, in Jesus’ Name.

And as I study The Word of God, I remain in obedience. For His Word is forever settled in heaven and on earth by Christ Jesus.

Amen and amen!
 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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The Seriousness of Words, Vows and Business

God has been reminding me and teaching me a lot lately concerning the power of the words.

“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 NKJV

God has been reminding me and teaching me a lot lately concerning the power of the words.

Words originate out of the abundance of our heart and mind and then the power of the words that are spoken, are crafted by using the tongue.

The tongue is a world of iniquity in our members and is a constant fleshly pursuit to conquer, or it will conquer you!

The actions and effects of words can cause lasting change for a lifetime and choices we speak eternally!

God’s Words are forever settled in heaven and on earth. Words are very powerful and are active seeds and once spoken into our atmosphere can cause change, both blessings and cursings.

As The Army of The LORD advances and takes the land, we must acquire and continue to learn the vocabulary of Heaven.

I often hear this verse of The Bible;

“Study to be quiet and do your own business, and to work with your own hands.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11.

Learning to become quiet and taking time to really think about how we conduct our lives, will guide us through tough times.

For it is through our conversations, oaths, vows and business dealings with others that we must display our integrity and master these things to become a further fruitful work of maturity in The Kingdom of God, to press on and upward!

Whether we believe it or not, people are watching us and how we deal with each other and how we deal with the lost, and how we conduct our business in this world like paying what we owe.

Financial mismanagement is rampant in the organized religious Church. When we do not pay our bills or pay what we owe, we are actually stealing! (Exodus 20)

People are watching us in all our business dealings. I have seen and witnessed such financial mismanagement and lying, exaggerating, stealing, not paying bills that it made me literally sick to my stomach.

I have witnessed such mismanagement in so-called Churches that is pure fraud. I have seen examples of minister’s stealing money from a prophet who was supposed to get that offering.

If we make a contract with someone or some business to buy a thing over time, we are supposed to pay them, as we are supposed to do all things as unto The LORD.

I know a woman who takes her whole paycheck and gives it to a Woman’s Ministry and chooses not to pay her bills.

I have seen that same family go from house to house after foreclosure. That minister will be held accountable for not correcting the woman for not paying her bills — and stealing.

These are supposedly Christians. We need to take a close look at those ministers, to see what they are.

In my past, I have learned not to do business with many so-called Christians, for they are the worst kind to do business with! Does this resonate with you?

I also have witnessed stealing words from other prophets and stealing other prophets’ experiences and claiming those experiences as theirs.

“Therefore behold, I am against the prophets,” says The LORD, “who steal My words everyone from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets,” says The LORD, “who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’ Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” says The LORD, “and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet I did not send them or command them; therefore, they shall not profit this people at all,” says The LORD. Jeremiah 23:30-32 KJV.

Stick To Your Word; Back It Up With Your Life!

Integrity, Honesty and Loyalty,are outstanding and upstanding character traits!

Having work ethics, sound judgment, dependability, paying what you owe and doing the right thing through our words, actions and beliefs is uncompromising!

It is not what you do in public that measures you, it is what you do especially when no one is watching. That is where the rubber meets the road!

“In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19 NKJV.

Anyone having been in The Kingdom of God for very long, knows the importance of our words and how weighty they are, both in the positive and the negative.

The Bible talks about not being quick with our words, not using our mouth like a garbage can.

Searching the scriptures reveals the source of all life, and in the earliest stages of all life is the tongue and the power it uses to form the words that come out from our own heart past our lips is what creates good and evil. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. (Matthew 12:34)

There was a woman in San Antonio Texas in the 80’s whom I met at a Church, and we knew each other the entire seven years that I lived there.

During that time, I got to know her very well and maybe you can identify with her life. She started coming over to our home and began taking advantage of our generosity, and she would always control all the conversations.

I asked God if he wanted me involved with this woman and his answer was, “Yes!”

As I prayed for her, The LORD began to show me things, then suddenly, she started regressing and staying away.

That did not surprise me, because I knew I was dealing with demonic forces that had been within her for a long time.

NB: I cannot, nor can you, help anyone if they think they know everything.

I can only do what The LORD says, and once I have done everything He says, my job is over.

I am not responsible if the person rebels. The LORD removes me from that situation.

Then there were times he brought me back into her life, when she was willing and obedient to hear from The LORD.

We had services in our house and every month we would celebrate whoever had a birthday. The Church would celebrate birthdays one Friday of each month.

I remember her coming in that night and she was non stop talking even through the service. There were three people who had a birthday, and she was one of them.

The ministry had gotten a cake and she happened to be in a good mood and came in for service after being away for some time. After service, everyone came in and we cut the cake and shared it with the entire ministry.

She bluntly came in running her mouth and said she had to go, then shockingly she proceeded to take the entire cake home with her!

I said, “Wait a minute that cake is for everyone that has a birthday.” She did not take the cake home.

I know this was an extreme example but isn’t this like most of the so-called Church? This woman had some really big issues with the love of money (everyone else’s money), entitlements, and proper social interactions.

I continued to pray as to why God wanted me in her life as she seemed bent on trying to discredit, slander me, and curse me but The LORD would not release me.

I once again would forgive asking others to forgive as well and remain patient with her.

The LORD taught me so much about his never-ending Grace and Mercy through her love-hate relationship with me. He would lead me at times, when I was the last person she wanted to see me, lead in with a smile of compassion and kindness, while I remained silent.

She continued to spin and spin with words until she finally sat down to listen. Yet God, in His Mercy would speak to her need and He never missed it.

God puts up with a lot in our lives, but He never releases us from His Care. Isn’t it comforting to know that no matter how messed up our lives are, that we are never too far from His loving kindness that leads us to repentance?

There are people just like her in The Body who need deliverance. Those who don’t know what to do with their own wrecked life.

She took liberties and would just show up at my house at any time without calling, asking, or doing what’s normal for people to do to be polite.

Her son was my son’s age, and they would play. I remember she would always talk, and she would always gossip, slander, and blame everyone else for her problems.

It was hard to get a word in edgewise with her. However, I learned a whole lot about her by listening to every word and watching her actions.

God continued to have me pray, fast, and minister to her, even when she would get angry with me and go away.

The LORD never cut off the relationship until we left the state. I look back on that time and think how wonderful it was that The LORD taught me so much through her.

I did not rejoice in what she went through, but I thanked God for teaching me through her life. For her, it was a love-hate relationship that we had, because she had deep rooted issues that dealt with abuse. She suffered physical, emotional, and horrible spiritual abuse.

She was molested by her father, who was a Baptist Minister, and she had horrible trust issues with spiritual leaders.

It took time getting to know her, but I saw the woman and I also saw the child that never was healed from all that happened.

I remained faithful to what God said, and I tried through the years to help her understand the importance of words and how curses must be broken, especially generational curses.

But on top of all of that, having her own biological father, who was the minister in the Church, sexually abuse her over and over, she could not get beyond that point.

I knew it was horrible and I do not know what I would do in that situation. Yet, through it all, I saw the Grace and Mercy of God in how He approached her, because her mind at many times was driven to insanity.

To imagine one’s own father doing such a thing would be very hard to process. Yet, to be honest, I do not know who could process and be healed of such a thing, unless The LORD himself performed a sovereign work of healing from the inside out.

I was able to minister to her while I was there, and she did get some deliverance ,and I trusted that The LORD would continue, since we had orders in the military to leave the state.

But true to form, she got very angry with me for having to leave. But these traumatized precious ones are the type of people that need the true Church, with the true liberating Power of Deliverance!

The religious Church world and Babylon System are not ready for people like this. People in organized religion expect people to come to the Church who are already refined and defined in life.

But that is not how it is! And there are a lot of people who are self-medicating in various ways to cope, because of trauma that they suffered.

Many suffer in silence, thinking they are too messed up to be helped. However, in the eyes of The LORD, this treatment of people is the worst.

In fact, religious or spiritual abuse in my opinion is the very worst. When will the true Church arise and shine? When will we become the hospital? A place of healing and restoration?

As we mature in The LORD, He expects us to be holy in every appearance. Not only the way we present ourselves, but in our mannerisms.

It is The Will of God to be Holy with every word, and in all our conversations dealing with mankind and business. For The Bible says “be holy — for I AM Holy.” (1 Peter 1:16, Leviticus 11:44)

I know that holiness is right, and that especially applies to the way we communicate with people. I will warn you of this, that there are those who run to and fro, who major on titles and lofty positions saying, “I am prophet this…” and “I am Apostle that….”

Oh, and let me not forget, that they demand that you call them these titles too! Like “Bishop this’…” and “Scribe that…” They purchased lofty titles; they promoted themselves to high levels of religious prominence, even in some spirit-filled organizations.

They are even found among nondenominational spirit-filled assemblies and found on Christian Television having multitudes of videos without end. Those who promote themselves, do not realize that every word they speak or write — is being judged.

These pride-filled, head-stomping, title-seeking, ladder-climbing, jumping deceivers will find out there is nothing spirit filled at the top of man’s pursuits, only evil spirits.

Serving Christ is nothing like a political campaign to win the lofty towers and castle walls. Obtaining positions in religious organizations and businesses is a dog-eat-dog world. This is not the Church of the living God, and what Christ began!

Being an apostle, prophet, or any leader in the Church, is a life of loving servitude. As we mature, we must find the way of laying down our life the way Jesus laid down his life for his friends. It is a spirit-fed spirit-led life of surrender to the Cross, as we pick it up daily.

I remember a long time ago when I thought I knew everything and had so much to give! I will never forget what happened to me!

I came into a meeting and I brought my concordance, and I brought my books thinking, I have got all the help I would need for these poor dear people who needed me!

So, I walked into this group with my inflated pride and as I walked in, I heard The Holy Spirit say, “Sit down and learn! You don’t know as much as you think you know!”

Well, that was my New Beginning of Learning what it meant to be truly promoted in The Kingdom. The last is first and to be first is last.

Learning through the years, the humbling trials and tribulations to process the fruit of the vine of being prepared as His divinely processed vessel. Cheers! (Acts 2)

If it were me dear reader, I would have you spared from such things, but I am not God, and He knows best.

But actually, it depends on you to a certain degree, in how long it takes for a horse or mule that must be bit, bridled, and broken.

To live a life of brokenness, is to depend on The LORD and pray, “God, how is my heart before You today? Are you still my top priority and in the place where you should be?”

Then seek to love Him first and foremost, and then all the other things will fall into their proper place. (Matthew 6:33)

Not so long ago, it was an honorable thing to agree about a thing and shake hands. Shaking hands was as good as your word or bond.

God has been showing me how vital it is to be honest and speak rightly about all things. Once we speak our words, we must own our words and what those words produce. The results of our circumstances are greatly dependent on what our confession is.

You say what you mean and mean what you say, study to be quiet and weigh every word before you speak.

Also learn to become a listener and learn to possess your soul and do not blurt out everything before you can speak and back it up.

The words that we speak originate out of our hearts. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Study to be quiet and you can learn a lot about a person by listening to their words and conversations. Our words are our bond even when it is difficult or inconvenient.

Words of an oath are so important, because there are spiritual forces that have witnessed what we said under oath. For example, when a person comes into a marriage and exchanges vows is what places authority on their covenant together.

Whatever oath, covenant, and words we speak, speaks volumes like an open book.

I would be amiss if I did not say this; If oaths are broken, it attracts the demonic and causes an open invitation for curses that follow the violator.

I am not saying that this sin and situation cannot be repented of, but we must take ownership of our condition and the words and oaths and the effects of what they have done in our lives.

Until we admit our sin and take ownership of our condition, we can never be set free. Once we confess our sin and take the ownership of blame, then true repentance can come bringing with it lasting change and deliverance.

May we all open our hearts so that we learn the lessons to become victorious in our lives in all respects, in Jesus’ Name!

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to The LORD the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:33-37 KJV.

We have a greater level of personal responsibility and accountability to make sure we are living in alignment with the words of The LORD.

We are being held to a higher standard and those who read these words are witnessing this!

Our words, promises, covenants, oaths, and vows we made to God when we received Jesus Christ as Lord! AND a personal responsibility to guard our heart, put a watch before our tongue and mouth, keep our vows to God and man especially in marriage, and in all our business’s dealings with the world and the Church.

We must remember to live our lives above reproach!

Let your yes be yes and your no, be no!

Realize that what we do in secret is openly displayed, nothing is hidden from God, and we must remember to do ALL things as unto The LORD and serve and prefer one another in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior and LORD!

Glory Hallelujah! To Him who sits on The Throne and unto The Lamb.

 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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A Detailed Look Into the Life of a Prophet

The LORD woke me up today speaking to me about manipulation, control, intimidation, insecurity, ulterior motives within the body of Christ.

The LORD woke me up very early and I was keenly aware of His Presence.

He was speaking to me of abuses that are found in Christian Churches, religious organizations, and cults, and He wanted me to write about how these things are being implemented in these organizations.

I also want to make it very clear that I have witnessed these things firsthand and in my own experiences.

Early in my walk with The LORD, I did not realize what an abusive Church or organization was. In all innocence, I just accepted things as they were and did not question the behaviors of how things were done in these Churches.

There is an innumerable amount of people who attend these types of religious services every week and never question what they heard or checked The Bible to see if what they taught or preached was in the scriptures.

Many depend on their grandparents or their parent’s religion stating, “it has always been this way.”

No one seeks to find out why they believe the way they do, and sadly, they place their twisted faith in how their parents always did it and trust in momma’s apron strings thinking that was good enough.

Their trust in ignorance will not give them the real experience of Salvation in Jesus Christ.

In my journey, I became troubled about things that I witnessed and questioned in these ministries, denominations or organizations.

I was young, ignorant, and assumed that I could ask questions so I could learn. But when I asked questions about what I heard or was taught, I was silenced or ignored.

For example, I asked the pastor why he said that the Book of Job should have never been written? His response was, “Had Job had enough Faith, he would have never gone through his experience.”

I was confused and continued to ask about this and other things taught, and he or his wife would not say any more about it.

I had other questions at other times that I asked in private to the pastor, pastor’s wife, or others in leadership under them, and they all ignored and avoided me.

There must be a number of you that have experienced similar things, and you feel like you were or are unheard, unloved, ignored, and unwanted.

The LORD impressed upon me to share bits and pieces of my life with you, and I pray to God that in some small way, that it encourages you or sparks the interest to seek The LORD for yourself.

Since I was involved in some of these denominations, organizations, and ministries, I wanted you to know that I personally understand.

Over the years I have learned some very valuable lessons, and I pray that what I share will help you understand.

I have been misunderstood greatly throughout the years, but I need to share this about myself so if or when things like this happen to you, it will make sense.

There is something I do personally when it gets too busy, distracting, and confusing in life. I back off or back away from everything for a while.

I learned to do this to find clarity and to be in sync with The LORD, and it is not a negative nor a manipulative act, or a rejection at all, but I have found in my own life that sometimes I can be too close to the forest to see the trees.

That is why I have learned to back away to get my bearings and to see and focus clearly from a distance so that I hear The LORD and not be distracted by all the sounds of clamor that distractions bring.

Being too close to a situation can cause us to not see clearly because we can be too emotionally involved, or too familiar with the situation.

These are the times to back away and get into serious personal prayer, fasting, and in searching the Holy Scriptures so The LORD can correct and tweak me, so that I am back in position to hear correctly for myself and for the body of Christ, and The Nations.

Some people ask this question, “Why does a Church or Ministry start out so right and end up so wrong?”

It is my hope that by the time you finish reading this, that it may answer many questions.

Please bear with me as I share portions of my life with you below, because I really feel it may help some of you with some God given answers and confirmations.

I want to go back in time before the events above, when my family and I were transferred to another Duty Station.

The year was 1984 and the place was Anderson Air Force Base, Guam. I had received The LORD Jesus Christ years before and was baptized, but was seriously backslidden.

I got into some spiritual trouble in a bar one night and I felt God’s heavy, full, brunt force of ‘conviction’ in that bar like I had never felt before. I had to leave.

Have you ever heard the statement; “It felt like I got hit in the head with a two by four?” Well, that is how much it bothered me, and it was a divine wakeup call.

When I got home, I remained up all night ashamed and continued to tell God I was sorry asking him to forgive me, and from that moment on, I promised God I would start going to the Military Base Chapel/ Church.

True to my Confession, my family and I started attending a Military Base Chapel on Sundays.

For your information, Military Chapels allow all Churches, denominations, and religions. Even today they embrace, many like Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and their “Faith and Belief Codes” listing over 200 groups including Sikhs, Wiccans and Atheists. (How the US military embraced America’s religious diversity.)

I remember attending the Services and I could not comprehend any of what the minister said. It was so boring, and I watched others in the Service nod off.

While in my discouragement, I was handed a bulletin and I saw that there was a weekly Women’s Bible Study and I perked up, thinking I would give it a try. It was led by one of the various pastors’ wives who happened to be a Methodist.

I began to go and met some very nice women. The pastor’s wife used quarterlies, a booklet that all groups used in the Chapel.

Not long after I started going, I met a dear friend named Rhonda and we talked a lot about The LORD, and I was fascinated by her background as her parents were both deliverance ministers in the Assemblies of God denomination.

I had NO idea about demons, nor did I realize God could be so real! Rhonda and I became quite close and talked for hours about The LORD.

It was through our conversations that she introduced me to the Baptism of The Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues as The Spirit gave the utterance. (Acts chapter 2)

She provided me with scriptures and shared personal experiences, and she told me I could have it if I wanted it. At that time, I had no understanding or never heard of it before, but I was curious and interested.

Being so new and very sincere concerning the promise I made to God, I was very interested in The Bible and in learning.

The women of the Bible Study invited me to attend a 3-day Seminar on prayer that was being held off base at a hotel in downtown Agana Guam, and with excitement I said yes!

When we arrived, I was shocked at the size of the Conference Room, because it was surprisingly large.

The room was full, and the guest speaker was Evelyn Christiansen. I had no idea who she was, but I did not care because I was just so hungry to learn, and I was so excited to see so many Christians in one place!

I did not think there would be so many Christians on an island that is 30 miles long and depending on where you were in the middle was 1 to 8 miles wide.

The entire Seminar was on the topic of Prayer, and I was told that it was a non-denominational Seminar.

Each session began with praise and worship, and I noticed that some of the people in the audience while praising God would lift their arms and hands in worship.

While I had never seen it before, it did not bother me. But there was something that I did notice that bothered me greatly. Some of the people in the audience and even some in our group were scoffing and making fun of those who were expressing their worship to The LORD.

Even though I was immature in the things of God, I knew what they did was very wrong. Who were they to judge someone else’s expression of worship?

During that conference, I was like a sponge and took many notes and swallowed it all!

After that conference, I began to incorporate prayer into my daily routine. I got a small spiral notepad and began to list and date everything and everyone I wanted to pray for.

Since my husband was up very early for work and my babies were very young, I needed to be ready for them.

I would wake up very early and there was such excitement! However, I had to figure out a time when I could be alone with God to pray and study in privacy. So, I began my day at 5am, and many times I would wake up without an alarm clock.

I had my coffee with Jesus and began to pray everything I could think of and when I could not remember the rest, I would use my prayer notepad.

I began to feel spiritually stronger. I could feel the strength coming in all areas and began to witness my prayers being answered and I would date them!

I continued to add more requests to my list, and it became longer, and I loved this time with The LORD, and He was so very real and close to me!

I found the more I prayed the more I wanted to pray, and he taught me so much in scripture and I was so hungry.

What time I had free after caring for my family and home, was given to God! These brief paragraphs I have written were before I ever was Baptized in The Holy Ghost and fire in 1984!

If you are interested in my experience of being Baptize by Fire, you can find it here on HKP: “Experiencing the Shekinah Glory!”

I wanted to share portions of my life experiences to prepare you in advance about what I will share later. The particular gift and office that I want to talk about is the office of the prophet.

What I share with you in this article I have experienced and witnessed first-hand.

First and foremost; no man can make you a prophet. No school, seminary, or university can make you a prophet. God himself calls prophets.

“And he said, hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I The LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.” Numbers 12:6 KJV

Here are some questions I want you to think about:

  • Why would a leader of a Christian denominational organization or Church, including spirit filled organizations say they believe the Bible and in Jesus Christ but become threatened or intimidated by a prophet of God sent there?
  • Why would that leaders’ walls go up and precautions made when a prophet came in? Walls are for protection, aren’t they?
  • Why does the leader think he needs protection?

God is wanting to unveil things in the spirit realm. In the case of this leader, the walls are all part of a structure, fortress and stronghold created to keep what is hidden within the leader’s life.

When we speak of walls, fortresses and realms this sounds like kingdom talk doesn’t it?

There are two kingdoms we choose from: the Kingdom of darkness, or the Kingdom of Light. There are many such leaders of Christian Churches, denominations, and organizations that are strongholds of sin and dens of devils.

So many are deceived by the false peace, and the false fruits. Basing your lives by feelings is dangerous.

Spiritual feelings, false humility, among others are growing in popularity with such deception like New Age!

New Age is in the Church and strong! Walls are also boundaries of territory that the demons have built to network his schemes, conspiracies, and orders. Jesus even said of the religious.

“Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Matthew 15:14 KJV.

The time is at hand, even as Jesus said, to leave them alone and move on. If you obeyed God, you are done! Now move on!

Many are twisted in that truth and God himself is unveiling it NOW!

This isn’t just denominational or organizational ministries that we have known that are like shrines of dead men’s bones, but also some very popular spirit filled Churches and ministries, and God is sending the voice of His Prophets!

Many of these New Age types of ministries say they believe The Bible, believe in Jesus, and have the spirit.

However, they are dangerously so twisted by Leviathan and have been caught up in the webs, entanglements, and networking of labyrinths, and the people involved in these types of ministries’, are so deceived that it will take The Holy Spirit’s work to expose the truth!

These ministries’ twist the scripture so well that the gift of discerning spirits is needed now more than ever!

God Is Exposing New Age Through His Prophets!

“Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand.” Matthew 24:23-25 KJV

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness,” Romans 1:18 KJV.

“Then The LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:9-10 KJV

What has happened to Church and organizational leaders that they fear they have no protection?

What is it that they fear to be seen in a negative light?

Instead of repenting of their hidden practices and sin, which could be resolved quickly, why do they feel they must hide it and reject the man or woman of God?

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16 KJV

One of God’s purposes for sending in prophets is to bring a redemptive work of God’s correction and order.

A redemptive work of correction and order you may ask? Yes, part of His nature as Father is to discipline in hopes of redemption.

But in my experience the majority of the flock cannot recognize what is happening fully for The LORD wants to reach the leadership and has tried in MANY WAYS AND TIMES and that is why He finally sends a prophet.

However, The LORD keeps the flock safe and secure while he attempts to reach out to the leadership that feels exposed.

Being that we are a body and have team members with day-by-day dealings with the flock of God, why do we hide these things from those who have been found trustworthy?

Understanding the team concept is to have a better understanding of its intricacies’.

It takes a secure leader to recognize expertise in their team details so that they can share their perspective and trust God in their gifting. We must realize each part is interdependent of each other to function.

The Days of One-man Shows Are Over!

The last thing we want is for the flock to be intimidated, insecure, fearful or hesitant to share things that silences them in a negative light.

God is wanting to recognize all so they will discover their God given gifts and destiny so that all will benefit from the whole-body ministry.

But if the leadership is intimidated, it can silence those who really need to exercise their gifts and become true God given blessings to the body of Christ!

I have recognized this in relationships and weak or insecure leaders. In some instances, to bring conformity, some leaders will suddenly ignore and avoid questions altogether.

Being silent can be a form of manipulation and control, and it is abusive and destructive to godly relationships.

Remaining silent and not acknowledging the person that has questions, speaks volumes. If used repeatedly in relationships can cause irrevocable spiritual and emotional damage.

In spiritual and emotional abuse, it is not always what is said, but what is unsaid in the abuse. In abusive relationships, organizations and religious corporations, manipulation, control, intimidation, that leads to insecurity are practiced regularly. These things are based in fear, and NOT how Christ leads His Church!

I was led to write this, because I personally experienced this. Silence and dominance are widely practiced within religious, denominational Churches, and cultic organizations.

And reader, if you find yourself in such a place, get out! Why? Because it will never get better!

I believe these things will give you a guideline to go by in the future, because these techniques are not only used in some Christian Churches, religious organizations and cults, but in jobs, relationships and anything else you have dealing with mankind.

I exhort you! Get secure in Christ! Get your confidence from Christ! Be who you are and realize that no matter what you do, people will not always be satisfied with you. Quit trying to prove something to silence, and just be yourself and move on.

Believers, pulling away from these types of people and organizations can be a resolution plan of freedom!

If these things have been or are now your experience, avoid them and move forward! Stay just as far away from spiritual and emotional abuse for your spiritual and emotional health!

Leadership that causes the flock to feel they do not belong, affects their self-esteem and causes feelings of unworthiness and shame. While words may hurt us, silence is deafening.

I have found with assemblies if unrepented sin is in the leadership, it is on the flock. If this is the case, evil spirits immediately recognize a true prophet when he or she walks into the assembly, although the people do not.

When God in His mercy sends a true prophet into an assembly to bring correction, he does so because the leadership has continually ignored The LORD’s warnings of correction.

When a true prophet comes to a rebellious leader it is out of God’s love that he or she is sent. The prophet however, due to the anointing on their life causes a provoking reaction.

Once leadership reacts to action they fear and become intimidated, and their reaction is aimed at the prophet.

I have seen where God wanted to deliver, but instead the evil spirits would provoke the leader to great anger against the vessel God wanted to use to bring deliverance and freedom.

Pulling Back the Curtain in the Spirit Realm

The evil spirits that control that assembly were provoked, to reaction, and then action as the leadership is now openly intimidated by the prophet.

The provoked leader, deeming that the true prophet is a false prophet, moves upon appointed leadership to be sure that the true prophet is silenced or removed from the assembly.

I have witnessed that in their twisted mindset, the demonized leaders will even tell the true prophet to not touch God’s anointed, calling them a devil!

When the true prophet is silenced or removed, the leadership uses the true prophet as a scapegoat to cover up their sin.

Then from the rebellious leader’s pulpit the true prophet is blasted as a false prophet that was sent to cause trouble!

Thus, the demons laugh and continue their charade in keeping their positions of power in that leader and flock and sadly the leadership and the flock remain bound.

“Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of The LORD and have followed the Baals.” 1 Kings 18:17-18 NKJV

“Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of The LORD Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you? Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of The LORD Jesus was magnified. And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver.” Acts 9:11-19 NKJV

When the office of the prophetic is in operation, it can make you feel intimidated especially if there is unconfessed sin in your life and can make you feel like you are under a magnifying glass.

This is not the person but the prophetic anointing in their life. Most of the time the prophet is not even aware of it unless The LORD opens their eyes to see what is actually there.

Information is given to the prophet for the person’s deliverance and welfare, not to publicly expose or humiliate them! Most of the exposure is done in secret between the person and The LORD.

The prophetic anointing will cause a feeling of pressure on men bound with secret sins and they will feel like they are being singled out.

They will be extremely uncomfortable because of the spiritual battle being waged over their soul’s deliverance.

Some under the prophetic anointing are so uncomfortable and provoked by demons, that they run away.

They run because of fear to avoid the prophetic anointing altogether. Later in confusion, they wonder why they feared and ran.

If you have witnessed or tried to minister to someone and they are intimidated, it is their reflection not yours, and it is outside of your control if they continue to hold to it.

Prophets may seem to have an intimidating personality, but it has nothing to do with you, but everything to do with how the people perceive them. The prophetic reveals what is hidden, even if the prophet is not clearly aware of why they are there.

So many believe that Christians cannot have demons operating in their lives, and because of that belief, many are bound to all sorts of sins.

Sin gives “legal” ground to the evil spirits working in their lives. The enemies’ mission is to keep as much ground gained in the lives of people as possible. Why? Keeping people in unbelief and ignorance is a powerful stronghold of darkness. But when light comes to reveal sin, and you ask God to forgive you, he does!

However, if you continue to fall back into the same sin over and over again and you have no control, there is a demonic presence involved.

But many Christians do not believe demons can be involved in their lives. So, with that unbelief will cause a vicious cycle of defeat, and the enemy takes up residence in the person’s life.

However, there is help and freedom that The LORD Jesus provides in deliverance.

Prophets rarely are received at the beginning, as they have learned the lessons of, “the fear of man or Fear of God.”

It is pure joy to a prophet when they are received and accepted in the beloved!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:3-6 NKJV

The prophetic office is a gift to the body of Christ. The anointing they carry convicts of sin, challenges us, and spurs us on in our journey in the Kingdom of God!

If you meet a true prophet, they are often misunderstood, but if you continue to look at their lives you will find a very humble and broken heart.

Often the prophet carries a broken heart for the people, because they carry The LORD’s burden for the people to be delivered of sin.

Their life is not often accepted by man, but they receive their blessings and acceptance from God.

We never get to a point in our lives and ministries where we move past that place of wonder we had in God in the beginning.

Just like when we met The LORD, we have great need to revisit that place again and again in our lives!

Meditate and revisit that initial encounter we had with The LORD; remember the innocence, our transparency, and the excitement in fellowship we had with The LORD in Prayer and in His Word!

If you have found yourself in the places described above, there is an answer for you.

You do not need a priest, or prophet, you do not even need their prayers. It is all about YOU going back to where it all began when you found your first love!

He is still there waiting and hoping you will find your bearings and pull back and away to get back in sync with The LORD.

This is not a one-time thing, it can happen many, many times as many times as you need to pull away to see and hear him clearly again.

We will never outgrow our precious time of remembrance in going back to the simplicity of his love for us!

For we never need to leave our first love, He is always there. But the question for you is, where are you right now?

Are you being tossed to and fro on the sea of life and is your compass spinning and the fog not lifting?

Have you been kept so focused on circumstances, and situations, that the cares of this life have kept you away from His presence?

Has your wilderness experience been so tall like a forest, so dense and dark that you cannot find where you are?

The answer is here beloved!

Return to your first love! Pull back, and back away, and come away with The LORD until you are fully restored in that place with Him.

And when that happens, then you will lift your eyes, and then you will see clearly and hear him clearly and you will find that your steps are one with his steps, knowing you are one with Him!

“I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelations 2:2-5 KJV

 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

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