Friday, July 20, 2012

Freeform Friday Week 7

I received the following comment a couple days ago, and for today’s Freeform Friday, I will be answering it in depth.

Chances are, some of you will not like what I have to say, so if you are easily offended, think getting to heaven is as easy as clicking like on Facebook, or that we will not see what the Bible clearly says we will see with our own eyes, please read no further as I have enough enemies to last me ten lifetimes already.

The following is the comment I received in its entirety. What follows is my response.

I don't mean to interrupt your series on prayer, but perhaps if you could be so kind, this might be addressed on Freeform Friday? I don't mean to interfere with what you had planned for that either, I just don't know any other efficient way to communicate with you. I have read that you petitioned the Lord to stop, for a season, communicating spiritual insights that were given to you...because of "prophecy junkies". I am asking if you might reconsider that, not for the sake of indulging prophecy junkies, but for the sake of guiding all the sincere sheep that are following you. Consider that the particular following you have is sheep who value truth and know you don't lie - if we wanted our ears tickled we would follow someone else. If we could all do it on our own, there would be no need for shepherds. There will always be wackos in this world, but please do not withhold from the sheep because of them. It is getting downright scary out there. This stuff going on in Syria ... escalating fighting in Damascus, Assad bringing out missiles with nerve gas, mustard gas, cyanide ... the prophecy of it becoming a heap of ruins could manifest at any moment. The judgments on America could begin at any time....or it could wait another 25 years. I have sensed turmoil in the spiritual world for months, but despite much prayer I don't know what that means, other than the continual battle between good and evil that has always gone on around us. For 99.999% of us, never ever has an angel appeared at the foot of our beds to tell us what we need to know, and probably never will. I know you did not want that job or that gift - you wanted to be an archaeologist - but since you do have that gift, you may not realize what it feels like to be a sheep and in the middle of a really terrifying world, without the insights that come to you so easily. Thank you.

I have read that you petitioned the Lord to stop, for a season, communicating spiritual insights that were given to you...because of "prophecy junkies". I am asking if you might reconsider that, not for the sake of indulging prophecy junkies, but for the sake of guiding all the sincere sheep that are following you. Consider that the particular following you have is sheep who value truth and know you don't lie - if we wanted our ears tickled we would follow someone else.

If I have ever, at any time, even in passing or tangentially intimated, insinuated, implied or suggested that anyone should follow me then I have failed in my purpose and duty toward God. Although I appreciate the vote of confidence in that I strive to preach the truth, if Christ is not ever present, if He is not glorified, if He is not what you are guided towards, and pointed to, then I am guilty of sin before my God, and you shouldn’t be listening to me anyway.

The duty of a shepherd is to lead the sheep to The Shepherd!

In this singular task I have strived, and agonized, and persisted even when it was unpopular, even when people mocked, even when I was belittled and derided for holding to something that was out of step with the rest of the Christian world.

If the sheep of God’s pasture hope to grow into what God expects them to be, we need to stop repeating the cycle of lifting up a certain individual, labeling them oracle or mouthpiece, and living vicariously through what God shows them, rather than press in, and pray, and seek the face of God, with tears and anguish until we are likewise shown that which God desires to reveal to all of His children.

I am least among my brethren, and carry my cross like anyone else called to be a servant of God. On a good day I don’t gnash my teeth in pain when getting out of bed. On a bad day I can’t get out of bed at all. So if you must put someone up on a pedestal, at least pick someone that can walk up there on their own two feet.

I have always detested the idol culture we’ve created, and on pain of death I refuse to be part of it. People on pedestals tend to make better targets anyway, so I’d rather just run my race, be faithful to my calling, do what God commands me to do, and remain as faceless as our modern culture will permit.

I did not ask God for permission to withhold certain dreams or visions because I wanted to seem mysterious, or cryptic, but because the knowledge of what is to come will do nothing to keep us if we are not fully in Christ.

The paramount question we must all ask ourselves, especially given the times that are upon us, is: ‘Are we dead yet?’

That’s it…that’s the million dollar question. If we are truly dead, then we have nothing to fear. If we are truly dead, when God tells us to go, we will not hesitate, our hearts will not be tethered to material things for which we will yearn and look back, we will simply go where He tells us to go.

If we could all do it on our own, there would be no need for shepherds. There will always be wackos in this world, but please do not withhold from the sheep because of them. It is getting downright scary out there. This stuff going on in Syria ... escalating fighting in Damascus, Assad bringing out missiles with nerve gas, mustard gas, cyanide ... the prophecy of it becoming a heap of ruins could manifest at any moment. The judgments on America could begin at any time....or it could wait another 25 years. I have sensed turmoil in the spiritual world for months, but despite much prayer I don't know what that means, other than the continual battle between good and evil that has always gone on around us.

Once again, we must define the role and duty of a shepherd. A shepherd’s duty is to guide you to green pastures and living waters. I have strived with every fiber of my being to do this consistently, and I will continue to do so until I breathe my last.

My hope and purpose is not to have a following, my hope and purpose is to mature those whom God brings across my path, to the point that they themselves become shepherds to others who will be drawn from the darkness into the light.

If we think it’s scary now, all we need to do is wait a couple weeks, and we will need to redefine scary all over again.

Syria will escalate, and the word of God will come to pass. God does not lie! God does not exaggerate! His word is truth, and so, yes, war in Syria is imminent.

As far as America is concerned, to a certain extent it is already under judgment, but rebellious hearts being what they are, it’s being blamed on global warming, climate change, cow flatulence, or anything else except what it truly is.

What the future holds is dark, and grim. There is much sorrow and mourning on the way not only for America but for the world as we know it, and the only way around it is through it. There is no blue pill, there is no magic bullet, there is no express shuttle, and the fact that the household of faith refuses to acknowledge this singular truth is largely the reason why many who fancy themselves believers today, will rebel against God in the coming months and years, shaking their fists at Him in anger and rage.

The resolve of the church is being whittled down on a daily basis, and what was once a mighty oak, is now a toothpick. What we once called sin, and vehemently so, is accepted practice even within the house of God. We are a polluted, corrupt, hedonistic generation whose hearts are given over to evil continually, just as it was in the days of Noah. The turmoil you sense in the spiritual world is the walls of the citadel being breached, the watchmen leaving their posts, and the enemy running roughshod through the house of God.

We must understand that shelter, safety, and protection can only be found in Christ. Yes, some try to do what they can with buying gold, silver, storing food and water, preparing for the worst possible outcome, but no matter how well prepared we are, it will still not suffice.

If God told you to prepare in the physical, then prepare in the physical. If however you are doing it because other people are doing it, then you run the risk of trusting in the preparations you’ve made, and ignoring the voice of God when He tells you to flee, because your rational human mind believes you have the best chance of riding out the storm where you are presently.

Just this morning I saw a news article talking about hundreds of teenagers storming a Wal-Mart in a criminal flash mob, and underneath there was a caption that read, ‘if they do this for fun, what will they do when they’re going hungry?’

If we’re going to get down to brass tacks, and assume that we can provide for our own safety, then we need to answer some difficult questions. ‘Are you willing to take a human life to protect some canned beans and wormy flour? If yes, then are you willing to take two, five, ten, how many is too many, and how soon before you’re overrun?’

Do you think for an instant that if your neighbors are going hungry and they know that Bob, or Mike, or Janice have been storing food and water they won’t kick down your door and take what they need?

This is why Christ is the only answer!

Psalm 91:7-11, ‘A thousand may fall to your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your habitation, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.”

Not only do I believe that God can do what He promised in His word, I believe that He will. If I did not believe with all my heart that He is my refuge, and because I made Him my habitation no evil would befall me, I would be running for the hills, and finding a nice spot to dig a spider hole.

For 99.999% of us, never ever has an angel appeared at the foot of our beds to tell us what we need to know, and probably never will. I know you did not want that job or that gift - you wanted to be an archaeologist - but since you do have that gift, you may not realize what it feels like to be a sheep and in the middle of a really terrifying world, without the insights that come to you so easily. Thank you.

With the coming of the night, comes the dawning of the day!

This is why the times that are upon us ought not to be seen as frightening, but as exciting. The power of the living God will be all the more manifest in His beloved as the power of darkness continues to grow. As yet you might not see the messengers of the Lord, but the day is coming when you will. God will give His angels charge over you, you will be divinely directed, and divinely protected, if you have made Him your habitation.

Yes, I believe that the day is approaching when the supernatural for lack of a better word, will be common place among the saints.

Why do you think that for the better part of a year, now going on two, we’ve been discussing the power of the Holy Spirit, and prayer, the two elements necessary for a dynamic, intimate, and reciprocal relationship with God? Do you believe this was accidental? God is preparing His children for the days to come.

Steel yourselves, set your faces like flint, see only Jesus before you, for the days are coming when the enemy will attempt to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

With love in Christ,
Michael Boldea Jr.

10 comments:

  1. If we are truly dead, then God tells us what He wants us to know. Some are told more, some less. Sometimes if God told us the details of what was to be, we would be so terrified that we might be tempted to stop serving Him in the near term, or prepare in a way that is not edifying. Also, He doesn't tell us everything so that we can strengthen our faith; we must trust Him.


    To summarize, if we are truly dead to the flesh, God will tell us all we need to know to honor Him in the judgment that is here. Some things He will hide from us for our own benefit. Remember; the object is not to survive, but to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

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  2. Many thanks for taking this chance to speak about this, Personally i think strongly regarding it and I make use of learning about this subject. When possible, as you gain data, please update this website with new information. I've found it extremely useful.
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  3. Excellent!! Praise God, our Almighty King!!

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  4. Dear Mike,
    "Are we dead yet?" What an incisive question! "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."
    May the Holy Spirit use that question as a search light to ferret out those hidden areas of my soul that are alive and well.
    Thank you for your blogs that plumb the depths of the Word of God and give me much to ruminate and digest.
    May God bless you, your wife, your family, and your beloved country, Romania.
    Lovingly in Christ,
    Your sister Carol

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  5. Reply part 1: Thank you, Mike. I greatly appreciate your response to my comment. You don't need to publish this, unless you want to. My intent is to thank and also to
    try and straighten out some misunderstanding. When I said, "if we could all do it on our own there would be no need for shepherds", I think that might have been what set you off. Please calm down. I never thought of you as an idol, and apologize if I came across that way. When I talk about sheep
    following you, I MEANT as a shepherd, not as an idol. I meant using your teachings as an aid to building a closer relationship with Christ.

    You wrote, "My hope and purpose is not to have a following, my hope and purpose is to mature those whom God brings across my path,..." - how do you expect to accomplish your purpose if no one reads all the stuff you write?? These readers ARE your following, the listeners and receivers of the teaching you work so hard to produce. You continue, "...to the point that they themselves become shepherds to others who will be drawn from the darkness into the light. " I print off your Fundamental Teachings and have given them to those misled by false doctrine, with prayer that they will recognize the error. How could I do this if I didn't read your work, if I weren't one of your "following"? I am going to be printing off the prayer and Holy Spirit series as well.

    There is no idol worship in this at all, but rather the God-given organization of the body of Christ - some teach, some preach, some prophesy, and many listen and do their best to put what is taught into practice. That would be us, the readers of your blog and your books, the people with enough discernment to know that Prophet Bob is an idiot at best and a deceptive demon from hell at worst. We understand the difference between the Shepherd and the
    shepherds. Rest assured you have never come across as wanting to be the object of a personality cult. Recognizing the truth and value of what you preach is NOT the same as putting you on a pedestal. I am somewhat puzzled as to why you seem to think it is. Maybe you don't realize how extremely rare your gift is, at least at the present time, and I am not just talking about dreams and visions. You have a gift for expressing spiritual things in a way easily grasped. I referred to this statement in your May 12 2012 post: "As I explained in a recent radio interview, the reason why I have not released any visions or dreams is because many within the household of faith have become, for lack of a better term, prophecy junkies. " I don't doubt this at all. But what about those of us who are not prophecy junkies? Not every communication you get from the Lord is prophecy. Much of it has to do with strengthening and
    reassurance. Those are tremendous blessings in these times. One that I reread often is the vision of the mountain, where as you go higher and higher to the source of the water, it becomes more spiritually pure and nourishing. Every time I open my Bible to read it, I remember this image, and I pray for my soul and spirit to drink deeply and be nourished by the Word. You have no idea how much that simple and direct illustration has blessed me and strengthened my walk.

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  6. Reply part 2: I know it is pointless to hoard supplies or gold or silver. What we should hoard is Bibles and sound teaching, in printed form, for when it all blows up for real and there is no electricity and no internet, and those who finally realize the need to seek God are coming to us for help. An angel told you it is an honor to be used in the way that you are, that if a vessel is filled but does not pour out to others, the message benefits no one. Many of us take very seriously the fact that while the Word of God has priority over all else, He also speaks through chosen vessels, and you have proven yourself to be a
    genuine one. In a world full of deception and lunacy this is something of great value. It has never occurred to me that I could get to heaven by clicking on
    Facebook. I study the Word. That is why the events in Damascus have so gripped my attention. I do find it exciting, in some ways we've been waiting so long for these fulfillments that sometimes I just wish the other shoe would drop and we could get on with it. Yet I feel guilty for saying that because it will bring untold suffering when it happens. I do not advocate a pre-trib rapture and expect to be here through hell and high water, at least to the extent that hell is allowed to manifest itself on this planet. It is precisely because of that expectation that I not only pray and fast, but also read,study, listen, search, ask, and try to equip myself as best I can for the most difficult times the world has ever known. I read the writings of other teachers and theologians,with prayer for discernment. If God has chosen you to be a vessel, why would anyone resent those who recognize this and listen up? This is not due to idol worship or
    neglect of studying the pure Word, it is profound RESPECT for the One who has obviously chosen to use you and for the Message He wishes to convey. Is this really so infuriating?

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  7. It is my experience that people treat "prophecy" as a more legitimate, acceptable form of fortune-telling, which is just another way to know the future, which is forbidden, right? Real prophecy is always a call to repentance, not a way to give people a sneak preview. Real prophecy is usually not embraced very well. When I see people clamoring after a "prophet" I am suspicious.

    We are supposed to depend on faith, that which is not seen. If we paid more attention to right now and what God wants from us, we wouldn't need to know about tomorrow.

    I have been prepared for anything, even the worst, because I have the faith that even if He slays me I can trust Him. What else do we need to know?

    What is more frightening to me now than what heart-stopping events might be just ahead, is that so many people still believe and count on being scooped up before it gets bad. And, more than that there is a new more subtle mutation of the all-saved, no need for repentance, heresy spreading like carbon dioxide not only in the churches but even in those who have come out of apostate religion.

    We are running out of time to get it. How many more rabbit trails can we be allowed to run off on before there is no way home?

    For Christ,
    Meema
    http://bagsallpacked.blogspot.com/

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  8. Amen and amen! Powerful words, and true! In years past, I myself was such a prophecy "junkie". Now, I know I must keep my focus on Jesus, and stay calm in my soul that I may be sensitive to the nudgings of His Spirit. We must focus on Christ, not on the chaos around us.

    Thank you for your much-needed post. And thank you especially for your steadfast integrity, which I'll be praying you'll never lose.

    With you in Christ,

    Melanie

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  9. Hi Michael,

    From time to time, I find myself returning to this blog, hoping to find you writing about how the only way to "all truth" (as your previous reader desired to hear) is by the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth. Without the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the desire to die to ourselves that Christ be fully formed in us (as you know) we will find ourselves no better than the 1000 on our side or 10,000 at our right hand. Our desire is that the Lord be lifted up that His name glorified and His will be done in us, as it was in those that came before us.

    So why the reason for this reply, because time is short. Because the day of judgment is at the door. Because, I guess, my heart is heavy for those who desire truth but need to be shown the way. God is bringing division within the church and soon those who are found without a wedding garment will be thrown out. There are still those who desire to be full of the oil but need to be shown how to buy it of God, before the day comes when the wise virgins tell the foolish to go and find it. Without the earnest of the Spirit, without the Lord being our Shepherd in these times, we would be lost. Sure, we can stand on the truths that are written in His word, because He holds His word higher than His name, but with His word being the schoolmaster to lead us to life in the Spirit, the milk only satisfies for so long. We need strong meat. God is searching for those who desire strong meat. God's word is enough but the time is coming brother when men are going to desire the Holy Spirit, but He will be taken out of the way. The former and latter rain is soon to be poured out. I speak nothing new...you know all of these things.

    As a brother in Christ, one who deeply loves and respects what God has given you and Dumitru, I ask you to go in the Spirit and ask God what He would have you to do now, while it is still day, before the day comes when no man can work. My heart, as well as those that are with us, has been heavy regarding this for some time. I certainly do not want to judge another man's servant, but as a brother, as a friend, I do believe there is more that God requires of you in these times and my hope is one day I return to this blog to find others who are encouraged because they too have learned how to bring out of them the gifts of the Spirit that were given them.

    Without the fruit of the Spirit, what are we? Without showing/teaching/desiring to prophecy, desiring for God to fulfill His word in showing us things to come, where do we find ourselves? How can we prepare? How can we pray in the Spirit and with understanding also?

    John 16
    13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

    I pray that this comes as encouragement to you, brother, and assure you that my tone is in love. Much grace and strength be unto you and those that are with you.

    Love in Christ,
    Ryan

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  10. Ezekiel 34:10
    King James Version (KJV)
    10 Thus says the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

    People don't get it, their hearts are not right. All they hear is the parable. Truth is hidden in plain sight for their hardness of heart. We are to be as our Master. Full of the Holy Spirit, sealed with the Holy Spirit. Those who know their God will do exploits. Signs follow those who actually believe: God confirms His word.

    Those who look to a man, any man, Michael included, are in danger of their crown being stolen. We are suppose to exhort (by the Holy Spirit) one another in the last days. Those who have the Spirit of Truth will get more Truth. Those who rely on or look to a man will loose what they did have. We are to be the temple of the Holy Ghost. Rivers of Living Water are to flow out of our bellies.

    Shepherds should always have pointed to the Holy Spirit that leads into all Truth. They have not. They have taught doctrines of men and devils because they themselves were not full of the Holy Ghost. There is one God, one Savior and one Spirit that we have need of no other teacher. Those who have pointed to Truth were faithful. Those who took away the key of knowledge it would be better for them to have a mill-stone around their neck and gone swimming.

    Those who worship God must do it (one)in Spirit; the Holy Spirit and (two) in Truth. No one can have Truth without the Holy Spirit that bears witness and leads into all Truth. No one can receive the Holy Spirit with out Truth; Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life by walking in the Spirit. So complex few find it. So simple a child can receive it.

    A thousand will fall on the left and ten thousand will fall at the right but only those worthy to escape by hearing and doing the Fathers will by the Holy Spirit will the righteous that know their God that can do exploits.

    ESC
    Dave

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