Danny Korakas

Not only is the world reeling toward a collision course with the Lord, so is the church — the people of God. Those who are called by the Lord are, more sooner than later, going to be impacted by manifestations and encounters of His presence and glory. An explosion of the glory of God is going to cover the face of the earth and the vehicle called to fulfill this reality is the church — you and I. God's plan has always been that His glory and presence would be carried upon the shoulders of man himself rather than man-made vehicles and designs to reach others with the good news of His love and salvation. Tragedy and death was the result when man attempted to transport the glory of God upon the creation of man's hands rather than the creation of God's hands.

Many have spanned the globe looking for a man or woman to impart the supernatural power of God into their lives. The problem is that this is a sign of our "personal" bankruptcy of seeking intimacy with the Lord. Mankind can only give what it truly has, but the Lord is about to visit His people and deposit a gift far more precious than what man could give. These encounters with the Lord will be the receiving of His essence — the glory and empowerment of HOLINESS. The end time harvest and revival that many have foretold and foreseen has not come because the revival of holiness and the essence of Christ in the life of the church must first come. The power of God's attribute (His holiness) radiating through His people will be the power evangelism that dead works have failed to produce.

"Be holy, for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:16)

This is not an option that was inspired and spoken forth by the Spirit of God. It was a directive of what is truly possible in the life of individuals as the church. The glorifying essence that will cover the face of the earth will be a people that have made it their mandate to walk in holiness and purity in Christ-likeness. (This is what brings our Lord Jesus Christ glory and is the complexion and beauty of the Bride He is coming back for.) I find it awe inspiring that this will in fact be our spiritual and emotional make-up as He returns for us. I write this prophetic word in the fear of the Lord as He is speaking this word to me. At the same time, I am excited with the possibilities of what the Lord is about to do in the church and in our hearts as His people. Imagine, the bride of Christ, once again bringing to her Bridegroom the glory and honor that He so richly deserves by our love for Him and for one another. Imagine, her radiance shining as a city set upon a hill for all to see and those in darkness will finally be drawn to her warmth and love. The world will no longer find spots and blemish in her and she will reflect the beauty and grace of her Bridegroom.

For this prophecy to unfold and to be a part of the church that Christ is coming back for; we will need to shaken to the core of our selfish, back-bitting and arrogant treatment of one another. We have become a chain-smoking bride, set aflame with ungodly addictions and habits that hurt and wound others. Our garment is soiled and unwashed by our lack of relationship and knowledge of whom our Bridegroom truly is. The washing of His Word has been twisted out of context to justify lustful desires and for others it becomes casual and common. We fail to listen and have become hard of hearing – only concerned with what we are going to say and ask for next. We find it in our selfish interest to "date" rather than "court" the One who loves us. We "use" the man of wealth to meet our needs rather than caring for His needs. We are drunk with the praise and adoration of man and have found little time to invest in our engagement. We still have an attraction and play the harlot with the things and ways of the world. Our complexion is scarred by anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, and prejudice. Yet, He still unconditionally and passionately love us. Our Bridegroom truly loves us because He sees the beauty and grace that we will soon become. He sees the days quickly approaching when we will be everything that He longs for in a bride.

The collision that is soon to come in the spirit realm will shake the foundations of the earth and will be unlike anything that we have spiritually experienced before. Heaven and earth are moving toward each other with rapidity and those who know Him will reflect more of His ever increasing presence and fragrance as He draws closer. These words should give a greater understanding to "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." The earthy realm is about to witness the invasion of heaven's glory – the presence of Jesus Christ and a release of His power and anointing within the saints walking upon the earth. Manifestations of the glory and presence of God will bring heavenly glimpses of third heaven revelations once again to the church. Many have failed to run the race and finish strong because they have not had a vision of "home" as they journey as pilgrims upon the earth. Glimpses of heaven and "supernatural" activity will become "natural" among those who seek after the Lord's presence with all of their heart, soul, and strength. I am sure that some reading this are pondering ... "is this really possible?" "Is this really Biblical?" "Can we really experience the reality of heaven on earth?"

Well, why would Jesus Himself teach us to pray and desire that His kingdom would come "on earth as it is in heaven" if it were not possible and His passion? It would be ridiculous to think that God would save this tremendous prayer and directive of Christ for a single generation at His return. His heart is that the church would earnestly seek after heaven's reality and presence on the earth. As the church, we are an empty vehicle without the presence and glory of God in our lives. The Lord would have us understand that we can deliver or transport what we truly have. It is the Lord's desire to impart into you the attribute of His image and nature — HOLINESS. However, you must desire His presence (The essence of holiness) more than your desire for the things of this world. Simply put, we have not been holy nor been the reflection of God's image, because we have failed to repent and cease from our lukewarm, comfortable, and casual approach to our own sinful nature.

It is time that we call it like it is and look at our self as the corporate church for whom we truly are. We have continued to produce many "instructors" but few spiritual mothers and fathers. Those who have their names in "lights" and are nationally recognized are unapproachable and have little time to invest in the greatest spiritual gift given by God — "People." We are eaten up with spiritual pride and our member's-only country club institutions have little to no application to the common man. Those who classify themselves as the "remnant" church are just as eaten-up with spiritual pride in their self-righteousness as the institutional churches are eaten-up with luke-warmness. Please understand that this word is for the corporate church and is not an indictment against any particular individual. It is, however, an individual wake-up call as a "part" of the body of Christ to understand the fire is soon to come at the Feast of Pentecost. It will be your willing availability and the receiving of this outpouring of God's presence that will bring forth the true revelation and communion of TABERNACLES — "God coming and dwelling among men." Churches that are in communion with the Lord and "in one accord" at Pentecost will receive an outpouring of God's presence and fire that will purify and refine vessels which will manifest in the holiness required to Tabernacle with God. On the other hand, if we continue in spiritual laziness and lack relationship with the Father, we will miss and be passed by in God's appointed time of one of the greatest outpourings of His presence on earth as it is in heaven. Will you be one of the120 or one of the 380?

"He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in HEAVEN and which are on EARTH – in Him. (Ephesians 1:9-10)

This is the reward of our most precious salvation that Paul saw in revelation that he received from Christ. As we draw near to the Lord and as He draws near to us, we are going to tangibly and powerfully feel the effects of this scripture. Sadly, a large degree or most of the church knows little to nothing concerning the glory and presence of God. This naturally equates to a church that is spiritually apathetic and one that lacks holiness — the impartation and essence of God's presence.

"I am the Lord; that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another..." (Isaiah 42:8)

It would seem on the surface and according to the natural man that we are not to touch the glory of God. Many in the institutional church have taught this and it has been a detriment to the body of Christ. The Lord desires that we know and come into the presence of His glory. The Lord would say, "Surely, I will not "give" my glory and the richness of My praise to another, but I will "share" the glory and essence of My presence with those who draw near to Me." It has always been the Lord's presence and glory that brought holiness in the lives of filthy rags and unclean lips.

God has created you to know the glory of His presence. The heart of Moses was one that longed and desired for the glory of God ... and God honored his request. So much more does the Lord long to reveal Himself to us under a better covenant. Psalm 8:4-5 says, "What is a man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor." When God created man in His image, the glory and presence of God encompassed mankind like a heavenly aura or crown. The glory was the manifest reality of God's presence. It was at the time of man's fall (SIN) that the glory of the Lord lifted from mankind. The "void" that many have felt and attempted to explain in their season of sin away from the Lord is the absence of God's glory upon and in their lives.

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

It is just that simple. Unrepentant sin has been the hindrance to the church experiencing the manifest presence and glory of God. This is a vicious cycle that perpetuates itself in continual luke-warmness and godless spiritual pride, hiding behind a mask of guilt. Sin and spiritual pride within the church has caused us to fall and miss the mark of God's best for us — His presence. The good news is that Christ has bridged the gap between God and man that we have created and has enabled us to regain His glory and a life of holiness through intimacy and relationship with Him and each other. Why do I say "each other?" Because our relationships with one another are a reflection of our relationship with God.

"To which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the GLORY of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 2:14) Jesus Himself states, "And the glory which You have given Me, I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one." (John 17:22)

As the awesome days ahead move closer toward our Lord's return, we are going to need each other as brothers and sisters in Christ more than we care to think about or want to admit in our place of lethargy and comfort. We have desired the glory of God for many personal and even selfish reasons in the church's attempt to build its own kingdoms. Jesus states clearly in John 17 that it was His desire to impart His glory and presence to you and me that we would be one in our love for Him, one another, and the lost. Of all that God could have chosen to call Himself, He simply stated, "I am LOVE." Our love for God's presence and His love radiating through us as His people will bring holiness, a beautiful complexion, and a wedding garment as white as snow to a bride eagerly awaiting her Bridgroom.

All articles by WaterMark Ministry may be reprinted in their entirety.

www.watermarkministry.injesus.com

www.watermarkministry.org

Danny Korakas

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

On a clear night the lights of a city will illuminate and even change the color of the heavens up to a hundred miles away. If a city is set upon hill, nothing within miles will hide its lights. At the time this verse was inspired and written, the fires would burn bright from oil laden lamps and could be seen for miles. As Jesus spoke these words, the people of Galilee would be very familiar with these lights that were in their cities and which sat upon the hills that overlooked the sea. If you visit the area today, you will see the city of Zefat that sits high upon one of Galilee's many hills. Cities that are well positioned become beacons of direction for weary travelers and those who are lost in unfamiliar territory.

I couldn't help but notice that the light Jesus was first referencing was the illumination given to everyone in the "HOUSE." It seems that the Lord had more in mind than just being a light to the world. I believe that we can never accomplish being a light to the world until we learn to be a light to one another as a spiritual house. If we cannot be a light to our immediate families, we are deceived to believe that we can be a light to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Likewise, if we cannot be a light to one another as believers, we certainly have little to offer the world as a guiding light to their Savior.

The lamps that were used in the homes at the time of Christ were small ceramic or stone vessels containing olive oil and a loose or floating wick. When lit, the lamp would need to be put on a shelf or a well positioned lampstand if it was to give light for the inhabitants of the house to see clearly. Many prophetic words are coming forth concerning "POSITIONING" in the body of Christ. Where the lampstands and vessels were placed in the house was vitally important in that it gave clarity of VISION and DIRECTION to all who were present and for them to fulfill their purpose in the midst of surrounding darkness.

I believe we are entering into a season of greater anointing and "DEFINITION" or a defining of our place in the body of Christ as sons and daughters. (In Matthew 4, the first temptation of Jesus by Satan was not turning the stone into bread. It was, "If you are the SON of God." It is the same initial temptation today. If the enemy can get you on this one, he has you half in the bag.) Many of the insecurities that we have witnessed in the church, whether it be those called to servant leadership or those who have just been saved, is the manifestation of striving to be a "father" or "mother" (naturally and spiritually) before having learned to be a son or daughter. I will never forget the night that the Lord spoke to me as I stood in my kitchen with my wife, "Danny, you will never be the natural and spiritual father that I would have you be until you learn and except what it means to be a son." Instantly, I knew and was arrested in my striving for affirmation through recognition. Essentially, I desired the "light" to be shown upon me and what I was attempting to accomplish rather than reflecting the Light of Christ to others. Why, because I was never properly "positioned" as a lampstand in the church. Like many, I wasted many years sitting on the sidelines insecure and unable to identify my place in the body of Christ. If this is you, today is the day that Father sets your wick aflame and positions you in a perfect place as His son or daughter to bear FRUIT that eternally remains.

The magnificent Lampstand that stood in the Temple (A type and pointing of Christ) had the fruit of an almond blossom on the ends of its arms that stretched toward heaven. Within the almond blossom was the oil which is representative of the anointing. It is important that we see and understand that the "anointing" rested in the "fruit" that was attached or a part of the Lampstand. It should be the same with us. A well positioned lampstand will be anointed to give light to everyone in the "house" as well as those who visit and from afar. The fruit of our light is the hope we have in Jesus Christ. It also gives hope and VISION to others who blind and in darkness. It is imperative that servant leadership within church begin strategic "positioning" and equipping of the saints. It is going to take all of us…When invisible light makes contact with a prism, even the natural eye recognizes that it took the entire spectrum of colors to create it. It will take us all as the body of Christ in our individual colors of grace to truly reflect the light of His love for the lost and one another.

The first century lamp gave off a bright light as long as the wick was TRIMMED (pruned), and as we read earlier, well positioned. It is worthy to note that these lamps required a FIRE to light and burn bright. We cannot continue as the church to shine in our own strength or without a willingness to be pruned to bear greater fruit. The lack thereof has produced religious striving, agendas and programs that have yielded little fruit that truly remains. The anointing of the modern church pales in comparison to what we read in scripture and history. The reason is that we have focused on man's programs and agendas. In the last 25 years, gimmicks, manipulative programs, and self-glorifying stories have replaced the Word of God in our attempt to be a light and reach the lost. We will never be able in our vain ideas to make the Word of God more relevant…It is sharper than any two edged sword and it alone cuts to the dividing of soul and spirit.

The works of the flesh or carnality will reap an increase of what is carnal or natural, rather than an increase of what is supernatural. The first century church pressed and tarried for the fire of God to touch and set them aflame with the fire of His love and a passion for those in darkness. The missing ingredient that many sense in prophetic ministry today is our lack of passion to be a light to those in darkness (souls). We have but to ask ourselves, "How many people have I witnessed or led to Christ in the last year? The last 5 years? In our lifetime?

Because these lamps required fire to light, they were not put out when the household SLEPT. Rather, they were dimmed by putting or placing a bowl of some sort over the lamp. This must have been a very familiar picture that Jesus was painting for His disciples. The directive and context of the message that Jesus was painting for them to visualize was very clear – Jesus does not want His followers and the Word of Truth that dwells within them to be hidden. He wants His message to shine brightly through us for the purpose of revealing truth in a confused and darkened world.

People groups of the world are becoming increasing unsatisfied and restless with the status quo and toil of ordinary life. People are drawn to what is fresh, different, and radically alive with purpose. If the church were to truly reflect the image and mind of Christ – it would be RADICALLY of fire and refreshingly peculiar. The lost and hurting are not drawn to the church because we are not radically in love with God nor "them." As a matter of fact, they see much of themselves in us. Much of the church has bought into the lie that we must be "relevant" to the world to reach it. The lost are not looking for relevance; they are looking for something that is aflame and radically different from the messed up, selfish, backstabbing, and hurting life they are in.

"…That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." (Philippians 2"15)

The purpose of light is to REVEAL what is in the darkness and to provide direction. This is our function as a prophetic church. The gift of prophecy moves through the church as a revealer of TRUTH to those things that are hidden in darkness. It is also a clarion or the sounding of the alarm to warn people of spiritual darkness and providing them a lighted path to the healing presence of God.

"For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather EXPOSE them." (Ephesians 5:8-11)

Far too many have failed to shine bright in the body of Christ because of pockets of darkness in our own hearts. The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit is very simple: it is taking the dark pockets or areas of our heart (anger, unforgiveness, gossip, jealousy, laziness, and various lusts) and bringing them to the surface so that God can shine the light of His healing love upon them. However, many resist the light because they fear being EXPOSED. This year must be a year of willing exposure if we are to reflect the light of Christ. We must resist the impulse to hide our sins and allow the deep seated issues in our lives to come to surface if we are to be a brightly shining city on a hill. The Lord is no longer going to wink and tolerate our excuse of comparing ourselves to the next person. He is interested in our "personal" holiness and obedience. The city that shines on hill is a city that resides on the hill of the Lord. "Who shall ascend the HILL of the Lord? The Bible says it is "he who has clean hands and a pure heart." The lost of this world are groping in darkness and the Lord desires that the church be a beacon of hope and a reflection of His love. This is accomplished through clean vessels that mirror and reflect the light of His glory.

The prophetic mandate of being a "light" is modeled after Christ – The Spirit of prophecy. Jesus, as the light of the world, exposed darkness and clearly divided what was right and wrong. Without the anointing of spiritual light, people cannot clearly distinguish truth from error or right from wrong. We see this in today's society. What is "socially" acceptable has somehow found its way to become "morally" acceptable, when in fact they are completely different. Much of the world is walking in darkness and stumbling aimlessly through life. Likewise, many people are walking in dark "houses" (churches) because the light of God's presence has left. Beloved, it is not "our" light, but the reflection of His light through vessels that MIRROR Christ. The church has not shown forth the glory of God due to our constant reflection and similitude of the world. Our jealousies, divorce rate, prejudices, and sexual sins including pornography have tarnished the mirror of His glory that the Lord would have us be as the church. Look, the glory of the Lord that will cover the face of the earth will be through the church. We must allow this season in our lives to be a time of purifying ourselves as a bride without spot or wrinkle -- A bride who reflects and has become one with her bridegroom. As a city set on a hill, we should so radically stand out and be so overwhelmingly obvious that the people around us stumbling in darkness should encounter the light and presence of God.

All other religions in the world have made the claim to be the "light" to lead one to fulfillment in life. Whether they are New Age, Buddhist, Muslims, Hindus, or any other cult, they lack the glory and presence of the one true God and Creator. Our Lord Jesus Christ has anointed and filled you with His Spirit and has positioned you today upon His holy hill. His desire is to SHINE through you as a beacon of faith, hope and His love for the people of the world. We hide or put our light under a basket when we fail to share Jesus with the people and world around us. The Lord desires that the testimony of His Word, love and salvation SHINE through the lives we live. Not only in the His "house" but on His holy hill for all mankind to see. Beloved, this is our commission.

Not everyone will want to hear and see the truth as we expose darkness. Many will be offended – even in the "house." Jesus stated in John 3 that many would "love darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil." Could it be that the prophetic voice has grown comfortable in our "season of acceptance" and we fear offending man more than we fear God? Would you say that that your individual witness and fire is like the light of a city set upon a hill? Or, is it a distant glow or flicker that is barely seen and covered in some sort of shame? Maybe, you're that person that needs to fall in love with Jesus all over again. I see many in the church who appreciate Jesus and know what He has done for them. But are you burning brightly in your love and passion for Him today? There is no condemnation in Christ. His desire is for you to be set aflame in the fire of His love and reflect His love to others.

Why don't we all come back to our first love and be the fire and light that those lost in darkness are searching for. Beyond the walls of where you are reading this is a world that is literally "dying" for the fire your love.

All WaterMark Ministry articles may be reprinted in their entirety.

www.watermarkministry.injesus.com

www.watermarkministry.org

Danny Korakas

When we understand the Bible through the heart of God, it speaks of His love, desire, and yes, pursuit for an intimate relationship with man. This was the purpose of our creation in Genesis and the culmination of all things in Revelation. The Bible is also a time-line in history of God's dealing and striving with man to bring him to a point of understanding and trusting in His love. It is truly amazing to think of how mankind has continually rejected this offer.

When Adam and Eve sinned and fell in the Garden of Eden, the Lord came walking in the cool of the day and called to them saying, "Where are you?" (Genesis 3:8-9) Even in the midst of sin and rebellion, God was "calling" out to man in His concern and love. Although Adam and Eve (mankind) would reap the just consequence for their action, God was still speaking relationally to man. It is interesting to note that upon creating man that the Lord did not initially ask man for anything. On the contrary, God gave and SPOKE a blessing over Adam and Eve before the first recorded words to man were ever put to scripture (Genesis 1:28). It was the "breath" of God that brought forth life out of the dust of the earth. It is the same today.

In his wilderness experience, Moses found a God who would literally SPEAK to him in sharp contrast to the dead and dumb idols that he had experienced in Egypt. We read in Exodus 33 that "The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend." However, this never would have happened if Moses had not made a choice to turn aside and LOOK or acknowledge the presence of the Lord.

"And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him (Moses) in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, 'I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.' So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to LOOK, God CALLED to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." (Exodus 3:2-4)

It seems that nothing was spoken by the Lord until He "saw that Moses turned aside to look" for Him. Moses came to a point in his life where he could have chosen to keep walking on the path that he had worn smooth upon the cliffs of Midian. Moses, I am sure, was tending faithfully to the livestock and the chores of life to support his family. However, there came a point in which Moses turned to recognize the Lord's call for his attention and desire to communicate. Once Moses decided to turn to the presence of the Lord, his life and destiny would change forever. He would not only HEAR the voice of God, he would come to see Him face to face as a friend and Father.

In 1 Samuel 30, The Amalekites had invaded the "South and Ziklag and burned it with fire." During this invasion, the wives and families of David and his men had been taken captive. As the men and people wept, David humbled himself and inquired of the Lord. The Bible states that not only did God answer him; He gave David the means of victory over his adversaries and the full recovery of what had been stolen.

This is one of the greatest benefits of seeking and hearing the Lord's voice. It enables us to enter into the Lord's BEST for our lives. It is God's pleasure to give us an abundant life and a future that exudes with hope. (Faith is the substance of things hoped for). Imagine the shear pain, heartbreak and loss if David had not sought the Lord's voice.

The greatest expression of God's voice would come in the person of Jesus Christ – The very Word of God. God sent His only begotten Son to die on a cross for our sins. But just as awe-inspiring is the fact that God Himself came that we could see, touch, and HEAR the reality of heaven and His unfailing love for us. What should overwhelmingly excite us is the fact that we can still HEAR, touch, taste and see that the Lord is good and that He desires an intimate relationship with us.

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He HEARS He will SPEAK; and He will TELL you things to come." (John 16:13).

When Jesus was resurrected in glory, it did not signify an end to divine communication through hearing God's voice. Jesus said that "I am with you ALWAYS, to the very end of the age. We read all through the scriptures of the Lord's desire to speak to His creation. (Everything was spoken into existence) As a matter of fact, we are without excuse, for all of creation speaks of His glory and testifies to His reality. All of creation responds to the voice and breath of God in such awe, yet mankind has become so deaf. This has been a paralyzing tragedy to our destiny as the church both individually and corporately.

The Lord gives us a clear picture of Himself speaking to many different types of people. They were racially, culturally, and economically diverse. There was not a select group of "super religious" or spiritually elite individuals that the Lord chose to speak and reveal His voice to. God has always desired to speak to whoever would truly listen. This is the foundation of meaningful and lasting RELATIONSHIPS. And "listening" is the foundation of meaningful communication.

I am convinced that the highest form of worship is simple obedience to the Lord's voice. We can sing, dance, and preach till the proverbial cows come home. Without obedience to the Lord's voice, we are certainly moving in areas of self-sufficiency and ultimately rebellion. There is a prophetic declaration and a sound ringing from heaven for us to rediscover and respond to the voice of the Lord. The reason that many will be deceived in these last days is because they have failed to hear and know the truth of God's Word and voice. "My sheep HEAR My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (John 10:27)

It is just about impossible to imagine how relationships would function without personal communication. The listening and speaking between individuals is what gives value and growth to relationships. Yet, many institutionalized churches are teaching behind pulpits that God does not audibly speak to His children today. What a blatant lie, contradiction of scripture and a robbing of one of our greatest virtues as God's children. Again, we read in Romans 1:19-21 that God even speaks through creation and that we are without excuse. Psalm 19 declares that "the heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters SPEECH, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their VOICE is not heard." Incredibly, what this is really saying is that the literal creation is "prophesying" the glory of the Lord.

It is misguided to believe that God would speak and declare to and through creation, but not to and through mankind who was created in His very image. Why would God our Father draw us into an intimate and loving relationship at the cost of Himself dying on a cross to suddenly never speak to us? Tragically, most of the church has taught and received this mindset. It is true that the Word of God is the foundation, blueprint and means of hearing God speak to us. However, this is our "foundation" and a starting point of continual growth. The Bible is the means of drawing us even more intimately into the Truth of God's love and grace for the purpose of relational intimacy. It is not the experience of doctrine that changes and transforms a person into the image of Christ — It is the experience of an encounter with God Himself.

Herod heard through some wise men from the East that another king of the Jews was birthed in his territory and dominion. Upon this troubling news, he summoned the chief priests and scribes (the "stewards" of God's Word and the religious elite). Remarkably they told Herod that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judah as written by the prophet as it was unfolding before their very eyes. Yet they failed to hear God's voice, and likewise, failed to see the spiritually obvious before them.

The Lord SPOKE to Abraham and told him that he would give birth to a mighty nation and that through him all nations of the world would be blessed. Imagine if Abraham refused or was spiritually deaf to hear God's voice. Imagine how history would have been altered. Could it be that the church has failed to be the blessing to the nations that it has been called to be because it has failed or refused to HEAR God's voice? Imagine how history could be if the church would listen to hear God's voice. The church, more than ever, needs to HEAR the Lord's voice.

The days ahead that will be marked by persecution and tribulation will require us to hear God's voice if we are to follow Him to our place of sanctuary and strength. It is ridiculous to think that the Lord would conceal His voice in such days that lie ahead. The last day remnant church will hear His voice and find shelter under the shadow of His wings. The Bible states that those who follow the leading of His voice and direction will be more than conquerors. The religious and the institutionalized will continue to strive in their own strength – void of God's voice. These people will stand before the Lord and the just verdict will be rendered: "Depart from Me, for I never KNEW you." Beloved, if you know a lot ABOUT God, but do not have an intimate and personal relationship WITH God, let this be your moment to call out to Him ... He will gladly answer and speak to you as a long awaiting and loving Father. The "father" ran to the prodigal son for the purpose of speaking and embracing his child. All that the father needed to see was the crown of his child's head upon the horizon for him to run, embrace and to meet his deepest needs.

God desires to speak to you on a daily basis as a means to guide you through the trials and issues of life as we pilgrimage toward our permanent home. We have got to avoid these "strange" doctrines of man and realize that God has not saved us for the purpose of pampering, but process. Christians WILL have issues and trials in their lives. Look, Jesus promised that we would if we were truly "following Him."

The Lord's heart is to increase your spiritual hearing as a daily exercise and function of life so that it becomes as involuntary as breathing. You are not reading this by accident. If you are reading this, you have been summoned into the holies of holies by the God and Creator of all the heavens and the universe. I am truly humbled in knowing that my King and Lord is demanding my presence. Are you ready to begin with me and walk through the familiar outer courts and into the Holy Place of our Father's majestic presence? I sincerely hope and pray you are.

Sadly, far too few sermons and words are coming forth of Father's desire for us to HEAR His voice and the sound of heaven. This has left generation upon generation of believers striving in vain for something missing in their spiritual walk that only the Father's voice can comfort and fulfill. Multitudes in the church have been conditioned and processed to believe that God only speaks through His Word. These people move through life and if they are honest with themselves, must come to the conclusion that something is terribly missing and that the miraculous elements of the supernatural seem distant and a shade of gray.

Many have relegated the personal experiences mentioned in the Bible as belonging to a time of yesteryear. Although God is the same "yesteryear," today and forever, much of the body of Christ has bought into the lie that God's ways of communicating are unrepeatable or relegated to people who lived under an inferior covenant. The Word of God is not purely a set of rules, regulations, and doctrines. It is God's love letter to mankind and the fulfillment of better promises. Just look at the themes of what the Lord chose to reveal through the New Testament — prophecies, dreams, visions, revelations, angels, and the AUDIBLE VOICE of God. The writer of Hebrews tells us that entertaining angels is very much possible as a common event among believers. The simple question that we must answer is: Did God suddenly stop speaking to His people just because the written Word was sealed? This seems contrary to a loving Father's nature and His "word."

Beloved, your walk as a Christian will never reach its fulfillment and potential without a desire to hear God's voice. If we are going to experience the better promises that the 1st century church experienced, we must begin to expect God to speak audibly as well as through His Word, dreams, visions, and prophecy.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

All articles by WaterMark Ministry may be reprinted in their entirety.

Danny Korakas

I have read and listened to a lot of prophetic declarations as we approached what most in the world view as the New Year. I have found them to be up-lifting, encouraging, depressing and conflicting at the same time. We must appreciate the words that are coming forth as a genuine facet of the Father's heart if they align with His Word. However, most of what is genuine and from the Lord is not "New" or exclusively for the year 2005. The true prophetic word from the Lord is divine and has ETERNAL significance. As a matter of fact, I doubt that God really goes by the Gregorian calendar and what we recognize as the "New Year." If God went by any calendar at all, it would be the Hebrew calendar which He instituted through His Word centuries ago. With that said, I do have a word that I believe is for today or what we recognize as 2005. But as I stated earlier, it spans time, both distant past and future.

There is one prophetic word that has come forth for the upcoming year with intensity and regularity – a mandate for the bride to PREPARE herself for her bridegroom. As the church, we are in a season of reflection and repentance. Some have embraced this, while others have not. Reflection and repentance are necessary and must come to fruition within the church before our Lord's return. Likewise, it is the Lord's will and purpose that we enter into the season of ingathering and harvest. The fields that are white and ready for the harvest are looking for the fruit of our repentance. They are looking for a reflection of Christ in our lives. Tabernacles, or what many perceive as being a "third day" movement, is unrealistic and presumptuous without first embracing the ingathering of the lost to complete our spiritual house of living stones.

The Lord has given the world and the unsaved a portrait of His love for them. It is His love for the church ( His bride) and the bride's love for Him that paints a visible picture for the world to see. This is experienced and represented for all to see in a godly husband-wife relationship patterned after God's Word.

"Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the LORD DOES THE CHURCH. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two become one flesh.' This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:25-32)

One of the greatest and most fruitful means of evangelism is the life of a godly, Christ-centered and loving relationship between a husband and his wife. The Holy Spirit reveals to us in Ephesians 5 that the Lord's love for the CHURCH and her passionate love for Him should be pictured and mirrored in the marriage relationship between a husband and wife. We know how much the Lord loves us as the church. (He laid down His life for her.) However, our (corporate) "Laodocian love" and passion for Him is a reflection of our (corporate) marital condition within the church. If there is anything that the Lord desires to get in order in "2005," it is a revisiting of our covenant vows that we made before Him and others. Our "Sunday best" is not as important to the Lord as many of us would think. He is much more interested in the other 6 days. It's easy to be loving and giving when everything is lovely and others are giving. But are we loving and giving when others are unlovely and selfish? It's easy to sell and put on our best for a few hours within the walls of the church. But, who and what do we portray within the walls of our homes toward one another? This is who we truly are.

I know of many churches and have heard many men quote, "for wives to be submitted to their husbands." (Ephesians 5:22) And of course there are many wives out there thinking, "Why should I? He does and says a lot of ungodly things." If we stop to think, this is what really goes through our minds much of the time and is manifested in our actions. We tend to feed and justify these thoughts and feelings as well by our desire to have "MY" needs and expectations met. Most enter into a relationship for the purposes of what they can get out of it rather than what they can give to it. Why else would divorce be as rampant in the church as in the world? The answer is simple: We approach the covenant of marriage as the world does and continually want our spouse to meet OUR needs as a CONDITION to meet their needs. (In other words, "You meet me half way.") Already, we have taken Satan's bait and have poisoned the greatest witness of evangelism we possess as the church. Why? Because, most marriages simply do not, "FEAR THE LORD." We have failed to read and understand the preceding verse, "submitting to one another in the FEAR OF THE LORD." (Ephesians 5:21)

Our society and even the church has approached marriage as solely an institution between a man and a woman. This is true, but only half of the truth. For the most part, we have left God out of the covenant that He instituted through marriage. Many of our disagreements as husband and wife stem from our own selfish motives rather than fearing God. The fear of the Lord is the foundation of the marriage relationship and our primary witness (evangelism) to the world.

When we think of the phrase, "The fear of the Lord", we tend to think of Old Testament connotations and as being outdated in our "New Testament" mentality. Actually, the "fear of the Lord" carries more divine weight today than ever before. The reason is that the CHARACTER of the Spirit-filled believer should radiate the fear of the Lord. Fearing God is not an act of self inflicted severity or an enslaved mind-set. It is the RESPONSE of a child of God who encounters the Lord's holiness, majesty, and radiance. In other words, it is the bi-product of an authentic and intimate relationship of a creature with their Creator. If we were to look back upon the landscape of our marriage relationship, I am sure that many, like myself, can see that we have fallen short of the standard set forth by the "New Testament." I believe that our greatest failure in the church's ability to witness effectively, has been our failure to fear the Lord in our marriage relationships.

I have recognized many within the church who have gladly adopted the "love of God", but have failed to embrace the "fear of God" in their lives. The fact that God, in His infinite love for us, sacrificed His own Son, should inspire us to live a life that fears, honors and glorifies Him through the marriage covenant. This is an ACT that speaks louder than our cheap words that are often spoken. We need to understand that God has only instituted two covenants that we live by today – The New Covenant through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and the Covenant of marriage. Both of these covenants come with a tremendous COST and a dying to oneself for another. Jesus Christ did not meet us "half-way." He paid the price in full for His bride. Likewise, a marriage is not a "half-way" or a 50-50 relationship. It is each person giving 100% and laying their life down for the other. It is this bond of commitment that brings into focus the kingdom of God and His love for us. The environment of a Christ-like marriage will manifest as "His kingdom, on EARTH as it is in heaven." It also becomes a model for our children and heritage ... the church's future.

The lie of meeting "half-way" is the ROOT of all marriage fatalities and divorce. Essentially, this viewpoint creates an environment of CONDITIONAL LOVE. The flesh has an innate desire to have its needs met rather than meeting the needs of another. One of the greatest issues that will continue to surface is the DESIRE of many women to be at home and raise their children. Sadly, I hear and read of case after case where the husband lays the "financial guilt trip" upon his wife. The response of a mother to raise her child is the heart of the Father in how the church (bride) needs to be caring, raising and presenting mature believers in Christ. Like the church, in so many ways we put money and the lust for the things of this world over the lives of our children.

O, man of your own understanding, why do you continue to pursue the opinions of others over the fruit of your own loins? Why must you desire the glories of this present age over the glory of a mother and her child? Surely, I have promised to meet all of your needs. Why must you doubt me at the expense of your children and the desires of your wife? Is it not I who have placed the desire and the need within her?

I realize that I have taken a little side road here, but sensed the urgency to speak what I believe to be the heart of God and a timely prophetic word to many husbands. Please stop and think about what I have written and prophesied. More importantly, sincerely pray about this. How can we continue to apply pressure on our wives to work in the marketplace full-time to support our habit of keeping up with the world? Is it really worth it? Is this REALLY how God designed the fruit of marriage, our children, to be raised? I am convinced that the greatest selfishness that mankind has produced in the 20th century has been the neglect of responsibility after having children. Once again, our marriage relationships and family life reflect and manifest in the church institution and culture we see today. Teen suicide, drug abuse, violence, depression, and sex outside of marriage have continued to spiral out of control because of the reworking of God's plan for the family structure in taking mothers away from raising their children. Blame who you will and make all of the excuses you want. However, we need to face the truth for what it is. There is no such thing as a "dysfunctional family." A "dysfunctional family" is simply a "sinful and disobedient family" to God's Word and purpose.

If we truly desire to see genuine change in the church, then we must earnestly desire a change in how we have approached and stewarded our marriages and children. I cannot express enough the parallel between what truly transpires within the home as being the true condition of the church. A reputable study has indicated that Fathers spend just 5 minutes of intimate and attentive time with their children each day. This is reflected in the church's inability to produce true spiritual fathers. We would prefer a house in the suburbs and a couple of new cars over keeping our children at home. Likewise, the church loves to spend their money and build buildings rather than investing in living stones. Our families are not held together by the stuff we buy. The family unit (The reflection of the kingdom of God for the world to see and experience) is held together by our relationship with God and our relationships within the husband - wife relationship patterned after God's Word.

So, what does the "fear of the Lord" have to do with all this? Well, EVERYTHING! Without the "fear of the Lord", a Christian marriage between a husband and a wife will never be what the Lord intends it to be. We may seem to have it all together, do all the right things, and say all the right words. But without the fear of the Lord, we are enslaved to our own selfish desires and presumptions. It is the fear of the Lord that brings us to true repentance and to our knees before God and to one another as a husband and wife. One of the manifestations of not fearing the Lord within the marriage covenant is the "Silent Treatment." Essentially, the "silent treatment" is another word for "WITCHCRAFT." Witchcraft is the MANIPULATION of a person's well-being and response through the actions of another. When we engage in the silent treatment, we are manipulating the response of another through an ungodly motive rather than communion. This is witchcraft. Without a genuine fear of the Lord in both the husband and wife, a Christian marriage and the picture that God desires to portray in His love for humanity will never become what He intended it to be.

At the Last Supper, John was so close to Jesus that he could touch Him and whisper in His ear. However, we read later in Revelation 1:17 that when the same John encountered Jesus in His glory and majesty, he said, "I fell at His feet as dead." We read in scripture of Paul's ever increasing revelation and relationship with the Lord. Yet, he never lost focus that one day he would stand before the Lord like everyone else and give account of his life.

"We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror (fear) of the Lord, we persuade men." (2 Corinthians 5:10-11)

It was Paul's complete awareness of the awesome splendor and majesty of Jesus Christ that made his message "persuasive" and inspired. When a man builds his relationship with his wife on the foundation of the "fear of the Lord" and when his wife moves in the same spirit, their marriage will perfectly fulfill God's purpose according to His Word. They will leave a Spirit-filled heritage to their children (the church's future) and win multitudes to Christ through their example and picture of God's love. It is time that husbands respond in obedience to God's Word and make it his priority to love his wife as Christ loves the church (His bride). It is then that the wife will respond to her husband as the church SHOULD respond to Christ (her bridegroom). Certainly the failures we have on both sides have created a "dysfunctional" – I mean, "sinful" – church. The good news and the prophetic word for us today is that these sins can be covered by both sides simply repenting and asking forgiveness from one another. It is in the fear of the Lord that both husband and wife can find the refreshment and escape from selfish pride and self-seeking motives. I believe that within the "fear of the Lord," both a man and his wife become "one flesh" in their purpose and destiny in building the kingdom of God. When we begin to see this, we can finally fulfill and answer Jesus' prayer that we become "one" as the church – just as He and Father are one.

Danny Korakas

"Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, 'My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him. 'Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever. Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow. (2Kings 5:20, 27)

We wrote an article entitled "A Cinderella Story" earlier in the year that received a lot of heart-warming feedback. We tend to be drawn toward stories and events that have happy and joyful endings. (I know that I do. Behind closed doors, I am a "easy crier" for movies with adversity that end happily ever after.) The brief glimpse we have of Gehazi's life is not so much talked about or publicized in that it had such a tragic and sad ending. The story of Gehazi is about a man that began with so much potential and promise. He had the honor of walking beside a wonderful and godly spiritual father, along with experiencing the ministry example and integrity of Elisha.. However, Gehazi was a man who left a natural and spiritual leprosy as a legacy to his family and friends. The leprosy that had once plagued Naaman would now scar and ruin the life and ministry of Gehazi that once seemed so promising.

Gehazi began his ministry as a servant or assistant to the prophet Elisha. The Bible seems to indicate that things started out well. It even seemed as we begin reading in 2 Kings 4 that Gehazi was a model servant and minister. Elisha included Gehazi in much of his ministry and it looked as if the mantle might one day pass to this seemingly obedient partner in ministry. But by the time we get to chapter 5, something goes terribly wrong and Gehazi is "externally" marked with something that had lain "internally" hidden in his heart. What had manifested externally was the "LEPROSY OF GREED" and the love of money by an individual who was called to serve in prophetic ministry.

As one who ministered prophetically, Elisha refused to take a reward of money for the ministering of God's Word and healing power. Gehazi, on the other hand, could not resist the easy opportunity and temptation of playing on Naaman's emotions and wealth. In verse 20 we read that Gehazi said to himself, "As the Lord lives, I will run after Naaman and take something from him." Like Gehazi, we are seeing "ministers" wrongly chasing after people through the medium of television and radio for money in the "Name of the Lord." Likewise, they are void of so much as a guilty conscience as they plan their sermons (marketing schemes) to prey on the emotions and wallets of the saints who are in need themselves of finances and the touch and healing power of God.

I can imagine that Gehazi had witnessed the entire event unfold before him, and knew that Naaman had come prepared to pay a handsome price for his healing. Gehazi could not stomach the fact that Naaman was heading back to his native Syria (a pagan land) loaded with silver and gold. So what, if the ministry of Gehazi preached a little "twist" to the truth and exaggerated the real needs and purpose of the ministry to "twist" Naaman's arm.

What it boiled down to was Gehazi's lust for a little more of the world's riches and what it had to offer. I can imagine that Gehazi convinced himself that it was "God's MONEY" and God needed the money to support "His" work and ministry through the "man of God." Many justify and rationalize this argument today. Jesus clearly teaches us in Matthew 25:31- 46 that our "PERSONAL" giving to those who are hungry, thirsty, unclothed, sick and in chains is the barometer of our faith and love for Him. Not only are the believers giving their hard earned money to the "money changers" in the temple, many are likewise in their spiritual laziness giving their money for someone else to be an extension of Christ's love and compassion. Maybe this is the underlying reason why the church has desired to "pay" someone else full-time — to feed the hungry, give a drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the sick and those in prison, so they don't have to.

I do not know all of the reasons why many ministerial leaders have had to continually manipulate and beg for more and more money from the saints. However, I do know that its abuse is being exposed by the Lord and it will reap the same awesome severity if the church continues to turn a blind eye and hide this leprous blemish as we approach our wedding date. On Sky Angel, I witness ministries and station owners promoting 3 and 4 "give-a-thons" a year with the same motivational speakers to make you feel guilty for not giving. Many even go so far as to blame your financial situation on your lack of "seed sowing" — as if we could "buy" God's favor and blessing in the first place. This is a blatant misrepresentation of God's Word of a PROMISED provision for those who serve Him and call upon His name. For crying out loud, even Jerry Lewis only does one telethon per year! It seems that these ministries preach a message that they fail to believe themselves. If the tithe, offering, and sowing of money is the key to bring you financial wealth and prosperity, then why do THEY have to come back week after week, month after month, and ask YOU for more? The church needs to honestly consider and answer this question.

Beloved, the popular and often preached "robbing God of tithes and offerings" verse in the book of Malachi is not about money as much as it is our heart for the kingdom and presence of God. (Example — The rich young ruler) The Hebraic word for "offerings" should be rendered "heave offering" which is an offering of grain and an expression of obedience and worship to God. The word "tithe" in Hebrew is "maasrah" meaning, "a tenth." Malachi 3:8-10 continues: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food (The Hebrew word for "food" should be translated "prey.") in My house. "Ministers" have completely taken this verse out of context and have twisted it for the purposes of making money. Some may say, Danny, that's your interpretation of these verses. My response is, "keep reading the passage." It has everything to do with supplying the food needs of others and nothing to do with money. In other words, "show me the money!" I am all for supporting ministries and most importantly the needs of others that the Lord has brought across the path of my life. It is the twisting of scripture for the purposes of manipulating people to give that has caused us to err. Quite frankly, it is witchcraft.

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which one of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:26-34 condensed)

So why would God give leprosy to a man and his descendants for this action? Why did God consider this sin to be so grievous and serious that He imposed a life of leprosy upon Gehazi?

God took Gehazi's action very seriously because the testimony and Word of the Lord was manipulated and directly affected other people. Gehazi's manipulation for money DEFILED the Lord's precious and free gift of grace. The "works of man" will always defile the "work of the Lord." Not only that, but Gehazi defiled the trust of Elisha, the Lord's servant. Gehazi did what many are doing behind pulpits and upon platforms today — The distorting and twisting of God's Word for monetary gain and the building of personal ministries and kingdoms. We need to understand what had transpired here. Gehazi's action not only disgraced the testimony of the Lord in Israel, it would also discredit the testimony of God's grace in a foreign land that desperately needed the truth of God's unconditional love, healing and provision. (Naaman was from Syria and held a tremendous amount of influence there.) As "Christians," our actions and words paint a picture of Christ for the world to behold. I am embarrassed by most of what I see the gift of "Christian" media portraying to the world. Gehazi's SIN of manipulation and misrepresentation of God's Word was very serious and it bore tremendous consequences in his life.

First, Gehazi defiled the Lord's work in lying about his ministry and his TRUE needs. He told Naaman that two other prophets had come to Elisha unexpectedly from the back country and were poor — in need of money, food and clothing. Nothing could have been further from the truth. It was all made up, but yet sounded believable because it had to do with the "REAL" Lord's work. It seems that the church is an easy bunch to fall for a good heart-breaking story. It is a sin for today's ministers to live in million dollar homes and own private jets at the expense of the saints and then continue to plead for your money. If ministries can justify buying 20-30 million dollar corporate jets for the purpose of frequent travel and ministry, it would seem to me that a failure to equip the saints for the work of ministry and the presenting of believers mature in Christ is seriously lacking in leadership today. It would seem that building the ministries and the kingdom of God in others has been neglected in place of personal kingdom building. If you have $20.00 in the bank today, you have more than 75% of the people in the world. What an insult and slap in the face the American church must be to the rest of the world. What have we evolved into from the first century disciples that walked with our Lord Jesus Christ?

I am involved in the international marketplace and I am bi-vocational. (I support my own ministry to serve Christ.) I can honestly say from first hand experience that the world laughs at the deplorable nakedness of greed and the lack of faith that constitutes much of today's western church. They mock our pleading and begging for money and have greater discernment in recognizing man-made kingdom building than many in the church itself. I am appalled that on internetministry sites, people are constantly sending out newsletters "begging" for money or trying to sell me something as I attempt to navigate to the actual message. Even more appalling is that the majority of it is within "prophetic ministry groups." This is not our calling and is an embarrassment to our prophetic heritage.

I understand the reality that it takes money to get things done in the real world. I am not oblivious to that. However, as a PROPHETIC movement, we are slowly heading down the road of "INSTITUTIONALISM" that has corrupted the church and our Hebraic heritage. The prophet and prophetess of God should be self-supporting and reliant upon the Lord and not those to whom they have been called to bring His Word. (If you're honest, there is a certain line that many will not cross when the congregation or listeners are paying their light bill. How could you possibly be a true and complete prophetic voice in this bondage?) Any other area in life would consider this to be a blatant conflict of interest.

Paul, as a model of godly prophetic ministry, could say with a clear conscience that he ministered the Word of God without burden to anybody. (See 2 Corinthians 11 & 12) It needs to be this way, but can we say this is the case in today's church structure and prophetic ministry? Well, of course not. The church, along with much of the prophetic movement, has become an institution rather than a living and reproducing organism. Institutions need buildings and mammon to survive. Living organisms need intimate relationships and a HOST to survive.

For the sake of balance and practicality, we need to understand that Paul DID have needs and the Bible states that the brethren came from Macedonia to meet his needs in Corinth. As believers, we need to cheerfully give to those who are ministering the gospel to the unsaved. As I stated earlier, we need to give financially to support harmony within the local fellowships in which we participate. This is Biblical and meeting the real needs of each another. However, the money given by the deacon board or the visits by the pastor to others are not going to answer for YOU as you stand before Christ and give account of your life. I believe people are begging for our money because they know we are too spiritually lazy to do anything with it anyway. It's much too convenient to go to the temple courtyard and buy a sacrificial lamb, than to raise one ourselves.

In 1 Timothy 6, we read that "people who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." The love of money, especially in prophetic ministry, defiles the Lord's work and leads to spiritual leprosy. If we are honest with ourselves, the two greatest downfalls within Christian ministry reflect or mirror the spirit of the world — the love of money and sexual sins. These two sins have tarnished our heritage as the church and the model of respect that the lost are searching for.

Gehazi also dishonored the Lord's true servant. He lied about Elisha. In lying to Naaman about the "prophets in need," Gehazi literally put words into the prophet's mouth. Likewise, those who are twisting God's Word and the gift of ministry are putting words in God's mouth. Putting words into the mouth of Elisha certainly made the story more credible and believable, but the story defiled and slandered the true servant of the Lord. This is a serious sin in the eyes of God. The reason of which is because the world and unsaved have a tendency to lump the hypocrisy andabuse of a minority into the sum total of all.

Gehazi's sin is also serious because it defiles the Gospel of the "good news." God's good news is that salvation and healing are a FREE gift to all who believe in Jesus Christ's atoning work on the cross. By taking money through deception, Gehazi distorted the good news that God's forgiveness and healing are free.

I am certain that upon Naaman's arrival in Syria, the good news of Naaman's healing became very apparent. The underlying tragedy is that the people would soon find out that the life-saving healing and ministry of the PROPHET came with a cost of only 300 pounds of silver. What a deal!

Permission granted to reprint WaterMark Ministry articles in their entirety.

Danny Korakas

"I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel." (Genesis 3:15)

"I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall posses the gate of their enemies, and in your seed shall the nations of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 22:17-18)

"Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever." (2 Samuel 7:16)

"For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest upon his shoulders; and his will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

I find it interesting that the Lord states in Genesis 3:15 that Satan would have "seed." I never saw or pondered this until recently. Certainly, this was foreseen by the Lord in knowing the multiplying or reproducing of evil that would soon occur through the lusts and selfishness of mankind as a result of the deceptions of the enemy. From the beginning of Biblical history, Satan has attempted to hinder or destroy the Lord's best for His people. Ever since he was cast out of heaven as the most favored of angels, (See Ezekiel 28) Satan has schemed and deceived to oppose God's best for humanity. Even though the battle rages to this day and we see the "seed" of darkness multiplying, God will always preserve His people and rise up a standard for our victory. This is the true meaning and purpose of Hanukkah — the celebration of God's love and power in preserving His people along with the rededicating of the Temple, which represents the body of Christ today.

You are "more than conquerors through Christ Jesus who loves you and has called you according to His purposes." Satan is not privy to the divine council and revelation of God; he only knows what God has revealed through his people who seek and proclaim His Word. Ephesians 1:9-10 makes it clear that God's plan concerning the future is a "mystery." A mystery is the will and purposes of God that are concealed until He chooses to reveal it. The Bible states that God reveals nothing to mankind without first revealing it to His prophets. It is not because the prophet is special or more "spiritual." They will speak a word from the Lord that is untainted without the fear of man. Likewise, a true prophet of God will also prepare the hearers of a prophetic word.

I hope that you can see and understand the awesome responsibility that not only comes through proclaiming a prophetic word, but preparing the hearers and readers of that word for the certainty of resistance and the opportunity for warfare and VICTORY. (There is entirely too much preaching behind pulpits explaining how we can escape the battle and live a life of ease and comfort on the sidelines of history. As I stated earlier, you have been called to be MORE than conquerors.)

If God has called you to be a conqueror, it means that there is something to be conquered. If there is something to be conquered, it means that a BATTLE will be required. Many of the "money changers" that we see on TV are the same one's who will tell you that the spoils of war are cheap and easy, rather than difficult and require a battle. "Just sow into MY ministry and God will bless you financially." They won't tell you that if a person is both naturally and SPIRITUALLY lazy, he or she will suffer poverty and want. They only want to tell you what will insure your approval or play upon your fears for their support. Those who are spiritually lazy in seeking God's face and Word will be bankrupt in peace. They will also be bankrupt in contentment, purpose and destiny. Everything that has lasting and eternal value will cost you ... and it is not bought with mammon.

It is fascinating to know that Satan did not know or foresee the virgin birth, birthplace and identity of the Messiah until it was revealed through the Word of God and writings of the prophets. As the Lord's plan of redemption was unfolding, Satan attempted to abolish the birth of Christ through the agency of deceived men. God has always done What is even more fascinating is to read and follow the awesome ways of God in foiling Satan's plots and turning Satan's own diabolical strategies against Satan himself.

It doesn't take long upon opening the pages of the Bible, to see Satan's first attempt to disrupt or negate God's purpose in the Garden of Eden. Satan's strategy in luring Adam and Eve to disobey God is the same one he uses today.

It all started when Adam let the beast of the FIELD into the GARDEN – the place that God had given him authority and dominion. Adam's sin is not what he did as much as what he didn't do — the sin of omission. Adam allowed the serpent (Satan) into his domain. When the serpent approached Eve with the grand lie — Did Eve know what a lie was? Had Eve ever heard a lie before? Of course not! On one hand, God had told her not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil lest she die. And on the other hand, Satan said, "Go ahead, you will not die. As a matter of fact, you will see just as God sees...You will be just like God." (Paraphrased) What we can logically assume is that Eve had two "perceived" truths. You see, Eve did not fall when she ate the forbidden fruit. That was the consummation of the fall. Eve fell when she RATIONALIZED God's truth in making her choice. An example would be if I stepped off the roof of my house. I fall as soon as I leave the roof. I don't fall when I hit ground. The pain of hitting the ground is the consummation or result of the fall. Eve fell when she rationalized God's Word for her own selfish desires. Partaking of what was forbidden just consummated the fall.

Disobedience to God' Word usually produces a running away from God in our shame. This is Satan's primary strategy. Once he can get us away from the presence of God, he has us playing his game of life, on his home court, and he has been playing there a lot longer than we have. The action or weapon that we possess that truly intimidates Satan is our intimacy with God and the knowing of His Word. Mankind's "brilliance" over the centuries has not moved Satan. It is and will be our intimacy with God and His Word that will shake the kingdom of darkness.

God knew beforehand that man in his FREEDOM and ability to CHOOSE would eventually fall. We know this because the Bible states that our Redeemer and Savior was slain from or before the foundations of the earth. God, in His infinite wisdom and knowledge, foiled Satan's plan when He declared that the "seed of the woman" would be his ultimate defeat. Ever since the episode in the Garden of Eden, Satan has known that He is a defeated adversary. Although Satan would "bruise the heel" of the fulfillment of this prophecy (Jesus Christ), Jesus, who was born into humanity, would crush his head! (Genesis 3:15)

What an incredible plan and fulfillment of complete redemption! Not only would God redeem us from our sin and curse, He would go on to choose us (the human race) to deliver and reveal the "seed of the woman" to crush the purposes and strategies of Satan. This is incredible! Satan, up to this time, was clueless that God Himself would become that perfect seed and man. I believe that all Satan knew was that through the human race would arise a "person" who would spell his defeat. It would seem logical from this point that Satan's next move and strategy would be to completely destroy the human race while it was few in number to save himself. It would also seem logical that while there were just a handful of people he could find a way to kill them, or better yet, find a way to have them kill one another.

As we move through scripture, we see that it didn't take long for Satan's plan to take hold. I mean it didn't take long at all. Just consider Cain's murder of his brother Abel. We have written several articles concerning Cain's murder of Abel and the root of JEALOUSY and envy (which leads to gossip) as being the primary instrument that Satan uses in humanity's destroying of one another. I believe that Satan was attempting to indoctrinate man to use murder as a device in dealing with the deep seated issues of jealousy and envy. Thank God that Satan's plan for Cain to be a serial killer was foiled by the hand of God. (God had to exile Cain for good reasons. We must remember that only 2 people were left – along with a murderer and the prophecy was not fulfilled) However, we still see and experience the residue today. Jealousy and gossip are "killers" in that they murder the trust, hope, and love that relationship with God and others are built and founded upon. It seems that gossip travels the fastest over grapevines that are slighty sour.

Genesis 6 reveals Satan's next attempt at annihilating mankind. This time, Satan's strategy was through the genetic corruption of man created in God's image. The Bible says that the "sons of God", which seem to be fallen angels, left the spirit realm and had intimate relations with the women of the earth. Many look at the flood in the next chapter as purely God's wrath against man's wickedness and rebellion. However, the flood was God's mercy and love in PRESERVING humanity created in His image. Mankind was heading down a road that would have corrupted and mutated the entire human race in short order. The Flood, although brought forth by God's righteous judgment, would once again crush the strategy of Satan in completely destroying man through genetic perversion. (Again, we see the same demonic strategies and residue today.) Our carnal man tends to view Flood event of God destroying man rather than God destroying Satan's strategies. The truth is that there was only one family who truly worshiped God and walked according to His ways. It would be through this family that God in His loving-kindness would preserve humanity and the prophetic word given in the Garden of Eden.

Now, Satan would eventually learn that the crusher of his head would come through the seed of Abraham who would be the father of the Jewish people and our faith in Yahweh.

"By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, (God would have to do this as well) your only son – blessing I will bless you, and multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their ENEMIES." (Genesis 22:16-17)

To the discerning believer in Jesus Christ, Satan's strategies become crystal clear and have never changed. Anti-Semitism began as a strategy of Satan to annihilate the seed of Abraham and his descendants – the Jewish people. Centuries before the Holocaust, the Bible shows us many attempts of Satanic induced extermination of the Jewish people and the assassination attempt of God's promise to Abraham. We see this during the Jewish captivity in Egypt and the decree of Pharaoh to kill every Hebrew first born male. We also read of this strategy in the book of Esther. Haman would be a type of Anti-Christ in his foiled attempt to persuade the king of Persia to kill EVERY Jewish person. The celebration of Hanukkah was birthed out of one such "extermination" strategy. Antiochus was bent on destroying the entire Jewish culture, religion, and peoples. And of course we all know the exploits of Herod. Although Satan knows that he is defeated, the rancid stench of Anti-Semitism has continued to this day to fill the nostrils and intoxicate the wicked to hatred and the murder of God's chosen people.

In bringing Holocaust strategies by Satan closer to home and our generation, many have wondered why Germany or Europe for that matter would be pulled into Anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism has its origins in Palestine, but between the Greek and Roman conquests of the Middle East, the Amorite peoples were exiled to the turn of century Germanic lands. The Anti-Christ is not a particular person in the literal sense. We notice in the book of Revelation that there is no mention of an individual named "Anti-Christ." The Beast and the Dragon (Satan) will take on the "spirit" of Anti-Christ in their strategy of destruction against mankind. It was not so much the nation of Germany as it was the "Anti-Christ" spirit that had gone into those lands with the Amorite peoples. (They were enemies of Israel.).

More Jews have come to receive Yahshua as their Messiah in this generation than all generations combined from the time of the first century church. Once again, Satan's strategies will be turned against him by the hand of God. Anti-Semitism and the destruction of the Jewish people continues today through Islam as a strategy of Satan. My position is NOT to be "politically" correct, but "prophetically" correct. Although the Messiah has already come to Redeem man, Satan knows that the future kingdom and glory of God through Christ's return is hinged upon the PRESERVATION of the Jewish people as a distinct and favored people.

As the Word of God and history continued, Satan learned that the "seed of the woman" would come through Jacob's sons. (They would become the tribes of Israel.) The Bible says that "Shiloh would come through the tribe of Judah and that he would become a king."(Paraphrased) As the prophets released the purposes and the Word of God, Satan had more specific information concerning the :seed of the woman." It would not be long before Satan would launch murderous attacks upon the kings of Judah. (I hope that it is becoming increasingly clear of the importance of preparing people after a prophetic declaration has been spoken forth or written.)

The first king from the tribe of Judah would be David. In 2 Samuel 7, God promised that David's kingdom would never be overthrown. I can imagine Satan thinking that God had somehow miscalculated in rising up a young shepherd to rule from an eternal throne. The stage was set and Satan placed his seemingly undefeatable and well armed giant against a young man with a single sling-shot and a few smooth stones. Once again, Satan was defeated and God's people were PRESERVED.

In 2 Chronicles 21, Jehoram of Judah married Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. When Jehoram was struck and died because of his wickedness, his son Ahaziah became king in Judah. Likewise, Ahaziah was killed prematurely because of his evil ways. Upon learning of her son's death, Athaliah murdered ALL of the royal heirs – some of these must have been her own children. (See 2 Chronicles 22:10-12) However, Satan's plan was foiled again. Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and "stole him away from the king's sons who were being murdered." The Bible says that Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord. It would be through his leadership that the Temple would be repaired and the wicked and satanically motivated Athaliah would be put to death. I hope you can see the "multiple" Hanukkah parallels or patterns: The rising up of an Anti-Christ spirit. The defilement of the Temple and the hand of God preserving His promises. It is fascinating that we read and will ultimately see on "the day of the Lord" the Anti-Christ spirit of the Beast and the Dragon set up their throne and defile the Temple. However, this time, the defilement will never return and the rededicating of the "temple" will be permanent and will be "living stones." God's promise of a Redeemer through the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David would be PRESERVED.

Through the Word of God (the writings of the prophets), Satan learned a great deal concerning the soon coming Redeemer who would crush his head. Obviously, Satan learned in Isaiah 7 that He would be born of virgin birth. He learned in Micah 5 that He would be born in Bethlehem. And he had a good idea of when He would come through the time-line laid out by the prophet Daniel.

Soon to come was the glory and magnificence of One who was to be called Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace! The utter shock that shook Satan and the foundations of his kingdom – That the One who would come from the seed of the woman and crush his head would be GOD HIMSELF! I can see Satan moving throughout history in his arrogance and confidence that no mere "man" could possibly defeat him. But yet, the mystery of the ages unfolded for the world to witness — The birth of the Christ. Fully man and yet fully God. The mystery that the angels still look upon in awe would be complete and fulfilled through His glorious birth and death. Jesus was born to die. The perfect sacrifice was born and would 33 years later die for your sins.

As Jesus hung on the cross dying, did Satan sense that he had somehow finally won? It had to be beyond his warped and wildest imagination that the very Son of God, whom he had put to death, would be the means that God the Father would use to strip his power, authority and crush his head. Satan failed to kill Jesus during Herod's assault on the babies in Bethlehem. He failed when he tried to have Jesus thrown over a cliff. He failed to drown Him in a storm or have him stoned by the Pharisees. Time and time again, Satan failed because "the time had not yet come." As a matter of fact, Jesus described the "religious elite" of that day to be "of their father, the devil." (John 8:44) Why? Because man's tradition and religion kills. It is intimate relationship with Christ that is the sole giver of life.

The sense of victory that Satan may have relished would only last for 3 days. His past defeats would pale in comparison to the utter shock of realizing that Jesus Christ was alive! Hebrews 2:14 says, "In as much then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death, He might DESTROY him who had the power of death, that is, the devil." The glorious birth of Christ led to the CROSS. It would be the cross of Christ that would inflict the fatal blow and crush the "head" of all death and darkness.

So my question is this, are you ready to begin a New Year and chapter in your life by partaking in the cross and victory of Christ? Satan will surely respond to the unfolding revelation of His Word to the church. But as the church, this is our greatest hour to arise and seize the moment. Jesus Christ has empowered the church (you and I) to "possess the gate of our enemies" and to snatch the lost and dying from the grip of Satan's strategies and devices. He has called you and I to be His light and to shine in a world of darkness that is in need of a Savior. This is the REAL REASON for the season.

Look, Jesus did not come for a birthday party. Jesus came for one reason and one season alone – for the sole purpose of redeeming mankind to Himself through His shed blood. Many times in history, the "seed" and prophecy of Genesis 3:15 was down to one person or family. Needless to say, the conception of Christ was RARE and is not to be taken casually or common as most of the world and church has. The present prophetic movement has strayed from its calling and purpose to warn the wicked and call the lost to repentance in the love of Christ. Much of what I see is prophetic people prophesying to other prophetic people about how wonderful everything is and is going to be, while millions pass through the gates of hell every year.

The Lord spoke clearly concerning His prophetic watchmen in Ezekiel 33. (I encourage you to read it now.) You have received the blood of Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. You held out your hands and received the precious blood of the Lamb. My question to you is this ... "Is the blood still upon your hands? Or have you TOUCHED another and shared His real purpose for His coming?" This is the FRUIT of the "seed of the woman."

Danny Korakas

Children's children (grandchildren) are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father. (Proverbs 17:6)

We know from Scripture that we are all called to be "priests." Men have a detailed and specific calling to be the priest of their home. A priest is one who ministers to God and humanity by the sacrifice they offer through Jesus Christ. To qualify as a priest of the Most High God, we must be willing to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice.

I believe that many men have received the revelation of their calling as a priest to their home. However, I believe that the Lord is calling forth men to be the "PROPHET" of their home as well. The priest of a family will REPRESENT his family to God. On the other hand, the prophetic husband and father REPRESENTS God to his family. It is important to remember that the prophet is not authorized by the WORDS he speaks as much as by the integrity and example he represents and lives.

FATHERS REPRESENTING GOD BY EXAMPLE

As I stated earlier, the prophetic father represents the attributes of God to his family by the life he lives. As much as a father may represent God to his family, he can also "misrepresent" God to his family. If a father is STRONG in love, touch, and compassion, he paints a tangible picture for a child to view the love, touch and compassion of God. Likewise, a father can very easily paint a portrait of God in the mind of a child as being critical, angry, and judgmental. The disposition of a natural and spiritual father will naturally be representative of how a child views their heavenly FATHER.

The story of Isaac and Ishmael is a picture of the tremendous benefits of being ACCEPTED and loved by a father. The Bible says that the birth of a people called by God's name would come through a "father's" blessing given to Isaac. (See Hebrews 11:18 & Genesis 21:12) Ishmael, on the other hand, experienced REJECTION when he was forced to leave with his mother, Hagar. This would forever scar the life of Ishmael. I believe, and scripture confirms, that Ishmael's destiny was one of favor and blessing. However, because there wasn't a natural and spiritual father to paint a picture of God's LOVE and to invest time in this young man's life, Ishmael fell into the insecurity and deceptions that are produced from the pain of rejection. We do not have a record of a father-figure or Ishmael seeking the Lord for healing and restoration; we only see that his "mother" had to gave him away in marriage.(See Genesis 21:21) Consequently, we can clearly see the fruit of unhealed rejection moving from generation to generation as a curse throughout Ishmael's descendants. Unhealed rejection without the healing touch and affirmation of God is strong enough to move from one generation to another through the power of "example."

This truth becomes vividly stark and manifests itself in the Muslim's view of their "god" as a distant, judgmental and critical deity rather than personal, loving and compassionate. The result is oppression, VIOLENCE and control, which provides a warped sense of security in a truly insecure state. The corporate insecurity of Islam surfaces in its unwillingness to expose its adherents to the love of God through Jesus Christ. The greater the rejection, the greater the effects of isolation and insulation.

It has been proven through numerous studies that approximately 80% of children will grow up copying the dominate traits of their parents (both good and bad). Although a child who is abused or neglected may say or think to themselves that they would never do that to a child when "they grow up," without the love and acceptance of God, they tragically find themselves exhibiting the same behavior traits toward their children in many areas and circumstances. We see this as well in alcoholic, violent, addictive and co-dependant behaviors. Children have a built-in desire to love and emulate their parents. Even when abused, mistreated and rejected, they still have the capacity to love and LEARN from their parents. Again, both for the good and bad. (Do we represent the fruit of God's Spirit to our children or do we represent our past hurts and insecurities ... or the fruit of the flesh? This understanding must be seriously taken into account in the EXAMPLE we represent to our children.

The greatest gift and example that the PROPHETIC FATHER can give is LOVE. When tender and compassionate love is lacking in a child's life, the result is the pain of rejection. This leads to a sense of worthlessness and a feeling that they can never "measure up" to the expectations of others. The sad thing about rejection in a child is that this "disease" is slow, lethal and seldom diagnosed until "internal" damage has already been done. And as we have stated in another article: The pain of unhealed rejection will always seek PLEASURE to relieve or comfort itself. Again, we see this manifested in Islamic beliefs of heaven and a god who rewards with sensual pleasure.

The Lord said that a day would come when the hearts of the fathers would be turned once again to their children. I find this promise to be very encouraging in an age with fatherlessness and rampant divorce. Just because a "house" has two parents in it does not make it a "home." I believe that much of the problem in so-called "two-parent" homes is not so much that fathers do not love their children as much as they don't know how to show their love or the love of God by example to their children. Love that is only a feeling, but not demonstrated, is not love to a child. Inconsistent expressions and demonstrations of love toward our children produces confusion, distrust, and rebellious attitudes to gain any type of CONSISTANT attention.

The Prophet in today's church is a spiritual father in representing God to His people. I have read many articles stating how others believe the behavioral make-up of a prophet or prophetic person should be. I have been amused to find that not one has mentioned LOVE as a prophet's primary quality. (There may be some out there. However, I have not read any.) I believe this stems from a deep seated deception of how "strong" men are to portray themselves. This stereotype and paradigm is about to be shattered by a generation of prophetic people who will walk in the strength and demonstration of God's love. They will exercise compassion and DISCIPLINE with maturity and care. They will arise to be the spiritual fathers the church so desperately needs.

FATHERS REPRESENTING GOD AS PROPHETIC TEACHERS

Prophetic fathers are those who place a premium on raising their children according to God's Word along with TEACHING them God's Word. Remember, the Bible states that the WORD (Jesus) is the spirit of prophecy. The primary communication language of the prophetic father is proclaiming and teaching the heart of God. The anointing of the prophet is the fragrance of the Lord's PRESENCE. Without intimacy with the Father, we fail to hear and know what the Lord is speaking to us. We can only give what we truly have to our children. A good example would be the healthy submission and obedience of our children that we all desire. However, as a father, it is rare that we will experience the submission and obedience we desire from our children unless we are submitted and obedient to Christ ourselves. (HYPOCRISY cannot be hidden within a family. Hypocrisy is the enemy to the spiritual growth and development of our children and young people.) Submission and obedience to Christ's authority empowers us as men with godly authority that flows down to the rest of the family. This is the essence of all prophetic authority. Moving in fleshly authority will demonstrate itself in unhealthy frustration, anger, shouting and stomping of feet. However, it will lack the genuine authority that comes from the presence of God to lead our families.

In ministering at many men's retreats, I have found that many, if not most, Christian men fail to pray with their wives. As I stated earlier, the greatest teacher to our children is the life they observe us living. Children that experience a healthy prayer life between the husband and wife will develop a dynamic and healthy prayer life at a very young age that will carry them through the struggles of adolescence. The manifestation of our young people sitting on the back row and their lack of spiritual depth is primarily the fault of men who fail to be a prophetic signpost and teacher to them. We have got to realize that traditional church is not going to produce and grow on-fire kids. Religion to a kid is an occasion to put on a "religious outfit and face", go home, take it off and hang it in the closet until the next Sunday. Church fellowship is only an extension of the relationship with Christ that is instilled by the head of the home the other six days.

"Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a SIGN on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your CHILDREN, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied." (Deuteronomy 11:18-21)

In the above verse, the words in the Hebraic language are all masculine in nature. This is a word of wisdom given by Moses to all fathers in how they should conduct their home-life. As I write this, I am writing out of tremendous conviction in the hope that I will heed these words from the Holy Spirit. I realize that this word is first and foremost for me — for I certainly have a long way to go. I pray that Father would give me the grace, love, and discipline to be the prophetic teacher my children so much deserve. When fathers instill the value of reading the Bible and praying together as a family, the prophetic signpost of Christ's love for the church becomes a real and visible picture to the unsaved and lost.

FATHERS REPRESENTING GOD AS COMMUNICATORS

One of the greatest complaints of young people is that their parents do not LISTEN to them. Did you know that the greatest form of communication is listening? Just as our relationship with other people is a reflection of our relationship with God, so is our listening to others a reflection of our willingness to truly listen to God. The accuracy and anointing of the prophetic voice hinge upon our time of listening to God.

There has been a great deal prophesied as of late for leadership in the church to encourage the body of Christ to EXPRESS themselves and provide them a platform of ministry and purpose. Likewise, it is imperative that we provide a platform for our children to express and communicate with the freedom to discuss their problems and issues. The key is not to become overtly "religious" in our response. I learned when my daughter was 18 years old that this approach did not work very well! Why? Because she wanted somebody who would just listen and try to identify with the emotions and issues of a young lady establishing her identity.

Sadly, we see the same approach in church ministry. "Spiritual fathers" would rather have an answer for everything and create a religious environment instead of just being real and encouraging the freedom to express. I believe that just communicating about everyday life and taking TIME as a father to truly listen to our children will foster an environment and a desire for our children to LISTEN and communicate with God.

PROPHETIC GRANDPARENTS

The Bible says that a child is the "crown" of a grandparent. For many reading this, your "direct" parenting days are over. I imagine that many like me wish we could somehow bring back time and start over with our older and grown children. Beloved, it is never too late to be a godly and "prophetic" parent that represents God's love. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus and He has promised to even turn our bad or even "absent" times into good if we will trust and obey Him. I believe that this will be a defining week in my life. When the Lord began ministering this word to me to share with you, I realized that God in His love was desirous to heal and restore many things in my life in order to be the father that He would have me to be. His ultimate desire and my utmost calling, is to be a priest and prophet to my dear wife and children — to truly represent Him in a personal and relevant way.

The beauty and privilege of being a grandparent is that it allows a person a second chance in ministering the love and ways of God to their future heritage and namesake. Grandparents have the opportunity to break the bonds of rejection and generational curses that have hindered families from the abundant life that Christ has offered. I am certain that 2005 will be a year in which grandparents walk in an increased anointing and awareness of their calling to our youngest generation. We have suffered as a nation in our spiritual depth and maturity because we have neglected and shelved the WISDOM of our elder men and women. This is about to change. Once again, the youth of the nations will sit at the feet of their grandparents and glean from a lifetime of knowledge and understanding in the blink of an eye. Yes, the grandfather will dream dreams. Their dreams will be the dreams and visions of a generation that will welcome back our Lord and King.