By Kurt Thurston
Last August, while praying, I saw a vision. In the vision I saw myself, along with the people of our church, on a very large ship. I could tell that we had been there for a while and that the trip had been rough. There were looks of discouragement on many faces as the ship was being tossed from side to side by the wind rain and waves. Many were hanging on, but some were letting go. I felt that my reason for being there was to tell them the Lord was saying, “Don’t let go, find your place in the ship and hang on with all confidence.” As I proclaimed that word many gave heed, but some just let go and were swept away into the dark of the storm. My heart sank, but I still pressed on. I turned around to see what was coming ahead and I could not believe my eyes. I saw a giant black tidal wave that reached all the way to the sky and I knew that all those who did not find their place in the ship, would be swept away.
When I sought for the interpretation of the vision, I gained some understanding, of which I shared with the body at that time. Over the past year there have been multiple confirmations and prophetic revelations pointing toward the coming of a great storm, so I know that the vision has not fully come to pass yet. I feel, not only the local assembly, but also the body of Christ at large needs to hear and heed the warning.
THE WARNING: (James 1:8) “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” This is a time when the body of believers must find there place under the head, who is Jesus Christ. Just as every member of the crew of a sailing ship must know their duty and be devoted to it until the very end. Don’t allow the enemy to divide us from the fellowship of believers, knowing that God has brought us together for the maturing of the saints. There can be no more uncertainty, we must know what we believe. We must put away every fear and be willing to be the overcomers He has called us to be. We must know what the Lord has purposed for us individually and get on with fulfilling it as a part of the true body of Christ.
Where there are divisions there is immaturity, both in character and in understanding. The Lord Jesus Christ has made provision for every one of us to mature into the fullness of our calling, as well as the fullness of His character. As those who proclaim we believe in Christ and have made Him Lord of our lives, we must forget the past and hold tight to His purpose as we heed the voice of the Spirit. Without the unity of the Holy Spirit and the brethren, all we have is a belief that can be altered by difficult circumstances and the tongue of the deceiver. Simply said, it is time for the Church to grow up.
Eph. 4:14-18; “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.”
The storm will come, but those who follow the leading of the Spirit, need not fear.
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Kurt Thurston is a teacher and music director in his church in Richmond, Indiana called Living Word Christian Fellowship. Living Word Christian Fellowship is a strong Bible believing church with anointed preaching and worship services. The senior pastor, Stephen Ross and their members labor as a “Sister Church” with us in the Internet Ministry of prayer and counseling. You can be blessed by reading more of their writings at their web site: https://www.lwcf.com/
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What Is Prophecy?
By Betty Miller
As some may not be familiar with prophecy in the church, we want to share this short explanation of Biblical prophecy before we share an actual prophecy from God.
First, what is godly prophecy? It can be summed up as words that are spoken on behalf of God. A prophet or prophetess is one who is a spokesman for God. It is a divine utterance that comes from the Holy Spirit. (Note: Just as there are prophetic words from God, there are also false prophecies that the Lord warned us about in the Bible. In Matthew 7:15-16 Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits–.” We must prove the source of prophecy before accepting it as coming from the Lord). God is raising up many prophetic voices in the earth today. His gifts of prophecy are basically of two types. One is the “simple gift of prophecy” which every believer can express under the unction or direction of the Holy Spirit after they have been filled with the Holy Ghost.
The other is the “office gift” of the spirit which is given to a prophet or prophetess who is called to the “five-fold” ministry office as outlined in 1 Corinthians 12:28 which says “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” Also Ephesians 4:11-12 which says” And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
The basic difference between these two types is, the simple gift of prophecy is given to all spirit filled believers as spoken of in 1 Corinthians 14:31, “For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.” It is for the purpose of edification, exhortation and comfort as spoken of in 1 Corinthians 14:3, “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.”
The “office gift” of a prophet or prophetess is given to speak to the body of Christ at large. The ministers who are called to the office of a prophet or prophetess will deliver messages also which include edification, exhortation and comfort but their messages can also be directive in nature and futuristic in content as well (Ephesians 4:11-15).
Presently God is leading His people with prophetic preaching and teaching. A prophetic movement is taking place in the world.
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