According to the sages and Josephus, Obadiah was given the gift of prophecy due to his care of the prophets. His wife, after his death, was left with nothing. Obadiah had spent all his money and borrowed money from King Ahab to feed God’s mouthpieces. 100 prophets he had hidden in caves by 50.
PopEYE, Olive, and a Widows Oil Read Post »
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin” (I Peter 4:1).
Let’s stop here and meditate on what it may look like to “ARM” ourselves. It has obvious military undertones. This walk, at times, is a battle. Be armed. Be ready. Be of sound mind. Suffering is part of our walk. However, when many go through suffering, they tend to blame this on satan and cannot see at times clearly what is actually going on and also why a deeper work is happening in our person. In my book The Spirit of Leviathan, I use a person in a casket as an example of our flesh man getting under control.
Identity, and the Death of Introspection Read Post »
How often have you read the verses above from Haggai and thought, I’m sowing much but not seeing the fruit? I feed on His Word and attend church/assembly and gatherings, but I’m never satiated. My spiritual garments aren’t lighting the wick of my lamp and igniting a flame to warm others. Or I’m earning wages at my job but can barely keep my head above water.
Elul and the Prophet Haggai Read Post »
It was 2009, a Friday night prayer meeting at a chapel. I sit in the back alone. I am single now. The evangelist ends the prayer meeting with a call for those needing prayer. I walk up to the front, cane in hand. There are about ten of us lined up across the floor. The man has a bottle of anointing oil, and one by one, he is anointing people’s heads and praying for each one. He begins to prophesy over a few, and then he gets to me. He does the same thing he has done to everyone else but then stops. “Hmm, God wants me to anoint your hands. He has a work for you involving healing.”
Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a stench; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. ECC 10:1
A little folly. How much trouble can one get into by mixing a little folly—a little stupidity? A lot! And once it’s mixed in, everything is spoiled. Does this folly come from a lack of hearing? Shema. Hearing and obedience. Who do we listen to most intently? Do we lack a keen ear for those we interact with daily?
Dead Flies, Honey Bees, and our Hearing Read Post »
Numerous issues with people and situations can evoke emotions. But if we let our emotions get the best of us, we are not in control of our person. When situations, conflicts, and things out of our control cause us to react, we need to ask ourselves what we are feeling and why is it taking over our ability to have peace. If traffic is causing us to become anxious, riding on the bumper in front of us, swearing or becoming angry, there is much more going on than an absentminded driver in front of us.
Gideon and Our Emotions Read Post »
We often wait patiently for certain things to transpire or come to pass. Unfortunately, at times, the things we hope for, long for, and cry out to the Holy One for do not materialize or happen when we feel they should. Occasionally, they do not happen at all. Sometimes, God withholds the desire of our hearts until we are mature enough to handle them, and other times, he waits until the circumstances are like Lazarus, a stinking, rotting mess.
Hope Deferred & Desire Fulfilled Read Post »
Most of us have things hidden underneath sheets that need massaged, sanded, anointed, pruned and moistened by His Spirit. When these hidden things are exposed, we feel vulnerable. Yeshua washed feet….
A prophet is met with death in the womb or shortly after. It may be a breach, uterine rupture, or strangulation by cord. Either way, some form of difficulty usually occurs before birth or afterward. The prophet is at times unloved in the womb, rejected before even exiting the ramp. Once the prophet meets his assigned family, he never feels truly a part of it, although he does love them deeply, he is a misfit. The prophet, at any time, may abruptly be told to leave his family, homeland, or flee for his life. He is mostly without a mother or father, and even if found to be a goodly child by his mother, he is then hunted by an outside power, whether Pharaoh or Herod or some other demonic force.
The Journey of a Prophet Read Post »
Stephanie invited me on her podcast. How lovely of her. Here is a description of her about page in case you would like to explore more of her guests. :
Introduction: Are you a Christian who wants to go deeper into the roots of your faith? In this weekly podcast, your host Stephanie Pavlantos will explore the Hebraic significance of Scripture with teachers and scholars while providing a deeper understanding of Jesus, the Torah, and the Old and New Testaments. We will help you understand Scripture’s meaning through the Hebrew language, culture, and history.
New Podcast With Stephanie Pavlantos, Dying to Flesh Read Post »
