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Prophetic Endurance

Practicing Priesthood

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it into the light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. if it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved--even though as one escaping through the flames. 

--I Corinthians 3:11-15


I have been criticized at times for being extravagant in my living out the gospel in a prophetic way. I give out food and water to homeless people frequently, and help them or buy them things they need. I offer aid to people who can't afford to pay. I even give away poetry books I have published to people, even people at the food bank; those who could not otherwise afford to buy them or have a chance to read them. (As such, I might be up there with Stephen King, whose books are also given away at the Abbotsford Food Bank.) I even waste my time volunteering in all sorts of areas for no pay; maybe I have done about 15 years of volunteer work. I have worked with elderly people, with hospital patients, at food banks, homeless shelters, art galleries, churches, mental health charities, teen groups, society boards, with disabled and blind people, and trained in Chaplaincy and Restorative Justice.

When it comes down to building on the foundation that is Christ, we must be socially aware of the suffering and pain of others, and what brings joy to God's heart. I may be building with gold and precious stones, and perhaps people are not used to that, and think some hay and straw should suffice. But I learned early on, that to follow Christ meant to be as one escaping though the fire. It was going to take a lot more than talent in life to have an edifice that would stand the test of time and persecution.

I considered that it was essential to define one's calling and one's role in the kingdom. There are priests and there are prophets. I have observed that priests face God, on behalf of the people. They bring the peoples' requests and needs to God. They speak for them, repent on their behalf, and cry out for their salvation and redemption. Prophets on the other hand, have their backs to God, and face the people. This is because they talk on behalf of God to the people. They are in a sense God's mouthpiece, and represent his interests to humanity. Their words should reflect God's voice and God's heart. Prophets, particularly in the Old Testament, frequently employ the written word, so we still have their works today. They use imagery, metaphor, and even poetry to explain God's vision and meaning to us. 

When God wants to call us out, how many times has he used the image of giving us a new name. He not only called people by name before they were born (such as John the Baptist), he renamed people who had already been named, to signify their new position in Christ. He called Simon "Peter", his disciple and explained the meaning of his new name. How ignorant we would be of his influence in Peter's life, if we refused to call him by his new name. Throughout the gospels, Peter is always called by his new name, by all who believed, as it means 'Rock'.

As a means of dehumanization, the Jews in Europe during the war were put in Concentration Camps. They were given a number, tattoed on their arm, instead of a name. This was only one of the dehumanization tactics used, but it is a powerful one. When you no longer have a name, and those in authority will not call you by your name, you can feel like you are being degraded, and that you simply cease to exist. It is easier to kill someone who no longer has a name.  


Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble . . .  (2 Peter 1:10 NIV)

He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. (John 10:3 NIV)

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. (Isaiah 40:26 NIV) 

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Prophetic Moments

Waiting for Jesus.

Listening to the Holy Spirit.

Urged to act by power not our own.

Worshipful Postures

Hold your hands out.

Keep your candle lit.  

Worship every day.

Pray for others. 

 

 

 

Quiet Time With Sea