ROOTED RENEGADE

Many are the wolves that come to take the sheep away from the Shepherd…but it is only the Shepherd’s voice they will listen to.

Jesus – the Good Shepherd. The One who came to set the captives free. Also the One who allowed Judas to be on of His disciples. A sent one meant to stop Jesus from doing the works of His Father in Heaven.

We too have people sent to us to falsely prophesy and those who are used by the enemy to lead us astray. Unfortunately for a lot of people, they never see the coming.

We have a tendency as humans to want to know the steps of the plan. To want to know how long a trip is going to take. To want time to speed up so we don’t have to endure suffering for too long.

We get impatient and when answers don’t come as fast as we would like or the Lord isn’t talking to us about what we want to hear. This impatience can cause many to search for prophetic words anywhere they can find them.  And that searching can lead them to the wolves the enemy will use to falsely prophecy.  That searching will open the door to the enemy because the impatience breeds distrust and doubt.

About two years ago now, I was reading every prophet I could find.  I was so interested in prophecy and what God was saying through them that my ears were tuned into the wrong people.  I had joined this group for a short time and was so excited to be a part of a larger community that I almost missed what God was showing me.

It was when I was asked not to tell anyone I was a part of it, that the red flag went up.  And I had a decision to make.  I could either take it to the Lord for wisdom and direction, or I could ignore it and stay with the group.  Given by background, I chose to go to the Lord.  Needless to say I only attended two of the meetings in total.

But what I learned from the experience was vital to my growth and walk.

1. Not everything we are meant to be a part of.
2. Some people think they are going in the right direction, but they themselves are being led astray.
3. Not every prophet is meant to bend our ears because not every prophetic word is for us.
4. God will use prophets His way and if He has not specifically sent a prophet to us then who we seek out can unintentionally or intentionally harm us.
5. Some people are decieved and don’t know it. They are walking in the wrong direction with people they think are meant to partner with.
6. We must not only discern where we are to be planted, but we must listen to God’s voice only when it comes to being planted in a specific location.
7. God wants to deliver messages to us Himself. Prophets are sent to those who need help hearing His voice.
8. We can ask God to hear Him more clearly and for words that strengthen us, encourage us, and help us stay on the narrow path.
9. We must tune our ears to the frequency of heaven before we turn our ears towards anyone else.
10. God does use people to get our attention, give us testimony, encourage us, etc…but His voice is the One we should be seeking.
11. We are absolutely made for community…but we have to be in the right one at the right time. Not every community is going in the right direction. 
12. We are meant to be in unity with the body of Christ. When there is any disunity, secrecy, discord, etc. we will be misaligned with the truth.

I could spend a lot of time listing more, but I hope that these twelve lessons help stir your heart to not only want to know God’s voice, but to examine where you may be in the wrong place or listening to the wrong voices.  These were hard lessons.

In searching we will find. In knocking the door will be opened. In asking we will receive.

But… what we are searching for matters. Where we are knocking matters. And what we are asking matters.

We need increased discernment to know if it is a wolf in sheep’s clothing or someone who is also being led astray. Wolves don’t announce themselves as wolves. People who are decieved don’t know they are decieved. 

The enemy however, is not ignorant. He knows those he uses against us and it is very targeted and strategic. The strategies he uses is meant to talk us off the narrow way. And there is always collateral damage. He leaves a wake of it behind every tactic that he uses like a game.

In these last days, it is so important for us to take some time with Holy Spirit and examine the relationships we have and ask for increased wisdom and discernment in them. To ask who is meant to be in our lives and who is not. Who is for us and who is against us.

Only Holy Spirit can reveal the truth behind motives. He can reveal the truth behind everything we face and people we encounter. We just need to ask ourselves….

Do I want to know the truth or do I want to stay in the dark?

I, for one, would rather know the truth and be aware than to be left in the dark. I can’t imagine how it would have gone if I had not taken the time with the Lord I needed and sought wise counsel in the process. 

Because gone are the days when we can remain oblivious to the enemies schemes against us. As darkness increases over the earth, we need the light of Christ Jesus to help us every day.

Faythe