Category Archives: Prophetic Foundations

Laying Hold of the Eternal

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eternityBeing truly “Christian” requires us to believe in the concept of eternity. Try as we might to contemplate the eternal, we humans have difficulty getting past our sense of time. Born into time, you and I have known nothing apart from the tick-tock of the clock. The second and minute hands have governed our every move, constantly reminding us of our own mortality. It’s no wonder we strive to wrap our minds around the timelessness and boundlessness of the realm of eternity that awaits us!

To understand eternity, we must become acquainted with its King, the Eternal God. The limitations we face in this life are non-existent in His realm, the very realm He has invited us to participate in!

The video link provided is a message I very recently shared entitled, “The Eternal God.” In this video, I utilize scripture and a little bit of science to unlock the mystery of eternity and how time and eternity are two different realities that co-exist simultaneously. Here are some of the questions I address:

  • Is eternity just time extended indefinitely, or is it a separate reality?
  • How could Jesus appear in the Old Testament, before His natural birth in the New Testament?
  • Does time exist in eternity?
  • Who is El Olam and how what is His role in eternity?
  • Why does the Bible say there will be no marriage and giving of marriage in Heaven?
  • Why cannot God change?
  • How does the Theory of Relativity reveal the nature of time and help us to better understand eternity?
  • How can we, as created beings, become immortal and enter into eternity?

Watch video: The Eternal God

As always, I am more interested in hearing than being heard. If anything in this message stimulates a question in you, please feel free to converse, here, via the “reply” link. Blessings as you endeavor to lay hold of the eternal!

 

Peering Into the Mystery of the Trinity

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Nicaean Fathers

Nicaean Fathers at the Council of Nicaea

In my mystical journey with God, there are times His voice speaks with absolute clarity. Moments of divinely inspired clarity are impinging, powerful to alter course and consciousness. At the beginning of this year, one such moment of lucidity set the pace of my pursuit. 2013 will be, for me, a year of rediscovering the Trinity. After a lifetime of familiarity with the cardinal attributes of God, my heart suddenly desires to rediscover Him. Perhaps I’ve swam in waters too shallow to fulfill my thrill-seeking urges. Possibly the Spirit of God is leading me out of misinformation. No matter the cause of stir, I’m thankful for the agitation that has awoken me from (quite honestly) a bout of theological boredom. Can you relate?

The concept of the Trinity has bewildered me in times past. As a teacher in the church, I have been completely dissatisfied with the methods of explaining the mystery of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit as 3 in 1. I’ve used the three-leaf clover, an egg, water, 3-in-1 shampoo, and many other devices to try to illustrate how the Godhead co-exists and interrelates. However, each of these less-than-brilliant devices have left me frustrated by their oversimplifications. Something never quite set right with me about how the Trinity has traditionally been communicated. By our efforts to wrap the topic up in a nice, neat package that is easily deliverable in a 30-minute Sunday morning lecture, we’ve robbed the Trinity of its glorious mystery.

Yesterday, in our Sunday morning service, I attempted to unwrap the package and re-open the cold case of how the Trinity co-exists and interacts. Certain questions need to be raised in the days ahead – questions that I feel might affect the way we interpret scripture. The light is changing, casting shadows on areas that once seemed quite illumined and illuminating areas that once seemed ominous. My gut instinct, when it comes to revolutionary thought, is to begin by returning to the basics, rather than trying to affect change on the fringes. In my sermon I address certain questions that have fueled my research in recent days, such as:

  • Is the Trinity one player in the roles of three persons?
  • How does modalism, Oneness, or Jesus-Only doctrine adversely affect our view of the Godhead?
  • Is there a hierarchy among God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?
  • In Heaven, will we be able to visually see the three separate persons of the Godhead? Do they coexist in eternity?
  • How has our shallow understanding of the Trinity hindered the church?
  • Why did the Trinity create us, and for what purpose?

For a time, the video of my sermon is available to you. Again, my aim is not to sew it up neatly but to unravel and raise some soul-searching questions. Should you care to join the conversation, please reply to this post with your comments, thoughts and queries. Remember, you are loved, valued and respected as a fellow seeker of truth. Blessings!

Watch Video: The Triunity of the Godhead

Characteristics of the Spirit of Elijah

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“What is the Spirit of Elijah?” This question came to me from a young man during a recent Q&A session of a conference. Beyond the hunger of his heart, I heard the voice of Holy Spirit prompting his inquiry. Although we reference the Spirit of Elijah frequently in our revival culture, do we really grasp its nature or composite? Having answered the question from my reservoir of revelation, I later went back to the well for a deeper drink. There is much more to be said about the spirit of Elijah than has already been said. The following is an acrostic (E-L-I-J-A-H) revealing the nature of the Elijah spirit. Flow with me into deeper waters of understanding as we prepare our hearts for this last days shift of ministry.

E – Engaging

As I meditated on the spirit of Elijah, I heard the following in my spirit. “The rules of engagement are changing.” Jesus and His church have two clearly different protocols for interacting with the world. Simply read the gospel accounts and you’ll find yourself marveling at the boldness of Christ. He very purposefully wove His interactions in and out of very sinful, “secular”, and religious circles. The ministry and miracles of Christ also crossed over into non-religious territory (ie. Turning the Water into Wine at the Wedding in Cana; Healing the Syropheonician’s Gentile Daughter; Producing the Coin in the Fishes Mouth to Pay for Taxes). Jesus challenged the rules of engagement that the religious system had put in place. This is characteristic of the Elijah Spirit.

To examine the Spirit of Elijah, we can look at the lives of three biblical figures: Christ; Elijah, himself; and John the Baptist. The angel of the Lord prophesied to John’s father, Zacharias in John 1:17, “And it is he (John) who will go as a forerunner before Him (the Messiah) in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous; so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John said of his mission in John 1:23, that he was called to “Make straight the way for the Lord.” Much of our religious ministry is based on making straight the way for the sinner. The Spirit of Elijah, however, is not sinner-focused, but Christ-focused. Making straight the way for the Lord requires one to break down hindrances and boundaries to the Kingdom in normal everyday life. The church has too many taboos, too many off-limit-zones that hinder Jesus from encountering people. The Spirit of Elijah fearlessly overwhelms barriers that keep Christ quarantined from the world. This, Elijah does by declaring the Way of the Lord. Whenever the Lord is exalted, hindrances and taboos among men are broken down. As the old saying goes, “The ground is level at the foot of the cross.”

Elijah engages governments. One-half of Elijah’s recorded miracles were interactions with the government or governmental figures. As the Lord’s return approaches, we can expect Father to raise up many who will boldly confront the governments of our world. These will wield signs and wonders testifying to the sovereign rule of the King of kings. Miraculous demonstrations will happen internationally, nationally, territorially, and locally as well. Witness will be given to a higher government, turning the hearts of earthly rulers back to their Heavenly Creator.

Elijah engages the Seven Mountains. No longer will the church be confined to its mountain of worship. The Spirit of Elijah makes straight the way of the Lord into the Seven Mountains of Societal Influence. More information, here… and here.

  1. Government
  2. Media
  3. Arts/Entertainment
  4. Education
  5. Business
  6. Family
  7. Religion

L – Legacy

Elijah cultivates and passes along a legacy. The very fact that we’re talking about him, today, is proof positive of a lasting legacy of fruitful ministry! Malachi 4:6 prophesies that he will “turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” This must happen for transference of the Elijah mantle or spiritual legacy from one generation to the next.

Youth Magnets. Most every leader of modern revivals have exemplified a magnetic ability to attract young people to the move of God. Unfortunately, the church as an organization tends toward antiquation. The new wine of modernity is generally frowned upon. After working with young people for years, I’ve discovered no amount of intercessory prayer for the youth can overcome a crusty, rigid demonstration of Christianity. Up-and-coming generations will always reject any ministry or message that is unpliable, unimpassioned, or stale as day-old bread. It’s time to kick crotchety out of the church house. The legacy of Elijah is cultivated and transferred through people who possess certain of the following characteristics.

  • Accepting: Unconditionally accepting of youth.
  • Apologetic: Repentant for mistakes of the current generation.
  • Adaptable: Always a novice with an ear to the rails of innovation.
  • Attractive: Capable physically and mindful of tasteful outward appearance.
  • Accessible: Available for mentoring and fellowship.
  • Acknowledging: Recognizes and honors what God is doing in the next generation.

I – Illustrates

Elijah illustrates the message of the Kingdom with his lifestyle. Both Elijah and John wore a mantle of fur, speaking of their prophetic call. Both spent significant time in the wilderness or desert geography, sacrificing a life of ease. Both championed the cause of the poor and disadvantaged. Elijah took up the cause of the starving widow and her son. John ate locusts and wild honey, traditionally food for the homeless and squatters. Not just content to proclaim the message, they lived it to their own discomfort.

Whenever needful, Elijah illustrates the Word with miraculous demonstrations. There are 14 recorded major miracles in Elijah’s ministry, each affirming the Word and will of the Lord.

J – Jezebel

Elijah will draw out the Jezebel spirit. The greatest enemy of Elijah, Jezebel will try to stop, manipulate, seduce, or discredit this ministry through any number of diabolical schemes. Elijah triumphed over Jezebel but, John was martyred by Herodias, her New Testament counterpart. Likewise, we will either triumph or fall to this timeless spirit as we rise to confront the Ahab’s and Herod’s of our day. Here are some basic manifestations of the spirit of Jezebel to watch for. This spirit CANNOT be tolerated in your life and ministry.

  • Controlling
  • Hyper-spiritual
  • Alluring or flirtatious
  • Flattering
  • Self-promoting
  • Critical of long-standing relationships
  • Manipulative
  • Political
  • Divisive
  • Cruel
  • Religious
  • Secretive
  • Disregards protocol or rules
  • Dramatic
  • Guilt-inducing
  • Threatening

A – Avant-Garde

Elijah speaks of what is to come. Rather than long for the good ole’ days, he declares “eye has not seen and ear has not heard!” Avant-garde is defined as advanced and experimental in any group or field. Not afraid to pioneer new paths, Elijah braves the accusation of heresy to create a new normal within the Kingdom community. Synonyms for avant-garde include: unorthodox, daring, and radical. Elijah will raise eyebrows and fire up the traditional media and blogosphere with allegations of every evil. To the next generation, however, he is a hero and champion of revolution.

H – Humility

The highly confrontational personalities of Elijah and John the Baptist tend to overshadow their awesome humility. Elijah was willing to stand alone against Ahab and Jezebel. A person of pride would quickly fall to political power and the promise of prominence. Not Elijah! He withstood corruption by humbly representing the agenda of Jehovah instead of his own. This he did with no human support system, or Aaron and Hur.

Likewise, John the Baptist preached the gospel of another Whose sandals he felt unworthy to unlatch. Upon the emergence of Jesus’ ministry, two of John’s closest disciples left him to follow Christ. He willingly gave them to another ministry greater than his own. How we welcome the fresh wind of humility that is reviving the Spirit of Elijah in the church! Remember, Elijah is but a ministry of transition, not the end-game. He hands the bride to the coming bridegroom, beginning the ultimate reign of the King. Jesus told his disciples in Mark 9:12, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things.” It takes humility to restore that which has been cast off as unnecessary by prior generations. Restoration is indeed the work of the humble.

Elijah and Enoch

In recent days, I’ve entertained a possible connection between the Spirits of Elijah and Enoch. Both of these men are the only known two humans to escape death. It is argued that these men might be the two faithful witnesses who emerge during the time of Jacob’s trouble. Of a certainty, Elijah and Enoch generations are on the rise, today. Enoch represents the walk of unbroken intimacy with God. Hebrews 11:5 describes the life of Enoch. “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God.“

Enoch lived to bring pleasure to God. This he did through perpetual communion and fellowship. Genesis 5:24 records, “Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” I don’t believe this was a metaphorical “walk with God” but a literal walk, such as Adam and Eve enjoyed. Don’t you want to walk with God? Those who do, like Enoch, will carry an unprecedented level of revelation.

We are witnessing the emergence of these two ministries. One voice that has captured the Spirit of Enoch, is Michele Perry. I highly recommend her book, An Invitation to the Supernatural Life, published by Chosen Books. You may also listen to a recent interview I conducted with Michele on my podcast entitled “Supernatural Living” at the AM Cafe Highlights. Here is a link to the podcast on iTunes.

I welcome your thoughts, comments and confirmations! Blessings and thank you for reading Defining Words. If you would like daily encouragement, visit my weekday blog at www.melissaflores.org.

The Death of a Prophetic Word

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Sometimes a prophetic word has to die. Every hope of that word coming to pass, every hint of possibility must be exhausted before its season can dawn. Every seed I’ve planted in my garden soil this month, was dead. As every farmer and gardener does, I purchased dead seeds in faith, believing. Likewise, you have “purchased” or bought into a word of promise. Upon hearing the word, faith arose in your heart, allowing you to purchase it for future manifestation. At that point, the word is nothing more than a seed of potential. It must endure the process of death and burial before it can become a living word in you.

At the time of sowing, a seed is not even worth eating. Seemingly worthless to the naked eye, this seed holds innumerable, unleashed possibilities. When it’s fully dead, that’s precisely the moment to plant a seed, by burying it in the soil of the heart. That divine idea you’ve bought into, must now be hidden in your heart. Most divine seeds never make it this far. They lie on the shelf in the garage, or in the kitchen catch-all drawer, never reaching their destination. Believe in your dead seeds, enough to sow them back into your own heart. Revisit those packets of seed (journals, notebooks, cd’s, etc…). Cast your seeds by rehearsing them aloud and they will sink deep into your heart of hearts. Since your seed is of a supernatural nature, it will take supernatural stimulus to awaken it. There’s nothing more supernatural than the Word of God and spirit-induced worship. The more you read the supernatural stories recorded in scripture, the more active your worship life will become. These two very simple but supernatural practices will water and fertilize your seed, hastening the sprouts! Remember, the things of the Kingdom must be simple in practice and practical in application. You can do this. You can. Your supernatural seed does not respond to soulish stimulus. Many have attempted to awaken their seed by willing it to pass, or calling on the arm of flesh. Our best-laid plans and resources are incapable of bringing divine seed to life. Nothing but total devotion and focus on Christ will crack the shell that encases your new life.

Prophetic Words Are Being Resurrected

The Lord spoke clearly to me on Sunday evening, May 6. He said, “I’m resurrecting dead prophetic words!” The words of Christ flooded my thoughts, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life,“ John 12:24-25. This He spoke of His very death, burial and resurrection. He is the Word made Flesh, the embodiment of all we believe! Just the same, the word cannot live in your flesh, until you are willing to see it first dead and buried. Be willing to lose first, in order to gain.

Expect the following to happen in the coming days:

  • You will be drawn to old prophetic words that have not been fulfilled.
  • You will begin hearing other prophets declare things you heard long ago.
  • The Lord will begin placing you in assignments reminiscent of a prior season of your life.
  • Echoes of past prophetic words will come to you through various outlets (media and print).
  • Others will remind you of things you had forgotten.
  • There will be new wind on old prophetic imagery that once spoke to you.
  • If you are in ministry, the Lord will enliven the promises that birthed your ministry. Visit those early words.
  • You will move beyond hope to expectation. Your thoughts will be flooded with confidence of the fulfillment of prior promises.

Resurrection is possible, now, because many things have died in your life. Without waxing morose, let us agree that it has been a season of great loss. This pruning had to happen for the life of your promise! Because of your losses, you are now in position for resurrection! Say goodbye. Mourn no more. Get ready to rejoice as the day of resurrection has now dawned upon your life.

So your prophetic word has died, has it? Congratulations! You can now receive your word in the process you were destined to walk.

15 Signs of a Religious Spirit

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One of the primary purposes of Defining Words is to resource ministries with teaching materials. Feel free to print out and use this post as a handout when teaching on the Religious Spirit. The following “15 Signs of a Religious Spirit” are derived from the Book of Jude, and from Jack Deere’s teaching Exposing the Religious Spirit. This list delineates a spectrum of expressions of the religious mindset. Manifestations of the religious spirit are not limited to Christianity, but can be identified in any false religion as well. Your thoughts and comments are most certainly welcome.

1. RIFT - One with a religious spirit believes he has a mission to tear down error or what he believes is wrong.

2. REBUKE - He has a hard time receiving rebuke from someone less spiritual than he.

3. REBELLIOUS - He will not listen to people, because he can hear from God.

4. REPULSED - He immediately notices what is wrong with people, or the church, rather than looking for what is right.

5. RIGOROUS - He keeps score on his spiritual life and carries guilt when he doesn’t add up to the Lord’s standards.

6. REJECTING - He feels as though he has been appointed to fix everybody else.

7. RIVAL - He may feel as though he is truly closer to God than others, and his life or ministry is more pleasing to God in comparison.

8. RANKS - He takes pride in spiritual discipline or spiritual maturity and ranks himself against others.

9. REPUTATION - He will do things in order to be noticed or affirmed by people.

10. RIGID - Religious spirits are overly repulsed by “emotionalism.”

11.  RAUCOUS - Seemingly converse to the prior, a religious spirit will use emotionalism or hype to manipulate people.

12. RESISTANT - He will tend to resist the supernatural or reject spiritual manifestations he cannot understand.

13. REACTIONARY – He will overreact to carnality or immaturity in the body of Christ.

14. RENEGADE - He will not fully commit to a church or lend a hand to help if the group is not “perfect” in their theology.

15. REFRAIN - He will tend to be suspicious of or even oppose new moves of God.