Destiny calls...are you answering?
OK, I realize that by now you're probably wondering if I'm actually still alive. I know it's been WAY too long since my last post, but please forgive me...it's been a very busy few months!
So I'm thinking it's probably a good idea to bring you up to speed on what's been going on lately. See, a lot of the stuff I've been writing about over the past year or so (embracing change and all that goes with it)...well, I've been living it.
I've been on about a 2-year journey where God basically shifted me out of all the normal "church" type stuff I was doing (music, sound, multimedia, drama, etc.), and led me by the hand into the things He created me to do from the beginning.
And what's that, you ask? Well, because I've been recognized and acknowledged as a "prophet," I came to realize that my destiny in God has to center around that primary function. In other words...that's who I am. What you do in life should always flow out of who you are, otherwise you'll feel like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.
Now a lot of people have the idea that a prophet is basically someone who speaks what God tells them to say, so they often ask if you have a "word of the Lord" for them. Kind of like a "sanctified fortune-teller." But we all want to know the future, right? So that's completely understandable.
But what the Lord began to show me early on was that He didn't just call me to be His personal Express mail carrier for His kids. No, He had something bigger in mind, and we can read about it in Ephesians 4:11-12.
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
Anyone who's recognized as having one of those 5 jobs has a big responsibility: to equip God's people. What does that mean? It's very simple. Because I'm a prophet, my job is to train you to learn how to hear God's voice for yourself...and do it just as well or even better than me!
If all I did was go around impressing you and others with my anointed prophetic gift, so you stand in awe of my powerful words from the Lord, then I am not the kind of leader I'm actually supposed to be.
Jesus put it this way:
“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave." (Matt. 20:25-27)
All true leaders have been appointed by God to serve others. For me, that means I must help my brothers and sisters grow in their ability to hear and speak for God. If I don't impart to you the essence of my anointing so you grow to become a more prophetic person, then I am nothing more than an empty title.
Same goes for the other 4 leadership functions:
In fact, let me be real blunt about it: If you're presently following a leader who is not imparting the essence of their anointing, in effect "reproducing" themselves in your life, you need to seriously challenge them on this. And if they can't or won't equip and train you into your specific gifting and destiny in God, then I'd say it's time to look for a new leader.
My passion is to see my brothers and sisters in Christ grow up into their God-given ability to hear His voice, speak His words to others, and step out in faith to do whatever He reveals. So I'm now providing this kind of training through our new ministry: ETR Destiny.
If you'd like to find out more about this, check out our website: www.etrdestiny.com
And don't hesitate to let me know how we can serve you, and help you on your way toward reaching the destiny He created you for...
So I'm thinking it's probably a good idea to bring you up to speed on what's been going on lately. See, a lot of the stuff I've been writing about over the past year or so (embracing change and all that goes with it)...well, I've been living it.
I've been on about a 2-year journey where God basically shifted me out of all the normal "church" type stuff I was doing (music, sound, multimedia, drama, etc.), and led me by the hand into the things He created me to do from the beginning.
And what's that, you ask? Well, because I've been recognized and acknowledged as a "prophet," I came to realize that my destiny in God has to center around that primary function. In other words...that's who I am. What you do in life should always flow out of who you are, otherwise you'll feel like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.
Now a lot of people have the idea that a prophet is basically someone who speaks what God tells them to say, so they often ask if you have a "word of the Lord" for them. Kind of like a "sanctified fortune-teller." But we all want to know the future, right? So that's completely understandable.
But what the Lord began to show me early on was that He didn't just call me to be His personal Express mail carrier for His kids. No, He had something bigger in mind, and we can read about it in Ephesians 4:11-12.
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
Anyone who's recognized as having one of those 5 jobs has a big responsibility: to equip God's people. What does that mean? It's very simple. Because I'm a prophet, my job is to train you to learn how to hear God's voice for yourself...and do it just as well or even better than me!
If all I did was go around impressing you and others with my anointed prophetic gift, so you stand in awe of my powerful words from the Lord, then I am not the kind of leader I'm actually supposed to be.
Jesus put it this way:
“You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave." (Matt. 20:25-27)
All true leaders have been appointed by God to serve others. For me, that means I must help my brothers and sisters grow in their ability to hear and speak for God. If I don't impart to you the essence of my anointing so you grow to become a more prophetic person, then I am nothing more than an empty title.
Same goes for the other 4 leadership functions:
- Apostles must impart an anointing that gives you an understanding and experience of being "sent out" to impact your world with the kingdom of God.
- Evangelists should impart their anointing that enables you to help others trust Jesus and leave their old lives behind.
- Pastors must impart their gift so you learn how to care for and strengthen others.
- Teachers should impart a love for God's word and an ability to dig out His truth for yourself and others.
In fact, let me be real blunt about it: If you're presently following a leader who is not imparting the essence of their anointing, in effect "reproducing" themselves in your life, you need to seriously challenge them on this. And if they can't or won't equip and train you into your specific gifting and destiny in God, then I'd say it's time to look for a new leader.
My passion is to see my brothers and sisters in Christ grow up into their God-given ability to hear His voice, speak His words to others, and step out in faith to do whatever He reveals. So I'm now providing this kind of training through our new ministry: ETR Destiny.
If you'd like to find out more about this, check out our website: www.etrdestiny.com
And don't hesitate to let me know how we can serve you, and help you on your way toward reaching the destiny He created you for...
posted by Russ at
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