Shooting Straight, Part 3--Letter Links: Stay Open, Even When You Think You Know My Will

July 16, 2004

Table of Contents

(ML #3501‚ GN 1088)

FD/MM July 2004

The Wise and Unwise Leader

(ML #263, DB 5.)

1. A good executive is not a boss!—He is a servant! Jesus wasn't just trying to teach His disciples humility when He said, "He who is greatest among you must be servant of all!" A good executive simply is not a dictator! He must call his people in & talk to them & find out what they think & go a great deal by what they say. If he sees their ideas are good, all he has to do is say, "OK!"

2. A good executive is really a servant! He listens to his employees! When the top people don't even communicate with their co-workers, then of course they don't understand the problems of those under them.

3. That is the attitude you should take toward your own co-workers: You need to listen to them! Leaders do have the responsibility to respond & to make the final decision, but being a good executive does not mean that you are the only one who has all the ideas & does all the thinking & all the consulting just within yourself, & then make all the decisions. Being a good executive means you assemble your people & share & listen to others.

4. They probably know more about it than you do! Any good secretary knows more about her boss' business than he does‚ & she should! Because he shouldn't have to be bothered with all those things & he needs to listen to her! My secretary makes many suggestions on what needs to be done & what has to be done & often suggests how she thinks it ought to be done: Many of the initial suggestions come from her.

5. I, being the executive, the final decision-maker, have to decide between these choices she presents to me. She presents her case for each alternative & she explains why she thinks it ought to be done. She's like a lawyer & I'm the judge & I have to make the final decisions as to whether she's right or not. The vast majority of the time I take her suggestions, because I know she knows what she's talking about. She's more familiar with the extent of the work, the urgency of it & the need for it‚ so I usually take her suggestions.

6. So when it comes to things that are practical, the leaders ought to listen to their helpers! When it comes to the inspirational, you're supposed to be good, or you shouldn't be the leader! But when it comes to the practical, they probably know more about it than you do! (Read Acts 6:1-4.) Once you have made the decision, okayed your workers' suggestions‚ accepted them, approved what they have to do or want to do, you should then agree together to do it.

7. I'm only like a judge, except for the things I get straight from the Lord. I'm either God's servant or your servant or I'm both & I really only do what you & He tell me to do! Once you have gone down & given approval or okayed a project, you need to leave your co-workers alone & let them carry it out the way they think best, just checking it to see they don't make any serious mistakes & to see they are producing, & then okaying the finished product.

8. Any officer‚ any general who doesn't listen to his officers & doesn't pay any attention to his men, is going to be in trouble! Every good king is surrounded by many counselors who tell him what to do! Did you know that even God works that way?—He calls in His chief counselors & spirits & Angels & asks them, "What do you think we should do about this?" He listens to their different plans & suggestions & then He has the Godly wisdom to know who is right & to make the choice! If you don't believe it, read Genesis 1:26; 1 Kings 22:19-22; Job 1:6-12 etc.!

9. My Lord, if God Himself won't do all the thinking for us & expects us to do some for ourselves, then who are we to try to make all the decisions‚ do all the thinking, give all the orders & carry them all out besides? We're really getting to the stage where we're beginning to be a real government, a New Nation, a Kingdom & a business—God's business—& it's got to be done right!

10. Even in the early days, I never made a decision without calling all the leaders in & giving them the alternatives & asking them what they thought about it. I would have some ideas & suggestions & I would come to them for final approval! And when they had ideas they got from the Lord, they'd come to me for approval.

11. You just can't operate alone!—This isolation of leadership can go to the extreme! Now for matters of security, yes: Leaders should be well insulated & protected from the mob & particularly from outsiders, from all but their very top leaders. But when it comes to getting the job done & the work done, if those top leaders don't learn how to assemble their staffs together & let them do the talking while the leaders merely guide the conversation, then they're going to have trouble!

12. That's really the job of the executive: He's merely the guy who is supposed to keep things moving, the power that just must keep pushing.—But he should let his people do the work, recommend the work, initiate the work & by all means carry out the work!

13. It's only a novice‚ a new baby or junior executive, the brand-new, not-yet–dry-behind–the-ears executive, who tries to run everything & boss everything & push everybody around & tell everybody what to do! That's been the problem we've had with some of our top leaders: They've never been executives before & never had such responsibilities before & they don't know how to handle it & don't know what to do.

14. They're embarrassed & don't know what to do or how to do it! So they sit on their thrones giving out dictums & giving orders about things they don't really know much about. So they try to pretend they know what they're doing, & it's a very foolish king or executive or president or boss of any kind who works that way!

15. Because a wise smart king, when he wants to get a day's work done, calls in his counselors & his wise men & he listens to them, has them talk. Then he makes the choice as to whose advice is best. So then who does he appoint to carry out that job?—One of the other guys who had another plan?—Of course not!—He gives the job to the guy whose idea it was & who had the burden for it!

16. Now you take the U.S. Government for example: It's usually the members of the legislative branch of the government, the individual members who initiate bills. But until the bills are approved by the whole body & the leading executive of the country, they don't become laws.—It has to have first of all the approval of counselors, which in that case are other members of that particular body, & get their majority vote. Which means that the majority of the king's counselors must agree on a certain plan or procedure before it's carried any further.

17. Whether they be Cabinet Members or the Parliament or the Senate, they are a legislative body of counselors to whom a proposal is presented in the form of an initial legislation or a bill. The majority of them have to agree on it before they even present it to the top executive of the country! They are really the ones who suggest it & it is usually their idea. They are the ones who want to do it & carry it out.

18. The King, Queen, President, Prime Minister, whoever he may be, the Chief Executive is not too much more than merely a rubber stamp who stamps his okay on it! Of course‚ the man with the rubber stamp or royal seal in his hand wields quite a weapon of power‚ because it is up to him to make the final choice. He can also initiate legislation, but it must have their approval!

19. But an executive who insists on making decisions on his own without consulting with his counselors can get the whole country, if not the whole World, in a whole damn mess!—And the same is true of us: If I were to go ahead & make all decisions from the top, initiate all the rules & make all the choices & have all the ideas & try to run everything from here without any consultation with anybody whatsoever, either God or man, then I would be the biggest fool in our whole Nation!

20. So are the executives in any Home who try to run their Home that way!—They are the biggest fools in the Home if they try to run their Home without consultation‚ without letting the people speak & their workers make suggestions & their counselors present ideas! It is best for the chief executive to simply pump out the material: The counsel, the suggestions, the discussion—to pump it out of his people. I believe in people power!

21. Any smart executive is going to pump people power!—He is neither going to try to be the pump, nor the water, nor the bucket! He's merely going to be the guiding hand that takes hold of the handle & grabs the bull by the tail & pumps!—I'll tell you, you'll get action then! Let the people's well, the repository of God's rain, provide the water! Let the pump, his counselors, bring it to him & then let his spouts guide it into his buckets & not try to run everything himself!

22. All the pumper does is just keep the pump in motion‚ that's all! The Council pump then provides the vacuum, as the channel of counselors, the people's representative, opens itself for suggestions. The Council Pump consists of his counselors, his cabinet, his committee, of whatever it is & the suggestions or the water, is provided by the earth itself, the people from the well holding God's rain!—Amen?

23. The council pump merely channels it up to where the pumper can see it & decide which bucket it ought to flow into.—That's all he does!

24. The executive is merely a hand: He is merely the motor which keeps things moving! He keeps the pump handle (the top Council) moving‚ which keeps the pump (the Dept. Council) moving, which keeps the water (God's rain of inspiration, ideas & suggestions) moving‚ which keeps the spouts (the individual Dept. heads) moving the water into the buckets of each worker who takes it to the people! Pump people power! The executive hand is merely the power who helps to pump out the people power!

25. You, the executive motor, are only the instrument through which God works to turn the pump. Your cabinet or counselors in turn provide a vacuum or suction which draws up the water through pipes of communication from below from the well (the repository of truth, the minds of your workers) out of the Earth‚ the people!

26. You are not God! You do not cause it to rain! God sends the rain! God originates the water & God Himself even gets that water from the Earth, draws it up into Heaven to refine it & purify it & distil it & sends it back in the form of rain!

27. It is not the King who always catches the rain! It is usually the Earth, the people‚ who receive the rain. Then they channel it to the places where it is needed & useful. It is only the King's job to see to it that the water is channeled both from the heavens & from the Earth in some form, whether by dams, reservoirs, channels, wells or pools, & to see to it that the water flows where it can be useful, that it flows into the right receptacles.

28. He sees to it that the people provide the right receptacles & that the water is properly used. The King is only the guide. A chief executive or leader should only be a guide, who in turn is guided himself by God. But the one thing our chief executives & Shepherds seem to forget is that they are not only to be guided by God‚ like some little god themselves or a dictator, but that they are also to be largely guided by the people!

29. Let me shock you: People talk about theocracy‚ government by God alone; absolute monarchy, government by king alone; & then there is autocracy‚ government only by the rich aristocracy or nobility or the rich; or democracy, government by the people.

30. Now let me shock you: I don't believe in any one of those alone & neither does God! The fact of the matter is that God uses all of them working together & if any one of them get total & absolute control, things will go to hell! If even any two of them get total control as opposed to the rest & overrule the others, you have a hell of a mess! If you get any one or two or three branches of any government, pitting them against the other branches of government instead of working together, you're bound to have trouble.

31. If the brain of the head refuses to listen to God or the hand refuses to listen to the head or the handle refuses to respond to the hand or the handle refuses to work with the pump or the pump refuses to react to the handle or pump the water or the earth refuses to give it & yield her store or the rain refuses to fall & the well runs dry or the buckets refuse to receive it‚ you're going to have a famine for water & the Word of Life!

32. The people are going to go hungry & starve & that kingdom will die because of a lack of cooperation between its heads of government & between its government & the people!

33. Because it works both ways: The government must cooperate with the people & the people must cooperate with the government. The king must listen to God & the king must listen to the people, who are also inspired by God! The king must listen to his counselors & they must listen to the people & the people must listen to the counselors.

34. When everybody has heard what everybody has to say, they should then all agree together on a decision as to what to do. No one should have all the say or no two or three should have all the say & nobody should be a total absolute monarch or dictator, refusing to listen to anybody else.—Not even God does this!

35. God not only listens to his Heavenly counselors, Spirits & Angels, but don't forget, He even listens to us & does what we ask Him to do! But some of our leaders seem to think themselves superior even to God & that they don't have to listen to either their counselors or their people.

36. But a tyrannical spirit makes a leader like the Devil, the first would-be dictator, who didn't want to listen to either God or the other angelic forces! Obviously the majority of them were opposed to his rebellion‚ for when he leaves Heaven at the start of the Tribulation he'll only take one-third of them with him!

37. The Devil, having refused to listen to either God or the majority of the Angels either one, what does he do? Does he then yield & give up & say, "So sorry! I was wrong." No, he goes insane & he screams that he alone has the power to do as he pleases!

38. He rebels against all governments & all peoples & becomes the Devil, Satan‚ the wager of wars upon the World & all peoples & all governments and even God! He is the rebel of all rebels, the terrorist of all terrorists, the backslider of all backsliders, the delinquent of all delinquents and the criminal of all criminals and the worst monster of all ages!

39. He declares his independence from all righteous rule & people & goes about doing his dirty work amongst the whole universe as a dandy bad example of what not to be & what not to do! So we have hell on Earth & even some hell in the heavenlies at present in the Spirit World‚ until God throws him out completely & all his devils, in the coming Tribulation & Wrath of God after the Rapture.

40. Is that you & is that where you're going to wind up—with the Devil & his crowd—because you refused to listen to anybody‚ whether God or government or peoples? If you even reject the counsel of any one of these branches of God's government—whether it be God or the king or the Councils, Bishops, Shepherds or people—if you totally & inconsiderately reject the counsel of any one of these & insist on your own way alone, you're going to be in trouble!

41. Even if the majority refuses to listen to the minority, the majority will be in trouble! Every government has to heed the voice of its minority as well, because to have a successful kingdom, you must not only try to keep the majority happy, but you must also try to please the minority & keep them happy too, as much as possible.

42. In other words, you must try to keep everybody happy, because everybody has a right to be happy & to have his needs met & to do the work he likes to do & wants to do if he's in the Will of God & competent & qualified.

43. So we all need to work together, we need to listen to each other, counsel together, agree together, decide together & then work it out together. If we're going to be an effective body, every member must work together with all the other members—not just one, not just a few‚ not even the majority‚ but with all working together as a body, which Christ described as His Body, the Church & with Himself as the Head.

44. We cannot even say we have no need of one little member! You even need every fingernail, every cell, as well as every organ & every limb, & you need to all work together for the glory of God!

45. So please‚ for God's sake, you leaders listen to your people, as well as to the Lord & to me, & let's try to do what we all think is best together & let no member try to declare himself so independent that he has no need of another member!

46. For every member is needed & everybody is important, from the lowliest to the mightiest, from the most insignificant to the most seemingly important, from the most obscure to the most obvious, behind the scenes in the kitchen or on a throne behind an executive desk, everyone has his job, everyone is needed & all must work together in unity & harmony & cooperation with agreement.

47. So again we say unto you: Get it together! For God's sake & your sake, let's get it together!—Talk together‚ discuss together, counsel together, agree together, decide together, love together, go together, do together, bear together, care together‚ grow together, work together & enjoy the fruits of our labors together!

48. God bless you & keep you together—even when you're apart! Never get so far apart you can't stay together in spirit. The only way we're going to win this war is to fight it together & not against each other, but together with each other against the Enemy!

49. Let's win it together so we can shout the victory together & greet God together in the end! Hallelujah? Praise God! ILY! Let's get it together & keep it together & always together in all ways with all of us—always together! Amen?—Then & only then will you be a wise leader & a good executive!

Pray and Obey

(ML #1935:1–3, Vol.16.)

1. (Maria:) ON IMPORTANT BASIC PRINCIPLES, THE ANSWERS ARE USUALLY CLEAR CUT OR THE LEADER GETS A DIRECT REVELATION FROM THE LORD. BUT ON MATTERS OF LESSER IMPORTANCE DAD HAS ALWAYS SAID THAT LEADERS NEED TO PRAY & COUNSEL TOGETHER WHEN MAKING DECISIONS, as "in the multitude of counselors there is safety" (Pro.11:14). This means that leaders need to get together to discuss the pros & cons of the various issues, & of course they may not always agree with one another as to what is the best thing to do. Whenever you have a number people together you'll often have a number of different opinions as to what should be done. It's at times like these you need to pray & ask the Lord to give you real wisdom & to help you avoid getting too pushy or into an argumentative spirit. You may feel your ideas are the best & therefore you may really push them to the point that you're actually arguing with others. I know that a lot of people have that problem, including myself, & Dad has had to deal with me because I tend to be that way.—I always have.

2. OFTEN WHEN DAD PRESENTS A POSSIBLE COURSE OF ACTION I HAVE TO PRESENT THE OTHER SIDE & offer further facts which sometimes may be directly contrary to his proposal. I say, "Well‚ your idea is really good but there is this & that factor to consider." Dad doesn't mind at all when I offer other facts, as he wants to know the full situation, so he encourages me to offer my opinion. In fact, he's let me know that it's my responsibility to do so.

3. LIKE ANY GOOD LEADER, DAD ASKS THOSE AROUND HIM FOR THEIR OPINIONS & SUGGESTIONS, & if we have any further facts‚ he wants to hear them in order to be aware of the overall picture before making the final decision. Our Family leaders should do the same, they should listen to one another & they should discuss the various facts & the different potential options. They should welcome opinions that are contrary to their own, so they can judge what option is best.

Feelings and Leadings from the Lord

(ML #2749:6-7, 10, 19-21, DB 11.)

6. (Mama:) Sometimes God gives us feelings that things are right‚ He puts in our heart a conviction or a feeling that something is the right thing or the right direction to go. Now‚ of course, we don't let ourselves be led just by these feelings. We always go to the Word to make sure that our feelings are right. However‚ the Lord does sometimes use feelings to jerk us up and to direct us. But we don't go only on our feelings, we always have to confirm them with the Word.

7. I think sometimes the Lord gets us to look at our feelings in order to get us to look at the Word. The Word is the fact, it's our bedrock, it's our foundation, it's the thing that we definitely have to go by. But sometimes we don't have as much motivation to look at the Word until we feel something in our hearts, or in our emotions. And that's what the Lord sometimes uses to stop us and get us to see what He's trying to show us, and then, of course, we look to the Word for confirmation of it. So in that sense, we do go a bit by our feelings sometimes; they are what the Lord uses to help jerk us up or show us something.

10. Quite often I'll feel that a certain method or idea or proposal is generally the right way to go about doing something‚ but I won't yet have all the facts to back it up, facts that could be confirmations. But often as I discuss it with someone and counsel about it and pray about it, I get more and more convinced that my original feeling, even though it came when I had only a very minimal amount of information, was right. Then as I pray and counsel with others about it more, it usually becomes clearer and clearer, and more and more obvious that the way I originally felt about it was the right way after all.

19. Of course, this is not a license for all of our leaders and people to start thinking that they should now be led by their "feelings"! If they had all had the blessing and honor that I've had to be at Dad's side for the past 20 years, it might be different. And even though I have had this training, this heritage, I still have to be very cautious and prayerful about the decisions I make‚ always seeking confirmation of my feelings through the Word‚ counsel with my teamworkers, and often, counsel with Dad.

20. When someone read me some of those quotes from "Teaching Great Masters" a while ago, although I found them very beautiful and really encouraging, I not only took it as an encouragement, but also as a reminder to me of how important it is that I stay very desperate with the Lord about all decisions. When I remember what the Lord said about my feelings being correct, I always make sure to balance that out with a condition on that, which though it may have been unspoken there‚ is very important.—The condition is that my feelings will be right if I stay in tune with the Lord and if I ask Him to give me the right feelings.

21. In other words, I can't just go on my feelings alone. I can get off the track as much as anybody if I don't stay close to the Lord and in tune with Him. "Teaching Great Masters" is a very beautiful Letter and it's always encouraging to hear that‚ but at the same time it's a caution for me too; it really puts the fear of God into me. It's good for me to hear it, to be reminded that while, yes, my feelings are usually right, I can only be certain that they're right if they are the Lord's feelings, and as I stay close to Him and in tune with Him.—As is the case with all of us! Amen? Are you staying close to the Lord? GBY! ILY!

Mama's New Year's Talk

(ML #2986:6-14, DB 12.)

6. (Mama:) You know, an initial decision doesn't have to be hard and fast. Just because you prayed about something and you think you got an answer from the Lord is no reason to not be open to counseling with others and hearing out their ideas and rethinking it and repraying about it. Maybe you did hear from the Lord; that was the first step, and that's good. But maybe the Lord wants to take you through the whole process and show you a better or fuller answer.

7. We mistakenly think that whatever we initially get from the Lord has to be the complete and final decision. But the Lord usually gives us a certain amount of time in the decision–making process. He usually doesn't say‚ "Okay, make the decision today and it's final. Make the right decision today, and if it's wrong, you missed it, you lost it, the opportunity is gone." He usually gives us a long enough period of time to make the decision, and to keep seeking Him about it, and then perhaps change it or confirm it. We may even change it again and confirm it again. That's all part of the Lord's plan and that's the way we learn things, which is what He wants us to do.

8. I used to think, "Lord, I can't afford to be wrong! I'm Your mouthpiece and I have to speak Your Words, I have to be right about what I tell people. But I know I make a lot of mistakes and I know I'm wrong a lot of times‚ so what's the answer?" This was a dilemma, a great conflict for me—until the Lord finally got through to me and showed me that I have a period of time where I can be wrong. I know that sounds funny, but I do!

9. I have this period of time when I can make an initial decision, which may be quite different from the final one, but then as I keep seeking the Lord about it and counseling with others, I finally get to the point where I'm ready to make the final decision and put it in print for the Family, and that's when I need to be right—maybe not perfect, because there are always a lot of things that aren't as well rounded as they should be‚ but I basically need to be on the right track.

10. So you see, I can have that period of time, before we publish the decisions, where what I say isn't necessarily going to be completely right. But during this time my initial decisions and ideas are confined and restricted to just a small number of people, my teamwork and counselors. And that's the way the Lord plans it, that if I say something wrong or make a wrong decision, we can resolve things within the confines of the small group where it doesn't adversely affect everyone. I have a period of time when I can correct it in the multitude of counselors.

11. The Lord has said over and over that we're a body and each member is needed! We need to bear each other's burdens, help each other, love each other, work together and break down the walls of partition. How often does the Lord show you something through someone else? I'm sure you're very aware of that and readily admit it.

12. But for me it's a little harder to learn that lesson because I feel like I'm supposed to hear directly from the Lord and get the initial idea from the Lord. But the Lord's been impressing upon me of late—and for a long time, of course, with our teamwork and with all that the Lord's been doing—that I don't even have to have the initial idea! Some people might say, "That's being led by people or by circumstances." Well, the Lord works that way, that's all there is to it, and we'd better just get it out of our minds that He doesn't work that way.

13. The Lord can use whoever He chooses to show you what His will is and to give you the ideas that He has for you. He's trying to show us that we all need each other and we're all part of the same body and He's working through all of us collectively—that nobody has all the ideas or can make all the decisions. More and more the Lord is showing us that we all are needed, we all have a very vital role to play, and He's not going to give it to just me or to Peter or anyone else here, but He's giving it to all of us.

14. The Lord is showing that He's using everyone! It's such a big job and such a monumental task that I couldn't possibly get all the ideas or make all the decisions or give all the things that come from the Lord‚ it's impossible! It's a huge job and we have to all work together as a team.

Prophecy Questions You May Have Always Wanted to Ask, Part 1

(ML #3019:49-56, Lifelines 22)

49. How much should we rely on prophecy?

50. Answer: Prophecy is one of the ways that we should use to find God's will. It is not the only way and should not be relied on exclusively. The Word‚ Godly counsel and the other ways of finding God's will should still be used. The main thing to remember is that in decision-making you must pray and desperately seek the Lord and use all the available means, including prophecy, to find His will.

51. The Lord wants us to use the gift of prophecy much more than we have been in the past, in order to grow in the use of this precious gift. On the other hand, He does not want us to rely solely on prophecy for all of our direction. But when we come before Him seeking His will, we can use prophecy in conjunction with the other ways to find the Lord's will.

52. He said, "I, the Lord‚ am not only the Spirit of Prophecy. I am also the Word, the Voice of the Word, the Comforter, the Spirit of Love‚ the Mighty Counselor, the Spirit of Counsel. I manifest My will in many varied ways, and I seek to teach you a good and Godly balance. As My Family seeks Me in prayer, I will manifest Myself in various ways. I will make My Words known to them. I will pour out My Spirit to them through various means. You cannot rely solely on any one means."

53. The Lord repeated this point by saying, "This (gift of prophecy) is only one of the pillars to know My will. Do not rely on it exclusively, but weigh word against word‚ and be sure that it is laid precept upon precept‚ and then it shall go well with you."

54. He went on to say, "Let the prophet be judged by the fruits of his prophecy. ... If he speaks according to My Word, if he speaks words of edification, if he speaks words of love, if he speaks words of encouragement and inspiration to My children, this is a good indication that the prophecy is of Me. Then you can have faith to implement what he speaks and the guidance which he gives." So if the prophecies are according to the Word and they minister love, encouragement and inspiration, you can be reasonably sure that the prophecy is of the Lord. The Lord will sometimes give correction in prophecy, but when He does, it will be very loving and encouraging. Sometimes the Lord has to tell us things clearly and give us specific instruction, but whenever He does‚ it is not done in a harsh or condemning manner. It is usually accompanied by much understanding and compassion for our weaknesses, but encouragement to take Him at His Word that He can help us overcome.

55. The Lord also said that He wants us to seek Him for His will, using those means He's made available to us. "I expect you to always seek Me for what I would reveal to you, and to go to the riches of the Word, the riches of the Spirit, the riches of prophecy, the riches of wisdom, the riches of counseling together, the riches of the common sense that I have blessed you with. Use all the treasures of God. Use all the means to find the will of God. Then in comparing and in aligning them, you cannot be far wrong. If your heart is fixed upon Me by faith, seeking My face, I will see that you are not deceived, and I will direct you aright."

56. What the Lord wants us to do is to seek Him for answers‚ to realize that we don't know what to do, but only He does. He wants us to use the gift of prophecy in finding His will, but He also wants us to use the other ways that He has provided.

Understanding Prophecy, Part 4

(ML #3343:58-77, GN 937.)

58. (Mama:) Just because someone has heard from the Lord in prophecy does not mean that the decision or action cannot be questioned. It's perfectly acceptable, and in fact often highly recommended, that we go back to the Lord to receive more information in prophecy if we have reservations or questions. The Lord has made it clear that He will show us when we need to hear more from Him on a matter by either giving someone a check or by changing the circumstances to bring up some aspect of the situation that we were not aware of previously.

59. There really is no reason for anyone to be sensitive if a prophecy they received is questioned. There's nothing wrong with that. That's not bad. The Bible says, "now we see through a glass darkly," and it's not always the channel's fault.

60. The person who receives the prophecy shouldn't be embarrassed and feel sensitive and that they're being put on the spot if there are questions about the prophecy‚ because this should just be a normal occurrence. People should feel free to ask about prophecies‚ so it's best to accept the fact that there will be questions about many prophecies—not necessarily because the person who received the prophecy is a poor channel, but for a variety of reasons. If someone questions a prophecy or brings up other sides of the situation, that doesn't mean that the person is doubting the veracity of the prophecy or accusing the channel of getting a wrong prophecy. They just want to be sure the message is complete. Either they're being faithful to voice any checks or questions the Lord might lay on their heart, or possibly they're aware of changes or other circumstances that have come up or that need to be taken into consideration.

61. The bottom line is: If you want to avoid a lot of confusion in the use of prophecy, please realize and accept the fact that you can question prophecies and pray further about them, and no one should be afraid to do so or feel intimidated. There could very well be other sides to the question that need to be prayed about, or other factors that the Lord still wants to reveal‚ so He's checking someone else or giving someone uneasy feelings or changing the circumstances so you'll be motivated to hear from Him in prophecy again. If you feel uneasy about questioning a prophecy and you're not sure if your reservations are valid, you can ask the Lord! He can confirm whether what you're thinking is something important to bring up, and He'll show you how to do so‚ according to His will.

62. As a channel, you can get pretty shaky when you've prayed about something and feel inspired about your prophecy, and then someone brings up a potential problem with it. It can be a real downer, a wet blanket on your enthusiasm. Even worse than that, it can cause you to doubt your channel, to worry that you can't get reliable prophecies. I'm sorry about that, as I know that's a real battle, but the sooner you learn to not react like that and not entertain those negative thoughts, the more you'll progress and the happier you'll be using your gift of prophecy. Please don't take it personally or worry about it when there are questions about the messages you receive. And if you find you're being hit with discouragement or you wonder about a prophecy you received that is being prayed about further, ask the Lord about it. He can help to resolve any questions you might have.

63. The Lord leads us step by step, and when He puts reservations in someone's heart or there's a change of circumstances‚ then it's often because He has something further to say on the subject. When that happens, it doesn't reflect negatively on your channel. That's just the way the Lord works‚ and it shouldn't be a problem—unless, of course, you neglect to pray further, in which case you could find yourself operating on incomplete instructions, which could result in some problems, or at least cause your efforts to not be as fruitful as they could otherwise be.

Never use prophecy selfishly or to achieve your own aims

64. (Question:) What if a person uses their gift of prophecy to have additional power in the Home by saying, "I prayed about it‚" and then no one feels they can say anything or bring up other sides to the situation because that person has "heard from the Lord"? Where is the balance and how do you handle that?

65. (Jesus speaking:) A person should never try to use the gift of prophecy selfishly, to achieve his own aims. I will not bless that. I will bless unity and yieldedness and preferring one another.

66. If you receive a prophecy of personal direction that only affects yourself and no one else, you are not obligated to share that prophecy with others, but it is advisable, because then you can avail yourself of another's counsel, wisdom, discernment and help in interpretation, and you can receive any possible checks about further questions you might need to ask Me. For personal decisions that don't affect others‚ you're not obligated to receive the counsel of others, and if you don't, you're not in a position to be disciplined by your Home or shepherds, unless your decision is out of line with the Charter or the Word. But if you take that private stance, you may be proving yourself unwise and immature. For if you're truly seeking My will and want to walk in unison with Me, you will welcome counsel and you won't be afraid of seeking confirmations of the words I give you. But as you know, for personal decisions that affect only you, you're not obligated, under the Charter‚ to operate according to the prophecies that others receive for you, or even the prophecies of clarification that they receive regarding the prophecies you receive; you can operate according to your own faith.

67. But if your decisions affect others or your Home, then you must be willing to work in unity with others and be open to their counsel regarding the prophecies you receive. Even though you've heard from Me and you've received true, good prophecies, you're still required under the Charter to work in unison with your Home members‚ respecting the rules and regulations you've decided upon together as a Home. So you should accept the need to pray further about your prophecies at times when it is necessary. If you refuse to work in unity with others and you disregard their feelings and concerns, then you can be disciplined according to the measures allowed in the Charter.

68. You are not your own man when it comes to your gift of prophecy affecting others. You can't just "go according to your own faith" when your prophecies affect others or your Home. In that situation you must also take the faith of others into consideration and be willing to come to a united agreement with your Home members as much as possible. If you and the other members of your Home cannot unanimously agree, then you must be willing to put your decision to a Home vote, according to the rules of the Charter.

69. Decisions that affect the Home are the Home's responsibility‚ and if the Home wants to have further prayer about something, everyone should respect that and should be thankful for the opportunity to receive more of My counsel on a subject. If you're too insistent that you have already prayed about something and thus should proceed with it, that's a danger sign—for it shows that you are quite set on the idea, and it's likely that you're not open enough to My checks and My voice on the matter.

70. Much contention‚ strife, heartache and confusion can be avoided if each person walks in humility before Me and each other, seeking My will above all. If you have this humility, then you'll be willing to listen to others' counsel and opinions regarding your prophecies, and you'll have faith to hear from Me again, or to have others hear from Me about the questions that come up. You'll be willing to trust Me utterly, knowing that I will have My perfect will as you lay your own desires—and even your personal prophecies—at My feet.

71. Shepherds, don't hesitate to bring up your concerns if you feel a prophecy is incomplete or needs more prayer or balance. You're shirking your responsibility if you simply look the other way and say, "Oh well, I guess there's nothing we can do about it. He's already heard from the Lord." I've made it clear time and time again that I expect you to come back to Me if you have reservations or questions. And this counsel is not just for shepherds, but for all concerned Home members. I call you to be your brother's keepers and to share your feelings in love and humility if you see something that needs further prayer or if you receive a check from Me.

72. Humility is the key if you want to use the gift of prophecy wisely and happily. Both those who receive the prophecies as well as those who judge and help to interpret the prophecies must be humble. And the greatest manifestation of humility in this situation is to want My will above anything else, and to be willing to let go of your own plans and aspirations in order to find what I know to be best. (End of message from Jesus.)

73. (Summary of answer:) You are not to use the gift of prophecy to your own ends! The Lord blesses unity‚ yieldedness, and taking into consideration the feelings and needs of others.

74. If you're hearing from the Lord about a personal decision that only affects you, then you're not obligated to share the prophecy with others or seek the counsel of others; but it's wise to do so‚ in order to benefit from others' counsel and input. If the decision you're making is in line with the Word and the Charter, you can operate according to your own faith on personal decisions. You will not be disciplined by refusing the counsel of others. However, by doing so‚ you may show yourself to be unwise and immature, because you risk missing some important parts of the picture through lack of counsel. If others do get additional counsel in prophecy for you about a personal decision, you're not obligated under the Charter to apply it.

75. If you're hearing from the Lord about a decision that affects others or your Home, then you are obligated to be open to others' opinions and counsel, and to have your prophecy prayed about further—either by you or others—if need be. If you refuse to work in unity with others, then you can be disciplined according to the guidelines of the Charter. You can't just "go according to your own faith" when your decisions affect your Home or others; you must also consider and respect their faith. You must be willing to make a united decision with your Home‚ even if you've heard from the Lord on something. When those affected cannot agree unanimously, you should vote.

76. It's the responsibility of the shepherds and all Home members to bring up other sides to a situation. You shouldn't just drop the issue because someone "has prayed about it." Until those affected are at peace about a decision and/or there is at least a vote taken, the matter should not be ignored.

77. Humility is the key when using prophecy to make decisions. And in this case, your humility will be shown by how much you want the Lord's will above anything else.

Issues, Part 13

(ML #3430:54-80, GN 1012.)

Got the Faith?

54. (Question:) Some people say, when they're doing something wrong, like listening to System music all the time, or watching non-recommended movies, etc., "I have the faith for this; it won't do me harm!" or "I'm strong; I can take it!" Many people say this—both young people and FGAs. But from what I understand from the Word, if it's something that goes against what the Word says, then even if you say you have all the faith in the world for it, it's still wrong. And you'll only be saying you have the faith for it, but you actually don't have the faith; you're just using those words as an excuse to do what you want. The Word says that faith is a gift of God. He won't give you this gift to use on something bad for you or others. It's impossible to have faith if you don't obey the Lord. Did I get it right?

55. (Dad: ) The Lord has given you in the Family great faith for things that very few other Christians—people who are otherwise wonderfully saved and really love the Lord, and who even believe in living for the Lord and witnessing for Him—could ever possibly have the faith for. You've been given many wonderful freedoms, which the majority of the churches would consider heretical, blasphemous, or at the very least‚ dirty and sinful. Nevertheless, you have these freedoms, by faith, with very few restrictions and guidelines. Many of you younger ones probably don't even realize how special those freedoms are, because you didn't have to fight for them; you grew up thinking of them as being completely normal and natural.

56. What is it that gives you the faith for these things that so many other good Christians do not have the faith for? What is it that makes the Family so different?! It's your faith in the Word, and specifically your faith in the now famous Law of Love that sets you apart from the rest of the church. Your freedom along these lines is what separates you from almost every other Christian or person of faith in the whole world.

57. Faith comes by hearing the Word and believing it—believing it to mean exactly what it says—and the Family is really strong on that point. But do you want to know something very important? This is the crux of the whole matter. The important thing you must remember is that you can have all the freedom in the world and all the faith in the world, but without love‚ it's nothing. As the Apostle Paul explained time and time again, real faith must be based on love‚ and put into action with love—otherwise it's nothing. Read it again in 1Corinthians 13: "Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love)."

58. As Paul told the Galatians, "In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6). In other words‚ are your actions based on your faith in Jesus‚ and on your love for Him and for others? Are you doing what you're doing because you love Him, and because you want to please Him and glorify Him in your body, mind, and spirit? If so‚ then there's no Scriptural law against what you're doing.

59. But if what you're doing isn't edifying or loving, if it's selfish and carnal and based upon your own selfish desires and the lusts of the flesh, if it doesn't draw you closer to the Lord or to others, and if it doesn't fill your heart with good things—with love and the desire to reach out to those around you—then what you're doing isn't of the Lord, it isn't built on the Rock, and therefore it isn't an act of faith but an act of sin.

60. That's right—it's a sin. Does it surprise you to hear me say that? You who have grown up in the Family haven't heard that word much, have you? We've kind of shied away from using that expression and talking about things as being "sinful," because it smacked so much of the churchianity system.

61. Many of the first generation had been so put down and put off by the churches' constant sermonizing about sin and hellfire, they were just fed up with it! They'd heard so many warnings about all the things they weren't supposed to do, and yet they'd been given no idea of what the Bible and Jesus' love are really all about. "Don't do this and don't do that. Don't dance or drink or enjoy life. Don't have sex. Don't masturbate. And for God's sake, don't ever be tempted to become some sort of religious fanatic!" And if by any chance someone happened to miraculously be moved by the Lord's Spirit to actually do something for Jesus, they were looked on as a complete freak, a weirdo.

62. So when the Lord, in His love and mercy, broke us free from the chains of churchianity and from the System's religion of don'ts, He turned us on to a whole new religion and a whole new way of life. Jesus didn't say to us, "Don't do this and don't do that." He told us, "Go to it! Go into all the world, and do whatever it takes to win the lost and make disciples of all nations." He said, "Brother and sister, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom! I've come to set you free, and whom the Son has set free is free indeed!"

63. Many of the first generation were so jazzed to have finally found the truth and be set free from the hypocrisy and lies of the System, they latched on to that freedom with everything they had and ran with it!—And the world criticized and condemned them for it.

64. But unfortunately, some of your parents lacked the experience, maturity, and the spiritual depth to know how to use the freedoms they were given wisely, and as a result, some of the things that were done in the name of freedom were not necessarily done in love; therefore they were wrong, or they bore the wrong fruit. They didn't fulfill all the conditions that were laid out in the Lord's Law of Love‚ and sadly, some were hurt by their actions.

65. And, of course, as I've said before, I should have put more conditions on the Law of Love myself, more restrictions and rules, so people wouldn't be hurt. So I'm responsible too, because I didn't anticipate the problems that could have come up, and did come up. I warned people to be ruled by love rather than lust, but that just wasn't enough.

66. Let's learn from the past, beloved. Please don't ever use the liberties the Lord has given you as an excuse to do your own thing, or as Peter put it in 1Peter 2:16, "Not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God."

67. Jesus' love and grace and forgiveness have set you free from the law of sin and the flesh. But He didn't give you those freedoms just so that you would drift along, gratifying your own selfish desires and weaknesses. He gave them to you so that you could be a happy and loving bride‚ able to show the world a loving and understanding God.

68. "Brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh‚ but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" (Gal.5:13-14).

69. Love—that's the standard. If it's not loving, if it's not full of love and full of the Lord's Spirit, you're not at liberty to do it. Part of your love for the Lord is manifested in your obedience to Him. So even if something doesn't look harmful to you‚ if it's something that the Lord has told you not to do, or that the rules of the Family do not permit, it's just love to be obedient—plain and simple. There is so much written in the epistles to the Early Church that makes this point very clear, and it's still just as true and as important today. Some of it might be a little hard to understand, but if you pray and read it with an open heart, the Lord's Spirit will help you get the gist of it.

70. Read through it and listen to what the Lord has to say to you. Just because you want to do something badly enough doesn't mean it's faith that's driving you, and it certainly doesn't make it right. In fact, the things that some people are doing and saying they have the faith for are dead wrong. Some of these things are not only bad for you and for your spirit, but they're bad for your testimony‚ for your work, and for your high calling of winning the world.

71. I'm talking about listening to the wrong kinds of music, and watching the wrong kinds of movies—music and movies and other worldly input that is slowly poisoning you and contaminating your spirit. You might deny—even to yourself—that these things are affecting you. You might say you have the faith for them, and you might even think you have the faith and the freedom to do them. But the truth is, you're not free at all, because you're trading away your God-given freedoms for a measly mess of pottage, allowing yourself to be overcome by the temptations and the pull of the Enemy.

72. You're giving up the waters of life in exchange for broken cisterns, wells without water, clouds that will be carried away by the storm. Read 2Peter 2:19-22: "For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome … it is happened unto them according to the true proverb‚ the dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."

73. "You are a chosen generation‚" folks, "a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people‚ that you might show forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. … Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against your soul" (1Peter 2:9,11).

74. "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked‚ that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you" (Romans 6:13-17).

75. Does that sound old-fashioned and out of date to you? It's not. It's more important today, more real, more true today than it has ever been before! It's a war of the spirit, and if instead of putting on the armor and the new weapons which the Lord is making available to you, if instead of yielding yourself to Him completely as His obedient servants, you're filling your mind and spirit with the pollutants of the Enemy, then it won't be long before you'll be completely defeated and useless as one of the Lord's emissaries.

76. I could go on and on with scripture after scripture, confirming that it's impossible to have the faith for something that's wrong, regardless of how much you want to do it. But I think I'll leave it up to you to dig into your Bible and read the rest for yourselves.

77. How could something not be wrong if it's not right? If it's not something good, if the spirit of it isn't good‚ if its message isn't good, if its purpose isn't good, then it's not good, and its fruit will not be good, and it will not be good for you.

78. So come on! "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life‚ whereunto thou art also called" (1Tim.6:12). "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him Who hath chosen him to be a soldier" (2Tim.2:4). "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11). "Be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2Cor.6:17).

79. And if you feel yourself weakening in your convictions, or if you've already allowed yourself to become contaminated by the Enemy's poison‚ it's not too late. Let God's Word strengthen and help you. "Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you" (John 15:3). "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against You" (Psalm 119:11). "It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the Words that I speak unto you‚ they are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63).

80. There is no excuse for disobedience, beloved. It's inexcusable. It will weaken you and sap you of your faith and your light. Don't let that happen to you. Stay on the wall! You'll be much happier and stronger, enjoying the freedoms of the Spirit which will last forever, than merely enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season. (End of message from Dad.)

FJWL 1:244

(Dad: ) The way to be used mightily is not to be doing things in your own strength, but to be tapped into the Spirit!—To be operating by the power of God, the might of God, and the strength of God! The way to be used mightily is to be doing the thing that God Himself wants you to be doing. And the only way you can find that out is by seeking Him, by being yielded to Him, and by really hearing from Him and knowing what is His will.

The problem with so many is that they get led around by their feelings or the things that they think they should do, and they don't really seek the Lord. They don't listen to the counsel and wisdom of others either. So often their minds are made up as to exactly what they want to do, and it doesn't leave any room for others to help them, or for us on this side to get through. In the end they often learn the lesson‚ but often at the expense of a lost opportunity, of a bus that's missed.

How much better it would be if they would seek the Lord, if they would pray with others‚ if they would know exactly what it is that the Lord wants them to do.—And it's not past finding out! (ML #3027).

FJWL 1:284

Your service to Me has been filled with many mountains, and many steep and deep valleys. You have been as one walking who trips into deep holes, and must then climb out and begin again. You wonder why you have to be faced with the deep valleys, and why you fall into the holes, for the falls are painful and the holes are deep, and it requires effort to crawl out and to once again begin your journey.

You go into the valleys and you fall into the holes because of your overconfidence. When I put you on the straight path or when I bring you to the mountain peaks, you so easily forget Me and do things in your own strength, thinking that you have the wisdom and the understanding to do the things that I have anointed you to do. You have looked upon others and said, "I know better than they." Thus I have allowed you to trip and to fall into these holes, so you would be desperate and so you would see that your own wisdom is not that which has done the things that you have done, but it has been My power, My anointing, My wisdom, and My strength.

How do you keep from falling into the holes or traveling through the valleys?—By constantly looking to Me, giving Me the credit and the glory, and letting Me empower you. How do you accomplish this?—By praying desperately every day for Me to lead and guide you. By judging that which you do by these questions: Does this glorify the Lord, or does this glorify me? Am I listening to others, or am I only giving my opinion? Am I yielding to the voice of the Lord? Am I yielding to the voice of my teamworkers? Am I yielding to the counsel given by others? Am I so sure that I am right? Is what I'm doing bringing forth love in others and showing love to others? Am I manifesting the fruits of the Spirit—longsuffering‚ joy, meekness, temperance, love‚ patience?

Judge all your actions by the touchstone of love and of humility, and thus I can keep you. Thus can you travel on the road without falling into the pits, and thus can you climb the mountains and remain on the peaks (ML #3043).

FJWL 1:291

I have ordained you for this job, and I have called you to the work that I have sent you to do. I have given you the gifts, the wisdom‚ and the ability, but these are nothing without My power and My love. The gifts of God become a hindrance when they are not used in the Spirit of God, when they are not used in love‚ for it is a false usage of the power that I have given you.

Lean not to your own understanding. Always and constantly seek Me for My answers and for My wisdom. Think not to do things in your own wisdom or in the natural, but always seek Me. And listen! Listen to those around you. Listen to those involved. Listen to the voice of the sheep. Prayerfully counsel with them‚ and prayerfully bring their petitions and their suggestions before Me. Lean not to your own understanding. For your abilities and your capabilities become your downfall if you do not use them according to My plan and My will, but in your own wisdom.

I have made you capable. I have made you able. I have poured many gifts upon you. Use them in conjunction with My Spirit and with prayer and with seeking Me, so you may do these things in the power of God and not through the mind of man.

The gifts and calling of God are without repentance, and these that I have poured upon you are many. As you use them according to My Spirit, touched by My Spirit, these gifts are greatly used of Me (ML #3043).

FJWL 2:146

There is a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of destruction. Though you are convinced, though you are sure, though you feel beyond a shadow of a doubt that you know the best thing to do‚ the best way to do it, the best time to do it in, that doesn't necessarily make it so.

It is in listening to Me and listening to others that you have the safeguards that you need. But what good does it do to listen if your mind is made up? What good is it to listen if you reject all that you hear because of your own surety of mind, thinking that you know best? Is this not pride? Is this not self–righteousness? Is this not unyieldedness? For he that thinks that he is right when he is wrong, is he not proud? Is he not self-righteous? Is he not unyielded? Is he not shutting himself off to the counsel of others?

I say to you, seek the humble road. Seek to listen. Do not be so sure of your own mind, your own strength, and your own wisdom. Do not become solidified in your own thoughts, your own desires‚ and in your own will. (ML #3044)

Word Topics: Independence

Definition: Freedom from outside control or support; being self-governing. In the negative sense, it is unwillingness to be under obligation to the Lord or others, epitomized by the phrase "do your own thing."

1. As we mature and become more responsible, the Lord entrusts us with a measure of independence.

* Psalm 119:45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek Thy precepts.

* John 15:14-15 Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you.

* Galatians 3:24-26 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

* Galatians 4:1,2 [A measure of independence comes with age.] Now I say, That the heir‚ as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. [See also 3:25.]

* Galatians 6:5 [Once we come "of age" we are then responsible for our decisions and actions.] For every man shall bear his own burden.

* Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence‚ work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

* Hebrews 5:14 [With maturity comes the capacity to receive further truth.] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

2. Even when trusted with independence, we are to operate in cooperation and unity with the body of believers.

* Acts 13:2‚3 [Paul and Barnabas went away on a mission together, but continued working in harmony with other Christians throughout their journey.] As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate Me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed‚ and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

* Acts 15:40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.

* 1 Corinthians 3:9a For we are labourers together with God.

* 1 Corinthians 12:13‚14 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many.

* Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

3. Jesus taught His disciples to work together, not independently.

* Mark 6:7a And He called unto Him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two.

* Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before His face into every city and place, whither He Himself would come.

4. Unity and cooperation were cornerstones of the Early Church.

* John 17:21–23 [Jesus' prayed for His disciples to be in unity:] That they all may be one; as Thou‚ Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. 22 And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: 23 I in them, and Thou in Me‚ that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.

* Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

* Acts 2:46 And they‚ continuing daily with one accord [together, unitedly] in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.

* Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

5. Independence is an ungodly trait.

* Genesis 4:16 And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

* Judges 21:24-25 And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance. 25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

* Luke 15:12,13 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together‚ and took his journey into a far country‚ and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

* Ephesians 2:2,3 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air‚ the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh‚ fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

* 2 Timothy 4:10a For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.

* 2 Peter 2:10,19a But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they‚ selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. ... 19a While they promise them liberty‚ they themselves are the servants of corruption. ...

6. Independence undermines unity, which is our strength.

* Proverbs 27:8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

* Ecclesiastes 4:10b Woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

* Jeremiah 34:17 [God decreed a harsh judgment on Judah for promoting the wrong type of independence:] Therefore thus saith the Lord; Ye have not hearkened unto Me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother‚ and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

* Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof‚ and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

* Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.

* Jude 1:11,13 [Paul warns of ungodly false brethren who spread their brand of independence and rebellion.] Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain. … 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

7. Independence leads to other problems and a departure from God's will.

* Deuteronomy 12:8 [Moses tells his people that they'd better shape up when they get to the Promised Land and do better than they did when wandering in the desert.] Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.

* Proverbs 1:29-31 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: 30 They would none of My counsel: they despised all My reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

* Proverbs 14:14a The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways.

* Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

* Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

* Jeremiah 7:24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. [See also 2:5.]

* 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

* 2 Peter 2:20-22 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein‚ and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the Holy Commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

* Jude 1:19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual‚ having not the Spirit.

8. Those who try to operate independently lose the benefit of others' counsel.

* Proverbs 11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

* Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. [See 21:2.]

* Proverbs 20:18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

* Proverbs 21:16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

* Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counselors there is safety.

9. And independent attitude nearly always indicates a lack of submissiveness, due to pride.

* Proverbs 13:10a Only by pride cometh contention.

* Psalm 12:3–4 The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: 4 Who have said‚ With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

* Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

* Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

* Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

* 1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

10. Those who can't work with others can seldom work with God either.

* Deuteronomy 8:14a [Moses warns the people to beware when they arrive in the Promised Land and] then thine heart be lifted up‚ and thou forget the Lord thy God.

* Nehemiah 9: 29b Yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto Thy commandments, but sinned against Thy judgments‚ (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

* Psalm 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

* Jeremiah 2:19:20 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee‚ and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that My fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of hosts. 20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest‚ playing the harlot.

* Hosea 13:6b Their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten Me.

11. As the Lord's disciples, we are called to be servants — and servants are not independent.

* Matthew 20:26b-28 Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.

* 1 Corinthians 7:21‚22 Art thou called being a servant? Care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free‚ use it rather. 22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant‚ is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

* 1 Corinthians 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

* Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

12. Unity in the Spirit, mind and heart should be supreme — then unity in body will naturally follow.

* 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren‚ by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

* 1 Corinthians 12:20,21,25,26 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer‚ all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

* Ephesians 4:3,4 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body‚ and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling.

* Philippians 1:27 Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel.

* Philippians 3:16b,17 Let us walk by the same rule‚ let us mind the same thing. 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

* 1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.

Copyright © 2004 by The Family

End of File