So many of the “prophetic” blogs out there deal with the so-called Prophet Muhammed. That’s troublesome to me. I’d much rather see true apostolic and prophetic believers sharing about the five-fold ministry, the gifts of the Spirit and other edifying topics.

Anyway, today I saw a post on one of those Muslim boards asking “Who is the Queen of Heaven?”

I have a short answer: Jezebel.

If anyone wants me to expound on that, I’d be glad to. The spirit of Jezebel is alive and perpetuating her evil deeds through the unsaved and saved alike. The spirit of Jezebel is an enemy to the true prophetic.

I’d better stop before I get started…

According to the Oxford Book of Literary Anecdotes, a fanatical member of a religious cult once warned Ralph Waldo Emerson that the world would end within 10 days. “Well,” Emerson replied without a hint of worry, “no doubt we’ll get on very well without it.”Do you think Emerson believed this nutbag for a moment? No, and neither should  you when goofy prophetic types prophesy such non-sense. The Bible clearly states that no one but the Father knows when the world will come to an end. So why all the foolishness in the prophetic ministry?

What’s the goofiest prophetic word you’ve ever heard?

Can you believe another year has gone by already? This time of year is exciting for people who love beginnings. Lot’s of people are searching the Internet for New Year predictions and prophecies. The Holy Spirit says varied things depending on His audience and one’s particular situation. Apostle Jonas Clark offers a prophetic directive for 2008 for those who follow his ministry. It speaks of decisions, alignment and opportunity. Click here to read it for yourself.

I like this article by James Dumont, pastor of Erie Christian Fellowship Church. He says we should embrace faith to get a fresh start. That’s a good word.

I believe God is doing a new thing this year. 2008 will be a year when God pours out His grace in abundance, both His saving grace and His redemptive grace. His power will meet us to accomplish things we may not have thought possible. Yes, that will mean some tough cases — both stubborn folks who need to be saved through the long-suffering love of a living epistle and some new, challenging assignments the Lord has in store for us. We must storm the gates of the enemy and take dominion. That will take faith to access the grace — power of God — because without Him we can do nothing.

I read a great article over at the Christianpost.com. It’s short and sweet and it makes a great point. Here’s an excerpt. Let those who have an ear hear:

“All our physical training can only postpone the inevitable: the decline of our strength and death of our bodies. But godliness is good for you not just in this life; it carries over to the next. Spiritual training has benefits that are literally out of this world. And that’s another sure saying you can count on.”

Now, I have go to the gym three to five times a week most weeks. Physical training is great and I highly recommend it — but not at the sake of spiritual training. Prophets and prophetic people need to train their spiritual senses, need to train their prayer muscles, need to train, train train.

You don’t just decide to get up every morning at 4:00 a.m. to pray for the nation — or anything else for that matter — without resistance. And that’s good, because just as it takes heavy dumbbells to grow natural muscles (strengthening those biceps and abs are the worst!) it takes spiritual resistance to make us stronger.

We won’t get to the next level if we don’t do prophetic exercises and prophetic training. This includes a lot of waiting in the Lord, standing in His counsel, discerning of spirits and the like. It means learning how to rightly divide the Word of truth and how to judge a prophetic word. It means being a statesman in the prophetic who carries the mantle humbly and boldly at the same time.

Another New Year’s Eve tale… I was headed out to a friend’s house on New Year’s eve, when lo and behold, my neighbor was awaiting me at the elevator. I don’t talk to her much, because she’s into some strange things and we don’t see eye to eye. No sense in arguing. But the Lord has been dealing with me about loving my neighbors more, and what better time than the new year?

So instead of burying my head in my Treo handheld as the elevator took its time climbing to the second floor (it’s an old elevator) I decided to engage my neighbor in conversation. “Hi there,” I said. “How are you?” Keep Reading »

I ran across an interesting headline that instructed me, “Don’t Read This Article!” Of course, a headline like that dares defiance, doesn’t it? And that was the author’s point exactly. Joel Hilliker asks, “Are there ever times when you have thoughts you don’t like, or don’t understand—or, even worse, emotions you can’t explain? Do you ever feel disappointed because you keep doing things you’ve “promised” yourself you’d overcome? In your relationships, do you find yourself dealing with the same problems, making the same mistakes, time and time again?”

His answer, in a nutshell, to this conundrum? “The heart [that is, the seat of intellect—the human mind] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

What say you? Is Hilliker right? Is this why so many folks run to self-help books and false prophets rather than walking in the Spirit and being a doer of the Word?

Jennifer LeClaire shares my own passion for reform in the world of prophetic ministry. I particularly appreciate her relentless emphasis on character alignment with the nature of Jesus.

The Heart of the Prophetic is a solid addition to a still small - but growing - body of Christian literature seeking to root and ground prophetic ministry in the sensible soil of the eternal Word and the nature of the Lord whose word we are supposed to bring.

R. Loren Sandford, founding pastor New Song Fellowship, Denver, Colorado. Author of Purifying the Prophetic: Breaking Free from the Spirit of Self-fulfillment and Understanding Prophetic People: Blessings and Problems with the Prophetic Gift.

Click here to purchase The Heart of the Prophetic book.

This book is about the heart of the prophet, the depository of God’s prophetic spirit. Jennifer dares to address the hijacking of prophetic ministry in some circles by the spirit of Jezebel, divination and spiritual mystics. She is pointed, direct and hammers them hard but with a right spirit. She defends true prophetic ministry and understands the importance of right motives and desires to put Christ first. My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you in truth as you read this powerful book. I believe if you read this essay with a humble heart it will help you become a better prophetic minister.

Click here to purchase The Heart of the Prophetic.

The Lord spoke to me concerning prophetic ministry and specifically the prophets. He said, “My prophets will begin to relate to me in a different way.” I think The Heart of the Prophetic will help that happen. Prophets and prophetic ministry are signs of a healthy church. Check your motives, put Jesus first in everything and allow your gift to equip others to do what God has called them to do, make a difference with their lives and bring glory to Christ.

Jonas Clark, Publisher
The Voice magazine

“It is so brilliant to be challenged! Every ministry needs to be aware of the kingdom standard that Jesus provokes by His presence. I loved this book! Jennifer does a bold, insightful job of discerning the precious from the worthless (Jeremiah 15:19) yet also pursues us with the love of God. Keep Reading »