Emerging Generals Arise

Prophetic Exhortation June 10, 2015

Prophet Rev. Michael Fram

This prophetic exhortation was given after a season of prayer where a contrast was prayed between those that God has hidden in a cave and those that have hid themselves in a cave.

There is something about that…that God has hidden people in the cave. And this is their season to come out. There’s a release of people that nobody knows. This is a season of a release of people that nobody knows and nobody’s heard of yet. But they’ve been in the cave, they’ve been in the cave of preparation, they’ve been in the cave of dying to self, they’ve been in the cave of yielding to the Spirit of God, they’ve been in the cave of honing their skills in silence. They’ve been in the cave of honing their abilities where nobody saw and nobody knew.

But like David and his men came out of hiding, and came out of the cave, and became warriors and conquerors; God is calling forth in this season those that have been in that cave. These are those that God has had hidden. Not even the enemy knew…because they were under the radar; they weren’t out in the public eye as much as the quote on quote Big Name. They’ve been under the radar spiritually.

But grace deposits have been made in their spirits. And wisdom has been downloaded into their inner man. And character has been formed within their life. And anointing has been imparted unto them. And they are ready now to come forth on the scene and release all those things that have been poured into them while they’ve been in the cave…while they have been in that cave of preparation; and this is their coming out party…

And yes, Generals have gone home. But God Always Has A Successor! He always has a successor. God was the initiator of if there’s a number 1…there has to be a number 2. There has to be somebody to move in and take their place. There came a time in Israel’s history when: “Moses My servant is dead”. “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” “You therefore Joshua, you rise up and go over this Jordan, just like I was with him, I will be with you.”

There was a successor. Just like when Elijah went up into heaven and his mantle signifying the anointing…the call of God…of the office of Prophet; that came to Elisha and he picked it up, then all the sons of the Prophets saw and they said: “Surely the spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” God always has a successor. And for every General that has gone home God has somebody in waiting.

He’s got somebody to bring out onto the scene. And this is the season where many are being released like David and his men from out of the cave of preparation; coming onto the stage into the release and taking their place…it’s a season for the Emerging Generals to arise. The Emerging Generals are arising in Jesus Name.

How Attitudes & Actions Affect The Prophetic

Quite often churches and groups of people get frustrated because they long to see a Prophetic Move of God in their midst but don’t see it. Sometimes we are told in Scripture as much what not to do as we are told what to do. I want to examine some of those things we are told not to do in this blog.

“Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 NASB (Emphasis Mine)

“Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 NLT (Emphasis Mine)

“Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand don’t be gullible. Check out everything. Keep only what’s good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 The Message (Emphasis Mine)

“Do not quench (suppress or subdue) the (Holy) Spirit. Do not spurn the gifts and utterances of the prophets-do not depreciate prophetic revelations nor despise inspired instruction or exhortation of warning. But test and prove all things [until you can recognize] what is good; [to that] hold fast.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 The Amplified (Emphasis Mine)

From verse 20, from the different translations we have quoted we see:

‘DON’T DESPISE PROPHETIC UTTERANCES’ ‘DON’T SCOFF AT PROPHECIES’ ‘DON’T STIFLE THOSE WHO HAVE A WORD FROM THE MASTER’ ‘DON’T SPURN THE GIFTS AND UTTERANCES OF THE PROPHETS’ ‘DON’T DEPRECIATE PROPHETIC REVELATIONS’ ‘DON’T DESPISE INSPIRED INSTRUCTION OR EXHORTATION’.

Again it is important for us to remember that if the Apostle Paul is telling us not to do something that must mean that we have the ability to do that thing or else he would not tell us not to do it. Another thing to bear in mind is that many times in his writings to the churches Paul was writing to correct some error or errors that were prevalent within the church that he was writing to. In that respect his correction to the church at Thessalonica would be applicable to us today.

Could you imagine that the Apostle Paul would have to write to the church to not DESPISE Prophetic Utterance? To me that seems just unthinkable, especially in light of what the word despise means. Webster’s Dictionary defines despise like this: to dislike (something or someone) very much; to look down on with contempt or aversion; to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful. Now after looking at all of those meanings for the word despise it is clear that Paul was saying something pretty strong.

How could anybody in the church dislike Prophecy very much? How could we look down on it with contempt or think it was negligible? How could we think that Prophecy was worthless or distasteful? Yet this is the attitude that Paul was writing to correct.

But we can go on; the New Living Translation used the word scoff. Webster’s Dictionary defines scoff as: an expression of scorn, derision, or contempt; an object of scorn, mockery, or derision. That mockery is the one that gets me. Mockery means to make fun of. I can’t imagine anyone making fun of the Prophetic can you? But yet Paul is admonishing us not to do it.

Then we come to The Message which said don’t stifle those who have a word from the master. Webster’s Dictionary defines stifle as: to not allow yourself to do or express (something); to stop (someone) from doing or expressing something. Can you imagine not allowing someone who has a word from the master to give the word that they have? Selah!

Then we come to The Amplified which hits us with the words: spurn, depreciate and again the word despise. Spurn is not a word we use every day now is it? Webster’s Dictionary defines spurn as: to refuse to accept (someone or something that you do not think deserves your respect, attention, affection, etc.); to tread sharply or heavily upon; to reject with disdain or contempt. So we are not to spurn or refuse to accept, or reject with disdain the gifts and utterances of the Prophets. Yikes!

Then we get don’t depreciate prophetic revelations. Webster defines depreciate as: to decrease in value; to describe (something) as having little value; to lower in estimation or esteem. So when Paul said to not depreciate prophetic revelations; he was saying to not decrease the value of them, or to not lower your esteem for them, or to not see them as having little or no value. Are you getting the seriousness of what the Apostle Paul is saying about our attitudes toward the Prophetic?

The last thing The Amplified touched on was the word despise again. Paul said don’t despise inspired instruction or exhortation. I want you to notice that Paul is talking about those words that are INSPIRED, which means they are from God, we are not talking about something that came from too much pepperoni pizza here. Again despise carries that meaning of disliking something very much, I would dare say it even borders on hate. How could anyone despise the real genuine Prophetic?

I want to address some things here that maybe are not quite as pronounced as these things are the way the Apostle Paul brings them out in Scripture. Yet they are quite akin and closely related, just a little more subtle. Maybe you might say to me, well Mike, I really don’t hate the Prophetic, I just don’t think much of it. Have you ever heard in all of your years in the Kingdom: Oh that’s no big deal, that’s just a Prophecy? Or have you heard, well old Brother so and so is just Prophesying again?

Well I sure have! And every time I do I have this sudden urge to be like Leroy Jethro Gibbs in the TV show NCIS and give somebody what he normally gives (a smack upside the head) to Tony DiNozzo. Does anybody know what I am talking about? I just feel that Gibbs anointing coming on me when I hear statements like that! How dare we say that’s just a Prophecy! Folks if you think it is no big deal that it is just a Prophecy…than you need to get a revelation of what Prophecy really is!

What do we mean when we say, well old Brother so and so is just Prophesying again? Thank God old Brother so and so is doing it and if you had half a brain you would want to do it too. Didn’t the word say: “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy”? 1 Corinthians 14:1 NASB (Emphasis Mine) We are supposed to want to Prophesy!

I want to delve into another area that I have touched upon briefly but I want to hit it a little harder. This is one area that really bothers me with many circles in the Body of Christ. Even those that somewhat believe in the Prophetic are guilty of this one. Have you ever heard anywhere in any circle: Well you are not part of the leadership so you can’t Prophesy here? How about pulling a Scripture that says know those that labor among you so far out of context that you give the Word of God a hermeneutical hernia?

How did The Message put it? “…and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master…” Is that plain enough for you? But you are not part of this house. “…and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master…” But you have not been recognized. “…and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master…” Are you hearing me? If we have practices that are contrary to Scripture, we can forget about having the Prophetic Move of God in our house.

Now I am not saying that we don’t follow protocol. I am not saying we don’t have things done decently and in order. We have already dealt with those issues in this blog quite clearly. We are to be submitted to God and to God ordained authority. However, I am tired of controlling leaders who don’t or won’t empower and allow the people of God to exercise and operate in the things that God has anointed and gifted them for.

Too many are just afraid that someone is going to make a mistake and then they are going to have to fix and correct the mistake. So rather than be a Spiritual Father that is empowering, training and raising up the next generation; we sit like a superstar Christian that others should want to be like all the while keeping them in bondage and ourselves contrary to New Testament practice. You might say Mike you are being awful strong, how can you make such dogmatic statements? Because I can read what the New Testament Pattern for church life should resemble:

“What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” 1 Corinthians 14:26 NASB (Emphasis Mine)

Each one is the key phrase in that verse. Each one should have something to contribute.

“For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted.” 1 Corinthians 14:31 NASB (Emphasis Mine)

How many can Prophesy? You can all Prophesy! But you are not part of the leadership. "…and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master…” Folks let’s be honest, some of us have some practices we need to correct. We have not been paying attention to the Apostle Paul’s don’ts.

I have found that the greatest flow and stream of the Prophetic with the greatest revelation comes in an atmosphere where not only is it welcomed, but people are encouraged to participate. That is an atmosphere of love, unity and instruction that the Spirit of God delights to manifest Himself in.

If we have indifference towards the Gifts of the Spirit in general, and specifically towards Prophetic Utterance we can forget about having a move of God in the church. There will not be a Prophetic stream in our midst. You can’t stop the flow and the stream by your attitudes and your actions and then think that your prayers for it will override those attitudes and actions that you have already displayed. Those attitudes and actions will nullify your prayer. Turn it around and open your services to whomever God desires to use and just see what God will do.

Psalms Hymns & Spiritual Songs

I was just at a conference Friday night and Saturday morning into the afternoon where we had some marvelous moves of the Holy Spirit. During the second Saturday session the Spirit of God began to stress the importance of Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs. He did this by precept and example using several who were present by different manifestations of the Spirit. We had singing in Tongues followed by singing the Interpretation of Tongues, Prophetic Word of exhortation and instruction and by demonstration of this type of song.

This is an area where much of the church has no real understanding or experience. One of the things the Lord stressed today was that the operation of these things would open the door to greater moves of His Glory where Heaven would come and impact Earth. Whenever we examine something the New Testament teaches that the masses of the church do not embrace, walk in or understand; it is important for us to lay a Scriptural foundation:

“Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:19 NKJV (Emphasis Mine)

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16 NKJV (Emphasis Mine)

Notice in both of these verses we find the Apostle Paul mentioning Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Just what exactly are these things and why are they so important? What will they do for us?

First notice that Paul says that we speak to one another by Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs (Ephesians 5:19). Second he said that we sing and melody in our heart to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19). Third he said that we teach and admonish one another by Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs (Colossians 3:16). Last, again he says that we sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16).

So as we look at these four things that Paul declares, two of them deal with our ministry to one another and two of them deal with our ministry to the Lord. Anything that God provides for us that will enable us to minister to each other or Him more effectively are things that we should desire and pursue.

The truth of the matter is that most in the church doesn’t even know that these things exist and have never seen them in operation or manifestation. But that does not change the fact that the New Testament makes mention of them and lays out the benefits of their being exercised in our midst.

Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs usually take on one of two forms. Either they are us singing to Him, a spontaneous New Song of worship inspired by the Spirit that was never written before, or it is God singing a word to us through a song never written before.

Let us consider the first case first. We always have a desire to worship our God, yet sometimes we find that we are limited by the songs that we already have and by the confines of our known tongue. In these moments where we want to go further and deeper God has another realm for us to tap into where we can begin to sing a New Song to Him. Five times in the Psalms we are told to sing a New Song to the Lord. Psalm 33:3, Psalm 96:1, Psalm 98:1, Psalm 144:9, and Psalm 149:1.

It is in these times that God will download new melodies of heaven and new lyrics not written or heard before solely for the purpose of us being able to move into another dimension and realm in our worship to Him.

The second case is where God will give a New Song by the inspiration of the Spirit where we sing to one another. Think of the same concept of the spoken Prophetic Word except instead of being spoken, it is set to music and sung. Paul said when we do this we teach and admonish one another.

There is such a thing as a Psalmist anointing. It is quite akin to the Prophetic anointing. In fact the Minstrel and Palmist anointing impacts and enhances the Prophetic anointing. You remember in the Old Testament when the Prophet had a hard time getting the Word of the Lord he asked for the Minstrel or Psalmist to come and play, as that Psalmist anointing was released, the Prophet could get the Word of the Lord.

Our Prophetic manifestation will increase and our flow will be much greater if we allow this Psalmist anointing to be cultivated and developed in our midst. Again God stressed to us today the importance of this flow of the Spirit. Brother Hagin (Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin) used to say that there are some levels in God that you can’t get to without this manifestation. In many cases I believe it is a missing ingredient in or modern worship because we do not encourage nor allow for the spontaneous move of the Spirit and therefore never make it to this place.

In a Prophetic Word the Lord had me deliver today the Lord stressed that out of your belly will flow rivers of living water. This is where this flow of Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs comes from. The rivers of the Spirit are already in your human spirit, you just have to tap into them. They do not come from your mind! They do not come from your learned or practiced musical ability! They come from the rivers of living water inside of you.

The same place the Nabi Prophet draws their Prophetic Words from is the same place the Psalmist draws Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs from and it works the same way. One is speaking and one is singing and playing, but they come the same way, from the rivers out of our belly, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit! Church let us stretch ourselves to move into this realm to release the Greater Glory that God promised us today. He said that Heaven would invade Earth through the release of Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs!

Restoration Of Fathers…A Sign Of The Apostolic & Prophetic Movement

One of the most encouraging things that I have witnessed to come out of the Apostolic & Prophetic movement in the church over the last ten to fifteen years is the answer to the problem that the Apostle Paul spoke of in First Corinthians Chapter Four.

 

“For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers…” 1 Corinthians 4:15a NKJV

 

As a bit of background let me state that I have been in the church for a long time. In fact I grew up in the church. I was Born Again at 5 years of age as a Baptist boy and received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit when I was a freshman in High School. I started teaching and preaching when I was 17 years old and am now 51…so I have been around for quite a while.

 

I have been blessed to grow up in a Christian home the son of two ministers of the Gospel. Even back when my Father was a Baptist Pastor I watched him mentor, train and raise up the next generation. He and my Mom have always been a Mother and Father to many spiritual kids. They have operated that way my whole life…even before we knew or understood that it was part of the calling of the Apostolic office that they both stand in today.

 

But they were the exception…not the rule! Most in the church had no interest in raising up the next generation. They just wanted to be teachers or preachers, but not Mothers and Fathers. To be perfectly honest…most that were coming up had little or no interest of honoring or submitting to a Mother or Father either.

 

We have had an older generation that did not want to be entangled with the younger generation, and a younger generation that thought their elders were not relevant and did not honor them. Meanwhile what we had was not God’s plan.

 

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." Malachi 4:5&6 NKJV

 

The Prophet tells us of a day that is coming when the Prophetic anointing of Elijah will be released before the coming of the day of the Lord. Most people believe that this is speaking of John the Baptist, who came in the spirit of Elijah before Jesus’ first coming. May I submit to you that there will be a second fulfillment of this prophecy as well, just as the prophetic voice in the spirit of Elijah was released before so it will be released as well before Jesus second coming.

 

The interesting phrase in this text is: “great and dreadful day of the Lord.” We find this same thought in Peter’s sermon in Acts Chapter 2.

 

“I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.” Acts 2:19 & 20 NKJV

 

Other references that speak to this thought are: Zephaniah 1:14-18, 1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:2 & 2 Peter 3:10.

 

The thought is this…the Prophetic voice will be released again before the second coming of Jesus just as it was released before His first coming. We have been walking in that prophetic release now for around twenty years now. The Prophetic, Prophecy and the Office of the Prophet are more accepted now than during any time in my Christian existence.

 

And with the release of that Prophetic anointing before Jesus comes again is the release of the Apostolic Fathering anointing. The hearts of the Fathers turned towards the Children, and the hearts of the Children turned towards the Fathers (and Mothers).

 

Today it is quite common to hear terms like Sonship, Mentor & Protégé to name a few. What are these pointing to? Leaders are interested in being more than just a teacher…but they want to actually impart into sons and daughters, speak into their lives, train them up, raise them up and mentor them. Also it seems that spiritual sons and daughters are learning to Honor the previous generation; seek their advice, wisdom counsel and even submit to their correction.

 

You see it takes two sides to make this work. One side that is willing to be a Mother or Father, and one side that is willing to have somebody speak into their life. Over the last ten to fifteen years I have observed steady growth in this area that is unlike any other time in my Christian experience. This lets me know that we are walking in the fulfillment of Malachi four and God’s Apostolic & Prophetic move in the earth.

 

Many are even like me at this time, walking in being both a Father and a Son at the same time. Because I am 51, there are many who are younger than me who I can mentor and speak into their lives. But I still have a generation that I honor, and receive from that speaks into my life. Thank God we are living in Days of Restoration…Restoration of the Hearts of Fathers to Children…and Children to Fathers…A sign of the Apostolic & Prophetic.

Balance In The Prophetic

There is a growing trend in “Prophetic Circles” that has me quite concerned. It seems folks think that they must always get a “Word” to know what God wants them to do in life. It is almost as if we don’t know how to operate anymore if we don’t get a “Word”. Folks are running around chasing down every Prophet or prophetically gifted person and asking: “Do you have a ‘Word’ for me?”

 

I remember Kenneth E. Hagin telling us when I was a student in Rhema about a woman who used to always call him asking him for a “Word”. One time she called him in the middle of the night asking him for a “Word” and he told her he had one for her: “Go to sleep!”

 

Now this is somewhat humorous but not far off from what we see today in many of our circles. Folks don’t get me wrong, I love the prophetic movement of God, I flow in the Gift of Prophecy, in fact God changed my 5-fold office from Evangelist to Prophet around 13 years ago…but this has gotten way out of hand.

 

Do you mean to tell me we can’t function as Born Again, Spirit indwelt, Spirit filled Believers without getting a “Word”? That just ought not to be! How did we get so out of balance? In our desire to embrace the prophetic, we have gone overboard and made it into something God has never intended.

 

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:14 NKJV

 

I want to remind you that nowhere in the New Testament are we told ‘as many as are led by the prophetic word, these are the sons of God.’ No the Scripture plainly says that as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. As a son or daughter of God you should expect to be led by the Spirit of God…not the Prophetic Word!

 

An interesting side thought of this verse which we do not have time to go into for this Blog is that in the above verse where it says sons of God, in the original Greek that the New Testament was written in, that word ‘sons’ carries the meaning ‘mature sons’…just food for thought for you.

 

One of the greatest life lessons I have ever learned, I learned from Kenneth E. Hagin: “You will find that being led by an inward witness is the number one, or the primary way, that God leads all of His children.” From his book ‘How You Can Be Led By The Spirit Of God’ I learned this lesson as a teenager even before I got married and enrolled in Rhema. It became part of my spiritual DNA (a term my good friend Pastor Barry Habib uses).

 

“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:16 NKJV

 

There is the witness of the Holy Spirit inside of our human spirit that will let us know what to do. We need to learn to follow it! I always tell folks: “Follow after Peace.” I mean when you have peace in your spirit go that way. If it feels like fingernails down a black board in your spirit…DON’T DO IT!

 

Thank God for the “Prophetic Word”! It should confirm what leading we already have in our spirit, or expand upon what is in our spirit, or bring clarity to what is in our spirit. Even if it is new revelation to you when it comes…it will still bear witness with our spirit.

 

Just because we have embraced the “Prophetic” let us not be so out of balance that we feel like we cannot function unless we get a “Word”. No thank God for when He speaks! Expect Him to speak. Desire Him to speak. But we have in the process of wanting to hear a “Word” absolved ourselves of any responsibility to be led by His Spirit. God never intended that! We must remain in balance. Live your life following the inward witness and then receive the “Prophetic Word” when it comes…but if it doesn’t come…you are fine because you have the inward witness in your spirit.