When the Prophetic Knocks on Your Door!
“And the day came when Elisha passed over to Shunem. And a great woman was there. And she laid hold on him to eat bread. And it happened, as often as he passed by, he turned in there to eat bread. And she said to her husband, Behold now, I see that this is a holy man of God who passes by us continually. Please, let us make a little room on the wall.
And let us set a bed for him there, and a table, and a stool, and a lampstand. And when he comes to us, he shall turn in there. And the day came when he came in there, and he turned into the room and lay there.” (2 kings 4: 8-11).
The prophetic can pass by you to stay or to leave, you choose! This book can be another book you read or a life-transforming message.
Do you have a little room in your heart for a prophet, the holy man of God? Do you have a place for the prophetic in your church? Build one!
Invest in stretching your territory to make room for the prophetic anointing because you will be blessed. This woman was rich not only because of her wealth but because she discerned a greater wealth and attracted it by honoring and welcoming the prophet.
You may say, I am rich, I am satisfied, so I don't need a prophet to pass by me. This woman didn't think this way, although she was rich, she was poor in other areas, she was barren, and money couldn’t give her a child.
She didn’t know by investing in the prophetic and sowing seeds of honor that she was opening the gates of heaven over her and making a room for life in her womb not only on the wall of her house.
There is always what we call the rewards of honoring a prophet. After she had built a room for Elisha, he wanted to bless her.
“And he said, what then is to be done for her? And Gehazi answered, truly, she has no child, and her husband is old” (2 Kings 4:14).
Elisha could have said what can I do to a wealthy woman? It’s me who needs her help. Had he thought this way, he would have hindered her blessing and turned off his gifts. But Elisha, who was wealthier because he was rich in the Lord and had access to things this woman didn’t have, he prophesied a son to her.
A prophet enriches your life when you think you have it all, even when your bank account is full.
There are always things you don’t see or hear that God prepared for you to release in your life. Just make a little room for him! Your honoring seed triggers the prophetic anointing and puts a demand on it.
Your wealth may be in your pocket like that woman, but the wealth of a prophet is in his mouth.
The seed of welcoming him, building him a room and blessing him with meals of hospitality triggered heaven to answer back. You can’t sow into heaven without triggering it to responding to touch your life.
I am not limiting your seeds to money only; it is not about what you give it is in the heart of honoring.
It may be money, room, a place to rest in, or maybe inviting a prophet to your church, etc.
In a nutshell, welcoming a prophet is the greatest form of honor you can give him whatever the expression of your giving is.
You can’t welcome a prophet and not embrace the supernatural. You step into a realm you’ve never walked in before when you touch a prophet’s life. Are you ready for some supernatural experiences to take place in your life?
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Sinning: A Mix of Godly Desires and Demonic Influence
Sinning is never godly, but the motivations behind it can be a mix of godly desires, demonic influence, and human nature. In this article, I will explain the spiritual dynamics that drive a person toward sin.
A First Narrative (A Biblical Story): Jacob & Esau
In Genesis 25 through 27, we read that the story of Jacob and Esau is a biblical narrative about twin brothers who competed for their father Isaac's blessing! Before their birth, the Lord revealed to their mother, Rebekah, that they would be twins, and the older brother would serve the younger. Esau, the firstborn, was a skilled hunter, while Jacob was a quiet man who preferred to stay indoors.
Near the end of his life, Isaac desired to bestow his blessing upon his firstborn son, Esau. However, Esau, unaware of the Lord's prophecy, despised his birthright and sold it to Jacob in exchange for a bowl of lentil stew. Later, when Isaac was preparing to give the blessing, Rebekah, knowing that Esau was not the intended recipient, disguised Jacob as Esau and helped him deceive Isaac. Jacob received the blessing, which included promises of land, prosperity, and God's favor. Esau was furious when he discovered the deception and vowed to kill Jacob.
Observation and discernment:
At the root of Jacob's motivation to deceive his father Isaac and his brother Esau was a genuine pure desire, influenced by an old prophecy. Jacob was given more honor regarding the birthright than his brother Esau. That is the godly part in the process. Jacob was indeed aligned with God's will, but the means of receiving this great blessing were wicked. Jacob deceived his father Isaac and his brother Esau. Deception is a demonic spirit that partnered with Jacob's sinful mindset to attain and obtain something godly. Sinning is partly motivated by godly desires and partly influenced by dark forces. Mix a truth with a lie and you get the recipe for deception!
Rebekah and Jacob had another option besides deception and dividing the family. They could have gone to the Lord regarding the prophecy and asked Him for the right, godly way to receive it. Yet, they partnered with darkness to achieve something good.
People are driven every day to behave in the same way. Most, at their core, desire something good, but they partner with the demonic and their sinful nature to attain it.
A Second Narrative:
A man who looks at other men and feels drawn to observe them is often labeled as gay or perverted by the devil and society. I remember growing up with a strong interest in observing men—how they carried themselves, their appearance, their beards, their presence, how they interacted with women, how they drove or played sports like basketball. I would look at them online (back when the internet was primitive) and in my daily life. I was a young man in the making! At that time, no one explained to me that it was a healthy and godly drive to be drawn to my “tribe” of men because I was meant to be part of them. Instead, I became vulnerable to lying spirits, which took advantage of my lack of truth, clarity, and foundation, labeling me as a pervert. And for a time, I believed it, like many other young boys do today.
Why do so many boys and girls fall into confusion and sexual bondage? It's because no one teaches them that sinning can be a mixture of godly desire and demonic influence. They seek connection with their peers, which is a godly desire, but they do it in the wrong way. They pursue something good through dark means because they are deceived and unable to discern the mix of truth and lies.
My life’s mission is to stand on the mountaintop and shout to an entire generation: You are starting with a godly desire in your heart, but you don’t need to partner with deception to reach it. God, who begins a good work in you, can bring it to completion!
It was a revelation that knocked the devil out of his seat when I realized this truth. Wow! Drop the word *DISCERNING* in the comments below. After that Holy Spirit mentoring, I reconciled with myself and my tribe of men, and yes, I am interested in MEN in a healthy, godly way.
If, as a boy or an adult, you’re NOT interested in belonging, something is wrong or you’ve been traumatized. On my phone, you’ll find pictures of men with long beards, strong bodies, and some doing bold activities. I don’t care about anyone’s opinion because I now understand the truth, and I want to help you reach that understanding too.
Why am I writing this article? I don’t have to, but you may be a mother struggling because your children have labeled themselves, or others have labeled them, as gay just because they showed interest in their peers. This article is for you, to help them navigate this season without falling into sin by pursuing godly drives in perverted ways. Let’s teach and disciple an entire generation about this truth. The devil is a liar, and he always mixes truth with lies to create a deceptive prison.
Men desire three types of relationships with other men: Friendship, brotherhood, and fatherhood. People who identify as gay may be seeking these godly connections in a distorted, sexual way, not realizing they can have them in a pure and meaningful form. But this is how they are discipled, they don't know any better.
I have much more to share about discernment because I have learned to master this with the Holy Spirit.
“Don’t stifle the Spirit, and don’t scoff at prophecies. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and KEEP ONLY what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 (MSG)
Drop your thoughts in the comments: Why do you think people fall into watching porn? What is the godly desire behind it that is being pursued through dark means? Let’s activate this conversation below, and I will reply to mentor you in this fun exercise.
God bless you
Tony Francis