To: The Cities That Have Ears To Hear
Especially those who showed up to help restore my hometown in the aftermath of hurricane Harvey. Though I was not living here, at the time: Thank you for the love that you displayed in not rolling against her or turning your back on her in her time of distress.
Now, because it is written:
2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
I want to delve into the subject of love, particularly as it relates to the prophetic calling.
1 Corinthians 13 (NLT)
¹If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. ³If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. ⁴Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Again, Jesus said:
John 14:15 (NLT)
“If you love Me, obey My commandments."
The greatest commandment being:
Matthew 22 (NLT)
³⁷Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment."
I, therefore offer this insight, that there may be contextual completeness. To truly love God is to follow His instructions, especially in fulfilling our assignments. That being priority, I give no credence to accusations of being a clanging cymbal, especially in this part: "it keeps no record of being wronged." Instead, once again, in patiently correcting my accusers, I remind you of God's instructions for His prophetic messengers.
Isaiah 58:1 (NLT)
“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins!"
In my prophetic assignment, my love for God and my neighbor is that I operate according to God’s instructions in delivering warning: whether it appeals to man or not. Howbeit:
Lamentations 2:14 (NLT)
"Your prophets have said so many foolish things, false to the core. They did not save you from exile by pointing out your sins. Instead, they painted false pictures, filling you with false hope."
What makes a city think that she deserves to be honored when she refuses to honor God the way Jesus outlined in Matthew 10:49-41? If the servant is not greater than the Master; those who come against the servant are certainly no greater. Moreover, to sum things up with regard to "reward;" whether trophies or anything else:
2 Corinthians 9:6 (NIV)
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
You can be as quiet as a church mouse and still be a clanging cymbal, in God's ear: For the spirit speaks volumes.
Especially those who showed up to help restore my hometown in the aftermath of hurricane Harvey. Though I was not living here, at the time: Thank you for the love that you displayed in not rolling against her or turning your back on her in her time of distress.
Now, because it is written:
2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
I want to delve into the subject of love, particularly as it relates to the prophetic calling.
1 Corinthians 13 (NLT)
¹If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. ³If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. ⁴Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. ⁶It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. ⁷Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Again, Jesus said:
John 14:15 (NLT)
“If you love Me, obey My commandments."
The greatest commandment being:
Matthew 22 (NLT)
³⁷Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment."
I, therefore offer this insight, that there may be contextual completeness. To truly love God is to follow His instructions, especially in fulfilling our assignments. That being priority, I give no credence to accusations of being a clanging cymbal, especially in this part: "it keeps no record of being wronged." Instead, once again, in patiently correcting my accusers, I remind you of God's instructions for His prophetic messengers.
Isaiah 58:1 (NLT)
“Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins!"
In my prophetic assignment, my love for God and my neighbor is that I operate according to God’s instructions in delivering warning: whether it appeals to man or not. Howbeit:
Lamentations 2:14 (NLT)
"Your prophets have said so many foolish things, false to the core. They did not save you from exile by pointing out your sins. Instead, they painted false pictures, filling you with false hope."
What makes a city think that she deserves to be honored when she refuses to honor God the way Jesus outlined in Matthew 10:49-41? If the servant is not greater than the Master; those who come against the servant are certainly no greater. Moreover, to sum things up with regard to "reward;" whether trophies or anything else:
2 Corinthians 9:6 (NIV)
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
You can be as quiet as a church mouse and still be a clanging cymbal, in God's ear: For the spirit speaks volumes.
