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Discussion Forum : Articles and Sermons : Living in the Prophetic (Ministry) - My Testimony by Michael Liao

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MichaelLiao
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Joined: 2011/4/24
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 Living in the Prophetic (Ministry) - My Testimony by Michael Liao

“20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.” -1 Thessalonians 5:20-21

Suffering is a characteristic that permeates the Christian. The Early Church was no stranger to it in the first three centuries. They endured hardships that we North Americans have yet to experience. Many unbelievers we don’t know go through much more pain than the Christian. We should never have a suffering complex when countless people die of ailments, war, terrorism, calamity, tsunamis, storms, etc. How we minister to these individuals will determine our effectiveness in the Kingdom of Christ.

Every Christian is in ministry whether we know it or not. Generally speaking, we think of ministry as pastoral; any position that seems to take the place of authority. We often hear the phrase from well-meaning Christians, “I’m going into ministry!” It is seen as a child of God going into seminary in order to get his or her Divinity degree. Or, it is becoming a certified counsellor. Whatever it may be, it usually involves some book knowledge. But, the term ministry can never be reduced to the pulpit or an office in the church building. Every time I hear the phrase, “I’m going into ministry,” it really destroys the original meaning of what God intended.

What Ministry Is?

Ministry is being a cook.

Ministry is cleaning the floors of the church and cleaning your home.

Ministry is being a dishwasher.

Ministry is being a dancer.

Ministry is being a singer.

Ministry is being an accountant.

Ministry is being a father.

Ministry is being a mother.

Ministry is being a babysitter.

Ministry is interceding for the lost.

Ministry is being a pastor.

Ministry is being a counsellor.

Ultimately, Ministry is serving to the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ with all the gifts you have received from Him (1 Corinthians 10:31)! It will never be about self and what we can gain for our acts of service. Sacrificial love MUST be the catalyst to success in the Kingdom of Christ! His Holy Spirit empowers us into such endeavours. The Light of love shines through our bodies so that the spiritual darkness diminishes under our assault. We’re all going into ministry whether we like it or not!

Love is the fulfillment of all the commandments of God (Romans 13:8-10). Unfortunately, much of that love is not seen in the Church today. We have been called hypocrites because we say all the right things, yet our lives do not match our words.

But, there is a ministry that involves the supernatural. Tongues, healing, words of knowledge, dreams, interpretation of dreams, and the prophetic (1 Corinthians 12). I think words of knowledge and the gift of prophesy can be used interchangeably. But, please correct me if I am wrong (any Bible scholars in the house today?)

I believe that the supernatural ministry is crucial to manifesting the Kingdom of God into a deteriorating world. I know it sounds very charismatic, but God is a supernatural God! The supernatural life of Christ needs to be a lifestyle among Christians. But, I want to deal with the prophetic ministry that the many Churches have so spurned today.

Cessationist Fears

I have deep respect for the believers who hold to a cessationist worldview. This theological treatise states that the supernatural gifts have ceased after the Apostle’s time on earth. Now, there are different cessationists out there. Some believe that the manifestations of the supernatural (gifts) exist today, but it is under the control of God’s sovereignty. He can choose who, what, when, where, and why to bestow these experiences with Him (Hebrews 2:3-4). All true and biblical. However, these manifestations don’t occur as often as in the Early Church according to these cessationists.

Cessationists are also admirable for their call to discernment. Just because someone prophesied, it does not necessarily mean that it came from a Divine Source. Pharaoh’s magicians performed the same supernatural judgments that God had executed in the Book of Exodus. For example, supposedly a “prophet” comes to you and says,

“You will have a million dollars by next Wednesday!”

“You need to leave your wife and marry me; he’s not the right man for you!”

“Though your wife is dying of cancer, I guarantee you she will be healed in the next month or so.”

I have indirectly witnessed the effects of false prophesies like the ones mentioned above. I have heard of deaths that supposedly weren’t going to happen, broken marriages, and people being left in financial ruins because of these so-called prophetic words. Either it came from the devil, or it came from the “prophets” own flesh where he desires to serve himself with deceit. The people who listen to such prophecies have their trust broken. Many leave the church because they have become hurt and disillusioned. Some understandably become atheists because their question boils down to, “Is there really a God? He has failed to keep His promises through His prophets.” My heart breaks for these people. Their pain is legitimate and they’ve been scarred for life. It’s unimaginable what they are going through. We can say that their pain is almost legitimate, given the fact that just because one hospital is messed up, it does not justify the notion that all of medical science is erroneous. True! But, these people have their trust broken. No matter what we say, the chance of them coming back is minimal! We can only trust the Holy Spirit at this point to draw these individuals back into the Church! Our job is to love them. That’s all we can do!

That is the genuine concern for the cessationist. They hold fast to the Word of God and they test everything using the Sword of the Spirit. Every experience we have must match the Bible. And for that my brothers and sisters who hold this view, I honour you with my heart!

However, using the hospital analogy again - we can never throw the baby out with the bathwater. The counterfeit only proves the real. God forbid we should embrace a view where He is seemingly no longer active in this world because of the bad apples within Christendom! Again, God is a supernatural God who desires to bless His people with things that are beyond our control and physical realm. He wants us to see Him!

This is where I lovingly disagree with my cessationist brethren. Scripture says that our Lord Jesus Christ is the same - yesterday, today, and forevermore (Hebrews 13:8). I must inquire of my brethren, “Are we going to say that the Spirit of Christ changed after the first century?” We need to be careful with what we say about God. Otherwise, we can be put into a state of unbelief over some of His characteristics.

How much do we believe Him for the supernatural? When Christ walked on the earth, there were instances where He could not perform any miracles. Why? Because of the people’s unbelief (Matthew 13:58). Now, does that mean His power is limited based on our belief in Him? Absolutely not! For Christ saved Saul against his will Saul was on his way to Damascus to kill Christians in Acts 9. And then, Saul became the Apostle Paul after his conversion. As the Scriptures testify, “So then it does not depend on the will of man or exertion, but on God who has mercy.” (Romans 9:16) The issue was not their unbelief. The issue was that their unbelief was putting Jesus in a box! Do we not see that in our modern seminaries when we turn God into a theological conundrum? We tell God what He can and can’t do? As my brother Julian stated in our church fellowship, “The Holy Spirit can come in whatever form He chooses. God cannot be limited by what we think of Him.” Why are we trying to limit the unlimited Christ then? Jesus was insulted by their unbelief in Him. The issue was even if Jesus were to perform miracles among the people, they would still continue in their unbelief. They’ve been enlightened, yet they will choose to harden their hearts. Do we not see that with Pharaoh? He saw the miraculous judgments of God, but he spurned the grace of God when he chose to keep Israel in bondage. Egypt was hit with ten plagues, and yet he never yielded to the will of God over the Nation of Israel (Exodus 7-14).

The Apostasy

It says in Hebrews 6:4-6: “4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.”

You can read your Bible, go to church, experience the Spirit, tasted Christ and the powers of the age to come, and still fall away after all that? It is impossible to bring such a person back to God and the fellowship. Why? Because no matter how much you’ve tasted the glory of Christ, you still chose to harden your heart. You’ve chosen to go your own way and not receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ into your very soul. That person did not lose his salvation. He was never saved to begin with! You would be crucifying Jesus Christ all over again because what God is essentially saying is, “I’ve shown you so much of what I’ve done for you, but you still turn your back on Me? What more can I do for you, friend?” That’s why it’s impossible to bring someone back because they’ve sinned against so much Light!

Given, if you are afraid of what is written here, you’re in a good place. The fact that you care shows that the Holy Spirit is still working in your life. The verses above apply to the people who don’t care. It’s those who have experienced the warnings, but they still jump the cliff. They’ve blasphemed the Holy Spirit who convicts them of their sin. And since they do not have the Spirit anymore, they will not be convicted! They won’t see their sin anymore. They will not fear God anymore. That is the most fatal position to be in! If you’re scared that you’ve blasphemed the Spirit of God, then cry out to Him and ask God to do a mighty work in your heart, so that you will have a heart of flesh instead of a heart of stone (John 6:37, Romans 10:13). That heart will never harden. That I can guarantee! Well, you could, but because you belong to Jesus, He’ll do everything it takes to keep you unto the end (Ezekiel 36:25-28, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Jeremiah 32:40, John 6:40, John 10:28-30, Philippians 1:6, Jude 1:24-25, Romans 8:29-30). Those who have blasphemed the Spirit will never cry out to Christ. Period! I have heard of people who have apostatized; they’ve become so resistant to the Gospel that they are totally spiritually deaf. Not that they don’t hear the Gospel, it’s the fact that they don’t want to hear the Gospel!

In Christ, all spiritual blessings are in Him (Ephesians 1:3). May we never miss the grace of God (Hebrews 12:15)! We must quickly receive Him into our hearts, otherwise we are in danger of neglecting so great a salvation (Hebrews 2:1-4)!

Living in the Prophetic

The gift of prophecy is speaking forth the Word of God into a people group or an individual. The Prophets of the Old Testament were no strangers to such practices. They heard the voice of God in the place of prayer and spoke whatever God burned into their hearts. As Jeremiah puts it:

“For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.” (Jeremiah 20:8-9)

The dear prophet was persecuted for speaking forth the Word of the LORD. He suffered terrible reproach when he prophesied judgment on Pashhur, son of Immer. He was the temple official.

“When the priest Pashhur son of Immer, the official in charge of the temple of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, 2 he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the Lord’s temple. 3 The next day, when Pashhur released him from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, “The Lord’s name for you is not Pashhur, but Terror on Every Side. 4 For this is what the Lord says: ‘I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; with your own eyes you will see them fall by the sword of their enemies. I will give all Judah into the hands of the king of Babylon, who will carry them away to Babylon or put them to the sword. 5 I will deliver all the wealth of this city into the hands of their enemies—all its products, all its valuables and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. They will take it away as plunder and carry it off to Babylon. 6 And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house will go into exile to Babylon. There you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied lies.’” (Jeremiah 20:1-6)

However, the Prophet Jeremiah testified that He could not stop the Word of the LORD from burning within his heart. The Holy Spirit possessed him so strongly that he could not help but speak. In Romans 6, the Apostle Paul dealt with what it was like to be an unregenerate people and what it now means to be in our Lord Jesus Christ. According to Paul,

“15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6:15-18)

The Apostle wrote that in Jesus Christ, we are no longer under the control of sin, but slaves of His righteousness. He’s given us a new nature that desires righteousness and a heart that is His heart within us. His disposition becomes our disposition where He governs our heart, soul, mind, and strength. For we have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer we who live, but Christ who lives within us by the power of His Holy Spirit. And the life we now live in the flesh, we live by the faith OF the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself up for us (Galatians 2:20).

Who is a slave of sin?

One who cannot help but sin.

Then who is a slave of righteousness?

One who cannot help but be righteousness!

Is that not real in our lives when the Holy Spirit does the work of regeneration in our hearts? Every time we sin, we feel internally wrong and desire to walk in the other direction? He has placed Christ within our very souls. The Christian life is an impossible life. Therefore, it must be lived by a Supernatural Divine Life other than our own (Zechariah 4:6). And one of these supernatural occurrences involve the gift of prophesy.

Students of the Word who desire to go into the ministry of counselling go to Bible school in order to become a “certified counsellor”. There’s nothing inherently wrong with studying psychology, theology, theodicy, and the Bible in getting that degree. We need to understand the underlying causes of a person’s negative emotions. Either it’s an erroneous belief system that leads to depression, or it’s decades of abuse that never surfaced until years later. Whatever the case may be, psychology can be very useful in diagnosing the patients problem. But, it’s the reality that nothing can ever replace the Holy Spirit when it comes to counselling both unbelievers and believers; for the Holy Spirit is the Wonderful Counsellor (Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 11:2). Through His aid, we can discern a person’s heart, hurt, trial, frustration, anger, and be able to administer the right counsel necessary to help that individual. By the Spirit, we can hear the words from the Throne of Heaven and speak it into that person’s life.

Now, the question arises, “Is that Mysticism? Demonic? ‘Lord told me this’? Charismatic Garbage? Benny Hinn?” If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that stereotypical view of prophesy, I’d be able to buy Bibles for every Chinese person residing in the People’s Republic of China.

Well, let’s examine the question further besides stereotyping the supernatural. Does the prophecy match the Word of God? Does it bring healing and ultimately draw that person closer to the Person of Christ? Does it edify the person’s spirit in the Lord? Does it bear fruit in the person? Does it bring any conviction of sin that lets the person know his own fallenness? All of which is in the Word of Christ by the way. As Paul writes in his letter to the Thessalonians:

“20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.” -1 Thessalonians 5:20-21

Paul states that prophesies are crucial to the Body of Christ and should not be thrown out, but he balances his message with discernment and the need to test every spirit with the Word of God (1 John 4:1).

If a prophesy comes from Satan, demons, or the flesh, then it must lead a person away from Christ. The Spirit of the LORD points all to Christ (John 16:14, John 12:32). It seems unlikely for a demon to lead someone to the Lord considering that Jesus Himself rebuked the Pharisees for attributing His work to the Devil:

“22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:22-32)

Can you imagine the one demon possessing an individual and all of a sudden decides to follow Jesus? That seriously sounds like a comedy bit ready to be put into production! Satan hates people because they are created in the image of God. He knows he’s going to hell at the end and he wants to take as many people with him as possible (Revelation 20:10).

If the prophesy derives from a fleshly source, then there is an elevation of self. The love necessary to fulfill all the commandments of God is inexistent. An example of this would be someone saying,

“You must marry me because God told me so! Your husband is not the one for you!”

This prophecy is in violation of several Scriptures. First, what God has joined together, let no man separate (Mark 10:9). Marriage signifies the sacred union between a man and a woman in the image of God. It is the portrayal of Christ’s Union with the Heart of His Church. Marriage is a place where unconditional love is manifested for both husband and wife, regardless of their blunders. Second, it violates loving our neighbour as ourselves. If love is the supreme ethic, then we would not dream of coveting our neighbour’s wife (Romans 13:8-10, Exodus 20:17)! Essentially, this false prophet is violating that which is sacred in the eyes of God. The law of love does not exist in such a prophet; only self-centredness and self-aggrandizement are being exhibited. Love is transgressed because the prophecy can inevitably destroy a marriage if the wife goes through with obeying the false prophet! It brings hurt, instead of edification to the Church. At the end of the day, there is no grace for that poor lady. God forbid, that false prophet is already married and is prophesying over another woman in order to pursue her instead, he is clearly disobeying the command to love his wife as Christ loved the Church (Ephesians 5:25). In actuality, he is committing adultery (Exodus 20:14).

Death to self is not a characteristic in such a prophet. True death to self involves the glorification of God, the service of people, and the destruction of any humanistic endeavours (Mark 12:30-31)! Finally, true death to self never uses coercion to get something we want. Jesus commands us to lose our lives that we may find it in Him (Matthew 10:39). The way of love is selfless because Christ gave up His Supremacy, lived among men, died a sinners death, and raised a victorious God-man for the sake of a fallen human race (Romans 3:23). Seated at the Right Hand of God where intercession for His people is His plan for Continual Redemption and Final Glorification (Romans 8:29-30).

The Giving and Receiving of Prophecies - Testimonies

I’ve had several moments where people have spoken legitimate prophetic words into my life and they have matched the Words of my King! Whenever my brethren open their mouths to give me a prophetic word, it was as if I could hear from the Throne Room of Heaven; I could hear Christ through His Holy Spirit speak Words of Life into me. He uses these honourable vessels to communicate His love for me. I realized that preaching and prophesying are not a seminarian graduate getting on the pulpit and teaching the Word of God. Preaching and prophesying are the Expression of God’s heart through the believer to His Church! When we speak, are our hearts under the unction of the Holy Spirit? Do we feel what He feels? We are in union with Christ after all (Romans 6, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 1:27). We’ve got to at least feel something in Him.....

Some of the prophesies involved my brothers speaking on behalf of the Lord when I was literally at my wits end. Sometimes, I staggered into church! My brother and hopefully soon to be PhD in Theology, Robert Gagnon, heard from the Lord several times and prophesied over me,

“My grip on you is stronger than your grip on Me!”

“I hear the Lord saying to you, ‘You’ve been trying to do it on your own. Now, let Me do it! You can’t do it on your own strength. Do it in My strength!’”

“He loves you.”

“Rest!”

Let’s examine the following prophetic utterances made by Robert:

The first one sounds like the Perseverance of the Saints - All the Calvinists say, “Heeyyyyyyyyyyyy!” Scriptures to back up that prophesy? [John 6:37-47, John 6:51-58, John 10:28-29, Romans 8:29-30, Philippians 1:6, Ephesians 1:13-14, Hebrews 12:1-2, 1 John 2:19, Hebrews 6:4-12, Hebrews 10:26-39, Jeremiah 32:36-41, Ezekiel 36:25-28, Jude 1:24-25]. Can I just say, “Dead!”?

The second prophesy - [Exodus 15:2, Exodus 15:13, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Galatians 2:20, Romans 6-8, Zechariah 4:6, Judges 14:6, 1 Samuel 16:13, Job 32:6-22, Colossians 1:27, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 13:20-21, Psalm 51, Habakkuk 3:17-19, Isaiah 40:28-31, Isaiah 41:10]

The third prophetic word - [Let’s just say that’s the entire Bible......]

The fourth prophecy - [Genesis 2:1-3, Exodus 20:8-10, Exodus 23:12, Exodus 33:14, Psalm 4:8, Psalm 23, Psalm 37:7, Psalm 127:2, Psalms 46:10, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 30:15, Isaiah 57:12, Matthew 11:28-30, Mark 2:27, Mark 6:32, Hebrews 4:9-11]

Here’s another set of prophetic words from my friend Lily Cheng to me:

“I hear the Spirit saying to you, ‘Come to Me as you are.”

“I’m getting this vision that you're struggling with self-hatred. And every time you abuse yourself, Jesus’ heart breaks for you.” That was so accurate, I could say it was God! I wept right after and cried out to God. Afterwards, it was as if Jesus spoke to my heart and said, “It’s OK Michael. You're my child and I love you.” Sounds like Romans 8:1 and Jeremiah 31:3.

Some will criticize these prophecies as just Scripture spoken in our own words. Given, Robert and Lily’s prophecies matches the Word. They could have taken the Scriptures they knew and just encouraged me when I was down without any supernatural intervention. True! However, both Rob and Lily’s prophecies were for a specific time and place. The Holy Spirit met me where I was and He said the right words at the right time to me through their spirits (Job 32:8-22). God made it very personal for me when He said to me, “Now, let Me do it!” “Come to Me as you are!” He came to me through Rob and Lily!

My big brother John had prophetic words from the Lord for me as well. For many years, I’ve doubted my salvation and I was left in a horrible depression because of it. Some people said I was saved. Some said I was lost. I was so confused that I did not want to deal with it anymore. But, John heard from the Lord and my King wanted to convey to me:

“You are my son. I love you!”

Now, did that solidify me into a false profession of faith? I’ve heard reformed preachers say that we should never tell people that they are saved. Only God can tell them they are saved. True! The Word does say:

“14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God...” (Romans 8:14-16)

But, John’s prophetic words actually reached my spirit and it caused me to bear fruit instead of slipping into licentiousness. God was confirming in me what was already true; that I am a regenerate creature in Christ; a new creation ready to do good works (Ezekiel 36:25-27, Jeremiah 31:33-34, Romans 6:18, Romans 8:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 1:27, 2 Corinthians 5:14-16, Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:3-7, 1 John 3:9). The Holy Spirit in John was bearing witness in his spirit that I am a child of God! Also, other Christians in the church saw that I was bearing fruit by the Holy Spirit in the church. When many Christians say the same thing to you over and over again, chances are it is from the Lord! Some do not even realize they are prophesying over you because of their theological background. But, often times, they do not realize that God is speaking through them when they are encouraging you.

Today, we’ve spurned the supernatural so dearly that we’ve counselled people using the head knowledge we have acquired in Bible school. We’re like Job’s friends who knew so much theology and attempted to comfort him with all the “right answers”, only to have God say to them, “My anger burns against you and your two friends because you have not spoken of Me what was right!” (Job 42:7). We should never give someone the wrong counsel. Otherwise, it will cause more hurt to that individual. We must silently listen to what the Spirit is saying for that person at this point in time, rather than offer our own wisdom that uses biblical terminology!

One of the marks of true holiness is silence, as exemplified by Elihu in the Book of Job. It’s a very common notion that Elihu just randomly walked by, heard Job and his three friends, and got angry. No! Elihu sat in their midst for a good 30 chapters. It’s just Chapter 2 of Job never mentioned Elihu’s name. The young man was silent because he was afraid to speak with people that are older than him. But, the Lord stirred his spirit so mightily that he could not contain his prophetic utterance in Chapter 32. Ultimately, we could give the wrong advice at the wrong time.

The reason why the gift of prophesy is so paramount to the Body of Christ is because it brings forth the Personhood of Christ to the individual. It is as though Jesus Himself were present and is speaking into that person’s situation. The relationship aspect with God is manifested with the gift of prophecy. The suffering individual has the chance to meet Jesus on a personal level with his problems when the counsellor has the Holy Spirit prophesy through him. Essentially, God is releasing His very Presence into that person through us - “The Release of the Spirit,” as Watchman Nee puts it. It releases grace into that individual and strengthens his spirit. If the Christian life is simply just reading the Bible, theology, history, apologetics, psychology books, and all we find are the principles to live by, then Christianity is no different than any other religion on God’s green earth: We inevitably have a deistic God who looks down from Heaven and is never involved with our lives! He is not a Person, He’s just a transcendent God with a monadic expression. There would be no burning bush for Moses if that were biblically true (Exodus 3).

The gift of prophesy is for the edification of the Church! The Apostle Paul writes:

“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.” (1 Corinthians 14:1-5)

Prophesy must be done in love for the individual. It is a supernatural gift and it must never be used to glorify ourselves! It is an act of service to individuals who are suffering, struggling, and in need of strength. They need to encounter Jesus and prophesying over them may indeed bring forth the touch from Christ our Lord! Sometimes that does involve speaking what the future holds for them. Jesus is no intellectual concept for us to grasp. He is a Person to know:

“39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” (John 5:39-40)

This is especially helpful for the unbeliever who has yet to encounter Jesus!

"24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”" (1 Corinthians 14:24-25)

If you wait on the Spirit of God to speak into the unbeliever’s life, watch the Lord work! He may expose that person’s heart through the prophetic utterance. The Holy Spirit may show you that person’s spirit. He may speak words of healing into that individual, so that Jesus can heal him of his hurts. God will give you the right words for the unbeliever so that he will fall down in awe at the feet of Christ. “Whoa! How did you know that? How did you do that?” Our response, “it’s just God man!” Jesus loves both the believer and the unbeliever. He desires both to turn to Him in repentance and brokenness. Christ the Centre becomes that individual's pursuit after such a supernatural occurrence. Or, if the person still chooses not to believe in his foolishness, then what more can we do? That person has hardened his heart. Of course, that’s up to the Lord whether he will return.

By the grace of God, I have had several moments in my life where living in the prophetic ministry has become a reality. There has been more than five instances where the Holy Spirit gave prophetic utterances to certain individuals through a vessel like me.

The first instance was a dear sister who struggles with self-hatred and was about to take her own life. When I found out, the Spirit of God stirred my emotions so strongly that I wept hard for her. I have never had such anguish in my life for her. I called her that night and my spirit conveyed the message from the Holy Spirit to her:

“I just want to you that He loves you, He cares for you, you’re His child. No matter what you are going through, He will manifest His strength in your weakness. I love you sister.”

As I was saying that, my spirit was burning and the Holy Spirit grabbed a hold of her. The suicide was prevented.

Sure, the naturalist will say that it was a natural response and it does not necessarily have to involve any supernatural intervention to weep for someone you care about. True! It’s simply emotion! You say the right words and the individual will psychologically feel better. The result being no suicide. An atheist can experience pain over a loved one being ill, or dying. An atheist can cry over his best friend committing suicide. The person can be of any religious background and can weep. All of which is true! But, when it is the Spirit of God, you know it is not of your own accord. Back in the day, I could read the news with calamity, disaster, war, disease, and what not, and just feel apathy. Now, with the Spirit indwelling my heart, reading the news often comes with tears of brokenness and compassion for the victims of tragedy (Romans 8:26-27). It’s something I’ve never had before I came to Jesus.

But, I guess the first instance was an easy one. So, I’ll move on to the second instance of the prophetic ministry that God has bestowed upon me.

I have another friend who is going through a difficult period. So difficult that he actually left the church. I no longer see him in the church building. My heart still breaks for him and hopefully the Lord will bring him back in His time and in His way. He called me one night and told me he was in a dark place. He went on to say that I’m the only person he could trust with his issues. We talked for a bit and I said, “Hey, I’m just going to be silent for a bit and I want to see if the Holy Spirit has anything to say to you in regards to this situation. Is that OK with you?” He replied, “Sure.” Although, I was a bit hesitant to go through with it because I was not sure if his theological backdrop would allow such practices. I was not familiar with what he believed at this point. I felt the Lord gave me three things to say to him as I was silent in His presence, “It’s not over, you’re alive, and God hasn’t given up on you.” As I uttered the words issued from the Throne Room of Heaven, my friend replied, ““Michael, it’s amazing how you said that I’m alive, God hasn’t given up on me, and it’s not over. Do you know what I was feeling today? I thought I was dead, that God had forsaken me, and it was over.” Heaven still speaks today, my brethren! God the Father still speaks the right words at the right time for His children.

Still too easy, eh?

My friend Camille Helor has a hearing problem that’s causing much depression. I called her to check up on her condition. I wanted to help her and by the grace of God, the Lord’s presence was with me and spoke into my spirit. He gave me a bit of a vision of Camille’s spirit - it was tired and was about collapse. I said to her:

“I know your very tired in your spirit. It’s as if you are about to collapse. He’s saying to you that He loves you and that you are His child. He cares about you, Camille. He just wants you to be honest with Him at this very moment. You need to come to Him. Bring all your frustration, depression, and anger to Him.”

What happened next left me in awe of God. Camille asked me, “Mikey, did you say the word collapse?” I replied, “Yes, I used the word collapse.”

She went on to say, “Mikey, it’s amazing that you said that. I usually write notes during the day to help me express my emotions. I write down how I feel. Minutes before you called me, I wrote on a note, ‘Why do I feel like I’m going to collapse?’”

God meets our very feelings very accurately, brethren. O, if only we would listen to Him when we counsel a suffering individual. We are in so much need to bring the very Presence of Christ to a dying world. People do not just want to see the fruit we bear in our lives. They want to touch the Person of Jesus. They want to meet Him face to face. And if Jesus lives in us, we have no excuse as stewards of His presence (Romans 6, Galatians 2:20, Colossians 1:27). The gift of prophesy glorifies Jesus in His Supremacy and Centrality in this cosmic universe. We must bring the Throne Room of Heaven down to earth. Does Jesus not say in the Lord’s Prayer:

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)?

I believe that prayer is more than just asking God to lead us into His heavenly will for our lives. That prayer is asking for our Supernatural Father to engulf our world! Whatever is done in heaven, we’re asking God to do on earth. May we never slip away from such revelation!

Still not enough, eh?

One day, I wanted to bless a group of my friends and I wanted to hear what the Spirit had to say for each one of them. So, I waited for the Lord to show me in my spirit what to say.

For my sister Suyoung, I told her to develop her supernatural gift which was the gift of tongues. I felt that the Lord wanted to deepen His relationship with her through that gift. The Lord wanted her to be more sensitive to His Spirit as she walks with Him. I told her that when she uses the gift of tongues, she will be accessing the Life of Christ that is already within her (Galatians 2:20, Colossians 1:27); she will be strengthening her own spirit (1 Corinthians 14:4). Suyoung will be drawing from the unlimited supply of Jesus into her spirit as she prays in tongues!

For my brother Julian, the Lord showed me his spirit and I sensed it was a bit dry. I knew the Lord wanted my brother to be filled. I asked him, “Have you been dry lately?” I wanted to make sure it was true. My brother responded, “Yes, I have been dry.” So, in His Spirit, I declared my brother to be filled in Jesus Name! And he was filled. The Lord wanted Julian to simply come to Him and experience more of His presence (John 7:39). I asked on behalf of the Lord,

“Will you come to Me to be filled?”

Julian said, “Yes! I will come, Lord!” And the Lord met his spirit.

For my sister Karis, I sensed her spirit was very anxious. It was like she was running around left, right, and centre and she was not resting. I sensed the Lord saying to her:

“My child, you are worried. You need to come to Me. Pour out your anxiety onto Me. You have been running left, right, and centre, but you’re not running to Me.”

I asked her, “Have you been trying to do things in your own strength? Have you been praying much?” For some reason, I got the sense from the Lord that she had not been praying much.

Karis replied, “It’s been a mix - up and down! I have been praying, but not enough.”

I continued, “Jesus says to you that He loves you and He doesn’t expect anything from you!”

As I was prophesying over her, the Presence of Christ was released into her and she started weeping. She wept in awe of the Lord Jesus Christ because the words spoken through my mouth came from the Spirit. She said, “This is confirmation from the Lord! Every word you’ve spoken comes from God. And I hear the Lord telling me that you (Camille Helor) are his daughter! And He’s saying that all these friends here are a blessing from Him.” Karis started prophesying herself!!!!!!

For Camille Helor’s husband, I sensed the Lord saying to him, “My child, I have blessed you with Camille. Embrace her as if she is a treasure to you! She is as precious as gold! I have entrusted my child with you. Take good care of her in the midst of her pain. Do not just hug her or do things for her. Treasure her! She is My daughter!”

I also sensed that her husband was dry in his spirit and he was need of Jesus. At the end of the day, we are all in need of Christ! I asked in the Spirit of Christ:

“Will you come to Me today? I want to be with you and enjoy you. I want you to be in My Presence.” I sensed that God wanted to rush through him like Niagara Falls; this never ending flow of living waters just coming to my brother! And the brother was filled as well! Just like Julian!

After that meeting, I felt that everyone in the room (including myself) were drawn closer to Jesus. So, before anyone can accuse me of being demon possessed, ask yourself, “Is Mikey bearing fruit? Are other people bearing fruit after these prophetic utterances? Are people closer to Jesus after such a session?” If they are, then I’m sure it is the Holy Spirit!

Again, I can never take any credit for myself. If the Holy Spirit left me, I would not be able to do such things. Nor would I be able to love as Jesus loved me (John 13:34-35, 1 John 2:6). The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Against these things, there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). I must value this fruit of the Holy Spirit more than His supernatural gifts. Without love, I am nothing:

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

All of the characteristics of love as listed above comes from the Spirit of Christ who indwells me (Romans 8:9). The prophetic words I speak in the Spirit must rooted in the place of love and never for selfish gain. I must never use this gift to make myself look good. I’m here to glorify God and make His name great among the nations (Malachi 1:11). If Mikey Barnabas Liao’s name is never written on my grave stone, so be it! I may as well be forgotten because the name of Jesus Christ lives on forever (Philippians 2:1-11, Hebrews 13:8)! Some have used the gift of prophesy for monetary gain. To that I say, run from them! Run! Don’t look back! They clearly bear the fruit of greed and abuse. If any of you have the gift of prophesy, NEVER ask people for money for your acts of service!

For the Lord says, “Freely receive, freely give!” (Matthew 10:8)

I believe we are living in a generation where God is raising up young people to be so drunk in the Spirit that the world will quake at the His feet! He’s raising up people to be bearers of the supernatural Christ living within us. People want to see a Christianity that is real! People desire to see the Christ within us. Not a Christianity that only involves no swearing, no drinking, no partying, no debauchery, no killing, no lying, no stealing. My Atheist friends can do that. My Muslim friends can do that. My Buddhist friends can do that. My Hindu friends can do that. My Jewish friends can do that. What makes us any different if Christ is nothing more than a list of principles to live by? Christianity is not a list of God’s commands. Christianity is not a religious system. Christianity is not a doctrine. Christianity is not a teaching. Christianity is not a precept. Christianity is a Person. Christianity is CHRIST! All things were made by Him, through Him, and for Him (John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16)! It is a relationship with our God and Father in the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ through the power of His Holy Spirit. When we get Christ, we get commune with the entire Trinity in our hearts (Matthew 3:13-17)! If people only touch the doctrine and not the Person of the doctrine, then we will make them a two-fold son of hell (Matthew 23:15)!

Jesus says, “14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Light is more than just living morally. The Supernatural Divine Light in our souls is what will cause people to give glory to God! They will say, “God is real! God is real! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 23:39). As the Apostle John wrote in the beginning of his Gospel:
“4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)

I want to leave you all with a final thought from Watchman Nee. He wrote a book called The Release of the Spirit and here is what he says about ministering to people:

“To know man is vital to a worker. When someone comes to us, we must discern his spiritual condition, his nature, and the extent of his spiritual progress. We must determine whether he has said what is really in his heart and how much he has left unsaid. Further, we should perceive his characteristics—whether he is hard or humble, whether his humility is true or false. Our effectiveness in service is closely related to our discernment of man's spiritual condition. If God's Spirit enables us through our spirit to know the condition of the person before us, we can then impart the appropriate word.

In the Gospels we find that whenever men came to our Lord, He always had the right word. This is a marvelous thing. The Lord did not talk to the Samaritan woman about new birth, nor did he tell Nicodemus of living water. The truth of the new birth was for Nicodemus, while the truth of the living water was for the Samaritan woman. How appropriate they were. Those who had not followed Him were invited to come; but those who desired to follow Him were invited to bear the cross. To one who volunteered, He spoke of counting the cost; while to one who lingered, He said, "Let the dead bury their dead." Our Lord's words were most appropriate, FOR HE KNEW ALL MEN. Our Lord knew whether they came as earnest seekers or merely to spy on Him ; and what He said to them was always right to the point. May God be merciful to us that we also may learn of Him how to know man so that we may be effective in dealing with people.

Without such imparted knowledge, a brother can only handle souls by his own understanding. If he has a special feeling on a certain day, he will speak to everybody according to that feeling, no matter who it is that comes. If he has a favorite subject, he speaks on it to all who come to him. How can such work be effective? No physician can use the same prescription for all his patients. Alas, some who serve God have only one prescription. Though they cannot first diagnose people's sicknesses, they are trying to cure them. In spite of their ignorance of man's complexities and their lack of insight into man's spiritual condition, nonetheless they seem to be quite ready to treat every ailment. How foolish to have only one spiritual prescription, yet try to meet every kind of spiritual disease!

Have you imagined that it is the dull who cannot discern, and only the clever who can? No, in this work the clever and the dull are equally excluded. You cannot use your (independent) mind or feeling to discern people. No matter how keen your mind, you cannot penetrate the depth of man and reveal his condition.

After meeting a soul, each worker must first discern what that individual's real need is before God. Often you cannot depend on what he says. Though he may correctly insist that he has a "headache," this may be only a symptom of a deeper condition whose roots are to be found elsewhere. Just because he feels warm does not necessarily mean he has a "high fever." He is likely to tell you many things which have no bearing on his case. A "sick person" seldom understands his real trouble; so he needs you to diagnose for him and offer the means of cure. You may want him to tell you his need, but he is prone to be mistaken. Only a trained diagnostician who is skilled in recognizing spiritual ailments, can discern the "patient's" real need. In every diagnosis you must have certainty. One who is merely subjective is sure to afflict people with imaginative illnesses, stubbornly insisting that this or that is what ails them.”

It is absolutely critical to understand that every person is dealing with different problems. Jesus never gave the same medicine to different individuals that He encountered in all four Gospels. He knew the hearts of men and He knew what kind of ministry they needed (John 2:24-25)! And if He lives in us, then God help us to be sensitive to His leading when dealing with all people. Believers and unbelievers alike need to touch the Lord Jesus Christ. It is what Jesus wants to do with you that is the major factor! Are we willing to be obedient to His call for a prophetic ministry? I submit to you that our modern generation is a skeptical one. They need to see in order to believe! Of course, Jesus said to the Apostle Thomas:

“Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Jesus does say that the one who has not seen, but still believes are the most blessed and rewarded. However, we are living in a world where scientific naturalism and materialism has become the main presupposition in how people look at evidence. Atheist historian and philosopher, Dr. Richard Carrier, defines the philosophy of naturalism as, “...A worldview distinct from any form of "supernaturalism," "naturalism" is the belief that nature is (probably) all there is, and nothing supernatural exists.” I’m actually happy that he used the word ‘probably’. At least, there is still hope for him to see the supernatural. But, the point Carrier was trying to drive is that everything we see on a physical level is all there is to it. Naturalism gives no room for the supernatural.

Academic institutions have now adopted this naturalistic worldview and are teaching this generation that there is no proof of anything supernatural in this world. Well, tell that to the people in Asia and Africa who practice voodoo, eastern mysticism, witchcraft, and they have witnessed things that defy science. And the funny thing about this whole thing is they don’t believe in my God! I’ve dealt with a young lady who suffered from demon possession once and I can honestly tell you that this was no schizophrenia! This was no seizure! There was a dark evil laying behind her possessed spirit. I could sense it! She choked me and pushed me off my chair. I fell on the floor inside one of the rooms of the church! I assumed that she wanted to continue choking me on the floor, but thank the Lord I escaped in time. My friend Rebekah, who was right beside me flung her chair and a Heavenly Force took hold of her. Rebekah rebuked the demons in a voice that was not her own. I do not just believe in God. I’ve seen Him! My friend started speaking in tongues! I mean, what else can I say? Rebekah was in awe of God right after and she said,

“Uhhh....guys....that was not me....I don’t know whether it was an angel, or Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. But, that was not me!” I think that statement is a mark of a true Christian. Every time we see God do something amazing, we can never take any credit for it. All Glory goes to the King of kings and the Lord of lords!

I love Rebekah, by the way. She’s such a hilarious firecracker.....

See, God does not need us. He is not served by human hands as though He needed any help (Acts 17:25)! He was the one who created us and gives us breath and life. But, it is an honour and privilege that we are participants in the work He is doing! He’s the hands and we’re His gloves. Originally, God created this world so that human beings will have dominion over His earth (Genesis 1:26-28). Instead, Adam and Eve ate the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and their descendants became enslaved to the creation (John 8:34, Romans 6). The glory of God was supposed to live within in Adam and Eve, but they chose to live by their own morality instead and fractured the entire cosmic order that God had put in place since the beginning of time. I’m sure God had an eternal grief before He created this world. He knew we would screw up and yet He still spoke us into existence. Why? His Supreme Ethic of Love stands and He chooses to love us unconditionally! His omniscience is based on His love!

His Very Presence

I pray that this encourages you all to seek more of Christ in your life. The more you get into His Presence, the more you will begin to hear His voice. His voice matches the Word, so do not worry if something comes from a demon. Just go to the Word and discern whether the voices come from God, a Satanic source, or your own flesh. Jesus says that:

27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28)

How much do we want to walk intimately with our Lord? And how much do we want to push others around us to walk intimately with Christ? I believe prophetically that this is the generation that will encounter Christ the most. In our generation, I believe the condition of the Church is returning to the Book of Acts. Because with the ever growing darkness that surrounds our modern world, the light of God’s grace shines all the more brighter!

“20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20-21)

Paul commands us to eagerly seek the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially that we may prophesy because he knew that the edification of our brothers and sisters is important for growing in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 14:1-5, 2 Peter 3:18). He wanted the Church to have a deeper relationship with Christ their Groom! He knew that the gift of prophetic utterances, if used correctly, will be an act of love and service for one another. As Jesus Himself said:

“35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)

May our God and Father and our Lord Jesus Christ bless you eternally as you take in His very Presence. May His Spirit glorify the Person of Christ so immensely that you will hear nothing but Your Shepherd’s voice (Psalm 23)! I declare in Jesus’ Name that you will be deaf to the voice of the enemy!


Your Servant in Jesus’ Name,

- Michael Barnabas Hoy-Kuen Liao

Amen!


_________________
Michael Liao

 2016/3/22 2:13Profile
tonysmith
Member



Joined: 2016/3/10
Posts: 28
Reigate, Surrey, UK

 Re: Living in the Prophetic (Ministry) - My Testimony by Michael Liao

Deaf to the voice of the enemy ??? that's half the problem today.
Not sure I like that declaration and so I don't receive it.
We do not follow the voice of a stranger, more importantly when we hear the voice of a stranger we compare it to the voice of Jesus.
Maybe Michael you could revisit that final declaration and weigh it up a little.
Personally I like to hear the enemy. If Jesus was deaf to the enemy he wouldn't have known when one was speaking, would he?

As with all ministries, its giving what we have received, Don't let the left hand know what the right hand is doing.






_________________
Tony

 2016/3/22 8:19Profile





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