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About Apostles 1 of 1

4/25/2026

Hi all,

With so many calling themselves apostles or prophets it seemed good these last Weekly Thoughts to share what the Bible says - rather than someone's business card or the title they put in front of their name.

The original context
In our day the '5-fold ministry gifts' are nouns:Apostle, prophet, teacher, pastor, evangelist. But those words are Greek words transliterated into English. That means translators of the Bible took action words, in this case 'sent one' or 'apostolos', and decided rather than staying with 'sent one', they turned apostolos into an English noun, apostle. They also turned 'one who foretells' into prophet, one who 'proclaims truth' into teacher, one who 'tends sheep' into pastor, and 'one who announces good news' into evangelist. That's how these action words became nouns, which fit neatly into the hierarchy of the auditorium church culture of 400+ years ago.

They did the same thing with the word 'bishop', which is 'episkopos' meaning 'one who oversees.' Consider I Timothy 3:1 in the King James English, then the actual Greek:
KJV:"It is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work."
Greek:"Trustworthy is the saying, if anyone aspires to overseership, (they) desire a beautiful work."

Also consider the word 'deacon' is in Greek 'diakonia, meaning 'service' or 'serve.' They made 'one who serves' into an office in a church called 'deacon.' The translators did us a great disservice, turning these action words into words that through the centuries became nouns, though it served the main-line denomination heirarchy well. Here is Romans 11:13 first in King James Version, then in Greek to see how the meaning changed:

King James Version:"For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify my office."
Greek:"To you Gentiles I now speak indeed I am a sent one to serve you, and I glory in my service (to you)."

In modern auditorium church it would seem that an apostle is a noun, a title. It would also seem being an apostle or bishop (overseer) is an office, when in fact the Greek word is 'service.' In New Testament realities, there is no such thing as an 'office' - whether pastor or apostle, intercessor or prophet - it is the word 'service' (diakonia).

What defines an apostle?
Remember that the whole of the New Testament was written by these sent ones to people in home based churches.

First therefore, the original context of an apostle is that they start home based churches. They help the discipleship process through relationships within family, friends, neighbors and coworkers. Those are the 4 main spheres of relationships seen in the NT. A 5th would be the 'person of peace', who knows you, accepts you, but doesn't yet know the Lord.

Second, Jesus has appeared to them to give them their assignment. I Corinthians 9:1:
"Am I not free?" Am I not a sent one (apostle)? Haven't I seen the Lord? Aren't you my work in the Lord?" The statement that he is free is a reference to the previous chapter where he discussed the freedom to eat whatever you want, here stating he is practicing what he teaches. Notice he states he is a sent one (apostle), he has seen the Lord, and they the Corinthians, are his work in the Lord. Also note Paul saw the Lord as I or others have - after His ascension in the Spirit. But that still counts to having seen the Lord, as shown in this verse; that was part of Paul's credibility as an apostle; he had seen the Lord.

Third, their assignment is for a specific group or task. Writing to the Corinthians in I Corinthians 9:2:
"If to others I am not a sent one (apostle), I am to you, for you are that seal of me having been sent (apostleship)." He wasn't an apostle to everyone, just a specific group.

In Galatians 2:9, Paul wrote that Peter, James, and John 'perceived the grace' in he and Barnabas, and gave them the hand of fellowship, agreeing their service was to the Jews, while Paul and Barnabas were sent to the Gentiles. In Acts 9:15 when the Lord appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, He specifically said He was sending him to the Gentiles (non-Jews). That shows us being an apostle has a specific people group and with that, limitations to that people group.

When the Lord visited me on November 4, 2001 and laid hands on me He said this:"You've been doing the work of an apostle, but now I'm laying hands on you as an apostle for this task:I want you to start a house church and house church network, and structure it in such a way to facilitate the development of house churches around the world." My 'sent one' assignment is limited to house churches, but is world-wide. I've not been sent as an apostle for auditorium churches, though I freely and happily minister in them. I've not been assigned a specific people group, for He said 'around the world.' The confines of my apostleship is to those in home based ministries. I teach for all, I am a Seer for all, I pastor and oversee our CWOWI group and my apostleship is for CWOWI alone. I therefore work alongside others with different calls, all being on the same team and helping as asked.

When He stated 'You've been doing the work of an apostle' He was referencing me teaching and going around to churches to teach and consult with pastors and Bible school leaders on everything from their personal issues and conflicts, to how to enhance the good impact their ministry was having on people. I had been doing that which apostles also do, but until that point I wasn't an apostle (sent one). I think many who do the work of an apostle but aren't apostles call themselves apostles. But they aren't starting house churches, they aren't transparent and in relationships that are part of that, Jesus hasn't appeared to them to lay hands on them for a specific task to be sent to a group or task. But because they are doing part of what an apostle does, the auditorium church culture lends itself to titles and nouns and honoring those mis-labeled ones.

As a teenager the Father told me He called me to be a Seer. As a teenager I started teaching and that is one of the main if not the main gift. I have always had a 'pastor's heart', caring for God's people to bring them along the discipleship process. My assignment as an apostle was added in 2001, but that is for a specific assignment. That is built upon the preexisting gifts of seer, teacher, pastor. Those are for everyone, but my apostleship is just for house church and those in the CWOWI network that come of that. Peter, James, and John knew they were apostles (sent ones) to the Jews, Paul and Barnabas knew they were sent to the Gentiles. Assignment, limits of that assignment clearly seen.

Fourth, an apostle has signs and wonders in their ministry, as stated in II Corinthians 12:12:"Truly the signs of a sent one (apostle) were worked among you in all patience and perseverance, with signs, wonders, and miracles." Though I have had dramatic miracles and healings in my ministry also seen in the gospels - the lame walk, the deaf hear, the blind healed and more, I don't talk of them lest people see me instead of the Lord.

But one time I did tell Him I'd like to see more of those dramatic healings, and His reply surprised me:"Why do you think I so often visit you in your meetings, and open the eyes of so many to either see me or know I am there in their midst? This too is part of the signs and wonders." So I stood corrected and haven't brought it up since. There have been so many times maybe 6 or more will see the Lord in our midst as He walks around speaking to people, some seeing Him and some just sensing Him right in front of them, or feeling in their spirit His embrace or hand on their spirit's shoulder. And usually several will have visions, see angels or the glory cloud or be taken away in the Spirit with the Lord. I am continually humbled and amazed that He does so, usually in our times of worship in our conferences.

Years ago there was a time it was popular to call yourself an apostle. Some even went so far as to require pastors tithe to them personally, and their church to tithe to their ministry, thus enriching themselves through this manipulation. May the Lord have mercy on their souls. Neither Paul nor any other apostle required tithes or other financial support; Paul expected people to commune with Christ in them and give to those who had taught them, but there was never a demand, which is why I say very little about money. Also, apostles had networks as Paul's letter reveal of his travels to those (house) churches associated with him - in Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, the region of Galatia, Philippi, Colossae and Thessalonica. He wrote to the Romans that he wanted to get to Spain but wasn't sure if he would make it that far.

His desire was not to encroach on someone else's work, as stated in II Corinthians 10:12-15:"We will confine ourselves to the sphere of ministry the Lord has assigned to us, which includes you..."

The summary then of the Bible definition of an apostle:They help the discipleship process through relationships and in home meetings. The Lord has appeared to them to give them a specific assignment for which they 'are sent.' Their assignment is for a specific task or people group. There are signs and wonders accompanying their ministry.

And I am thankful for all you who read these Weekly Thoughts and monthly Newsletters. I look forward to the day we can greet each other face to face. New subject next week, until then, blessings!
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]

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Seers, prophets, personal prophecy 3 of 3, Seers/prophets

4/18/2026

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Hi all,

What is a Seer? What is a prophet?

We are told this in I Samuel 9:9:"...he that was beforetime called a Seer is now called a Prophet."

Seers/prophets are gifted to see into the Lord's realm from time to time, as needed according to the Lord's will. In I Samuel 3, the Lord called Samuel by name:"Samuel, Samuel" and the young boy thought Eli the Priest was calling him. After Eli told him it was the Lord, verse 10 says:"Then the Lord came and stood as He had at the other times, and said:"Samuel, Samuel." In v15 it says Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision of the Lord. Verse 21 says from that point on the Lord appeared to Samuel as The Word of the Lord.

Samuel was the first of the seers/prophets to the nation of Israel. He was the last Judge. Previous Judges included Deborah, Gideon, Samson, and others. Samuel was the last judge and first Seer/Prophet of the new nation of Israel. He set Saul as their first king. He set the stage for all prophets to Israel that followed him, for the Lord appeared to them as 'The Word of the Lord' as well.

But seers aren't just visited by the Lord, their gift to see into the realm of the Lord is also demonstrated in the ministry of Elisha, as seen in II Kings 6:13-17. Elisha and his assistant were in a city surrounded by an enemy army of chariots, and his assistant was very afraid. Elisha prayed that the Lord also open his eyes to see what he saw, which was an angelic army also surrounding them. Elisha saw the angelic realm as well as the natural realm of the king's army surrounding the city.

When I was a teen or 16 or 17 the Father told me He had called me to be a Seer, using that term, and that was my call before that of teacher, pastor, and apostle. (Next week the definition of an apostle and their ministry) This is how it is most often for me, like an overlay of 2 dimensions, with my eyes wide open I see the natural realm and the Lord's realm.

What defines a New Testament Seer/Prophet?
The foundation upon which we build is from Ephesians 3:1-6 which says in part:"To reveal the mystery...which was kept secret from ages and generations, but is now revealed by His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and sharers together of the promise in Christ of the gospel."

This tells us the first function of apostles and prophets is to share revelation from the Lord concerning the grace given to (we) non-Jews. This is why prophets and teachers are closely related, as seen in Acts 13:1-3:"And there were certain prophets and teachers gathered...for fasting and prayer..." A prophet's main function isn't to give prophetic words, but to share revelation concerning the mysteries of Christ. Teaching and being a prophet are closely related to apostles and prophets because they are charged with revealing deeper mysteries about the work of Jesus and His ways, and giving that revelation to the body of Christ.

IF someone calls themselves an apostle or prophet, their foundational ministry is to teach and share revelation concerning what Jesus has done for us. If they don't have those deeper mysteries, if all they do is have 'prophetic' dreams, visions and words - you need to question whether they are truly a prophet (or apostle).

How is someone prophesying different from being a prophet?
Acts 11:27-28 tells us:"At that time some prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch, and one of them, Agabus, revealed by the Spirit that a great famine would happen..."
This shows us a prophet will have predictive words about things in nature, in this case a famine.

In Acts 21:10-11 we are told this of Agabus:"...he came and took Paul's belt and tied up his own hands and feet and said this; 'This is what the Holy Spirit says; The man who owns this belt will have this done to him by the Jews in Jerusalem and then they will turn him over to the Gentiles (Romans).'"

Here we see a prophet also has predictive words about the actions of governments, including at times as it relates to individuals. A prophet in these New Testament times will first of all teach and/or share about the mysteries of Christ in us and His work on the cross, resurrection, and ascension. They will see into the Spirit realm. They will have predictive words about nature, governments, and for individuals.

Compare that to Paul's definition of simple prophecy of I Corinthians 14:3:"For one who prophesies gives a person a word building them up, exhorting or comforting them." We can see a much greater depth to that of one called as a Seer/Prophet. Unfortunately, some have made great names of themselves thinking because they prophesy regularly, they are a prophet. The first time a person gives a simple prophecy it may be nothing more than saying to a person; "I sense the Lord loves you." But if they have much experience, their prophecies may be longer and more detailed - not because they are a prophet, but because they are more experienced moving in that gift. Some have thought because they do move regularly in simple prophecy they are a prophet - but actually they are just more experienced in the gift.

Remember also that other manifestations of the Spirit combine with the gifts. So that a person who may see a mini-vision of a person or situation while praying for someone, which is the discerning of spirits, may also give them a prophecy of encouragement. They aren't a prophet, the Spirit just moved through them to minister what was needed to that person. A prophet's main ministry is that of teaching and sharing about what Christ did for us, seeing in the Spirit, and giving predictive words about nature and governments.

Wisdom about personal prophecy
We can learn about personal prophecy from this exchange between Agabus and Paul in Acts 21. First, Agabus said:"This is what the Holy Spirit says." Simple prophecy is very often something perceived in one's spirit that they then put into words. More of an interpretation of what they sense in their spirit what the Lord is saying. A prophet will hear the Holy Spirit Himself. This most often happens to me, and as I've taught before from examples in Acts, when the Holy Spirit Himself speaks it is specific, concise, and direct. (Acts 8:29; 10:19) There is no vagueness nor ambiguity to it when you hear the Holy Spirit Himself speak to you. Agabus heard the Holy Spirit's specific word to Paul.

Agabus gave Paul very specific details, that he would be arrested by the Jews and turned over to the Romans in Jerusalem. The trouble that awaited him was not new information for Paul, though the specific details were new, showing a prophetic personal word will merely be a confirmation of something the Lord has already shown a person.

Earlier, in the previous chapter, Acts 20:22:24 Paul said this:"..I am compelled to go to Jerusalem, not knowing what's going to happen to me there, though the Holy Spirit testifies in every city that arrest and troubles await me. But none of these things move me because I don't count my life dear to myself..."

Paul stated everywhere he went the Holy Spirit bore witness in others that if he went to the city arrest and trouble awaited him. But he said he didn't know the specifics. After he left them in Acts 20, chapter 21 opens with Paul sailing to the city of Tyre, and finding disciples verse 4 states:"Who kept telling him through the Spirit that he should not go up to Jerusalem."

Up until this point wherever Paul went the disciples he met had a witness in their spirit, a 'bad feeling' about him going to the city - but as Paul himself admitted, 'I don't know the things that will happen to me there.' That means all those impressions, all those people, just had a vague witness in their spirit that trouble awaited him. It wasn't until Agabus the prophet provided precise information about those 'bad things' - the Jews would arrest him and turn him over to the Romans.

The personal prophecy Paul received from Agabus was about his future, but it was just specific information about things Paul already knew. Personal prophecy will not be new information - it will be a confirmation of things the Lord has already revealed to you, and as a confirming word it will have more information. Even when Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9:5 the Lord told him; "It is hard for you to kick against the ox-goads." An ox-goad was a pointy stick a person used from behind a 'cow' to poke them in the shoulder or read-end to keep them along the path. Jesus being the sharp two-edged sword, the Word of God, had evidently been poking Paul for some time about Him being the Messiah, and Paul was resisting. So even this meeting of Jesus was specific to the poking Paul had received from the Living Word, rather than completely new information. Jesus confirmed to him - how many of us were 'poked' by the Lord for some time before we finally gave in and believed?

Next week, apostles....until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]

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Seers, Prophets, personal prophecy, 2 of 3, Your spirit's gifts

4/11/2026

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Hi all,

Last week I shared how some people laid hands on me and prophesied and were spot on - but then they wanted to go further, and the 2nd time they merely perceived in their spirit what my gifts were - the put a 'thus saith the Lord' and a future tense to it, and called it God.

Many manipulators not knowing the ways of the Father, think when they perceive the qualities in a person's spirit they are moving in prophecy, or worse, think themselves a prophet. But they have just become good at perceiving in their spirit the qualities of another person's spirit. This can be learned also among those who don't know the Lord, sometimes with demons - familiar spirits - telling the person things about another for the purpose of manipulation or even abuse.

You've perceived the qualities of another's spirit
There are people you like and you don't know why, just as there are people you don't care for - not because they've done anything, you just don't 'click'. You perceive it isn't just personality, there is something deeper that your spirit doesn't like what's in them. Very often it is because your spirit recognizes something in their spirit (or soul) that conflicts with the Spirit of God, causing you to not like them.

You get some groceries at the store and you walk away wondering if the clerk is a Christian, or close to righteousness because there is something good or peaceful, like a recognition in your spirit your mind notices about them. In Mark 12:34 Jesus said to the scribe who answered rightly about scripture:"You aren't far from the kingdom of God." Jesus perceived the man's spiritual condition. It wasn't a prophetic word, it was an observation Jesus made about what He perceived of where that man was spiritually. We do that as well.

Also, many men and women who have experienced some form of abuse when young can perceive in their spirit when a person they even casually meet is into lust or other things, for their spirit recognizes the kind of spirits that had abused them when they were younger. Our spirit can perceive on that human spirit to human spirit level if a person is pure or if something about them isn't right. The world calls it a 'gut feeling' or 'intuition', for even non-born again people are still spirit, soul and body.

If a person suffered abuse as a child, or grew up in a home with addicts for example, now as an adult their spirit and soul can perceive that a stranger they see out in public is an addict because their spirit feels the spirits around that stranger - because that type of spirit was around their parents growing up.

What was that?
Simple prophecy is God given, Holy Spirit prompted. It isn't about figuring out the qualities of a person's personality or gifts - though that can be part of a prophecy. Prophecy is defined in I Corinthians 14:3:"One who prophesies speaks to people for their building up, encouragement, and comfort." It is the Father who is a Spirit, giving revelation to someone's spirit about His encouragement and comfort to that other person. There is nothing future in simple prophecy. Sometimes for encouragement the Lord will mention that person's gifts or talents He put in them, but that is done in the larger context of a message to them. This is because a prophecy is still about Jesus and His work and will.

Many have prophesied while sitting at a table having tea or coffee with a friend, and you sense in your spirit that your friend is at the point of decision in something. You sense a peace about telling them thus and so, bringing them comfort - that was prophecy. If it came from your sympathy just as a friend, no, that was just a friend comforting their friend. But there are those times we move from a sense in our spirit, a sense of peace or inspiration to tell our friend - and that is prophecy. The gifts of the Spirit don't come with labels nor flashing announcement:"Incoming, what I'm giving you is a prophecy, put a 'thus saith the Lord' at the end." NO. Paul calls the gifts in I Corinthians 12:4-7 a "manifestation of the Spirit given for the benefit of all." It's normal, just part of being a Christian, that Christ in you would move through you for another person's betterment.

The context of the New Testament was the home, in relationships, and in home meetings, so that is where all the gifts of the Spirit have their first use. A parent comforting their child after a rough day at work may be just a parent doing what parent's do. But perhaps as they listen to their child that parent is asking the Father for wisdom and just the right things to say to comfort the child - and out of their spirit comes comfort, encouragement, wisdom beyond what they had originally. They just prophesied, and perhaps gave a word of wisdom to their child. They flowed from their spirit, out their soul, speaking with their body - you can sense that flow, perceive it, there is nothing more fulfilling than living from the spirit-man outward.

A word of wisdom is a divine instruction on something future - like the Lord giving a person wisdom on how to handle a difficult situation at work, or what to share of their experience in the job interview in the morning. A word of knowledge is divine knowledge about something past or present, and all these manifestations of the Spirit of God are just that - manifestations of the Spirit.

Prophecy will not appeal to our ego:"The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Revelation 19:10
The context was the apostle John was in heaven and started to bow at the feet of the man showing him around. The man was greatly distressed and insistent John not do that for he said he was a fellow believer as well. He said prophecy wasn't about him (the man showing John these things in heaven), but the testimony of Jesus is what prophecy is all about.

This means a personal prophecy will not build you up, tell you what a great and powerful ministry you are called to (though He may tell you the scope of your ministry and the troubles you will have if you accept His invitation, as per Paul's interaction with Jesus on the road to Damascus.) If you are being used to give a prophecy to someone and was truly of the Spirit, you will feel no sense of ego, no sense of 'wow I'm good at this' - nothing about you at all. It's all about Jesus whether you are giving or receiving a word of prophecy.

IF you receive some 'prophet' giving you a long and flowery prophecy that goes on for pages and pages when you write it down, it wasn't from God. MAYBE the first paragraph was by the Spirit, but the rest would be the 'prophet' being in the flesh, just like what happened to me at that conference.

When the Spirit of God speaks, every example of Him speaking to someone in Acts, is short, to the point, direct, without any embellishments. Prophecy is about Jesus, not you or I. IF it appeals to ego, builds you up about your call and purpose, makes you think you are God's gift to mankind - that's not God. Jesus is meek, lowly of heart, approachable, and humble. Any personal prophecy will have that spirit of Jesus. No ego involved.

Next week, what makes a seer/prophet a seer/prophet. Until then, blessings,
John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]

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Seers, Prophets, personal prophecy: 'What is prophecy?'. 1 of 3

4/4/2026

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Hi all,

There is great confusion about Seers, prophets, prophecy, personal prophecy. In this part 1 I'll share how we can know people by their spirit - and the troubles it can cause.

Attraction to one's spirit
"From this point on I will not know a person by man's standards, (but by the spirit), though we knew Christ once in the flesh, but no more, we know Him by the Spirit. For if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. Old things are gone, behold, all things are new and all things are of God." II Corinthians 5: 16-17.

In the world we recognize or give honor or know a person according to the standards of the world: Education, economics, job held, wealth and so on. In Christ there is but one standard: Being born again. Earthly measurements of knowing someone are secondary, which is why Paul said from this point on he won't know a person according to worldly standards, but by the Spirit.

Much damage has been done by people confused about this New Testament reality of knowing people by their spirit. Many a woman has thrown herself at a minister because her spirit identifies with some of the gifts in his spirit, and she takes that as God telling her that he is her future husband. It doesn't have to be a minister - it happens from schools to churches, from businesses to chance meetings in public. Attraction to one's spirit is often mistaken as God's direction for a relationship. Mistaken - meaning it isn't God, it's just their spirit attracted to another's spirit.

When I was the director of a Bible school I got to know the great and widely respected evangelist, T.L. Osborn. Our school was in his ministry headquarters building, and I count that as a special time. He would speak at our chapel services, and I was even privileged to meet with him in his home. One day after he spoke at the chapel a student came to me crying, and she didn't know why. I asked her what she felt called to, and she said 'Missions.' I explained that the gifts in her spirit bore witness to the gifts in his spirit, missions, and her spirit was stirred upon hearing of all his adventures and the people he had won to the Lord. She knew T.L. according to Christ in each of them.

Another example:
When I was 16 I got to know a girl during 10th grade German class. The teacher often had students make teams of 2, and I was teamed with her. In between doing our lessons we got to know each other. She was Roman Catholic, I was Episcopalian (Anglican), which shares a common Sunday morning liturgy. She told me one day: "I know the God behind the liturgy." She led me to the Lord.

We were in 10th grade at the time, age 16. Her boyfriend and future husband led her to the Lord, she led me to the Lord, then I led my girlfriend and future wife, Barb, to the Lord. We each took a 2nd year of German in our junior year, so our friendship in the Lord continued to build. Our senior year of high school I was voted prom king, she was voted prom queen. I've always loved her spirit. I will always be thankful to her for sharing Jesus with me, and we are all still in regular touch to this day. I have loved her spirit since the start. I admire her soul and we have had that brother-sister relationship since. I would never, nor would she ever think of going beyond loving and appreciating our spirits.

But some people develop a friendship with someone at work, or a pastor with a worship leader, or 2 neighbors, and mistake attraction to one's spirit (or soul) as love, as God, as God's will, as God told me they are my mate....and it isn't that at all. It's just perceiving who they are in their spirit. A person will often become emotionally involved, say 'God told me' they are my husband/wife', and wonder why God didn't tell that other person. We are spirit, soul, and body. Don't cross the line. Perceive if you are attracted to that person's spirit, maybe spirit and soul...but if there are other boundaries already in place, don't cross them.

The idea our spirits can perceive what is in another's spirit isn't taught very much, and what is out there is pretty spooky and weird at times.

People perceive and are attracted to the qualities of another person's spirit, and mistake that attraction for love.

What if a pastor has a single woman in his congregation that comes to him, or him for advice. What if that pastor perceives in his spirit the qualities in the spirit of that woman - how God had made her, gifted her - and he feels an attraction to her because of that. Maybe she is also pretty to look at. He might manipulate her and control her, getting her to meet him at night alone at his office, or even bring s*x into the relationship under the guise that she needs that to be made whole from past relationships...and many other evil things like that happen in the body of Christ. Jesus defined adultery in Matthew 5: 28 as the imagination of lust towards another. Over the years I've seen many pastors in multiple adulteries - imaginations in their minds about women in their congregation or worship teams - and have pulled a few back from the brink.

This can happen in any business, industry, or friendships as well as church. Our world is so corrupt some suggest Mary Magdalene and Jesus were a couple - even early Christian heretical writings suggest that. People's minds are so corrupt they can't imagine a woman who had 7 demons cast out of her loving Jesus strictly on a spiritual level, they think it had to have gotten physical, but it didn't. Don't we love Jesus' from our spirit? That is purity. Our spirit bears witness with the Holy Spirit that we are the Father's children and that Christ is in us. This is why Paul writes in in I Timothy 5:2 to treat older women as mothers and younger ones as sisters - Paul is saying love their spirits, give them the respect and honor due, and don't cross boundaries.

Years ago I was a speaker at an 'apostolic' conference, and while waiting for my turn to speak in a side room, some of those helping serve water and snacks wanted to lay hands on me and prophesy over me. I let them, and what they initially said was spot on - that I would soon be launched into another type of ministry and such. But when I thanked them and started to get up from the 'hot seat', they urged me to sit back down 'and see what else the Lord might say.'

I did that, allowing them to continue. What they said next were things not of the Lord, but things their spirit perceived of the gifts in my spirit. Everything they said God would in the future bring me to, I was already doing. They didn't know at the time I was the Director of a large Bible school and taught classes nearly daily, oversaw a large staff in a mega-church, and filled in for the pastor on Sundays and Wednesday when he was traveling in ministry. Their 'prophetic words' which they all put in future tense, said I would soon be led to a position where I'd be teaching, soon be an administrator, soon oversee a large staff and budget....it was all the things I was currently doing. How did they miss it?

The first time they prayed was the Lord. The second was them perceiving in their spirit the things in my spirit - they were getting to know me as Paul stated above, by the spirit for the spirit is a new creation in Christ. Many so-called prophets build their ministry not on the prophetic, but on perceiving a person's spirit and turning it into a 'thus saith the Lord'. And we will start there next week. Until then, blessings,

John Fenn
cwowi.org and email me at [email protected]

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