When someone tries to set you straight, be careful who you listen to

But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true--it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. 1 John 2:27 NLT

When someone tries to teach me that something I know by the Spirit is true or discounts what I have experienced, I find myself wondering why they think they have an edge in this area? How did they come to some understanding that the Spirit of God in ME rails against? One of us is wrong, his teaching or the Spirit of God that lives in me. I know where I will place my bet. Lean not on your own understanding....

There is a place to be taught, there is a place to learn, but when you come to a certain place you ought to be the one teaching and discipling, not ever learning. We have this wrong in the western church. A sermon should be an anomaly among the mature Holy Spirit filled saints of GOD. Not-

"always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth". 2 Timothy 3:7.

The writer of Hebrews says it best and it's an indictment on how we do church:

Hebrews 5:12 By now you should be teachers. Instead, you still need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word. You need milk, not solid food. 13 All those who live on milk lack the experience to talk about what is right. They are still babies. 14 However, solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to know the difference between good and evil.

Let's grow up saints, and stop listening to every wind of doctrine that tries to knock us off the solid rock.  I don't know if that is prophetic, but it is what the Spirit of the Lord is saying today.

On the Godhead... See if you can get your head around this

The Athanasian Creed.

Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled; without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; Neither confounding the Persons; nor dividing the Essence. For there is one Person of the Father; another of the Son; and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one; the Glory equal, the Majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is; such is the Son; and such is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreated; the Son uncreated; and the Holy Ghost uncreated. The Father unlimited; the Son unlimited; and the Holy Ghost unlimited. The Father eternal; the Son eternal; and the Holy Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three eternals; but one eternal. As also there are not three uncreated; nor three infinites, but one uncreated; and one infinite. So likewise the Father is Almighty; the Son Almighty; and the Holy Ghost Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties; but one Almighty. So the Father is God; the Son is God; and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet they are not three Gods; but one God. So likewise the Father is Lord; the Son Lord; and the Holy Ghost Lord. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity; to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; So are we forbidden by the catholic religion; to say, There are three Gods, or three Lords. The Father is made of none; neither created, nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created; but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten; but proceeding. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none is before, or after another; none is greater, or less than another. But the whole three Persons are coeternal, and coequal. So that in all things, as aforesaid; the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, let him thus think of the Trinity.

Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation; that he also believe faithfully the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess; that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Essence of the Father; begotten before the worlds; and Man, of the Essence of his Mother, born in the world. Perfect God; and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting. Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead; and inferior to the Father as touching his Manhood. Who although he is God and Man; yet he is not two, but one Christ. One; not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh; but by assumption of the Manhood by God. One altogether; not by confusion of Essence; but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man; so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell; rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of the God the Father Almighty, from whence he will come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies; And shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire. This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe truly and firmly, he cannot be saved.

Matt Sorger: 13 Prophetic Insights and Decrees for 2013

As I waited upon God, going into 2013, I received these words from the Lord. Some came in the form of impressions, others came as visions and some came as Scriptures that God was breathing on for this season. Prophetic words are an invitation from the Lord. I sense the following 13 prophetic insights are to be decrees that we aggressively pursue for 2013. They are invitations for us to lay hold of.

13 Prophetic Insights and Decrees

1. Stagnant waters will be stirred in a fresh way. I saw pools of Bethesda stirring again and a fresh healing stir being released. God wants His people to lay hold of the divine healing anointing in a fresh way this year. I saw deep seated, lingering disorders being healed, even down to the chromosome level. I saw stubborn areas within the soul and flesh being healed that people have battled with for years.
In John 5:2-5, 9, Christ performs a healing on the Sabbath. Jesus never did anything by chance or accident. He was very purposeful in His intention. God is calling His people to access His healing and power from a place of rest. The Sabbath is more than just a day of rest. It's a spiritual position of rest. In Christ we enter into the Sabbath. We receive because of the finished work Christ has done on the Cross. Rather than begging God for what He has already done, we are to simply step in and receive the finished work. A new level and substance of faith is coming into the heart to receive the finished work. God is highlighting the spirit of faith and understanding the finished work of Christ. Living from the Sabbath position will be crucial in obtaining all God has for us.
2. A prophetic ear will be given to not only hear but to also listen and comprehend. This hearing will also occur from a position of rest in His presence. Key Scriptures are 1 Samuel 3:3, 10. In a time of no widespread revelation and where the eyes of the high priest Eli were growing dim, the light was still burning in the temple near the ark. As Samuel rested before the ark in the presence of God, the voice of God speaks to him. After several times of hearing but not understanding, Samuel is instructed by Eli to say, "Speak Lord for your servant is listening."
There is a big difference between hearing and listening. God is refining the prophetic ear and the prophetic movement. He is calling His prophets and His people to come into a place of rest in His presence in the light of revelation. From that place the voice of God will speak. Not only will His voice be heard, but it will be listened to and comprehended. A new clarity of hearing and perceiving God's voice is coming. It will not be by self-effort or striving; it will be from resting in His presence. Not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord.
3. New language will be given by God to properly and clearly communicate truths God is highlighting and speaking. For example, the term "soaking" was not used until the outpouring of God's Spirit in the 90s. This term helped explain the concept of being filled with God's presence. New language will be given by the Spirit to more deeply and clearly understand truths God is bringing forth of spiritual realities.
4. God is giving the blueprints for the new wineskin He is forming. In Joshua 3:3-6, the people were to follow the ark into a way they have never gone before. As we follow the moving of the presence of God, He will lead us by His Spirit into places we have never gone before. The walk of sanctification will be vital in preparation for the wonders God will do. God is saying to be ready to pull the tent pegs up. When the cloud of His presence moves we need to move with Him. We have to be willing to fold up old structures and ways of doing things in order to stay current and fresh with God. God's marching orders will be given. There will be new alignments and relational structures to facilitate the move of God.
5. We will not continue to do things the same way. The cloud of God is moving and with that our activities will shift. Our focuses will shift. Some old structures will have to adapt and morph with the new way God is moving. There will be fresh Spirit-led activity. God doesn't want us to be busy. He wants us to be fruitful. Forms, structures and even activities we have done in the past may shift as God moves in new ways. Be prepared to let go of some things and to embrace and step into some new things you haven't done before. It will be vital to go where the Spirit is breathing. Don't hold onto something God isn't breathing on any longer. Be fruitful by moving and being led by the Spirit.
6. God will be highlighting and deepening within His people an understanding of the true identity of the Believer. Revelation of how to live out of union with God will come forth. We will understand our oneness with God and live out of our inner spirit man. For those who are one with God are one spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17, 19).
7. God is going to bring revelation into foundational, spiritual truths. Things we thought we knew and understood, God is going to have us look again and He is going to give us deeper revelation and understanding into things we thought we knew for years. Look back upon foundational truths, and new light and revelation will be shone upon them bringing the manifestation of true spiritual realities.
8. The understanding of spiritual warfare is shifting. We are moving from "warfare" breakthrough to a "decreeing and establishing" breakthrough. This will occur with a deeper revelation of who and where we are. Rather than fighting into the second heaven from being under, we will rule and reign from the third Heaven being over. I understand that we wrestle not with flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12), and that even Jesus experienced personal warfare when He was tempted by the devil and overcame by the spoken Word of God. This warfare will not be fought to obtain victory, but will be fought from a place of victory.
Christians will live from a third Heaven reality, understanding how to establish on earth as it is in Heaven. A new perspective, a new revelation and with it a new manifestation of Kingdom authority will be released. God is bringing people into a new level of spiritual authority. Ephesians 2:5-6 are key Scriptures. The Church will shift from an Old Testament model of spiritual warfare (Daniel 10:13) into a New Testament revelation of establishing what has already been won (Colossians 2:15).
9. This is the season of the fulfillment of dreams. Many are being brought from a time where the word of the Lord tested them. The second dream to Joseph was highlighted to me in Genesis 37:9-11. In it Joseph sees eleven stars and the sun and the moon bowing down to him, speaking of his promotion into a position of authority and influence. Eleven plus two is thirteen, the number of this year. People are going to step into the manifestation of unfulfilled dreams. The warfare of the last season is being washed away and a new heavenly perspective is being granted. Just as Joseph's betrayal and trial maneuvered him into his assignment and destiny, so will the trials and testings in our lives propel us into our destinies. Key Scriptures are Genesis 37:9, Genesis 45:5-8, Psalm 105:17-24.
10. God is delivering people from burdens. But it's not just the removal of burdens. As Psalm 81:6-7 says, He will remove our shoulder from the burden and bring deliverance. This is different than the burden being removed from us. It's us being removed from under the burden. Get ready for divine shifting that will maneuver you out from underneath burdens into a place of deliverance. In other words, situations or people may stay the same, but you will be maneuvered out from underneath them. It's a season of deliverance for those who call on the name of the Lord.
Psalm 105:37-44 show 10 promises accompanying this deliverance. These include financial provision, divine health, fear of the Lord on the enemy, the covering of His presence, light in the darkness, food, dry places refreshed, joy, lands and nations, and reaping where you haven't labored. Lay hold of these promises for you, your family, church, ministry and business.
11. There is a generational convergence taking place. It's a season for new, young leaders to be mentored and raised up. Generations are converging together and will function together in relationship for the purpose of multiplication. Generational wells and new wells will open together. Fathers and mothers will take their place and sons and daughters will come into their place. Those that have not been fathers will now step into a fathering role. Genesis 26:18-24 are key Scriptures for this.
12. I saw a vision of an open door. This is the year of the open door. As we run through it we will come into divine acceleration. New favor, new opportunities and new advancements. Key Scriptures are Revelations 3:7-13. God will keep us from the hour of trial coming upon the whole earth. It's time to hold fast what you have so no one robs you of your crown. Have patient endurance. The name of God will be upon us.
13. I saw a vision of the Lord blowing upon a flickering flame. Usually when someone blows on a candle the flame goes out. But as God breathed upon the flame within us it got brighter and hotter. It will be a season of renewing our first love for God (Revelation 2:2-7). God is bringing both an encouragement and warning that if our works are not done from the place of first love, the candlestick can be removed. Ministry work must be done from the place of first love for Jesus. God is calling people back to the simplicity of worship and living a life in His presence. This will also bring deeper consecration, holiness and divine fire as a result. A key verse is Matthew 12:20, A smoldering wick He will not snuff out.
I encourage you to pray over these 13 prophetic insights and decrees. Meditate on them and apply them to your lives as the Holy Spirit leads you.
Matt Sorger
Matt Sorger Ministries
Email: info@mattsorger.com

Righteousness is NOT what you think, Generosity is not expressed in your Tithes and Offerings

People do NOT truly know what it means to be righteous.  They think it has to do with being sinless, being upright, decent, honorable.  While that maybe part of it,  there is one key issue regarding righteousness.  Read these passages then YOU tell ME what it means.  It will answer a question, are you truly Righteous?  Or simply saved by the blood of the Lamb.  They are very two different things.  I know many saved unrighteous people.  Time to get real about our righteousness.

Matthew 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Psalm 37:25  I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken Or his descendants begging bread.

Proverbs 10:3 The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

Matthew 6:1-2 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Psalm 112
Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
    who find great delight in his commands.
2 Their children will be mighty in the land;
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in their houses,
    and their righteousness endures forever.
4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
    for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
    who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
    they will be remembered forever.
7 They will have no fear of bad news;
    their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
    in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
    their righteousness endures forever;
    their horn will be lifted high in honor.
10 The wicked will see and be vexed,
    they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
    the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Proverbs 11:24-25 Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous (Righteous?) will prosper;those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

I'm going to allow the text to interpret the text.  We can have all those things added unto us IF we seek first the Kingdom AND HIS Righteousness.  A little heart check.

I heard the Lord say this morning, "You cannot Winnow without Wind"

Most people in urbanized America don't know what winnowing is.  They think they do, sorta.  As one person said in a Bible Study, "I think I know what wheat is, but I don't know what a winnowing fork is".  This in response to the passage where John the Baptist speaks of Jesus:  "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  Luke 3:16b-17.

Since we have a dearth of knowledge about things agricultural there are a few things we need to know in order to grasp the critical truth of this passage.  I got this from the Lord early this morning.  It is the result of a spirited discussion I was having with a man who is exploring the things of God and believes he has cornered the truth.  I was trying to help him see that much of what he believes is absolute truth so much chaff.  Many people have strongholds that have been erected against the knowledge of God.  They are not all sin based.  Some are traditions, theologies, beliefs and doctrine that have trampled underfoot the shed blood of Jesus.  Certitude is the enemy of Faith.

The Lord said to me, "You cannot winnow without wind".  I love when He speaks in a simple word like that.  It all became clear in a split second.

I grew up in windy North Dakota.  I was a farm kid.  We grew wheat.  We used machines to combine and separate the wheat from the chaff.  Sometimes our machines didn't do very well and we ended up with a lot of chaff in the wheat.  When the wind was blowing, We would take a scoop shovel of dirty wheat, throw it up in the windy atmosphere and watch the wind do it's thing.  What came back to earth was clean; wheat alone.  The chaff was gone with the wind.

Back in Jesus day, they didn't have harvest machines.  The wheat, straw, and everything was gathered from the field.  Shocks of wheat.  Bundles.  Then they were brought to the threshing floor.  Either an animal would tread on the wheat to crush it out of it's head (Ox perhaps) or someone with a blunt instrument would beat the wheat heads until the grains would release and fall to the floor.  The result was you then had wheat and chaff (including stubble) laying on the floor.  Mixed.  Not yet good for making bread.

IF the wind would come up of sufficient velocity the farmer would take a fork designed to lift and throw the chaff and wheat from the threshing floor up into the air.  The steady wind would blow away the chaff leaving only the clean wheat on the floor ready for storage in the barn.  It was only that which was useful.  It was only that which could be made into bread that would sustain life.

This process would accumulate a pile of chaff and stubble near the threshing floor.  It had no value.  It was actually an eyesore and presented a danger.  If the wind stirred around it could re infiltrate the cleaned wheat on the ground.  So, once it was separated it was burned to avoid this re pollution.

I explain all this in detail because the spiritual truth in it is profound.  Look at what John the Baptizer said, he said Jesus would come to baptize with the Holy Ghost and with Fire. A thresher man winnows with the wind and the useless chaff is quickly burned up in fire.  The metaphor is made.

This verse has often been interpreted to talk of believers and unbelievers.  It of course can be applied that way somewhat, but the Holy Ghost didn't come to condemn people to eternal fire.  It came to blow away false doctrine, chaff like beliefs and the traditions of men.  John the Baptizer also talked of how the Axe was already laid to the root of the tree.  That was also about cutting away false traditions, not about killing trees.

Here's the difficult truth.  You can't separate the wheat from the chaff without wind.  You can't discern empty theology and beliefs without the wind of the Holy Spirit.  The Mighty Rushing wind at Pentecost swept away centuries of false belief systems.  He is still doing his winnowing work today in the lives of men.  We are suffering under the oppression of false belief systems that are strongholds erected by the enemy to keep us from the knowledge of God.  It is insidious.  Properly applied wind can tear them down.  Late last night the wind blew thru.  It was so intense that the doors of our house shook from the change of pressure.  Stronghold shaking wind.

Yet, many churches keep trying to teach and preach to develop pure wheat in their people without the power of the Holy Spirit.  They are stuck on a windless threshing floor going thru the motions of tossing up the wheat and chaff together and ending up with the same wheat and chaff on the floor after it's all done.  Lots of effort, no results.

Powerless preaching means the chaff remains.  No wind no wheat.

What does the wind look and sound like? You can't see it. You can't describe it. You might hear it's sound. But scripture says that even if you don't see it, you can still see it's effect.

  "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."  John 3:8

When worship is pure and powerful, when the prophetic word blows thru a place and sets things in order, when the evangelist comes to stir up and release Holy Ghost power of conviction and repentance, when healings, deliverance, restoration happens, demons are are cast out, dead people are raised, people cleansed and hearts turned from stone to flesh.  Those are the effects of the wind blowing.  If that's not happening, chaff and wheat are still on the floor.

Everything you thought you know about God from your Sunday School class as a child, from your Bible College training, from your seminary, from the books you have read, from the sermons you have heard live, on the radio and on TV is subject to change.  The wheat will survive the wind. The chaff is blown away and burned.  IF you refuse to subject your personal theology to the Wind of the Spirit you will live in a useless wheat chaff mix, going thru the motions but never getting the pure grain you desire.

Your barns will remain empty.  You will starve to death.


Blow away everything that is NOT of YOU Lord.

Let the WIND BLOW.  Let the WIND BLOW.

When Beliefs Become Confused with Truth and FACTS

Jesus said, "I am the way, the TRUTH and the LIFE".  Truth =  Fact.  We would all agree... or do we?

Our personal beliefs play a huge role in how we view our life. Our theology.  Show me your theology, I can show you your life circumstance.  Your estimation of things will depend entirely on the framework of your personal beliefs. Our beliefs provide a structured process through which we evaluate everything in our lives.

We develop our personal beliefs about reality (truth) based on how we interpret the world around us according to our observations and experiences. There are two major components or aspects that contribute to your personal beliefs, an emotional component (experience) and a logical component (learning).

In some cases, a belief starts out much like a theory. Assumptions are made based on logical observations and deductions.  Or something we read, hear or are taught.  In other cases, a new belief grows out of an emotional viewpoint that seems to be supported by logic.  It's all reason.  We are trying to make sense of it all.

It’s the blending of these two major components that form the basic structure of our personal beliefs. Through the window of these beliefs, we try to make sense out of the things around us. We also use them to form assumptions about probable future results and how right we are.

Once established, beliefs become accepted as facts and are rarely subject to scrutiny. They become our “personal operating system.” Much like the operating system on your computer, our beliefs control how we sort and file every bit of input data.  We filter things thru the screen of our belief system.  We do that with Bible Stories.  Scripture. Theology.  We know what we believe and all else gets screened out.

Everything we see, experience, think and feel is adjusted to fit with those beliefs. In other words, our version of reality (the Truth) is a creation of our beliefs. Our personal operating system disassembles and reassembles all input data to conform to what we believe.  If it doesn't fit it goes into the recycle file.

This is not a conscious process.  Many of our beliefs were established in childhood and have outlived their usefulness even if untested. Others are leftovers from situations and circumstances that are no longer relevant. Why is this important?   Well, imagine trying to run your current software on an ancient version of windows, or some other obsolete operating system. The results would not be very satisfying. The same could be said of obsolete belief systems that are still influencing how we evaluate everything in our lives.  They become untested as things change and challenge. 

Beliefs must be upgraded as they fail to prove true.  As we mature, many of our former beliefs no longer work. They have outlived their usefulness.   Others hammered out on the anvil of time and experience become proven tested principles we learn to rely on. It forms our CORE.  We must have CORE beliefs.  I have them.  So do you.  IF you didn't you couldn't operate.

People can become stuck in certain theologies, beliefs, things they consider facts based on what they believe, yet the danger is we strip Holy Spirit's ability to shake our world and do a spiritual Upgrade to the belief systems we relied on so diligently.  When we resist those things we will rely upon tradition and religious systems and teachings that keep us from hearing from God.

Many of the things I KNEW for certain with absolute certitude 30 years ago have been torn down like the strongholds they were.  Strongholds that came against the knowledge of the true and living God.  The true and Living GOD is JESUS; "I am the way the truth and the life.  NO MAN can come to the Father but By ME".  He wasn't kidding.

We become deceived by all our books and learning that we can get to the Father.  We think we can hop and skip over the one on one personal relationship that will (if we are lucky) wipe away much of what we were taught or read and replace it with the truth of who HIMSELF.  That only comes out of intimacy.  All maturity in God comes out of intimacy.  Not teaching.  Not preaching. Not theology. Knowing HIM.

The only way we can come to HIM is thru faith.  That HE is and will reward us with Himself if we diligently seek him.  That's a tough call.  We have to set aside our reason, our learning, our study, our box that we have tried to keep HIM in and say, SHOW ME THE FATHER... Jesus will say to us, if you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.   Luther said, "The enemy of Faith is Reason".  Reason will drive us into the dead end of having all the facts based on our beliefs of what believe is truth.  Of course as I have already said, Truth is not a concept, it is a person.  Jesus. 

I have a vision of what it will be like in heaven when we see him Face to Face.  Did you wonder why the elders and the beasts fall down repeatedly and cry Holy over and over again.  Because Jesus keeps showing them another dimension of His Glory and at that revelation they fall down and cry out.

What arrogance man has that he has one zillionth of one percentage of Grasp of the TRUE Glory of Jesus.   That is TRUTH.   SEEK HIM.. FIRST the KING and His KINGDOM  -- everything else will be added later.  It won't be what you think or believe are facts today.  Truth is a MAN on a THRONE.

Who Takes Part in the Spoils OR should a music minister be paid?

I was recently asked a question.  Should a music minstrel be paid for playing and leading worship?  In many churches the one leading worship is a volunteer.  In some cases they play like a volunteer.  I know, I was one.

Yet we admire the level of worship some anointed saints that can bring a congregation to higher levels.  They have a truly God given gift.  They are tapped into a place many others are not.  They spend time in worship and prayer on a personal level that is significant.  They practice.  They wrestle to find that sweet spot in worship.

The list of anointed worship leaders who have emerged from the local church and gained national prominence is long.  What if Israel Houghton agreed to become a full time partner in your worship leadership.  Is he worthy of honor in the spoils?  Money?

Do we have (in many places) insipid worship because we don't value it?  Yes that means money.

I know this is an issue.  I hear it discussed all the time.  I have watched many become frustrated;   Worship leaders and Senior Leaders. 

There is a story that has instruction in 1 Samuel if we consider it carefully.  Read it here: 1 Samuel 30: 21-25.

Every warrior who went into war took slings and arrows.  They risked life and limb.  Shed blood.  They put it all on the line.

Yet David makes an order.  Everyone gets a share of the spoils.  The text calls those who would have kept it all for themselves worthless and wicked.

I see a prophetic parallel to the question about minstrels.  The warfare is over men's souls is to expand the kingdom.  The spoils are the product of the victory.  People's prosperity increases and the spoils are shared among the soldiers on the front line and those who take care of the stuff.

IF that principle for instruction and reproof of scripture is applied, it will argue that every worker who works in the work of the King needs to take part of the spoils.

I know that when I got saved, the music Bruce Larson brought was a big part of what caught my attention.  Pastor Dan was a great preacher, but my heart was prepared by Pastor Bruce in anointed worship.

That is as it is today.  I don't care how great a preacher one is, the trip uphill is much much greater if you don't have anointed worship.  It's the ultimate harp and bowl.  All harp and no bowl will fail.

Rather than not pay and end up with just OK (as most churches do) you might be better off playing worship CDs on a boom box.  They only cost 15 bucks.  Cheaper than a musician. 

The spoils belong to every one who fought and those who took care of the stuff.  If you are a senior leader, make certain that the spoils end up in the right hands.  Honor.  Sunlight.  and YES, money.  Money is a spoil.

I won't even talk about any of the five fold.  Should an evangelist be part of the spoils in distribution?  Should a prophet?

Israel Houghton isn't coming if you aren't sharing the spoils.   Ever preacher's favorite verse is:  Deuteronomy 25:4  "Don't muzzle the Ox while it is threshing grain".  The question is, if grain is being threshed, who should recieve the threshing spoils? Who put the yoke on the ox, who brought the grain to be threshed, who hauled it away when it was done and who made sure it was stored safely.  Not the ox.  

Let's not be among those God calls wicked and worthless in 1 Samuel.