A gift doesn't mean relationship. A person can operate at the highest level of their gift from God, but not their relationship in God. A relationship doesn't compromise, but a gift can be easily merchandised and masquerade as more than what it is. Gifts fool people and can affect those in the scope of it, but relationship moves all three realms which includes Heaven, Earth, and Hell. A spiritual gift only affects the earth realm and challenges the infringement of hell by invoking the power of heaven. I don't consider it dangerous to confront or discuss other so called spiritual leaders when they are in blatant and gross defiance to scripture truth and misleading others because I don't build men up like that. I can speak on it because that's a part of my God given assignment. Truth is truth and I'll defend that over persona or celebrity personality any day. The average person is completely unaware of what goes on in the world of celebrity because we become fans enamored with persona over God & Truth often without realizing it. The darkness is easier on the eyes because the brightness of the light often burns. There is a thin line between disrespect and respectfully correcting someone, especially a leader. No one is above correction but not everyone is anointed for confrontation or to correct those in positions of leadership & authority. Anyone who says they are above correction is a liar, full of pride, and delusional. One of the reasons God raises up prophets is to speak to those in power regardless of their positions as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers, bishops, presidents, kings, queens, princes, and so forth. The prophet's message is often unpopular as are they because it many times cuts to the heart, challenges the status quo, and reveals inconvenient truths people don't like to face.
JEREMIAH 35:15; "I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me."
To think speaking out on something or someone is so dangerous is the same mindset that puts people in bondage to the will of men because of fear and idolatry disguised as reverence. If I speak out for the Lord on an issue concerning a popular figure in Christendom why is it supposedly dangerous when God doesn't view him as more than me? That would make it equally dangerous to speak against me especially if I'm speaking the truth as commanded by the Lord God; but we'll do it to those we're familiar with or think less of without a second thought in defense of what or who we believe in that may very well be leading us astray. Why? Because we are respecters of person where God is not and don't know how to discern between talent and the genuine anointing of the LORD. Just because a person is gifted and has the spotlight doesn't mean they have "God's light". The gift in them will work for the people's sake but that doesn't mean the Lord approves of the things the one gifted does or says. Gifts are given to perform an assignment and the anointing is the Spirit of God given to empower you to properly use the gift in performance of that assignment for God's glory. Gifts are irrevocable and can be perverted, but the anointing can be lost even when the gift is still working with the person still in position as if nothing has changed until they are put in a situation where the gift won't work without God's anointing. In other words, "God can pull the plug on the power at any time." Just ask Samson or Saul; both were anointed by God, one as a judge and the other as a king, but they both lost the use of the power of God on their lives though they still held their positions. Samson got his back through sincere repentance at the end of his life but Saul lost both his place and his life forever.
JUDGES 16:20; "And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him."
1st SAMUEL 16:14; "But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him."
A gift doesn't always mean God is backing the person, but only that He gave them an ability. The Lord leaves it up to the one He's gifted to determine how they will use it. The Christian life is lived by faith in God's word and not our feelings based on natural senses. People are easily fooled by sound and signs because the natural senses can easily deceive us because of their connection to our carnality. We are hearing some of the greatest preaching in our time that we have ever heard, but not seeing the power of God like we should because of an elevation of gifts and talents to increase personal followings rather than a sincere pursuit of the true power of the anointing to change lives and overthrow the kingdom of Satan and advance the Kingdom of God on the Earth. As a result we worship personality and gifts in place of the one who gifted the person and go through men to get to GOD. Men build bigger churches and make greater names for themselves but have no real tangible power to cast out demons or heal the sick, and destroy yokes of bondage for long term deliverance. We're more psychological but not more spiritually powerful. God given gifts and talents are for the glory of the LORD and not the glory of man. Is the microphone greater than the voice which amplifies itself through it? Is the speaker of more importance than the sound projected through it. They have the ability to relay the voice and sound but they are not the authors of it. We aren't to worship gifts, but we are to worship God and give honor to the gifts as vessels of the Lord. It's good to be gifted but without the anointing the gift is only on display as if in a talent show. Talent or gifts can entertain but it's the anointing that destroys the yoke of bondage in every area of life, and it's the truth that makes one free. Shalom. ~ I.J. West
JOHN 8:32; "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
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