"Teaching and Prophecy"

Dec. 16, 00

Recently, over the last few days, some thoughts came out concerning the need for teachers, "those who teach the word of God," to arise and come forth more in their placement and callings. This came out of a prophetic message from a friend earlier this year. The central message of this "word" was that God was going to silence His prophets for a season, and that there would be some instruction given to them from fellow ministers as well, particularly those who are called as Teachers.

I looked over a recent prophetic word from a fellow servant of the Lord called: "The Gagging of the Prophets," and looked to see about some of these things mentioned in it. I remember when it came out and also inquired of the Lord about it at the time. Here is that message below, and from this message has this teaching been Birthed:

When I hear from the Lord, I seem to hear Him speak to me with words. At the same time, I also "see" what the Lord is speaking to me about. This is just the way I seem to personally hear from the Lord. We all hear from the Lord in a way that is unique to us and to our natures and personalities. With this as way of explanation, I submit the following to the judgment and discernment of all of you.

I seemed to see a large group of people gathered before the Lord. They appeared excited. The Lord was speaking to them. As He spoke to them, it was as if I could actually see His words entering into these people. The Lord's words were being put into their hearts, and then would come out of their mouths. When the Lord's words proceeded out of their mouths, the people would turn around (with their backs towards the Lord), then they would speak God's words to other people spread out before them. When they were finished speaking God's words, they would turn back towards the Lord.

This continued for a time. I then saw the Lord reach out, and put His hands over the mouths of the people gathered before Him. This stunned and surprised the people, and they became very still. Their eyes were totally focused upon the Lord. There was no move- ment, nothing to distract anyone. There was an absolute stillness and calmness.

Another, smaller, group of people came from behind the people who had the Lord's hands over their mouths. This smaller group of people stood before the "gagged' group of people and began to speak to them. As I listened to their words, and observed their actions, I gradually became aware that this small group of people were "teachers," and that they were "teaching" the gagged group of people.

When the "teaching session" was over, some of the teachers departed. A few remained with the gagged group of people. The Lord removed His hands from the mouths of the large group of people. Even when the Lord had removed His hands, the large group of people remained very still and calm. They remained silent and quiet.

"Why aren't they saying anything?" I asked the Lord.

"Because I have not put My words into their mouths yet," the Lord replied. He seemed pleased with the silence of the large group of people. "For a season, I allowed My prophets to speak freely whatever I spoke to them. That time has ended. They will speak only what I tell them to speak, only when I tell them to speak it. I have brought a season of training and teaching into My church. For a season, the prophets will speak very little. This is their time to learn to wait fully and totally upon Me. They will continue to hear from Me, yet very little of what I speak to them during this time, will I release them to speak to the church."

As I pondered and prayed about this vision and conversation with the Lord, I felt that a time of intense training has come upon the church. I feel that for a time, we will hear fewer prophecies, visions and words from the Lord. This will be supplemented and replaced for a season by those with a great deal of wisdom, understanding and knowledge of spiritual matters. These are the people I feel the church will be hearing from in the coming days. Their voices of reason will serve as a foundation for the coming move of God, when He releases into His church once again the voice of the prophets. When the great company of prophets begins to speak forth God's words into His church once again, they will do so with greater understanding and wisdom and maturity.

It is a wounded generation we will be reaching. Our words must be seasoned with honey and with salt. Those who are more mature and wise, and less rash and impulsive, will be teaching and training the prophets and those in ministerial positions (as well as all mem- bers of God's body) how to effectively reach out to and minister to these wounded ones. Until then, for a short period of time, this could very well be the season of "the gagging of the prophets."

In Him,
~~ Hollie L. Moody

First of all, let it be said that I respect this person greatly.

With myself, I haven't noticed a "lessening of prophetic words coming forth from Him," in light of this message, but have noticed an overall waning in the body at large in terms of prophetic words perhaps. Some continue to speak forth what He gives. I believe the "tone" of the messages is changing, in fact I'm certain that that is true. I know it be true in my walk with Him. As we well know there have been times and perhaps they continue, when prophetic messages came forth like a spring of water in the form of comfort, edification, exhortation, etc, etc. etc....The "tone" as I am mentioning here is partly a thing of content perhaps. I believe yes, it is true, that He wants us to "grow up," and with that has come a growing up into what is spoken from Him. The more difficult prophecies as we know, emanate in the form of things to do with current events, directional messages, and messages that speak forth what is "yet to come." These are not as readily received and are also not perhaps as easily given as well.

Now, please understand that my intent is "not" to do anything here except to expand an understanding of some things here. That is my "only intent," and nothing more. I believe that the season spoken of has been true. Now, as we begin to depart from that season may we declare what He has for us to say, but say it with the maturity that He has worked in us, and learn the lessons that we needed to learn.

I believe that there are prophetic messages that instruct and teach as well also. Truly a teacher will "teach," and a prophet will "prophesy," but I believe that we sometimes place these things in neat little packages, and expect there to be no "crossing over into other areas." There are prophetic messages that are "foundational," and speak of biblical and scriptural doctrine. These I would label as "teaching prophecies," and maybe are even like akin to apostolic teaching. Only that they come in the form of a prophecy and not a "direct teaching." God wants to instruct us so that we are not like the horse that has no sense or direction:

8. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. 9. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Ps. 32

Sometimes prophetic words will say specific things about what we should expect to come. Here is a portion of a word that says that:

"The locusts are coming, locusts are coming. There are locusts that are coming into the land. They are being dispersed throughout it. They bring with them devastation. These are things which I have spoken about, and they are coming. In the days that follow, you will see these things manifested in different ways. They come to defile the land, and their seed will follow. "

They will manifest themselves in these ways:

1. A rise in domestic violence
2. A rise in all forms of pornography
3. A rise in political upheaval
4. A rise in cultic activity
5. A rise in denominational control
6. A rise in teenage shootings
7. A rise in many forms of witchcraft
8. A rise in homosexuality and lesbianism
This message says some things about the danger of falling into strange and unusual doctrines:

"So I AM saying that it is so important how you hear...Then you will not be easily deceived, or misled. It is becoming more and more important how you "discern" the voices around you. Do not easily believe everything you hear about. Remember that satan comes as an angel of light. There are already many of your brothers and sisters who have been misled by his devices. There are many "strange and unusual" teachings which are abounding. Do not get "caught-up" in these things. Do not adhere to the teachings of angels. Worship the Lord your God and Him only. Many have been deceived by "ministering spirits," and to be true, they are fallen angels. Seek Me and you will find Me. Surely, this is the time when every "wind of doctrine" can easily mislead my church. "

Lastly, this word from April 15 of this year talks about teaching and instructing us so that we can then impart or equip that to others as well. This below is a "portion" of that word:

"I have instructed my servants the prophets, to speak. To give a word which would "build-up" my body. To replenish the dry land with the rain of my Spirit. The words I give would be like the manna that was gathered in the wilderness. I ask you, my servants, to come before Me."

(The Lord showed me a scene in which I saw the profile of himself, like a giant King, and He was looking down upon His children. There were a few standing in front of Him, waiting for His orders. As I watched then, the Lord gathered up a bowl of water and poured it forth upon these men. As I continued to watch the water, it changed, and there seemed to be many things going on in the water. It began to boil and rise to the surface, and there appeared to be various things in the water. Then out of the water, came other figures, who were garbed in kingly and various robes. I watched these figures, and as they walked, they moved their hands and motioned and spoke.)

"I have instructed some of you to build-up and edify the body of Christ. I have placed my words in you. They have been like fire and burning coals. And some of you have followed my designs in doing this. But I AM calling many of you to other things. For out of the water of my Spirit are coming others. These are those who have been waiting for this time. For they have been in the desert and in caves being prepared for this time. Those of you who have stood before Me in my council, and have given forth my word in obedience, I ask you to help those, and train those who are coming forth. Yes, continue to speak forth my words. Continue to call forth those things and bind them in my Spirit."

(Again, the Lord began to show me some things and here I saw a huge pair of hands motioning to me to come over here and sit down. He then said, "Come and sit down, for many of you have been trained in my Spirit, but it is now time, to begin training others. For school has begun and it is time to get into your seats. )

Now, I realize that some are perhaps well aware of these things. I just felt that some clarity sometimes needs to be brought forth with these things so that we can ALL then perhaps come to a better understanding. We know that the "winds will blow," that He wants a "body to be united," that we need to stay in the "Center of the hurricane," that there are "different seasons that we go through," and so on. These are messages that perhaps warn, encourage, and enlighten. May He teach us and bring us unto maturity, so that what is spoken will be articulated in a such a way that it is clear 'what way to go,' so that we won't be groping around in the dark.

8. Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? I Co. 14

To conclude then, the essence of what I have been bringing forth here is that we need not put God in a box; we must know by now that He will not fit. We need not conclude that He wants prophets to ONLY prophesy, teachers to ONLY teach, evangelists to ONLY gather, pastors to ONLY take care of the needs of the flock, and apostles to ONLY govern or plant other churches.

Now, I do believe that there is a time for silence, and a time to stand "hushed" before the Lord and others, as we wait upon Him. Remember in Revelation that there is a time when there is silence in heaven as the 7th seal has been blown:

When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Revelation 8:1

10. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Ps. 46

We know that those who teach will be held to a greater standard and that what they say will be judged then. As James says:

James 3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

Finally, let us remember that we ALL can come to an understanding of KNOWING God personally. No longer do we need priests and rabbis to intercede for us on our behalf to God. We now ALL have access to Him. We need however, to hear what each of us is "hearing from God," and know that none of us has all the answers.

34. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, `Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." Jer. 31

Stephen Hanson