But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. —2 Corinthians 12:9-10
We want to undermine the false equation that says if you follow a formula, God will manifest His power every time. I believe that on certain occasions He strategically does not manifest His power in order to win people's hearts away from the minister and his methods. Sometimes He will withdraw His Spirit in order to keep from perpetuating our confidence in methodology. Our desire is never to look weak, but Paul's testimony was that he delighted in weakness, that the true power of Christ might work through him. A spiritual mystique is intrinsically woven into prophetic ministry. When open and hungry people get around a prophetically anointed person, they are both hopeful and fearful that this person will reveal secrets and divine perspectives to them. They often cling to every word such a person may utter. This dynamic makes both parties vulnerable to unique temptations.
{ PRAYER STARTER }
Father, You are not a God of formulas and methods. Continue to manifest Your presence and power in whatever form You choose. Rid my mind of any desire for spiritual mystique in prophetic ministry. Do what You want—in me and in others.
After all, hearing directly from the
living God about anything is
a rather awesome thing.
