A Word through Steve Shultz, THE ELIJAH LIST

steve@elijahlist.com

God is amazing when he speaks because He uses colorful language and picturesque speech. I was debriefing on the phone this morning with Lisa Cooke, our prophetic intercessor and a gifted seer. We were speaking of the amazing amount of offenses that are being taken "by the hour" against one another throughout the Body of Christ.

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WARNING AGAINST TAKING OR GIVING OFFENSES

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We agreed that it was time to warn the Body NOT to take offenses! Which is another way of also saying, "Be sure not to 'give' offenses, to the best of your ability."

What is happening is that, by the dozens, people who normally wouldn't obsess on a tiny thing, or even a larger thing -- -- ARE NOW OBSESSING ON TINY OFFENSES. . . As if a "burr is in their saddle," things are rubbing people wrong and we are seeing a strategic plan of the enemy unfold.

Jesus called many of our offenses TINY when he told the story of the man who had been forgiven a HUGE debt, yet refused to forgive his brother a minuscule debt. By that story, he was calling most of our offenses "tiny" or "insignificant' compared to what He has forgiven us.

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"AS WE SPOKE, I BEGAN TO HEAR THESE LYRICS IN MY HEAD."

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As Lisa and I spoke, I began to hear the lyrics and song from the old television comedy, "Car 54 Where are You?" What was THAT all about, I wondered?

The Lord said that He was pointing the Body to Isaiah 54 during this time! In this old TV show, ("CAR 54 WHERE ARE YOU?") two bumbling but loveable New York Policemen seemed to always be getting themselves into trouble, and yet they would inevitably STUMBLE onto the solution to their cases. I say STUMBLE because they were simply too unable, too inept to do the job correctly, using their own devices. That was the humor of the show, of course.

Sort of sounds like us in the Body of Christ, doesn't it? Sort of sounds like those in the Prophetic Ministry too, does it not?

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BETTER TO BUMBLE AND STUMBLE ONTO THE LORD'S PLAN THAN USE MAN'S WISDOM TO FIX OUR PROBLEMS

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God is saying, I believe, that He would rather us bumble and stumble onto the solutions that He is giving to us (just as in the old TV show) than for us to get it "right," and to figure it out, each and every time, using man's wisdom or abilities that we "think" we have to solve problems. This is ESPECIALLY TRUE WHEN IT RELATES TO OUR SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OF OTHERS!!

We're being offended because people aren't doing it "right," -- meaning they aren't doing it like we would do it. So letters, emails and articles, phone calls and even gossip are taking place as we take offense.

GOD IS BEING OFFENDED . . . even angered at our offenses toward our brothers and sisters, because we THINK we have a better way to do a thing--and we're making sure others know about it.

As people are becoming offended with OUR mistakes and missteps, they're thinking it better that we just STOP WHAT WE ARE DOING ALTOGETHER - or that we just do it another way, rather than irritate them by the way we are serving the Lord. this plays directly into Satan's strategy, for that is the plan all along! Will you agree with Satan, or the Lord?

This does not mean we don't seek good and regular counsel on how to be more effective in ministry. What is being addressed by the Spirit at this time, is simply the enemy trying to STOP COLD the work of the Lord.

But the problem here IS WITH THE CRITICAL OBSERVERS---THOSE WHO ARE OFFENDED over little things. The problem is not with how the Lord sees things. The Lord is neither surprised OR offended over our goof-ups, or the flubs by those with whom we are embarrassed.

The Lord is asking the Church, "Who are you to judge the servant of another?" He is not speaking of open and rebellious blatant sin here, for of course it must be addressed, but he is speaking of the Body picking at one another refusing to believe and release God's best over each member of the Body. But one thing the Church must learn is, "What things am I calling SIN, that are really just things that God will take care of over time, that are irritating the heck out of me?"

When revivals of the 1800's were in full swing, people began to criticize that an evangelist was doing OUTDOOR meetings. UNHEARD OF! UNTHINKABLE! Many things today are no different in what people are criticizing among brothers. They are different, but no more serious than meeting in an open market when no one has seen such a thing before.

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NOT PERFECT . .. AND NEVER WILL BE!

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The Christian bumper sticker is so true which reads . . . "Christians aren't perfect . . . they're just forgiven!"

God wants to exhort and encourage HIS BODY through Isaiah 54:

"Do not be afraid; YOU WILL NOT SUFFER SHAME.

Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.

You will FORGET THE SHAME OF YOUR YOUTH

and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

For your Maker is your husband--

the LORD Almighty is his name--

the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;

he is called the God of all the earth.

THE LORD WILL CALL YOU BACK

as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit--

a wife who married young,

only to be rejected," says your God.

"For a brief moment I abandoned you,

but with deep compassion I will bring you back.

In a surge of anger

I hid my face from you for a moment,

but with everlasting kindness

I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON YOU,"

says the LORD your Redeemer. Isaiah 54:4-8

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OTHERS ARE ASHAMED OF YOU. THE LORD IS NOT!

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Many in the Body may be ashamed of you. But the Lord Jesus Christ is not! He looks upon the heart of those who are trying to serve Him. He sees the "bumbling-ness" of our actions and He sees His Blood, covering the whole thing. He has not forgotten the rag-tag team of 12 he left behind, as He ascended to Heaven, --those 12 "boys" still wet behind the ears-- Yet the whole world was turned upside down through their lives.

The same will be -- and is . . . true with you!

Be careful too, not to TAKE OFFENSE when others are offended at YOU, and the way you choose to do a thing. STAY HUMBLE AND STAY LOW and do the best you can. Release others from their judgment of YOU. Your father IN HEAVEN is proud of you. He didn't make junk and He hasn't made a mistake with your life. Give Him your best and when you don't, simply ask him to cover you.

Just stay humble.

For those of you who are writing letters and articles stating your offenses in these days against brothers and sisters-- Honestly, The Lord would prefer that you stop it.

Really. It's enough. You need to stop it now!

It seems right to you to write such letters or articles. But that which seems right in man's eyes is often wrong in the Lord's eyes. Stay humble. Recognize that in the midst of the grace of God, you too, are bumbling your way through life, just as that other person is.

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HE IS SPEAKING KINDLY TOWARD THOSE HE FORMERLY ABANDONED

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Isaiah 54 -- which the Lord is highlighting today, starts out in an interesting way. He is speaking of those who have been abandoned because of their sin and because of their rebellion. He is speaking to that person who may be irritating you by everything they are doing right now.

And this is what He is saying to them about THEIR LIFE AND to you ABOUT YOUR LIFE, your "CAR 54" life, --- your "ISAIAH 54" life:

[Isa 54:1-5]

SING O BARREN WOMAN,

you who never bore a child;

burst into song, shout for joy,

you who were never in labor;

because more are the children of the desolate woman

than of her who has a husband,"

says the LORD.

"ENLARGE THE PLACE OF YOUR TENT,

stretch your tent curtains wide,

do not hold back;

lengthen your cords,

strengthen your stakes.

For you will spread out to the right and to the left;

your descendants will dispossess nations

and settle in their desolate cities.

"Do not be afraid; YOU WILL NOT SUFFER SHAME.

Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.

You will forget the shame of your youth

and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

For your Maker is your husband--

the LORD Almighty is his name--

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EVEN IF YOU BUNGLE IT, "SING!"

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--- So Sing! Enlarge the place of your tent, even if you "bungle it" as you and I usually do. Forget your shame. Do not be afraid nor fear disgrace. You will not be humiliated. Others may be ashamed of you. . . . but ---

THE LORD is proud of you!

Just stay humble before him, forgive those who do not forgive you, and watch him heal the offenses taken against you.

Are you being offended at others? Just stay humble and watch the Lord show you his heart for others.

He loves "them" more than you could possibly know or feel. And He loves YOU more than you could ever understand.

Just stay humble. Now . . . it's time to EXPAND YOUR BORDERS!

Blessings!

Steve Shultz

THE ELIJAH LIST

steve@elijahlist.com

www.elijahlist.com