MESSAGE TO ALL ELIJAH LIST MEMBERS - January 21, 1999

From: Steve Shultz, Moderator THE ELIJAH LIST

Blessings to all of you on the ELIJAH LIST. There are several items which I felt would be helpful to mention to you to sort of clarify where we are at - on some issues with the list. Here we go:

ALMOST TOO MANY GOOD WORDS . . . (If that's possible)

1) A year ago, I had to work very hard to go through a huge volume of emails sent to me to find one or two good Prophetic Words, several times a week. That's changed dramatically.

Now, I am struggling to know which of the good words to post, as I have more than I can use. God has so blessed this list with those who are sending in Words. I wanted to tell you this because some of you may have wondered why your "Word" hasn't been posted. It's just that there's so much and you are perhaps "in line" to have your Word posted, several weeks or a month from now. Also, because of this, many of you send in good stuff, but I have to sort of pick the best of the best. I hope you understand and don't take offense if your word isn't posted.

I can only send two words in any day (usually) or people start unsubscribing because the volume is just too much, when added to the other words they receive.

YOUR PERSONAL LETTERS ARE ALWAYS READ--AND THANK YOU!!

2) EVERY SINGLE EMAIL that comes to me that is a personal "letter" is read by me - personally! Because of time, I am unable to reply to most, but I do reply to many. Every word that is a word of encouragement - does do it's job as Derene and I are VERY ENCOURAGED when you write with a thank you for the ELIJAH LIST, etc. I have an email file called "Encouragement Support" and after being read (or responded to), your "special" email is electronically filed there. These are people who have indicated your "friendship" with this ministry, even though many are unable to donate. Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking the time to encourage us. It's like gas in our car - it gives us energy to persist when the hours are long and the warfare sometimes is great.

HOW DO WE DECIDE WHICH WORD GETS POSTED?

3) Some wonder what we look for in a Word - and how we decide what to post. The scripture speaks of the "Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation."

Eph 1:17 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. (NIV)

In short, that's what we are looking for. A mature word to the church, (even though it can/may bring correction which is done in love) has a better chance of being "published." We receive an almost unlimited number of words which are critical of the Church - (especially the 'institutional church') but many do not have the Love of the Lord for the church in those words. Without that Love in the Word, (sometimes it has the 'mixture' of the wounded person in it), I choose not to post the word - even if it contains some "true" revelation. If you get a word for the church, please be sure to "check" any of your wounding (as you write out what the Lord gives you) - at the door. Certainly the Church needs much correction, but the Gates of Hell will not prevail against it, Christ died for it - and Christ never stops loving the Bride, whom He is preparing for himself (whether members of the body attend a local fellowship or are not in a local fellowship). You would be surprised how many Words come to us saying that the church has become "a stench in His nostrils." True, there is a spitting out of His mouth of unrepentant Laodicia - however, for those who repent (of Laodicia) . . Christ says,

Rev 3:21 21 "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. (NIV)

The Greatest reward offered - the reward to sit with "my Father on his throne" - this reward is offered to LAODICIA - if they overcome. This is why I don't post words that are only "angry or critical" of Laodicia, - If the same word does not offer the Lord's love and blessing for those, IN LAODICIA NOW (perhaps)--who have not yet repented.

A WORD TO THE WHOLE CHURCH NEEDS TO BE TO THE WHOLE CHURCH OR -FOR ONLY A GIVEN SEGMENT OF THE CHURCH. FEW, IF ANY WORDS OF CORRECTION APPLY TO THE WHOLE CHURCH AT ONE TIME. (Remember the 7,000 who had not bowed their knee to Baal). SO . . .

4) Be sure if you deliver a word for the whole church - that Jesus gave separate words for SEVEN different churches. If your entire word is against the "whole unrepentant church," it cannot be correct, as YOU are a member of that church - and if you've repented - then it can't be a word to the whole church, can it? Unless you're the only obedient one (which is highly unlikely, right?). Be sure you listen to the Lord for which part or people in the church the Word is for. If your Word is against ALL PASTORS, it will not be posted on this list - as God is NOT MAD AT ALL PASTORS!! Some of the people being used the most profoundly in the Kingdom right now are pastors. Other people being used most profoundly, don't even attend a local fellowship. Go figure!

JUDGE EACH WORD YOURSELF

5) Remember to judge each word yourself and not take it as "Gospel" just because it's been posted on this list. For:

1 Cor 13:9 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. (KJV)

1 Cor 14:29 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. (NIV)

EVERYONE - EVERY PROPHET MAKES MISTAKES! EVERYONE!

The Greatest prophet among us today, DOES make errors and not every word he/she says comes true 100% of the time, even if they are the most respected. Paul Cain recently spoke and called it untrue when some people said that "None of Paul Cain's Words have fallen to the ground" (as was said of Samuel). Prophets are human beings. Allow them to be. We are told not to despise prophesying and this would only be necessary to say - if some (in the Bible) were in the habit of seeing problems in the prophetic ministry - and despising those problems. Many of the Words spoken over me have come true. Some have not. Some are yet to come true. The only problem is, from my perspective, I cannot readily identify which, of the 3, categories some words are in -that have been spoken over me.

WE'RE TRYING TO BE GLOBAL -- PLEASE HELP

5) It's my goal for the ELIJAH LIST to be global. I send out many words for, from, and about other countries, but my submissions are a 10 to 1 ratio---Words for the U.S. (and from the U.S.), compared to submissions from outside the U.S. Also, at this time 90% of the subscribers are in the U.S. However, that means at least 250 are in other countries (though it's sometimes difficult to tell because of global servers such as Compuserve and AOL).

Please, if you know of prophets who are highly effective and proven accurate with words over/about other countries and/or words FROM other countries for the U.S., please get them to send those words in.

DONATIONS STILL NEEDED ON A REGULAR BASIS

6) We continue to depend on donations to help support this ministry. It's quite time consuming and expensive to have the WEB server. There are significant costs and it does help support my family. If you would like to donate via credit card, you may email your Credit Card information to: sshultz@worldaccessnet.com Or: you can call our number 24 hours a day and leave a credit card number at: 360-944-0084. Finally, you may, of course send a check to:

Seekers of the Lost Ministries
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