-----NOTE FROM STEVE SHULTZ, THE ELIJAH LIST

People in the Church have invented words such as cheap grace and tough love. It's interesting though, there is no such thing as "cheap" grace. Grace by its very definition is undeserved and not cheap. Even tough love is not as Scriptural as some make it. Love bears all things and keeps no accounts. I don't claim to know how to handle all situations, but the Lord is showing a better way...

1 Cor 13:2 "If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."

Intercessors and prophetic people are all alike in one way---they are all prophetic. No matter how prophetic you are---the Lord would have us say to ourselves, "If I have not love, I AM NOTHING!"

AND NOW: TO INTERCESSORS AND PROPHETS ---"THERE'S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT AND THE OTHER KIND"
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FROM: RIVERMAIL: sdayton@northwest.com
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JUDGING RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT

By David Alsobrook email: ginny@surewordministries.com

A lesson I learned very early in the traveling ministry, although I'm still tempted to "unlearn" it, is judging righteous judgment. Jesus exhorts us in John 7:24, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." This is because it is quite human to do the reverse. In fact, it is almost as natural as breathing to judge a person by the natural appearance.

One of our early revivals in 1972 was in a Pentecostal church in East Texas. The people responded warmly to our ministry and several were saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. The pastor and congregation were so blessed they asked us to come back as soon as possible and conduct a second series of special meetings. I didn't have many invitations in those early years, so Pastor Johnson's invitation was a real encouragement. I prayed fervently and accepted the invitation with a return date later in the Fall of that year.

A MUCH DIFFERENT SPIRIT THAN BEFORE

Upon my return, I was surprised to feel a much different spirit from what had been my experience six months earlier. The warmth and vitality of the church was noticeably gone. This saddened me a great deal. Finally, after two or three services, I went to Pastor Johnson one morning after breakfast (I was staying in his home) and asked if I was doing something that offended the people, or missing God in some way that I could not perceive. "What's wrong with this meeting? How can I do a better job with this revival? Where am I missing it?" I asked.

HE SAID IT WAS ABOUT "SHOUTIN' SUZIE!"

Brother Johnson looked at me with sadness and said, "David, it's nothing about you, son. The Spirit of the Lord has just about departed from the church in the past two months since the arrival of "Shoutin' Suzie."

Hearing such a thing left me dumb-founded. I could not imagine how one person could so badly affect the spirit of a church. Especially one with that name.

So I asked Brother Johnson to explain what he meant as I didn't understand.

MOST OF HER FAMILY LED TO CHRIST

Pastor Johnson, a veteran minister nearing retirement age, told me that "Shoutin' Suzie" had been given her nickname when she received the baptism in the Holy Ghost around 30 years earlier. "She ran the pews, shouted for three days and nights, and led most of her family to the Lord within days of her baptism. Every time she came to church, she vibrantly praised the Lord. Someone nicknamed her "Shoutin' Suzie" and the name stuck."

"But I don't understand, Brother Johnson just how is she a hindrance to the church?"

JOY LOST--BITTERNESS SET IN

"Well, like I was saying," Pastor Johnson continued, "this happened over 30 years ago or better. A lot has happened to Suzie Jones since. Her husband left her for another woman and divorced her. One of her children was killed while DUI. She lost her joy and became bitter. Now she just about destroys every church she becomes part of by saying the most vicious and mean spirited things to people."

We sat in silence for a few moments and Brother Johnson, evidently grateful for the opportunity to "let off steam" about this unwelcomed church member, vented his frustration with story after story about different church members Suzie Jones had driven off with hurt feelings. "Do you remember the teenager who got saved when you were here six months ago?" "Sure." "Well, it didn't take her but three weeks of tongue lashing to so discourage the boy that he gave up going to church. I've been to visit him, but it did no good. He's through with the Lord for now."

"A SUPPOSED CHRISTIAN," I FELT--I ASKED, "WHY DON'T YOU THROW HER OUT OF THE CHURCH?"

I felt a slow anger burning in me when I thought about all the mean things this woman, a supposed Christian, had said to this young man, whom I remembered very well. As Pastor Johnson told me other incidences (for which he later apologized as he hadn't meant to "take off" on me) my anger reached the boiling point. And I angrily asked, "Why don't you throw her out of the church? That fake is hurting true Christians and needs to be ousted. She won't come in herself and others who would enter in she is hindering," I "righteously" and loudly proclaimed. (Have you noticed that preachers often get loud when they're angry?)

Pastor Johnson explained that he couldn't throw her out of the church for a number of different reasons. "No, we're just "praying her out." All the spiritual people in the church are entreating the Lord to send her away and let her be a "blessing" somewhere else. Some are even praying that the Lord will take her on home if she won't straighten up or leave soon." (I don't agree with his philosophy on how to handle trouble-makers, but I'll leave that for another time.) "Good!" I agreed, "I'll pray with you for the Lord to get rid of her right away so our revival can be blessed." With that remark I walked on to the church to pray fervently for the Lord to cause "Shoutin' Suzie" to vamoose soon. I'm embarrassed to tell you how I prayed, but I rehearsed all of her unkind remarks to the Lord and told him everything she had done, almost begging God to get rid of her one way or another. In fact, I prayed at the top of my lungs, stomping around the church sanctuary, flailing my arms every which way, and feeling mighty angry about it all the while.

NO ANOINTING IN MY PRAYERS

After an hour or so, I started to wind down. I realized there was no anointing on my prayers. In fact, I couldn't sense the Presence of the Lord anywhere. So I just sat down on the altar and got quiet before God. (I was 18 at this time and a real novice in many ways.) I walked over to the piano and began to play the Hallelujah chorus and worship the Lord. After a little while I forgot all about Suzie Jones, the revival I was holding, all the hurt saints, and everything else. I was caught up in the glory of the Lord in such a powerful way, I just couldn't help myself. It was glorious.

THE HOLY SPIRIT GENTLY TOLD ME, "YOU JUDGED ONE OF MY CHILDREN."

Soon the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart in His still, small voice and said, "You need to repent. You judged one of my children." "But," I protested, "she's hurt so many people."

"Yes, and you have done the same thing in what you've told Me today."

Stunned I sat there in silence.

There was no doubt it was God talking to me. I had judged "by the hearing of my ears" about one of God's children, someone He evidently loved very much. "Oh God," I cried out with trembling, "please forgive me for judging one of Your children." I began to have the strangest feeling come over me. It was love. Pure and unfiltered. I felt the love of God for Miss Jones. I knew she was special to the Lord, although I wasn't sure why! (I didn't understand very much about the nature of agape at that time.) It was truly amazing how much love I felt for that woman! My heart just flowed and flowed out to God.

A SAW A LITTLE GIRL . . . CRYING HER EYES OUT

As I was praying for Suzie Jones the eyes of my heart were opened and I saw a little girl standing in the kitchen, crying her eyes out. Her mother was scolding her harshly over spilled milk. Then I saw her a few years later once more being scolded and screamed at by her mother. The pain I felt in my chest was unbearable. I was crying and weeping on behalf of this poor girl.

The Lord said, "That was Suzie when she was little. Her mother was unusually harsh and cruel with her. Suzie hurts people now because she was hurt so often during her formative years and although she received a great touch from Me when she was a young mother 30 years ago, she never would allow Me to heal her past."

"She has refused to forgive her mother, although she has been dead for many years now. If Suzie would forgive her, I could heal her and she, in turn, could go to those she has wounded with her sharp words, including her own children and grandchildren, and bring healing to them as well as to the believers in this church and other churches."

I KNEW I'D HEARD FROM GOD

I knew I had heard from God about this situation. I also knew I needed to act on this new information. I picked up the phone in the pastor's office and called Brother Johnson at home. I told him what had transpired in the church sanctuary during my prayer time. "Here," he said, "write down this number and call Sister Jones. Tell her what the Lord gave you for her."

I felt awkward calling someone I had only briefly met and relating something that personal to her. What if she starts yelling at me? I thought. Then I braced myself and dialed her number.

I JUST BLURTED IT OUT

She answered and I asked if I could tell her what God had just shown me. "Sure, go ahead," she replied. So, I just opened my mouth and blurted it out, all of it from start to finish. She was quiet. Then I heard her sobbing. "Ma'am, you must forgive your mother," I pleaded.

"I've tried to but I can't. I've tried so hard, but she was so mean to me. I wake up sometimes trembling with anger, wishing I could hurt her back, even though she's been dead for many years."

Not knowing what else to do I began to intercede in the Holy Ghost, praying in other tongues for my sister in Christ. Then, I started rebuking Satan, demanding that he release her mind and emotions, and commanding the spirit of unforgiveness to release her and come out.

THE POURING OUT OF A BROKEN HEART

Soon, I heard a loud wail on the other end of the line, then many painful sobs. A broken heart was being poured out to God.

"I forgive you, Mom, I forgive you. You must have been hurt, too, to hurt me the way you did, but I always believed that part of you loved me."

Miss Jones thanked me for calling her. "I feel so light," she exclaimed, "just like a load has been lifted off of me." Then she started praising the Lord, in fact, she dropped the phone and began shouting. I thought to myself, now I know where she got her nickname, and cradled the phone.

It was my custom in those days to not come out of the prayer room until after the service was well under way. I didn't talk to anyone before I gave the Word of the Lord, but would visit with everyone after the service was dismissed. I just wanted to be alone with God before I preached.

THE WHOLE CONGREGATION MOVED TO TEARS

That night, in the hallway behind the sanctuary, I heard sobs and crying. Sister Jones was asking the church publicly to forgive her for all the harsh things she had said to everyone. She was crying, broken, genuinely repentant. I walked out and saw that the whole congregation had been moved to tears. People got up and went to her asking her to forgive them for the mean things they had thought and said about her.

There was a lot of hugging, crying, and then rejoicing. Great rejoicing. For the first time in my young life I witnessed what the old timers called a runaway. That's when the Spirit moves so strong there's no preaching, no regular service. A lot of shouting goes on in a runaway. I can tell you that.

Pastor Johnson said it was the greatest revival service in the history of their church and asked all of his preacher buddies to book me too. And I didn't even preach that day! All I did was call a hurting woman and share the Word of the Lord in love.

David Alsobrook Sure Word Ministries PO Box 2305 Brentwood TN 37024