September 20th, 2011 by Zach Mapes
What is the perfect prophetic word? I believe that in the strictest sense it is a piece of revelation delivered without any of the communicator’s opinions, feelings, or judgments. Another way of considering this could include a piece of revelation that glorifies God completely and draws the listener to God. But for my line of consideration I want to talk about timing that moment when revelation and delivery come together at the perfect moment.
I remember an instance about 15 years ago when I was in a meeting having a private conversation with God. As I recall it was in that moment of reflection when worship is just winding down and ministry time is in full swing. While I was sitting there a great family friend, Carl Greer, walked up to me and answered the exact question that I had been asking God. It was less than 5 words, but changed the trajectory of my life tremendously.
Having grown up and immersed in in the charismatic culture for most of my life, I have heard, received, been given, had sung and of course prayed several hundred prophetic words on the low end of estimation, however Carl’s word is one of only about three that have always stood out as near perfect. This was because the word itself was incredibly pertinent for me, but almost more important was he gave the word to me at the perfect time.
Another instance of near perfect timing was with Christine Potter. One evening during a service she prayed for me in a spectacular way. It was just a normal Wednesday night service but so much emotional healing took place I can’t really explain it. Christine is an amazingly sensitive person who sees so much, and although the issues she was praying into had probably been seen before, the difference was the moment that her prayers took place. Within 10 minutes of this ministry time I encountered an extreme situation that I don’t know how I would have handled if not for her words. It was perfect timing once again.
The last perfect prophetic word I can remember came from my father in law. He gave me a word that was almost exactly the opposite of what virtually everyone else I knew was saying. It was at a time when things were not going that great for me and the words would have been only words without this perfect timing. Standing in the gap while others where prophesying what they saw in the natural, my father in law spoke what he saw in the spirit. At the end of the day it came to pass that he was right where other voices appear to have been mistaken.
I have been blessed over the years to receive many prophetic words from different people, however in truth over 90% of them seem to have slipped into the ether or are hidden from memory. I don’t know what all the components of a perfect prophetic word are. But I am certain from my own experience that timing is a crucial element that cannot be overlooked. I know that so often what we see as being a powerful word doesn’t even compare to the importance of giving it at the right time.
Going forward I want to focus much more on knowing from God when a word is to be delivered. I think I will worry a little less if the word feels to me less powerful as a result of timing that is not always my own. Because it isn’t about saying things that I think will have a profound impact. It is about having the impact God wants to have, when He wants to have it.
Tags: power, Prophetic, timing
Posted in Prophetic Concepts | No Comments »
September 12th, 2011 by Zach Mapes
Recently in prayer times I have been seeing belts of various sizes, shapes and types. Drive belts, leather dress belts, engine belts. Belts seem to have 2 primary purposes the hold things up, such as jeans and to transfer energy in the belts under the hood of your car.
Belts fray, stretch and sometimes simply wear out. There are things that can be done to extend their life through attention. Keeping them in tension is the primary key to this. The water pump in your car and the belt around your waist only work with a suitable amount of tension, too much and they snap or cause discomfort, too little and you might just lose your drawers.
In times of prayer and in dreams belts will often represent holding things to together and keeping them working. As always context is very important. But keep an eye out for things that need to be held together. Winter is the classic time for belts to fail. A hot summer can make the belt brittle and fragile and then just a bit of rigidness sets in with the cold and SNAP.
It is good to have things that are meant to be held together, held together.
Posted in What I See | No Comments »
August 23rd, 2011 by Zach Mapes
My Mom likes to shares a lesson about a time when she and my little sister were walking through a park and she pointed out some pretty white flowers. My about age four at this time responded no they are pretty pink flowers. Mom said no, they are white. Again my sister argued that they were pink. Most likely out of fear that my sister had become so overwhelmed with pink as many little girls do she turned and realized what the problem was. Red lensed sunglasses. Asking her to take her sunglasses off she said what color are they now. Oh, they’re white! But, I prefer them in pink and put her sunglasses back on. This was her reality she liked things in pink and preferred to see them that way.
Similarly my first car was an old Volvo. It was a great first car, blindingly slow and heavy. Fortunately gas back then cost less than seventy cents a gallon. One of the problems with this car was that it had a tricky seat heater, sometimes it would come on and the switch wouldn’t light up. In Texas you rarely if ever have a need for a seat heater so this was one of those things that you forget about till you are driving down the road and the person in the passenger seat starts complaining how hot it is and how the A/C doesn’t seem to be working. But the driver felt totally comfortable. Turning the seat heater back off would typically lead to a convergence of reality. Both driver and passenger felt the same temperature.
In both cases there is a baseline reality and a secondary reality influenced by a different set of circumstances. Sunglasses and seat heaters and numerous other things can augment our reality. Once we have changed our reality it can be very difficult to come back without a wakeup call. Think Jonah + Whale = reality shift.
Where are some areas that your reality doesn’t fit with that around you?
What do you use as a measuring stick for a healthy reality?
Ask the Lord to show you if you have any areas of reality that he wants to change.
Tags: reality
Posted in What I See | No Comments »
August 18th, 2011 by Zach Mapes
My Dad led a woman to the Lord at an event that he and I were leading relating to dreams. She had come after attending a dream outreach that I had lead and was so interested in the dream interpretation that she didn’t mind that it was a Christian event. The day after dedicating her life to God she came back and told him about how profound the book of job (as in I have job not Job as a name of a hero in the Bible). The book of Job is many things, but that is the only funny story I have relating to it.
In these times with so many people suffering and losing so much, housing prices are lower than they were 15 years ago in some places. True unemployment is at the highest it has been in my life and even an optimist would say that it is hard to see a positive turn in the near future. We can do many things, pouting is one option “woe is me, it is too hard to bear” anger at the banks and politicians is another option. Some will question their faith and others will find faith through this struggle.
I think that Job is a good role model in this time of strain and stress. He lost his stock portfolio; yes it was livestock but placed into modern times that is more less the same as an IRA or 401K. He lost his wealth, his health and his children, and his friends thought he was in sin and angering God. He was in what some might call his own custom made great depression. His faith did not waiver. He trusted God through the tough, hard and difficult season. Even as he bore what must have been excruciating pain he stayed the course. He didn’t blame others, he did have his moments of doubt but most importantly he praised God. He knew that what he had was God’s in reality and he was grateful in plenty and in poverty.
It is easy to praise God when we are blessed and protected. It is easy to be grateful to God when we have all that we need and the outlook is positive. But in these times when things do appear and are in reality difficult is our chance to show the world what true faith is. When we can show gratitude in times of sacrifice we display a much purer gratitude. When we can trust God as housing prices slump and retirements are put into to question we have the opportunity to show true faith and steadfastness. This season however long it lasts is our time to shine.
I have seen God act in strange ways many times. By strange I mean in ways that didn’t make sense to me. But I know that he has a plan for each of us and in that plan I believe that while finances may not quickly rebound that He will lead us all where we need to be.
Trials do not equal suffering. Suffering is the result of being overwhelmed by our trials.
Tags: faith, gratitude, Job, suffering, trials
Posted in Back to the Fundamentals | 2 Comments »
July 26th, 2011 by Zach Mapes
My personal theory is that our lives to some degree follow a pattern set by the seasons. These seasons are spring, summer, fall and winter. Along with the four seasons you have 4 seasonal transitions spring to summer, summer to fall, fall to winter and winter to spring.
In life the seasons do not follow along with the rotation of the Earth’s axis, but rather are affected by the individual. Much the same way that while it may be winter in the Hebrides with snow, sleet and bitter cold in Southern Italy it is likely still relatively warm and sunny.
What can be very difficult is being in a winter season and feeling like it should be spring or summer. Winter is the resting season, and a time for everything to prepare for the vibrancy of spring.
The key to knowing your current season rests in seeing the patterns that go on around you. Recognizing that if you are in a winter season and it feels a little warmer you are likely moving into spring.
What season are you in?
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