Prophets
October 29, 2009 by admin
Filed under Articles by Mike Wells
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).
I have constantly run into prophets in the course of traveling these many years. In these times, prophets are increasing, and I wanted to pass on to you some observations.
1. The real deal. I love those guys; they are purely Christ-centered and point to Jesus in a Spirit-empowered way. They would not let someone spend one second talking about them, for they are pointing to another, Jesus. Many times I cannot remember the names of these brothers who have impacted my life in so many ways, because they were consumed with Christ. Just as with Jesus, there is nothing psychopathic about them! They are not into dreams or visions, their teaching is in the realm of real life, and they are very natural. Also like Jesus, they are defined by their refusals. They refuse to proclaim themselves, to crush anyone, or to further discourage the already downhearted. There are relatively very few of these, but they have been a great source of encouragement to me.
2. False Prophets. I have met only a couple. They were shocking in that they were actually “speaking on behalf of God” and leading people away from Jesus into blatant sin. They can be found in many mainline and orthodox type churches. They are authoritarians who present to believers spiritual and intellectual contentions that right is wrong and wrong is right. These fellows will consistently be trouble.
3. Those that enjoy the title of Prophet. Africa and India are full of these brothers wanting a title, like an American might want to flash around a Ph.D. They generally do some ministry but want to be set apart as having a higher calling and a perceived authority. Many times I do not think they have any idea of what a prophet is; it just sounds better than being a servant. I do not mind these fellows. Generally, after they introduce themselves they do get on with the work of sharing Christ.
4. The neurotic. They are quite common in the West and the “prophets” with which I have had the misfortune of having the most dealing. They are people that have had heaps of childhood rejection, everything from a vicious father to no father. Generally their temperament is Thinker, and at some point they committed suicide of the personality. They do not like who they are in real life, they have had very few successes, and they are not the kind of persons others would naturally gravitate toward. In short, no one would put them in charge of a company. These rejection cases have found a form of Christian religion enabling them to impose, for the first time in their lives, some power and influence over weak believers. They have a deep self-hatred and attempt to manipulate through their special “prophetic” gifting to attract followers. They need followers to validate their existence, and to keep followers on the hook, they dispense “secrets” slowly; they create a dependency on themselves and away from dependence on Christ. They claim to be hearing God personally for their followers or having visions of heaven that really are of no help to the struggling believer other than to be a short diversion from the realities of life. If questioned or starting to feel deserted, there will be veiled or overt threats concerning God’s judgment and what will happen to the followers if they abandon the “teaching.” Usually there is an obsession with repentance and revelation; often they say they have been given a date for the Lord’s return. The book of Revelation is open to nearly any interpretation, and therefore these “prophets” like to camp there. Remember, a neurotic person builds castles in the sky and a psychotic person moves in. The whole thing can easily become psychotic when the new identity is put in the hub of the wheel and every spoke made to feed it. If people call these deluded people prophets, that proves they are; if people do not agree that they are prophets, then that, too, proves they are. I do not discuss with psychotics their “prophetic call”; I direct them, and therefore I refuse to ask them obvious questions like, “Why is God telling you things about me and He is not telling me Himself?” or “How does the revelation move out of heaven into my home?” These they would immediately use in some distorted way to prove their prophetic gift. It does not help to discuss in any way the prophetic gifting, for in so doing, the beast is being fed. It is best to stick to Jesus and the real need a rejected person has: the revelation of Christ. The psychotic prophet only sees two options: remain a prophet or move back to being a rejected nobody. Our goal is for him to embrace a third option: Become a child of God and glory in the Christ that dwells within. I have seen the Lord break through and get people out of varieties of psychoses.
In the end, let Christ be the Prophet. He will speak truth, lead, guide, intercede, and be the mediator. I believe Jesus will send real prophets our way, and when He does, we will walk away with our heart singing and our eyes on all that Jesus is doing for us.
What is the ALMI Organizational Structure?
October 9, 2009 by admin
Filed under About ALMI
Often we at ALMI are asked, “How can I become a part of this ministry?” Here is a secret: You already are a part of this ministry. ALMI does not strive to become that which is typically associated with being an international organization: methods, programs, buildings, and staff members. ALMI does not seek to create a kingdom. Instead, it recognizes the organism that already exists called the Vine and the branches. Imagine two separate branches in vases on a table, each trying to graft other branches onto themselves and both competing, but neither completing. The branches in the vases are recruiting to themselves. In contrast, now imagine two branches connected by the same Vine; though unique, both have the same Life flowing in them, creating a perfect completion. Christ is the Vine, and we are all connected to His organization and Kingdom, which is a living organism. We at ALMI are not recruiting but recognizing. Once a branch is recognized as having a like call and passion, we encourage that personal ministry by offering training and the free use of the materials. It is not our goal to add staff in the conventional sense, but to recognize staff throughout the world and support them as co-laborers. Because it is our conviction that with the call comes the physical provision, we recognize that a branch’s provision comes from the Vine, not ALMI. This has been a very effective approach over the years, since there are now hundreds of Vine-connected branches who have started their own self-supported ministries or stayed in their place of ministry to share the abiding life. We call this a WITH approach to ministry. One branch is neither above nor under another, but they minister WITH one another on the Vine. ALMI’s resources are not funneled into the physical realm of financially supporting staff and buildings, but rather are used specifically for training, the translation of materials, the publication and distribution of materials, and the hosting of conferences in developing countries.
The International Ministry of ALMI
October 9, 2009 by admin
Filed under About ALMI
Several years ago, Michael Wells, the founder of Abiding Life Ministries International, received a call from the Lord to go to the remote areas of the world with the message of John 15. The major cities of developing countries are often the beneficiaries of tremendous mission works. However, in the remote areas where people often cannot read or write, a personal encounter with a missionary is infrequent or nonexistent. Presenting the abiding life message for those people is possible, since the seminars are done with a pictorial presentation, so the ability to read is not required in order to grasp the message. ALMI takes a four-year approach to these remote areas. The first year we make contact with the local leadership, present the basic material, and have them pray about hosting a seminar. If the message is received, we return the second year and present the complete Abiding Life Ministries seminar to a group via an interpreter. The seminar is videotaped in the local language, and the tapes are distributed freely. The third year materials are translated into the local language for those who can read. The fourth year a training seminar can be presented wherein pastors and lay leaders are trained to share the material in individual discipleship and in a seminar setting. All of this is done at no cost to the native people.
How is ALMI supported?
October 9, 2009 by admin
Filed under About ALMI
I was visiting an old saint when he was asked a question by a visitor, “What are your financial needs?” The old man paused, stared, and responded, “Why? Did God tell you to give me something? If God told you to give me something, and I were a millionaire, you should give it. If God didn’t tell you to give me something, and I am naked and starving, you shouldn’t give me anything. The most important thing is that you listen to God and do what He tells you.” I learned a lot from that man that day, and that is the policy we follow at Abiding Life Ministries International. It’s been our conviction over the years that God gives us supporters as opposed to our recruiting them, and He gives us, in turn, to the supporters. It has been a miracle how He has multiplied the ministry over the years through those on our support team’s hearing Him and giving a gift at the perfect time. I also follow John Wesley’s advice that the people deserve to know what the need is and at the same time be left alone to hear God. To that end, once each year we send out a short letter that tells of the needs of the coming year with a trip report detailing the activities in another country. This is the only reference to funds that is made in the course of a year. If you would like to receive that package, please e-mail your name and physical address.
Abiding Life Ministries International operates as a 501 (c) (3) organization. All donations are tax-deductible and will be receipted in such a way as to indicate that “no benefits were received by the donor in exchange for the gifts referenced above other than intangible religious benefits
Are They Really Hearing Jesus?
October 8, 2009 by Mike Wells
Filed under Articles by Mike Wells
“Why didn’t Jesus tell me?”
Over the years I have had similar experiences to yours of people walking up to me and telling me that they had a word from Jesus for me. The words have been as varied as the people. Some have told me I was out of God’s will to be traveling to minister and needed to return home immediately. Others have told me that the Lord was telling me to go out. Go out or come in, which is it? All purport to be speaking on God’s behalf. How do we know the difference? There is no doubt that genuine words from Jesus can come through the conduit of another believer, but His word will not be an attempt to create something in us, but to witness to what is already there. God is a very intimate God and doesn’t tell our secrets to others; He is far too confidential for that. Therefore, someone’s telling me about a “hidden sin” or a “dark heart” is not received. When a word does come that could be construed to be negative, it will–if it is truly from the Lord–lift the spirit, for with the word will come the power and the truth to set me free. There is another problem with some so-called “words of the Lord.” The carnal will use them as a method of manipulation, invoking the Lord’s name and our love for Him to move us in their direction. Saying, “The Lord said . . .” really means, “Keep off the grass and don’t question me.” A sure sign that this is happening is that the one speaking refuses to be questioned. The carnal want theirs to be the last word. Probably the most pertinent question when judging if something is from God or man is simply, “Why didn’t Jesus tell me?” Any parent will tell you that when one child is representing the parent to another sibling, something isn’t right. If I want to tell my child something, I simply tell him, I don’t send another to speak for me. If God wants to tell us something, and we know His sheep hear His voice, why would He send someone else? There are examples of His doing that in the Old Testament, and the people knew exactly what the prophet was talking about; it wasn’t something vague or something that they couldn’t see was wrong. This brings us to one other point, which is that the carnal make things vague to protect themselves. It reminds me of the Indian fortuneteller standing on the corner and saying to each person passing by, “You seem happy, but something is wrong deep inside!” On any given day, he would be spot on for at least half of the people. God has no need to be vague, and the “words of the Lord” calculated to appeal to the flesh are. “You are going to have an expanded ministry!” “You are going to have all your riches returned to you!” “You are going to have healing!” It is all so appealing to the flesh. I would rather hear, “You are in Him, and so being in Him, He will bring the revelation of Christ in you, the hope of glory!” Carnal men want to give a word that is spectacular. Again, always question the motive behind what is being said to you. Is the motive to move you toward Jesus? The “word” should bring neither condemnation nor exaltation; it should be about Him. Now, I have received tremendous encouragement from the words of believers that were not from them but from Him. Therefore, don’t let all the phony words deter you when a blessing is to be had. Simply judge what is being said.
Does the Flesh Continue to Grow?
October 8, 2009 by Mike Wells
Filed under Articles by Mike Wells
The flesh can continue to develop after we believe in Jesus.
Job 6:11-12, What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should endure? Is my strength the strength of stones, Or is my flesh bronze?
The Bible makes the point that once we have believed in Jesus, the old man is crucified, we receive a new life, and what was true of us is no longer true, what we did we never did, what happened to us never happened to us, for “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.” The old man is gone but the flesh–the condition of being under the influence of something other than Jesus–has not changed and will never change; we just abide longer with it under His influence, so it may appear that it has changed. The flesh is not improving, nor does God intend for it to; it is His stronghold to drive us back to Him. In fact, once we have Christ within us, the flesh will make us more miserable than it did when we had Adam’s life in us, for now it doesn’t fit what we are. This brings me to an important point: The flesh can continue to develop after we believe in Jesus. All we have to do is walk after the flesh, and the flesh will find new idols, new ways of coping. It will continue to grow. In Fiji I got a fungus, a very tricky thing that started out very small, but when it would itch, it felt so good to scratch it, and it was in the itching that it spread; soon it covered both feet. The pain was intense in the center, but it always felt good to scratch around it. The flesh is the same. Scratch that itch it and it will grow. A perfect example of the flesh’s continuing to expand is its increase in those (men and women) who struggle with internet pornography. This was something unheard of 15 years ago, and now there are few families not affected. Actually, it is worse among believers than unbelievers, for if unbelievers want sex, they will generally just go for it. But the believer draws an invisible line in the sand and tells the flesh, “You can go this far and no further.” To them, porno is not the same as adultery and therefore allowable. There are many in ministry struggling with this new development in flesh expression. This awareness of the weakness of the flesh and its propensity to grow should not discourage us, but rather encourage us to remain near to Him. For we know the moment the Lord is not our focus, we will move into the flesh, which has not improved. God has orchestrated the whole of the Christian life to center on abiding in Him.
The Company of the Unknowns
October 8, 2009 by Mike Wells
Filed under Articles by Mike Wells
“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and {began} to recognize them as having been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13
Are we happy to be in the company of the Unknowns? To go into the ministry of the unknown, ministering to the Unknowns? This is the true ministry of faith. He came, God in Man, unknown! He didn’t attempt to make Himself known, He wanted the Father to be known. Divine humility! Amazing! We too are to be unknown. We are making Him known.
Why are we unknown? Being unknown keeps us safe. Being unknown will keep the elect from kingdom building, self-righteousness, glory, and image. All these things must be broken at His feet. It is the kind of wealth that we don’t need and belong to Him. We must lose everything to discover the power of the life within. It is crucial that we are unknowns. Amazingly, we are entrusted with the greatest message and kingdom and no one wants to know us! We represent Him, we have direct access to Him, and no one wants to know us. We will judge angels and no one wants to know us.
A ministry of the Unknowns, a company of the Unknowns, all with the same vision to remain attached to the life of the vine, the life of the vine to flow out of the Unknowns. We are all one, yet all different; all tapped into the same life, not branch to a branch but a branch to the vine. The ministry of the Unknowns is a WITH ministry. Unknowns band together. Unknowns are not recognized. We work without recognition.
This world’s system is not an accident. It is all permitted. It is all in the plan of God. It is all there for a purpose: the breaking of kingdoms, righteousness, pride, strength, glory. It is all in the plan of God. Permitted. It is, well, nice, that He is using man’s stupidity. It all works to His end. Nothing is bad. This is the best possible life. How do we judge that things are good or bad? The soulish judge them on the basis of their outer life, their soul life. The soulish don’t like their outer life broken. They fight against being Unknown. However, everything must go that hinders the release of the life in me. Nothing is bad that accomplishes that. Being Unknown accomplishes that, and remember, we are known by Him!
Being Nosy
October 8, 2009 by Mike Wells
Filed under Articles by Mike Wells
“Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; and they have no storeroom nor barn; and {yet} God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!” Luke 12:24
I had to laugh one day when a brother questioned an old prophet of God, “How are you supported?” The old man responded, “Why are you asking? Did God tell you to give me something? If He told you to give me something, even if I am covered in gold and jewels, you had better give it. If He told you not to give me something, and I am in the ditch, naked and starving, don’t give. So what did He tell you to do?” At that the man went silent and looked at the ground. The old prophet said, “So you were just being nosy!” And he walked off.
I have often been asked the question, “How are you supported?” It should be obvious. There are no tricks, gimmicks, endless mailings and appeals, or manipulation. I am supported by those who have heard from the Lord and responded accordingly. I often answer the question by saying, “I am a bit embarrassed. I have a friend, I tell him my needs, he has a father that is very rich with many contacts, he calls them, and the money is sent to me.” I can see the look in their eyes as they go from wondering how I could be ministering in such a small ministry to thinking how lucky Mike is to have such a friend. “My Friend,” I continue, “is Jesus. His father is the Father, and His children are my supporters.”
Many just can’t believe that God provides. Often an engaged couple will tell me they are calling off their marriage because of finances. My response is always the same, “Did God tell you to get married? If He told you to and you don’t, you will have worse problems than unemployment!” The lesser gives way to the greater. If God tells you to do something, do it. With the call will come the provision. Don’t shame yourself by being unbelieving.
Missing the Will of God
October 8, 2009 by Mike Wells
Filed under Articles by Mike Wells
As with most things, we need to stop and think about them for a minute. We know that God does not show partiality. It is not within the capacity of love to do so. Therefore, if a believer were able to miss the will of God, it would be God’s fault.
Paul, as an unbeliever, was missing the will of God. God stopped him and set him on the proper way. Paul, as a believer, was missing the will of God. God sent an angel and redirected him. If God did not allow Paul to miss the will of God, and God does not show partiality, then how could He let you? Now, I am not talking about sins; all sins are missing the will of God. All have sinned, and therefore all have missed the will of God. No, what I am talking about is the ultimate will of God for your life’s calling and vocation. It is impossible to miss it.
Paul was content in whatever state he was in. Again, many in the Church have made people discontented with their lives. Others are constantly meddling in the lives of God’s people and defining what the will of God is. It is evil to make someone discontented where he is. A woman is struggling in her marriage, and the first thing the evil, meddling Christian says is, “You should go!” Another is barely coping at work with a condemning boss that makes him feel trapped. The meddler adds to the turmoil by saying, “God is calling you into fulltime ministry.” How do these meddling people know the mind of God?
In the love of God is assurance that you are getting what you need today, and that today you are in the perfect will of God. His will may be simply changing diapers!
Be Content!
October 8, 2009 by Mike Wells
Filed under Articles by Mike Wells
“Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” Phil. 4:11
We are to be content. He gives, in His love, the exact things that will make us contented persons.
Can you be content, or does He owe you something that will make you content? Does He owe you a better marriage, children, or vocation? If LIFE has cheated you, then LIFE must owe you something that will make you content.
The Christian community has fed the believers’ lack of contentment. We are actually taught not to be content. Many seminars are calculated to make us feel discontented. I have seen many men who love God in their jobs. However, a speaker comes and tells them that they should be in ministry, making the men discontent. I have seen women in difficult marriage situations; others feed discontent by telling them they wouldn’t put up with such behavior or position.
I have discovered that being content in my situation is not as difficult as having others content with my situation. Beware that you do not make another person discontented in his situation. Encourage him to seek and praise Jesus.
