Old Dog V
Field Of Training
Bob Neumann
Now this could have been titled, “Have you graduated?….Been certified?….Got your papers? But that is only in Babylon.
Every child of GOD has undergone some level of ‘training’ in THE FATHER”S HOUSE. Regrettably, most of the ‘kids’ can barely hold their own bottles, let alone begin potty training. By now those of us on this AP LIST have long been into changing diapers and ‘burping’ the ‘little ones’. Being in THE MASTER’S HOUSE requires us to be of use. Otherwise we are just another kid among the bunch. Being a servant of THE LIVING GOD means we will be taught things important to HIM and the efficient operation of HIS HOUSE.
The problem is that too few of ABBA’S kids, who have found their desires to serve and be part of the KINGDOM, fit into the places that we commonly call ”the church”. While there are many who claim that the core issue of their ‘ministry’ is the equipping of the saints to do the ”work of the ministry,” little has been accomplished. In fact, the ”church” has been ‘cloning’ itself for many years. In way too many ministries few children mature and go off on their own.
Regrettably, too many local assemblies who give accreditation and provide certification to members who have completed required courses as delineated by denomination protocol, never involve the concept of mentoring within their structure.
In the hundreds of thousands of churches in America today there sit people with degrees, diplomas, certificates, and papers of some sort…and no place to serve. The worst case scenario is those who stepped out and failed, and turned away from GOD, disheartened and wounded. Walking wounded fill the roster of those who should be in service to THE KINGDOM. The problem is that everything they did was judged according to man’s ways, in man’s timing, and for man’s reasons.
Most of the servants called to the prophetic and apostolic ministries have grown and matured, not in the sterile confines of the religious institutions but in the place called ‘the wilderness’. Their training is as wide and as varied as the individuals called into service. Interestingly, ABBA has found it vividly convenient to use the hard lessons of the world to adapt us to function in HIS HOUSE. Some may call it the “SCHOOL of HARD KNOCKS”, but it could be also called the “COLLEGE of DIVINE APPOINTMENTS”.
While prophets are usually not thought of as ‘people persons’ because of their difficulty with doing something just to get along, and while all intercessors are not prophets, anyone who labels themselves as a prophet and denies the call of intercession in their lives must be suspect. According to THE WORD, the prophets are the WATCHMEN the Lord has placed upon the walls. Many see the prophets as hard, harsh, cold and distant. The label of ‘lacking the mercy gifts’ has been used often and is in error. The prophets weep and wail for the sins of their people. If anything, they are too often overwhelmed by the pain and misery around them.
These are but facets in the training to prepare to serve in THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.
Some of us have been trained to be ‘good listeners.’ We allow people to be comfortable and express themselves openly. Often those who are intimidated by ‘authority’ can find it ”easy” to lay down their burdens at our feet. Those of us trained at ‘listening’ hear in stereo as we listen both to the person and to THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT.
Some of us have been trained to be ”gentle speakers”. We are allowed to speak to and into a person’s life and situation with gentle and meek power and authority. Besides hearing THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT and knowing what to speak, we have learned how to say it and when to say it.
Some of us have been trained as “WATCHERS,” to see that which moves in and through the realm of the SPIRIT, to discern not only the VOICES of our DEAR ABBA, our SHEPHERD and CAPTAIN, and THE MOST PRECIOUS HOLY SPIRIT, but the other voices not holy. Many “WATCHERS” can distinguish those voices and delineate their source: a good skill honed to sharpness over time.
Some of us have been trained as “Sheepdogs,” called to stand guard over THE MASTER’S SHEEP, to assist Shepherds as they MOVE and TEND the lambs, sheep, and even the goats that THE GOOD SHEPHERD calls HIS OWN.
Some of us have been trained as “WATCHMEN,” to stand guard over the city, interceding and continually calling out on behalf of our people, sounding the warnings when danger approaches and holds the gates and fills the breaches until the children arise…(SOON, I HOPE).
Some of us have been trained to be “STEWARDS” to train younger servants, to share our knowledge and skills with those desiring to serve in HIS HOUSEHOLD – to ‘reproduce’ ourselves so that we cann be called even farther into service.
Some of us have been trained to be “CORPSMEN”….to rescue those who have fallen in battle. To render immediate aid to shorten the time of recovery. To remove the injured and wounded ‘out of the line of fire’ so that further wounding may be prevented.
And then there are those that I have heard others call ”DREAD WARRIORS.” Servants of THE GREAT FATHER TRAINED WITH THE SWORD….SENT INTO THE DARKNESS TO ASSAULT THE KINGS OF THIS WORLD. To take back by force those people held in darkness.
Every one of us has been trained in areas important to THE KINGDOM. Many of us have been cross-trained in more than one area. Our ‘vision’ of things is influenced by not only what THE MOST HOLY SPIRIT has trained us to do, but how we were trained and why we were changed, truly unique flavors in themselves.
Up Next: Field Of Talent