Desiring to always be a direct reflection of Jesus Christ has always seemed to put myself in a unique position with all walks of Christians. It seems that most Christians stand very divided in their beliefs about Jesus as the Lamb of God and/or the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. So much so, that they will actually become adamant that they are convinced that they KNOW Him and His true nature.

As reluctant as I often am about doing certain articles or prophecies, I do try to obey God, so I have attempted to put together what God would have me to, concerning this topic.

As a psalmist, I mainly get to sing wonderful, encouraging words of love and adoration from Jesus to His bride, or from the bride to Jesus. I enjoy this very much. Honestly, If God would allow it, this is what I would spend the remainder of my days on earth doing for our Lord. Then there’s the other part of my calling. The side that’s not nearly as enjoyable. It’s when Jehovah requires me to give out words of warning, correction and rebuke. People do not always receive these words. They will even go as far as to say that God doesn’t speak that way. They will mostly lean heavily on the scripture in 1 Corinthians that speaks of the gift of prophecy.

It all comes down to one thing. Do you know Him as the Lamb of God, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, or both? If you are truly a mature Christian, you will understand that He is both, yesterday, today and forever. If He is the Lamb of God in John 1:29, then He is the Lamb of God today. If He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah in Revelation 5:5, then He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah today.

There are gifts in the body of Christ, and then there are ministry offices. People do not want to be rebuked today. Ministers need to be more concerned with people’s souls, and less concerned with hurting someone’s feelings. The bible tells us not to be easily offended. Yet, everywhere you look the truth is offending someone. And if it’s not the truth that’s offending them, it’s the way the truth is being presented. The church is in the last days. We no longer have time to go around continuously backtracking what we say and do, in order to make sure we’ve not offended anyone or someone hasn’t taken something we’ve said out of context. Satan will always twist and manipulate. Mature Christians should realize and understand this by now and should learn to work in unity around this fact.

Often people will label rebukes as the gift of prophecy in operation and then say prophecy is not meant to operate under those conditions. This is especially true if you are in a prophetic office to start with, and you have to give a rebuke. Wow. Then your rebuke is most certainly “off.” Because to them, you have just operated in the “gift” of prophecy instead of the office of a prophet and you have missed it all the way around.

Here is one of the tests of a true minister, look for those who are non stop warning the body of Christ and sinners of unrepented sin. Look for those who are always warning them of the consequences of hell and judgment. Those are your true ministers. Jesus said you would know them by the fruit they bear. Anyone can bear fruit when they are not being persecuted. That’s not real fruit anyway. A person isn’t really being persecuted when they are going around telling people how wonderful they are and how they are doing such great works for the kingdom. No. Stop and think, beloved of God. Those who are truly bearing fruit for the kingdom are those who are warning people of the truth, being slammed over and over again ... but continue telling them the truth and continue walking in love and obedience to the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The ones who suffer for Zion’s sake. The ones who are labeled as “misguided” by other Christians, yet continue on with their mission of warning the masses of impending doom. Yes, those are the ones who understand what it is to bear eternal fruit for the Kingdom. They know what true love, long suffering, patience and kindness are. It’s not difficult to send out a message of great hope, love and peace and get all kinds of positive responses and then say you walk in the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit does not come that easily. Where the gifts of the Spirit are just that, gifts, the fruit of the Spirit is something that takes much development in our character and much time spent with the Lamb, learning His ways and partaking of His sufferings. I truly question someone who calls themselves a minister, yet NEVER warns the body of Christ about the consequences of sin. We see this all the time, everywhere. That’s not even biblical.

As I said earlier, I understand it’s not an easy thing. I don’t enjoy it. It’s much easier when I get to do the prophetic singing. But all I’ve ever known is to do what God tells me ... honestly. I fear God.

The body of Christ must mature and accept that corrective words are necessary and ARE from the Lamb of God.

Here is also a major difference. God will NEVER speak to His bride in a demeaning tone, and He will not expect you to. However, you are also His child and Jehovah has no problem at all getting stern with one of His children, if they get out in left field. I’ve had Him get stern with me on several occasions. Judgment begins in the House of God. I am a member of the House of God. I would question myself if I was never warned, or my actions never carried consequences. Do you think when God says that judgment begins in the House of God that He is only always talking to everyone else? I never assume that everything God says is for everyone else. I realize just how imperfect I am.

Do I strive to be a perfectionist? Of course not. But I do concern myself with the sin that I know I have in my life. I don’t excuse it and brush it to the side like it’s not there and pretend that it’s acceptable in Gods eyes. And yes, I’m not in denial that I have sin in my life. If you are, please, reevaluate your life. We need the blood of Jesus every single day to wash away our sins. Most of us have sin in our thought life, if no where else. However, it’s been my experience that most of us have other areas we also need to work on.

Then there are the times He speaks to those who are lukewarm and are causing division and causing His little ones to backslide. He said in His own word that it would have been better for them if they had a millstone tied around their neck and was sunk into the sea (Matthew 18:6). Does that sound like a people that God would talk to in a kind, gentle, loving tone? People need to get real. Jehovah is God. He does not play around with you. He loves you dearly and He takes whatever approach is necessary to get you where you need to be in order for Him to be able to bring you into a receptive position of receiving the truth of who He really is.

In the end, we are all accountable for our own actions. We are all accountable to Jesus Christ. Are you teaching people that He is the Lamb of God and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah? Are you teaching them that sin is not acceptable in the sight of our Lord? Are you warning them that there are consequences to their actions, whether they are Christians or sinners? We will always reap what we sow. That is how God’s law and His Kingdom are set up to work. That is God’s way. It is one of His main foundational principles for the Kingdom of God. It cannot and must not be overlooked, that if people are not warned of His true nature that they will continue on with their unacceptable behavior. Then who becomes accountable? You and I.

Recently, God has known that in my heart I no longer wanted to give out words of warning and judgment any longer. I would much rather focus on the music and intimacy with God. He began speaking to me about this. He told me that I would have to continue giving out the true words of warning and judgment on a regular basis, simply because He had so few people that He could use that would actually do it. He had so few people that really knew Him and would teach others that He was the Lamb of God AND the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

1Timothy 5:20

As for those who are guilty and persist in sin, rebuke and admonish them in the presence of all, so that the rest may be warned and stand in wholesome awe and fear.

Titus 1:10-13

¹⁰For there are many disorderly and unruly men who are idle (vain, empty) and misleading talkers and self-deceivers and deceivers of others. [This is true] especially of those of the circumcision party [who have come over from Judaism]. ¹¹Their mouths must be stopped, for they are mentally distressing and subverting whole families by teaching what they ought not to teach, for the purpose of getting base advantage and disreputable gain. ¹²One of their [very] number, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, hurtful beasts, idle and lazy gluttons. ¹³And this account of them is [really] true. Because it is [true], rebuke them sharply [deal sternly, even severely with them], so that they may be sound in the faith and free from error, ¹⁴[And may show their soundness by] ceasing to give attention to Jewish myths and fables or to rules [laid down] by [mere] men who reject and turn their backs on the Truth.

Tina Morton • www.rareairministries.org

February 3, 2008