I had a vision that seemed like a dream, and in it I saw troubled turbulent times, and people had gone into their secret places to pray. (I say it seemed like a dream because I was so still, it was like I was asleep, even though I was awake. Sometimes we have to be really still to receive.) People felt overwhelmed with current events and had gone to their quiet places to pray. The warfare "outside" was tough. It was hard and seemed to be too much for many of them, but they went to the Lord.
WORSHIP ME! says the Lord. The Lord spoke to me yesterday and said, "There is a big difference between church worship and God worship. Church worship is when you lift up a certain group or person and God worship is when you lift up Me, the Lord." (And then I thought, Lord, are you wanting me to give this word??? Because I know how that will go over! But then He asked if I wanted His Presence, and I said "Yes, I do! I certainly do!") He continued, "In church worship, people worship the pastor. With God worship, they worship Me. In church worship, they focus on all the things related to the church. In God worship, they are seeking on how to please Me."
Many teachers teach "down" to others. They mean well, they come across as being informed and studied, but they teach or preach down to people. They "know," they have the "experience," they have "a position", they have "expertise" - and they might! But if they don't impart something, did you really hear it? Did your soul embrace it? Were you allowed to ask questions? Was it quickly heard and then quickly forgotten, or not employed? Was dinner afterward more memorable?
Have you ever seen people mess up the Gospel for other people? It is heartbreaking! I was blessed to find the real Jesus in my childhood, but over the years I saw a lot of abuse. For so many it becomes a sign up to a money-making MACHINE. For others, it is wanting people to give to them in ways that Jesus does NOT require! I've heard of people tithing to churches all their lives and then can't get help when they desperately need it or go through a tragedy. The church feels entitled.
There are two anointings, and only one is God's. Some people wonder just what the anointing is. A secular way to describe it would be like the "chemistry" two people have together. They could just be friends, or they could be boyfriend and girlfriend, or an "electric" feeling that has an energy like you find among good chums or working together on a project. God's anointing and the devil's anointing also has an "energy," and you could be attracted to it or repelled by it. Depends on what is going on inside of you! Energy and gifting is multiplied.
Many of you probably remember the popular logo WWJD that stood for those words.  We don't see that emphasis as much today as we once did, but we should still be asking the question.   A question the Lord has been asking me and I know this will provoke others, is: Did Jesus go around building churches or synagogues? Here is what the Bible says that Jesus did from Acts 10:38-43 - "38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
With all the expectations for Christians, especially with anything ministry related and with all the hype there is out there, it is important to learn what GOD expects of you. Some are really good at having a long list of "rules" for you to go by, but they aren't always the Ten Commandments, or the Bible! Many try to do things to lock you into a local system or even a way of giving that may or may not be inspired for you. Now I am not trying to threaten, although I know some will read or feel it that way, but if our conversation with God is there and growing as it SHOULD - because Jesus said His sheep would hear His Voice - then there needs to be some liberty there as well.
There are apparently a lot of pastors who have dropped out of the ministry, from a report I heard. But I can tell you that most of those were following another minister and not the Lord Himself. There are some wonderful pastors and ministers, and there are many good messages! But if you don't know THE LORD Himself, you will question your faith at some point. And then so will those who follow you or them. Many people do things because it seemed like the right thing to do at the time.
The Lord reminded me today about "the fold" in five-fold ministry, how it is like "folding in" ingredients in a recipe. That word "fold" for us is also used as a fold of sheep, or a sheepfold, to refer to them as a group. Then I saw a "picture" in my head of an Emergency Room, and I have been a patient in one of those before. You know that in a hospital, there are the doctors and nurses, and cleaning staff, and lab techs, and supervisors and records clerks and other people that play important roles in a hospital.
"Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." Revelation 19:10b So many are worried about "false prophecy." Let me share the whole verse, because it is important: "And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, 'See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.'" We don't worship man (or angels). We worship God! People who are overly concerned about "missing it" are in fear, worrying about how people will see THEM.