when + = - & - = I

When Adding = Subtracting and Subtracting = I

Why Some People Leave the Prophetic Movement—Reason 4

Some people leave the prophetic movement without intending to do so... and... sometimes it is the Holy Spirit who leaves. Though Jesus said He would never leave us, He does lift His anointing. How devastating when that happens. It isn't unlike Samson who was lulled to sleep by Delila and then didn't realize that God had left him. (Judges 16:20) Samson's story is a sad one. But how does Samson's story fit into New Testament Christianity? 

Back in the 1990s we were experiencing a great deal of outpouring from the Holy Spirit. It was a fantastic move of God and radically changed my walk with the Lord. Many of my friends would concur that their lives were radically changed as well. The Holy Spirit would visit us with such intensity that we would laugh, fall down, shake violently, or stagger like drunken sailors as the Holy Spirit came upon us. What was manifesting on the outside was nothing compared to what was happening on the inside—as we laughed God transformed us. We pegged these wonderful experiences as “carpet time.”

But then something happened: instead of people manifesting because the Holy Spirit came upon them, people would shake or laugh or stagger hoping the Holy Spirit would come in response to their  “manifestation.” But He didn't. He won't anoint flesh. Let's see if the New Testament has something to say on this subject.

Galatians 3:1-3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 

What genuinely began by the Holy Spirit can, and sometimes does, end as a monument with the inscription “God Was Here.” How does this happen? Let me explain using the statement: 

+ = - & - = I

When adding flesh (or self or good ideas or formulas) to what God is doing, God usually lifts His anointing (subtraction). Subtracting God's anointing leaves only "I" (self). Hence, adding self = subtracting God and subtracting God leaves only I.

God likes to use people and has throughout human history. He likes to work with us, but God demands that He has control. We are to be led; He gets to lead. Things don't go well when those two are reversed. When the flesh begins to control what the Holy Spirit began He will lift, therefore adding the flesh results in subtracting the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, when programs, formulas, and laws replace the Holy Spirit people enter into a pseudo Christianity: true Christianity is Christ-centered and Holy Spirit led, while pseudo Christianity is self-centered and self empowered. 

About 20 years ago a pastor told me to give nice prophecies, so I tagged on a “Remember I love you, says the Lord” to a prophecy. Can’t remember the prophecy, but I sure remember the tag. As I walked away from the mic I determined that I would never do that again. I never want to add to what God is saying or doing. As Proverbs 30:6 says, Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. 

I read and see many things that reek of the flesh, but mascaraed as the Holy Spirit. He knows and so do those who are close to Him. 

So how does the flesh take control? The devil knows he can’t stop what God is doing so he adds to it and he finds people such willing participants. Flesh wants to promote self, so with a little nudge the enemy finds people his tools. We feel important. We maybe even look anointed. But, look at this scripture in James 3, Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 

Self-seeking is evil and it invites every evil thing. No wonder the Holy Spirit backs off when we are trying to control Him by our flesh; He won’t anoint the flesh—He just won’t. He only anoints what is of His Spirit. 

Better is a cave with the Lord than a platform of self.