31st

We have been here before in this series. As usual, the church adopts the "shoot the messenger" approach.

But I have started thinking about prophetic leadership, and I'm writing that now. If the sheep and goats do not know what a shepherd is, or what he offers, then they will not know how to respond to the call, or to the invitation.

Is this true in Ghana? Have they been so overwhelmed by prosperity teaching and false prophecy, that they do not know how to respond to true prophetic leadership?

Let's see what happens next

31st

Um! I can see that there has been a failure of prophetic leadership in Ghana. That's why the sheep do not know how to respond to what I am saying.

I need to be with them.

30th

Well, as expected, the previous series has ended, and something new has started.

This was a powerful vision. I thought I would die, but when I cried out, help was at hand.

It always is! Does Ghana know how to cry out in this way? If it doesn't know that it is on the oath of destruction, it will not cry out.

Let's wait and see where we go next.

COMMENT

We appear to be going round in circles.

And we will keep doing this until some in Ghana begin to respond to the situation.

There's plenty we can do -  the situation is not lost yet. But until we grasp the root of the issue, doing has no value.

Personally I am tired of going round and round. But who am I? I can only share what I am given.

The vision today of the rainbow marks, I think, another end. Let's see what happens next.

29th

We have been here before! After the really hard word comes the possibility of blessing.

The Lord can't give up on Ghana -  we see the same in Hosea 11.

But we have also been here before! At the end of the valley words the land was filled with light. But there was no change on the ground, and the cycle of hopelessness began again.

So I am not holding my breath. Unless there is some change on the ground, some moving of the Spirit, the cycle will begin again.

Nice to see the rainbow over our base. Now what does that mean?

OCT 28th

Not a very exciting word today.

We have been here before in this series. But for me the challenge is oin the last line. The Lord led me away. In fact, we went away together.

I can't say I blame him. And it sums up just how I feel. This is a painful experience.

Let's see if there is any more tomorrow.

Silence. Oct 26th

The silence didn't last long, but it was uncomfortable!

This word is something to think about. What exactly does this response from the Lord mean? Is this what is lacking? Is this why so few in Ghana are concerned? Are they so tied up in themselves that they have failed to do the one thing most needed -  raise up a testimony for the Lord which can pass down the generations?

Hostility -  that's concerning. But the Christian faith is meeting hostility everywhere. Ghana has lived in a dream. Now the reality is beginning to come home to them -  but do they care?

We must just let this develop -  if the Lord so wishes. But we must notice the silence. May be the Lord is getting to the end of what he is willing to put up with from Ghana? Ouch - let's hope not - but this is not a game we are playing.It is a spiritual war.

The Ghanaian Christians have not even turned up to fight yet. If they are not careful, when they do arrive ( if ever) the battle will be over and lost. I can hear them now -"This is not not fair. Why can't we have another chance., God will give us another chance." On what basis are they saying this?

What a dangerous game to play with the King of Kings. Ghana- read Numbers. Look at the deaths in the desert. Look -  only 3 people arrived at the Jordan, and one of those died without being allowed to cross.

More thoughts 25th October

I know a few of you are reading this- I can see from the stats.

This has, so far, been a very disappointing experience for me. Today my leader in Ghana tells me that there is so little interest in this stream of prophecy.

One of the follies of God's people, especially in the prophetic, is that they forget that there are two sides to the relationship. God's people seem to think that the Lord will go on speaking, and they can choose when they listen. This is a grave error of judgment. 

A prophet does not have this privilege. He gets it from both sides! 

What I feared might happen has happened. Tomorrow's word will explain.

Where we go from here is anybody's guess. 

I am only the messenger. 

October 25th

The burden of Ghana's failure to hear falls on the prophet.

Am I the only one who feels this? Why should I collect the burden which isn't mine?

Of course it isn't my burden -  it's the Lord's burden, which I suspect will be the heart of tomorrow's word.

If I were the subject of all this prophecy, I would want to meet with the one who was giving it -  wouldn't you?

More thoughts

Supposing I am their last prophet? Suppose no one else will come with this message?

Jeremiah was in that position. No one came after him. The nation fell.

And what if God stops speaking to me? Then we are all lost. They are lost and so am I

This is not a game.

There will be no extra time. This is it - this is all there is. Not funny is it?

24th October

What can I say? I thought Coleen's post said it all.!

One of the problems is that the people I am writing for have never been anywhere. They just see Southern Ghana. They should look at Techiman and beyond.

Will they wake up? I have this very uncomfortable feeling that I am the last voice. I am certainly not the first, but I might be the last. Plenty of people are telling them how good they are. But I'm Micaiah ben Imlah. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Do I think the situation can be rescued? I'm not saying!

Thoughts

We are travelling a similar path to the valley, except it is getting harder. The various series in the Book of Revelation do the same.

I keep looking for some response from Ghana. Plenty of Western people responding.

We are passing 30 words now. We could finish up with a 100! What a waste of energy, when 1 should have done it. "Sound the Trumpet" should have done it.

So Ghana sleeps on. Ghana can ignore this stream. But what if it stops? I dread that moment. For if God stops speaking, that will be it.

OCT 23rd

This word is just too terrible. I'm not sure I want to go on with this.

Spite

Well, as predicted, a new direction.

The child has appeared again, and as previously, the child is in danger. From whom? This is the issue which has appeared already and will come back again and again.

The child is in danger from the blindness of God's people. If they had been awake, the enemy would have no room to manoeuvre.

What next? Read the valley words, and I suspsct that is a template for hat is going to come this week.

Beyond the valley

The 6 valley words have ended. I wondered what would happen next.

Tomorrow's word will show the next phase.

VALLEY (6)

Readers may find this an unusual word, but it has to be seen in context. All week we have been in the valley. Day by day the picture has got clearer. Now we see into the future - to what will happen if God’s people do not change their ways.

It’s not difficult to predict. An increase in wealth, a weakening of the church, the inability to see what is happening or work out the end game – this kind of attitude can only have one outcome in the face of the Satanic assault which is beginning.

I keep being told in Ghana that God doesn’t act like this to his people. Those that say this have a very shallow understanding of the Bible and of the love of God.

Where do we go from here? If things run true to form, no one in Ghana will take any notice of what I am saying. Slowly the situation will get worse and worse. Suddenly people will ask “What is happening? Who can help us?”

Sadly, the prophet who could tell them the answer will be out of the picture. My only hope is that one person is listening, and they will remember. But I am not optimistic. Prophets are not optimists. The way we have been treated over the centuries does not encourage us to be optimistic. “Shoot the messenger” is the only epitaph many of us have. But if Ghana shoots me, will anyone else come and offer the same challenge?  

Thoughts

5 words in the valley, and one more to come tomorrow. Each time I get a clearer picture of what the issues are.

It's hard to get away from the thought "Who cares?" But a prophet cannot afford to think like this. God cares. God speaks to me. I speak to them. Job done. What Ghana does with what I say is no concern of mine. This is how a prophet has to think, or he will be crushed by the apathy he faces.

I can go on with this stream of prophecy for ever. It's no problem to me. But one day I will get fed up with the apathy, and stop. That will be a bad day. For the worst thing that can happen is for God to be silent.

Valley (5)

We see the next problem with God's people -  they have not put the Lord first in their land. What has happened? They have believed the propaganda from the West, which says "African churches are wonderful. They have so much to teach us."

The land has been in peace, and the church has prospered. But it has made a serious mistake. It has taken its eyes off of Jesus. He is not totally central to the nation anymore.

Interesting to note that for the first time, the prophet becomes a reason to complain about. It's the same old story -  we don't like the message so we shoot the messenger.

Trouble ahead for me. What's new?

VALLEY (4)

Now we are getting closer to the issue. God's people in Ghana have been misled. This is the first "misled" issues - all is well.

It is a trait of the Ghana character to refuse to face truth. No matter how much evidence there is to the contrary, the default position is "All is well. All will be OK." While such an optimistic approach to life is commendable, it is also unrealistic. In refusing to face the truth, remedial action is postponed until it i too late.

Ghana is, spiritually, sliding away from truth and will become more obvious as the years pass. But "all is well" prevents the vital and urgent repentance and change which is necessary.

This is a work of the enemy. It has been very successful. It has nullified the true voice of prophecy.

I suspect there is more of this to come. My experience is that Ghanaians will not read on. After all, "all is well."

Very disappointing.

The valley so far

It seems as though we are going to be in the valley for some time.

There have been 3 valley words so far, and valley 4 is ready for publication tomorrow. (Wednesday.)

It seems to me that that this series of words are going to get close to the heart of the failure of the church and the intercessors in Ghana. We are going to have to work hard in the valley -very biblical.

This is taking a great toll on my heart. But it should.

The valley (3)

So we are still in the valley. This is an unfolding revelation, and is coming close to the first really serious purpose of this series of revelations.

We are, I think, about to hear from God's people as to why they are in this mess. I look forward to that with interest.

The Valley (2)

The valley (2) (Monday)

What a strange start to the week! This word is a continuation of yesterday. Now I seem to be speaking to this group, which represents the people of God in Ghana.

The challenge is natural - worship and repent. This is what Samuel asked for at Mizpah.

But no response? The people seem so blind. Or are they just so beaten down? Is this word describing the situation today, or in the future? Let's see what the week brings.

The valley

From the sacrifice we move on to an uncomfortable picture. We have seen similar in the Beggar image. The addition is the last challenge to me. Just how I am supposed to do this is unclear -  more of this to come.

I have annotated the first 16 words. They are on the GHANA page of the website.

By the way, is anybody reading this?

Suffering Lord

I find that God's people forget that the Lord has feelings. I write "forget" but in fact most don't even know he has them. We get so wrapped up in ourselves.

This has consequences which prophets are very aware of -  pain for the Lord. Most of us are moved by pain in other humans, but God's people don't seem to care one bit for the pain they cause the Lord.

I have written "arrogant" and that's just how I feel about it. It's a spiritual arrogance which never considers the results of our actions on him.

But I feel it - every second of every day.

This word spells trouble! Let';s wait and see where it leads.

words expanded

I have taken 16 of these words for Ghana, and I am editing them with a comment on each. Should be available by Monday on www.serving-africa.org

That's not the end though. That's just 16 of them. More will come in the next week.

Friday.

This is a difficult word. I saw both the pain in the heart of the Lord, and the agony of Ghana. Why didn't God's people protect their land?

I have taught many times about God's people in Cote D'Ivoire. The intercessors there went to sleep, and the enemy smashed the land. I have warned Ghana many times that they are in the same danger.

But it makes no difference. The intercessors have gone to sleep. The Lord is hurting. The land is slipping away from faith. The enemy is planning.

I feel that I am watching a train crash in slow motion. But nothing seems able to wake these people up. Just like England.

The road.

Yesterday's word was troubling. It showed a change of direction from calling to warning. The Lord, it seemed to me, was seeing the need go do more than warn. There was the first appearance of the wind. Today I saw the cloud. It too was a danger into which the people of God were driving with apparent unconcern.

A number of things come together here. The people have lost their way. They are unaware of it. They are on the wrong path. They cannot hear., Trouble lies ahead.

The wind and the cloud have positive destructive intent. The lion is at the gate.

Hard work

This flow of prophecy is very tiring, and very stressful.

The open space

From the road to the open space. This is another troubling word.
Why can't the Lord blow his Spirit on his people?
Their lack of love?

More of this to come I think.

Wed Oct 12th

Todays word about the violent wind is very disturbing. The bit I don't like is "once it gets past you." That doesn't look good for me. Tough time standing for these people who are so disinterested.

There is a slow change of emphasis coming. So far it has all been a hard challenge. But now I am moving to understand what is to come.

Uncomfortable.

WELCOME

OCTOBER:  I am going to use this blog to comment on the prophetic words for Ghana which are appearing on my facebook  group "Prophetic Ghana."  This is a closed group. If you would like to join it, let me know.

My facebook name is Michael J Smith. You can get to FB via the front page of our website  www.serving-africa.org