Rising to the Place of the Eagle
The prophetic word? Becoming the Word itself?
May 28th, 2023
We had gathered together at our home, a safe refuge for the exiled. Around 40 of us sat, stood, and whispered as we anticipated what was next.
had ventured into the hornet’s nest… He intended to speak to the congregation and those remotely watching the livestream. The MASTER had been reinstated by the head of Minister’s Fellowship International (MFI) the previous weekend, and we had found ourselves cast out, left in limbo. Uncertain of our place or the future, the only assurance we had was the need to remain united, to support one another, and to share the burden of our tears.We gathered around the television as the stream from the church auditorium began. It was a single camera, a wide shot. The media team, including myself, had vacated the week before. One brave soul had ventured in to ensure this service was captured and monitored. I conversed with him remotely by phone, providing support from afar.
I could not face the MASTER
I could not be in a room with HIM
And though I longed to stand beside
on the front lines of the battle, I lacked the strength. I was afraid.We sat together silently crushed as the MASTER, our abuser, took centre stage leading the worship. We could see
to the side of the shot. He was watching. Waiting. We were praying.The MASTER'S wife stood up and introduced the PROPHET. Though she stumbled over her words, they reverberated with those of us who had been there from the beginning. This PROPHET had delivered a message over a decade prior, confirming the MASTER'S vision and solidifying the plan to purchase a multi-million dollar building. The prophecy had come in an unexpected place—a coffee shop—with the words scribbled on a napkin. Our MASTER was to sign three documents. When the three documents for the contract of sale were presented to HIM days later, HE knew it was a sign.
How could we disobey God, even if it killed us?
She introduced the PROPHET to the stage. But as he began speaking, our eyes were fixed on
. When would he rise? When would he stand? We watched him in the corner of our screen, scooping communion cups into his jacket pocket. We exchanged puzzled looks. As he gathered the cups, the MASTER, seated behind the keyboard, eyed him. HIS glance spoke a thousand stories and conveyed a million emotions. then exited stage left, as the PROPHET continued to foretell signs of doors, double doors, and seasons. We were confused. But a text message from a brave member on-site, confirmed that was on his way to our place of refuge with communion ready to go.Within ten minutes, there was a knock on the door. All of us embraced
. As he entered, our questions were clear in our eyes. He explained that speaking publicly as part of his Matthew 18:17 approach would have little impact, with only a few actual members left in the auditorium. He then pulled the communion cups from his jacket pocket and handed them out—one for each of us. God knew.We gathered around my out-of-tune piano as I played with rusty, hesitant hands and led the group in worship.
Following communion, I spoke with
quietly at the table while the rest of the group continued to survey the livestream. The prophet was proclaiming that the MASTERS would have a ‘new name’, that it was a ‘new season of multiplication, not division’, and that they would enter this new phase through double doors.This PROPHET had journeyed with our congregation for nearly 15 years. He was part of the 2013 Eldership spill and assisted during major staffing issues in 2011 when the MASTER was overseas. He knew our congregation. He knew us. Yet, we were absent—nowhere to be seen. What had the MASTER told him?
Why was he prophesying a future when the MASTER had not addressed HIS past?
Why was he profiling abusers?
Did he not hear from God himself?
spoke quietly to me about his next step, while the exiled continued to ponder the words they were hearing from the PROPHET. planned to create a video to transmit to all registered members. This heartfelt message would explain the situation and hopefully advance the call for accountability.I understood that I needed to support him in this. It was time for me to start emerging from the shadows, even if only slightly.
As the PROPHET wound up his ‘word’, the MASTER rose to the pulpit. HE proclaimed:
It's so good for us to get a word in season and, it's recorded, I think it was livestreamed, to our community Facebook page as well. So hopefully those who couldn't make it would be able to hear that.
It's a new season for us, Church. Amen? It's a new season for us. It's a season of multiplication, as we've just heard. So let's, let's begin to take, when a word is spoken, we can take it. We can either put it on the shelf or we could take it and do what Paul says. Let's wage, let's wage this, this, this war, this spiritual warfare.
Let's do it. Wage it with the word, let the prophetic word begin to be the word that we actually, um, draw our strength from. — The MASTER
"The prophetic word? Becoming the Word itself?" We exchanged glances, concern etched on every face. It wasn't unfamiliar, this reliance on prophecy. But hearing it directly from HIS mouth, HIS dependence on a 'word' from a prophet elevated above the Word of God and the counsel of HIS elders and pastors plunged us into despair.
What had we been a part of?
Who and what had we truly been serving?
Very, very dangerous grounds when you put ‘a word’, above The Word!
How many times have they played this 'word' to themselves in the last year? Determined to bring it into being? Rejecting all calls for repentance and accountability because 'that was not what the prophetic word fortold'? They cannot reconcile the truth, against a word they elevate beyond God's word, beyond the counsel of many elders.
It is why they still hold on tight. Not letting go. Not facing the real truth.