This is a hard word. To be honest, it isn't a message that I was expecting. But it is vital especially for any of us who have spiritual roles/responsibilities. I pray it will spark open dialogue between you and Jesus and bring self-examination.
*Are there any places where I embellish what I am hearing?
*Do I shy away from communicating hard truths?
*Am I being faithful to feed hearty spiritual food to my family and others I am shepherding?
Below, I am releasing this word exactly as I heard it from the Lord.
~Deborah Valentine
EMBELLISHMENT
"Beware of embellishment. Let Me speak plainly. BEWARE OF EMBELLISHMENT! Many times when I speak, My words are few. They are plain. They are pointed. Do not give in to the temptation to dress up My words."
"And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit." -1 Corinthians 2:4 NLT
"When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God." -1 Corinthians 2:1b NIV
A HAMMER
I hear people saying to themselves:
"Let me make it more pretty."
"Let's soften the edges."
"Let's make it more palatable."
"NO!!!!! The Word of God is a HAMMER! Give it exactly as you receive it from Me. Do not cut the corners.
My Word is SHARP, CUTTING, and PIERCING.* Do not dull the edges. Do not smooth the corners. You have made the hammer of My Word into a rubber mallet that is useless in pulverizing a rock because you have feared man over God."
"Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?" -Jeremiah 23:29 ESV
"for they loved the approval of men more than the approval of God."- John 12:43 AMP
PAT-A-CAKE
"You have cherry picked from My Word. You have chosen the sweet and removed the bitter so that the people sitting in their pews may sit comfortably. You fear agitating the people. You fear the slam of the back door as people leave.
You play pat-a-cake with your congregations. I am the Bread that came down from heaven, but you are content to serve the lambs that I put into your care---cake.
I hear voices calling from the pews across America:
'Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake, preacher man.
Bake me a cake as fast as you can;
Pat it, sugarcoat it, and top with a cherry,
Put it in the oven for baby and me.'
I hear another cry rising up. It is a cry for the Living Bread. It is a cry for MEAT. It is a cry for the FULLNESS of who I AM no holds barred.
Shepherds, feed My sheep.
Shepherds, tend My lambs.
Whom are you serving, God or man?"
"Am I now trying to win the favor and approval of men, or of God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ." -Galatians 1:10 AMP
*In reference to written Scripture (Hebrews 4:12).
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