[Dansey]

Hi,

I think there is a difference between a critical spirit and what you are calling a "prophet's personality." I have definitely had a critical spirit numerous times and have been extremely judgmental toward people, but there is also a part of me that I think might be considered righteous judgement. I'll explain below

A critical spirit is judgmental and has with it a comparative attitude - it looks at people and thinks, these people are better in God's eyes, because they do this, this and this. These people are worse because they don't do this, this and this AND they do THIS. That is a wrong perspective - it is pride - pride makes one judge in the wrong way. Christ, when He looks at his kids sees every one of them on the same level - seated in Heavenly Places, regardless of what they do. I was deep into this at one point in my life and it is called religious pride - it is not prophetic in the least bit - it is just my Religious Pride being exersized on both my self and others. I you feel this is your situation then perhaps you should ask the Lord to teach you humility. That is the best cure for Pride. In my case, he took me to the edge of Religious Pride to show me what its nature (and then crashed my world) - it was about manipulation, control and the opposite of Christ. You have to examine your heart and ask the Lord about it.

Being prophetic means "speaking for God." God hatred for sin stems out of his pure love for his people - he knows that every sin that we commit is not only going to harm us (He loves us He wants the best for us) but is evidence that we are not walking according to the Spirit but according to the flesh - which is death and corruption. Is the motive to point out their inadequacies or to bring them into a closer relationship with Christ?
Example: I have a friend who is caught in fornication, when I have talked with her, rather than say - you are wrong and God is angry the Holy Spirit led me to say:
1. Fornication is evidence that your relationship with Christ is broken - when you draw near to him, Christ will change your heart.
2. God says no to Fornication because he wants what is best for us and though the world lies and says it does not hurt you, it does. His way is better.

I would consider my Dad to be anointed as a prophet and in His early years he also had a critical spirit that the Lord has been beating out of Him. There has been such a change. I don't think it was right - I think it was a result of tradition and religious pride. Judgement is a serious thing. When a prophet speaks for God, he speaks not because he wants to change the other person (thats manipulation and control) but out of obedience to the Holy Spirit to correct a person in love. The whole process is directed by the Holy Spirit.

As for your dad making you go to this church - I am sorry - I pray that the Lord will give you grace to be there and that he will show you what he needs to while you are there. I pray that Christ will minister to you in this time and teach you what he can, and give you patience! I also pray that he will free up your father's heart and break him of any legalism.

I pray for myself for him to break me of a critical spirit - it sounds like you feel the conviction, like something's not right - don't expect to cure it on your own - you can't - just invite the Lord to and wait and believe He will do it. Thats what he wants from us - not striving but asking, seeking knocking, and trusting and waiting in faith for God to through the Holy Spirit do the work in us.

I know that's what has helped me with my judgement anyway.