Principle Number One

     I compare developing in prophetic ministry to the process a baby zebra goes through.

     When a baby zebra is born, there is a critical point that is reached 15 to 20 minutes after birth.  The foal falls from his mother's body, and hits the ground with a gloppy thud.  The jolt of the fall helps to contract the foal's lungs, and he gulps in his first breaths of air.

     He lays there, startled, for a minute or two.  Then he automatically begins to struggle to stand on his shaky legs.  And he opens his eyes, and starts to take in the scene around him.

     Here is the critical part:

     The second that foal is born, the mother zebra stands in such a way as to block his view with her body.  And for the next 15 to 20 minutes, she will continue moving again and again to keep blocking his view.  She has to. 

     No two zebras have the exact same pattern of stripes.  And in those first few minutes of life, whatever zebra's pattern imprints on the foal's mind is the one he will forever afterward believe to be his mother. 

     If another zebra mother's pattern imprints on the foal's mind, he will refuse to nurse from his mother--who has just given him birth--and he will go to the other zebra mother and will try to receive from her.  She knows he is not her foal, and will kick him away.

     Within hours or days he will die, because he does not know who his mother is.

     Principle Number One

      As with the zebra foal, so is it with new people coming up in prophetic ministry:  Whatever you see on a regular basis in another prophet, will imprint on your spirit, and guide you for the rest of your life.

     Therefore:

     Be careful who you follow. 

     Be careful who you pattern yourself after.

     Be careful who you accept as a spiritual parent.

      God opened a wonderful door for my preparation in prophetic ministry.  He put me under Sister Goodwin's instruction for the last ten years of her life.  Her type of excellence in prophetic ministry is what was imprinted on my spirit, and I have been truly thankful to God that it was her pattern, and not that of some flaky so-so prophet.

     I realize though, that few will have a similar opportunity.  So allow me to share in these posts exactly what I would tell you, if we could sit together in my living room, as I sat with Sister Goodwin in her living room.

     She is not the only person I have learned from though.  Kenneth Hagin is a good source also.  I particularly recommend his books, "The Ministry Gifts,""The Ministry of a Prophet," "The Gifts of the Holy Spirit," and "Following God's Path For Your Life."

I have learned from, and recommend:

     All the books, videos, and tapes of Lester Sumrall.

     All the books, videos, and tapes of Kenneth E. Hagin.

     "God's Generals" video series, and other materials by Roberts Liardon.  His material is well-researched, and well thought out.  He reaches different conclusions than I do, and uses terms I avoid, but it all is within the realm of reasonable interpretation and sound doctrine.  

     "True and False Prophets" by Don Basham.  Regretfully, I recommend avoiding almost everything else he wrote.

     Gordon Lindsay's biography of William Branham, and of John Alexander Dowie.  These books show how it is possible to start out in a genuine anointing, and end up in grave error later.

     The materials of Rev. Ed Dufresne.

     Joe Jordan's books, some of which are available through Billye Brim's website.  I especially recommend his biography of the Goodwins, "A Tribute to Spiritual Excellence,"  which is available through Billye Brim's website.  " which is a biography of the Goodwins.  (This Joe Jordan is not the Joe Jordan on many internet searches that believes in UFO's).

     The movie, "Man of Faith," starring Robert Wagner, Fae Dunaway, and others.  The story of Healing Evangelist LeRoy Jenkins, produced by LeRoy Jenkins.  It is a "warts and all" biography.  It will show you the many mistakes some ministers make, and yet still operate in a genuine anointing.  (Study his life, but don't follow his example).

     I always wrestle with how much to say about the "New Prophetic Move."  Concerning believers who are searching for the true manifestations of the Holy Spirit, I want to caution them about the New Prophetic Move materials and what is sold over the Elijah List.  Yet, concening believers who have embraced that move, I don't want to alienate them to the point where they turn me off completely.  It is my hope that they will study my teachings, and listen to the recordings on this website by seasoned apostolic and prophetic ministers that stood the test of time, and be better able to discern for themselves what is genuine and what is not.  So I will just gently say that I caution believers who read New Prophetic Move and Elijah List materials, because I can not find scriptural backing for many of those teachings.

     As with the young zebra, who will folllow whatever pattern is set before him, so will young prophets follow whatever pattern is set before them.  You can not follow a pattern of error and develop into truth.  Most of the writings of the New Prophetic Move will instill in you a very warped concept of prophetic ministry, and will lead you in the exact opposite direction of what I have found to be true.  Many of the principles they advocate, were presented to the Pentecostal giants of old during their lifetimes.  These "new revelations" were rejected as foolish error.

     These same teachings espoused by the Elijah List and others were utterly condemned by Howard Carter, Smith Wigglesworth, Kenneth Hagin, the Goodwins and others.  Either these giants were actually fools who knew nothing about God, or they were wise servants of the Lord.  I see that they stood the test of time, staying pure morally and doctrinally.  I see that there have been multiple moral failings, and many errors embraced and taught, among the New Prophetic Move.  By their fruits ye shall know them.

     Now, please don't misunderstand me, I think there are a number of legitimate and sincere ministers among the New Prophetic Move.  And I do not by any means oppose them on a personal basis.  I simply can find no basis in the Bible or in common sense, or in my own prophetic experiences, or in the teachings of previous giants of the faith, for what the New Prophetic Move generally teaches.  They are legitimate and sincere, but in my opinion, they are legitimatelly and sincerely and grieveously WRONG.   And if you pattern yourself after them, you will be sincerely and legitimately wrong too.  The choice is yours.

     Copyright 2006  Mel C. Montgomery  All rights reserved.  Material may be copied and shared with others if done without charge, in entirety, and if attribution is given.