"The Prophetic Power of THE SEER"
Sep 25, 2004
Two Streams of the Prophetic - An Analogy
The Nile is truly one of the great rivers of the world. Including its tributaries, the Nile is also the longest river in the world, running over 4,100 miles from its beginning in the heart of the African continent to its mouth in Egypt, where it flows into the Mediterranean Sea. For thousands of years, the waters of the Nile have sustained the lives of those who dwell along its banks and on its flood plain. Few other rivers have been as vital to the rise or fall of human culture and civilization along their banks as has the Nile.
As mighty as the Nile is, however, it begins its life as two rivers, rather than one. The White Nile flows from Lake Victoria in Tanzania, and the Blue Nile, from Lake Tana in Ethiopia. These two watercourses come together in Khartoum, in the Sudan, to form the Egyptian Nile, which then runs over 1,600 miles northward on its way to the sea. Two separate streams, each strong and significant in its own right, join together with each adding its strength to the other to form one mighty river that nurtures and sustains life along its entire course.
In the spiritual realm, the flow of the prophetic from Heaven to earth resembles the Nile River. Just as the White Nile and the Blue Nile join to create the greater river, two streams of prophetic anointing come together to feed the greater concourse of the mighty prophetic river of God on earth. We can call these two streams the stream of the prophet and the stream of the seer.
Another way to look at this is to turn it around and think of a great prophetic river flowing from the throne of God that breaks into two streams - the prophet and the seer - which then give different degrees or dimensions or facets of prophetic impartation. Either way, it should be clear that both streams are important for the full expression of the Lord's prophetic word to His people in our day.
What is the difference between a prophet and a seer? For now, let us say that all true seers are prophets, but not all prophets are seers.
The Operation of the Seer Anointing
Within the overall realm of the prophet lies the particular and distinctive realm of the Seer. The word "seer" describes a particular type of prophet who receives a particular type of prophetic revelation or impartation.
The Old Testament uses two words primarily to refer to a seer: ra'ah and chozeh. Ra'ah literally means "to see," particularly in the sense of seeing visions. Other meanings include to "gaze," to "look upon," and to "perceive." Chozeh literally means "a beholder in vision" and can also be translated as "gazer" or "stargazer."
With these definitions now in place, the distinction between a prophet (nabiy') and a seer (ra'ah or chozeh) becomes a little clearer. When it comes to prophetic revelation, a prophet is primarily an inspired hearer and then speaker, while a seer is primarily visual. In other words, the prophet is the communicative dimension and the seer is the receptive dimension. Whereas nabiy emphasizes the active work of the prophet in speaking forth a message from God, ra'ah and chozeh focus on the experience or means by which the prophet "sees or perceives" that message.
The first lays emphasis on a prophet's relationship with the people; the other, on their revelatory relationship with God.
The Power of the Seer Anointing
Everyone needs a vision to sustain them in life.
Proverbs 29:18 states, "Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law." This verse in the New International Version reads: "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law." Some other translations, such as the New Revised Standard Version, use the word "prophecy" instead of "vision" or "revelation." The point is clear: without prophecy, without divine revelation or vision, people will cast off all restraint. They will run wild because they have no guidance - no vision. The Word of God - His law - provides vision and guidance for living, and those who follow it are blessed.
As Christians, we are called to be a people of vision. We must learn to set a goal or target in front of our eyes to gaze upon. It is only when we aim at something that we have any chance of hitting it! The apostle Paul set his sights on knowing Christ, which he acknowledged was a lifelong process:
Philippians 3:13-15a
"13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude."
Like Paul, we need to be a people of vision. Let us set our sights on the Lord and aim at His goals. The seer will move your heart and stir up your hunger for intimacy with God, because "the seer's goal is to reveal the man Christ Jesus!"
A Change in Seasons - Here Come The Seers!
What is the purpose of the Seer? Like all true seers of old, we must reach high. We must look heavenward. We must think otherly. We must passionately pursue the God of visitation. For years, the Church at large has struggled just to believe and teach that God speaks today. But now, the Church is beginning to grasp the many ways God speaks, including how he speaks to the SEER.
Formerly considered "strange," the SEER anointing is becoming known as much more mainstream in the Church today. And that's good news for you. I can hear many of you saying, "Finally, they'll know I'm not crazy...in fact, I'll know I'm not crazy!"
Times are changing! The seers are being restored to their place of insight, counsel, and the word of the Lord! Here come the Seers!
If there are true seers today, and there surely are, then we must have our aim and focus clear. We must see Jesus! In all our seeing - let's be like John the beloved. Let's get in the Spirit and release the true prophetic spirit by revealing a testimony of Jesus (Revelation 19:10). He is the one I long to see. He is the one for whom my heart yearns and pants. He is the goal and prize of my life.
In all our seeing - let us see and reveal the man Christ Jesus!
by James (Jim) W. Gollwww.jamesgoll.com
The Nile is truly one of the great rivers of the world. Including its tributaries, the Nile is also the longest river in the world, running over 4,100 miles from its beginning in the heart of the African continent to its mouth in Egypt, where it flows into the Mediterranean Sea. For thousands of years, the waters of the Nile have sustained the lives of those who dwell along its banks and on its flood plain. Few other rivers have been as vital to the rise or fall of human culture and civilization along their banks as has the Nile.
As mighty as the Nile is, however, it begins its life as two rivers, rather than one. The White Nile flows from Lake Victoria in Tanzania, and the Blue Nile, from Lake Tana in Ethiopia. These two watercourses come together in Khartoum, in the Sudan, to form the Egyptian Nile, which then runs over 1,600 miles northward on its way to the sea. Two separate streams, each strong and significant in its own right, join together with each adding its strength to the other to form one mighty river that nurtures and sustains life along its entire course.
In the spiritual realm, the flow of the prophetic from Heaven to earth resembles the Nile River. Just as the White Nile and the Blue Nile join to create the greater river, two streams of prophetic anointing come together to feed the greater concourse of the mighty prophetic river of God on earth. We can call these two streams the stream of the prophet and the stream of the seer.
Another way to look at this is to turn it around and think of a great prophetic river flowing from the throne of God that breaks into two streams - the prophet and the seer - which then give different degrees or dimensions or facets of prophetic impartation. Either way, it should be clear that both streams are important for the full expression of the Lord's prophetic word to His people in our day.
What is the difference between a prophet and a seer? For now, let us say that all true seers are prophets, but not all prophets are seers.
The Operation of the Seer Anointing
Within the overall realm of the prophet lies the particular and distinctive realm of the Seer. The word "seer" describes a particular type of prophet who receives a particular type of prophetic revelation or impartation.
The Old Testament uses two words primarily to refer to a seer: ra'ah and chozeh. Ra'ah literally means "to see," particularly in the sense of seeing visions. Other meanings include to "gaze," to "look upon," and to "perceive." Chozeh literally means "a beholder in vision" and can also be translated as "gazer" or "stargazer."
With these definitions now in place, the distinction between a prophet (nabiy') and a seer (ra'ah or chozeh) becomes a little clearer. When it comes to prophetic revelation, a prophet is primarily an inspired hearer and then speaker, while a seer is primarily visual. In other words, the prophet is the communicative dimension and the seer is the receptive dimension. Whereas nabiy emphasizes the active work of the prophet in speaking forth a message from God, ra'ah and chozeh focus on the experience or means by which the prophet "sees or perceives" that message.
The first lays emphasis on a prophet's relationship with the people; the other, on their revelatory relationship with God.
The Power of the Seer Anointing
Everyone needs a vision to sustain them in life.
Proverbs 29:18 states, "Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law." This verse in the New International Version reads: "Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law." Some other translations, such as the New Revised Standard Version, use the word "prophecy" instead of "vision" or "revelation." The point is clear: without prophecy, without divine revelation or vision, people will cast off all restraint. They will run wild because they have no guidance - no vision. The Word of God - His law - provides vision and guidance for living, and those who follow it are blessed.
As Christians, we are called to be a people of vision. We must learn to set a goal or target in front of our eyes to gaze upon. It is only when we aim at something that we have any chance of hitting it! The apostle Paul set his sights on knowing Christ, which he acknowledged was a lifelong process:
Philippians 3:13-15a
"13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude."
Like Paul, we need to be a people of vision. Let us set our sights on the Lord and aim at His goals. The seer will move your heart and stir up your hunger for intimacy with God, because "the seer's goal is to reveal the man Christ Jesus!"
A Change in Seasons - Here Come The Seers!
What is the purpose of the Seer? Like all true seers of old, we must reach high. We must look heavenward. We must think otherly. We must passionately pursue the God of visitation. For years, the Church at large has struggled just to believe and teach that God speaks today. But now, the Church is beginning to grasp the many ways God speaks, including how he speaks to the SEER.
Formerly considered "strange," the SEER anointing is becoming known as much more mainstream in the Church today. And that's good news for you. I can hear many of you saying, "Finally, they'll know I'm not crazy...in fact, I'll know I'm not crazy!"
Times are changing! The seers are being restored to their place of insight, counsel, and the word of the Lord! Here come the Seers!
If there are true seers today, and there surely are, then we must have our aim and focus clear. We must see Jesus! In all our seeing - let's be like John the beloved. Let's get in the Spirit and release the true prophetic spirit by revealing a testimony of Jesus (Revelation 19:10). He is the one I long to see. He is the one for whom my heart yearns and pants. He is the goal and prize of my life.
In all our seeing - let us see and reveal the man Christ Jesus!
by James (Jim) W. Gollwww.jamesgoll.com
Have You Found Yourself Wondering if You "Missed Your Opportunity"?by James (Jim) W. Gollwww.jamesgoll.com
As we approach the New Year in the Jewish calendar this weekend, it is a time to review the word about New Doors in 2004 once again. For some, it has been a time of silence, while for others it is a time of cleansing. For others, it is a time of fresh faith igniting and new ventures unfolding. It has been a time to close doors, identify new opportunities, become prepared for new ways, and then time to step over into the process of beginning to possess your new field of dreams in God!
But with every new purpose and commissioning there comes a new level of contesting. Many of you find yourself in such a place and could feel as though "you missed your opportunity!" I say, "NO! It is never too late! Enter in! Step in! Move In!" For some, you could feel as though your dream has died! I say, "NO WAY!" How you thought it might come to pass could be dying, but God's dream for you is very much alive! Declare with me, "God's Dream is alive and I shall enter into it!"
For sure, it is a time of storms being released - but, redemptively, this too can be used for the corporate purposes of God to come marching forth! Storms are upon us both in the natural, political, and spiritual. But the tide can yet be turned towards righteousness! Join us in the fight of entering into OUR NEW DOORS! Remember, "This is the victory that overcomes the world - even OUR faith!"
In our lives and ministry it is the time for the COUNT DOWN - we officially launch ENCOUNTERS NETWORK - a ministry to the nations - October 15th! Keep in prayer with us as we plan, prepare, and pray through this strategic transition!
Blessings to each of you!
James W. Goll
www.jamesgoll.com
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