GOD'S ADVENTURE FOR ME IN CHARLESTON - PART 2 WITH A RESPONSE FROM RICK

Greetings -

Last paragraph from CHARLESTON – PART 1:

When Jesse and I walked into the diner, there was a man, who appeared to be Hispanic or Native American, seated on a stool near the front door. He nodded at Jesse (I believe they had some sort of previous acquaintance).  As I observed that simple nod from the man, I hesitated because I felt a strong desire to engage him.  But the Lord told me to move on. Jesse and I sat at a booth and ate.  When we got to the front to leave, the man was gone.

CHARLESTON – PART 2:

Jesse and I walked to the Greyhound bus station and the “man on the stool” (I’ll call him Stealth Lion) was there standing outside the station.  We often don’t know, but Stealth Lion had the “look” of a homeless person.  He began to prophesy.  I don’t recall all of what he said but I do remember him boldly declaring that God was going into the crack houses, and also that God was going to bring whores to salvation.

The anointing of GOD on Stealth Lion was deeply obvious to me.  It was obvious from his countenance, and his voice.  In tone and inflection, he spoke with holy authority.  At one point, as he prophesied, Stealth Lion pointed his finger in a holy authoritative manner.  I was in the place where he pointed.  I didn’t get the sense that Stealth Lion’s intent was to point at me, but that he was making holy emphasis.  Such power came from him that, when he pointed my way, my body involuntarily moved, by the Spirit, in response to the power of GOD that came forth from him.  I was in high charge spiritual delight mode from this GOD display!

While Stealth Lion was prophesying, he had this “posture” that there was no one there but him and GOD.  He appeared oblivious to natural surroundings.  His prophesying was for a few minutes but the impact that it had on me was enormous.  Four years later when I think about it, my heart is stirred.

I didn’t get the sense that Stealth Lion was a baby Christian or a carnal Christian.  The sense that I got was that He KNEW GOD on a very familiar level.  My sense was that GOD and he were knit.

I cannot remember whether Jesse was inside or outside the station while Stealth Lion was prophesying.  I do remember that there were a few people outside who also witnessed the prophesying but I cannot remember their reactions.

At some point, Jesse was out there when I was about ready to go back to the motel.  As I walked away, the Lord told me to go back to give $5.00 to Stealth Lion.  I obeyed, and felt led to ask him to come to my motel room.

A few minutes after I got to the room, Stealth Lion knocked on the door.  He came in and picked up the Bible and started reading.  At some juncture, he was quoting scriptures.  I got the sense that he truly knew GOD as a Friend.  Stealth Lion had this presence that he was comfortable wherever he was.  When he came in and picked up the Bible he did it in a way that was void of any hesitation that he didn’t know me.  It was like he knew GOD and that was more than enough for him.  I didn’t feel concerned that Stealth Lion picked up the Bible without asking.  I just moved fluidly into his flow because my spirit knew that he was with GOD.

At one point, Stealth Lion got close enough to me where I smelled alcohol on his breath.  I was quite surprised.  I asked him in a loving tone something like, “I’m not judging you but how can you have such holy authority and anointing from GOD, and drink alcohol?”  (Yes, I know that some Christians drink alcohol…)

Stealth Lion told me that he had been diagnosed as schizophrenic and that he couldn’t afford medication.  He said that he uses alcohol as medication, and to help him to cope with living on the streets.

I was spiritually confused because I have met many Christians who DON’T consume alcohol who DON’T have such holy power in flow as I had witnessed from Stealth Lion.  How could this be, I wondered?!

To this day, Stealth Lion is the only person in such a state (alcohol habit) that I have met with such a powerful anointing from GOD.  Numerous other Christians that I have met and/or encountered who have habitual sin in their lives have little or no holy anointed power.  I can use myself.  When I was in “sin” mode, I didn’t have holy anointing in powerful flow.  Samson lost his holy power when he disobeyed GOD.  How does Stealth Lion have it with an obvious alcohol habit?  To date, I have not received an answer.

Anyhow, Stealth Lion told me that he is Native American and that he was adopted by a Jewish man.  There was some indication that he was in relationship, to some extent, with his adoptive father.  As for his birth parents, adoptive mother, and why he became homeless, I cannot remember what he stated.  He told me that he gets food from the trash.  He stated that GOD has never allowed him to go hungry.  He indicated that he got some pretty good meals from trash, I believe, he said outside of stores, etc.  When he told me this, he didn’t share as if he desired pity.  It was as if he was sharing that GOD provides.  He also shared with me that, relative to churches, his experience was that smaller churches were more generous than the larger ones.

Later in the motel lobby, the manager was at the front desk.  Stealth Lion gave me a warning about her.  When he warned me, I didn’t get the sense that he knew her or about her but that, in his spirit, he discerned something unpleasant about her.  Later two of the motel employees shared with me about unpleasant aspects of said manager.  And on another day, my personal experience with her confirmed what had been shared with me.  No matter…love is to be shown, regardless.

The Lord led me to invite Stealth Lion to church with me on the following Sunday morning.  He accepted, and came to the motel to meet me.  The church van picked us up.  We arrived at the church and engaged in praise and worship.  Stealth Lion stepped away.  The pastor preached on precisely where I was spiritually.  I cannot recall the sermon but I do remember that it was precisely on point.  It further convinced me that I was exactly where the Lord desired me to be – spiritually and physically.

By the end of service, Stealth Lion hadn’t returned.  When we got ready to leave in the van, he was nowhere to be found.  We had to go.  I never saw Stealth Lion again.

Question: Can someone please help me to understand how Stealth Lion can possess such a powerful holy anointing with an alcohol habit?

This adventure will be continued soon….

Sandra

Written Thursday January 13, 2011

Note: I did a "test" run of this piece, via e-mail, before I posted it here.  Several people commented.  Rick is the one whose permission I requested and was granted to post his response here.  Thank you, Rick.  Here is his response:

Sandra

Thanks again for sharing this with me.  Awesome adventure.  I think of this scripture in response to your question.

Ec 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

When we are religious we tend to always put people in a box and think that they must be a certain way for God to use them.  This scripture says that we all sin.  The problem we all face at times is that we tend to mistakenly make one sin worse than another.  If sin, in God’s eyes sin is sin.  No matter what it is no worse to God than any other sin.  Often what we as Christians consider a sin, is only a fault.  Though a person has yet to be set free does not mean that they are not crying out to be so.  If God had to find a perfect person with no sin, He would have no one to work through.  Paul died daily.  He dies to his flesh and it’s desires.  We all have died much but I have yet to meet anyone that is fully dead so to speak.  I think back years ago when the Holy Spirit asked me to lead a Bible study for the kids of a church.  We met in my home.  I was confronted one day by a kid saying, “how can you lead a Bible study and still smoke?”  This had always been a struggle for me as I had always cried out to the Lord to deliver me.  The church seemed to have the idea that if you smoked you couldn’t be a Christian.  That I have since learned is a religious spirit.  My response to this young man was this.  The Holy Spirit just put the words in my mouth.  He said that you can see what Rick struggles with but he can’t see what you struggle with.  How is one different than the other?  I also think of the scripture saying he that is without sin, let him cast the first stone.  The Lord gave me a article and teaching on that one with the emphasis as why is the stone in your hand in the first place?

I have come to the conclusion as the word says.  None of us are perfect.  It is only when the anointing hits do we become totally like him.  The scripture that says :

Ga 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

The word Christ means anointed. When we are anointed our flesh is crucified...

Some people struggle with things that can be seen and others struggle with things only they and God know about.  God is the deliverer.  He delivers in His time and way.  It is really just like the Lord to use someone that is an alcoholic and to prophesy through.  He can use anyone at any time and can deliver anyone at any time.  His plans are far above ours.  He uses me and anoints me powerfully at times.  I am far from perfect.

I pray that this will shed some light on your question.

Blessings

Rick

January 14, 2011

Sandra’s Comments:

After I read Rick’s comments, via e-mail, and at least one other comment from someone else, via e-mail, I prayed and asked the Lord for help understanding this matter.  He gave me this from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 – KJV:

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

I tend to believe, based on what Rick stated and what is contained in the scriptures above, that it is a matter of the hearts.  Paul had a thorn in the flesh that he sought GOD for deliverance from.  And as Rick stated, "Though a person has yet to be set free does not mean that they are not crying out to be so."

I believe that there is a difference if we are NOT inclined for deliverance...

Certainly, there is more that I need to understand about this matter, but presently, the above scripture passages with what the Lord gave Rick to share – gives me relief, assurances, and comfort.

Note: I looked up Charleston, South Carolina and found this:

It was  named "Holy City."  Charleston is known as the Holy City due to the prominence of churches on the low rise city scape, particularly the numerous steeples which dot the city's skyline.

Charleston has the fourth oldest Jewish congregation in the continental US - Kahal Kodosh Beth Elohim, found in 1749.

Charleston was also one of the first colonial cities to allow Jews to practice their faith without restriction and for the fact that it was one of the few cities in the original thirteen colonies to provide religious tolerance, albeit restricted to non-Catholics.

On June 9, 1861, Citadel cadets fired the first shots of the American Civil War when they opened fire on a Union ship entering Charleston's Harbor.

Sources: WordiQ.com and Wikipedia.com