This file contains the full text of ML #3497, GNs 1082-1084

A class on sensitivity, teamworking‚ and the need to shepherd each other

By MariaFD/MM/FM 3497 10/03

My dear friends, loved ones, and co-workers,

1. This GN contains some vital information from the Lord about the importance of shepherding each other, working together in teamwork to be safeguards for one another, and about one of the major things that's holding us back from doing that effectively‚ which is sensitivity. He gives a convincing argument as to why it's so important for those of us who struggle with sensitivity to make progress‚ and how it could seriously hinder our future as a Family if we don't.

2. Before we get into all that, I want to encourage those of you who battle with sensitivity. You may be feeling bad already, and the Enemy is probably trying to make you feel singled out, discouraged, hopeless, or resentful. Please don't let him! This counsel is given in great love from our Husband, and it's directed to all of us—not just those who are obviously or outwardly sensitive.

3. We're all sensitive at one time or another, whether it's manifested in the typical way we think of sensitivity or whether it's manifested in anger, discouragement, resentfulness, disunity, or what have you. And we've all contributed to the problem of sensitivity by either being harsh and unloving or by not shepherding each other as the Lord wants us to‚ not being our brother's keeper, and not speaking the truth with conviction and love when necessary. In other words, those of you who have compromised or backed off from speaking the truth are just as guilty. So this counsel is for all of us. We all need to get over the things that come between us so that we can be the tight, effective, unified team that the Lord needs us to be.

4. Sensitivity is a problem that is greatly hindering individual progress, as well as the progress of the Family. The boards, for example, are completely dependent on the free flow of ideas, counsel and communication in order to be effective. Sensitivity stops that. Our teamworks—from Continental councils to Home teamworks—are, among other things‚ meant to be forums for counsel, prayer, and safeguarding. For that matter, each person in each Home should be safeguarding and helping to shepherd the others they live with, and by the same token, willing to receive safeguarding and shepherding in order to be the best disciple each can be.

5. Especially now, when the Lord is leading toward each CM Home being responsible for the standard of their Home and their members, and being classified accordingly, everyone is going to have to have a mindset change about shepherding and accept that you're supposed to be helping to shepherd those around you, and that they're supposed to be shepherding you! Each of you will be responsible for the spiritual and physical standard of your Home, and that's going to take a teamwork effort—everyone working together to keep things at a spiritually healthy level.

6. From what we've heard, many times even the teamwork of the Home doesn't really shepherd the members of the Home, let alone the Home members shepherding each other. And in our leadership teamworks, too, there is a need for a lot more mutual shepherding, safeguarding, and open communication. But sensitivity fights and hinders all that, and can effectively stop it altogether.

7. That's what has happened in a lot of Homes and areas. People are so afraid of hurting each other, or have had such bad experiences when trying to communicate honestly‚ that they've all but stopped! What it comes down to is pride—whether it's pride manifested in sensitivity and closing yourself off to others' counsel, or pride manifested in compromise and not wanting to rock the boat or hurt someone's feelings. This problem has the potential to render us useless as a Family—or at least keep us from fulfilling our destiny.

8. That's why it's so important to zero in on this now. We all need to start helping each other, being our brother's keeper, so to speak‚ so that we can become the disciples and discipleship Homes that the Lord needs us to be!

9. Everyone is going to have to shepherd each other. Not in a Gestapo or mean and ugly sort of way, but in a friendly, loving, big-family–and-friends-looking-out-for-each-other sort of way. Otherwise, if those of you who live and work with each other aren't willing to speak the truth in love, all the Word, all the shepherding from Peter and me, or from your COs and VSs, won't have the desired effect.

10. It will take a commitment; it's hard work, and I know it doesn't come easily. But the Lord has explained that the bottom line is, if we want to preserve the Family‚ if we want to fulfill our destiny, this is another step we're going to have to take—being willing to shepherd each other much more than we have been‚ and receive shepherding in return. At the moment, sensitivity is one of the biggest problems preventing that. So it's a big step to take‚ to be willing to give and receive shepherding even if there are some difficulties or bumps along the way. But we're going to have to get over those hurdles.

11. This is something we talked about with the COs and other attendees at the last Summit. Many of the CO teamworks and boards were being seriously hindered by sensitivity, and so we addressed it together in a class. This GN is compiled from the messages we received at that time in asking the Lord about the problem, and also excerpts of what we shared with the Summit attendees about it in a united meeting. I pray that it will be a blessing to you too.

12. Just for your interest, quite a few channels helped me to receive the answers to various questions we asked the Lord about shepherding, sensitivity, and teamworking. And three of them, without hearing or reading the others' messages, received specifically that sensitivity would prevent individuals, or us as a Family‚ from fulfilling our destiny if we don't overcome it. I'd say that's a pretty serious warning from the Lord!

13. If you are tempted with sensitivity, please ask the Lord to help you look at this time of receiving His counsel as a really good thing‚ something you want and need and can't afford to be defensive about. The Lord can help you to see it that way! Remember, our Husband loves you very much, and He really wants you to be all that you can be for Him, so that He can give you the biggest reward possible! Not only that, He wants to make you happy and fruitful and fulfilled right here and now, and the way to get there is by forsaking your pride and the things that hold you back and prevent you from growing and progressing and being free in the spirit!

The Future of the Family Depends on It!

(Note: Mama addresses the Summit attendees here—and you!)

14. Here's a very encouraging message from Jesus. Please don't let the instruction and counsel about things you need to work on discourage you. You really have made progress in so many areas. It's wonderful to see. We're very proud of each of you for working to make that progress, and letting the Lord work in your life. The Lord is very proud of you too. He says:

15. (Jesus:) First of all, I want to say how proud I am of each and every one of My brides and the progress you have made. I don't in any way want to discount or belittle the great strides that have been made and the wonderful victories that have come about. You have all done very well and I appreciate the tremendous sacrifices and the efforts that have been made. I know it hasn't been easy, and each one of you is to be commended. By the standards of the world, your progress is phenomenal! And even by the standards of the Family in the past, the strides that you have taken are amazing. The thing that you each need to look at is where the Family is today, what is happening now, where I am going in the future with My brides, and how each one can fulfill their destiny.

16. We are stepping into a new day, and more is going to be expected of each of you if we are going to be able to achieve the goals that I've set for the Family. You are personally responsible to help move the Family forward, and anything that hinders you personally has the potential to hinder the growth of the Family.

17. Each one of you is responsible for that forward momentum‚ for being a sample of humility, unity, and utter dependence on Me. If you don't make it happen, who will? Therefore it's important that each one of you ask Me: "What can I do to get rid of anything that would hinder me from being solidly united with my co-workers?" "What can I do to be a better support, help, strength, and encouragement to my mates and co-workers?"

18. I share the following things out of great love and concern for you. I know you may have heard that a lot and some of you may take it for granted, but think about it: I, the Creator of the universe‚ am intimately concerned about you and your joy, fruitfulness, and fulfillment. I have given all that I have, including My Own life, to help you and give you the tools that you need in the days to come.

19. You are making history. I am bringing to fruition and completion that which I have ordained from the foundations of the Earth. You are an integral part of it, and its success or failure depends on each one of you. I am counting on you, Mama and Peter are counting on you, and the Family is counting on you.

20. The ball is in your court. What are you going to do with it? Will you lay aside anything that hinders you from achieving that goal at whatever the cost—whether it's pride, sensitivity, negativity, or anything else? How committed are you to these changes and the way in which I am leading the Family? Do you understand that it is up to you to make it happen?

21. The bottom line in all of this is that you are here because you want to be. You answered My call in your life and service, therefore you have signed up for the accelerated and advanced course.

22. (Mama:) You didn't know that, huh? Ha!—But really, by remaining in the CM Family, that's what it means!

23. (Jesus continues:) You will be required to pass the grade and be what you need to be for Me‚ your co-workers, and the Family. Otherwise, you won't be able to keep on doing what you're doing; you won't be able to remain at this level of service. It's as simple as that. It's not only needful that you make the sort of progress that is needed, it's required.

24. I, as well as Mama and Peter and WS‚ would be negligent in allowing people to continue on in positions of responsibility if they are not making the sort of progress that is needed. How can you talk to others about unity, about being open to hear about their problems and making the commitment to change, unless you are living it? How can you help fix the problems in the Family unless you are willing to fix the problems that you face in your life?

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25. (Mama: ) This message was originally given for the COs and other attendees of the Summit, who all held positions in leadership and responsibility. But when I asked the Lord about sharing it with you, He said:

26. (Jesus:) All My brides in the CM Family are held to that level of accountability in a way, even if they don't realize it now. They are going to be My leaders of the End. Many will look to them. They will instruct many. If they're not prepared for that responsibility, then they should find a different level of service, because by remaining in the CM Family, it means I'm going to be counting on them to be My leaders of the End.

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27. (Jesus continues:) I am calling all My brides to a greater level of commitment, dedication‚ and progress. You are supposed to be leading the way in progress and obedience. Ask yourself, are you? If not‚ why not? Do you want to? If so, start today! You are grown men and women. You know what needs to be done, and the time to do it is now. I therefore implore you to do what is needed at whatever the cost to you personally for the sake of the work and each and every Family member. Today is the day to make it happen. (End of message from Jesus.)

28. (Mama:) I wouldn't be telling you this if I didn't think you were going to make it! This is just a little extra motivation. "Change is …" Fill in the blank. (Family: Good!) Good! You got it! Yes‚ change is good, and change will make you feel … (Fam: Better!) Better, right! As you change, you're going to feel better. You're going to be happier.

29. So you can do it—and the Lord is expecting you to! It's not that we don't think you can; we're just telling you that you have to. Because you can‚ you have to! We've each got to do it for the sake of the Family. You can't expect those around you to be much more enthusiastic, rising above, or victorious than you are, because that's just how human nature is.

21st Century Gap Vision

30. (Dad:) Do you remember the vision I had long ago of the gap in the castle wall and how the knight had to come and stand there and keep the enemy from entering the breach? This time in the Family is your 21st Century Gap Vision. It's a crucial time, when there are not only raging fires within your walls but the Enemy is at your gates. It's not enough for the king or queen to be ready and willing to go to war; everyone needs to be vigilant and ready.

31. Mama and Peter are standing in the gap of the wall of the Family at this time. They are defending the breach with great skill, shrewdness, and force. They have held off the Enemy from advancing into the city, and they've also been directing the Family to put out the fires of compromise, lukewarmness, and half-heartedness within the very city and walls of the Family.

32. You all need to look at your own hearts and lives and see where you stand. What part will you play in the gap vision? Will you be one who rushes into the breach, sword swinging, hacking the Devil to pieces? Or will you be one of those who are battling with personal fires within the walls?

33. What will it take to get you to rush to the hole in the wall to defend your life, your beliefs‚ the future of your country, and the future of your children? Will it take the devastating winds and storms of God's chastisements to get you to wake up? Will it take casualties, physically and spiritually, before you finally realize that the Enemy means business?

34. Now is the time! Tomorrow will be too late! Unite with your fellow officers and soldiers. Forget about personal preferences and pet peeves. Rebuke sensitivity and selfishness. Unite as one to save this land, so that your spiritual defenses are high, the morale and standard of the troops is 110%, and your weapons are sharp to launch an all–out offensive. This is the last call. There is no middle ground. (End of message from Dad.)

35. (Mama:) It's serious business, folks, and we've got to do it now. Change is very hard, and as Dad has said in the past, change is like dying. It makes you feel like dying a lot of times, doesn't it? But then you are resurrected to a new life that's much more wonderful than the old one.

36. I think we have to take this as an ultimatum‚ and see that there's just no other option: We either give up and leave‚ or we continue and fight through to victory! Fighting for the victory is really the only option we have. I know what big change is like‚ and sometimes you can't do it until you have an ultimatum, until you see how serious things are. We're creatures of habit and we're usually lazy—I know I am—and you don't want to change just for yourself. It doesn't seem worth it; it's too hard. But when you realize that there are many other things at stake, then you get a lot more serious about it.

Mama's Yieldedness Testimony

37. I made a big change in my life at the time Dad went to be with the Lord. All those years that I was with Dad, I really loved the Lord and I wanted His will in my life. But if you read the Letters carefully‚ you can see that I was very stubborn, very argumentative, and very unyielded in quite a few ways. You can probably tell me better than I can even remember‚ some of you know the Letters so well!—And my memory is bad.

38. But I know that I didn't want to take up the anointing that the Lord wanted me to have, and I hid behind Dad as much as I possibly could. There were many times when he'd say, "Honey, why don't you give this meeting?" And I'd flatly refuse. I'd say, "No, you do it so much better than I do!" Does that sound familiar? Have you ever said that to one of your co-workers? It's really unyieldedness, it's pride, and I was very unyielded. Dad didn't force me, although I wish he had, in a way, because he sort of spoiled me.

39. Almost everything I did I had to get forced into. I didn't want to have children, as you know, and the Lord had to sort of force me into that, although I've always been so glad He did.

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40. (Jesus: ) While it was not the queen's heart's desire to have children, and she even fought against it in her heart, she didn't do anything to prevent it in the natural. She didn't prevent Me from having My way. And she repented with a humble heart and had a change. It's not bad to sometimes not want to fulfill My will for you. That's only human and natural. It's only bad if you refuse to. Even I, when I was on Earth, had to pray, "Nevertheless, not My will, but Thine be done." That's the key—that you're willing, even if it's not what you really want to do. If you let Me force you—which is the point that the queen is making—then at least you get credit for that, and you don't have to reap the results of taking your life and plans into your own hands and not letting Me have My way. The Family should not use this as an excuse to not have children; instead‚ it should be a convicting sample for them to follow. (End of message from Jesus.)

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41. I often didn't want to move and wasn't so yielded to that at times. And there were other things as well.

42. All my life it was like that. I wasn't always yielded clay in the Potter's hands (Isa.64:8). Some of us have been like that, but if we allowed the Lord to force us to do things, then at least we did them, at least we made it. I think my first reactions were often pretty bad and negative‚ but thank God I always finally made the right decision, though it often took me a long time.

43. Some of those who lived with me know how argumentative and stubborn I was. I didn't want Dad to go to be with the Lord. I made it very clear that I didn't think I could ever do the job, and I didn't want to; I wanted Dad to stay around and do it. I was quite a case, and it's all documented in the Letters!

44. I always knew in my heart that I was going to yield when I had to, but that's a very bad attitude to have. Because as the Lord has told us several times recently, you can think that when you really have to, you'll finally yield‚ but when the time comes and it's the time to do it, you may find that you're lagging too far behind.

45. I always realized, "Well, of course I'm going to yield when the time comes. I'll just have to do it; that's my destiny!" But it would have been a lot easier if I would have been yielded from the beginning‚ and if I would have done what I should have done. Well‚ the Lord was merciful to me, and when the time came I knew that‚ "Okay, Dad has gone to be with the Lord and now the buck stops with me. I'd better get on the ball and do what I'm supposed to do! I'd better get yielded." So thank the Lord, I did—with a lot of help from the Lord‚ and my spirit helpers, and also with help from Peter.

46. I remember those first few weeks after Dad went to be with the Lord. I felt Dad's presence and the Lord's presence, and I thought, "Oh, this is so beautiful! I'm here in my little room and I'll work on the Letters and I'll do this for the rest of my life! It's just so nice, I have everything I need." I didn't really feel I needed anybody else, ha! But then Peter had his heart attack‚ and I felt so sorry for him that I had him move into the room with me so that I could take care of him at night!

47. I had been keeping him at a distance. I thought, "Well, I'm going to be fine. I don't really need anybody. He's sweet and I love him and he helps in the work and he's very important to the business‚ but I don't really need to be dependent on anyone." But I knew in my heart that I needed somebody strong to help me—to help me to carry the crown, to help shepherd me and safeguard me.

48. When I was in college I had a boyfriend who really, really liked me. His name was Roy, and he was so sweet, he would have done anything for me. He just worshipped me. I couldn't figure out why, because I was sort of mean to him—which is sad, and I always regret that. But I knew instinctively that I could never be paired up with a man who was so weak that he would do anything I wanted him to do, and that I could walk all over him and wrap him around my finger. That's why I was trying to get rid of him, ha! I'm so sorry, Lord forgive me. I should have done it more nicely, but I didn't want to tell him. That's one of those times when you should be frank with people‚ but I wasn't at that time.

49. I just knew that I needed someone strong—someone who was going to help keep me in line. Dad was that for me for many years, so when I was on my own I didn't really think about it too much until a little while after I had Peter with me full-time. And then I realized the wonderful gift that the Lord had given me in Peter—not just to help with the work and to be a helpmeet, but to safeguard me and to be a teamworker who could help to shepherd me, as I shepherd him, and that we could safeguard each other.

50. Of course‚ you can always say, "Well, you can get your shepherding from the Lord." Yes, you can if you really, really fight, and you really want it, and you're exceptionally honest with yourself and willing to hear everything the Lord wants to say to you. But that doesn't happen very often—especially if you want your shepherding only from the Lord and not from others. That closes you off right there! Not very many people have very much success in only being shepherded by the Lord. It's not the Lord's way in most cases to do that. And He doesn't want to do that. He wants to use others to help safeguard you, because it helps to keep you humble. It also gives them something to do‚ ha!

Text box:

51. (Jesus: ) Just as all have sinned and fallen short of My glory, so have all disobeyed at one time or another and needed shepherding, both human and divine. Even David of old, both king and prophet, a man after Mine Own heart who obeyed in many big and little ways, required this shepherding. I took a personal hand in shepherding him‚ it is true, but at times I also enlisted the help of the prophet Nathan to bear messages to him, in the situation with Bathsheba and at other times. Nathan was not only My voice to him but also at times his shepherd‚ as he counseled David and helped make My will clear to him.

52. So you can obey in many ways and in most things and do great works for Me, My dear ones. You benefit greatly from hearing My voice and are blessed as you follow My instructions, My heavenly guidance and shepherding. But until you reach Heaven, you will require earthly shepherding as well, for it is in the multitude of counselors that purposes are established and shepherding is given. (End of message from Jesus.)

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53. He wants to keep you humble, and if you're just getting it from the Lord, like some people claim, they're usually not very humble people. When they're just hearing their directions from the Lord and they say they're only getting their shepherding from the Lord, they don't often turn out to be very good disciples! In fact, some haven't remained disciples at all‚ which I'm sure in some cases was due to a lack of receiving shepherding.

54. So, after I got used to the idea that my new freedom was not to be permanent and that I was not supposed to be independent and operating on my own, I was very thankful, and I realized we really do need shepherding. I need shepherding. Peter needs shepherding. We all need shepherding! That's just the way the Lord has made it. Nobody's perfect. Nobody can see all the places where they need improvement. We just can't always see ourselves real clearly.

55. We really do need each other, and that is one of the main things that we have to fully realize. Or maybe you realize it already, but you have to practice it, and you have to know that whomever the Lord has put you with to work with on a day-to-day basis, they need to be your safeguards. They need to be your shepherds. It doesn't matter if they're younger, or they're junior members of your teamwork, or even if they're not on your teamwork, or if they're someone in your Home, or even if they're new to the situation. Whoever it is, if you're working with them‚ you need to be open to them, open to shepherding.

56. Shepherding shouldn't be a difficult thing to receive. I think the more you get shepherded, the more you appreciate it, and the more you realize how important it is for you. However, if you haven't had shepherding for a long time, you have undoubtedly gotten very sensitive and it'll probably be very difficult for you to receive it at first. You're probably in the habit of looking at it as something really bad and hard to take.

57. I'm going to have one of our WS shepherds explain a little bit about how we shepherd in WS, and what shepherding is as far as we're concerned.

Shepherding in WS

58. (Chris: ) In WS, a lot of emphasis is placed on shepherding. We all need it—including those of us who are shepherds and teamworkers ourselves. In fact, I think it would be fair to say that in WS, shepherding actually begins with the Home teamworks.

59. Each shepherding teamwork is encouraged and expected to work very closely together. We spend time together whenever possible, and we regularly communicate with each other—not just regarding the work and the needs of our Home members, but also regarding ourselves and each other.

60. The shepherding teamwork in each Home meets for several hours weekly, and a good portion of that time is often slotted just for us. We regularly share our hearts with each other and hear from the Lord together. We confess our mistakes and sins, share lessons, and pray for each other.

61. We also try to make sure that we have times of fun and fellowship together, just to enjoy being with each other.

62. Of course we spend time every day praying about and for our Home members and discussing their needs, as well as during our scheduled weekly teamwork meetings. But often the Lord has shown us to put priority on our own spiritual well-being and the well-being of our teamwork as a whole‚ even before we begin discussing the work and the needs of the flock.

63. In order for our Home teamworks to be effective and fruitful, we've got to make sure that we're in close unity with each other. And in all our busy Homes and lives, that doesn't just happen on its own. It takes time, effort‚ and prayer. We have to let the Lord continually bathe our spirits and oil our interactions and communications. We have to work at it and fight for unity, just as everyone else does.

64. The Lord usually puts people together in teamworks who are quite different from each other, each one having unique gifts and strengths‚ as well as weaknesses. That's the case in our Home, and from what I've seen and heard, that's the way it is in the other WS units as well. No one person on any of our teamworks is self-sufficient. We need each other very much, and the Lord has put us together, not necessarily because we think alike or because we just naturally get along so well, but because He needs us to help balance each other, as well as to safeguard and to shepherd each other.

65. In my case, for instance, I'm by nature a pretty negative person. Negativity is one of my besetting sins. But sensitivity and negativity are hindrances to teamworking. They're also hindrances to good shepherding and to my own personal growth and happiness. So, as a disciple‚ and especially as a WS shepherd, I can't afford to give place to those things. I have to fight them. They might be a part of my nature, but if I give in to them‚ they're not just going to hinder me personally, they're going to be a detriment to the whole teamwork and a hindrance to how the Lord is leading and working. So even though it's my tendency to think negatively about myself and to be sensitive, I just have to get over it.

66. I still have a long way to go, but the Lord is helping me to go on the attack against my negativity and to have the faith that I can change. "Negativity, in all its ugly forms, cannot stand before the power of the keys." It also helps that my Home members and teamworkers are aware of my weaknesses along these lines, and I know I can call on them to pray for me.

67. Recently we asked each of our WS members to help us by evaluating their Home teamworkers. We sent out a questionnaire to each person in WS, with about 50 questions, covering every aspect of our discipleship and shepherding that we could think of.

68. For instance, we asked them things like: "How comfortable do I make you feel?" "How good a listener am I?" "How confident are you that I will be faithful to shepherd you in whatever way is needed, even when it involves tough love, getting into the nitty-gritty of things, hearing from the Lord concerning your needs and/or problems, and sharing things with you that might be a little painful, difficult and/or awkward?" "How actively do you feel I minimize worldly influences in my life?"

69. After all the questionnaires were completed, each teamwork dedicated some days to a spiritual retreat together, so that we could prayerfully assess the evaluations and share them with each other. Instead of getting our own evaluations, which the Lord showed us would be too overwhelming and possibly discouraging, we traded evaluations with a fellow teamworker. After carefully studying the ratings and comments that had been given for our co-worker, we then prayed about how to share the results with each other.

70. Each teamwork then got together and shared and discussed the points that each of us received low marks on, and then we prayed for and heard from the Lord for each other.

71. It was a bit scary for us, and also a little difficult for those in our Homes who did the evaluations. But in order to grow and stretch, we have to be willing to do things that will stretch us. We can't just decide, "Oh no‚ I'm sensitive. I can't take something like that, so don't do that to me!"

72. If we're sensitive, it's a bit like we have to "Do the humble thing." We have to have the attitude that, "I need correction and help and input. I want it. This is what I choose to do." And then just go for it. Dive in.

73. All that to say, our Home teamworks are encouraged to shepherd each other and to help safeguard each other. But of course it doesn't stop there. Everyone in WS must be willing to be shepherded—and sometimes by their peers! It's part of what we all signed up for.

74. When someone new applies to join WS, for instance‚ we try to make it clear that if the Lord does lead and confirm that it's His will for them to come, they will have to be open to being shepherded. We send the applicant a letter explaining what will be required of them—in as much detail as we're able to give. We want them to know as much as possible about life in WS so they can pray knowledgeably about their decision. We call it the "Black Picture Letter."

75. We're very honest with them, and we try to cover everything that might come up, and among other things‚ we explain that they'd have to be willing to get direct oversight and shepherding, because that's what they'd be committing to if they join WS. And we really mean it. It's part of our commitment to excellence.

76. But it's interesting, because when new people arrive in WS, we sometimes find that their idea of close shepherding is different from the kind of shepherding we had in mind. Some have been a little surprised when they arrived, because they were expecting closer shepherding in the sense of strictness, with many guidelines and rules‚ and someone telling them exactly what they can and can't do in every situation. But WS doesn't operate that way, and that's not the kind of shepherding we give. We do have rules and guidelines‚ of course, especially in the area of security‚ but also in regards to our work standard and commitment to excellence, and procedures which help our Homes to function efficiently and within the standard of the Word. And we give correction, and we talk with people, and sometimes get involved in their personal lives when necessary. But the main focus isn't on trying to train people just to obey rules and do what they're told. The emphasis is on training people to take responsibility for themselves and for their own actions.

77. We've learned from Mama and Peter that the best kind of shepherding, and the way to help people to grow and progress spiritually, is to encourage them to hear from the Lord themselves, and as much as possible, make their decisions and operate according to their own faith. That pretty much explains what a big part of shepherding in WS involves—getting people to hear from the Lord about everything, and then helping them to apply and follow through on what He tells them. That's a big part of what we mean by close shepherding—there are other aspects too, but that's a very major part of it.

78. But some people aren't accustomed to that, and at first, it can even be a little destabilizing for them. They arrive in WS, expecting to just be told what they can and can't do—like in the army or something. They're all geared up for it‚ and they even want it, because they want to grow and progress, and people often have the idea that that kind of shepherding will help them.

79. But when they realize that we're expecting them to help shepherd themselves by going to the Lord and letting Him lead them, people react in different ways, depending on a lot of things—like their spiritual maturity and how much personal freedom they're accustomed to having.

80. Personal freedom doesn't work unless there is also personal responsibility. That's the key. Our folks in WS are expected to ask the Lord about everything, and then follow through on what He shows them. We not only encourage them to ask the Lord what they should be praying about and focusing on in their lives, but we often suggest things we feel would be good for them to pray about‚ and even assign P&P questions for the whole Home. And we encourage them to share their personal prophecies with us, so we can know what the Lord is asking of them and we can pray for them.

81. We expect them to pray and obey, just as Dad always taught us to do—not just concerning their work and ministries, but also regarding their free time and personal lives. Instead of just having their shepherds tell them, "Okay, this is what you can do in your free time and this is what you can't do," we expect them to ask the Lord. Of course, it's much easier for some people to just be told what to do, and that's what some people like and expect. But that's not the sample we've seen from Mama and Peter.

82. Whenever we get in touch with Mama to ask her what she wants us to do or what she thinks we should do in some situation, she will always answer something like‚ "Well, just pray and ask the Lord about it." That's not to say she doesn't have an opinion about things or that she won't explain how she feels about certain issues. But she will always end by saying, "Ask the Lord," and she makes it clear that whatever her opinion is, it's simply that—her opinion, and that she's very open to whatever the Lord knows is best. As well as we know her and as many times as she's asked us to pray about things, she still always makes it clear that she doesn't know—while she may have an opinion, she might be seeing only one side of the picture, and we really need the Lord's mind and perspective, no matter how small or unimportant the issue might seem. She doesn't assume she knows what the Lord will say or what would be best.

83. Free times are of course the most difficult for people in this sense. When they're at their desk or at work, they're continually going to the Lord and hearing from Him about the project or the pub they're working on. They work hard day after day, making sure they meet their deadlines, and once they finish, they feel like just chilling. That's natural.

84. It's not human nature to want to take the time and effort to pray and hear from the Lord—especially when it comes to free time. But that's often when prayerfulness is really needed and when people need shepherding the most, because you're "off duty‚" so to speak. So we're continually encouraging and reminding our folks to pray about things, and to share their prophecies with us. That helps make our jobs as shepherds much easier.

85. In WS, we talk a lot about our "commitment to excellence." But it was interesting that the Lord said everyone has now signed up for what He called an "accelerated course." So it really doesn't matter if we're in WS or on the field, we're all in the same boat, the same league, and we're all being asked to make the same commitment to excellence. And that involves hearing from the Lord and following through on what He shows us, just as Dad, and now Mama and Peter, have been teaching us for so many years. That's what discipleship is all about.

86. Sometimes on our prayer mornings, Mama assigns a P&P question for all of WS. We then compile excerpts of the counsel the Lord gave (without using people's names) and the Homes go over them in devotions. We discuss the Lord's counsel and it helps us to know what He's expecting of us, not only as individuals, but as a body. And sometimes the Lord shows Mama that that counsel would be helpful to the whole Family, and she sends it out in GNs.

87. Although that's only part of what shepherding is like in WS, it's a big part—just encouraging people to hear from the Lord on a daily basis.

88. Someone commented to me recently, "You must do a lot of correcting in WS." And I had to really think about my answer, because I don't really feel that we do that much "correcting."

89. (Mama:) Chris writes sweet letters to people. They're so beautiful. They have a little correction, but the Lord anoints him‚ and it's well done, well said.

90. (Chris:) Well, that's only the Lord. I definitely can't take any credit for anything good about it. I have to ask the Lord first of all if any correction is needed—and if so, what kind of correction is needed, and how it should be given or explained. When do they need it? How should we go about it, and what will be the most effective? So, yes, I guess we do give correction, but it mostly involves either passing on the counsel the Lord has given us for certain ones, or often, just going over their own personal prophecies with them.

91. Sometimes‚ if it seems the Lord isn't getting through to someone or if they're not taking things seriously enough, we'll have to say something like‚ "Look‚ the Lord has been telling you such-and-such, but it doesn't sound like you're obeying what He's been telling you. What's the deal? Are you going to follow through on this and obey or not? Because in this message here He's beginning to warn you about what will happen if you don't!"

92. We get so familiar with the Lord sometimes. He's extremely patient with us, and He's constantly encouraging us. We pray about things, and the Lord's usually very sweet and understanding. But if we're really open and yielded, He'll also tell things like they are and give it to us straight.

93. If people are able to, for the most part, get that kind of counsel from the Lord, then our job as shepherds is easy. We just have to let them know that we're expecting them to obey what He's already shown them, and of course there are also times when the Lord will show us something and we'll need to point it out to them. But if they're not getting the right answers from the Lord, or if they're being disobedient and disregarding His counsel‚ then our job is to do whatever the Lord shows us is needed to help them get back on course, and sometimes the Lord even gives people ultimatums. When we see that the Lord is doing that, then it's obviously time to sit up and take notice. We'll say, "Hey, the Lord is getting a little heavy here. He's giving you an ultimatum. He's warning you. What are you going to do about it?"

94. Again, it all comes back to hearing from the Lord about every detail. And that doesn't necessarily come naturally to most of us. Our natural inclination is often to feel that we don't have the time that's really needed to hear from the Lord about all of that.

95. It doesn't come natural to me either. I'm very proud and independent, and pretty self-confident. I don't naturally want to or feel the need to have to counsel or pray about every little thing. I constantly have to ask for prayer for my health, because I'm blessed with many afflictions. The Lord has had to keep working on me and humbling me through my afflictions, because otherwise I would probably be trying to get away with operating in my own strength.

96. But I don't want to do that anymore. I'm tired of operating in my own strength. I did that for way too long. I've made mistakes and I've hurt people because I leaned to my own understanding or I operated in my own strength. Well, thank the Lord, those folks had Jesus, and I pray they were able to learn and grow in spite of my mistakes.

97. But it's so much better when we take the time to go to the Lord and base our shepherding on hearing from Him for our sheep, and encouraging them to hear from the Lord for themselves.

98. As Dad tried to teach us in "Stop, Look, and Listen," we've got to acknowledge that we can't do it and that we don't have the answers. We've got to be willing and have the faith to stop and get desperate for the answers we need for our flock. Dad said that when we learn to do that, when we learn to truly go to the Lord for everything in prayer, we will truly have become God's leaders. So, Lord helping us, that's what we're striving to do.

It's Vital that You Shepherd Each Other!

99. (Mama: ) Shepherding is very hard work, and you can't be lazy about it. You have to keep up the momentum. You have to be humble to do it. You have to be willing to be looked on as an ogre sometimes. It's hard to shepherd, so we haven't done it as we should and there's been a real lack of shepherding in the Family. That's one of the things which has caused our standard to drop. And I'm not just talking here about appointed shepherds and leaders shepherding the sheep, but I'm talking about everyone being willing to give and receive shepherding, even if you're receiving it from someone who's not your "shepherd," or lovingly and humbly giving it to someone who's not your "sheep."

100. I don't know if you understand yet how very vital it is that you shepherd each other. I know there are a lot of difficulties involved—especially when it's not a Home shepherd having to shepherd somebody in the Home, but having to shepherd each other as peers. That's a lot more difficult.

101. Like Chris was saying, he and his teamworkers shepherd each other, and that's not very easy. You have to put a lot of prayer into it, and a lot of agonizing in spirit and hearing from the Lord, because you're on an equal level. We've heard a lot of people say, "Well, it's hard to shepherd so-and-so because we're on the same level, and who am I to tell them what to do? I don't want to seem like I'm putting myself above them—they'll think I'm proud and getting lifted up." There are all kinds of excuses why we don't shepherd each other.

102. But one of the changes that the Lord is going to be making in the Family is that we are going to have to shepherd each other. That is one of the major changes that we're going to have to make—to shepherd one another, and ourselves, through welcoming shepherding from others. A lot of you haven't been getting shepherding, or you haven't been getting much of it. You've got to start shepherding yourselves by shepherding each other and allowing others to shepherd you.

103. I have a few excerpts of prophecies to share with you. I want to show you how serious it is, and how the Lord sees it when you fail to shepherd each other.

104. And when the Lord talks about the teamworks‚ he's not just talking about the CO teamworks; He's talking about any teamwork. There are boards, Home teamworks, other committee or department teamworks, or whatever you may have. Anybody that you live and work with closely is your teamwork.

105. Your teamwork that you give shepherding to and receive shepherding from needs to be those you work with on a day-by-day basis. You can do it with others as well, but that's not going to help very much if you don't see them much. It's going to take humility to obey this counsel from the Lord, and that's what has been lacking—humility to shepherd each other, and to allow yourself to be shepherded without being sensitive about it.

106. Here are those prophecy excerpts I mentioned:

107. (Jesus: ) The failure of our shepherds and teamworks to correct each other and others is failure to love and have compassion.

108. (Mama:) Think about that.

109. (Jesus: ) You allow the Devil to twist the scripture, "Love covers a multitude of sins." In this verse, love means forgiveness, not covering up or turning away from the sin.

110. (Mama:) Love forgives and covers the multitude of sins‚ but that doesn't mean that when you forgive people you're not supposed to shepherd them. It's a completely different thing.

111. (Jesus: ) This failure to correct one another on the part of teamworks shows a weakness of faith and/or humility.

112. (Jesus: ) If you don't have enough love or humility to present what you see as wrong or a weakness on the part of your teammate, you are sinning against that person. Remember, you are your brother's keeper. You are to watch for his soul. That means you are held accountable for him if he is straying, or being a bad sample‚ or stumbling others. To not have the faith to point it out to him is doing him a great disservice, and his blood will be on your hands.

113. (Mama:) Sad to say, we have had a lot of people who have gotten to the point where they've been in such bad shape that they have left the Lord's service. I believe that many of them‚ if they had been shepherded, would have made it. So we all probably have a lot to answer for.

114. There have been a few people who have applied to WS and we have accepted them, but they certainly weren't the kind of people that we would normally bring to WS, and we questioned it all the way. But the Lord kept saying, "Yes, bring them." Later I wondered why the Lord told us to accept them, because it turned out they weren't in such good shape, and the Lord showed me that if we hadn't, they might have left the Family. They were that in need of shepherding, and the Lord knew that was the only way they were going to get the shepherding they needed, so He brought them to us. And they're making it, thank the Lord. The Lord has such love and compassion for people, and will go to such lengths to bring into each life what He knows they need, and tries to help them make it.

115. So this lack of shepherding is a very sad thing, and I want all of you to really take this to heart. I've been surprised, really, to even hear statements from some of the COs that reflect this lack of being able to shepherd people, or feeling that they can't get in there and talk to people, for all kinds of reasons. And if the COs, who have a lot of authority, feel that way, it's probably even worse in many Homes where people are so out of the habit of helping each other and don't feel like they can, and also aren't willing to accept help themselves! I could give you a whole list of things we've heard from some of you about the lack of shepherding that make me feel like, "Whoa, no wonder the Family is in such a bad state!"

116. We have got to shepherd each other‚ that's the Lord's mandate to us. He's not going to shepherd us all by Himself. Some of the time He's going to use you to shepherd each other, and for this to work, we can't be sensitive. If you're sensitive, you've got to get the victory; you've got to get over it. And if you're too proud to talk to somebody and share your heart with them, or too lazy, or think it's too much hard work, or you don't want to deal with their reactions, you've got to get the victory over that too.

117. I love you all very much and I admire you, but in this one area you must do better! You must! There's no alternative. There's no option. I believe you want to, and I believe you can get the vision, finally, to do it. Do it in love, but do it, and be clear! Say what you mean. Tell the person in love. You don't have to be mean or even stern about it. You can put your arm around them. There have been a few times when I've had to relieve someone of their job, but I've put my arms around them and cried with them and I told them very sweetly. Show love. But be firm. And don't beat around the bush.

118. I've heard of people who said, "Well, yes, they talked to me and they counseled me, but I didn't really get the point. I wasn't sure what they meant." That is not acceptable either. Poor people! If you're going to counsel somebody‚ if you're going to shepherd them and correct them, be clear in what it is you're trying to help them realize. Write it out if you have to. It's no good shepherding people if they don't know what they're being shepherded for.

119. You've got to start making it clear to each other what you mean, and not just give little hints or suggestions and think that it's taken care of. That is not sufficient.

120. Chris writes notes to people. That's one good way to do it, especially if you can't be clear, or you feel you might wimp out, or you're not so great at communicating things clearly when talking face to face. If you need to give very specific counsel and cover specific points, you might consider writing a letter, as then you can pray over every word and make sure that it's balanced and well presented and loving and yet clear instruction. Or at least write out the points that you need to cover in your talk, so that you don't forget something.

121. It's wonderful if the person can hear it put clearly and lovingly and tactfully, and can go over it and know exactly what they're looking at‚ what the problem is, and read the prophecy and encouragement from the Lord! It's probably the best way to pass on instruction or shepherding in many instances. Ask the Lord. He'll show you what's best for that particular situation.

122. Help us, Lord, to get this clearly and to have it sink deeply into our hearts and to be able to make the sacrifices to give to each other and to love each other. Like You said, we have to love our brothers and sisters and mates and co–workers, Lord. We have to be our brother's keeper and give them the love they need by giving them the shepherding they need. Thank You, dear Love.

How Sensitivity Hinders Teamworking

123. As I said earlier, whoever you work with or live with, that's your "teamwork," and you're meant to be each other's safeguards. You're supposed to be pointing things out when you see something that's not right. That's a very important part of your job and responsibility.

124. Chris was explaining how his Home teamwork‚ and other teamworks in our WS units, take time to relax and have a meal together or fellowship‚ and that's a good idea that will really help to strengthen your teamwork too. It helps if you're close friends, open with each other about personal things, so that you have camaraderie and support in the spirit and feel like you have someone you can talk to, and that you can encourage each other. Of course‚ I understand that sometimes it's not natural to get along so well, or your working relationship is more of a business relationship and not all that personal. But that's really not how it should be. In order to be an effective teamwork, it should go beyond that.

125. It doesn't matter if your teamworker isn't the kind of person that you naturally click with—if the Lord put you together, He must know that you can be a good balance for each other and a good team together. And you've got to work in that direction, because it's not just going to happen all by itself! The Enemy is going to fight it! That's something that many of you need to work on.

126. Following is some more counsel from the Lord about how sensitivity can really hurt teamworks. Of course, you won't be surprised to hear what the Lord has to say, as I'm sure you've found it true through your personal experience. But please take this counsel from the Lord to heart, because it is very important. If we're going to become stronger as a Family, our teams and Homes and teamworks are going to have to become stronger, more united, and more faithful to shepherd each other.

127. (Jesus:) It's good to be amicable and open-minded in public meetings, but it's equally important to have an open mind and right spirit in private. When you're alone with your teamwork‚ or just alone with your thoughts and Me, and you find yourself sensitive or hurt and upset because of something someone said, or some situation, or how they treated you‚ or things that happened that you didn't agree with, or some suggestion or instruction that you don't feel was deserved or accurate, that's not the right spirit. Even if you try to keep it to yourself and not let it come out or affect the teamwork and the work, the truth is that it's bound to have an effect. A sensitive spirit can't be hidden or brushed under the carpet. It's sensitive, and others on the teamwork feel it and know it, and it hinders your communication, your counsel, your hearing from Me together for solutions, as well as your personal time of hearing from Me.

128. If you're sensitive, most likely you've had a few run–ins of some type with others on your teamwork, something that was just a little off in the spirit. And most likely because you're sensitive it never got cleared up satisfactorily. If that's the case, there are still a few seeds of sensitivity around which make it difficult for others on the teamwork to communicate with you; they don't want to upset you or cause you to blow up or withdraw, and they don't want to do things that they perceive will make you feel bad. When that happens, it often means people are forced to act in a way that's not My highest will. They're not free to do what I want them to do in full. They're being hindered from performing My will because of sensitivity.

129. For example, let's say I show you to make a suggestion that will up the standard. You'd like to bring it to the table for discussion and further prayer. You'd like to be able to counsel wisely and well without strong personal opinions or without previous sensitivity on this subject entering the picture.

130. But if someone will be in the discussion who you know is rather sensitive about this issue—perhaps the way things are now was their idea, or they just don't like the new idea and are a strong opposing voice—can you see how My will is hindered before it even gets off the ground? The points in question don't have to be big things or big issues; if your reaction is sensitive to the little things, it makes it very difficult for your teamworkers to counsel with you about anything.

131. If your teammates don't feel they can trust you to take things with an open mind and not get upset or worked up, then they simply won't be able to trust you. If they can't trust you to be a wise counselor and prayer warrior, then My will is stymied.

132. Sensitivity throws up roadblocks to My will being performed. Your teammates have to find ways around those roadblocks in order to do My will. Your teammates can't exactly stop counseling with you altogether, because they must include you in the counsel out of respect for the position I've given you. But if they find you're regularly sensitive, they might include you in the counsel, but they won't necessarily respect or trust your counsel because of your sensitivity in that area.

133. Another way sensitivity can hinder your teamworking is in the use of your channel. It's very important that you do not let personal issues and personal sensitivity taint the counsel you give, or influence the questions you bring before Me, or cloud your perspective.

134. Your teammates need the best co-worker and teamworker possible. The job is already more than they feel they can handle. Each one of you is fighting to do your best for Me and to be the best disciple and teamworker you can be. Each person is doing the job out of obedience to Me‚ making the sacrifices, giving their all to Me.

135. They need you to be open, yielded, and humble. They need to be able to count on you and trust that you are fighting to stay right in spirit before Me. If sensitivity and pride are hindering your communications with your teamwork, now is a good time to change things and start anew. (End of message from Jesus.)

Text box:

136. (Jesus:) You all need to be able to count on each other, help and encourage each other, and safeguard one another. That's an imperative part of teamworking, part of your mandate. If you're not fulfilling that aspect of your job, you're not doing the best job possible.

End of text box.

Testimony of R3

137. (Mama:) In one of our units‚ we have a little group of young people who voluntarily decided to get together and work on things that they need to work on‚ because they want to grow spiritually. So they get together one night a week to share lessons, pray for each other, talk about things in their lives, and share their personal prophecies, basically with the goal of helping each other grow and make progress. They work together to stay motivated, do better, and go further in their spiritual lives, making progress in things that they've wanted to improve in.

138. I asked one of them to write something up about how it works, because it's a good example of opening yourself up to shepherding from your peers, asking for help, and overcoming sensitivity. This is just to show you that shepherding each other doesn't have to be a big, bad thing‚ and you can survive it and do well with it. Of course, this isn't necessarily meant to be something that you need to feel obligated to do in your Homes‚ but I think the example and the principles behind it might give you ideas of how you can apply this counsel on opening yourselves up to more shepherding, and also being willing to give shepherding to your peers.

(From an SGA who has been involved in R3:)

139. Several months ago a few of us young people got together, and in counsel with and under the guidance of our shepherds, we started up what is essentially a movement to spiritually support and shepherd one another. We call it "R3," which stands for "Rebel, Revolt, Revolute"—against the Enemy, that is!

140. The purpose of this group from the beginning was to focus on the application of the Word in every aspect of our lives. We wanted to create an avenue for learning to be our brothers' keepers and helping each other to move forward spiritually. Our shepherds are wonderful and do what they can to help each of us in the ways we need it, but they aren't able to keep up with all the "shepherding" that each of us needs. Around the time of forming this group it was becoming clear to us—and has since been made pretty clear to the whole Family—that being our brothers' keepers, looking out for each other and helping each other grow spiritually, was an area that some of us were quite weak in‚ but that the Lord wanted to make us strong in.

141. Everyone in this group had decided that this was something we wanted to do, and that we would commit to spending an evening together once a week to meet and pray about and discuss what the Lord showed us step by step. It wasn't something that involved the whole Home, but it started off as a small, intimate group of a few of us who the Lord had shown specifically needed something like this in our lives.—Mainly because we were all going through something pretty major, or were at some type of crossroads in our spiritual lives and/or ministries; we needed more help, prayer, and shepherding than we had been getting so far, and this was the way the Lord showed us to get it.

142. One of our first "self-shepherding" activities was that within our group, we did evaluations on one another, for the purpose of helping each other to recognize some of our weak areas and from there make progress in changing. This was similar to something the WS shepherds did, but we didn't have the whole Home evaluate us, just our little group. It was very helpful for each of us‚ and we not only survived it, but we're actually still friends, ha!—I would actually venture to say much better and closer friends, but more on that later.

143. When we first got together as a group, we spent a few meetings just "bonding" and talking about our spiritual lives and ways in which we wanted to grow. We also had a meeting where we each took a turn to say something we appreciated or admired about everyone else in the group. That was very unity-building and encouraging, and then later when we did the evaluations, remembering that everyone had said a lot of good things about us really helped put the weaker areas that were pointed out into perspective. We all knew that we really loved each other, cared about each other, and wanted to help each other grow. It wasn't like, "Now's my chance to say this big bad thing that I've never had the chance to say to you before."

144. We put together an evaluation form that had a variety of questions about our spiritual lives, how we came across to others, our sample, etc. For example‚ some of the questions were:

• Do I show that I care about my connection with the Lord and work at staying close to Him?

• Do I try to live the Law of Love in my daily interactions with others?

• Am I willing to help with the needs of the Home whenever possible and needed?

• Am I a good listener?

• Am I exclusive or somewhat cliquish?

• Do I get easily upset or affected by little things?

• Do I keep the missionary spirit and a vision of what we're here for, the missionaries on the field?

145. When the idea of doing these evaluations was first brought up, some of us were very enthusiastic about it, feeling it would be just the help we needed, whereas others were a little more hesitant. Of course, we all want to grow and make progress, but some of us were concerned that things might come up that would be hard to take, or that the discussion forum would get a little "rough," or that hurtful things might be said, etc. In any case, we all agreed that we needed help and that it was worth a try. We wanted our friends and mates to be open and honest with us and not hold back. We all agreed to not be sensitive, and also agreed to be very sweet and loving about the things we said about each other.

146. Each person filled out an evaluation about the others in the group, and we would rate each other from 1 to 5 on each of these points‚ with 5 being "excellent" and 1 "not so great." We then held a few meetings to go over them together. We had discussed whether we would do the evaluations anonymously or not, and we decided that we wanted to do them face-to-face. In some cases the anonymous route might be preferable, but in this case, we were close friends or co-workers already, and we all agreed we should be brave enough to "take it" from each other, and that we wanted to go all the way with the whole "green shirt" thing.

147. So what we did was, the "evaluee" would read the question‚ and then we'd go around the circle and in turn each person would give their score out loud for that particular point. As each person read their score, they also shared any additional comments they had, or explanations as to why they gave that number. For example: "I gave you a 3 on 'am I usually cheerful?' because, while that is the case most of the time, in these last few months you've often been a little down and sad-looking. Perhaps it's been a rough time for you and you're going through battles, which is understandable, but I just wanted you to be aware of how you've been coming across."

148. Having a couple of shepherds at these meetings was helpful‚ because in some cases they were able to explain a little more or add to something someone said; and just having them there made us feel more comfortable to be open and forthright‚ trusting that if we did goof up in any way, they could help us resolve things.

149. Our meetings were actually a combination of personal prayer and evaluation. One or two of us would come prepared with our own personal lists of things we needed prayer for, having already prayed and heard from the Lord about them. Then, in addition, everyone helped evaluate us‚ and by the end of the meeting we had a few more prayer requests to add to our list!

150. In my case, the prayer requests I had prepared, and the comments people had, really matched up. It was a clear, living-color confirmation of the things the Lord was showing me already. Sometimes, at least speaking for myself, you know your weaknesses and problems, but it's helpful when other people confirm them. Because you think, "Yes, I know I'm proud‚ but maybe I'm not that proud." But when you read a question like, "Do I come across in a spirit of humility?" and you go around the circle and half the people in the room give you a two for that, well … you get serious about it!

151. On the other side, it's also extremely encouraging when doing evaluations like this to hear the "5" scores—the things people think you do really well in. It helped the constructive criticism go down easier when it was mixed in with all these nice compliments, high scores, and encouragement. You didn't feel like people were picking on you‚ because you also heard all the things on which they gave you high marks, and felt encouraged by those.

152. Something that we all learned pretty clearly through this experience is that there's often a real big difference between the way you see yourself and the way others see you. What a revelation, ha! One of the guys explained that there were a couple of points where he was expecting to get fives across the board, and then when out came a series of threes, it was pretty surprising!

153. It's extremely helpful to know how others see you, because sadly, although our motives and hearts may be right, sometimes the way we come across portrays something completely different than what we intend, and it hurts people or offends them or makes things difficult for them in some way—and the worst part is that we don't even realize it. And there's often no way to find out about those kinds of things without creating a platform and atmosphere where people can tell you things like that about yourself. Of course, it works best if you really want it and are prepared to take it‚ and then to make an effort to change in the areas that affect your life and relationships with others.

154. We all learned good things, both through hearing from others about our weak areas and also when evaluating others. It was a very helpful exercise in really praying about how to present things in a balanced manner. We had all agreed beforehand that we would not be sensitive and we were just going to shoot straight, but we had also talked about being prayerful in how we presented things. We wanted to be honest, but at the same time not hurtful.

155. We had a little guidance from our shepherds, who in most cases looked over what we planned to say‚ and in some cases made suggestions like, "You might want to explain that a little more, because it's a little unclear." We also agreed that if somebody said something that we didn't understand, then we would talk about it, either right there or later if necessary. In one of the meetings a comment someone made about the girl being evaluated at first came across a bit offensive, but later, when she asked the other person what they meant, it was very different from what she thought, and all was easily resolved.

156. It was a good learning process in how to present and talk about uncomfortable things. Yet because each person was asking for it, it wasn't as if you had to walk on ice. Since we were all expecting it and open to it, it worked out very well. We're very thankful we did it. That experience built a foundation for us to continue our friendships and relationships on a spiritual level, a level where we could help and shepherd each other‚ and by God's grace we're continuing to grow and develop in this area, and striving to be a support and blessing to one another.

157. Something else we've done is set up a simple online bulletin board in our Home where we post our personal prophecies. That way we can regularly share what we're going through and what the Lord is showing us, and thereby get prayer and safeguarding. We're learning a lot from each other's prophecies too, as reading your loved ones' prophecies is not only a way to know what they're going through and to be able to help them‚ but there's always a lot of personal feeding to be gained as well. We also have a forum on that same bulletin board where we share quotes that we read in the Word that really speak to us. Many of us try to take one day of our Word time each week to read the things that others have been posting, as well as post our own contributions.

158. Having an open and honest forum—in our meetings‚ on our bulletin board, and in our everyday life—makes it pretty easy to be able to help and even correct each other, because we already know all of the "information" about each other, and those who need the help are asking for it themselves. From the beginning, we've been very open and honest with each other, and it's helped us see a beautiful, spiritually deeper side of each person in our group. Whereas some of us had some "issues" with one another at the start‚ we're now much closer in spirit and willing to ask for prayer from each other, point out weaknesses to each other as we notice them, and for the most part, this is all done in a spirit of friendship and camaraderie. Nobody feels like "I'm being picked on" because we're all in it together, we all want it‚ and we all know that we need the help of our friends and co-workers to move forward spiritually and be the disciples the Lord is asking us to be.

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159. (Mama:) After R3 had been functioning for a few months, the young people involved wrote up an explanation for the other WS units‚ and since then another group has also formed. Here are some comments from the young people who started the first R3 group, taken from their explanation to the rest of WS.

160. • What is R3? Meeting with my peers to have edifying and spiritually strengthening fellowship and interaction. Getting help in my weak areas. Learning from others' lessons and mistakes. A venue for stretching myself spiritually. Learning how to apply and obey the Word in love and with wisdom. Getting prayer. Discipleship training.

161. • I am by nature quite lazy in the spirit, but when there are a few others whom you have sent your personal P&P to and they know what the Lord told you, or they prayed for you, somehow it lights a fire under your butt to make sure you're doing something about it—that you're following through.

162. • Just before the group started‚ I had gotten a bit of a shakeup and some correction from my shepherds, and to tell the truth, I was really inspired about it—because I knew it was what I needed. The Lord was challenging me to really live the Word, to discover the full power of the new weapons, to get back to the basics of being a revolutionary disciple of Jesus, and I wanted that more than anything in the world—but I felt at a bit of a loss as to exactly how to get from point A where I was/am, to point B where the Lord wants me to be.

163. Since joining R3‚ things have become a lot clearer to me. I feel more challenged and motivated to do what I need to do. And this is probably partly pride, ha, but it's neat to have other people notice when you're changing and growing and improving. It encourages me to keep doing it. I know that there are others in the same boat, peers and friends who know where I'm at, know my weak areas, and know what the Lord has asked of me, and they are praying for me, and will help hold me to my commitments if they see I'm slipping. I am so grateful for that.

164. • The openness, honesty, dedication, and camaraderie with my peers and shepherds is something I'm very thankful for, and something I hope I never have to do without again.

165. • I'm thankful for a forum where my peers are frank and honest, even (in one meeting) pointing out to me ways that I can improve in my relations with people, be less judgmental and more understanding, and be less full of myself‚ heh. I love straightforwardness, and that to me is what R3 has been about. However, it's not just the frankness but the love that my peers have manifested. If you're in a forum where you are having healthy give-and-take‚ and every single person who offers some helpful suggestions or constructive criticism is also very welcoming of the same from the others‚ it makes for beautiful communication.

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166. (Mama:) That's very helpful‚ isn't it? Helping each other, counseling each other, and shepherding each other doesn't have to be some big, bad, horrible thing if you do it in the right way. It can be wonderful, in fact, and you can get lots and lots of help and support that way.

167. In the future we might be able to get out more about this little experiment that they've done in shepherding each other. But really, it's not complicated. It's just about lovingly deciding together that you're going to help each other, you're going to share your own heart and life with others‚ and they're going to share theirs with you. They've been very prayerful, and because they've been doing the humble thing in opening their hearts to each other, the Lord has really blessed it. They've all really grown.

We're All Proud—And Need to Fight It!

168. (Jesus: ) As you are aware, sensitivity and pride hinder almost every person in the Family to varying degrees. Sensitivity and pride are hindrances and obstacles, and if allowed to continue‚ will become roadblocks to all I wish to do in the lives of these who love Me so much and who have given so much to serve and follow Me.

169. (Mama:) That's a pretty broad statement, but the Lord knows what He's talking about. Sensitivity and pride—pride in the form of sensitivity, pride in the form of negativity, pride in the form of shyness, pride in the form of self-righteousness, pride in the form of criticalness, comparing‚ and envy. Pride has many faces, and you can be asking yourself how it applies to you. Because if you see how it's manifested, you'll want to get the victory over it, and the Lord can certainly give you the victory.

170. The Lord has recently given a lot of counsel about pride that I want to get out to you soon. Please pray that we can get the time to prepare it for you. Basically we're seeing that pride has a lot more influence in many of our lives than we previously thought or were willing to admit.

171. It's a very big problem, and part of the problem is because it's one of those "embarrassing" spiritual sins that you don't want to talk about or admit you have. You wish you didn't have it, so you try to beat it down and suppress it, and when something comes up that could be a good opportunity for you to do the humble thing and learn something, or confess and admit your weakness, instead you feel embarrassed and you try to justify your way out of it. It sounds so horrible to admit that you're proud, or to call a spade a spade and confess the way pride is making you act or react or think, so you try to gloss over it and blame it on other things. Because of this, pride is allowed to basically flourish in a lot of your lives, because you're trying to pretend it's not a problem! And it's hindering you!

172. Here's a little excerpt of something the Lord said that makes that very clear.

173. (Jesus: ) Everyone needs to change his or her view on spiritual sins. It's completely ineffective to ignore them or pretend they're not there. They're present whether you admit it or ignore them or not. And admitting that you have them doesn't mean that you're branded with some big tattoo that says "Sinner" or "Spiritual Weakling," something that alienates you from others. Everyone has sins; they're a part of life. It's nothing to be ashamed of. But if someone is ashamed of their sins and they try to hide them or cover them, then they've been conquered by them. For one thing‚ they can't get the help they need from Me or from others, and for another, their hidden or secret sins thrive and grow worse when concealed. So the attitude shouldn't be‚ "Oh dear, I have this horrible sin in my life. Let me bury it so that no one else can see it, so that I look all perfect and shiny on the outside." The approach should be, "Okay, I have a sin here, but I'm not ashamed of it; we all have them. Now what am I going to do about it? How can I dig it out and root it out?" (End of message from Jesus)

174. (Mama:) Sensitivity is one kind of pride that keeps a lot of people from wanting to have shepherding‚ or in other words, from hearing the Lord's truth. And this is a very sad thing.

175. We can all be sensitive under certain circumstances, and we all have to fight it at times. But when you have sensitive reactions pretty consistently, that's when you know it's very serious and you need to do something about it. If you do have that kind of serious sensitivity, it's probably because it's gone on for quite a long time and you haven't allowed yourself to be shepherded—or other people haven't tried to shepherd you because they were afraid of you and they were intimidated.

176. The Lord wants it to be much more natural for us all to realize that we're proud and that we need help! If we will come to that realization and be willing to admit it—not just once, but on a daily or even hourly basis if necessary—we'll be miles ahead! So many of the Enemy's tricks won't work on us anymore, because we'll be recognizing our pride and fighting it. We'll be much stronger in spirit. We'll be better at using the new weapons‚ since they all require humility. And, yes, we'll be much less sensitive too.

More on Why Sensitivity Is So Bad

177. A lot of people who are very sensitive don't realize that they're so sensitive. They think the problem is with the other person. Sometimes people who are sensitive just see themselves as "delicate" or needing to be handled with more finesse or love or care.

178. After all, there are two forms of sensitivity. There is sensitivity to the spirit—which is a good thing. That sensitivity is a personality trait of some people, but it's also something which can be honed, through listening to the Lord, being obedient to Him, becoming less opinionated or strong in your own ideas, more discerning (which comes from time spent in the Word and with the Lord, hearing His mind)‚ tuning into the needs of those around you more, etc. Then there's sensitivity in the sense that we're talking about now, which is basically pride, and is characterized by feeling hurt, easily offended, put out, irritated, bothered, rubbed the wrong way, jealous, left out, unloved‚ mistreated, misunderstood, misjudged, or even angry. There are other manifestations of sensitivity, but those are some of the main ones.

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179. (Jesus:) You will always have to face difficult situations. Sometimes you really will be left out of things. Sometimes you'll have to take correction that is even a bit unfair or presented wrongly. People will still do things that could offend you. You'll still have times when you feel irritable. But the way you handle those things shows how you're doing in fighting pride and overcoming sensitivity.

180. If you let sensitivity take over and feel justified—because there will be very real circumstances making it difficult for you—then you're letting your pride and sensitivity control you, you're giving place to the Enemy. But if, even if you feel a bit hurt or left out or bothered, you rise above it, claim the keys and ask Me to help you, and then take positive action to react the way I want you to, even if you don't feel that way, then you're overcoming your sensitivity‚ your pride is more in check‚ and you're making progress!

181. It's not that you have to get to the point where you're never tempted or feel a little bad about something. But if you can recognize that, and then go on the attack to have a good reaction or at least be humble and confess your problem and realize that it's wrong to react that way, that's a good sign. (End of message from Jesus.)

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182. Getting over sensitivity is not easy. It's usually a pretty deeply ingrained habit, and your attitude has to change first of all, and then you have to work hard at changing your reactions and habits. In order to get over it, it takes real commitment and a lot of hard work and determination, plus the Lord's miracle-working power‚ of course. It takes being willing to push yourself into situations that you would normally avoid; to hold your tongue if you're in the habit of lashing out; or forcing yourself to communicate lovingly when you don't feel like it, if you're the type that goes silent. In any case, it's painful, uncomfortable‚ and not fun.

183. But you have to work through that difficult stage in order to grow and get the victory. Because it's hard and you've probably tried to get over it many times before, but then found it difficult and let up, you need to be convinced how bad it is, how much it's hurting the work and hurting you spiritually, and how important it is that you get the victory. Basically, you probably need an ultimatum from the Lord that will help you realize how serious it is—which means asking Him with an open heart, "What do I stand to lose by continuing on this way?" His answer will help you have the fear of the Lord, and the conviction and determination to work through the difficult spots and not give up until you see the victory. But before you are willing to ask the Lord for an ultimatum, you have to:

1. Realize what a problem it is.
2. Recognize that you've got it, and need to get over it.

How to Recognize If You're Sensitive

184. The Lord gave a list of questions, a little "self-test" that you can take to see how you're doing in the sensitivity department. Of course, if you're very open and receptive, you can just ask Him to tell you how you're doing. But chances are, if you're being very sensitive with others, you might unknowingly be a little closed off to the Lord's personal counseling through prophecy as well, and you might want to ask someone else to pray about it for you, if you suspect that you need to progress in this area. That's not a bad thing. It's a wonderful step of openness and humility to ask someone to hear from the Lord for you about something like this, and be willing to receive it.

185. It's always a good idea with any of your personal weaknesses that you ask somebody else to pray and hear from the Lord for you as well. Because some people, although they're very good channels in every other respect‚ when it comes to some personal problems that they don't really realize the seriousness of, they can't open up to the Lord enough to get a complete message on things. They don't believe it, they don't see it, so they can't be open enough with the Lord to let Him tell them the whole picture or how serious it really is.

186. So here is a list of questions the Lord gave that can help you in determining if you're sensitive. But don't hesitate to ask Him for His personal counsel to you as well, or, if you have the humility and you really want it, ask someone else to pray for you!

187. (Jesus:) I will give you a self-test to help in determining if you need to fight or get help in the area of sensitivity. It requires you to be fully honest with yourself. Of course‚ some of these can also be symptoms of related problems, such as negativity or criticalness. Sensitivity can also lead to other problems, if it's unchecked. That's why it's important to be honest with yourself, and if you have to answer yes to some of these questions, then realize that your pride is out of hand and you need to do something about it.

1. Do you often assume that someone does something because they don't like you, or are trying to put themselves above you?
2. Do you often feel that others don't value your opinions in meetings, or even in your personal day-to–day relationships?
3. When someone doesn't fully agree with you, do you often take it as a personal issue or jab?
4. When someone mentions an area in which you could improve or which you should be trying harder in, do you feel they're picking on you or trying to show that they are better than you?
5. Do you struggle with discouragement when you hear about something you should be doing better in?

(Jesus:) Sometimes discouragement is not directly connected to sensitivity. But it is often a symptom of sensitivity, because sometimes even a suggestion or piece of instruction can make a sensitive person discouraged, and that extreme reaction keeps people from wanting to offer suggestions or instruction in the future. It's linked to pride, because they feel so bad that they haven't been perfect. So in that sense it's related.

I want My children to get over that habit of reacting in such an extreme way. I want them to learn to just take it and praise Me for it and go on the attack to do better. It's the Enemy's ploy to get you sidetracked with condemnation or discouragement and waste time, when you could be catching the lesson and moving forward. It can also really derail the person who stepped out in love to give the suggestion, when they feel they've been the cause of great discouragement. So in these ways discouragement is sometimes linked to pride and receiving correction, and is often a symptom of sensitivity. (End of message from Jesus)

6)When your friends clown around and poke fun at some blunder you made, do you feel that they are just being mean and picking on you?

7)Do words to the effect of, "Well, I have to disagree with that," cause you to feel tense, upset, angry, or as if you have to fight back to prove your point is right?

8)When someone you are talking to just gives you a blank stare and remains silent, do you take it that they don't like you or don't respect your opinion?

9)When you wake up in the morning, do thoughts of people who have offended you or situations that have hurt you pop into your mind first thing? Or do such thoughts occupy your mind throughout the day on a regular basis?

10)Do you tend to react with negative thoughts or feelings, or occasionally words, when others do things that you find bothersome? Do you become upset or angry?

11)Is your tendency to assume the worst about certain people when no facts are present to prove one thing or the other?

12)When others voice their opinions, do you feel that your opinions are worthless if they disagree with the ones you already shared?

188. If you had to answer yes to some of these questions, then it's time to take a serious and prayerful look at what is causing you to react in this way‚ and put safeguards in place and go on the attack to drive out the Enemy's attempts to infiltrate your life.

189. Everyone battles sensitivity once in a while, but if you find that your basic reaction is to look at life as a series of hurts and offenses to be overcome or endured, then you can be pretty sure that your pride is getting the better of you, and it's time to ask Me and others for help to overcome it. (End of message from Jesus)

190. (Mama: ) The Lord says often the most sensitive people don't realize that they have a problem with sensitivity; they just figure that one person is too opinionated, another person doesn't like their ideas, someone else questions their gift of prophecy, and someone else is always trying to find something to correct them on. All of us have been hit with sensitive feelings at some time or another. And you know that if you give way to them, you could lapse into a pretty sad state.

Some of the Bad Fruits of Sensitivity

191. Following is a list of some of the bad fruits of sensitivity, given by the Lord. I think you'll find it very interesting.

1) Sensitivity isolates you; it keeps you on your own, outside of the group. You become like the separated oxen that were prey for the lion.

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The Four Oxen and the Lion

A lion used to prowl about a field in which four oxen dwelt. Many a time he tried to attack them; but whenever he came near they turned their tails to one another, so that whichever way he approached them he was met by the horns of one of them. At last, however‚ they fell a-quarreling among themselves, and each went off to pasture alone in a separate corner of the field. Then the lion attacked them one by one and soon made an end of all four.

United we stand, divided we fall.

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2)Sensitivity is born of pride, and allowing sensitivity to dictate your emotions allows pride to have a permanent root in your heart, which will only continue to weaken you spiritually.

(Mama: ) As I said, pride is manifested in many other ways, but sensitivity is one manifestation that's really hurting a lot of you, keeping you from being shepherded, keeping your teamworks from being effective, keeping the boards from doing the job that they should. But if you don't have major sensitivity, there may be other things in your life that stem from some kind of pride. So you should ask the Lord about it.

3)Sensitivity opens a crack in your shield for the Selvegion to enter.

4)Sensitivity separates you from your friends, and cuts off the support and camaraderie you could feel from others.

5)Sensitivity destroys love, because true love can't exist without full honesty, and sensitivity is the enemy of honesty.

6)Sensitivity hinders your growth.

7)Sensitivity is a dam in the free-flowing river of My will.

8)Sensitivity wastes time.

9)Sensitivity will influence and hinder your channel. By putting areas of your life off limits to Me or others, you will automatically stifle My Words to you about certain things.

10)Sensitivity causes bad decisions based on personal feelings, rather than what's really My will.

11)Sensitivity excludes others and makes them feel divided from you.

12)Sensitivity makes you self-centered.

13)Sensitivity makes you hard to live around.

14)Sensitivity makes you an easily controlled puppet for the Enemy to use‚ because the reactions of a sensitive person are so very predictable, and so very intense.

15)Sensitivity encourages a spirit of fear; you always live in the fear of your sensitive area (or areas) being touched upon. It robs you of the bravery that My Spirit would give you to face the winds of change boldly.

16)Sensitivity makes you an old bottle.

17)Sensitivity makes you less useful to Me.

18)Sensitivity is selfishness.

19)Sensitivity closes your mind and narrows your vision. Sensitivity is like wearing spiritual blinders.

20)Sensitivity causes division.

21)Sensitivity causes unfairness and double standards.

22)Sensitivity causes compromise. Because you want to preserve your sensitive area, it destroys your conviction to speak the truth in love to others and correct them in the areas in which they may need it.

23)Sensitivity is putting yourself before Me.

24)Sensitivity cannot coexist with My Law of Love. Sensitivity is selfishness, and the selfish cannot live the Law of Love fully.

25)Sensitivity holds you back from being the best disciple you could be.

26)Sensitivity will prevent you from fulfilling your destiny.

27)Sensitivity is destructive.

28)Sensitivity takes you backwards spiritually.

29)Sensitivity allows spirits of rage and anger to have access to your life, whether you notice it or not.

30)Sensitivity steals your joy of the Lord, and makes you less fun.

31)Sensitivity and resistance to change will age you prematurely. It's a physical fact that the more yielded you are to My working in your life, the more you can take life in stride, the happier and healthier you will be as you grow older. Sensitivity causes you to resist change, and the more you resist change, the more you will age and become sick.

192. (Mama: ) That's a good list from the Lord about how sensitivity generally hurts and hinders. And if you ask the Lord for specific examples of how it hinders you, I'm sure He'll help you see it more clearly and give you good counsel to help you have the motivation needed to press through the difficult times and fight for the victory.

193. As I said earlier, sensitivity is really hindering us as a Family right now, because at every level the Lord is asking us to operate more in unity, be closer in spirit, tighter as a Family, and raise the standard together. With the redefining of discipleship, there's going to have to be a lot more shepherding of one another—not just from the COs and VSs or even your Home teamworkers. At every level we're going to have to depend on open, flowing communication to help each other raise the standard and get the job done. So in order to heal long-standing rifts of disunity, everyone is going to have to persevere through some times of communication that will probably be pretty uncomfortable. Just take the humble seat and do it for the sake of the Family.

More on the Bad Fruits of Sensitivity

194. (Jesus:) The most immediate bad fruit of sensitivity is that people will stop being open and honest with you‚ and thus you won't have close friends, or at least not as close as you could have. Remember that the wounds of a friend are attempts to help you grow, because of their love for you. But by not accepting their "wounds," or the counsel of others, you simply separate yourself from them in spirit and they will be afraid to be honest with you. Remember, you create the way people treat you. Read "Sensitivity" in Daily Bread 3.

195. You will then begin living to a certain extent in a dream world, one that doesn't really have its feet rooted in reality, because you are not accepting other views that are so very important to having a well-rounded, realistic picture. You try to make everything measure up to your mind's view, rather than being willing to adjust your view, in part, according to what others see. So you not only close yourself off to deeper friendships‚ and the strength and happiness that comes from unity and oneness‚ but you also close yourself off from reality to a certain extent, and this can be dangerous.

196. If you have a distorted view of reality, it could be only a matter of time before you leave My service. First you might find that you can't operate in teamwork or counsel with others in your Home or on a board because people just won't accept your ideas. Next you might find that you can't live with others in your Home because they "don't have the same vision" as you. Next you open up your own Home with "those that see things the way you do." But often that doesn't work and you find yourself off alone trying to serve Me‚ and this often ends up in people departing from My service altogether. Many have already taken this road out, all because of their sensitivity.

197. Sensitivity will not only cause bad fruit in your personal life, and could result in you leaving My service, but it also causes bad fruit in others' lives. If people are afraid to correct you or to counter your ideas, then you start bottling up their ideas and you make them hold back or be afraid of being honest with you. You can create a situation where nobody tells anybody anything‚ and then you all start drifting off into dreamland, not being firmly attached to reality because everybody is afraid to tell anybody what they think. So you can cause not only yourself to drift off, but you can be a catalyst for others to do the same, all because of your sensitivity. You can create great division and disunity in your work because of this, and many have already done so.

198. Another bad effect is that through your sensitivity‚ you can prevent important ideas from coming out and taking root and perhaps helping the work in a very major way, because people are afraid to speak up, especially if it's in contradiction to you. This is one of the worst fruits of sensitivity—that you bottle others up, and thus you keep the work from prospering. Many people wonder why there are "so many problems in the Family," as they put it. A lot of times it is because of their own sensitivity and the sensitivity of others that has bottled up the free flow of good, fresh ideas that would have solved things long ago and pushed the work miles ahead.

199. Another offshoot of sensitivity is that people end up doing the job wrong, or not doing as good a job as they could, because others are afraid to tell them the truth or how to do it better. So you end up not doing your job well because you can't accept advice or counterproposals.

200. This obviously leads to a less fruitful work in your particular bailiwick and in the overall function of your board or area of responsibility. Nobody is telling anybody what they really think—or at least they are not telling you what they really think—and thus your particular area of jurisdiction is just not getting the fresh, clean water of ideas and solutions that would move the work ahead by leaps and bounds.

201. This is how dangerous sensitivity is! You are actually hurting the work and holding it back from finding the solutions that would solve many problems and help it to grow and mature, simply by your sensitivity. You are blocking the free flow of My ideas. You are obstructing My plan. You are hurting the work, and thus hurting the sheep and the lost.

202. This is not a small thing. This means that your entire area of responsibility is not finding the solutions and growing the way it should be, thus making you a less fruitful work, a work that is not in step with My will.

203. This in turn could and probably has affected the sheep and lost souls in your area. They are not getting found, they are not getting fed, they are not getting ministered to, and they are not getting helped to grow and mature the way they should be. Who knows what I want to do in your area that you are not letting Me do because of your own personal sensitivity, which can spread to affect your area.

204. This could also affect Homes and boards in other areas. If your area is not prospering and sharing ideas‚ and if you are setting a bad example of not being a fresh, open, clean pool of counsel, then in your relations with other areas you are passing on stagnant waters, and you could be muddying theirs with your input‚ or lack of input, and bad example. Example can be contagious, you know, and if your pool is plugged up and stagnant, this could spread to theirs and contaminate them too. That is bad fruit.

205. Bad examples of sensitivity also affect your own children and the children in your Home, for they grow up in an atmosphere of holding back and not being truthful‚ and start out life having roadblocks and hurdles set before them that they must get past or go over if they are to mature.

206. So there's just no good fruit in any way, shape, or form that comes from sensitivity. It is a device of the Devil that he uses to stop My work, all the way from personal lives to communal Home living, to a particular board's area of responsibility, to an entire field, and in some ways it affects the whole world and My whole work. It is a negative direction and a negative path that only bears bad fruit. The Enemy tries like mad to enhance sensitivity and to spread it, because he knows it fights directly against My work and tears down the fabric and structure of My work.

207. Sensitivity is born of pride, and pride is the root of all evil. Sensitivity is a direct extension of pride operating in your life and seeking to tear down My work. It's the Devil and his dirty imps again trying to stop, hinder, and hurt My work whenever and wherever they can, and sensitivity is one of the Enemy's main devices.

208. This is why I am taking the time to expose sensitivity now, because it is a major stumbling block, and one that My maturing army needs to get over in order to grow into the fully trained fighting soldiers that I must have. And you will mature, most of you. You will come to see that sensitivity is simply another device of the Enemy that I will help you to overcome if you have the maturity of humility to set yourself against it. (End of message from Jesus.)

How Pride and Sensitivity Are Linked

209. (Mama: ) Let's go back to how pride and sensitivity are linked. Dad has taught us that sensitivity is born of pride, and pride is of the Devil. We know that. But when you're feeling sensitive‚ you don't usually think, "The way I'm feeling is just my pride and from the Devil." Usually you're either thinking how hurt you feel and how wrong the other person is‚ or else you're feeling hurt and discouraged, thinking, "I know I'll never make it now."

210. But can you see what the Enemy is getting at in making you think that? Your eyes are completely off the Lord and His love for you. You're not thinking about the power of the keys to help you rise above. You're not feeling in unity and thankful to the person who just stepped out to try to help you—in fact, you're probably feeling quite distant from them, hurt by them, or even upset at them. Can you see how all those feelings are just what the Enemy wants?

211. (Jesus: ) Sensitivity is part of pride; it's part of the spirit of pride. Pride has many faces, and sensitivity is one of them. Your pride causes you to feel sensitive and to react in a way that you wouldn't if you were humble.

212. When you're walking in a humble spirit, you don't feel so easily hurt or misunderstood or as if people aren't treating you right. A humble spirit makes it easy for you to see the good and the positive, to believe that people's motives and My motives are good. It helps you trust that others are not out to hurt you. You can more easily see the positive and see things from My perspective when you're humble and calling on the keys of humility, because you see people's true motives. When things happen that hurt you accidentally, or even intentionally, you get over it and move on if you have a humble, positive‚ full-of-faith spirit.

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213. (Jesus:) Pride automatically opens the door to all kinds of negative channels—criticalness, sensitivity, assuming the worst, mistrust, misunderstanding, feeling hurt, feeling like someone isn't giving you the love or the deference you deserve. But when you're humble, it's one of the blessings of the Spirit that you have the grace to flow with things better. Humility just works. (End of message from Jesus)

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214. The opposite is true when you yield to a spirit of pride. Just about anything that happens can cause you to feel sensitive, to mistrust others, to question their motives, to analyze situations and still not see the good, to introspect and go further downhill with more sensitive and negative feelings. The more sensitive you feel, the more difficult it is to get over things and move on. It clouds your judgment and causes you to misjudge situations and people because you're looking at things from the wrong‚ selfish, proud perspective. The worst part is that you question Me as well. You doubt My wisdom. You question My voice in the prophecies that I give to help you. You just can't quite accept the things I say or do at face value.

215. The more sensitive you are, the less you're able to receive My help or the help of others. Your pride holds you back and your sensitivity justifies it in your mind. You feel like you're right and everyone else is wrong. You feel like you're the one being misjudged or mistreated, or else you just got the raw end of the deal. And usually when you're in that state, your pride prevents you from reaching out to ask for prayer or ask for forgiveness or communicate openly in a way that would resolve and heal the situation and bring you understanding. Sensitivity born of pride is the opposite of faith, heavenly thought power, and full possession by Me‚ and renders you very weak and open to other attacks by the Enemy.

216. But you can have full deliverance and victory over sensitivity born of pride through the power of the keys. You can rise above the problems that sensitivity creates in your life and the lives of those around you by yielding to the power of the keys. You can be free from those problems forever! Isn't that something worth fighting for? (End of message from Jesus.)

217. (Jesus:) The root of sensitivity is pride‚ and often it's manifested in fear of what others might think, what leadership might think; fear of being wrong, or letting anyone tell you you're wrong.

218. Sensitive people tend to have a need to always be right. When someone points out that they might be wrong, they can just fall to pieces in one way or another‚ get defensive, withdrawn, or even angry. It's a defense mechanism. They create a wall of sensitivity around themselves, so that others fear to approach them with anything that might disturb them or cause them to get upset.

219. Those who struggle with sensitivity often battle with a fear of what impression people might have of them, not realizing that they fear the opinions of others more than My opinion, and that their sensitivity and fears and inability to receive instruction affects My work adversely.

220. They might feel justified in continuing to be sensitive‚ because outwardly they appear insecure or dependent on Me because they are more "fragile," as opposed to someone who is outwardly very self-righteous or self-confident and may be manifesting a lot of another type of pride.

221. But in truth‚ sensitivity is rooted in pride. It's a rejection of My instruction just because it comes through an earthly channel. Sensitivity can also be manifested through closed-mindedness, avoiding confrontation, lack of openness and honesty, among other things. (End of message from Jesus)

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222. (Mama:) When we're fighting the Enemy in any area—which we almost always are, or should be—we need to praise the Lord as much as possible! Thank You Lord!

223. It feels good to praise the Lord, doesn't it? It's wonderful! We love You so much, dear Love. It's such a priceless privilege to be together, to be fighting Your battles together, and we thank You that we know one thing is sure—that we're going to win! Thank You, dear Love!

224. And, Lord, we want to use praise as much as possible to fight these battles‚ because it's going to make it a lot easier; things are going to go a lot faster and a lot smoother and we're going to be able to really sock it to the Enemy if we use the weapon of praise.

225. So thank You, Jesus, that the key of praise can not only be used to draw us closer to You, but it can be turned into a two-edged sword that will cut the Devil to the heart. We praise You, Jesus! Almost any battle can be turned into a victory through praise. You said when we're calling on the keys and praising You‚ we can't be thinking about anything negative and the Devil can't lie to us. Thank You Jesus!

226. So we praise You, even for the battles. We thank You that these are the things that make us strong, and make us desperate for You and dependent on You. It seems like almost everyone is having battles of some kind or other now, because the Enemy is fighting back. He's so angry at the progress we're making, and how we're going on the attack to take over every inch of the territory which he has gotten. We're going to take it back, Lord, because it's Yours!

227. We thank You, Jesus, even for all these battles that help us‚ that make us strong, and when we get the victory they show us that You have all power, and that nothing is impossible for You. Thank You, dear, wonderful Love!

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Sensitivity Is Hindering the Performance of the Lord's Will

228. We've talked about how sensitivity is a danger to our future as a Family, because it hinders shepherding, it hinders teamworking, it hinders each of us as individuals from becoming the disciples the Lord knows we need to be‚ it hinders the boards and any platform for free and open and honest discussion and counsel.

229. Here's a jewel from the Lord about this‚ which explains the problem clearly.

230. (Jesus: ) Sensitivity is a hindrance to My will being performed in the Family. Those who battle with sensitivity close themselves off from My will and My leading in their lives—whether it is through My direct voice, the voice of their shepherds, or someone in their area or Home. They close themselves off from godly counsel, and often have difficulty being unified with those they work with, as they've intimidated those around them into staying silent.

231. Many sensitive people directly or subconsciously threaten to "break down" or "lose it" if anything is brought up that might hint that they are wrong or need to make a change. This causes barriers to unity and teamwork‚ and it is widespread in the Family. It is not My will, as I want My Family to move forward with the new moves that I am putting forth. If everyone has to sidestep every sensitive situation or person, these changes will not come about.

232. I'm not saying that those who struggle with sensitivity should be treated unlovingly, forced or railroaded along. No. Everyone should strive to communicate lovingly and according to the counsel I've given in My Word. But at the same time, those who are sensitive should know that they are battling a form of pride, and they need to take steps to overcome. They should not just be content to label themselves as being "sensitive" and make everyone else work around them, because that's not going to happen.

233. It is a day of change‚ a day of growth and progress for the Family, a day of leaving the old behind and reaching for the new. This change and progress and rapid forward movement goes against everything that sensitive people feel secure in. So the bottom line is, everyone is going to have to leave their sensitivity behind—no matter what area of their life it's connected to—if they wish to go on with Me and the fresh wind of My Spirit that is blowing.

234. I want My Family to get victories in this area. This will be a key to many of the changes that I want the Family to make. Each one needs to see the situation correctly: You are all in it together. Everyone has changes that need to be made—some more than others—but I am zeroing in on all of you‚ and if each one remembers that, it will help those who battle sensitivity to know that they're not the only ones being "picked on." Everyone has changes that need to be made. And if you think it hurts to get some correction or direction from an earthly medium like your shepherds, mates, or co-workers, it'll probably be even more painful coming from Me, if you force My hand. It's always much easier to do My will willingly, rather than being pushed into it via circumstances.

235. There is victory to be had over sensitivity, but each one must let go of their pride and break down the walls that they have put up which hinder the flow of My will. As these barriers of pride come crashing down, you will see Me working in each person's life much more fully than ever before, and the Family will go on to become what I have destined it to be. (End of message from Jesus.)

De-Mine the Land of Your Heart!

236. (Mama:) One of the main things about sensitivity that is so, so serious is that it threatens to derail the progress that we need to make as a Family, much of which will be generated by personal initiative and each person going forward and doing their part. If people get too sensitive when someone suggests an idea that could bring forward progress, the progress we need to make is not going to be made.

237. Following is some counsel that our Husband gave when we were asking Him for counsel for the boards, and He explains that sensitivity hinders the boards from being what they need to be. But this counsel can and should be applied to Homes, fields, projects—pretty much any sphere where give-and-take is needed.

238. (Jesus: ) Sensitivity is all about putting your personal needs before the needs of the collective whole. In essence you're saying that it's more important to preserve your pride and your own little method of doing things than it is for the truth to be revealed, and the correct way—My way—to be established.

239. This is a major weakness in the Family, because My people are people of love, and even though you could always stand to improve in this area‚ for the most part no one likes to be the one to hurt the feelings of another, or to make them get down and depressed because they had to point something out to them, bring up a topic they didn't like, or adjust their thinking somehow. Therefore often things are not said that should be said, simply because no one wants to hurt someone's feelings, and there are so many easily hurt feelings around.

240. Because of this‚ the progress that I know needs to be made on the board front has not always come about—because no one wants to hurt the feelings of those who are sensitive and touchy about their personal plans and spheres of influence. The result is that very often what is right takes a back seat to pride and a me-first type of spirit.

241. The onus is on those who have a problem with sensitivity to get themselves into a more humble frame of mind and spirit, to where they can be accepting of what needs to be said or done.

242. It simply isn't the day for personal plans, personal domains, personal glory, or personal anything. The idea of these boards is to help to serve the Family even better‚ and to spread the load out even further‚ all the way down to the grassroots. The very idea of people having their own little areas that they get touchy about, and their own little pet projects and opinions that they become sensitive over‚ is so very contrary to the plan that I have given. The success of any project lies in prayer and hearing from Me, it's true, but also in the debating, the discussion, the concluding, and the continual choosing of what is best for My work rather than what is best for an individual.

243. Do you see My point? It's not about YOU, and it's not about your personal plans or family or project or whatever it is that you're trying to protect. It's time to lay aside those things in order that you might not be a stumbling block or a rock in the road of My plans. But when you allow sensitivity to rule you, you in a sense allow it to rule others as well, and to stand in the path of what I want done.

244. I'm sure all of you know what it's like to have to deal with a sensitive person‚ how very much you want to avoid setting them off, getting on their bad side, hurting their feelings, and all the negativity and anger that comes along with that kind of situation. So you can imagine that if you're being one of those types‚ if you have something that's touchy for you and that you're protecting, then it makes it extremely difficult for others around you to deal with that thing. But very often "that thing" is the very object that needs to change so that either you or the work can make progress.

245. You also have to understand that the Enemy will encourage the building of walls and feelings of sensitivity around the problem areas‚ because he knows that pride is powerful, and if he can get you to cling to a certain thing, you will then resist change out of a desire to protect your pride in that area, and then he's succeeded in using you as a roadblock, a dam in the river of positive change that I would bring about.

246. This isn't to say that I can't work it out anyway, as My plan will not be stopped. However‚ it can certainly be delayed and hindered because you unwisely choose to hold on to something rather than having enough faith and love for others that you let go of it. And if I can't work through you, I will have to work through someone else. That's the bottom line.

247. There should be nothing in any of your lives and work that's more important than My will, and if there are areas that start to infringe on either your or others' ability to fulfill My highest will, you have to be open to the opinions and views of others to show you what is happening, how the situation is developing, and not hide behind the landmines of sensitivity.

248. Sensitivity is like a field of landmines in the spirit. It's surrounding yourself or a certain area of the work with these highly volatile bombs, and saying, "No closer, or I'll blow!" You on earth know how dangerous landmines are, and how they can halt the progress of a whole army until they get delicately cleared one by one. That's what the Enemy desires. He would love you to be so super-sensitive that you must be carefully and gently defused each time, like a hundred landmines each taking precious time and effort to be handled.

249. But don't you see? I don't have time for those delays. My army needs to keep marching and the Family needs to progress. It's your job to take responsibility for what is happening in the Family in your pillar of service, and leave no stone unturned in an effort to make sure that you're doing all you can for your part of My work to succeed.

250. You simply do not have time to tiptoe around volatile landmines of sensitivity—either your own or someone else's. Everyone needs to realize that it's a new day‚ and in all the places of responsibility where forward progress is needed‚ there is really no place for problem people who have to be handled so gently or ignored altogether or they blow up in an explosion of anger and disunity, driving a wedge between teammates and co-workers.

251. My plan is not for you to treat others harshly, for this is not the new day way. But it is My will for each one to look diligently in their own hearts, and to ensure that they are not setting landmines about themselves or their areas of responsibility in an attempt to keep others out and prevent intervention.

252. It's a decision that can only be made personally by each individual. You have to decide in your heart that you're going to swallow your pride and be open to the changes and corrections that either I, or often I through your teamworkers‚ will see fit to bring into your life and work. Only you can make the decision to bend with the wind of change, rather than stiffening and breaking because of it.

253. It comes down to the point I mentioned first, and that is whether you will choose to put My will and My work first, or yourself. When you hinder My plan via your sensitivity, you have chosen yourself. When things aren't going your way or you're given a suggestion or correction, if you become testy and ill-tempered, you are again deciding that what you feel is more important than what is right. If you get hurt, sad, and depressed when a need for change is pointed out to you, you're saying that preserving your pride is more important than preserving My work.

254. You're My workers‚ you're My hands, you're My chosen representatives that I have picked and called to help Me hold up the work of My house by serving as pillars in this board structure (or by serving in your Homes). Therefore when there is a problem with you, there is a problem with My house. I want to fix things and repair them right away to ensure that My house will stand, but when you compound the problem by hiding behind your sensitivity‚ I cannot repair you as needed, and you end up defending the very chinks that are letting the Enemy into our house.

255. Because of your position, you have to choose voluntarily to let yourself be hurt, to let your pride die, in order that the house may be preserved. No one can force you—it's a sacrifice you must make of your own free will. You must choose to die daily so that the work can live, no matter how much it may hurt you.

256. But‚ as has been wisely said, only pride hurts—humility doesn't really feel it. As you put yourself on the altar and lay down your own will and your own self‚ dying that My will might be done, you will be blessed with the grace that comes from surrender, and you'll find that those topics and areas that used to hurt so much and get you so wound up and angry, will not be such a problem anymore.

257. You'll find yourself having supernatural grace and seeing things through My heavenly viewpoint—the viewpoint that sees things clearly, where you don't matter so much anymore, and you hardly even mind if your will isn't being done‚ because My will is, and that's what's really important.

258. It can be done. You can have the victory, but it all starts with a choice of the heart. It starts with an understanding of the problem, and a decision about what is most important to you—yourself or Me? Your pride or the work? Your plans or My will?

259. Once you have chosen Me, My work, and My will, you'll get the grace to bear whatever changes or correction are necessary; in fact, you'll even welcome them, knowing that it was never really about you anyway. You'll find joy again in being a part of the structure, being that integral pillar of strength that can bend and blow and adapt in the winds of change, without becoming brittle and snapping due to pride. You'll defuse your landmines and My army will move on victorious to change both the Family‚ and the world, for the better. (End of message from Jesus)

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260. (Jesus:) In almost all cases you're very hard workers, and your lack is not in willingness to work hard. But in many cases your lack is in seeing with short-sighted vision‚ yielding to sensitivity more than you fight to find My highest and best—and this is the crunch—even if it has nothing at all to do with you or your ideas or what you thought was best.

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The Picture of the Pool of Counsel—Tips for the Boards

261. (Mama:) This message was also given specifically about the boards, but it has good lessons for anyone who works in teamwork—which should be all of us! If you're not on a board, please try to substitute your Home or teamwork situation as much as possible as you read through it, and apply the principles the Lord gives. They will work for you, too.

262. (Jesus:) In the boards I am trying to raise up many pools of counsel so that any particular issue can be seen from as many angles as possible, in order that good, wise, balanced decisions can be made. Often there are opposite sides to the picture. Sometimes there are views that are fairly close in some respects but contain new information in other respects. So it is direly important that all points of view are respected and given consideration and taken seriously.

263. On the other hand, if you feel your particular view is not taken as seriously as you think it should be, or if the general consensus swings away from your view and you manifest your sensitivity, you risk making your particular pool of counsel less balanced than it could and should be.

264. Why is this? Because generally speaking‚ people will treat you the way you can handle it. Nobody wants to break the peace and cause bad vibrations. So generally speaking, if someone can't take criticism or is sensitive about their particular viewpoint, one by one people will tend to stop confronting that person simply to keep the peace, and then the whole purpose of having a pool of counsel begins to go down the drain.

265. You help to create the way people treat you. If people see you can't take your view being countered, and especially if you get vocal or emotional about it, they will often opt to keep the peace and to keep a peaceable spirit when counseling. Thus they hold back from really speaking what they feel is the truth‚ or at least they hold back from sharing some point that really does need to be put on the table, simply for fear of you not being able to handle it and breaking the peaceful dialogue with your emotional outburst, or even by you clamming up and going quiet. So your sensitivity can defeat the whole purpose of the boards and can actually keep the truth and best solution from ever being found. That is how important it is not to be sensitive.

266. You have to be able to take it. One tip that might help you be able to take it better is not being so personally tied to your opinions. An opinion is just an opinion, and you should be free to cut it loose if it doesn't float. Don't be tied to it, or you may go down with it if it is struck a mortal blow.

267. It's much better if you view your opinions as little leaf boats that you try to float out on the water to see if they are viable ideas or not—and if they're not, let'm sink when they hit the waves, as simple as that! But once you become tied to your ideas, one little wave or one little hit is going to sink and drop you, and it's not pleasant.

268. You must have the humility and the openness to realize that you're not God, you're not Me, you're not all-knowing, and your ideas may or may not be good. You just have to realize that you only see one part or aspect of that elephant; there are a lot more parts to it that carry weight too‚ and which may carry a lot more weight than the little part you're seeing at the moment!

269. It's extremely important that you get over sensitivity, because it is the leak that will drain the even balance out of your pool of counsel. You have to be able to take your ideas getting smashed, and at the same time, realize it was just an idea and you're not going to go down with it simply because it's going down. You can't clam up or yield to discouragement, which in this case is part of sensitivity. Being sensitive is simply pride, but being able to take it when your idea gets shot down, or when someone gives you some counsel or tidbits of correction‚ is humility.

270. As a pool of counsel for My important work, it's vital that you grow—both as individuals and as a board in general. Look at it as an above–ground pool, and each one of you has his arms out and is holding up a particular part of that pool. What you want to do is keep the counsel filled up to the top without the water level becoming uneven and spilling over. So your job is not to run away when your idea doesn't work, or else your part of the wall will fall down and the water will spill out. On the other hand, your job is not to blow back with a big rush of emotions when your ideas are criticized or not taken, or else that will cause the water to flow back up against the walls of those on the other side, and spill out on that end.

271. Your job, when criticized, or your ideas aren't taken as you feel they should be, is to simply stand there and hold up your part of the wall‚ with a smile on your face, and say something like, "Well, I understand. It was just an idea, and perhaps it's not viable at the moment." That is maturity. And real maturity is to show that you're not sensitive, so that others' ideas are encouraged and they feel they can speak their full mind around you.

272. One of the best things to do as soon as you see someone is countering an idea of yours‚ or when someone is pointing something out to you that's maybe a little difficult to take‚ is to start nodding your head, signifying that you understand their point and that you're giving it credence. Try to receive‚ not to reject. And then, really do try to understand them and give them as much thought and consideration as you can. If you see the fault in your point or you understand their side, then say something like‚ "That's a good idea, I didn't quite see that," or, "Thanks for pointing that out; I needed that input." Even if you don't totally agree, it's a good idea to nod your head or give some verbal or audible sign that you're considering their ideas and taking them into account.

273. A visible and verbal acknowledgment that you are receiving the counterproposal or the suggestion or correction does wonders; in fact, it often opens the door for others to receive your ideas and input more readily in the future, and for sure encourages them to not be afraid to counter your ideas or speak up to you when needed. Why? Because they will see that they can safely do it without risking the loss of all the water in the pool!

274. But if they see that by going against your idea they risk losing the water‚ well, they most likely won't take that risk, and thus your pool of counsel is going to be lacking in the fresh‚ clean, alive and abundant water of good counsel. And this carries over into the work your board is trying to accomplish; it just won't be the work or have the solutions that it should. So because of you and your sensitivity, your field can be held back from making the progress it should be making. Or, in the case of personal correction and instruction that you don't receive, you weaken yourself, your mate and friends‚ and your Home and area. That's how dangerous sensitivity can be.

275. So you see, sensitivity in counsel works against the whole vision of the boards. And the Devil uses this sensitivity because he doesn't want the boards to work. He is looking to see if he can put a hole in your side of the pool so that the water will drain out there through your pride and sensitivity. So plug up any possible sensitivity you may have! If you really fight to maintain the right reactions and change your attitude each time, you will find with time that you are growing up and maturing and that you really can take it, and that it's not so hard after all to not yield to sensitivity once you realize that only I can do anything good, and that if any good comes from your ideas, it is only Me. This is humility. Sensitivity is pride. So you need to make a choice and commitment as to what your platform will be—that of humility and not being stuck on your ideas, or that of pride, which is chained to your ideas.

276. You will also probably find out that, yes, maybe a lot of your ideas aren't good or the best sometimes, and that other times they are good. But regardless, it's important to float your ideas, as they are a needed part of the whole picture. You need to be willing to give and to take, and you also need to be willing to give serious consideration to others' points of view.

277. It all rounds out and works together to form a well-balanced pool of ideas of fresh, clean, aerated water that will serve your board‚ and your area of responsibility‚ well. This fresh, clean‚ aerated water is desperately needed, so please don't let it get drained out through sensitivity, but keep the fresh waters flowing through humility and holding up your side of the pool. These are the men and women I am looking for—those who have the maturity of humility and are willing to give their ideas, yet not be stuck on them.

278. I love you, My dear loves. Thank you for being willing to follow Me and to grow in humility and to decrease in pride, so that these important ventures, the boards, may prosper, and so that My precious Family can find the solutions they so desperately need. (End of message from Jesus.)

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Pride shows up in people's lives in different ways, and sensitivity is one such way. It's the feeling of hurt when your ideas don't fly or they get revamped; it's the angry or frustrated reaction you have when things go contrary to the way you would like them to; it's manifested in your justification of yourself when things are pointed out to you.

Be So Desperate for My Will that You're Open and Humble

279. (Mama: ) Again, this message was given when we asked the Lord for counsel for the boards. But the principles apply to any level of teamworking and counsel. Please apply them to your situation as you read through it, so you can really benefit from the counsel therein! It's for you!

280. (Jesus:) Many of you have felt the twinges of sensitivity and pride. It's that little voice inside your head that pipes up with an opposing attitude, a contrary point, a stubborn mindset. That voice urges you to: "Speak up for yourself; don't let others walk over you. Whether you're right or wrong can be ironed out later; it's important to have your say now and set the record straight—what you think is important. Why can't they see that?" That's the voice of sensitivity‚ and it's an attack of the Enemy on My will being accomplished.

281. It also stifles your own personal contentment and happiness. If you're not inspired and speaking faith about others, about circumstances, about problems, then your mouth can be used by the Enemy to spread his proposals. When you yield to sensitivity, it ends up with you feeling sulky, hurt, and wounded because so–and-so didn't listen to you, didn't like your idea, cut you off, or didn't act very appreciative of what you said. Someone else talked too much and you didn't get as much time as you wanted. "So–and-so acts as if he has all the good ideas, as if he's so smart." My loves, that's sensitivity.

282. Sensitivity is one of the main hindrances to solid progress in any meeting or discussion, because when you harbor those feelings in your heart, how can you be open to My voice? If you allow sensitivity to influence you, it could cause you to resist a good idea, a positive proposal‚ just because it wasn't your idea, or because you don't like the person or the way it came about—that's pure pride.

283. You can't afford to give way to spirits that are not of Me. You can't afford to let your personal feelings toward people or their ideas negate My will and cause you to shut yourself off. I might want to speak through that person or use that idea. His questions or opinions and the things he's saying might be the way I'm leading, or at the very least an important part of the puzzle, which will be missed if you allow your pride to rule your spirit. If you're too proud to receive it and hear it, you'll miss My solution.

284. If you have personal situations with anyone on your board (or Home), something that's getting in the way of your being open and communicating with love and respect, please seek Me for the solution. It's wrong to let your pride enter the picture at this important time. The Family needs you to be humble, to be honest‚ to be the best board member (or Home member‚ co–worker, or teamworker) you can be. Sensitivity and pride will not make you the best you can be. They'll stand in the way of My direction and My plan coming through your channels. If someone feels they can't be forthright and say their piece, ask their questions, or offer alternative ideas because you're too sensitive, then they won't, and My purpose will be missed.

285. Pride will really stand in the way of your progress as a board, as a work, or as individuals. Sensitivity is very difficult to deal with in a public meeting because it delays My work; it causes other people to have to slow down or change directions in order to minister to you and pull you along. What the meeting needs is everyone being open-minded and humble to the point that they're willing to listen and accept any idea from anyone—and that means ideas that are a departure from the past ways of doing things, or ideas that sound crazy or undoable—because they're so desperate for My will. (End of message from Jesus)

How Sensitivity Stunts Spiritual Growth and Progress

286. (Mama:) If you stop and think about it, it's pretty easy to see how sensitivity holds you back spiritually. We have so much that we need to learn and make progress in, and it's impossible for any of us to be working on and excelling in every area of our life and work and relationships at once. The way we should be looking at things is that we just take them as they come up‚ as the Lord shows us they need work or as others point them out, and we work on them. Our weaknesses keep us humble, and they give us opportunities to grow, to learn, to mature more and be more loving and understanding and useful to the Lord. That's a good, humble attitude to have—that we need help, and we're thankful for it when we get it, and take it to the Lord and find out how to apply it.

287. On the other hand, when we get sensitive and it's hard to mention things to us, we effectively close ourselves off from the help, safeguarding, and checks that we all need. Not only that, but yielding to sensitivity is in essence giving pride more room to take over your spirit‚ and that can seriously weaken you spiritually—and fast!

288. (Jesus:) Being sensitive is like being on a sports team, but not being willing to take the coach's advice. If you're in training with a team and if you're serious about being on that team, about keeping that contract, about getting the benefits and glory of being on that team, you have to keep up with it. In other words, you train with the team, you learn with the team, you stay in shape with the team. If you don't, your performance starts to fall, and you put that team, your teammates‚ and your reputation in danger.

289. In order to stay on top of the game, each player has to stay on top of their performance and their personal fitness and health. And that's where the coach comes in, because it's just human nature to settle down, to get comfortable, to relax as much as possible. But a team that relaxes all the time is not going to stay on top of the game, and it's the responsibility of the coach to push his players‚ to keep them running, to point out their weak areas, and to see to it that those weak areas are strengthened in time for the next game, or else that player may find himself off the team.

290. When you're sensitive, it's like you're saying, "Hey, this is a great team and I'm glad you picked me to be on it. But seriously, leave me alone. I think I play pretty good already, or you wouldn't have picked me. Sure, I make a few mistakes, but that's no reason to get on my case, even if I keep making them. Everybody makes mistakes, so why should I have to be different? We'll win this game! We always win."

291. That's not how it works. You might have been picked because you're a good player‚ but that isn't good enough. I need you to be the best player you can be. I need you to strengthen your weak areas‚ because otherwise the Enemy is going to be able to take advantage of them when it comes to the big game. And even if you're a great player, if you have even one weakness that is unguarded, that weakness is going to put the game in danger‚ because it gives the Enemy an advantage over you, and thus over the whole team. We have to find his weaknesses, not show him ours.

292. The coach knows the game. He's watched you and the team for lots of games, and he watched other players before you came along, and other games before any of you started playing. He knows and recognizes weaknesses, and knows which are the most important to guard against, which one the opposing team is likely to recognize and take advantage of‚ and what you can do to strengthen those weak areas.

293. And while you may have thought you were a pretty cool player when you played with your friends on the street, now that you're in the big leagues and among professionals, you suddenly find out you're not quite as cool as you thought, that you do have weaknesses‚ that you're facing stronger opponents who know how to take advantage of those weaknesses, and that you're suddenly under a coach who has the authority to insist that you work on your weaknesses.

294. And while the coach will probably have a few tips and some fascinating insight on how to strengthen that weakness, more likely than not it's going to mean more than just listening to him in a friendly conversation. It's going to mean getting on the field, spending extra hours running and training and getting in shape and practicing. It's going to mean long hours and sore muscles. It's going to mean exerting yourself and pushing yourself. It's going to mean falling again and again, and enduring the voice of the coach pushing you to get back up again, to try again, to try harder, to go further.

295. That's what you've joined this army for. You can't afford to let yourself get sensitive to this. Of course‚ you've got a great Coach, Me, and I like being friendly and I like chatting with you. But there comes a time when we're both "on duty," so to speak, and we have to play the roles we've been given to play. That means I have to push you, and it means you have to accept it without thinking, "Hey‚ how can You be so mean when You were so nice to me just a few minutes ago?" I'm not being mean. I'm just doing My job, and I expect you to do yours.

296. It doesn't mean we're not friends. It doesn't mean that if you don't make it in the big leagues that I don't still love you. But it does mean that if you want to keep playing in the big leagues, you're going to have to abide by the expectations and duties that come with it. And that means enduring some pain, enduring some sermons, even enduring some bawling out when it's necessary to help you get the point. That's all part of the package. You get the glory, but you also get the work, the blood, the sweat, the tears‚ the effort. That's all part of staying on top, of being the best, of remaining the best, and of winning.

297. The real crunch comes when I choose to give that instruction through your teammates, because that means you have to be open to what your teammates tell you as well. If you're going to play "hard to get along with," then you're not going to be much of an asset to the team, no matter how great a player you are. And more likely than not, if you keep it up, you'll find yourself off the team or traded to another team or in another position where your attitudes don't have such a negative impact on the team or the game.

298. In short‚ you must be willing to listen to your coach and your teammates if you want to stay in the game—even if what they say offends you or shatters the cool little image of yourself that you have. If you're a true professional‚ you're going to want people to tell you how you can improve in the game. If you're just a hotshot who thinks you're so hot that you don't need anybody telling you what to do—especially somebody you personally happen to consider less "cool" than yourself—then you're on the wrong team, and you either need to wake up to reality and have a change of attitude‚ or you need to drop out and go back to playing in the streets with your buddies and playing captain over them. Or if you feel you're such a "special case" that you shouldn't be expected to do any more than you're already doing, then maybe it's time to decide whether you really want to be on this big league team, and if you do, then grab on to the keys of no impossibilities and start expecting miracles and acting on them! We're a team!

299. On this team, there's only one Captain‚ one Coach, and that's Me. If you think you can do better than Me, go form your own team and quit ruining Mine. On the other hand, if you want to be on My team and do things My way; if you want to listen to My advice and follow My orders and learn to work with the people I've assigned to work with you—which includes taking the hints, or even blunt comments or instructions from your teammates; if you want to give your all and be part of the winning team, doing all that you can to help it win, and resisting those impulses and temptations and habits and attitudes that make you a less effective player, then you're My kind of material‚ and I'll sign you up for a contract and reward that is far greater than all the treasures of Egypt.

300. So what do you say? Can you take it? Can you take the pressure and the strain of being the best and staying the best, and earning the greatest rewards on the side? If not, you're more than welcome to drop out and do your own thing and make your own living and play your own game. I'll still love you and still chat with you and still be your friend. But if you want to be more than that, if you want to play a part in the greatest game of all time, on the greatest team of all time, with the greatest rewards of all time, well, then you're just going to have to put aside some of that personal baggage and personal image and personal preference so that you can learn to play the game My way.

301. Of course‚ there are unique skills and tactics and strengths that you have developed from your times playing in the streets, and the natural talent I've given you, and I want you to bring those strengths and that energy and zeal into My game. But it's even more important that those strengths are channeled in a way that's going to benefit the whole team. So you have to be open for Me to adapt those strengths a little‚ to smooth out a few rough edges, to show you how to use that tactic in a team situation, and to bring you to a point where you are working as one with the team, and not just as one with yourself.

302. But all that is going to take some prodding‚ some pushing, some corrections, sometimes even a few disciplinary measures to help you get the point and keep the point and make that change—no matter how difficult—a permanent part of your life, your performance‚ and your game.

303. I'm sure you can see how sensitivity just really doesn't fit into this picture. (End of message from Jesus.)

Text box:

304. (Jesus:) Sensitivity gets you lost in a personal defensive warfare, where you close yourself off from loving and harmonious teamworking with your mates and co-workers‚ because you are trying so carefully to preserve and protect your image, your ideas, what people think of you, and whether you feel understood or not‚ rather than turning your gaze outward where it should be. You cannot safeguard one another if there is a predominant preference shown to those who are sensitive or have a hard time receiving instruction from others, simply to avert complications or a scene.

End of text box.

A Picture of What Sensitivity Really Is in the Spirit

305. (Mama:) In the following message the Lord first explains that the positive kind of sensitivity to Him, to the Spirit, to the needs of others, is something that greatly benefits us. But then He goes into the reality of what negative sensitivity is in the spirit. In this message the Lord labels them good sensitivity and negative sensitivity. We didn't need to use those handles throughout all the messages in this Letter, because for the most part the Lord is talking about negative sensitivity. But in this one message where He's talking about both, it makes it clearer to distinguish.

306. (Jesus:) I'm going to paint a little picture. You have to realize just how serious negative sensitivity is. This will give you a bit of a perspective on the reality of sensitivity.

307. Sensitivity is something you choose to develop or choose to dull yourself to. Some swallow the fallacy that being insensitive somehow makes them stronger, but for My children‚ sensitivity is a crucial element in your life and walk with Me.

308. In the spirit, good sensitivity is being finely attuned to both Me and the spirits of My heavenly realm. This enables you to catch checks, receive fuller counsel from Me, and be more finely attuned to the needs of others around you. It breaks your heart for the lost in a more personal way as you feel their pain. It spurs you to action and causes you to strive to do the loving thing and to please Me above all.

309. The negative form of sensitivity is in essence a yielding and tuning in to the voice of Satan and his demons of pride‚ selfishness, ego, anger, jealousy, and many others. When you become offended at the opinions or words of others that don't jibe with your perspective of the situation, you may just feel it's you against that person, but it's much more serious than this.

310. I know that to your emotion–filled mind, this seems extreme. "How can just accepting those feelings of pain or offense over what so-and-so said—which was so mean and obviously directed at me and to put me down and make me feel useless—how could accepting the 'truth' be such a horrific sin?"

311. You have to look at what you are in effect doing when you allow those feelings and the accompanying sense of anger, hurt, or offense to well up inside of you. Negative sensitivity is a worshipping of self, as well as a yielding to the Enemy. It destroys unity‚ shuts out love, wipes out your fruitfulness, and severely hinders you from fighting against further onslaughts of the Enemy. It will undermine the moves of My Spirit and prevent forward spiritual movement and growth both in your life and in the lives of others around you.

312. It causes you to shut yourself off from your brethren and to put up a hard shell through which love cannot freely flow. In effect‚ you are allowing the Enemy to shut you off from the most powerful source of protection available to you: the unity and love of the brethren.

313. It begins with one person, but never stops there. If you don't drive it out aggressively, it will soon grow to infect your interaction with another, and another, until you have been isolated and are easy prey for the minions of Satan.

314. That sounds like a pretty intense and horrific list, doesn't it? But negative sensitivity is all of this and more. It is one of the most debilitating weapons in Satan's arsenal and has neutralized countless Christians throughout history. It is the basis from which Satan and his minions launch many of their attacks against My children, and especially their attacks against those whose yielding to Me is causing the very gates of Hell to shake and tremble.

315. It is a foundation stone for bitterness, gossip, hatred, violence, and much more. Within your ranks, for those who yield to it‚ it has the potential to wipe out all the good they strive to accomplish, and if not crushed, it will eventually destroy their usefulness to Me.

316. It is insidious, because its very nature appears so righteous and it appeals to your pride and sense of being right. It is no small thing to react to another's words or actions‚ or your interpretation of what you think they are saying or doing, in a sensitive‚ offended, angry or hurt way. You become offended because you have an inflated image of yourself and you fear that what is being said could tarnish that image.

317. Having a militant, fighting spirit under My control and channeled according to My highest and best, is a powerful weapon for good and bears much good fruit. But if that fighting, militant spirit is yielded to the Enemy, it becomes a spirit of rebellion, a spirit of stubbornness‚ a spirit of defiance—in essence, the very spirit of Satan himself.

318. So it is with sensitivity; if it is focused on Me and attuned to My Spirit, it becomes a tremendous tool, bringing unity, vision‚ faith, godly counsel, and all that I wish to pour into your lives. It makes you a formidable weapon in My hand to destroy the Enemy's devices both in your life and the lives of your brethren.

319. But if that sensitivity is allowed to become a tool of the Enemy through pride, fear of man, selfishness, or familiarity, it becomes a powerful weapon of the Enemy to infiltrate, undermine, divide, and if not stopped, to even destroy the work you wish to accomplish for Me. (End of message from Jesus.)

How Can You Get the Victory?

320. We've talked about many of the dangers and drawbacks of sensitivity. Now, how can you get the victory over it? Well, you start by identifying the problem, which we've tried to help you do. You have to acknowledge that you're sensitive and that you need help, and then go on the attack by admitting your faults in this area, getting prayer from your teamworkers and/or your Home, and calling on the keys to help you get the victory, and the Lord will help you to overcome.

321. No matter what it takes or how difficult it is, you need to work on it! If you're still not sure if you're sensitive or not‚ ask your co-workers, ask the people in your area who know you. Ask the Lord about it, or ask someone else if they can possibly get something from the Lord for you. I know everyone is very busy, but this is important. So if someone needs your help, if you could help them to hear from the Lord about it, it would be wonderful. It would probably be one of the best uses of your time.

322. I'm going to share with you a written prayer against pride and sensitivity that the Lord gave in prophecy, and you can pray along with this as you read it. But if you really want the victory, you'll need to then go further and confess and have prayer with your Home or your co-workers. The Lord says that taking active steps to overcome these problems is the only way. You need to ask your co-workers how pride and sensitivity are manifested in your life. You might have to preface your request to them by telling them you understand it might not be easy for them to be that honest and straightforward, or for you to take it, but that you want to improve your communications and you don't want them to feel so limited by what you may or may not like to hear.

323. You could even ask the Lord for examples of how sensitivity and pride are manifested in your life, and then share with your co-workers what the Lord gives you. If you start out by telling your co–workers things you know or that the Lord has shown you that you naturally have a proclivity to not receive so well, that might help them to see you really want the truth and are aware there's a problem and are willing to hear the details, the nitty-gritty, and it might give them more faith to share the things that they see or have noticed.

324. It will be good for your humility! The Lord says that to be humble you have to be humbled. And the best and easiest way to be humbled is if you choose to humble yourself. Choose to confess. Choose to obey. Choose to open yourself up to receive counsel‚ even when it hurts! It's not so bad that you have a problem; it's just bad if you don't do anything about it. You see? It's wonderful if you have the problem and you're doing something to overcome it, you're fighting to do the humble thing, and you want to progress. The Lord can give you wonderful victories if you fight.

325. One way to fight pride in all its forms, and sensitivity as well, is by daily seeking to do the humble thing. And in this case, doing the humble thing is admitting to yourself and to others how much you need their help, correction, instruction, and guidance‚ and asking for it‚ even if you know it's going to be difficult to take.

326. You have to ask the Lord to open your heart wide and show you what the underlying problems are that are causing you to react sensitively and immaturely.

327. A self–righteous person is often right, but they're being very self-righteous, and that's wrong. Sensitivity is similar. There may be times when it is actually true that unkind or unjustified words or actions have been directed at you‚ or you have been misunderstood and falsely accused, but this is still not a justification for allowing sensitivity to destroy unity, take away from the lessons the Lord has for you, and grant the Enemy an open door to do damage.

328. You need to open up to people. You need to tell them that you really want help, and not just tell them once‚ but keep telling them that so they'll for sure believe you. Because if in the past you've been closed or sensitive or easily offended, then they probably haven't been able to tell you things, and you don't even know they haven't told you things. So you need to ask them: "Are there things that you've wanted to tell me but you haven't, because you've felt I was too sensitive?" Ask them that. Ask the Lord, and ask your teamworkers.

329. And this is sort of a sideline, but if somebody tells you something or corrects you in some way and you feel it's inaccurate, or parts of it are inaccurate‚ well, take it to the Lord and ask Him. Ask Him if there are parts that are inaccurate. He'll help you to see things more clearly, and will show you the lessons that are important for you to gain from it.

330. But the thing is, usually a correction will not be completely accurate, because it's too hard to get things exactly right. The one who's giving the correction cannot get into the other person's mind. If you're going to give correction‚ you can ask the Lord and get His counsel as well as you can, but there's always going to be something that the person will take exception to in a correction.

331. But you have to overcome your sensitivity to any flaws in the delivery. You have to ask the Lord, "Well, is this a problem for me? What's the basic thing You're trying to teach me through this?" You have to be willing and desperate to get help, even if it comes through flawed human beings who don't always deliver it properly.

332. There are lots of things you could say, so many things that the Devil will bring up: "How could this person who has so many faults himself be telling me about my faults?" Or, "This guy, he's under me, and he hasn't been on the teamwork nearly as long as I have‚ so how could he be talking to me about this?" "This isn't completely accurate; they didn't really understand me." "This guy is new to the Home and he doesn't have the full perspective that I do."

333. But you see, that's where sensitivity comes in, and if you hold on to those things, then you're not going to accept the correction and people aren't going to want to tell you anything else. You eventually close yourself off. So even though it's hard—and I know it is hard—you've got to grit your teeth and just smile and say, "Yes, I want it! Please give it to me. It hurts, but I need it." It's like I once told a dentist when he said, "Oh, I'm sorry to hurt you." I said, "I know you have to hurt me sometimes in order to help me‚ so I'm thankful for the help." So that's sort of how you have to be about your correction, or a change in your direction, or receiving shepherding—thankful for it, even if it hurts a little.

334. And if you really want it and you keep asking the Lord to help you with it‚ to take it, to be humble, to receive it‚ even though it really hurts, eventually it will start hurting less. You'll start to receive it easier and it won't be such a battle. And you'll be growing! You'll be making progress spiritually! You'll probably be in better unity with your co-workers, and you'll all be better disciples for the Lord. So there is a wonderful victory to be had‚ a really wonderful relief and progress and growth to look forward to!

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It's sad to see that goals aren't being met or progress made because of sensitivity, and this is really caused by a lack of humility.

Learning to Trust that the Lord Will Have His Way

335. Dad used to tell us he was going to do these really far–out, crazy things, like go and live in China or something. I mean, for WS to live in China at that time, we just knew it wouldn't work, but at one point Dad was set on it. We were even going to get the tickets and everything. Dad had Peter go and scout out the land and see about house hunting—he was really serious. Peter and I thought, "What in the world is happening?" and we argued and argued with Dad. Instead of really praying and just accepting and yielding, we said, "Dad, we can't do that!" (This is just one of many examples where the Lord tested my yieldedness and I flunked!)

336. But you know, amazingly enough, when the time came‚ Dad changed his mind. The Lord changed his mind. The Lord was in control. So why didn't I learn that a long time ago? Why didn't I just yield and know that the Lord was going to have His way, and we were going to do what the Lord wanted—that Dad was led by the Lord, and just yield to it and stop fighting it!

337. Now, thank God, I think I'm more yielded. At the Summit, for example, I let Peter and the others hash out the various fine points of the issues being discussed. I was aware of the overall concepts‚ and Peter and I had spent a lot of time already praying about the general direction before going to the Summit, and during it, too. But I was never in one of the business meetings, because I was convinced that the Lord was going to lead them, in the multitude of counselors and through the many hours spent hearing from the Lord, and that He was going to have His way. I was able to confidently say, "Well, I don't know what decisions they're going to make, but, Lord, I know You're going to make the decision in the long run and it's going to be right‚ and it's going to be of You." It's wonderful to be able to trust the Lord like that!

338. But if you're holding on to your own ideas and you're not yielding, and you don't have a peace and trust that the Lord will have His way, you're going to be uptight all the time, pushing your idea, "This is what we should do, and I know the Lord wants us to do this!" That's just going to wear you out and make you sad and make you not real nice to live with, and it's going to mess up what might have been the Lord's plan!

339. Of course, you have to have conviction, and you have to be willing to obey what the Lord shows you, and there's a balance—it's not always the right thing to just go with the flow. But you have to learn to trust that the Lord is in control. You have to learn to pray for things, and then trust that the Lord is working them out, whether He uses you or He uses someone else! The earlier we can learn to be yielded and know that it's the Lord's work and He's going to take care of it, the better off we'll be!

340. The Lord often allowed Dad to do things like that as a test, and I flunked it so many times! So finally‚ thank God, I think I've gotten a little more yielded. It took a long time for me, because I didn't really get the point. But it doesn't have to take that long—especially now that we have the keys, and so much more power available to us to help us overcome!

It's Going to Be a Fight, But You Can Do It!

341. You're going to have to really fight! When you've had serious sensitivity for a long time, it's become a habit, and as we all know, bad habits take some time to break. They're difficult to break. But goodness, since when can we expect life to be so easy? Everything in our lives is difficult to some extent and we're supposed to be fighters! So don't give up because it's difficult, or it's going to be so hard, or you know it's going to take a while, because that's the work of Apotheon. He's hiding your eyes and trying to press you down and keep you from seeing that you can make the forward movement and growth and change that the Lord wants you to.

342. That's why we're going to all this trouble to share this counsel with you, because we have faith and we know that you can get the victory! You've got to get the victory over this, and we know that you can. The Lord's given us all the weapons that we need. And if you don't use anything else, use the praise weapon. The Lord says, "While you're praising Me and claiming the power of the keys, you won't be able to think about anything negative and the Devil won't be able to lie to you." Even that one key promise is powerful. If you're praising the Lord constantly‚ how are you going to be thinking negatively? You can't.

343. You just have to recognize that you're a tool in the Lord's hands. You don't have to be perfect—the Lord doesn't expect you to be‚ and we don't expect you to be. So it's unrealistic and really just pride when you feel so bad about needing correction, or allow it to get you all bent out of shape, or try to justify your way out of it. You're going to need correction or instruction about all kinds of areas in your life, that's never going to change; but it's your choice how you take it. You can accept it and be thankful for it and grow stronger‚ or you can fight against it and become weaker. Just get used to it! Be thankful for it! Take it as a compliment from the Lord, that He's interested in using you and strengthening you and making you a better disciple because He needs you!—Because that's reality!

Quote:

One area in which sensitivity can also flare up is when contrary conclusions are reached, or things that people have received from the Lord require more praying and hearing from the Lord about. It's very easy for sensitive people to get defensive and feel like they're under attack when this happens, rather than seeing the purpose and goal.—The goal being of getting the Lord's full and complete counsel and direction and putting it into action.

The Demons Behind Sensitivity

344. We wanted to know who we can pray against specifically, and who we can call on to help us in this battle. Here's some insight from our wonderful Husband, exposing the spiritual forces that bring these attacks against us.

345. (Jesus:) The demon of Pride rules over sensitivity. Pride is the master demon—sensitivity is part of his domain. Pride has many in his employ—great armies, mighty legions and bands of dark warriors who are highly trained to attack with sensitivity, whose aim is to bring My children to their end with this lethal weapon.

346. Pride has specifically commissioned the legion of Sen–si to bring My children down through sensitivity in all its forms. The Sen-si are many. Like the Selvegion, they are great in number. They are everywhere‚ always on duty. They walk in your midst; they lurk in the shadows; they are always watching and waiting for the opportune time to shoot their poisonous darts of sensitivity into the veins of their prey.

347. They are diverse in that each member of the Sen-si band does not don identical characteristics. This is manifested in the numerous and diverse tactics which these dark ones use to attack their victims. You see this in the way sensitivity manifests itself among your members—sensitivity shows up in many forms. You must specifically rebuke and bind the influence of the Sen-si in your lives if you are to be free from the grip of negative sensitivity.

348. You must call on the key of surrender to fight the Sen–si. The key of surrender will give you power to yield to My Spirit, to yield to My will, to yield to My way. Surrender to My Spirit will guard and protect you from the poisonous sensitivity darts of the Sen-si. When you are surrendered to Me, you then receive power that will enable you to fight the sensitivity of the Sen–si. In surrendering your will, your thoughts, your mind, your all to Me, you are inoculated against all their poison.

349. Call on the keys and no evil poison of the Sen-si can penetrate your being.

350. (Jesus:) Negaton [pronounced NEG-a–tawn] is the master of negativity. This archdemon has many underlings‚ many in his command. Negin stands at his right hand. He is his next in command.

351. I haven't revealed more on this before this time, for the children of David have been tempted to grow weary of hearing of so many deep truths and mysterious revelations. Some have toyed with thoughts of wondering how real it all is. All these pictures‚ they ponder—is it truly real, or is it part of a sci-fi novel? Those who choose to not take My Words to heart, those who choose not to heed My chidings to arm themselves for the spiritual battle, will fall.

352. This is a milestone, for the Sen-si, Negaton, and his underlings are exposed. It is a sober day in the spirit world. Great wrath is kindled among these who are exposed, these of the realms of negativity and sensitivity.

353. Negaton's command is not limited to one legion alone, but he commands many legions. Those under him drown their prey in a sea of negativity, hopelessness, darkness, and despair. These are hostile ones; they tear down, oppose, and resist the truth. They work in the realm of denial and refusal—denying any hope, faith, or trust in the victory‚ seeking to make you give up, to reject My promises and My help because of hopelessness. They are obstinate ones, stubborn, and rebellious. (End of message from Jesus)

354. (Mama:) That's pretty serious. But it's a wonderful thing that the Lord has revealed this to us, because He knows the need. And like the Lord said, in spite of the weariness of some of our folks, and their disbelief, for those of us who really want the truth, who want to know, who want to have the help‚ the Lord is continuing to show us, and expose these demons that are battling us.

355. Negativity and sensitivity are huge, huge problems, so thank the Lord He's giving us extra help from the spirit world and showing us that we can expose these demons that are specifically working in these arenas. We have more counsel about negativity that we hope to get out to you. But I wanted to at least share the names of the demons who fight us in that realm, so that you can be praying against them when you feel attacked, and fight back effectively!

356. Thank You Lord! We do praise You, Jesus! We praise You for Your wonderful gifts—even gifts that we get familiar with and we don't appreciate as much as we should. But we thank You, and we ask You to forgive us for sometimes being sort of ho-hum, or not wanting to hear about more exposure of demons or more revelation of helpers. Forgive us for getting familiar with Your Words and getting tired of these revelations and even wondering about them. Please forgive us for our familiarity, Lord. Of course the Enemy wants us to think that way‚ to make us blow it off as something that's not so serious, not something we take seriously.

357. So we thank You, Lord, for Your wonderful, wonderful gifts, all the beauty of Your spirit world, and even some of the darkness of the Enemy's world that You have to uncover to help us to fight a more effective warfare. Because how can we fight it if we don't know who our enemies are? We'd be just sort of groping in the dark.

358. Thank You so much for all of the truth You're pouring out, more than You've ever given to any group in the history of the world. We thank You for it. We know You've given it because You want us to use it, because it's very, very important and we need it. So we thank You, dear Love.

Spirit Beings to Help Us Fight Sensitivity

359. We asked the Lord if He could show us more about the spirit being whom the Lord mentioned in "Leadership Lessons, Part 3," in the section "Help from the Spirit World to Fight Against Sensitivity!" (GN 986) At the time, that spirit being said that there was a whole legion of specially trained spirit beings, and all we had to do was ask.

360. (Spirit being: ) I come to the children of David. I come on behalf of the prayers and at the behest of your Father David! I am to help his children who battle with sensitivity. I do battle with him who fights to defeat the children of David, the demon of sensitivity of self. I am commissioned to help you have a tough spirit but a tender heart—a tender heart to the Words of Jesus, but a tough spirit that you may receive His Words of reproof without being sensitive.…

361. I am not alone. I am part of a legion of specially trained spirit beings who have been commissioned to help you. Call on the Name of the Lord, ask for our assistance, and you will receive it. … We are mighty and strong in spirit. We have been trained to toughen you up, if you will but ask.

362. Jesus will not fail you! He has created us so that we may answer your desire to change. We'll make the change easier for you! We'll help it not hurt so much. We'll help you see beyond your hurt feelings and help you to fight! Simply call for us and we'll come. We love you! (End of message from spirit being) (ML #3386:186–190.)

363. (Mama: ) When the Lord revealed the Sen-si who fight against us, He said:

364. (Jesus: ) I have commissioned a legion of helpers to aid My children in their fight against sensitivity and against the Sen-si. These specially trained spirit beings will help you. They will assist you in surrendering your all to Me on a daily basis. Call on them, and they will help you ward off the attacks of the Sen-si. They are called the K.O.T. fighters.

365. It is no coincidence that I have at times inspired your Queen to say, "Keep on track," for this slogan is born in the spirit. This is the significance of the fearless K.O.T. combat unit. K.O.T members are ready to assist you at all times. They will help guard, protect‚ guide, and train you in how to stay a step ahead of the Sen-si. They will help you keep on track—on My track, not your own. They are ordained to help you keep on the track of the straight and narrow cutting edge of My Spirit.

366. (Mama:) We asked the Lord to tell us more about the above spirit being and the K.O.T. fighters.

367. (Jesus: ) There are many in the K.O.T. combat unit, and they are trained as expert coaches. Every Family member can have their own personal instructor‚ if they will ask.

368. I have always advocated hands-on training, one on one, each one teaching another. You can have this right now—today. Every Family member can have their own personal K.O.T trainer. You are wise to take advantage of their coaching.

369. At present, sensitivity is destroying many in your ranks. The only way to overcome is with supernatural help from the realm of the spirit, in the power of the keys. Call on the keys of revelation, get acquainted with your own personal K.O.T. trainer today, and stay free of the poisonous darts of the Sen-si.

370. (Vision: ) I see a gorgeous being. She's so light, so airy, beautiful. She just flows. She doesn't have a lot of clothes on, although she's wearing what seems to be a long, flowing piece of cloth. It's very sheer, transparent, almost as if her clothing is light, or like the mist.

371. She's in front of me, what seems like a few feet away, hovering slightly above me. She's looking me in the eye now. Her features are dainty, but I get the impression that she's very powerful. She looks like a mist, almost as if this light and airy mist is her body‚ or she inhabits the mist‚ but she flows and flows and flows. Her presence brings warmth and comfort, a feeling of security.

372. (Jesus: ) Let Me introduce to you the commander in chief of the K.O.T legion. Her name is Flo. She heads up the legion. You do not see her in combat apparel, for her greatest strength lies in her surrender. She is totally and completely surrendered to My Spirit, and thus she is a master of My power. Yielded and surrendered to Me—there is no room for sensitivity in her being, save sensitivity to My Spirit alone.

373. As I have promised, every child of David has a K.O.T. trainer waiting for them—one whose job is to join them as a permanent helper, to coach them in ways to guard against sensitivity, in how to fight the Sen-si‚ and to instruct them in deep matters of My Spirit.

374. I have personally assigned Flo, as commander in chief of the K.O.T.‚ to join Maria, earthly commander in chief of the children of David. These two are to be inseparable. Flo and Maria will lead the new Family to overcome their sensitivity. These will lead you to flow with My Spirit. This is your commission, dear ones: You must Fight, Love, Overcome. Flo, flo, flo.

375. F—Fight for truth. L—Love one another, laying aside your sensitivity, for in loving you fulfill My law. Then you will O—Overcome. (End of message from Jesus.)

376. (Mama:) We asked the Lord about the names of the others in the legion, and here's what He said:

377. (Jesus: ) There are many who are specifically commissioned in this area, because I know that so many of My children battle with sensitivity, and so the legion that I have trained to fight for My brides in this area is great.

378. Any of My loves who feel like they need to make progress in this area should ask the contingent assigned to them to speak and reveal their names. These legions who fight for you are ready and armed‚ they have what it takes to secure victory and to help you. But you must call on them or else they're not able to be that effective. You have to recognize the imps of the Sen-si and desire to be protected from their attacks.

379. So this is an assignment for each of My loves who feels attacked at any time by sensitivity, especially if it's a weakness that you are regularly influenced by and need to overcome: Ask to be introduced to the warrior who stands by you, ready to help you in this area of your life. Then, when you are faced with a typically sensitive situation, or something that you think could hit a sensitive nerve, call for your warrior friend to be with you and help you! Admit your pride, humble yourself, and ask for victory through the keys! Rebuke the Sen-si by name! The warrior who stands beside you will be there for you, and you will find the battle greatly lessened, easier to endure, and much less painful. Calling for their help is like taking a spiritual painkiller when you feel the sensitivity coming on. They will help you to toughen up in the spirit, and at the same time to become more sensitive to My Spirit. Don't neglect this instruction, for it will make your battles so much easier, and will help you make quicker progress toward the victories you need! (End of message from Jesus)

Quote:

Call on the key of overcoming to help you rise above when you get hit with sensitivity. You'll see miracles if you'll fight, move forward, and keep wielding the key of humility.

Prayer Against Negativity, Sensitivity, and Pride

380. (Mama:) I'm going to pray a prayer now against negativity‚ sensitivity and pride. This is a prayer that you can stop and pray with me. But please don't let this be the end. Please get specific with the Lord and your mates and find out how sensitivity is manifested in your life, or in what ways your pride is hindering you, in what ways you've closed yourself off to shepherding, or have compromised in not giving your loved ones and co–workers the shepherding you should have been giving them. Then, after you've found out the specifics through talking to the Lord and talking to your loved ones, have specific united prayer for those areas. It will make a huge difference in your life, I promise!

381. (Mama prays: ) We praise You, wonderful Love, Keeper of the Keys, our Answer Man Who never fails us. We praise You and thank You that victory is ours through the promises You have given us with the keys of the Kingdom. We love You, dear Husband. We need You. We cling to You as we hold tightly to the keys in our hands.

382. We will not doubt the keys. We hold on to the keys because they cannot fail us. We hold on to the keys because You have told us to. We praise You and thank You for the awesome, miracle-working power of the keys of Heaven. We praise You and thank You for the all–knowing, all-seeing, all-encompassing, all-powerful keys.

383. We call on the power of the keys to come to our defense today. We thank You, our Master of the Keys, for giving us the truth. Thank You for Your Words that set us free. Thank You for loving us as sons and daughters, for loving us enough to point out when and where we fall short, so that we can correct the problems and go on to do Your will in these Last Days.

384. Thank You for speaking so clearly about the vital importance of letting go of the sins that we have entertained‚ and of the crucial need for shepherding and safeguarding each other. We thank You for the priceless privilege it is to be able to work together. We thank You, Jesus, for our friends, our mates, our comrades-in–arms, who we can join together with and win the world for You. We don't want to take this privileged place lightly. We don't want to minimize the blessing of having each other, of being able to work together and support one another, uphold one another‚ pray for one another, and fight for one another.

385. Thank You, dear Love, for revealing to us the things that hinder our progress, for revealing the evil ones who are on duty around the clock trying to hinder us in the areas of communication, shepherding, and safeguarding each other. We want to be free from their bondage, dear Love. We don't want to let them in. Set us free today from the bondage of the Enemy! Through the keys of deliverance, free us from pride and all of its manifestations and related problems. Release to us the power of the keys of deliverance and freedom. We defy and resist the power of the rulers of the darkness of this world.

386. We call on the power of the keys of the Kingdom to free us from sensitivity, shyness, self-righteousness, comparing, lethargy‚ envy, criticalness, pride, negativity, and every damnable device of Satan and his demons that try to hold us back from accomplishing Your highest will in our lives, from being what You want us to be.

387. We rebuke the power of Negaton and Negin, and the Sen-si, and any hold they have had on our hearts and minds and spirits. We cast them out and down to the pits of Hell! We resist the forces of evil in the power of the keys! We rebuke the power of Pride, who fights in every area of our lives. We rebuke the power of Pan and Apotheon, who work with Negaton, fighting our minds and our attacking initiative. We rebuke Arakan, who tries to confuse us. We resist and defy the Deactivation demons of pride‚ disobedience, bitterness and division in the power of the keys. We rebuke Obstacon, who tries to obstruct our intake of the Word, which sheds light on our problems and instructs us on how to gain victory. We rebuke Satan and every single one of his demons whose goal is to delay us, hinder us, and stop us altogether. These dark ones cannot touch us‚ because there is no evil that can stand against the power of the keys. Set us free today from their bondage!

388. We call on the keys of deliverance, of freedom, of enlightenment. We claim the keys of victory! We will not accept defeat. We claim the keys of imprisonment, and ask them to enclose and surround our hearts and protect us from the attacks of these dark ones. Thank You, Jesus, for the power of the keys that can overcome any problem and rise above any impossibility.

389. Thank You for the mighty spirit help You have given us. We call on the Activation angels to neutralize these Deactivation demons! We call on Michael, on Gabriel‚ and on Raphael to defy Pride and to fight for us. We call on Illuminus and on Arcothon to fight on our behalf against Pan, Arakan, and Apotheon. We call on Tola and Tor, commanders of the keys, to wield their key power for us. We call on the wildcats of Heaven to assist and to battle for us. We call on the legions that fight the Sen-si.

390. Dear Husband‚ we unleash the power of the keys and the power of all our spirit helpers on Satan and every demon in his domain! There is no power that can stand against the power of the keys of the Kingdom. The keys rule! We call on the keys of revolution, as we determine in our hearts to do all in our power to resist our pride, negativity, sensitivity, and all things that hinder our communication and shepherding and safeguarding each other.

391. We claim the keys of faith, determination, and transformation. Through the keys of determination we can do it‚ we can make it, we can go the distance. We can lift the load. We can accept and use our anointing, because it is not our power, but it is the all-encompassing, never-ending, world-changing power of the keys.

392. We call on the keys of spiritual awareness and receptivity. We stand on the keys of heavenly thought power to fill our minds with Your thoughts. Totally possess us, dear Love.

393. The keys of change guarantee change as long as we fight and do our part. We call on the key of stamina to help us to fight. We call on the keys of humility and desperation and deliverance to make us into the new men and women we need to be. Hallelujah!

394. Thank You for Your grace, Your power, and Your miracle-working keys. The keys specialize in the impossible‚ the undoable in the natural. The keys can change any heart and spirit. You said, "Call on the keys and I will help you to overcome in every area of your life, even if it goes against your very nature." They will work for us, and we claim them in faith. We refuse to give up this fight. The keys change hearts and habits. The keys will enable us to have a complete transformation. All change is possible with the keys.

395. We praise You, our Miracle Man, Keeper of the Keys, and our mighty Deliverer!

396. Hallelujah! We thank You for this wonderful deliverance! You've done it! We claimed the keys and You've done it. We know it's done, Jesus, because we believe You that the keys will do all things and there's no problem too big for the keys to solve. Thank You for Your deliverance. Thank You for Your love for us.

397. Thank You that You said it and it's done. Thank You that we can start off our wonderful new life with You, as new men and women, and that as we continue to claim the keys and wield their power and change the bad habits into good habits‚ we're going to take off as never before and we're going to accomplish more and be happier and be more endued with Your power and anointing than ever before. (End of prayer.)

398. (Mama:) Don't you feel better? Thank You Jesus! The Lord has delivered us, but now we have to do our part, as the Lord told us about somebody one time. They had a wonderful deliverance, and the Lord said, "Nothing could have stopped Me from doing the work in their life when they came for united prayer and everyone prayed for them." But when it didn't sort of "take," I asked the Lord, "What happened, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I did the work. The bonds were broken, the chains were broken, and he could have taken the steps. Day by day he could have taken those little steps to do the humble thing, but he didn't. He wouldn't." So that's sobering.

399. The Lord breaks the chains, but we've got to do our part and we've got to work to make forward progress‚ to walk in our victory, practice it, use it, live it. The bad habits are still there, but whereas before you couldn't do anything about them, or it was very difficult‚ now the Lord has broken the spiritual chains, and it's much easier for you to make progress and make these changes. But you still have to make them.

400. Thank the Lord for the victories, and thank the Lord that He doesn't leave us or give up on us after just one talk or one prayer. He keeps working with us and bringing things into our lives to help us and to give us opportunities to grow. He's willing to go as far as it takes and as long as it takes to help us to get the victories we need. Because we not only need the victories, but He needs us. He loves us, and He wants to make our lives happier and He wants us to be more effective for His work.

P&P Question to Ask the Lord

401. Here is a P&P question that I would like to ask each of you to do sometime over the next week or two, during your personal time with the Lord. In order to get the most mileage out of it‚ you might want to consider sharing your prophecies, or excerpts of them‚ in a Home meeting so that you can all help each other. But that's up to you and your faith and how the Lord shows you to go about sharing your hearts and opening up to one another. But it could be a good first step, if you're all in agreement and want to.

Question to ask the Lord:

402. Thank You, dear Love, for speaking to us about pride and sensitivity, and how serious these problems are. Thank You for imparting the vision of what You expect of us. I want to make progress in the spirit. I don't want to fail You or miss the boat of Your highest will for lack of taking heed to these things Mama shared and for lack of obeying. These problems are hard to overcome‚ but I know that nothing is too hard with the power of the keys. What I was not able to do before is now possible through the power of the keys. I call on the keys of enlightenment, of revelation, of openness and of yieldedness to You so I can receive Your personal instruction. Please tell me what steps You want me to take in order to fight pride and sensitivity in my life. How are these things manifested in my life and what do You want me to do about it? I call on the keys of focus and concentration so that I can receive a clear and complete message.

Promise from the Lord About Overcoming Sensitivity

403. (Mama: ) I'm going to close this GN with an encouraging jewel from our Husband about overcoming sensitivity. The Lord knows you can make it, dear loves. No matter how far gone you are or how bad your habits are, you can change! So don't let the Enemy tell you otherwise!

404. (Jesus:) Sensitivity looks like a huge monster to many of you. It looks like a giant in the land‚ and it is a giant if you let it be. But in truth, it is nothing more than a façade of the Enemy, a device, a ploy, a ruse and a fake, and if you set your mind and heart against it and determine to fight and destroy it, I promise to make it vanish and blow up before you.

405. It's what they call a stronghold of the Enemy. But I am able to loosen these strongholds and then blow them away through the power of My keys. To those of you who make the commitment to fight it with all your heart, though it may take all your determination to overcome it, if you do determine to fight it to the death, it will be overcome and you will see the day when you realize what a façade it was.

406. It seems real to you now because you're yielding to it and you've let it become a reality in your life. But I am able to make it a thing of the past through My power, which blows away the façades and fakes of the Enemy. He is but a ruse; I am reality. My reality can easily replace his ruse if you give it all you have, if you have faith in Me and My keys and My power.

407. I know that you who love Me will do this‚ and I thank you for this in advance, and promise to take you by the hand and get you across this Jordan into a land of milk and honey where all the giants have been destroyed and blown away, and you will be My conquering army, if you have the heart for it. I love you, My precious brides whom I have made My Own. (End of message from Jesus.)

Quote:

Sensitivity is very often the justification of your weakness; it's finding excuses for why you can't accept something or respect another person's point of view or check the Lord's given them over your own. But it's very important that you don't allow the Enemy to have access in this way.

Additional Reading

408. (Mama:) Here are some more tips from Dad and the Lord about how to get the victory, what you can do to really go on the attack and make progress in this area.

409. (Dad: ) Sensitivity often becomes more intense and is allowed to grow when you're not in the habit of sharing your weaknesses with others and asking for prayer; being open and honest about your personal life, the areas that need help, the areas you need prayer, etc. I dare say that if you were humbling yourself with one another, confessing your faults to each other and asking for prayer—even daily, as is sometimes needed—then when someone points something out, it wouldn't jar you or throw you for a loop.

410. I understand that some of you feel insecure. You feel as if you're walking on thin ice day by day, and when someone finally broaches the subject of your faults or failings, that's just an extra weight you didn't need, and crashing through the ice you go. I do understand, but that doesn't make it right.

411. We all know sensitivity is bad, and from seeing how it can affect your interactions, we can all deduce we don't want it in our lives. But what's the answer? The Lord's given immense power in this day and age—power over even ourselves and our natural weaknesses. This is the day of overcoming. We can't just accept ourselves the way we are all the time. We have to take an active stand against the Enemy and yield to the Lord and His changes in our lives.

412. What's the first active step you can take against sensitivity?—Humility and prayer. Not just you praying, but if you really want to hit the Enemy on the head in a twofold attack against this, ask for prayer from your mates. Humbling yourself and admitting your faults to them will help them breathe a sigh of relief. They may know you're sensitive‚ and they might already have developed the habit of tiptoeing around you so as not to upset your precarious balance. But when you ask for prayer, and when you admit you have this problem and need their prayers‚ they join you in the fight. It helps them and you to feel at ease in their dealings with you, and it breaks down the first barrier—the lack of communication.

413. Communicating to others that you have a problem helps them to overcome the hard part—the part where they have to admit that you're a bit difficult to talk to, or there are things that you do which make them uneasy or less than upfront with you. Of course, there's no reason to feel condemned—everyone has something that they need to work on, and sensitivity is a weak area just like anything else. But if you can approach your mates and admit the areas you're a little sensitive in, and ask for prayer that you'll be strengthened in this and open to the opinions of others, this alone is a great milestone toward getting rid of sensitivity.

414. You might draw a blank in your mind while asking yourself, "Am I sensitive?" There might not be anything you can immediately put your finger on which would declare that you're sensitive and warrant asking for prayer, but it's better to ask the Lord. Sensitivity is usually something that others can see more clearly in you, because it affects others more obviously than it affects you. So if you have the faith, after you receive some good counsel and encouragement from the Lord to help you take it in the right spirit‚ ask your loved ones to be honest with you about how you manifest your sensitivity.

415. When someone feels shunned by you because of something forthright they said, or when a person declines to bring something to your attention because they know how you're likely to react, those are feelings they have because they've discovered you're sensitive. It might not occur to them that this is something that needs to be shared or is even a problem. But most of the time, when someone is limited in sharing things with you, or is limited in their honest communications because of their fear—or their knowledge—of how you will react, that's where sensitivity hinders, and is a great setback to the work of the Lord and the open lines of communication we all need to have with each other.

416. Now, when someone feels like I described above, they can bring it to the Lord‚ and maybe He'll show them how they can handle it or bring it to your attention in a way that won't offend you. This is possible. Some things can't be left unsaid, and especially those who are responsible to the flock can't expect positive reactions to everything they might point out. But it's a lot of work to have to check and double-check your approach with the Lord each time, because you're worried about how the other person will receive it. No one can keep that up all the time. So the end result is that a loving reminder or check to you might get waylaid and eventually passed up completely‚ meaning you won't receive the Lord's warnings or reminders from another, which in turn leads to your personal life and eventually His work suffering.

417. It helps to realize the end result of sensitivity, the repercussions of these little ways you let pride control your spirit and your actions. When you realize how serious it is, it can help you stir yourself up and commit to not accepting them in your personal life.

418. Taking active steps to fight your sensitivity and pride is the only way to get the victory. If you're not sure that you've been sensitive or whether you take friendly comments a little too personally‚ ask your co-workers. It'll be hard for them to bring things to your attention, and you might have to preface your request to them by telling them you understand it might not be easy, but that you're willing to make your lines of communication stronger and not to have them feel limited by what you may or may not like to hear.

419. Everyone has sensitivity in one form or another. There are some who haven't battled it as much, and there are some people who bury it deep inside, never letting others know that their pride has been hurt or that they feel resentment. But it's time for you all to let go of the weights that have held you back, and to rest in the unity and strength of spirit you'll find in the loving arms of your brethren.

420. Remember that a real key is being open‚ honest, and admitting your faults; then it won't be so hard for others to help you and remind you when you fall‚ and it will be much easier for you to receive it too. You will all need each other to point things out at one time or another, so each of you set the example in being open and yielded. The results will be much more beneficial than any immediate hurt or growing pains. Trust me—the more you do it, the easier it will be. I love you. (End of message from Dad.)

*

421. (Jesus:) You all know that sensitivity is born of pride, and one way to fight pride is by daily seeking to do the humble thing. And in this case, doing the humble thing is admitting to yourself and to others how much you need their help, correction, instruction, and guidance. Maybe you know more than so–and-so about this or that aspect of your responsibilities, or even their responsibilities; but taking the humble seat and doing the humble thing in this case is realizing that sometimes the way I speak to you is through others and their connection with Me.

422. You could be praying and hearing from Me frequently, faithfully, even at every turn, but sometimes I like to use others to speak to you—sometimes just to keep you humble. So not only do I use My channel with you to give you guidance and instruction, but I also use others' channels with Me to speak to you—thus keeping you humble and close to Me.

423. I know that sometimes it's hard to see Me in others when their faults are staring you in the face. You feel like they aren't the ones to point out such–and-such to you, because‚ well, they're just as guilty. Yes! That's precisely the point! I like to use men and women who are full of faults, because then My power is more clearly seen in them.

424. Overcoming sensitivity and being willing to shepherd each other all boils down to love. How much love do you have for your fellow men? Do you love them enough to have the humility to point out something that they're doing that could need some adjustment? Do you have enough love to receive it when they point out something to you? It's a two-way street, My loves, and I want to see it get some traffic!

425. I know that giving and taking and doing both in love is not easy. It takes a hard swallow for some of you to hold your tongue and to speak evil of no man, even in your heart, when they're correcting you. The Enemy will use anything he can to keep you from receiving it: by pointing out to you that the way they corrected you was not in love, or was done out of pride or self-righteousness; or he will be quick to list all their faults and failings to you and thus make you feel justified in not receiving the points that they had for you. But all of that doesn't change the fact that I have lessons for you to learn from what they're saying.

426. Are you willing to do whatever it takes to keep this Family afloat and to make sure that your teamwork and working relations with others are handled in love and humility?—Even if that means taking correction, no matter how it's delivered and by whom?

427. When someone comes to you with something to point out‚ of course the Enemy is going to be right there trying to keep you from receiving it. It's up to you to realize that the reason you're being fought is not because something bad is happening, but because something good is happening and the Enemy of your soul wants to see it thwarted! So fight it with the keys, fight it with the Word, fight it with your knowledge of the Enemy's dastardly tactics.

428. It feels so "right" to be sensitive; it's just what your emotions and human weakness is pulling you to do; and it takes great faith‚ determination, and fight to pull your feelings in the right direction at that time. But that's what you are—you're fighters and warriors who are not taken in by the Devil's lies and lying vanities! So fight on and you will win! (End of message from Jesus.)

*

429. (Jesus:) Here are some practical steps you can take in overcoming negative sensitivity and transforming your life and relations with others. Although these steps won't always be easy, they will bring about change for the best.

Exposure:

430. Even though the outcroppings of sensitivity are visible‚ the root of it is often hidden away for some time before its outcroppings become apparent. The root of sensitivity is pride. It also often has other roots—in familiarity, lack of fear of Me, resentment or past hurts, and on the list goes.

431. The practical first step to exposing the roots of sensitivity is to ask Me to open your heart wide and show you what it is rooted in—what are the underlying problems that are causing you to react sensitively and immaturely.

432. Recognizing that you are being sensitive is a huge step toward the victory. There are usually times when wrong words or actions are directed at you, or you have been misunderstood and falsely accused, or when someone doesn't understand or misjudges the situation. But that's still not a good reason to allow the Enemy in and allow your pride to flare up and cause you to feel sensitive. There's always a lesson that I can bring out of it for you—even if it's just a test in overcoming sensitivity and taking the humble seat!

Humility:

433. Here's what is often the most painful step: When you have taken your battle with sensitivity before Me and I have shown you the root of the problem, then it's time to lay it at My feet, admit that you're wrong for letting it in, and determine to do all in your power to knock it out.

434. You then have to bring it before those who have been affected by your wrong reactions and attitudes‚ those who have seen or heard the outbursts, the backbiting, the contention and division, the tears and the "poor me's," or the silence and lack of communication.

435. If it has come to the point of contention‚ you have to admit to others that your sin was the worst—even if you feel others were in the wrong—because you placed your spirit and image and pride above My love. Seek forgiveness and ask for support and help from those you work and live with.

436. Basically, you have to determine to get the victory even if nothing around you ever changes. The victory is not in training people how to handle or treat you. The victory is in learning how to see their treatment of you through an objective perspective, learn from their input even if it's not given perfectly, and get over the hurts.

437. The bottom line is that it doesn't matter who is right or wrong. Allowing sensitivity to grow in your life cannot be tolerated. When you're sensitive, you're not open—to Me or to others. Your spiritual life is stunted, and eventually the work and the Kingdom suffer. See sensitivity not as some form of delicateness and just something that's a part of you. It should not be a part of any of My children and has no place in their lives or hearts. It is a heinous sin, encouraged and perpetuated by Satan and his minions, and must be driven out with all the firepower you can muster.

Openly acknowledging that it's all Me:

438. When you become sensitive or offended because your opinion or idea has been shot down, modified‚ or criticized by others‚ why do you feel this way? If you remember that it's My work, My plan, and must be done My way, it will give you a lot more peace to flow with My Spirit. If everyone is seeking My answers‚ then the final solution will be what I want, regardless of how you got there or who proposed which idea. The only reason to feel offended is if you are taking credit for the idea yourself. This is the only time that it becomes a personal affront to you.

439. If you are looking to Me and I have brought something to your mind as a point to make or a solution to offer, then you must trust Me for it. If what I have given you is the right solution, then I will either turn the hearts of others toward it, or show clearly in My time that what you gave was indeed My highest. If, as will sometimes happen, the idea is a catalyst to bring up more ideas and eventually reach the right final result, then you have accomplished My highest and best in obeying and giving your small part, and there's nothing to feel sensitive about. Even if your idea isn't taken at all‚ it's part of the discussion, part of finding My will and exploring the options, which is very important.

440. You must recognize that you are a tool in My hands, and what I give you to give is what you must give. It doesn't have to be contingent on it ministering to your pride by causing everyone to look at you as the great or wise one. Your job is to do your part, and if you are seeking Me‚ then trust that whatever I give you will accomplish My perfect will regardless of anyone's reaction—even if it's just in starting a train of thought that will eventually lead to My perfect will.

441. The same goes for when you need correction or instruction about some area of your life. If you're in the habit of giving Me all the glory for anything good, then seeing an area that's lacking is simply a sign that you need more of Me in that area. You know you're not good in yourself, you're already depending on Me, so it's not a bad thing to have an area to improve in.

442. Overall, if you're in the habit of sincerely acknowledging Me, things won't bother you as much. It's only when you start to take the credit to yourself, or you try too hard in the arm of the flesh, that changes or adjustments can become a very personal issue and too hard for your pride to take gracefully.

Resolving to face the battle and fight for victory:

443. There are going to be times in everyone's life when the words or actions of others are going to hurt. It's a part of life, a part of being human. But the hurt doesn't have to result in your becoming offended, sensitive, or hindered by it.

444. When you've been hurt by others and you find yourself reacting in a sensitive way, you have two choices. You can resolve to attack the problem‚ even though you know that means facing your faults, humbling yourself, looking for the good that I want to bring out of the situation, even though it's probably going to be pretty uncomfortable and even painful for you initially. Or you can try to run from the problem and the hurt and discouragement by hiding in the feelings of sensitivity, trying to justify or defend yourself‚ and hoping to soothe and pacify the hurt or defensiveness you feel. This second option only results in more long-term suffering and damage, spiritual weakening, and a weakening of your bonds of love with others.

445. You have to resolve to face the battle, ask Me to help you push through the hurt, and gain and grasp the lessons that I have for you, and refuse to allow the pain to hinder you from loving others. In humility, look for the good in what has initially hurt you. In this way you remove the poisons that the Enemy is trying to pour in, and you go on to greater things.

Resorting to prayer rather than resentment:

446. The most practical way to resolve conflicts and hurts is to go to the person you feel sensitive toward, or who is battling sensitivity as a result of something you said or did‚ and humbly ask them to pray with you.

447. This is not an opportunity to pray a prayer asking Me to help the other person to see the light and how right you are and how wrong they are. This is a time to humbly ask Me to cause this situation to draw you closer to the other person and to help you both to acknowledge Me.

448. It's a time to pray that I will help you to understand and find a way to see My plan in the situation. Acknowledge that I am working through both of you, and ask Me to help you find a way to turn this potential problem into a greater victory.

449. This step of humility will help your spirit come back more in line with the way I want it to be, and when it does, the pain will be lessened and you'll be able to see things more clearly. It will also bond you together with the other person, and close the door on any entrance for the Selvegion or resentment or problems down the line.

Learning to laugh at yourself:

450. When you have accepted that anything good is only Me, when your good ideas are clearly nothing of you but My Words pouring through you, when you know that you're going to make mistakes, and need help often to get back on track, and it's clear that there's no reason to become offended and sensitive, then it's time to have a laugh at yourself. You may have the weight and the responsibility of many others on your shoulders, but you are still just human‚ just a fumbling, fallible man or woman.

451. A sign that you truly have accepted that it's only Me in you that makes anything good happen is to see the funny side of your existence. Then you can laugh at your own fabulous flops and use them to encourage others that if you can make it‚ anyone can.

452. When you can sincerely laugh at your own blunders, you have made great progress toward becoming a humble vessel in My hand. You begin to realize that there's no need to put yourself under stress and pressure beyond what I show you, and your whole life will begin to reflect Me and My power in a new and spectacular way‚ rather than promoting you and your efforts. (End of message from Jesus.)

Quote:

You've got the keys, and you can claim the keys of humility when you find yourself battling with sensitivity. The Lord can help you overcome. He wants to do the miracles for you‚ but you have to start by identifying the problem, acknowledging that you are sensitive and need help, and then going on the attack by admitting your faults in this area, getting prayer from your teamworkers, and calling on the keys to help you get the victory.

How Can You Help Someone Who Is Very Sensitive?

453. (Mama:) Following is a bit of counsel on how you can help someone who is very sensitive to recognize their need for a victory, and how to support them as they're fighting for it. The basic formula still works—love, humility, and prayer solve all problems. Putting yourself in the other person's shoes, asking the Lord for His love for them, seeing them through His eyes, speaking the truth in love, asking the Lord how to best help them, and remembering what a mess you are yourself‚ are all sure keys to success.

454. (Jesus:) Sensitivity is a very debilitating affliction, and one that requires the positive help and support of others. The first step, and one which is often truly a step of faith for the one afflicted, is to accept that they have this serious problem, and that it is indeed something serious. It is an attack by Pride, and like so many of Pride's attacks, it is very hard for the one in his grip to see that they in fact are subject to it.

455. The sensitive person is focused on the effect of others on themselves‚ rather than on how they are affecting others. They see even innocent variations in opinion by others as a personal affront. In the early stages, this sensitivity is focused only at certain people whose intentions appear to be malevolent toward them, or certain situations where they are more concerned that their opinions will be accepted. As the problem grows worse, they add more and more to their list of those who are antagonistic toward them‚ until in the end their life becomes one of isolation from even those who love them.

456. The steps of bringing someone to the point of recognizing they are afflicted with sensitivity vary, depending on how deeply ingrained the problem is. For those who occasionally become offended, it is often possible to simply be forthright and expose it. If they are yielded in other areas and truly want to please Me, they will often find it fairly easy to take the step of faith to guard against those occasional moments when they allow themselves to slip, as well as cleansing their heart and being more on guard against the pride that is causing it. They can often turn things around by facing the fact that this is a problem that is beginning to creep in, and putting up safeguards either personally, by monitoring their own reactions and watching for danger signs, or by asking others to check them if they begin to react in a sensitive way to correction, advice‚ or contrary opinions.

457. For those who've allowed sensitivity to become a habit and a thought pattern, it will often be necessary for them to take the step of faith to accept that they have a problem, even though they cannot see it. In most cases they will have to take it by faith at first, acting on the counsel of others who can see the problem and can help guide them.

458. If you are the one, or one of the ones, who are the focus of their sensitivity, it can be very difficult for them to accept this from you. For some, if you are totally honest and take the humble seat, admitting your own battles and weaknesses, they will be willing to at least try to accept that they have such a problem. In some cases, it's best for someone who is either close to them and in whom they have a solid trust, or someone who has no direct involvement and therefore couldn't be picking on them, to humbly and meekly pray with them and explain that this is a problem and ask them to try to accept by faith that they need to have a change. However, even if there seems to be no appropriate person to talk to them that they don't already have issues with, you can't let the problem continue. You owe it to them to seek Me humbly about who and how and when to best broach the subject‚ and then you must do it as lovingly as possible, and yet plainly enough for them to see clearly what the problem is.

459. This can be very difficult, because when someone is battling heavily with sensitivity, their emotions and perceptions are often confused. They feel overwhelmed by what they perceive as being under attack from others. Their faith in their brethren is faltering under the barrage of the Enemy's attacks, and like someone who is heavily plagued with self-righteousness, they see only the fault of others and not their own part in the problem.

460. Here is where having prayer and confessing the problem is very important, even though they cannot see it clearly. As they cry out to Me by faith for deliverance, I will open their eyes to reality.

461. Then comes the next phase, which is also difficult. When they begin to see how bad a state they have slipped into without realizing the danger, the Enemy will attempt to crush them with discouragement and hopelessness. He will try to flood them with the worry that if they didn't see it before, they're not going to see it now, and the feeling that they'll soon slip back even further without realizing it. They will also be tested repeatedly‚ for I will be giving them many opportunities to make the right decisions, and I will work with them, trying to turn this weakness into a strong point.

462. They will battle‚ but here is where you can become their greatest support. It's a time to bolster them with prayer, with positive and genuine love‚ and most of all by showing you have faith that they can keep fighting for the full victory. It's not time to stop pointing things out, because they need to push through the difficult stage in order to come out on the other side strengthened. But you must do it prayerfully, and with great love and understanding of the battle. Seek Me as to what is the best way to help them personally to feel your love, and yet not to sympathize so much that it would nullify the test and the ground they can gain through it.

463. As with many things, the best way to help them is to encourage them to build a strong link with Me through hearing My voice for themselves and for others. They are potentially very strong channels and can go on again to be mighty, valiant soldiers for Me if they will focus on using those channels to carry My Spirit, and not allow their pride to block and confuse and hinder them. They will struggle, but if those around them uphold them in prayer and sincerely show faith in them, I can give tremendous victories even to those who have this problem most deeply ingrained. (End of message from Jesus)

Another of the K.O.T. Legion Introduces Himself

464. (Mama:) Someone in WS asked the Lord to reveal the name of their helper to fight sensitivity, as they were asking for prayer against sensitivity and wanted to have all the help they could get.

465. (Spirit helper: ) My name is Sensation. Yes, Sensation! Why does that surprise you? My name is Sensation—not to draw attention to myself, but it is my main attribute, for it is my desire to please my Lord and to help you feel the sensations of the spirit. It is a good thing to be sensitive to the Spirit of the Lord; what is not good and a counterfeit is to be sensitive to yourself. I fight specifically against sensitivity of self, which is fostered by an underling of Pride.

466. Sensitivity to self, hurt feelings, self-pity, the Sen-si and the other ilk of their kind, we have nicknamed "the slime," for they put a film of slime on your spirits so you can't feel the conviction of the Lord's Spirit. That slime also causes you to be numb to His touches and caresses and manifestations of love. What is worse is that you seldom even know it, as the slime covers your eyes and blurs your vision so you are no longer aware of what you're doing and what a bad state you've gotten into and how far from the Lord you're straying.

467. To truly be close to the Lord, to become one with Him in spirit, your spirit must be cleansed from the filth of the world. In His love and mercy‚ the Lord is constantly trying to cleanse each of His brides by showing them different things. He sometimes does it by His Own whispers, He does it through the Word you read, and sometimes He uses your mates to get through to you. But however He does it, He does it in love, and for the purpose of drawing each of His brides closer to Him. He wants you to have better and more satisfying lovemaking with Him; so He can truly love you and satisfy you and fill you with His seeds and His Spirit. To feel the sensation of the spirit and to be fucked wildly by the Lord, you must be naked, free of self, and free from the coverings that the imps of the Evil One would place on you. So correction and instruction are good things and help you to be ready at a moment's notice to be loved by our Lord.

468. But the Enemy of your soul will do all within his power to keep you from that. He sends his imps to lie to you and seduce you by telling you that they can protect you from the hurt of instruction and correction by just covering yourself with this protective covering. But in reality it's a false protection and is only separating you from the Lord and the cleansing heat of His love. It's a false covering and it prevents you from feeling and being sensitive to the Lord's Spirit, and at the same time makes you more sensitive to yourself. It's a vicious cycle, and the more you cover yourself in the slime, the more you need to, as the slime feels so good to self, but each layer makes it harder to feel the sensations of the Lord's Spirit.

469. Sometimes it takes quite a jolt in the spirit to get through that slime, depending on how much a person has let build up and how much they want to be helped and freed from the slime. That's my job—to help get rid of the slime—and at the same time‚ toughen you up to resist the temptation to cover yourself again, thinking that in some way it will protect you from the so-called hurt of the Lord's cleansing. By so-called protecting yourself, you are only hurting yourself and separating yourself from your Love. It is my job to help you feel the sensations of the spirit again and to lead you back to the bed of our Lover so you can be loved and cherished by Him.

470. If you want to be free from the Sen–si, who we call the slime‚ and help others to be free, you can call our legion‚ who are specially trained to fight the slime, as well as to help you regain your sensitivity and joy at the touches of our Lord and Lover. You can call on me for yourself, or you can call on me to help your brethren. It is our joy and delight to battle the slime. You can call us the slime-busters if you like. (End of message.)

471. (Mama: ) Give your K.O.T trainer a chance to introduce himself or herself! Like the Lord instructed earlier, call on the keys of revelation, and then get to know your personal helper, work with them, and they will help you to overcome!

Letter Links

Selected Letters (references) on sensitivity, giving and receiving correction‚ and shepherding each other

Notes:

1. Letters are in chronological order, not order of importance.
2. The following lists cover sensitivity from different angles and the Letters overlap a bit at times (for example, a Letter excerpt under the general category of "sensitivity" may also contain counsel on giving and receiving correction), but we've tried to put each Letter excerpt or pub where it seemed most appropriate.
3. FJWL references are the numbers preceding each prophecy excerpt, not page numbers.

Sensitivity

*"Self-righteousness," ML #2140:53–58, DB 8.

*"Mama's Letters of Counsel to Juan, Abi and Dust—Letter No.1," ML #2620:74-77, DB 10.

*"Mama's Letters of Counsel to Juan, Abi and Dust—Letter No.2, Part 1," ML #2621:8-11, 33-35‚ DB 10.

*"Bitterness," ML #2672:60-66, 84-87, DB 10.

*"Misinterpretations and Misunderstandings‚" ML #2839, DB 11.

*"Leadership Lessons, Part 3," ML #3386:158-190, GN 986.

*"How to Be on Guard Against the Selvegion‚" ML #3403:4-10‚ Post-it Letter.

*"Sensitivity," Peter #32, DB 3.

*FJWL 2: #554, 558, 564.

*"Sensitivity‚" Word Topics.

Giving and Receiving Correction

*"Pride—The Root of All Sin," ML #1929, DB 2.

*"Taking Correction—Don't Justify Yourself," ML #1930, DB 2.

*"God's School of Submission," ML #2225:21–34, DB 8.

*"Turning Weakness into Strength," ML #3247:44-84, GN 848.

*"Issues, Part 4‚" ML #3306:38-55, GN 909.

*"Communication Keys," ML #3323:241-252, GN 928.

*"Recognizing and Resisting Pan," ML #3401:47-49, Post–it GN.

*FJWL 2: #78.

Shepherding Each Other/Counseling Together

*"Pray and Obey," ML #1935, DB 3.

*"Getting Back on Track for Jesus, Part 3," ML #2892:33-36, DB 12.

*"Leadership Lessons, Part 3," ML #3386:1-157, GN 986.

*"Board Vision Training Videos, Part 4," ML #3409:59-64, Post–it Letter.

*"New Year's Challenge for 2004," ML #3468:56-66, 90-96‚ GN 1054.

*"What Is Full-time Discipleship, Part 1," ML #3469:69-119, GN 1055.

Copyright © 2004 by The Family

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