From the desk of Steve Shultz:
When you see or hear a concept over and over, such as "how we are to be in relationship with one another", you take note. Many prophetic people are getting the same thing in their own "prophetic language or hearing".
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Karen Slaughter:
The Power of Oneness
It has been a privilege to know Karen Slaughter for over 15 years, as she and her husband, Brett, and their four children have been an integral part of the New Horizons Church family. Karen's consistent and passionate pursuit of the Lord has resulted in personal transformation and freedom. She is a great inspiration to many people and brings spiritual revelation and challenging insights to those in her sphere of influence. She has served with the leadership team of New Horizons for the last 10 years – as youth pastor and a worship leader – and is currently serving as director of the New Horizons SOZO ministry and flows in prophetic ministry and the teaching of the Word.
Galen Gingerich, Sr. Leader
New Horizons Church, McMinnville, Oregon
The Power of Oneness
Recently, Father God has taken me on a journey of bringing my focus back to what I believe is one of the most essential keys to walking in greatness.
A few months ago the Lord said, "Karen, I'd like you to become more one with the people you're in close relationship with." I was a little frustrated with this request, only because I wasn't sure how to do this. I went through the checklist in my mind. My husband, leaders, children, mentors, pastors, siblings – they all checked out fine. Don't get me wrong, I'm not speaking of perfection, but I do have very strong relationships with everyone mentioned. No known unforgiveness, no bitterness; we really love and enjoy each other and have strong bonds. My frustration stemmed from the fact that I wasn't sure how to fix something that wasn't broken.
After spending months of being too noisy in my asking Father what His answer was, I finally became quiet long enough to watch and hear what He was trying to teach me: In order to walk in greatness, we must walk as one in community. He showed me that whenever there are no real "issues" – no division, no bitterness, and no huge problems – it is the perfect environment for becoming more united. I heard the Father say, "What a perfect atmosphere you have for going even deeper with others."
There has been an amazing outpouring of the revelation of God's love for us. God loves us; He even likes us, enjoys us, delights in us, invites us into His presence! And I love the intimate, deep places in which we can visit the Father. But I hear Him asking, "What are you going to do with that love? Keep it for yourself, or use it to become one?"
Jesus modeled unity and family, asking us to live the same way. Family is messy; it hurts sometimes. Being vulnerable is highly uncomfortable at times. But, apparently, He placed a high value on unity in relationships, seeing how He died to reintroduce and restore relationship.
Community vs. Isolation
You see, we can perform miracles, see angels, prophesy, go into trances, and preach amazing sermons – without ever having to touch anyone but God. We can isolate ourselves to protect ourselves, but there is a problem when the only person I allow myself to be close to is God. There is a problem when all I can love is Perfection Himself. Jesus actually asked us to love the way He loves. He loves us in our imperfection, seeing us through the perfection of a Perfect Love. The personal revelation I receive of God's love for me is not just for me. It should become uncontainable, pouring out in revelation to others by touching them with the love of Jesus.
Love is something satan cannot copy. He can mimic signs, wonders, miracles, and prophecy – he can even pretend to have love, but it's not real. He can only pretend to be an angel of light, thus he can only pretend to love. He can't actually love; he has no access to Love. The world has experienced what lack of love is. They are looking for the authentic, and they will notice when authentic love is demonstrated.
I believe one of the biggest schemes of the enemy is to break covenant relationships in the Body of Christ. I think he knows what we are capable of as one, even better than we do sometimes.
To be one is powerful. Being part of something bigger than myself is empowering. To know that I fit into something and am valued "for me" while seeing what I contribute to the Body of Christ, brings a sense of identity, purpose and vision.
In isolation we lose our sense of identity and vision. In ancient times, some enemies of God's people would, after defeating them in battle, take the remnant and separate them, placing them alone in foreign nations. They understood that to take away their community meant taking away a sense of who they were and, ultimately, they would lose their nationality, identity, vision, and power.
We NEED Each Other!
We want to attain the whole measure of the fullness of God. The truth is we need each other. I need your greatness. I need the Jesus in you. We do not become great on our own. We pull on each other's greatness. I cannot grow up well on my own, cannot develop my gifts on my own, and cannot experience all of God all on my own. I glean from other peoples' greatness. In order for me to walk in the fullness of the greatness God has made available to me, I have to draw from the greatness He's deposited in you. If I don't, I miss out on a little bit of Jesus. The revelation from Jesus of how great we are should only propel us to recognize and call out the greatness in others. If we hang out alone in a "greatfest" with just me and Jesus, we will get off balance. The truth is, it's not just me and Jesus – it's us and Jesus.
None of us, individually, carry ALL of God; we carry all of Him together as one. I cannot sustain revival on my own. We need each other. It's the Body of Christ that is designed to carry the government of God and extend His Kingdom.
We most effectively extend the Kingdom of God when we follow Heaven's pattern for government. We must possess the government of God internally before we can ever give it away. What is the government of God? His rule and His reign, His way of doing things. It entails a lot. But the most important aspect I've come to learn is that the government of God is a RELATIONAL GOVERNMENT. God created us in His image, which is a relational image, to be in relationship with each other and Him, becoming united as the one Body of Christ to carry the government of God, extending His Kingdom. John 17:22 says that the glory of the oneness between the Father and Son is a glory that He has shared with us. Walking in this glory will sustain revival!
Gonna Be Worth It
This is a lot to ask – this thing called being one. It can get messy and even become hurtful. There is a price to pay to be in relationship. But it's okay. Jesus made Himself the most vulnerable and paid the highest price so we could be in relationship with the Father. This relationship, this love thing, this oneness thing – it must be worth it. There is a way to heal when hurt happens – His name is Jesus. There is a way to trust again – His name is Jesus. There is a way to work out our disagreements – His name is Jesus. There is a way to be vulnerable again – His name is Jesus. When I get hurt, I have two choices: to heal or to hide. I'm going to do my best to heal in order to be one with the Body of Christ, enabling us to bring the world what it needs the most – the Love of Christ.
Karen Slaughter
Email: karenslghtr@gmail.com
Karen Slaughter was born and raised in Oregon. She lives in McMinnville Oregon, with her husband Brett and four children. She has been a part of New Horizons Church's family for many years and currently serves on their leadership team led by senior leaders, Galen and Danette Gingerich. She serves as the Director of the Sozo Ministry, an inner healing ministry. She is passionate about seeing people experience the love, truth, and presence of the Father, setting them free to walk in who God created them to be.
