‘I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father.’ (1 John 2:14)

The quality that I personally believe is most vital for prophetic ministry is an intimate relationship with the Father.

This kind of intimacy comes from having a revelation of, and personal encounter with, God as a loving Father. [1]

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The Unbelieving Heart of the Believer

My mother-in-law used to speak fervently about ‘evangelising the unbelieving heart of the believer.’ This spoke of her call to minister healing to the hearts of Christians. [2]

The Hunk and I were passionately involved in world missions, and her favourite quote was a continual irritation to me. ‘What,’ I thought, ‘could be more important than evangelising the heart of the unbeliever?’

A Crisis of Faith

‘What has happened to all your joy?’ (Galatians 4:15)

By 2009, Mum’s voice began to be silenced as Alzheimer’s robbed her of the ability to convey what was on her heart. But her vision was to finally bear fruit in my life.

I had not realized the contradiction that was within me until burnout brought it to the surface.

After years of exhausting Christian service—comprised of unwise choices of my own making—I could finally go no further. The approval I had sought to work for was out of reach. My crisis of faith was summed up by the question I cried out at that time:

‘Are You the God I am afraid that You are—a task-master whose approval I can never win? Or the Father I have longed for—a God of grace and joy?’

One day, as I voiced the question for the umpteenth time, I was surprised to hear God’s voice in response. His answer to me was, in brief, ‘You choose.’

I took time to consider the evidence of

• The Bible’s teaching
• The heart of the Father that Jesus demonstrated in the Gospels, and
• The gracious love of the Holy Spirit that I recognised and felt for others, but failed to perceive for myself.

Finally, I made a decision and a recommitment. ‘I believe that You are the God of grace and joy—and I receive You as my Lord and Saviour.

The matter was settled, and the unbelieving heart of this believer was converted. My spiritual eyes were opened to see my loving Father.

One Father, Two Sons, Three Positions

Following this revelation of God as Father, I moved into a period of recovery, during which Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son came to life for me. [3]

At that time I noticed three positions of sonship that were illustrated by Jesus’ parable, and I saw aspects of my journey in each of them.

1. The Lost Son

The younger son became separated from his father and his father’s household through sin and rebellion. After squandering his inheritance, he became destitute. He then found employment with a harsh foreign master who sent him to the fields to feed pigs, whilst not providing him with the food that he himself needed to live.

Ironically—in spite of the clear parallels between the lost son and someone who is a non-Christian or a backslider—at my lowest point, I mostly identified with the younger son.

My master had been a system of good works. I too had spent all that I had; not on ‘riotous’ living, but on ‘right’ living—doing the right things in my own strength. Now I was starving spiritually. But like the lost son, I finally came to my senses—it was time to come home.

2. The Serving Son

The older brother could have enjoyed the privileges of sonship and intimacy with the father. But although he lived in the Father’s household, he laboured as a servant.

His lack of intimacy with his father was demonstrated by his failure to rejoice at what his father rejoiced in—the return of his lost brother.

The older brother served for his future inheritance, but did not partake of the portion that was available to him in the present. Instead of enjoying what was his by right, he complained to his father, ‘You never gave me…’

I recognised that like the older brother, my focus had been on bringing pleasure to God by faithfully serving, performing and gaining results. Deep down, I felt I needed to do something to earn God’s blessing and favour.

My Christian life lacked joy. I began to see that I had been working for God’s Kingdom whilst neither enjoying, nor being fully aware of, the Kingdom inheritance that is available to me now.

3. The Embraced Son

Coming to his senses, the lost son returned, penitent, to a surprising reception. Instead of the father he was expecting to meet—a charitable employer who would take care of him as a servant—he discovered a love-consumed, waiting, embracing father.

His father ordered a feast, brought him into the household, and put a robe, ring and sandals on him—symbols of restored sonship.

Since the ‘conversion’ of my heart, I have come to realise that there is nothing I can do to gain my Father’s approval. I already have it, along with His unconditional love and acceptance. Rejection and low self esteem has fallen away. I know that I give Him pleasure, not through what I do, but simply because I am His child.

My focus is now centred upon my intimate relationship with God as being the most important thing—and I have fallen in love with Him in a greater way. Out of that love I can freely love others.

In the past, I struggled with an orphan mindset. But now, knowing Abba Father and being with Him gives me the greatest joy—abundant and effective service flows out of that place of rest. And finally, I am learning that there is a Kingdom inheritance available to me now—not just in the future.

Although I sometimes move out of this position, I recognise when I do and continually find my way home to the Father’s waiting arms.

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I pray that you also will discover something in this study, as well as my own story, to move you closer in your own relationship with God the Father.

I also encourage you to follow this up by reading and prayerfully considering the original passage in Luke 15:11-32.

One Father, Two Sons, Three Positions: Which of These Describes You?

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Notes:

[1] Jesus came to reveal God as Father (John 17:6-8, John 14:9-11) and to restore us to relationship with God as His children. This revelation of the Father accounts for some of the key distinctions between Old and New Testament prophetic ministry.

See also:

How To Weigh Up What The Prophets Are Saying Pt 2

And look out for the following post in future weeks: The Difference Between Old And New Testament Prophecy

[2] This expression, ‘evangelising the unbelieving heart of the believer,’ is a quote by John and Paula Sandford. In their book ‘The Transformation Of The Inner Man’, they write, ‘Paradoxically, we are healed by being taught to put no confidence whatsoever in our own flesh, simply to rest in Him.’ P10, Phil 3:3

Sandford, J & P.  The Transformation of the Inner Man. 1982. Bridge Publishing. 412p

[3] In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus told a parable concerning a lost son who returned home to his father, in response to religious criticism of His association with ‘sinners.’At the time Jesus spoke this parable, the elder brother was illustrative of the listening Pharisees who were critical of Jesus’ fellowship with the sinners they despised. Sadly, many of them would end up shut outside of God’s Presence, whilst the grace of God would be extended to repentant sinners who put their faith in Jesus.

This same grace is available through Jesus to you and me today.

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Do you have any experiences or questions to share on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

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© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

 ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.’ (Proverbs 13:12)

You received a personal prophecy—or a prophetic word for your family or for your church.

You believed, you positioned, you prayed, and you waited.

Now it has become evident that the prophetic word will never be fulfilled in the way that you believed it would.

Maybe it is too late for something to eventuate in your life, as a prophecy led you to believe. Maybe someone you cared about became sick, and died contrary to prophetic words that he or she would live and do something more for God. Maybe other people around you, or in leadership over you, have made decisions that have ruled out the possibility that a prophecy will be fulfilled.

Questions now arise:

• Was the prophecy wrong? If so, why did God allow me to believe it and pursue it? What about the person who prophesied—was he or she mistaken?

• Was the prophecy right? If so, what have I, or we, done wrong? What conditions have gone unmet, and what has got in the way of the prophecy’s fulfilment?

• And how do we get past the hurt and the disappointment, the crisis of faith, and indeed the grief, of having a long-term prophetic vision die?

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The Problem of Unfulfilled Prophecy

There are varying degrees of difficulty and pain associated with an unfulfilled prophecy. At the lower end of the scale, I have prophecies sitting in my drawer that I now realise will never be fulfilled in the exact way the prophetic minister described it to me. This does not cause me concern, because Father has clearly led me in a different direction.

At the other end of the scale, we have had friends pass away, leaving prophecies unfulfilled, questions unanswered, and pain in our hearts.

Why are Some Prophecies Unfulfilled?

There are many reasons why a prophecy may not be fulfilled. Let’s explore a few of them:

The Prophecy was not Adequately Weighed up

If you are waiting on a prophecy to be fulfilled, then it was most likely a very specific, directive type of prophetic word.

For our protection, these kinds of prophecies should always be submitted to wise oversight and leadership in the church. [1] Without this Biblical safety net, there is a greater possibility of some of the following issues taking place. (1 Cor 14:29, 1 Thess 5:20-22)

Conditions Unmet

Some prophecy, especially that concerning the call of God, is conditional upon us doing our part, obeying God, and allowing the Spirit to deal with us in maturing our character.

I received a prophecy many years ago concerning my future ministry. In the same prophecy, I was exhorted to ‘stay committed, stay submitted.’ I know without doubt that I would not be where I am today if I had not stayed committed and submitted to my church and leadership during testing times.

The Prophecy has Already Fulfilled its Purpose

Sometimes a particular prophecy is the signpost that God uses to get you somewhere else. Instead of the destination you expected, you find that you are positioned for another, higher, God-given purpose.

This may also be an issue of inaccurate delivery of a prophecy. But we also need to understand the nature of prophecy:

Fulfilment of prophecy is not always like hitting a ‘bulls eye’ on a target. It may be more like a river that has twists and turns before reaching the Father’s intended destination.

The Prophecy was Delivered Inaccurately

‘For we know in part and we prophesy in part’ (1 Cor 13:9)

Following are some reasons that a prophecy may have been delivered inaccurately.

• If the person prophesying knows the recipient of the prophecy, it is tempting to deliver the prophecy in the context of what is known currently. This can hamper the purity of a word

• This also goes for prophecies made in church life. We may be receiving a revelation from God, but then we interpret and deliver that word in the light of our church’s current vision or circumstances, which may later change

• The person may have prophesied out of the desires of his or her heart, rather than from a revelation from God

• The person delivering the prophecy may be receiving an incomplete revelation, but then try to express the prophecy in specific terms when it has not been received that way.It is true that there is, on occasion, higher revelation and greater levels of accuracy (indeed we believe and strive for this), but we must also be content—and honest—when this is not the case.

The Prophecy was Interpreted by the Recipient Inaccurately

Maybe the prophecy was not mistakenly given, but there was a miscommunication, and the recipient took the prophecy the wrong way.

Just as the giver of a prophecy can interpret and deliver a word based on known circumstances, a receiver of a prophecy can also interpret a word based on what he or she knows or desires it to be.

Mystery

At the end of the day, we may never understand this side of heaven why a prophecy remained unfulfilled, just as we do not understand why some sick people who are prayed for do not get healed.

In the face of the unknown, we need to trust in the love and sovereignty of our Heavenly Father.

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What to do About Prophetic Disappointment

There is a time to hold on to a prophetic word, but we also need to know when to release or shelve a prophecy. The time to release a prophecy is when holding onto it is not bearing good fruit in your life, or in the lives of others around you.

This includes disappointment, disillusionment, division or disunity, dissatisfaction, resentment, bitterness, grief, or any other negative fruit.

If you can relate to this, here are some things that may help in the process:

1. Allow the Prophecy to be Weighed up Again

Prophecy is subject to being weighed up. This does not only relate to assessing a prophecy at the time it is delivered. For our protection, we should also keep our prophetic vision submitted to godly leadership as time goes along.[1]

2. Forgive Whomever you Need to

If an unfulfilled prophecy has left you feeling disappointed or even bitter, it is vital that you forgive anyone that you need to. (Mark 11:25) This may be the giver of the prophecy, yourself, or anyone you perceived stood in the way of its fulfilment.

3. Stop Looking for Unfulfilled Conditions

If you are open to God, and the Holy Spirit is not forthcoming about a condition not being fulfilled, don’t labour over finding one—this may be distracting you from releasing it and moving on with God’s purpose for your life, or that of your family or church. Release it and trust Him to show you anything necessary.

If you can identify a wrong turning in your life, as you repent, the grace of God is released over your life. He will give you a new vision—He is the God of the resurrection.

4. Release Others from Expectations Relating to the Prophecy

Sometimes in our search for unmet conditions, it is tempting to blame other people for hindering the fulfilment of a prophecy. This may include a spouse, family member, vocational boss or leader in a church.

We need to release them completely from expectations and remember that God is sovereign and able to fulfil His plans regardless of their actions. Look at the life of Joseph! (Gen 37-50)

5. Release the Prophecy Completely

You are not being unfaithful to God and His word when you release a prophecy and all expectations associated with it, if holding onto it is not bearing good fruit.

God is able to bring the word to you again if it was truly of Him. He can resurrect the promise in His time.

Sometimes it is helpful to release the prophecy, not only through prayer, but to do something symbolic as well. We need to do whatever it takes to bring closure.

6. Ask, ‘Am I in the Father’s Will Right Now?’

If you know that right now your heart is right with God, then you are on track for His purposes to be fulfilled in your life.

Ultimately, we must trust in the absolute sovereignty of God—not in ourselves, others, or in any prophetic word.

‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.’ (Ps 37:23-24, NKJV)

It is Time to let go

‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?’ (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Is it time to let go of an unfulfilled prophetic word?

• Let go, and you will be released from the place of disappointment and grief
• Let go, and you will be able to receive the new word from God
• Let go, and you will have the joy of discovering the new things Father is doing

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Notes:

[1] This can be a leader or pastor in your church, or Christian mentors (safe Christian mentors are themselves under authority). I am aware that many people have experienced unhealthy or even abusive leadership, at some stage of their journey. This must not put us off seeking safe Christian leaders who can speak into our lives.

Related Posts:

Is It Time To Birth Your Prophetic Word In Prayer?

Your Prophetic Word and Spiritual Warfare

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Do you have any experiences or questions to share on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

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© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

Prophecy is making known the heart, mind and intention of the Father. Personal prophecy occurs when a prophecy is given to a person through another individual.

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Many people today are asking the question, ‘is personal prophecy Biblical?’ This response is not surprising, given much of which is purported to be Christian personal prophecy in the world today.

I regularly receive reports from people who have been misled or hurt, or pastors who have experienced trauma in their churches through damaging ‘personal prophecy.’

However, as a member of a prophetic team that ministers throughout local churches, I constantly see the benefits of personal prophecy [1]:

• Receivers of personal prophecy are encouraged and motivated in their relationship with God
• Individuals become aware of the Father’s love for them as they receive a personal word
• Churches are built in faith as the Holy Spirit reveals knowledge about one of their members that is known to them but not to the giver of the prophecy
• I frequently see people who have had a personal prophecy given to them during a church meeting rush to the altar at the close of the service, in a desire to recommit their lives to God
• Recently I gave a prophecy to a non-Christian in a meeting, and he came to the altar in tears and gave his life to Jesus.

Personal Prophecy in the Old Testament

God walked and talked personally with Adam and Eve in the garden. But when humanity became separated from Him through sin, God communicated to His people through the law and His prophets. (John 1:45)

Because people did not have a personal relationship with God, they relied on the prophets to convey God’s immediate instructions to them. In the Old Testament (OT), this included commissioning, warnings, commands, judgment, foretelling, and encouragement.

Some examples from the Old Testament include:

• In Judges 4:4 the prophet Deborah summons Barak and gives him God’s command to do battle against Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army

• In 1 Samuel 2, an unknown prophet shared a message of judgment against the priest Eli and his corrupt family. This was soon confirmed through the boy prophet Samuel

• In 1 Sam 22 the prophet Gad gave instructions to David concerning a warfare strategy

• The prophet Samuel commissioned both King Saul and King David. In 2 Kings 9: Elijah sent an unnamed prophet to commission Jehu

• Nathan the prophet shared God’s intentions with King David concerning his son Solomon’s building of the temple and his enduring dynasty (2 Sam 7)

• Isaiah prophesied to King Hezekiah of his recovery from illness (Is 38)

• Jeremiah prophesied to the scribe Baruch that his life would be spared (Jer 45)

• The prophet Haggai brought God’s instruction to Zechariah and Zerabbabel concerning the rebuilding of the temple

Personal Prophecy in the New Testament

Personal prophecy continues in the New Testament (NT); however circumstances have changed. Through faith in Jesus, people now have a personal relationship with God. They can hear from Him personally.

Prophecy is now one of many gifts in the church body, interdependent upon other gifts and ministries and subject to accountability and leadership. (1 Cor 12, 14)

Here are some examples of personal prophecy in the NT:

• Simeon blesses Joseph and Mary when they present Jesus in the temple and gives them a personal prophecy (Luke 2:25-35)

• In Acts 21, Agabus gives a personal prophecy to Paul concerning his upcoming arrest. Agabus is not a loner—he is one of a company of prophets from the church in Jerusalem. (Acts 11:27-28) This prophecy is confirmation of what God is already speaking to Paul—perhaps even through other prophecies (Acts 20:23)

• Paul exhorts Timothy to remember and follow personal prophecies that have been given to him (1 Tim 1:18-19)

• Paul also refers to special commissioning prophecy brought over Timothy when the church elders laid their hands on him. (1 Tim 4:14) Acts 13:1-3 also indicates that commissioning prophecy takes place with the participation and oversight of church leadership

• We see Jesus Himself giving personal prophecy to Nathanael (John 1:50-51) and Peter (John 21:18). The woman at the well is so taken with Jesus’ personal insights into her life that she says, “Sir, I can see you are a prophet.’ (John 4:19)

The Biblical Practice of Personal Prophecy

Personal prophecy is undoubtedly Biblical. However, the question remains, ‘What does the Biblical practice of personal prophecy look like for us today?’ [2]

Many of the damaging practices that have given personal prophecy a bad reputation are due to people modeling their ministry after that of the Old Testament prophets, and ignoring New Testament guidelines for prophecy. [3]

There are clear distinctions between the Old and New Testament roles of prophetic ministry, as I have mentioned above. These changes impact the practice of personal prophecy.

A Checklist for Personal Prophecy

Following is a checklist that includes NT guidelines for prophetic ministry in general—and personal prophecy in particular.

I encourage all of my readers to consider these things before giving a personal prophecy, or receiving personal prophecy from anyone.

These guidelines will also be helpful in weighing up personal prophecy that has already been received.

1. Accountability (1 Cor 14:29)

Paul states that prophecy should be weighed up—therefore it is vital that personal prophecy be given in an environment that facilitates this.
If a personal prophecy is not given in the context of a church meeting and goes beyond a general word of encouragement, it should be submitted to oversight. [4]

Both givers and receivers of prophecy should be in a place of accountability and members in a local church body (1 Cor 14).
A personal prophecy should be given in such a way that it allows room for the recipient to weigh up the prophecy and consider whether it is of God.

2. Love (1 Cor 13)

Personal prophecy should originate from a heart of love for God and for the person being ministered to. The prophecy should accurately reflect the Father’s heart towards the recipient of the word.

3. A Godly Life (2 Tim 2:20-26, 1 Tim 3)

A prophetic minister should demonstrate a lifestyle of integrity and righteousness. He or she should be commended, recognised and under leadership.

4. Confirmation.

(See the illustration of Agabus, above)

Because Christian believers have a personal relationship with God, prophecy is a confirmation of what God is saying, or will say in the future, to them—it is not direct instruction, as in the OT.

Personal prophecy should not be sought after as a primary means of guidance.

5. Encouragement, Exhortation, Edification

Paul said that ‘those who prophesy speak to people for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.’ (1 Cor 14:3)
Personal prophecy should be encouraging and upbuilding. It should move a person towards God and His purposes, and motivate him or her to live a life pleasing to God.

6. Fruit of the Spirit

(Gal 5:22-23)

A personal prophecy should exhibit the fruit of the Holy Spirit in both its expression and outcome: ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.’

It should promote unity and consideration for others. (James 3:13-18)

The fruit of the Spirit does include conviction leading to repentance—but not condemnation.

In the OT, prophecy included words of judgment, but this is not the case in the NT. We are in an era of grace, one in which the Father is giving every person an opportunity for redemption through His Son, Jesus.

7. Biblical Content

Finally and most importantly, a personal prophecy should be in harmony with God’s will as set out in scripture. A prophecy will not contradict Biblical principles.

Note that commissioning prophecy (prophecy that indicates appointment to a place of position in ministry) should not be a part of personal prophecy. In the NT, commissioning is done by the church oversight (1 Tim 4:14, Acts 13:1-3). A person who feels that he or she has a word that is in any way commissioning, should submit it to the person’s oversight and not directly to the individual.

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Notes:

[1] I am blessed to be on team with David McCracken Ministries.

[2] This article is limited to discussion on personal prophecy between Christians. These guidelines do also relate to prophetic evangelism—however this is a different topic altogether.

[3] For more discussion on this read my articles:

How Do You Weigh Up What The Prophets Are Saying Pt 1

How Do You Weigh Up What The Prophets Are Saying Pt 2

[4] We should be especially wary of prophecy given or received over the Internet (‘free personal prophecy’) where it is not possible to verify much of the above criteria.

More articles on personal prophecy from Enliven Blog:

How Do I Know A Personal Prophecy Or Dream Interpretation Is From God?

4 Things You Can Do With Your Personal Prophecy

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Do you have any experiences or questions to share on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

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© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

Today I sense Father is speaking a word of recommissioning to some of my readers. I pray that you will receive His resurrection grace, as you read about one of His great servants—Moses.

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We can spend days, months and years in transition, waiting for the fulfilment of God’s promises and His prophetic call on our lives.

• We are doing all we know to do
• We are taking the next small steps and being proactive
• We are being faithful where we are
• We are keeping our hearts right–as best we can.

And then suddenly, a God-ordained opportunity arises.

Surprisingly, instead of the desire to jump in to Father’s plans with abandon, we find ourselves uncertain—even resistant.

The story of Moses’ call at the burning bush provides us with a mirror in which we can see our own hesitancies—and what is at stake. [1]

It’s Time!

‘After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight… Then the Lord said to him, “…I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.”’ (Acts 7:30-33,34)

At the age of forty, Moses’ heart had been stirred with the cause of the enslaved Israelites.

However, since his attempt at fulfilling God’s call in his own strength, by murdering an Egyptian, he has lived as a fugitive in the wilderness.

Now, forty years later, God comes to him and says, ‘It’s time—I am sending you back to Egypt!’

Like Moses, when we are confronted with a sudden change of season, we find there are some inner obstacles to overcome:

1. Feeling Ill-Equipped

Each of us has a number 1 reason why we are poorly equipped to fulfill God’s call.

Moses immediately plunges into a discourse on his perceived inability: his vocal ineloquence. And yet Moses’ perspective and that of God are completely different.

What is a matter of inability to Moses, is of no consequence to God.

He says, ‘I AM… enough’

You might feel as though you are the most unlikely person; you might feel as though this is the most unlikely time. You might feel ill-equipped. Still God is saying, “I choose you! I’m calling you!”

2. Unanswered Questions

After all that time, 40 years of wilderness living and no doubt a zillion questions about why life had taken the turns it had, God suddenly shows up.

And I notice God doesn’t explain anything about the things that had happened in Moses’ life.

Like He did with Job, God simply reveals Himself.

When Father opens the door into our new season, He isn’t going to give us all the reasons WHY things have happened.

Because the answer is not a reason, it is a Person.

‘I AM… enough.’

3. Transition can become a Comfort Zone

‘When Moses heard this, [Pharaoh’s threats] he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons.’ Acts 7:29

Emerging from transition can be difficult for us, because (ironically) our waiting places become our comfort zones.

The wilderness was Moses’ comfort zone. It represented his self-protection. It was literally the place he had gone to escape his problems—he was on Pharaoh’s hit list!

Moses may have found God in this place, but God is now making it clear that his destination is Egypt—will Moses join Him?

We all have coping mechanisms, places of retreat. These are the things that when God shows up, He puts His finger on. He says, you don’t need that any more.

He says, ‘I AM…enough.’

And here is Moses, having escaped from Pharaoh into the wilderness of Midian and still hiding from his past

And now God is saying,

‘That one who has oppressed you and that past that you are hiding from: that is what I am calling you to rise up and address.

And the very instrument that has been a weapon against you, will now be overcome by you.’

The Ripple Effect

He is calling for you to emerge. And His purpose is this: what He has been doing in your life, He is going to do through you, in the lives of others.

When Moses steps out in obedience to God’s call to emerge, there is a ripple effect.

1. It changes Moses’ life.

It completely shifts him – from a refugee, to a deliverer; from an alien in a foreign land, a simple shepherd, to the spiritual leader of the nation of Israel.

2. It changes the life of his family.

Their lives will never be the same again. His children have been brought up in Midian, and now they are incorporated into the tribe of Israel.

Because Moses obeys God, His children will see the Promised Land.

Sometimes we think, ‘Why is our family, or our kids, stuck when it comes to their relationship with God?

When they see us on fire again, they will move because they will be impacted by God’s presence on our lives and they will want what we have.

Now, the ripple effect starts to move out to nations.

3. It impacts the nation of Egypt

God brings judgement on the gods of Egypt that have persecuted His people.

4. It brings deliverance to the entire nation of Israel

5. It brings the fame of God to the heathen nations of the entire region

Did you know, that when YOU obey God’s call to move into the new thing, nothing is going to be the same again.

It changes you, it affects your family, your Church, it will even impact your community, your nation and the nations of the world.

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Notes:

[1] For more of this story, read Exodus 3-4

See also the following post:

In Transition? Take the Next Small Step

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Do you have any experiences or questions to share on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

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© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

tran·si·tion /tran’ziSHen/
Noun: The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.

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Two years ago, I wrote my first post and Enliven Blog was born.

At the time, I was in transition, slowly emerging from burnout, without any idea of what lay ahead.[1]

I did not know then, that within six months The Hunk and I would have a fresh encounter with the Holy Spirit and be launched into a year of supernatural intervention.

I did not know that within 18 months, I would be joining the ministry team at David McCracken Ministries.

I did not know that within two years, Enliven Blog would reach thousands of people all around the world and have hundreds of subscribers.

With my limited vision, all I knew to do was to take the next small step.

The Trial of Transition

All of us experience transition with regard to the promises and purpose of God for our lives. In fact, it is likely that you will be in transition right now in some part of your life, big or small.

I used to have this idea that transition was like a waiting room—you stay in there for a while, and then you are released.

But many times, transition is like a roller-coaster. Just when you think you are on the way up, down you go again!

It is reassuring when we see how many people in the Bible also experienced times of transition. A few examples of these are:

• David in the wilderness on the run from Saul (1 Sam 21-31)
• Esther’s 12 months of preparation before she was brought before the king (Esther 2:12)
• Elijah at the brook Cherith (1 Kings 17:3-7)
• Paul in Tarsus (Acts 9:30, 11:25)

When we read their stories, we can see how they responded and be encouraged by God’s faithfulness in bringing them through to the fulfillment of His purpose for their lives.

Ruth’s Response to Transition

Ruth left her family and culture behind her in Moab to follow her mother-in-law Naomi to Bethlehem, Naomi’s hometown, following the death of their husbands.

In one of the Bible’s most moving speeches, Ruth pledged to follow Naomi and come under the protection of the God of Israel. (Ruth 1:16-17)

But transition did not stop with their arrival in Bethlehem.

Ruth is known as ‘the foreigner,’ or ‘the Moabitess.’ And Naomi seems a stranger to her own people. Ruth is probably experiencing culture shock. They have no personal resources, only faith in God and the hope of a better life.

Ruth did not know then, that she would marry Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s late husband and that the family’s inheritance would be recovered.

She did not know that she would bear a baby boy and lay him in Naomi’s arms.

And she did not know that her son would be the great-grandfather of a King—or that one of her descendants would be the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

All she knew to do was to take the next small step.

The Next Small Step

The greatest temptation during a season of transition is to become discouraged and give up. Sometimes, this is a result of spiritual warfare—the enemy wants us to become stuck in the place of transition. [2] God’s purpose for our lives is being contended for.

It is vital that we keep moving forward.

And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Ruth 2:

Ruth’s response to the situation is proactive

• She is not sitting at home waiting for spiritual guidance or provision to come to her
• She is not relying on her feelings
• She is serving Naomi
• She is being faithful
• She is simply doing what she knows to do, step by step, starting with the small things.

In times of transition, I cannot see the future. But as I trust God, I can take the next small step, and I can find the strength for one small step at a time.

Following Biblical Principles

Sometimes when we are in transition, it is very difficult to see the road ahead. But we have God’s Word; Biblical principles to guide us.

We see that Ruth had not only converted with her mouth to faith in God, but also with her heart.

In the book of Leviticus, 19:9-10, God makes provision for the poor and the foreigners in the land of Israel. He commands those who are harvesting their fields to deliberately leave leftovers around the edges of the fields to provide for those who have no means to look after themselves. It is called gleaning.

And this is what Ruth does. She is starting to move into God’s provision, and as she does so God is about to break things loose on her behalf.

Divine Positioning

As someone has said, we need to comprehend what the NTS is—the next tiny step—and do that.

As we do the next thing, take the next tiny step, walking and faith, God and directs our steps and we find ourselves landing on His space of grace for us.

Divine Appointments and Holy Spirit Set-ups

Naomi said to [Ruth], “Go ahead, my daughter.” So she went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech. (Ruth 2:2-3)

I love the wording here—‘as it turned out,’ or in another translation, ‘as it happened.’

The Hunk and I have a name for these seeming coincidences, which are God-incidences, we call them ‘Holy Spirit setups.’

We see that God is guiding Ruth and Naomi’s steps.

So, Ruth happened to be gleaning barley in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Naomi, who happened to be, in the laws of Israel, a ‘Kinsman Redeemer,’ having the ability to take Ruth as his wife and restore Naomi’s family line and inheritance.

If Ruth had not been faithfully following God’s word and provision in the little things, she would not have been positioned for the miracle.

Our response to transition determines our destiny

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Notes:

[1] I have written a number of posts on my journey through burnout. Here are a few of them:

Spiritual Renewal: How To Receive An Impartation Of The Holy Spirit

When You Hit A Wall In Your Ministry

No Longer An Orphan: How I Discovered The Father’s Love

[2] See also the following post:

Prophetic People And Spiritual Warfare

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Do you have any experiences or questions to share on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

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© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church