Prophetic words for a church and its leadership do not always come from an outside prophetic ministry. Prophetic insights can also be given from within the local church—often from intercessors and those with prophetic gifts.

These have the potential to be a great blessing and encouragement, and if recorded and stored by the church leadership, can be of benefit in years to come.

As a prophetic intercessor, and then later as a prayer department leader and prophetic trainer, I have both given and reviewed many prophetic words throughout the years.

Here is the bottom line of everything I have learned: when the attitude of my heart is right, and the following Biblical outcomes are my genuine desire, then my prophetic ministry will be a great blessing to the local church. [1]

 ‘Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.’ (Prov 4:23)

Biblical Outcomes for Operating in Prophecy in the Church Environment

In the New Testament church, we have a Biblical mandate to use our gifts to:

• Strengthen and build the Church (1 Cor 14:4-5)
• Promote unity (1 Cor 1:10, Eph 4:3)
• Honour the leaders God has given to us (Heb 13:17)
• Prophesy out of love (1 Cor 13:2)

5 Things I’ve Learned to Consider When Prophesying about the Future of my Church.

What does it look like to give a prophecy for our church in a way that honours God and our leaders, and helps build the church? Following are some things that I have learned along the way:

1. Weigh up my Prophetic Insight before Sharing

Prophecy consists of a process—this can take moments in a meeting or situation, or it can take place over a longer period of time.[2]

• Firstly, we receive a revelation, or insight, from the Holy Spirit
• We consider what God is saying through that insight and how and when to share it
• From there, we share the prophecy—usually with spoken or written words. [3]

Some helpful checks I take before sharing a word that concerns the future of my local church include:

• The Bible Test: is my word in harmony with Biblical principles?
• The Fruit Test: what outcome may my word result in? Does it strengthen, encourage, or comfort? (1 Cor 14:3) Will it help edify and build the church? (1 Cor 14:4) Does it promote unity?
• The Leadership Test: would my leaders be comfortable with this word, and am I willing for my word to be weighed up? (1 Cor 14:29, 1 Thess 5:19-21)

2. Take into Account my own Passion, Vision and Values

As prophetic people, we need to be aware of:

• Our own dreams and call of God and how we see this being outworked in church life
• Our personal ministry, gifts, passion and vision

This self-awareness is important because even when we have a pure revelation from the Holy Spirit, our personal values can affect the way we share the prophetic insight.

I have learned to be aware of my own natural tendency to see and communicate what God is saying through the narrow lens of my personal vision and values. When I love my church and honour my leaders, I will perceive and communicate my prophetic insights through the wide lens of what God has called my church to be and do.

For this reason, I encourage prophetic people to make a point of learning as much as they can about the leadership-led vision of their church and to embrace it as their own.

3. Protect the Unity of my Church

As prophetic people in the life of our local church, we can have a general understanding of the vision of our church leadership—in other words, the picture of the church’s future that our leaders have shared with us.

An important question I’ve learned to ask before bringing a word about the future of my church is, ‘Does this line up with the revealed will of God for my church as expressed through our church leaders?’

If the answer is no, or I am unsure, it does not mean that I cannot share it. In fact, it could be a powerful confirmation of something my leadership is currently considering—or it may relate to a future change of direction.

However it does change the way that I share it and the process that I take it through.

• Firstly, a word that differs from the current direction of the church should never be given publicly or shared around with other church members. I have known of situations where a so-called ‘prophetic’ vision that was different to that of the God-given vision of the pastors resulted in disunity and division.
• Instead, it is best to share the prophetic insight privately with our pastor (or if it relates to a ministry area, directly to that leader). If our leader gives the green light to share it in a public setting, we can go for it.

4. Communicate in the Appropriate Way

Every church has a unique culture, and this also applies to sharing prophetic insights. We need to be aware of any protocols in our church and graciously adhere to them. [4] Some settings in which it can be appropriate include prayer meetings, email, writing, sharing privately with a leader, etc.

When we are growing in our prophetic ministry, it can be helpful to have a safe place to share prophetic insights and discernment. In church life, a safe place is not to a friend (if inappropriate, this can be ‘prophetic gossip’) but to a designated leader or the pastor.

5. Release the Prophetic Insight Once Shared

I have learned that once I have brought a prophetic word about the future of my church, it is up to my leaders to weigh it up and respond to what God is saying. Even if the word is true, the timing of its fulfilment may be in the future.

So once the word has been shared, I can release my prophetic insights completely, remembering that the outworking of that word is not my responsibility. [5]

Do you have a prophetic word for your Church? Don’t hold back—the insight you bring may be timely and strategic, a great blessing for years to come and a tribute to God’s faithfulness and power to bring His promises to fulfillment.

Notes:

[1] We need to keep our hearts clean from disappointments and frustrations. These if left unchecked will invariably taint—if not our prophetic insights, then certainly our delivery of them. See the following articles:

Set Yourself Free From Judging Others
Dealing with Prophetic Disappointment
6 Doorways to Discouragement in Church Life

[2] See ‘How to Exercise Your Prophetic Gift Pt 1: Understand the Process of Prophecy’

[3] Ways to bring prophetic insight without words include dance, drama, art and multimedia.

[4] Prophetic Ministry in Church Life: Why Have Guidelines?

[5] We especially need to guard our hearts against discouragement, or pride (‘I am right and they are wrong’) when leaders do not respond to our prophetic insight in the way we believe they should. For help in this area, see my e-book, ‘Prophetic People In A Changing Church.’

Related Posts:

Differences Between Old and New Testament Prophetic Ministry

3 Non-Negotiables of Prophetic Ministry in Church Life

Do you have any thoughts or questions on the topic of prophesying about the future of your church? Leave a comment in the comments box. If the comments section is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

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

Did you receive this from a friend? Read more from Enliven Blog or sign to receive our weekly prophetic teaching updates at http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog

Today I feel compelled to share about something that has been one of the greatest keys for me personally, for staying on track in the call of God, especially when I have been hurt.

That is, breaking free and staying free from having a judgmental attitude towards individuals, leaders and ministries.

This is especially important in church life.

Jesus taught us to be fruit-testers—to weigh up whether a prophetic ministry that purports to be from God is actually of Him by examining the fruit. (Matt 7:15-19) The Apostle Paul warned leaders to be alert for ‘wolves,’ teachers who would distort the Gospel. (Acts 20:28-31)

However, I have learned that there is a difference between God-honouring discernment that protects the church, and passing judgment in such a way that damages others and us.

What does ‘Do Not Judge’ Mean?

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Jesus, Matt 7:1-2).

Jesus made it clear that we are not to judge others.

Many of us would be aware of this command. However, if someone accused us of ‘judging’, we would be quick to refute it, mentally if not verbally.

Yet it is likely that each of us make judgments frequently. This is because summing other people up—and finding them lacking—is an inherent part of our culture today. It is also a common response when we have been hurt or wounded by someone.

But what does the Bible say?

A study of the New Testament Greek word translated ‘judge’ reveals that it means to decide the rightness or wrongness of something. In its simplest form, ‘krino’ simply means to form an opinion about whether something is right or wrong, good or bad, approved or disapproved. [1]

When Jesus used the term in Matt 7:1-2, he was warning us against condemning or passing sentence on others. Why? Only God can truly judge the heart and intent of people.

Some Signs we are Judging Others

Unsure about whether or not you are being judgmental of a person or a leader? Here is a checklist of some things to watch for:

1. A Blockage in our Ministry

Holding on to judgements, negative opinions and a critical attitude will affect our spiritual progress and our ministry. In prophetic ministry, judgment affects us like a blindfold across our spiritual eyes. It stops us seeing people as the Father sees them. [2]

If we hold judgments against a leader, it will affect our ability to serve him or her wholeheartedly.

Likewise, holding a judgement against ministers or leaders will block the flow of their ministry to us—we will not be able to receive God’s intended blessing through them.

2. A Negative Opinion

When we judge, we are forming a negative opinion of others based upon:

• Something they have said or done
• Something someone else has reported about them
• The way they look, or how circumstances appear
• A prejudice or preconceived opinion

When someone commits a wrongdoing, we cross the line to judgement when we label him or her a wrongdoer.

Just as a court judge has the power to pass sentence and send a person to imprisonment, we too imprison people and ourselves with our views and opinions.

3. Disapproval

A judgment will colour our viewpoint of someone negatively. A common way that judgments manifest is in the form of an attitude of disapproval.

Our disapproval will in turn influence others, who pick up it up from us.

4. Criticism

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.’ (James 3:9).

A criticism is simply a vocalised judgment. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). We have already passed sentence by the disapproval in our hearts; this is now reinforced by our words, which we inevitably share with others.

5. Superiority

By judging another person or group, we are placing ourselves on a higher level. Sometimes we may even consider this justified, especially if we believe we hold the moral high ground.

James tells us that there is only one judge—God. (See James 4:11)

What To Do About Judgments

If you recognise that judgments have affected you in your personal, church or ministry life, you may find the following steps helpful:

Recognise them

An excellent way to do this is to listen carefully to what comes out of your mouth! Ask yourself the questions,

• ‘What negative opinions do I have about other people and leaders?’
• ‘What do I disapprove of?’
• ‘How have I labelled them—summed them up?’

Now, call these responses by the name of the sin that they really are: judging.

Renounce them

You may find it helpful, as I once did, to write out your judgments and renounce them one by one. [3] Intentionally replace every negative opinion with a positive one. Replace criticism (cursing) with blessing.

Re-examine the Cause

Take another look at the action that caused you to make it in the first place:

• If the judgment arose from a hurt, do you need to forgive? Or do you need to receive God’s comfort and healing?
• Is the area you have judged the other person in, something that you yourself have a weakness in? (See Matt 7:2-4)

But the Person was Wrong!

So if we cannot judge someone, does that mean that we cannot take an appropriate warning concerning his or her actions to a leader? Does it mean that we cannot bring correction or adjustment when it is needed? Does it mean that we have to trust someone who has hurt us again?

No, no and no.

What it does mean is that we step down from our high platform of judgment and onto the common ground of grace—the knowledge that we too have sinned. And from that place, allow Biblical wisdom, humility and the love of God to guide our responses.

Notes:

1. Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. 1996.  Ref 2919, krino, to judge.

2. See Prophesying out of God’s Love

3. This article is an adapted excerpt from my book, ‘Prophetic People in a Changing Church’ in which I share my own journey of freedom.

Related Posts:

6 Doorways To Discouragement In Church Life

Break Free Of Hurts That Are Blocking Your Spiritual Gift

Why Is My Spiritual Gift Or Ministry Not Being Released?

Can you think of any other ways in which judgments can affect you? Or do you have a question or testimony about breaking free from judgments? Leave a comment in the comments box. If it is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

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

Did you receive this from a friend? Read more from Enliven Blog or sign to receive our weekly prophetic teaching updates at http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Prov 4:23).

When we are discouraged, we lose heart. Our courage fails, our passion is cooled, we lose inner motivation and we feel pain.

Potentially discouraging events, words, trials and disappointments happen regularly in church life.
In times of change and transition the likelihood of these things occurring increases.

The Danger of Discouragement in Church Life

There are two major reasons why the enemy will foster discouragement within churches.

1. Disheartened people do the enemy’s work of criticism and accusation.

If discouragement becomes lodged in our hearts, it will find expression in our mouths. Jesus said, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matt 12:34).

When discouraged, we are easily tempted to become critical and judgmental, especially if the source of discouragement is another person or church leader.

2. Discouragement robs people of motivation—and unmotivated people will not do God’s work.

A good illustration of this is found in the book of Ezra. When the exiles began to rebuild the temple of God, it says that, “the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.” (Ezra 4:4).

Doorways To Discouragement During Change In Church Life

Here are 6 entry points of discouragement in changing church life, along with tips on how to navigate through them:

1. Disappointment

During times of transition, changes are made in the vision, structure or culture of a local church.

When changes do not resemble our preconceived idea of how God is going to accomplish His purposes, we may become disappointed.

Disappointment can relate to unfulfilled vision. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick,” as Proverbs 13:12 says.

Prophetic people can be very vulnerable to this as we carry dreams and visions for our own lives and our church.

Disappointments may also relate to our own desire for ministry in the local church. During restructure we may be set aside from our role, or another person may be promoted in the ministry before us.

SURVIVAL TIP: At times like this, we must never lose sight of the fact that God Himself is watching over our lives and our calling, and that as surely as He has promised, He will bring it to pass as we keep our hearts right—in His time.

2. Hurts

During times of change in church life, relationship hurts can arise very quickly. If we do not fully understand or appreciate changes being made, we may experience pain or offense.

Hurt can also be personal, for example, someone may hurt us through inconsiderate words or actions, even unintentionally.

The closer that person is to us, or the more authority a person carries, or the greater a position of trust, the deeper the wound can be.

Sometimes, the unsaid brings pain. Thankyous that are due but not given, or encouragement that is withheld, can also lead to discouragement.

SURVIVAL TIP: It is important to deal with hurts as they occur, or as soon as possible afterwards. Apply honesty, transparency, forgiveness and grace.

3. Loss

Change brings loss and loss brings grieving. This can be the loss of a ministry, a loss of familiar support structures or even the familiarity of the culture of church life.

Sometimes loss may be related directly to growth. For example, a pastor of over 200 people cannot give each congregational member the same amount of attention as when the congregation consisted of 60 people. A relational loss is felt.

If close friends leave the local church, we naturally go through a time of grieving.

SURVIVAL TIP: It is important to acknowledge grief and to bring it out into the open. Our grief needs be validated and expressed so that we can release it in a healthy manner and move on.

4. Mistakes

Change can be turbulent. Human error or misjudgement is more likely to take place during times of transition in the church.

Imperfect, human leaders cannot be expected to lead perfectly at all times. These are the times when we most need to extend grace to one another and to our leaders.

SURVIVAL TIP: When we have concerns about the way changes have been led in our church, it is a fresh opportunity to place our trust in God. The Bible sets a clear precedent that in spite of real or perceived mismanagement of human leaders, God is sovereign and His purpose for our lives, the community and the church will ultimately be accomplished.

5. Second-Hand Discouragement

Discouragement is catching. Someone else’s discouragement, vocalised, can be easily passed on to us.

The saying, ‘a burden shared is a burden halved’ is a lie when that burden is an offence in the church.

SURVIVAL TIP: Resist taking on another person’s discouragement. Another person’s offence is a burden you were never meant to carry. Once you take it on, it is difficult to remove.

6. Trials

Trials happen; mistakes are made; structures erected to fulfil visions and dreams sometimes fail; dry seasons occur; bad things happen to good people—and the local church is no exception.

During transition, such difficulties are inevitable.

Trials are allowed by God, and come “so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:7).

SURVIVAL TIP: Remember that trials not only strengthen our faith, they are also part of God’s learning process for the church and for us as individuals.

Dismiss Discouragement!

There will always be reasons for hurt and discouragement in a growing, dynamic church. But I have learned that discouragement is an enemy to be shunned—with vigilance.

However, discouragement can also be helpful: it can be like an orange flashing light, indicating that there is something in our lives that needs attending to.

Our God is the source of encouragement and hope. The Kingdom of God, the scripture says, consists of “righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17).

The atmosphere of God’s Kingdom and that of discouragement cannot coexist. We have the power to choose which one we embrace.

Notes:

Have you been discouraged in church life? Or would you like to know more about the antidote to discouragement and division in the church? This article, along with the above cartoon, is an excerpt from my book, ‘Prophetic People In A Changing Church.’

You can find out more about it on the Enliven Blog e-books page.

Related Posts:

Why Is My Spiritual Gift Or Ministry Not Being Released?

Break Free Of Hurts That Are Blocking Your Spiritual Gift

Set Yourself Free From Judging Others

Going Through A Testing Season In Your Spiritual Gifts

Have you experienced and overcome discouragement in church life? Share your own survival tips by leaving a comment on the comments box. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

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

Did you receive this from a friend? Read more from Enliven Blog or sign to receive our weekly prophetic teaching updates at http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog

I have frequently said that when it came to prophetic ministry in the church, I made every mistake in the book. Then I realised that there wasn’t a book—so I wrote one! [1]

Receiving the grace of God for my failures—and the forgiveness and restoration of my pastors—proved a major turning point in my life.

Following those early days, I went on to lead a flourishing prayer department in a local church and am now on the ministry team at David McCracken Ministries.

Today I would like to share with you 3 Biblical aspects of prophetic ministry in church life that are foundational to the prophetic training that I run today.

3 Imperatives of Prophetic Ministry in the Church

1. The Purpose of Prophetic Ministry is to Build the Church

‘…the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.’ (1 Cor 14:3-4)

The Greek word translated ‘edifies’ means to be a ‘house-builder.’ (see Strongs concordance)

If the outcome of a prophetic word or ministry is something other than edifying and building the church—for example, if it results in confusion, condemnation, division, or fear—then something is wrong. (Prov 14:1)

We always need to come back to edification as the standard and guideline for prophetic ministry in our church.

2. Prophetic Ministry Honours Leadership

‘Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.’ (Ezra 5:2)

Ezra speaks of a time when the leaders of Judah were rebuilding the temple. Where were the prophets? Alongside them, supporting them and encouraging them to continue in the work God had given them to do.

This is a great picture of prophetic ministry in the church today.

We also honour the leaders of our church by:

• Having a teachable and flexible attitude—being willing to adjust and change our ministry approach when necessary.
• Speaking positively of our leaders and the church. (Prov 18:21)
• Honouring the guidelines and protocols our leaders have established relating to sharing prophecy and other insights such as discernment in the church [2]

In the NT, prophetic ministry and intercession is not a platform to seek God in order to find out and declare what the vision of the church should be.

Rather, prophetic and intercessory ministry is a place to support in prayer and encouragement the vision that God has already given to the church leaders. Any prophetic words we bring will be recognised as confirmation—either at the time we bring them or at a later date. [3]

This is because in the NT, leaders have a relationship with God themselves, and hear Him speak in their function as leaders. This is one of the distinctions between prophetic ministry in the Old and New Testament. [4]

3. Prophetic Ministry Operates in Community

God has ordained the church community to be the place for people to grow in and express their gifts. (1 Cor 12; Eph 4)

There are no ‘lone rangers’ in New Testament prophetic ministry in the church. [5]

The Bible tells us:

• Our gifts are given for the body, to grow the church as a whole (1 Cor 12:7-8)
• In community, words of prophecy are given and weighed up, providing us with accountability (1 Cor 14:29)
• No single prophetic person is going to receive the complete or ‘word perfect’ revelation of what God wants to say (1 Cor 13:9-10, 1 Cor 14:29, 1 Thess 5:20-21)
• The church needs additional gifts such as wisdom, leadership and discernment, to fully benefit from prophetic ministry.(1 Cor 12)

Notes:

[1] This is Prophetic People In A Changing Church. We are in the process of republishing this book through David McCracken Ministries. The new edition will have additional insights for senior ministers by David McCracken.

The earlier edition is still available on the Enliven Blog e-books page.

[2] For more information on this, see my article Prophetic Ministry In Church Life: Why Have Guidelines?

[3] If you believe you have received a prophetic word that seems to be different from where the leadership is taking the church, you can still share it. It may relate to another season or may confirm something that God is already speaking to the leaders about.

However, it does change the way you share it. For example:

• Pray about the word first. Check that it is not being influenced by personal frustrations or your own values and ideals
• Do not speak about the word to others and do not bring it in public; instead, take it privately to your leaders to be weighed up
• Submit and release the prophetic insight without placing any expectation upon your leaders to do anything about it

These are not rules; rather the natural outcome of having a heart that honours God, our leaders and each other.

Note that this article assumes that you are in a healthy church environment. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section per below.

[4] Many difficulties in prophetic ministry in the church today arise from a person or ministry operating in an Old Testament paradigm. (In fact someone who has an OT perspective of prophecy is likely to have difficulty with my points above)

For a review on the chief differences between Old and New Testament prophetic ministry, see my post Differences Between Old And New Testament Ministry

[5] Isolation can be tempting for those with prophetic or prayer gifts who have been hurt or misunderstood. If you can relate to this, the following article may be helpful:

Break Free Of Hurts That Are Blocking Your Prophetic Gift

© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

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

Did you receive this from a friend? Read more from Enliven Blog or sign to receive our weekly prophetic teaching updates at http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog

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

As I write today, I believe there are people and pastors reading this who are weary and in need of encouragement in relation to your church life.

The Holy Spirit is ministering renewal and a fresh sense of expectation to you.

A few weeks back I looked at identity and destiny from a personal level.

I noted that your DESTINY is the answer to the question, ‘What has God called me to do?’ While your IDENTITY is the answer to the question, ‘Who has God called me to be?’

This is also true of your church. [1]

If you can benefit from having your church vision renewed, here are some reflections that may help:

Your Church has a Unique Gift and DNA

The Hunk and I have been visiting churches of different denominations and movements for over 20 years, and we never cease to marvel at the unique grace and calling that is on each individual church. [2]

No other church has the same blend of people, leaders, vision, values, history, experience, gifts, strengths and call that your church does. Your church has its own, one of a kind, DNA.

Looking back, you can see a trail of clues where God’s blessing has been, where His power has been released, and where people’s lives have been impacted. Your church is individually anointed and called for a purpose.

The problem is, we sometimes forget these good things and lose our focus. Maybe our church has been through a season of difficulty, or we have become wearied through busyness or trials. When this happens, we need to remember the things that make our church great and why became a part of it.

Q: What are the things that comprise the DNA of your church—the ‘Distinctive Nature of your Anointing?’

Remember why you are Here

At this time of the year, when one can easily become weary and distracted, I believe God is calling us to rise up and celebrate—to remember the people and the qualities that make our churches great.

In every marriage, there are times when it is helpful to remember the things that attracted you to your partner in the first place.

In the same way, we also need to take time to reflect on the good things of our churches—those things that comprise our unique DNA.

We have been members of our local church for over nine years—since we immigrated to Australia from NZ. I spent much of that time on staff, as well as being a department leader.

In nine years, it has not all been smooth sailing. Whenever the waters become rough, it helps me to remember the unique qualities that I love about our church—the DNA that drew me to our church in the first place.

• I love that my church is generous, reaching out to our local community with love and practical assistance—and has a significant overseas mission impact
• I love that one of our values is being authentic and non-religious
• I love that my church makes unchurched people feel welcome and that I can bring a neighbour or friend in who does not know Jesus
• I love the passion in our church and leaders for the power of God to transform lives—to be a church not just of talk but of power

When I remember these things, then I know with absolute assurance that there is no place I would rather be.

Q: What are the qualities that drew you to your church in the first place?

God has a Unique Purpose for Your Church

When you study the New Testament, you see that no single church was alike. Each one had a unique gift and call.

• The Corinthian church was recognised as rich in the demonstration of spiritual gifts (1 Cor 1:5-7)
• The church at Philippi had a unique partnership with the Apostle Paul’s ministry (Phil 4:15)
• The Thessalonian church was known for the regional influence of its testimony (1 Thess 1:8)
• The church in Philadelphia was an example of faithfulness and perseverance in hardship (Rev 3:7-13)
• The Macedonian churches were known for their gift of generosity (2 Cor 8:1-2)
• The church at Antioch was uniquely positioned as the capital of Syria, a province of Rome, and became a centre of missionary activity to the Gentiles.The apostles Paul and Barnabas were sent out from there—both released from and reporting back to, their sending church (Acts 13:1-3, Acts 14:26-28)
• The Jerusalem church had a unique position as the founding church. It had governmental influence and was a centre of missionary activity to the Jews (Acts 16:4-5, Gal 2:8)

One of the things we notice about this list is that even smaller churches can have a significant impact beyond themselves.

The key lies in identifying the unique gift that God has entrusted you with—and taking that to the world.

Q: What is on the heart of God for your church to be known for?

It is Time to Dream Again

Why has God placed your church in your community, in your nation, in this generation? It is for His purposes.

It is time to dream again, because your church has a calling and a mission that cannot be fulfilled by any other church.

And God has called you personally to be a contributor towards that calling.

For a free, comprehensive 10 page questionnaire to help you discover the unique DNA and Mission of your church, click here for the Enliven Blog Articles page.

Do you have any further thoughts about this topic, or something that you would like to share about your own church? 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.

Notes:

[1] I am sharing a favourite photo in today’s post—taken on the day we were received into membership in our home church.

[2] Much of this was in our capacity as missions leaders, including the 9 years my husband was National Director of a mission agency in New Zealand and Australia. I now minister itinerantly with David McCracken Ministries—often accompanied by my husband Malcolm—or ‘The Hunk,’ as he is affectionately known!

© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

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

I regularly come across gifted prophetic people who wonder why they are not being given opportunities to minister in the area of their spiritual gifts and passion.

There are two contexts in which this can happen:

• You may be aware that you have a gift of prophecy, or another spiritual gift. In fact, you may have exercised that gift or ministry in the past, and even seen great results as the Holy Spirit touched people through your ministry.

• You may be newly emerging in your spiritual gift. You are aware that you have a gift and Spirit-given ability—so why is it that others do not see it?

Maybe you can identify with the following questions:

• ‘Why does it seem as though my gift is hidden?’
• ‘Why am I not receiving opportunities to exercise my gift?’
• ‘Why don’t leaders in my church recognise my ministry?’
• ‘Will I ever fulfil the call of God on my life?’

These are questions that I have asked myself at various times in the past. If you can relate to this today, I have some things that  I would like to share with you on a personal level.

Blaming Others will Disempower You

It can be very easy to blame others when we are not being given opportunities to exercise our gifts in church life.

We perceive that leaders especially, have the power to release or hold back possibilities for us to minister. It may seem that they are blocking the achievement of God’s call on our lives.

But the reality is that as long as we are blaming others for our lack of ministry fulfilment—whether it is a spouse, pastor, ministry leader or anybody else—we are actually disempowering ourselves and limiting God.

Invariably, we will begin to voice our frustration and resentment, for as Jesus said, ‘Out of the abundance of our hearts our mouths speak.’ (Luke 6:43-46)

Eventually, discouragement, disappointment and frustration pervade the atmosphere around our lives, creating a cycle of barrenness. But I have good news for you today: you can break free!

Reasons why Your Gifts are not Being Used

Firstly, you need to remember that God is sovereign. No human on the planet can hold back the fulfilment of His call on your life—except you.

You are empowered. You do not need to look to someone else to release your ministry.

So, if your spiritual gift or ministry call seems to be hidden, here are some possible reasons why this might be happening, along with some suggestions to help you move forward: [1]

1. You are Waiting for Appointment Unnecessarily

Sometimes we wait for an invitation, role or position when Jesus just wants to love people through us.

For example, if you have a gift of prophecy, you can use it at the basic level of encouragement in a small group and everyday life amongst family and friends. Remember, though, that if you have a word that goes beyond simple encouragement, the principles of accountability apply.

If you want to be used in the area of healing, start offering to pray for people—and so on.

The key is to stay within the appropriate context in the use of your gift. [2]

2. You Need to make your Desires and Dreams Known

Sometimes we think that ministry leaders are aware of our gifts and calling and should open doors for us. They would—if only they knew what was on our hearts.

I can remember one time in particular where I was frustrated because a ministry leader wasn’t giving me an opportunity. When I eventually broached the subject, he asked me why I hadn’t mentioned it, and happily provided a pathway forward for me.

Leaders aren’t mind readers. Sometimes we think that they are supermen and superwomen who should be listening to God about our personal gifts and situations.

They may simply need the opportunity to hear from us firsthand.

3. You are Beginning and Need to Step out.

Sometimes we wait too long for encouragement, when we should be stepping out of the boat ourselves.

Understandably, when you are new in your gift, this can be a bit daunting.

When a seedling emerges from the soil, there is a last push to break through the earth. When a butterfly is emerging from a chrysalis, there is a final wrestling to break free.

This is the kind of motivation that the Apostle Paul talked about when he said, ‘Desire spiritual gifts.’ (1 Cor 14:1) Is your desire strong enough that you will seek tangible ways of moving forward in your gift? [3]

4. The Delay is about God’s Timing

Wilderness seasons are a Biblical theme—remember Moses, Joseph, David, John the Baptist and the Apostle Paul? [4]

Some reasons that God ordains a time of hiddenness may include:

• Timing as He brings circumstances and people together
• Strengthening other gifts and skills in your life that will be needed in the long run
• Preparation of our character or gift

If God has ordained a season of waiting, He is faithful and will release you at the right time.

5. You may Benefit by Adjusting Something in Your Ministry Approach.

This is a vital point. Many times I have seen people held back because there is something unsuitable in their approach to using their gifts—and yet they are completely unaware of it.

Here are some checks we should do regularly in relation to our gifts and ministry:

Faithfulness

• Am I willing to serve in small ways?
• Am I present at meetings, even when my gift is not being called on?
• Am I honouring my leaders in my conversation and actions?
• Am I being self-centred, i.e. it’s about my gift and my ministry, or others-centred—“What can I do to help you?”

Culture and Style

• Does the style of the way I use my gift fit with the culture of my church?
• What about my language—terminology and expressions?
• Do I use any methods or ‘formulas’ when I minister that my leaders do not use?
• Do I use actions, gestures or manifestations, e.g. when I pray for people, which are not in keeping with the culture of my church?

If a movement we have been brought up in, imparted to, or taught by, is different from that of our church, this is something that we need to especially consider.

We need to be willing to lay these methods aside and align our ministry style with the culture of our church or ministry organisation.

Vision and Values

• Do my values and vision for ministry differ from that of my church?

A friend of mine observed that a church is like a train—led by God and our leadership with a definite destination in mind. We need to decide whether we are willing to get on board and to serve in the direction that our church is going.

So long as we are nurturing our own desires for a different destination or culture of church life, our leaders will perceive this. They need to know we are pulling with them—not against them.

Why not ask?

You may benefit by approaching someone in leadership—perhaps sharing this article with him or her—and reviewing any possible reasons why you seem to be stuck in relation to your gift or ministry.

This will only work if you take an open and humble approach and are willing to listen to suggestions without becoming hurt or offended.

Often leaders do not address situations such as I’ve mentioned above because they know that their observations will not be well received. If you initiate the conversation, and are willing to make adjustments, you may be surprised at the results.

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.

Notes:

[1] Another reason our gift or ministry may be hidden is because we are hiding ourselves—due to fear or hurt. We will be covering these topics in the next few weeks.

[2] Every church has unique protocols for the operation of spiritual gifts. See Prophetic Ministry In Church Life: Why Have Guidelines

[3] If you believe you have a gift of prophecy emerging, see the following post for ideas:

How To Develop Your Prophetic Gift: Where To Begin 

[4] Here is a post on the topic of wilderness seasons that you may find helpful:

Going Through A Testing Season In Your Spiritual Gifts

Related Posts:

11 Signs That Your Prophetic Gift Is Being Held Back

Do You Have A Ministry Call?

Break Free Of Hurts That Are Blocking Your Prophetic Gift

© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

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

Understanding the difference between Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT) prophetic ministry is a vital key to flourishing in our gifts of prophecy.

A clearer perception of this in my earlier days would have saved me personally a great deal of heartache and error in church life. [1]

Here are four key points of difference between Old and New Testament prophetic ministry, along with some dangers that can occur when a prophetic person maintains an OT viewpoint in the context of church life.

1. In the OT, a prophet was the mouthpiece of God

Old Testament prophets had the singular role of bringing God’s word—instruction, warnings, prophecies, and so on—directly to His people.

By contrast, in the New Testament all believers have a relationship with God and can hear Him speaking to them personally. Therefore, prophecy is confirmation of what is already heard through relationship.

This also relates to leaders in the church today, who hear from God in their leadership capacity.

Prophetic ministry is designed to bring confirmation, clarity and empowerment to the vision of a church.

Signs of maintaining an Old Testament viewpoint in church life:

• Maintaining they have correctly heard from God (and the leaders are wrong) when there is a point of difference
• Believing that their prophetic insights carry greater weight than the vision or direction of others who may not have a prophetic gift.

2. The OT was an era of law and judgment

In the Old Testament, prophets pronounced warnings and judgements upon people and nations who were in disobedience to God.

The New Testament, however, is an era of God’s grace. [2] New Testament prophecy is for ‘strengthening, encouragement, and comfort.’ (1 Cor 14:3) Here is an example from Acts 15:32:

‘Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.’

New Testament prophecy is consistent with the ministry of Jesus and His revelation of the Father’s nature.

Even if a prophetic word is addressing error, the prophetic motive is redemption—to bring God’s purpose and to transform the situation and its outcome—and the word will be framed that way, presented in love and humility.

Signs of maintaining an OT viewpoint in church life:

• Using prophecy to point out wrongs, being quick to condemn or warn church leaders or other Christian believers
• Using prophecy to call for repentance with an underlying attitude of criticism or judgment [3]

3. In the OT, a prophet could ‘stand alone’ before God (1 Kings 17:1)

In the New Testament, Paul says in 1 Cor 12 that we are many members, with different gifts, in one body.

As with other spiritual gifts, prophecy is not meant to be a stand-alone ministry in the church, rather, it is incomplete without the added value of other gifts in the church body. (1 Cor 12:12)

No one ‘prophetic person’ has all the revelation. He or she also depends upon others with prophetic gifts to supply more ‘pieces of the puzzle’ of God’s revelation (1 Cor 14:29-33).

The person prophesying also needs those who have gifts of discernment, leadership and wisdom to complete their contribution to the church.

Also, in the New Testament you see less of the individual prophet and more of prophetic teams – e.g. Acts 15:32, Acts 13:1, Acts 11:27, 1 Cor 14:29, 31-32.

Signs of maintaining an OT viewpoint in church life:

• Isolation, separation from community
• Believing that they report directly to God only, and are commissioned and trained only by God
• Lack of accountability, i.e. not coming under leadership

4. OT prophets were expected to speak the PERFECT, inspired word of God

If they did not speak a word that proved true, they were condemned as ‘false prophets’ (Jer 14:14-16).

Some prophets were entrusted with the writing of scripture.  They also were used of God to convey His specific instruction to Kings, nations and others. Thus, accuracy and purity of their words was essential.

In the New Testament church, prophetic words are subject to being weighed up. (1 Cor 14:29, 1 Thess 5:20-22)

New Testament Prophetic ministry needs an environment of humility, cooperation and grace to operate as Jesus intended it to.

Signs of maintaining an OT viewpoint in church life:

• Believing they have a ‘hotline to God’ that bypasses the input of leadership.
• Resisting having their prophetic words weighed up
• Reacting negatively when prophetic words are not acted upon, or feedback is given that disagrees with their viewpoint

The Fruit of New Testament Prophetic Ministry

‘So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.’ (Eph 4:11-12)

In the New Testament, prophetic ministry is a servant ministry in the church. This is also true of the prophetic office.

As Paul outlines in Ephesians, the role of a leading prophetic ministry is to equip the church. This includes encouraging and empowering Christians to hear from God, as well as releasing others who have prophetic gifts.

One danger of maintaining an Old Testament paradigm of prophetic ministry is that it sends a message of exclusivity (see points 1 and 3 above). It tends to have the opposite effect—intimidating others who have prophetic gifts and creating an unhealthy reliance upon the prophetic minister.

And finally, the fruit of New Testament prophetic ministry is unity. The picture that Paul gives is of a healthy body, each part unique but working and growing together into Christ-likeness.

Notes:

[1] For more on my journey check the ‘About Enliven Blog’ page.

[2] For more detail on this topic, see the post ‘How To Weigh Up What The Prophets Are Saying Pt 2

[3] This is not to say that someone with a prophetic ministry cannot call for repentance. See ‘How To Weigh Up What The Prophets Are Saying Pt 1′

[4] I am aware that many prophetic people have experienced unhealthy or even abusive leadership, at some stage of their journey. Past hurts and difficulties should not stop us honouring and having a Biblical response to our leaders in our current situation where God has placed us. For more information on this, read my e-book Prophetic People In A Changing Church.

Related Post:

Prophetic Ministry In Church Life: 3 Non-Negotiables

© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog

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

Do you have any experiences or questions to share on the topic of differences between Old and New Testament Prophetic Ministry? 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.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy… But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.’ (1 Cor 14:39-40, TNIV)

Guidelines are to prophetic ministry, as railway tracks are to a train. They provide a way for the gift of prophecy, along with other revelatory gifts, to be released and fulfil their God-intended purpose.

The Apostle Paul gave clear guidelines for prophetic ministry to the Corinthian Church. He advised the church to put protocols into place for prophecy to operate in church meetings. (1 Cor 14:26-33)

Healthy guidelines don’t hinder; rather, they provide a way for spiritual gifts to flow, whilst ensuring they do so safely and effectively. [1]

What I Learned About Prophetic Guidelines

I have not always appreciated guidelines and leadership in church life.

Years ago, when I was in danger of going ‘off the rails’ altogether in my prophetic ministry, God intervened in my life. I tell the story of my journey, repentance and restoration in my book, ‘Prophetic People In A Changing Church.’ [2]

The most significant thing God did during this time was to teach me the value of honouring and submitting to church leadership in the use of spiritual gifts.

Later, as a prophetic leader in our church, this value was the single most important factor that enabled me to help grow a thriving prophetic/ prayer ministry.

It enabled me to lead and teach our team in such a way that the people on our team, and their spiritual gifts, flourished.

As a result:

• Opportunities for prophetic ministry increased when our pastor and leadership team were assured that it was operating within a safe framework

• Our prophetic people had the assurance of knowing what our protocols were, and experienced freedom within the framework of these

• And the congregation benefited from the exercise of a loving, and safe prophetic ministry that brought great blessing to the church.

Whenever situations came up in prophetic ministry that I was unsure about, I would talk it over with my pastor and clarify the particular guidelines of our church.

Guidelines are to prophetic ministry, as railway tracks are to a train. Too many times we have seen prophetic ministry derailed, sidelined and disused in church life. Sometimes this has followed a crash—some event involving misuse or abuse of prophetic gifts.

A major benefit of guidelines and protocols is that they help prevent these situations from occurring. Should an issue arise, they also provide a reference and guide for restoration—while enabling continuing freedom for the gift to operate in the church.

Why Have Prophetic Guidelines?

I actively encourage guidelines in church life. In fact, during my prophetic training sessions, I teach the importance of following general guidelines, as well as the unique protocols that exist in churches.

Here are 7 important reasons for having guidelines and protocols in place:

1.There is a Biblical precedent for them. The Apostle Paul encouraged prophetic accountability and protocols in the life of the church (1 Cor 12, 14)

2.They provide a framework within which spiritual gifts can be released and operate freely with accountability

3.They prevent the cycle that is so prevalent in church today: Gifts released…damaging event…gifts suppressed…gifts released…and so on.

4.Guidelines can be pointed to when something unhealthy or potentially damaging occurs that needs to be addressed

5.They bring everyone ‘on the same page,’ e.g. if a new person comes into the church who has prophetic gifts but has a differing perspective on their use, it gives you something to refer to

6.They help provide a safe environment for a. pastors and leaders, b. prophetic people and c. the congregation (and therefore builds confidence in prophetic ministry)

7.They provide a means of pastoring prophetic people and intercessors in the church

Guidelines for Other Revelatory Gifts

Prophetic people frequently gravitate towards prayer-related ministries, such as intercession, in the church.

I believe that prayer ministry areas particularly benefit from having a defined framework in which to operate in the use of spiritual gifts. [3] This is because intercessors and pray-ers frequently operate in revelatory gifts including:

• Discernment
• Intercession (revelation on how to pray, what to pray, the burden to pray, etc)
• Prophecy
• Word of knowledge

What Kinds of Prophetic Guidelines can a Church Have?

The following situations may benefit from having specific guidelines and protocols in place:

• Personal prophecies (given from individuals to individuals within the church)
• Prophecies or revelatory insights (discernment, etc.) concerning the church, its direction or vision
• Prophecies for the congregation, pertaining to particular church services
• What to do when an unhealthy or potentially damaging event occurs (e.g. someone brings an ‘off’ prophecy)
• What to do with a word that is not purely encouragement; e.g. is directional, a warning, etc
• A track for people who desire to operate and grow in prophetic ministry

If you are a person in the church who is gifted in prophecy or other revelatory gifts, be willing to allow your pastor and/or leadership team to adjust guidelines as the church changes and grows.

A Note for Pastors

If you are a pastor or leader, when communicating guidelines, I recommend that you share the reasons for them and particularly, the benefits of them. As you do, convey your vision and passion for the release and blessing of spiritual gifts in the life of your church.

Your protocols will be unique to your church and are affected by a number of factors. These may include:

• The unique vision and values of your church
• The size of your congregation
• Your desired outcomes for prophetic ministry
• The needs and history of your church

Notes:

[1] I understand that there can sometimes be confusion between healthy guidelines that release ministry, versus unhealthy control that quenches the life of the Spirit. Feel free to leave any questions about this in the comments section.

[2] For key principles and my personal journey related to prophetic ministry in church life, see my e-book  Prophetic People in a Changing Church

[3] I have discussed the gift of discernment extensively in this blog. See the following post in particular:

6 Tips For Exercising The Gift Of Discernment In Church Life

Related Post:

Prophetic Ministry In Church Life: 3 Non-Negotiables

Prayer Ministry Ideas And Guidelines

© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog

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

Do you have any experiences or questions to share on the topic of prophetic guidelines and protocols in church life? 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.

This is the fourth in a series of posts on the topic of the spiritual gift of discernment.

The gift of discernment of spirits is a powerful weapon in times of spiritual warfare in church life, and of great assistance when breakthrough is needed.

Is it any wonder, then, that the activation of this gift is highly contested?

Many discerners struggle when it comes to communicating an insight they have received concerning what is taking place in the spiritual realm to leaders in their church.

Here are some tips to help you establish trust with your leaders and to maximise the effectiveness of your gift of discernment in church life. Note: these keys also apply to exercising the gift of discernment in any Christian organisation.

1. Make Prayer your First Response

Whenever we have an insight as to something taking place in the spiritual realm, our first response should always be prayer. As we pray, we are:

• Confirming that our insight is based on something we have received from a place of intimacy with God and not from our personal feelings
• If the discernment relates to spiritual warfare, we are beginning to pray for God’s intervention
• Asking for further insight relating to the bigger picture of what we are perceiving

2. Discern What the Spirit of God is doing

A fallacy about the gift of discernment (and the watchman ministry) is that it exists solely to identify demonic attack.

Actually, the highest use of the gift of discernment is to see what the Spirit of God is doing.

Someone with a gift of discernment of spirits has the ability to perceive:

• What the Spirit of God is doing, i.e. where His anointing is
• Angelic activity
• Demonic activity, and to describe it by name and nature for the purpose of waging spiritual warfare
• What is sourced in human desire or nature (not necessarily negative unless it is presented as being of the Holy Spirit but isn’t)

In other words, a discerner has a Spirit-given ability to distinguish between what is from the human soul, what is of the Spirit of God, and what of a demonic source.

If a discerner is only ever seeing and relaying reports on demonic activity, there is an unhealthy imbalance, which needs to be corrected.

3. Seek God for His Redemptive Plan

Related to the above point, it is vital that we form the habit of looking for what God is doing, not just reporting on what the enemy is doing.

Leaders get enough negative reports coming their way without it continually coming from intercessors and their prophetic team as well!

Even when there is warfare happening and the church is under spiritual pressure (attack) our Father is up to something good. He has plans to overturn demonic strategies and to grow the church.

So don’t just bring a negative report to your leaders. Go back to God and ask Him – what is HE up to?

Something that’s especially helpful if you have the gift of discernment is to activate the gift of prophecy as well (even if this is at a basic level of encouragement) and team the two gifts up.

4. Find out the Preferred Means for Delivering Discernment and Prophetic Words in Your Church

Every church has its own practices for sharing revelatory insights. And within a larger church, individual leaders or pastors may prefer different approaches.

It is important if you are unsure, especially if you have changed churches, to ascertain what this protocol is. If your leader has not considered this before, give them a few options and find out which they prefer.

If public sharing in your church meeting is encouraged, I recommend running your insight past a leader before presenting it before others. Prayer meetings may have different practices to other public meetings or services.

Some examples of avenues to report a revelatory insight to a leader are:

• Speaking to the leader personally
• Report directly via email or other means
• Report via a secretary or PA
• Share via a designated leader or prayer coordinator

5. Share your Discernment Appropriately

One thing we must never do is ‘gossip’ revelatory insights. We do that when we share with others who are not in leadership the discernment we are receiving about leaders or the church.

The reason I make a special note of this is that it can happen unintentionally, in the guise of seeking advice, confirmation, help or prayer support from our peers.

Discernment received in a prayer meeting may be prayed through at that time, but should be relayed immediately to the church oversight.

Sometimes we do need a SAFE PLACE to process what we are receiving—especially when we are starting out and we lack confidence.

This may be the leader (minister or pastor) directly. However, our leaders may be too busy, or have a limited understanding of developing the ministry of discernment. They need the benefits of receiving it, but it is not necessarily their job to develop it.

In many cases, a trusted prophetic leader or intercessor may have delegated authority to assist a discerner with processing what he or she is receiving before presenting it to the oversight.

6. Other Tips for Sharing Discernment with Leaders

Use Prophetic Jargon Sparingly

Many church leaders are not themselves prophetically gifted. Even if they are, we should, as far as possible, use straightforward language and expression when communicating issues of discernment.

Be aware of Differences Between your Values and those of your Leaders

We need to be aware of differences between our own priorities and those of our leaders, because these are often reflected in the content or way we present a word of prophecy or discernment (this is a vital issue and I will discuss it further in a later post).

Submit your Discernment Without Strings Attached

When we share an insight concerning discernment that we have received, we naturally want to know whether it has been acted upon.

However, as with words of prophecy, we need to release our discernment and not place any expectation that our insight be acted upon or responded to.

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

UNLOCKING THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT E-BOOK – *NEW!*

$5.95 e-Book*

Are you sensitive to what is taking place in the spiritual realm? Have you ever been adversely affected by a negative atmosphere?

You may have the spiritual gift of discernment.

The gift of discernment of spirits is a powerful weapon in times of spiritual warfare, and can be of great assistance when ministering freedom to individuals.

And yet many who have the gift of discernment have difficulty knowing what to do with what they are feeling or sensing.

(More details …)

Related Posts:

What Is The Spiritual Gift Of Discernment?

8 Signs You May Have The Spiritual Gift Of Discernment

The Heart Of A Discerner

8 Ways To Grow Your Spiritual Gift Of Discernment

© Helen Calder  2010   Enliven Blog

Now on team with David McCracken Ministries

When we begin to develop our prophetic gift, it can be very daunting to step out for the first time.

We want to speak God’s message and share His heart and plans with people. However, we are faced with the certain fact that no matter how hard we pray, learn or try, we are never going to know or express God’s revelations completely (1 Cor 13:9,12).

It is true that the prophetic gift does sharpen and become more accurate with experience and Christian maturity. However, even mature, seasoned prophets in the church today are not infallible and do not get prophetic words 100% ‘word perfect’ all the time.

To understand the Biblical basis for this, let’s take a quick look at the difference between prophetic ministry in the Old and New Testaments.

Spiritual Gifts in the Church

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

In the Old Testament, prophets were expected to speak the perfectly inspired word of God. Many of the Old Testament scriptures were either prophetic in nature or written by prophets (Heb 1:1). If prophets did not speak a word that proved true, they were condemned as ‘false prophets’ (Jer 14:14-16).

However the New Testament portrays prophetic ministry in the church very differently to this. Like other spiritual gifts, prophecy is not meant to be a stand-alone ministry in the church. It is incomplete without the added value of other gifts in the church body (1 Cor 12:12), and is subject to being tested and weighed up (1 Cor 14:29, 1 Thess 5:20-21).

Imagine what it would be like if a prophet prophesied perfectly all of the time, or if a particular teacher taught 100% perfect doctrine, or if someone with a gift of healing was able to heal every sick person they laid their hands on! We would be tempted to revere and rely on the gifted person, instead of depending upon God.

Instead, God in His wisdom has ordained that we use His spiritual gifts by faith (Rom 12:6), and in interdependence upon each other.

The person prophesying needs those who have gifts of discernment, leadership and wisdom to complete their contribution to the church. He or she also depends upon other prophets to supply more ‘pieces of the puzzle’ of God’s revelation (1 Cor 14:29-33). Prophetic ministry needs an environment of humility, cooperation and grace to operate as Jesus intended it to.

Some Truths about New Testament Prophetic Ministry:

1. In the New Testament, the Lord has placed prophetic ministry within the reach of every believer.

It is on the heart of God that we be a prophetic people.

On the day of Pentecost, Peter said,

‘This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” (Acts 2:17-18)

Every Spirit-filled believer has the ability to prophesy. This scripture also tells us something about the prophetic language of the Holy Spirit: prophecies, dreams and visions. If this is the language of the Holy Spirit, then we need to know how to listen to and understand what He is saying.

2. In the New Testament, we see that there are different functions, or levels of prophecy in the church

Examples of these are:

• The ability to prophesy available to every Spirit-filled believer (Acts 2:17-18)
• A spiritual gift of prophecy. Note that Paul encourages all believers in the church to desire this gift (See 1 Cor 14:1,5,31)
• The office of the prophet in the context of the five-fold ministries (Eph 4:11)

Even within these ministries there is variation in strengths and styles of gifting. As you seek to grow your prophetic gifts, you will discover that God has a unique expression and arena for your ministry.

3. The New Testament reveals that there are many different arenas in which the gift of prophecy can be used.

Some of these are:

• Prophetic evangelism (John 1:47-51)
• Prophetic ministry in the church (1 Cor 14)
• Prophetic ministry to a church movement or across many churches (Acts 15:30-32)
• Prophetic ministry to a group, region or nation (Acts 11:28)

4. Our church is the environment that God has ordained for us to develop and share our gifts.

No matter what the arena or level of prophetic ministry you and I are called to, it is important that we be accountable to our church and church leaders and sent out from a local church (1 Cor 14, Acts 15:30-33). The basic guidelines applied in the Bible to New Testament prophetic ministry apply to us today.

As a prayer leader in a church, my desire is to provide a safe place to nurture and grow prophetic people in their ministry every step of the way.

This means putting guidelines and protocols into place—not for the purpose of having a set of rules, but to provide a safe environment for:
•    those who are prophesying,
•    recipients of prophecy, and
•    church leadership

I also believe it is helpful, in growing a prophetic community, to provide a designated leader to give feedback on prophecies or to check prophetic words, before they are delivered.

In our church, we provide a place where individuals who are growing in their prophetic gift can have a go, sometimes get it wrong, and try again. As my team pastors and equips people with prophetic gifts, we watch in wonder, as the miraculous message from God transforms the lives of both giver and receiver alike. For New Testament prophetic ministry is not a work of perfection, but of grace in community.

Would you like to develop your prophetic gift?
Here are 3 things that can help you:

1. Prophetic Teaching:
Enter your email address in the subscribe box at the top right hand side of this page to receive:

• regular blog posts containing teaching that will help you grow in your gift of prophecy, as well as articles on spiritual gifts, prayer, spiritual renewal and supernatural Christian living

2. E-books to Help you Develop Your Gifts:

‘Grow Your Prophetic And Prayer Gifts’ is a high-value e-book specifically written to help you grow in your prophetic gifts – at whatever stage or season you are on the journey.

Check out our e-books page for more e-books related to prophetic and prayer ministry.

See also:

Differences Between Old And New Testament Prophecy

 Prophetic Ministry in the Church: Why Have Guidelines?

Signs that you have a Prophetic Gift

How to Develop Your Prophetic Gift

© Helen Calder   Enliven Blog