Winter is approaching here in Melbourne Australia, and looking outside my window, I see the trees waving in the wind. I can hear the sound of the breeze blowing through the branches.

Although we cannot see air itself, its existence is revealed by what we see and hear. The stronger the wind, the more it affects the environment.

It is the same with the Holy Spirit.

Unlike the wind, however, the Spirit of God is a Person—and that which we see and hear is the result of His Presence.

Clothed with Power from on High

“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)

The picture of Moses’ Tabernacle reminds us that God’s purpose for us is not only to be filled with the Presence of His Holy Spirit, but also to be clothed with His Spirit. That He would not only be within us for our own sake, but would also be God’s Presence evident upon us, for the sake of the world.

Throughout the Bible, when the Spirit of God came upon God’s people, that empowering came with evidence—something seen and heard:

• When the Spirit of God came upon the elders of Israel, they prophesied (Number 11:24-27)
• When the Spirit came upon Balaam, he prophesied God’s favour over Israel (Number 24:2-9
• When the Spirit of God came upon Gideon, he blew a trumpet (Judges 6:34)
• When the Spirit of God came upon Saul, he prophesied. (1 Sam 19:19-24)
• When the Spirit of God came upon Amasai, he proclaimed allegience to David  (1 Chron 12:18)
• When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost, the sound of a rushing wind was heard, and tongues of fire were seen over each believer. As they were filled they began to praise God in the languages of the pilgrims visiting Jerusalem. (Acts 2)
• When the Spirit of God came upon the early church during a prayer meeting, the building shook, and they spoke God’s word boldly (Acts 4:31)

Notice that the above examples include ungodly men who simply got ‘in the way’ of the Holy Spirit. (Balaam and Saul) Let’s believe for non-believers and backsliders to encounter Holy Spirit’s Presence and to have an opportunity to commit their lives to Jesus.

Not just Initial Evidence, but an Ongoing Experience

Just as the pillar of cloud of God’s Presence journeyed with Israel throughout the wilderness, the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s Presence upon His people was never meant to be just a one-off display, but an ongoing experience.

It is the nature of the Holy Spirit that His Presence and activity be seen and heard. Jesus is made known and the Father’s purposes are accomplished—His Kingdom established on earth. (Acts 3:16, Matt 6:10)

How is the Holy Spirit’s Presence Manifested?

Following are just some of the ways that the Holy Spirit’s Presence and activity were experienced in the New Testament and that we can expect to occur today:

1. The Spirit’s impact on the hearts of people and their consequent actions—such as conviction leading to repentance. (Acts 2:37)

2. Through the use of spiritual gifts. ‘Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good’ (1 Cor 12:7) The Greek word translated manifestation, phaneroo, means to make visible and clear. [1]

3. Through the fruit of the Holy Spirit evident in the lives of God’s people, especially when it is recognised as being beyond what is humanly natural. Examples include unity (John 17:23), acts of service, love, and the expression of God’s grace to the poor. (Luke 4:18)

4. Through supernatural communication from God, including prophecies, dreams and visions. (Acts 2:17)

5. Unusual manifestations of His Presence. (e.g. wind, fire, earthquake, Acts 2:2-3, 4:31)

6. The sense of His Presence and anointing for a timely purpose (Luke 5:17b)

7. Through God’s power being released to effect healing, deliverance and other miracles in Jesus’ Name (Luke 4:18)

8. Through signs accompanying the preaching of the Gospel (Mark 16:20)

‘The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to…’ (Is 61:1) A quick study of the above tells us that the move of the Spirit requires our participation. Firstly, we need to be filled with, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. And then, we partner with Him, whether it be through speaking out God’s word, through listening, prayer, or obedience.

And yet, no amount of self effort on our part will achieve a move of God.

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal power, or force, at our command—He is a Person, with a will and desire. As sons and daughters of God’s royal Kingdom, we carry authority, but this can only be exercised with humility; knowing that our agenda and timing must become attuned to His.

This past weekend, many of us have observed ‘Pentecost Sunday’—in commemoration of the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. (Acts 2)
Let’s not treat the anointing and power of God as a mystical ‘something,’ but let’s honour the Person and Presence of the Holy Spirit. May we live with the constant expectation of experiencing His Presence and power; that Holy Spirit is at work in our lives and those around us—and as we seek and  join with Him, we will see lives changed and God’s Kingdom extended.

Questions to Consider:

1. What is my expectation concerning the experience of the Holy Spirit with regard to each of the points above?

2. Can I recall to mind times when I have ‘seen and heard’ what the Holy Spirit is doing?

3. Considering the Tabernacle illustration, are people around me able to see the Presence and power of God upon my life? Or does my anticipation of the move of the Holy Spirit only relate to my personal relationship with Him? What would a balance look like?

4. When was the last time I asked God to fill and empower me with His Holy Spirit?

Notes:

[1] Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Related Posts:

(The Holy Spirit is) The Greatest Evangelist In The World Today

Pentecost: How God Exploded My Box

What Pentecost tells us about God’s Heart for Nations

How You can have an Intimate Relationship with the Holy Spirit

Can you think of some other ways that the Holy Spirit’s Presence is evident (seen and heard), or do you have a testimony, scripture or poem to share? Leave a comment in the box below. 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

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth… but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Is 60:1-3)

We long for the coming day, when the Presence of God will be so evident upon His people that multitudes will be drawn to God’s Kingdom.

A Prophetic Picture of God’s Manifest Presence

With this in mind, there is a picture that has gripped me lately, and that is God’s Presence both within and manifested upon Moses’ tabernacle in the wilderness.

The word ‘manifested’ means to be seen, to be clear and obvious.

I believe this is a prophetic picture for our lives and for the Church, in that it is being highlighted by the Holy Spirit at this time. [1]

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” (Ex 25:8)

1. God’s Presence Within us

Once the Ark of the Covenant was housed in the Tabernacle, Moses no longer needed to wait for God’s Presence to come to him at the door, as he had earlier (Ex 33:9-11). He could speak to God face to face within it.

‘When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law. In this way the Lord spoke to him.’ (Numbers 7:89)

Inside the Tabernacle, in front of the Ark, Moses had intimate communion and personal conversation with God.

This speaks of God’s Presence within us: our personal relationship with God and the intimate communion we can have with Him through faith in Jesus.

Whilst God’s Presence within us primarily relates to us personally, from there the fruit of our personal relationship with God touches others around us.

2. God’s Manifest Presence Upon us

The Presence of God also continually resided upon the Tabernacle in the form of the pillar of cloud by day and the fire by night.

God’s Presence was a heavenly shield of protection both from the harsh elements of the wilderness and from Israel’s enemies. The Presence of God provided guidance in their journeys.

But God’s Presence not only benefited God’s people. It was also a sign for the nations. When God was about to withdraw His Presence due to the Israelite’s sin, Moses said,

“If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” Exodus 33:15-16

The Presence of God upon our lives is a mark of our relationship with Him as sons and daughters.

God’s Presence upon us is our favour, shield and covering. But this is not solely for our benefit—the manifest Presence of God is for the sake of the world around us.

Jesus quoted the Prophet Isaiah:

‘The Holy Spirit is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good news….’ (See Isaiah 61:1-3, Luke 4:18)

Today we can also say, “The Holy Spirit is upon us, because our Heavenly Father has anointed us to reach and touch people for Him, bringing healing, deliverance and the message of salvation.”

His Presence and Glory is our Inheritance

The Apostle Paul said that if the Old Covenant of Presence of God manifested with glory, how much more should it be for us in the New Covenant? (2 Corinthians 3:7-8)

The truth is, we long for what belongs to us. The Presence and glory of God is our inheritance. This is why our hearts desire to know and experience more of Him.

When we realise this, we can position for and receive what our Father has for us.

It’s time to catch a vision of what God has prepared for us—for this is the first step of fully entering in.

Many of us have a deep desire to experience more of God’s Presence. But what does this mean? I am going to spend a few weeks exploring this topic. Next time, I will look more specifically of how the Holy Spirit’s Presence upon us is manifested in our lives.

Notes:

[1] The Tabernacle of Moses is a Biblical type: firstly of Christ, but also of the Church and the individual believer. (see Hebrews chapters 8-10, Col 2:17) Today, I am referring to it as a prophetic picture because I believe this aspect of the Tabernacle and God’s manifest Presence is a ‘NOW’ word of God for the Church.

Related Posts:

A Prophetic Vision: God’s Call to Intimacy with Him

Hunger for God: 6 Ways You Can Stir it Up

An Open Heaven Is Our Inheritance

Face to Face with God: Can I Have a Relationship like Moses?

Do you have any scriptures, poems or thoughts about the Presence of God that you would like to share? Leave a comment in the box below. 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

Whilst not all dreams that we have are prophetic in nature, the Bible does teach that prophetic dreams are one way God speaks to His people. This week, I share an article on ‘what to do when you have a prophetic dream’ that I wrote several years ago, for the benefit of recent readers. [1]

What to do When you Have a Prophetic Dream

You wake up from a vivid dream that you believe had a significant or spiritual meaning. What do you do with it? [2]

As well as a physical body, the Bible tells us that we have a soul and a spirit; we are triune beings made in the image of God (1 Thess 5:23).

Dreaming is a natural process that our bodies carry out, as we are physically refreshed during sleep. But dreaming does not only have a physical function. We are aware that during our sleep our souls (mind, will and emotions) are processing our responses to our past and present, along with our perception of the future.

We are also spiritual beings, created to commune with God. The Bible tells us that one of the many ways God speaks to people is through dreams (Job 33:14-15). These dreams are spiritual, or ‘God dreams.’ A prophetic dream, when tested over time, will prove to be significant.

How to Make the Most of Your Prophetic Dream

If you believe you have had a prophetic dream, what should you do with it? Here are some ideas to start you off:

1. Pray About it

If you think your dream may have a spiritual meaning, pray about it. As the Bible says, symbolic dreams are mysteries; only God is able to reveal what they mean (Dan 2:26-28).

2. Record it

Write your prophetic dream down as soon as possible, or at least jot down some of the key points to help you remember it (Hab 2:2). Your memory of the details in your dream will naturally fade. If you dream regularly (or get great ideas in the night hours) then you might like to keep a notebook by your bed.

3. Remember it

Some other things you can do to help remember your prophetic dream are:

• Replaying the dream in your mind will help you memorise the content of your dream
• Share it. Find someone to tell your dream to who will be interested and draw the details out of you.

4. Reflect on its Meaning

What was it about the dream that made you think it was spiritual in nature? Some questions you can ask to get you started are:

• What was the atmosphere in the dream?
• Who appeared in the dream? A person who appears in the dream may also be symbolic of an attribute in you, a role that you play, a ministry you are called to, or symbolic of something else.
• What objects, places or symbols showed up in the dream? This is where developing knowledge of the Bible and Biblical and prophetic symbols can be helpful. You can also find further helpful information about dream symbols in books from reputable Christian authors.
• How did you feel during the dream?
• What did you sense and what came to your mind when you immediately awoke from the dream?

Remember that a dream in its entirety can be a mixture of both natural and spiritual elements. There may be one factor in a dream that is a revelation from God, but the rest could be from your own inner world.

Don’t discount the value of a dream that is from your soul, not from God. It can still be valuable to show you how you are responding in your inner world to past and present circumstances in your life and it may well be worth taking the time to meditate on it.

5. Seek Help in Interpreting Your Dream

The best person to interpret your prophetic dream is you, as many of the symbols in your dreams are from your personal life. You may like to share your dream with one or more people who can help you understand its meaning. Remember that the principles for checking a prophecy also apply to dream interpretation.

Whilst some people do have specific gifts in interpreting dreams, realise that just as in all prophecy, no one person has all the answers. Never become dependent on a single person with a prophetic gift. Be wary of becoming reliant at ALL on others with prophetic gifts or upon the gifts themselves. God has given you the Holy Spirit to guide you into truth (1 John 2:26) and good leaders in the church for protection (Heb 13:17).

6. Release What you do not Understand (1 Thess 5:21-22)

It is OK to RELEASE what you don’t understand, or anything that is not encouraging. If you are disturbed by a dream, find a caring Christian friend or leader who can pray with you about it.

In the New Testament, the recipient of a dream usually knew what God was telling them. Don’t try and force meaning out of a dream that is a mystery. If you have recorded a dream that you believe is significant, it may take time for the meaning to become clear.

Finally, the Bible illustrates that God uses dreams to foretell His future plans (prophetic dreams, Gen 37:5-11), give guidance (Acts 16:9-10), impart spiritual gifts (1 Kings 3:5-16), warn (Matt 2:12) and even give successful business strategies (Gen 31:10-13) to His people.

Let’s be open to receiving a prophetic dream, for our dream world can be an opportunity to encounter Jesus and receive God’s instruction and blessing for our lives.

[1] The original article can be found here

[2] If you are not sure whether a dream you have had is prophetic, a review of the article 4 Types Of Dreams And Their Meanings may help.

Related Posts:

4 Types Of Dreams And Their Meanings

How Do I Know a Personal Prophecy Or Dream Interpretation Someone Gives Me Is From God?

Do you have any testimionies, scriptures or thoughts about what to do with prophetic dreams that you would like to share? Leave a comment in the box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down. (Note that I do not provide dream interpretations on this blog.)

© 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 sometimes receive questions from readers who do not have church leaders or mentors who can help them grow in their prophetic gifts.

Some reasons for this may include:

• They are physically isolated in terms of location
• Their church lacks expertise in the area of prophetic ministry (this can be due to size or emphasis)
• The church is conservative and the leadership does not believe in—or make room for—prophetic ministry
• A prophetic mentor or leader is not available
• They feel hurt or misunderstood in church life in relation to their prophetic gifts

Struggling Without Prophetic Leadership? These Tips may Help

I will cover the aspect about being hurt at the end of this post. But first, some starter tips for those of you who do not have prophetic leadership for practical reasons, such as those I have outlined above:

Feedback and Fruit

Being unable to find a mentor or leader to help you in your prophetic journey is common to a lot of people. Whilst you continue to pray about and be open to receiving mentoring, feedback is important to helping you develop your gift.

When you share a thought, scripture or prayer that is of God, people will say things like ‘that was meaningful…spot on…thank you that really touched me…I feel encouraged, and so on.’ Don’t be afraid to ask if an insight, scripture or prayer you have shared is helpful. Even negative feedback will help sharpen your ability to hear accurately from God.

When you share a prophetic insight, be aware of the fruit (outcome). A word that is from the Holy Spirit and shared in a timely way should bear good fruit that is consistent with the New Testament purpose of prophecy, to ‘lift up, build up, and cheer up.’ (1 Cor 14:3) There may be an occasional circumstance in which someone does not respond well to an insight from God, but if that is happening consistently, there is likely to be something in your approach that needs adjusting. Remember always to share your insights in a loving and natural way.

When Prophecy isn’t Recognised

If you are in a church where prophecy is not recognised, offer what you hear from God in the form of general encouragement, scriptures and prayer. Depending on the culture of your church, you may be able to share that you have been praying and a certain thought or scripture came to mind, or that you believe God is saying something.

The Holy Spirit is not limited by our terminology and it is not necessary to always use the term ‘prophecy.’ The key is to be sensitive and loving and to keep it simple.

Honour and Accountability is Always Relevant

Focus on your intimate relationship with God, but be wary of elevating revelation that you receive from the Holy Spirit above leadership, even when your leaders do not expressly support prophecy. Those in whom God has invested a gift of leadership have good instincts when it comes to His direction and timing.

Remember, your church leader may not understand prophetic ministry, but can still hear from God.

Honouring God-given leadership, regardless of the form it takes, is still the best way to grow our prophetic gifts. Sometimes it is our own pride that gets in the way of us receiving from a leader who does not have the same spiritual gift that we do.

Exceptions—Yes of Course!

Every situation is different and while the above suggestions may be a general help, your gift, maturity, church and leadership will be unique to you. During the next few days, I will endeavour to answer questions that are left in the comments section of this post.

Online Resources

Enliven Blog is a teaching resource designed to help and encourage Christians who are developing and operating in the gift of prophecy. In addition to the above information, the following articles cover the topic of developing your prophetic gift:

• How to Activate Your Prophetic Gift
• How to Develop Your Prophetic Gift: Where to Begin

There are many ministries on the Internet, but be very careful about who you learn from. Avoid those who make excessive promises to turn you into a ‘fivefold minister’ or who freely offer personal prophecy without accountability.

I personally enjoy Peter and Masha’s ministry at Prophetic Activation. They collate resources to help people hear from God and develop intimacy with Him (although I cannot vouch for everything on the site as I have not personally read or viewed it all).

When Hurt or Misunderstanding in Church Affects Your Prophetic Gift

If your sense of isolation and lack of leadership support is not circumstantial, but due to relational problems or being hurt, following are two articles that may help:

• Break Free Of Hurts That Are Blocking Your Prophetic Gift
• Why is my Spiritual Gift or Ministry not Being Released?

I wrote the book, ‘Prophetic People In A Changing Church‘ from my own experiences with hurt in church life.

If you would like a free copy of this eBook, let me know in the comments section of this post. I will email the PDF to the first 10 people who respond, during the next week only. (This offer is now closed. Thank you to everyone who has responded!)

Do you have any more ideas or questions on growing your prophetic gift when leadership support is lacking? We would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

Notes:

[1]  I am on the ministry team at David McCracken Ministries, which is based in Melbourne, Australia.

© 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

It’s ironic, I know. The year I lost the ability to do anything for God was the year that I found Him.

It was only when I became burned out that I realised somewhere, along the way, I had subscribed to the belief that my value to God was based on my service for Him.

Finally, I reached the point where I had nothing left to give. It was during the following year of incapacitation that I met God as my loving Heavenly Father. I did not need to do anything to be approved by Him—I already was.

This revelation of God’s grace launched me into a new season of freedom—and ministry influence that went beyond anything I could have dreamed of. [1]

Incapacitated and Valuable

If our definition of value to God has to do with our service for God, then by extension we are saying that our value is determined by our capacity—physically, emotionally and mentally—to serve Him.

Then what happens when we are incapacitated for a season? Have we ceased to be useful to God? Have we lost our value? Have we lost our ability to be fruitful? [2]

My Mum-in-law, Rosemary Calder was a Godly woman with a prophetic call of God upon her life. The desire of her heart was that God would use her increasingly to minister to others. In the last 5 years of her life, however, Alzheimers cruelly robbed her of the capacity to comprehend and speak.

Yet Rosemary was no less precious to the Father in those final years. No illness could destroy her spirit, take away her salvation or rob her of her life’s fruit. In fact, I believe that the basket full of fruit accumulated in her life up until that time was only becoming riper and sweeter.

Rosemary contributed to the end, by giving her family the opportunity to love and serve her. And when she passed into glory, she gave us still more gifts: she strengthened our unity and gave us occasion to worship God and honour her life. Her spiritual legacy lives on in us. [3]

So Beautiful—Jeff and Lauris

Jeff and Lauris Hulls had been married for 27 years, when Lauris had a second stroke that hospitalised her and took away her ability to speak. During the last period of her life, all Lauris could do physically was blink and wiggle one joint of her right index finger.

Lauris had previously enjoyed devotional books and readings, and so Jeff continued to read these to her. However the readings which once inspired Lauris, now seemed to cause frustration. Jeff noted, ‘She disengaged clearly and shut me out by closing her eyes.’

Then it occurred to Jeff—the readings were all about doing.

And so Jeff began to compose his own devotions and meditations. These were about being, rather than doing. Jeff writes, ‘Her sense of spiritual value and self worth appeared to increase as she absorbed the meditations.’

After Lauris passed away in 2005, Jeff compiled his meditations, along with snapshots of Lauris’ final journey, into a book called ‘So Beautiful.’

‘So Beautiful’ is a tender love story; a story of family and faith and the value of a life lived with God. Jeff shares intimate moments as he and other family members and friends interact with Lauris.

Jeff’s love for his wife Lauris is a parable: a moving and extraordinary picture of Jesus’ love for us.

Today, I want to leave you with this thought:

You are loved, not because of what you do, but because of who you are.

You are already approved because of what Jesus has done.

You are valuable to God simply because you are His beloved son or daughter.

So Beautiful: Our Journey, by Jeff Hull is an easy-to-read, small booklet that is a powerful message of God’s love and a tribute to Lauris Hull’s life. I encourage you to check out his website and to buy a copy of the book. You will find it, along with other resources by Jeff at http://sobeautiful.net.au/

Notes:

[1] For more of my story, see the following posts:

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

1 Father, 2 Sons, 3 Positions: Which Describes You?

[2] In Galatians 5, the Apostle Paul defines the fruit of the Spirit, not as works and deeds, but as the inner attributes of love, joy, peace, patience, etc. (Gal 5:22)

[3] See ‘How to Leave a Spiritual Legacy.’

Would you like to share a response to this topic? We would love to hear from you! If the comments box is not visible, click on the blog post heading at the top of the page 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

Have you ever been talking to someone, and during conversation a need is mentioned? Perhaps there is a financial problem, a relationship crisis, or some other issue.

And in the moment, you realise that you have a window of opportunity to suggest prayer.

Or someone in your world becomes sick, or is injured. And an opportunity arises when you could offer to pray.

But you hesitate.

Perhaps you think,

• ‘I am not sure how to pray.’
• ‘What if they don’t want me to pray?’
• ‘What if I pray and nothing happens?’

As Christians, we should make it our aim to become comfortable with praying on the spot for people when they have a need.

We can also become familiar with sharing an encouraging word from God: even to someone who does not know Jesus.

Today I would like to share some simple, Biblical ways that you can pray for others—whether for healing, or other needs—in everyday life.

Before you begin, remember that the simpler the prayer and more natural the language you use, the better—especially when praying for someone who is not a Christian.

How To Pray For Healing And Other Needs

1. ASK the Father

“I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” John 15:16

Jesus said that when we pray, we can ask the Father in His Name.

We can ask for God to intervene supernaturally, whether it is a healing, provision, comfort, help, or something else that is needed from God. ‘

“Father’ I ask that you would… [meet this need] in Jesus’ Name”

Some people think that this simple kind of petition is inferior to other types of prayer, but it is not! Asking is the privilege of royal sons and daughters, and our Father waits for us to ask. (Matt 7:7-11)

It also demonstrates to those we are praying for, and any onlookers, that it is possible to have a personal relationship with God, and that He loves them and cares for their needs.

2. ADDRESS the Issue

‘[Jesus] gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases.’ Luke 9:1b

When praying, we can also exercise our spiritual authority in Jesus’ Name and directly address the sickness or problem (especially if we discern that the issue is demonic in origin).

When you read the Gospels and Acts, you can see how Jesus and the Apostles used words of authority to heal the sick and set people free.

We exercise authority by faith, in the Name of Jesus. “It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.” Acts 3:16

3. ASSESS for Improvement

‘Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”’ Mark 8:23b-24

Jesus frequently required those He healed to do something they could not do before. (Matt 9:6, Mark 5:41, John 5:8)

If you are praying for healing, and it is possible to check whether the condition has improved or pain relieved, enquire with  the person you are praying for. This exercises your faith, and creates a sense of anticipation.

We are expecting God to move in answer to our prayer. [1]

4. ALLOW for Related Concerns

‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.’ Galatians 6:2

If you have a longer time to pray, or if you are journeying with someone, you can express caring in your prayers by praying for other needs that relate to the issue you are praying for.

For example, someone with a medical condition may have medical appointments or surgery you can pray about. There may be emotional responses to care for, family members who are involved, or financial needs as a result of the problem.

Stepping Out in Prayer

If offering prayer for another’s needs is new to you, begin in an environment where you feel most comfortable and step out from there, e.g., in your immediate family, or with Christian friends.

The main thing is to begin—to have a go. Eventually you may discover a prayer style that most suits you.

Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to direct you as to the best way to pray at any given time.

Imagine what could happen if every Christian brought people face to face with God through prayer during times of need! This week, let’s express God’s love and power to someone in our world by offering a prayer.

Notes:

[1] In prayer, as with prophetic ministry, our aim is to create a safe environment for people to connect with God. When someone you pray for receives physical healing, instruct them to continue to take prescribed medication until he or she has received medical advice and had the healing confirmed. If you feel led to place a hand upon someone when you pray, check with them first if it’s OK.

Related Posts:

How to Share A Prophecy With Someone Who Is Not A Christian

7 Reasons Why You Can Pray for Healing

The Supernatural Lifestyle Begins Here

Do you have any questions or testimonies about giving or receiving prayer for healing and other needs? Share it with us in the comments section of this article. 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

Prophetic praise and worship continues to be close to our hearts. I have recently been writing on the topic of prophetic worship, including:

• 6 Benefits of Prophetic Worship
• A Vision For Prophetic Worship In Church Life
• How Your Prophetic Song Can Release God’s Power

7 Windows on Prophecy, Music and Worship in the Bible

There is a strong link in the Bible between prophecy, instrumentation, and worship.

Here are some glimpses of this from both Old and New Testaments:

1. In 1 Samuel 10, the Prophet Samuel gave these instructions to the young Saul: ‘…as you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, tambourines, flutes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying.’ (1 Sam 10:5)

The Spirit of God came upon Saul when he encountered the prophets, and God chose that moment to anoint him for his calling as King.

2. The Prophet Elisha valued musical accompaniment as a means of providing an environment for prophecy. The Bible tells us, ‘While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha and he said, “This is what the LORD says…”‘ (2 Kings 3:15-16)

3. King David formally instituted prophecy to musical accompaniment, along with praise and worship, in the Tabernacle of David. We read in Chronicles, ‘David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals.’ (1 Chron 25:1)

4. Many Psalms—not just those written by David—are prophecy set to music. In the Psalms, prophecy and praise or worship are frequently interchangeable. Many Psalms contain Messianic prophecy that is fulfilled in the life of Jesus. (See for example Psalm 16:10, Psalm 41:9, Psalm 34:20, Psalm 110)

5. The early church recognized that praise and worship comprised of different types of songs, including ‘songs of the Spirit.’

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul made reference to ‘psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.’ (Eph 5:19-20 and Col 3:16-17) The Greek words translated ‘spiritual songs’ are oide pneumatikos and could also be translated ‘songs of the Spirit.’ (See also 1 Cor 14:15) These songs could be prophetic in nature, as well as spiritual songs of praise to God.

6. In providing instructions concerning a Church service, Paul anticipated that the meeting would include songs and prophecy, as well as teaching and instruction. (1 Cor 14:26)

7. In Rev 11:16-18, we read of throne room worship that included prophetic proclamation of what God was about to do.

Notes:

[1] Here’s a random piece of information for guitar lovers out there. Malcolm’s guitar is an American-made Guild D25 arch back, with mahogany sides and back, and a spruce top. It is over 30 years old (purchased during our dating years) and sounds as rich now as it has always done.

Can you think of some other times the Bible links prophecy and worship together? Or do you have a thought or testimony you would like to share about prophetic worship? Share it with us in the comments section of this article. 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

When I was an administrative team member at our church, I had a ring of keys. Over the years that I was on staff, the number of keys grew, enabling me to enter the multiple buildings and offices belonging to our church.

Eventually I had so many keys on the ring, I could not remember what some of the keys were for! I had authority and access that I was ignorant of.

How often do we come up against locked doors of impossibility in our lives, or in the lives of others, but we forget, or are ignorant of, the spiritual authority that we have?

Are we standing helplessly, looking at a problem or an obstacle, when God says, “That is a door—and I have given you the key”?

The Master Key of Jesus’ Name

The Bible teaches us that we have many keys that enable us to partner with God for breakthrough and miracles. These include prayer, praise, and hearing and obeying God in our intimate relationship with Him.

Recently, I had a vision in a meeting of God giving keys to people. But these keys were not held in the hand but in the mouth. The power of God is released when we pray, speak and declare in agreement with God’s purposes. That is why praying in accordance with, or declaring Scripture is so powerful.

When we have an intimate relationship with God, we can hear what His ‘now’ purposes are in any given situation.

‘Father, I have this door, right here. This door that stands against me, shut tight. This locked door that is obstructing my destiny—or the destiny of others. Which key do you want me to use?’

The Name of Jesus is the master key that unlocks doors and enables us to enter the realm of the miraculous.

And yet sometimes we use the Name of Jesus as a kind of an afterthought to our prayers. We make our request and we add, “In Jesus’ Name”

It’s more like rote, like a habit, a formula, an addendum to a request we hope God will answer, or (let’s be honest) the main time some of us use the words, “In Jesus’ Name” is at the close of saying a prayer of thanks at a mealtime.

It is like the key on our key ring that we have forgotten what it is there for.

Rediscover the Power of Jesus’ Name

The context of Jesus’ saying, ‘Ask in My Name’ comes from John chapter 14.  Jesus is saying to His disciples:

‘I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in My Name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.’

And what do we see from there on… what was the precedent and example in the New Testament of Christian believers using the Name of Jesus?

• In Acts 3:6, Peter cries out to a lame man… ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ The Bible tells us that as Peter took a hold of the mans hands and lifted him, instantly his feet and ankles became strong.

• In Acts 4:30, the prayer of the church community is ‘Stretch out you hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ The Spirit came and shook the place and empowered the believers to speak boldly.

• In Acts 16:18, Paul speaks to the demonic spirit in a woman and says to the spirit, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!’ And it says, ‘At that moment’ the spirit left her.

This is the Biblical precedent of using Jesus’ Name: the lame walk, the bound are set free, the Spirit empowers God’s people, miracles break loose, and lives are brought into God’s Kingdom!

Yet it is as though many Christians today have forgotten what the key is for.

Every now and then we pull out our key ring and wave the key around. But how often do we stand in front of a locked door of impossibility, or brokenness, or sickness and get the key of the Name of Jesus out and say, ‘Door, open now… in Jesus’ Name!’

The Name of Jesus gives us access to the realm of Heaven, the realm of the miraculous.

When we pray in the Name of Jesus, we are reminded that we do not have authority in our own name, but in His powerful Name—the Name that is above every name!

2 Corinthians 1:19-20 ^‘For the Son of God, Jesus Christ… was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.’

Related Posts:

Releasing the Resources of Heaven Through Prayer

How To Use Scripture As A Prophetic Declaration

Do you have a truth or scripture about praying in the Name of Jesus, or a testimony or poem you would like to share? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in 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 frequently hear from people who want to develop their prophetic gifts, enquiring:

• ‘How can I learn how to prophesy?’
• ‘How can I activate my prophetic gift?’ (i.e. put prophecy into practice)
• ‘Who can mentor me?’

And these are great questions.

However, today I want to share with you another question that is vital, not only to prophetic ministry, but also to leadership and Christian living in general.

It is a question that I have been challenged on recently, and I believe comes to each of us from the heart of God Himself:

You desire to minister to others; how well do you receive from Me?

Taking Time to Receive from God

As prophetic people, we are called to bring ‘strengthening, encouraging and comfort’ from God to others. (1Cor 14:3, NIV).

We can study prophetic ministry. We can put it into practice. We can even have great mentors to learn from. But if we are not personally able to receive encouragement from God, how can we fully express the Father’s encouragement to others?

Following are some questions, based on Paul’s 3-fold aim of prophecy in 1 Cor 14:3, to help us explore how we are going in this area.

1. How Well do I Receive God’s Strengthening?

‘But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening…’ (1 Corinthians 14:3)

The Greek word translated ‘strengthening’ is oikodome. It refers to the process of building up (as in building a house), edifying and promoting growth. It has also been translated ‘edification’ and ‘upbuilding.’

God is intimately concerned about your growth and His heart is that you reach your full potential. The Holy Spirit desires to build you up.

Am I regularly hearing from God, or allowing the Holy Spirit’s dealings in my life that result in:

• Revealing things that have been standing in the way of me moving forward in my life; breaking me out of stuck places.
• Enabling spiritual growth, as well as growth in other areas, such as character, relationships and ministry.
• Strengthening me, so that I am sustained no matter what is taking place in my life and circumstances around me.

2. How Well do I Receive God’s Encouragement?

‘But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging…’ (1 Corinthians 14:3)

The Greek word for ‘encouraging,’ paraklesis here is also translated ‘exhortation.’ Paraklesis comes from two words—para, meaning ‘beside’ and Kaleo, meaning ‘call, appeal, or entreaty.’ It includes a range of meanings, from admonition, instruction, persuasion.

You may recognize the similarity between this word and the one Jesus used for the Holy Spirit— parakletos, which has been translated Helper, or Comforter.

Through exhortation, the Holy Spirit desires to stir us up and spur us on.

The wonderful thing about the Father’s exhortation is that He does not call us to empty performance or religious practices. He offers us His Spirit to empower and equip us, and He ‘comes alongside’ in relationship to accomplish what He desires of us to do.

Am I regularly hearing from God, or allowing the Holy Spirit’s dealings in my life that result in:

• Adjustment and God’s loving correction in areas of my life that are not honouring to Him
• Him persuading me to change my position or thinking in relation to some issue
• Repentance when I have allowed an area of sin in my life
• Apathy giving way to action and obedience to God

3. How Well do I Receive God’s Comfort?

‘But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.’ (1 Corinthians 14:3)

The Greek word translated ‘comfort’ is paramuthia, from para, meaning near or beside, and muthos, meaning speech.

The word has also been translated ‘consolation.’

There is a sense of God’s tenderness and closeness, as He desires to comfort and uplift us.

Am I regularly hearing from God, or allowing the Holy Spirit’s dealings in my life that result in:

• Being reassured when I am concerned, anxious or fearful
• Comforted when I am grieving or have been hurt in a way that brings God’s healing and consolation into my life.

The Importance of Receiving God’s Comfort

If I were to rate ‘How do I receive comfort from God’ from 1 (I don’t receive His comfort very well) to 5 (I am in touch with my feelings and allow God to comfort me’) what score would I give myself?

Opening our hearts to receive comfort from God can be challenging, especially to those of us who are in leadership and desire to be ‘strong for God’ and partake in His victory. We need to remember that the same God who shares His victory with us, also desires to console, heal, love and comfort us in times of trial and the experience of human weakness.

‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.’ (2 Cor 1:3-4)

Two ways to receive from God

It is worth considering the above questions in two ways.

1. In relation to receiving personally and directly from God, in our devotional life with Him.

2. In relation to receiving the Father’s strengthening, encouraging and comfort through others.

It takes humility to receive from God through others, especially in the areas of adjustment and comfort. I encourage you to take some time to consider the above. If you realise that you are weak in receiving from God in some area, take some time to pray, and open yourself up to receive from the Holy Spirit. It will transform your life and ministry.

Notes:

I used the following resources in this study:

Online Greek Interlinear Bible
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. 1996 Refs G3619 G3874, G3889

Related Posts:

The Spirit of Encouragement: Are You A Barnabas?

Prophesying Out Of God’s Love

Escaping a Half-Lived Christian Life

Do you have any thoughts about receiving God’s strengthening, encouragement and comfort? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in 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

Do you want to hear God’s purposes for your life and ministry, or receive a fresh infilling of His Spirit? Do you desire to encounter God and know Him more? 

Prophetic worship is one way that you can have a face-to-face meeting with God—or provide a means for others to encounter Him. ‘Prophetic praise and worship enables God’s message to be brought, or His purpose to be accomplished, in a worship setting.’ [1]

Here are 6 benefits of prophetic worship, followed with some ways that you can put this into practice in your personal life with God.

6 Benefits of Prophetic Praise and Worship

1. Facilitates God Encounters.

God created us for face-to-face relationship with Him.

Our worship honours God and brings Him pleasure. However, if we view worship as being solely a one-way giving of our love and adoration to Jesus, we have not attained the highest purpose of worship.

God’s desire has always been to commune with His people. Prophetic worship enables the Father’s voice to be heard, His heartbeat to be felt, and His purpose to be accomplished.

When we encounter God in a time of prophetic worship, we are transformed and brought closer to Him. We leave that place knowing that God has touched our lives personally and that we will never be the same again.

2. It Enables us to Receive an Impartation from God

When we are yielded to Jesus in an attitude of love and worship, we are more receptive and open to Him than at any other time.

‘Impartation’ means a release of God’s power into our lives. This can be an infilling of His Holy Spirit, or a specific attribute of His nature; for example, He may desire to infuse us with peace, strength or faith.

We can have an expectation that as God leads us in praise and worship, we and others will be healed and set free from oppression. Psalm 107:20 says, ‘He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.’

The young David was employed by Saul to play the lyre. As David played, the anointing of God on his music caused the demonic oppression to lift from Saul. (1 Sam 16:14-23)

3. It Breaks open the Atmosphere for God to Move

We know that an open Heaven is our inheritance. However, there are times when we have to contend for it, whether in our personal lives or in the Church.

This is where prophetic praise is especially helpful.

Praise is prophetic when it is directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s ‘now’ purpose for our lives or a particular meeting.

Prophetic praise is the Spirit-led proclamation of who God is, of His attributes, of what He has done and what He will accomplish.

Prophetic praise penetrates the atmosphere and pushes back oppression, apathy, fear or any other effects of spiritual warfare. (See 2 Chron 20, Psalm 149:5,9)

4. It Prepares Our Hearts for God’s Word

Prophetic worship is, at its foundational level, Spirit-directed and Spirit-empowered worship. (John 4:23-24)

During a time of prophetic worship, the Holy Spirit has begun to speak to us and our hearts are opened towards God.

When the preaching or personal study of God’s Word accompanies or follows prophetic worship, the two merge together and a continuum of inspiration from the Holy Spirit takes place.

5. We can Receive a Prophetic Message from God

In prophetic worship, God uses a song, instrumentation or other prophetic communication to speak His purpose into our lives—and that word has creative ability. Your Father may have a specific word of encouragement or instruction for you to receive.

Whether personally, or corporately in a meeting, prophetic worship provides both the expectation and the opportunity for God to speak to us. (1 Cor 14:26)

6. Ii is Powerful When Specific Breakthrough is Needed

Prophetic praise celebrates the fulfilment of God’s promises before they are manifested in the natural realm. Prophetic praise is one vehicle that God uses to release His power and bring about His purposes in our lives and in the Church.

We see examples of the power of prophetic praise in the Bible.

King Jehoshaphat sent singers and musicians out ahead of his army to celebrate the victory God had promised through His prophet. The battle was won as God routed the armies in front of the praisers. (2 Chron 20)

A song of prophetic praise was also significant to releasing God’s provision (Num 21:17-18), transforming barrenness into fruitfulness (Isaiah 54:1-3) and overcoming obstacles and persecution. (Acts 16)

How to Incorporate Prophetic Worship into your Personal Life

Last week I looked at prophetic worship in the Church setting. However we can also use prophetic worship in our personal life with God.

Note that any prophetic revelation (beyond general encouragement) received during personal times of worship need to be weighed up and followed through with leadership.[2]

1. ‘Soaking’ worship means positioning ourselves before God in a dual attitude of worship and of receiving or hearing from Him. As we yield to His Spirit, He fills us, empowers us and speaks to us.

Discover the unique way of connecting with God that suits you—for example, finding a quiet place accompanied by a worship CD, or walking outdoors in an attitude of worship and receiving. The key is to take time and to be intentional.

2. Develop a playlist of songs that are God’s ‘now’ encouragement for you personally, and listen to them regularly.

3. If you are a musician, take time with your instrument to worship God without a practice agenda. As you do, wait on Him for fresh inspiration, believe He is filling you with His Spirit, and allow Him to fill your heart and mind with the Father’s personal message to you and others.

4. When attending a worship gathering with others, enter in wholeheartedly and with the expectation that you will personally meet with God and receive All He has for you.

Notes:

[1] See my previous post, ‘A Vision for Prophetic Worship in Church Life.’

[2] See ‘The Power of Prophetic Accountability.’

Related Posts:

How Your Prophetic Song Can Release the Power of God

A Vision for Prophetic Worship in Church Life

An Open Heaven is Your Inheritance

Do you have any thoughts about the benefits of prophetic worship, or stories of how you have been personally impacted? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in 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 believe God is calling His Church to greater intimacy. It is time to revisit what prophetic praise and worship means, and to break it loose from limitations and stereotypes that have held us back from fully encountering Him in worship.

What is Prophetic Worship?

In prophecy, the Father’s mind, will and intention is communicated and we learn what is on His heart.

Prophetic praise and worship enables God’s message to be brought, or His purpose to be accomplished, in a worship setting. This may include a church service, but could also take place as one, a few, or many come before God in worship.

Prophetic worship could be seen as a Divine conversation. On our part, we are honouring and adoring God, whilst He in turn is breathing His purposes into our hearts and lives, and the life of our church.

Prophetic Worship—a Meeting Place

Many people consider that the ultimate purpose of worship is a one-way giving of our praise, love and adoration to God.

And yet God’s highest purpose for worship is encounter. He desires to meet with, and commune with His children. An early place of established worship was the Tabernacle of Moses. God referred to it as ‘the tabernacle of meeting where I will meet with you.’ (Exodus 30:36)

Today, God is saying, ‘I want to meet with you. I want to commune with you. Will you take time to encounter Me and hear My voice?’

Breaking Prophetic Worship out of the Box

Many people think of prophetic worship in the Church environment is dependent upon having:

• Lengthy, unstructured times of praise and worship
• Prophetically gifted team members and
• The ability to bring extemporaneous (impromptu) songs, instrumental chord progressions, etc.

And whilst this is one way in which prophetic worship can be facilitated, we need to remember that the Holy Spirit is not limited by style or culture. Following are some ways in which prophetic praise and worship can be incorporated into church life:

1. Spontaneously or Ahead of Time

A time of praise and worship can be directed by the Holy Spirit in the moment, as the leader or individuals within a worship team have the liberty to express what God may be saying saying, or where He is leading. However it is just as prophetic when a worship leader prays ahead of time and seeks God for what is on His heart for the Church or individuals on the day.

2. By Song or Instrumentation

A song can be prophetic, and has the benefit of conveying God’s intention through language. However instrumentation can also be prophetic and is a Biblical means of conveying God’s heartbeat or purpose from His Spirit directly to our hearts. [1]

3. In the Choice of Songs

A song list, or individual choice of songs can be prophetic—affirming what God is doing in the lives of individuals or in the Church on the day, in the moment, or during a season.

For example, if there has been a significant prophetic word brought to the Church that has been affirmed by the leadership, this can also be reflected in song. Or the church leadership may have a God-given vision, which is incorporated into the choice of songs that are being used in Church life in a given season.

4. Prophetic Songwriting

New songs have the potential to be like new wineskins, containing the fresh anointing of what God is doing.

This is where prophetic songwriting (writing songs that reflect either God’s ‘Now’ purpose or a future prophetic vision) can be a blessing to a Church, whether individually, in a movement, or even globally.

5. Other Media used to Convey a Prophetic Insight

Prophetic worship can utilise songs and instruments. But there are many more means that the Holy Spirit can use during a time of praise and worship to express the Father’s purposes.

Remember that these do not have to be spontaneous—they can be prayerfully organised prior to a meeting:

• A spoken prophetic prayer or exhortation,
• A Scripture
• Prophetic poetry
• Dance or drama that expresses Father’s purpose for the meeting, the Church or individuals
• Unusual instrumentation (any instrument not regularly used in our particular setting, e.g shofar)
• Prophetic art
• Multi-media can also contain prophetic elements

6. In the Context of Evangelism

‘But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”’ (1 Cor 14:24-25)

Prophetic worship is not just for Christians. Encountering the heart of God in a worship service can have a life-changing impact on someone who does not yet know Jesus.

Prophetic worship is relevant to every church setting, whether structured or unstructured, time-constrained or open-ended, whether one instrument or vocalist, or many.We need to break prophetic praise and worship out of the box and be open to the many ways that Holy Spirit can lead us.

In upcoming posts, I will be considering

• Examples of prophetic worship in the Bible
• The power of prophetic praise and worship and what it can accomplish in a meeting
• How to evaluate a prophetic contribution (prophetic accountability) in a church worship setting

Notes:

[1] I will be sharing more about prophetic instrumentation in a future article.

[2] For more on prophetic art, see my posts in the Prophetic Art Category

Related Posts:

How Your Prophetic Song Can Release the Power of God

Prophetic Ministry in Church Life: 3 Non-Negotiables

What is Prophetic Art?

Do you have more ideas of different ways that prophetic can be brought into worship, or an experience to share? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in 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

Breakthrough! It speaks of overcoming an obstacle that is in our way—or of prevailing over a need, a restriction or an opposing enemy.

When we need a breakthrough in our lives or ministry, we turn to prayer. But what kind of prayer will it take?
The Bible teaches us keys to prayer through the stories of  real people who prayed and how God answered them.

6 Biblical Keys to Breakthrough Prayer

1.  Seek God’s Agenda First

‘This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.’ (1 John 5:14-15)

Daniel was a godly man who read the scriptures—including the prophecies of Jeremiah. He recognised that Jeremiah prophesied about the times that Daniel was now living in and began to seek God for the answers. He knew it was time to birth that prophecy in prayer.

We need to know that we are praying God’s purpose for our lives. This means firstly praying according to God’s revealed will in the Scripture. Upon that foundation, we can also seek an intimate relationship with Father God in which we can hear His purpose for our lives and situation—and pray out of that. [2]

2. Don’t Settle for Second Best

Hannah was childless, and it grieved her. Wanting to reassure her, Hannah’s husband offered his love and personal gifts, thinking these could please her. But Hannah would only be satisfied with one thing—a baby. As a result of Hannah’s prayer, a future prophet and priest was born. Samuel would bring the nation back to God. (1 Sam 1)

When God has placed something on our hearts, then like Hannah we will be tempted to settle for the ‘status quo’ or second best. But that is the very time to passionately press in to God for the answer.

3. Pray from the Heart

Hannah cried a wordless prayer of deep groaning—and God answered it. (1 Sam 1:12-16, Rom 8:26-27)) Nehemiah shot up a prayer whilst he was going about his daily occupation. (Neh 2:1-5) These seemingly simple prayers, carried from the heart, changed nations.

There are no right and wrong ways to pray. Just real prayers.

It’s time to put aside formulas, and not to be intimidated by someone else’s style and eloquence. The prayers that God answers are real prayers from the heart, regardless of time, place or technique.

4. Pray with Praise and Thanksgiving

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Phil 4:6)

Paul and Silas were in a difficult situation. God called them to evangelise a city, but they were stuck in a dungeon, held in stocks. As they prayed in the night and offered up hymns of praise, God sent an earthquake to open the prison doors. (Acts 16:22-29)

When used in addition to prayer, praise is a powerful cutting-edge weapon for breakthrough. (Ps 149:6-9)

5. Don’t Give Up

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1)

Daniel prayed and fasted for 21 days before an answer came. An angel appeared who had been battling in the heavenlies for the entire time Daniel had been in prayer. Daniel’s persistent prayers provided fuel for what God was doing on his behalf. (Dan 10)

Prayer is not a single event, but a process. Whilst continuing in prayer, we are partnering with God as Heaven’s resources, including angels, are being released that are working towards God’s answer.
Don’t give up too soon!

6. Find Others who will Agree with You

Jesus said, “…if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matt 18:19-20)

Esther is known as a woman whose courage saved a nation. However, prior to approaching the King, Esther called on Mordecai, all the Jews of the city, and her own attendants, to fast before God for 3 days. Esther knew that the real power lay in God answering the prayer of those who had joined her in the fast. (Esther 4:16)

When in need of a breakthrough, find others who will join you in prayer, because there is multiplied power in agreement.

Notes:

[1] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/breakthrough

[2] For issues of guidance, see Personal Guidance for the Important Decisions of Life

Related Posts:

Is it Time to Birth your Prophetic Word in Prayer?

Need a Breakthrough? Uncover the Mysteries of Heaven

Release the Resources of Heaven Through Prayer

Your Prophetic Word and Spiritual Warfare

Do you have a prayer request you would like our team to agree with you on? Do you have a story to tell about breakthrough prayer, or a scripture or poem to share? Leave a comment in the comments box. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

Breakthrough Night in Melbourne, Australia—All Welcome

Join us for a night of breakthrough prayer and prophetic worship. David McCracken Ministries’ Breakthrough Nights feature a faith-building word from David McCracken, along with worship led by Steve McCracken and a time of corporate prayer with our team for your personal breakthrough.

Tuesday March 19, 7.30pm
South Eastern Christian Centre, 2-8 Gleneagles Drive, Endeavour Hills (Mel Ref. 91 E2).
For more information, see our Breakthrough Night page or contact us.

© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

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

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King David wrote:

‘One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.’ (Ps 27:24)

The unusual circumstances in which God answered this cry of David’s heart—with the help of a man called Obed Edom —have something to teach us today.

The Day God’s Presence was too Hot to Handle

King David discovered the hard way that God’s Presence is to be honoured as holy.

His intentions were good—bring the Ark of God’s Covenant to Jerusalem, so that God’s Presence, along with praise and worship, could be at the centre of Israel.

Unfortunately, David turned to the ways of the world, not the way of God’s Word, to determine how to transport the Ark. [1] As a result, one well-intentioned young man on David’s team lost his life.

Deeply disturbed and upset, King David took the Ark of the Covenant aside, to the property of Obed Edom. (Read the full story in 2 Sam 6)

What Happened When Obed Edom Hosted God’s Presence:

Obed Edom opened the gate to his property and King David brought in the Ark of the Covenant, and with it, the glory and manifest Presence of God. What happened as a result is an inspiration for us today:

1. Personal Blessing on his Property and Household

The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household. (2 Sam 6:11)

When Obed Edom hosted God’s Presence, everything and everyone in Obed Edom’s life was touched by God and blessed.

The Bible doesn’t tell us that Obed Edom did anything to warrant this blessing.

• No extra praying or fasting
• No hard work to earn God’s favour
• No religious rites.

The only thing he did was host God’s presence.

Jesus has made the way open for us to live continually in God’s Presence. It is not by anything we have done, or can do, but by His blood shed for us.

2. The Rumour of God’s Goodness Gets Out

Now King David was told, “The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” (2 Sam 6:12)

Stories of what God was doing in Obed Edom’s life were being passed around, as people start gossiping the goodness of God.

Maybe it went something like this:

‘Have you heard what happened to Obed Edom since the Ark has been at his place?’

• His crops have doubled in size
• His daughter who was barren has started having babies
• That servant of his, last time I saw him was limping with a deformed leg, but he’s been healed [2]

When we host God’s Presence, people around us will notice the difference. The word of God’s goodness will get out.

3. Other People get Hungry for God

When King David heard the reports of God’s blessing on Obed Edom’s life and property, he became hungry for the Presence of God. As a result he now studied the scripture, looked into God’s prescribed way to transport the ark. (1 Chron 15:11-15)

You know that you are hosting the Presence of God when people around you become seekers.

When testimonies and stories go out, a chain reaction occurs. People see what is possible for them and they want what you have.

4. Obed Edom and his Family have a Godly Heritage

Obed Edom and his household were changed forever. No doubt his children and grandchildren grew up saying, ‘Can you remember when the Ark stayed with us? Can you remember what God did?’

And Obed Edom and his family have become a part of Israel’s story, recorded in Scripture for all eternity.

Later we see that a man called Obed Edom and his sons were gatekeepers for the Presence of God, for the tabernacle/temple (1 CHRON 15 & 26)

The Bible doesn’t expressly say this was the same Obed Edom, however evidence suggests that it was. Having tasted of the Presence of God, God called the family into a ministry through which they could be close to Him for generations to come.

5. A Nation is Brought to Worship

King David ‘and the entire house of Israel’ brought the Ark out from Obed Edom’s house—and the nation rejoiced.

David prepared a tabernacle for the Ark of God to dwell, and rostered Levite musicians to look after it, in accordance with God’s prescribed order.

And in an open tent, looking upon the glory of God, there was 24/7 worship and prophecy and praise—something that only happened during David’s time.

When you host God’s Presence, a chain reaction occurs that can impact not only your family, but your community, region and nations.

How to Host God’s Presence

Hosting God’s Presence is not about performance. It is not about following prescribed rules, or doing the right things, but about having God at the centre of our lives.

All that Obed Edom did was make room for God’s Presence.

What would happen if we believed ourselves to be living ‘Arks’ of God—containers of His manifest Presence?

What could take place if we saw ourselves as gatekeepers of every place that we occupy? To open the gate to His Presence in our homes, churches, workplaces and every situation we live and move in?

Take some time to pray today and ask, ‘Father, what does this look like for me, for my family, ministry, church, or workplace?’

Notes:

[1] 20 years before, in 1 Sam 6, God allowed the Philistines to transport the Ark on a new cart, in order to return it to Israel.

[2] To get an idea of what God’s blessing would have looked like for Obed Edom, read the marks of God’s blessing in Deut 28. These include health, fruitfulness, prosperity, and freedom from oppression. (In 1 Chron 26, lists 8 sons of Obed Edom ‘because God had blessed him!’)

Related Posts:

A Prophetic Vision: God’s Call to Intimacy with Him

Hunger for God: 6 Ways You Can Stir it Up

An Open Heaven Is Your Inheritance

Face to Face with God: Can I Have a Relationship like Moses?

Would you like to share some ideas on the topic of Hosting God’s Presence? Do you have a story to tell, or a scripture or poem to share? Leave a comment in 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

Prophetic signs. Supernatural occurrences. Reports of Heavenly substances appearing. Angelic visitations.

In recent times, there have been increasing reports of unusual signs from God, and many Christians are asking:

• How can we know that what we are hearing about, or seeing, is a sign that is genuinely from God?
• How can we guard against being deceived—after all, didn’t Jesus warn against deceiving signs? (Matt 24:24)

These are important concerns. On one hand, we want to embrace the genuine move of God. On the other, we have a Biblical mandate to weigh up supernatural events—to determine whether or not they are truly of God.

6 Questions to Help Weigh up a Supernatural Sign or Event

Like Moses’ burning bush, a supernatural event is an invitation to God’s people, to go on a journey with Him.

I present the following questions, not as a checklist, but as a framework to help us begin that journey—to explore what God is doing from a Biblical perspective.

1. Is my Interest in Signs Sourced in an Intimate Relationship with God?

Jesus performed signs and miracles out of His intimate relationship with the Father: He only did what He saw the Father doing. (John 5:19)

He also said, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matt 7:22-23)

A good question to ask is, ‘Is my personal desire for, participation in, and reporting of supernatural events based out of an intimate relationship with God?’

We need to remember that whilst we are responsible for our own walk with God, it is not possible to draw conclusions about another individual’s (or ministry’s) relationship with Him. [1]

2. What is the Fruit of this Sign or Miracle?

“Watch out for false prophets… every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit… by their fruit you will recognize them.” (See Matt 7:15-20)

Recently I shared about 5 Purposes for Signs and Miracles in the New Testament. [2]

Some good fruit that should be in evidence includes:

• Honour being brought to God, and Jesus’ Name being glorified by signs done in His Name (John 2:11)
• Outcomes that reflect the heart of the Gospel—which is restoration and redemption (Acts 10:38)
• A love and respect for the Bible—God’s Word and a Biblical presentation of the Gospel (Heb 2:1-4)
• The Father’s love being demonstrated (1 Cor 13:2)

3. How is the Sign being Reported?

What happens if a miraculous sign or ministry is of God, and is bearing good fruit at its source, but the way it is being reported does not reflect Father’s nature or holiness?

People may focus on the miracle in an unhealthy way, or move into ‘sensationalism.’ In this case, what God is doing may be genuine, but maturity is lacking in either the response to the miracle, or the sharing about it.

This can deter others who are seeking evidence that God is genuinely at work. [3]

We need to guard the way we give or receive reports about something God may be doing. And we also need to remember not to judge a supernatural event based on hearsay or another person’s criticism.

4. Are the Signs Drawing People to God?

True signs glorify God and point to Jesus. False signs glorify an individual, and draw people to believe in a person, or group of people. (See Acts 8:9-11)

Deceiving Signs

Jesus said in Matt 24:24, ‘For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.’

The purpose of deceiving signs is that people will put their faith in something other than Christ—this is an anti-Christ spirit and is addressed by John in 1 John 4:1-3.

Concerned about deception? We can use John’s litmus test for deceiving spirits and their signs: ‘Do they acknowledge the truth of the Gospel: Jesus’ birth, death and resurrection in the flesh?’ (1 John 4:1-3, 1 Cor 15:1-8)

5. What is my Motivation in Seeking or Sharing about a Sign?

Jesus made it clear that seeking a sign as proof in order to believe is an ungodly motivation. (Matt 12:39)

The writer to the Hebrews noted, ‘Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.’ (Heb 11:1)

However, in Acts we read that the early church prayed for God to perform signs and wonders in Jesus’ Name—and God answered them! The motivation in this case was different—it was to give glory to God, and for the spread of the Gospel in the face of persecution.

“Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:30)

So we shouldn’t seek signs as a way of proving Jesus’ existence to others or ourselves. But when our heart’s desire is to see God’s purposes fulfilled and the Gospel spread (see 2 and 4, above) we can anticipate God doing wondrous things.

6. Are People being Saved, Healed and Set Free?

Unusual prophetic signs do have a Biblical precedent, as do signs of the manifested Presence and glory of God.

When God is at work, we should also expect to see the same evidence Jesus gave John the Baptist that a genuine move of God is occurring—healing and deliverance, and salvation in response to the Gospel being preached. (Matt 11:4) [4, 5]

Embrace the Mystery

At the end of the day we will not have answers to all the questions we have about a sign from God, whether we are hearing of it second-hand, or experiencing it ourselves.

At some point, we need to release a supernatural event, along with our questions, into God’s hands—to trust that His desire to bless His Church with good gifts is greater than the enemy’s power to deceive. (see Luke 11:11-13)

Notes:

[1] When we judge another person’s (or group’s) inner motives or heart before God, we move onto dangerous ground. (Matt 7:2) See the article, ‘Set Yourself Free From Judging Others’

[2] These should be taken into consideration.  See 5 Purposes for Signs and Miracles in the New Testament in conjunction with the above article.

[3] See Angelic Encounters and Supernatural Experiences for thoughts about sharing your supernatural experiences.

[4] These questions are not new. For example Iranaeus, one of the Early Church Fathers, wrote about this in his work, ‘Against Heresies.’ An excerpt of his work is here: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.ix.iii.xxxiii.html (see points 3 and 4 in particular).

[4] I wish to thank Clayton Coombs for his help with this article and the reference to Iranaeus, above.

Related Articles:

5 Purposes for Signs and Miracles

Miraculous Signs from God: What Can We Expect?

Angelic Encounters and Supernatural Experiences

Do you have any further thoughts or questions about signs and supernatural events? What other questions could help us weigh up a sign? 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

A Prophetic Song of Praise Releases the Power of God

It has been said that ‘desperate times call for desperate measures.’

In God’s Kingdom, however, desperate times call for extraordinary measures.

Occasionally, I find myself in a crisis that requires an exceptional response of faith. In these times, I know I can pray—and I do. But when extraordinary measures are needed, I turn to praise.

A song of praise is a powerful prophetic tool that

• Celebrates victory in the face of apparent defeat.
• Declares God’s ability in the circumstance of your inability
• Thanks God for answers that have not yet been sighted

The song of praise is prophetic because it gives voice to the word that God has spoken to you, concerning His outcome for your circumstances and life.

We can choose to believe and respond to that prophetic word over and above the voice of our circumstance, or the negative whispers of the enemy in our minds.

There is something about singing songs of praise that has a powerful magnetic pull on the resources of heaven. And this is why:

The Bible’s Prescription For Our Desperation: A Song Of Praise

God has prescribed the prophetic song of praise in scripture as an instrument of breakthrough. Here are some examples:

Warfare (2 Chron 20)

King Jehoshaphat received word that a ‘vast army’ was coming against Israel. In answer to a prayer of desperation he received a prophetic word: ‘The battle is not yours, but God’s.’

Jehoshaphat sent out a choir singing praise to God in front of his army. He was not sending the praisers to their death, but to proclaim the victory that he had already received by God’s word.

The Bible records, ‘As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes…’ 2 Chron 20:22

The enemy armies turned on each other and victory was won with no weapon except a song of praise to God.

When it feels as though all hell is breaking loose against you, break heaven loose against the enemy and overcome with a song of praise.

(see also Psalm 149:5-9)

Provision (Numbers 21)

Israel returned to the place God had miraculously provided water for them in the past and sang this song:

“Spring up, O well! Sing about it, about the well that the princes dug, that the nobles of the people sank–the nobles with scepters and staffs.” (Num 21:17-18)

This song of praise did two things. It

1. Commemorated God’s past provision and
2. Anticipated His present supply

Impossibility (Isaiah 54)

Are you waiting on promises from God to be fulfilled? Does fulfillment to be out of your reach?

In Isa 54:1-3 God says to His people,

‘Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor…

Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.’

In the face of barrenness and impossibility, sing! Sing a song that celebrates the fulfillment of God’s promise. Don’t stop there, prepare and make room for His answers.

Obstacles (Acts 16)

Persecution and imprisonment threatened to cut short Paul and Silas’ ministry in the city of Phillipi. Instead of the effectiveness promised by God in a prophetic dream, they found themselves flogged and cast into the stocks of an inner dungeon.

But outward circumstances could not rob them of their inner faith. They prayed and loudly sang hymns to God that were heard throughout the jail. Suddenly an earthquake shook the prison, opening the doors and breaking chains.

There could have been no doubt of the correlation between the song and the earthquake, for the jailer cried out, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30)

As a result, more people came to know Jesus and the Kingdom of God was advanced in that city.

When you find yourself trapped, in pain, and there is no earthly way out, try a song of praise—and make sure that others know you are singing.

When Singing Is The Hardest Thing You Can Do

Sometimes singing a song of praise can be the hardest thing to do. It helps to remember that even when Jesus faced the cross, He was able to sing praises to God.

Mark records of that night,

‘When they had sang a hymn, they went out to the Mount Of Olives.’ (Mark 14:26).

Singing a song of praise is not about feeling good, and certainly not about sounding good. You don’t have to be a singer or musician to sing a praise song to God.

Here are some ideas to help you sing a prophetic song of praise to God, no matter what your circumstances are:

• Find a recorded song of praise that gives voice to God’s prophetic word for you, and play it—over and over. Sing along to it
• Attend a church service, and sing the praise songs with all your heart
• Sing praises when you are alone—in the car, in your room, under your breath while you are out walking
• When you feel tempted to worry or fear, recall the song to mind
• Tell someone how you are responding to God in the crisis. It will be a powerful testimony to them.

Desperate times call for extraordinary measures. Sing a prophetic song of praise and watch as God moves

[1] For information about my workshops, see our workshops page here and prophetic training page here or view all our team’s courses available on our David McCracken Ministries website.

Related Posts:

Prophetic Song Precedes Breakthrough

Interested in Prophetic Art? Check out 4 Enliven Blog articles in the Prophetic Art category here:

Would you like to share some ideas on the topic of Prophetic Praise, or do you have a story to tell? Leave a comment in 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

Longevity in any relationship is difficult to find these days, let alone maintaining closeness in marriage.

Today I would like to share some of the things that have contributed to our ability to, not only stay together (by God’s grace), but also to have fun throughout the journey.

Our ‘Secrets’ for a Lasting Relationship

1. Celebrate the Differences

It has been said that opposites attract. That may be true to begin with, but over the long haul, differences can cause frustration.

• My husband is an extrovert, I am an introvert
• He is unstructured and spontaneous, I thrive on being organised
• He is relational, I am task-oriented

You get the picture.

One day, 10 years into our marriage, some mentors whose family life we respected lent us a book on personality types. [1]

Finally, we each learned that the other was not wrong, just created differently. Over the years, we have discovered that our differences are complementary and add strength to our relationship. And most importantly, we have learned to accommodate each other’s unique needs.

2. Prioritise Marriage and Family

In our fast-paced culture it can be difficult to find the time needed to keep relationships strong. Work, financials needs, extra activities such as church meetings or sport, and ministry can make excessive demands on our time.

For many years, whilst our children were young, my husband was National Director for a mission agency in New Zealand. His role required a lot of travel throughout New Zealand as well as to many countries in Asia.

It was during this busy time that we instituted what we called the ‘family bank account.’ Times my husband was away or busy in ministry were withdrawals, whereas quality times together as a family (and as husband and wife) were deposits. We just needed to ensure that the deposits exceeded the withdrawals!

This family ‘bank account’ was an intuitive thing, not a counting of times or days.

As a result, some of our fondest memories as a family are of the times we spent together during those years, especially our annual family ministry trip, visiting churches in New Zealand’s South Island.

3. Put Choices above Feelings

Someone once said, ‘happiness is having what you want, whereas contentment is wanting what you have.’

Our relationship has not all been sunshine and roses. It may look that way to outsiders, but we are certainly normal and have had our share of difficulties! All glory to God for the many expressions of His grace to us over the years.

There have been some dark times in our relationship when we have made the decision, ‘If this is as good as it gets, I still choose this.’

Choices are powerful. Choosing to forgive when you feel hurt, choosing respect when your partner doesn’t seem worthy of it. Choosing to move forward in your relationship with God when the other partner has stalled.

We have discovered that our marriage is only as strong as the choices each of us makes.

4. Discover Each Other’s Love Language

We had been married 15 years when my Mum sent us a copy of Gary Chapman’s book, ‘The Five Love Languages.’ [2]

We each have our own way of expressing and receiving love. According to Chapman, the 5 main love languages are: quality time, words of affirmation, gift-giving, touch, and acts of service.

We were immediately able to look back over the first 15 years of our marriage and see that differences in the way we expressed our love for each other accounted for our chief frustrations.

• My love language is ‘acts of service’
• My husband’s is ‘words of affirmation’

I would get irritated when he expressed his love with romantic words, but would not fix something in the house that needed repair. And he was unhappy when I would speak negatively or criticise him.

The second 15 years have been amazing. I feel loved because my ‘Hunk’ does many things to help and bless me. And he feels loved because I have learned to frequently express appreciation and encouragement. That’s what you would call a win-win!

5. Have a ‘Together Relationship’ with God.

In a Christian marriage, it is easy to be isolated in our individual relationships with God. This can be due differences in the way we relate to God, or different gifts, or even through hurt or misunderstanding.

We have been blessed during our relationship to have friends and mentors who have modelled a great Christian marriage. What we have seen in them has caused us to desire more from our relationship with God together.

Finding the time or motivation to pray together, or to share about what God is speaking to us personally can be a challenge.

How does this work for us?

• If a need or problem crops up in conversation, we move spontaneously into prayer (God is the third, ever present person in our relationship)
• We have a common desire to see our family and friends move closer to Jesus
• We reminisce over things God has done for us in the past and anticipate what He will do in our present circumstances or in the future
• We regularly share what God is speaking to us individually and how we are being challenged to grow.

6. More Keys that have Strengthened our Marriage

• Encourage and release the other partner to his/her dreams and call of God (sometimes this costs you personally)[3]
• Through small actions and big plans, keep the fun, passion and romance alive
• Take care of your appearance in a way that is meaningful to your partner
• Break out of the box, move out of comfort zones and have adventures together
• Attend and have meaningful involvement in a local church together
• Quality time (no matter what your love language is, there is no replacement for quality time together)
• Look for friends and mentors with healthy marriages and learn from them [4]

Notes:

[1] This was one of Tim La Haye’s books. For example, see ‘Why You Act The Way You Do’ and ‘The Spirit Controlled Temperament.’

[2] ‘The Five Love Languages’ by Gary Chapman. We have found this also applies to our other family relationships (including children) and friendships. http://www.5lovelanguages.com/

[3] Decisions about guidance and the call of God should be made together, in unity. See my post, ‘Personal Guidance for the Important Decisions of Life’

[4] David and Margaret McCracken are one couple that inspire us greatly. I highly recommend their DVD ‘The Marriage Journey’ available at our DMM e-Store.

More articles that tell our story:

Worship: So Much More Than Music (in which I share how The Hunk and I first met and became involved with missions)

How To Leave a Spiritual Legacy (in which I share the significant role my Mum-in-Law played in our marriage)

Do you have any marriage tips or suggestions you would like to share? 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

Are you seeking to grow your prophetic gift? Accountability is a vital key to develop a prophetic ministry with increasing accuracy, integrity, and wisdom.

Accountability is not popular in our independence-loving culture. And yet true, Biblical accountability is designed and ordained by God. Our Father’s intention is that we operate in our spiritual gifts and ministries in the context of community that includes leadership. (Eph 4, 1 Cor 12-14) Accountability is one aspect of relating to oversight.

What does Prophetic Accountability Mean?

Genuine accountability is not just by name only, to be effective it must include:

• Answerability: (Gal 2:1-2)
  We report to someone concerning our ministry, as well as revelation (prophetic insights) that we have received from God.
• Transparency: (Eph 4:25)
  We are not holding back information that is relevant to the process.
• Teachability: (Acts 18:26)
  We are willing to learn and change.
• Submission: (Heb 13:17)
  There are times when we obey directives when we do not feel like it or necessarily agree with it. (Note: I am referring to leadership decisions, not issues contrary to Biblical, legal or moral principles) [1]

Accountability is not solely to oversight, it can also be outward—for example, to our team. It can be voluntary, (we seek it out) or a set part of our ministry role.

In Church life, accountability flows through the unique leadership structure of each local church and church movement. (Acts 20:28)

Signs that we are not accountable include:

• Operating in our gifts and ministries in isolation
• Not being open to correction or adjustment, or
• Believing we are only accountable directly to God (this is an Old Testament perspective). [2]

7 Reasons why Accountability is Beneficial in Prophetic Ministry

1. It’s Biblical: We Follow the New Testament Precedent

The themes of leadership and accountability run throughout the New Testament. Jesus demonstrated it in His discipleship process. The Apostle Paul wrote much concerning leadership. He also gave instruction concerning the practice of prophecy, which included accountability and guidelines. (1 Cor 14, 1 Thess 5)

We see a great example of how prophetic accountability functions in the life of Paul himself.

In a powerful open vision, God spoke to Paul about his future ministry to the Gentiles. However, he was only sent out from Antioch when the church leadership heard from God that it was time for him to be released into his Apostolic ministry. (Acts 13:1-3) Paul returned and reported back to his sending church. (Acts 14:26-28, 18:22)

When Paul received the revelation of the Gospel—God’s grace to the Gentiles—God led him to submit the revelation to the church oversight in Jerusalem, even though he received the revelation directly from God. (See Galatians 2:1-2)

2. It Sharpens our Prophetic Ministry

Prophetic ministry is not just about the revelation we receive. It also includes our interpretation of what the prophetic insight means, as well as where, when, how and to whom we communicate it. [3]

Weighing up prophetic insights is a Biblical mandate. (1 Cor 14:29, 1 Thess 5:20-21) Having an accountable relationship can help us to process our prophetic insights, gain wisdom, sharpen our prophetic gifts and increase our accuracy. As it has been said, ‘Feedback is the breakfast of champions.’ [4]

3. It Fosters Genuine Humility

‘Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.’ (Prov 13:10)

Being accountable and teachable in our prophetic ministry is a great antidote to pride and strengthens us in the area of humility. (1 Peter 5:5b)

4. The Power of God is Released through Authority

Spiritual authority and the power of God flows through the lines of appointed authority. (See remarkable examples of this in Acts 6:8; Acts 8:5) Jesus commended a Roman Centurion for understanding this principle. (Luke 7:7-9)

5. It Empowers the Church to act as a God Intends

God’s plan for the Church is for interdependence, not independence. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” (1 Cor 12:21)

Accountability is just one process that enables the Church community (body) to work together. Those who have prophetic gifts need to have alongside them, those with leadership gifts, as well as gifts of discernment and wisdom. (1 Cor 12)

6. Accountability Enables us to Grow in our Character

Eph 4:11-16, Proverbs 27:17 Prov 12:15
“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

We all have ‘blind spots’. These may include character weaknesses, hurts, skewed perspectives, or judgments about others that we have made subconsciously.  We will only grow and change when we allow someone outside of ourselves to have input. We also grow in character as we have a teachable attitude.

7. Accountability gives us Protection (Eccl 4:9-12)

Accountability acts as a safety net to protect us from pitfalls. One role of Christian leadership is to warn and admonish us when necessary. (1 Cor 4:14) We can also appeal to our oversight when we need authority or assistance in a given situation.

Accountability needs to be to the Right People

The appropriate person (or people) to be accountable to varies according to our situations and ministry. This may include someone who is a leader in our church or organisation, or a mentor. [5]

If our prophetic function is within the life of our local church that we are accountable to our church leadership regarding the expression of our prophetic gift in the church. (1 Cor 14) [6]

If we are working for a Christian organisation, our ministry accountability may be outside of our local church. However, even if we are engaged in an itinerant ministry, our local church pastors and leaders can have valuable input into our lives. When we minister into our own or another local church, we are also accountable for that ministry to the oversight of that church.

Accountability also includes honouring prophetic guidelines and protocols when they have been put into place.

Notes:

[1]An example of submission in prophetic ministry is when our oversight instructs us not to share or act upon a prophetic insight we have received immediately, but to hold onto it and pray about it—and we carry out that request graciously.

[2] For a helpful explanation of this see: Differences Between Old and New Testament Prophetic Ministry

[3] See the article, Understand The Process of Prophecy

[4] This quote is by Ken Blanchard

[5] See the following articles on prophetic mentoring:
Prophetic Mentoring on a Personal Basis
8 Essentials of Healthy Prophetic Mentoring

Mentors should be in an accountability relationship themselves, spiritually healthy, and love and honour their church and leadership.

[6] Biblical leadership is not domineering or abusive, but strong ‘servant leadership’ as demonstrated by Jesus. (Matt 20:25-27, 1 Peter 5:3)

Do you have any questions or ideas on the topic of prophetic accountability? 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

Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest. (Exodus 34:21)

As I read this scripture recently, I felt the Holy Spirit speaking:

‘This coming year will be one of great fruitfulness. Because of the opportunities that will become available, you will be tempted to go with the flow of what is happening. As a result, you could be continuously busy.

However, My purpose for you includes intentional rest.’

Which Season are you in?

Today I believe God is speaking to us prophetically about making room in our lives for specific time with Him, as well as time apart for replenishment and to be with our families.

Are you facing events, responsibilities or relationships that will demand a great deal of time and energy from you?

Taking time out during our busiest seasons does not make natural sense. In fact, we are most likely—when opportunities are available, or crises occur—to put off our break times until the busy time has passed.

Because of this tendency, God gave His people a specific instruction:

‘Even when it is plowing or harvest time—the busiest seasons of the year, you must still make the Sabbath a priority. Rest is not an option.’ (Ex 34:21)

The Season of Preparation

Plowing represents our times of preparation.

Plowing in agriculture has to be done at the right time and a certain way for a crop to succeed. Likewise, preparing well for any new venture, ministry or relationship is vital to the health and success of what is to come. During these seasons of intense preparation, we may be busy and focused.

The Season of Opportunity or Crisis

Harvest is a time of urgency as the crop can spoil if it is not gathered up in the right way or at the due time.

Harvest can speak to us of making the most of opportunities when they arise—or managing a crisis well at the time it occurs.

During these seasons, there is a sense that our time is limited.

• An opportunity has arisen that may not last if we do not take it now.
• A relationship or group of relationships may need immediate care.
• A crisis has occurred that requires urgent attention.
• If we are involved in ministry or evangelism, we are seeing a response from people that indicates the Holy Spirit is at work.

In such times, should we continue to take times apart with God, hours of rest every day, weekly days off, and the holidays that we need?

What does the Sabbath mean for us today?

Some things that the Biblical Sabbath includes are:

• A complete rest from labour
• Special time with family
• Time to worship and honour God, and
• Celebration times with the community of faith.

For Christian believers, Rest (Sabbath) is no longer a religious law to be obeyed. However under the New Covenant of grace, it remains a Biblical principle that we should attend to. [1]

The Sabbath is a gift of replenishing from our loving Father. It is also the wise plan of our Creator God, who knows intimately our strengths and limitations. It is also a reminder of the importance God places upon our relationships, both with Him and our families.

The Sabbath in scripture referred to the 7th day of the week. However, God’s principle of taking time out applies not only to weeks, but also to days, months and years.

In the Gospels, we see that Jesus regularly took time apart to be with His Father. He also encouraged His disciples to take time away to rest and be with Him. (Mark 6:31).

Are these Rest-Robbers in your Life?

We may acknowledge the importance of taking time out, but too often our best intentions are overturned. In the seeming urgency of life or ministry, we become busy, neglect rest, and in the process limit God. At worst, we may become burned out.

Here are two things that can hinder our ability to take time out:

1. Lack of Trust

Taking a break for many of us is a trust issue. Can we trust the Lord of the Harvest to take care of His harvest for the seasons we take our hands away?

If we are short-handed, our need to be constantly engaged can seem critical. Can I trust God (and others) with the responsibilities that are in my care? Who is the Chief provider—God or me?

We may have a fear of losing the harvest, as if the ministry (business, crisis) depended upon us somehow. We may be fearful of losing ground, or of what the enemy might do (a better question is, what can God do if we yield to Him?)

In Exodus 16:29, we read: ‘Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days.’

God provided for the Israelite’s time of rest in advance.

The reality is, that it requires faith to take time out during a busy period of fruitfulness. God in His grace can not only make up the difference, but multiply our effectiveness as we depend upon Him.

2. Lack of Discipline

Sometimes the reason for our lack of time out is simply that we haven’t prioritised it ahead of time. Rest is meant to be regular, not spontaneous. This requires scheduling.

It is still early in 2013. Now is the time for me to ensure that my diary is filled out with the things that count—that includes significant time out.

• Discipline means the ability to ‘unplug’ daily and during break times from constantly attending to our online business, ministry, or social media.
• Discipline also includes saying ‘No’ to urgent or limited opportunities, when the more important issue—that of of God’s prescribed rest—is at stake.

This year and beyond, significant opportunities are going to arise for your life and ministry. Now is the time to say ‘Yes’ to God’s invitation to take time apart with Him, as well as to schedule the time you need to be replenished and spend time with family.

Notes:
[1] For Biblical references to the Sabbath, see: Gen 2:2-3, Ex 31:13-17, Ex 20:8-11, Deut 5:13-14

This week’s photograph is of my husband enjoying time out on our recent holiday together.

Related Posts:

Life In Eden: Heaven On Earth Is Our Inheritance

The Most Important Decision You Can Make As The Year Begins

Escaping The Half-Lived Christian Life

7 Signs Of Spiritual Dryness

Do you have any testimonies, or ideas that can help others take regular and significant time to rest? 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

Understanding the New Testament purpose for signs, wonders and miracles will lift your faith and expectation of what God can do through you. It will also help you to have the right motivation for seeking or reporting miraculous signs.

5 New Testament Reasons for Signs and Miracles

1. Signs Reveal Jesus’ Glory

John wrote of Jesus’ miracle at Cana: ‘What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.’ (John 2:11) John went on to shares significant works and miracles that took place throughout Jesus’ ministry.

The Greek word for glory, doxa, refers to Jesus Divinity—His majesty and magnificence. [1]

The writer to the Hebrews noted, ‘The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.’ (Heb 1:3a)

Just as the clouds part to reveal the brightness of the sun, miraculous signs from God reveal the Divine amidst the human.

The revealing of Jesus’ Divinity through signs and wonders did not just apply to His ministry in the Gospels. Jesus’ glory as the Resurrected Christ continues to be revealed as we represent Him and do the ‘greater works’ using His Name. (John 14:12)

Jesus said, ‘…whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.’ (John 14:13)

Today, God wants to reveal the glory of His Son in and through us. (John 17:22) And one of the ways He does this is through signs—He is manifesting His glory in His Church. (Is 60:1-3)

2. Signs Show us what the Father is like—and Express His love for People

When Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus responded, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father…it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” (John 14:9-11)

The signs that Jesus performs speak of the Father’s mercy and love for people, as well as His dominion and power. They speak of His grace and generosity and His purposes.

Jesus attributed His miraculous works to the Father. In John 5:19 He said, ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.’ (also John 10:37-38)

3. Signs Confirm God’s Word

‘So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.’ (Acts 14:3)

Evangelism and signs go hand in hand in the New Testament. God confirms and testifies the Gospel through signs and miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Heb 2:3-4, Mark 16:20) [2]

Signs and miracles point to the cross—to the complete work that Jesus has accomplished to provide salvation, healing and freedom through His death and resurrection.

A blank signpost is useless for its purpose—it is incomplete without a description, stating the destination to which it is pointing. In the same way, signs from God are not to be the focus; they tell us something about God and His Word.

4. Signs are the Manifestation of God’s Kingdom among us

‘He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (Luke 9:2)

Signs are the evidence of the message and establishment of Kingdom of God. Jesus said, ‘…if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.’ (Luke 11:20)

As citizens of God’s Kingdom, we can expect to see signs and miracles taking place as we take our place as royal sons and daughters in God’s Kingdom.

5. Result in People Believing in Jesus

‘Jesus performed many other signs… But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.’ (John 20:30-31)

John records many instances in his Gospel of people believing in Jesus after He performed a sign or miracle. (John 2:11, 2:23; 4:39, 4:53)

In Acts, peoples believed after signs and miracles were performed. (Acts 9:42)

According to John, the ultimate purpose both of the signs and the recording of them is to result in people believing in Jesus as Messiah. [3, 4]

The highest value of signs and miracles is when, as a result, people believe and receive Jesus as Saviour and are born again into God’s family.
And this is the greatest miracle of all.

Notes:

[1] Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. 1996.  Ref 1391, doxa, glory

[2] Signs can get attention, they can draw a following and a crowd (John 6:2), but it is the work of the Holy Spirit on the hearts of individuals that brings conversion that leads to true discipleship. (John 16:7-10, Titus 3:5) Many who saw the signs Jesus performed did not believe (John 12:37)

In spite of this limitation, signs were clearly part of God’s plan in Jesus’ ministry and are in the Church today.

[3] It is God’s generous purpose to help people believe in Jesus through the performing of signs—however, Jesus condemned the Pharisees’ demand for signs as a proof in order to believe in Him. (Matt 12:39)

[4] I wish to thank David McCracken Ministries team member Clayton Coombs for insights I have included here.

Related Posts:

Angelic Encounters And Supernatural Experiences

Miraculous Signs From God: What Can We Expect?

6 Questions To Ask About Supernatural Signs

3 Simple Ways to Pray for Healing

Do you have any testimonies or ideas on the topic of the purpose of miracles and signs? Do you have any specific questions you would like answers for as we explore the topic further? 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

This happened to The Hunk and I many years ago, on a long trip between Christchurch and Nelson in New Zealand.

A situation like that can do one of two things. It can cause your marriage relationship to suddenly deteriorate – or it can cause your prayer life to suddenly improve. The first option is especially tempting when you realise that if ‘someone’ had paid attention and filled up before you began the trip, you would not be in this predicament!

What a relief it was, when we finally pulled up to a Service Station a little way out of Blenheim.

It’s Time to Check the Tank

The New Year is an opportunity to do a personal resource check and to ask:

• Do I have enough of the right fuel in my tanks—physically, emotionally and spiritually—to go the distance for all God has for me in the coming year?

• If I am depleted in any area, what will it take for me to be replenished?

• What is the first step?

The first and most important check we need to do is, ‘Am I vitally connected to God?’

God wants to be the very Source of our life.

At a crucial time in Jerusalem’s history, God spoke to His people through the Prophet Jeremiah, saying:

“My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jer 2:13)

To put it simply, God was saying, “My people have made the wrong resource choice.”

The Gihon Spring was the only permanent source of water to the city of Jerusalem—the people’s very means of life. So the picture of turning away from the living spring and looking for other sources of water was a relevant one to them.

When God gets Shifted Off-Centre

Reading in Jeremiah and elsewhere, you discover what God meant by Judah’s ‘broken cisterns.’

He was referring to two main things –

• Judah still had God’s temple, and they still made a show of worshipping Him, but they worshipped idols as well.
• Instead of looking to God when they needed deliverance, they looked to other nations for help – nations that worshipped other ‘gods’ and gave glory to those ‘gods.’

What had happened? The people of Jerusalem still had God in their lives, but God was no longer their chief source. He was kind of like an add-on.

Sometimes we can be like that, even without realising it. We still have God in our lives, we may even be serving Him, but we have shifted Him off-centre. And when God is not at the centre, we are spiritually dry, empty and don’t work properly.

And yet, our Father is so full of grace and mercy. Today, if you feel spiritually dry, and if you recognise that somehow you have shifted God away from the centre of your attention and your life, He comes to you saying,

“I am the source of life – and if you make me the Source of your life, I will be as a spring of living water to you.”

All The Resources of Heaven

The concept of God being like a spring of living water to us is a powerful one.

Here is an amazing fact: At any one time, most of the world’s fresh water is not on the surface of the ground, in places we can see like rivers and lakes.

Instead, most of our fresh water lies deep underneath the ground. We call this hidden water, ‘groundwater.’ And groundwater travels beneath the earth through special gravels and soils. When one of these ‘aquifiers’ meets the surface, a spring bubbles up.

So when God says, “I am the spring of living water,” He is using a powerful illustration to say, “In Me all the unseen resources of heaven are there to back you up.”

As you enter this New Year, God offers all of Himself to you, to be your Source, your Provider.

He offers you all of His fullness, all of His grace.

He gives you access as His son and daughter into His very Presence.

He makes available to you through prayer, all of the resources of heaven

His Holy Spirit resides within you, an immeasurable, Heavenly source of life, waiting to be tapped into and released.

Today is an opportunity to refocus your life. To turn away from every distraction, every dependency that is not of God.

And put Jesus at the very centre of your life once again.

Related Posts:

This Can Be A Year Of Visitation From God

7 Signs Of Spiritual Dryness

7 Ways To Combat Spiritual Dryness

If you enjoyed this article, you can listen to the full audio message ‘Source of Life’ by Helen Calder from the Enliven Blog podcast page.

Do you have any responses to this post or thoughts about God being your source of life that you would like to share? 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

The cicada sheds its shell for the purpose of transformation.

After many years of living in the dark unseen, feeding on the sap of tree roots deep within the soil, the cicada emerges out of the ground. It climbs the tree it has fed from and crawls out of its shell. It spreads its wings—now free to fly, sing and find a mate. [1]

Climb out of that Shell!

It is time to shed the inhibitions and limitations of the past. And for you, that may be for further growth—or it may be a time that you need to emerge into your true identity.

Others animals shed their skin to make room for growth. As the time draws near for a snake to shed, its outer layer of skin becomes dull in colour. The old skin is dry, uncomfortable and irritating. Underneath, a bright new layer of skin is becoming ready.

It is time to let go of past information about who you are.

It is time to get out of the comfort zone of how history has defined you to be.

It is time to enter the miracle zone of who your Heavenly Father says you are.

Everything that Hinders

‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.’ (Heb 12:1-2a)

I believe that Holy Spirit is instructing us today to identify and cast off everything in our life that hinders God’s purpose for our lives.

Note: not everything that holds us back from being all God that has called us to be is obvious sin.

We must allow Him to put His finger on limiting mindsets! These are sin in that they fall short of what God has called us to believe about our God, our circumstances and ourselves.

What do you believe about your ability? Your personality? Your gifts and ministry? God’s desire and ability to provide for your vision, your needs, your ministry and your family?

Is there a gap between your definition of who you are and what you can do—and God’s definition of who He has created you to be and what He has called you to do?

That gap is a limiting mindset.

A role or title can help identify our job or ministry and define what others can expect from us. But there are times when God calls us to enlargement—to think and behave bigger than where we have been. Recently the Holy Spirit spoke to me clearly about a limiting definition I was using of myself and said, ‘I don’t care for your labels.’

For those of us who are leaders, limiting definitions can hold our ministry, church or organisation back. It is time to review every defining statement and label that we have made, and bring our words into alignment with God’s intention for the new season.

Let’s be clear here: this is not about trying to be something we are not, but embracing all that we are designed for.

And I believe that He is speaking to many of you that 2013 is a year to take ownership of that calling and dream that He has planted into the very DNA of who you are.

Because 2013 is a year of enlargement.

It is time to take time to worship and commune with Him, and rediscover the desires that are on His heart for your life. ‘Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.’ (Ps 37:4)

That doesn’t mean that you run ahead of God and push the doors open!

But as you call ‘alive!’ what He calls alive, His creative Word causes it to come to pass. ‘He (Abraham) is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.’ (Rom 4:17)

A Prayer for 2013:

Father I choose to move forward and embrace all that you have for my life and ministry in 2013. I ask that You would reveal any limitations, sin, and areas that need adjustment: everything that would hold me back from the fullness of all you have purposed for me. Lord of my life, I surrender to You every definition, every defining statement, or label that I have used about my life or ministry up until this time. (Name any that come to mind) Show me which are right for the current season, and which to release.

I repent of limiting Your work in my life by believing and speaking out expectations that are less than what You have for me. In Jesus’ Name I renounce them (name any negative descriptions / opinions you have spoken about your life, ministry, circumstances, family or future). Father, I embrace and receive all of Your promises for this coming year and beyond, including (name those that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind). I rejoice in the anticipation of all you will do in 2013!

In Jesus’ Name.

Notes:

[1] If you are interested in finding out more about the cicada life cycle, I recommend an inspiring David Attenborough clip on YouTube. Search for:
‘Amazing Cicada life cycle – Sir David Attenborough’s Life in the Undergrowth – BBC wildlife.’ (begins with an ad you can skip)

Related Posts:

Courage to Change

Take That Label Off And Agree With What God Says

Are You Seeking A Prophetic Word For The New Year?

Do you have any testimonies or ideas to share about limiting definitions, or something that God is speaking to you about in 2013? Leave a comment in the comments box. If the comments section is not visible, click on the post title at the top of this page 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

He did not have an armed guard.

He did not have a fortress or palace to protect Him.

He did not even have a clean environment.

He was born in a stable, where strangers came and went.

And yet no place on earth could have been better protected. Nowhere could have been as much under the Father’s care.

Today I believe God is speaking to those of you who are in a season where He is bringing new things to birth in your life.

Maybe you have:

• Recently received prophetic confirmation of something new emerging in your life and ministry
• A new ministry initiative underway
• Stepped out in a new role or responsibility and are still finding your way
• Had something drop into your care that is unexpected but you know it is of God
• A sense that something new is stirring in your life, but you are not even sure what it will look like when it emerges.[1]

This Christmas, entrust that new thing into His care.

The Father’s plan concerning the life and journey of His Son Jesus was as strong as Heaven itself—unshakeable. Nothing, no power on earth could break His plan or hinder His intentions.

Today, God is speaking peace into that place of your life that concerns His new beginnings, bringing freedom from pressure and release from anxious care.

Step into that zone where you are released from every responsibility except to cooperate with His Spirit.

Your role is not to make it happen. Your role is to partner with Him in an attitude of worship, and to be diligent in obedience. In all things, keeping the balance of faith and wisdom.

Recognise that there is a limit to—not only what you can do, but what God requires of you. Find that place and rest there.

You can trust Him to take care of that new thing.

‘The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.’ (Ps 121:7-8)

Warm Christmas greetings from Melbourne, Australia, from all of us on the team here at David McCracken Ministries.

In the photo from left to right are: Carmen, Michelle, Helen Calder, Malcolm ‘The Hunk’ Calder, David McCracken, Margaret McCracken, Steve McCracken, Anne, Kamal, Clayton Coombs.

It has been a joy to journey with you on Enliven Blog throughout 2012. The next Enliven Blog post will be produced on 31^st December and will include some prophetic insights for you as you begin your journey in 2013.

Notes:
[1] If you are considering making a change in your life due to something you believe God is speaking to you, the following post has important information:

Personal Guidance for the Important Decisions of Life

For more Christmas inspiration, here are some more Enliven Blog articles for you to enjoy:

Christmas Advent Is A Time To Encounter God

Angels Herald Jesus’ Birth And The Beginning Of A Supernatural Era

I welcome you to 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

‘Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.’ (Acts 2:22)

Signs: What are they?

The New Testament Greek word for signs is semeion, meaning a ‘sign, mark or token.’ [1]

A God-given sign is an event that has the mark of God upon it. His Divine power and supernatural intervention is the only explanation for what is taking place.

A sign is like a flashing light proclaiming, ‘God is at work here!’

Many Different Signs from God

When you think of ‘signs’, what comes to mind? In the church today, we tend to use the term ‘sign’ to describe an unusual miracle or manifestation.

However in the New Testament the term is used for many different displays of God’s power, including: miracles (John 2:11), resurrection (John 11:43-47), deliverance (Mark 16:17), provision (John 6:12-14), healing (John 6:2), tongues and prophecy. (1 Cor 14:22-25) John in particular consistently refers to the miracles of Jesus as ‘signs.’ In his Gospel, John made a systematic report of signs that included turning water to wine, the feeding of the 5,000, and Lazarus’ resurrection. (John 2:11, 4:54)

‘…and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick.’ (John 6:2)

In addition to healing and deliverance, remarkable miracles that Jesus performed included:

• Turning water into wine (John 2:11)
• An overflow catch of fish (Luke 5:6)
• Fish with a coin in its mouth (Matt 17:27)
• Calming the storm with a word of command (Luke 8:24)
• Walking on water (John 6:19)
• Transfiguration (Matt 17:1-8)
• Multiplication of bread and fish (John 6:1-15)
• Cursing the fig tree (Matt 21:18-21)

Many of these revealed Jesus’ supremacy over the laws of nature.

Signs also accompanied Jesus’ birth (Matt 2:2, Luke 2:12) and death. (Matt 27:45, 51)

No Limit to the Signs God can do

Signs in scripture are diverse, and many miraculous things God did were not repeated. [2] This tells us that there is no limit to the many ways God will reveal Himself to people.

Jesus said that those who believed in Him would perform more and even greater works after His resurrection. (John 14:12-14)

Who can Perform Signs and Miracles?

Signs, wonders and miracles are a special mark of Apostolic ministry in the New Testament (2 Cor 12:12), but are not confined to the Apostles.

Stephen and Philip, who are deacons-turned-evangelists, do great signs and wonders in Jesus’ Name as they preach the Gospel. (Acts 6:8, 8:6) And prophets such as Agabus bring supernatural insights from God. (Acts 11:28)

However, miraculous ministry is not confined to those in the five-fold ministry office. (Eph 4:11-13)

When Paul lists the gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed amongst individual believers (1 Cor 12:7), he includes:

• Faith (1 Cor 12:9)
• Healing (1 Cor 12:9)
• Miraculous powers (1 Cor 12:10)
• Prophecy (1 Cor 12:10)

Through spiritual gifts, miraculous signs are distributed throughout the body as a part of the regular ministry of the church.

In the New Testament, individual believers, carrying authority as sons and daughters of God also have the ability to pray and see God’s power released in Jesus’ Name (Matt 28:19-20).

Partnering with God

Observing the way that Jesus performed miracles shows us how a supernatural life is sourced in our intimate relationship with God. (John 5:19)

In the miracles of Jesus we see perfect unity between the Father, who ordained them, Jesus who acted in obedience to perform them and the Holy Spirit, whose power produced the miracle.

Peter observed this Divine unity when he stated:

‘…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.’ (Acts 10:38)

Signs can be Public or Personal

Many signs and miracles of Jesus were performed in front of crowds.

However, most of the crowd attending the wedding of Cana was unaware that Jesus was the source of a miracle. Only Mary, the servants and Jesus’ disciples were privy to the truth. (John 2:9-10)

Why did Jesus direct Peter to throw out a line and catch a single fish from the Sea of Galilee to provide the coin that would pay for His and Peter’s temple tax? (Matt 17:24-26)

Healing and deliverance impacted individuals and their families.

The coin in the mouth of a single fish may have been a very personal sign from the heart of God, speaking to Peter of His ongoing provision. For in the future, Peter would gain a living, not as a fisherman, but through serving as a leader in the church. (1 Cor 9:4-6)

In upcoming posts I will be considering the questions, ‘What is the purpose of miraculous signs?’ and ‘How can we tell a sign is really from God—and be protected from the ‘deceiving signs’ Jesus talked about?’

Notes:

[1] Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. 1996.  Ref 4592, semeion, sign (also ‘miracle’)

[2] I have focused on the NT in the above study. Signs also have a prominence in the OT, for example signs of covenant, such as the rainbow (Gen 9) and circumcision, the miraculous signs God performed through Moses in Egypt, the miracles of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, and so on.

Related Posts:

6 Questions to ask About Supernatural Signs

Angelic Encounters And Supernatural Experiences

5 Purposes for Signs and Miracles

A Key to the Gospel’s Power: Share it Like Jesus Did

Do you have any testimonies or ideas on the topic of miraculous signs? Do you have any specific questions you would like answers for as we explore the topic further? 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

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