Entries tagged with “Faith”.
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Mon 12 Dec 2011
Advent is an important season in the Christian calendar. It consists of the weeks leading up to Christmas, which is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The word ‘Advent’ is derived from a Latin word, ‘adventus’ which means ‘coming.’ [1]
Advent is a season of preparation and expectation.
Christmas Advent Today
In our culture, it is easy to lose the wonder and anticipation of Christmas Advent.
For many of us, preparation means the pressure of buying gifts, planning menus and events, or tying up loose ends at work.
Expectation consists of mixed feelings as we anticipate the positives and negatives of having family with us—or absent from us.
If you can relate to this, I urge you to take some time to allow the Holy Spirit to minister to your heart.
The weeks leading up to Christmas can be busy and distracted.
I don’t want my life to be like the inn at Bethlehem—so busy accommodating everything and everyone else that I turn Jesus away at the door. [2]
The Challenge of the Original Advent
(Luke 1:5-38)
Zachariah was the father of John the Baptist. Mary was the mother of Jesus. Their lives, and many others at that time, were changed forever by the coming of Jesus.
Let’s take a few moments to consider what Advent meant to those involved in the birth of our Saviour—and what following Jesus Christ may also mean for us today.
Divine Interruption
For Zachariah, it was business as usual—performing his occasional duties as a priest in the temple.
Mary was a young woman whose life was already mapped out. She was going to be married to Joseph, a carpenter from her hometown of Nazareth, in Galilee.
But their ordinary lives were suddenly interrupted by a message from the throne of God, brought by the angel Gabriel.
Am I willing for God to interrupt my ordinary life? Am I open to hear what He has to say to me at this time?
‘Do not be Afraid’
As I muse over the Christmas narrative, I see the words ‘Do not be afraid’ mentioned many times—to Zachariah, to Mary, to Joseph, and to the shepherds.
‘Do not be afraid’ encapsulates the Christmas message. It speaks hope and life into my present circumstances.
But it also deeply challenges me. It tells me that encountering God, and contemplating His demands upon my life will require something from me.
And that this ‘something’ will be so costly, and this encounter with Him so awe-inspiring, that the reaction of my soul will be fear.
Am I willing to encounter God, knowing that it will require something of me?
Life Change
The angel Gabriel’s announcement changed the landscape of Zechariah and Mary’s lives forever.
It marked a point of no return. Making room for the coming of Jesus would mean that their lives would never be the same again. It would bring both joy and sacrifice.
Am I willing to make room for Jesus in my life—even if it means moving or giving up other personal priorities?
Crisis of faith
When the angel Gabriel announced God’s plans, he received different responses from Zachariah and Mary.
Zachariah doubted.
Mary trusted.
Zachariah’s doubt cost him his voice for a season. But not even unbelief could halt the progress of God’s plans.
What is my personal response to God’s purpose for my life? Am I doubting—or trusting His word?
Participation in a Greater Plan
Zachariah and Mary were just two of a company of people whom God used to make way for the first coming of Jesus.
At the birth of his son John, Zachariah caught a glimpse of God’s purpose—the salvation of the world through Jesus Christ.
He prophesied:
‘And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.’ (Luke 1:76-79)
As we respond to the call of God to make room for Jesus in our lives, we too will become participants in God’s plan of salvation.
By making room for Jesus in our personal lives this Christmas and beyond, we are opening the door for our families, our friends, and those near and far to encounter the Good News of salvation.
Advent is a season of preparation and expectation.
Today, let’s pause from the busyness of our schedule and ask the question,
‘When it comes to my life of faith right now,
What am I preparing for?
And what am I expecting?’
Do you have any experiences or questions to share on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.
Notes:
[1] For more information on Advent, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advent
[2] See Luke 2:7, Rev 3:20
Related Posts:
Hunger For God: 6 Ways You Can Stir It Up
Angels Herald Jesus’ Birth And The Beginning Of A Supernatural Era
How To Recover The Wonder Of Hearing God’s Voice
© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching
On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church
Wed 12 Oct 2011
‘It is the privilege of sons and daughters to feast at the Father’s table.’
For 450 years, Israel lived in slavery in Egypt. Now, God was teaching the nation a different way of living—a life of faith.
How Israel Lived under an Open Heaven
‘Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens; he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven.’ (Ps 78:23-24)
The Bible tells us that God opened heaven to provide miraculous provision to the nation of Israel during its wilderness wanderings.
But God’s supernatural supply of their needs did not stop there—the wilderness manna was a sign of what was to come.
Israel’s destiny was to live in Canaan and continue a lifestyle of faith—dependent upon God for heaven-sent rain.
‘The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.’ (Deut 28:12)
Everything that is recorded in the Bible about Israel’s history is for our benefit and instruction. (1 Cor 10:11) The nation of Israel had to learn how to live by the provision of an open heaven, and so can we. [1]
Here are some principles we can learn from Israel’s history:
How to Position for an Open Heaven
1. Understand the Heart of the Father
We need to understand God’s motivation, in Israel’s history and for us today. He isn’t looking for dependent servants—He is seeking relationship. He desires sons and daughters.
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son… I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.’ (Hosea 11:1, 4)
The manna, the rain, were a revelation: not of provision, but of a Provider; a loving Father.
2. Intimacy and Obedience
The nation of Israel was in the right place, at the right time for a miracle.
And the reason that Israel was positioned for a heavenly miracle of provision was because one man—Moses—had an intimate relationship with God.
Having heard God’s voice, Moses was able to lead Israel in obedience to Him. Moses later left written instructions so that Israel could continue to live in obedience and reap the heavenly blessings.
Intimacy with the Father is the starting point for our miracle of provision. When we hear Him speak to us, and move out in faith upon His instruction, we will be in the right place, at the right time, for a miracle of supernatural supply.
3. Change your Source: Move from Self-Effort to Dependency Upon God
Having moved out in faith, Israel had no source of supply other than God. In Deut 11, God spoke to Israel, saying:
‘The land you are entering to take over is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you planted your seed and irrigated it by foot as in a vegetable garden. But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven… So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul—then I will send rain on your land in its season.’ (Deut 11:10-11, 13-14)
Here, God is comparing the resources of Egypt with that of Canaan. The source of Egypt’s life-giving water was the river Nile. It was predictable and safe. It was self-sufficient, but a limited means of supply.
The Nile’s water could be accessed by man-powered irrigation. When the Nile flooded, irrigation would take place naturally, but during the remainder of the year, it was hard manual labour to pump the water into the fields.
In Canaan, however, the countryside was primarily irrigated by rainfall—and dependent upon those rains coming in their due seasons.
The picture is of an entire nation dependent upon the rain. Even their yearly calendar revolved around the seasons and the crops, which revolved around the rains coming in their due seasons.
And God made it clear that He was the source of the rain and that He could pour it out or withhold it at will.
He said, ‘Serve Me with gladness and obedience and I will send the rain. Turn away from Me, and you will remove yourself from that open heaven—because you and I were meant to do this together. You were never meant to be alone.’ (See Deut 28)
4. Become a Co-Labourer with God
The life of faith is one partnership and co-labour together with God. Even though God sent the manna, the people of Israel still had to collect it, prepare it and cook it. (Num 11:7-9)
Even though God sent the rain upon the land of Canaan, the people still had to labour and toil the ground.
Likewise, in order to position for God’s provision for our lives, we still need to work hard, to follow Biblical principles and to exercise wisdom as well as faith. We also partner with God through prayer.
5. Choose the Life of Faith
It is not easy to live a life of faith. It is not easy to trust God for His supply when He instructs you to step out in obedience to Him. As it is often said, FAITH is spelled ‘R-I-S-K.’
It is an amazing thing that having left a life of slavery, many Israelites still craved the provisions of Egypt. (Numbers 11)
When the Israelites said, let’s choose a leader and go back to Egypt, (Numbers 14:1-4) they were saying,
- We want safety, we want predictability
- We want to do things our own way, in our own strength
- We want to be self-sufficient
They were really rejecting God Himself. Sadly, they preferred bondage with familiarity, to freedom and having to go out on a limb to trust God.
6. Celebrate God’s Provision
The Feasts and celebrations of Israel were established around the seasons and the provision of rainfall.
Like Israel, we need to ‘mark the moment’ and celebrate and remember God’s supply for our lives, our families, our churches and ministries, and our communities.
He is a faithful and loving Father.
‘It is the privilege of sons and daughters to feast at the Father’s table.’
Do you have any experiences or questions to share on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.
Notes:
[1]. Last week, I shared that an open heaven is the inheritance of every Christian believer. ‘An open heaven is a state where there are no barriers between the earthly realm and the heavenly realm—the throne of God, and all the resources of heaven… These resources include the Holy Spirit, salvation, provision and blessing, miraculous intervention and angelic help in answer to prayer.’
For more information, see the following post:
An Open Heaven Is Your Inheritance
© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog
On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church
Mon 13 Dec 2010
The Least Likely List
Do you have someone in your world right now whose heart seems hardened towards God?
Someone, who—if you were to make a list of those who would be least likely to become a Christian—would be first on that list?
Who else is on your list?
The imaginary list we have just made represents the PERCEPTION that we have about people close to us who do not yet know Jesus as their Saviour.
I believe that our Heavenly Father wants us to review our perception, shake it up and exchange it if need be—until we see people around our lives the way HE sees them.
The question is: will we?
Why the way we see People Around us is Important
The way we view people in our lives who don’t know God is vital:
- If we believe someone is hardened towards God and unlikely to become a Christian, that belief will affect our thoughts, prayers and actions towards that person.
- If we believe God is at work in a person’s life, we will be expectant and pray, speak and act accordingly.
Most often, we look at the evidence of our 6 senses—what we have seen and heard, as well as our history with people—and make a judgement about the state of their heart towards God and their potential for salvation.
But the Bible reveals a different viewpoint: the Father’s perspective.
The Father’s ‘Most Wanted List’
If Jesus’ disciples had a ‘Least Likely List’ of those God would welcome into His Kingdom, the Romans—despised, brutal invaders—would have been at the top of the list, followed closely by Gentiles and Samaritans.
But Jesus continually surprised them.
Time and time again, Jesus showed His disciples that those on their ‘Least Likely List’ were actually on the Father’s ‘Most Wanted List,’ along with everyone else.
A Roman commander came to him asking for healing for his daughter. Jesus healed his daughter with a word and praised him saying, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” (Matt 8:10)
A Gentile woman came asking for deliverance for her daughter and the disciples wanted to send her away. Jesus tested her faith and then exclaimed, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” (Matt 15:28)
As Jesus ministered, He sought out the unloved, the unwanted, the despised. Tax collectors, prostitutes, criminals—all were welcome in God’s Kingdom.
One time, Jesus went out of His way to speak with a Samaritan woman with a bad reputation. An entire Samaritan city came to faith in Him after hearing the story of how she encountered Jesus.
Realising Jesus had been speaking with a Samaritan woman, the disciples were mystified. Jesus said to them, ‘Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.’ (John 4:35)
I believe Jesus is speaking the same to us today:
‘Open your eyes and look at people—see them the way I see them. They are ready to come to Me.’
Heaven’s Perspective
Here are 4 insights that I believe are vital to having God’s perspective about people in our world who don’t know Him yet.
1. God is Already at Work In their Lives
Paul said in Acts 17: 26-27
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
If there are people in your world, to whom you are connected in some way and who does not yet know Jesus, be assured that God is already at work in their lives.
The fact that God has arranged for them to be connected to you is just one evidence that He is already at work in their lives, positioning them to seek Him.
2. They are Created for Relationship with God
‘He [God] has set eternity in the hearts of men,’ states the writer of Ecclesiastes.
Peel away the layers and within every person is a need for God—a place of hunger that will only be fulfilled by a relationship with the Father through Jesus.
Created by God and for God, each person’s need for Him is written into his or her DNA.
In spite of what may be presenting, that inner need, the voice of the spirit within them, is continually letting them know of their need for God—even if they are currently trying to fill that need with other things.
3. Nothing They have Done Affects God’s Response to Them
As Jesus demonstrated, the worst of sinners are candidates for the grace of God.
Choices they have made seem to have led them further away from Him. The degree of possibility of their salvation—at least in our eyes—seems to be reduced.
Sometimes we have a personal history with people that gives us reason to believe they are unlikely to respond to God. We may even have been hurt by them.
But none of these things affects God’s heart towards them or His ability to reach and transform them. They are on His ‘Most Wanted List.’
4. Their Degree of Hardness of Heart does not Impact God’s Ability to Reach Them.
The Holy Spirit can break through the hardest of hearts. That is why you are His today. And what He has done for you, He can do for others.
It can happen in an instant. A criminal came to faith in Jesus in his dying moments on a cross. All it took was a one-sentence declaration of faith. (Luke 23:40-43)
Don’t be deterred by a person’s seeming attitude towards God. They might be a heartbeat away from faith.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.
(2 Cor 5:16)
We tend to see people through the lens of our culture, our priorities, our opinions, and our personal history with them. It’s time to take off these glasses and see people the way that Jesus does.
When we do, faith will rise up in us. We will pray, speak and act accordingly, giving the Holy Spirit freedom to move through us. And miracles of salvation will result.
‘Open your eyes and look at people—see them the way I see them. They are ready to come to Me.’
Prayer
Who was on the top of your ‘least likely list? Let’s pray for him or her now:
Father, right now I bring _____ before Your throne.
Thank You that you are already at work in ____’s life, drawing him/her to You by Your Spirit.
Thank You that ____ is on Your ‘Most Wanted List’; that you sent Jesus to die for ____ that he/she would not perish, but have eternal life with You.
Send Your Spirit to reveal Jesus to him/her, to assure _________ of the truth of the message of salvation.
Lord, I ask that You would send Your angels to continue setting up Divine appointments. Connect _____ with your people who will speak words of life to him/her. Speak to _____ through circumstances and at every opportunity, day and night.
Help me in my relationship with _____ to take opportunities to share Your love, to speak Your word and to have timely insights to share. Anoint me by with Your Spirit to be Your representative to _______ . I choose to stir up my faith with regard to ________’s salvation.
In Jesus’ Name
If you you have any responses or experiences to share on this topic, I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment below. If the comments section is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.
Related Posts:
Divine Positioning: How To Be In The Right Place At The Right Time
Key To Prophetic Evangelism: What Is The Father Doing?
The Greatest Evangelist In The World Today
E-book: Pray For The Lost: Impact The Eternal Destiny Of Those You Love Through Prayer
© Helen Calder 2010
Enliven Publishing http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/
Now on team with David McCracken Ministries
Mon 16 Aug 2010
I am currently preparing to go to Sydney for a ‘School of Healing and Impartation’ with Bill Johnson and Randy Clark.
It’s a funny thing, that there are ‘Schools of the Prophets’, ‘Prophetic Conferences,’ ‘Healing Schools,’ and so on. But whoever heard of a discernment conference? There are books a-plenty on the topics of healing and prophecy—but few on the topic of discernment.
When I first started to navigate my way through the mysteries of encountering the spiritual realm, I had few resources to help me. It seemed that I had ‘marched off the map.’ I did have some prophetic mentors, but not all of the advice I received was healthy. For the most part, I was alone.
Over the next few posts I am going to discuss how to grow in and exercise the gift of discernment—an area I am still learning about. If you have some thoughts and experiences you would like to share, I would love to hear from you in the comments section. If the comment box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.
Seeing the Way the Father Sees
Discernment of spirits is the Spirit-given ability to distinguish whether Divine, human or demonic origins are the source of what is presented—whether it be in an atmosphere, encounter, event, or prophetic message.
Our goal in discernment is twofold: firstly, to see what the Father would have us see, and secondly, to communicate that in such a way that we represent His viewpoint as closely as possible.
When He shows us something—even if it is demonic in nature, it is because He has a purpose for us in revealing it. His heart is always to redeem and restore people and for His church to be purified and made holy (Eph 5:25-27).
Whatever I perceive in the spiritual realm, I do not want my impression or communication to be coloured by my own viewpoint, prejudices or fears. This is a danger common to all who have the gift of discernment of spirits, and one that I have struggled with continually. [1]
The Discerners Heart
‘In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself… he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.’ 2 Tim 2:20-21
I have come to realise that the most important thing, as I seek to grow in the gift of discernment, is to prepare and guard my heart, and to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in cleansing myself from those things that endanger the clarity and purity of His gift in my life.
Here are some qualities to seek after if you would like to grow in the spiritual gift of discernment:
1. Love for God
We need to have a passion for God and His intimate Presence. As I have said, the highest use of the gift of discernment is not to see what the enemy is doing, but to discern what the Spirit of God is doing.
When we love Him, we will desire to know His heart and to faithfully represent Him in the expression of our gift.
2. Love for People
There is a reason why 1 Corinthians 13—the love chapter—is sandwiched between Paul’s two chapters on spiritual gifts.
I realise now that it is vital I do not jump to conclusions about a person, situation or anything based on my perceived discernment without first moving into Jesus’ position of love.
When I step into judgement, I inevitably get it wrong. I grieve over times in the past when I have formed opinions about people based on ‘discernment’ and missed Divine appointments.
Love for people will also keep us in Christian community. Our gifts were never meant to operate in isolation but in the environment of a local church (1 Cor 12-14).
3. Faith.
I want to learn to respond in faith and not fear, no matter what I perceive taking place in the spiritual realm.
It is important for us to always look for God’s positive outcome, not just to focus on the negative. God’s plan is to overturn every strategy of the enemy! I want to grow in faith and to place increasing value on looking for His redemptive purposes in the things He allows me to see.
4. Humility ( Teachability)
I have learned to be open to being adjusted about my discernment and to present and release my insights with ‘no strings attached.’
We will not always have similarly-gifted people around us to guide us in our gift. Pastors and leaders who do not have the gift of discernment themselves may be leading us.
As with other prophetic ministry, our leaders will not always respond to or act upon our revelations. God has graced them with the ability to see the bigger picture and we need to trust Him—and our leadership—in their response.
Even when we have been misunderstood or unfairly treated, it is important to keep a right heart attitude. I know that these are the times that I have learned and grown the most in my gift and character.
4. Wisdom (Balance)
All revelationary gifts need to be balanced with wisdom. Wisdom instructs us how to share what we are receiving, and also when to share, or when to hold back and pray.
People who are ‘flaky’ in their gifts are usually those who do have a gift of discernment, but have not developed the wisdom to use and communicate the gift properly (another reason is not receiving instruction on how to operate in the ministry in a way that honours God and people).
5. Purity (Wholeness)
The things that cloud my discernment often relate to areas of past hurts or circumstances that I have not responded well to. I want to grow in wholeness, so that old fears, temptations, judgments and wrong beliefs lose their hold on me (Eph 4:22-24).
The degree to which I can see clearly, and be sensitive to how the Holy Spirit would have me respond, is the degree to which I become more like Jesus—having cooperated with His Spirit in experiencing restoration in my heart.
I am still a long way from seeing what God sees, and perceiving how He sees, but my desire is to draw ever closer to that place when I am reflecting Him in my heart, thoughts, life and gifts—and that includes the gift of discernment.
Now, gotta go pack my suitcase…..
[1] This is one reason why, as in all revelatory gifts, it is vital that whatever we perceive is given to the opportunity to be assessed by others who are leaders or mature in the gift of discernment. As Paul said, “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” 2 Cor 13:1-2
UNLOCKING THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT E-BOOK – *NEW!*
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Are you sensitive to what is taking place in the spiritual realm? Have you ever been adversely affected by a negative atmosphere?
You may have the spiritual gift of discernment.
The gift of discernment of spirits is a powerful weapon in times of spiritual warfare, and can be of great assistance when ministering freedom to individuals.
And yet many who have the gift of discernment have difficulty knowing what to do with what they are feeling or sensing.
(More details …)
For more e-books to develop your prophetic gifts and lead a supernatural christian life, visit our e-books page.
Related Posts:
8 Signs You May Have The Gift Of Discernment
8 Ways To Grow Your Gift Of Discernment
Hunger For God: 6 Ways You Can Stir It Up
6 Tips For Exercising The Gift Of Discernment In Church Life
© Helen Calder 2010 Enliven Publishing
Now on team with David McCracken Ministries
Advent is an important season in the Christian calendar. It consists of the weeks leading up to Christmas, which is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
