Entries tagged with “Holy Spirit”.
Did you find what you wanted?
Tue 27 Mar 2012
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
The Christian life is meant to be one of reliance upon God, where the life of His Spirit continually flows in and through us.
However we do not always remain intimately connected to Him. As a result we experience times of spiritual dryness. [1]
7 Ways to Combat Spiritual Dryness
If you recognise signs of spiritual dryness in your life, following are some ideas to help you recover:
1. Break the Blame Cycle
When we are working hard, serving or ministering in some capacity, it is easy to lay blame for our dryness outside of us.
We may place responsibility for our depletion upon our busyness, our circumstances, or on other people.
However, as long as we are waiting for our situation or other people to change, we are disempowering ourselves.
Know that you can do something about spiritual dryness—it is time to take ownership of your spiritual condition and your relationship with God.
2. Recognise Your Deepest Need
‘I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit…’ Isaiah 44:3
According to scripture, the answer to spiritual dryness is intimacy with God and a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit. Our need is for God Himself.
However, when spiritual dryness is related to Christian service or busy-ness, we often focus on external points of need:
- ‘I need a break’
- ‘I need help’
- ‘I need a change of responsibilities’
These needs may be genuine—and we should make definite plans to meet them. However, we should never ignore the real, underlying need:
‘I need to reconnect with God and be re-filled with His Spirit.’
3. Stop Deferring
A common response to spiritual dryness is to look beyond our present circumstances to some future time when we will have the space and opportunity to be refreshed.
This is the ‘I am waiting for…’ mindset:
- I am waiting for this busy season to be over—and then I will have time to spend with God
- I am waiting for assistance from another person
Let’s face it—circumstances may not change immediately. By continuing to put our spiritual needs on hold, we face the danger of moving from dryness to burnout.
Take action now. If you do not have a day, take an hour. If you do not have an hour, find a moment with God.
Sometimes, a moment is all it takes.
4. Reconnect with God
Jesus said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.” (John 7:37)
We need to do whatever it takes to get into a place where we encounter God. David spoke of this search in the Psalms:
‘As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?’ (Psalm 42:1-2)
For inspiration, recall previous times you have felt close to God or encountered Him in a significant way.
Acknowledge and repent of any areas of sin that the Holy Spirit brings to mind.
Recognise that you have a unique way of connecting with God. It may be through worship, or solitude, reflecting on Scripture, spending time with on-fire Christians, or taking time in the Great Outdoors. [2]
5. Ask God to Re-fill you
The best prayers are the simplest ones, such as
‘Father, fill me afresh with Your Spirit.’
In the book of Acts, when faced with persecution, the church knew that their greatest need was not for circumstances to change. It was for a fresh empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
In answer to their prayer, the Holy Spirit fell upon them and they were given boldness to speak, and power to serve God. (Acts 4:23-34)
6. Review and Re-Focus
Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing. No more, and no less. (John 5:19)
There were needs that He did not meet, because it was not in the Father’s timing or purpose for Him to do so.
Some traps we can fall into include believing that:
- Our role or ministry is indispensible
- No one else can do a job as well as we can
- Our work must always be done perfectly or at our own high standard (perfectionism)
Excellence honours God—but should never become more important than God.
If you can relate to this, I encourage you to review the story of Mary and Martha. [3]
7. Receive the Support of Others
In an extreme case of dryness, we need the help and support of others.
This may include:
- Being honest
- Asking for prayer
- Receiving assistance
In God’s Kingdom, this is not a sign of weakness, but of strength.
Your courage to align your life with God’s priorities will inspire others to do the same.
Do you have any more ideas for recovering from spiritual dryness that could help others? Do you have questions or experiences 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.
Notes:
See my earlier article, 7 Signs of Spiritual Dryness
[1] In this article I am specifically discussing spiritual depletion. However emotional, mental and physical fatigue can also occur, requiring additional needs to be met.
[2] For more thoughts on this, see
How To Discover Your Spiritual Pathway
Does Your Devotional Life Need Resuscitating?
How Using Your Learning Style Can Revitalise Your Bible Study
[3] I wrote an article about Mary and Martha here: The Most Important Decision You Can Make: 4 traps To Avoid in your Service for God
© 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
Wed 5 Oct 2011
Jacob was on the run from the murderous fury of his brother, Esau. It was twilight and he was in a strange land.
The journey being longer than the day, he lay down on the hard ground with a stone for a pillow.
There was nothing in Jacob’s life that indicated what would happen next. His past was a mess—his future seemed uncertain. His hope was that a relative in a distant place would give him refuge.
But that night, he dreamed of a stairway reaching from earth into heaven, upon which angels were ascending and descending.
Above the staircase stood Almighty God. He spoke to Jacob of the covenantal promises given to Abraham and Isaac, and now passed on to Jacob.
Jacob’s life was changed by the revelation of an open heaven above his life. [1] There was nothing he had done to deserve it. God’s favour towards Jacob was based on covenant, not on personal merit.
Jacob was an heir to the promises. And like Jacob, we are heirs of a covenant; not through anything we could achieve ourselves, but by grace, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
An Open Heaven: Our Inheritance
When Jesus was baptised, Mark tells us that the heavens were ‘torn open’ as the Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove. (Mark 1:10) [2]
Jesus lived and ministered under this open heaven. He was in touch with the Father at all times. Nothing was impossible. Demons fled, diseases were healed; even death could not stand in His way.
Heaven’s supernatural resources were made available to Jesus as He prayed and did what He saw the Father doing. (John 5:19)
When the veil tore open at Jesus’ crucifixion (Matt 27:51), the heavens were opened permanently for all who would believe in Him and become children of God—for Jesus Himself is the stairway to heaven. (John 1:51, John 14:6)
Then, on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God baptised the waiting believers. (Acts 2)
Everything that was available to Jesus to accomplish the Father’s will is also available to us today. Jesus would not say, ‘Follow Me,’ if that were not the case. Living under an open heaven is our inheritance, and it should be our expectation.
What is Available to us Through an Open Heaven?
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.
As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we can live in the constant awareness that nothing separates us from our Father and His resources.
Here are some things that the Bible reveals are available to us through an open heaven. I encourage you to look up and meditate on the following scripture verses.
1. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit
(Matt 3:16, Acts 2)
2. Provision and blessing
(Deut 28:12, Mal 3:10)
3. Salvation—Ourselves and Others
(Isaiah 45:8)
4. Prophetic Revelation and God’s Throne
(Exodus 24:9-11, Ezek 1:1)
5. Angelic activity in Response to God’s Command, bringing Supernatural Answers to Prayer
(Ps 103:129-21)
The House of God
Many Christians associate an open heaven primarily with angelic activity, however as we can see from above, that is just one aspect.
We need to guard against becoming preoccupied with angels. Jacob did not name the place where the heavens opened to him, ‘Dwelling of Angels.’ He named it Bethel, ‘House of God.’
The revelation he received of God that day was so profound that later God would re-introduce Himself to Jacob as ‘The God of Bethel.’
In another era and on another journey, Elisha had to pass a test in order to bear the mantle and authority of Elijah. Would he keep his eyes fixed on his spiritual father to the very end? Or would he be distracted by the brilliance of the glorious carriers—the chariots of God?
When the heavens opened to Stephen, Ezekiel and John, they saw the throne of God.
I want to have my focus on the throne—‘where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.’ (Col 3:1)
There is the source of our life, and our authority. There, we seek the Father’s will and directive, knowing that the resources of heaven—including the angelic hosts—are released at His word and by our partnership with Him in prayer.
As Jesus said,
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’” Matthew 6:9-10
The Glorious Revelation
A revelation of what Jesus has done in opening heaven to us will change the way we pray.
- It will change the way we see
- It will change the way we think and act
- We will be conscious of what Father is doing ‘NOW’ and the resources that are available to us ‘NOW’
- We will have confidence in exercising our authority
- Our faith will be increased
- We will live in constant expectation
We will live centred upon God.
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] You can read this story in Genesis 28.
[2] I recommend Bill Johnson’s message, ‘You Already have an Open Heaven.’ You can find it on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RULjmyJbQs8
Related Posts:
No Longer Waiting for Revival
ABC’s of the Kingdom of God
© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog
On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church
Mon 13 Jun 2011
As I write, it’s Pentecost Sunday—a time when many of us pause to remember and celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the church on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and reflect on what that means for us today.
I had been a Spirit-filled Christian for 20 years, and I thought I knew all there was to know about the Holy Spirit.
But then God showed up in unexpected places and revealed just how little I really knew.
The Box
Upon reflection, I can see that I had the Person and ministry of the Holy Spirit all wrapped up in a neat little package.
My ‘box’ was comprised mainly of two compartments—the role of the Spirit in my personal life, and His role in church life.
In the first, I knew the Holy Spirit as my Comforter, Helper, Teacher and Leader—the One sent to empower me in my Christian life. This is the Holy Spirit as revealed by Jesus in John chapters 14-16.
In the second compartment, I knew the Holy Spirit as the One who distributes spiritual gifts to the church (1 Cor 12:4-11). This expression of the Holy Spirit—in my experience back then—was largely confined to church meetings and church services and church life in general.
This second also included my expectation and joy of the Holy Spirit’s Presence being felt, and His power being manifested, in church meetings and church services. And as a prophetic worshipper, I particularly loved this aspect of the Spirit!
But then in 1995, some things began to happen for which I had no prior frame of reference.
Surprised by the Holy Spirit
At that time, The Hunk and I experienced a fresh encounter with God personally. Our love for Jesus overflowed as we sought to reach out to people around us with the good news of salvation.
The Holy Spirit showed up in our neighbourhood, moving amongst unchurched people—people who had never stepped inside of a church building.
- There were answers to prayer requests made on the behalf of non-Christians.
- There were Divine appointments—seemingly ‘coincidental’ meetings or circumstances that were clearly arranged by God to lead someone closer to faith in Jesus.
- One time, friends and I prayed for a neighbour in our living room. She fell to the ground, overcome by the power of the Spirit as she experienced God’s love. And she wasn’t even ready to give her life to Jesus.
- There was the guy we had been praying for who called us one night in alarm—he was physically feeling the power of the Holy Spirit and he wanted us to explain to him what was happening.
‘Why God—You’re Here!
One evening I was visiting a neighbour who did not know Jesus. In our conversation, I referred to the troubles and escapades of my younger years.
Surprised, she asked me what had taken place in my life to cause such a change in me.
I began to share my story—the testimony of how I came to faith in Jesus and the changes that happened in my life as a result.
Whilst I was talking to her, I noticed something taking place in the room. The manifest Presence of God—the anointing of the Holy Spirit—filled her lounge room.
I had never known such a thing. We weren’t in a church service. There was no worship taking place, no spiritual ambience at all.
In fact, we were in a dark house, which smelled of cigarettes and the family dog and had witch puppets hung around the walls.
On the outside, I was still talking, but on the inside, I wondered in amazement: ‘Why God—You’re here!’
The Holy Spirit of the Book of Acts
I realise now that although I knew the Holy Spirit personally, and experienced His ministry in church life—I did not know the Holy Spirit as He is revealed in the book of Acts and in the life and ministry of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit—like Jesus—has come to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). He loves people and wants to reach them in partnership with us.
When the Spirit came upon the waiting believers on the day of Pentecost, the manifestation of His arrival drew thousands of people from around the area.
When Peter shared the Gospel, 3,000 were saved as the Spirit caused conviction to rend their hearts.
The Holy Spirit didn’t just come for those in the upper room—He came for those who were outside of the room. And so it is today.
A Reservoir, or a River?
‘Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.’ John 7:38-39
As the years go by, and as The Hunk and I visit from church to church, we recognise that many Christians have a limited knowledge and experience of the Holy Spirit— similar to the ‘box’ I described above.
This is not surprising when you consider that there are two contexts in which we primarily teach on the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our churches today.
These are:
- Discipleship, where the infilling and baptism of the Spirit is taught in the context of spiritual growth
- Spiritual Gifts and ministry in the church
As a result, our personal lives and churches have become like reservoirs—we expect that thirsty people will come to us and drink. And we wonder where the crowds are.
But Jesus has called us to be releasers of the life of the Spirit—people and churches from whom the Spirit flows like a continuous river.
A River bringing transformation and life wherever we go—in our homes, in the streets, in our neighbourhoods, our schools and universities, in our workplaces, hospitals and supermarkets.
In our suburbs, our communities, our towns, cities, states, our nation and the nations of the world. (Acts 1:8)
This is the purpose of Pentecost.
And this is the vision I live for.
Notes:
Read more about this subject in the following posts:
The Greatest Evangelist In The World Today
The Secret Of Living An Undivided Christian Life
When Non-Christians Encounter God’s Power They Learn Of His Love
This article is related to my book, ‘How To Be A Supernatural Christian In Your Everyday World,’ a beginners’ guide to prophetic evangelism.
Find out more about the e-book here:
‘How To Be a Supernatural Christian In Your Everyday World’
Do you have any more ideas or thoughts on this topic? I 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.
© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog
On team with David McCracken Ministries
Mon 7 Mar 2011
Many years ago we had a regular prayer meeting in our home. One time, we were praying for The Hunk’s grandfather, who was lying seriously ill in his home in the South Island of New Zealand. Uncertain as to where Grandad stood in his relationship with God, we prayed for both his healing and his salvation.
As we prayed, my sister-in-law said she had a picture of angels ‘outside his bedroom window.’
Soon afterwards, we heard that Grandad was miraculously well again. He later shared with us that he had a vision of angels that came into his bedroom and surrounded his bed. Strength flowed back into his body.
After this experience, Grandad’s faith in Jesus became vibrant and unshakeable. He could not be dissuaded from the reality of his angelic encounter.
When we pieced the story together, we realised that the heavenly visitation had taken place at the time we had prayed.
The Power of Prayer for Loved Ones who Don’t Know Jesus
As Christian believers, we have the privilege of taking the names of those we care about before the very throne of God, the highest authority in heaven and earth. There, we can petition our Father to release heavenly resources on behalf of those we love.
Like presenting a cheque to our bank that has been made out to us, prayer draws on the resources that are available to you and me through the bank of heaven.
We have access to all that has been purchased by Jesus’ shed blood on our behalf, in Jesus’ Name.
God wants to draw people to Himself. He desires to release heavenly resources to do so. He wants to convict people by his Spirit. He is waiting for us to pray. He is waiting for us to simply ask, in Jesus’ Name.
What are some of these heavenly resources that are ours for the asking?
1. Prayer Releases the Spirit of God
In the book of Acts, the church was in prayer, and in response to that prayer there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. And in response to the outpouring of the Spirit, thousands of people came to know Jesus and were born again.
There are things that only the Spirit can do. Jesus said in John 16:8 that it is the Spirit of God who brings conviction to people, who reveals the truth. We can have all the right words, we have truth on our side, we can talk to people until we are blue in the face, but only the Holy Spirit can show them truth and cut through their consciences.
The great evangelist Billy Graham understood this principle. He writes,
‘I am always deeply conscious that I am absolutely helpless and that only the Holy Spirit can penetrate the minds and hearts of those that are without Christ. All I am doing is sowing seed. It is God—and only God—who can make the seed bear fruit… We stress that prayer is an indispensable element in preparation for a crusade, and we seek to organise in advance as many prayer meetings as possible. It is the mightiest force in the world.’[1]
2. Prayer Releases God’s Miraculous Power
In Acts 4:30 the church asked in prayer,
‘Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’
God responded to their prayer and in the following chapter we read, ‘The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people’ (Acts 5:12).
The Hunk and I see God do miraculous things in the lives of unbelievers that we have been praying for. The power of God is available to us through prayer. This was a prayer that the early Church prayed, and so can we.
3. Prayer Releases People into Ministry
In Luke 10:2 Jesus said to His disciples:
‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’
Through prayer, God will position people around your loved one at significant times who will be witnesses of Jesus to him or her. But know that the very act of asking is also enlisting, for in the next breath He said, “Go! I am sending you.” If we are praying, we must also be prepared to speak when the opportunity arises.
4. Prayer Prepares the Environment for the Sharing of the Gospel
Through prayer, God moves in our political, cultural and spiritual environment, preparing the way for the spread of the Gospel. [2] Through prayer, the Lord sets up circumstances in the lives of those we care about that will confront them with the truth of the Gospel. He can turn even difficult circumstances into opportunities for His grace.
We can participate with the Holy Spirit in prayer to set up Divine appointments. Like dominoes, people and circumstances move into place that will lead our loved ones closer towards a decision for Christ. I call these ‘God-incidences,’ although at the time they may seem like coincidences.
5. Prayer Releases Angelic help
‘Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?’ (Heb 1:14)
In Matt 26:53-54, Jesus said, ‘Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?’ In Acts 12, an angel broke Peter out of jail as the church was praying and asking God for his release. [3]
We have learned that God calls us to partner with Him through praying for His will to be accomplished ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’ The Psalmist reminds us that angels are the means that God uses to fulfil His plans. [4] When we pray, angels are activated into bringing about God’s purposes.
‘Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.’ (Ps 103:20-21)
[1] Billy Graham, Just As I Am, San Francisco : HarperCollins 1999
[2] 1 Tim 2:1-5
[3] Acts 12:6-13
[4] Psalm 103:20-21
See also, The Power Of Prophetic Prayer
The above article is excerpted from my e-book: Pray for the Lost: Impact the Eternal Destiny of Your Loved Ones Through Prayer.
Have you experienced any miraculous answers to prayer you would like to share with us? I would love to hear from you. Leave a note in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.
© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog http://propheticpeople.com/
Now on team with David McCracken Ministries
Wed 26 Jan 2011
The simple chorus, ‘He Is Lord,’ has been a popular praise song since my early days as a Christian.
My pastor led the song at our church staff meeting last week. It was my final meeting after being on team for nearly 7 years. [1]
In the context of saying farewell to a group that has been like family to me—in order to pursue God’s call to serve elsewhere—the chorus was a reminder of what Lordship means: hearing and obeying God (Luke 6:46).
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once [Peter and Andrew] left their nets and followed him. Matt 4:19-20
As Jesus call to His first disciples illustrates, His Lordship (leadership) means three things:
1. Relationship—and in particular, hearing His voice (in this context, receiving instruction)
2. Releasing—leaving our own agenda in favour of pursuing His priorities
3. Responding—acting in obedience to His word, His call, His will.
Jesus’ Lordship is more than making a one-time commitment to Him, and it is more than asking for His guidance for important decisions in our lives.
The meaning of ‘Lordship’ is that Jesus is our leader. We may call Him Lord, but for Him to actually BE Lord, that means we are following Him—on a moment-by-moment, and daily basis.
The Joy of Following Jesus
I have come to realise that responding to Jesus’ leadership is neither a hardship to be feared, nor a duty to perform.
In the past, I had trouble with the concept of Jesus’ Lordship, fearing Him to be a hard taskmaster, when He has actually promised me a life of rest and joy. (Matt 11:28-30, Rom 14:17) [2]
Now I know that Jesus’ Lordship means following Someone whom I love and want to be with more than anyone else in this world.
Jesus’ Lordship in Our Daily Lives
‘Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.’ Rom 8:14
Recently, I have been meditating on what it means to live a supernatural Christian life. The bottom line is this: empowered Christian living is about relationship.
Our life with God should not just be a devotional appointment, but a dynamic living relationship with Him.
He wants to speak to us: not just in the context of
- Personal prayer, Bible study and devotions, or
- Ministry at our church or from teaching elsewhere
but also as we go about our everyday lives.
He does this through the Holy Spirit, whom He has sent to help us know God’s will. (John 16:12-15)
The Leadership of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit lives in us, and wants to communicate the Father’s purposes to us.
As we follow His leading, we can live like Jesus did—seeing people around us changed and impacted by God’s love.
So, what does this look like in practical terms?
Firstly, we need to remember that the Spirit speaking to us is not like a person speaking.
When we talk about ‘hearing God’s voice,’ we are using an earthly expression to describe a heavenly concept. We simply do not have a framework to understand it.
You and I use words, speech and body language to communicate. However, the Holy Spirit has endless ways that He can communicate with us.
7 Ways the Holy Spirit can lead us in our Daily Lives
Over the past year, the Hunk and I have seen some amazing things happen in our lives and in those around us.
Here are some of the things we have learned to pay attention to, as we go about our daily living:
1. Living in the fruit of the Spirit
It is important to realise that we do not need special guidance to live in the fruit of the Spirit. (see Gal 5:16-25)
In other words, when a situation arises that provides us with an opportunity to respond in a loving (patient, joyful, etc) way, we can just do it—asking for His help.
2. A thought, or ‘urge’ from the Spirit
The Spirit leads us through ‘promptings.’
Sometimes these can be subtle. We may have an urge to go somewhere or speak to someone and it is only afterwards we realise it was the Spirit leading us.
At other times, He is leading us to do something other than what we have planned personally to do. When this happens we need to be intentional about obeying Him.
3. A Difficulty Arises.
When a problem occurs, whether it is in our lives, or in the life of someone around us, it is an opportunity to bring God in on the scene through prayer.
We need to become more familiar with responding to a need immediately with prayer. This may mean offering to pray for someone who has a need.
4. An Opportunity Presents Itself (Col 4:5-6)
This can include:
- An opening in conversation gives us an opportunity to share an aspect of our faith
- We have an opportunity to express God’s love through practical assistance when someone is in need.
‘Seize the Day.’
5. Divine Appointments
A Divine appointment looks like coincidence at first.
We can probe a ‘coincidental’ meeting to test whether the Lord has arranged it.
For example, you meet an acquaintance while out walking, or at the shops and you pause to greet him or her.
It may simply be an opportunity to quietly pray for them as you part ways. But if they express a desire to connect further, or share a problem they are facing—explore the opportunity.
6. Prophetic Revelation
Prophetic revelation can include such things as spiritual dreams, symbols, visions and words and thoughts from God. [3]
7. Unique Ways
Ultimately the ways you hear from God will be unique to you.
In the same way that the voice of a friend becomes familiar over time, as we grow in intimacy with God we learn to recognise His voice.
Even though it can be helpful to look out for the above things, don’t forget that the Spirit will speak to you and lead you in many different ways. It’s not about finding a formula, it is about relationship. [4]
Remember, too, that when it comes to matters of hearing from God, especially in relation to prophetic experiences and decision-making, it is vital to have accountability in place—safe people we can check our guidance with. We never ‘outgrow’ the need for Christian leadership and being in a healthy church community.
When we get it Wrong
‘Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?’ (Luke 6:46)
We won’t always get hearing and obeying God’s voice right. I know that I often miss opportunities to respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading.
When this happens, I can confess my shortfall, receive God’s forgiveness, and move on, secure in His love.
Our walk with God is not one of perfection, but of grace (Rom 8:1-4). What is important is that our hearts are open to respond to Him and to grow in this area.
Do you have any experiences to share on being led by the Spirit in your everyday life? I would love to hear from you. Leave a note in the comments box below.
If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.
Notes:
[1] From 1 February 2011, I will be on the ministry team at David McCracken Ministries. You can read about it here: http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2011/01/20/annnouncement-and-article-by-david-mccracken/
(and yes, while there is a little bit of sadness at letting go of my previous role, there’s a whole lot of joyful anticipation at what is to come. Thank You Jesus!)
[2] This response can be a sign that we are still struggling with an ‘orphan mindset,’where we don’t comprehend who we are or Whose we are. You can read more about it here:
http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2010/11/04/breaking-free-from-an-orphan-mindset/
[3] You can read more about receiving prophetic revelation in the following posts:
http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2009/11/14/how-to-exercise-your-prophetic-gift-pt-2-how-to-receive-a-revelation-from-god/
http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2010/07/27/how-to-recover-the-wonder-of-hearing-gods-voice/
[4] Here is a post about having an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit:
http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2010/11/23/how-you-can-have-an-intimate-relationship-with-the-holy-spirit/
© Helen Calder 2011
Enliven Publishing
http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/
Thu 20 Jan 2011
Posted by Helen Calder under Faith
[4] Comments
Important Announcement from Helen Calder
Dear friends,
It is a great pleasure for me to announce some changes taking place in my ministry.
From 1 February 2011, I will be joining the ministry team at David McCracken Ministries.
I will continue blogging, and there will be no changes to those of you who are receiving the blog articles direct to your inbox by Feedburner.
You may see some gradual changes in the presentation of my website to reflect my new role, so keep an eye out for these over the next few months.
I encourage you to check out the David McCracken Ministries website and get to know the team, mission and vision, as well as the wide range of resources that are available.
If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to leave a comment at the bottom of this post. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.
In the meantime, following is a brilliant article written by David McCracken that will strengthen your faith as you step into 2011. Be blessed!
Steps of Courage
By David McCracken
Does receiving the promise and instructions make you a possessor of the land?
The answer is, of course, that it does not. In Joshua 1:3 God tells the Israelites that they will have to tread upon the land before it actually becomes theirs.
“Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you”
As Peter the fisherman of old found out, to walk upon the water requires one getting out of the boat and placing one’s security firmly in the faithfulness and integrity of the Lord. Hope must be demonstrated in order to become living faith. We will never possess that which we have not “walked upon”.
What does this mean in practical terms? It means to have sufficient inner confidence in what God has told you to do, that you take tangible and deliberate steps towards seeing it become a reality. Not steps that can be easily reversed with a minimum of cost and concern, but steps that have the feeling of “going beyond the point of no return” about them.
I never cease to marvel at what some people call a “step of faith”. They have carefully weighed up the facts and predictable statistics; they have calculated the possibilities of success or failure; they have arranged all potential areas of backup. Having then diligently reduced all possibility of failure to zero and put in place security nets for every contingency, they step out in “faith”.
Friends, unless it is impossible humanly, we don’t even need a miraculous intervention! And God does not respond when He simply is not needed.
When Peter, in Matthew 14:29, stepped out of that boat on to that tormented, storm-driven sea, it was neither logical nor sensible. It was the simple act of obedience to the voice of the Master that said “Come!”. There was no tipping one’s toe in to see what would happen, just the abandonment of one that had clearly heard the King’s command.
That is the simplicity of true faith. It is obedience to a clear word of command. It is that illogical, irrational, almost reckless courage that doesn’t consider the challenges long enough to be daunted by them.
However, let me stress that it is not superficial and irresponsible presumption. It is not some whimsical, pride-driven thought of doing something spectacular. It is neither for the carnal nor the prayerless; it is for those who have received a creative word born out of their intimacy with God in prayer.
True faith is that Holy Ghost inspired word that can transform even the most timid of heart into a hero of faith.
Now consider: James 2:20 “Faith without works is dead!”
Faith is a conviction that produces action. Without action it remains but mental assent; and mental assent without consequent action is, in fact, disobedience.
To acknowledge that one has had a word from God but to do nothing about it is an act of unbelief that questions the integrity of the God that gave you that word. It declares loudly that our God may be good at giving commands but unpredictable in His faithfulness. This, of course, is not so. He is utterly dependable in all matters of character; including His faithful provision for all that He has asked you to do.
I remember the first time that he challenged Margaret and I on a major missionary step of faith.
We had responded many times to missionary faith challenges in the past but always as pastors of a local church. When God challenged, we knew we could count on the collective faith and giving of the congregation. This time it was to be different. We were no longer pastoring a church but were, ourselves, itinerant ministries relying on God for His daily provision.
Whilst in prayer early one morning, I felt the Lord clearly say that Margaret and I were to go to Tanzania, East Africa and get the pastors of the different churches and denominations together in a place called Arusha.
With Margaret’s confirmation, we acted upon this and contacted the local missionary who informed us that the leaders would not gather together unless we paid for all their expenses to do so. We were talking about all conference costs, food costs for the several days, and even reimbursement of some travel costs. We were talking about a large sum of money! We estimated about 100 people would attend and committed ourselves on that basis.
Have you ever discovered that sometimes God gets you over the line of obedience before actually revealing the fuller picture of what He has in mind? Well, this was such a case.
A short time after our initial commitment, I received the e-mail to say that the number had now grown to over a hundred and fifty! Did we wish to proceed? Well, had God spoken or not? Was His faithfulness in any way restricted to a certain number? We told them “Yes, go ahead!”
Then came the next e-mail. The number had grown to 200! How did we feel about the zeroes that were being added to the budget?!! Then the next e-mail. It was now over 400!
We were already out of the boat believing the Lord to miraculously provide for 100 or 200, why not 400! We were utterly sunk if He didn’t come through either way. We said “Yes, proceed with as many as you can get there!”
We committed to send the first amount of finance on a certain date and booked our airfares with our Visa. And we prayed! Not religiously toned, well cultured, articulate, intelligent prayers; but more like “God heeeellllp!!” Not in anxiety or panic but with an incredible excitement and anticipation. Not “if” but simply “how”.
To cut a long story short, the phone began to ring, the letters began to arrive, people felt led to come and see us. In it all came. The last $2000 came in the day before we flew out to East Africa! God is a God of the eleventh hour.
The conference and the entire trip turned out to be a miraculous time of intervention for that region, with ongoing fruit to this very day.
That was but one of such trips and similar challenges of financial impossibilities that the Lord has led us through. In over 35 years of God-reliant ministry we have never had to be a day late in payment of an account due to finances. Now, that is a God of faithfulness! Like Joshua of old, we must be those who have forged a non-negotiable conviction concerning the integrity of God.
There will never be a time when stepping out in true faith does not cause a sense of trembling within. As one highly decorated war veteran said at a rally I attended: “true courage is not the absence of fear, it is the conquering of that fear”.
I have been in this spiritual war now for about 42 years and I still get those “butterflies” in the stomach when God challenges me to put aside the logic and simply step out in obedience. Hey! Sometimes those butterflies inside feel like eagles!
But, my friend, eagles [and butterflies] are born to fly! And that is what obedient faith does: it releases you from the gravitational pull of humanity and logic, and empowers you to fly above them, lifted by the fresh wind of The Holy Spirit in your heart.
© David McCracken Ministries, 2008, 2011
http://www.davidmccracken.org/
Used with permission
Tue 4 Jan 2011
Over the last couple of weeks I have been praying about a word of encouragement for my readers.
As I have done so, I have been continually drawn back to the words:
‘Year Of Visitation.’
At first, I hesitated. The words, ‘Year of Visitation’ were already familiar to me.
You see, this past year so many extraordinary things had taken place for The Hunk and me, that as the year was drawing to a close, I dubbed 2010, ‘Year Of Visitation.’
To be honest, this was a bit scary. How do you follow up a year like we have had? I found myself being lured back into an ‘orphan mindset.’ [1] I was being tempted to fear that in 2011 the Presence and work of God in our lives would wane.
Thankfully, as I have prayed for you, the Spirit has also lovingly addressed and corrected my own thinking.
Divine visitation should not be the exception; instead, it should be our expectation as we approach the New Year.
You and I can have a ‘Year Of Visitation’ in 2011. The key lies in understanding what that means, and positioning for it in faith.
Visitation from God is a Biblical Concept
When God visits, supernatural breakthroughs occur. Prophetic words are fulfilled, seasons are shifted and new things are brought to birth [2]. Jesus gets the glory.
So—what does it mean, Biblically, to have a season of visitation from God? And how can we position ourselves for it?
Following are 6 of the times that the Bible tells us God visited His people.
As you read these accounts, there may be one or two that particularly resonate with you. If that happens, allow the Spirit of God to ignite faith in your heart, that His Word will be fulfilled in your life in the coming year.
1. Fulfilment of Prophecy & Removal of Barrenness
‘And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken.’ (Gen 21:1) [3]
A visitation of God broke the long season of barrenness in Sarah’s life, resulting in fulfilment of prophecy and the birth of Isaac, whose name meant ‘laughter.’
2. Recognising God Has Seen our Pain and Come to Act on Behalf of His People
‘When they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.’ Ex 4:31
A visitation of God broke the long season of Israel’s bondage in Egypt. They realised God had not left them alone in their suffering, but was intimately concerned for them. His power was about to be revealed.
3. Divine Help And Provision
‘ Then [Naomi] arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread.’ (Ruth 1:6)
A visitation of God broke a long season of famine in Bethlehem, Judah.
The rumour of God’s goodness reached Naomi, who was estranged and widowed in the country of Moab. God’s visitation impacted her personally as her inheritance and family line was restored.
4. Restoration of Inheritance and Homecoming
‘For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.’ (Jer 29:10)
A visitation of God broke the long season of Judah’s exile, and they returned to Jerusalem at His appointed time.
5. The Ultimate Visitation—Jesus
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people…the Dayspring from on high has visited us” (Luke 1:68,78)
In the New Testament, Zacharias understood that the ultimate visitation of God to His people was fulfilled in the birth of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
6. Outpourings of the Holy Spirit
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” (Acts 3:19)
From the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 and throughout church history, we understand visitations of the Holy Spirit to be times of outpouring, bringing refreshing and empowering to God’s people.
3 Ways To Position For Divine Visitation
When God moves on our behalf, or in the lives of others around us, it is not because we deserve it—it is on the basis of Jesus’ shed blood, and the Father’s favour and mercy.
We cannot earn His visitation—however, we can position ourselves to enter into what the Father wants to do.
As you will see, the key to 2011 being a ‘Year Of Visitation’ lies in our relationship with God.
1. Understand God’s Timing
The primary key to experiencing Divine visitation lies in understanding the timing of God for our lives.
In each of the above situations in scripture, it was God’s time to act. For example:
- Sarah’s pregnancy with Isaac
- The four hundred years in Egypt come to its conclusion
- The seventy years in Babylon completed
- The birth of Jesus
You may know that there are two Greek words for time in the New Testament: The first is ‘chronos.’ This refers to ‘clock time’ or ‘calendar time.’ It is the word used for general time. [4]
The second Greek word for time is ‘kairos.’ Kairos means ‘due time, a fixed time, a season, or an OPPORTUNE time.’
A pregnancy is a great example of the two types of time. Approximately 9 months of ‘chronos’ time pass. But the moment comes when it is time to give birth. That moment is ‘kairos’—the due time.
God always desires to bring people closer to Himself, to fill us with His Spirit, to act on our behalf.
But we also need to see as Jesus did, what the Father is doing ‘now.’ (John 5:19)
Jesus always walked in the kairos time of God—and we can too.
Here are some arenas you might like to seek God for His kairos timing both now and throughout the coming year.
Ask, “Father, what are You doing in these areas?”
- A fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit
- An area of your life that needs breakthrough
- Family members and relationships
- Non-Christians that are around your life
- A shift of season
Prayer journaling is a great way to communicate with Him and record His response. [5]
2. Pray in the Season of Visitation
‘You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.’ (Jer 29:13)
When God spoke these words to Judah, He was saying, in effect, ‘When the kairos time comes for Me to deliver you, you will seek Me—and I will answer and deliver you.’ (see Jer 29:10-14)
The prophet Zechariah put this well when he said,
‘Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain.’ Zech 10:1
The prophet was saying, when it’s God’s kairos time, pray!
When we pray, we acknowledge that we cannot fulfil God’s plan through our own efforts. We need His help.
When that prayer is answered, Jesus gets the credit for what takes place.
3. Participate With God Through Acts of Obedience
When we have prayed, it is time look for ways to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. We want to participate with God in His work.
If God asks us to do something specific, an act of obedience can bring a powerful breakthrough.
Goliath was killed by the word of the Lord AND by a stone from David’s sling (1 Samuel 17). God provided food for a widow and her son, but first, she had to give away the last of what she had to Elijah (1 Kings 17:7-16).
Sometimes, however, it is not about doing anything except simply receiving—equally an act of obedience.
There are times to contend, and there are also times to just open our hands and say, ‘Thank you Lord.’
For we are His sons and daughters, and what we receive from Him, we receive by inheritance.
Through our relationship with God, we can experience the ongoing visitation of God in our lives—to move from visitation to habitation.
This is the desire of my heart. Is it yours?
Do you have any thoughts or experiences to share on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the space below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.
Notes and Related Posts:
[1] An orphan mindset is ‘Fatherless thinking.’ I share about this in the following post:
Breaking Free From An Orphan Mindset
[2] Our friend Steve McCracken from David McCracken Ministries has said: “The two phrases I am feeling for 2011 are a year of achievement and a
year of new things. I believe it is to be a year of firsts.”
[3] These scriptures are all quoted in the New King James Version (NKJV)
[4] VINE, M.A. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. 1985. Virginia: MacDonald.
An example of ‘chronos’ is in Matt 2:7. ‘Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time (chronos) the star had appeared.’
An example of ‘kairos’ is in Gal 6:9. ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time (kairos) we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’ (See also 2 Cor 6:1-2)
[5] For an explanation and examples of prayer journaling, see the following post:
Activate Your Prophetic Gift Through Prayer Journaling
© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Publishing
http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/
Now on team with David McCracken Ministries
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
Wed 8 Dec 2010
Who is the greatest Christian evangelist in the world today?
Do I hear someone say, ‘Billy Graham,’ or ‘Reinhard Bonnke?’
The greatest evangelist on earth today is the Holy Spirit, and He lives inside of you and me [1] (John 14:17).
The Fullness of the Holy Spirit
I want to know and experience the Holy Spirit in His fullness—not just in part. This means embracing all He is and everything He has come to do in and through me.
The Holy Spirit empowers us and aids us in living the Christian life. He provides spiritual gifts for ministry; He is our Comforter, Helper, Teacher and Guide.
However, the disciples did not only receive Him as Helper. They also received Him as the One who would empower them to witness—share the good news of salvation and lead people to Jesus (Acts 1:8).
When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, He announced His arrival with wind and fire… and with 3,000 people turning to faith in Jesus Christ. (Acts 2:41)
Power From On High
It was October 1994, and I was reading Charles Finney’s book, ‘Power From On High.’ [2] In his commentary on the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1-2), Finney wrote:
‘We have the same promise that they had… Let us, then… accept the commission; fully consecrate ourselves, with all that we have, to the saving of souls as our great and our only life work. Let us go to the altar with all we have and are, and lie there and persist in prayer until we have received the enduement.’
I recorded in my journal:
‘I was greatly struck by Finney’s comment that our ‘life work’ is the saving of souls. Like so many others, I have considered this to be someone else’s lifework and not my own. If this IS true (and I believe it is), then there are great ramifications.
Have I accepted Christ’s commission as my own commission? Dare I?
If I have not accepted the appointing, how can I expect the anointing?
My reflections on Finney’s work coincided with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our church and upon us. At that time I was set free from three years of emotional and physical pain—but the impact of the Spirit’s visitation did not stop there.
The tangible Presence of the Spirit on our lives and in our home spilled over to our neighbourhood. The Hunk and I saw salvation and miracles happen in the lives of people around us as a result.
As I look back on this past year of 2010, I see the same pattern. An outpouring if the Spirit on our personal lives has resulted in the drawing of people around us to Jesus.
The Holy Spirit Loves and Leads People to Jesus
The Holy Spirit is intimately involved in the process of salvation.
In the same way that the Spirit hovered over the waters at creation, He is at work, moving unseen in the lives of those of people around us who do not yet know Jesus. (Gen 1:2; 2 Cor 5:17)
The heart of the Holy Spirit is that of Jesus, who came to ‘seek and save the lost’. (Luke 19:10)
The heart of the Spirit is that of the Father, whose desire that no person perish moved Him to send and sacrifice His Son. (John 3:16, 2 Peter 3:9)
The Spirit of God loves people passionately and indiscriminately.
4 Ways that the Holy Spirit Helps in Evangelism are:
1. By testifying to people of the Gospel’s truth (John 15:26, Acts 5:30-32)
2. By confirming the message of salvation through answers to prayer—signs, miracles and the operation of spiritual gifts (Heb 2:4, Rom 15:19)
3. By bringing conviction that leads people to repentance (1 Thess 5, John 16:8)
4. By empowering Christians to be witnesses (Acts 1:8, Luke 24:46-49)
The Holy Spirit empowers ordinary Christian believers to be witnesses, but He also directly impacts the hearts of people who need salvation, convincing them of their sin and need for a Saviour.
Our prayers, our faith, and our actions help determine whether or not the Spirit is released to do His work.
What if you are not Gifted in Evangelism?
Maybe, like me, you would say that you are not gifted in the area of evangelism.
It is true that there is a gift and an office of evangelist (Eph 4:11, 2 Tim 4:5). An evangelist is empowered and called to make evangelism a primary focus of their ministry, as well as to equip the church for evangelism.
Can someone who does not a have a spiritual gift of evangelism be an effective witness?
Here’s the ultimate test: can an introverted, prophetic-intercessor-type person like me lead people to Jesus?
Evangelism may not be my personal strength, but my Divine Partner, the Holy Spirit, is the greatest evangelist in the world today.
- I am also a part of a Christian community that shares my passion to bring people to Jesus.
I have discovered that my inability is not a handicap to the Holy Spirit. The pressure is off. Instead of striving, I need only focus on cooperating with the Spirit, as He loves and leads people to Jesus.
How can we Partner with the Holy Spirit in Evangelism?
Here are some keys that can help:
1. Be filled with the Spirit
If you have already been baptised in the Holy Spirit, pray for a fresh infilling (Acts 4:24-31)
2. Acknowledge the evangelistic role of the Holy Spirit and take time to reflect on what that can mean for you and the lives of people around you
3. Recommit to being a witness—sharing the good news about what Jesus has done for you with people around your life
4. Pray for those around you who don’t know Jesus and believe that the Spirit is at work in answer to your prayers
5. Watch out for Divine appointments. Look for what the Holy Spirit is doing in people around you and simply cooperate with Him.
If you you have any thoughts 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.
Notes:
[1] This statement is made to my Christian readers who have been ‘born again by the Spirit of God.’ (See Titus 3:4-17) If you are not sure whether this relates to you, here is a great resource:
http://www.allaboutgod.com/become-a-christian.htm
[2] Power From On High, Charles Grandison Finney (1792-1875). The book can be viewed here:
http://www.ccel.org/ccel/finney/power.html
Related Posts:
A Beginner’s Guide To Prophetic Evangelism Part 1
How You Can Have An Intimate Relationship With The Holy Spirit
You Don’t Need A Special Gift To Be A Supernatural Christian
Pentecost: How God Exploded My Box
© Helen Calder 2010 Enliven Publishing http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/
Now on team with David McCracken Ministries
Tags: Charles Finney, Conviction, Evangelism, Evangelist, Gospel, Holy Spirit, Pentecost, Repentance, Salvation, Spiritual Gifts, Witness
Tue 30 Nov 2010
Posted by Helen Calder under Prayer
[2] Comments
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” (Luke 11:1)
What comes to mind when you think about the word ‘prayer’?
Some reasons that many people struggle with the concept of prayer include:
- Prayer has become a religious term in our culture today
- We have a preconceived idea as to what kind of activity prayer involves and we can’t relate to that activity
- We may associate prayer with a group or person in the church who seem very spiritual and don’t think that we could ever be like that
- We feel inadequate when it comes to prayer.
The great news is—prayer is simple and you can be yourself with God!
The Journey Of Prayer
Prayer is a bit like Jesus inviting you into a mansion to spend time with Him. You enter one room, and its treasures captivate you. You could spend months there—and you do.
Gradually you realise that there are other rooms to explore with the Lord that contain different wonders. When you are ready, you can investigate them.
To help you get started on this exciting journey, or to reflect on what more might be available to you, here are 4 essential types of prayer:
1. Relating Prayer
The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend (Ex 33:11).
In the relating type of prayer, we approach God as our friend.
Just as in any relationship, you can choose whether or not you relate at a surface level or whether you will trust enough to disclose the real issues in your heart.
Sometimes people hold back from doing this because they think that God knows everything about them anyway, so why tell Him how they feel? However, God wants to share an intimate relationship with us—He wants us to tell Him what is really going on inside.
Relating with God also includes dealing with anything that might get in the way. This means:
- Forgiving anyone who has hurt you or done you wrong (Mark 11:25) and
- Repenting of any sin—wrong thoughts, acts or attitudes in your life (Matt 6:12).
We can also take time to thank Him for what He has done through Jesus and in our lives, just as we would thank a friend for something they have done.
As with any friendship, meaningful communication in prayer is not just one way. Besides talking to God, we can also listen to what He is saying. This is where journaling can be beneficial, as it enables us to keep a record of what God is saying to us.
2. Requesting Prayer
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Phil 4:6)
In this kind of prayer, we relate to God as our Father. (Matt 7:9-11)
Prayer is where transactions are made that will bring about needed change in your life and in the lives of those you care about.
The Bible calls this ‘petition.’ This is where we make requests about people and needs that concern us. We are looking for God’s help and intervention. We ask in Jesus name. (John 15:16, John 16:23-26)
Through relating prayer and studying the Bible, we discover God’s plans for our lives. In requesting prayer, we ask for His plans to come to fruition. (John 15:7, 1 John 5:14-15)
3. Receiving Prayer
‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.’ (John 7:37)
Here, we relate to God as our Source—our life-giver and baptiser in the Holy Spirit
This type of prayer is not focused on tasks or requests, but is about enjoying and benefiting from God’s presence. Ps 91:1, Ps 63:1-8
Receiving prayer enables you to be refreshed and filled with the Holy Spirit. It includes:
- Personal times of worship or adoration (having accompanying music can help but is not necessary)
- Positioning yourself to receive a fresh infilling of His Spirit
- Enjoying God’s presence without agenda
Like intimate friends or family members who can enjoy each other’s company in silence, you do not always have to talk to God. In receiving prayer, your relationship has moved beyond the place where you have to fill it with words.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)
Our natural tendency in our busy, service-oriented life is to downgrade the importance of this kind of prayer. However, it is a vital way to receive power to live the Christian life. Placing yourself in a position to be receiving from God in prayer may be the most unselfish thing you can do.
4. Ruling Prayer
‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ (Matt 6:10)
In this kind of prayer, we relate to God as King.
Ruling prayer is where we discover and use the authority God has given us as His sons and daughters.
We remember that God is and has the ultimate authority. We praise Him for who He is, and the power that He has.
We then step up to use the authority God has given us in the name of Jesus. We get bold, reminding the Lord of His promises and declaring His Word for our lives. We speak out scriptures and prophetic promises that have personal meaning and application.
In ruling prayer, we are saying we are not putting up with the status quo of circumstances and our enemies. We can address forces of darkness, resisting Satan’s plans for our lives, or the lives of others (Eph 6:10-18). We exercise spiritual warfare.
The benefit of this type of prayer is that it helps us grow in our spiritual authority. Through ruling prayer, we can shift situations where others or we have become immobilised. It helps us break through to a better place.
If this kind of prayer is new to you, trying it with others might be helpful (Matt 18:18-19). Remember it is okay to write out prayers and proclamations and to read them when you are learning.
Questions to Consider
Note that although I have identified these as four distinct types of prayer, they can be used together. Here are some questions to reflect on:
- Which type of prayer are you most familiar with?
- Which type of prayer are you least familiar with?
- Which types of prayer could you focus on to bring positive change or refreshment in your devotional life?
For Further Study:
Would you like the opportunity to study these 4 types of prayer further in a small group setting? Review my e-book here:
Encounter God: Change Your World Through Prayer
This study will also take your group through basic training on how to pray for each other for healing and other needs.
Related Posts:
Prophetic Prayer Training Session
Pray For Those You Love And Unleash The Power Of God
© Helen Calder 2010 Enliven Publishing
Now on team with David McCracken Ministries
If you have any thoughts or experiences to share on the topic of ways in which we can pray, 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.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
