‘The Lord… leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.’ (Psalm 23:2-3)

Recently during our team’s regular time of worship and prayer, I had an unusual vision.

I saw a wide river, with smooth waters. Alongside, following the course of the water, tall pipes stood from the riverbank. I recognised them as being those of a pipe organ.

The Pipe Organ

The pipe organ is a magnificent instrument. Yesterday, The Hunk and I saw and heard one in action at St Paul’s Cathedral here in Melbourne, Australia.

The secret of the pipe organ lies hidden below the pipes—a reservoir filled with pressurised air.

As the hand of the organist selects a note, the corresponding pipe receives a burst of wind, producing a glorious sound.

Vibrations—waves of sound—pour out through the pipes, into the air. All who are within hearing distance can enjoy and respond to them. [1]

The Father’s call to Intimacy

‘A white-tailed deer drinks from the creek; I want to drink God, deep draughts of God. I’m thirsty for God-alive.’ (Psalm 42:1, MSG)

The Father is calling us to spend time with Him—with no agenda except to know Him and to be known by Him.

In that place of intimacy He fashions and shapes our hearts, tuning them with His own desires. In that place of communion, He refills us with His Holy Spirit.

The New Sound

‘He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.’ (Psalm 40:3)

Just as the pipes of the organ are filled with a burst of air that has only one place to go—outwards—as we spend time in intimacy with God, His Spirit fills us to overflowing.

Then, ‘we cannot help but speak of what we have seen and heard.’ (Acts 4:20)

• This new sound is, for some of us, a renewed testimony of God’s goodness as we encounter Him.

• For others, it is a fresh revelation of God—His love, His power, His mercy. As we pass it on, it brings life, healing and hope to those we encounter.

• For those of us who are in prophetic ministry, it is God’s message, crafted in us, then resonating through us. [2]

Returning to Intimacy

Sometimes, we do not take significant time apart with God because we are busy. We may even be spiritually dry.

And yet, we should prize God’s intimate Presence and anointing above all else. (Ps 51:11)

Have you lost the freshness of your close relationship with God?

God is always present with us. (Matt 28:20) However, just as Jesus took time apart with the Father, so can we. (Mark 1:35, 6:46)

Time spent alone with God is life giving. You can start by rediscovering the unique ways that you connect with Him. [3]

The picture of intimacy with God beside still waters has particular significance to me, as I connect with God best through spending time outdoors—especially where I can walk alongside water, be it a lake, a reservoir, or the sea.

Today, I encourage you to take a moment to meditate on this—listen to God’s personal call to you. Allow His Spirit to awaken the hunger for His Presence in your life.

God is calling us to take time apart in intimacy with Him—and as we do so, a new sound will resonate from our lives and ministries, reaching the hearts of many.

Notes:

[1] Information about the pipe organ can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipe_organ and http://www.aucklandorgan.org.nz/tour/how-it-works

[2] In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul uses the following example:

‘Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you.’ (1 Cor 14:6-9a)

[3] See the following posts for thoughts about how you can uniquely connect with God:

How To Discover Your Spiritual Pathway

How Using Your Learning Style Can Revitalise Your Bible Study

Related Posts:

Hunger For God: 6 Ways You Can Stir It Up

How You Can Have An Intimate Relationship With The Holy Spirit

Do you have some thoughts to share about intimacy with God? Leave a comment in the comments box. If it is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

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

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

The book of Ezekiel contains many passages of scripture that are beloved to Christians today. These include the vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezek 37) and the river of life and healing flowing from the temple. (Ezek 47)

An unexpected source of inspiration, however, can be drawn from the life of the prophet himself.

4 Valuable Lessons from the life of Ezekiel:

1. The Horizons of our Lives may Change

Sometimes in life, the long-term view we have of our lives—the future we believe God has laid out for us—changes unexpectedly:

• A ministry opportunity does not eventuate or is cut short
• Someone dear is removed from us or becomes dependent upon us
• A relationship, in family, friendship or ministry breaks down
• An unexpected pregnancy, or change in health
• A relocation that is unforeseen
• A protracted season of waiting.

As a Levite and member of a priestly family, the young Ezekiel was brought up with the expectation that he would one day serve in God’s Temple. His whole life pointed to the purpose of ministering before God. (Ezek 1:3)

However, when he was a young man of around 23 years old, he was taken captive from Judah, along with King Jehoachin and many others. (Ezek 33:21)

The horizon of Ezekiel’s life suddenly changed. Relocated in Babylon, he seemed destined to lead the ordinary life of an exile. And during the next few years, he married and settled in his own home near the river Chebar.

However, God was not finished with Ezekiel.

On an extraordinary day in Ezekiel’s 30^th year—the very age he would have been when he began service in the temple at Jerusalem—the heavens opened. Ezekiel received visions from God and his prophetic ministry began. [1]

When the horizons of your life change, the future is already in your Father’s hands. You can trust in the Sovereignty of God and His Divine positioning of your life.
No change takes Him by surprise, and there is nothing He cannot redeem.

2. Honour Those who have Gone Before

One of the notable things about Ezekiel’s ministry is the parallel between his prophecies and those of Jeremiah.  For example:

• The responsibility of individuals for their own sin (Jer 31:29-30, Ezek 18:2-31)
• Evil shepherds replaced by a righteous King of David’s descent (Jer 23:1-6, Ezek 34:1-24)
• The two unfaithful sisters Israel and Judah (Jer 3:6-11, Ezek 23:1-49)
• A new spiritual nature (Jer 31:33-34, Ezek 11:19-20, 36:25-29) [2]

It is evident that Ezekiel was familiar with Jeremiah’s teaching. Perhaps he heard Jeremiah preaching at the temple in his youth. Or maybe he had copies of Jeremiah’s writings in exile.

Beyond the evidence we can see an attitude—one of honour. And God was able to bless and multiply Ezekiel’s ministry, using him to prophesy to generations to come, because he found a man He could trust. In Ezekiel, God found someone who would faithfully build upon the foundations of another man of God for the hour—the Prophet Jeremiah.

Their ministry overlapped and their prophecies complemented each other.

Today, God is looking for those who will embrace God-given spiritual fathers and mothers; to learn from them, serve them, honour them and harmonise with them.

He is looking for those to whom He can entrust His message—those who will build faithfully upon the foundations of those who have gone before.

3. Yield to the Holy Spirit

Ezekiel is known as ‘the Prophet of the Holy Spirit.’

Again and again, the Holy Spirit is mentioned in conjunction with Ezekiel’s prophetic experiences:

• As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me. (Ezek 2:2)
• Then the Spirit lifted me up (Ezek 3:2, 3:14, 8:3, 11:1 etc)
• Then the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me (Ezek 11:5 NKJV)
• He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. (Ezek 37:1)

Ezekiel was dependent upon the Holy Spirit for his ministry and his life was marked by intimacy with the Spirit. God entrusted him with remarkable visions and experiences.

Ezekiel reminds us that intimacy with the Holy Spirit is foundational to our lives and ministries and is to be treasured and cultivated above all.

4. Be Faithful and Leave the Results to God

‘Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them. So when it comes to pass—as surely it will—then they will know that a prophet has been in their midst.”’ (Jer 33:32)

Ezekiel was called to prophesy God’s word to a generation that would not change its lifestyle and to people whose hearts would remain hardened. (Ezek 2:3-7)

Ezekiel ministered to an audience of One. He was faithful to speak all that God gave him to speak and to minister for the approval of God alone.

Like Ezekiel, there are times in our lives when we cannot see the visible results or fruit of our service and efforts for God.

Perhaps those to whom we are ministering fail to express gratitude towards us—or perhaps they do not appreciate or receive us at all. Maybe, as happened with Ezekiel, they make a show of enjoying our teaching or message, but do not follow through with changed lives.

When this happens, like Ezekiel, we must remember Who we serve. What matters at the end of each day is to hear His words resounding in our spirits: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matt 25:21)

Then, leave the results to Him.

‘God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.’ (Heb 6:10)

Ezekiel’s life and ministry reminds us that no matter what happens, the strength of God will help us to stand in the toughest of times. For the very name Ezekiel means, ‘God Strengthens’ or ‘God is Strong.’

Notes:

[1] Ezekiel 1:1, Numbers 4:3.

Note this was also the age at which Jesus began His ministry. Ezekiel can be seen as a type of Christ. Throughout his prophecies, God addressed him as ‘son of man.’ This was one of Jesus’ preferred names for Himself. (Ezek 2:1, Matt 8:20)

[2] There are many more parallels between the messages of Jeremiah and Ezekiel—it is well worth the study.

[3] Reference materials used:
DAVIS, J.G. Davis Dictionary Of The Bible.  1972. London: Pickering & Inglis.
HAYFORD, J W, Ed. The Spirit-Filled Life Bible.  1991.  Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
HAYFORD, J W, Ed. The Hayford Bible Handbook.  1995.  Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Related Posts:

How You Can Have An Intimate Relationship With The Holy Spirit

Face To face With God: Can I Have A Relationship Like Moses?

The Power Of A Prophetic Act

Divine Positioning: How To Be At The Right Place At The Right Time

Do you have any insights or responses to share about lessons from Ezekiel? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the comments box. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

© 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

Over the next few weeks, I am going to share some thoughts on how to weigh up prophetic words for the New Year, as well as how to receive the Father’s encouragement for you personally.
I will also communicate some specific prophetic insights that I have sought God about, for my readers and for the church in general.

Before we embark on this journey, here are some things about the coming year that, whether you have a prophetic word or not, you can have absolute assurance on:

1. It is Time to Release past things that have been Holding you Back

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

You do not have to continue tripping up over past issues, old habits and ingrained thought patterns. Your Heavenly Father’s plan for you is freedom, and He has paid the ultimate price in the shed blood of His Son Jesus.

You already have the word of release, but you have to rise up in faith and take it. Persevere in 2012 for the freedom of yourself and others—and chains that have held you back will be broken.

2. God is Working all things Together for Good

‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.’ (Rom 8:28)

‘Good’ does not mean ‘as we like it.’ ‘Good’ means, ‘the outcome that our Heavenly Father, Who knows the end from the beginning, has intended for us.’ And He is completely trustworthy.

The Gospel, the Good News of Jesus is one of redemption—and He loves you immeasurably.

No matter what you have done; no matter what has been done to you, His plan is to restore. He desires to bring ultimate good out of the pain and trouble of the past—to turn your tests into a testimony, and your mess into a message.

And whatever comes your way, know that His goodness is with you every step of your journey.

‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.’ (Ps 23:6)

3. You can Experience great Fruitfulness this Year

^‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.’ (John 15:16)

God’s plan for your life this coming year is one of fruitfulness.

In our culture today we equate fruitfulness with tangible results, but that is not the way of God’s Kingdom.

• Kingdom fruitfulness is sourced and rooted in the Holy Spirit and grows out of our intimate relationship with God
• Then it overflows into our inner life and attitudes (Gal 5:22-25)
• Finally, it results in obedient action that reproduces His purpose in our lives and that of others.

God’s plan for you is fruitfulness—but it will require your cooperation—it will require you to rise up and say, ‘No matter what! This year, I will rise up and be all God has called me to be.’

4. God Wants you to draw Closer to Him

‘Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.’ (Jesus – Rev 3:20)

There is no end to the depth of intimacy that is available in our relationship with God. There is no end to the revelation of who He is and His ways that we can learn about and discover.

This coming year, you can draw closer to God than you have ever done before. If you have drifted from your first love in your relationship with Him, you can choose to return. What does taking that step look like for you? Today you can begin the journey.

Do you have any scriptural promises that you could share with others? 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.

Related Posts:

2012: A Year Of Unprecedented Access

Prophetic Words For A New Year: How To Make The Most Of Them

3 Mistaken Beliefs About God’s Blessing

How You Can Have An Intimate Relatonship With The Holy Spirit

© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

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

Your DESTINY is the answer to the question, ‘What has God called me to do?’

Your IDENTITY is the answer to the question, ‘Who has God called me to be?’

How can we discover the answers to these questions? And what will it take to completely fulfil the calling of God on our lives?

Out of Hiding and into History

In Judges 6, Israel is living under oppression from their enemies, the Midianites. A young man called Gideon is hiding from the enemy in a winepress, threshing wheat.

God sends an angelic messenger to Gideon to proclaim his God-given destiny and identity.

‘And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valour!” Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us?… Then the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” (Judges 6:12-14)

When the angel calls Gideon a ‘Mighty man of valour,’ he is calling him by his God-given identity.

In the Bible, a given name is often synonymous with a God-ordained identity or destiny. [1]

The name Gideon means ‘cutter down’ or ‘destroyer’, and Gideon is destined to be a leader who, with God’s help, overthrows Israel’s powerful enemy.

Gideon, however, sees himself differently—as insignificant and powerless. As a result, he is living in fear and weakness.

The angel’s pronouncement of Gideon’s identity and destiny sets in motion a chain of events that propels Gideon out of hiding and into history.

What Gideon teaches us about our Identity and Destiny

We may not have an angel turn up on our doorstep with a message from God like Gideon did. We may not even have a personal prophecy. But we can begin to grasp our God-given identity and destiny.

When we do, it will have life-changing consequences to others and ourselves.

Here are some things that we can learn from Gideon’s story:

1. God Himself Initiates our Identity and Destiny

‘For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.’ (Eph 2:10)

God steps into Gideon’s normal, everyday life and announces His intention for him.

God’s purpose for our lives is not our own good idea of what we would like to be or do; it is His plan for us.

God’s destiny for your life will be consistent with the way He has wired you. It may be helpful to consider the clues He has given—your unique experiences, passion, abilities and spiritual gifts.

But don’t limit God by over-defining these things. Remember—He took Gideon by surprise and may have some surprises in store for you too.

Prayer journaling is one helpful tool that you can use to converse with God. [2] Take time to pray and ask your Father the questions:

• ‘What have you called me to do?’
• ‘Who have you called and created me to be?’ [3]

Ask godly leaders that you have a relationship with what they see in you. Allow them to speak into your life.

2. He Turns our Weaknesses into His Strengths

‘Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.’ (1 Cor 1:26-27)

When God calls Gideon, the young man does not comprehend his destiny or his identity—in fact, he is currently being and behaving the very opposite of what God has called him to be.

Gideon is fearful, however his God-given identity is to be bold. He feels himself to be the smallest and least significant, but God is calling him to be a leader.

In the Bible, those whom God uses powerfully usually have a history of weakness or failure in their very area of strength.

God is by nature a Redeemer.

Consider where you have been hurt and wronged, or have sinned, or are weak. These are the very things God is redeeming. With His help you will not only overcome those weaknesses, but they will become points of strength. They will become areas in which you minister to others.

Remember, too, when your Heavenly Father speaks to you of your identity and destiny, it will be something beyond your own natural ability to accomplish.

3. It Takes an Intimate Relationship with God to Wholly Fulfil our Destiny

An encounter with God is an invitation to relationship with Him.

Potentially, Gideon’s encounter with God could be the beginning of a personal relationship with Him. He has the opportunity to be an Abraham, a Moses—a friend of God.

Gideon has the opportunity now, to not only overcome the enemy, but also to lead Israel in worship of God.

However, tragically, he will fall short of his destiny and instead, lead the nation into idolatry. (Judges 8:22-27)

Here is the bottom line.

Here is the very foundation of our identity and destiny.

We are created to have an intimate love relationship with God. This is both the beginning of our identity and the ultimate end of our destiny.

As Christian believers, we are sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father. This is the relationship that Jesus paid to restore when He shed His blood on the cross.

And before we can fully understand our personal identity, we need to comprehend our Family identity.

We need to understand what it means to have the divine DNA, the identity of being a member of God’s royal family. [4]

Only once we have understood this can we fully embrace and enter into our personal God-given identity—and fulfil it.

Do you have any experiences or questions to share on this topic, or difficulties you are facing that you would like us to agree with you in prayer for? 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] It makes an interesting study to track name changes in the Bible, and see the destiny that God was speaking into those He named—for example, Abram became Abraham (father of a multitude). Jesus renamed Simon (meaning reed), Peter (meaning rock).

[2] To learn more about prayer journaling, read the following post:

Activate Your Prophetic Gift Through Prayer Journaling

[3] In relation to personal guidance, the following post contains vital information:

Personal Guidance For The Important Decisions Of Life

[4] I discuss this more in the following article:

Breaking Free From An Orphan Mindset

© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

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

‘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

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

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

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

The Unbelieving Heart of the Believer

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

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

A Crisis of Faith

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

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

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

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

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

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

I took time to consider the evidence of

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

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

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

One Father, Two Sons, Three Positions

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

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

1. The Lost Son

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

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

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

2. The Serving Son

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

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

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

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

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

3. The Embraced Son

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notes:

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

See also:

How To Weigh Up What The Prophets Are Saying Pt 2

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

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

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

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

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

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.

© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog

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

Last week I posted my 100^th blog article since starting the Enliven Blog in July 2009!

As I reflect back on the journey, one blog post stands out above all others in terms of the impact it had on me personally at the time of release.

That post was, ‘How Your Prophetic Song Can Release The Power Of God.’

In it I wrote,
‘It has been said that ‘desperate times call for desperate measures.’ In God’s Kingdom, however, desperate times call for extraordinary measures.’

The Crisis

What I did not share was that The Hunk and I were facing our own desperate times—a financial crisis.

I had been without paid work for nearly a year, after transferring from a paid role to a volunteer one at our church. Repeated attempts to find a part time job had been unsuccessful. In the meantime, my husband had been valiantly working to support our household on his sole income.

Every week we continued to go backwards, until we could go no further—we did not have enough money for our next house payment. Unless a miracle occurred, we faced losing our home and a great deal more.

In spite of this crisis, our faith remained surprisingly buoyant. We recalled previous times that we had come to the end of our own resources and watched as our Heavenly Father had brought miraculous intervention.

A Prophetic Song of Praise

At this time, I was asked to run a workshop for our worship team on ‘Prophetic Song.’ During the training session, I shared Biblical examples of how prophetic song can be pivotal to breakthrough.

Something happened in my heart as I joined with our team in prophetic worship that Thursday night. I knew that God was calling me to spend specific time praising Him for breakthrough.

My husband was away over the next few days training for a new job. Being a commission-only role, with no set salary, we had no idea how his new job would work out for us financially.

The Hunk’s absence that weekend gave me the time I needed to focus on God. I put together a collection of praise songs on CD. I sat at our keyboard. I spent hours praising my Father, singing songs that expressed faith and gratitude for His love, provision, help and power.

I also wrote what I was learning about the power of prophetic song in the blog post, ‘How Your Prophetic Song Can Release The Power Of God.’ The following Tuesday evening I published it online.

Breakthrough Begins

Wednesday morning following the release of the blog post, I had a vivid dream before waking.

I received a phone call from a minister overseas. He expressed thanks to me for publishing the post about prophetic song and shared that it was of great significance.

As our conversation closed, I asked him, ‘Where are you from?’ He replied clearly, ‘Einstein.’

I woke up aware that I had just received a dream from God. The word ‘Einstein’ seemed to have particular importance, but what did it mean? I wondered if I should look it up on the Internet to find out.

I went to our computer and noticed that a close friend who was one of my prayer leaders had just sent an email.

In the email, she mentioned some signs that spiritual warfare was taking place in her world and closed by saying,

‘You don’t have to be Einstein (to figure out what is going on).’

When I read the word ‘Einstein’ I was electrified. That morning, inspired by an urgency of the Spirit, I hurried to our church to be early for the weekly staff meeting.

As I rushed into our church carpark, our pastor was outside having a conversation when he saw me and called me aside. He shared that an opening for a part time paid administrative role had come up and invited me to take the job.

I now had paid work.

In the meantime, the Hunk was starting his new job and that very day won the first of two prizes of petrol vouchers—a welcome supply to help meet our immediate needs.

Several days later we received a large gift to help towards some family expenses.

And a day after that someone pressed an envelope into my hands at church, saying God had instructed her to give it to us. It was filled with cash.

It was also proving obvious that income from my husband’s new line of work would far exceed what he had earned in his previous role.

Within a week our situation had turned completely around and we were in awe at the love and power of God.

The Power of A Prophetic Song of Praise

A song of praise is a powerful prophetic tool that

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

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

Intimacy and Obedience

I hesitate to share a testimony like I the one I have above, because there is always a danger that people will imitate a method in order to gain a result.

You see it is not about a method. It is not even about a principle (although the principle of prophetic praise is powerful).

It is about relationship with God and obedience to His word.

In 2 Chron 20, King Jehoshaphat responded in faith to a prophetic word that God would route the powerful armies that were coming against the nation of Judah.

Jehoshaphat sent out musicians and singers at the head of his army to praise God. As they began to sing and praise, the enemy armies turned on each other. The prophecy—that God would defeat the enemy without Judah having to fight—was fulfilled.

However, this was the only time in the Bible a battle was won in this precise way.

The key to breakthrough is not about a method, it is intimacy with God. And out of that intimacy, let the faith rise, let the praises start to flow.

If my story inspires you, I encourage you to spend time with God. Ask your Heavenly Father how you should respond in your particular situation.

And then, do whatever He tells you. (John 2:5)

Notes:

For teaching on the topic of prophetic song, I encourage you to view the following blog post:

How Your Prophetic Song Can Release The Power Of God

To leave a note or share your own story, leave a comment at the bottom of this post. 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

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.

You have to know someone intimately to be familiar with the desires of his or her heart.

And you have to be in close proximity to hear your friend express a quiet wish.

But it takes more than intimacy, and more than proximity, to move you to sacrifice your own priorities in favour of those of your friend.

Only love will move you to lay down your life.

Such was the love of three of David’s mighty men who were close enough to hear him say, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!”

Unbidden, the three warriors broke through enemy lines at risk of their lives to fulfil David’s wish. (2 Samuel 23:13-17)

Intimacy With The Holy Spirit

Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. (Romans 8:5)

There is a lot of talk about the Holy Spirit in Christian circles today.

Many of us have a great longing to see the Holy Spirit move, or for His power to be released to bring healing, deliverance, signs and miracles.

Kathryn Kuhlman once said,

‘There are literally thousands and thousands in the great charismatic movement who have never become acquainted with the person of the Holy Spirit, only with His gifts.’ [1]

And sadly, that statement is as true today as it was then.

So the question I am asking of you and myself today in response to this statement is, ‘Are you one of the many—the ‘thousands and thousands’—or one of the few?’

Many times we talk about ‘using’ the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

But there is another way of life possible—where we allow the Holy Spirit to ‘use’ us.

This way of living is only going to happen when we give Him leadership of our lives.

• When we so value His Presence with us, and the relationship that we have with Him, that we cannot bear for anything to come between us.

• When we are listening, ready for the sound of His voice

• When we have so become attuned to Him as a Person—to His desires and what grieves and pleases Him…

…that we will respond accordingly [2].

The Fellowship of the Spirit

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. (2 Cor 13:14)

The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity—God living in and with us.

He is not merely an impersonal power. The New Testament reveals the Spirit to be a Person with will, mind and emotions.

As well as empowering us, the Holy Spirit communicates and fellowship with us. He guides, teaches, helps, assures and comforts us. [3]

The Holy Spirit is God up close and personal.

The Ungrieved Presence of the Holy Spirit

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Eph 4:30)

Many years ago I read the story of a Chinese scholar-turned-pastor called Hsi [4].  It made a lasting impression upon me.

Pastor Hsi ministered deliverance to a troubled young man called K’ong at a conference.

A missionary who saw Hsi minister in the power of the Spirit pressed a large sum of money into his hands, as a gift towards his ministry.

Hsi received the cash without praying as to whether or not he should accept it. Immediately he felt uncomfortable.

As he went to pray about the matter, Hsi heard cries as the demonised man became uncontrollable once more.

No longer fearing Hsi, the demons in K’ong taunted him, saying ‘You have no power to control me any more.’

Realising that his soul’s response to the money had affected his ability to minister in the Spirit, Hsi went to the donor and returned the cash. He confessed that the sudden possession of a large sum of money had ‘come between his soul and God.’

Immediately he went to where K’ong was causing the commotion and quietly commanded the demons to be quiet and leave—with immediate and effective results.

Pastor Hsi later summed up this painful lesson with the words,

‘The ungrieved presence of the Holy Spirit is more to be desired than abundance of gold and silver.’

How To Have An Intimate Relationship With The Holy Spirit

Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love? (James 4:5, AMP)

I want to have the kind of relationship with the Holy Spirit that Kathryn Kuhlman experienced—and that Hsi valued.

If this kind of relationship with the One who is God present with you, the Holy Spirit, is what you want, here are some steps to help you move closer to Him:

1. Realise that such a relationship—fellowship with the Holy Spirit—is possible

2. Hunger and thirst for intimacy with Him

3. Learn all you can about the Holy Spirit. Study His role, purpose, names, likes and dislikes from Scripture

4. Pray—ask to know Him more and for Him to fill you

5. Make a decision to go deeper in your relationship with God—to be more available to Him

6. Allow God to put His finger on anything in your life that displeases the Holy Spirit—and deal with it

He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Cor 1:21)

When I stand before the Father on that Day, He may ask me,

‘What did you do with what I entrusted to you—your gifts and talents, your time, opportunities, relationships, and call?

But there is another question He may ask that is currently challenging me:

‘What did you do with the One I sent you?’

If you can identify with having a hunger for intimacy with the Holy Spirit, or if 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] A Glimpse Into Glory, by Kathryn Kuhlman with Jamie Buckingham

[2] Recommended Reading: Romans 8

[3] Recommended Reading: John chapters 14-16

[4] One of China’s Scholars, by Howard Taylor

Related Posts:

Hunger For God: 6 Ways You Can Stir It Up

A Prophetic Vision: God’s Call To Intimacy With Him

© Helen Calder  2010  Enliven Blog

Now on team with David McCracken Ministries

‘Do not neglect your gift…’
(1 Tim 4:14)

‘A prophet visited our church in Auckland, New Zealand. He pointed me out in the congregation and said, “You have a gift of discernment.”

A few years later when we were living in another city, the same prophet visited our church there. He again pointed me out and said, “Has anyone ever told you that you have a gift of discernment of spirits?” I said, “Yes, you did several years ago.”

We all had a good laugh—but he remembered neither the earlier prophecy nor me. He ministered throughout New Zealand and overseas and had prophesied over hundreds of people in the interim.’[1]

It is one thing to know that you have a spiritual gift of discernment—it is quite another thing to know what to do with it, and how to use it.

A short time after this prophetic confirmation, I began to struggle in church life. I had not been taught the principle of honouring leaders and accountability in the use of my revelatory gifts.

I thank God that He allowed a time of trial to teach me and bring me through repentance to a place of fruitfulness in the use of my gifts. [2]

Through good stewardship we can reach our potential and our gifts can be used to bless and grow the church.

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

Here are 8 ways that you can grow your spiritual gift of discernment of spirits. And yes, some of these I have learned the hard way—through trial and error.

1. Source It

True discernment comes from intimacy with the Father.

It is vital that we understand the difference between discernment that is from the Holy Spirit and suspicion, which can masquerade as discernment, but is actually sourced in our own human nature. This is a danger that can trip even mature discerners up. The best means of preventing this is our intimate relationship with God. Other ways we can keep our gift on track are below:

2. Plant It

‘Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.’ Ps 92:13

The Biblical context for growing in our gifts is the community of a church (1 Cor 12).

As with all prophetic people, discerners need to be cared for and pastored in a church environment.

When we are planted in the life of a healthy church, we can flourish and grow in our gift. However, we must remember that it will not always be smooth sailing in community life—even in the healthiest of churches.

3. Submit It

It is vital, and a matter of protection for others and ourselves, that we operate in our spiritual gift of discernment with accountability, and under God-given leadership.

It is important that we encourage our insights to be weighed up (1 Cor 14:29). As the Apostle Paul said, ‘For we know in part and we prophesy in part.’ (1 Cor 13:9)

The discernment that we receive is incomplete without the insights of others, who will have different pieces of the puzzle and complementary gifts. (1 Cor 12:12-27)

Feedback is also a great tool to help us grow in our discernment.

4. Purify It

It is possible for the expression of a discernment gift to be affected by our response to negative experiences that we have had in our lives.

I had prayer ministry to help me break free of fear associated with early experiences of demonic encounters. I also received ministry in relation to difficulties with authority. As a result, I have a much more useful gift.

I have also had to grow a great deal in my character—a journey that is ongoing!

5. Study It

Find out what the Bible has to say about the gift of discernment:

• Read examples of people who encountered unseen spiritual realities—how did they respond? What did they do as a result of their experiences?

• How and when did Jesus use the gift of discernment to minister to people?

• What does the Apostle Paul say in his epistles about how spiritual gifts operate in the context of church life and ministry?

6. Develop It

As with other gifts, discernment can be developed and strengthened.

The ability to receive a revelation from God is only one aspect of this spiritual gift. Other aspects include:

• Having the wisdom to know what to do once you have received the discernment,
• How and when to share your insight
• How to weigh up what you have received against scripture
• Procedures for submitting an insight, and so on.

Seek to be trained or mentored in the context of Christian community, where you have safe people who can give you feedback and encourage you on the journey.

Look for good training, along with books and other resources on the topic of spiritual warfare and related areas.

7. Use It

Don’t hold back. Even if you are starting out and tentative, God can use you powerfully. Use your gift of discernment to help guard and grow your church.

If you discern warfare or have a warning, remember that God’s heart is always to redeem and restore. Seek the Father for a promise and His outcome.

The gift of discernment can also help give you insight as to how to respond and pray for breakthrough in any situation.

8. Persevere With It

In the development of every spiritual gift there are times of trial.

In some testing times, God may be allowing us to lose confidence in our own ability to perform in our gift. For example, we may have a period when our discernment becomes cloudy, or we may make an assumption that turns out to be in error.

During these times He is calling us to become more dependent upon Him, and to grow in humility.

You may have true discernment but have been misunderstood or feel as though you have been set aside for a season.

These are times to persevere, and not to allow offense or discouragement to divert you from your calling.

Wilderness seasons are allowed by our Heavenly Father to help us grow in our character or to direct us into new areas of fruitfulness.

*************************

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

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

$5.95 e-Book*

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

You may have the spiritual gift of discernment.

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

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

(More details …)

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

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

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

2. Prophetic Training:

Check here for prophetic training resources and information

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

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

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

Related posts:

A Checklist For Developing Your Spiritual Gifts

What Is The Spiritual Gift Of Discernment?

8 Signs You May Have The Spiritual Gift Of Discernment

The Heart Of A Discerner

Prophetic People In Testing Times: The Reason For The Season

6 Tips For Exercising The Gift Of Discernment In Church Life

Notes:
[1] This is quoted from my book, ‘Grow Your Prophetic And Prayer Gifts’
[2]I tell the full story in ‘Prophetic People In A Changing Church.’ For a brief testimony check out the Enliven Publishing ‘About’ page.

© Helen Calder 2010    Enliven Publishing

Now on team with David McCracken Ministries