Some people dismiss the idea that dreams can have significance. Others believe that there is spiritual meaning in every dream and that all should be interpreted and taken seriously.

I believe that the Biblical viewpoint lies somewhere in between these two extremes.

4 Dream Types

Identifying which type of dream we have had can help us determine whether to consider a potential meaning in the dream, and what—if anything—to do with it.

Here are four dream categories that I have personally found helpful:

1. Ordinary, Processing Dreams

Dreaming is a natural function of the brain, occurring mainly during the REM stage of sleep. [1]

I believe that it is not necessary to seek meaning in the majority of our dreams.

Last night I watched a murder-mystery on DVD before I went to bed—something I usually avoid. Not surprisingly, my dreams contained an element of danger.

I do not remember most of my ‘processing’ dreams—and those that I do recall quickly fade. However, other people I know are vivid dreamers and can recall them clearly. Sometimes people refer to unusual but meaningless dreams as ‘pizza dreams.’

The GIGO (garbage in, garbage out) principle applies to dreams. Whatever we feed our senses and minds with will invariably find expression in our sleep.

‘Much dreaming and many words are meaningless…’ (Eccl 5:7)

If you are unsure about a dream you have had, pray about it. Perhaps it may fit in one of the other dream types.

2. Prophetic Dreams

‘For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction.’ Job 33:14-16 (NKJV)

From the book of Genesis all the way through the Bible, dreams are one way that God speaks to His people.

However, even those who were gifted in the area of dreams and dream interpretation (Joseph and Daniel, for example) only had a few dreams that were significant enough to be recorded in the scriptures.

Joel and Peter mentioned dreams as one manifestation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, along with prophecy and visions. (Acts 2:17)

There are many ways that God used dreams in the Bible—for example:

• Warnings (Abilimilech, Gen 20:1-8))
• Revealing destiny and the call of God (Joseph, Gen 37:5-10)
• Impartation of a spiritual gift or ability (Solomon, 1 Kings 3:5)
• A strategy for provision (Jacob, Gen 31:10)
• A sign of His Presence (Jacob’s ladder, Gen 28:12))
• Guidance (Paul, Acts 16:9)

The Hunk and I occasionally have dreams that we believe contain prophetic insights from God. I find these dreams have a greater than usual clarity and I awake with a sense of God’s Presence.

Let’s increase our sense of expectation that God will speak to us through our dreams. [2]

3. Soul Dreams

Soul dreams reveal emotions, attitudes or beliefs that we may be trying to deny or repress.

They are a means that God can use for good—to help us bring them into the open and deal with them.

Signs you may be having a soul dream include:

• Actual memories resurfacing in your dreams
• Vivid emotions that you can link to an event, past present or future
• Repeating, or recurring dreams

Soul dreams may indicate a response, such as fear or anger, to an event that is happening at present in our lives, or that we are anticipating in the future. If something from your past is surfacing in a dream, you can be assured that it is ready to be dealt with and that your loving Father is waiting to bring healing to you.

We should never dismiss soul dreams as being unimportant. They give us insight into our inner world.

If you are having soul dreams that you believe are significant, pray about them and ask God how you should respond. If needed, find a leader/mentor or wise Christian counsel to pray with you and help you process whatever is coming to the surface.

4. Spiritual Warfare Dreams

On occasion, I have experienced spiritual warfare during my sleep.

When this takes place, God allows demonic intrusion into our sleep for His purposes:

• To set us free and bring us closer to Him,
• To pray effectively and
• To expose hidden strategies of the enemy.

a. Spiritual Warfare

‘In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.’ (Psalm 4:8)

Dreams can be an alert to pray during times of spiritual warfare. There have been times when I have woken my husband and we have prayed together because I have experienced a demonic confrontation in a dream. We know that our prayers have made a difference.

b. Demonic Oppression

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,’ (Psalm 91:5)

Repeated nightmares can be a sign of having an ‘open doorway’ in our lives for demonic oppression. Those who have experienced trauma, or been involved in occult (personally or generationally), for example, may be vulnerable in this area. Many years ago I had regular nightmares. Through receiving prayer ministry I was able to identify the source of these and gain freedom through prayer. [3]

It is important to remember that God is greater than any other spiritual influence and that as Christians we have power in prayer, using the Name of Jesus, to overcome any spiritual attack.

c. Discernment

Some people who have the gift of discernment may experience conflict in their dreams, or be alerted to a demonic presence or strategy through a dream. [4] The purpose of this may be for a prophetic warning as well as for prayer and intercession.

‘You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.’ (1 John 4:4)

We should never be afraid as the result of a dream. If you have a dream that you are concerned about—no matter what type of dream it is—share it with someone you trust and pray about it.

Notes

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dream

[2] The following articles may be helpful:
What To Do When You Have A Prophetic Dream.
How Do I know A Personal Prophecy Or Dream Interpretation Is From God?

[3] Prayer Ministry is an extended session of prayer with 2 or more trained prayer ministers in a safe, supervised setting. It should be used in conjunction with pastoral care in the church and if necessary, professional counseling.

[4] See 8 Signs You May Have The Spiritual Gift Of Discernment.

Do you have any thoughts to share on the topic of dream types? Leave a comment on the comments box. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down. (Note that I will not be giving dream interpretations on this post)

© 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

Last week a painful memory resurfaced—one that I was unaware still affected me. Within 24 hours, God miraculously ordered circumstances to provide me with healing and breakthrough.

I know that my life will never be the same again. And yet I was neither seeking nor expecting this turn of events.

Being caught by surprise by God’s goodness reminded me of what the psalmist David wrote of the life of faith:

‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.’ (Ps 23:6)

When we think of the word ‘follow,’ many of us envisage someone following along behind us, with a space of distance between.

However, for those of us who trust in Jesus for salvation, the goodness and mercy of God does not follow us at a distance. Instead, it accompanies us and—like one wave upon another—continually overtakes and comes upon us.

Waves of God’s Blessing

God’s goodness is both the essence of His nature and the manifestation of His nature. (See Exodus 33:19)

One expression of God’s goodness towards us is His blessing. [1] As Christian believers, we know that:

‘Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us… in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles…’ (Gal 3:13-14)

We can expect the blessing of God to be continually operating in our lives—not based upon our performance, but upon

• Our intimate relationship with God and
• Our trust in the salvation that Jesus has accomplished on the cross.

Waves are a great picture of blessing. In Deuteronomy 28, the blessings are described as ‘accompanying’ and ‘coming upon’ God’s people. (Deut 28:1-14)

Breaking the Power of Fear and Anxiety

In the Bible, hope means to have a confident expectation of receiving good from the hand of God.

To fear means to expect a negative outcome. Fear is defined as ‘an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.’ [2]

Why is it that many times we fear evil overtaking us—as though we were still living under the curse of the law? (Deut 28: 15-68) This fear manifests as worry and anxiety.

Instead, as children of a loving Father, we should be in constant expectation of His favour and blessing.

When we catch a revelation of the goodness of God towards us, the power of fear and anxiety will be broken off our lives.

God’s Goodness in Times of Trial

Does this mean that bad things will never happen to us? No—for we live in a fallen and broken world; in and amongst human weakness.

The favour and goodness of God does not mean that we will not ever experience spiritual or physical battles.

However, it does mean that in the midst of the trial, we can expect His blessing to accompany us and to fall upon us.

Let’s go back to Psalm 23 to discover what it means to have the goodness and mercy of God follow us every day of our lives.

1. Faced with Need?

THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. (Ps 23:1, AMP)

In times of need, we can know Him intimately as our shepherd and provider—more than at any other time.

2. Tired and Weary?

‘He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.’ (Ps 23:2-3)

In times of exhaustion, we can trust God to lead us to Divinely-appointed places of rest and refreshment.

3. In a Dark Place?

‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’ (Ps 23:4)

As we journey through dark times in our lives, we can be miraculously free of fear. In the darkest of places, the richest treasures of His Presence are available to us.

4. Surrounded by Enemies?

‘You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.’ (Ps 23:5)

In times of spiritual warfare, we can experience a feast of God’s goodness. In these times, we can receive a fresh infilling and empowering of His Spirit.

‘All the days of my life.’ That means yesterday, today and tomorrow. No day of your life is excluded.

It has often been said, ‘Everybody wants a miracle, but no one wants to be in the position when they need one.’ [3]

And yet, when we are faced with obstacles or going through difficulties, we are positioned to encounter the goodness of God more than any other time. [4]

We can live in constant anticipation of God’s goodness and blessing—not just when things are going well, but through all the ups and downs of life.

Has this article touched you in some way? Do you have any experiences to share about God’s goodness and blessing? 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.

Notes

[1] For a definition and discussion on blessing, see the article I wrote on the topic of blessing last year, 3 Mistaken Beliefs About the Blessing of God.

[2] Dictionary definition of fear from http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/fear?region=us

[3] David McCracken noted this recently on Twitter. For daily inspiration, follow David here: @davidmccracken

You can also follow me on Twitter here: @HelenCalder

[4] Here are some personal testimonies of God’s goodness that I have previously shared in Enliven Blog:

Experiencing God as provider during a time of financial need: http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2011/04/11/prophetic-song-precedes-breakthrough/

A miraculous ordering of events: http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2010/06/29/the-power-of-a-prophetic-act/

Healed from an orphan mindset: http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2010/09/05/no-longer-an-orphan-how-i-discovered-the-fathers-love/

© 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

‘Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight.’ (1 Timothy 1:18)

The Apostle Paul considered personal prophecies given to his disciple Timothy significant:

• Personal prophecies helped Timothy focus his life and ministry according to the call of God

• The Apostle Paul kept the prophetic words in mind when it came to his leadership of Timothy and instruction to him

5 Ways to Make the Most of your Personal Prophecy

A personal prophecy can be a means of great encouragement and motivation. [1]

If you have received a personal prophecy, here are some ideas to help you benefit from it:

1. Record your Prophetic Word

Write out your personal prophecy. (Hab 2:2) If possible, keep an audio copy of prophecies that you have received. Sometimes an impartation takes place through the verbal delivery of a word that cannot be communicated in writing.

If a word was not recorded in audio format, immediately write out as much of it as you can remember, so that you can weigh it up, pray about it and review it.

2. Weigh up your Prophecy

‘Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good.’ (1 Thess 5:19-21)

The Bible exhorts us to weigh up prophetic words. (see also 1 Cor 14:29) [2]

Some filters you can use include:

• Is it in accordance with what the Bible says?
• Do you have an inner witness that the prophetic word is from God?
• Does it line up with the nature of God? In particular, with the nature of the Father as expressed through Jesus?
• Will responding to the prophecy bear good fruit—the fruit of the Spirit in your life?
• If the prophetic word concerns your destiny, does it line up with the way God has created and wired you?

Make sure that you include a process of accountability to Christian leadership in relation to your prophetic word. This is especially important if you are considering a change of direction in response to a word you have been given.

This also enables your leadership to nurture the gift and call of God upon your life, as Paul did with Timothy.

3. Pray about your Prophetic Word

Always take time to pray about any personal prophecy that you receive. Seek confirmation that the word is from God, and ask Him for further insights related to the message, its timing and any action you should take. Remember that fulfilment of your prophecy will be conditional upon you staying on track in your relationship with God.

Later on, you may also be led to pray about the fulfillment of your personal prophecy. [3]

4. Allow the Prophecy to Enlarge your Vision

A prophecy may be used of God to stretch our perspective concerning ourselves; who we are, Who He is, and what we are capable of doing with the enablement of His Holy Spirit.

A personal prophecy may speak into your identity and destiny. The Father is communicating His perspective about your life. And that may be beyond what you have perceived about yourself up to this time.

A personal prophecy is an invitation from the Father to see ourselves as He sees us.

The question is, will we accept that invitation? Or will we resist or ignore it?

5. Store your Prophetic Word for Future Reference

‘Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.” (Hab 2:2-3)

You may  immediately recognise that your prophecy is timely and relevant.

However sometimes the exact meaning of a prophetic word is a mystery at the time we receive it.

This does not mean that it is not of value. In fact, it may be of tremendous significance for a later date.

Consider taking a long term view of any prophetic word you receive, even if you believe it does relate to a current situation.

Sometimes a personal prophecy is like a puzzle piece—you are not sure how or where it fits in the picture until more pieces have been put into place.

And then when you do see the fulfillment of the prophecy, you are blown away. You realise that God knew the whole picture of your life before you had even been born. [4]

‘All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts,God! How vast is the sum of them!’ (Ps 139:16-17)

Do you have any questions or thoughts to share on the topic of personal prophecy? 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.

Notes:
[1] For Biblical examples of personal prophecy and a biblical basis for bringing personal prophetic words, see my article:

Is Personal Prophecy Biblical?

[2] For more information about weighing up prophetic words, see

How Do I Know If A Personal Prophecy Or Dream Interpretation Is From God?

[3] See the following post:

Is It Time To Birth Your Prophetic Word In Prayer?

[4] If unfulfilment of a prophecy you have received in the past is causing you discouragement, see my article on Dealing With Prophetic Disappointment

© 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

‘Be [continuously] filled with the Spirit.’ (Eph 5:18)

As Christians, our life, our witness and our service to others should be empowered by the life of the Holy Spirit within us.

This is what Jesus referred to when He said, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38)

However we do not always maintain that vital connection to God perfectly. And therefore all of us experience seasons where we feel spiritually dry.

The great evangelist D L Moody understood this. When asked why he placed so much emphasis upon being filled with the Holy Spirit, he wisely said, ‘Because I leak.’

Spiritual Dryness

Spiritual dryness, or depletion, is not a problem in itself.

In fact, the awareness of our spiritual dryness is a gift from God. It is His invitation to come and partake of His life and His Spirit.

However, spiritual dryness does become a problem if we:

• do not recognise that we are becoming depleted, or
• do not recognise that God is the answer to our need, or
• become too exhausted to connect with God

Therefore it is important for us to recognise the signs of depletion as early as possible.

Signs of Spiritual Dryness

‘You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.’ Psalm 63:1

Here are some signs that we are becoming spiritually depleted. If you can relate to these, you need to reconnect with God and receive a fresh infilling of His Spirit:

1. Giving While Empty or Weary

A sign of spiritual dryness is that we are no longer giving to others out of a sense of fullness. We feel empty or weary—our inner tank is running dry.

Spiritual dryness if left undetected can turn into burnout, if we continue to give out in Christian service whilst not being replenished.

If left untended, spiritual dryness can impact our emotional, mental, and even physical state.

2. Serving out of Duty

When we are spiritually dry there is a subtle shift in our motivation to serve God, whether in the church or elsewhere.

We are no longer motivated by passion. We feel an inner reluctance, or resistance to serve, but continue to do so because we feel we have no choice.

Our motivation to continue serving may be that others are relying on us, or we want to honour a commitment, or even feel a duty towards God or towards His calling upon our lives.

3. Our Faith is no Longer Contagious

According to David in the Psalms, it is the joy of our salvation that results in us leading people to God.  (Ps 51:12-13)

When we are spiritually dry, it affects our relationship with those who do not know Jesus. We are not bubbling over; we have lost our joy.

People are not seeing something in us that causes them to thirst for God, and we lack motivation to share with them, feeling we have nothing to offer.

4. God Feels Distant

When we are spiritually dry, there can be a gradual distancing from God. Either we are not encountering Him regularly, or we are not hearing from Him, or we are hearing Him speak to us intermittently.

God is, in fact, continually speaking to us. However sometimes we neglect to tune in. (Ps 139:17-18)

5. Our Spiritual Life is in a Rut

We lack the excitement we once had in our relationship with God. Our devotional life—connection to God through the Bible and prayer—has either been reduced to a rote exercise, is occasional, or has ceased to exist at all.

We love God, but have lost a sense of being ‘in love’ with Him. Our relationship with God has lost its freshness.

6. A Contributing Event

The state of spiritual dryness does not always creep up on us slowly. Trials or sudden trauma can result in us being depleted spiritually, as well as in other ways.

7. Negative Thinking

 ‘The Kingdom of God is… righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.’ (Rom 14:17)

When we are spiritually dry the atmosphere of heaven—righteousness, peace and joy—seems to evade us. Instead, we find it easier to give way to negative thinking. We falter in our ability to resist and ‘cast down’ destructive thoughts and emotions.

There is an Answer to Spiritual Dryness

The good news is that when we are spiritually dry, God has already initiated and provided the answer to our need.

In the next post, I will discuss some ways in which we can be replenished spiritually. In the meantime, here are some questions to consider:

Questions for Reflection:

• Do I have any of the above signs in my life at the moment—and to what degree? How long have I felt this way?

• What is the difference between emotional, mental, physical and spiritual depletion? How are they inter-related?

• What is God’s response to my spiritual depletion?

• What can I do this week to personally reconnect with God?

Can you think of some other signs of spiritual dryness? Have you ever experienced dryness or burnout and recovered? 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.

Related Posts:

7 Ways To Combat Spiritual Dryness

Escaping A Half-Lived Christian Life

The River Returns: How To Be Refilled With The Holy Spirit When You Are Dry

Prophetic People In Testing Times: The Reason For The Season

Hunger For God: 6 Ways You Can Stir It Up

© 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

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10-11)

I was baptised in the Holy Spirit in the 1970’s and immediately became familiar with gifts of the Spirit, including healing and prophecy.

As time went on, gift questionnaires began to emerge as a fresh emphasis on spiritual gifts swept through the church. [1] From the start, I loved this aspect of identifying the unique God-given treasure in each individual.

However, the outcomes were not always comfortable. When The Hunk and I took a spiritual gift assessment, my husband came up with a top result of Apostle-Missionary.

That gave me a big fright—I thought, ‘who—and what—have I married?’ Not surprisingly, during the next two decades my husband’s ministry included itinerant ministry, sending missionaries, and raising resources for missions and humanitarian aid projects in Asia.

I have learned that when it comes to spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit knows what He is doing.

Benefits and Limitations of Spiritual Gift Questionnaires

Since the 1990’s, many spiritual gift courses have emphasised ministry placement in church life; teaming up the ‘what’ of spiritual gifts with the ‘where’ of service. As a result, churches have benefited by the increase in members engaging and serving in the life of the church. [2]

But I now ask, ‘Have we reached the optimum in our stewardship of spiritual gifts, or is there more?’

Over the past few decades I have observed some positives and negatives resulting from running spiritual gift courses in church life.

Benefits of Spiritual Gift Assessments and Courses

1. Teaching the church concerning spiritual gifts is Biblical—the Apostle Paul gave instruction about the spiritual gifts, their purpose, practice and benefits (1 Cor 12-14, Rom 12)

2. It enables Christians to become aware of and learn about gifts of the Spirit

3. It encourages believers to identify and use the particular gifts God has invested in us

4. A spiritual gifts course assists church leaders in releasing people into service in the church, i.e. ministry placement (especially helpful in larger churches)

5. A spiritual gifts course can help bring direction to Christians who do not have clear guidance about a suitable next step in where to serve in their church or in ministry

6. Spiritual gifts assessments can foster appreciation for others’ gifts, as well as how we function together as a church body

7. When church members serve in the area of their God-given gifts, the church can flourish and grow (Eph 4:7-16)

Limitations of Spiritual Gifts Courses

1. Spiritual gifts courses are a great introduction to gifts—however they tend to lack specific teaching on how to nurture and grow individual gifts over a period of time

2. Many courses are outcome-focused on ministry placement in the church—however, our Spirit-empowered gifts can also be utilised in our everyday lives and in evangelism

3. A spiritual gift is a turbo-charged version of a basic attribute that should be operating in the life of every believer (hospitality, evangelism, hearing God’s voice, prayer, praying for the sick, and so on)

A danger of focusing on spiritual gifts and ministry placement is that Christians who believe they are not ‘gifted’ in an area (such as prayer or evangelism) opt out and leave that aspect of Christian life to those who have a spiritual gift.

This may result in weak or immature development in some believers.

4. No questionnaire could cover every possible spiritual gift—and could potentially stifle the unique giftedness in some individuals, and the creativity of the Holy Spirit [4]

5. Many spiritual gift analyses do not make an allowance for gifts that are present but are not currently being used in a ministry environment, or are yet to emerge. Therefore the outcome of a questionnaire produces an incomplete picture.

Adapting our Approach to Spiritual Gift Assessments

What could happen if we took note of potential weaknesses resulting from running spiritual gift courses and assessments in church life into account—and adjusted for them?

Here are some things to take into consideration:

For Churches and Leaders

• Encourage ministry leaders to identify, release and develop spiritual gifts in the people within their areas of responsibility

• Teach on the role and ministry of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts in the context of our everyday lives and evangelism as well as in church life

• Learn about spiritual gift development. Provide opportunities for individuals to take specific steps forward in the growth of their spiritual gifts [5]

• Identify possible areas of weakness where ‘departmentalisation’ in an area (e.g. prayer, evangelism) has resulted in church members opting out of an important aspect of Christian living. Provide encouragement, resources and training on these key areas to the whole church, e.g. through Cell Groups

• Realise that spiritual gift questionnaires will not give you the complete picture of an individual’s gifts or calling. Consider providing opportunity for gift assessment and personal review at regular intervals.

For Individuals

• Take assessments regularly. This will help identify newly emerging gifts, as well as changes in gift-mix (the unique combination of your spiritual gifts) and gift prominence

• Take personal responsibility for developing your spiritual gift

• Realise that not having a spiritual gift doesn’t mean that you cannot function and grow in that area, e.g. every believer has a responsibility to pray for the sick, hear God’s voice, exercise hospitality, and so on

• Consider how you can utilise your spiritual gifts in everyday life to be a witness of God’s love and power to those who do not yet know Him

• Embrace the personal blessing that identifying and learning about spiritual gifts can bring. You have a unique and valuable contribution—and no one else can take your place.

Do you have any further observations or questions about spiritual gifts assessments? 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] C Peter Wagner was a leading proponent of this, and his resources have been regularly updated. I recommend:
WAGNER, C.P. Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow 2005. Ventura: Regal Books.

[2] God gives us spiritual gifts—Holy Spirit-empowered abilities—that are uniquely suited to the life mission and ministry pathway that He has prepared for us. (Eph 2:10) I discuss briefly the commonly asked question, ‘which comes first: the call or the gifts?’ in this post:

http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2010/08/31/a-dialogue-on-spiritual-gifts/

[3] Here are two examples I have personally benefited from:

1. Willow Creek Network course

Bruce Bugbee, Don Cousins, Bill Hybels, Wendy Seidman

http://www.willowcreek.com/wca_prod.asp?invtid=PR26038

A great book related to this is:

BUGBEE, B. What You Do Best In The Body of Christ. 1995, 2005. Grand Rapids:  Zondervan.

2. STEPPS to Ministry by Michelle Sanders

This course, originating here in Australia, takes into account

• Spiritual Gifts
• Talents
• Experience
• Passion
• Personality

STEPPS also provides for a ministry track and placement in church life. For further information contact Michelle Sanders at michelle.kscope@hotmail.com

[4] Wayne Grudem defines a spiritual gift as ‘any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church.’
GRUDEM, W.  Systematic Theology.  1994.  Nottingham: Inter-Varsity.

[5] For a clear outline of gift development in the area of prophetic and prayer-related gifts, see my e-book, ‘Grow Your Prophetic And Prayer Gifts’ or read a summary of the stages of growth in the following post: How To Develop Your Prophetic Gift Pt 2: Understand Your Season

Related posts:

You Don’t Need A Special Gift To Be A Supernatural Christian

Give Yourself (And Your Spiritual Gifts) Permission To Shine

A Checklist For Developing Your Spiritual Gifts

© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

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

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

‘Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.’ (1 Tim 4:14-15, see also 2 Tim 1:6)

Paul makes it clear through his instruction to Timothy that each of us has the ability to stir up a spiritual gift, or to neglect it.

That is a sobering thought!

The Bible reminds us that we have a responsibility before God to be intentional about using and developing the spiritual gifts He has invested in us.

7 Ways to Develop your Spiritual Gift

Here is a checklist of actions that you can take to develop your spiritual gifts. This includes prophecy or any other gift such as leadership, discernment, administration, intercession, teaching, healing and so on. [1]

To make this exercise practical, rate how you are going out of 10 for each one and ask the question, what can I do to improve in this area?

1. I have acknowledged that I have a gift

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. (1 Cor 14:1)

Many people hold back from acknowledging a spiritual gift because they mistakenly believe that standing back is the humble thing to do, or they still have doubts as to whether they really have a gift.

However if God has put a gift or ministry on your heart, even if it hasn’t fully manifested, be honest and begin the development process.

In the early stages, your stewardship is primarily of the desire or call God has given to you. Don’t under-value this. Be obedient to the Holy Spirit and take the first steps to learn about the gift.

You will never grow in a gift if you do not admit you have one—or at least disclose that you have a God-given desire for it.

2. I am in the environment of a local church

‘And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.’ (1 Cor 12:28)

The place to use and develop your spiritual gift is in the context of Christian community—church life. Gifts are given to help grow the church, whether through evangelism or through ministry to the church body.

We were never meant to be ‘lone rangers’, but part of the church body, interdependent upon each other. (1 Cor 12-14)

3.  I am making the most of resources available

There are many great resources and materials available to help you grow in your spiritual gift. Look for reputable books, online resources, e-books, conferences and local training to help you grow in your gift.

There are many perspectives in the world today—and not all of them are healthy. So the best way to use resources is in conjunction with accountability to a leader or mentor who can help you select the best materials and process what you are learning.

4. I have a sense of passion and purpose

It is not enough just to know that you have a spiritual gift. You also have to identify and nurture the purpose that God has given you to use it. This is your sense of motivation, your mission. [2]

It is the ‘because’ of your gift.

• ‘I pray because…’
• ‘I teach because…’

As time goes on, that sense of passion becomes focused.

For example, my own big ‘because’—my all-consuming passion—is souls: a lost generation in need of salvation. As years have gone by, my focus is on helping raise up a generation of contagious, ‘supernatural’ Christians who will reach people for Jesus because their lives look like Jesus.

My passion and vision is global. Yours may relate to your family, your church, a specific group, a region, and so on.

Teaching and prophetic ministry is for me, a means to an end. What is your ‘end’?

5. I am using my spiritual gift regularly

The way to develop a gift is to use it, not to shelve it.

We all have to start somewhere small. My writing ministry began with writing newsletters to our family’s mission supporters. My prophetic ministry began with reaching to God for words of encouragement whilst praying for people at altar calls.

If you have a teaching gift, your ministry is not going to start at the pulpit, Look for small ways to get activated—for example taking devotions with your family, or offering to take a study in your small group.

It is time to stop holding back.

6. I am accountable in the use of my gift

No one ever outgrows the need for accountability to oversight in the use of a spiritual gift or ministry.

When asked, ‘To whom are you accountable to in the use of your gift?’ what is your answer?

I have a great source of accountability here at David McCracken Ministries. In the past my accountability has included elders, pastors and prayer leaders. These are people who have instructed me and loved me enough to correct me or give me tips to help me grow in my spiritual gifts.

Accountability does not create a ‘ceiling’; it explodes it! I know that the sky is the limit in my call with God as long as I have a heart attitude to submit to and learn from those He has placed around me.

We can learn not only from those to whom we are accountable, but from peers and outsiders as well. We need to foster a life-long attitude of learning from others in our gifts and ministries.

7. I am persevering through the tough times

‘For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.’ (2 Tim 1:6)

We all go through difficult times and wilderness seasons in the development of our spiritual gifts.

If you can relate to this today, may I encourage you—keep pressing forward. Your Heavenly Father has a plan in the midst of your trial and He is faithful. [3]

Do you have any further thoughts or questions about developing your spiritual gifts? 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] Some articles that may help you in the following gifts:

Prophecy: How To Develop Your Prophetic Gift Pt 1: Where To Begin

Discernment: 8 Ways To Grow Your Gift Of Discernment

Healing: The Enliven Blog Healing Category

Intercession: 8 Tips for Personal Intercessors

Teaching (prophetic): See the Free Resources Page for the article, ‘What Is Prophetic Teaching?’

[2] This article may be helpful: Your Identity And Destiny: 3 Keys From The Life Of Gideon

[3] I share more about this in the post, Going Through A Testing Season In Your Spiritual Gifts

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

© 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 years, The Hunk and I have been on leadership teams—in churches and Christian organisations—in various capacities. [1] We have seen teams go through good times and bad; forge ahead in unity and fall apart in disunity.

Long ago I realised that my personal response to leadership would be the breaking or making of my ministry. I can tell you, it took a lot of breaking and repentance to get me into a useful place! [2]

But I realise now that being a great 2^nd level leader is not about the length of time you have spent working alongside your senior leader, it is about having the right heart attitude.

It is about consistently allowing the Holy Spirit to work within you in times of pressure, to develop maturity and Christ-likeness.

Timothy and the Apostle Paul

The Apostle Paul was a strong character, and would not always have been an easy person to get along with.

One historian sums him up like this:

‘Paul was by temperament a zealous man, prone to accepting no half-measures either in himself or others. The truth was his gospel, about which he could be very possessive, and he did not take kindly to his authority being challenged. He was naturally impetuous, argumentative, prickly, sometimes boastful and defensive. Yet he was also capable of great warmth, tenderness, and loyalty to his friends and deep solicitude for his converts. It is little wonder that he evoked strong reactions, both positive and negative, wherever he went…’ [3]

If you have ever struggled with reporting to a strong or directive leader, consider what it would have been like to work with the Apostle Paul! And yet he raised up a loyal and effective ministry team with whom he pioneered the early church amongst the Gentiles. [4]

Traits that made Timothy a Great Leader-Follower

Here are some of the characteristics that propelled Timothy onto the Apostle Paul’s team and into the pages of church history—and that inspire me in my own leadership journey.

1. Kingdom Priorities over Self-Interest

‘ I have no one else like [Timothy], who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.’ (Phil 2:20-22)

Timothy willingly left his birthplace to follow Paul, and submitted to the rite of circumcision for the sake of sharing the Gospel with Jews as well as Gentiles. (Acts 16:1-4)

Following that time, he moved from place to place as Paul’s messenger and he faced the same persecution that Paul did. [5]

It is possible that Timothy had a call of God to senior leadership in his own right. Eusebius, writing about A.D. 325, reported that Timothy was the first bishop of Ephesus. [6] And yet he never sought self-advancement. Timothy faithfully served Paul, throughout Paul’s lifetime.

Timothy inspires me to seek God’s Kingdom above my personal comfort. And to be faithful when God calls me to serve another leader’s vision.

2. Longevity – Together for the Long Haul

It was not long into Timothy’s first missionary journey that Paul got into trouble, imprisoned for causing an uproar in the city of Philippi. (Acts 17:19-23)

Timothy stuck with Paul through good times and bad, through popularity and notoriety, through persecution and imprisonment.

Timothy encourages me to have a long haul outlook in my ministry, not leaving or withdrawing when times get tough.

3. Faithful to Represent his Leader

‘Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.’ (1 Cor 4:15-17)

When Paul wanted to impart his own DNA—his lifestyle, teaching and vision—into the church at Corinth, he sent Timothy. Paul had complete confidence that Timothy would faithfully represent him, even when apart from him.

Paul relied upon Timothy and other team members to honour him, share Paul’s own heart, update them on Paul’s journey and circumstances, faithfully teach what Paul would teach, and minister on Paul’s behalf. [7]

Timothy, Titus and other members of Paul’s team provide me with a role model of faithfulness and loyalty.

4. Courage

Paul’s language to Timothy and other team members is directive. How did Timothy feel as he was summoned, or ordered to go to and from places? Paul’s letters reveal a tendency in Timothy to fear and intimidation—therefore Paul’s instructions would not always have been desirable or comfortable. (2 Tim 1:4-8)

And yet Timothy was willing—time and time again, to move out of his comfort zones in his service for God under Paul’s direction.

This reminds me of something Nelson Mandela once said: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”

Timothy inspires me not to allow fear to hold me back, but to rise to be all God has called me to be—spurred on by the leadership He has given to me.

One of the greatest challenges in leadership today, lies not in being a good leader—but in being a great leader under strong leadership. Timothy was such a leader.

Notes

[1] I am currently honoured to be on David McCracken’s prophetic ministry team.

[2] I share my story in the book, Prophetic People In A Changing Church

[3] The Birth of the Church, From Jesus to Constantine, Ivor J. Davidson, 2005, Monarch:Oxford

[4] In this article I am referring to the senior leadership role model of the Apostle Paul, who said, ‘Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.’ (1 Cor 11:1) Healthy Christian leadership is not perfect. All leaders are human! However, God does not require us to stay and serve under leadership that is abusive, ungodly or immoral.

[5] By way of balance, Timothy does not appear to have family commitments—in contrast to Peter and other Apostles, whose wives accompanied them. (1 Cor 9:5) Self-sacrifice in ministry does not mean family sacrifice.

[6] Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (c) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers

[7] Paul raised up other team members in whom he had similar confidence. See Eph 6:21-22 (Tychicus); Col 1:7-8 (Epaphras)

How does Timothy inspire you? Do you have any further thoughts or questions about the topic of Christian leadership? 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:
Do You Have A Ministry Call?
Personal Guidance For The Important Decisions Of Life
Courage To Change

© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

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

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

I have a dream that every Christian will have the confidence and freedom to pray for other people, in any situation.

We serve a loving and supernatural God, Who longs to express His grace and power through us in our everyday lives.

Last week I shared some reasons why we can pray for physical healing, and today I want to share 3 simple ways that you can put it into practice.

It Isn’t about a Formula

When we start out, it can be helpful to become familiar with a few different methods of praying. It is a bit like having access to a toolkit. We can then use whichever method suits the situation—or pray as the Holy Spirit leads us.

When you look at how Jesus healed people in the Gospels, you see many different ways that it took place.

So when we pray, it is not about a formula, although you might find one way of praying for healing that suits you.

Contrary to what some people may try and tell you, there is no one best method to pray for healing.

If there was one superior method, then those healing ministries in the world to day that are getting the most results would all be using one method. But they are not—they all have different expressions of ministry!

3 Easy Ways to Pray for Physical Healing

Here are three different ways that you can pray for healing. I call them Petition (Asking) Prayer, Power Prayer, and Pastoral (Caring) Prayer.

1. Petition (Asking) Prayer

We petition God when we simply ask Him to do something—in this case to bring healing—in Jesus’ Name.

Petition is not inferior to other types of prayer—asking is powerful, and is the privilege of sons and daughters. (Matt 7:7-11, John 14:13-14)

Making requests of God should be done with thanksgiving—we pray with the confidence that He hears us, and has already provided the answer to our prayer. (Phil 4:6)

We see petition happening in the Bible when people came to Jesus asking for healing on behalf of themselves and others.

Petition prayer is a powerful witness to non-Christians because it demonstrates our relationship with God.

2. Power Prayer

Power Prayer is short, brief and to the point, rather like a ‘laser beam’ of focused prayer or command, using the Name of Jesus.

In Power Prayer, we exercise the authority God has given to us over sickness. This includes:

A. Praying using the authority of Jesus’ Name (Acts 4:10,30; John 14:12-14)

B. Praying or declaring scripture

God’s word has authority. Some scriptures we can pray include 1 Peter 2:24, Ex 15:26, Ps 107:20

C. Speaking a word of command to the sickness (Ps 107:20)

Jesus frequently used a word of command or pronouncement of healing. (Luke 8:54, John 5:8, Matt 12:13)

Peter primarily used the spoken word to bring healing in his ministry. (Acts 3:6, 9:34, 9:40)

3. Pastoral (Caring) Prayer

In pastoral care prayer, we aim specific prayer at caring for the person, not only for healing, but also for issues related to the illness.

The power of Pastoral Prayer is that we are praying specifically. It lets the person know that God cares and we care about their whole life related to that issue. (Gal 6:2, Rom 12:12)

Some things we can pray for include:

• Healing and Divine intervention
• Pray concerning specific symptoms as well as the underlying cause of the sickness
• Other family members affected by the need expressed
• Key events such as medical appointments, operations, and so on
• The medical skill of doctors and other professionals
• Other logistics relating to the illness—such as finance, help and transport
• Any emotional responses to the situation—e.g. fear, trauma or anxiety

I like to pray for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit for Christians who are in difficult times or require healing. They may have had a lot of emotion, or pain to deal with and can feel depleted emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually.

Other Prayer Tools

Here are some further thoughts about prayer for healing:

Repeated Prayer

Repeated prayer show the people that we care enough to journey the distance with them. And God may use the power of recurring prayer in the process of healing. Jesus prayed more than once for a blind man, who was healed gradually. (Mark 8:22-26)

Two Points of Connection

a. Laying on hands

Laying on of hands was one of many methods that Jesus used to minister healing to people. (Luke 4:40)

Paul mostly used the laying on of hands and physical impartation to heal. (Acts 20:10, 19:11-12, 28:8)

The benefits of having a physical point of connection include:

• It can help build faith
• It reminds others and us that we are an agent, or representative of Jesus.
• It is a Biblical means of impartation (releasing the healing power of God through one person to another)

We should always ask people first to ensure they are comfortable with us touching them as we pray.

b. Anointing with oil

Anointing with oil is symbolic. It is recommended for use by leaders in the NT. (James 5:14) Jesus’ disciples also used anointing oil on one occasion in Mark 6:13.

We need to keep in mind that unchurched people do not understand the symbolism of anointing with oil, therefore it is may not always be appropriate.

Important Things to Remember

Finally, important things to remember whilst praying for healing are:

• The basis for our prayer is not our ability, but what Jesus has accomplished on the cross. (1 Peter 2:24)

• Jesus healed people out of compassion. (Matt 14:14) Love is vital to praying for healing as it is in any ministry situation. (1 Cor 13:2-3)

• Never advise people to cease prescribed medications. If they believe they are healed, refer them to their physician for confirmation first.

• Acknowledge the mystery of prolonged or unanswered prayer and never place blame for this on anyone’s ‘lack of faith’.
  In 2 Tim 4:20, we learn of a close associate of the Apostle Paul who remained ill. No answers were given. We are called to pray in faith, leaving the outcome up to God.

Other articles in the Healing Series:

7 Reasons Why You Can Pray For Healing

Discover Your Unique Healing Gift

Do you have any further thoughts or questions about the topic of healing? 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 – Prophetic Teaching

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

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

Today I want to share with those of you who, like me, have a strong desire to see people healed as you pray for them—but are uncertain as to whether or not you have a spiritual gift of healing. (I will share some signs of the spiritual gift of healing later in this post)

Here are 7 simple reasons why you can pray for physical healing for people, not just in the context of church life, but also in your everyday life:

1. God is Healer by Name and Nature

We pray for healing because it is on the heart of God.

God is revealed as the healer of disease throughout the Bible. One of His Names is Jehovah Ropheka—‘The Lord Who Heals You’ (Ex 15:26)

He is healer not only by Name but also by nature—Jesus revealed the Father’s heart as He went about ministering healing and freedom to people. (John 14:9-11, Acts 10:38)

Prayer for healing is centred not only upon God’s willingness; it is also based Jesus’ finished work upon the cross. Jesus paid the price for our sin and sickness, and when He rose from the dead He held in His hands the keys of death and hell. (Matt 8:17; 1 Peter 2:24, Rev 1:18) [1]

2. Jesus set us an Example to Follow

Jesus demonstrated a lifestyle of ministering healing to people and trained and instructed His disciples to do the same. This included His wider group of followers, not just the 12. (Luke 10:1-9)

The instructions Jesus gave to His first disciples were to be passed on to future generations of Christian believers. (Matt 28:20)

The practice of healing did not stop there: the ministry of healing was an integral part of early church life. (James 5:13-16)

3. Prayer for Healing is vital to Pastoral Care

We pray for healing because it expresses God’s compassion and care for people.

In church life, prayer for physical healing is essential to pastoral care. It provides comfort and encouragement to individuals and families who are struggling with illness. (James 5:13-16)

And when healing occurs, it provides opportunity for the church to rejoice in the testimony of what God has done. (1 Cor 12:26)

4. It Encourages People to Connect with God

Offering to pray for people who are sick encourages them to look to God in their time of need. (Matt 14:34-36)

Even in our day of advanced science in medicine, there are illnesses for which there are no medical answers. We can look to our Creator Who intimately knows the function of our physical bodies.

5. Prayer makes a Difference.

God’s power is released when we pray. (Matt 18:18-20)

And even in the times God’s power it does not manifest in the time or manner that we expect, He is still at work in ways that we do not understand.

Your prayers are powerful and do make a difference. James instructs us, ‘…pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

The mystery of continued illness did not stop the early apostles praying for healing and it should not hinder us. (2 Tim 4:20)

6. It Impacts the lives of People who do not yet know God.

(Matt 8:8-18, Luke 10:8-9)
When there is a felt need, people are often more responsive to prayer than any other time.

It is amazing how open people are to prayer as a concept, even before they are aware that prayer is actually about a relationship with an awesome God! And we have the opportunity to demonstrate that relationship when we offer to pray for them.

Our faith in a supernatural God Who answers prayer today should permeate throughout our whole life. People around us need to see the expression of our faith in action.

7. We pray for Healing because we can!

Who can pray for physical healing?

A. Leaders in the church

‘Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.’ James 5:14-15

There is a special authority and Biblical mandate for leaders to pray for physical healing.

B. Those with a Spiritual gift of Healing

‘Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing.’ 1 Cor 12:27-28

Here are some signs that you may have a healing gift:

• You have a strong desire to see people healed by God’s power
• You are passionate about praying for the sick and regularly encourage others to receive prayer
• You have had prophecies or a long-term sense of God’s call to minister in healing
• You gravitate towards ministry that includes praying for the sick
• You usually offer to pray for healing when people are sick
• You may have experienced healing yourself
• You may have had particular trials in the area of your health, either yourself or someone close to you (trials indicate triumph… look at some of the leading Biblical characters)
• People have been healed when you have prayed for them,  experiencing a genuine touch from God emotionally or physically.

C. All followers of Jesus

‘Very truly I tell you, all who have faith in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.’ (John 14:12)

Our authority is exercised in the Name of Jesus. (Acts 4:10, See also point 2., above)

Whether or not you have a spiritual gift of prayer, or healing, you can still pray on the basis of your relationship with God and the authority that you have as His son or daughter.

Notes
[1] There are many differing viewpoints regarding the Biblical doctrine of and basis for physical healing. I find it interesting that Jesus did not teach on healing. Rather, He taught about the Kingdom of God—and healed people.

Can you think of more reasons why we can pray for the sick? Are you wondering whether or not you have a gift of healing? Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

Related Posts:

3 Simple Way to Pray For Healing

Discover Your Unique Healing Gift

The Power Of A Prophetic Act

You Don’t Need A Special Gift To Be A Supernatural Christian

© Helen Calder 2011 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

Many years ago when The Hunk and I were ministering full time with a mission agency, we attended a meeting together at which a prophet was preaching and ministering in personal prophecy.

After sharing some words of encouragement with my husband, the prophet turned to me.

‘God’s got a call on your life that is totally different to that of your husband. He wants you to be really developing that, preparing yourself because He has things for you to do that will see you fulfilled in your own right as a woman of God…’

Although to an observer I was simply a young mother and wife of a minister, God used the prophet that day to express His love towards me and to remind me that He had not forgotten His call on my life.

Love is a Vital Ingredient of Prophecy

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 Cor 13:2)

To prophesy is to communicate the intention and purpose of the Father.

This can be by way of simple encouragement to someone in your everyday life, or it may occur within the context of church life or ministry.

The Bible tells us that love is the prerequisite to prophecy in any situation. [1] Without love, the Apostle Paul says, we are nothing, and our words have an empty ring to them. (1 Cor 13:1-2)

Remembering this is vital as we develop our prophetic gifts and seek to grow in our ability to hear from God.

God’s Love is not Based upon what our Eyes see

 ‘He [the Messiah] will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears’ (Isaiah 11:3)

God looks beyond what is seen outwardly, to the inner heart of a person and speaks to the potential within.

My constant prayer is that I will not be distracted by what I see externally. ‘Holy Spirit, help me to see what You see.’

When the prophet Samuel went to Jesse’s family to anoint the next King of Israel, God spoke to him saying, ‘Do not consider his appearance… People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’ (1 Sam 16:7)

God’s Love is not Based upon our Ideas and Opinions

Whether negative or positive, opinions and preconceived ideas can hinder our ability to hear—and accurately share—God’s word. They also hinder the flow of God’s unconditional love through us.

This is especially true when we are ministering to people that we are personally acquainted with.

I have learned to be open to the Holy Spirit for Him to show me (and He often does)

• judgments that I need to repent of, or
• predetermined ideas that I need to set aside.

God’s Love is not Based upon our Feelings

When it comes to prophetic ministry, love is not based on an emotion that we feel, but upon seeing people from the Father’s point of view.

Here are three primary ways that we can become acquainted with His perspective:

1. Know what the Bible Teaches about God’s Love for People

We learn from God’s Word how much the Father values people—so much that He sent His Son to die for them. (John 3:16)

In the New Testament, the Father’s heart towards people is revealed through Jesus’ ministry to individuals.

For example, when Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, He did not use the knowledge He had of her sinful lifestyle to condemn her, but as the means to invite her to salvation. (John 4)

When we step into this perspective, and prophesy accordingly, we are better able to express God’s love.

2. Catch the Revelation of God’s Love Towards us

If we have not experienced God’s love for ourselves personally, we will be unable to express His love towards others.

Being aware of His grace towards me in my own humanity and weakness enables me to communicate His love and grace to others.

3. Value Intimacy with God Above all Else

We do not need to feel an emotion such as compassion to express God’s love to another. However, as we grow in intimacy with Him, He shares His heart with us.

Further, as we prepare for prophetic ministry in prayer, we can specifically seek God for His heart as well as His plans.

It is in His Presence that our hearts are changed to become like His.

We Express God’s Love in the Process of Prophecy

‘Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.’ (1 Cor 14:1)

Love should guide the whole process of prophecy. [2] This process includes:

• Weighing up the revelation we have received
• Ensuring that the message we share is encouraging and empowering (1 Cor 14:3)
• The way in which we deliver the word, and the timing of it
• Allowing the person room to weigh the prophecy up, and so on.

Love also requires us to seek accountability in the use of our spiritual gifts. [3]

God’s Love Requires us to put Others First

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:13)

The bottom line of God’s love is its sacrificial nature. Love places the interests and life of others above that of our own. (Phil 2:1-8)

For those of us with a tendency to blurt out whatever comes to mind, love may invite us to pause; to process the word further, or to share at a more suitable time.

And finally, for those of us who are shy and fearful—love compels us to step out of our comfort zones and speak.

Notes:
[1] Although my key focus is personal prophecy in this article, the same principles apply to other forms of prophecy such as prophecy to churches, groups or nations. For example, see How Do You Weigh Up What The Prophets Are Saying Pt 1

[2] For posts on the process of prophecy, view the following:

How To Exercise Your Prophetic Gift Pt 1: Understand The Process Of Prophecy

How To Exercise Your Prophetic Gift Pt 5: Creating A Safe Environment To Deliver Your Prophecy

[3] Accountability is vital to providing a safe environment, not only for us to grow in our gifts, but also for people to receive a message from God. See Prophetic Ministry In Church Life: Why Have Guidelines?

For more insights on Personal Prophecy, refer to Is Personal Prophecy Biblical?

Related Post:

The Spirit Of Encouragement: Are You A Barnabas?

Have you ever felt God’s love through a prophetic word? Do you have any experiences or questions to share about the topic of expressing God’s love through prophecy? Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.