Entries tagged with “Revelation”.
Did you find what you wanted?
Wed 5 Oct 2011
Jacob was on the run from the murderous fury of his brother, Esau. It was twilight and he was in a strange land.
The journey being longer than the day, he lay down on the hard ground with a stone for a pillow.
There was nothing in Jacob’s life that indicated what would happen next. His past was a mess—his future seemed uncertain. His hope was that a relative in a distant place would give him refuge.
But that night, he dreamed of a stairway reaching from earth into heaven, upon which angels were ascending and descending.
Above the staircase stood Almighty God. He spoke to Jacob of the covenantal promises given to Abraham and Isaac, and now passed on to Jacob.
Jacob’s life was changed by the revelation of an open heaven above his life. [1] There was nothing he had done to deserve it. God’s favour towards Jacob was based on covenant, not on personal merit.
Jacob was an heir to the promises. And like Jacob, we are heirs of a covenant; not through anything we could achieve ourselves, but by grace, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
An Open Heaven: Our Inheritance
When Jesus was baptised, Mark tells us that the heavens were ‘torn open’ as the Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove. (Mark 1:10) [2]
Jesus lived and ministered under this open heaven. He was in touch with the Father at all times. Nothing was impossible. Demons fled, diseases were healed; even death could not stand in His way.
Heaven’s supernatural resources were made available to Jesus as He prayed and did what He saw the Father doing. (John 5:19)
When the veil tore open at Jesus’ crucifixion (Matt 27:51), the heavens were opened permanently for all who would believe in Him and become children of God—for Jesus Himself is the stairway to heaven. (John 1:51, John 14:6)
Then, on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God baptised the waiting believers. (Acts 2)
Everything that was available to Jesus to accomplish the Father’s will is also available to us today. Jesus would not say, ‘Follow Me,’ if that were not the case. Living under an open heaven is our inheritance, and it should be our expectation.
What is Available to us Through an Open Heaven?
An open heaven is a state where there are no barriers between the earthly realm and the heavenly realm—the throne of God, and all the resources of heaven.
As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we can live in the constant awareness that nothing separates us from our Father and His resources.
Here are some things that the Bible reveals are available to us through an open heaven. I encourage you to look up and meditate on the following scripture verses.
1. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit
(Matt 3:16, Acts 2)
2. Provision and blessing
(Deut 28:12, Mal 3:10)
3. Salvation—Ourselves and Others
(Isaiah 45:8)
4. Prophetic Revelation and God’s Throne
(Exodus 24:9-11, Ezek 1:1)
5. Angelic activity in Response to God’s Command, bringing Supernatural Answers to Prayer
(Ps 103:129-21)
The House of God
Many Christians associate an open heaven primarily with angelic activity, however as we can see from above, that is just one aspect.
We need to guard against becoming preoccupied with angels. Jacob did not name the place where the heavens opened to him, ‘Dwelling of Angels.’ He named it Bethel, ‘House of God.’
The revelation he received of God that day was so profound that later God would re-introduce Himself to Jacob as ‘The God of Bethel.’
In another era and on another journey, Elisha had to pass a test in order to bear the mantle and authority of Elijah. Would he keep his eyes fixed on his spiritual father to the very end? Or would he be distracted by the brilliance of the glorious carriers—the chariots of God?
When the heavens opened to Stephen, Ezekiel and John, they saw the throne of God.
I want to have my focus on the throne—‘where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.’ (Col 3:1)
There is the source of our life, and our authority. There, we seek the Father’s will and directive, knowing that the resources of heaven—including the angelic hosts—are released at His word and by our partnership with Him in prayer.
As Jesus said,
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’” Matthew 6:9-10
The Glorious Revelation
A revelation of what Jesus has done in opening heaven to us will change the way we pray.
- It will change the way we see
- It will change the way we think and act
- We will be conscious of what Father is doing ‘NOW’ and the resources that are available to us ‘NOW’
- We will have confidence in exercising our authority
- Our faith will be increased
- We will live in constant expectation
We will live centred upon God.
Do you have any experiences or questions to share on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.
Notes
[1] You can read this story in Genesis 28.
[2] I recommend Bill Johnson’s message, ‘You Already have an Open Heaven.’ You can find it on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RULjmyJbQs8
Related Posts:
No Longer Waiting for Revival
ABC’s of the Kingdom of God
© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog
On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church
Wed 26 Jan 2011
The simple chorus, ‘He Is Lord,’ has been a popular praise song since my early days as a Christian.
My pastor led the song at our church staff meeting last week. It was my final meeting after being on team for nearly 7 years. [1]
In the context of saying farewell to a group that has been like family to me—in order to pursue God’s call to serve elsewhere—the chorus was a reminder of what Lordship means: hearing and obeying God (Luke 6:46).
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once [Peter and Andrew] left their nets and followed him. Matt 4:19-20
As Jesus call to His first disciples illustrates, His Lordship (leadership) means three things:
1. Relationship—and in particular, hearing His voice (in this context, receiving instruction)
2. Releasing—leaving our own agenda in favour of pursuing His priorities
3. Responding—acting in obedience to His word, His call, His will.
Jesus’ Lordship is more than making a one-time commitment to Him, and it is more than asking for His guidance for important decisions in our lives.
The meaning of ‘Lordship’ is that Jesus is our leader. We may call Him Lord, but for Him to actually BE Lord, that means we are following Him—on a moment-by-moment, and daily basis.
The Joy of Following Jesus
I have come to realise that responding to Jesus’ leadership is neither a hardship to be feared, nor a duty to perform.
In the past, I had trouble with the concept of Jesus’ Lordship, fearing Him to be a hard taskmaster, when He has actually promised me a life of rest and joy. (Matt 11:28-30, Rom 14:17) [2]
Now I know that Jesus’ Lordship means following Someone whom I love and want to be with more than anyone else in this world.
Jesus’ Lordship in Our Daily Lives
‘Those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.’ Rom 8:14
Recently, I have been meditating on what it means to live a supernatural Christian life. The bottom line is this: empowered Christian living is about relationship.
Our life with God should not just be a devotional appointment, but a dynamic living relationship with Him.
He wants to speak to us: not just in the context of
- Personal prayer, Bible study and devotions, or
- Ministry at our church or from teaching elsewhere
but also as we go about our everyday lives.
He does this through the Holy Spirit, whom He has sent to help us know God’s will. (John 16:12-15)
The Leadership of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit lives in us, and wants to communicate the Father’s purposes to us.
As we follow His leading, we can live like Jesus did—seeing people around us changed and impacted by God’s love.
So, what does this look like in practical terms?
Firstly, we need to remember that the Spirit speaking to us is not like a person speaking.
When we talk about ‘hearing God’s voice,’ we are using an earthly expression to describe a heavenly concept. We simply do not have a framework to understand it.
You and I use words, speech and body language to communicate. However, the Holy Spirit has endless ways that He can communicate with us.
7 Ways the Holy Spirit can lead us in our Daily Lives
Over the past year, the Hunk and I have seen some amazing things happen in our lives and in those around us.
Here are some of the things we have learned to pay attention to, as we go about our daily living:
1. Living in the fruit of the Spirit
It is important to realise that we do not need special guidance to live in the fruit of the Spirit. (see Gal 5:16-25)
In other words, when a situation arises that provides us with an opportunity to respond in a loving (patient, joyful, etc) way, we can just do it—asking for His help.
2. A thought, or ‘urge’ from the Spirit
The Spirit leads us through ‘promptings.’
Sometimes these can be subtle. We may have an urge to go somewhere or speak to someone and it is only afterwards we realise it was the Spirit leading us.
At other times, He is leading us to do something other than what we have planned personally to do. When this happens we need to be intentional about obeying Him.
3. A Difficulty Arises.
When a problem occurs, whether it is in our lives, or in the life of someone around us, it is an opportunity to bring God in on the scene through prayer.
We need to become more familiar with responding to a need immediately with prayer. This may mean offering to pray for someone who has a need.
4. An Opportunity Presents Itself (Col 4:5-6)
This can include:
- An opening in conversation gives us an opportunity to share an aspect of our faith
- We have an opportunity to express God’s love through practical assistance when someone is in need.
‘Seize the Day.’
5. Divine Appointments
A Divine appointment looks like coincidence at first.
We can probe a ‘coincidental’ meeting to test whether the Lord has arranged it.
For example, you meet an acquaintance while out walking, or at the shops and you pause to greet him or her.
It may simply be an opportunity to quietly pray for them as you part ways. But if they express a desire to connect further, or share a problem they are facing—explore the opportunity.
6. Prophetic Revelation
Prophetic revelation can include such things as spiritual dreams, symbols, visions and words and thoughts from God. [3]
7. Unique Ways
Ultimately the ways you hear from God will be unique to you.
In the same way that the voice of a friend becomes familiar over time, as we grow in intimacy with God we learn to recognise His voice.
Even though it can be helpful to look out for the above things, don’t forget that the Spirit will speak to you and lead you in many different ways. It’s not about finding a formula, it is about relationship. [4]
Remember, too, that when it comes to matters of hearing from God, especially in relation to prophetic experiences and decision-making, it is vital to have accountability in place—safe people we can check our guidance with. We never ‘outgrow’ the need for Christian leadership and being in a healthy church community.
When we get it Wrong
‘Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?’ (Luke 6:46)
We won’t always get hearing and obeying God’s voice right. I know that I often miss opportunities to respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading.
When this happens, I can confess my shortfall, receive God’s forgiveness, and move on, secure in His love.
Our walk with God is not one of perfection, but of grace (Rom 8:1-4). What is important is that our hearts are open to respond to Him and to grow in this area.
Do you have any experiences to share on being led by the Spirit in your everyday life? I would love to hear from you. Leave a note in the comments box below.
If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.
Notes:
[1] From 1 February 2011, I will be on the ministry team at David McCracken Ministries. You can read about it here: http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2011/01/20/annnouncement-and-article-by-david-mccracken/
(and yes, while there is a little bit of sadness at letting go of my previous role, there’s a whole lot of joyful anticipation at what is to come. Thank You Jesus!)
[2] This response can be a sign that we are still struggling with an ‘orphan mindset,’where we don’t comprehend who we are or Whose we are. You can read more about it here:
http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2010/11/04/breaking-free-from-an-orphan-mindset/
[3] You can read more about receiving prophetic revelation in the following posts:
http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2009/11/14/how-to-exercise-your-prophetic-gift-pt-2-how-to-receive-a-revelation-from-god/
http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2010/07/27/how-to-recover-the-wonder-of-hearing-gods-voice/
[4] Here is a post about having an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit:
http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2010/11/23/how-you-can-have-an-intimate-relationship-with-the-holy-spirit/
© Helen Calder 2011
Enliven Publishing
http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/
Mon 13 Sep 2010
‘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
Tue 3 Aug 2010
My standard response to any need for information is, ‘Let’s Google it.’ It seems that any knowledge on earth is now literally available at our fingertips.
Recently, I have Googled to find information on such mysteries as whether my computer had signs of a Trojan virus (yes, and remedial software was suggested), and why my daughter’s cockatiel instantly shed a batch of feathers when unexpectedly knocked (a reflex action of self defence).
But there are some problems and decisions in life for which there are no earthly solutions:
- When in need of provision
- At a crossroad facing life-changing decisions
- When a loved one is wandering far from God
- When no medical answers exist for a physical, mental or emotional health issue
These kinds of situations prompt us to turn to our heavenly Father for the intervention that only He can bring.
The Knowledge That Counts
The key to this kind of miraculous breakthrough, according to James, is effective prayer (James 5:16-18).
The key to effective prayer, according to John, is to pray according to God’s will (1 John 5:14-15).
In order to pray according to God’s will, we need to know the Father’s heart and intent (Matt 6:10).
When it really comes down to it, and we are faced with the critical issues of life, it is not earthly knowledge that counts—but understanding God’s purposes for our situation.
This is the power of prophetic prayer.
What is Prophetic Prayer?
Prophetic prayer is when we pray using information that has been supernaturally revealed to us by the Holy Spirit.
We call this supernatural knowledge revelation.
Beyond The Curtain
It is as though there is a curtain between the natural realm and the realm of heaven.
And on this side of the curtain—the side we live in—is everything that we can know by natural means, for example, through our six senses. This includes Information Technology.
On the other side, are things that are only known in heaven:
- The eternal realm of past, present and future
- The realm of the Spirit and spiritual reality
- The realm of God—His knowledge, His desire, His plans
Revelation—the Greek New Testament word means uncovering, or disclosure—is when the Holy Spirit parts that curtain.
We catch a glimpse of what God has in store, or receive knowledge that the Father wants to disclose to us at that time.
God Wants to Reveal Mysteries to us
Those things on the other side are a mystery to us. We cannot discern them by natural means. But we can discover them with the help of the Holy Spirit.
This concept of the ‘mysteries’ is a biblical one.
In 1 Cor 13:2-3, Paul says,
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.’
That word mysteries in the NT GREEK is ‘musterion.’
The Vines Concordance has this to say about it:
In the NT [mystery] denotes…that which, being outside the range of unassisted natural apprehension, can be made known only by divine revelation, and is made known in a manner and at a time appointed by God, and to those only who are illumined by His Spirit [1].
When Jesus’ disciples asked Him why He spoke to the crowds in parables, His response was:
“Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. Matt 13:11-12
The Power of a Prayer Language.
The gift of a prayer language is a powerful tool that can help us access this realm of revelation.
The Apostle Paul said,
‘Anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.’ 1 Cor 14:2-3
That word translated ‘mysteries’ is—again—the Greek word, ‘musterion.’ It also means ‘secret.’ When we pray in the Spirit using the gift of tongues, we are praying heaven’s secrets—things that haven’t been revealed in the earth realm yet.
We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. (Rom 8:27)
How to Exercise Prophetic Prayer for Breakthrough
There are many ways that we can use supernatural revelation that the Holy Spirit has revealed to us as we pray. Here are 5 types of prophetic prayer:
1. Receiving: Waiting on God, in prayer, or during prayer, for His insights (Hab 2:1)
2. Interceding: Receiving revelation whilst praying for people or circumstances, or using insights already received to pray for them (e.g. John 17:20-23)
3. Warfaring: Using revelationary knowledge to wage spiritual warfare in a prayer context (A great example of this is David, who prophesied Goliath’s downfall in 1 Sam 17:45-47)
4. Ministering: Using prophetic prayer in the context of ministering to people
5. Proclaiming: Using prophetic insight to make powerful declarations and commands (e.g. Ezekiel 37 valley of dry bones)
The Challenge
I believe that God desires to communicate His plans, purposes and Divine knowledge to us even more than we realise.
The challenge to all of us is, ‘Will we get into the place of intimacy with God where we can receive it?’
[1]. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, (c)1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
****************************************
Related Posts:
Is It Time to Birth Your Prophetic Word In Prayer?
The Power of Prophetic Prayer
© Helen Calder 2010 Enliven Publishing
Now on team with David McCracken Ministries
Tue 13 Jul 2010
I sat in the office of a counsellor, head down in prayer. The visit was precipitated by difficulties in a ministry situation that had left me discouraged and heartsick.
At this point in the session, the counsellor was inviting me to look into my heart—to visualise, with God’s help, what was happening on the inside of me.
To my complete surprise, instead of the darkness she was verbally preparing me to face, I found myself in a vision:
I was under water, looking up towards the surface, where a current was flowing swiftly. A thin layer of scum was being carried along and away by the fast-moving water, skimming across its surface.
As I wondered what I was seeing, the vision changed. I saw myself at the bottom of a river, and Jesus was with me. Together we were pulling up weeds from the riverbed, laughing, enjoying the moment. The weeds came away from the river’s floor easily. As we raised our hands and released them, the current of the river caught them away.
My problems were not difficult for the Lord to handle. In fact, I saw that He delighted in sharing this process—of identifying and removing what was not of Him in my life.
That day, I looked for pain and encountered my Saviour. The prophetic vision He shared with me changed my perspective and helped bring me healing.
Revelation Brings Heaven’s Perspective.
The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” But Abram said, “O Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless?” (Gen 15:1-2)
Abram had a perspective problem. He was wealthy, but without an heir and without lands he could not comprehend how God could bless him.
The Lord responded by assuring him that He would give Abram a son and that his descendants would possess the land around him. Then:
‘He took him outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars–if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”’ Gen 15:5
When God gives us prophetic revelation—whether in vision or otherwise—He enables us to see from heaven’s perspective.
- A vision from God changed Peter’s perspective about the Gentiles and facilitated the spread of the Gospel throughout the Gentile world (Acts 10:9-20)
- A vision of the Risen Christ overturned Saul’s perspective, transforming him from a persecutor of the church to a founder of many churches (Acts 9)
How can we tell whether a personal revelation is from God?
A revelation from God does not come cloaking own ideas; neither does it reinforce our opinions, suspicions or prejudices.
Instead, like a contact lens placed on a natural eye, a vision from God brings adjustment and focus.
The Holy Spirit enables us to see circumstances, others and ourselves as the Father sees them.
He transforms our viewpoint so we can see like Him—and ultimately become like Him.
- When we are discouraged, He brings hope
- When we are fearful, He speaks a word of faith
- When we are hungry to know Him, He reveals more of Himself to us
- When we are confused, He brings clarity
- When we are critical, He shares His love for another
Here are some more ways we can check whether a vision or revelation is from God:
1. Is it Biblical?
2. Does it reflect God’s character and wisdom?
3. Is it redemptive—speaking of God’s heart to save and restore?
4. Do you have an inner witness that it is of God?
5. If it concerns direction—does it have the confirmation of circumstances, your gifts and wiring, and other believers—including your leaders?
The Power of a Vision to Restore
If you could see what heaven sees for your situation right now, how would it change your viewpoint?
Years ago, we experienced division in our church. I was deeply hurt, and shared the opinions and grievances of my friends who had left the church. My heart was urging me to leave.
Standing in a service one day, I received a prophetic vision that brought heaven’s perspective to my situation. I stayed, repented, and was restored. And the rest, as they say, is history.
*****************************************
Related Posts:
How Your Perspective Can Impact Your Destiny
Counterfeit Prophetic Vision: Don’t Settle For Less Than God’s Best
How to Exercise Your Prophetic Gift Pt 3: How Can You Tell Your Revelation Is From God?
How to Exercise Your Prophetic Gift Pt 2: How To Receive A Revelation From God
Need a Breakthrough? Uncover the Mysteries of Heaven
© Helen Calder Enliven Publishing
Now on team with David McCracken Ministries
Sun 20 Jun 2010
‘God is looking for men and women of maturity…
But there is no maturity because there is no birth.
There is no birth because there is no pregnancy.
There is no pregnancy because there is no conception.
There is no conception because there is no intimate relationship.
There is no intimate relationship because we busy ourselves seeking satisfaction apart from God.’
David Ravenhill [1]
I have kept an early edition of the Morningstar journal in my shelf for many years, for the value of the single paragraph above.
It speaks truth to something deep inside of me—a truth I find myself returning to regularly in my quest for spiritual renewal.
And that is, that at the heart of life-giving prophetic ministry—or any ministry, and even life itself—is intimacy with Jesus.
Face To Face—God’s Purpose from Beginning to End
We are created for a FACE TO FACE relationship with God. We see this at the outset—from the very moment of creation.
Genesis 2 V 7 says:
‘The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.’
Every other creature was created by the word of God, but God fashioned Adam from the ground and breathed life into him,
And from the moment of that very first FACE TO FACE encounter, Adam lived.
After Adam and Eve sin, in Genesis chapter 3, you see God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. It has evidently been His custom to walk and talk with Adam & Eve… FACE TO FACE, but now Adam and Eve have hidden their faces in shame from God
And you see throughout the whole of the remainder of Scripture, God is working, through His plan of redemption, to restore that FACE TO FACE relationship that was lost.
He accomplishes it by sending Jesus to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin. And there on the cross, in one eternal moment, THE FATHER TURNS HIS FACE AWAY from Jesus.
Jesus bore our sin, and the punishment of separation from God that was due to us, in order that our own FACE TO FACE relationship with God might be restored.
And even now, that process of restoration continues until the final fulfillment will take place when we enter eternity…
The Apostle Paul explains it like this in 1 Corinthians 13V12:
‘Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see FACE TO FACE. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.’
Even though the ultimate fulfillment of our FACE TO FACE relationship with God is in ETERNITY, God WANTS to share a close relationship with us now.
- It is the purpose He created us
- It is the reason Jesus went to the cross
And this being the case, I want to know what a FACE TO FACE relationship with God means. In the certain knowledge that I have yet more to discover, I also want to know what I am missing out on.
Responding To God
We cannot meditate on this truth without considering our own personal response. For me, right now, that is twofold:
1. Soaking—Taking time to Worship and to be Refilled.
When Jesus was resurrected, He met with His disciples and FACE TO FACE, He breathed on them, saying ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’
Receiving His breath, His Spirit, His life, into us is an integral part of having a FACE TO FACE relationship with God.
For me that means spending time with God, with no other agenda apart from being with Him, receiving His Spirit, enjoying His Presence.
2. Conversing—Intimate Conversation with God
I am personally being challenged that God wants to speak to me FACE TO FACE a whole lot more than I have imagined He does. I recognise that doubts and fears have stopped up the flow of His voice, His revelation, to me.
So I will be digging into some journaling this week—with a specific focus.
Here are some ideas for how to do this, if you would like to join me:
- Start your journal with the words ‘Lord what do you want to say to me today?’
- A thought or idea may come to you immediately—in which case, start to write. But if not, wait for the Holy Spirit to give you a revelation—a picture/vision, a Bible verse or story, a word, feeling or idea. Write what you see or what comes to mind and also what you believe God is saying to you.
- Write your response to Him. You may even want to ask another question. It is your conversation with God.
Remember to weigh up carefully any revelation you receive. Keep up your regular Bible reading and always reflect on what you are receiving in the light of what God says in His Word.
[1] The Morningstar Journal Vol. 3 No.4 1993, ‘The Birthing of a Ministry, David Ravenhill.
*************************************************
Related Posts:
Face to Face With God: Can I Have a Relationship Like Moses?
Activate Your Prophetic Gift Through Prayer Journaling
Spiritual Renewal: How To Receive An Impartation Of The Holy Spirit
How To Exercise Your Prophetic gift Pt 3: How Can You Tell Your Revelation Is From God?
© Helen Calder Enliven Publishing
Tue 27 Apr 2010
This is the third post in the Prophetic Evangelism series.
What is Prophetic Prayer?
Prophetic prayer occurs when we use revelation received from the Holy Spirit in the process of praying.
The New Testament Greek word translated ‘revelation’ means ‘unveiling.’ The Holy Spirit shares knowledge that we could not know by natural means. We then reflect that supernatural insight back to God in requests, intercession and proclamation.
A revelation from God may come in the form of a prophecy, picture (vision), dream, idea, or scripture. However, there are a myriad of creative ways that the Holy Spirit can speak to us if we are open to hearing His voice.
We can also pray prophetically without it being premeditated on our part. During or after the prayer we realise that the Holy Spirit has directed us how to pray.
4 Types of Prophetic Prayer
There are four main types of prophetic prayer. These are:
1. Receiving:
The Spirit shares prophetic revelation with us as we wait on God in prayer
2. Interceding:
We use the prophetic revelation we have received to remind God of His promises
3. Warfaring:
We use prophetic revelation to wage spiritual warfare and make powerful proclamations
4. Imparting:
God uses us to pray prophetically as we minister in prayer to others
How Prophetic Prayer can help in the Process of Evangelism
1. Receiving revelation in prayer
One time, I was praying for a family in our neighbourhood in New Zealand, when I had a vision. It was like a slide show. I saw the couple getting married; I saw my husband officiating at the wedding; I saw them becoming Christians.
Many months later, the man called us to share a secret—he had asked his partner to marry him and wanted The Hunk to perform the ceremony. We were thrilled, because we knew that God was at work, drawing them to Himself.
As you pray for God’s guidance in the process of evangelism, or for someone on your heart that is not a Christian, be open to have the Holy Spirit speak to you.
We do not need to be limited to set times of prayer. As we learn to walk with God in our daily life, we can be open to revelation that the Holy Spirit shares with us as we go along.
2. Using revelation to make requests in prayer
Once God has spoken to us about His plans for a friend or loved one who is unsaved, or for people that we come across, we can use that revelation to make specific, faith-filled requests to God. (Is 62:6-7)
The date of our friends wedding was getting closer. One morning I prayed and cried out to God, reminding Him of the vision and promises for this couple. That very day several events took place that showed us—and them—that God was at work in their lives.
Scriptures can be especially powerful in this regard. I have a Bible verse that the Lord has spoken to me regarding a family member that I frequently bring back to Him in prayer.
The power of this kind of prophetic prayer can be summed up by these words from the Bible:
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15
3. Using revelation to wage spiritual warfare
Similarly, prophetic revelation can be used to wage spiritual warfare in prayer for the lives of people who do not yet have a relationship with Jesus. (Eph 6:12-18)
We can use the prophecies, scriptures, and other revelations we have received to declare God’s purposes for their lives and to pray against demonic strongholds (2 Cor 10:4-6).
Prayer helps us lead a prophetic lifestyle
In the process of prophetic evangelism, prayer can also help us in other ways:
- Prayer is where we get to know the Father’s heart and values—this helps us to respond to people the way He would.
- Prayer is the place where we commune with God. As we live out of that fellowship, we grow in sensitivity to what He is doing moment-by-moment, in our daily lives.
- Prayer helps us to stay filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to witness of His love and power to others.
Prophetic prayer is powerful because we are praying according to what is on God’s heart and in His purposes for a situation, ourselves or other people.
Just as with all prophecy, it is important that any revelation we receive in prayer be weighed up, to see if it really is from God.
In the next post, I will look at a third key to prophetic evangelism, which is ‘positioning’—being aware that God has strategically placed you alongside people who are on His heart. He is already at work in their lives, drawing them to Himself.
****************************************************************
Are you interested in finding out more about how to pray effectively for your unsaved family and friends?
For further information, check out the e-book,
Pray for the Lost: Impact the Eternal Destiny of Those You Love
*****************************************************************
Related posts:
Prophetic Prayer Training Session
A Beginners Guide To Prophetic Evangelism Part 1
Pray for Those You Love and Unleash the Power of God
Need A Breakthrough? Uncover the Mysteries of Heaven
© Helen Calder Enliven Publishing
Mon 12 Apr 2010
The prophetic evangelism movement is growing.
Teams of Christian believers are pouring out into the streets and shopping malls, listening to the Holy Spirit as He directs them to speak with people. Using spiritual gifts, they are passing on words of knowledge and prophecies to people who may never have stepped into a church. They then offer to pray for them—and Jesus is doing miracles.
As awesome as this is, I have a burning conviction that ordinary, Spirit-filled believers, who might never join a team doing street witnessing, do not need to miss out. Anyone who has a heart to hear from God and to walk in spiritual gifts can learn prophetic evangelism. I believe that:
1. Prophetic evangelism can occur in our daily life
2. The principles of prophetic evangelism can be learned in a series of simple steps.
But before I start—lets ask the question:
What is Prophetic Evangelism?
Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. (John 5:19)
Prophetic evangelism is, at its most basic level, sharing the Good News about Jesus with people using the means of prophetic revelation.
It begins with hearing from God (or seeing, if you’re wired as a visionary person) how and what He wants you to pray, speak and do in the process of witnessing, as well as where and to whom. Sometimes, but not always, prophetic evangelism involves sharing a prophetic message from God with someone who is not a Christian.
‘Revelation’ means that you are receiving knowledge or insight from God that you wouldn’t know by natural means. The Holy Spirit reveals it to you supernaturally.
Supernatural Evangelism
One time, I was walking along a beach when I noticed a man and his son dragging a large net to shore. With great difficulty they laboured to bring the net into shore, only to find it contained a few bits of seaweed. The young man shrugged his shoulders and began to take off his wetsuit. His whole demeanour said, “Don’t ASK me to do that again!”
It reminded me of how many times in church life we have worked hard to bring lost people to Jesus, only to have worn ourselves out for very little result.
Jesus once told His disciples to let down their nets for a catch of fish. Like the young man I saw, they had worked hard all night for nothing, but when they let down the net at Jesus’ word, a miracle happened. The net was filled to overflowing with fish. (Luke 5:4-6)
This is a great illustration of prophetic evangelism. When we partner with the Holy Spirit, miracles happen.
God never meant for spiritual gifts to be confined to within the four walls of the church. Jesus moved in healing, prophecy, deliverance, miracles and knowledge in the streets, in fields, in homes and in parties. The early church did the same.
I am being challenged not to be one kind of person in a church meeting and another outside. If the Lord has given me gifts of prophecy, intercession and so on, why shouldn’t I walk in those gifts wherever I go?
Over the next couple of weeks we will be looking at some simple principles to help us enter into a fruitful partnership with the Holy Spirit in prophetic evangelism. These include:
Prayer—waiting in God for prophetic revelation. Who does He want us to share with? What is He doing in their lives and what is He saying to them at this time?
Position—we recognise that God has placed us alongside people, and that He is already at work in their lives
Power—felt needs in people’s lives give us an opportunity to offer prayer and for miracles to happen
Prophecy—an opportunity may arise in which we can share a message from God. Or—He may give us prophetic direction as to what to speak or an action to take.
Proclamation—at the right time, we share the story of Jesus with them.
****************************************************************
Are you interested in Prophetic Evangelism?
For more information, inspiration and stories, learn more in the e-book,
‘How To Be a Supernatural Christian In Your Everyday World’
*****************************************************************
Related posts:
How To Share A Prophecy With Someone Who Is Not A Christian
How To Be a Supernatural Christian: The Good News
The Greatest Evangelist In The World Today
© Helen Calder 2010 Enliven Publishing
Sun 24 Jan 2010
Do you want to develop or sharpen your prophetic gift? Journaling is an easy but powerful tool for prophetic activation. It can help you grow your gift of prophecy.
Journaling is basically recording any insights you receive from God during your prayer and Bible study times.
Some ways journaling can help you grow in your prophetic gift are:
- It encourages you to listen to God and become familiar with his voice (John 10:4). You can also practice receiving revelation from God and processing it.
- Journaling helps you remember what God has spoken to you by providing a record to refer back to
- It provides a means of focus, discipline and accountability
- You can practice putting what God is saying into a clear and communicable form—an necessary skill for prophecy
- You can look back later and see what, in the case of prophetic revelation, has come to pass—this helps sharpen your gift.
- Journaling provides a record from which you can pray God’s purposes into being
- You can get more revelation when you journal. Once you record what you have received, it frees your mind so that you can be open to hear more of what God is saying.
- You can use what you have received in your journaling time to share with others
- It brings glory to God when the things you have journaled take place
- It provides a safe place to practice receiving and processing prophetic revelation without the pressure of public exposure
- You can use what you have heard from God to help you walk with Him and obey Him (Hab 2:2)
Journaling in scripture
For an example of journaling, we don’t have to look past the Bible itself. Much of scripture is prophetic revelation recorded in written form.
What Do You Need for Journaling?
The type of journaling you choose should suit your personal style. There are also a variety of media you can use to help you journal. These include:
- Writing in an A5 or A4 journal
- Typing and recording your journal using a computer.
- If writing or typing is difficult for you, you can record your journaling in small, bite-sized files using a recorder, MP3 recorder, or mobile phone, then name and store them for later reference.
Journaling is essentially private, but if you would like to share from your journal, another media you can use is the Internet. Some of my blog posts started out as journal entries.
It is best to keep your journal notes together in one place, such as a notebook, journal or single folder on your computer. This way, you can refer back to them later.
Types of Journaling
You don’t have to stick to any one type of journaling. Choose a journaling style that best suits you.
Some simple options you can use for written journaling are:
Two popular methods that can assist you with the journaling process are:
1. SOAP method (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer)
2. Prayer journaling
Remember that journaling methods are tools, not rules.
The Two Week Journaling Challenge
I will be reviewing the prayer journaling and ‘SOAP’ methods in the next couple of posts.
I am not currently using these two journaling styles (I use mind-mapping). But I will use these methods for one week each as I blog about them, and describe my experiences in the comments section of each post.
It would be fun if you would join me on this ‘two-week journaling challenge.’
Consider some of the benefits I have mentioned in this post. Journaling can help you sharpen your prophetic gift, and it could change your life as you hear from God.
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.
© Helen Calder Enliven Publishing
Sun 22 Nov 2009
At the beginning of this series we identified 5 links in the process of prophecy:
1. We receive a revelation from the Holy Spirit
2. We assess the revelation and how to best communicate it in a prophetic message
3. We then deliver the prophecy to the person or group God is speaking to
4. The recipient(s) of the prophecy assess the message
5. The recipient(s) of the prophecy respond to the prophecy.
In the last two posts we have discussed how to receive a prophetic revelation, as well as how to assess its meaning and determine whether or not it is from the Holy Spirit.
At this stage, you believe you have received a message from God for a person, group or church that you have been praying for. It is time to deliver the prophecy God has given you.
For the purposes of this discussion, I am going to assume that you are delivering the prophecy using words, whether spoken, written or in song.
During delivery, you are framing your revelation from God (picture, word, scripture, impression, or feeling) with words
There are two ways that you can do this:
- Describe the revelation
- Unfold the revelation
1. Describe the Revelation
Describing the revelation is sharing the impression as you receive it, without elaboration. You may choose to simply describe the picture or vision, pass on the word or impression, or share the Bible verse or story that has come to mind.
The advantages of sharing a prophetic revelation just as you received it are:
- It is easier when you are beginning in prophecy
- The revelation runs less danger of being tainted by your own opinion about what it means
- The revelation may have special significance for the person that you are unaware of
- It aids the recipient in remembering the prophecy, especially if the revelation was a picture, verse or Bible story.
Simply describing a revelation also has limitations:
- The person may not have the Biblical knowledge to understand any symbolism in your revelation
- There may be more insight about the revelation that you have received, or could receive, but are not sharing
- This method does not require a high level of faith
- If you always use this method, you will limit your growth in the gift of prophecy.
2. Unfolding the Revelation
Another way you can share a revelation is to use the impression you received to launch into a more detailed prophecy.
When you unfold a revelation, you are bringing an interpretation of the revelation, and enlarging upon it, as the Holy Spirit illuminates it to you. By faith, you are also allowing the Spirit to direct the flow of your expression.
As you grow in prophetic ministry, you will find more revelation comes to mind as you are prophesying, enabling you to share an extended prophecy. You are assessing the new revelation during the process of prophesying.
The advantages of this kind of prophetic ministry are:
- It enables the recipient to receive a greater clarification of the prophetic word
- The impact and impartation of the prophecy increases due to the higher level of faith and boldness required to deliver this kind of prophetic message
- It suits maturing prophetic ministry.
Some cautions about unfolding revelation in this way are:
- At this stage, if not careful, you are prone to filter God’s word with your own ideas, judgements, history and experience (especially if the recipient of the prophecy is known to you)
- If you step into this kind of prophecy when you are not ready, the prophecy can go awry!
I believe that it is usually best—if you feel confident enough to do so—to both describe and unfold the revelation you have received. For example, you may say, ‘I had a picture of… and I believe the Lord is saying…’
This way, the recipient receives the benefits of both the initial revelation and the extension of the prophecy.
I have seen mature prophets deliver prophecies in this way that have had a high impact on the recipient.
When beginning in prophecy it is best to start with simple sharing and work up to stronger prophecy as you grow in experience and wisdom, taking small steps forward at a time. This is where growing your prophetic gift in the safe community of a church is valuable.
Some Other Thoughts About Delivering a Prophecy:
It is vital that we use wisdom as to the means, context, place, manner, and timing of delivering a prophecy. I’ve often heard it said that the church carpark is the wrong place to bring a prophecy!
- Verbalising a prophecy is only one way in which it can be delivered. Other ways you can share a prophecy include in writing, through prophetic song, prophetic art, multi-media and through symbolic action. Ensure that you are gifted in the media that you decide to use!
- Deliver the word clearly. If the message is delivered in an unclear or ambiguous manner, it will obscure its meaning. Also remember that what is clear to you may not be clear to someone else and that you may need to adapt your approach at times;
- Delivery also involves how you bring the message. It includes your style, the tone of your voice and your attitude as you give it (if you write a prophecy, this includes your writing style).Your attitude and manner of speech should reflect the heart of God towards the recipient;
- Be sure to share the prophecy in a way that gives them room to weigh up whether the message is from God, and receive or release the word
In the next post, I will be discussing two very important aspects of delivering a prophecy that creates a safe environment for both giver and receiver.
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.
See also:
How to Exercise Your Prophetic Gift Pt 3: How Can You Tell Your Revelaton Is From God
How to Develop Your Prophetic Gift Pt 1: Where to Begin
How To Share A Prophecy With Someone Who Is Not A Christian
© Helen Calder Enliven Publishing
Jacob was on the run from the murderous fury of his brother, Esau. It was twilight and he was in a strange land.
