More than 30 years ago, as a young teenager, I stood up in our church and shared my first prophetic insight.
It consisted of two visions.
The first was of a fruitful land and a harvest. I believed that God was speaking of a future time when the church would flourish and many people would come to faith in Jesus.
The second picture was unusual—it was of a desert. And out from the middle of this dry land rose a pipe, with a tap. I knew that if the faucet were simply to be turned on, then the water would flow, and the desert transformed into a fruitful place.
I believed this second vision concerned prayer and intercession; that through prayer the church would partner with God for this future harvest to take place.
A passion for revival and prayer was birthed in me that has endured to this day.
A Life-long Call
Some ten years later, The Hunk and I were hosting Asian Christian leaders in our home and hearing first-hand reports of revival in Asia. One leader gave me a prophecy that was simply, ‘Tell Helen to start a prayer meeting for revival.’ [1]
The prophecy bore fruit, as in the years following I was used of God in small ways to start, or ignite, prayer meetings for churches, for leaders and for revival.
When we ministered throughout New Zealand in the 1990’s, I was intensely burdened for the nation. During that time I shed tears of intercession for revival—for a move of God to awaken and empower the church, that would result in the salvation of many—in every town and city that we visited.
And our Father arranged miraculously for us to visit centres of revival in Canada and the USA in the late 1990’s.
In 2002, I carried my passion for revival across the Tasman in our move to Australia.
The name of my blog—‘Enliven’—was chosen because it is a synonym for the word ‘revive.’
My Perspective Has Changed
The reason that I share the above story is to explain that Christian revival is not just a random topic of interest for me.
It is a lifelong passion—one in which I have invested a considerable amount of time, pursuit, and prayer.
I still believe in revival, and yet my interpretation of what revival means—in terms of my own call, as well as for the church globally—has changed considerably.
Here are some of the ways my perspective and prayers have changed.
1. From Pleading to Receiving
Two years ago, I encountered God as Father in such a powerful way that it revolutionised the way I perceived everything about my faith.
I realised that much of my Christian service and belief system had been based out of an ‘orphan spirit,’ rather than the position of sonship that Paul talks about in Gal 3:26-4:7.
An orphan mindset believes and fears that we are separated from the Father and His resources. [2]
As a prophetic intercessor, one of my favourite prayers used to be:
‘Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!’ (Isaiah 64:1)
But I no longer see the move of God as something to plead for. The open heaven that I once cried out to God for, I now recognise is mine—and the church’s—by inheritance through Christ.
It is the privilege of sons and daughters to ask and receive. (Luke 11:9-13)
2. From Local to Global
For years, others and I sought revival based on what we knew about it from church history, as well as reports from around the world.
The picture I had of revival was of a season of Divine visitation—accompanied by miracles, signs, and conviction of sin leading to the salvation of many—in a church, city, region or nation.
I do still believe in the value of revivals that are localised outpourings of the Holy Spirit.
However, my present view of revival is best described in this quote from Dr. Vance Havner:
‘Revival is simply New Testament Christianity, the saints going back to normal.’
What excites me now is the way that the church globally is stirring. Christian believers across the earth are awakening to who they are and Whose they are, and acting accordingly.
3. From ‘Not Yet’ to Now
I now believe that I spent much of my life waiting and praying for God to begin something that He has already initiated.
But the prayers and tears that so many of us have offered up over the years have not gone wasted. To our great surprise we see that they have been sown into the Father’s plan, one that is so much greater than we could have imagined.
The revival that I spent a lifetime waiting for is here and now. It is coming as Christians and churches across the earth awaken to our inheritance and to the reality of Jesus’ prayer:
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt 6:10)
I believe that the great harvest of people coming to faith in Jesus, and the fruitful church that I envisioned as a teenager is becoming a reality. And God is graciously enabling me both to live it and share it with others.
Next week I will be considering what an open heaven means, and how it relates to us as Christians today.
Do you have any thoughts about this topic you would like to share? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.
Notes:
1. My husband Malcolm ‘The Hunk’ was National Director of a mission agency from 1995-2004. We were involved on a volunteer basis for seven years prior to this, which involved serving and hosting overseas visitors.
2. I’m not saying that all prayer for revival is affected by this mindset, but it is something those of us who have prayed for revival for a long time need to be aware of.
© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog
On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church
Over the last couple of weeks I have been praying about a word of encouragement for my readers.
As I have done so, I have been continually drawn back to the words:
‘Year Of Visitation.’
At first, I hesitated. The words, ‘Year of Visitation’ were already familiar to me.
You see, this past year so many extraordinary things had taken place for The Hunk and me, that as the year was drawing to a close, I dubbed 2010, ‘Year Of Visitation.’
To be honest, this was a bit scary. How do you follow up a year like we have had? I found myself being lured back into an ‘orphan mindset.’ [1] I was being tempted to fear that in 2011 the Presence and work of God in our lives would wane.
Thankfully, as I have prayed for you, the Spirit has also lovingly addressed and corrected my own thinking.
Divine visitation should not be the exception; instead, it should be our expectation as we approach the New Year.
You and I can have a ‘Year Of Visitation’ in 2011 and beyond. The key lies in understanding what that means, and positioning for it in faith.
Visitation from God is a Biblical Concept
When God visits, supernatural breakthroughs occur. Prophetic words are fulfilled, seasons are shifted and new things are brought to birth [2]. Jesus gets the glory.
So—what does it mean, Biblically, to have a season of visitation from God? And how can we position ourselves for it?
Following are 6 of the times that the Bible tells us God visited His people.
As you read these accounts, there may be one or two that particularly resonate with you. If that happens, allow the Spirit of God to ignite faith in your heart, that His Word will be fulfilled in your life in the coming year.
1. Fulfilment of Prophecy & Removal of Barrenness
‘And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken.’ (Gen 21:1) [3]
A visitation of God broke the long season of barrenness in Sarah’s life, resulting in fulfilment of prophecy and the birth of Isaac, whose name meant ‘laughter.’
2. Recognising God Has Seen our Pain and Come to Act on Behalf of His People
‘When they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.’ Ex 4:31
A visitation of God broke the long season of Israel’s bondage in Egypt. They realised God had not left them alone in their suffering, but was intimately concerned for them. His power was about to be revealed.
3. Divine Help And Provision
‘ Then [Naomi] arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the country of Moab that the LORD had visited His people by giving them bread.’ (Ruth 1:6)
A visitation of God broke a long season of famine in Bethlehem, Judah.
The rumour of God’s goodness reached Naomi, who was estranged and widowed in the country of Moab. God’s visitation impacted her personally as her inheritance and family line was restored.
4. Restoration of Inheritance and Homecoming
‘For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place.’ (Jer 29:10)
A visitation of God broke the long season of Judah’s exile, and they returned to Jerusalem at His appointed time.
5. The Ultimate Visitation—Jesus
“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people…the Dayspring from on high has visited us” (Luke 1:68,78)
In the New Testament, Zacharias understood that the ultimate visitation of God to His people was fulfilled in the birth of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
6. Outpourings of the Holy Spirit
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” (Acts 3:19)
From the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 and throughout church history, we understand visitations of the Holy Spirit to be times of outpouring, bringing refreshing and empowering to God’s people.
3 Ways To Position For Divine Visitation
When God moves on our behalf, or in the lives of others around us, it is not because we deserve it—it is on the basis of Jesus’ shed blood, and the Father’s favour and mercy.
We cannot earn His visitation—however, we can position ourselves to enter into what the Father wants to do.
As you will see, the key to 2011 being a ‘Year Of Visitation’ lies in our relationship with God.
1. Understand God’s Timing
The primary key to experiencing Divine visitation lies in understanding the timing of God for our lives.
In each of the above situations in scripture, it was God’s time to act. For example:
- Sarah’s pregnancy with Isaac
- The four hundred years in Egypt come to its conclusion
- The seventy years in Babylon completed
- The birth of Jesus
You may know that there are two Greek words for time in the New Testament: The first is ‘chronos.’ This refers to ‘clock time’ or ‘calendar time.’ It is the word used for general time. [4]
The second Greek word for time is ‘kairos.’ Kairos means ‘due time, a fixed time, a season, or an OPPORTUNE time.’
A pregnancy is a great example of the two types of time. Approximately 9 months of ‘chronos’ time pass. But the moment comes when it is time to give birth. That moment is ‘kairos’—the due time.
God always desires to bring people closer to Himself, to fill us with His Spirit, to act on our behalf.
But we also need to see as Jesus did, what the Father is doing ‘now.’ (John 5:19)
Jesus always walked in the kairos time of God—and we can too.
Here are some arenas you might like to seek God for His kairos timing both now and throughout the coming year.
Ask, “Father, what are You doing in these areas?”
- A fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit
- An area of your life that needs breakthrough
- Family members and relationships
- Non-Christians that are around your life
- A shift of season
Prayer journaling is a great way to communicate with Him and record His response. [5]
2. Pray in the Season of Visitation
‘You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.’ (Jer 29:13)
When God spoke these words to Judah, He was saying, in effect, ‘When the kairos time comes for Me to deliver you, you will seek Me—and I will answer and deliver you.’ (see Jer 29:10-14)
The prophet Zechariah put this well when he said,
‘Ask the LORD for rain in the time of the latter rain.’ Zech 10:1
The prophet was saying, when it’s God’s kairos time, pray!
When we pray, we acknowledge that we cannot fulfil God’s plan through our own efforts. We need His help.
When that prayer is answered, Jesus gets the credit for what takes place.
3. Participate With God Through Acts of Obedience
When we have prayed, it is time look for ways to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. We want to participate with God in His work.
If God asks us to do something specific, an act of obedience can bring a powerful breakthrough.
Goliath was killed by the word of the Lord AND by a stone from David’s sling (1 Samuel 17). God provided food for a widow and her son, but first, she had to give away the last of what she had to Elijah (1 Kings 17:7-16).
Sometimes, however, it is not about doing anything except simply receiving—equally an act of obedience.
There are times to contend, and there are also times to just open our hands and say, ‘Thank you Lord.’
For we are His sons and daughters, and what we receive from Him, we receive by inheritance.
Through our relationship with God, we can experience the ongoing visitation of God in our lives—to move from visitation to habitation.
This is the desire of my heart. Is it yours?
Do you have any thoughts or experiences to share on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the space below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.
Notes and Related Posts:
[1] An orphan mindset is ‘Fatherless thinking.’ I share about this in the following post:
Breaking Free From An Orphan Mindset
[2] Our friend Steve McCracken from David McCracken Ministries has said: “The two phrases I am feeling for 2011 are a year of achievement and a
year of new things. I believe it is to be a year of firsts.”
[3] These scriptures are all quoted in the New King James Version (NKJV)
[4] VINE, M.A. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. 1985. Virginia: MacDonald.
An example of ‘chronos’ is in Matt 2:7. ‘Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time (chronos) the star had appeared.’
An example of ‘kairos’ is in Gal 6:9. ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time (kairos) we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’ (See also 2 Cor 6:1-2)
[5] For an explanation and examples of prayer journaling, see the following post:
Activate Your Prophetic Gift Through Prayer Journaling
See also:
Prophetic Insight: Look Out, The Rain Is Coming!
© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Publishing
http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog/
Now on team with David McCracken Ministries
More than 30 years ago, as a young teenager, I stood up in our church and shared my first prophetic insight.
