Developing Your Prophetic Gifting Session 2 - YOU can do it!

Keeping first things first.. Keep first things first! Prophecy : - a powerful gift - can be easily abused - can do real damage

Keeping first things first.. The HEART - our spiritual “ear” “Guard your HEART, for it is the well-spring of your life.” Prov 4:23

Keeping first things first.. 1. Our first ministry is to the Lord! - “Seek first My face, not My hands” - Knowledge = power - So we can abuse prophecy for our own glory/influence - Fear of the Lord is the remedy - “The Lord confides in those who fear Him.” (Ps25:14)

Keeping first things first.. 2. Enjoy being LOVED by the Lord! “It is out of the overflow of the heart that the mouth speaks.” (Matt 12:34) -all prophecy flows through LOVE So- enjoy RESTING in God’s love & grace - be filled (again & again) - with the Holy Spirit

Keeping first things first.. 3. Commit yourself to know, understand and LOVE the Bible - it’s the PURE WORD of God - it “tunes our spiritual radio receiver” to the mind and heart of the Lord

Keeping first things first.. 4. Commit yourself to becoming like Jesus -“Blessed are the PURE in heart for THEY shall see (& hear) God” Matt 5:8

Keeping first things first.. 4. Commit yourself to becoming like Jesus (cont) -the example of Moses (Nu12:1- 8a) - Jesus too! “By the meekness and gentleness of Christ” 2Cor10:1

Keeping first things first.. 4. Commit yourself to becoming like Jesus (cont) -ourselves ? “Your attitude should be..” Phil2:5 “Be DOERS of the Word..” Matt 7:21 “The true test of humility is obedience” (St.Benedict)

Keeping first things first.. 4. Commit yourself to becoming like Jesus (cont) -the warning of 1Sam 15:22-23 (in Hebrew, “hear” = “obey”) - to want to hear but CHOOSE whether or not to obey - is as the sin of divination

Keeping first things first.. 5. Walking attentively with the Lord “The Holy Spirit is my partner” (David Yonggi Cho) “Practising the presence of God” - at all times

Keeping first things first.. BUT !!!!! - prophecy is one of the “charismata” - all, always, and ONLY by grace - we can’t EARN any gifting - the Lord is looking at our HEARTS

Operating in the Supernatural How do we learn to grow - - to do supernatural things?

Operating in the Supernatural Four key Biblical principles..... for stepping out in prophecy (or any supernatural act) Four words - “Know” - “Count” - “Offer” - “Walk” (Romans – chapters 6 to 8)

Operating in the Supernatural Step 1 – “KNOW” See Rom 6: 3, 6 & 9 Jesus - “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will KNOW the truth, and the TRUTH will set you free.” (Jn 8:31,32) We need to learn Bible truth about prophecy.

Operating in the Supernatural Step 2 – “COUNT” See Rom 6:11 Knowledge & understanding are essential, but in themselves they are not enough! - It is important that we COUNT or believe it possible for US to hear from God.

Operating in the Supernatural Step 2 – “COUNT” (cont) See Rom 6:11 i.e. – we go on from HEAD understanding to a personal HEART conviction

Operating in the Supernatural Step 3 – “OFFER” Knowing/Counting alone are not enough! Paul is emphatic that we must go further: “..but rather, offer your- selves to God …” Rom 6:13 Story- “I’m OPEN to it … ”

Operating in the Supernatural Step 3 – “OFFER” (cont’d) i.e.- TRY IT !!! - take a step of FAITH ( = RISK) - seek opportunities to USE this gift

Operating in the Supernatural Step 4 – “WALK” When we KNOW the truth COUNT it true of ourselves OFFER ourselves to God (i.e. take that step of faith) Then...

Operating in the Supernatural Step 4 – “WALK” (cont)..we discover God’s FAITHFULNESS

Operating in the Supernatural Step 4 – “WALK” (cont) The Lord PROMISES us – “Ask, and you WILL receive ” ( Mtt 7:7) “For EVERYONE who asks.. “ (Mtt 7:8) “.. How much more will your heavenly Father give GOOD gifts to THOSE WHO ASK HIM.” (Mtt 7:11)

Operating in the Supernatural Bible illustration of these four principles: Peter seeking to walk on water – - a supernatural thing to do! Mtt 14:22-36 KNOW COUNT OFFER WALK In “natural” life too, e.g. riding a bike!

What do we need to KNOW? 1.That the gift of prophecy is available today - see 1Cor 13: do we see “face to face” yet? - do we know FULLY even as we are fully known? - has “perfection” arrived yet? ONLY when the Lord of Perfection returns!

What do we need to KNOW? 2. ALL Christians can use this GIFT (not all have a prophetic MINISTRY) See- 1Cor 14:1,5, 29-31

What do we need to KNOW? WHY is this so? The visit of Nicodemus to Jesus (Jn 3:1-8) (A lesson in obstetrics ….. ) We need to ask “What was really Nicodemus’ question?”

What do we need to KNOW? The difference that birth makes -Awareness of relationship - Intimacy - Sight - Hearing -leads to our learning to SPEAK and DO useful things

What do we need to KNOW? Putting all this together … Nicodemus asked Jesus how HE was able to - see what the Father was doing, and - hear his Father’s voice.

What do we need to KNOW? Putting all this together … Jesus responded by telling Nicodemus - how he too could enter the Kingdom - and participate in its activities - just as he (Jesus) did.

What do we need to KNOW? SO – if we are born again we too can - “SEE” - “HEAR” - “SPEAK” and- “DO” too! ( i.e. be led by the Spirit as Jesus was) These things are our SPIRITUAL BIRTHRIGHT

What do we need to KNOW? What else, in particular, do we need to know about the gift of prophecy?

Ways that God speaks to us 1.Through the Bible - particular verses that “jump off the page” when we read - value of a reading plan

Ways that God speaks to us 2.Thoughts and impressions “But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16)

Ways that God speaks to us 3. Pictures and visions - Jesus ‘saw’ Nathanael sitting under the fig tree (John1:48) - Peter’s vision (Acts10:9-16) - Paul called to Macedonia (Acts 16:9)

Ways that God speaks to us 4. Dreams - many Biblical stories ! - Joseph warned (Matt 1:20-21) - Gideon helped (Judges 7:13) - Joseph’s dreams (Gn 37:5-11)

Ways that God speaks to us 5. Things spoken by others -Caiaphas about Jesus (Jn 11:49-52) - PCC meetings!

Ways that God speaks to us 6. Through our circumstances - “What are you saying to me/us in this situation, Lord?”) - the value of problems !!

Ways that God speaks to us 7. Through outward visible things - “What do you see, Jeremiah?” (Jer 1:7-19, 18:1-6) - “What do you see, Amos?” (Am 7:1-2) - Cherry tree in November

Ways that God speaks to us 8. Through His audible voice e.g. God speaking to the boy Samuel 1Sam 3:1-8 some today …….

Ways that God speaks to us 9. Through the spiritual gift of interpretation -of a “prophetic” tongue - 1Cor 14: 5b, 13, 26

Different dimensions of Prophecy The three basic dimensions of prophecy -

Different dimensions of Prophecy 1.The revelation - What was seen, heard, dreamt etc. -It is very important that this is not ‘embroidered’ or added to in any way.

Different dimensions of Prophecy 2. The interpretation This refers to the meaning of the revelation that was received. It may be immediately clear what the meaning is or it maybe that the Lord will give this through another as they pray.

Different dimensions of Prophecy 3. The application Refers to questions like: - “Who is this prophecy for?” - “When will it come about?” -“Should it be spoken now...? - “..or should I hold it / just pray it?”

Different dimensions of Prophecy With all ‘words’ – - our first response should be to turn them back to God in prayer.