1. Developing Your Prophetic Gifting

2. Our Aims for this Course … 1. To help you see how important prophecy and prophetic ministry are for the Church and Christian ministry.

3. Our Aims for this Course … 2. To build your faith in God willingness and desire to speak to you - - and through you to others.

4. Our Aims for this Course … 3. To equip you with a Biblical understanding of the DIFFERENT WAYS GOD SPEAKS

5. Our Aims for this Course … 4. To teach some KEY VALUES that should govern how we handle this powerful gift.

6. Our Aims for this Course … 5. To give you a safe and easy way to ‘HAVE A GO’ at using the gift of prophecy - today !

7. Agenda Session 1 - Knowing why it is important Session 2 - Knowing that YOU can do it Session 3 - Handling Prophecy Session 4 - Doing it!

8. Practicalities of the day Lunch at 12.30pm … Tea breaks at 11.00am and 2.45pm … Toilets are located … Lunch … Further reading materials …

9. Growing in Prophecy Session 1 Why is Prophecy so important?

10. Some foundations What is prophecy? - simply God communicating directly with us - when, by faith, we “see”, “hear”, “sense” or “discern” things He is revealing to us.

11. Some foundations Exercised at three levels - - using the GIFT of prophecy (all!) - exercising a prophetic MINISTRY (some) -having a prophetic OFFICE (very few!)

12. Some foundations NB - not trying to teach how to “get into” some completely new spiritual experience! NO – “.. the word is very near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart..” (Deut 30:14, Rom 10:8) It is not difficult to learn to prophesy!

13. Some foundations How does prophecy relate to the Bible? The Bible is like God’s map - it’s always true - it tells us all we need to know about God, His Kingdom, ourselves, salvation etc.

14. Some foundations How does prophecy relate to the Bible? Prophecy is like a signpost along the way - it tells you where you are. (OS Map vs mobile phone)

15. Some foundations What does prophecy do? Perfect illustration – The Annunciation (Luke1:26-38)

16. The perfect model God’s WORD announced to a person “You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus” (Luke 1:31)

17. The perfect model God’s WORD announced to a person “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; His Kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32)

18. The perfect model God’s WORD (cont) “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; His Kingdom with never end” (Luke 1:32)

19. The perfect model “How will this be?” (Luke 1: 35)

20. The perfect model “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you” (Luke 1:36) - through the WORD spoken by God

21. The perfect model “For nothing is impossible with God” (v37) - a word of hope for us!

22. The perfect model BUT - -God does not force His Word on us, He waits for our response Mary’s response? (A prayer) – “I am the Lord’s servant – may it be to me as you have said” (v38)

23. Growing in Prophecy Session 1 Why is Prophecy so important?

24. Why is Prophecy so important? Because the Bible says it is! It’s how God works in the world - in creation (Gn1:1-3,6,9 etc) - through people! - Gn1:26,28- Amos 3:7 - Isa 55:10,11- Rev 22:5

25. Laying some foundations Jesus Himself is our perfect example “..His sheep follow Him because they know His VOICE” John10:4b “The watchman opens the gate for Him” - another perfect description of the role of prophecy Prophecy ALWAYS connects us more closely to Jesus!

26. The purpose of Prophecy - It connects us to Jesus (Rev19:10c) - “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” -It’s intrusive!

27. The value of the Prophetic MOST prophetic ministry is for individuals......beware of too many “directional” words for your Church

28. The value of the Prophetic 1. To strengthen, encourage and comfort “Everyone who prophesies speaks to others for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort” 1 Cor14:3

29. The value of the Prophetic 1a.Comfort C ommunicating grace & peace

30. The value of the Prophetic 1b. Strengthening (Can’t strengthen something not already there)

31. The value of the Prophetic 1c. Encouragement Many are locked up in “cages of discouragement” -Philip and Nathaniel (John1:43-end)

32. The value of the Prophetic 2. Discernment of people’s gifting/calling “He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists ….”Eph 4:11

33. The value of the Prophetic 3. Guidance for the Church and its leaders e.g. “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work ….” (Acts 13:1-3) e.g. Peter’s vision (Acts 10:9-16)

34. The value of the Prophetic 4. Intercession - private intercession - Church prayer-meeting

35. The value of the Prophetic 5. Correction/rebuke - revealing hidden sin - Nathan being sent to David (2Sam12:1) NB- get good at strengthening etc. first!

36. The value of the Prophetic 6. Evangelism !! (Very few stories of Jesus doing personal evangelism) - Zacchaeus (Lk19:1-10) - Woman at the well (Jn4:1-42)