When the time came for Abram and Lot to part company, Abram gave Lot his choice of land in which to dwell. He gave Lot "first pick" so there would be no animosity between them. But Lot did not choose well. He decided to homestead in a place called Sodom...a place that would become synonymous with sin and disaster.

How could Lot have made such a poor choice? Easy. Lot looked with his eyes. He saw a lovely, well-watered valley. He saw prosperity and riches and ease.

Because generally speaking, we see what we love.

When I go to another country, I see churches. I look at their buildings the architecture, their grounds, their doors and windows. That's my love. I love old churches.

Lot loved the easy life...and he saw a glimpse of it in Sodom. So he chose the valley. But in so choosing, he lost everything.

When we choose with only ourselves in mind, we mix together the deep drink of selfishness with disregard for future consequences. And the combination, as Lot discovered, can be deadly.

GENESIS 13:11
So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan; and Lot journeyed eastward...

2 Chronicles 5:11-14 (NKJV)  

And it came to pass when the priests came out of the Most Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without keeping to their divisions),
and the Levites who were the singers, all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets-–
indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever," that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud,
so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

What a picture!

Imagine at our place and in our time, the glory of God manifest so powerfully nobody can move.

When we look carefully at the dedication of Solomon's temple recorded here there are some things out of place in the usual order.

The Priest's broke the rules...

Only one was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place. Today they all did, they had all prepared themselves for His presence.

God should have judged such boldness, such flagrant disregard of the rules. But He didn't, He delighted in them and made His pleasure known.

The priests and the people had all prepared themselves to approach God boldly, in unity. Their hearts heard a call to the presence of God and they responded.

As their voices became one in worship, their actions one in service God's glory was manifest.

I often think "If only we were there to see and experience such a wonder"...but we are there right now.

Today we are His people.

God hasn't changed or gone anywhere. He can still be approached, He still calls and awaits our response.

Are our hearts as theirs were?

Let's join them in preparing ourselves in holiness, approaching God with boldness and declaring with one voice His goodness.

Lets respond to the call of the Spirit to enter the presence of God as a united people.

Deuteronomy 4:24 "For the Lord is a consuming fire; a jealous God"

I always remember the times just before winter in the African bush, we use to create fire breaks on the borders of the wild life camps. These firebreaks had a duel purpose, one was to stop small fires from spreading to other camps, but also to create a burn zone. These burn zones allowed us to actually light fires on the edge of the camp in times when high winds drove fires into a frenzy. These burns would then allow us to fight fire with fire. Thus saving wildlife and grazing savanna.

In todays life we are surrounded on every side by the super heated flames of modern day culture.

How do we fight this? - We set our own spiritual fire, our own pre-burn. - As the fire of our devotion to Christ begins to burn, our God who is a consuming fire , burns brighter and stronger than the flames of this fallen world.

We fight fire with fire !!

Psalm 1 - stages it for us,

1 Blessed is the man
    Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
    Nor stands in the path of sinners,
    Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
    And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
    Planted by the rivers of water,
    That brings forth its fruit in its season,
    Whose leaf also shall not wither;  And whatever he does shall prosper.

One vital but often overlooked part of an intercessor’s role is to discern and pray in concert with God’s purposes for the different spiritual seasons of life. 

To pray through your spiritual seasons and to pray through the spiritual seasons of our church, intercessors must seek God’s supernatural guidance about the seasons or different spiritual time periods we’re in that bring with them unique challenges and opportunities in both our personal lives and in Rangiora Baptist Church as the body of Christ.

We really feel that we are entering a season of focused but combined prayer.

The Lord had given us the "AIM" vision which focuses outwards to our community, our young people and lost.

Murray in his sermons has directed our thoughts through the Holy Spirit to be "outwards" focused in our outreach and prayer life.

I believe that blessings should be a big part of our prayer focus and we should bless our community, and our church family.

Like Roy in his book "The Grace Outpouring: Blessings Others through prayer" says -

Having a heart to bless will challenge our mind-set that can color how we look at those around us. - We should be "GRACE FIRST" people.

You see if we let the wisdom of God inhibit our thinking, a consistent "GRACE FIRST" pattern will emerge in our actions and words.

GRACE FIRST prayer for healing doesn't search for wrongdoing in a persons life that needs correcting as a prelude to a miracle.

We simply need to ask that the power of God should touch that life...

May God Bless you all.

John 14

"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth..."

Whatever you ask in my name I will do...

This scripture has challenged me for years. Jesus does not leave much room in His choice of words. He doesn't say "somethings", or "maybe", or "I'll think about it". He  uses "whatever you ask"

I lose sleep wondering just how this can work:- how does God handle conflicting interests in prayer? Farmers pray for rain while their children pray for sunshine. What is God to do? Make it rain at night perhaps?  
One way I have approached this is to think perhaps God only answers the prayers that are aligned with His will - He only does what He was going to do anyway. But that reduces prayer to an illusion that God is listening and responding. 

In this passage of scripture some very significant dynamics are playing out which must be understood....

Jesus is not talking to everyone. This promise is not given to everyone.

In the previous chapter Jesus washes the feet of all His disciples, and gives them the command to love one another. In the next chapter one of His disciples are missing. Judas is nowhere to be seen, he doesn't receive this promise.

Between the foot washing and the command to love Judas excuses himself from the table, he has more important business to attend to. But he stays to have Jesus wash his feet, and honor him with bread dipped in sop. He stays for that. 

I cannot help but notice the parallel between Satan's first temptation of Jesus to satisfy his craving with bread and Judas actions here. Judas receives from Jesus honor, but when that stops he's gone. He's only there for the bread, not the love each other nonsense. There to receive from Jesus and when that doesn't deliver he'll cash Jesus in for bread of another kind. 

No, Jesus is not talking to Judas when He says "whatever you ask in My name I will do"
Who is Jesus talking to, who does that promise apply to?

To those who are captivated by the call to love.

You see the call to power and the call to love are the same call. Love is power.
Love demands of us to go seek the lost, to heal the broken, to spend our lives in the service of Christ, and unlocks the resources of heaven to do so.

Are our prayers powerless? Let check our hearts and motivation and have the courage to ask ourselves "why am I really here?"

John 17

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Could it really be that simple?
"That the world may believe that You sent me" - Jesus' mission strategy to win the world is based on unity. It is relational.

That makes little sense to me sometimes:- we studied mission strategies in class at Bible College, and I get that relationship is a powerful - if not the only - way to disciple. It all just sounds so idyllic.

Here's the rub. People. It involves other people. You know what I am talking about.

A few weeks ago Roshni and I were visiting someone in public hospital. We were waiting for the elevator, and as the door opened it was rather full. Probably six people were already in it, but they shuffled awkwardly back to make more room as we squeezed in. My face was against the door, the man in the suit and briefcase was on one side, and a lady in heals on the other. It was really uncomfortable - but hey, it's only a short ride.
As I watched the floor numbers change I noticed a sign that read "Maximum 24 people". Can you imagine attempting that?
The briefcase man is now pushing my face against the door and the heals are digging into my foot - I can smell someone's breath. All I can think of is wrapping that briefcase around heads - and who's elbow am I biting?

You know exactly what I am talking about. Add a little pressure and a short ride becomes a scrap to the death.
The Church can be just like that elevator.

Clowns know something the Church must learn about working together in tight spaces. Each Clown learns to take the discomfort of the other Clowns, and no Clown is putting their own comfort first by trying to take more space for themselves.

Paul was a Clown, willing to be a fool for Christ's sake. He wrote to the Church in Ephesus:

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Jesus wasn't being utopian in his thinking. He of all people knows the sting of what humans like do to each other, he understands our brokenness:-

That's why unity is his prayer.

Ezekiel 22:30

 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

I remember one of my first lessons in prayer as a young Christian. Through a series of events I found myself on the other side of the planet on a short term mission. The sounds, smells and cultural differences had me bewildered and homesick. As a result prayer this one day was extremely difficult. I was alone in a battle and loosing.
I made quick phone call to my home church asking people to pray for me. A few hours later as I sat dejected in my room it was suddenly like an extractor fan sucked the oppression out and it was replaced with the sweetness of God's presence. Someone, somewhere had begun to pray for me. They stood in the gap and built a wall of prayer on my behalf.

From thousands of miles away their prayer changed my situation. Prayer is that powerful - it goes everywhere God is. God moves through prayer and without prayer God doesn't move. When He acts, he first acts on His people to pray.
I believe it is built into creation - creation is made from God' voice, when he speaks to creation now He does it through the voice of His people. That's prayer.

How painful for Ezekiel to receive that word - was there really no one?
Is there today? I think there is.

We are called to build a wall and stand in the gap.

Consider the prayers of Moses and Samuel for their nation:

Exodus 33:12-13

Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Moses prayed this right after they have worshiped the golden calf and rejected God!

1 Samuel 12:22-23

For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you...

This is Samuels final address to the nation after Saul is confirmed King, and God demonstrates His displeasure at the people's rejection of Him.
In both cases there was someone who stood before God - in the gap - and prayed. God's grace and power is released by those in the gap. 

Let me say it again: Prayer is that powerful - it goes everywhere God is. God moves through prayer and without prayer God doesn't move. When He acts, he first acts on His people to pray.

Our church, our families, our friends, our communities and our nation need a prayer wall built, and God is currently recruiting.
If you and I don't step into the gap - who will?

==

Matthew 6:32-34

For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

It rolls off my tongue so easily - "seek first the kingdom". I have had a lot of practice, having said it countless times, having heard it even more. If I am truly honest, if we are truly honest, I suspect we say say that hoping it qualifies us for the "all things shall be added to you" bit.

You see, we like our comforts. We like fresh sheets, nice clothes, the latest gadgets, favorite foods, shiny new things. Our culture worships comfort and we happily play along. We fall asleep to the gentle lullaby of comfort telling us all is well with the world.

And sleep we do. Every generation is in danger of sleeping through the call of the kingdom of God. The prophet Jonah was rebuked by God for this attitude - he was "angry enough to die" when the plant keeping him comfortable perished, but he remained unmoved by the city perishing in front of him.

While I complain about the tiles in my kitchen, about lattes being ten seconds late, about someone taking my spot, there is a city perishing in front of me. Young people ending their own lives, elderly literally dying from loneliness and isolation. Comfort has lied to us - all is not well with the world. 

Comfort is the enemy of the cross. Crosses are notoriously uncomfortable things, but they do keep us awake. We are not called to comfort, nor morbid suffering, but to resurrection. As we seek God's kingdom we align ourselves with Jesus the risen King.

Today it is our turn to hear the call of the kingdom. HS is waking us up.

Seek first the kingdom of God -  

===

Prayer points:-

In the prayer weeks we were very specific in praying for doors to open in our community and especially the High School
Please continue to pray into this. On Wednesday we will walk through a significant door which has opened there. Over the course of the day Pat Buckley (who spoke at RBC last year) will be addressing the entire school.
Pray for the students and staff who hear him, and for the youth workers.

Use powerful prayer - in the authority of Jesus' name pray to demolish all the enemies power seeking to kill, steal and destroy in our community.

Luke 10:17-19

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

What a promise we have in Christ - nothing in all the enemies arsenal is capable of harming us. Through the name of Jesus we have authority over everything Satan is capable of doing. Wow!

Jesus said to the seventy on their return "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven"; many believe Jesus is talking about a long ago event. However I think the plain reading fits best here. Satan the prince of the worldly system was in spiritual authority over the lives of the seventy (in the heavens). At that point as they obeyed Christ and stepped out in faith and power, Satan's authority over their lives was broken and he fell. Jesus witnessed this.

What about us, are we living in this reality? At times I think so, other times perhaps not. However the invitation remains and so does the reality of the spiritual world.

One of the most painful lives recorded in scripture was that of Job, if you remember the story God and Satan have a conversation which results in Job suffering. Poor Job and his friends spend chapters trying to understand his predicament and find the cause. There is a big lesson here:- what takes place in the spiritual world has a significant impact on our own. Sometimes no matter what we, do unless spiritual matters are resolved the natural ones cannot be.

This is exactly the place of prayer.
Read 2 Corinthians 10, Ephesians 3:10, 6:12, Colossians 2:15, 1 Peter 3:22 for a glimpse into our place in this fight 

Are we using the right prayer weapons for the job?

Obedience
The seventy were empowered through obedience to Jesus' word. James 4:7 Need I say more? In reality we foster a close walk and sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit

The Name of Jesus
Whenever a legal process is enacted it requires the signature of an authorized person. That is exactly what the name of Jesus is. When confronting spiritual forces directly or indirectly it is the name of Jesus which gives us authority over the power of the enemy
See Philippians 2:5-11. Notice the relationship between obedience and authority

Fasting
Fasting can expose the spiritual root of issues and lead to breakthrough. In Luke 4 Jesus is lead by the Spirit into the wilderness (obedience), fasted for forty days, confronted Satan and returned "in the power of the Spirit".
Mark 9:28-29 - Some spiritual powers can only be confronted through fasting.

I would encourage you this week to spend time with the Holy Spirit and ask Him to lead you, who knows what He has for us in the days ahead!
I do know that He is asking us to spend this time listening, attending to His presence and prepare ourselves to confront principalities and powers. The fight is in the air.

Blessings,

~Johno

As always it has been a busy month at RBC.  I hope you will agree that it has been great to have the opportunity to sit under Murray’s rich teaching about our mission in Christ. The Elders and Pastors are working together to determine God’s direction for us over the next 6 months and beyond, by continually seeking His leading and guiding for the church and the Ministry Leaders are planning how they will serve God and the RBC family through their Ministry areas.

Young Adults/Youth/Childrens Ministries

We have now appointed a new intern to work alongside Stephen McQuarrie in our Ministry to Youth.  Toni Green is working alongside our other interns Simon Brophy and Richard Cloughley.  Please make a point of making Toni feel welcome as part of our team.  We believe God has provided us with some outstanding servant hearted people, who will be looking to impact the community of young people we serve.  I have attached their profiles below, so that you can find out a little more about them.

Toni Green:

Toni is so excited to get to know and love the young people of Rangiora, but even more for them to get to know and love Jesus Christ. She’s been involved in a number of youth groups around Canterbury, the Bay of Plenty and Dublin, Ireland (where she’s getting married in a few months!) since her own teen years at Hope Presbyterian in Hornby. When she’s not hanging out with the youth crew, you’ll find her reading, writing, riding (a horse) or planning the next ‘adventure’ to coerce her friends into.

Simon Brophy:

Simon and his wife Rebecca recently celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary, and have three children; Abigail, who is eight, Jonathan, who will be turning seven next month, and Naomi who will be four in April.  Simon has two different jobs. Simon is employed as an intern at my RBC and does a great job at overseeing the Children's Ministry. He has also been

employed at a bakery for the past 12 years, which involves him getting up in the morning at half past one three days a week (I know you guys are envious). Simon is studying toward a Bachelor of Theology to compliment his hands-on work at RBC, and what he has learned so far has improved his knowledge of the Bible and helped him to see where he fits into the Big God Story

Richard Cloughley:

Richard is super excited to start his internship at the RBC this year. He left his job building last year to pursue God's calling on his life in ministry. He has a passion to see people grow in their gifts and talents, but most importantly their walk with Jesus. He is looking forward to being part of an amazing team with the desire to see the needs of the lost met, and to see God move in power through RBC and out into the world.

Prayer Week

Our prayer week begins this Sunday and the Pastors have been overseeing the setting up of a prayer room in the Hope building where the café used to be.  Please ask the Lord what is on His heart for our church and community over the prayer season, so that we can discern the Lord’s will “Together”.  Our theme is Unity, but I believe unity is about us all carrying in our hearts the desire for God’s will to be outworked through us at RBC, as we express our individual gifts and callings.  So please seek the Lord for how you can serve His church and our local community, while also taking the time to pull aside and “Abide” in His presence. The Elders and Pastors believe that prayer is the key to us strengthening our faith and hearing God’s will for us as we serve together.

Creative Ministries

Owen Witheford has stepped down as Creative Ministries Leader and we want to acknowledge the dedication, time and commitment that Owen has given to this role. Please uphold Creative Ministries in your prayers as we need more members to lighten the load and also a new Ministry Leader.  Please talk to a member of the team if you feel lead to join this vital ministry.

Services

Recreate has kicked off for the year and we will also be starting an intergenerational evening service focusing on Young Adults on Sunday the 26th of March. This service is for all those that are young of heart, so please come and support our Young Adults Team as they put their efforts into creating a great new avenue for worship at RBC.

Missions Giving Policy

The Elders have been working on the Missions Giving Policy as agreed at the AGM.  This is a complex Policy as there are many rules governing church giving at the taxation level, however we have now reached agreement on how this Policy will be administered at RBC.  This is being drafted and will be released to the Church soon.

Blessings

Deb Riach

Church Camp 2016

Workshop – Prophecy and Prophesying

INTRODUCTION

• I want today to be practical.  This workshop is for those who want to know more about prophecy.  We’ll look at and aim to answer questions such as: -

• What is it?
• Why does it happen at RBC?
• When someone claims to “have a word from God”, how do we know that it’s genuine?  How do we “test” or “weigh” prophecy?  What are the safe-guards? Who may prophecy?
• Is everyone who prophesies, a prophet?
• There seems to be a difference between OT and NT prophecy.  What is it, and why?
• If I wanted to, could I prophesy? 
• To whom (and when, and how) should I prophesy?
• “Giving it a go” today!

• We are not going to cover the whole subject (nor all of the notes written below!) – it’s a huge topic and would take us a large number of sessions over many weeks (possibly even years!). 

• This is your seminar.  We’ll shift the content as needed, so that we cover what is of greatest value to you.

WHAT IS PROPHECY?

• Your thoughts and ideas? – Definitions?

• The Bible is not a modern text-book, so may not satisfy our minds over this! 
  • Greeks liked “black and white” things and sayings. 
  • Modern Science demands formulaic definitions and statements. 
  • But the Bible does not have a “Concise Definition” section!  Instead, it provides a whole history of activity and example, through which we must glean meanings.
  • We are called to relationship with God – and through that, God reveals.

• Some pointers, therefore:-
  • It originates with God, not with humans (II Peter 1: 21 – “For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets (though human) spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
  • It bears witness to (and glorifies) Jesus.  (Rev 19: 10b – “. . . For it is the [Holy] Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”) 
  • By this, we can be certain that, if it is not in alignment with the revealed truth of Scripture, then it is not God-inspired prophecy! (I Cor. 12: 3 – “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says, ‘Jesus is accursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except in the Holy Spirit.”)
  • It must be exercised out of a deep love for others, not out of any selfish motive to “be heard or seen”, or “gain credibility or mana”  (I Cor. 14: 1, 4 – Pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy . . . the one who prophesies builds up the church”).  (Note:  If you want a gift to build up yourself, then speak in tongues – I Cor. 14: 4).
  • It is given as a gift to the church, to believers (I Cor. 12: select verses – “ 4Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit . . . 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  8For to one is given through the Spirit . . . 10prophecy . . . 11empowered by the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills.”)
  • It involves revelation to one or more people (I Cor. 14: 3 – “. . . the one who prophesies speaks to people . . .“)
  • It usually does not involve predicting the future (although it can refer to possible future events).  Rather it is God speaking directly either to His people, to unbelievers, to a nation or even to the whole world.  It is therefore forth-telling, more than it is fore-telling.
  • A very open-ended ‘definition’ (or working understanding) could therefore be:  “Prophesy is a God-given message, issued by God to one or more people, via a human intermediary”. 
    • It can bring conviction (I Cor. 14: 25) or comfort (I Cor. 14: 3), judgement (I Cor. 14: 25) or encouragement (I Cor. 14: 3).  It can expose us (I Cor. 14: 25) or strengthen us (I Cor. 14: 3). 
    • It will often involve a ‘call to action’ of some sort.
    • It will often need to be interpreted and usually not by the person giving the prophetic word (so that the “eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you’!” I Cor. 12:21).  Interpretation also includes a discernment of how it is to be applied (who/why/what/ where?)
    • It can come in a number of forms, including
      • “Impressions”
      • Hearing an audible voice
      • Dreams
      • Visions
      • ‘Trances’
      • Angels appearing

WHY DO WE ‘ALLOW’ (ENABLE) PROPHECY AT RBC?

• Because we believe it is a valid, Biblical expression of the moving of the Holy Spirit among us – and we see positive fruit when what is spoken genuinely comes from the Holy Spirit.

TESTING AND WEIGHING PROPHESY

• The requirement to weigh the words of a purported prophesy

• Prophesy should never be accepted “at face value” – it must always be weighed
• In the NT (and for us, living under the New Covenant), those who prophesy do not decide whether or not their words are genuinely God-inspired! – others do:  (I Cor. 14: 29 – “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said”).

• Who should test or weigh the words of a purported prophesy?

• The text is not clear about who should do the testing.  It may suggest that “others who prophesy should weigh . . . ”, or “other leaders should weigh . . . ”, or simply that “everyone should weigh what is said”. 
• However, in deciding who should weigh, take into account the following:  “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and can not understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.  The person with the Spirit makes judgements about all things . . . we have the mind of Christ” (I Cor. 2: 14, 15).

• Not by “methods” . . .

Many people try to judge prophesy by methods, rather than by fruit.  However:-

• I Cor. 2: 14-15 (above) itself states that only those “with the Spirit” who have “the mind of Christ” can weigh and judge spiritual matters – so, by definition, no fool-proof method can be applied!
• “The wind [of the Spirit] blows wherever it pleases” (John 3: 8).  i.e. it is ineffective to try to rely upon a discernible or systematic patterns;
• The words spoken are unreliable as a means of testing.  It is true that we can weigh a supposed ‘prophesy’ against the content and messages of Scripture –
  • And, if they do not agree with Scripture, we can be certain that the message given is not from God (e.g., “I hate you, my people . . . “!). 
  • However the converse is not true:  i.e. if they do agree with Scripture, that is no clear evidence that God Himself wanted to speak that particular message to those people at that time! 
• We therefore need a way of judging prophesy that continues to allow us to conform to God’s constant approach with mankind – i.e. “by faith” and “in relationship with Him” (again refer to I Cor. 2: 14-15 above).

• . . . But rather “by fruit” – both in the life of the one giving the prophecy and in the outcome from the words spoken

• Can you see a passion for Jesus at work in their life?
• Holy living
• Is it obvious that they uphold and honour the written Word?
• Even more so – do they have a real zeal for Scripture?
• Does their life express an “aroma” of Christ to those around them (II Cor. 2: 14-15)?
• Are they willing to submit to, and be accountable to, other leaders – both in respect to their lives in general, and in regard to the ‘prophesies’ they give?
• Do their ‘prophetic messages’ bring greater freedom in the Spirit and generate a greater depth of discipleship and relationship with God among the hearers (i.e. “bring life”), or do they constrict, confine, condemn (i.e. “bring death”)?

ARE WE ALLOWED TO MAKE MISTAKES IN OUR ‘PROPHESYING’?

• In the Old Testament – No: a “false prophet” was stoned!

• In the New Testament – Yes.  But those who prophesy must eagerly desire to serve the body of Christ in love (see above – I Cor. 14: 1, 4).

• The seriousness with which OT prophecy was viewed should also give us some understanding of how we are to exercise our NT liberty.  The grace of Christ should not cause us to be careless, slack or indifferent about how we exercise our prophetic gift.  (It’s not correct to think, “I’ll just do the speaking, others have to weigh it so I’m not accountable for what I say: that’s someone else’s department!”)

• ‘Wrong’ prophesy can create wrong and hurtful expectations in people (my story re “David”).

• Treat it seriously, therefore.  We are claiming to be the mouthpiece of God!  Bring rigour to your own practise (before others may bring rigour over it instead – which is more painful!)

• But also remember that NT grace does cover us (completely!) under the New Covenant – so there is freedom to make (genuine) mistakes.

• The biggest error in NT prophesy, therefore, is not ‘making a mistake’, but doing it to look good: doing it for our own glory.   NB: prophecy doesn't make us better than others or more right: only Jesus is the Righteous One! (I John 2:1)

• Respect your role in the activity, as a servant, walking by faith.  Walk closely with God.  At all costs, avoid, shun and run from(!) sexual sin – never prophesy if you are currently failing in this area.  Seek grace and, if necessary, help.  Be accountable to trusted others. 

IS EVERYONE WHO PROPHESIES, A PROPHET?

• In the OT, Yes (almost!).  God set certain people aside calling them to be His Prophets – i.e. to exercise the office (or ministry) of a Prophet (either for a short time, e.g. Jonah – or lifelong, e.g. Isaiah).  The calling was powerful.  It was also often lonely, sometimes disturbing (see Ezra!), and required massive accountability to God Himself, to speak His Word alone and unadulterated.  The words they spoke (and that were recorded in Scripture) are deemed to be the inerrant Word of God.  They were therefore to be obeyed and acted upon, not judged or weighed by others.
• Those deemed to have been “called” by God to the role of Prophet include not only those whose words have been included among the books of the OT Bible, but also Gad (I Sam. 22: 5 and 24: 11), Nathan (I Kings 1: 32), Elijah (e.g. I Kings 17:1; II Chron. 21: 12 + many others), Elisha (e.g. II Kings 2: 15-16) various “groups/schools/companies/processions” of prophets (whose role is nowhere defined clearly in the Bible – e.g. I Sam. 10: 10; I Sam. 19:20; II Kings 2: 5 + others).
• Exceptions do exist, but are few and far between.
  • They either happen in the presence of a ‘called’ Prophet (where the Spirit of the Lord seems to “flow over” from the Prophet to others), e.g.:-
    • “Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him [Moses], and He took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders.  When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied – but did not do so again.  However two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp.  They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent.  Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp.” (Num. 11: 25-26)
    • “When he [Saul] and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him and he joined in their prophesying.” (I Sam. 10: 10)
    • “So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah.  But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth.  He stripped off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel’s presence.  He lay naked all that day and all that night.  That is why people say, ‘Is Saul also among the prophets’?” (I Sam. 19: 23-24)
  • There was also incidence of Prophecy by “non-Prophets” (i.e. it wasn’t their vocation, given to them by God) among a few individuals who had very close relationships with God in other ways (often related to the exercise of praise), e.g.:-
    • I Chron. 25: 1 “David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals.  Here is a list of the men who performed this service . . .” (a list of 24 names follows).

• In the NT, No.   There is a clear difference between “those who exercise a prophetic gift” (as described in I Cor. chapters 12 to 14) and “those called to the NT office of prophet” (as in Eph. 4: 11-12 – “So Christ himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, to equip His people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”).  The former are a fulfilment of the prophesy recorded in Joel 2: 28-29.  The latter take up their ‘mantle’ or office from the OT Prophets – their gift can become recognised by Christian leaders as a “permanent” ministry, a “calling” – almost a “way of life”.

• • Exercising the prophetic gift (“Inspirational or exhortational prophecy”) –
  • I Cor. 14: 3 – “But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their
    • strengthening,
    • encouraging and
    • comfort”
  • Anyone in the body of Christ can (if they desire it) prophesy (I Cor. 14: 31 – “For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged”; and Acts 2: 17 – “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophecy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.  Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days and they will prophesy.”)
  • This includes new Christians (Acts 19: 5,6 – “On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus.  When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.”)

• • The NT Office of Prophet –
  • e.g. Matt. 10:41 – “Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward”
  • Luke 2: 36 – “There was also a prophet, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher . . . “
  • Acts 21: 10,11 – “After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.  Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, ‘The Holy Spirit says: In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles”.
  • I Cor. 14: 37 – “If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.”
  • Their role is more than the simple insprirational prophetic gift.  They appear to –
    • Be one of the “main 5 ministries” required to build up the church of Christ (Eph 4: 11-12)
    • Give direction
    • Bring correction
    • Open up new revelations to a particular church or wider group (e.g. bringing to them an understanding of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, or ‘signs and wonders’).
    • Can speak at a national level
    • Share deeper secrets and revelations from God
    • Can become known, respected and endorsed by leaders in the wider church in a nation, as people who bring deep revelations and “secrets from the throne room of God”
    • Often operate in gifts of power and revelation
    • Their character is evident to all the Fruit of the Spirit shows demonstrably in their lives (out of the limelight as well as in it).
    • They have a passion for Jesus and the written Word.
    • They exercise great wisdom and an understanding of God’s corporate (large-scale) purpose.
    • They are submitted to authority

COMPARISON – OT WITH NT

WHEN, HOW AND TO WHOM SHOULD I PROPHESY?

• To build up the church:
  • I Cor. 14: 1, 4 – Pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy . . . the one who prophesies builds up the church”
  • I Cor. 14: 3 – “But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort”

• Don’t “pick out the vulnerable” as targets!  In this context, it can be a good principle that you prophesy to people of the same gender (e.g. women who find a persistent man prophesying to them can find it very uncomfortable – and vice versa!).

• Ask for permission before you do so.  No one likes someone “launching into the attack” unbidden!

• Do not expect to be received as giving someone “the inerrant word of God”! – you must be under authority, or else your prophesying will tend to lead you to deception.

• Don’t prophesy if your life is out of kilter with God.  In particular, always avoid (rigorously) any form of sexual sin – never prophesy if you are currently failing in this area.  Seek grace and, if necessary, help.  Be accountable to trusted others.

• “Practise” in safe environments.

• Church services should not be a forum for people to “take over the service”.  Be aware that every time you ask for the microphone in a church service, you actually interrupt the flow of what is happening and draw attention to yourself – so you’d better be sure that your interruption of events is not an interruption of the work of the Holy Spirit (but rather an addition to it)!

• Best to start in small groups where you can open yourself up safely to people whom you respect in God, and to whom you can be accountable.

• Expect to receive a lot of words that you never need to give.  This will grow over time.  Sometimes, the secrets and insights of God are for you to pray about, not to make public.  Grow in character, learn to discern the word of God through “trial and error”.  When you do feel a deep “pressure” that you must speak of “bust”, be faithful.  Don’t grieve the Spirit.  If an opportunity passes you by (or if you just aren’t sure), share what you have/had with a trusted individual who operates a prophetic gift (or with another trusted leader) and ask them to weigh it before you give it.

• You’ll make errors (we all do!) – As we’ve seen, in the NT that’s OK!  Get started.  Give it a go!

PERSONAL RISKS IN OPERATING IN THE GIFT OR PROPHECY

• Pride, pride, pride!  (Beware!)

• Believing that we’re “different” from the rest of the church.  Remember – we’re as much a part of the body (and subject to authority and correction) as is anyone else!

• ‘Getting it wrong’ in a situation that brings hurt, disappointment, disillusionment to others (requires repentance and discipline – sometimes the discipline of God and leaders, as well as self-discipline) (story of my error with an expecting couple).

• Deception (usually goes with failing to be under authority).  When the person prophesying believes that their ‘messages’ are “right, but no one else will listen” – beware! (my ‘fish story’).  If we reamin under Godly, Spirit-filled authority, we will mature and improve our gift.

• Believing that “when I speak, it’s all God”.  No, it’s not!  Probably 40% – 80% of an inspired word can still be ‘us’, not God!  It takes practise listening, humility to be corrected, refining speaking skills, and a desire to prophesy better and more completely, to help us to be ‘more of Him and less of me’.

• Testing – both by God Himself, and by satan (as allowed by God).  (I Peter 5: 8 – “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour”).  Be watchful, and bath your operations in prayer and getting to know he Bible well.

• The good news: – Never forget that “The eyes of the Lord roam to and fro throughout the whole earth, so that He may strongly support those whose hearts are completely His” (II Chron. 16: 9).  He’s on your side – grace extends to you!

HOW TO DELIVER A PROPHETIC WORD

• Say all that you believe is from God, but be as concise as you can. 

• Don’t give the background to why you are speaking – no one really cares why you thought these thoughts, or where you first heard them, or with whom, or what you doing or drinking/eating at the time!  All of this is needless attention-grabbing stuff (even if you don’t mean it to be) – but it intrudes on the flow of a meeting, and it draws attention away from God’s message to you as the messenger.

• Don’t put on religious voices or “tones” to your voice.  Don’t “pump it up” with pompous words that claim to give weight to you as a person.

• If you’re going to sing, make sure that your singing doesn’t dominate the message.  Ask God why you are to sing it.  After all, we don’t normally sing to each other when we have something to say!

• Remember, overall, that this is not about you (at all!) – it’s all about Jesus and the Kingdom that He won at Calvary.  (You are a ‘relatively meaningless delivery person’!)

• Know when to stop.  This is one of the most important things to know.  Often I believe we hear people “start in the Spirit” and then go past their message, so that they “end with their own thoughts and rounding up”. 

GIVING IT A GO TODAY:

Let’s practise in this safe setting!