Developing sensitivity to the HS is crucial to moving in the authority of Jesus. That is a given. However on the flip side it is also important to recognize when HS is not the origin of what we are hearing.  This is discernment, and the HS will develop this in us. The highest use of discernment is to connect with what HS is doing in a situation, or speaking to us. Discerning the genuine also shows up the counterfeit for what it is and empowers us to discern and resist the voice of Satan.

Jesus hears God the Father speak, then HS leads Jesus into the wilderness. Through the HS we encounter, and overcome all voices that claim authority in our lives. Only the voice of the Father can be our authority.

As Jesus encounters Satan I don't think he announced who he was or what his intentions were. He would be in his best outfit, making his most skilled attempt to seduce and deceive Jesus. Notice that Satan even quotes scripture. He has done his home work.

• Satan quotes scripture, but they are twisted to a self focused perspective
• Jesus countered with scripture which is interpreted from a God centered persecutive

Satan was cunning and cleaver, but in playing his hand he gives away some of his strategies. There is a method to what was happening here…

• If you are…God had already spoken to Jesus, already had the word in Him. Doubt and confusion creates opportunity to exploit.
  • God given identity and relationship is the very first thing he went for. The jugular vein of our spirituality
  • Example 1 Cor 14:33 - Confusion in handling gifts can render them ineffective
  • Four soils parable - Satan tries to snatch the word away - in this case the word was "You are my Son"
  • Eden - "Did God really say..."
• Make Bread…put personal comfort first. Self interests first.
  • Jesus rebuked Peter “get behind me Satan” for his rejection of sacrifice
  • Romans 8 - flesh vs spirit. The entire chapter is about this
  • Esau sold his birthright for a meal - with massive implications
  • Israelites complained about food in the wilderness, this motivated their desire to  return to Egypt
• All authority...this is an outright lie. 
  • Ps 2:7-8 – Jesus had just been named the Son - He only needed to ask the Father for the nations. Tempted with a short-cut. The easy road of compromise. This would save the messiness and pain of the cross
  • Philippians 2 – Spiritual authority comes through sacrificial obedience, not sucking up or having friends in high places. 
  • It is a terrible mistake to confuse position with spiritual authority...
• Jump off the Temple…What an amazing entrance into public ministry that would be. Descending from on high on a staircase of angle hands...yet Jesus frequently warns us to do things in secret and not for the praise of others.
  • Jesus challenged the crowds on this issue regarding John – “What did you come here to see…”
  • Mat 6:6,18 etc
  • Romans 2:28-29 - there is a play on words -  Judah (Jew) means "praise". Is our praise (Jew) from God or people...

If you think about it - it was an amazing spiritual experience. Visions, out of body experiences, visitations from angelic beings, but at the centre was compromise and self-promotion. Jesus recognized that this experience didn't reflect the nature or will of the Father. It just show how careful we must be to discern the origin of what we are experiencing or hearing.

Jesus knew his position of athority with the Father (You are my Son - the named heir), and His working relationship with the Holy Spirit (The Spirit of the Lord is upon me - the Power of creation).

What Satan attempted was to set the agenda and call the shots in Jesus life. He attempted to assume a position of authority over Jesus. Jesus responses did two things - He answered Satan' s temptation, and also held Satan himself accountable to the word of God. Jesus exercised His spiritual authority without gtiving it away or allowing it to be manipulated.

Strategies - It is really important to understand Satan’s strategies.

1. Satan’s power comes from the Nature of God - Holy (law) and Just (vengance). His is a delegated authority
   • He appeals against us – He is the accuser. Rev 12:10, Job 1, Luke 22:31
   • Depowered by Jesus – Col 2:14-15
   • Grace is administered through Jesus Christ alone (Is 53), we exchange the conviction of guilt (a legal term) for Christ's righteousness
   • If he can errode our faith and obedience in Christ he postions us outside grace, we are exposed to justice and he gains power through accusation
2. If he cannot overpower them, get God to do it for him.  Satan does this by tempting people to violate God’s holiness – then God’s justice is aroused.
   • Tree of knowledge - Gen 3
   • Balaam – 2 Peter 2:15, Jude 1:11, Rev 2:14, Numbers 24 & 25, Numbers 31:15
   • Activates the power of God’s curse. Deut 28, 29
   • The old and younger prophet: 1 Kings 13, 2 kings 23:16-18
   • Eg Occult, blatant sin etc.
3. Get them doing the wrong thing for the right reasons
   • See the temptations of Jesus
   • Galatians 3:3 – perfecting in human strength
   • Abraham and Hagar – Ishmael
   • Moves faith away from God’s ability to our own
4. Get them to do the right things for the wrong reasons
   • The internal work is easy to ignore because no one can see
   • Romans 12, Acts 5 - Lying to the HS
5. His mission is to kill, steal and destroy. But he cannot do this without our consent. First he must errode spiritual authority
   • James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8, Luke 9:1, 10:19

Matthew 8

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“He Himself took our infirmities
And bore our sicknesses.”

• Healed all…references Is 53
• 1 Peter ch 1 and 2 also references Is 53 and expounds it as “the word by which the gospel was preached…” (1:25, 2:21-25)
• The default position of Jesus was to respond with healing and power

Philippians 2

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

• The name of Jesus – the highest authority
• Think of a cheque book. The name or signature has been given to authorise it. Our job is to fill in with the resource needed and present to the Father 

Luke 9

Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases….
…Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.”

But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side.

• Healing and miracles are not restricted to the twelve, or a special few; rather “all who believe”

Mark 16

 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.
Amen.

John 16

Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

“These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”

• Jesus delegates his authority to those who believe and follow Him
• Consider the baptism of Jesus – God the Father speaks; delegating authority to God the Son. HS has been preparing Jesus (learned obedience) and setting the stage. Now HS is authorised to act in power at the word of Jesus.
• We present our request to God the Father, in the Name of Jesus. Holy Spirit does the actual healing
• Our position is to proclaim and apply the legal exchange of the atonement before God the Father in a position of authority over creation.  

Preparation of Ourselves:

Preparing ourselves before God is an essential but often overlooked aspect of our life in the Spirit. It happens in secret.
It is the life of repentance and surrender – surrender of our will to the will of God - as revealed in Jesus.

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Romans 3

Picture this:
Pharisees walk through a crowd of people – taking care not to be defiled. Their focus is to not sin.
Jesus walks through the same crowd. What is His focus? The glory of God.

• In Eden – Sin is defined two ways – transgression of the command and separation from God. The first people were thrown out of Eden, out of God’s glory – this is our reality
• Sin apart from the Law is defined by “the glory of God”. It is not what we have done wrong necessecarily. It is defined by the glory of what God intends, it is something I am still lacking
• Repentance is continually bringing our weakness and lack before our creator to be healed and remade, and to seek His glory
• Preparing ourselves to move in the power of the Spirit for God’s glory requires our willfulness to be surrendered
• Jesus agonised in the garden to surrender to the Father’s will

Important reflection points:

• How does God want to be glorified in and through your life
• Ask Him to speak to you about this
• What things are holding you back

Understanding the Spirit of Prophecy

To move in the power of the Holy Spirit it is crucial to understand who He is, what His role is and how we position ourselves. When Jesus was baptized a positional change occurred between HS and Jesus.
Prior to the baptism HS was active in creation and setting the stage – dreams, visions, prophecies etc. Jesus is learning obedience.
When Jesus was baptized the Father spoke “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him”
At that point God the Father delegates His authority to Jesus, endorsing Jesus word as His own.

That marks a shift in Jesus relationship with the HS. HS now backs up Jesus’ word and action with His power.
Jesus speaks in God’s authority, HS moves.
His power now supports the ministry and authority of Jesus. We enter into the ministry of Jesus, in submission to the Father empowered by the Holy Spirit.

At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”

Rev 19

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into

1 Peter 1

Key Points:

• HS reveals Jesus
• Our desire to know Jesus unlocks revelation – get the order right 
• That revelation will be centred on Jesus, His person and His ministry
• Rom 12 – we present ourselves to be moved by the Holy Spirit, first must be surrendered (not our will, God’s glory)
• Only HS can reveal Jesus – Angles are limited in their knowledge and cannot be the source of intimacy with God

Application:

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Eph 2

You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

2 Cor 3

See also Gal 4 – Christ formed in you

Key Points:

• Prophecy – is the revelation of Jesus, and His work in and through people
• The character of Jesus is really central

Exercise:

1. Present yourself before the Father, submitting your will
2. Ask for Jesus to be revealed – wait there as long as it takes – we can/must only “see” in His light
3. Present yourself to the HS to be moved by Him in the prophetic. Again wait.
4. See the person in the light of Jesus:
   • What do you recognise?
   • Where is He building – Bless it
   • What holds them back – Healing prayer

Note: Spiritual power can be very dangerous and it is important to get some basics right

• Spiritual power without surrender to Christ is a spirit of rebellion and ultimately witchcraft. Whose will is being served?
• Spiritual knowledge outside of Jesus and His Spirit is occult knowledge. Example: seeking revelation from angelic or spiritual beings, astral travel, listening to the dead, horoscopes, omens etc etc.
• The Holy Spirit is identified by the revelation of Jesus, and the power of the resurrection. In a surrendered life His presence manifests in human character through an inner transformation into the likeness of Jesus' character. We call this the fruit of the Spirit. 

1. Make very sure that your heart is clean before GOd by having given the Holy Spirit time to convict, should there be any unconfessed sin. 
   "If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me" Psalm 66:18, 139:23-24
    
2. Acknowledge that you cannot really pray without the direction and energy of the Holy Spirit.
   "The Spirit helps us in our weakness for we know not how to pray as we ought" Romans 8:26
    
3. Die to your own imaginations, desires, and burdens for what you feel you should pray
   "Lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:4-6
    
4. Ask God to utterly control you by His Holy Spirit
   "Be filled with the Spirit" Ephesians 5:18
   Then thank Him for doing so
   "Without faith it is impossible to please Him" Hebrews 11:6
    
5. Praise Him now in faith for the remarkable prayer experience you are going to have. He is a remarkable God and will do something consistent with His character
    
6. Deal aggressively with the enemy. Come against him in the all-powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ and with the "Sword of the Spirit" - the Word of God.
   "Submit yourself therefore to the Lord, resist the devil and he will flee from you" James 4:7
    
7. Wait in the silent expectancy. Then in obedience and faith, utter what God brings to your mind believing, 
   "My sheep hear My voice...and they follow Me" John 10:27
   
   Be sure not to move on to the next subject until you have given God sufficient time to discharge all He wants to say to you regarding this particular burden; especially when praying in a group
    
8. Always have your Bible with you should God want to give you directions or confirmation from it.
   "You Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" Psalm 119:105
    
9. When God ceases to bring things to your mind for prayer, finish by praising and thanking Him for what He has done.
   "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever" Romans 11:36
    

A warning:

God knows the great weakness of the human heart toward pride, and if we speak of what God has revealed and done in prayer or intercession, it may lead to our committing this sin against God.
"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" James 4:6

God shares His secrets and burdens with those who are able to keep them. There may come a time when He will definitely prompt us to share, but unless this happens, we should remain silent!
"And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen" Luke 9:35

"But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart" ​​​​​​​Luke 2:19
 

God’s creative word

When Jesus commissioned the disciples He sent them out and "gave them authority". The Gospel accounts, and especially the book of Acts record the ministry of Jesus and of the disciples as they moved in authority, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Where did the authority of Jesus come from?

In essence all legitimate authority proceeds from God the Father.
Jesus submitted to the will of the Father, as a result His activities reflect the Father's will.
The Holy Spirit is also in submission to the will of the Father; At creation the Father spoke, the Spirit created. 
The Father is not more powerful than God the Son or God the Holy Spirit. They are not coerced or subjugated in anyway. They exist in unity and choose to submit one to the other.

God the Son submits to God the Father, and the Father gives authority to the Son. Read Phil 2.
The authority of God is transmitted through His word. God speaks...Jesus authority comes from God the Father - Jesus fostered an intimacy, and submissiveness to God's will. That will is transmitted through God speaking and those words carry authority.

Where did the Power of Jesus come from?

A significant event in which authority was transmitted was the baptism of Jesus: 

"This is my beloved Son in whom I am pleased. Listen to Him"

There were many witnesses to God the Father speaking on behalf of His Son at the river that day. All of them were authorized to act in obedience to Jesus word as if God the Father had spoken.
Authority was delegated...everyone who heard that voice was pointed to Jesus as God the Father's delegated authority...including the Holy Spirit.

Prior to that the HS has been orchestrating events and preparing the scene, now the Holy Spirit is authorized to act in power at the word of Jesus. 

Think about how authority and power now flows through Jesus. Jesus spends time in intimate fellowship with the Father who speaks and reveals His will. Jesus acts and speaks in accordance with the Father's will, and Holy Spirit backs Jesus up with power.

We would consider all of the elements of this dynamic process part of our prayer life and prayer ministry. From this we take two key prayer positions...

1. Prayer of submission toward the Father as revealed through Jesus - receiving His word and authority
2. Prayer of proclamation from the position of Jesus authority, endorsed by the Holy Spirit's power

Background: Creation is made from God’s words…

• In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth…God said “Let there be…”
• Spiritual and Physical world are both constructed from God's word
• The point of overlap of both realms is words. Things can be spoken in the spiritual realm which effect the physical, and words spoken in the physical can carry a spiritual authority. But must originate in God's word to be legitimate.

The hebrew word Davar mean "word" it also means "a thing". It comes from the understanding that God created everything by His words. Things are made from words. 

Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

• God’s words not a vibration of air, precede the existence of air. It's the stuff of creation
• God cannot lie – His word make reality exist
• The implications are when He speaks reality is effected. God speaks, God does

Romans 4:17 Calls things that don’t exist as though they did.

God uses the perfect tense in addressing Abraham. “I have made you the father…”

The Holy Spirit is the "doer", the one who exercises creative power 

At creation: Father Spoke, HS made real – hovering over the deep (brooding)

• Word became flesh (HS will over shadow you). Angel delivered the word of God, HS responded with a creative act.
• Jesus “does what He see Father doing” – Jesus follows the Father's will, HS works, provides the power
  • “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word…”
• Jesus speaks the creative word of God– HS acts
  • There are many example of Jesus “healing with a word”

Our words

• Words – language an important part of the “image of God”
• Our capacity to hear and speak God’s creative word
• Judgment at Babel – words stripped of power
• Pentecost – tongues of fire. Words empowered again

1 Peter 3:9 “repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called…”

Imagine everything you spoke became real and released power. What would the effect of your words be?
Do we really believe our words carry power? When we speak without considering what we are saying we are acknowledging that we do not believe our words matter. We doubt the power of our own words. 

Matthew 5:22 “whoever says fool will be in danger of hell fire”

Jesus takes words very seriously.

• Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit
• James 3:9-12 Out of the same mouth proceeds blessings and curses…no spring yields both salt and fresh” 
• We must have faith in the power of our own words. Take reasonability for what we speak. Little wonder our prayer and proclamation becomes powerless if we disbelieve ourselves don't believe the power of what we say.

Very important to realise the relationship between our words and HS activity…we partake of the ministry of Jesus to the Father, empowered by the HS. Jesus (the word)

The Holy Spirit expects us to speak in the name of Jesus with God's for Him to act creatively on.

Notice the context of a grieved Holy Spirit. The miss-use or abuse of words.

Ephesians 4

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another...Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

 

lupeó: to distress, to grieve

Cognate: 3076 lypéō (from 3077 /lýpē, "deep grief") – to experience deep, emotional pain (sadness), i.e. severe sorrow (grief). 3076 (lypéō) is very intense and hence even used of the pain of childbirth (see Gen 3:16, LXX). See 3077 (lypē).

Our conduct, especially our words are crucial…

Exercise:

• Approach the Father in "the name of Jesus" and submit to His will.
• Repent and renounce negative words spoken, especially any that come to mind
• Ask the Father to speak, and release a blessing through you.
• Speak the blessing over others as they come to mind
• Especially bless those who may have wronged you!

Will You not revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?
Show us Your mercy, Lord, And grant us Your salvation.

Psalm 85:6-7 

O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid;
O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath remember mercy.

Habakkuk 3:2

It is time for intentional intercession and prayer for church and community

• Forgiveness for the unintentional sins of the people
• Many prodigals living in a far country
• Many sheep wandering in the wilderness

Our praying must be specific

• Need to keep crying for souls
• Earnest specific prayer for:
  • Pastors and elders and ministry leaders
  • The spiritual and physical needs in the congregation
  • Hope community trust targets
  • Outreach endeavors into North Canterbury
  • Rangiora High School pupils and teachers
  • Outreach into the NC schools
     
• Pray that we will not be afraid to share our faith, but will boldly proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ and His longing for people to come to Him and follow Him all their lives. Ask God to fill us with the faith to speak what He is saying; not to fear the world, the flesh or the devil, but to overcome through the power of the Holy Spirit and the word of our testimony (that is, what we confess).
• Pray for all who are seeking God and whose hearts are crying out for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit - bringing revival, renewed power, enthusiam for God and what He is doing and wants to do in the world today; Church growth; an increase in righteousness, holiness, love for God and other people; and many, many more people coming onto the Kingdom of God.

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.

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!