If WE Stop Believing

This morning's Men's Group was a lab.  Yeah, I know, the idea of lab work in a Christian setting seems so counter-intuitive. Discovering new ideas, breaking down years of tradition, and erroneous mindsets isn't at all what Christ would do. Teachable moments can't be found in the four gospels. 

NOT!!!!!!!

In my desire to not to offend anyone who might stumble on this blog, I've purposely withheld some of the teaching we've been doing.  Yet, in this instance, I can't hold back any longer. I won't argue with non-believers, simply because it is the difference between an experiential knowledge, and a head knowledge.  You can't tell me something I've experienced isn't real.  This same argument is what I use when I'm talking with other believers about spiritual gifts.  So. . .if you have stumbled on this blog, and you don't believe in the gifts of the Spirit, you might want to stop reading, now!

Last week I asked the men to pray for 15 minutes before coming to Men's Group.  During that time, I asked them to seek a 'word' from the Lord, write that word down, and be ready to speak it prophetically over their family, their faith family, and the world. 

WOW!!!!!!!   

Talk about some exciting stuff.  You see, as priests, and kings, we must serve with wisdom, and insight. (Kings are truly servants of another KING.)  In our families, we have a responsibility to speak prophetically over our loved ones.  If we are truly 'born again,' we will speak the best things over them.  While the best may not feel good, or may even be painful, speaking it will bring it to pass.  Our relationship with Christ is strengthened when we move within the prophetic.  

Jeffrey spoke the word, Healing.  Not in the sense of physical healing, but in the sense of doing what is asked of you.  The healing that takes place when you are disciplined, and become truthful. 

Michael spoke the word, Stay.  Staying in the richness of Christ, His blessing, favor, and richness of grace.  

Stone spoke the word, Sensitive.  Being sensitive to the heart of Christ, one another, and acting upon that sensitivity

Eric spoke the word, Favor.  That we would all live in the favor of God, and bring favor to all mankind through living in the favor of God.

Caleb spoke the word Humility.  That we would all be humble, living in this life with the humility that can only come from knowing Christ

Tony F. spoke the word Truth.  This word was burning on his heart all week long.  His prayer was that we would all know the truth, speak the truth, and live the truth.  

Jeff spoke the word Display.  He spoke the desire for all of us to display the grace of God, by living lives of love.

Pastor Eric spoke the word Abide.  That we would all abide, dwell in, draw our life from, and be found in Christ.

Pastor Tony spoke the word Breathe. That we would breath in the Holy Spirit, and breath out the life of Christ.  

Colby spoke the word Victory.  That we would experience the victory of faith in our lives.  

Jeremy spoke the word Faithfully.  That we would all live faithfully for the Lord our God, serve men faithfully, and serve our families faithfully.  

Cool thing about the lab experiment, was that the song set for the praise, and worship service had every one of the words in it.  That song set was chosen earlier in the week.   

MY THOUGHTS:  My prayer for this study has been to awaken within the men, the gifts of the Spirit, and to make them an everyday occurrence in our lives. The prophetic is so critical to the advancement of the Kingdom.  I hope and pray that we are able to make it real within us. If we stop believing in a living God, that loves to speak to us daily, then we have rendered the work of the cross useless.  It was Jesus who declared in John 16:7 that it was expedient for him to go away, so that we might receive the promise of the Holy Spirit. The prophetic isn't a hokey side show act, but instead is a vibrant revelation of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.  

 

Living In The Prophetic

DISCLAIMER:  Nothing raises the hackles of people quicker than stepping into the area of the prophetic.  It is extremely misunderstood, and misrepresented in the church, while at the same time vilified in the media. The criticism from outside the church is easy to take, however, it is more difficult to swallow when those who claim to love Christ, deny the one thing he felt was our greatest need.  

I'm not trying to convince anyone of the prophetic. I don't need to .  So if a discussion of the supernatural is not your cup of tea, click off this page now.  

It was a wonderful time in our Men's group this morning, as we had Debra Summers speak with us about her experience as a prophetess.  It was awesome to hear her explain how the unction comes upon her to prophecy, as well as see how she views her responsibility as a prophet.  One thing I've noticed about true prophets; they are some of the most humble, and sensitive people around. I especially enjoyed her association of the worship music with the message being given.  She also referenced 1 Corinthians 14 as what prophecy should be like.  She shared some of her personal struggles with when, and how to give a Word.  Perhaps the most striking moment, that touched all the men, was when she posited that it was possible to make a mistake in giving a prophetic word.  The mistakes can be as simple as 'going too far,' speaking at the wrong time, and injecting your own feelings into the message.  This doesn't disqualify your message, nor the gift, but it is a learning experience.  Of course this brought to light a teaching from my earlier childhood in a Pentecostal church where you were taught that if you made a mistake in giving a prophecy, you were not a prophet.  This doesn't even jibe with the Word.  MORE ON THAT LATER!

Pastor Tony also gave his experiences in moving through the prophetic.  Pastor Tony made the point that it is important for us to seek the better gifts.  We have to want to manifest the gifts.  Pastor Tony moves freely in the gift of Knowledge, healing, and wisdom.  He often experiences empathetic pain that allows him to identify a specific healing need within the fellowship.  At the same time, he stressed that this gift is often at work outside of the 'church' environs.  The gifts of knowledge, and wisdom, assist him in doing his job.  

Pastor Eric echoed much of what was said by Debra, and Tony. His input into what it takes to be prepared for ministering the gifts of the Spirit is simply valuable for living a Christ centered life.  Having a active prayer life, being 'tuned in,' and knowing God's word, make the flow of the Holy Spirit that much easier to manifest. He shared how one word, or even a phrase will come into his mind while ministering to someone, and then the Holy Spirit will expand it as he yields himself to the flow of the Spirit.

As we ended the study, we asked for those wishing to operate in the prophetic to come forward .  Every seat was empty.    

One thing I was glad to see, was the emphasis upon the doing. It is my firm belief that our flesh doesn't like the prophetic because it reveals sin.  The Holy Spirit isn't content to let us muck around in our pig sty.  The easiest way to silence the prophetic, is to attack the messenger.  I've seen it too many times where the prophet is bashed for being harsh, or speaking an error.  "God wouldn't say that," is a phrase I've heard often.  "That's not in the bible," is another phrase.  "They didn't quote it correctly"  is the killer.  Jesus didn't quote Isaiah 65 correctly either.  He also changed up the parable of the prodigal son.  Every true prophet raises the hackles of those who base their 'religion' on the traditions of men.  

We are blessed in our fellowship to have a broad spectrum of Spirit led men, and women.  Every need in your life can be addressed by the gifts of the Spirit if you allow Him to have his way.  It's time to let Him have his way.