SUPERNATURAL BREAKTHROUGH #5:
ENGAGING THE PROPHETIC REALM
OPENING TEXT:
“But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.” (Acts 2:16-17).
“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” (Revelation 4:1).
TRACEY – share dream from the Lord.
- God is calling us to ’come up here’ into the prophetic realms of open heavens.
BIG IDEA: The Church in the Book of Acts was a prophetic church – that is, they clearly heard the voice of the Holy Spirit on a regular basis. We need to engage the prophetic realm today, to be able to minister to people in the power of the Holy Spirit.
LOOK AT THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE BOOK OF ACTS:
· Acts 1:16: “Tthis Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke…”
· Acts 8:29: “The Spirit spoke to Philip…” (he was an ordinary waiter!)
· Acts 10:19: “While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit spoke to him…”
· Acts 13:2: “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit spoke…”
· Acts 28:25: “Paul said, "The Holy Spirit spoke through Isaiah the prophet…”
- the whole story of the church - in the fact the whole Bible - hs people hearing God’s voice
OPENING: Last year’s prophetic dream about Beausejour. Everyone in the church was in beach chairs, the challenge to wake up the army and send them out!
BIBLE STORY:
“1 Then the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.
· In the church today, the prophetic word of the Lord is rare.
2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, 3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, "Here I am!"
· Note that the ark represented the presence of the Lord in the OT.
· Where do we hear God’s voice most clearly? When we are in His presence - in prayer or worship.
· Story – season of ‘soaking’ in His presence – just ‘laying down’ near the ark.
5 So he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." And he said, "I did not call; lie down again." And he went and lay down. 6 Then the Lord called yet again, "Samuel!" So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." He answered, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." 7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.)
· Note that you may have heard God’s voice, but didn’t know it!
8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. Then he arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you did call me." Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ’Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ " So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel answered, "Speak, for Your servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:1-10).
· How do we begin engaging the prophetic realm?
· Ask God to speak, be willing to do what He calls you to do!
TEXT: “My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27).
· Listen to our messag eon “Knowing God #2: Hearing God’s Voice”.
· Different ways God speaks – through the Word, dreams, visions, angels, etc.
I. WHAT IS PROPHECY, AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
1. PROPHECY REVEALS JESUS TO US – IT’S ABOUT KNOWING HIM MORE!
· “Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Revelation 19:10).
· “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Ephesians 1:17).
· Last week we had a powerful release of a revelation of the Father’s heart to us.
2. GOD WANTS US TO DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS BECAUSE THEY BLESS PEOPLE!
· “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” (1 Cor. 14:1).
· “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.” (1 Cor. 12:7).
3. PROPHECY WILL BUILD UP, ENCOURAGE AND COMFORT PEOPLE:
· “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” (1 Cor. 14:3).
· The purpose of prophecy: Edification, Exhortation and Comfort:
· Edification: building up, promoting another’s growth; Exhortation: encouragement
· New Testament prophecy is NOT primarily predicting the future!
· Prophecy is communicating the heart of God to His people.
4. PROPHECY DRAWS UNBELIEVERS TO THE LORD:
· “But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced (brought to light) by all, he is convicted (examined, judged) by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.” (1 Cor. 14:24-25).
· Prophecy is not just for people in the church!
· Extreme prophetic model – prophetic evangelism – taking it to the streets!
5. ALL CAN PROPHESY SO ALL CAN LEARN AND BE ENCOURAGED:
· “For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.” (1 Corinthians 14:31).
· Prophecy is a gift that all Christians can learn to operate in.
II. HOW DO WE GIVE A PROPHETIC WORD?
1. Ask God for permission to speak, and ask the person who the word is for, too
2. Love must be our motivation in prophetic ministry
3. Avoid negativity - prophecy is to build up, encourage and comfort
4. When you’re new to the prophetic - no ‘dates, mates, direction or correction’
5. Basic New Testament prophecy is primarily for confirmation, not direction.
6. You’re going to make mistakes! There’s a difference between a weak and a false prophecy. (If you want to grow in the prophetic: Get in the Word!).
7. Be normal and natural. Don’t use “Thus saith the Lord!” or even, “The Lord told me.” until you mature in the prophetic. Graham Cooke suggests that you say instead, “I believe the Lord is saying…”
III. WHAT DO WE DO WHEN WE RECEIVE A PROPHETIC WORD?
“Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21).
1. TEST THE WORD: To see if it is from the Lord
· Does it build up, encourage and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3)?
· Does the prophecy line up with the written word of God (Isaiah 8:20)?
· Does it bear witness with your spirit – the peace of God?
· Does it glorify Jesus (1 Cor. 12:3)?
· If it’s not from the Lord, don’t stone the prophet! (Weak versus false prophecy)
2. HOLD ON TO THE WORD: If it is from the Lord.
· Pray about it: It might be a now word, or a confirming word, or a future word.
· Personal prophecy is conditional - it refers to the possibility, not inevitability.
· Be patient until it comes to pass.
WORKSHOP: PRACTICE! BE STILL AND LISTEN FOR GOD’S VOICE!
Chris Jordan is the lead pastor of Beausejour Community Church in Beausejour, Manitoba, Canada.
For more sermon outlines, and online audio sermons, go to www.beausejourchurch.ca.
