Tracking with spiritual gifts… a bit more to consider…
I want to be part of a church which cherishes the presence of spiritual gifts. I want to be a person who “eagerly desires” spiritual gifts and I want to eagerly desire them because they are manifestations of God’s presence in the midst of His people. I know that this is the proper way to think about these things. I have to say that it has taken many years for me to arrive at this understanding, coming from where I come from. As I have made public in my past two sermons I was poorly taught concerning spiritual gifts in my early years as a believer. I was taught to approach anything that might appear overtly “supernatural” with great suspicion. I would say that I took approximately 10 years to move from a person who was skeptical to becoming a person who is was open to the idea of “signs and wonders.” I would add on to that another number of years to go from being open to the idea to being willing to attempt to exercise these gifts. I hope that doesn’t sound to pathetic. When I read it back to myself I feel rather foolish that all those years were spent nursing an overly rationalistic Christianity.
But I have changed in a very basic and profound way. I have moved from openess to earnest desire for the manifestations of God’s power and presence. But I have to say that my experience with the supernatural lags behind my desire to see it take place. I feel sad about that. I wish that God would show me more of his power in action. I will tell you who happen to read my blog a little secret, or at least a fact not largely known to the congregation - many different times I have had people prophesize to me that I would have a ministry in healing the sick. The first time that was prophezied to me was nearly 20 years ago. It has happend at least another 3 or 4 times since that first time. Each time I have been more and more available to the Holy Spirit for the possibility that these prophetic words are true. Now I actually find myself very much desiring that God would be so kind to me to allow that I could have a dependable gift of healing. I would love to be able to pray for the sick and regularly see them recover. So far that has not been the case. And that also make me feel sad. I am not angry with God, or in the least bit doubting that He can do healings (I’ve certainly seen enough at this point to belive). I just wish that He would turn on the spout if you know what I mean.
I actually find it liberating to discover that the lists pertaining to spiritual gifts in the N.T. are not hard and fast or anywhere near exhaustive. I like the idea that humans don’t necessarily get to lay claim to these things in a way that is all that certain. It helps to keep those who “eagerly desire” spiritual gifts humble. I think it compells us to just keep coming back to the core of what spiritual gifts are all about - to exalt Christ and to bless others. I want to be surrounded by people who desperately want Jesus to show himself in as many ways as is possible and to strive to create an enviroment where the well being of my brothers and sisters is paramount. Is it necessary in that enviroment to call people “prophets?” I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know I want prophetic ministry to have a place among us. For all the extremes that present in Christianity regarding things like prophecy - I still prefer to be part of a place that attempts to open their heart to a God who speaks and reveals himself. Prophetic words helped to guide our actions in negotiating the new lease at the church. Miraculous faith helped us to find the last building we were in prior to St. Marks. Prophetic ministry set apart Rick Widner to go and organize training in Brazil. I could go on, but hopefully you get the point.
I think it is a worthy goal to try and be a church that takes the plain meaning of scripture seriously no matter how it stretches us. This is true about spiritual gifts, it is true about ministry to the poor, its true about welcoming the lost into our lives, its true about being peacemakers, about Christian unity and about sacrifice and obedience as well. The scriptures say things in all these areas which make us unconfortable, and stretch us and compell us to make choices about following Christ that are real and hard. It is common for Christians to become unbalanced, to put to much emphasis on one thing over and against another. What a glorious thing it would be to actually become mature as a church. Is anyone out there draw to such a thought? May Jesus, the gift giver, lover of the poor, and seeker of the lost be our center. And yes, one more thing - Please, Jesus, pour out your Holy Spirit!
February 4th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I have been receiving the same prophetic word over me now from various people, some know me and some don’t, and with each one there’s a greater sense of urgency in the message from the Holy Spirit and a stronger passion rising within me that has spilled over into my prayer life as I try to understand this message. I seek after my Father for direction returning his urgency with my own…it has been like wild fire that has taken root and is building more and more, the breath of my prayers and the Holy Spirit stoking the flames higher.
During this I have intentionally delved into the Gospels as personal study and just as you said on Sunday in your sermon Scott, “Faith comes by hearing.” The more I hear the word the greater my faith and now I’ve discovered that this personal study is turning into a book i’m writing. And for what purpose? I WANT TO BRING JESUS INTO THE ROOM. I can think of no greater way to explain my vision statement for this book nor any greater reason to do anything with my gifts.
The writing process is mysterious and reveals Christ like no other way. Suddenly there comes a particular word i’ve never used in my life or a connection among Scripture passages that pours out onto the page…but only if i’m his humble and believing vessel.
February 6th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
At the risk of sounding…well, whatever…I’ve found myself in a conundrum about “gifts”. I “eagerly desire” them, but here’s where my difficulty lies. As someone whose modus operandi brings her into the public eye a lot (artistic pursuits…there’s really no other way but out[ward]), I shudder to think that I would become labeled as a healer or a prophet, etc. I’m very well aware of the “first shall be last” dynamic and I want to get in line with God’s ways. When you’ve spent your whole conscious life pursuing things like performance and publishing, that is not an easy paradigm to wrap your mind around. I accept it 100%; it’s just a question of how to walk it out.
Along with my sisters, I’ve received words of prophecy (in particular one theme, of God “setting my hands on fire”) that have to do with healing, art and prophecy, and I think this time last year or even 6 months ago I was WAY more willing to step out and go for it, no matter what the interpersonal consequences. But something has made me shrink back and reassess. I appreciate that you’re preaching on this at this time because the questions in my heart and mind are so huge. I need more.
My thing is this: I don’t want to get in God’s way via my assumptions about “gifts”, and I don’t want to be seen as anything more than a vessel. I’m not saying this will happen to me, but I would feel like slime if I were known as a Healer (notice the capital) or a Prophetess. And I think you alluded in your sermon (I coudl be wrong) to the idea that a gifting is not a once-for-all thing; that it can be a one-time usage by the Holy Spirit in an individual, and that one can have several gifts as well–oh, and also that there are probably more gifts than just the ones listed in scripture. Those thoughts are adding to my state of “hmmm” as 2008 kicks off…another year of staring at the underside of my brain.
I guess that what I really want, deep down, is to hear God’s voice more clearly. He’s the only one I want to please. So use me as you will…less of me, more of you.
February 7th, 2008 at 11:35 am
Ah, un-fulfilled prophetic words. What does one do to “activate” these words? There is nothing I have been able to glean from scripture except to do as Mary did when she observed certain remarkable things about her son Jesus - she hid them in her heart and pondered them. Luke 2:(19) But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.
I think that one simply brings these words before the Lord and asks Him in the same way that Mary responded to the remarkable things the angel spoke to her: Luke 1:38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.”
I for one am still waiting for the Lord to fulfill certain prophetic words that have been shared with me, some being over a decade old. I have not disbelieved them, only tried to hold them in my heart and wait. Perhaps I am not mature enough. Perhaps the fulfillment of those words awaits other matters that remain hidden from me.
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. May renewing of our strength be our portion until the Lord sees fit to release the fulfillment of prophetic words that have been spoken to us. It is possible of course that someone may be wrong in something they sense that the Lord has spoken to them. However, my experience is that when a prophetic word is repeated by several different people who are not aware of one another then we should treasure it and wait for God to bring it to pass.
February 7th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
There’s also the problem of prophetic words that just aren’t prophetic. In his book Prophecy, Bruce Yocum talks about non-prophecy (as opposed to false prophecy), stuff that is most likely of human origin, is often positive, but is simply not the Word of the Lord and hence never comes to pass. Nearly all of the supposed revelatory words given to me (”you had such and such an experience as you were growing up…” and stuff like that) have been in that category — the events described by the prophecy had never happened; therefore, the actions that I was supposed to take in the present to deal with results of the non-events either made no sense or couldn’t be taken. The thing is, I know that true revelatory prophecy really happens: I’ve witnessed it and I’ve heard first-hand accounts from folks whom I know and trust. But I’ve only experienced it myself once or twices in my life.
Related to this phenomenon are the prophecies often given at public worship gatherings that go something like this: “There is a person here who is struggling with (fill in the blank) and this word is for you…” I’m sure we’ve all heard countless prophecies like this. The problem that I see with them is that the problem described is so vague that it could apply to anyone. To be fair, I’ve delivered a few prophecies of this sort, and from the perspective of the prophet, it can be pretty daunting to articulate a truly specific need or problem. It’s often very tempting to take the easy way out by being vague because of the risk of being wrong.
February 17th, 2008 at 11:26 pm
I was drenched in the Spirit today. Oh, how I needed that. I asked for prayer for the gifts of Healing & Evangelism. My hands shook, I fell to the ground, I laughed, I cried, I felt His Presence. I haven’t experienced that in a long time. My heart has been burning for the Lord. He has annointed my dancing. I want more of Him. I have this burning, passionate desire to pray for people, to share Christ with people, to show God’s love. I want God to use me, to speak through my dancing. I want to lead those who are thirsty to the river of life. I want to reach all people, all nations. And give all the glory to the Lord. For I can do nothing without Him and all things are possible with Him. I want to be like Jesus. Please pray for me that this spiritual soaking will not be a one-time experience but that it will change me from the inside out. I want to take action and do the will of God from this day forward and not waste anymore time.