Embracing Prophecy: Nurturing Faith and Community

Devotional

Day 1: The Role of Prophecy in Christian Life

Prophecy plays a vital role in the Christian life, serving to edify and build up both the church and individual believers. It offers encouragement, strength, and comfort, helping believers to overcome obstacles and experience breakthroughs. Prophecy aligns with Scripture and is confirmed by the community, ensuring it is a true word from God. This alignment with Scripture is crucial, as it provides a foundation for discerning the authenticity of prophetic words. The community's role in confirming prophecy also emphasizes the collective nature of the Christian journey, where believers support and affirm one another in their spiritual growth. [01:15:36]

1 Corinthians 14:3-4 (ESV): "On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church."

Reflection: Think of a time when you received encouragement or comfort from someone in your church community. How did it impact your faith journey, and how can you offer similar encouragement to others today?

Day 2: Difference Between Gift of Prophecy and Office of a Prophet

While all believers are encouraged to prophesy, the office of a prophet is a specific calling within the five-fold ministry. The gift of prophecy is a spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit, whereas the office of a prophet is a grace gift from Jesus, meant to direct, correct, warn, govern, and equip the church. This distinction is important because it helps believers understand their roles within the body of Christ. While everyone can operate in the gift of prophecy to edify the church, those called to the office of a prophet have a unique responsibility to guide and shape the church's direction. [01:23:24]

Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV): "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."

Reflection: Reflect on the spiritual gifts you believe God has given you. How can you use these gifts to serve and build up your church community?

Day 3: Discerning God's Voice

God's voice can often sound like our own thoughts, but the more we know Scripture, the easier it is to discern His voice. Prophecy should always be consistent with Scripture and confirmed by the community. It never replaces God's Word but complements it, providing specific guidance and encouragement. This discernment process involves a deep familiarity with Scripture and a willingness to seek confirmation from trusted members of the faith community. By doing so, believers can confidently navigate their spiritual journeys, knowing they are hearing from God. [01:26:48]

John 10:27 (ESV): "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

Reflection: Spend time today reading a passage of Scripture and ask God to speak to you through it. How can you distinguish His voice from your own thoughts?

Day 4: True vs. False Prophecy

True prophecy strengthens, encourages, and comforts, aligning with God's Word and bringing clarity. Any word that leaves feelings of shame, fear, or darkness is likely not from God. Prophecy should call out the gold in others, empowering and giving hope, and should be tested and weighed within a prophetic community. This process of testing and weighing prophecies ensures that the words spoken are truly from God and not influenced by personal biases or emotions. It also fosters a culture of accountability and mutual support within the church. [01:33:42]

1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 (ESV): "Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good."

Reflection: Think of a recent word of encouragement or prophecy you received. How did it align with Scripture and bring clarity or hope to your situation?

Day 5: New Zealand's Prophetic Role

New Zealand is declared a pioneering nation with a divine mandate to lead with innovation, creativity, and divine insight. Several decrees were made over the nation, emphasizing its role in bringing light and hope to the world. Prayers were offered for a spiritual awakening and a generational legacy of faith, resilience, and pioneering spirit. This prophetic declaration highlights the unique calling and potential of New Zealand to influence the world positively. It serves as a reminder that nations, like individuals, have specific roles and purposes in God's plan. [01:40:22]

Isaiah 60:1-2 (ESV): "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you."

Reflection: Consider the unique gifts and opportunities God has given you. How can you use them to bring light and hope to your community and beyond?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to dedicate three children to the Lord, a beautiful moment where the family commits to raising them in a Christian environment. This dedication is a community effort, emphasizing the importance of nurturing these children in their spiritual journey. We then transitioned into a discussion on the prophetic, building on previous teachings. The prophetic is crucial for the Christian life, offering encouragement, strength, and comfort. We explored practical aspects of prophecy, addressing common questions and concerns.

Prophecy is not just for a select few; it is a gift available to all believers. It is meant to edify the church and align with Scripture. We discussed the difference between the gift of prophecy and the office of a prophet, emphasizing that while all can prophesy, the role of a prophet is a specific calling. We also touched on how to discern God's voice from our own thoughts, stressing the importance of community and scriptural alignment.

We delved into the signs that God is speaking to us, highlighting that His voice often aligns with Scripture and is confirmed by the community. True prophecy brings clarity, encouragement, and hope, never fear or confusion. We also discussed the importance of testing and weighing prophecies within a community to ensure they align with God's Word.

Finally, we focused on New Zealand's prophetic role, declaring it a pioneering nation with a divine mandate. We made several decrees over the nation, emphasizing its role in leading with innovation, creativity, and divine insight. We prayed for a spiritual awakening and a generational legacy of faith and resilience.

###

Key Takeaways

1. fold ministry. The gift of prophecy is a spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit, whereas the office of a prophet is a grace gift from Jesus, meant to direct, correct, warn, govern, and equip the church. [01:23:24]
3. Discerning God's Voice: God's voice can often sound like our own thoughts, but the more we know Scripture, the easier it is to discern His voice. Prophecy should always be consistent with Scripture and confirmed by the community. It never replaces God's Word but complements it, providing specific guidance and encouragement.

4. True vs. False Prophecy: True prophecy strengthens, encourages, and comforts, aligning with God's Word and bringing clarity. Any word that leaves feelings of shame, fear, or darkness is likely not from God. Prophecy should call out the gold in others, empowering and giving hope, and should be tested and weighed within a prophetic community.

5. New Zealand's Prophetic Role: New Zealand is declared a pioneering nation with a divine mandate to lead with innovation, creativity, and divine insight. We made several decrees over the nation, emphasizing its role in bringing light and hope to the world. We prayed for a spiritual awakening and a generational legacy of faith, resilience, and pioneering spirit.

### [83:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[62:16] - Child Dedications
[72:55] - Introduction and Jokes
[73:58] - Importance of Prophecy
[74:51] - Practical Points on Prophecy
[75:36] - Encouragement for Prophetic Gifts
[76:34] - Prophecy in the Kingdom Culture
[77:31] - Prophecy vs. Tongues
[78:40] - Prophecy Guide
[79:29] - Is Prophecy for Today?
[80:35] - Difference Between Prophet and Prophecy
[81:18] - Spiritual Gifts and Community
[82:36] - Gift of Prophecy vs. Office of Prophet
[83:24] - Every Believer Can Prophesy
[85:00] - Hearing God's Voice
[86:48] - Discerning God's Voice
[87:46] - Prophecy and Community
[88:42] - True vs. False Prophecy
[91:00] - Signs God is Speaking
[92:51] - Active Listening
[93:42] - True Prophecy Brings Clarity
[95:54] - Testing and Weighing Prophecies
[96:40] - Growing in Prophecy
[97:25] - School of the Prophets
[98:43] - Handling Fear of Being Wrong
[99:37] - Declarations Over New Zealand
[100:22] - Decree of Pioneering Leadership
[102:25] - Decrees Over New Zealand
[105:21] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to John 10:27, what is the relationship between Jesus and His followers?
In 1 Corinthians 14:1, what does Paul encourage believers to desire, and why?
What roles are mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-12, and what is their purpose within the church?
From the sermon, what are the key differences between the gift of prophecy and the office of a prophet?

Interpretation Questions

How does the ability to hear Jesus' voice (John 10:27) impact a believer's daily life and decisions?
Why might Paul emphasize the importance of prophecy in 1 Corinthians 14:1? How does this align with the sermon’s teaching on the role of prophecy in the church?
How do the roles listed in Ephesians 4:11-12 contribute to the overall health and growth of the church? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on the five-fold ministry?
The sermon mentioned that true prophecy brings encouragement, strength, and comfort. How can believers discern if a prophecy is truly from God?

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt you heard God's voice. How did you discern it was Him, and what impact did it have on your life?
The sermon emphasized the importance of community in confirming prophecy. How can you actively engage with your church community to test and weigh prophetic words?
Have you ever felt hesitant to use your prophetic gift? What steps can you take to overcome this hesitation and be reactivated in your prophetic calling?
Think about a recent situation where you needed encouragement, strength, or comfort. How can you seek prophetic words or Scripture to address this need?
The sermon declared New Zealand as a pioneering nation with a divine mandate. How can you contribute to this vision in your personal life, community, or workplace?
How can you create a space in your small group or church community to practice and grow in prophetic gifts? What practical steps can you take to encourage others in this area?
Identify one area in your life where you need clarity and direction. How can you seek God's voice through prayer, Scripture, and community to find guidance?

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "The prophetic is such an important part of the Christian life. Now, why do I think that? It's true. It's true. But who doesn't need encouraging, strengthening, and comforting? Is there anybody in here that doesn't need that? Man, I for sure need it. And I know that all of you do too." [01:14:51] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The importance of prophecy is for the edification and the building up of the church and in the individual lives. And it was very encouraging for me personally, stepping out a couple of times two weeks ago and having some prophetic words and getting feedback from those words." [01:15:36] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Prophecy remains a valid and essential part of today's Christian life. In 2 Peter, it says, No true prophecy comes from human initiative, but is inspired by the moving of the Holy Spirit upon those who spoke the message that came from God." [01:19:29] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Prophecy is for the encouragement and edification of others. I'm going to keep repeating that." [01:25:45] (7 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "True prophecy strengthens, encourages, and comforts. It aligns with God's Word and brings clarity. You should feel encouraged and also release encouragement through prophecy because that is what the Scripture says it will do. Prophecy is calling out the gold in others. It will empower and give hope." [01:33:42] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "I feel that there's people in this room, and I just want to start with saying this. There's people who've got a real prophetic gift on their life. But for whatever reason, you've kind of decided to shut it down. And I just want to encourage those of you who are in that category this morning to, in the past, you've been very involved, perhaps, in bringing words. I just want to say this morning, I believe that God is wanting to reactivate you. And He's wanting to, once again, say, my call is on your life." [01:16:34] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The gift of prophecy is a spiritual gift. And the office of a prophet is actually a grace gift. But God distributes these gifts as He wills. And a prophet in the fivefold ministry will be a trainer and a coach. A quipper, recognized and affirmed by the community." [01:22:36] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "So the gift of prophecy, every believer is exhorted to prophesy. And the office of a prophet, God chooses prophets. It's not our own choice. The gift of prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit. And the prophet, it's a gift from Jesus. The gift of prophecy is something you do. The office of a prophet is something you are." [01:23:24] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "God's voice can sound like your own thoughts. The more you know Scripture, the easier it is to discern. So prophecy should be consistent with Scripture and confirmed by the community. Prophecy never replaces God's word." [01:26:48] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We improve by testing and weighing the Word and do not take anything that is, yeah, of the carnal nature on board. We continue to deepen our relationship with God through prayer and Bible study and actively practising within a community. And this is where a life group is a great place to practise." [01:36:40] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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