Читать книгу Reclaiming Prophecy - Darin Slack - Страница 7

“Just don’t leave.” These were the words of my pastor, Danny Jones, in the early years at the church I’m still in today.

He wasn’t pleading as if God was telling me to leave. He didn’t want me to allow criticisms from others to stifle the young prophetic gift I displayed or to make me run away out of fear or frustration.

I had been led by the Spirit of God to this church out of a prominent charismatic fellowship, which at the time was a severe reverse culture shock. My new church was much more conservative on everything, including the gifts.

Prophecy wasn’t a new thing to them, and the leadership encouraged the gift’s use. They even had prophetic ministers come in and minister to the church. But clearly, care, character, and doctrinal preaching were the only real focus.

What’s wrong with that? Raise that question in a room full of pastors and there will be amens and affirmation all around.

Except we know from Scripture that the Church doesn’t primarily exist to be cared for, have great character, and to be preached to by pastors who love to speak; pastors are called to equip, build up, and make disciples in the Church--disciples who preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world, with a demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s power that produces lasting change for the glory of God.

We aren’t called to setup a meeting where everyone’s felt-needs are met, everyone gets to see their friends and to fellowship, and everyone learns a Sunday school lesson that really hits us in the heart. That is a club with a motivational speaker. That is not the ekklesia, the “called out” ones, the Church of Jesus Christ, currently engaged in a holy war.

Believers certainly need care, character, and preaching, but we are foremost children of the most High God, who need the manifest power of the Holy Spirit every moment of every day.

The call to war against materialism, idolatry, and secret sin can too easily become the focus of our weekly meetings. Personal holiness is important, but rooting out personal failure can easily displace the burning passion for fulfilling God’s calling to go forth in His great power!

When the Holy Spirit uses us to manifest His love and glory, we are compelled to live rightly by the grace of God that teaches us to say no to ungodliness (Titus 2). But if we only hear what we need to work on in ourselves, no matter how much grace is preached with it, we lose heart.

Most pastors truly desire power for Christ-glorifying ministry through the Holy Spirit in their ministry. They must equally pray the same for the gifts resident in their congregation or they can grow complacent and comfortable. In the members’ minds, it can appear easier and safer to leave all ministry to the pastor. Pastors wondering why they have such a “quiet” and unresponsive congregation may not realize that their significant efforts to care, build character, and preach doctrine has unwittingly led their congregation to an anemic “spectator” mentality.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 (niv, emphasis added),

I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

Many pastors quietly assent that the charismatic gifts (prophecy for our purposes) continued after the first-century Church. Called continuationists today, but not fully associating with charismatic culture, they identify with the gifts as continuing in principle, but they do so “under protest.” They are likely protesting unrestrained, unaccountable, uncontrolled ministry they see or fear.

Like many on the fringes of the faith who want Jesus but not the Church, they want the Holy Spirit, just not as He’s being portrayed by those who claim to have Him. They may genuinely want to see most of the gifts in action, but aspects of the charismatic culture appears so “anti-order” to them that managing prophetic people who would come in with controversial gifts and might immediately criticize their doctrine, refuse to play by the “rules,” and/or not appreciate what elders face in cleaning up after them, is simply not worth the risk.

Those who pursue some gifts may lay down so many disclaimers and cautions about the gifts of the Holy Spirit that they default to functional cessationism because they have yet to see a model of truly gifted, accountable, Holy Spirit-empowered prophetic ministry they can support. This doesn’t mean these prophetic people don’t exist; they just haven’t met them yet.

Other pastors fall into another category of having tried the “gift experiment,” only to fail in some way. It became too much to administrate, it got out of control, took the focus away from more important things, or didn’t bear lasting fruit. Also, they may not have had anyone who could help them administrate it. They didn’t have a proven prophet or see anyone with a level of maturity in their gifting and doctrine who could help equip and train the gift ministries.

Another common occurrence is the pastor who invites a visiting prophet who didn’t come to help others be equipped for ministry, but came to minister. Response to such a prophet may be strong, but the church still needs to grow its own prophetic ministry. The visiting prophet, like pastors who only preach and do not equip in gifts, creates a “spectator spirit” that makes the congregation content to watch and not participate.

Still other pastors may be comfortable with a certain measure of spiritual gift development and inclusion in the corporate gathering, but don’t know how to create a strategic plan to develop people in their gifts and callings.

Here’s a way to sum up what I believe to be the challenges facing pastors.

In addition to caring, building character, and preaching, all pastors know they are to prayerfully identify, develop, equip, and mature gift ministries within the Church themselves. It’s part of their Ephesians 4 call to equip and build the Church to fulfill its various callings. But, truthfully, many aren’t even sure what those relationships with Ephesians 4 gift ministries is supposed to look like, much less work together to build the Church.

Many conclude that the apostle and prophet must have ceased in the first century. Where are the examples of gifted believers? The few in the public eye are solo evangelists and prophets, and if they are busy building their own “brands,” then the pastor is left holding down the local church alone. So they wait.

Pastors are on the tip of the spear fighting for the people of God every day, holding whatever ground they’ve captured, only to have to deal with believers practicing the gifts who aren’t partners in building the local church, but people who need more leadership than the pastor feels he has to give.

Instead of the gift ministries arriving to serve the pastors in the local church, they come in expecting to out-rank them and be served for their anointing. These unchecked gift ministries lack validating qualities the pastor needs to see, like humility, genuine care for the local church, observable character, and sound doctrinal preaching that equips, not entertains.

No wonder pastors are fearful and fatigued!

I believe the Holy Spirit is doing a new work to counteract the undisciplined and immature prophet and the brand-building soloists out there.

I believe he’s going to envision pastors everywhere to engage the gifts in their local churches.

I was one of those immature and exhausting prophets, but God has been faithful to give me local pastors who recognized my calling as a partner with a slightly different function - to provide the same care, character, and sound doctrine in the equipping of the gifts. Together, we have stumbled along, guided by faith, to discover a clear, God-given vision for the gifts.

Pastors will have to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit giving gifts, coming alongside manifesting believers to equip the saints for the work of ministry.

It’s my hope that what He’s taught us will inspire pastors to open the door to the gifts again, with fresh vision that we may prophesy.

My Introduction to the Voice of God

I first encountered Jesus in my early days of college. God grew me as a leader in many ways – in on-campus ministry, in church, and among a secular crowd. I became an All-American college quarterback, who led others, while God was constructing a plan to humble me greatly so He could use me.

The early days of my Christian faith were filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit. I didn’t understand what it was at the time; I just felt like I was being followed everywhere. At times, I literally had to stop and look around to see if anyone was there.

He was there. Just beyond the veil of the world I could see, He was holding me close like a Father who couldn’t stop hugging a wayward son who’d returned after being gone for a long time. I was being loved by Him.

And His voice, oh, His voice was magnificent in my spirit.

When I heard it for the first time, I was shocked by the clarity and majesty of it invading my entire being. During the first week after my conversion, I encountered a difficult situation and was questioning His character and sovereignty in my heart. I certainly never expected Him to answer, but He did in what I can only describe as a deep impression upon my soul that was both patient and profound.

It wasn’t audible, or accompanied by lightning and thunder, but it had that effect. It was unexpected, unforgettable and unmistakable. I was blown away.

Imagine a deaf person hearing sound for the first time. That’s what it was to hear God speak for the first time. It was so matter-of-fact, yet so different than my normal thoughts, so strong in its conviction, yet so incredibly kind. I was captivated by His voice.

I suddenly understood Elijah’s reaction when he didn’t respond to the earthquake and fire God had sent him, but Elijah exploded out of his self-absorbed state when he heard the “still small voice” saying, “Why are you here?” (1 Kings 19:12-13).

I had heard the “still small voice.” It might have been still, or quiet, but to me, it certainly wasn’t small.

I heard His voice not with my ears, but rather my heart. It appears mad and marvelous at the same time. His words paint pictures of peace and calm on the canvas of my mind. His voice stimulates my emotion, intellect, and will, all at once, as if they rise in honor of who is speaking. Even before my conscious mind can catch up to what happened, I know what He said. How I know is unexplainable, but the clarity is unmistakable and the conviction it produces is palpable.

I’ve since grown to understand the nuances in His tone as well. If it’s a call to obedience, my busy thoughts are silenced, and I am lost in the fulfillment of His word. If it’s an affirmation, it empties all my ambition and bids me toss the glory at His feet. If it’s a correction, my soul is arrested, and His mercy floods my failure. No matter what direction His voice takes in me, I cannot stay the same when I hear Him.

At times, His voice can be so quiet and so considerate that I will dismiss it out of hand. To my shame and utter foolishness, I believe the kind and wise thought my own, rather than give glory to whom it’s due.

We must never become so accustomed to God speaking to us that we diminish one moment of that wonderful expression of His grace.

To hear His voice is among the ultimate privileges purchased by Christ in our inheritance as the children of God. He paid an incalculable debt we could not pay, bridged a distance we could not measure, and plumbed a depth we could not fathom.

Scripture and the Voice of God

There is no competition between the supremacy of Scripture and God’s voice. His Spirit dwells in me, and speaks to me the unchanging truths of Scripture, which etch their way deeper and deeper into my unsanctified mind.

Though I have an imperfect mind and a corrupt temptation to sin, I am still bid to interpret His voice. That makes Scripture the greatest tool with the highest authority to confirm what I believe I hear from Him. There will be no conflict. However, as I listen more and more, the Holy Spirit takes Scripture and applies it to my life, identifies my heart in it, and edifies me with it. He echoes its essence in my heart and mind and is always making more of Jesus in me with it every day of my life. He speaks plainly, not always in verse, but never in contradiction to Scripture, and always directing me deeper in it.

The voice of God is, and always has been, speaking to men’s lost hearts, from the beginning of time when He called out in the garden, “Adam, where are you?” He draws men to Himself, reveals Himself to them, and transforms them by His Spirit.

The Essence of Prophetic Ministry:

Bringing the Eternal into the Temporal

I have walked in the Holy Spirit for many years; I have seen many different prophetic manifestations. Regardless of content or style, one thing that has remained constant in my own prophetic experience is an unrelenting sense of urgency from the Spirit regarding His love for the gathered people of God.

He absolutely and unreservedly loves His people, and He enthusiastically reminds me of that every time I ask how I can serve them. Like I didn’t hear Him the first time, He recounts for me His undying passion for His saints. His energetic anticipation of any setting where He intends to bless His gathered people is the first thing I prophetically sense. I do not possess that care and compassion for His people on my own; therefore it is an excellent way to confirm I’m hearing God—if I feel greater love for His people than I am capable of, it’s God.

True prophetic ministry exists to trumpet His deep affection for His Church. Like the groom declaring over and over his unswerving devotion to his bride in preparation for their wedding, we must meet each moment of His compassion through the prophetic as if it were the first time.

There is no way to exhaust the love of God for His Church prophetically. We will run out of breath to speak long before He tires one iota of telling the Church how much He loves her.

Every true anointed prophetic moment has been saturated in power that opens my eyes to the depth of His love for His people. Even in Jesus’ most stinging rebuke of the Pharisees, you hear His love pouring forth, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing” (Matt. 23:37 niv).

The Church needs to be regularly reminded of Christ’s unchanging love, as we are prone to drift away in busyness, idolatry, and the cares of life. At times, we are stubborn, unwilling children who must be brought back by the overwhelming kindness of the Father. Jesus took upon Himself the lethal rebuke of God’s wrath we fully deserved for our sin, and He has forever removed any condemnation in the Father’s voice toward us (Rom. 8:1).

The Father’s Voice Always Sounds of Pure, Unreserved Kindness

In the Old Testament, prophets often took a harsh tone (coupled with the most tender expressions of compassion you’ll ever hear). Before the cross, God’s Wrath had not been satisfied. Today, after the work of the cross, there should never be a harsh tone in true prophetic ministry. Because of Christ, condemnation has been completely eradicated and all we should hear in the Father’s voice is kindness that leads us to repentance.

Any harsh assessment of the Church and her obvious weakness is flawed and self-righteous. We should be regularly and wonderfully swept up in the new mercies of God pouring forth from the gospel of prophetic anointing.

This doesn’t mean we never address sin, but a harsh prophetical tone for the Church is from our uncharitable and impatient hearts. But God is charity and patience personified; should we grow harsh, He will patiently lift our eyes to see what He sees—not a flawed people as they now are, but as the faithful people they will become by His grace, a glorious and unified Church!

Through anointed prophetic ministry, He’s going to use His eternal perspective of our glorious future to wash away the temporal perspective of our circumstance and failures that steal our joy.

This is the essence of prophetic ministry—to continually, through His unimaginable kindness, redirect the Church’s temporal perspective toward the eternal.

Why Do Spiritual Gifts, Especially Prophecy, Matter?

The gifts mentioned in Scripture, especially prophecy, exist as manifestations of the indwelling Holy Spirit to herald the heart of God among His people in the most intimate way possible, meeting our deepest needs, and speaking to our deepest selves about who He is in our lives.

The Holy Spirit is manifesting the grace of Jesus Christ through the gifts. The point is never to make much of the spiritual gifts, but of Jesus. That is what the Holy Spirit was sent to do, and the gifts are a means of grace to make it so. If we hope to see the gifts manifesting in our meetings, then we have to make room for the Holy Spirit to lead and participate.

We must not just assume that He wishes to bless our plan to glorify God, but that He wishes to glorify Jesus through us in His chosen way, through our faith.

The gifts function by faith in God, but they also increase faith when they are manifested. Faith that must continue to grow, so we see these gifts, especially prophecy, become a great and powerful demonstration of His love and power to a lost and dying world, through us, His Church. “For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus” (Rev. 19:10b niv).

Jesus is the reason we have gifts and are using them for His glory. This is entirely about Him. When the gifts manifest, they should unswervingly point to the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ in our midst. The Holy Spirit was sent for that purpose, and any demonstration of power, especially prophecy, that does not point us to Jesus Christ alone, is not of Him and should be avoided.

We must demystify the gifts by seeing them for what they are. They are Holy Spirit expressions of God’s mercy, grace, and love toward us, and through us, at the point of our deepest need. They are made possible through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. To suggest that they exist for any other purpose than to make much of Jesus is to make much of ourselves.