Barnabas Bulletin ~ 0151
MAKING TIME FOR PROPHETIC MINISTRY
By Rodney Francis
Since 1995 when God spoke to me about committing to Prophetic Ministry more, and to train and release people in the Gifts of The Holy Spirit, I have seen the Lord using me more and more in ways that, at times, simply amaze me. I have observed that there are so many Christians who are hungry for more than what they are generally getting at Sunday meetings. I have discovered that if we do not make time for The Holy Spirit to work in our meetings, then it does not happen. Sadly the “programme mentality” limits The Holy Spirit Ministry, as the programme does not allow time for anything extra. Yet, time and time again, The Holy Spirit has given me a word of knowledge for someone, a married couple, or a whole family, that leads to Prophetic Ministry there and then with a flow of Prophetic Words by Prophetic People that can take up 15-20 minutes of the meeting. Those times are very powerful and important for those being ministered to.
The Gifts of The Holy Spirit are to be exercised by all Holy Spirit-filled believers for the edification, encouragement and comfort of the Body of Christ. They minister into our lives and obtain things in our lives that can happen no other way. So, why do so many churches not have the Gifts of The Holy Spirit operating in their services? One of the major reasons is because Christians, generally, do not understand the purpose and benefits of the Gifts of The Holy Spirit. If they did they would quickly make the time and place for them to function. We need to remind ourselves that Spiritual Gifts are God’s idea, His provision to the Church to bring the people of God into maturity. If we do not use what God has given us then we are deceiving ourselves if we think we can bring people through to a place of true maturity in God. This also applies to the five-fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11. These gifts of God have been largely overlooked or ignored, and then we wonder why so much of the Christian Church is weak and powerless.
Those who know my ministry know that the operation of Spiritual Gifts in and through my life have opened up the world for me to minister. As an itinerant ministry I have not lacked invitations to go anywhere in the last more than 14 years. It has been my privilege and joy to see first-hand thousands of people prophesy for the first time in their lives; thousands releasing the Spiritual Gifts of Word of Knowledge, Word of Wisdom, Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues, Discerning of Spirits, Faith, Healings, and Miracles. I have seen souls come to Christ as a result of the Gifts operating (up to 40% of a whole area in four days in one case)! They always glorify Jesus Christ and often result in a whole new way of living for some – especially those who are healed physically or part of a miracle of God in their lives.
“EARNESTLY DESIRE” THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS!
The Prophetic Ministry and Gifts of The Holy Spirit are keys to “unlocking” people, situations, establishing ministries, releasing people more into the will and purposes of God. My understanding of the Scriptures is that these Gifts and Ministries are in The Holy Spirit ~ and HE LIVES INSIDE OF US! Unless and until we release these Gifts from within they will simply sit inside of us dormant ~ and no one gets the benefits of that. They are being wasted and people are being robbed of God’s keys for them, and not being unlocked to function more according to voice of The Holy Spirit. The nine Gifts of The Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12) are nine variations of the voice of God and, as we listen to Him, we will often find ourselves ministering to other people through those Gifts. They enable us to know things that the natural mind cannot comprehend (1 Corinthians 2)! We are told in Scripture to “earnestly desire” the Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Corinthians 14:1, 39). That is strong language and means that we have to make the effort to press through into God for them to be released out of us. How strong is your desire to exercise these wonderful gifts? The desire has to become stronger than every excuse we are “hiding behind” because as long as we have an excuse we will not exercise the Gifts.
We need to cultivate a sensitivity to The Holy Spirit and to that which He desires to do when we are gathered together – and in other places too. He sees and knows the needs of people and, if we are available to Him, He will speak to us and guide us to the right person in the right place at the right time for the right results! It is so encouraging to be used of the Lord like that. Through the exercising of the Spiritual Gifts we can experience “Divine appointments” again and again. When we take the time for Prophetic Ministry to be released to function there will always be people waiting on the other side of our obedience; and there will be testimonies to the Glory of God. Make sure you are functioning in Prophetic Ministry motivated by the love of Jesus for people. You will never regret it! God Bless you ~ Rodney W. Francis.
Bible Readings: 1 Corinthians 12; 1 Corinthians 13; 1 Corinthians 14
Prayer:
“Dear Lord, I come to You in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son, and I ask You to help me to break through every barrier that is holding me back from releasing the Spiritual Gifts that You have given me in The Holy Spirit. Deliver me from the fear of man, the fear of getting it wrong, and fill me with a love that conquers all my fears. I desire to be a greater blessing to others, and I see from Your word that You have given the Spiritual Gifts to enable me to minister “Spirit to spirit” to others. Help me to be rid of all excuses and simply be wholly available unto You to be led and guided by Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for trusting me with Your wonderful Gifts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
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