Sunday, January 23, 2005
Being the Subject of Our Own Ministries
The charismatically called person tends to take the Word heard or read, taught or preached and apply it to themselves according to their own motivations.
Before we give an example, remember, we may substitute any of the lifestyle callings from Romans 12 or 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 in the place of ‘prophetic.’ (i.e. teaching, mercy, leading, helping, evangelism, administrating, etc.)
Example:
The prophetic person hears the unctioned word from a pastorally called person, subjects it to their own prophetic grid and takes in what gets through the spiritual sieve of the charismatic colander. This results in the building up of the prophetic grace within himself.
For instance, the ‘prophetic’ person hears some practical instruction on ... hospitality.
They in meekness listen to this ‘elementary’ teaching and begin to see in the spirit the grieved heart of God. "This God, Who is so hospitable, wants the Body of His beloved Son, to receive one another as they have been received."
They see with deep cuttings all of the places and the roots of selfishness in their own soul that has cut others out of their lives through a desire to preserve their own time, life, space. "This is incredible rebellion against the HOLY ONE Who has called His children to be hospitable.
"The grief! – and what about the rest of the Body? What about this congregation? We are all so superficial…"
The prophetic person begins to have a sense of the One Who was born outside of normal hospitality, born in a stable!!
"Look! We’re doing that to one another – leaving one another out in the cold. Forget about this being willing to take one another into our homes – what about TRUE hospitality? What about taking one another into our hearts?! Oh the intensity of the calling to truly be able to hear and confide in one another – heart-to-heart.
"That would be ‘true’ hospitality – yet, nobody is really trustworthy, who can dare to open up to another? Surely the one who opens up his heart to another is just inviting betrayal and a sharing in the sufferings of the Messiah…
"I must fast and pray for myself and the brethren… Lord, You are worthy of a people who are truly hospitable… wait – I think this may be a word for the congregation…"
On and on the prophetic person goes…
Meanwhile, the teaching was about: a. being open to spontaneously eating with one another; b. enjoying one another’s company; c. taking an interest in the other person’s daily life and trials; d. the simplicity of showing hospitality in contrast to the stress of ‘entertaining’ one another.
This is a wonderful thing, but it also cuts off grace. (Definition of grace in this context: enabling favor.) God wants to build mature communities of believers through the developing of well rounded disciples. We must be open to the grace and unction of God through other believers – we need what they have.
1 Corinthians 12:14 14 For the body is not one member, but many.
Romans 12:4-5 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
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Before we give an example, remember, we may substitute any of the lifestyle callings from Romans 12 or 1 Corinthians 12:28-30 in the place of ‘prophetic.’ (i.e. teaching, mercy, leading, helping, evangelism, administrating, etc.)
Example:
The prophetic person hears the unctioned word from a pastorally called person, subjects it to their own prophetic grid and takes in what gets through the spiritual sieve of the charismatic colander. This results in the building up of the prophetic grace within himself.
For instance, the ‘prophetic’ person hears some practical instruction on ... hospitality.
They in meekness listen to this ‘elementary’ teaching and begin to see in the spirit the grieved heart of God. "This God, Who is so hospitable, wants the Body of His beloved Son, to receive one another as they have been received."
They see with deep cuttings all of the places and the roots of selfishness in their own soul that has cut others out of their lives through a desire to preserve their own time, life, space. "This is incredible rebellion against the HOLY ONE Who has called His children to be hospitable.
"The grief! – and what about the rest of the Body? What about this congregation? We are all so superficial…"
The prophetic person begins to have a sense of the One Who was born outside of normal hospitality, born in a stable!!
"Look! We’re doing that to one another – leaving one another out in the cold. Forget about this being willing to take one another into our homes – what about TRUE hospitality? What about taking one another into our hearts?! Oh the intensity of the calling to truly be able to hear and confide in one another – heart-to-heart.
"That would be ‘true’ hospitality – yet, nobody is really trustworthy, who can dare to open up to another? Surely the one who opens up his heart to another is just inviting betrayal and a sharing in the sufferings of the Messiah…
"I must fast and pray for myself and the brethren… Lord, You are worthy of a people who are truly hospitable… wait – I think this may be a word for the congregation…"
On and on the prophetic person goes…
Meanwhile, the teaching was about: a. being open to spontaneously eating with one another; b. enjoying one another’s company; c. taking an interest in the other person’s daily life and trials; d. the simplicity of showing hospitality in contrast to the stress of ‘entertaining’ one another.
This is a wonderful thing, but it also cuts off grace. (Definition of grace in this context: enabling favor.) God wants to build mature communities of believers through the developing of well rounded disciples. We must be open to the grace and unction of God through other believers – we need what they have.
1 Corinthians 12:14 14 For the body is not one member, but many.
Romans 12:4-5 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
