11.13.24 Prophetic Equipping with Pastor Paul Kidd & Tom Bedford (23 in attendance)
Prophets Tom Bedford and Buck Hudson (absent) invited to join the prophetic equipping sessions; both were guests ministers at CLF Remnant Conference and led conference workshops on prophetic equipping.
Prophetic Equipping (Tom Bedford)
Ephesians 4:7-16
Noted that Christ HIMSELF imparts gifts to men
ASCENDED and DESCENDED…represented various spheres of living, power, influence, and authority….Jesus came to where we are living and has an impartation for operating in this realm.
V9 – Equip means “to take someone and adjust (teach/train/prepare them until they are mature enough to operate in what they are called to do” ; mature ministries come into the church to adjust our humanity (character, nature), so that we can operate in the gifs that God has given….this maturity of operating in power, allows the believer to rule over and against demonic powers and principalities that seek to influence humanity to live in disobedience to God and in submission to such powers of darkness….Transformed individuals move into power and grace of God to bring transformation to people, loosening the grip of demonic power upon people, setting people free and pulling them out of darkness.
Sometimes people can begin to move in prophetic gifting being unwise or untrained, which underscores the need to be connected to a local church and under teaching that produces maturity and honor in function. The Word of God shapes the nature, function, and manifestation of the Word of God. Prophetic people must be governed by the Word of God and submitted to leadership appropriately.
Christ gave gifts to men (E4, not everyone); but 1 Corinthians 12 means that everyone can have a measure of prophetic activity in their life. Adjustment comes to carry it well so that they do not violate themselves, other people, or the church.
Recognized: right and clear foundations need to be laid and understood, to help facilitate proper use and avoid abuse or rejection due to past abuse. / Reality is not that perfect character causes spiritual gifts to manifest; but surrender and death to self allows the gifted to be purified to the point function comes out of pure motivation. / Mature pastors can and should adjust young prophets. Other gifts / graces are helpful in equipping the body, not just the prophetic.
Ascension/Decesion order gifts.
Holy Spirit was not poured out on all people in the Old Testament.
Holy Spirit has been poured out for all NT believers, which allows all Christians to hear from God and move in His power (Acts 2).
Genesis 1:1-3…
The Spirit hovered, the voice of God was released and created order came into being! / God prophesied the word to life!!!! <— this pattern is never going to change.
As believers, we can come upon things that are formless and void, and the Spirit of God in us…hovers over and near people and situations and begins to speak life into the situation! Not just information, but the power of God to produce a result.
Salvation is to realign us with the original purpose of our creation; we are saved to bring Heaven to earth, not just to go to heaven. We prophesy so that God’s will is coming in the world.
Genesis 2:18
“Whatever the man called [or spoke to it] was it’s name…”. Chapter 2 God’s name is revealed as Yahweh form Elohim….Personal relational God, not just the powerful Creator God….Adam made in His image and likeness empowered Adam with a divine ability to name the animal kingdom…by the spirit of God to look at something, discern it’s nature, speak to it, shape it, and it is so.
John 3 — you hear the sound/voice of the wind when you are born from above….man was made to walk with God in the wind (Genesis 4) allowing us to join with Him, connect with Him, and live in the reality of a mighty rushing wind….the voice of God in the wind leads you and guilds you. / Paul says do not despise prophesy….if the wind of God is carried by a people and in their hearts, His voice could shape an entire region and that people can be set free from demon power.
This is about sonship…our birthright…and ability to hear our Father. To hear the voice of God, there is a great responsibility to respond to it.
Q/A: How do we help people ot have their own Rhema moments outside of the 4 walls of the church…hearing God’s voice, responding, and demonstrating it.
The Gift of Prophecy
I Corinthians 12:1 (NASB) — noted, all Bible translations are not equal in hermeneutics and biblical interpretation…. note that some translators have secessionists bias. / NASB and NKJV are closer to the original gifts.
Spiritual gifts – pnuematicos (spiritual things, spiritual tools, spirituals) <— do not be unaware or ignorant….of how God works. We must willing leave the place of ignorance behind and
Misunderstanding or erroneous teaching: each persons only has one thing….not true (v. 11 — all spirituals work in all persons! All nine manifestations of the Spirit can be released by any believer as the need arises. / in our sonship we should be walking manifestations of the Spirit of God. / Spirituals are our birthright.
Purpose: To be a witness and ambassador of Christ in the world.
I Corinthians 14:1-3
Tongues = in prayer it is speaking to God, Spirit makes intercession to God, brings you before the throne and prays you through.
Prophecy – edification (build up) exhortation (consolation, reminding and calling to be obedience to God); <— the nature of “everyone” prophesies (not a level of “directional or correctional words”, but confirming words…beyond consolation/exhoration/consolation should be submitted to leaders so that it can be processed correctly and facilitated in contexts of discipleship
Ananias (a disciple) had a directional prophetic word for Saul/Paul; Agabus (a seasoned prophet) had a directional prophetic word for Saul/Paul. <— noted levels, noted impact, recognize.
Q/A – (Tim) What are the different levels/measures of the Prophetic? Is there helpful demarcation?
Spirituals (includes the gift of prophecy, spirit of prophecy) — given to the church.
Ascension order gifts (Ephesians 4) – given for the church to equip the body of Christ. (Office of the Prophet….the person is a Gift….they have ability to shift atmospheres and enter into corporate, governmental dynamic…includes impartation).
Recognize authority, spiritual authority…honor governmental authority to receive the grace and impartation of an office. Do not loose Kingdom initiative due to ignorance or create wildfire due to ignorance.
Q/A – (Philippa) How do we create an atmosphere where all of our people can experience the prophetic atmospheres and nurture the spirit of prophesy?
Worship – teach people to engage and interact in worship…heaven opening and people interacting with the throne and recognizing that when in that place, people can hear God and say what he is saying…administrate it wisely, so that people can release and hear what God is saying.
Prophetic practice — having prophetic people work with other seasoned prophetic, moments of activation.
Reiterate and convince the church that Christianity is spiritual…. constantly work to connect people to the Spirit of God…get every person in your church baptized in the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues…it is the most basic thing to get you into a spiritual life. Praying in the Spirit…
Be aware of the presence and learn to follow it
Knowing the Word of God…
NOT creating a culture that bizarre…people must be rooted in sonship and not finding identity in spiritual things apart relationship with God.
Spirit of prophesy or prophetic gifting is not an excuse to be carnal…right motivation and places births a terrible fear of God and holiness…Jezebel was a prophetess…and judged for using her gift the wrong way! The fear of God must go with this gift!