Matlock | 28/06/26 | Prophesy | Ian Parfitt

Matlock 

Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/354059/episodes/19412631-matlock-28-06-26-prophesy-ian-parfitt.mp3

Ian gave a practical introduction to the gift of prophecy and how it applies within  the life of the church. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Welcome to the Church in the Peak podcast. We hope you enjoy this message. For more information, visit churchinthepeak.org or come and join us at 10am every Sunday.

SPEAKER_02 0:10

Should have said that at the end. It would have tended even worse then. Seriously, for prophecy, it is not something that is perfect. It is something that if we ask for perfection, it will not happen and it will be killed. So Ian is going to speak beautifully about that. But we want to encourage you to bring prophetic words. Do not go, well, I might have got it wrong. Please, we'd rather hear you bringing something because it will more than likely bless somebody. And there is a less likelihood that it will be wrong. And if it is wrong, then as elders, that is our responsibility to help correct that.

SPEAKER_03 0:58

I'll just cross out this paragraph now.

SPEAKER_02 1:00

It's one way to make it shorter. Okay, let's pray for Ian. Father, we thank you for Ian. I thank you for what you've put in his heart, and I pray, Lord God, that you will we will hear your voice and we will hear the word of the Lord and touch our hearts in Jesus' name. Amen. Ian.

SPEAKER_03 1:18

Oh, thank you, Dave. Right. Um my first picture. Can my first picture, please? I want to start with a visual aid, that not much that one, but this one here. I have a gift. Prophecy is a gift. So here's a gift I received a little while ago. It's very nice, isn't it? It's my son didn't wrap it himself, obviously. Anyway, it's it's a gift uh I I asked about. Let's just think about gifts before we really get into the meat later on. Gifts um show a relationship, they demonstrate friendship, love possibly, one way or both ways. Uh gifts can be valued or should be valued. Gifts often are things we use, not always, but often they're things we use. This is a gift in a moment. You might I might show you, I will see. You do you want to see it? Okay, okay. Well, I'll start. I'll try and do a bit of showmanship here. It's a gift that you wouldn't actually associate with me. We've got to think when somebody gives us a gift, what do we do with it? If we just forget it or don't bother with it, the giver surely can be upset, disappointed, offended, maybe. If we have a gift and we don't use it or don't enjoy it, he or she may not give us any more gifts. So this is a gift I receive. To me, I haven't yet done much with it. You'll realize why, if you do know me, I'm not exactly a musical person. So this is a gift you wouldn't really expect me to have. And I I can prove it by, sorry, there's a little bit of muck there. I can prove it by showing you how I'm not very good with this gift. I mean, ready for this. Okay. I'm demonstrating using a gift. Let's put it down there. If I carry on playing, not today, I'll hopefully, if I carry on playing, I will in theory get better. I will use that gift and it will be a blessing if I carry on with it. So bear that in mind as we look at prophecy. Okay, can I my first my key verse, please? From Corinthians, Paul says, Pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God. For no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the spirit. Now I'm not going to argue with Paul, but we do have interpretations, but let's leave that there for now. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. So it's pretty clear there what Paul is saying that we can prophesy. Okay, next slide, please. So this is where I where I'm hoping to go this morning. So look at the gift, look at hearing from God, at the revelation aspect, delivering a word, some sort of practicalities, how to go about it, prophesying for individuals, the interpretation, the application, and our response. Response is an important thing. So all believers can prophesy. It's a gift of the spirit. Prophecies should be a norm when we gather together in large or small groups. We should expect frequent exercising of the spiritual gift of prophecy. Prophecies can refresh individuals and groups and bring encouragement. They can motivate people or even warn them. Prophecies can also reveal the love of God to non-believers. Such prophecies encourage and bless. They build up rather than tear down. Prophecy is not just for Sunday mornings, but for community groups or meetings, or when Christians gather together for lunch or a coffee even. Don't limit God to Sunday mornings in a church building. God speaks at all times, and we will hear him if we're prepared to listen. So, hearing from God, the revelation aspect. All prophecy is revelation. We don't have to strive for revelation. We don't have to sort of squeeze our fists together or whatever. It's a grace gift. It's not given to us as a reward or for good behavior. It's not performance related, but related in our identity, who we are in Christ. We should have a healthy sense of expectation. We have a God who knows everything. Why shouldn't we be told things? Why shouldn't he reveal things to us? Trust is an aspect of love. God loves us, therefore, he also trusts us. He trusts us with his word. Trusts us to bring prophetic words to bless his children. We walk with God because we love him and want to know him better. Not just to get prophetic words. It's good to hear from God, but we it must be him we seek rather than merely a word from him. We seek him, the person of God. Excuse me. God often leads us by using our desires, our thoughts, the things we enjoy. If we love him and want to see him glorified, then we can trust the desires of our heart to lead us. Desiring a prophetic gifting is not wrong, providing our motives are right. We're actually encouraged, as we just read earlier, to earnestly desire spiritual gifts, including prophecy. Two important requirements for receiving prophetic words from God are availability and obedience. God may give us small words, words that we don't necessarily understand. Speaking these things out faithfully shows God that we're available, that we're willing to use what he gives us and not hide it away. Like the present. Again, look like a present. So I'm hopping back to my um my present. Excuse me, lost my place. Yeah. Do we ignore them? Do we hide them away, or do we put them to use? Expectation is relevant too. God speaks whether we expect it or not. But expectation improves our hearing. If we expect to hear a voice, uh with pick up phone, we expect something. And when we have that expectation, then he he speaks. I know often I've gone ages without a word. It's a bit I see a bit like the the London bus syndrome when you you know nothing happens for ages, then you get three come along. Because if there's expectation, the first one builds expectation for the next and the next. Um there's no stereotypical prophetic model, so there's no pressure on anybody to conform to being a certain type of person. We hear from God in different ways. Our personality, experiences, expectations all affect how we hear from God. We need to be aware of mental images, phrases, stories, events, dreams that have happened recently. God uses our circumstances to speak to us all. We all speak from a particular worldview, too. It's vital that we prophesy from the correct worldview. We must view the world with a kingdom perspective, knowing that the Lord, our Lord, rules and reigns whatever. That's where we prophesy from. Not from a fear of what's happening around us, not from a worry of what's going on, but from the worldview of God being in charge. And the greatest revelation of all that we have is the Bible. Nothing that we're called to say or prophesy or contradict scripture. I'll come back to that later. It can be a scary thing to deliver something you feel that God has given you. It can be difficult to speak it out, but often when there's God's word in your head, it's much more difficult to remain silent. When I feel I'm hearing from God, I think and pray it through in my head. Sometimes I let the idea go. I try and put it on the shelf, put it away, uh, on the back burner or whatever. If it's still there later in a meeting or other places, if it's still there, still alive in my thinking, I'm pretty sure then it's God speaking. So I sort of I sort of try not to have it, if you like, try and put it put it behind me, but God's persistent. Uh, we can ask God to confirm that a word or picture is actually from Him. On many occasions I've done this, and the words of the next song or a prayer that someone speaks out brings that confirmation. On the converse, I've often thought I've had a word and I've not been sure, and I've left it and left it and left it. I've missed the opportunity, and somebody's spoken, and I thought, oh yeah, I I had something for that, and I've missed out, you know. Okay, it's it happens. Um, for me personally, I tend to see scenario, I call it a scenario. I see a sort of a movie image, and and I sort of think, what's going on here? Why am I thinking that? And I sort of let it let it play on if you like, like an internal video, and uh, and that that sort of shows me that God's speaking. Now, here I'm gonna ask a few people to come and help me. So, Dave, Elizabeth, and is Zara here today. No, oh you are glad you haven't seen you. Lovely. So, if you three could leap out and give us your views on how you hear from God, and I haven't got a microphone. Oh, you've got a microphone.

SPEAKER_02 13:28

Okay, I'll go first uh because I've got the mic. Um, I hear God in many different ways. I'll tell you the strange ways, um, which is that I often feel um so if there's something for a word of knowledge uh about pain, uh about sickness, I will often feel it. Um so I've I've had the most awe-inspiring one for me was uh we went to a prison once and I felt God show me that uh a finger of of somebody on their ring finger that had been pulled out and I could feel it and I could see it. And uh I I brought this um in this meeting in in a prison chapel, and this guy came up to me and he said, Are you been uh the screws listening to what we're saying? Because I was talking to my friend last night about the the pain in my finger, and I want to put a ring on my girlfriend's finger and get married to her, and uh you've just said exactly what I was talking about in the prison, and it completely blew him away. And I said, God knows everything you say, he speaks everything, he knows everything you're going to say, and he loves you that much, and that's how it is. So uh sometimes if I've been doing a lot of gardening, I'm not quite sure whether I'm actually feeling the pains from my old decrepit body or whether a God is actually speaking to me through it. But uh they're the sort of uh strange ways that speak God speaks to me.

unknown 15:08

Thank you very much.

SPEAKER_00 15:10

Um so I tend to have revelation um as much through scripture as pictures, really, um, and how that works is much like this morning. So I feel that the Lord kind of highlights um uh scripture to me. Um, and then as I look it up, I can start to um weigh it and see if it fits in with the flow of the meeting or the circumstance that I'm in, um, the importance of um the kind of making sure that what you're bringing is edifying and comforting and building up, can't be uh too too stressed too much, really. It's important that you know we're the the prophecy is subject to the prophet, you know, we we are responsible for what's coming out of our mouth. So it's very important that actually, you know, as we re receive that revelation, we're not just sort of like whacking the congregation over the head with a piece of scripture, but rather, you know, discerning what the Lord is saying and bringing that in a timely way. So that's scripture, in terms of pictures, um, quite frequently just have an image. Um, and again, I'm weighing that and thinking, is this you know, in the flow of the circumstance, perhaps in that meeting or in a you know, praying for someone or whatever, um, and uh, you know, and then uh then kind of like asking the Lord, leaning into the Lord really, to see what emphasis he wants to bring, and then sharing, just clearly sharing that picture. And uh, sometimes there's an interpretation, sometimes they're not. I'm pleased. Um we've talked this morning about kind of the the faith element of uh bringing the prophetic and the risk, um, because it sometimes you do just have to step step out in obedience when you know it's from the Lord, um, and then you're sort of reliant on other people really to pick that up and kind of confirm and perhaps bring further revelation. Um the other way I move is in prophetic dreams. Um they tend to be uh less frequent but very significant normally. Um I've had prophetic dreams that have um been direct sort of direction or directional for my life, sorry, and also directional um kind of at a corporate level in the church we were in previously. So um kind of that strategic dreaming and also kind of just generally I tend to be able to just see things on people. So uh kind of perhaps words of knowledge is a better way of saying that without I don't want to be sort of weird about this because it's it's not it's not weird, but it is supernatural. So there's that sense in which we kind of have to um have that world view where we lean into the Holy Spirit even as we're you know in the real time kind of praying and ministering. Um there's that sense in which you know we're doing that that double listening, listening to a person we're praying for and listening to the Holy Spirit, uh leaning in for those words of knowledge that kind of open the door and bring bring that platform the for the prophetic. Okay, okay.

SPEAKER_05 18:08

Well, um I get pictures which are usually nothing to do with what's happening around me and just pop into my head because I think in pictures, and then I usually go to God, oh, what's that about? And then I'll explain it. Or God just says stuff to me. And it can be like the day before church or the day before I meet somebody or at church or when I'm with people, and if it's before, I usually go, Oh, and he he he just says, store it, just remember it, which I'm not that great with. But um, I do remember those things, which means I know it's God because I've got a brain like a sieve normally. So if I do remember the details, I know it's God because usually I'll have woken up in the morning and forgotten whatever it is I was supposed to have remembered the day before. So, and then I've always said to God, is it you or me? And God's always said, Look, you just need to trust me. You say what I tell you to say, don't add to it. Try not to miss anything out. If you do, don't worry about it, I'll work it out. And the rest is up to God. So my responsibility is just saying what he tells me to, and then I can just go and sit down, and whatever happens after is not up to me, that's up to God and whoever it relies to, which helps because it takes the pressure off. And I I can go, okay, if I get it wrong, God will sort it out, and if it's right, then God will sort it out. So that's good.

SPEAKER_03 19:48

Thank you. Thank you. Wonderful, thank you very much. A few more paragraphs I can uh leave out now. That's great, it just shows variety, isn't it? Really? Um when God shows us uh or says something to us, an important question to ask is is it just for me, Lord, or is it for others too? Sometimes he gives you a word in a meeting and you know it's a thing for you, it's private and it's not for everybody. But uh probably in my case, more often than not, it's it's something to share. But it's a it's a good question to ask. So most prophecies is situational, depends on you know where we are, our situation. God cares for us and He does He does speak into our lives. When He puts thoughts or ideas into our heads, there's often more to come as well. It's okay to say, Is there more, Lord? What else? Can you can you give me another bit? You know, it's not the whole story. Sometimes He gives us sort of half a story, half a prophecy, and we have to step out. It's a bit like going into the void, really. I've lost my place well now. Yeah. Um all spirit-filled believers can bring prophecies. In some believers, the gift is more pronounced than in others, but there's a big difference between um prophesying in that respect and the actual ministry of a prophet or the office of a prophet. That that's not not my brief to talk about today at all. That's that's a different, different another area, really, I think, when looking at prophecy within the church body really today. It's a gift for all believers. If God puts a prophetic calling on someone, um, he will seek to ensure that their character lives up to the calling. This could mean some challenging and uncomfortable times ahead. The anointing is a gift, but the character that goes with the gift, with the anointing, is something we have to keep working at and developing. The way we live must never compromise or undermine the message. Prophetic people aren't super saints. But like all forms of public ministry, they're often under a microscope. Now that's I'm not saying that people who bring prophecies should be perfect because that's ridiculous. We all make mistakes, we all get things wrong. But if if if you're speaking publicly, then obviously it's there's more pressure in a sense to be aware of. A prophetic calling brings frustrations. We need to be aware that people who are prophetic often live in the future. The not yet, but they exist in the here and now. And that can bring tensions. Okay, let's look at delivering prophetic words, some practical points. Um a level of courage may be needed to bring prophetic words, especially if it's a new experience for someone. Remember me having a new experience playing the mark the uh the mouth organ. I believe it's better to say the wrong thing with good motives, trusting God, um, and wanting to honour him, than to keep quiet with bad motives, fear of man. Heaven applauds obedience, not outcome. I think I need to say that twice. Heaven applauds obedience, not outcome. It's also important to remember that we usually be among loving, supportive, fellow believers. It's um yeah. At the prayer meeting, Tony, bless him, had a word for me uh about advice about remembering I'm not a teacher. I used to teach, um, I'm amongst I'm not in a classroom, I'm amongst friends. So, all you in the back row, if you're chewing or whatever, you're okay. Don't worry about it. Okay. Yeah. When when God gives you a prophetic word, it's a gift. He's given you something precious, his word. For a time, it's yours, on loan, if you like. But he also gives something else at the same time, a responsibility. One way we can tell if it's God speaking is that we sense that responsibility, a need to speak it out. Some people call it a burden. It's not a word I like particularly personally. I prefer the word responsibility. When we speak it out, we give it away. It's no longer ours, but we also give away the responsibility. That's no longer ours. We're free of the responsibility. Once we've spoken out the word that God gives us, we're no longer accountable for it. We also have to let go of our prophecies. We don't own them. They're not our possession to take away my prophecy. Yeah, we you know, it's not a possession thing. God lent it to us. In meetings, one model, not a rule, one model is to take it what you have to the front, explain to whoever's hosting the meeting that you believe God has been saying to you. Part of their role is to protect the flock, and that includes you. If they give permission to speak, then he or she at the front here has taken that responsibility off you, which is great. The person hosting the meeting may feel that it's not the right, not the right time to bring it there and then. We've got to trust their judgment and authority. The most likely situation is that they will recognize the best time and call you forward then. It may also be there have been enough prophetic words for the church to handle at that time. There has to be a processing and a response period, and having too many words could hinder that. Another point about timing is that prophetic words in meetings should never take attention away from Jesus. We need to be sensitive in this. An example. There's nothing wrong with a prophecy, just a question of timing, really. And we should use language, it's natural. It's not wrong to say, I believe the Lord is saying, but thus saith the Lord on this day. It's not language we would normally use. Well, I don't, I don't, you you might, but I I don't I don't I don't normally know using I believe or a similar phrase gives you manoeuvrability, allows room for honest error, also it shows humility. It's another key, it's another key to to hearing from God. Sometimes God gives you the first part only. I think I said this earlier, sorry, to take a step of faith, trusting the Holy Spirit to give us more, only stand up and open their mouths. It's not unusual to give several people different parts of one prophecy. It's two or three people uh prophesying in church, and that those together would combine to the word God wants to deliver to the people. When we when bringing prophetic words, we must also know when to stop. It's very easy, and I've fallen through this a few times, I'm sure, when standing in front of a group of supportive fellow Christians to add what we think ought to be the rest. It's often a temptation to embellish, and I I know I've fallen through that a few times in the past. It's very difficult not to keep, I think I probably am now, actually rambling on. It's an example for you. Okay. Prophecies for individuals. When we prophesy over an individual, there should be a trusted third person present, someone with discernment and wisdom. If a male has a prophetic word for a female, it's important that the third person is also female and vice versa. This safeguards both the giver and the receiver of the word. The third person will also be able to bring a more objective viewpoint and could remember or recall the prophetic word if necessary. Okay, so far we've looked at hearing and speaking, the revelation aspect of prophecy, but there are three phases. Can I have the next slide, please? Ah, it's there already. Okay, so revelation, interpretation, and application, three three phases or three aspects. Interpretation. When prophecies are so obvious, most of them are actually, they need little interpretation. Often a person given the prophetic word has the interpretation, but sometimes the interpretation is brought by someone else. Sorry, I'm again I'm jump jumping out of my notes here. I say that that requires the the giver of the prophecy to be very courageous to actually speak out a prophecy and not know what the what the applicant what it means. And they they they have to trust the Lord to give that to somebody else. It happens, and again, I think when it does happen, it demonstrates very very strongly that God is speaking. But it's a it's a courageous step to speak out with if you don't know the interpretation. Prophetic word might not be fully clear, it might be couched in language rich in imagery. There could even be a vagueness about it. Interpretations should clarify things, but often add context. Interpretations should move something abstract to something more concrete. Knowledge can hinder revelation as well. Knowing things about people. It makes it more difficult. It clouds things, I think. Sometimes we feel freer to bring prophetic words if we don't know the circumstances of the person or the people receiving the word. But someone who is aware of those circumstances and situations may be better able to bring an interpretation. Our lack of prior knowledge also gives the prophecy greater credibility and God greater glory. I've got a little story to tell you now. This is going back quite a few years. Uh the church I was in, there was a friend there who was often invited to minister in other churches. And one Sunday evening, he asked me to go with him. So I went to this a church a few miles from where I was at church. And um he preached, he spoke, I forget what it was a long time ago. And I I knew God was saying something to me. And it was difficult. I thought, I don't want to say this. Oh my Lord, are you sure? And and at the end, or near the end, I had to say, there's a lady here who's having problems in her marriage, and she needs to make changes. I thought, oh, thanks, Lord. And I said it, and it you you you could you could hear the silence. It's sort of it was like a lead balloon falling, and uh other things that were said, and that was it, and nothing happened, and uh nobody left for joy. And we were walking out, and and this voice came, young man! I thought it was a long time ago, young man! I want to work with you, and and and this lady, bless her, bless the Lord, marched down the aisle towards me, and there was other people around, we gathered together and we talked about it and prayed about it, and and she cried, and then we went home. That's all I know. I don't know what happened. I I left it with with the leaders there, and that's that's what happened. I've no idea, but I think God spoke, and I I I'm glad I had the nerve. I say nerve rather than courage, but it's next. I I had I known more of her details, I probably would have found it much harder to bring that sort of prophecy. Okay, back to the plot. Um, there may not be an immediate interpretation, which is another reason why we should record prophecies, pray them through and revisit them, share them with a trusted friend or friends. We must also avoid the temptation to manufacture a fitting interpretation if one is not forthcoming immediately. Okay, application. During revelation and interpretation, the personal group receiving the prophecy is for a great extent passive, passive recipient. You receive the prophecy. At the application phase, they are more likely to be actively involved. They should be asking questions like, what does it mean? What do I need to do? How do I cooperate with the Holy Spirit in this? Prophecy is not inevitability. Again, I'll say that twice, that's important. Prophecy is not inevitability. We are a part, we have a part to play. If it's a prophecy for us, we are we are a part of it. And we have to play our part out, we have to do something. So it's not inevitable. A revelation, an interpretation, and an application can be given by three different people, maybe even on three different occasions. Not normal, but it can happen. Prophecies, especially several linked ones, can be life-changing, can be directional. Here I'm gonna ask my lovely wife to come and tell you a bit of a story about prophecies that we received some years ago, which brought us to this church. Can she have your microphone? Well, I'll sit down now.

SPEAKER_04 35:02

Okay, go back 24 odd years. Oh, sorry, I don't mean odd, I mean more than. Um, and we were in uh a bigger church than this, about 350-ish, uh, going on with God, great. Been there, I'd been there donkeys years, um, any and quite a few, and we were actually quite comfortable. We were totally part of the church, we knew so many people, lots of shared life experiences. And then a friend uh came to us one Sunday morning and gave us this um prophecy. Uh he'd actually held it for a year. Now I can't tell you whether he went and checked it out with the elders, I never asked him, but he gave us this prophecy, which was uh he saw me and Ian on a four-poster, very comfortable feather bed. Next to this feather bed uh was like something you'd get in prison in the old days, basic metal, thin mattress, you know. Um, and he said um Jesus is the bed underneath the pair of you, solid, always solid. But at the moment it's like you're living on a comfortable four-poster. Um are you prepared to move off your comfortable feather bed onto something that is going to be tougher, harder, more basic. Are you prepared for that? Um, and we had to take that away and weigh it up and pray over it for a few weeks because we hadn't got a clue what he was talking about, apart from the general, you know, like first point, really. Um and then a few weeks later, I can't remember which of us, one of us had a picture of the old 1970s fibre optic lamp. If anyone's old enough to remember, it had like a little light source at the bottom, lots of little fibres with a dot of light, and it formed a like semi-half globe. And God said showed us a lot of the dots not working. There were light patches and there were dark patches. Um, and again, we just held it uh because we didn't know what it was talking about. These things just drop into our heads, and we just had to hold it and ask God to show us what he meant. And then with a few weeks, there was an article in the New Frontiers magazines that they used to do donkeys ago, uh, introducing this church in the Peak District, Dave Harper, who started this church, and it talked about uh the vision for having lights in every community all over the Peak District. And I read this and I thought, oh Lord, that's the fibre optic lamp. Totally the fibre optic lamp. And when God had given us this picture, he also accompanied the picture with a sentence that he was going to use us to see lights turned on in dark places. And we just had to held these things, but and and that four took four years later before we uh it filtered down, it was like being taken down a funnel that brought us to church in the Peak, very specifically. We did not choose to come and live in the Peak District. I never lived in villages, it was all dark and sheep poo and everything. Um, Ian would have taken us to Scotland by choice, uh not with me, but you know, obedient wife, but we held those things. What I want to say is that in Habakkuk 2, it says, let them who hear record the vision, that he who hears it can run with it. It is so important. God wants to give us great gifts, he's our loving father, he wants to give us gifts. But if you have a prophecy that is anything like that, oh I have to say we did take all of that to the elders and friends and prayed with them and weigh it up because this was quite directional for us. And we did check it out. Took a year before we actually came down to this is where you're going. Um, it took another four years before we got here, and in that time I reread all the stuff I'd recorded to keep me going. Because if I hadn't, I could have thought, oh Lord, did we get that right? What did they say? Not sure about that. The prophecy is precious, it's the word of Almighty God. Don't hold it lightly, weigh it up with Christian friends you can trust, but then hold on to it and wait and don't let go of what God has promised.

SPEAKER_03 40:10

Thank you. I say thank you, Doc. I I I have got a Derbyshire background, actually. My parents, believe it or not, are from Derbyshire, but I still say I'm a Yorkshireman. Anyway, back to work. Um God speaks through prophecy because he wants to do things, he wants to do things in our lives, as you just heard. In order for that to happen, he wants it to be part of it. We have a responsibility to cooperate with him to respond to the prophetic, but we need to weigh it. So, can we have the next slide, please? These are questions to ask, not in every situation, but at least as a general guide. Um, I'm not saying you have to bring a list and tick it off in a meeting, but it's just as a general guide. Is it positive? Prophesy prophecies should edify or encourage or comfort, warn? Yeah, they're not threatening, they shouldn't be threatening, they're not accusative, they're positive. Can we sense the Holy Spirit as the initiator? Does the prophecy hold true to scripture or against it in any way? Does the prophecy glorify Jesus or enable us to glorify him? Uh is it manipulative or controlling in any way? Do we know and trust the person bringing it? Do they have a good character and prophetic track record? So they're they're general questions, but um it gives you the idea what we what we sort of look into to be going through our minds when there's a prophecy. If a prophecy is for you, then you need to respond, or we need to respond. It may not be possible immediately, so we need to have the habit of recording what Marion was saying. It's important to record what God reveals to us. We can take it away and pray about it or discuss it with friends, trusted friends. The same principle applies to us as a church. We need a way of recording and revisiting prophecies. There should be an intentionality about our response. Prophetic words usually require action. Something will need to be done. We have to cooperate with God. A sobering question is if we don't respond to prophecies, will God continue to give them to us? When someone brings a prophecy, especially publicly in a meeting, he or she has become vulnerable. Especially if it's the first time. We shouldn't look for praise or adulation, but an encouraging, it was really good that you stepped out, well done. Can make a big difference between that person continuing to practice their prophetic gifting or not. I need to mention Sam. What are you, Sam? Give me a wave. Thank you, Sam. I thought Sam last week came out to the front, doesn't regularly come to the front. Great, great that she was here. And the and the prophecy, the prophetic word was brief. And I say that as a positive because it's it's harder to bring a small a short word, it's more difficult to say a little thing like that, which is which is relevant and important. You know, a longer prophecy is easier to actually deliver, to be honest. So well done, Sam. All prophets need to know if they've got it right. When a prophecy hits home with you, try and tell the person about it. It's good to acknowledge someone's obedience, willingness, courage, even. The actual message is from God, but he or it's he who's worthy of the praise. Now I'm gonna finish there, but yeah. Uh do you want to take over or shall I? Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 44:13

I first thought that was absolutely fantastic, Ian. That was more than a jam sandwich, it was a feast. It really was something that uh I would encourage you to re reread his notes and listen to it again. Uh Tony, do you want to come out? Because we don't just want to hear about these things, we want to actually practice it. And Tony Gay said he had a word earlier on, uh which I thought it's a word of knowledge which comes it from from prophecy. So, Tony, over to you.

unknown 44:50

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 44:51

Uh I don't know if any of you remember the story of the little Dutch boy who stuck his finger in the dike. I heard that story when I was a young lad a long, long time ago. But when we were sitting in the meeting, suddenly it came back to me. And um, so I asked God what was that about, and I I think what he's trying to tell me was that there's someone who has got their finger stuck in the dike to stop the water coming through, and they know if they take their finger out, the hole will get bigger, the place will get flooded. So they've got their finger in the dike, and they can't move on until someone comes and helps them. They can't take their finger out and move on. So I think what God is saying is that you need help from someone, whatever that problem is, to be able to take your finger out, allow them to stick their finger in to allow you to move on. So the um prayer ministry team is here today. Um, if that's something that resonates with you, and you've got a problem that you'd like help with, and there is help available. Great, thank you, Sonia. Should we just stand?

SPEAKER_02 46:04

Father, we thank you for your word, Lord.