Wirksworth | 26/07/26 | Prophetic GIft | Ian Parfitt

Wirksworth 

Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/354059/episodes/19551191-wirksworth-26-07-26-prophetic-gift-ian-parfitt.mp3

Ian continued our series on church fundementals, looking at the gift of Prophecy.

Transcript

SPEAKER_04 0:00

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:05

So I'm just gonna pray for Ian just before he speaks to us. Lord Jesus, we just want to thank you for Ian and for Marion and their family. We thank you for their faithfulness to Matlock and the church there. And we thank you that Ian has had this message on his heart that he shared with each of the three fellowships. We know you're going to make it fresh to us today just as much as you're going to make it fresh to him. We thank you for him. We thank you for the miracle that you're continuing to do in his life. We just ask now that you would pour out your spirit, take away his nerves amongst friends he hasn't met yet. We just ask that you would touch him now. And for us, Lord, we just ask that you would open our ears and that our ears would hear what you want us to say, and that we'd really take on board in our hearts what you want us to know and to learn. In Jesus' name. Amen.

SPEAKER_05 1:06

Amen. Thank you. So could have my first picture. Lovely. The talk today comes under the overall title of spiritual gifts, specifically the gift of prophecy. So I brought a visual aid with me. It's a gift, obviously. Let's start by thinking about gifts and what they mean. When somebody gives you a gift or present, it shows friendship, possibly love. They obviously value you. And a gift, we receive it usually with joy. Usually gifts are things we use, not always, but they can be very useful. This is not exactly a useful gift. I'm going to try and tantrise you now. I'm going to open it slowly. A bit of drama. This is a gift. That's so far. When we're given a gift, we have to think about the giver. The giver, if you have a gift and you don't use it or enjoy it, you're going to probably upset or disappoint or hurt the giver. So it's important to recognise gifts is a two-way thing, isn't it, really? It's the giver and the receiver. So this is a gift I received. And it's not a gift if you if you know me, it's not a thing you would associate with me. So I'll show you what it is if I can open it. I've opened it several times and I'm struggling. Woohoo! That wasn't meant to be. Oh, it opened. That was brilliant. That was a plan move. Yeah, that was actually part of the plan. Um when you get a gift, you don't always know what to do with it. You don't always know how to use it. And I'm about to demonstrate that because I'm not very I'm not very musical, so be prepared for this. Are you ready? That's a demonstration of probably how not to use a gift. Well the point is when we do get gifts and we do use them, we improve with them. They become more, we become more proficient, and we we have to make be prepared to make mistakes. And I'm I'm obviously not musical. If I do persevere, I will probably become better, hopefully. Okay, could I have my first slide, please? First verse. So this is my key verse from Corinthians, Paul speaking, 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. 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. Okay, uh second one please. Where I intend trying to go today. We'll look at the gift itself. We'll look at and hear about hearing from God, the revelation aspect, delivering a prophetic word, some practical perspectives and viewpoints, uh prophecies for individuals, the interpretation of prophecies, the application of prophecies, and our response to the prophetic. So, first of all, all believers, everyone here, if you're a believer, can prophesy. It's the gift of the spirit. Prophecies should be a norm when we gather together, and we've heard some today already, in small groups or large 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 group meetings or even when Christian friends gather together for a lunch or coffee. Don't limit God to a Sunday morning in a church building. God speaks at all times and we will hear Him if we're prepared to listen. So, revelation aspect. All prophecy is revelation. We don't have to strive for revelation. It's a grace gift. It's not given to us as a reward for good behavior. It's not performance related, but related rooted in our identity, who we are in God. We should have a healthy sense of expectation. We have a God who knows everything. Why shouldn't we be told things? Trust is an aspect of love. God loves us, therefore, he also trusts us, trusts us with his word. Trusts us to bring prophetic words to bless each other, to bless his family, his children. But we walk with God because we love him and want to know him better. Not just to get prophetic words. It must be him we seek, not merely a word from him. We seek him. God often leads us by using our desires. 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 heard earlier, to earnestly desire spiritual gifts, including prophecy. Two important requirements for receiving prophetic words from God are availability and obedience. God may give small words or words you don't understand. Speaking these out faithfully shows God that you're available and willing to use what he gives you and not hide it away. I'm reminded of the parable of the talents. When we respond to the small words, it shows God that he can give us bigger words. I believe he tests and trains us by giving small prophetic words to see what we do with them. Do we ignore them? Do we hide them away? Or do we put them to use? Bring me back to the my musical talents. Expectation is relevant too. God speaks whether we expect it or not, but the expectation improves our hearing. If we don't have expectation, our ability to hear the Lord is diminished. I've often experienced what I call the London Bus Syndrome. Nothing comes for ages. Then I get two or three. When you hear things, hear from God. There's no stereotypical prophetic model. So there's no pressure to conform, to being like a certain type of person, to be like somebody else. We're all individuals, and God speaks to us individually. We hear from God in different ways. Our personality, our experiences, our expectations all affect how we hear from God. We need to be aware of mental images, phrases, stories, events, people on motorbikes, even dreams that have happened recently. God uses our circumstances to speak to us. And we all speak from a worldview. The way we see the world affects the way we hear what God's saying. So it's vital that we prophesy from the correct worldview. We must view the world with a kingdom perspective. Knowing that whatever our circumstances, whatever happens, God is in charge. God rules and reigns. That's the worldview from which we need to prophesy. The greatest revelation that we have is the Bible. Nothing God says will contradict Scripture. Nothing you receive will be against what is spoken in the Bible. It can be a scary thing to stand and deliver something you feel that God's given you. It can be difficult to speak it out, but often there's God's word in your head and in your heart. It's difficult to remain silent. It's often, I'll found, it's harder to keep quiet than to speak. When I feel I'm hearing from God, I think and pray it through my head. Sometimes I let the idea go. I put it on the back burner. If it's still there later, if it's still alive in my thinking, then I take that as confirmation and I need to speak it out. We can ask God also to confirm the word or a picture that's actually from Him. On many occasions I've done that, and the words of the next song or somebody else's prayer, it links together and confirms it. Some people see pictures, some people see past events, some people even hear it in an inner voice. Dave Watmore, who you may have met, he often brings words about for pain for healing. And he says he often feels a certain pain in his body in a certain place that he can't understand. And he actually says that and then ends up praying for people with the same issue, same pain that he's felt. Never happened to me, but that's that's that's that's what hit what happens with him. So it's a different person, different personality. God using in different ways. Um God also used their experiences and interests. Um, an example for me personally is um some years ago I brought a word for a Christian leader who was retiring, leaving, and uh I God used my knowledge of athletics. I used to coach athletics, and the image I had was of a relay race where a baton is passed over, and the incoming runner obviously is running well, but the outgoing runner is also running. He doesn't stop running, he receives the baton, still on the move. So you can see the but that was through my understanding, my experience as a person of athletics. I've I've never brought a word about sewing, I've never brought a word about all manner of things because I don't have that background, that knowledge. Um when God says or shows something to us, uh, important question is to ask, is it just for me, Lord? Is it for others too? Most prophecy is situational. God cares for all of us and speaks into our lives, but sometimes uh a prophecy is for you personally. Again, it's a thing to think through and pray through. But it it may, it may often I found a prophecy, even though it benefits me, benefits others at the same time. Um when God puts thoughts or ideas into our heads, there's often more to come. It's okay to say, Lord, is there any more? What else? Yeah. Um all spiritual believers can bring prophecies, as I've said. Uh in some believers, the gift of prophecy is more pronounced, but there's a difference between this and the ministry of a or office of a prophet. Um, the gift is for all believers, the ministry of a prophet is a more specific calling, which you're not going to go into. That's not an issue for today, really. If God puts a prophetic call on someone, though, um to whatever extent, He wants to ensure that their character lives up to that calling or that gifting. That may mean some challenging and uncomfortable times ahead. The anointing is a gift, but the character that needs to go with it is for us to work at and keep working at. 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 can often be under the microscope. Um again, that's not to say people have got to be better. We we you know we we we all make mistakes, we all get things wrong, but there's a there needs to be a desire to honour God and the way you the way you live, the way you behave when he gives you gifts. Um a prophetic calling can bring frustrations. We have to be aware that people who bring prophecies, prophetic people, we, um, often live in the future or look to the future, but exist in the here and now. And that can that can bring a few a few tensions, shall we say? Okay, so where are we? Delivering a prophetic word. A few practicalities, a level of courage, I already mentioned, is needed to bring prophetic words, especially if it's a new experience. First time it's difficult. Remember though, we almost always we're within a group of people who care, a group of friends, a group of fellow Christians. Um I I believe it's better to say something and get it wrong with the right uh the right attitude, the right, um, the right motives. If you know, if you trust in God, wanting to honor him, I find it's better to make an honest mistake than to make a to keep quiet and to hold back because you're saying, God, I don't trust you. Mistakes happen. Yeah, it's it's it's not terrible. We we're we're human, we make mistakes, we get things wrong occasionally, sometimes more than occasionally. Heaven applauds obedience, not outcome. It's important to remember we will usually be among loving, supportive fellow believers. If God gives you a prophetic word, it's a gift. He's given you something precious, his word. Excuse me. Yep, I'm on the right page. I'm a bit worried there. It gives you something else at the same time, a responsibility. One way we can tell if it's God speaking is that we sense that responsibility and need to speak it out. Some people call it a burden. I I prefer the word responsibility personally. When we speak it out, we give it away. It's no longer ours. But we also give away the responsibility. We know we're no longer accountable for it. So we have to let it go. It's not our personal prophecy to hold on to. It's a thing that God's given us for a time. Almost like a loan, if you like. In meetings, one model, not a rule, I'm not laying down a law here, is to take what you've been given to the front, explain to whoever's hosting the meeting what you believe God's been saying to you. Part of their role is to protect you and the flock, uh, and if they give permission to speak, then he or she at the front here takes away that responsibility. It frees you to speak, in a sense. The person hosting the meeting may feel it's not right to bring it there and then. We have to trust their judgment and authority. Most likely the situation is that they will recognise the best time to bring your word and call you forward or mention it then. It may also be that 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 can hinder that. Another point about timing is that prophetic words in meetings should never take our attention away from Jesus. We need to be set to be sensitive. Um, for example, if we're all worshiping focused on Jesus, it would probably be insensitive to bring a prophecy about feeding the poor. Nothing wrong with a prophecy. Fine, just a question of timing. We should use language that's natural. It's not wrong to say, I believe the Lord is saying. But thus saith the Lord this day, it's it's not natural to me, I would doubt if it's natural to you either. Sounds splendid, but no. No, it's not not real. Um if you say I believe, or a similar phrase, it gives you some room for manoeuvrability. Room for honest error. I believe. Not I am saying mightily that. No, I believe that. Good phrase. Keeps you safe. Sometimes God gives us the first part of a word only, and we have to take a step of faith. Trusting the Holy Spirit to give us more as we stand up and open our mouths. That's a bit scary. It's not unusual for several people to bring similar complementary words which work together, and that that helps. Sometimes even it's possible, and it happened, for one person to have something and for a second person to finish it off. God uses two people in conjunction in that case. Um, when bringing a prophetic word, we must also know when to stop. Yeah, I'm talking to myself now very much here. It's very easy, especially when standing in front of a group of supportive fellow Christians, to add on what we think ought to be the rest. There's often a temptation to embellish. I'm better move on before I start doing that. 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, excuse me. Me be able to be more objective and could remember or record the prophetic word if necessary. That's quite important. We'll come to that later. Right, so far we looked at hearing and speaking. Can we have a next slide, please? The revelation aspect of prophecy. But there are three three aspects of prophecy: the revelation, which we've been looking at, the interpretation of what's said, and the application. Many prophecies are so obvious they don't need much interpretation. Often the person giving the prophetic word has an interpretation, and sometimes the interpretation is brought by someone else. A prophetic word may not be fully clear. It might be count in language rich in imagery. There could even be a vagueness about it. Interpretations should clarify things. They often add context. Interpretations should move something abstract to something more concrete. Knowledge can hinder revelation, though. It can aid interpretation. Sometimes we feel freer to bring prophetic words if we don't know the circumstances of the person or people receiving the word. Knowledge can cloud us sometimes, can affect the way we bring the word. But someone who's aware of the circumstances and situations may be better able to bring an interpretation. Our lack of prior knowledge also gives the prophecy greater credibility. I'll give you an example. From a long, long time ago, I was asked to go with a friend who was speaking at a church. I don't think there was a church where there were many prophetic words. And sometime during the meeting, I had a word and it was for a lady, I said it's for a lady here who was having marital difficulties, blah blah blah. She needs to do something. I wasn't very specific, I was very general, and uh I was a bit nervous saying it, and it went deadly quiet. Then later, we prayed for a few people, we were leaving, and a voice came, young man! I thought it's a long time ago. I I want a word with you. Anyway, she she came and uh one of her leaders there, so we got together, and probably some ladies as well, hopefully, and and we prayed, and and there was a few tears, not from me, but of other people, and then she went away. And uh I have no idea what happened after that. That was it, that was finished, but uh I didn't know about her circumstances. Had I known the details, I don't think I would have been very easy bringing that word as an example. Um there may not be an inter immediate interpretation, that's another reason why we should record prophecies. Pray them through and revisit them, share them with trusted friends. We must also avoid the temptation to manufacture a fitting interpretation if one's not immediately obvious. Very easy to do that. Okay, application. Yeah. During revelation and interpretation, the person or group receiving the prophecy is to a great extent passive, passive recipient. At the application phase, they are more likely to be actively involved. They should be asking, we should be asking questions like what does it mean I have to do? How do I cooperate with the Holy Spirit in this? So application means action. Could be physical action, could be prayer action, but it means in it it means action. Um prophecy is not inevitability. So again, it's it's not inevitability. We need to we need to play our part in it. God's given us things because He wants us to do, pray, think, to be active. Um prophecies, especially several new ones, can lead to life-changing directions. And here is where I need my lovely wife to come and take over. But of course, my memory is not as good as hers, basically.

SPEAKER_00 26:29

If I can get up. Oh, yes, it's not that young anymore. Um try and sit here. Ian just asked me to mention about um uh it's 24 years ago that we came here. Four years before that, um, a friend in our church in Sidcup came to us with a prophetic word God had given him. He'd already hung on to it for 12 months because he was he didn't want to send us in the wrong direction. So it doesn't have to be immediate. Yeah, we can pray over things, we can hold them, like Ian said earlier. If they stay with us, it's more likely to be God. What he gave was basically a picture, and he saw Ian and I on a full poster, very comfortable, thank you very much, feather bed. Okay. What he then saw next to that was almost like something out of a prison cell, old-fashioned Victorian metal bars, basic mattress, not as comfortable. And he felt the interpretation was it was basically Jesus is the bed under us. Whichever one we're on, Jesus would always be the security under us. But the current church that we were in, we were very comfortable in. Thank you very much. Um, very much home, spiritual home. The interpretation was the challenge: are you prepared to get off your comfortable feather bed? Jesus will still be the bed under you, but it will not be as comfortable. So, me being me, I've got a memory like a sieve, I wrote it down. And then a few weeks later, God dropped it, and I can't remember which of us this was, but God gave us a picture of one of the 1970s fibre optic lamps, which, looking around the room, there's a few who will remember those. Um, but some of the fiber optics with their little dot of light on the end that make up the whole globe of the lamp were out. So there were dark patches over this lit globe. Again, I wrote it down. What are you saying, Lord? What are you saying? And a few weeks after that, there was a man who was uh who wrote an article in a new Frontiers magazine introducing his church to the new Frontiers family of churches. And the strap line across the top was God has given us a vision to see lights all over the Peak District, groups in every community, churches in every town across the community, but it was the lights. He talked about lights in every area. Sorry. Oh right, I've got there was a bit that came, a word from God that came with the fibre optic lamp he gave us was that I will use you to see lights turned on in dark areas. And the thing is that when I read the article in the magazine, I just knew God was asking us to come and live in the peak district. Not that we're anything special, but I had to look up the Peak District on a geology map, and if you're not aware, the Peak District is geographically in two parts the Dark Peak and the White Peak. And that's how we knew we were coming here. It then took four years of prophetic words, pictures, verses. But what I would say is when God speaks, don't hold it lightly. You're talking with the awesome God of the universe who has these words for all of us. He wants to give us gifts, he wants to share things with us. But don't hold it lightly. This is an awesome God who is choosing to speak and share his heart with us. And in Habakkuk 2, it says, I will stand on my guardpost and station myself, I will keep watch to see what he will speak to me. And the Lord said, Record the vision, inscribe it, that the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time, it hastens towards its goal, it will not fail. Though it hangs around, my words, wait for it, it will certainly come, it will not delay. And here we are.

SPEAKER_04 31:32

Thank you.

SPEAKER_05 31:37

Right. I think we've got to our response to the prophetic. So God speaks through prophecy because he wants to do something in people's lives. Sorry if I'm repeating myself here. Um and he wants us to be a part of what he's doing. Could we have the next one, please? The way and the prophecy. So these are these are some things to think through. It's not a list of things you have to do, it's not it's probably that you could think of other things, but these are sort of general guides when you receive a prophetic word. I'm not saying you come to a meeting and you have a little list and you tick them off. It's just a guide. Is it positive? Does it edify, encourage, comfort, warn, etc.? Is it good to hear, basically? Can we sense the Holy Spirit as the initiator? Does the prophecy hold true to scripture or go against it? That's the big one, really, there, isn't it? Um does the prophecy glorify Jesus or enable us to glorify him? Is it manipulative or controlling? If you feel you've been given a prophecy and it feels you've all got to do with something or else, then it should be a question mark there, really. Do we know and trust the person bringing it? Do they have a good character and a prophetic track record? It's not a phrase I like the track record, but you can understand what I'm saying with that, can't you? Yeah. If a prophecy is for you, respond. That may not be possible immediately. So we need to cultivate a habit, as Marin was saying, of recording what God reveals to us. Sometimes prophecies from years ago can affect us each day. So it's good to revisit. Um we can take it away and pray about it or discuss it with trusted friends. Sometimes it's good to share a prophecy with other people. Let them know what you feel God said to you. Uh, 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. The 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, he or she has become vulnerable. I know I'm repeating this, but it's important. Especially for the first time. We shouldn't look for praise or adulation, but encouraging, it was really good that you stepped out, well done, can make a big difference between that person continuing to practice their gifting or not. 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 from God is He who's worthy of our praise, but we need to encourage and support anybody bringing prophecies. I'm going to close there. Um I was also thinking through actually praying for people who earnestly desire the gift of prophecy. Well, that I can do now or at the end. I'm looking around for a nod. Am I getting nods or not?

SPEAKER_03 35:19

Generally we do uh praying people over this side so people can still get their coffee and tea and stuff. Okay.

SPEAKER_05 35:27

But in before that, I've got a prophecy to bring, which I didn't try, obviously. A few months ago I spoke to you, Neil, and some other leaders about a picture I had of this body, I say body of people, uh, and I was thinking of an oak tree being strong, and then God corrected me and said, No, it's a sapling which I'm planting, which will grow far more quickly than any oak tree. Oak trees are mighty, they're strong, but God said, no, this is a sapling. This morning, when I was thinking that through, he showed me a picture of an orchard. So the Lord is saying, you are an orchard that I am planting, and an orchard will feed people. You as an orchard will feed people spiritually.

SPEAKER_00 36:20

And if someone wrote it down. So what am I doing now?

SPEAKER_05 36:26

Disappearing or what? Yeah. Lord, I thank you for this body of people. I thank you, Lord God, for your presence here, Lord God. Long may you be here, Lord God, by your mighty presence. I pray, Lord God, for your word to meet people in their hearts, Lord God, and to be declared for your glory. Amen.

SPEAKER_02 36:56

James said last week. James said, see coffee this way, prayer that way. I can't do it quite as well as he did it. Yeah, so just uh just one other thing.

SPEAKER_03 37:05

Thank you so much here, though. Excellent, lots of truth in there. So good to hear. And uh, yeah, we encourage people to step out of the project. It's a great thing that God's wanted to say to us. Yeah, he loves us so much that he wants to speak to us. If you start from that, then it just helps. He loves you, he wants to speak to you. Um, but it's great, honestly. So much in there, thank you for all your preparation and your time. And for coming straight from your hospital bed. Today is also a very special day because it is Emily and Jelly's 40th wedding anniversary. We have a huge cake over there for their wedding anniversary, so please come get tea coffee and cake. And there's also some gluten-free brownies, I'm told, as well, which is cake, gluten-free cake, chocolate cake. It's got chocolate in here. So that's all over here. If you would like prayer, then come over this side, and we've got a whole team of people that can pray for you. Particularly if you just want to step out in God and you're scared and you're thinking, I can't do it. God says, You can't, but I can. Alright? Bless you guys, so good. Let's uh let's have a tea and coffee and fellowship together.