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Characteristics of Apostolic People

16 Dec

God is raising up an apostolic people. This has already begun, my friend. Called out from purposeless religious observation, these ecclesiacs are coalescing around apostolic initiatives. Interestingly, one can find apostolic expression in varying cross-segments of the body of Christ. Apostolic expression cannot be limited to a certain ‘tribe” or movement in the body. The apostolic will arise anywhere hungry hearts are open to New Testament church government and supernatural empowerment.

Apostolic Alignment

Certain “tribes” or groups are already primed for this move. These have a New Testament government already in place (consisting of ordained elders, deacons, and five-fold offices). Other groups will have to swim upstream to taste of the new wine Heaven is pouring out. Certain denominational (and even non-denominational) church governments are aligned in direct opposition to Holy Spirit’s leading. New Testament-based reform will be necessary for such churches to experience the fulness of Apostolic ministry. Without that reform, soulish men and women will eventually oppose the emerging government of Spirit. Prophetically speaking, there will be a tidal wave of apostolic signs and wonders that will touch many traditional churches through new media and broadcast television. This flood of apostolic demonstration will stir up hunger in many churches that have had success in areas of soulish ministry. Soulish speaks of ministry that can be accomplished through natural means. Churches who operate soulishly are quite content to have service without the Holy Spirit. Once the apostolic ministry of supernatural signs and wonders knocks on their door, however, people will be stirred. Either they will choose to align with apostolic ministry, or to quench the move and return to church as usual.

Apostolic Adjustment

Among those already aligned with New Testament apostolic church government, there must be adjustment in the coming days. For many of us, the form is in place. The mindset, however, is a bit askew. Some presuppositions concerning the apostolic move have us facing a few degrees off course. Perhaps, if we picked up our biblical compass, we’d be surprised at the simple adjustments that would direct us to true north. Maybe our post-modern minds have deconstructed the office of the apostle, dismantling it beyond recognition. Homework: Let us regain a holistic understanding of apostolic ministry by revisiting the New Testament apostles in Acts and the subsequent epistles. My prior post: Characteristics of an Apostle is a great starting place.

Part of the tweaking needed, is to reconsider what it means to be an apostolic people. The tidal wave of apostolic signs and wonders will certainly produce supernatural demonstrations of the 1 Corinthians 12 power gifts of 1.) faith 2.) healing 3.) miracles. These, the church have become somewhat accustomed to in bygone periods of renewal and revival. These are the manifestations that attest to apostolic ministry (2 Corinthians 12:12). In the coming move, however, the people of that move will become signs and wonders, themselves. According to the Isaiah 8:18 account, “Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells in mount Zion.” Not only should we prepare to experience signs and wonders, we are to become the signs and wonders attesting the Lordship of our God and King.

We must expect that a true apostle will raise up apostolic people. Again, the word Apostle (apostolos) means: delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders. An apostle will raise up other “sent ones” or those he or she can send out.

“Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” John 20:21.

Apostolic people are sent ones. Where are they sent?

Jesus prayed in John 17:18, “As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” Expect to be dispatched, my friend. Apostolic ministry only begins in the four walls of the church! It reaches fulfillment when expressed in “secular” society. What happens inside the church, is but the seed for marketplace manifestation. Apostolic people should be demonstrating the Kingdom in businesses, schools, media, the health industry, government, entertainment, etc… “Out there” is where the apostolic ministry gains traction.

Before we get to societal and global demonstration of the Kingdom, there must be a change in ethos inside the four walls of the church. An apostle creates an apostolic environment or ethos, by preparing people for action.

The traditional church ethos is more contemplative. It’s more about the individual believer and their personal devotion to God as demonstrated by contemplation of the gospel. It’s a very private inward experience which leads to a more individual, private and exclusive expression of faith. This faith is defined by what one thinks or feels about God, and how one relates to God as an individual.

The apostolic church ethos is action-oriented. Rather than contemplating the good news, the apostolic church exhibits the good news through application of spiritual principles in the marketplace (outside the four walls of the church). As a result, the dividing wall between the sacred and secular life is torn down.

“The earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof!”  1 Corinthians 10:26.

Apostolically speaking, every “secular” job is a knot in the net for the reaping of the end-time draught. Therefore, an apostolic believer sees their job as a divine call – a place of ministry.

Apostolic people are geared to pursue more than the salvation of individuals. In addition to this, they seek to bring transformation to people, organizations and systems outside of the church-house. Friend, we are only as apostolic as we are activated outside the four walls of our churches.

Concerning apostolic people:

  1. The sum total of their Christian mission is not encapsulated in the services or programs within the four walls of the church.
  2. Faith language or kingdom talk is incorporated in their daily interactions at home, work and abroad.
  3. They are responsible for planting seminal ideas or thoughts that spawn change in the hearts of those they network with.
  4. They exist for the benefit of others, not at the expense of others. They are self-supporting financially, and even generators of wealth to help others.
  5. The goal of their mission is to bring people into the Kingdom by demonstrating the Kingdom’s superior fruit. It’s a “taste and see that the Lord is good” approach.
  6. Apostolic people bring the super to the natural. Some are concerned with the apostolic movement waxing “secular” in its emphasis. Rather it is an invasion of radical demonstrators of effectual Kingdom power into the secular world.

Are we there yet? Nope.
What hinders us from becoming the Apostolic people God has called us to be?

  1. Our unwillingness to take ministry beyond the four walls of the church. The sacred vs. secular life.
  2. The hierarchical view of apostolic ministry. Ruling eldership is only one aspect of apostleship. The office of an apostle is currently recognized mainly as a top-tier title of authority within established works, rather than a ministry commissioned for pioneering or for instigation.
  3. The comfort of contemplative Christianity. It’s easier to think about change, preach about it, write about it, than to affect it.
  4. Limited view of ministry. Ministry, to most, is a three-point sermon and an altar call. On a great day, we’ll pray for someone, or operate in a spiritual gift. Ministry in the marketplace will require more than this. We must grow into hearing God for divine business or governmental strategy. We must be healers of more than individuals. We must learn to heal companies, businesses, systems or even nations. We’re thinking too small.
  5. Unwillingness to send sent ones. We take the best and brightest among us, in the church, and anoint them for the pastorate. If they have a grace for leadership, we call them into five-fold ministry, when God might be raising them up to take another mountain. Who knows, but the next governor might be in your Sunday School, right now.  The next president of the school board could be in your youth group. We take the most articulate and well-received, and conscript them to pulpit ministry. What if their ministry is “secular” in application?
  6. We don’t realize the potential reward. We have faith for a Heavenly reward based on church attendance and volunteerism inside the church. The greatest potential for apostolic growth, in the here and now, is based on what we do “out there.”

In closing, Apostolic people are marked by the Apostles they are aligned with. They, too will exhibit the characteristics of the Apostolic ministry they submit to (as outlined in the “Apostle” acrostic of the prior post.)

A – Affiliate.

They will affiliate with other businesses, civic groups, public outreaches, etc… for the dissemination of Kingdom ideas.

P - Power.

Their words will carry power. Whenever they speak in matters of business or civic duty, authority will be conveyed.

O – Order.

Apostolic people will be sent into (employed) in places of darkness and chaos to bring the order and light of the Gospel.

S – Signs.

The greater works will be done by their hands. As proof of their heavenly call and backing, signs and wonders will manifest bringing them great favor and notoriety in their work.

T -Teachers

They will become apt teachers in their mountain of influence. People will gather to them to learn their higher ways of operating.

L – Leaders.

Leaders will be drawn to them, and raised up by them. They will install and train people who will reinforce Kingdom ideas in the marketplace.

E – Entrepreneur.

The genius of the Holy Spirit will birth new businesses and wealth generating ideas through them. They will not only make wealth, but become employers or stimulators of economies.

 
2 Comments

Posted by on December 16, 2011 in Kingdom Living

 

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Characteristics of an Apostle

14 Dec

As the year 2012 unfolds, you can expect to hear much on the topic of the ministry of the Apostle. The next couple of posts will be centered on the year 2012 and the governmental Apostolic word that Father is breathing. Friend, we have not heard all there is to hear on the office of the Apostle or on what it means to be an apostolic people. My ear is pressed close to Father’s heart for fresh vision in these areas – as I’m sure yours is, too.

Before pressing forward, we must be certain of foundational truths concerning the office of the apostle. May this article be somewhat of a refresher on the characteristics of that office. Of late, this title has been granted all too easily. Alarmingly, “apostle” has trended more secular in application – encompassing anyone who demonstrates governmental authority in realms outside the four walls of the church. Depending on which teacher you follow in the prophetic/apostolic community, you might define an apostle in any number of ways. As will be described in the coming posts, I hold to the idea that there is a definite office of apostle as described in the New Testament. That office is demonstrated scripturally within the organized church government. An apostle will raise up apostolic people who manifest apostolic qualities in every realm of life. These apostolic people will rise in governmental authority wherever Father sends them. Whether or not they are officiating “apostles” in the true biblical sense of the word will depend on certain criteria.

The title apostle comes from the Greek word (apostolos) meaning a delegate, messenger, or one sent forth with orders. An apostle is a pioneer, one who is destined to build in terra nova, or rebuild in places of desolation and ruin. Let us rehearse what we see apostles demonstrating in scripture in the following acrostic for the word APOSTLE.

A – Affiliated.

A true apostle will affiliate with other apostles and with other ministries within the church. The first twelve apostles remained affiliated after the birth of the church. In Acts 8, Philip the deacon held a successful revival in Samaria. The apostles in Jerusalem heard about it and sent both Peter and John to look in on the move. They discovered that Philip had not been praying for the new believers to be baptized in the Holy Spirit. As a team, they imparted what was lacking. Apostles confer with one another, and work together for the benefit and growth of the kingdom. Those who refuse to network are not demonstrating true apostolic behavior.

P – Power.

Paul wrote in 1 Cor 2:4, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” According to Strongs, this refers to the dynamis power of the Spirit of Jesus present in Paul’s preaching style. There is something dynamic about the preaching of an apostle – which reminds the listener of the authority of Christ.

O – Order.

An apostle creates order, in a fledgling work, or in an existing work that is dealing with a spirit of chaos. Ephesians 2:20, “Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” The spirit of wisdom and counsel that operates in the apostolic mantle creates order – which is foundational to building any lasting work.

S – Signs.

2 Corinthians 12:12 “The things that mark an apostle–signs, wonders and miracles–were done among you with great perseverance.” Perhaps, the most significant mark of an apostle is the ministry of signs that corroborates his or her office and kingdom mission. Many have assumed the title of apostle, but fail to consistently demonstrate the miraculous.

T – Teaching.

2 Corinthians 12:1 “I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord.” Apostles bring revelatory teaching to the body of Christ. The epistles are written chronicles of revelatory teaching which came through the first apostles. Such revelation is given to establish the Kingdom in places of darkness. The teaching of an apostle is the key to undoing specific enemy strongholds and to expand the borders of the church.

L – Leaders.

As builders and founders, apostles have an anointing to identify, mentor, and mature leaders. Acts 6:6, “They presented these men (who would become deacons) to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.” A large part of their ministry will be geared to instilling and developing leaders within the body of Christ to manage Father’s household. The true apostle will also mentor men and women leaders in the community as the Lord grants them great influence beyond the walls of the church.

E – Entrepreneurs.

The Apostle Paul was a tentmaker in Acts 18:3. He joined Acquila and Priscilla in Ephesus, and made tents alongside them for his own maintenance. (In other words, the ministry could not fully support him at that time. He had to financially rely on his secular trade.) Interestingly, this was not the only time Paul worked to support himself during his Apostolic ministry. We have record that Paul worked outside of the church to support himself and others as an apostle in Acts 20:34 and again in Thessalonica (2 Thessalonians 3:9-10). Apostles aren’t afraid of hard work, neither will they shy away from secular work, considering it “beneath them”. Because of the entrepreneurial anointing that resides in the apostolic mantle, often they will bless and mentor other businessmen and businesswomen.

We must be cautious before titling one as an apostle. A label cannot lend credence when it is cheaply given. More tragic than the misnomer, is the abuse of God’s people. Those who follow a misnomer will only become disillusioned and disheartened at the waste of their resources and time.

Although the call to the office can only come from The Apostle, and chief cornerstone – it will be easily recognized by these marks. We all, however, are called to be apostolic people – who will demonstrate great signs in the days ahead. More on that in the coming post ;)

 
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Posted by on December 14, 2011 in Kingdom Living

 

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Because I Said So

10 Dec

This week at the AM Cafe, I had the privilege of speaking with Joy Graetz of Queensland, Australia.  A pastor to pastors, Joy possesses keen intuition and a vertical view of the Body of Christ.  We spoke of the change of seasons, amid the grander change of eras.  The Modern Era and the Post-Modern Era have shook hands.  Behold the new day!

For a brief tutorial on the Post-Modern Age, read this from my daily blog Touch & Go.

Joy characterized the Modern Era (c. 1500-2000 A.D.) as the age of one-way conversation.  The new generation was told by the former what to believe and how to perform those beliefs.  When asked “Why?” by the younger generation, the prior would respond “Because I said so!”  

By great contrast, the Post-Modern Era, in Joy’s estimation, is the age of conversational instruction.  The new generation will no longer accept one-way instruction.

Rather than rue that fact, we can understand why.  Fifty years ago, the main flow of information came from the hardback textbook, morning newspaper, Time Magazine, the nightly news, radio, and the community gossip.  Our individual worlds were much smaller and more manageable.  If someone told us, “That’s just the way it is…”  we were disposed to accept it as the gospel truth.

Fast-forward. Thanks to the internet and new media, we are flooded with contradictory voices telling us fifty different reasons why “That’s not just the way it is!”  The unrelenting tide of information is eroding our solidified resolve.  True students of this new generation are begging for an enlightened conversation about the way it is  and why?  Bear in mind, ours will not be the only voice they hear on the matter.  As teachers and mentors in this day, we must have a firm grasp on the truth, with a view to all angles.

I’ve pastored youth for 14 years now, on the crest of this radical changeover in learning style.  When I first began, teens were satisfied to hear a 30-minute lecture on a biblical truth, with a corresponding game or activity to drive the point home.  We would close in prayer with minimal time for personal interaction.  Our youth services today, are drastically different.  We open with prayer and a snack to leave ample time for instruction and open-ended conversation.  Most times, our conversations outlast the service taking place in the main sanctuary, simply because the teens are enraptured with questions.  This is the kind of classroom setting I’ve always dreamed of having! But in order to helm such a setting, one must be prepared not to be offended at the questions on hand.

Jesus: The Ultimate Pre Post-Modern Teacher 

Believe it or not, scripture never records Jesus saying, “Because I said so!”  As the living Word, He could have insisted on His sovereign authority… but, He didn’t.  Jesus chose to begin a great discussion.  Jesus was the first to demonstrate a Q & A teaching model in scripture - historically known as Socratic Dialogue.   The purpose of this type of interactive conversation, was to lead the listener to the truth (ie. Nicodemus, Peter, etc…) Similarly, the Apostle Paul used dialogue to reason with the Athenian Greeks about the Unknown God in Acts 17.  The most effective teachers in the Word shared a two-way conversation with their would-be disciples.  Questions were not a threat to their authority, rather a means to arriving at the Truth.  Paul told the Thessalonians, “Question everything; keep what is good,” Thess. 5:21.

My point?  We can choose to be threatened by the shift in eras.  Odds are, if we’re used to teaching under the old order, the students of today and tomorrow will rub us the wrong way.  However, Holy Spirit is more than meet to make us fit for the day at hand.  I believe we are about to see a new breed of communicative, anointed and intuitive teachers emerge from the Body of Christ.   Some will call them Apostolic, others will call them marketplace mentors.  They will possess, however, the keys to unlock Kingdom truths within the seekers of this Post-Modern Era.

May I even predict a shift in Sunday morning ministry?  From among the old order will arise intuitive leaders who are willing to grant space for interaction in the sanctuary.  Revolutionary as this might sound, we could be the long-awaited truth-seeker-friendly church.

 
4 Comments

Posted by on December 10, 2010 in Awakening

 

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The Scales Will Fall

03 Nov

Acts 9 has been in my spirit for a couple of weeks.  This chapter is the account of the conversion of Saul the persecutor into Paul who would become an Apostle.  The phrase “and something like scales fell from his eyes” actually came up in my spirit during prayer one morning.  This led me to an unearthing of what really happened to Saul in Acts 9.

Saul, on the road to Damascus, was blinded by the intense brightness of the appearing of Jesus. I had always understood the blindness that ensued to be a “spiritual” infliction, since those who travelled along with Saul heard a voice but saw nothing.  God sent Ananias of Damascus to lay hands on Saul and restore his eyesight.  It is then that the scales fell from Saul’s eyes.  The Adam Clarke commentary describes those scales as a very literal effect of a supernatural encounter.  Here’s an excerpt:

This was real: he had been so dazzled with the brightness of the light that we may suppose the globe of the eye, and particularly the cornea, had suffered considerable injury. The structure of the cornea was doubtless much disturbed, and the whole of that humour would be rendered opaque, and incapable of permitting the rays of light to pass through the different humours to the retina, where all the images of things transmitted through the lenses, or humours, are distinctly painted. In the miraculous cure the membrane was restored to its primitive state, and the opaque matter separated from the cornea, in the form of thin laminae or scales. This being done, the light would have as free a passage as formerly, and the result would be distinct vision.

Clarke, Adam. “Commentary on Acts 9″. “The Adam Clarke Commentary”. <http://www.studylight.org/com/acc/view.cgi?book=ac&chapter=009>. 1832.  

Let it be said that supernatural encounters have a very real effect on us, spirit, soul and body.  The physical effects we sense when in the manifest presence of the Lord are not psychosomatic in nature.  We are spiritual beings with a physical body which helps us “sense” the world around us (both natural and supernatural).  I have a question for the skeptics among us.  Have you ever felt the presence of evil?  Did it send cold shivers down your spine? Have you ever felt the presence of love? Did it make you feel warm and safe? Of course! Then it is no stretch to believe that presence of our Heavenly Father can be sensed and felt as well.

What are the scales?

For days I’ve been asking Father, “What are the scales that are about to fall?” The fact that the body of Christ is suffering from spiritual blindness is no shocker. Our “prophetic voice” has been reduced to declaring that which has been and is now.  The nearsightedness of the church has caused us to lose sight of our future and our ability to forthtell.  Throughout biblical history, rebellious kings and governments had no use for the saints unless they needed a prophetic word for the future.  In the day of crisis the ruler would call for the prophet to declare the will of God for the future.  Beloved, the church has seemingly lost even this precious gift to spiritual blindness. 

The conversion account of Saul gives us understanding about the Church’s spiritual blindness.  Saul was a loyal Jew and servant of the God of the Old Covenant.  The Lord says to Ananias of Saul in Acts 9:15, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.” Saul was already of Father’s house, a chosen instrument.  His conversion was a result of an encounter with the Christ of the New Covenant. 

Blinded by Jesus, full of grace and truth, Saul could no longer see to participate in the tyranny of the law.  After three days of fasting, praying and repenting, Ananias prayed and restored Saul’s vision and commissioned him to the Jews, Gentiles and Kings (all of whom belong to Father).

Friend, I believe the blindness the church has endured is due in part to our unwillingness to acknowledge and honor the other parts of the family of God.  There still exists preference, prejudice, and in places persecution toward other camps or brands of Christianity.  Our blindness is Father’s attempt to bring us to repentance for our gross sin.

Here’s a quick litmus test for spiritual blindness.

1. Do we consider our own church better than others?

2. Do we feel God is moving only in our spiritual stream? 

3. Have we purposefully distanced ourselves from (or snubbed) those who disagree with our theology?

4. Do we discount those who do not operate in the same spiritual gifts as we?

5. Have we caricatured others as “dry,” “dead,” “cold,” “flaky,” “fruity,” “radical,” “not my type,” etc…? 

If we have answered yes to any of these questions, we are blinded to the greatness of others… the beauty of the Body of Christ and the splendor of His manifold presence in the earth.  If we are still trying to set ourselves apart from the pack, or distinguish ourselves from the rest of God’s family, we have failed the test. 

True vision comes only when we know our place among the brethren.  I long for alignment in the body.  I cry for it.  The scales are a result of the divide between the church of grace and law, the church of the natural and the supernatural.  Let us repent and allow the hands of Ananias be laid on our eyes for the restoration of sight and the Apostolic commissioning.  The scales will fall.

 
3 Comments

Posted by on November 3, 2009 in Kingdom Living

 

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Time for Spiritual Promotion

23 Sep

climbing stepsThe Lord is speaking much about the coming year 2010.  There has been a buzz in the prophetic community about the year 2012 being the year of the emerging government of God.  I fully believe this to be true.  The government we speak of is the fulness of the Apostolic and Prophetic voice that will lead God’s people during the outpouring of the latter rain.  The term Apostolic does not refer to a denomination, but the demonstration of the office of the Apostle and Prophet as recorded in Ephesians 4:11.  As the offices of the prophet and apostle align together, completing the restoration of the five-fold ministry gifts, great power will be released in the Body of Christ.  This will bring the family of God full circle to Ephesians 2:19-20 which declares, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”

Alliances Will Be Formed

Over the coming two years, critical alliances will be formed between ministries who desire to network and position for the end-time harvest.  The dry bones of Ezekiel 37:7 will surely join together.  “So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.” 

The Lord will bring tendons, flesh, muscle and skin over the remains of past moves of the Spirit.  This will be evident as we see the resurfacing of the mantles of many great men and women of the past.  They will be worn by a new generation after many years of dormancy.  You will hear some say, “Smith Wigglesworth once did that!”  “That reminds me of Kathryn Kuhlman, William Branham, A.A. Allen, Maria Etter, etc…”  What is most exciting, is the promise that God will breathe fresh wind into the lungs of this lifeless army.  The bones will live again, and will speak new revelation from the very breath of God!  Miracles signs and wonders will become common fare for believers in the days ahead as the Lord “puts his spirit in us.”

What about 2010?

I blogged earlier about The Year 5770which began during Rosh Hashanah two days ago.  This post is to augment the former which can be read by clicking on the link above.  The Lord began speaking to me right before the Jewish New Year to “prepare for promotion.”  This urging led me to seek out the definition of promotion.  This is what I found.

Definition of Promotion:

  1. To advance or further through encouragement
  2. To upgrade or elevate to a higher rank or position
  3. To advertise or make public
  4. To change a chess or checker pawn for a more valuable piece by moving it to the row closest to the opponent.

 

Promotion is coming to the saints in a number of ways.  It could be the encouragement of a mentor or strength of a friendship that is currently lacking in your life.  Perhaps you will transition into a place of greater influence.  For some, times of private fellowship with God have prepared you for advancement in public.  

Some with “religious” inclinations would think it prideful to want or anticipate promotion.  This is because we do not understand the reason promotion comes.  We read in Psalm 75:6-7 that promotion comes from Father, for Kingdom purposes.  “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.”  We are promoted for one reason only… to advance Father’s agenda. 

This leads me to the final definition of promotion: to be moved closer to an opponent.    There are times promotion seems like demotion.  As Joseph went to the pit, and then to prison, he was each time a step closer to his destiny.  The Apostle Paul’s promotion sent him to imprisonment on death row in Rome.  He would, however, eventually have the emperor of the known world as an audience before dying.  Promotion doesn’t always glitter, and is definitely rarely glamorous. It is guaranteed to bring us to a new level of warfare both internally and externally.

How to Position for Promotion

There are only two ways to position for promotion in scripture.  Wisdom and humility.  Now before you argue with me, think about it.  There are people who are good at what they do, faithful, steadfast and committed, but never seem to travel much further than the bottom or middle rungs.  Why?  It takes wisdom and/or humility to rise (and these are not mutually exclusive.)  

Promotion for the Young

Young people cannot advance without humility.  This principle is illustrated in 1 Peter 5:5-6.  “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”  Skill and charisma can exalt you only so far.  To soar, one needs humility.  Those older than you will not receive from you without that key character ingredient.

Promotion for the Seasoned

Seasoned people cannot advance without wisdom.  This principle is illustrated in Proverbs 4:7-8, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.”  As we mature, we are expected to know some things.  Wisdom and experience are invariably linked.  Supernaturally speaking, wisdom is learning to see things as God sees them…  “Big Picture” mentality.  When we have a hearing ear we can ask the question, “What’s really happening here?” and have the faith to hear and communicate the answer.

Let’s ask Father for the humility and wisdom necessary for the coming days.  Prepare to be positioned!

 
2 Comments

Posted by on September 23, 2009 in Prophetic Inklings

 

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