Catherine Brown: "AN ADVENT OF HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS--LET'S REACH OUT WITH A PROPHETIC MESSAGE OF LOVE"

December 20, 2006

Catherine Brown: "AN ADVENT OF HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS--LET'S REACH OUT WITH A PROPHETIC MESSAGE OF LOVE"

"As we worship Jesus with our lives, it creates an atmosphere for a powerful and often life-changing revelatory download from Heaven."

God is Speaking to His Children

We live in an advent of hope! With the coming of Christmas, our eyes are turned ever Heavenwards with expectation of the longed-for moment when our precious Messiah will return. Until He does, God speaks to His children in wonderful ways revealing His will and His Word to us and through us.

He does speak through many different ways:

Through Scripture, by inspiration of His Holy Spirit, through personal visitation from Christ, by ministering angels, in creation, or in dreams, visions, trances, riddles, signs, wonders, miracles, words of knowledge, wisdom, prophecy, discernment, or testimony. There can be no doubt that the Lord of Heaven and Earth wants His children to have first hand experience of the revelatory realm.

PAUL'S FIRST REVELATORY EXPERIENCE OF JESUS

St Paul's initial revelatory encounter was full of sights and sounds that both bewildered and amazed him and his traveling companions.

"On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. About noon, O king, (Agrippa) as I was on the road, I saw a light from Heaven brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.

We all fell face down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads." Acts 26:12-14 (Emphasis mine).

The Lord spoke to Paul in his mother's tongue, so that the message would be instantly and easily comprehended. As we embark on a prophetic journey, God is gracious to use language and descriptors that we can relate to on an individual basis within our ethnic, cultural, and personal understanding.

The dazed men's first reaction was to bow in reverent adoration and awe before God. This posture of the heart enabled Saul's ears to be opened to the Divine Messenger. It is no different for us today--as we worship Jesus with our lives, it creates an atmosphere for a powerful and often life-changing revelatory download from Heaven.

Paul then responded to the Lord by asking a question, "Who are you Lord?" Acts 26:15. His enquiry necessitated that he listen for the Divine response, after which Paul took action in obedience to God's instructions. It is essential that we cultivate the art of listening to the Voice of God to enable our deeds to be those that are God-inspired and led by the Spirit.

Jesus made Himself known to Paul, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and stand on your feet." Acts 26:15-16

The Lord laid out a clear lifestyle application for Paul's Kingdom calling--stating several foundational principles, which we too, can identify with as a prophetic people.

HUMILITY AND SERVANTHOOD

"I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant...." Acts 26:16

As sons of the living God, we are called to a lifestyle of humility and servanthood. As a prophetic community, our goal is to reveal God and His love.

EVANGELISM AND REVELATION

"...and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you." Acts 26:16

As prophetic citizens of Heaven, we have the glorious privilege of making known our relational and revelatory experience of Jesus, for what we have seen with our eyes, we value with our hearts. There is no higher calling than to share Jesus' life and love with others, and for them to experience eternal salvation and transformation. Jesus' next words to Paul confirm this evangelistic commission:

"I am sending you to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me." Acts 26:18

As a company of called-out prophetic folks, our hearts-cry must echo that of the ancient prayer Paul uttered for the Ephesians, namely, "...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened...." Ephesians 1:17-18

It is in receiving such wisdom and revelation, that we are enabled to know God more intimately. Prophesy flows from a personal encounter with Christ and from the Father-heart of God.

REVELATION AND TESTIMONY

Jesus made a beautiful statement of protection to Paul, "I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles." Acts 26:17

The nearness of Christ to Paul throughout his daily trials and tribulations, exemplifies the tremendous care the Lord executes over each and every one of His children's life destinies. When Paul was being persecuted, "The Lord stood near Paul and said, 'Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome!'" Acts 23:11

God still draws near to His suffering children, for He understands the fellowship of those who bear the mark of pain, having Himself bore our punishment, so that we might receive His peace, whether in seasons of blessing or times of hardship.

OBEDIENCE TO THE HEAVENLY VISION

"If God entrusts us with a Heavenly vision, we can trust Him to work out that vision in His perfect timing and unique way."

"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from Heaven." Acts 26:19

Paul obeyed the Heavenly vision that had been entrusted to him, believing in God for help and assistance each day. He preached, "First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." Acts 26:20

If God entrusts us with a Heavenly vision, we can trust Him to work out that vision in His perfect timing and unique way. The Lord will divinely orchestrate His plans. Our response to visions and to circumstances counts for so much in the economy of Heaven--God is looking for surrendered hearts to fill them up with a revelation of Himself and His dreams of salvation, and a blessed future for the nations.

MOTIVATION--GOD'S MERCY FOR ALL MANKIND

Paul was willing to, "...testify to small and great alike, saying nothing beyond what Moses and the prophets said would happen--that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim the light to His own people and to the Gentiles." Acts 26:22-23

God wants the poor and oppressed of the world to be given the opportunity to hear the Gospel, as much as He wants those who live in relative wealth and comfort to hear it too. Paul demonstrated his willingness to speak with all men in order that he might proclaim the Good News. God's mercy is the Great Equalizer of all mankind.

Paul longed for King Agrippa and his hearers to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The apostle used his revelatory and relational experience of Christ to preach with all his heart, believing for a harvest of souls. His preaching was intertwined with prophetic revelation. What a magnificent and joyful way to share the Good News!

"King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do. Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?' Paul replied, 'Short time or long--I pray that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.'" Acts 26:27-29

This Christmas, as you consider the coming of Christ, my prayer is that this teaching will be a tool to inspire and impart to you a deeper desire to reach out with a prophetic message of love to those who are not yet Christians.

Beloved, believe and receive by faith, the prophetic anointing to preach and reach the unsaved. Reveal your friendship with Jesus to all around you, and trust that He will align you and them with His perfect will. The Father will pour out His Spirit without measure, filling our hearts, mouths, and lives to overflowing with His perfect love.

Grace and peace to all the believers.

Your sister and friend,
 

Catherine Brown
Gatekeepers
www.gatekeepers.org.uk 
Email: admin@gatekeepers.org.uk
 

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