If there is one thing that is vitally important for us to grow and thrive, as followers of Christ. It would have to be discernment. As without it we can and will get tied up on struggles, battles, challenges and problems. That we were simply never meant to be apart of.
Without discernment we can end up living by examples of past experiences and encounters of the Lord.
Living only an experience based Gospel.
Where we are limited, by what we have experienced the Lord do.
Rather than the true and full Gospel.
Were Jesus clearly says “all things are possible by the Lord” (Matthew 19:26 (NKJV)) and the angel Gabriel says “with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37 (NKJV))
As all of the bible is in the Lord, But not all of the Lord is in the bible.
Without discernment we can miss out on a move of God, breakthroughs, His favour and His blessings.
Without discernment we will be limited, to how effective we can truly be, in helping others too.
Lastly without discernment, I believe we will not be able to live a life. Which is more abundant, as seen in John 10:10.
Many years ago my wife and I were staying with some friends. As I awoke one morning, The Lord gave me an incredible word for a local church. The word was very descriptive and He said important.
Now to me it did not necessarily mean a lot.
Which is often the case, when He gives a message, word or a direction to you, for someone else.
As it was a Sunday morning and I knew we were going to the church, that needed the word.
So I asked the Lord if He would provide. A way for me to pass the word on, to the one or ones it was for.
As I entered the church I needed to go to the toilet. So asked where it was, then headed there before the service started.
On the way I was passing a lady, when the Lord said would you please tell her this. Then He gave me a word for her. So I did what He asked me to do.
On returning to my seat the Lord said would you please tell the man next to you this . Then He gave me a word for him. So once again I did what He asked me to do. Both of these people were very thankful.
Then the service started with some great worship followed by a beautiful word.
At the end of the service, I stood up and a lady came over to me.
She said who are you ?
I explained who I was, then she said “Did you share a word with a lady in the foyer this morning”? .
I said “”yes”
Then she said “We don’t do that here”
This was an interesting response I thought.
She continued, “If you have a word for anyone in this church you need to bring it to the pastor or an elder. Then they will weigh the word and if it seems appropriate, they will then share it with the person”.
Not to disrespect the house, I said “ok”.
Then I said to the lady, “what would I do if I had a word for the church” ?
She said “you could share it with me”.
So I told her all the Lord had given me, that morning for the church.
She said “Oh my gosh” and got very excited.
She said “you need to share this with our pastor and leaders. As it is exactly what we have been praying for.”
So she rushed me over to the leaders and pastor.
Then I had the opportunity to share His message with them.
But I wondered where this thought and idea had come from ?
That all words needed to be weighed by the leadership or the pastor of this church. Then if they are seen as appropriate, they would then pass them onto the person.
What had happen in this church? For this rule to be put in place.
The problem I had with this rule, is that it may work ok in the church. But how could it be applied in the marketplace or everyday life.
As if you received a word at work, at sport or the local takeaway. What do you do with this person who is bringing the word to you.
As the Lord often will bring to us words, through different people, in many different locations and a variety of situations.
Do you ask them to ring the pastor ?
or
Do you put them in the car and take them to the pastor or one of the leaders?
What if the word for the person is vitally important in its timing or is a word that is distinctly different.
A word that the pastor or elders may not see as essential to deliver. Due to not knowing the full context of the persons current situation.
Maybe the person says Lord if you say or get someone to tell me,this one word I will do what you ask. ????
Say the word was ‘orange’ , when the pastor or elders receive the word ‘orange’. They could reject it,as to them it seems to have no real value.
Maybe the pastor or elders decide to pass a word to someone the following week in church, as they don’t realise how urgent the person requires it.
Lastly what if it’s a very personal word, something a person possibly does not want the leadership knowing.
Maybe something they are working on, which if it was taken out of context, could create a very difficult situation.
To me this rule which I am sure started out as a good idea. To stop something in the past from happening again in this church.
Could actually cause more problems in the future in a variety of ways.
The question in my mind was this.
Wouldn’t it be better to teach your people discernment ?
I do understand that some words especially when they are challenging or can lead to life changing decisions, do require confirmation. Which is where pastors, leaders or ones with prophetic understanding, are so important. So you can take words, dreams or directives, to them for wisdom or confirmation before making a decision.
But not every prophetic word is one of these.
Now let me tell you about another situation I have had, which is similar, but completely different.
Many years ago I went to a house in Auckland to pick up an external dvd writer for my laptop.
As I was speaking to the guy, I brought the writer from. He told me he had been a pastor for most of his life. He asked me if I was a pastor and I explained that the Lord had called me out to be a prophet.
He then ask me a most interesting question.
He said “many years ago we let prophets into the church, but they got out of hand. So we had to kick them all out of the church, what do you think or have to say about that “?
To be honest I said to him “I was not in the church at that time in history”.
Then the Lord spoke through me and said
“ Rather than kicking all the prophets out of the churches, wouldn’t it have been better to teach your people discernment ?
As the bible clearly says they have an important role within the 5 fold ministry, which the Lord has provided to support the church. Their calling is to nurture and prepare all the holy believers to do their own works of ministry, and as they do this they will enlarge and build up the body of Christ.
Ephesians 4:11-12 (TPT)
And he has appointed some with grace to be apostles, and some with grace to be prophets, and some with grace to be evangelists, and some with grace to be pastors, and some with grace to be teachers. And their calling is to nurture and prepare all the holy believers to do their own works of ministry, and as they do this they will enlarge and build up the body of Christ.
Both of these situations above show how over the years groups of people have possibly missed a key thing which the Lord has provided for all of us !
Something that I believe would have provided a much better solution.
In stead of putting rules on prophetic words or kicking out prophets from the church.
This key is teaching people discernment !
Over the next few weeks we are going to look at this key together.
My prayer is that this series will empower and equip us all. As followers of Christ to be more effective in life, also in our personal and collective ministries.
Lastly, that it will strengthen the church of Christ Globally.
Father I thank You for this incredible key you have awaiting for us all, called discernment.
Please help us all, to learn how to use this remarkable gift That You have given us for ourself, others and within the local church.
I ask as we navigate this topic and subject. That You will move powerfully and speak clearly, to each of us ! I ask this in Jesus name Amen.
For those of you, who want to place an offering at the alter or plant a finical seed in the fertile ground of the Lord. Maybe you could contribute in someway towards His House, we are currently building. To equip the saints for ministry, then release His word through them, in a variety of ways.
Below is a link to a secure website, so you can do this safely online.
https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=87bf3759-ef4a-4ae2-ac5d-902b82587e44
Or our bank account details for New Zealand memebers,
Encounter Centre – 03-0481-0007448-000
If you require a receipt for tax purposes please email to info@encounterministries.org.nz
Craig Patten
Founding Pastor/Prophet
Encounter Centre & Ministries