A couple of weeks ago, as I was sitting with a very good pastor friend for a coffee, he asked me a question I had never thought of. He said Craig what is the different between Godly Wisdom and Discernment?
These words came out of my mouth. Godly wisdom is that in the moment answer that comes straight from the Father, and discernment is connecting to the Father for an answer in the relationship.
This is a remarkable statement for the Body of Christ, and one worth exploring. I believe the number one thing needed at this moment in time is teaching, direction,impartation and equipping people with discernment.
Once I went to a church with a young man I had been mentoring and walking with for many years. An amazing humble man who had an incredible heart for God. Early that morning the Lord had revealed to me a word and a message for that church and laid on my heart the importance of it.
So we entered the church and took our seats. Just before the service I headed to the toilet on the way I passed a lady that the Lord ask me to encourage with a word from Him. I did, then returned to my seat, as I sat the Lord asked me to share a word/ message to the guy beside me.
Both got very excited that the Lord had taken the time to speak to them personally and with an answer to a question they both had been waiting on for some time .
At the conclusion on the service a lady came up to me and asked who I was. So I introduced myself. She asked me if had shared a message with a lady in the foyer? I said yes, and she told me in their church you don’t do this. She went on to explain in their church if you have a word for someone or one their members, you need to bring it to the leadership or Pastor. As they would then test the word and if they felt it was appropriate then they would pass it on to that person. I said ok, respecting their house rules and the lady I was speaking too. I said sorry I did not know that.
Then I asked what would I do with a word for the church? She said you could share that with me. Ok I said and shared it. She grew really excited, and started telling me I had to share this message with the leadership for it was an answer to a question all the leadership and church had been praying for. Then she dragged me to the leaders and pastor and asked me to share what I had told her.
As I sat with my friend later that day I said. My first thought was don’t leave the church for you will never find a church that does not have problems. They are full and run by people and let’s face it if we are honest, all people have problems me included.
But I said although this way of handling prophetic words or messages may work inside the four walls of the church. I cannot see how it could outside in the Community.
For example, say a person has a word for you while you’re at the local takeaways or at a cafe. Do you need to grab the person. get them to ring the pastor or take them to your pastor or elder?
Or what about if the word that had just been spoken to you from a friend, person or prophet, is a very personal word just between you and God?
Firstly you may not be ready for the leadership to know this part of your personal life. Or the leadership may think they know you and disregard the word when it is so needed and appropriate to the season you are in.
Now I understand that as a church, protecting their people from false prophets and prophecies, and wrong words of knowledge etc, is so important and should be.
But are we doing this at the expense of not seeing the people mature in Christ?
Would it be better to teach and equip the people with discernment?
What if we gave them the ability to take these words and messages to God Himself and ask Him what do I do with them now?
I believe the Leadership in the church has a role when it comes to prophetic words and messages.
The leadership role is to have their doors open to words/message brought to them, for confirmation,accountability and direction.
If done well, this role, will help mature our people in their faith and walk with God.
As it describes in Ephesians 4:12.
Ephesians 4:12 (TPT)
12 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.
I guess as a prophet, that seeing houses run with restrictions like this frustrate me. Because:
1. How is prophet in this environment meant to do his/ her role to equip the saints for ministry?(Ephesians 4)
2. If there was a prophet in this church how would they feel or their work, be recognised?
3. If they are not honouring the prophet. How can they receive their reward (Matthew 10:41) ?
4. If they are not recognising the importance of this role, then what about the others in the 5 fold ministry?
Hear my heart, I am not in any way judging or condemning this church, these people or the lady who spoke to me. For I don’t know their journey or story. And I have heard some amazing stories of this church and its vital role in their society.
In fact while writing this paper. One morning while attending a funeral for an incredible loving young lady. The Lord asked me to vow, declare and promise to lift up, champion, encourage, inspire, equip, elevate and slowly withdraw from the limelight so that His children will shine as leaders qualified, in and through Christ.Because they KNOW Whose & Who they are in the Father of the Heavens.
They are ones that are drawn by His voice in Godly wisdom and connect as One with Him in discernment.
You maybe wondering why He would do this at funeral. I believe that He was showing me the cost of taking up this burden, it would take dying to myself.
So with tears streaming down my face I vowed, declared and promised Him, I would do what He was asking me to do.
So I am up for this, are you? I am going to leave it here,and will continue with this discussion and subject in my next message.
Father thank You for what you have shown me. That it is available to all of us. Your voice and Your direction built in a firm foundation, in relationship with you. Amen.
Craig and Winnie Patten
Itinerate Pastors/ Apostolic Leaders
Encounter Ministries
