...........................................................................................................................................................
.
Helen Calder
What is a Prophetic Calling?
A prophetic calling
may be the call of God to a vocation, a particular achievement, or to work in
an area of passion.
Your prophetic
calling may be a God-breathed call to prophetic ministry.
‘Prophetic’ speaks
of Father’s intention for your life — the purpose and destiny that you are
created for.
‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.’ (Ephesians 2:10)
A prophetic calling does not mean that God has a rigid set of
plans that you must adhere to.
Your prophetic calling has ebbs and flows, like a river. It is a
journey; your personal walk with Jesus.
When it feels as
though you have missed the mark, or in a prolonged time of waiting for your
prophetic calling, God’s grace is there for you. You find that the Holy Spirit
has been at work all along.
Then, when least expected, you
enter a season of Divine acceleration and
God unfolds His prophetic calling for your life in ways beyond which you have
dreamed.
7 Ways to Prepare for Your Prophetic Calling
Do you feel called to prophetic
ministry?
Here are 7 ways to prepare for
your prophetic calling, inspired by those called to the ministry of a prophet
in the Bible:
1. Focus on Intimacy with God and Prayer
Anna was destined
to be a prophetic voice at Jesus’ birth. Leading up to this time, she spent
many years ministering as an intercessor at the Temple, fasting and praying. (Luke 2:36-38)
When the Prophet
Elijah suddenly stepped on to the stage (1 Kings 17:1) to address King
Ahab and announce drought, he already had a mature relationship with God, as
well as a strong, anointed prophetic authority.
He later took his
successor, Elisha, through prophetic apprenticeship.
Focus on your intimate
relationship with God, your prayer, Bible study and devotional life — in the
secret place, before anybody sees the result of it.
2. Serve Faithfully Where You Are
Deborah was a
prophetess who was called by God to ultimately be instrumental in delivering
Israel from twenty years of bondage to a cruel oppressor.
As a prophet, she
must have foreseen that day would come. And yet she spent years leading up to
that time faithfully serving as a judge to Israel, listening and settling
disputes, enduring decades of oppression. (Judges 4)
Serve faithfully in the
ministry you have, while waiting for God’s ultimate purpose and destiny to open
up for your life.
3. Stay on Track During the Hard Times
Wilderness periods
are a recurring Biblical theme, especially for those who have a significant call
of God upon their lives.
John the Baptist
spent a long time in the desert, preparing for the call on his life to be a
prophet who would prepare the way for Jesus. (Luke 3:2)
There are no shortcuts to a
prophetic calling.
Many times God calls us to
endure seasons of waiting and wondering, whilst He is at work behind the scenes
preparing our character, lining up people and circumstances for what is ahead.
4. Embrace Secular Work
Elisha was working
in his family’s business the day Elijah came by with his mantle and prophetic
calling.
Peter and John were
fishing — busy and successful in their family’s small business, when Jesus came
by and called them.
Daniel discovered
that his prophetic ministry was to be carried out in the marketplace. He had
the ear of Kings and was promoted to one of the highest places in the kingdom.
Family, business, government,
and education — all of these things are significant in God’s sight.
Do not assume that a calling to
prophetic ministry means that you will never work in secular employment.
Even when called to ministry as
a primary vocation, work wholeheartedly in your secular career until God
releases you to move on.
5. Honour Leaders — Even During Times of Trial
Elisha had Elijah
and the disciples had Jesus, but not all those who had a prophetic calling in
Scripture enjoyed the benefits of healthy leadership.
David continued to
serve Saul as a warrior and musician when mistrust and jealousy were operating
in Saul’s life.
When Saul was
pursuing David to kill him, David refused to kill Saul even when it appeared
God had granted him an opportunity.
His words were ‘But the Lord forbid that I
should lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed.’ (1 Samuel 26:11)
Samuel faithfully
served as a priest under Eli’s leadership, even though God’s hand of judgment
was against Eli for his weakness of character and allowing corruption in his
family and ministry.
Samuel waited for
God’s timing for his ministry as a prophet and national leader to emerge. (1 Samuel 3-4)
Keep a heart of honour towards
your leaders, even during the hard times and serve their vision faithfully.
Stay where God has planted you,
unless He has released you to move on. Make it your mission to finish well.
6. Be Planted in a Local Church
When we first meet Agabus, a prominent prophet in the New Testament, he is one of a ‘company of prophets’ in the Jerusalem Church. (Acts 11:27-28).
In spite of the powerful prophetic call on his life, he waited until church leaders confirmed the timing of that call before he launched out in his missionary calling. (Acts 13)
The context for prophetic ministry, and for the Christian life, is within the community of a local church.
Seek out and embrace the community of a church and flourish under the pastoral oversight God gives to you.
7. Move Past Your Comfort Zone
God challenged Jeremiah to speak in spite of his youthfulness
and timidity. “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know
how to speak; I am too young.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you
to and say whatever I command you.” (Jeremiah 1:6-7)
In order to grow into your
prophetic calling, you will face times of stretching again and again.
These are points of decision,
orchestrated by the Holy Spirit, in which you have the opportunity to follow
and obey God’s call upon your life.
Enliven Blog is authored by Helen Calder of Enliven
Ministries.
We are a prophetic ministry based in
Melbourne, Australia, in the David McCracken Ministries family.
Helen Calder began writing blog posts in
July 2009. Today, Enliven Blog is helping to empower, inspire and mentor
thousands of people globally.
The purpose of Enliven Blog is
to help prophetic people grow in their gifts of prophecy, discernment and
prayer.
No comments:
Post a Comment