Posted on September 23, 2018 Posted By: HCCCategories: journey
Heartland Community Church
September 23 – 29, 2018
Growing Up: Prophet
By Debbie Kirk
The word prophet might bring to mind the theme song from the Twilight Zone or an old man with a white beard who carries a bit of dust with him as he enters the room. It might seem old fashioned or even spooky. I can identify with those thoughts, but have come to find they are far from the truth.
I now have a deep respect and reverence for the word. It carries with it a relationship with the Holy Spirit, the heart of God and the offering of Jesus. It is a precious gift, that the God of creation longs to spend time with us, our heads to his chest, lovingly sharing his heart.
Of all the ways he uses prophecy to build up the body and heal a broken world, intercessory prayer through worship might touch my soul the most. Fighting for those we love and those we carry a burden for by inserting their name into the song, declares his power and promises over their life even if they are miles away. The Holy Spirit is standing right there, singing along and fighting our battles in the secret places. It’s a beautiful overwhelm.
Then there are those times when you feel like God is telling you something, imprinting your heart in some way through what you’ve read, heard or seen, only to hear the same message from someone else, startling you with its impact. These could be words of prophecy spoken to you to encourage, comfort and build you up. Or you might feel as if God is showering you with words, pictures, dreams and ideas so fast you are having trouble collecting them in your bucket and that if you don’t pour them out into another person, you might burst. You might have the gift of prophecy.
All prophecy should point us to Jesus. God lets us in on the mystery by coming close and filling us with his Spirit. We need not be afraid, disbelieve or stay away. He couldn’t love us more and is inviting us in to something more beautiful than we could ever ask for or imagine.
Let’s steal away from the busyness for a while, open the bible, listen to worship music, walk out in creation and simply ask him what he would love to say to us, given the chance. I’m praying you are pleasantly surprised by what you hear.
Observe, Reflect, Apply: When have you felt encouraged, or unified with God or others? When have you felt a deep understanding about Jesus, or your faith? You might not have the gift of prophecy, but we can all hear God’s voice, feel his heartbeat and share what we hear with those around us, practicing the art of prophecy. You might be wondering if this is the gift you’ve been given, or you might know but not be certain of your next step. Is there someone you could ask to help you discern your next step? Would you pray and ask God to reveal his heart to you and be willing to share what you hear with that person?
CLICK HERE to learn more about all of the roles and choose an opportunity to explore them on our Growing Up page.
CLICK HERE to take the 10-15 minute five fold gift assessment.
{personal reflection and bible reading plan}
As you read the verses each day, make notes of questions you have about what you’re reading as well as answering the reflection questions below. Grab a friend or two to discuss what you are learning and what God is doing in your lives.
CLICK HERE for a brief video description of John 1-4 from our Discipleship Pastor, Seth Davidson.
Observe, Reflect, Apply: When Jesus said, “. . . tear down this Temple and I will raise it in three days . . .” he was speaking metaphorically. It took his disciples seeing him raised from the dead to understand and believe what he said. Where do you need more when hearing the word of God?
Observe, Reflect, Apply: Jesus taught those that thought they already knew the word. He taught them to think bigger than what they know, to focus on what God offers. How do you wrestle with, or ultimately reconcile that the word of God is the true way to heaven?
Observe, Reflect, Apply: This passage contains the most well known verse in the bible. Yet many are still unsure of the power of Jesus dying for our sins in their own lives. What does Jesus dying for your sins mean to you today? What questions remain for you? What might it look like to walk in the light of this truth, rather than in the darkness of our confusing world? Find some friends to discuss and proces these thoughts with.
Observe, Reflect, Apply: When John said a person can receive only what is given from heaven what did you think? How can Jesus become more in your life . . . become the center of your focus?
Observe, Reflect, Apply: Break down the story of the Samaritan woman and Jesus meeting at a well. What do you observe happening? How would you have felt if you were this woman? How do we see her respond to Jesus? How does Jesus respond to her? How can we respond to others–whose actions we may not understand–in the manner Jesus did?
Observe, Reflect, Apply: When Jesus said that he had food to eat that the disciples didn’t know about, he was speaking about doing the will of God. In what ways do you intentionally implement God’s will into your daily life?t What are you reluctant to do when asked by God? How will you move forward with doing that thing you’re reluctant about?
{community discussion questions}
We weren’t meant to experience the life of Jesus alone, so we encourage you to rally a few others to discuss what you are hearing, reading, and reflecting on together. Whether you are meeting as a Journey Community group, talking with a few friends throughout the week, or bringing up spiritual conversations around your table at home, feel free to use some of these questions as conversation starters on your journey.
Can you name a takeaway or challenge from the Sunday message?
How has that been relevant, challenging, or meaningful to your life this week?
What have you observed about God, Jesus, yourself, others, or God’s plan for you from these readings?
Where do you need a breakthrough from God this week?
Who do you need to share what you’re learning about God with?
{extra journey resources}
CLICK HERE to visit The Bible Project site and explore their super simple, super informative Bible videos (and other resources).
CLICK HERE to get the Read Scripture App, from our friends at The Bible Project.
CLICK HERE for more on how to use the observe-reflect-apply approach to getting the most out of your Bible reading.
The Bible App Get a free Bible for your phone, tablet, and computer. Experience the Bible anywhere, with options to highlight, save notes, and share what you are reading with others.
Bible Gateway Provides advanced Bible searching capabilities, which allow readers to find passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases, or scripture reference.
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