於2011-04-12發佈
誠如我們先前所談過的,年輕的先知性職事常常感到混淆,因為他們不瞭解許多他們感受的事情並不是他們的問題,他們不過是感受到其他人的問題。舉例來說,我們可能進入一間店,突然間開始感到情慾,不成熟的便開始為此悔改,其實他們感受到的可能是附近人士的問題,或是某個進入這家店的東西,或是店中的狀況。我們不需要為此悔改,但主給予我們此知識是為要協助某人得自由,或將『地獄之門』暴露出來。這通常是分辨恩賜運行的方式,我們需要成熟度才能區別到底什麼是出於自己的內心,什麼是從外在環境所領受的。

這引導我們對屬靈啟示的重要認識,要正確處理啟示基本上有三大要素。第一是得著啟示;第二是正確詮釋啟示;第三則是應用啟示。在上述的景況中,一旦我們瞭解自己所分辨的是情慾的靈,並不是我們個人的問題,下一步就要得著詮釋。這靈是來自個人還是店家?為此我們必須詢問主,讓祂將我們引至正確的結論。 

倘若祂向我們顯示此問題是來自附近人士,我們要如何回應呢?那是應用上的問題,可能有許多解答。你可能不會想走向那人,告訴對方有情慾的靈。你可以開始為他們禱告,或許你知道可以幫助他們的書籍或教導,你可能會帶他們去喝咖啡,溫柔地將談話內容帶到你如何在這問題上得幫助,而不是告訴他們你知道有關他們的問題。我們的目標絕不是為要秀自己的先知性恩賜,而是要幫助神的子民,根據加拉太書六章1節的教導,盡可能的溫柔。 

我幾乎去到每一個城市或教會都會感受到他們正面對的事情,有時我會有非常清楚、高層級的啟示,但我很少會告訴他們,除非我很清楚知道這樣做是對的。我詢問主該如何提出來,總是謹記在心我所服事的對象是祂的新婦,總是以最大的敬重來對待王的新婦─王后。關於要如何提出我所看到的問題,我通常給予的答案是用我的教導來面質問題,因為真理能使人得自由,神的光能趕除黑暗。

在我對會眾顯露問題之前,我會先和領袖階層談論,他們通常會要我告訴會眾我是如何領受啟示,但既然他們是這些會眾的牧者,我會讓他們來呼召。我學到好果子是不會來自違反基本屬靈原則的,這即是何以聖經清楚警告我們不要這樣做。

要別人為自己的先知性啟示充電通常是不成熟的,這可能會造成許多問題,也成為教會裡有許多人仍對先知性事工猶豫的原因之一。先知性成熟的主要步驟,在於超越想要展示或證明我們先知性恩賜的需要。   

一個先知性恩典的極佳例子,是主如此溫和地啟示祂對井邊婦人的方式,祂可以在她走過來時,不加思索地告訴她有五個丈夫並活在罪中。取而代之,祂在對話中溫柔地引導她,然後再讓她知道祂知道她的景況。結果是全城的人聽聞祂,出來與祂有個人的經歷。

當我們尚年輕,才剛開始得著啟示,有時很難承受。不成熟具先知性的人往往會表現出不成熟,我們也需要給他們恩典。倘若你想要一個成熟的先知性事工,你就必須與他們同工,幫助他們成熟,有時可能會弄得一團亂。即便如此,這永遠都是值得的,若沒有比現在更大的先知性啟示,我們很難度過要來的時候。先知性啟示不單是給先知,它更是給整個基督身體。

(摘自 喬納 word for the week, Week 13, 2011)

The Prophetic Burden, Part 6
Week 13, 2011

As we have covered in part, young prophetic ministries often become confused because they do not understand that many things they feel are not their own problems, but they are picking up on other people’s problems. For example, you might go into a store and suddenly start feeling lust. The immature often start repenting for this when what they are feeling may be the problem of a person nearby, or even something that is gaining entry into the store, or being imparted at the store. We do not need to repent of this, but we are being given this knowledge to help set someone free or to expose a “gate of hell.” This is often how the gift of discernment works, and it takes maturity to distinguish what really is in our own heart or what we are picking up on that is outside of us.

This leads us to an important understanding about prophetic revelation. There are basically three aspects to properly handling revelation. The first is to get the revelation. The second is to interpret it correctly, and then the third is the application. 

In the situation above, once we understand that we are discerning a spirit of lust and that it is not a personal problem, the next step is to get the interpretation. Is this coming from a person, or is it the store? For this we must inquire of the Lord and let Him lead us to the right conclusion.

Then let’s say that in this case He shows us that this is a problem with a specific person nearby. What do we do with that knowledge? That is the application, and there can be many answers to this. You probably do not want to walk up to that person and tell them they have a spirit of lust. The answer for now may be just to start praying for them. You may know about a book or teaching that could help them. You might want to take them out for coffee and gently lead the conversation into how you have been helped with this problem, not telling them that you know about their problem. Our goal never should be to show off our prophetic gifts, but rather to help God’s people, and according to Galatians 6:1, do it as gently as possible.

I almost never go to cities or churches without picking up on things they’re dealing with. Sometimes I come with very clear and high-level revelation, but I rarely tell them unless I get a clear indication that this is the right thing to do. I ask the Lord how I should address it, always keeping in mind that this is His bride I’m ministering to, and you always treat the King’s bride, the queen, with the utmost respect. The answer I am usually given for how to address issues I may see is for me to direct my teachings to confront problems because it is the truth that sets people free and light that casts out the darkness.

Before I would ever disclose a problem to the congregation, I would take it to the leadership. Often they want me to tell the congregation how I received the revelation, but since they are the shepherds responsible, I let them make this call. I have learned that good fruit almost never comes from violating basic spiritual protocol, which is why we have very clear biblical warnings not to do this.

It is usually immaturity that compels one to charge out with their prophetic revelation. This can cause many problems, being one of the reasons why so many in the church are still hesitant to receive prophetic ministries. One of the primary steps to prophetic maturity is to get beyond the need of demonstrating or trying to prove our prophetic gifts.

One of the great examples of prophetic grace is the way that the Lord so gently used His revelation of the woman at the well. He could have just blurted out to her as she walked up that she had had five husbands and was at that time living in sin. Instead, He gently led her in the conversation and then let her know that He knew about her condition. The result was a city learning about Him and them coming out to have their own experience with Him.

When we’re young and just beginning to get revelation, it is hard to contain it at times. Immature prophetic people will be immature, and we need to give them grace, too. If you want a mature prophetic ministry, you will have to work with them to help them mature, and that can be messy at times. Even so, it will always be worth it. In the times that are now unfolding, we simply will not make it without much greater prophetic revelation than what we are walking in at this time. This prophetic revelation is not just for the prophets, but it is for the whole body of Christ.