240 likes | 405 Views
Maturing in your Prophetic Gift Week 2. Perfect or Mature. Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
E N D
Perfect or Mature • Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: • Col 1:28 We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message. We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less.
Perfect or Mature • tel'-i-os • complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); completeness: - of full age (mature), perfect.
Complete or Mature • Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. • Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, says hello. What a trooper he has been! He's been tireless in his prayers for you, praying that you'll stand firm, mature and confident in everything God wants you to do.
Complete • play-ro'-o • to makereplete, that is, (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), - accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.
In order to be mature in your prophetic Gift You must seek revelation ofGod’s Mysteries, Dark Sayings, & Hidden Wisdom!
Matthew 13:10-11 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" And He answered and said to them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.”
Daniel 2:19-22 During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His.
Daniel 2:19-22 • He changes times and seasons; • He sets up kings and deposes them. • He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. • He reveals deep and hidden things; • He knows what lies in darkness, • and light dwells with Him.
As we mature in the Prophetic, we find that God is a God of Mysteries God does not always try to make His revelation easy to understand. He communicates in dreams and visions that we can’t figure out. He speaks in dark sayings. He has deep and hidden wisdom that the world cannot comprehend.
The Mysteries of God Not all prophetic deals with mysteries. Dreams & Visions from God are COMMON, but not all dreams & visions are MYSTERIES - In Matthew 1 & 2 - God communicates by DREAMS five times and each time gives clear and understandable direction. - Jesus spoke to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus by a VISION, but gave clear and understandable revelation.
The Mysteries of God But Sometimes God communicates in “coded” or symbolic form! • He showed Jeremiah a vision of good & bad figs. • He showed Zechariah a woman in a basket. • He showed Nebuchadnezzar a large statue. • He showed Peter a sheet with unclean animals. These are all symbols – not immediately understood They are MYSTERIES from God!
What is a Mystery? “The secret counsel of the king!” A Mystery is a truth that cannot be discerned by our physical senses. It can only be known by revelation from God. Several ways God reveals mysteries… • Dreams & Visions reveal God’s mysteries • Parables are mysteries - Mt. 13:11 • Tongues and Prophecies - I Cor. 13 & 14
Other Names for Mysteries Secret things of God Ps 25:14 - The SECRET OF THE LORD is for those who fear Him” 1 Cor 4:1 – We are “entrusted with the SECRET THINGS of God.” Hidden Wisdom 1 Cor 2:7-8 - We speak God's WISDOM in a mystery, the HIDDEN WISDOM… the WISDOM which none of the rulers of this age has understood! God has SECRET or HIDDEN Wisdom, available only to those who serve Him!
Other Names for Mysteries • Dark Sayings • A Dark Saying is NOT ominous or threatening. • A saying that, on the surface, gives no illumination. We are “in the dark about its true meaning.” • A riddle or parable. Meaning must be searched out. Often there is a key that unlocks it. • Num 12:7-8 - My servant Moses is faithful. I speak with him face to face, plainly, & not in dark sayings • Prov 1:5-6 - A wise man will hear & increase learning. To understand a proverb, & the interpretation; the words of the wise, & their dark sayings.
KEY: God Often Chooses to Communicate in a Way We Cannot Easily Understand! Dreams & Visions Prophetic Words Even in Scripture
Why Does God Speak in Mysteries? • To Conceal the Truth… • From those unwilling to believe. • Matt 13:11-13- The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them… • THIS IS WHY I speak to them in parables… Though hearing, they donot understand. • (Continuing to give revelation to those who resist will only increase their condemnation!)
2. To Conceal the Truth… From the Enemy.(Secret Counsels) 1 Cor 2:7-8 - We speak of God's secret wisdom… None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
3. To Bypass Defenses (2 Sam 12:1-7) Nathan to David: "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a large number of sheep but the poor man had only one little lamb. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.
4. To Set an Emotional Context(Feelings) “Don’t settle for ankle deep when you see others swimming.”
6. To Draw Us Closer to Him • When God shows us a mystery, He wants us to search out the answer. • God wants us to pray, to seek Him for understanding, to draw near to hear! • Reading a good mystery can hold our attention! • God wants to captivate us! His Promise… If we draw near, we WILL hear!
God reveals His secrets to those who seek Him! • Matt 13:11 - To you it has been grantedto know the mysteries of the kingdom… • James 1:5 - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God… & it will be given to him. • Daniel 2:22 - God gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He revealsdeep and hidden things!
Interpreting Mysteries 1. Seek the gifted Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar 2. Go to the Scriptures. (symbols) Mountain = authority, government Sea = Gentile nations/demonic powers 3. Look at past visions & dreams. Books helpful… but be careful! Some symbols common: “automobile” Some have different meanings: Leaven 4. MOST IMPORTANT: GO TO GOD! Dan 2: 17-19: Daniel & his friends prayed to God for the understanding of the mystery… During the night the mystery was revealed!