SATURDAY 16 October 2010  

At The GFM Prophetic Equipping Day in Featherston, New Zealand, on Saturday 16^th October we were reminded by our speakers, Ross Monk (Churton Park), Colin Goulton (Masterton), John Traill (Featherston) and Rodney Francis (Paraparaumu) of the importance of being full of ‘Holy Spirit’ and of speaking in ‘Tongues’, our heavenly language.

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.        ~ Acts 1: 8 (New King James Version).

First up from the lips of Ross Monk came the challenge that God doesn’t give power to people with no purpose. We need to have a change of mind ~ true repentance, for our apathy and weakness, in order to receive power from on high to complete God’s purpose of bringing in the harvest of souls to the Kingdom of God. We need to rid ourselves of ‘the old nature or man’ and stay in Jerusalem until we are empowered from on high. This is why in Acts the disciples waited in prayer ten days in the upper room. They were getting rid of their old man.

What does this mean in practical terms to me today? The heart and spirit are synonymous, this is my Jerusalem. I need to consciously stay ‘in the spirit’ not ‘the flesh’ and wait until God has filled my vessel to the brim and overflowing with His Holy Spirit of Power to witness.

Believers need to become shepherds for the lost people of the world. Pentecost should be a regular thing not just an event talked about in the past.

Colin Goulton reminded us that the Church has got into a valley, a dry place full of dry bones. We have had the Charismatic renewal but the Church missed its purpose of harvest because it looked inward. We need to be stirred up again, by prophesying and speaking in tongues. We need to be renewed and filled time and time again.

John Traill spoke that tongues prepares us to carry the fire within. We need to have the fire in us at all times and keep it burning, and yes, sometimes he said we will have to make sacrifices.

Rodney, our last speaker, clarified that ‘Dunamis’, ability or might, is the power that comes into us. We should be totally immersed. Dunamis lies dormant within us until we activate it. Rodney reminded us that the great apostle Paul had to discipline himself to keep focused (1 Corinthians 2:2). “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” is the focus of the Gospel.

To summarize, I want to quote from material written by a godly man called David Tait (Napier, NZ) of “Walking with Jesus Ministries”:

Both man and the church are developing from a MIND ORIENTATION (Reformation Church) adding an EMOTIONS ORIENTATION (Pentecostal/Charismatic Church) towards a SUBMISSION of WILL ORIENTATION (Mature Church)at the end of the age.

~ Ann Fyfe (Paraparaumu, NZ).

   .Prophetic Equipping  Day.

I had the pleasure of my Dad asking me if I wanted to go with him to learn about prophecy, since his friend, Rodney Francis, was taking the meeting . I thought it was a great chance to take, since it was a subject I could learn a lot about, and it would be a step into the unknown, so I was a bit apprehensive.

Dad and I travelled the two-hour trip to Auckland (March 13^th, 2010), and we listened in the first half to a couple of different speakers (who gave us clear and easy-to-understand steps to giving prophecy, and their testimonies of their experiences).

After lunch we did a practice exercise in prophesying in a meeting situation; then in a personal prophecy situation. And to show in a practical way, a person was picked out of the crowd and asked if they would mind if they were prophesied over. I was sitting near the back with my Dad, and that person was me who was asked if it was okay to prophesy over. I was surprised, but felt it was a privilege, so agreed to go up the front. I sat on a chair and people in the meeting could say a word of prophecy as they felt led.

The first thing that was said was…. “Do not be apprehensive, have confidence, don’t be afraid…” So God knew how I was feeling right from the start (HOW AMAZING!)… “forget the former things, He is beside me and  wants to support me with His strong right hand. He sees in me a treasure …. two Ruth’s…. one that knows she is precious and loved by God, and the other who puts herself down, and to be that Ruth who knows she is precious.” This was so true, because I always put myself down and because of hard words from others in the past, have felt like “a nothing” for a very long time.

“God created the highest mountains in the world and the deepest valleys; you have been walking along those deep valleys, very deep. He’s always been there with you, He has never left you, don’t be afraid; He’s going to lift you in your spirit up to the highest mountains.” This was such a relief to know, because I had been very depressed and had asked God to change my thinking from negative to positive since the negative was affecting every area of my life ~ and I knew as a Christian this is not how it should be.

“He’s going to give you eyes to see how Christ sees, and ears to hear how the Lord hears.” This was a privilege to know since I was tired of seeing the world through my selfish and carnal point of view; it was so narrow. I had been asking God to let me see how He sees, so I could help others and be a positive role model of Him.

“God says, you are really beautiful, and His princess, and to look in the mirror every day and say this.“ It was repeated again and again by different people. It was said so many times, until it sunk in, because I have been told in the past so many times the opposite, and since then, I am much more at peace in my own skin, which is such a treat. I have never felt so happy being me! Before I always used to feel not good enough…. Jesus set me free from feeling not good enough… How amazing!

“You’ve sat there and said, ‘God I can’t take any more,’ but God has a purpose and a plan for your life. He’s brought you through and kept your spirit sweet, and it’s because of Him that you’ve got a gentle soul.” This was “right on the button” since I had struggled in my situation, but God had always helped me to keep going and that He had a plan for my life. Wow! What a treat to know He cares for “little old me”!!! and that He has heard my cry for help every time.

“A picture of a massive explosion taking pace in your life. It was meant to bring harm and destruction into your life. Something that’s happened; the hole that the bomb normally leaves, the destruction, etc. Flowers grew up out of that and the fragrance travelled and lots of people smelt it, so that whatever happened in your  life, God is going to turn it around, and it will minister to many people.“ A hard marriage has been my path, but in it all, God has kept me from getting bitter and to depend on Him through the hard times even more …. So anyone in that situation, if you just talk to God and tell Him about how you feel, He always hears and He always give strength to carry on, and to turn what should be a bad situation into a good one ...

“The Lord wants you to be comforted be these words. He’s seen your tears like a pent-up well within you; they won’t be going to waste. There’s a pipe coming from that well, that’s going to water many others, and make them fruitful. It will be a life-giving well that flows from your tears.” I have cried many tears so many times to God when I’ve been down, so this is a blessing to hear. And, also, whenever I feel God’s presence, I also cry and I now know, since that prophecy, that those tears are just Jesus “leaking” out from me, which is such a privilege to experience. I had previously been fighting in myself to be not ashamed of those tears (for fear of what others might think of me), but now I am so proud to be overflowing with God’s love, and now I have such confidence in Him, I am always bursting to share His love to anyone who will listen. What a total turn-around from the scared, timid person I was before, PRAISE THE LORD! He is my strength.

Isaiah 40:29 ~ “He gives power to the  faint  and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength, even youths shall faint and be weary and young men shall feebly stumble and fall exhausted , but those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for and hope in Him) shall change and renew their strength and power, they shall lift their wings and mount up as eagles they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.’’ This is just how God has renewed me…. He never fails ……. EVER!

“Joy of the Lord in you, use you to bring joy to many lives. He’s not interested in your past; He’s so interested in your future. Look ahead; do not look back; Go for God!” He has replaced my sorrow with absolute joy, a joy that I can’t contain - which is such a turn-around from before.

“In faith been trying to get each key, in a bunch of keys, into a lock …. Got lots of them in, still a few more to fit, God’s going to show you which key goes in which lock,  for gifts God has for you to open a new door, a new day for you.“ Since then I have been much more at peace about what the future holds, not stressing or worrying about tomorrow, but totally at rest and confident that whatever happens He has it covered, and He knows and sees it all …  How wonderful to be this secure, to be at rest in Him.

“Through something, out of something, into something. Right now healing of emotions, bringing you through and giving you a gift of identification whereby you will identify clearly other people who have been through what you have been through, you’ll be able to wrap your arms around them, and through your love and understanding God will make them whole again …. People coming out of swamps…. those who have been bogged down, pulled out, being drawn to put their feet on firm ground on God’s word “

Since this prophecy day, I have been healed emotionally, I feel as though I am above the situation, even though I am still in the situation.... I have such Hope, Joy, Peace, Rest. I am overflowing with Jesus love, confidence and strength in Him. I feel a power and burning desire to tell anyone I meet about Jesus like never before. TO HIM BE THE GLORY, HONOUR, MAJESTY, PRAISE AND POWER! ~ Ruth (Whangarei, New Zealand).

  .Prophetic Training Day.

I just wanted to say a big thank you for your faithfulness in delivering The GFM Prophetic Training Days in Auckland this year.  I have tried to attend whenever I am free and have really enjoyed the teaching, which has really helped me to be more confident in my walk, and also in leading others.  I am a Home Group Leader of about 15 women in the South Auckland area.  Many of the women I lead are new Christians who have been deeply wounded in their lives and have come from very hurting backgrounds.  Two weeks ago I held a ministry night with them and taught them on the foundations of the prophetic, which was information I had learnt from attending the Saturday Equipping Days.  We broke into smaller groups and put the teaching into practice.  As a result, many of these women were encouraged in life-changing ways, particularly those who have low self- confidence.  Having God speak to them through another person really broke some of their old mindsets and negative words that had been spoken over many of their lives.  It also provided direction for many and they were so grateful.

I thank God for your Ministry, as attending the Saturday Sessions has given me confidence to teach other women, which has really stirred an interest in the prophetic for them to learn more and also edify others. God bless, and be encouraged ~ Rachel Enosa-Saseve (Auckland, NZ).

21/10/2010