Finding Your Place Starts with 'Yes!' by Diane Lake

Missoula, MT

"...Yet who knows whether you have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14)

Knowing who you are in Christ has never been more important. When we have a firm sense of our place and purpose, God can use us more effectively as change agents in society.

Our spiritual identity includes knowing we are created intentionally in ways like gender, race, and ethnicity. It includes confidence about our inheritance and authority as children in God's Kingdom. And it brings understanding of how we fit into the Body of Christ regarding gifts and calling; as Believers, God deliberately designed us to function uniquely with gifts given according to His will (see Ps. 139; Rom. 8:14-17; Eph. 2:10; Heb. 2:4).

If you're new to this journey, it's good to start with a foundation of what it means to be sons of God and understanding the purpose of spiritual gifts. It's also important to connect with prophetic members in the Body of Christ. My own life was powerfully impacted when a prophetic mentor prayed and ministered over me concerning an aspect of my childhood that affected identity.

When I was born, my dad deeply longed for a boy. My spirit absorbed this, and until the Lord ministered to me in this area, I had no idea how much this had affected me. Unknowingly, I had grown up with a need to justify my existence, which manifested in ways like defensiveness and perfectionism. My life was transformed once I understood God made me exactly and deliberately as He intended!

God uses transformed people to transform society. In order to effectively minister God's heart to others – like to those confused about sexual and gender identity, for example – you must first be secure yourself.

Just as Esther was born at a particular time and place to bring deliverance for the Jews, you and I are born into an age of acceleration and harvest. Even as you're reading this, you can rest assured God has a place in His plans for you!

Saying "Yes"

You are not too young, too old, too damaged, or too late to be used of God. God does not need the best, the brightest, or even those who might seem the obvious choice – what He needs is people with a great big "yes" in their hearts.

David was an Old Testament example of someone God chose who appeared too young and not the obvious choice among Jesse's sons. He wasn't even God's first choice for king, but Saul's replacement! Of course David wasn't perfect, either, but what he did have was a tender heart and a zeal to follow hard after God.

In the New Testament, the parable of the great supper in Luke 14 also gives insight. Those first invited to participate in the great feast were unwilling and unyielded to the man's desire for them to come. In response, the man sent his servant out – not just once, but twice – to find those willing to say, "Yes."

Aligning with God's plans for you is important because your will is the one thing God can't change. I once heard the Lord say that theology is not always as important as we think it is – God can change your theology, but even that won't force you to say "Yes!"

A Sign

"...I will restore to you the years that the...locust has eaten." (Joel 2:25)

God once used an angel to show me that it wasn't too late for me. I've come so recently to Spirit-filled life and ministry that others my age have been in ministry for 30 years, and I'm just getting started.

At one point when I particularly doubted God's plans for me, the Lord spoke. First, He rebuked me for my unbelief, and then told me He was going to give me a sign that He was with me. I doubted even this! But what happened next still amazes me.

Several days later, I took my daughter to an appointment; it also happened to be my 48th birthday. Afterwards, we went to lunch at a favorite restaurant – one where you order your food and are given a number for your table.

Shortly after getting our food, my daughter got up to get some condiments we'd forgotten. Since our table had a view of the whole restaurant, I was surprised when a man I hadn't seen before approached our table. He pointed to the order number on our table (which I hadn't noticed was 48), smiled slightly, and said, "You're not 48, you're 28." Then he turned and left.

I was stunned. My mind raced – how had this stranger known it was my 48th birthday? My daughter hurried over and asked what he'd said. As I related his words, we both agreed that something prophetic had just happened.

Later that day, the Lord explained the message. He revealed that He'd sent a prophetic blessing – that the twenty or so missed and seemingly wasted years (when I had been ignorant of many spiritual truths and not pressing into His plans for me) would be restored to me. He promised to condense and compress the blessing of my destiny into the years I had left – that nothing would be missed!

I'm convinced the ordinary looking man in the restaurant was an angel. Not only had he not been present earlier, but our eyewitness accounts did not match. My daughter saw him approach the table from the opposite direction I did, and she said he disappeared, while I saw him exit out the door! God, indeed, had given me a sign.

If you feel you've missed out, ask the Lord to restore life and destiny to you. Each of us is at a different place in our spiritual journey, so what the Lord wants to show you will be different than me. But God is no respecter of persons. As you press into Him with a "yes" in your heart, His plans for you will unfold!

Diane Lake
Starfire Ministries
Email: info@starfireministries.org
Website: www.starfireministries.org

Understanding the Seer Aspect of the Prophetic Gift by Diane Lake

Missoula, MT

"I will stand my watch... to see what He will say to me..." Habakkuk 2:1

Simply expressed, prophecy can be defined as hearing the voice of God and speaking what He says. This gift is commonly experienced in two ways.

One is audial, meaning the one receiving the message hears words, which they then repeat/release. The other – the seer – is visual, meaning the receiver sees a message through some type of picture, which they then release. Generally, these pictures are either received while awake by means of visions, or while asleep through dreams. Many prophetic people will experience both aspects at various times, but they tend to have one that is more dominant or frequent.

In addition, there are two groups who practice the prophetic or seer anointing. Those in the first group exercise the gift of prophecy as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:10 for the purpose of edification, exhortation and comfort. Those in the second are those who prophesy within the position and office of a prophet.

Not everyone who prophesies is a prophet; however, Scripture reveals that we can all prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1, 31). This means that every Spirit-filled Believer – including you – can develop in the prophetic!

Varieties Of the Seer Gifting

Visual images or impressions: Sometimes when praying or prophesying over someone, the Holy Spirit will reveal an image. For example, I might see a Scripture written like a banner over someone's head, or get a mental picture that gives direction.

Dreams: Dreams enrich your life by giving encouragement, direction, insight for intercession, and revelation. I get much of my personal prophetic revelation through words rather than pictures, yet I also get many spiritual dreams and visions.

"For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction." Job 33:14-16

Visions: This category would include things like open visions, audible messages, angelic encounters, open heavens, trances, being caught up in the Spirit, and heavenly visitations.

Developing The Gift and Pursing Intimacy

"Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do, for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does..."John 5:19-20

Scripture does not reveal exactly how Jesus "saw all that His Father was doing," but we do know that He and His Father were one. My sense is that Jesus moved more by the Holy Spirit giving Him knowledge of what His Father was doing, but He may also have had dreams at night, as well as visions in times of contemplation or prayer, which gave Him specific direction. (Photo via Wikipedia)

Regardless, just as Jesus made time to be alone with His Father and spent time in prayer, so should we. The more intimate we become with God, the more we will be able to see what it is that He's doing. Make the Lord your focus, and prophetic revelation will follow!

Ask!

Once my life was transformed and I became Spirit-filled, I could not get enough of experiencing the Lord's presence and hearing His voice! I immediately began to cry out to Him to speak to me, especially at night.

Each night when I went to bed, I would ask the Lord to come to me in dreams, visions, angelic encounters, visitations or by transporting me to Heaven! (I still do this.) Scriptures such as Joel 2:28-29, Matthew 7:7-12 and Luke 18:1-8 reinforced my resolve to ask.

Growth And Maturity

"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries... but have not love, I am nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:2

For those who wish to increase in their prophetic and seer anointing, some practical guidelines for growth and maturity follow:

• Remember: the purpose of a word is to edify, encourage and build up. Words of a corrective nature should generally be spoken by someone who walks in the office of a prophet (versus the gift of prophecy) and between those who have relationship.

• Be wary of releasing negative words. Ask yourself, "Does what I am about to speak release the Father's heart and love for that person/group? Is the word redemptive in nature?" (Photo via flickr)

• Seek wisdom! Just because you sense/hear/see something does not mean it is supposed to be released. And timing is key – a word spoken out of season has limited, if any, anointing and can actually hinder what Holy Spirit is doing!

• Shortcomings you see in another might actually indicate something is your assignment. Recently, someone I had barely met asked if she could "pray with me" – then proceeded to tell me that in one area of ministry, I was "not doing it right."

When I sought the Lord, He reminded me of a principle I call "dust on top of the fridge". A mentor I once had was fairly laid-back about housekeeping. She used to say that if you came to her house and noticed the coating of dust on the top of her fridge, it was likely you were the one who was supposed to clean it!

If you'd like to see more clearly, let me speak this prayer over you: Just as the Lord blesses me with dreams, visions, and supernatural encounters – so I bless you!

Diane Lake
Starfire Ministries
Email: info@starfireministries.org
Website: www.starfireministries.org

The Key to Your Turnaround by Diane Lake

http://www.generals.org/articles/single/the-key-to-your-turnaround/

Prophetically, it is being declared that 2015 will bring divine reversals and turnaround in the midst of what may seem like a whirlwind year. According to the ACPE Word of the Lord for 2015, in the midst of the shakings and trials, worship is the key to seeing your release.

The worship of God is not narrowly defined anywhere in scripture. Many elements are indicated to be part of worship expressions, including praise, thanksgiving, musical instruments, singing, clapping, shouting, and dancing. In essence, worship embraces anything born out of our intimate relationship with God in which we enter His presence, giving Him reverence and honor in spirit and truth (see John 4:23, 24).

Since worship is key to releasing our turnaround in this season, it is important to understand several principles at the core of worship.

1. Worship is eternal and establishes the atmosphere of heaven.

Lucifer was the guardian of God’s throne and the one responsible for the atmosphere of worship continually surrounding it. Ever since being cast out of heaven, he seeks to deceive men and women into worshipping him rather than God.1 When tempted in the wilderness by Satan to worship him, Jesus responded “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve’” (Matt. 4:10).

We glimpse this eternal atmosphere of worship in Revelation 4:8-11. There we read of the four living creatures continually giving God honor and the twenty-four elders who incessantly fall down to worship before the throne.

Scriptures such as Psalm 22:3 emphasize that God’s throne is established in the atmosphere of praise offered by His people. Where God is worshiped, His presence dwells.

2. Continuous praise and worship precedes restoration and revival.

The most significant difference between the tabernacles of Moses and of David (eventually the temple) was that there was no veil separating the people from the Ark of the Covenant, which represented the presence of God. Within this structure, David instituted the continuous spiritual sacrifice of worshiping God through praise. The restoration of the tabernacle of David is associated with continuous praise and worship in the unhindered presence of God.2

Jesus reaffirms the model that worship happens first, then the kingdom is manifested on earth. We’re all familiar with the words:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name [worship].

Your kingdom come. Your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven [kingdom manifested]. (Matt. 6:9, 10)

As individuals, continuous worship is represented by an attitude of our hearts—meaning a lifestyle of worship. As modeled by the Lord’s Prayer, true worship will result in lives that demonstrate the reality of His kingdom.

3. The Lord looks for true worshipers.

David set an example for another principle of worship as well. Within the framework of the restoration of the tabernacle, he escorted the ark as it was brought to Jerusalem. There, David danced before the Lord in such an enthusiastic and uninhibited manner that it greatly distressed and embarrassed his wife.

His demonstration of freedom by expressing his heart of worship with such bold abandon embodies the spirit of true worship. Certainly David, who was identified as a man after God’s own heart and one who did all His will, can be said to have captured the essence of worship in spirit and in truth.3

Worship Can “Unlock” The Turnaround

Acts 16 contains the dramatic story of Paul and Silas praying and praising God in prison at midnight. Suddenly, there was an earthquake, and all the prison doors and prisoners’ chains were unlocked and opened!

And in 2 Chronicles 20, we read that three armies decided to attack God’s people under Jehoshaphat’s rule as king. Upon seeking the Lord, they were told that the battle was not theirs, but God’s. After worshiping and praising, the Lord set ambushes against their enemies and defeated them.

Worship is important because it’s like a tool in your hand. In Psalm 144:1, David praised and blessed the Lord for giving him victory over his enemies, saying, “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.” (See also Ps. 149:6; Isa. 42:13.)

While David fought physical armies who came against the nation of Israel, believers today fight against spiritual forces of darkness that come against those in God’s kingdom (Eph. 6:12).

As we utilize the tool of our worship, I am convinced we will see divine turnaround!

Some Thoughts for Application

1. Think creatively. Individual worship can be as creative and unique as you are. One of my favorite ways to worship is to sit down at the piano and play without sheet music. Quite often I hear a beautiful, simple melody in my head during my day, and I use that as a framework to worship. Dancing, singing, painting and playing instruments are just some of the possible ways you might be stirred to worship creatively.

2. Think simply. Worship needn’t be complicated. Some of my deepest worship springs from a place of unanswered questions. Recently, a member of my family was involved in a serious accident. Times like these prompt me to worship simply. We might not understand events or circumstances, but we can always know these things:

·      God is good,

·      He is faithful,

·      He always has our best interest in mind, and

·      He is worthy of our praise. (Rom. 8:31-39)

Scriptures for Further Study

1. See Isa. 14:12-17; Ezek. 28:11-19
2. See 1 Chron. 9:33, 15 & 16; Amos 9:11, 12; Acts 15:16, 17
3. See 2 Sam. 6:14-22; John 4:23, 24; Acts 13:22, 36, 15:16

The Life-Giving Expression of Spiritual Gifts by Diane Lake

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is… serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach… if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” (Rom. 12:6-8, NIV)

Before the Lord radically changed my life, there was a point when I was really struggling as a stay-at-home wife and mom—it took every ounce of my strength just to maintain my daily routine. Even simple chores like preparing meals for my family felt like a monumental challenge.

I remember receiving a phone call from the church we were attending during this time, asking if I would cook a meal for a family in the church who had just had a baby.

I feel sorry for the poor woman who was on the other end of the line! I launched into a discourse in which I elaborated on the fact that the mother had known she was having a baby for nine months, which should have been plenty of time for her to prepare meals in advance to put in the freezer. (I know, I know!) If anyone needed help with cooking, I informed her—it was me!

Of course, I was never asked to do anything similar in this church again! Aside from the oppression and hopelessness I lived in at the time, I also now know that my lowest rated gift is serving, and my second lowest is mercy/compassion. (You may have already guessed!)

Recurring requests of this nature fed an underlying current of frustration which factored into my unfortunate response. Thank the Lord, I’ve grown enough that I would never react that way now, but between the sorry state I was in at that time, plus building frustration, I had a bit of a meltdown.

I have come to understand that the things you are gifted to do bring you a sense of life, fulfillment and satisfaction. If you feel coerced, drained, or frustrated, you might need to re-evaluate the areas where you serve. Operating in your spiritual gifts should bring life—both to you and to others.

Spiritual Gifts 101

There are three main passages in scripture that outline spiritual gifts.

- Romans 12:6-8 lists the motivation gifts, which are “hard-wired” into us. You can begin to recognize these tendencies in others by what they gravitate towards, or what motivates them. Someone highly gifted in compassion, for example, might consistently champion the underdog, or be drawn to rescuing animals. An “exhorter” can’t help but encourage, and a “server” tends to be very good with their hands.

- I Corinthians 12:8-10 contains the manifestation gifts, which are the expression and activity of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of ministering to others. These gifts are realized after Spirit baptism and are best developed in a nurturing atmosphere that allows for instruction, activation and encouragement toward their maturity.

- Finally, Ephesians 4:11 lists the fivefold, or equipping gifts, which are meant to equip the body of Christ for unity and maturity. You might not know initially whether you have an equipping gift, as it is usually confirmed both by God and other believers over a period of time.

Freedom and Life

For thirty years as a believer, I did not receive any teaching on spiritual gifts. Then, shortly after becoming Spirit-filled, I took a spiritual gifts test through my new church, which gave me the first glimmer as to why I’d been frustrated in church life for so many years.1

Even though the information I’m conveying is basic in nature, it quite literally transformed my life. I found freedom from guilt for not serving in areas expected of me, and I more readily understood the motivations and tendencies of others.

The churches I’d previously attended offered few avenues for women to serve. Opportunities in areas more in line with my gifting (like teaching and the prophetic) simply did not exist—and to make matters worse, tasks I was pressured to do (such as food/hospitality and nursery) were done out of obligation or guilt, and I wound up feeling miserable.

Although we’re all called in some sense to serve, I can now recognize when something is not my assignment. There’s great freedom and wisdom in recognizing our God-given gifts and setting boundaries when assignments are not from the Lord.

Acquiring a basic understanding of spiritual gifts also gave me more insight into my personal relationships. For instance, I could never understand why my husband refused to state his preference when it came time to choose a restaurant. It may seem trivial, but it really irritated me when he would consistently insist that I choose.

Now I realize it wasn’t that he wasn’t engaged or didn’t care—it was that his extremely strong pastoral gift kicked in. It is genuinely more important to him that I’m happy than that his own preferences are met. He is “hard-wired” to nurture and put others first, to what can seem like the exclusion of his own desires.

Insights like these can improve relationships within families, church bodies, and workplaces, and, as an added bonus, they can free us from guilt. I used to think I was a bad mother because I didn’t like to cook—now I realize it’s related to how I’m gifted (or not gifted, in this case) to serve.

Of course I still cook and am actually fairly good at it! And I especially enjoy indulging my family on holidays and special occasions. But I no longer feel guilty that cooking’s not a priority in my life. While we ought to practice hospitality, I’ve learned to balance it with things better suited to my God-given strengths. (See Acts 6:1-4; Rom. 12:13.)

That’s what’s so special about the different gifts we have each been given—as we discover our own strengths and weaknesses, we can balance each other out. Whatever your gifts, remember that God gave them to you deliberately—not indiscriminately, and He intends them to bring great life both to you and those around you!

Endnote

[1] A simple Google search will reveal several options for spiritual gift tests, or ask your pastor or spiritual leader if they have evaluations available.

Diane Lake

Diane is a writer and minister ordained with Christian International Ministries. She and her husband, Allen, are co-founders of Starfire Ministries; they serve as Church Mountain and Montana Coordinators for the Reformation Prayer Network.