This week we hear from guest speaker Shawna Boren about the gift of prophesy. Shawna talks about the importance of staying awake to the Spirit’s movements in our lives and how that will help us acting in the gift of prophesy.
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The Power of Words
• Shawna Boren
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The sermon for this week comes to us from guest speaker Shawna Boren. Shawna continues to teach us about the spiritual gifts in our short sermon series on that topic. This week’s focus is on the gift of prophesy. As we have discussed earlier in the sermon series, the importance to make space to listen to the Spirit in our lives is the first step in being able to move in the gifts. Too often in our busy world, our everyday tasks can get in the way of us being able to hear from the Holy Spirit.
The gift of prophesy centers around words and in particular requires an understanding about the power that words can have. Words can cause joy, fear, pain, healing, encouragement, and more. The Apostle Paul tells us about the gift of prophesy in 1 Cor. 12. It is important to recognize that for the Corinthian church to which Paul was writing the issue was not a lack of the gifts, but how the gifts were used. The Corinthians had been using the gifts for the sake of their individual uses, rather than used for the common good of all. The gifts in this church had been used to Lord over others or to bring attention to individuals. It is when we live in the Spirit that we will reflect the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the wholeness of our lives.
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophesy. The gift of prophesy is like many of the other charismatic gifts in that it can be a controversial one to discuss. Prophesy can be translated from the Greek as an inspired utterance. It is one way in which God speaks to his people. These Spirit inspired messages are given to encourage, inspire, and guide a community. These messages are delivered by the Holy Spirit in a number of different ways. Prophetic messages can be delivered by angelic messengers, an audible voice, an inner voice, a phrase impressed on the mind, through a bible verse or passage, in a vision or dream, or a sense of knowing.
Like the other gifts given to us by the Spirit, the individual should discern and pray over the message prior to responding. These prophetic messages should be given in a manner of humility. This humility should reflect kindness and understanding. The God who was faithful in delivering this message to us, will also be faithful in giving us a time, place, and way to deliver his message to an individual or body.
Hide Extended SummaryTopics: Controversial Issues, Holy Spirit, Spiritual Gifts
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Focus Scripture:
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1 Corinthians 1:4-7
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5 for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6 just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.
6 thoughts on “The Power of Words”
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"My almost-three-year-old asks every day if we can go to church. Thank you, Woodland Hills, and all the Heroes Gate volunteers for creating such a great environment for kids. My husband and I met at WH six years ago and now our son counts down the days until we get to go again. My heart could burst."
– Lindsey
Thank you Shawna for allowing God to use you in such a powerful way! I am always blessed when you speak!
Another excellent teaching from Shawna! Question: Are there any other teachers rising up from the Woodland Hills movement? We’d love to hear some of their teaching! Does anyone know where we can find that (assuming it’s happening) online?
Shawna’s message was really beautiful in that it emphasized the active and dynamic presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Believer, as well as drawing those yet to believe, towards Himself. One is reminded of what Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:8 –
“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The initial “Gift” of Eternal Life, is one where once the box has been opened, the Spirit keeps refilling the contents therein. How we handle and apply what then externalizes is a challenge that requires a blend of discipline and loving fellowship.
Acknowledging and encouraging the development of spiritual “gifts” in others is also requisite as we build the Body of Christ towards unity. In some ways, I think that
I Corinthians chapter twelve is just the tip of the iceberg, where so many amazing and often sublime gifts are distributed to believers subdividing those essential nine.
Knowledge, Wisdom and Healing can be manifested in a multitude productive and contextual ways. Some play music with an almost divine countenance that then brings healing to ones soul. Others plant tress and flowers and re-sculpt the earth, bringing back harmony and beauty to the landscape. Still others prepare meals for those who can’t, restoring their strength. These are good works but are also “gifts of love” that come welling up from within the heart to help build His Kingdom and reflect His Glory.
I’m sorry but I just couldn’t resist Gary Larson’s “Vacuum Cleaner Healing” –
freethoughtarizona.org/pages/farside.htm
Vince,
If you like Greg’s Kingdom Vision & WHC, then I’m sure you’ll dig Bruxy Cavey from “the Meeting House” –
http://www.themeetinghouse.com
Beautiful message. Though I know these things I don’t always follow as closely as I should. Thank you for convicting me to measure everything in my life by God’s love. The main purpose of the Holy Spirit is to help us to be more like Jesus and show his love to the world, Lord help me to follow closer and thanks again for that beautiful message.
Thanks Dave. I listen to, and really enjoy Bruxy as well. What i was meaning to ask is are there any up and coming teachers from Woodland Hills? I’m sure the discipleship going on there must be incredible, and i was thinking there must be some site or forum where these up and coming leaders are using their teaching gifts? Do you figure we’ll start seeing them on Sundays more when Greg is ministering out of town?
Vince,
“Vanessa Williams” and a few others have been working with WHC for a while, but in her case, I think she’s moved on to Graduate School (?) I’m pretty sure we’ll hear from her again though – She’s Awesome!
Because WHC essentially follows and encourages a “Home Church Model”, their discipleship endeavors are very diversified. I’ve personally met some incredibly knowledgable, loving and compassionate people there who reach out to the local and international community in a mirad of creative ways.