As the Gospels open, something is stirring. There is something new taking place.
It has been four hundred years since the last Old Testament prophet spoke a message from God. But now, the Holy Spirit is breaking out. God is revealing what He is up to through unexpected vessels. Ordinary people are prophesying!
People just like you.
Luke highlights this prophetic outbreak in his account of the events leading up to, and immediately following, Jesus’ birth:
- Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit as Mary’s greeting reaches her ears, responds with a prophetic proclamation. (Luke 1:41-45)
- Her unborn baby—John the Baptist—leaps with joyful recognition in his mother’s womb. (Luke 1:44)
- The young Mary makes a powerful prophetic declaration in reply. (Luke 1:46-55)
- After John’s birth, his father Zechariah is filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesies. (Luke 2:67-69)
- When Jesus is presented at the temple Simeon, an elderly man whose only status is that he is righteous, devout, and led by the Spirit, prophesies over the child Jesus and his parents. (Luke 2:25-35) [1]
- An elderly woman, a prophet and intercessor called Anna, becomes an outspoken prophetic witness of Jesus after she encounters the child in the temple. (Luke 2:36-38)
It is a powerful emergence of a new, prophetic era. Young and old, men and women, are suddenly prophesying, declaring the Father’s intentions, and filled with the Holy Spirit.
‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.’ Acts 2:17-18
This is the era in which you live.
You can be led by the Holy Spirit—filled with Him, experiencing His joy.
You can be like one of these people who participated in the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. You can be a prophetic witness of Who Jesus is, and of your Father’s intentions.
As you take moments in your busy schedule leading up to Christmas and the close of this year, meditate on this. Consider it and wonder. Grasp this Heavenly truth.
- The advent of Jesus changed everything.
Now is the time to embrace the supernatural, prophetic life God has made available to you through His Holy Spirit.
Prayer
‘Father thank You for this annual reminder of Your greatest gift to me, the gift of Your Son Jesus. In the middle of the busyness, help me to find stillness and to walk and talk with you. May I hear Your quietest whispers; may I meditate on Your Word. Help me to be aware of others around me, of Your love for them and what You want to say or do in any given instant.
I choose to stir up Your prophetic gift in my life. Give me boldness in the moment of opportunity to share whatever is on Your heart. This Christmas season, fill me afresh with Your Spirit and Your joy. May I, like Mary, Zechariah, Elizabeth, Simeon and Anna, be a witness of Jesus, of all You have done, and all You intend to do.
In Jesus’ Name, amen.’
Notes:
[1] I love this statement from Faussets Bible Dictionary: “Christ’s advent brings to view some of His hidden ones, as Simeon and Anna, who, unknown to the world, were known to Him as yearning for Him.” http://www.bible-history.com/faussets/S/Simeon/
Related Post:
- Prophetic Insight: Receive that Gift and take it into your Next Season
- Praise: An Unexpected New Sound of Praise from Heaven (Hark the Herald Angels Sing…
© 2016 Helen Calder, Enliven Ministries Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching
In the David McCracken Ministries Family
Helen Calder is a prophetic minister and writer, and founder of Enliven Ministries. Helen has a unique gift of equipping in prophetic ministry and prayer. She is known for Enliven Blog (est. 2009), an online resource that reaches thousands of people globally.
Helen and Malcolm: I’m grateful to God for the ministry model that He has revealed to you! All that you have shared is totally encouraging and confirmation of what God has spoken to me! GOD is preparing a people to FULLY advance the Kingdom in the entire known Earth!!!
Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, let every word be established!!!!! Glory and Honor to our GREAT KING, JESUS the Christ!!!!! Thank you so very much!!!!!
Hi La Vetta,
what a blessing you are. I say amen and thank you!
I sinned with having sex with an hiv positive person. This is leading me to self conviction and I ask myself many questions. I know this might not be appropriet however I need the of knowledge and wisdom in my life- prophesy mam please.
Hi Themba,
I don’t give prophecies online, but do encourage you to embrace God’s forgiveness, do whatever needs to be done to get things right, and move on. His grace is abundant towards you.
Today, as I was departing my workplace, I was speaking to a brother about the atmosphere I’m sensing, how this time is so filled with streams of heavenly virtues flowing to the earth and how we can’t afford to be complacent now in prayers and preparations.
Shortly after that, another friend who is a sister while exchanging chats on whatsapp started rehearsing the same thing I’ve shared with the brother…Tho up till now, I’ve not told her about the witness she beared but I’m understanding this prophetic gift more.
May you in God continue to find strength.
I love how the holy Spirit brings confirmation like that, Samson, the same thing has happened to me today!
Hi Helen,
First, congratulations on this new journey you’re taking. I pray that in the tough and uncertain times you have peace in knowing that God is with you and he is working through you. He is doing a great work in your ministry and your obedience will cause doors to open as well as an excelled elevation. I pray his covering over you as you move forth in proclaiming the gospel.
I read your latest entry and wanted to respond by sharing what God is speaking to me about in this season. My last three dreams have been about me cooking. In the most recent dream, I was cooking and the person who was with me opened all of the windows in the house. The smell of the food I was cooking attracted a lion. I was upset that the windows had been opened because I felt this put me in harm’s way. To protect myself from the lion, I ran into a room and put a dresser against the door. I don’t believe that the lion actually got in, but when I woke up the Holy Spirit immediately reminded of this verse… 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walketh about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
I understood the dream as an indication that I am preparing something but it took a conversation with a great friend of mine to help me understand that our call as ministers/teachers/preachers is to feed the Lord’s sheep as he requested of Peter. In doing so, we will attract the attention of the lion (the devil). Though he doesn’t have a desire for food, he does have a veracious appetite for the people of God… seeking to kill, steal, and destroy and we must understand that this is the cross that we must bear.
Though I am a licensed minister, I have not been active in ministry for about 2 years now. I’ve recently felt God pressing me to get about my father’s business and get back where I belong, in ministry. This entire time outside of God’s will, I lacked peace, feeling lost and unfulfilled. The beauty in it all is that God didn’t allow me to go astray, He found me, that I might be restored back to the fold. Isn’t it amazing how He loves us? Because of his unfailing love, I have recommitted myself to Him deciding to pursue Him with everything that I have in me.
All that being said, God is communicating to me that it’s time for us to get up and do something. In fact I encourage anyone reading this to stop being stagnant and follow the move of the Holy Spirit. Join a church, join a ministry, and join us in spreading the good news. People of God, as Jesus told Peter “…if you love me, FEED MY SHEEP.” The harvest is plenty but the laborers are few. Though Satan may come against us, we know just how the story ends, We’re victorious!
Thank you for the prayer, Minister EN, gratefully received.
I love your testimony and your dream interpretation – that is all so very true.
I am reminded of this thought I shared on the blog a while back:
‘Obedience is not drudgery, duty or hardship. To obey is to live in the ‘now’ moment with Him, experiencing your Father’s pleasure in you and His favour upon your life.’
So I say yes, let us rise up with Him to do His will!
The lord is talking about hope. That you may think what u hv heard or seen from him is the greatest,he is saying that 2017 will blow ur mind away,as new,higher revelations will be given,greater blessings u will see and greater plans will he bring to you. Exceedingly abundantly above what we can think of. New greater plans and hoping for greater things. So,enlarge ur heart,to receive,be prepared that ye may not be overwelmed. 2017,a year of hope.
Amen! I love that His hope is abundant and overflowing…Reminds me of Rom 15:13 ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’
Helen,
On a journey right now with my gift of prophecy. Reading, listening to many whom I respect.. Seems God is filling me lately with the understanding that as I grow in the gift HE has given me, that I stay humble and grounded in HIS word. I am sure from all I am hearing and reading lately, this is so very important with any gift but especially with this one.
All I know is….I want to stay in HIS will and direction and not rush ahead. When it’s HIS timing HE will open doors whenever I am to walk thru. It is so very clear at this stage in my journey that God wants to get this message of humility deep in my soul. So, THAT is what I am hearing now.
Sandra
Resting in His timing is a great place to be, blessings full and overflowing upon you, Sandra!