Designed For Fulfillment

Based on the teachings of Arthur Burk, Charles R Wale has put together an amazing manual that will give you an in-depth understanding of the redemptive gifts described in Roman 12:6-8. Each one of us has been fashioned by God for a wondrous purpose in the Earth, but if we dont understand our redemptive design, we will never fully fulfill the purpose for which He created us. Through this teaching you will not only come to understand your redemptive gifting, but you will begin to see the gifting of others and how we can fit together within the Body for His Glory.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Arthur Burk
Preface
Introduction
Brief Overview of the Redemptive Gifts
In-depth Study
Definition of Terms and Concepts
Prophet
Servant
Teacher
Exhorter
Giver
Ruler
Mercy
The Bigger Picture
The Redemptive Gifts at a Glance
Redemptive Gifts of Cities, States, and Nations
Conclusion

About the Author

Charles R Wale Jr has been studying and teaching the redemptive gifts for many years. He finds great fulfillment watching others understand their God-given design and watching them be set free to be who they were designed to be. He is passionate about passing down transformational truth to the next generation. Chucks greatest joy is having his friends and family around him, sharing their thoughts, dreams, and hopes. Chuck lives in Mississippi with his wife, Debbie.

ORDER YOUR COPY BY CLICKING HERE

Do Not Panic

Will You Waste Time Being Fearful Today!

The next moment is as much beyond our grasp, and as much in God’s care, as that a hundred years away.
Care for the next minute is just as foolish as care for a day in the next thousand years.
In neither can we do anything, in both God is doing everything.
                                                                             –C.S. Lewis

Biblical Immersion and the Transformation of a Worldview.

I have been fascinated as I have traveled on this journey with Jesus at how very much He has changed my world view. Beginning that day when He reached out to me and rescued me from the mire and dust to see how many false things I believed about the world around me, the nature of people, their and abilities, as well as, the spirit realm.

I experienced something as a young believer who was passionate about following Jesus that changed the way I saw and experienced the world around me and within me. Today we would call what happened to me a Biblical immersion (immerse: reflexive verb to become completely occupied with something, giving all your time, energy, or concentration to it). Every day for months I immersed myself in the Word of God reading the Bible and praying for hours about what I had read everyday. This total immersion not only illuminated (transitive and intransitive verb to provide somebody with knowledge or with intellectual or spiritual enlightenment) me but challenged everything I believed, everything I understood and the way I interacted with the world and everyone in it. Every thought, action and belief came under the conviction and illumination of the Holy Spirit. I spent many and hour repenting and grew in grace and truth. This process did not stop but has has continued for many years now and I have come to understand that my World view has continuously been changed and molded as I have submitted myself, my experiences and beliefs to God.

Another significant part of my transformation was the Christ like love and wisdom of my first pastor, his wife and the church they led. Pastor Jim and Julie Maley and the people of what is now the Pueblo Christian Center taught me by example what the Good News of Jesus looked like in everyday life.
My journey as a believer has also been shaped by others in the Kingdom of God who have written books which are important in adding to or understanding of what we are a part of and just how our World-view impacts our usefulness to God. One of the many books that have impacted me is below.
This book opened my eyes to the area of World-view many years ago and is still around, now in its 4th addition. James Sire's "The Universe Next Door" is a wonderful resource and should be mandatory reading for all Christians who interact with anyone who was not been raised in the Church. Sub titled 'A Basic World-view Catalog' the reader of this book is treated to insights, such as how the Church's weakened Spiritual state led to the rise of false religions and a dependency on science as the underpinning of mankind's belief systems.
If you want to know more go to the IVP web site http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=2780 or the Equippers Tool Box @ http://equipperstoolbox.blogspot.com/

The primary reason for mentioning this book is the comparison of the transformational results and power of a Biblical immersion in the Word and Spirit of God and the contrasting de-transformational results of a life which is not filled with the truth and power of God.
When Jesus came he spent three plus years proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Many could not or would not allow their world-view to be changed by the truth and power He proclaimed through a life that did the will of the Father and that was empowered by the Holy Spirit.

 One of the most fascinating Biblical accounts of Jesus' impact on people is the account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
Lk 24:13-18

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a
village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were
talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they
talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and
walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things
that have happened there in these days?" They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
19 "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a
prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The
chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and
they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to
redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took
place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb
early this morning 23 but didn't find his body. They came and told us that
they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our
companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." 25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it
is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it
and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each
other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the
road and opened the Scriptures to us?"
Their hearts burned within them! The fire of God not only illuminates it also burns away the impure and all that is not of God.
Will you allow God to immerse you in His Word and Spirit, allowing His Spirit to illuminate and burn away all that is not of Him?Your World View will Change to His World View even as Moses' was changed when he spent 40 days and nights in the presence of God!
The light of His glory will not fade, but it will transform us as we immerse ourselves in His Word and Spirit continuously!

Experiencing the Presence of God:

I am relishing the deep truths unveiled in this study of the book of Hebrews. 
Experiencing the Presence of God: Teachings From the Book of Hebrews by A W Tozer

Deep in the soul of every person on earth is a longing for the presence of God. The heart of every human being strives toward God, but only the redeemed can overcome the great barriers between God and man. For the greatest barrier of all is the conflict between man’s desire for God and his sinful desire to please himself. Experiencing the Presence of God is a never-before-published collection of teachings on the Book of Hebrews, adapted from sermons given to A. W. Tozer’s parishioners. 

The renowned pastor and teacher examines through its pages what it means to dwell in God’s presence. Readers will explore the epistle’s sweeping grasp of history and see their own struggles in the “hero stories” recounted there. Through Tozer’s incomparable teaching and commentary, this ancient letter invites today’s believers into a fresh understanding and experience of God’s indwelling presence.

The Prophet: From Maturity to Ministry

The Prophet: The Watchman

In my previous posts on this subject I established the importance of Godly character and maturity in the role of Prophet. Prophets prophesy encouragement, strengthening, and comfort according to 1 Cor. 14, but their role in the church goes beyond that. Their ministry is less about personal words and more about impartation to churches, ministries, leaders and nations.  I will complete this series of posts by looking at three key aspects of his/her ministry.

First there is the ministry of ‘The Watchman’: seeing beyond the horizon. Prophets watch for and hear God’s view of what is coming. They stand upon the protective wall of the church watching and listening for what cannot be seen with the natural eye. Pastors, teachers, and elders that care for and watch over the church are the gatekeepers. Watchmen inform the gatekeepers of what is coming. This is more than prophetic impressions. A pastor may have an ‘impression’ in his spirit that something is coming…an inner sense, a warning, or an impending change. The prophet can bring the Father’s perspective of that warning or change. He/she can bring clarity and more detail to the pastor. The apostle can then bring strategy and structure to handle what the watchman sees.

Then there is the ministry of ‘The Preparer’:  equipping for coming events. “During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.  One of them, name Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman World. (This happened during the reign of Claudius)” Acts 11:27.  Agabus revealed something the Father wanted the church to know…a difficult event, a famine, was coming……they needed preparation or equipping for the famine.  They responded by sending money to believers in Judea. Agabus also warned Paul of hard things that would happen if he went to Jerusalem. That warning was to prepare him, not to deter him from his destiny.

And lastly there is the ministry of ‘The Revealer’:  direction and correction. A prophet may give prophetic direction to the church. Maturity is absolutely key in this regard. Church leaders and overseers do not need directive revelation on a daily or weekly basis. They have the Holy Spirit! They have a heart for the people for whom they have responsibility. They have been given a gift to lead and care for people. Paul taught, evangelized and preached for months and years before he had a prophetic vision to go to Macedonia. (Acts 16:6-10) In this case he received a vision directly, but often it is a prophet that will receive it and pass it on to a leader. His apostolic direction flowed out of his apostolic gifting……he was doing what he was called to do; to go and make disciples of all nations. However, a directive vision was necessary to move his ministry from Asia to Europe…to a new world needing the gospel. This was the same gift, same ministry, but different geographic direction for that gift and ministry.

On occasion, the prophet may bring corrective revelation to something that is not in alignment. In this case the emphasis is less about knowledge and more about Truth; correctly applying Truth. Churches, ministries and denominations can get caught up in popular tactics and teachings that SEEM to be effective in getting people into and keeping them in a church. However, what’s popular in the culture is not always productive in the Kingdom. The church must be grounded in the Word and in Truth.  A prophet can reveal a corrective realignment to Truth in Grace. The heart of the Father is for us to stay aligned with the Truth of His Word and grounded in the Grace of His Kingdom.

In closing, I encourage the people of God, the leaders of the people, to receive the gift of the prophet! Matthew 10:40-41 He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. There is great reward for embracing the prophet in the church; especially the mature prophet bearing the prophetic anointing of the Father, the love for His people, and the Truth and Grace of His Kingdom.

The Prophet Tests the Spiritual Time and Temperature

Ephesians. 4:11-13 It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the son of God and become mature, attaining to the fullness of Christ.

The mature prophet has discretion and discernment. They know when, where and what to share as revelation to a person, church or nation. Some in ministry would say that if God gives a revelation or word of instruction the prophet MUST share it……must release it… immediately.  This is the spontaneous view of the prophetic, i.e. a momentary immediate response to God based upon input from the Holy Spirit. Often this occurs in charismatic churches during worship in music or corporate times of prayer. Spontaneous prophetic words are the first level of learning the prophetic and a common way the gift of prophecy functions in a church gathering. It is part of developing the gift of prophecy whether a person is a prophet or simply endued with a prophetic word in accord with 1 Cor. 14:1.  

However, the role of prophet in the church is much more than a spontaneous word during prayer or worship. The prophet often gets prophetic revelation, especially for ministry leaders, churches and ministries outside of regular corporate worship times. The mature prophet then considers the content, the target and the timing to share revelation.  The Apostle Paul told the church in Corinth that ‘the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace’. (1 Cor. 14:32)

Herein lays a great demarcation between the character of the mature and immature prophet; discretion and discernment of time and temperature for the prophetic. To be ‘discreet’ is to ‘be wise in avoiding errors or in selecting the best means to accomplish a purpose’.

I have ministered with and received ministry from several prophets. I have also been in church services and ministry events with much prophecy from aspiring prophets.  On several occasions the time and temperature for a word was off. The lack of discretion and discernment led the immature person to give a prophetic word at a time and place that was neither wise nor best to accomplish God’s purpose.  At such times the word becomes background noise amidst many sounds and voices, and is not received with due weight. 

The mature prophet is not driven by the emotion of the moment or the ticking of the clock to operate outside God’s wisdom for timing and temperature to accomplish His purpose. The mature prophet often keeps much to him or herself simply because it is neither timely nor necessary to cast it abroad. Because they know specifically with whom and when to share, when they do bring forth revelation or a word at the right time with the right spiritual atmosphere, people listen. The time and temperature are right.

Whether you are a prophet or someone who operates in the gift of prophecy pray and learn the character of waiting upon and discerning God’s timing for His purposes.

This series is from Pastor Harvey Wittmier of the CrossFire Church Centennial Colorado.

The Prophet Collaborates for Construction

Eph. 4:11 -13 It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the son of God and become mature, attaining to the fullness of Christ.

The role of prophet in the church is a ministry today just as it was 2000 years ago. The prophet brings insight into living an abundant life in Christ for individuals, churches, ministries and nations. The prophet reveals the heart of God within the context of the Word of God.  The character of the mature prophet contributes to effectiveness of his or her ministry. In my previous posts I spoke of two key character attributes of the mature prophet: intimacy with God and humility of heart. Today I bring a third attribute: collaboration for construction.

The mature prophet willingly collaborates with apostles, pastors, teachers, and evangelists for the building up of the church. Mature prophets not only prophesy but cooperate with the builders so that something is actually constructed.  John was a classic example of a prophet who cared about building up the church……going beyond giving a ‘word’ to collaborative agreement with the Word.  To collaborate is to ‘labor or cooperate with another’. It is cooperation for a greater cause than the cause of one person. We see a glimpse of this in John’s writing to Gaius in 3 John.  ‘It gave me great joy to have some of the brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth’ (3 John 3, 4).   John took great joy in seeing the building blocks of truth rise up in the church. John cooperated with other apostles, prophets, pastors and teacher towards that end. While John functioned in the apostolic and pastoral ministries, it was his role as prophet that stands out in his ministry. John cared about the result….the kingdom result in the body of Christ as the bride of Christ.

This contrasts with the immature prophet who often functions strictly from the perspective of ‘giving a word’. They contribute ‘a word’ but don’t collaborate with others to fulfill the word. They often operate independently of other leaders in the 5 fold ministry leaving the collaborative construction to others. This leads many immature prophets into a lone ranger mentality. However, God’s desire is not to be lone rangers but to be linked rangers….linked to the leaders of the church to bring the fullness of Christ, the maturity of the saints, and advancement of the Kingdom to the church. The mature prophet cares, contributes and collaborates to raise up the bride of Christ in these last days.

This series is from Pastor Harvey Wittmier of the CrossFire Church Centennial Colorado.