I've been on the verge of writing this blog for about 6 months - but the time has never quite felt right. As we announced my new role a week or so ago, I now feel peace about sharing a few things with you about the calling I've sensed into the role, and what it's taught me about Prophesy.
Back in December I preached (fairly badly in my opinion) on Isaiah 10, and I talked about prophesy often having multiple purposes. The prophesies of Isaiah were about a number of seasons and times, the time he found himself in (his present day), the time of Jesus, our present day (some 2000 years later) and a time which is yet to come (which we can read about in Revelation). As we read them, a bit like a focus of a camera lens, we can see the same picture but in different ways.
There are a number of purposes to this prophesy, firstly to declare God’s displeasure and judgement on what He sees around Him and to turn God’s people away from their sin and disobedience. But I believe one of the primary purposes of this (and any) prophesy, is to speak of a future hope and promise (see 1 Cor 14:3).
I've been talking a little bit recently about a survey I did a number of years ago, where the question was asked of a church congregation "do you believe that God will move more powerfully in the future than He has in the past?". Overwhelming the congregation said no. Let the reader understand that this church (which I love) had been heavily influenced by John Wimber's ministry - and had seen massive moves of God amongst them 20 years earlier. Since then, they had seen much less of this visible power, and had allowed their ongoing experiences to dictate their expectations.
And so often this is the case - we allow our experiences to dictate what we are expecting - rather than what we know of God through His word.
Maybe there is a little wisdom in this; 'it stops you getting hurt' you might say, but are we, as a consequence, missing out on allowing God to move powerfully amongst us?
How many times have you prayed for someone to be healed, for example? Wimber himself, famously prayed for over 100 people to be healed before he saw the first person healed. How did he feel after attempt number 98? Imagine if he had given up after attempt number 99?
The purpose of today's blog is not to think too deeply about why we sometimes see God work powerfully, and sometimes don't (I've blogged about that previously). It's to ask myself and perhaps you the question - what are you expecting? And, crucially, what is setting that expectation?
I sensed the call to St Jude's back in June last year - I have a text message sent to my prayer triplet on the day to prove it! So many times over the last 14 months (since then) the Lord has reminded me of that call in some quite extraordinary ways. And yet, lots of people told me it probably wasn't going to happen. I was strongly encouraged to apply for other roles and was advised not to pin all, if any, of my hopes on this one position.
So good were my wise counsel of friends in this issuing of advice, that I began to believe it - as we went on holiday in early June I even began to wonder if it was worth me going to the interviews at all - so convinced was I becoming of the 'world's' expectations.
The Lord, in His graciousness, reminded me of my own talk from last Christmas, and asked me the questions, I had asked others at the time - what are you expecting? Are you allowing prophesy to speak truth over experience in your life?
I spent time in Romans 4 that day which (abridged) says this:
"Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed... Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."
Corrected by the graciousness of God, I returned to believing that the Lord was indeed calling me into this role, and went to the interviews (obviously!) He continued to be gracious and faithful - right up-to and including the day of the interviews themselves, with more remarkable signs that this was what he was calling me to.
My calling to St Paul’s was very similar and equally remarkable. One thing which I believe to be true (perhaps obviously) is that doing as God calls is without question the best thing we can do – not always the easiest thing, but most certainly the best. Knowing this gives me a real sense of excitement for St Jude’s as I prepare to join them as vicar – nervous excitement – but excitement none-the-less. On the day of the interviews a praying friend encouraged me with 1 Thes 5:24 “The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” – If God calls, our response should be obedience and a commitment to believing His voice, knowing that He is faithful and He will do it.
Isaiah proclaimed God's hope and future promise to an unbelieving generation. He tried to turn people's eyes away from the world, and its expectations - and to what God was saying. So, dear reader (if you're still there) - I ask you the same questions today.
What are you expecting?
What is directing those expectations? Is it your experiences or is it God's word?
Are you expecting to see God to move more powerfully in the future than He has in the past?
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed.
I want to commit not only to listening to God (something I've done for a long time now) but to believing what He says - and so setting my expectations not on my experiences, but on His word.
(Below - a prophetic painting, by Jess - and our first attempt at the real thing)
