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School of the Prophets - Lesson 06

by Dr. Ray Self

Who is in Control?

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Who is in Control?

Matthew 4:18 - 20 - Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He *said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

Principles we can gain from the above scripture are:

Jesus noticed ordinary people and called them.
He did not tell them much but simply asked them to follow him.
The disciples followed not knowing where they were going.

We like to be in control. We want to know where we are going. We want to know what is going to happen when we get there. We want to know how much time it is going to take and how much it is going to cost. We want to have it all figured out in order to feel safe and secure. If you are able to accomplish that there may be a sense of security but it's based on your own ability which is going to be shaky at best.

The problem is centered on the issue of control. Who is going to be in control?

Satan began the problem in Genesis 3:5 - "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Man accepted the devil’s offer in a vain attempt to be like God and be in control. This natural desire to know everything that is going to happen and have it all figured our began in the Garden of Eden.

Our flesh wants to have answers in advance in order to feel in control. Being in control gives a person a false sense of security.

If we are in control then faith and trust in God are not necessary. This is a trap.

God requires faith and trust. Faith is tested when we do not know the answers but believe that God does.

Faith is tested when we step out and do something that our natural self could not do.

Taking a leap of faith should be a everyday occurrence for Christians.

Jeremiah 31:33 - "But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,"declares the LORD, "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people"

The new covenant changed all the rules for God's people. Up to this point in biblical history everything concerning God’s requirements had been external. There were written rules and regulations that everyone had to obey. There were procedures and traditions. Everyone knew what to expect. In the new covenant that Jeremiah was prophesying about God said He would write His requirements within our heart. Within our heart is where the Holy Spirit now lives. God's requirements for the new covenant are found by allowing the Holy Spirit to be in control.

Romans 8:4 - so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

There is a battle between our natural man, our flesh and the spirit of God within our heart.

Our natural self was to be in control. If we know what's going happen and can predict it we feel safe because then we have a sense of control. However there is a big problem with this type of life - Romans 8:5 – 6 - For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.

It is actually a life and death problem.

When we are led by the Spirit and have faith and trust in God, He will do things within us that are beyond our control.

In other words God wants us to be out-of-control and for Him to be in control.

This can be terrifying to many people because control to them equals safety and security.

Believing in God and trusting Him when it doesn't make sense to us can be scary.

But the more we do it the more we will see that what God's plans and what He wants to do is Better, greater and bigger than anything we can imagine. Ephesians 3:20 - Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

God is asking us to let go of control. Stop trying to figure it all out and let Him take charge.

It is important and prophetic ministry that we let go of self-control and move into the realm of God control.

There is no other way to please God other than faith - Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Faith involves trusting when things don't make sense and believing when you cannot see the end result. Faith is about believing that God has a better plan. Faith is about believing that God will not let you down. Faith means believing that you can trust Him when you step into areas that you know you have no natural ability to do. Faith requires you to be out of control.

This takes practice and trial and error. The more you do it the less your fear will be.

The apostle Paul defined what it means to be a Christian. - Romans 8:14 - For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Prophetic ministry should be a 100% Holy Spirit led ministry. No one is perfect at this but it should be a goal to continually improve. Our vision should be to be more and more out of control by allowing the Holy Spirit to be more and more in control.

Allowing the Holy Spirit to be in control will make you uncomfortable at first but as time goes by and you see the results you'll wonder why you didn't do this before.

Study Questions:

Give a least five principles from Matthew 4:18 – 20
What is the problem with trying to be like God as mentioned in Genesis 3:5?
Explain the meaning of Jeremiah 31:33.
Define being led by the Spirit and the practical application.

School of the Prophets - Lesson 05

by Dr. Ray Self

Testifying About Jesus

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Testifying About Jesus

John 4:16 - 19 - He said to her, "Go, call your husband and come here." The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have correctly said, 'I have no husband';for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly." The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.

Jesus demonstrates in the above Scripture the use of the gift of prophecy in relation to evangelism. He reveals himself to the woman by using this prophetic gift. The woman immediately runs to the town and begins to tell people about the Messiah.

Principles we can gain here are:

Prophecy gets people’s attention.
Prophecy reveals God and His plan.
God will use whoever He chooses and He normally chooses unlikely candidates.

Luke 24:49 - "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

In the above Scripture Jesus is speaking to his disciples. He tells them clearly to stay where they are and not Minister until they have the power to do so.

Acts 1:8 – "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

Jesus is saying in Acts 1:8 that only after the power of the Holy Spirit is received should the disciples begin witness.

The ministry of Jesus Christ should not be done in the flesh. The ministry of Jesus Christ should be done under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.

When ministry is done through the anointing of the Holy Spirit God gets the credit not man. The anointing convicts the hearts of unbelievers and builds the kingdom of God with a model that Jesus asked us to follow.

Ministering in the prophetic is not an option — it is a commandment. 1Corinthians 14:39 - Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy.

All believers have a scriptural mandate to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ.

This ministry is to be done with the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit.

Prophecy and other gifts of the spirit clearly demonstrate the supernatural power of God.

Ministry prophetically will accomplish more in a short period of time than years of ministering with our natural ability.

Jesus knew that His supernatural works would convince people that He was the son of God.

John 14:11 - "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves."

We are told to do the same works that Jesus did - John 14:12 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father."

The supernatural works of the Holy Spirit give testimony of Christ.

As believers our primary purpose is to give testimony of Christ. All gifts of the Holy Spirit ultimately should point to Jesus Christ. If they do not then the gift is a counterfeit gift.

Revelation 19:10b - "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

So what we must do as believers is to continually hear God and proclaimed His truth throughout this world. The way this is done is through the gift of prophecy.

As Christians it is vital that we asked for the gift of prophecy.

It is important that we stir up this gift (practice).

It is important that we continually use this gift to testify of our wonderful Savior.

Study Questions:

Explain the importance of the prophetic gift in context with John 4:16 – 19.
Explain why in the context of Luke 24:49 Jesus told his disciples to stay in the city.
Why should the ministry of Jesus Christ be done supernaturally?
What is your response to 1 Corinthians 14: 39?

School of the Prophets - Lesson 03

by Dr. Ray Self

Flowing in the Spirit

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Flowing in the Spirit

John 3:8 – "The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."

The Spirit is not stationary but on the move. Flowing in the Spirit is equivalent to obedience to God.

Flowing in the Spirit allows us to become doers of the word. James 1:22 - But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

Flowing with the Holy Spirit takes discernment and practice.

The Holy Spirit is an active person of God:

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Timing is vital to God and should be vital to us.
Isaiah 50:4 - The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.
The word should be spoken at the appropriate time.
A word spoken in the wrong time can cause bad results.

There is a season for everything and if we act out of phase with the season then we are out of line with God.

Jeremiah 5:24 - Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

There is a season for planting God’s purpose.
There is a season for growing God’s purpose.
There is a season for your harvest.
There is a season to hibernate and recover.

Seasons can be over a long period of time or a short period of time.

There is a flow of the Spirit in everyone’s life. There is a flow of the Spirit in everyone’s ministry and purpose.

When you are out of the flow things become uneasy and difficult. You will begin to push in your own strength.

When you are in the flow of the Spirit things become very natural and not very difficult.

Matthew 11:30 - For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

All of life has a flow to it. When we are in the flow we will proceed rapidly to our destiny and it will not be a difficult ride.

The world calls it being in the groove. Christians should know it is being in the will of the Lord.

Learning how to flow with the Spirit takes practice and trial and error.

Our eagerness and impatience is the greatest enemy of the flow of the Holy Spirit.

Our habits can become traditions that can be comfortable and familiar but are an enemy of the flow. The flow involves letting go of self and trusting Him even when it makes no sense to you.

Isaiah 55:8 - For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

It is vital for the church and for the individual to allow Holy Spirit to flow in the direction that He wants to go then much power will result.

The greatest hindrance to the flow of The Holy Spirit is not giving him time.

When we cooperate with the flow of the Holy Spirit we can expect the following.

The fruit of the Spirit will be evident
There will be a sense of peace
There will be a loving presence
There will be power
There will be signs and wonders
Lives and heart will be touched
God’s will for the occasion will be accomplished
The gifts of the Spirit will manifest
There will be a divine order with no confusion

Study Questions:

Why is flowing with the Holy Spirit equivalent to obedience to God?
How does the gift of discernment assist when a person is trying to flow with the Holy Spirit?
What is the relationship between seasons and flowing with the Holy Spirit?
What is the evidence of being out of the flow with the Spirit?

School of the Prophets - Lesson 04

by Dr. Ray Self

Practical Application

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Practical Application

Gifts of the Spirit and their common application:

Prophecy causes us to hear His voice.
Word of knowledge gives us the information that we need.
Word of wisdom allows us to use that knowledge.
The gift of faith gives us the courage to act.
The gift of miracles lets us know that it is God and not us. (Keeps us humble).
Divine healing keeps our body healthy to do God’s purpose.
Discerning of Spirits tells us if it is the Holy Spirit working or some other spirit to keep us on track.
The gift of tongues allows us to pray according to God’s will.
Interpretation of tongues can be another form of prophecy to direct us.

Important keys for operation in the gifts:

Know the importance and the command to do it. 1 Corinthians 14:1 - Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
Know that the Lord would not tell you to do something that you could not do.
Have faith, and the power of the Holy Spirit, and be a believer and these signs will follow you! Mark 16:17 - And these signs shall follow them that believe.
Step out, it is not about you, it is about Him.
When we fail to step out we could be depriving someone of a blessing. It can be selfish not to step out.
Remember - 1 Corinthians 12:7 - To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Do not be led by feelings; be led by the Spirit which requires faith and obedience.
Find believers who are in line with the will of God for your life.

Obstacles to be aware of:

Pride (I do not want to be embarrassed).
Fear (the cousin of pride).
Lack of knowledge (only your fault, because you have the word and should know it).
Traditions (we do not do that here).
Bad teaching (that is not for today, etc.).
Leaders who believe that they should be the only gifted ones.

Get Started

James 2:17 - So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. Our faith should be demonstrated as a living faith. Faith and the gifts are wonderfully intertwined. Each is dependent on the other. In other words, our faith can be demonstrated by the fruit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

To have these gifts operate the key is to simply ask, believe, receive and then act by faith. Matthew 21:22 - "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

Now that you have received the gift it is important to exercise it -1 Peter 4:10 - As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace,

Not operating in Spiritual gifts can be the sin of omission.

Look for opportunities or open windows.

Be faithful with small beginnings.

Develop your listening skills.

God is speaking; it is our responsibility to hear Him. John 10:4 - "When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.

To get to know the voice of God we need to abide in Him. John 15:7 - "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." This is the logos word as well as the rhema word.

Step up and step out – be bold. The more steps you take the more confident you will become and the greater your faith will be.

Study Questions:

Give at least three other applications for the gift of prophecy.
Explain how the manifestation of the spirit is for the common good.
What obstacles have you faced that may have hindered you in operating the gift of prophecy?
What can you personally do to develop your ability to hear God better?

School of the Prophets - Lesson 02

by Dr. Ray Self

Speak to the Mountain

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Speak to the Mountain

Hear God and then speak to the mountain with faith.

There is a time for petition and a time for proclamation.

Prayer is a conversation with God.

All effective communication involves speaking and listening.

Proclamation of God’s word is an act of obedience.

Many ask God to do something that God has already given them authority to do.

Mark 16:17 -18 - "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Luke 10:19 - "Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you."

The authority of the spoken word depends on the authority of the one speaking it. God given authority is not earned, it is bestowed by grace.

The question of faith is always about hearing God - Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

All of God’s gifts come by faith, yielding and accepting, not by effort.

Just speaking a miracle does not cause a miracle. Speaking under the direction and anointing of the Holy Spirit combined with a supernatural confidence in God (faith) will cause things to manifest.

Mark 11:23 - "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him." To understand Mark 11:23 a person must act on Mark 11:22 - And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Authority requires faith. Faith must have an object. Faith must be "in" something or someone. When faith is in God, mountains can be moved.

Faith can be increased:

By prayer
By petition
By understanding
By practice

Faith to speak the will of God cannot be accomplished without knowing God’s heart. Knowing God’s heart comes from hearing His voice. This is the place where the prophetic gift is most useful.

Mark 11:24 – "Therefore I say unto you, all things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

Prayer is the key to the above scripture
True prayer will access the will of the Father
When the Father’s desires become your desires you can be assured of receiving your request

The Power of Words

Words are powerful because they reveal the heart - Matthew 15:18 - "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man."

Blessings and curses are contained within words - James 3:10 - from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

Psalms 35:28 - And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. Godly speech is not a part time occupation.

True Godly speech comes prophetically.
There is nothing more Godly than to hear and speak His words.
When we speak the rhema word, God will perform His word.

Psalms 49:3 - My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. Many times wisdom is revealed when it is spoken prophetically out of your mouth. It is a good idea to ask the Lord for wisdom and listen for the results in your speech.

True faith, abiding faith that produces correct words starts first with hearing - Psalms 85:8 - I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

It is important to have an ear and a mouth for the Lord.

Proverbs 23:16 - Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things. Our God inspired words lead to peace and joy.

We can pronounce life or death through our tongue - Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Matthew 8:8 - The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

It is not any word but THE word.
It is the word of the Lord from the Lord coming from relationship and standing in the counsel of the Lord that produces powerful results.

John 6:63 – "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

Jesus revealed why His words brought about life and healing.
His words where of the Holy Spirit.
The prophetic words that will produce results are the words from the heart of the Holy Spirit. dwelling in you, not the words of your own imagination.

When we hear what the Lord is speaking then proclaim His word this will cause your mountain to move.

Study Questions:

What is the difference between petition and proclamation?
What has the Lord already given believers authority to do?
Why is faith important in the exercise prophetic gift?
Explain this scripture - Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.