Do you spend any time preparing for a meeting (e.g. prayer meeting) or for Church? – by this we mean being expectant for things to happen in terms of God working in people’s lives, taking time just to listen for God before a meeting, or praying and seeking God during the week asking him to enable you to contribute like a Bible verse – not necessarily to share during the meeting as in some churches this would not be an option.
Personally, we think God, by his Holy Spirit, can speak to anyone through another – so this is why spending time with other Christians during the week is good. Perhaps at a small group, men’s breakfast, or doing some other activity or work for others together. Hearing from the Holy Spirit, if you’re praying and listening to God, is not just restricted to ‘qualified’ or ‘highly experienced’ people or people who have been given or elected into positions of authority or specific prophetic ministry (don’t just wait for them to spoon feed you information, or look upon them as your guide. Test everything against God’s word through prayer and confirmation from others too).
Bible verse inspiration for asking – 1 Thessalonians 5:11:
‘Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.’
We were just thinking, part of this will be the unseen personal prayer life and walk with God, which will then spill over to work out what’s written in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – but although we’re saying this, doing it on a regular basis as if just a ‘natural’ and easy part of life and Christian life is another matter. Such things as finding time and not being distracted can really get in the way – you’re in a battle as the devil would like to always distract you from hearig something from God.