Hello all!

As a part of how simple churches is growing we've desired to have the "fivefold" ministry working in our midst. We have had a few meetings with people with possible gifts of prophecy and this is what God impressed upon us at our June meeting time.
I've made up these notes for all to read and be "strengthened, encouraged and comforted". I also believe it is vital to the church to treasure what God is speaking today, hold on to the good there and recall it to mind as the years pass by.
I hope this lands on soft hearts and you hear the Spirit's love over you...

Jolie

We want to encourage the gifts of prophecy in each other, hear what
God is saying to our churches, and dream about how this gift fits
into the building up of the church.  Prophecy is listed as one of 
five main gifts given for the building up of the body...and somehow
we are determined to ensure its use in our midst.  This is why we are
meeting.  

June 11, 2007
Meeting
This is the first meeting I took notes for! My apologies. I wanted to give this little band of people room to get comfortable before pulling out the notebook! We have had 4 meetings. We begin with worship and end up in prayer.

Note that when “I” is used, its me, Jolie, speaking!

With 1 Corinthians 14:3 in mind, everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort, we proceed.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches....
This phrase is found through Revelation 2 & 3. This is important and was given to us at the beginning of our time with God. To the question, “What does God want to give tonight?” This was the phrase heard in return.
Isn’t that neat?! We give ourselves to a night of worship, prayer and listening and God rewards us with that phrase. This was encouraging for us!

I encouraged these prophetic-type prayers that these are the people I want them to become. That I think God wants us all to become but specifically these people. Now and here for these churches. Will they become people who will listen to the Spirit for the churches? Will they be faithful to listen? Will they be obedient to speak? For their little house church, for all the network, and for the church worldwide. I challenge us: Become a person intent to listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches today.

Psalm 103, Psalm 119:9
Picture of God on the throne, dancing people around and with Him. It was a romantic, intimate and beautiful scene, turning into God with the church. He has compassion on all He has made. This phrase, this truth was a reminder to the pray-er that God’s compassion was not just for the church but for everybody, ALL. God does not hold grudges, His grace goes out to the world.

We asked:
What is God saying over these Simple Churches? And these were the responses:

“Continue to meet together. Many people will know you are mine by how you care for each other.”

“Beautiful!” Someone had taken a hot air balloon ride over wonderful, English rural scenery. She said this picture came to mind as she asked God what was saying over us.

“Yeah! I love this, bride! Follow me! Follow me!”

“Listen and follow me!”

Over specific churches we received these things:

Vancouver: A sense of JOY! Specific faces of people apart of this group. And a call to push on!
God has plans for you, little church. Listen, listen, listen.

Lynn Valley: “Rooted”....a scene of roots in dirt and growing. A season of being rooted, this involves needing watering, time and sunshine to grow.
Mt. Seymour: “Keep on, keeping on!” and “Don’t lose faith, you are on the right path. Listen to me and I will guide you. Keep your hearts on me and with each other.”

Central Lonsdale: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened. Let me REST among you. I’m glad for what you’ve accomplished, yes, even built. But my presence is what should be your first concern. To make a space for me to act, move, heal and be worshipped. Pastor my presence, entice me to come. Bring your hungry heart for I am willing to fill it.”

Another Lonsdale: “sweet incense” to the Lord. Your smell, your display of faith is making it to the Father. From His seat, He sees your meetings, your lives, your hearts. God is glad for this group.
Psalm 20:7 is this:
Some trust in chariots, some trust in horses,
but WE trust in the name of the Lord our God.
“Trust me, follow me. I'm going to take you to some fun places.”
“It is not too small, It is not chaotic or disorganized to me...call on me. Trust in me alone.”

Believe/belief
This word had significance for me because awhile back I had a picture of a long table. It was so long, I could not see the whole way down. It was filled with people. These were people that the Lord had planned to be apart of these churches. I have had this picture from God while in my flesh wrestling and wondering how/when/if it could be true.
I was happy that this was confirmed in prayer during this meeting through other prayer-ers without me sharing this picture I had.

“Many will believe! This (new believers) is a process…”
The sense of speaking and believing…..speaking and believing. Specifically; believers speaking and others coming to faith.
Acts 18:9 &27 read;
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.
When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed.
Also, along with this encouragement was the comfort that God has given us promises and He is faithful. There was a sense of process happening in this regard.
Hebrews 6:13-15
When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, "I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.