The video is here.
The prophetic is discerned when it’s applied. Revelation from God is truly understood when we respond to it and do something with it. Respecting or fearing God enough to put our revelation to work is simply wisdom. Revelation is the idea, wisdom is the resulting initiative – how we interpret the application it in our vocation and mountain.
Let’s define the term:
These are exciting seasons of a Kingdom shift from theory, theology and preaching to a reformation that touches our vocations, cultures and nations. Christianity is strong in revelation. Spirituality Is defined as those who best example obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit which leads to miraculous or revelatory fruit that puts the presence of God on display. Operation of these gifts are wonderful. Jesus in all four gospels and the apostles in Acts operated in one or more of them every time they ministered to someone. We want to excel at these revelatory exploits and we should all desire to be fluent in the prophetic.
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 1 Cor 14:1 NIV
There’s more – Revelation and wisdom are like two wings of an airplane; we need both. The prophetic mindset typically defines wisdom and revelation as the same thing – both divine inputs from God. I want to suggest that revelation is something God gives us, but wisdom is different. It’s something we offer back to God. Revelation is passive in the sense of waiting on God, but wisdom is always associated with our initiative – it’s active.
That immediately brings us to how we work with the Father. The prophetic mindset would say apart from Him we can do nothing and quote the following:
Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, John 5:19-22 NIV
Notice that Jesus moves from the revelation doing only what He sees the Father doing to the wisdom of giving life to whoever he pleases, and having the responsibility for all judgment. That sounds rather “independent” when we read the whole context!
What I can do – While revelation is focused on what great things God can and does do, wisdom is focused on what I can do. This is a season where God is inviting His sons into wisdom, wise initiatives, sound cash flow and creative exploits.
Practical wisdom – Purely prophetically motivated people are seldom successful in other mountains like business, politics, education or medicine. There are occasional exceptions, but people who try to run a business on revelation are destined for bankruptcy. The simple reason is that God wants us to operate in wisdom in those areas.
Let me share an example. North Korea has been making threats of nuclear attack which prompted trade embargoes by China and a naval response from the US. The prophetic movement in the US was caught off guard. There were very few prophecies about what to do with North Korea and where the conflict would lead. The idea that Trump and his generals might be Christians already operating in a balance of revelation and wisdom went right over their heads. The church generally, and the prophetic movement specifically, have no theology for wisdom and initiative. Revelation abounds but application and initiative are in short supply.
The nature of wisdom – Revelation comes from outside. Wisdom comes from within our own hearts. Sure, God put it there. He also wrote His desires on our hearts (Heb 8:10, 10:16). It’s wise to follow the wisdom and desires God put in our hearts. It’s our assignment, our book. When we learn to cooperate with our own hearts, we become the Lion Kings who are more than conquerors for the Father. Here’s the secret of the Kingdom and the good news of the Gospel of the Kingdom, “When we release the initiative in our own hearts, that’s when we become wholehearted for God.” Our Father has no appetite for sacrifices and offerings from servants. He’s looking for friends who share His heart; who don’t have to be motivated from the outside.
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, ‘Here I am — it is written about me in the scroll — I have come to do your will, O God.’” Heb 10:5-7 (from Ps 40:6-8 NIV)
Wisdom is having a different spirit like Caleb… when I kill the giants! …out of my convictions… to possess my land. That’s when the Father and I are really on the same page – initiative, equally rooted in my heart and God’s heart.
All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 2 Chron 9:22 NIV
But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. Num 14:24 NIV
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13 NASU
The full-time connection – If prophetic revelation doesn’t find a practical application in our vocational calling there is a consequence. Our hearts naturally start to assume that the purpose of the revelation is to share it with others. Then we start assuming our calling is full-time ministry… when it probably isn’t. Preaching, teaching, counseling, and coaching are things we all do at some level, but they are not usually endeavors that pay the bills. In reality, people who are in the business of sharing revelation can be imbalanced when it comes to the wisdom of applying truth in their own vocation or mountain… and yours. The direction of revelation always needs to land in the wisdom of initiatives, business plans, cash flow and fruit.
Revelation shares what God is saying. Wisdom listens to what He already wrote in your book and on your heart… and connects the dots to what we do to walk out our destiny.
Suggestions:
Podcast #5 with Tyler McCart
Podcast #3 and #4 Micro-church– The most recent interviews with Shae Bynes
Podcast #1 and Podcast #2 – fun interviews with Steve Reiter and John Ramstead
Books – Releasing Kings and Desire to Destiny
Education Mountain Tools – David Nycz Interview http://releasingkings.com/david-nycz/
Heart Plan in Europe – HeartPlan.eu
The Dutch 7 Mountain Web site – http://mymountainmovement.com/
Building Kingdom Companies via Larry Nault http://www.buildingakingdomcompany.com/
Releasing Kings is available in French
“Libération des Rois pour le ministère dans le monde du travail”
ISBN: 978-90-78643-08-1
Releasing Kings is available in Dutch
“Moderne Koningen”
ISBN: 978-90-75226-71-3
