One man's thoughts about Life, Torah, and Messiah

Last night, we had a leadership meeting with the leaders of our congregation. It was unlike anything that I have ever been a part of before.

For anyone that has read my blog in the past, you know that my background is Pentecostal, so I am no stranger to “the things of the Spirit.” Since coming in to the Messianic movement, I have really re-examined many of the beliefs that I held to be dear in my Pentecostal experience. Because of this, I tend to be open, but cautious toward charismatic/pentecostal things, due to the many abuses that I have seen.

That being said, what happened last night was an incredible experience. We (about 20 leaders from our congregation) began the evening with a time of praise and worship. That in and of itself was great, but it was only the beginning.

“Tonight, we are going to take the opportunity to speak prophetically in to each other’s lives” our pastor explained. “We are just going to pray for one another, and share whatever you feel the L-rd is saying to you for the other person.”

From the time that this explanation was given, there was such a sense of safety. We all knew that regardless of what was said, no one would be looked down on, and no one would be regarded as having “a better connection go the Father.”

One by one, each person was selected, and all the members of the group just listened for the prompting of the Spirit to speak in to that individual’s life. It was absolutely powerful! There was nothing pretentious about what was happening, and we all left very encouraged and edified.

As my family and I were driving home, my wife made the simple comment, “Wow, that was just biblical.”

I was really struck by the truth in her statement. I don’t know that I’ve ever been in a situation where I felt so safe in allowing G-d to speak to me and through me. It was very encouraging. I actually feel that I saw what Paul described in 1 Corinthians 14:27-32.

“If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.”

Have you ever been in such a setting? What do you think about such things?