Set Your Prophetic Gift Free

7 Barriers to Growth in your Gift of Prophecy and How to

Overcome Them

By Helen Calder

1. SIGNS YOUR PROPHETIC GIFT IS BEING HELD BACK 4

2. GET PAST THE STARTING LINE 8

3. LEAP OVER THE FEAR BARRIER 14

4. PUSH THROUGH APATHY 22

5. BREAK FREE FROM HURTS 29

6. LIFT THE CEILING THROUGH ACCOUNTABILITY 38

7. OVERCOME LACK OF OPPORTUNITIES 46

8. MAXIMISE YOUR SEASON 58

ABOUT HELEN CALDER 65

2
Copyright ã 2014 Helen Calder

First published by David McCracken Ministries

2019 Published by Enliven Ministries
All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the

HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSIONâ. NIVâ.
Copyright ã 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights
reserved.

All enquiries regarding this publication, further resources and

ministry by Helen Calder should be directed to:

Enliven Ministries
P O Box 809
Beacon Hills, VIC, 3807
Australia

Enliven Blog: www.EnlivenBlog.com

Ministry: https://www.enlivenministries.net/

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1. Signs Your Prophetic Gift is
Being Held Back
The spiritual gift of prophecy is the Holy Spirit-empowered
ability to receive and convey a message from God—to make
known the Father’s mind, intention and purposes.

If you are reading this eBook, you have a desire to become

closer to God and to grow in your prophetic ability.

Perhaps you feel that there is more—that God’s intention is

for you to hear Him speak more clearly and frequently. And
you would like to have more opportunities and liberty to
share what He is saying with others.

You may even have a clear call to prophetic ministry. But you
are not sure what to do next.

Identifying a Limitation is Good News

I regularly come across prophetic people who tell me that

they used to flow in the gift of prophecy but feel it has
become blocked or closed down in comparison to how it used
to be.

4
These Christians long for the ‘good old days,’ when they felt
released in their gifts and saw miraculous things happen as a
result.

Others share with me that they believe they have a gift of

prophecy, but are not sure how to begin developing it.

Sometimes they express fear or embarrassment about

stepping out with a prophetic insight, because they lack
confidence.

Identifying a potential barrier to the growth of your gift or

ministry is good news—for it is the first step to empowering
you to break free and enter into the ‘more’ that God has for
you.

In fact, in God’s Kingdom there is always more!

And you can turn that seeming obstacle into a stepping-stone
to greater growth and fruitfulness.

Signs that you are Being held back in Your

Prophetic gift

Here are eleven signs that there may be a limiting factor

holding you back in your prophetic gift or ministry. See if you
can identify with any of these:

5
1. You have a desire to prophesy but are hesitating to step
out and have a go through fear or doubt about your ability.

2. You are wondering why your prophetic gift seems to be

hidden and not recognised by other Christians or by leaders
in the church.

3. It is a long time since you stepped out, took a faith risk, and
did something new in the use of your prophetic gift.

4. You are drifting and have a lack of direction in your

prophetic gift or ministry.1

5. You feel barren and are wondering where the fruitfulness

is that you were promised or initially experienced when you
started out.

6. You recognise that difficulties in the use of your prophetic

gift began with an event that occurred in your past.

7. You are not sure what to do to get to the next level of

growth in your gift of prophecy.

1
By prophetic ministry, I do not mean a role or position. Prophetic ministry occurs
when you use your prophetic gift to love and help people in a way that brings
them closer to God and releases them into His purposes. As Paul says, ‘the one
who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and
comfort.’ (1 Cor 14:3)

6
8. You have been hurt or wounded in relation to your
prophetic gift and haven’t gotten over it.

9. You are not receiving opportunities to use and bless others

through your gift that you would like to have.

10. You are content with your current level of experience and
do not have the motivation to press through for growth in
your prophetic gift.

11. You do have opportunities to use the gift of prophecy, but

it is not flowing as smoothly or as accurately as you would
like, or have known in the past.

Do you recognise any of these signs?

Over the next few chapters we will be looking at how to

overcome some barriers to growth in your gift. Many of these
will also apply to other spiritual gifts in your life, not just
prophecy.

Some of the barriers we will look at include:

• Not knowing where to start
• The effect of past hurts
• Fear
• Apathy
• Not being released or given opportunities
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2. Get Past the Starting Line

Do you find that you are holding back from stepping out in
your spiritual gift or ability sometimes, and not sure of how
to break through? You are not alone.

There are many people today who want to grow in their

prophetic gift or ability, but are not sure how to move
forward.

Some reasons may be:

• They lack confidence in hearing from God

• They desire accuracy in the prophetic gift so strongly
that the possibility of not hearing or conveying a
message clearly causes anxiety
• They have concerns for how it will affect those being
ministered to if they are not ‘spot on’
• They do not want to let God down and desire to do
their best for Him

When our thoughts, desires and beliefs about God and His
gifts result in fear, doubt, or being held back—something is
wrong.

If you can relate to this, I want to encourage you today.

8
It is time to take the pressure off, deal with any
misconceptions that you have, and learn to enjoy the journey
of living in the Spirit and growing in your spiritual gifts.

Understand the Fatherhood of God in

Relation to Your Gifts
‘…how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts
to those who ask him!’ (Matt 7:11b)

Checklist:
• You hear from God through your intimate
relationship with Him
• You relate to God as your Father

It pleases your Heavenly Father when you want to express

His heart and His gifts. Just as an earthly father enjoys the
process of a child learning to walk, Father God delights in
your expressions of learning and growing in the spiritual gifts
and abilities He has given to you.

As a Dad picks up his son or daughter who is learning to walk

when he stumbles, God is waiting and ready to pick you up
when you falter. In love, He encourages you to try again. And
this delight of His never changes or wavers as you continue
to grow in Him and His gifts.

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Understanding the Fatherhood of God—that He is a good,
kind and generous Father as well as a holy and just God—is
vital to your prophetic ministry.

Having a personal revelation of His Fatherhood will not only

empower and release you in your gift—it will help you to
more accurately reflect His nature through your gift to
others.

Are you Concerned about Accuracy?

Checklist:
• You are developing your gift in the context of a church
community and have the protection of leadership,
protocols and accountability in place
• You keep the New Testament guidelines for
prophecy, and adhere primarily to encouragement,
exhortation and comfort. (1 Cor 14:3)2

2
The NT Biblical guideline for those who are beginning, or operating in the
general gift of prophecy is: do not bring corrective, directive or commissioning
words. If you sense something along these lines strongly, we recommend that you
share it with a pastor/minister or leader rather than directly to a person or group
(see next page).
For more information, especially about commissioning, see the article, ‘Is
Personal Prophecy Biblical?’
http://www.enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2011/08/17/is-personal-prophecy-
biblical/

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 • You ensure that what you share is in line with what
the Bible says, and with the loving nature of Father
God

What about if you do these things, but you are still not 100%
sure that an insight you have is from God?

Understand how God Speaks

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into
all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only
what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (John
16:13)

When we talk about ‘hearing God’s voice,’ we are using an

earthly expression to describe a spiritual concept. You and I
use words, speech and body language to communicate.
However, the Holy Spirit has many creative ways that He can
communicate with us.

We hear God’s voice, not with our physical ears, but with our
heart and our spirit. For example, here are some ways in
which the Holy Spirit can speak to you in a prayer or
devotional time:

• You are reminded of a Bible verse or story—or one is

highlighted to you when you are reading the Bible
(Scripture is the primary way God speaks to us—and
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 also the primary way we weigh up what we believe
God is saying)
• You ‘see’ a picture in your mind’s eye
• An idea or impression comes to mind
• You feel something emotionally or physically
• A word comes to mind or you ‘see’ a written word in
your imagination

Other ways God can speak are through:

• Leaders, e.g. preaching or personal instruction

• Dreams
• Waking visions (like a movie in your imagination)
• The insight of another person
• Circumstances

In the book of Acts alone, we see God speaking through

prophecies, dreams, visions, angels, leaders, signs, and the
inner voice of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit most often speaks to us in light, spontaneous

thoughts and pictures, scriptures and words coming into our
minds. We often refer to this as His ‘still, small voice.’ (1 Kings
19:12) This is in contrast to the noisy world we live in.

Learning to hear the voice of God is about trust. And it is a

process of growing in our ability to listen and discern His

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voice. Then, prophecy is about faith—stepping out and
having a go. (Rom 12:6b) These are all things that take time
to develop.

We need to be intentional about listening.

Have you ever been speaking to someone and it is as though

they have ‘zoned out’? It is not that they are out of hearing
range, but they have momentarily been distracted, either
internally or externally. We can zone in to God by having an
expectant and listening attitude and being open to the many
ways He can speak to us.

God wants to communicate with you and takes joy in you

learning to hear His voice.

As you begin the journey of developing your spiritual gifts,

you may only know as you step out—and see what happens
as a result. You will know by the ‘fruit.’

________________________________________

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3. Leap Over the Fear Barrier
‘For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God,
which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the
Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power,
love and self-discipline.’ (2 Tim 1:6-7)

Some signs that your gift of prophecy may be hindered by

fear include:

• Feeling that you are unworthy or not good enough to

prophesy
• Being anxious that you may get it wrong
• Hesitating stepping out, because you are afraid of
failure or appearing foolish
• Being reluctant to step out of your comfort zone

Why you Need to Overcome Fear

There are powerful reasons why you should overcome fear.

Fear is a thief and a tool of the enemy:
• It robs you of fulfilment in your God-given gift and
ministry calling
• It robs others of benefitting from your ministry, both
inside and outside of church life
• It robs the church from being edified and built up by
the use of your gift

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 • It robs God of the glory He would receive from you
stepping out to share a message from Him

Above are four strong reasons why you should break the
power of fear in relation to your gift!

Remember Jesus’ parable about the talents? It says that one

man hid his talent (bag of gold) in the ground because he was
afraid. (Matt 25:25) You have a wonderful gift from God.
Don’t allow fear to influence you and cause you to bury what
God has given to you.

Following are some specific areas of fear to deal with:

1. Being Intimidated by Others’ Gifts

You do not need to be intimidated by someone else’s

spiritual gift, or the way another person hears from God. God
has uniquely wired and created you to hear from Him.

He loves to hear from you and to speak to you in the way that
you personally connect with Him.

‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow

me.’ (John 10:27 NLT)

The first thing you need to do is settle the fact that God is
speaking to you and wants you to hear Him.
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Some people think that they cannot hear God speak unless
they have a strong prophetic gift, or some other spiritual gift
or special ministry. However, this is a misconception. God
wants to have a relationship with us! This is why Jesus paid
the price of His life on the cross. Communicating with our
Father is the basic right of sons and daughters and the joy of
our God.

So if you are still not completely certain that you have a

spiritual gift of prophecy, remember that hearing from God
and conveying what He is saying to others is a part of your
relationship with Him.

It is what you are created for!

‘For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of
God.’ (Rom 8:14)

2. Fear of Unworthiness

‘Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are

in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the
Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and
death.’ (Rom 8:1-2)

Sometimes people allow shame, condemnation or a sense of

unworthiness to make them feel as though they are

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separated from God—and therefore, unable to hear His voice
or to prophesy.

If you can relate to this, remember that for Christians the

barrier of sin separating us from God has already been dealt
with on the cross.

Sin is not the problem – sin-consciousness is.

This is our inheritance as Christian believers: to live conscious

of our righteousness in Christ, rejoicing in the power of God’s
grace and forgiveness, and to know the cleansing power of
Jesus’ blood. (Heb 9:14, 10:19-22)

Rather than view sin or temptation as a barrier between God

and you, God wants you to take the very issue that is
troubling you into that place with Him. (Heb 4:15-16) That is
His grace and that is His joy.

Sin loses its power when we bring it into the light.

In James, we are instructed to ‘confess our sins to one

another.’ (James 5:16) If an issue of sin, addiction or
temptation is continually troubling you, in addition to prayer,
find a safe place to share and be accountable—for example
to a Christian mentor or leader.

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But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son,
purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we
deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:7-9)

3. Fear of Hearing from Something Other

than God

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have
trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Heb 5:14)

Some people are fearful that what they are hearing may not
be from God.

It’s true that there are many voices around our lives, and that
we need to weigh up what we are hearing to ensure it is from
God. Maturing in discernment is a process, so weighing up
what you hear is important. Remember:

• God’s voice will never contradict what the Bible says

(2 Tim 3:16)
• In church life, God’s word will build the church and
promote unity (1 Cor 14:3)
• What we are hearing from God will be in accordance
with His nature – e.g. the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-
23)
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 • What you hear from God will withstand the
accountability of oversight (1 Thess 5:19-22)

The antidote to fear is a love relationship. (1 John 4:18) Think

about when the phone rings and you pick it up. How different
are your responses when the caller is:

• A telemarketer
• Someone you love

You see it’s not about the fact that someone is speaking—but
recognising the Person behind the Voice. As you grow in your
love relationship with God, you will get to know His voice.
You can trust that what He has to share with you is good, and
from His Spirit. (Luke 11:11-13)

Fear of Getting it Wrong:

There are some practical ways that you can take the pressure
off.

Don’t be afraid to be real and honest. If you are not sure

whether an insight is of God, say so. You can use expression
such as, ‘As we were talking/ praying, this came to mind for
you—it may be me, or it may be God.’

19
In fact, do you really need to say that you have heard from
God? Just share the encouragement or Scripture and see
what happens.

If you share something that is encouraging, Biblical, and

general enough not to affect someone’s guidance, what is
the worst thing that can take place? Is it that the person
leaves encouraged by you?

Here is something I have learned:

Trust the Holy Spirit’s ability to redeem an insight that you

share, but are not certain afterwards whether you heard
accurately what God was saying.

God is by Name and nature a Redeemer. He can take our

faltering attempts at prophetic encouragement and use
them for His good in someone’s life.

He is amazing! The nature of the Holy Spirit is joyful, loving

and patient. (Gal 5:22)

If you are concerned after sharing an insight—and praying

about it—that it was not of God, under what circumstances
should you go back and say something?

This is something that requires wisdom.

20
As a guideline, go back and say something to them if:

• It is possible that the person or group you have shared

with may use what you have shared for guidance or
direction—or
• It may result in them being discouraged or having an
incorrect view of God or themselves

Admit your mistake or your uncertainty. If you are not sure

of the right course to take, check with a leader.

The worst thing that can happen is that you are humbled,
learn something from the experience, and grow in your gift
as a result.

Most importantly, don’t beat yourself up. God isn’t. He is

smiling at you.

Finally, if concerns about getting a prophetic insight ‘word

perfect’ are tripping you up, take another look at the
differences between Old Testament and New Testament
prophetic ministry.3 And relax.

3
See http://www.enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2011/09/13/differences-
between-old-and-new-testament-prophetic-ministry/
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4. Push Through Apathy

The Drift of Indifference

Apathy is a common barrier to growth in our spiritual gifts—

and it is the one that we have the least motivation to
overcome!

We do not choose indifference—we drift towards it. (Heb

2:1) And as we do, it robs us of our hunger for God as well as
our motivation to serve Him.

It also robs other people of receiving a life-changing blessing

from God through us.

Some signs that apathy may be blocking growth in your gift

of prophecy or other spiritual gift are:

• You believe that you have gone as far as you can go in

the development of your gift
• You are comfortable with where you are, and not
motivated to move forward in your ministry
• You can remember a time when you were excited
about your spiritual gift, but you’ve lost the passion

22
 • There is always a ready—and plausible—excuse as to
why you should not step out and use your gift

There is one crucial ingredient that you must have, in order

to overcome indifference and push forward in your gift of
prophecy.

That ingredient is desire.

This also holds true for all spiritual gifts. This includes other
revelatory gifts such as discernment, intercession and word
of knowledge.

The Apostle Paul said,

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit,
especially prophecy. (1 Cor 14:1)

Here are three kinds of desire that are vital to growth in our
gifts:

1. Desire for God

In any relationship, when we love someone, we want to

spend time with him or her—and it is the same in our
relationship with God.

To crave spiritual gifts without the greatest desire being for

God Himself is like marrying someone for his or her money.
23
In Acts 8, Simon the sorcerer offered money to the apostles
so that he could have the same power that they did. Peter
rebuked him strongly for the wickedness in his heart.

Our love for God leads us to want to be close to Him, and out
of that hunger for intimacy comes the longing also to hear
what He is saying—to know His heart and priorities.
And right there is the place where we receive revelation.

Our prophetic ministry will not have depth, impact and

anointing unless we foster intimacy with God.

If you feel that you have lost that sharp edge of hunger for
God and His Presence, now is the time to return to that place.
(Rev 2:4-5)

2. Love for People and Desire to help them.

The Apostle Paul made it clear in his lengthy discussion about

spiritual gifts, that love is the vital prerequisite to the use of
the gifts. (1 Cor 13)

Jesus said the whole law is summed up by the commands to

love God and to love our neighbour. (Luke 10:27-28)

Loving people leads us to desire to help them and build Jesus’

church.

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I encourage you to stop and do a check on how you are going
in this area.

• Is your motivation to prophesy, or utilise your gift

based on a genuine desire to help people and lead
them closer to Jesus?
• How are you going in your desire to build the
church—what about your own church? I’ve learned
that my passion for my own local church is often a
barometer of how I am going in this area.

Of course, sometimes discouragement or hurt can get in the

way of this—and I will discuss that in the next chapter.

3. Desire for the Spiritual Gift Itself

In 1 Cor 14, we are told to ‘Follow the way of love and eagerly
desire spiritual gifts4, especially the gift of prophecy.’
This desire keeps us moving forward, not only to develop the
gift, but also to use it to minister to others.

I have often heard it said that we should desire the Giver, not
the gifts (and have sometimes said it myself!) But the Bible
clearly says we should desire the gifts.

4
Wayne Grudem defines a spiritual gift as ‘any ability that is empowered by the
Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church.’ (GRUDEM, W. Systematic
Theology. 1994. Nottingham: Inter-Varsity. p1016)
For examples of spiritual
gifts see the following scriptures:
1 Cor 12:4-11, Rom 12:6-8
25
We should desire the Giver and His gifts.

I am challenged to have the desire that Elisha did, that caused

him to pursue Elijah for his mantle. (2 Kings 2)

That mantle was the outward representation of Elijah’s

prophetic ministry and office of the prophet.

We have all seen people who have an unhealthy focus on

spiritual gifts or prophecy. Being concerned about this is a
good sign.

We need to be alert to the wrong kinds of desire. To check

our motives, we can ask questions like: 5

• Am I comparing myself to someone else and wanting

an ability that they have?
• Am I willing to wait, if this is not the right time to step
out?
• Am I willing to submit this longing for a gift or ministry
to leaders in the church—and hold back if they do not
see God has called me to this area?
• Is this about loving people—or feeling fulfilled
myself?

5
Excerpt from my book, ‘Grow Your Prophetic And Prayer Gifts.’ See the
resources page at the end of this book.
26
 • Does reaching for this gift free me to be more of who
God has created me to be?
• Is it clear—to others and to me—that it is God’s glory
and His church that I want to bring attention to and
not myself?

Don’t Separate the Gifts and the Giver

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and
unsearchable things you do not know.’ (Jer 33:3)

We think of a gift in the human sense, that we give a gift that

is separate to us.

However, the gifts God gives us are the expression of His Holy
Spirit living on the inside of us. We cannot separate the two.

When we cease desiring the gift, we have not only forgotten

the value of the gift itself, we have lost sight of the treasure
that is the unique expression of the Holy Spirit impacting
others through us.

In valuing your spiritual gift, you are valuing the Holy Spirit.
(1 Cor 12:7)

When you long for the manifestation of a gift with a God-

breathed desire—a desire that is birthed in communion with
Him—you are longing for God Himself.
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Keys to Reawakening Desire

Some things you can do are:

• Pray and ask God to stir a hunger up in you, so that

you are not satisfied with anything less than God
being first in your life

• Specifically repent of apathy. Invite the Holy Spirit to

move and breathe His life into your heart and gift

• Stir up the desire by reminding yourself of the

benefits of the use of your spiritual gift in helping
people and bringing them closer to God

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5. Break Free from Hurts

Being hurt in relation to the spiritual gift of prophecy is,

unfortunately, very common amongst prophetic people.

(Note that these same points relate to wounds experienced

in other spiritual gifts or ministries—you may also need to
replace ‘gift of prophecy’ or ‘prophetic ministry’ with the
name of your gift or ministry)

An unhealed hurt or disappointment will not only affect your

gift of prophecy, it will hold you back in other areas of your
life, too.

Some signs that your prophetic gift may be blocked due to

sustaining a wound are:

• You can trace a blockage in your prophetic ministry to

a hurtful event that took place in your past
• You hold back because you are afraid of being
criticised, hurt or rejected
• You may find it difficult to trust leaders or other
people in the church to recognise or release you in
your gift
• You seem to go through cycles—you might move
from one church or ministry to another and yet never

29
 get recognised or released to the degree you would
like to be
• The same pattern of stepping out in prophetic
ministry and then getting hurt or disappointed seems
to happen repeatedly.

There are many ways that people can become hurt or

wounded in relation to prophetic ministry. The two most
common are criticism and disappointment.

1. Criticism

There are several ways that criticism can occur:

• We may have made a genuine mistake in the use of

our gift, but leadership of the situation was handled
badly. Perhaps we were publicly shamed. Perhaps we
were not guided or restored, as we should have been.
• The criticism may have been completely
unwarranted—this adds a sting of injustice to the
wound.
• Criticism was aimed at our level of maturity in the gift.

We do not criticise or judge babies who are learning to crawl

or walk—in fact we celebrate their efforts. And yet it is
amazing how quickly we Christians judge one another when
we are stumbling through learning stages in our spiritual
gifts.
30
Accusation and judgment are also related to criticism.
I have known people who have been accused of being
Jezebellic, for example. This kind of accusation can cause a
deep wound in someone who has prophetic gifts.6

2.Disappointment

Some ways in which we can experience disappointment

include:

• Our prophetic ministry has not been listened to,

encouraged or appreciated
• Leaders have not recognised our gift or they have not
made room for us to exercise or grow in our prophetic
ministry
• Mentors or people dear to us in prophetic ministry let
us down, are removed from our lives, or are
themselves wounded in relation to their ministry
• Ministry opportunities—for whatever reason—have
been removed from us

6
For more information about the Jezebellic or religious spirit in relation to
prophetic ministry, read my e-book, ‘Prophetic People in a Changing Church.’
http://www.enlivenpublishing.com/blog/e-books/prophetic-people-e-book/

31
If you have experienced any of these types of wounds in your
prophetic ministry, you are not alone. These are things that
many of us can relate to in some form or another.
In fact, you will see these types of hurtful things happen to
people with prophetic callings in the Bible.

Think of the rejection that Joseph went through with regard

to his gift of prophetic dreams and interpretation. He was
criticised, rejected, misunderstood and passed over for many
years before God raised him up and released him in his call.

Yet he kept his heart free from bitterness—and in that is a

lesson for each of us.

It seems that God allows us to go through these tests as part

of our development and character growth. When we
overcome, He can use us in greater ways and entrust us with
His Word and His power.

32
Steps to Breaking Free from Blockages in
your Prophetic Gift due to Hurt

1. Take Ownership

A blockage takes place when we put up barriers, or walls of

self-protection around us to prevent us from being wounded
again.

Even though others may have been the reason that we were
shut down to start with, the ongoing issue is that we are
reluctant to expose ourselves to further hurt. Our instinct is
to hold back.

So the very first thing we need to do, is to recognise our own

part and responsibility in the blockage.

We are the ones who, with God’s help, have the ability and
the keys to break ourselves free.

We do this by acknowledging this in prayer and repenting of

allowing the walls to go up.

God is sufficient. He is all the protection we need and He

waits and longs for us to trust in Him. But often we use our
own efforts to protect ourselves—and this is wrong.

33
Secondly, if we have been criticised, removed from ministry
or held back in the past, there may be an aspect of truth in
the reasons for the action that was taken.

I know from experience that this is a tough area to

acknowledge, but addressing it and being humble enough to
make any necessary adjustments is vital to fulfilling God’s call
on our life.

2. Release forgiveness to the person or

group that has wounded you

Jesus said, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything
against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven
may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25)

Unforgiveness and the desire to obtain justice can chain us to

an event, preventing us from making progress in our
prophetic gift.

In prayer, speak out forgiveness and release the offenders

from judgment, as well as from any debt that you believe
they owe you.

Sometimes, God might lead you to communicate with the

person or group that has hurt you, but this is not always
necessary.

34
Use discretion here, and look for some wise counsel.

Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a choice that we make. Also

remember that forgiveness is not just a one-off decision; it is
an ongoing process. This means continuing to choose
forgiveness whenever you feel the hurt or the negative
effects of the situation.

3. Find a Safe Person who can pray with

you

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each
other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)
Some things that can be prayed through personally and with
a prayer partner are:

• Pray through the issues raised in points 1 and 2 above

• Identify and renounce any wrong belief that you have
taken onboard following the hurtful event—e.g. ‘I will
never be good enough,’ ‘God has not called me to this
ministry’
• Pray and affirm the redemptive opposite of that lie,
i.e. the truth about God’s love and affirmation of you
as a person, as well as your gift
• If criticism, accusation or judgment was involved,
pray against the power or effects of the words spoken
• Pray for healing of your heart and a fresh infilling of
the Holy Spirit
35
This also reminds us of the fourth and most important aspect
of breaking free from any blockage caused by a wound to
your gift and that is:

4. Receive God’s Healing

If we have believed a lie, we need a truth encounter. We

need to know that God’s love for us, and His attitude towards
us, is not reflected in the hurtful attitudes, words or actions
of others—even when they are people in authority.

Meditate on the Father’s love and acceptance as expressed

in the Bible, especially in the New Testament in the life and
ministry of Jesus.

5. Step Out in your Gift Again

Finally, at the right time, we need to begin to step out again

in our prophetic gift.

Firstly, this means being accountable—and being under

leadership. Sometimes, this means responding well to
leaders who have hurt us in the past.

We know we are healed when we can receive feedback and

be open to adjustment in the operation of our gift without
reacting badly.

36
Becoming activated in your gift of prophecy again will mean
taking risks and being vulnerable. However, the fruit in your
life and in the lives of others you minister to will be eternal.

Sometimes hurts arise from a leader in the church—if this is

familiar to you, I encourage you to consider my e-book,
‘Prophetic People in a Changing Church’ for more specific
information on how to break free.7

7
See ‘Prophetic People in a Changing Church.’
http://www.enlivenpublishing.com/blog/e-books/prophetic-people-e-
book/
37
6. Lift the Ceiling Through
Accountability

The Power Of Prophetic Accountability

Does it feel as though there is a ceiling on your spiritual gift

of prophecy? Are you aware that there is a greater level of
clarity and authority in the operation of your gift, but you are
wondering how to break through?

A limitation may exist through fear, hurt or another of the

barriers we have discussed.

However, another very important way to lift a ceiling is

through ensuring that we have healthy oversight and
accountability in our gift of prophecy.

Accountability is a vital key to develop a prophetic ministry

with increasing accuracy, integrity, and wisdom.

Submitting to oversight is not popular in our independence-

loving culture. And yet true, Biblical accountability is
designed and ordained by God.

38
Our Father’s intention is that we operate in our spiritual gifts
and ministries in the context of community that includes
oversight. (Eph 4, 1 Cor 12-14)

What does Prophetic Accountability Mean?

Let’s have a quick look at accountability in relation to

prophecy. Genuine accountability is not just by name only, to
be effective it must include:

Answerability: (Gal 2:1-2)

• We report to someone concerning our ministry, as
well as revelation (prophetic insights) that we have
received from God.

Transparency: (Eph 4:25)

• We are not holding back information that is relevant
to the process.

Teachability: (Acts 18:26)

• We are willing to learn and change.

Submission: (Heb 13:17)

• There are times when we obey directives when we do
not feel like it or necessarily agree with it. (Note: I am

39
 referring to leadership decisions, not issues contrary
to Biblical, legal or moral principles)8

Accountability is not solely to oversight; it can also be

outward—for example, to our team. It can be voluntary, (we
seek it out) or a set part of our ministry role.

In Church life, accountability flows through the unique

leadership structure of each local church and church
movement. (Acts 20:28)

Signs that we are not accountable include:

• Operating in our gifts and ministries in isolation

• Not being open to correction or adjustment, or
• Believing we are only accountable directly to God
(this is an Old Testament perspective).9

8
An example of submission in prophetic ministry is when our oversight instructs
us not to share or act upon a prophetic insight we have received immediately, but
to hold onto it and pray about it—and we carry out that request graciously.

9
For a helpful explanation of this see: Differences Between Old and New
Testament Prophetic Ministry
http://www.enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2011/09/13/differences-between-old-
and-new-testament-prophetic-ministry/
40
Following are 7 reasons why accountability is beneficial to
your prophetic ministry:

1. It’s Biblical: You are Following the New

Testament Precedent

The themes of leadership and accountability run throughout

the New Testament. Jesus demonstrated it in His discipleship
process. The Apostle Paul wrote much concerning
leadership. He also gave instruction concerning the practice
of prophecy, which included accountability and guidelines. (1
Cor 14, 1 Thess 5)

We see a great example of how prophetic accountability

functions in the life of Paul himself.

In a powerful open vision, God spoke to Paul about his future

ministry to the Gentiles. However, he was only sent out from
Antioch when the church leadership heard from God that it
was time for him to be released into his Apostolic ministry.
(Acts 13:1-3) Paul returned and reported back to his sending
church. (Acts 14:26-28, 18:22)

When Paul received the revelation of the Gospel—God’s

grace to the Gentiles—God led him to submit the revelation
to the church oversight in Jerusalem, even though he
received the revelation directly from God. (See Galatians 2:1-
2)

41
2. It Sharpens our Prophetic Ministry

Prophetic ministry is not just about the revelation we receive.

It also includes our interpretation of what the prophetic
insight means, as well as where, when, how and to whom we
communicate it. [3]

Weighing up prophetic insights is a Biblical mandate. (1 Cor

14:29, 1 Thess 5:20-21) Having an accountable relationship
can help us to process our prophetic insights, gain wisdom,
sharpen our prophetic gifts and increase our accuracy. As it
has been said, ‘Feedback is the breakfast of champions.’10

3. It Fosters Genuine Humility

‘Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in

those who take advice.’ (Prov 13:10)

Being accountable and teachable in our prophetic ministry is

a great antidote to pride and strengthens us in the area of
humility. (1 Peter 5:5b)

4. The Power of God is Released through

Authority

10
This quote is by Ken Blanchard
42
Spiritual authority and the power of God flow through the
lines of appointed authority. (See remarkable examples of
this in Acts 6:8; Acts 8:5) Jesus commended a Roman
Centurion for understanding this principle. (Luke 7:7-9)

5. It Empowers the Church to act as God

Intends

God’s plan for the Church is for interdependence, not

independence. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need
you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need
you!” (1 Cor 12:21)

Accountability is just one process that enables the Church

community (body) to work together. Those who have
prophetic gifts need to have alongside them, those with
leadership gifts, as well as gifts of discernment and wisdom.
(1 Cor 12)

6. Accountability Enables us to Grow in our

Character

“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance

of his friend.” (Prov 27:17, see also Eph 4:11-16, Prov 12:15)

We all have ‘blind spots’. These may include character

weaknesses, hurts, skewed perspectives, or judgments about
others that we have made subconsciously. We will only grow

43
and change when we allow someone outside of ourselves to
have input. We also grow in character as we have a teachable
attitude.

7. Accountability gives us Protection

(Eccl 4:9-12)

Accountability acts as a safety net to protect us from pitfalls.

One role of Christian leadership is to warn and admonish us
when necessary. (1 Cor 4:14) We can also appeal to our
oversight when we need authority or assistance in a given
situation.

Accountability needs to be to the Right

People

The appropriate person (or people) to be accountable to

varies according to our situations and ministry. This may
include someone who is a leader in our church or
organisation, or a mentor.11

11
See my articles on prophetic mentoring:
http://www.enlivenpublishing.com/blog/tag/prophetic-mentoring/
Mentors should be in an accountability relationship themselves, spiritually
healthy, and love and honour their church and leadership.

44
If our prophetic function is within the life of our local church,
then we are accountable to our church leadership12
regarding the expression of our prophetic gift in the church.
(1 Cor 14)

If we are working for a Christian organisation, our ministry

accountability may be outside of our local church. However,
even if we are engaged in an itinerant ministry, our local
church pastors and leaders can have valuable input into our
lives. When we minister into our own or another local church,
we are also accountable for that ministry to the oversight of
that church.

Accountability also includes honouring prophetic guidelines

and protocols when they have been put into place.

12
Biblical leadership is not domineering or abusive, but strong ‘servant
leadership’ as demonstrated by Jesus. (Matt 20:25-27, 1 Peter 5:3)

45
7. Overcome Lack of
Opportunities
Why are Leaders not Giving me
Opportunities?

I regularly come across gifted prophetic people who wonder

why they are not being given opportunities to minister in the
area of their spiritual gifts and passion.

There are two contexts in which this can happen:

• You may be aware that you have a gift of prophecy,

or another spiritual gift. In fact, you may have
exercised that gift or ministry in the past, and even
seen great results as the Holy Spirit touched people
through your ministry.

• You may be newly emerging in your spiritual gift. You

are aware that you have a gift and Spirit-given
ability—so why is it that others do not see it?

Maybe you can identify with the following questions:

• ‘Why does it seem as though my gift is hidden?’

• ‘Why am I not receiving opportunities to exercise my
gift of prophecy?’

46
 • ‘Why don’t leaders in my church recognise my
ministry?’
• ‘Will I ever fulfil the prophetic call of God on my life?’

These are questions that I have asked myself at various times

in the past. If you can relate to this today, I have some things
that I would like to share with you on a personal level.

Blaming Others will Disempower You

It can be very easy to blame others when we are not being

given opportunities to exercise our prophetic abilities in
church life.

We perceive that leaders especially, have the power to

release or hold back possibilities for us to minister. It may
seem that they are blocking the achievement of God’s call on
our lives.

But the reality is that as long as we are blaming others for our
lack of ministry fulfilment—whether it is a spouse, pastor,
ministry leader or anybody else—we are actually
disempowering ourselves and limiting God.

Invariably, we will begin to voice our frustration and

resentment, for as Jesus said, ‘Out of the abundance of our
hearts our mouths speak.’ (Luke 6:43-46)

47
Eventually, discouragement, disappointment and frustration
pervade the atmosphere around our lives, creating a cycle of
barrenness. But I have good news for you today: you can
break free!

Reasons why Your Gifts are not Being Used

Firstly, you need to remember that God is sovereign. No

human on the planet can hold back the fulfilment of His call
on your life—except you.

You are empowered. You do not need to look to someone

else to release your ministry.

To begin with, if your prophetic gift or ministry call seems to

be hidden, here are some possible reasons why this might be
happening, along with some suggestions to help you move
forward:

1. You are Waiting for an Appointment

Unnecessarily

Sometimes we wait for an invitation, role or position when

Jesus just wants to love people through us.

For example, if you have a gift of prophecy, you can use it at

the basic level of encouragement in a small group and
everyday life amongst family and friends. Remember,

48
though, that if you have a word that goes beyond simple
encouragement, the principles of accountability apply.

If you want to be used in the area of healing, start offering to

pray for people—and so on.
The key is to stay within the appropriate context in the use of
your gift.13

2. You Need to make your Desires and

Dreams Known

Sometimes we think that ministry leaders are aware of our

gifts and calling and should open doors for us. They would—
if only they knew what was on our hearts.

I can remember one time in particular where I was frustrated

because a ministry leader wasn’t giving me an opportunity.
When I eventually broached the subject, he asked me why I
hadn’t mentioned it, and happily provided a pathway
forward for me.

Leaders aren’t mind readers. Sometimes we think that they

are supermen and superwomen who should be listening to
God about our personal gifts and situations.

13
Every church has unique protocols for the operation of spiritual gifts. See
Prophetic Ministry In Church Life: Why Have Guidelines
http://www.enlivenpublishing.com/blog/2011/07/26/prophetic-ministry-in-
church-life-why-have-guidelines/
49
They may simply need the opportunity to hear from us
firsthand.

3. You are Beginning and Need to Step out.

Sometimes we wait too long for encouragement, when we

should be stepping out of the boat ourselves.

Understandably, when you are new in your prophetic gift,

this can be a bit daunting.

When a seedling emerges from the soil, there is a last push

to break through the earth. When a butterfly is emerging
from a chrysalis, there is a final wrestling to break free.

This is the kind of motivation that the Apostle Paul talked

about when he said, ‘Desire spiritual gifts.’ (1 Cor 14:1) Is
your desire strong enough that you will seek tangible ways of
moving forward in your gift?

4. The Delay is about God’s Timing

Wilderness seasons are a Biblical theme—remember Moses,

Joseph, David, John the Baptist and the Apostle Paul? [4]
Some reasons that God ordains a time of hiddenness may
include:

50
 • Timing as He brings circumstances and people
together
• Strengthening other gifts and skills in your life that
will be needed in the long run
• Preparation of our character or gift

If God has ordained a season of waiting, He is faithful and will

release you at the right time.

5. You may Benefit by Adjusting Something

in Your Ministry Approach.

This is a vital point. Many times I have seen people held back
because there is something unsuitable in their approach to
using their gifts—and yet they are completely unaware of it.

Here are some checks we should do regularly in relation to

our gifts and ministry:

Faithfulness

• Am I willing to serve in small ways?

• Am I present at meetings, even when my gift is not
being called on?
• Am I honouring my leaders in my conversation and
actions?

51
 • Am I being self-centred, i.e. it’s about my gift and my
ministry, or others-centred—“What can I do to help
you?”
• Culture and Style
• Does the style of the way I use my gift fit with the
culture of my church?
• What about my language—terminology and
expressions?
• Do I use any methods or ‘formulas’ when I minister
that my leaders do not use?
• Do I use actions, gestures or manifestations, e.g.
when I pray for people, which are not in keeping with
the culture of my church?

If a movement we have been brought up in, imparted to, or

taught by, is different from that of our church, this is
something that we need to especially consider.

We need to be willing to lay these methods aside and align

our ministry style with the culture of our church or ministry
organisation.

Vision and Values

• Do my values and vision for ministry differ from that

of my church?

52
A friend of mine observed that a church is like a train—led by
God and our leadership with a definite destination in mind.
We need to decide whether we are willing to get on board
and to serve in the direction that our church is going.
So long as we are nurturing our own desires for a different
destination or culture of church life, our leaders will perceive
this. They need to know we are pulling with them—not
against them.

Why not ask?

You may benefit by approaching someone in leadership—

perhaps sharing this article with him or her—and reviewing
any possible reasons why you seem to be stuck in relation to
your gift or ministry.

This will only work if you take an open and humble approach
and are willing to listen to suggestions without becoming
hurt or offended.

Often leaders do not address situations such as I’ve

mentioned above because they know that their observations
will not be well received. If you initiate the conversation, and
are willing to make adjustments, you may be surprised at the
results.

53
When Prophetic Leadership is Scarce

I sometimes receive questions from readers who do not have

church leaders or mentors who can help them grow in their
prophetic gifts.

Some reasons for this may include:

• They are physically isolated in terms of location

• Their church lacks expertise in the area of prophetic
ministry (this can be due to size or emphasis)
• The church is conservative and the leadership does
not believe in—or make room for—prophetic
ministry
• A prophetic mentor or leader is not available
• They feel hurt or misunderstood in church life in
relation to their prophetic gifts

Struggling Without Prophetic Leadership?

These Tips may Help

Being unable to find a mentor or leader to help you in your

prophetic journey is common to a lot of people. Whilst you
continue to pray about and be open to receiving mentoring,
feedback is important to helping you develop your gift.

When you share a thought, scripture or prayer that is of God,

people will say things like ‘that was meaningful…spot

54
on…thank you, that really touched me…I feel encouraged,
and so on.’ Don’t be afraid to ask if an insight, scripture or
prayer you have shared is helpful. Even negative feedback
will help sharpen your ability to hear accurately from God.

When you share a prophetic insight, be aware of the fruit

(outcome). A word that is from the Holy Spirit and shared in
a timely way should bear good fruit that is consistent with
the New Testament purpose of prophecy, to ‘lift up, build up,
and cheer up.’ (1 Cor 14:3)

There may be an occasional circumstance in which someone

does not respond well to an insight from God, but if that is
happening consistently, there is likely to be something in
your approach that needs adjusting. Remember always to
share your insights in a loving and natural way.

When Prophecy isn’t Recognised

If you are in a church where prophecy is not recognised, offer

what you hear from God in the form of general
encouragement, scriptures and prayer. Depending on the
culture of your church, you may be able to share that you
have been praying and a certain thought or scripture came to
mind, or that you believe God is saying something.

55
The Holy Spirit is not limited by our terminology and it is not
necessary to always use the term ‘prophecy.’ The key is to be
sensitive and loving and to keep it simple.

Honour and Accountability is Always

Relevant

Focus on your intimate relationship with God, but be wary of

elevating revelation that you receive from the Holy Spirit
above leadership, even when your leaders do not expressly
support prophecy. Those in whom God has invested a gift of
leadership have good instincts when it comes to His direction
and timing.

Remember, your church leader may not understand

prophetic ministry, but still has the ability to hear from God.

Honouring God-given leadership, regardless of the form it

takes, is still the best way to grow our prophetic gifts.
Sometimes it is our own pride that gets in the way of us
receiving from a leader who does not have the same spiritual
gift that we do.

Exceptions—Yes of Course!

Every situation is different and while the above suggestions

may be a general help, your gift, maturity, church and
leadership will be unique to you.

56
Online Resources

Enliven Blog is a teaching resource designed to help and

encourage Christians who are developing and operating in
the gift of prophecy.14

There are many ministries on the Internet, but be very careful

about who you learn from. Avoid those who make excessive
promises to turn you into a ‘fivefold minister’ or who freely
offer personal prophecy without accountability.

14
See http://www.enlivenpublishing.com/blog/
57
8. Maximise Your Season

Just as we experience different seasons physically, a move of

the Holy Spirit can bring a change of spiritual season to our
lives and ministries.

Whilst we may enjoy a time of refreshing, other Biblical

seasons do not appear so pleasant. (Heb 12:11)

In His love and tender care, our Father also ordains seasons
of pruning, testing, or wilderness times, to grow us in our call,
gifts and character.

Spiritual seasons apply to the overall call of God in our lives—

and also to the development of individual spiritual gifts, such
as prophecy.

Seasons of Development in Your Prophetic

Gift

In my book, ‘Grow Your Prophetic and Prayer Gifts,’ I identify

6 stages of growth in the development of spiritual gifts. [1]
These are:

58
1. The Beginning Stage

Spiritual gifts are imparted to us at our new birth in Christ. (1

Peter 4:10)

2. The Desiring Stage

We may experience a God-given hunger that leads us, either

to an area of ministry where the gift of prophecy can be
tested and used, or to further study or training in the use of
the prophetic gift. (1 Cor 14:1)

3. The Emerging Stage

There are visible signs that we have a spiritual gift of

prophecy, and that God is anointing it. We are seeing fruit—
results that honour God, help people, and build the church.
Our spiritual oversight is now acknowledging our gift. (Acts
19:6)

4. The Developing Stage

The growth of our prophetic gift is accelerated as we

embrace opportunities such as prophetic training,
mentoring, putting prophecy into practice and other forms of
learning or study. (1 Tim 4:14-15)

5. The Testing Stage

59
We undergo a season of trial, or wilderness season, in the
area of our giftedness. Our sense of confidence in ourselves
is being stripped away but will be replaced by a new sense of
dependency upon God. We gain wisdom and humility and are
prepared for greater fruitfulness in prophetic ministry. (Acts
9:28-30)

6. The Maturing Stage

Having grown in wisdom as well as our gift, we are

experiencing fruitfulness in the use of our spiritual gift of
prophecy and may have the opportunity to lead, encourage
or invest (reproduce) in others who are growing in the same
area of ministry. (1 Cor 14:20)

Although I’ve portrayed these seasons sequentially, the

reality is that you may go in and out of seasons more than
once. For example, you may go through repeated periods of
development and testing until you reach a maturing stage—
and even then, you may go back through it again!

60
4 Benefits of Understanding the Growth
Stage of Your Prophetic Gift

Can you identify which of the above seasons you are in, in
relation to growing your prophetic gift?

Note that these seasons of development not only apply to

the gift of prophecy. You will recognise a similar pathway of
development in other spiritual gifts such as intercession,
discernment, healing, and leadership.

There are several advantages to being aware of which stage

you are experiencing in your prophetic gift and ministry call:

1. You can make the most of Your Current

Season

For example, in a ‘desiring’ phase, we can overcome

discouragement that a prophetic gift has not yet manifested
or been acknowledged and continue to respond to the
hunger that Holy Spirit has placed within us.

2. You can see the Bigger Picture

We can appreciate God’s faithfulness as we can look back at

the journey that we have been on. This can be especially
encouraging if we are undergoing a ‘testing’ season.

61
3. You can Break through Barriers

In a ‘testing’ season, for example, we realise that our

response and the condition of our heart is of vital importance
to the fulfilment of God’s call upon our lives—and can choose
to respond well. We can also identify when the enemy’s
strategy is to keep us stuck in a wilderness time and take
steps to break free.

In an ‘emerging’ season, we can be encouraged to steward

the gift God has given to us by not taking it for granted—and
investing in further training and development.

4. You can lift the Ceiling on Your Prophetic

Gift

Understanding the stages of growth in your gift of prophecy

can help you grow even further, for each stage contains
ongoing lessons.

You can prayerfully identify which attributes of each season

that you should revisit on an ongoing basis. For example, God
may prompt you to:

• Stir up desire for a gift or ministry (desiring stage),

• Step out and try new things (emerging stage)
• Continue to seek opportunities for training and
development (developing stage), and

62
 • Continue to respond well to trials or hurts as they
occur (testing stage)

Where to from here:

Throughout this book, I have discussed ways in which the

progress of your prophetic gift and ministry can be hindered,
and shared some keys to help you break free.

A short book like this cannot cover every scenario and

individual need, but I believe the Holy Spirit can use this
information to help you find the first step to freedom.

As we close, some further ways that you can make the most
of this include:

• Reflect prayerfully on the 7 barriers and identify

which, if any, relate to you.
• Pray about any points that particularly stand out.
• Spend some time journaling and processing sections
that the Holy Spirit has highlighted to you.
• Find a Pastor, counsellor, mentor or leader to share
your journey with and have them pray with you.
• Make a note of the next action you should take in
relation to growing in your gift of prophecy—and
prayerfully but boldly, take that action.

63
In Closing—My Prayer for You

Father I pray for Your son or daughter who is reading this

book right now. We bring before You the particular
challenges he or she is facing in relation to the prophetic gift
and ministry.

Holy Spirit, reveal any personal keys that relate to

breakthrough. Let this simple book provide a starting point
for pressing through to greater freedom in prophecy.

Fear and intimidation must go, in Jesus’ Name! Replace it

with the boldness of Your Spirit. Fill Your son, Your daughter,
with Your love and a fresh revelation of Your Fatherhood.

Father, release Your empowerment and wisdom relating to

any practical actions that need to be taken.
Reveal any hidden hurts, as well as Your pathway to freedom.
Let forgiveness and grace flow. Thank You Lord that You have
made the way easy through Jesus’ blood shed on the cross
for us.

Fill him or her afresh with Your Holy Spirit right now, may
there be a new awareness of Your Presence and a greater
clarity in hearing Your voice.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

64
About Helen Calder
Helen Calder is a prophetic minister,
teacher and writer. She is known for
Enliven Blog, an online prophetic
training and mentoring resource that
reaches thousands of people globally.

As a prophetic preacher, Helen’s

passion is to be a catalyst, bringing a
‘NOW’ word from God to impart
timely encouragement and breakthrough to churches,
businesses, organisations and individuals.

Helen has a unique gift of equipping in the areas of hearing

God’s voice, prophecy and prayer. She is passionate about
helping people to encounter God, discover their identity and
destiny, and grow in their spiritual gifts.

Helen has recently launched an online Prophetic School. She

has also authored the books, ‘Unlocking the Gift of
Discernment’, ‘Grow Your Prophetic and Prayer Gifts,’ along
with many other e-books and articles which can be found on
our online store.

65
Helen and her husband Malcolm are members of
Planetshakers Church in Melbourne, Australia. They have
been married for 36 years and frequently travel and minister
together.

School of Prophecy and Discernment

• Would you like clear and easy to understand, Biblical

teaching on the prophetic gift and ministry?
• Do you need some straightforward keys to get you on
track as you learn and develop in prophecy?

'I've been privileged to

receive extraordinary
prophetic mentoring, as
one of a ministry team of
prophets and teachers
with David McCracken
Ministries.

But it hasn't always been that way. When it comes to spiritual

gifts, I know what it is like to go on a long journey, and often
a lonely one.

My own experience of struggling to find good mentoring is

why I am extremely passionate about helping others learn

66
how to hear God’s voice and grow in their gifts of prophecy
and discernment.

I decided to create the type of Prophetic School that I would

love to be a part of myself. So, my aim in this school is to give
you something that's Biblical, easy to understand, has depth,
but is also practical.

This is the best mentoring I can give all rolled into one place
and I’m excited to have you join me.'

Classes include:
‘How to hear God’s voice’
‘How to Begin and Grow in Prophecy’
'How to Give and Receive Prophecy'
‘The Seer Gift: How to Grow in Pictures and Visions’
'Prophetic Discernment’
‘Discernment and Prophetic Warnings’
‘Prophetic Guidance Master Class’
And more!

You can view and sign up to my self-paced video lecture

series in the Enliven Prophetic School here:
https://courses.enlivenministries.net/courses/prophetic-
school

Choose between a small monthly subscription, or a one-off

payment with no expiry date.
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Online Courses with Helen Calder

View the School of Prophecy and Discernment, along with

the School of Intimacy and Prayer, and Spiritual Warfare
Course here:
https://courses.enlivenministries.net/

Enliven Blog—Prophetic Teaching by

Helen Calder

For teaching and resources on the topics of discernment,

prophetic ministry, spiritual gifts and prayer:

https://www.enlivenpublishing.com/blog/

For Ministry and Training Enquiries,

contact:

Helen Calder
Enliven Ministries

https://www.enlivenministries.net/contact-us/

Other Resources from Enliven Ministries

For more e-books, books, audio and video resources to
empower you in your Christian life, visit the Enliven
Ministries e-store:

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https://www.enlivenpublishing.com/blog/estore/

To find out more about Enliven Ministries, including ministry

opportunities, courses, free resources and more, see our
website:

https://www.EnlivenMinistries.net

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