Teaching By Arthur Burk P.O. Box 3586 Whittier, CA 90605-03586 (636) 724-4605 Based on the Redemptive Gifts of Individuals by Arthur Burk http://www.plumblineministries.com
Does everyone have a redemptive Gift? How do you know what your redemptive gift is?
Redemptive Gifts are really a study about God; what He is like and how you and I and all of his creation reflect His nature. There are seven redemptive gifts and each person has one of these gifts. You were born with this redemptive gift. It is how you were made. Cities, States, nations, businesses and all of His creation reflect God's nature and their redemptive gifts.
Romans 1:19-20 - All of creation is representative of who He is -He is good, everything He made is good.
There are no “good or bad” gifts. Anything that we are given can be used unwisely or wickedly but the gift itself is good. Would you like someone to give you a car as a gift? That would be wonderful, wouldn't it? Would you leave that car in the garage and never use it? I hope not. But we often do that with our redemptive gift or we use it unwisely. The car is still a good gift whether you use it to take sick people to the doctor or you choose to drink and drive running over people on the sidewalk killing them. You choose how to use your gift.
Romans 12:4-8 - He was intentional in the distribution of the gifts and He takes pleasure in the diversity of gifts. You are 1/7 of the big picture.
To better understand what a redemptive gift is lets take a look at what they are for.
1.) The gifts validate your identity ( John 8:32)
- Identity gifts vs. manifestation gifts - There is a difference between your identity and how you use your gift.
- Brings freedom, not restrictions - Your gift provides you the freedom to be who you truly are and do come with weaknesses that you need to be aware of so that you can grow into maturity. Otherwise, this gift releases you to be who you were created to be, with joy
- Allows you to release others to be who they were created to be and enjoy them for who they were made to be. People are made with seven different gifts. Once you recognize others gifts, your expectations will change and you can more fully except your differences.
- Provides a more accurate picture of the person of God, so you can enjoy Him. He confronts idolatrous images of God in our own heart.
2. The gifts illustrate capacity, attribute no righteousness (Romans 12:1-4) - These gifts show us our strengths and weaknesses and what we must work toward to fulfill our destiny as a child of God. This means we have to learn how to properly use our gift. It is not automatic.
- Because of our sin nature, the gifts can be perverted for an example Hitler, and Stalin – had Redemptive Gifts but they used them to destroy people for their glory and not to glorify God or to reflect Him.
- We must learn the difference between our Position Authority and our Earned Authority. Our Position Authority comes from believing in what Jesus did for us by paying for our sins. Our Earned Position is doing what he told us to do.
3. God’s highest goal is to make you like His Son (Romans 8:29)
- No one is exempt from becoming Christ-like or developing the Fruit of the Spirit. It is making a choice every day to do his will and not our own. Doing things in our own way and understanding makes our lives more difficult and have natural consequences.
- God positions us to complete the most important assignment in this life. We have an important job to do and it will determine our eternity. Our lives here on earth are just a moment in time that will affect our eternal life forever. How do you want to spend it? (Mark 12:30-31, I Cor. 13:1-2)
4. Become Lumberjacks ( Matthew 7:3-5)
- Focus on your own beams of timber, not other’s tiny particles - The “particle focus” mindset also leads to comparisons, which the Word warns us against.
- You can’t assume that every Redemptive Gift thinks and feels the same way that you do about things. If you have a family you see this difference often.
- People’s gifts display variations depending on birth order, woundedness and how they were parented. Life situations form many of our viewpoints and it will amplify our natural gifts and weaknesses.
5. The goal of this teaching is to inspire you to possess your birthright (Ephesians 4:15)
- Earn your authority, and complete your course so that your kids can do the same. Restore and release generational blessings to your family line
- In order to do this, you MUST have a love affair with THE TRUTH. You must have a personal relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit truth.
- If you want to be a champion, you hire a trainer. This should be someone that will make your stretch outside of your comfort zone and to make you the best that you can be. This is the most important choice you can make in your life, and that is to become a champion for the Kingdom of God.
THE SEVEN REDEMPTIVE GIFTS ARE:
- PROPHET
- SERVANT
- TEACHER
- EXHORTER
- GIVER
- RULER
- MERCY
1. Redemptive Gift of Prophet Behavioral Characteristics
• Associated with 1st Day of Creation—“Let there be light. . .”/Brazen Altar Sees Design/mind of God• Sees things Black and White• Enjoys New Things • Terrible Maintainers—Cuts against their grain • Verbally Expressive/Extremely Opinionated• Takes initiative to judge others • Knows no fear, never intimidated by the unknown • Cannot tolerate bondage, being closed in • Extraordinarily generous—can be compulsive and unwise when immature • Shifts Gears very quickly • Fiercely competitive, can be “cutthroat” • Transparent—loves full disclosure • Very hard on themselves, fiercely denounce themselves• Must Make Sense Out Of Everything • Doesn’t maintain past relationships well once they have moved on • Passion for excellence (in themselves and everyone else) • Full range of emotions—Deep mercy/fierce judgment . . Deep depression/ ecstatic joy • Cannot tolerate denial—when people won’t face their own issues or consequences • Strong faith/Strong nurture • Drawn to people others would reject and ignore • Can spot rebellion/hypocrisy immediately • Victim spirit/victim thinking Examples in Scripture: Elijah, Peter, Ezekiel, Caleb, James the Brother of Christ, Naomi, Miriam
Carnal/Immature Prophet ➢ Negative, hopeless, enemy manipulates their “design” gift to keep them focused on the problems/deficiencies around them, as well as things in the past, nursing grievances endlessly ➢ Extremely critical/condemning pointing out what is wrong with everyone and everything… confronts without mercy, first in line to stone the sinner, dead right ➢ Over repents, has a tendency to extend forgiveness and mercy (when the responsibility for sin has been met) to others but not self ➢ Gravitates only to personally likable principles ➢ Often neglects truths that deal with healthy relationship building ➢ Assigns blame…complains…quits relationships, jobs, and churches, cannot persevere through season of preparation and impartation, they run ahead of God’s timing/ try to initiate things on their own timing ➢ Fear of being sidelined, has difficulty enduring pruning of God especially when opportunities for successful ministry are removed ➢ Neglects the relational truths that deal with intimacy with God, tries to earn legitimacy and value by things he can do/has done ➢ Overreacts, extreme responses inappropriate to event ➢ Cannot possess their own birthright or empower others to reach theirs, usually isolated, withdrawn, hopeless and wounded
Mature Prophet ➢ Releases design and intent from the mind of God – correcting and restoring deficiencies, activation potential, future-focused ➢ Confronts sin boldly…but also has a vision for the fullness of God’s grace, speaks with lifegiving creative force “Let there be light…”! ➢ Can forgive and extend mercy to self ➢ Embraces the value of all God’s Principles, not content to arrive at fulfillment alone, encourages others to embrace pain and earn authority ➢ Embraces truths that deal with healthy relationship building ➢ Values growing in favor with God and man, has learned to endure hardship and persevere in difficult/unexplainable circumstances to earn natural and spiritual authority ➢ Values and trusts God’s timing, allows their root system to go deep in God, leaves the increase/results to God ➢ Embraces sonship, eradicating orphaned heart/thinking ➢ Responses appropriate to the situation while not limiting God-given emotional depth and capacity ➢ The prophet’s birthright is to know the mind of God. They can see new applications of truth based on God’s design and intent, this allows them to implement God’s principles with the goal of rebuilding, repairing and restoring
2. Redemptive Gift of Servant Behavioral Characteristics:
• Associated with 2nd Day of Creation: Air and water/Brazen Laver • Sees external needs and makes an effort to meet them • Can clean toxins in families, relationships and churches • Creates an atmosphere of safety for healthy development • Concerned about the comfort of others • Obedience is the free money of the servant• Gets over busy, can’t say no easily to people • Over apologizes, takes responsibility for whatever is going wrong• Few enemies/can have difficulty connecting deeply • Loyal—fierce anger when close friends or family are hurt (not necessarily when they are hurt) • Very sentimental saves and keeps stuff (can’t always find the stuff • Works very hard • Attracts dishonor like a magnet (especially in the home)• In games and sports can be VERY competitive • Doesn’t like public attention or recognition • Can help people with serious problems and walk through areas of deep iniquity without being defiled• Have almost no desire to make a name for themselves, or to build their own kingdom • Little selfish ambition• Intercession is natural as they want what is best for others Examples in Scripture: Esther, Joseph (husband of Mary), Barnabas, Timothy, Ananias (ministered to Paul)
Carnal/Immature Servant ➢ Uses religious activity/service to please God, performance oriented ➢ Poor self-image, doesn’t think that they matter as a person, embraces the victim spirit, walks in counterfeit humility ➢ Martyrs, non-confrontational, complains so that others will set boundaries and confront for them ➢ Poor self-government, over commits…does too many things poorly rather than fewer things well, makes excuses ➢ Other’s oriented, man pleaser, believes what others say about them instead of what God says about them, they allow other to shape them by dishonorable and slanderous comments, perpetuate dishonor ➢ Enables poor character and dysfunctional behavior in others instead of empowering them to change ➢ Denial regarding their children, usually meet too many of their children’s need, make excuses for their children’s bad character ➢ Unrealistic, fairytale expectations, rejects reality, embraces “surreality” ➢ Have difficulty not defining themselves by their mistakes and breaking free from shame, perfectionism, low compassion (mercy for some – mercy for none) ➢ Misunderstands true humility, and walks in poverty of spirit, thinking of themselves in self deprecating, self-defeating terms, passes the “work” of spiritual warfare to others they think are more “qualified”
Mature Servant ➢ Pursues intimacy/relationship with God ➢ Sees God as He is, sees themselves from His perspective, walks in true humility ➢ Speaks the truth in love, confronts, sets healthy boundaries ➢ Embraces order, accepts personal responsibility, utilizes planning and organizing tools ➢ God pleaser instead of man pleaser, believes God’s word about themselves, serves others while remaining “God-oriented”, attracts honor ➢ Leads others to cleansing and holiness ➢ Serves their family in a “healthy way” providing opportunities for others to grow in personal responsibility ➢ Balanced, realistic expectations anticipating the best but choosing to see things as they really are ➢ Free to admit and learn from their mistakes, understands God’s grace and compassion, knows that love is not earned ➢ Because of their trustworthiness and obedience, God can trust the servant with unparalleled spiritual authority. Satan’s only defense against them is to keep them from exercising their authority by never seeing themselves as God sees them. Mature servants can cleanse land, are leaders, and have authority over premature death.
3. Redemptive Gift of Teacher Behavioral Characteristics:
(Truth Bringer of the Redemptive Gifts) • Associated with 3rd Day of Creation: Good Seed/Table of Showbread • Needs to validate truth/concerned that seed is good and pure • Doesn’t reject or receive new truth immediately tests them out • Accuracy is absolutely vital, will argue over details • Procrastinates (probably one of the identifying characteristics) • Makes new decisions slowly, safely; frustrates visionaries • Safe person emotionally • Able to hear any kind of sin in people’s lives without rejecting them. • Hates to confront, which can lead to enabling sin and evil • Calm in crisis • Angry only when an offense is committed against a family member • Find it difficult to return phone calls • Difficulty in handling money (can impart significant blessing/cursing in this area. Needs to look at this) • Love Pure Doctrine—This is their passion. Search out Greek/ Hebrew • Can spend hours and hours searching out truth and LOVE IT. • Have more confidence in the Word of God than in the experiences or opinions of men • Great sense of humor/practical joker—this is a wonderful trait • Profound loyalty to leaders (Samuel to Saul/Luke to Paul) • Willing to die for convictions • Has a burden for spiritual, physical, and natural healing (priesthood of Levi ) Priests handled all of the medical care in the OT. Luke in NT. Examples in Scripture: Daniel, Luke, Isaiah, Levi (priesthood tribe), Samuel, Ezra, Mordecai, Mary (mother of Jesus)
Carnal/Immature Teacher ➢ Values knowledge of God and religious service over relationship with God (looks for more credentials, degrees) arrogance and unhealthy confidence in knowledge ➢ Values reason over revelation ➢ Cerebral with God and others, not giving of self in relationships, false intimacy ➢ Selectively responsible, usually excelling at work, but negligent regarding home responsibilities and family holiness ➢ Accepts only what has been documented, ritual, “old wine” ➢ Carnal mercy, carnal love and carnal guidance that enables sin and sinners; wants to love people into the kingdom… even after the time of repentance has passed (this heart attitude often causes Teacher to be confused with Mercies) ➢ Poor boundaries, poor future planning and preparation for growth, unbalanced ministry perspective ➢ Implements truth in a way that limits and controls others, sarcastic, condescending ➢ Involved in their own “world” interests, takes two steps sideways or backwards instead of walking in the authority God has given them ➢ Unhealthy loyalty is perverted by the enemy to keep them in toxic relationships and environments ➢ Rejects undocumented truth and spiritual experiences having confidence in “what” they know instead of “who” they know
Mature Teacher ➢ Relationship with “truth” ➢ Values Rhema, logos and revelation ➢ Emotionally/passionately engaged with God and others, values intimacy ➢ Walks in the fullness of the responsibility principle – raising the integrity level in their areas of influence, especially their family ➢ Builds structures that steward new revelation ➢ As a Leader/Pastor/Parent, confronts sin in their midst ➢ Life-giving/healthy perspective regarding people, infrastructure, principles, and vision, etc. ➢ Releases truth that empowers and equips ➢ Authority over predator spirit, protects those who are weak and wounded ➢ Walks in healthy loyalty, can move on in/with God, mutually life-giving relationships ➢ Birthright is to have access to “hidden manna” in the Word of God (they can bring out of the storehouse of the Word the old and new truth combined) This hidden manna also pertains to supernatural intercessory strategies
4. Redemptive Gift of Exhorter Behavioral Characteristics:
(Boast of the Redemptive Gifts) • Associated with 4th Day of Creation: Light, Sun, moon & stars/Lampstand • Party waiting for someplace to happen • Very busy, hardworking, diligent. • Visionary . . . sees broader than the prophet • Wants to affect larger numbers of people • Shows God’s extravagance (sun, moon, and stars of the heavens) • Horizontal focus; sees no one as a stranger and quickly cracks the code of people • Can get quickly into the heart of people or groups • Inspires and mobilizes people for God • No relational barriers; can cross economic, racial, religious lines and build cooperative relationships • Passive leadership style/ does not lead with a heavy hand • Unparalleled anointing for evangelism; a master communicator of all the gifts • Ministers the Word more eloquently than any of the other gifts • Can encounter significant disagreements and still maintain a relationship • Doesn’t like to be alone (tell-tale trait) and prefers many people around them • Extremely flexible and can adjust their plans easily and quickly • Not intimidated by new ideas and new concepts • DETERMINED. Can be an iron will (used for good or evil) • Can reconcile large groups of people in cities because of their tactfulness and sensitivity to people’s feelings. • Waiting for an opportunity to get before lots of people • Want to get to know the nature of God, not just information • Idea People. Need help with details and administration. Wishes problems away Examples in Scripture: Moses, Jeremiah, Apostle Paul 1
Carnal/Immature Exhorter ➢ Has good intentions but lacks self-government, time management ➢ Focuses on tasks and visions, inspires and mobilizes people to participate in activities and plans rather than mobilizing them around the purposes of God ➢ Uses influence to achieve their personal agenda and goals ➢ Unwilling to embrace pain, suffering and trials as God’s gift to us in order to “know” Him, grow character ➢ Uses tasks and projects to distract themselves ➢ Disconnects from painful relationships, has superficial, sometimes self-serving relationships ➢ Can mobilize and gather people, but has nothing to deposit ➢ Governs by relationship rather than by principle/ more concerned about the approval of people (man pleasing), oversensitive to rejection and reaction from inside “the camp” ➢ Unwilling to confront sin in “the camp” to keep from experiencing rejection… fails to confront sin in the camp in due season ➢ Doesn’t want to reap the natural consequences God has designed to discipline their poor judgment, administration, and leadership… an extension of the willingness to embrace pain and suffering ➢ Lack of control of their time… spends too much time on the horizontal relationships and not enough time being alone with God… this is why Exhorters fail to possess their birthright more than any of the other Gifts
Mature Exhorter ➢ Controls their time… pulls back from social activities and the horizontal relationships… allocates significant amounts of time alone in order to get to know God, His word ➢ Reveals God to people… brings the knowledge of God, shows people their God, His nature ➢ Mobilizes, influences and inspires people to reach their full potential in God ➢ Has earned authority/incarnate truth that came by persevering through and embracing pain and suffering in their lives ➢ Embraces pain of personal and relational healing ➢ Has life-giving, transparent relationships ➢ Brings balance to the other gifts, reveals missing truth, expands revelation, “stirs things up” ➢ Governs by principle, God pleaser (secure identity), values input and exchange from other gifts ➢ Confronts sin in due season ➢ Embraces self-government, operates in established administrative systems, recognizes weaknesses, solution-oriented ➢ Their birthright is to have influence over significant numbers of people by revealing the nature of God to them, has influence over cities and nations, which inspires and mobilizes them into the purposes of God
5. Redemptive Gift of Giver Behavioral Characteristics:
(Good Steward of the Redemptive Gifts) • Associated with 5th Day of Creation: Be fruitful and multiply/Incense Altar • Versatile and adaptable, flexible o Because of this versatility and flexibility the Giver is the most difficult to peg just by behavioral characteristics alone • Generational worldview—not only concerned with their own life but intentionally try to prepare the way for their family after them • Nurturing—deeply committed to family • Have a heart for evangelism, but do not generally like to “pick the fruit” • Very independent -all the other gifts have a counterpart • The giver is designed by God to be independent so that they cannot be controlled or manipulated by others and cannot be hustled • Relates to a wide range of people • Female Givers have a greater sense of false or hidden motives/ agendas, whether good or bad • Non-confrontational—usually delegate spiritual warfare will instead find unseen options and opportunities to obtain their goals • Money and favor come to them naturally—can find favor opportunities and resources when they themselves have no resources • Favor comes to them to buy businesses and properties for which they normally wouldn’t qualify • Don’t like to give to the poor, but will give generously to other good causes/ ministries • Can sustain tense relationships without bringing them to closure. • They agree to disagree easily. This contrasts the Prophet who wants there to be a right and a wrong and bring closure to the difference • Can be VERY competitive. Examples in Scripture: Abraham, Jacob, Job, Matthew 17
Carnal/Immature Giver ➢ Gives only in time of abundance ➢ Overly cautious, decisions based on fear rather than faith, can’t birth new things ➢ Too frugal with family members or generous with an intent to control ➢ Independent to the extreme… tries to live independent of God… this lack of relationship can cause the carnal Giver to walk in fear and mistrust ➢ Puts trust and security in money/possessions, does not see themselves as a conduit, hoards, puts trust in the extended family ➢ Walks out their faith like a business contract, keeping their “end of the bargain,” prefers tradition and liturgy ➢ Uses unhealthy, emotional manipulation to control family members, petty ➢ Shallow connections with non-family members ➢ Suspicious, fearful of what might happen, builds protective “structures” based on fear ➢ Doesn’t accept God’s absolutes/wants to keep their options open ➢ Does not learn from the past well, makes same mistakes over and over but considers each situation as unique and different, resents being confronted about pattern mistakes, or things from past ➢ Scrooge
Mature Giver ➢ Gives wisely to established ministries in their time of abundance and in their time of need ➢ Trusts God to deliver what He has promised… has learned to trust God and takes financial risks based on faith instead of always waiting for the safe deal ➢ Balanced generosity, stands against the destructive forces of excess and indulgence ➢ Dependent on God… walks in a strong relationship with God instead of relying on themselves… this is the result of walking through some significant testing that was designed to teach the Giver to rely on God ➢ Trusts God, sees themselves as a conduit of blessing ➢ No longer uses religious activity to please God but walks in a true love (heartfelt) relationship, embraces “new wine” ➢ Develops life-giving relationships within immediate family ➢ Develops live-giving relationships outside their immediate family ➢ Builds/provides for the future based on faith ➢ Walks in holiness/not casual about God’s absolutes ➢ Accepts responsibility for past mistakes, willing to make amends, acknowledges unhealthy patterns ➢ Their authority enables them to utilize their birthright to impart generational blessings of wealth and favor (like Abraham). They also have authority to guard new programs, ministries through intercession… can impart blessing at the beginning of a project and ministry.
6. Redemptive Gift of Ruler Behavioral Characteristics:
(Good Government of the Redemptive Gifts) • Associated with 6th Day of Creation: Creation of Man/Ark of Covenant • Natural leaders like to be in charge ( of everything) • Good administrators, implementers, can break down a vision into incremental steps • Thrives under pressure, craves pressure (if pressure is removed they find new pressure to put on themselves) • They like people around them to be under pressure. If they don’t think others have enough pressure, they will create some for them • Skilled at time management. people often think that they are too busy, but the truth is that they are as busy as they want to be. • Extremely concerned about loyalty cares more about loyalty than competence • Doesn’t like to be micromanaged but likes to micromanage • Doesn’t need affirmation to do their job, is not manipulated by flattery or the favor of men • Would rather fix things than worry about blaming or finding a scapegoat • Always wants things to be bigger and better. . . ie buildings, programs, etc • Can employ and work with imperfect people. . . can also bring out the best in people (in contrast to carnal Prophet who struggles to get past people’s shortcomings) • Not generally spontaneous. Doesn’t change plans or schedules easily • Does not typically volunteer, waits to be asked • Extremely diverse in interests, skills • Has high standards in all that they do. God’s empire builders • Has trouble recognizing when they are wrong; don’t think they are Examples in Scripture: Noah, Boaz, Solomon, Nehemiah, Joseph
Carnal/Immature Ruler ➢ Applies constant pressure to the work/ministry/ home environment ➢ Walks in moral compromise…80%/20%... thinking that their great works and accomplishments are enough to compensate ➢ Completes tasks 80%, disregards 20% ➢ Self reliant, doesn’t see the need to partner with others, takes credit for results without recognizing/valuing the contributions of others ➢ Leads or governs others by control and exploitation… over administrates, is more concerned with meeting “the goal” and finishing the project by deadline that with the people involved in the project ➢ Task and responsibility oriented, don’t nurture the key relationships in their lives, “Great Commission” over “Greatest Commandment” ➢ During times of family/relational stress will work more to avoid problems ➢ Is too busy with multiple interests and activities to complete key projects… driven by the desire to do more and more, endlessly pursuing more objectives ➢ Finds their value in work and accomplishments, instead of in God ➢ Thinks they are right, can’t receive correction, will have power confrontations to convince others they are right ➢ Judges others, draws righteousness to themselves, “elder brother” syndrome, love of law over law of love.
Mature Ruler ➢ Applies pressure with wisdom for short periods of time to meet certain production goals ➢ High moral integrity… leads by principle, will take a stand for righteousness regardless of the cost to him/her personally ➢ Completes tasks with excellence ➢ Shares authority and leadership with others; team player, can partner with other churches for citywide group efforts to evangelize, capacity to restore co-regent (male/female dominion) ➢ Leads others in a life-giving manner… doesn’t push people beyond their limits… Aaron’s Rod builds the kingdom and nurtures people ➢ Has life-giving healthy relationships ➢ Makes time for relationship building, engages emotionally ➢ Completes the key task God has given them, no longer busy and distracted by the multiple interests and abilities they have… they do the “God thing” instead of all the “good things” ➢ Has learned to partner with God… because of this partnership they can get results that are disproportionate to the number of resources that they have… can build and maintain significant ministries with very limited resources ➢ Draws balance, correction from others gifts, allows the Holy Spirit to reveal hidden faults ➢ The Ruler is the empire builder; it is their birthright to impart generational blessings to government systems, kingdoms, and nations. They are specifically anointed to impart blessings on people’s spiritual walk. In spiritual warfare, they have authority over injustice, abuse, and unrighteousness. 2
7. Redemptive Gift of Mercy Behavioral Characteristics:
(Worship/Beauty of the Redemptive Gifts) • Associated with 7th Day of Creation: Rest, Abiding/Mercy Seat• Has few enemies, gets along with everyone • Makes people feel accepted and safe, a safe place for people to bare their entire soul.• Most sensitive of all the gifts • Sense when people are wounded or feeling rejected in the room • Many friends. . . few close intimate friends, complete transparency with the few• High- level of excellence/some Mercies have unmatched organizational skills • Designed by God for intimacy (with God and man) • Can be evidenced in need for lots of hugs and physical touches • Apostle John was leaning on Jesus' chest (men can be intimate and be men) • Has easy access to the presence of God. Worship is free money for the Mercy • Other gifts must cultivate this intimacy, comes naturally to them• Slow to make transitions, not of the will but need time to process emotionally • Knows the heart of God, has difficulty explaining why just “know” it’s true • Hates to confront (really hates it); designed by God to bring comfort • Does not hold onto offense, forgives easily (except when friends or family are offended) • Can be VERY dramatic and emotional; can often overreact to situations • Drawn into spiritual warfare by their love for others, to end the suffering being caused by demonic abuse • Stubborn (but in the nicest way) • LOVES Worship, is concerned that God obtaining pleasure from Worship Examples in Scripture: Adam, David, John the Apostle, Ruth, Mary of Bethany 21 Carnal/Imma
Carnal/Immature Mercy ➢ Does not stand on values but does whatever necessary to make people around them happy. Leads and makes decisions based on feelings➢ Flees pain and the discipline of God protects others from appropriate negative consequences, cannot discern counterfeit mercy from genuine mercy ➢ Embraces dangerous people who do not demonstrate “fruit meet for repentance”, often won’t leave jobs, churches, relationships that are exploitive, victim mindset justifies why “it’s right for them to do wrong” ➢ Takes up offenses for a third party, gets involved where they don’t belong ➢ Mishandles/misapplies their discernment, overreacts➢ Doesn’t allow the appropriate component of “suffering” in the discipline of their children, thinks love alone is enough➢ Wrapped up in the opinions of men, man-pleasing ➢ Passes the buck, won’t take a stand on issues, indecisive when critical decisions need to be made, fearful, insecure, cannot risk, chameleon, won’t confront sin ➢ Inappropriate intimacy, pursues self-gratification in all forms, does not have a clear emotional identity, cannot walk freely in their dominion, blames external circumstances for an agitated state, stays needy rather than becoming lifegiving➢ Motivated by fear and feelings, walks in counterfeit/immature fruit of the Spirit enabling corruption, defilement, “plays for the wrong team”, enables counterfeit unity and rebellion.
Mature Mercy ➢ Makes decisions based on Godly principles/ values combined with the heart of God for themselves and others ➢ Walks in genuine mercy and judgment, embraces discipline and pain as part of the healing/growing process ➢ Walks in true empathy to lead others to healing and repentance with wisdom and appropriate boundaries ➢ Observes appropriate boundaries, keeps rank ➢ Draws Balance from other gifts, has learned to respond rather than react ➢ Disciplines consistently avoiding emotional extremes, allows children to suffer appropriate negative consequences ➢ God-pleasing, free from the fear of man ➢ Has resolved their identity issues… their identity is based in the relationship with the Father, has true emotional wholeness… has allowed God to re-father them and bring healing to their heart, can confront son with love ➢ Have found true fulfillment in the spirit-to-spirit connection with God, because of this level of fulfillment and interfacing with God’s Spirit, mercies can actually bring the “glory” out of the Holy Places and can transfer/release that glory to families, situations. When walking in mature holiness, can sanctify the environment they enter, can sanctify time ➢ Displays God’s heart, his true redemptive plan for man… embraces God’s mind, God’s ways, and God’s truth, along with God’s heart… recognizes there is no true mercy without judgment
