Dynamic # 7
Chronos time and kairos time
Chronos – measured time
 John 14:9
Kairos – the ‘now’ time of opportunity
 Mark 1:15 – “The time has come”
The Spirit waits for the word to be
spoken
Thou from the first
Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread
Dove-like satst brooding over the vast Abyss
And mad’st it pregnant
Milton, Paradise Lost
 Yet nothing happened until the word was spoken
“Let there be light”
Genesis 1:3
The Spirit waits for the word to be
spoken
Jesus at the tomb of Lazarus
 John 11:1-7, 38-44
Moses before the throne of Pharaoh
 Exodus 7:19-20
RECOGNIZING AND RESPONDING
TO KAIROS MOMENTS
Kairos moments…
In meetings
 Prophetic words & opportune moments
In a global crisis
 Prayer mobilized by the Spirit
In a traditional service
 Worship as a response to the Spirit’s work
Kairos - a terrible responsibility!
Almighty God constrains himself to work with fallible
humans in fulfilling his purposes
 Not only do we take a risk of obeying
 God also takes the risk of us disobeying !
CULTIVATING THE SEVENTH
DYNAMIC IN THE CONGREGATION
Teach on kairos moments and
provide discernment
An inner awareness of the Spirit’s presence
 Stirring, stillness, quickening or sense of expectation.
 Sense of sweetness, heaviness, or something like the
lull before a thunderstorm.
 An awareness that is hard to articulate, as if time is
being touched with eternity.
 A deep knowing that, “Now I, the Lord, am going to
work!”
 Mental image / awareness of the Spirit moving
Teach on kairos moments and
provide discernment
Some will be aware of, and confirm, the Spirit’s
presence and activity.
 Subtle but noticeable signs that the Holy Spirit is
present and moving
 Keep eyes open (physical & spiritual) and observe
Someone will receive the word from the Holy Spirit
 The next steps in the dance that we are called to take
Teach on kairos moments and
provide discernment
Significant incidences will occur
The gift of kairos moments is given to those who are
willing to act upon them
 If we lose the will or faith to act then the opportunities
dwindle and we become spiritually blind to them
Commit to obedience and grant
others the right to discern and obey
the moment
 Determine in advance that you will be obedient
 Give explicit permission for people to obey the Spirit
 Not license, but liberty to follow the Spirit’s lead
Pray for God to advance his
Kingdom
 Kairos moments cannot be contrived or faked, but can
be prayed for and welcomed
 Beware focussing on exciting ‘events’ for spiritual
entertainment – kairos moments are for a purpose
Pray for God to advance his
Kingdom
The kairos moment…
“And now, Lord, pay attention to their threats, and grant to your
servants to speak your message with great courage, while you
extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs
and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’
When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled
together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Acts 4:29-31, NET
Pray for God to advance his
Kingdom
The obedient response…
They “began to speak the word of God courageously. The group
of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one
said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was
held in common. With great power the apostles were giving
testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace
was on them all.”
Acts 4:32-33, NET