Prophetic Art Training Course - Part One

Prophetic Art / Training Course:

Part One

Over the years, The Oasis Church has held creativity / prophetic art training times.  Over the next few weeks, we will be posting some of the course content for those who may be interested in taking their creativity to the next level.  We base our training on the basic principles of art, the "Alphabet" that when put together, enables one to "Speak" using the medium of art.  This may be applied to any art form - fine art, sculpture, photography etc.  

The notes below are meant to be pointers for your own journey, not prescriptions.  Surrender your artistic gift to God as He is your mentor who will lead you on this exciting creative journey, bring refreshing to yourself, and igniting hope in others.  If you have hidden your gifting away, now is the time to unashamedly bring it out.  Paul said, I am not ashamed of the Gospel - the message God uses to bring life to the dying world. God wants to use your gifting for the same purpose, either in your local church or community, or further afield through the internet which can reach the world.  Later, we will be posting some prophetic insights which are applicable to art today, for this new season we are in.

In the meantime, we hope that these simply modules will be part of enabling and releasing you in your amazing gift of art  - Enjoy!

Objectives of this Part One:

• To use art as a tool, to creatively express the prophetic so that God's purposes are achieved
• To generate an understanding of art, the prophetic, and the use of art to express/convey prophetic messages to the church, for the building up and encouraging of the church
• Grow in the knowledge of the “tools” (basic principles of art) and in the exercise of the the gifting
• Practice these abilities for the purpose of God’s kingdom, what He wants (i.e. to give of yourself for Him)
• Probably the most important aspect – be FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT so God can use you!

Key Scripture: Exodus 31:1-6

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts – to make/devise artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship”

This Scripture highlights the following truths. We are personally chosen by God because He is interested in us! He wants us for His purposes and designs. He enables us by filling us with His Dunamis power, His Holy Spirit, enabling us to work in partnership with Him, with His heart, desires, plans, imaginings. God gives us the skills needed for the task. He also gives us the will to improve those skills – after all, with disciplined effort, we can improve! His anointing also increases our ability and knowledge for all kinds of crafts – we're not limited to any one way to create.

In the same way that God imagined and devised a plan in the beginning when He first Created, we are to devise or create through imagination, planning, thinking up, inventing and creating.

God fills us. We have to be filled up with the Spirit of God and His anointing, as this is the key to producing art that is from God's heart. Being “Filled” in the holy Spirit means our hearts being crammed with his Spirit, overflowing, packed! That means we are to be inspired to the point of pouring out ideas at any and every opportunity (Tip:- walk around with a notebook!)

So we should be open to God, to his leading.

Art is a tool to get his message across.

We should be asking God for wisdom, understanding and knowledge of art:-

1. Wisdom: - what to draw, what colours to use, what medium to use – “how best to carry your message across”

2. Understanding - know different techniques which help convey your message (drawing, charcoal, crayons,) and, different methods;

3. Knowledge – get some hints; learn techniques, e.g. perspective, to help you;

BUT it is all tied together with the ANOINTING from God, to increase the impact of your work.

Understanding Symbolism for Prophetic Art

In every aspect of the prophetic there is symbolism that lines up with the symbolism God shows us in the word and Jesus in His parables.

Things like:

• Use of Colours
• Numbers or the amount of things
• Objects like fish or wheat
• Left and right of the object or person
• Animals like eagles are prophetic owls are demonic, Etc.

…have very definite biblical meanings. When doing prophetic art we need an understanding of what the word says about these things. This is the same in understanding prophetic dreams and visions (see note below).

Ice breaker: - getting used to different mediums, and your creative capacity/potential;

1. Blank piece of paper and crayons – then change medium
2. Group picture (Multi media (mags, charcoal, crayons, paints, scissors, glue, children’s things, etc )
3. Feedback

Homework:-

1. Begin asking God for a picture or message to convey through a picture
2. Start making some preliminary sketches of your thoughts, or collecting materials, or cutting out images, or taking photos, etc
3. Begin a collection of art tools and materials (eg, paper, paints, charcoal etc) that you will use, and bring to these lessons;
4. Read through the notes on “Interpreting Dreams & Visions” 
   (You can find this teaching manual at: 
   http://www.theoasischurch.co.za/music?page=shop.browse&category_id=2)