The Prophetic Church—an Individual and Corporate Expression of Jesus
The
Prophetic Church
A Prophetic People
Table of Contents
Introduction to the “Prophetic”
SECTION ONE
Foundation
Principles for the Prophetic
The Holy Spirit—Administrator of the Godhead
The Work of Jesus
The Purpose of the Father
The Paternal Theme
Developing
a Proper Perspective
SECTION
TWO
Prophetic People—An Individual Expression
The Growth of the Prophetic
Three Aspects of the Prophetic
The General or Basic Prophetic Function
Caution: Potential Problem Areas
Prophetic Ministry
Caution: Potential Problem Areas
Prophets
The
Place of the Prophet
SECTION
THREE
Prophetic Church—A Corporate
Expression
SECTION
FOUR
Recognizing the False
Twelve Characteristics of False Prophets
Prophetic people
express the fullness of the Lord to others. They are being conformed
to the image of Christ, which includes thinking like Jesus,
manifesting the character of Jesus and acting like Jesus. Just as
Jesus revealed the Father by His life and actions, we reveal the Lord
Jesus in the same manner.
There are two aspects
to being a Prophetic People. There is the development of the
prophetic individual and there is the corporate development of the
prophetic. However, before we look at them we need to lay some
foundation and define what we mean by “prophetic”.
We normally think of
the prophetic as the actions and words of one who is a prophet and
that prophecy is speaking or proclaiming God’s Word like the
Old Testament Prophets. Actually, the prophetic extends beyond this
to the full range of the supernatural aspects of God’s dealings
with us. We can look at the life of the Old Testament Prophets and
see this. For example, Elijah and Elisha not only spoke God’s
word as Prophets, but also performed all manner of miracles including
raising the dead.
This is the definition
of the prophetic that we will use for this study:
The Prophetic—the full range of the
manifestations of the Spirit of God in our midst.
We will, however, use
prophecy as a revelation of the Spirit to be spoken and it will be
our pattern or example to help us understand all of the other
supernatural aspects of the prophetic.
Under the old Covenant
the prophets represented God in the earth. They spoke His Word and
did His Work. At any given time there were only a few that walked
with God in this manner. If you needed something from God, you had
to find the prophet of God.
The way God speaks to
us changed dramatically under the New Covenant.
Hebrews 1:1-2 KJV
(1) God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
(2) Hath in these last days
spoken unto us by his
Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he
made the worlds;
Now, God has spoken to
us through the Son. He has become our source of supply of all that
we need from God. Prophecy is even defined as it relates to Jesus.
Revelation 19:10 KJV
(10) And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Under the new covenant prophecy can be divided into three categories all of which relate to Jesus: What Jesus has done; what Jesus is doing, and what Jesus will do.
All that the Father
intends for us is contained in Jesus, which includes every word and
every gift. One of the purposes of the Holy Spirit is to administer
all that Jesus has received and reveal it to us.
John 16:13-15 KJV
(13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
(14) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.
(15) All
things that
the Father
hath are
mine: therefore
said I,
that he
shall take
of mine,
and shall
show it
unto you.
If we snub the Holy
Spirit or limit His ministry in our lives, we will severely limit the
things that we receive from the Lord.
We also need to
understand the difference between a Church that uses the gifts of the
Spirit and a Prophetic Church. The best example of this is the
Church at Corinth. They not only exercised the gifts of the Spirit,
many were used to the excess. In correcting their use of the gifts,
Paul made it clear that their motivation and expression of the gifts
were for their own aggrandizement rather than the building up of the
other believers. They were not furthering the purpose or work of
God; therefore, they were not “prophetic” (that is, not
properly representing or expressing God’s purpose) even though
gifts were apparently expressed at every gathering.
We have a process of
how the Holy Spirit administrates the things of the Lord revealed in
the previous scriptures quoted above:
PROCESS: Holy Spirit takes what belongs to
Jesus and shows it to us. Whatever the Holy Spirit hears, that’s
what He speaks to us. The Holy Spirit is the administrator of what
belongs to God and of what God says.
We have an example of
the way the process works in Genesis 24, which is a scriptural
parable. The typology is very clear: Abraham = God the Father, Isaac
= Jesus the Son, Rebecca = the Church, the un-named steward = the
Holy Spirit.
The agent who selected
the bride was not the son but the steward. When Rebecca made the
proper response the steward gave gifts. Rebecca adorned herself with
gifts showing that she was the chosen bride. Rebecca’s only
source of information about her husband was the steward. She had
never seen, heard of, or talked with Abraham or Isaac. She had to
listen to the steward, do what he said, and follow him to meet her
husband. We, too, must listen to the Holy Spirit in order to meet our
Husband.
The Holy Spirit is the
only channel of access to the council of the Godhead—he hears
and brings it back to us.
1 Corinthians 2:9-14 KJV
(9) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
(10) But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
(11) For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
(12) Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
(13) Which things also we
speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the
Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
The Holy Spirit is the
active agent of the Godhead in the earth today. He is also
responsible for seeing that the purpose of God is fulfilled in the
last days.
Ephesians 1:9-10 Darby
(9) having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself
(10) for the
administration of the fulness of times; to head up all things in
the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth;
in him,
The administrator is
the manager of the work of God to accomplish all that God intends to
be accomplished in the last days as time is completed--The Holy
Spirit is fulfilling the Purpose of the Father. He is bringing all
aspects of the plan and purpose of God to closure at the end of this
age. This is the goal toward which He is working. By His actions,
He is causing all things to come together according to His will. He
is doing this by continuing the work of Jesus through the people of
God.
Sometimes in listening
to preaching we can get the impression that Jesus’ only reason
for coming was to atone for our sins. While this is a key reason, it
was not the only purpose (for example, I John 3:8
….
For
this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the
works of the devil). Even providing salvation was
more than just the death of Jesus as the sacrifice Lamb. Salvation
also included Jesus as the Scapegoat. In Israel, the Sin Offering on
the Day of Atonement included two functions: the blood offering on
the mercy seat and the live offering before the Lord. (See Leviticus
Chapter 16 for the full details) [The work of Jesus as the
Scapegoat is a message in itself and is only mentioned here to show
that the work of Jesus is greater and includes more than we sometimes
think.]
Jesus fulfilled both of
these functions as indicated in the scripture:
Isaiah 53:4 KJV
(4) Surely he hath borne our
griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted.
Jesus not only made
atonement for our sin, He also carried away our sins. The work of
Jesus dealt with the nature of sin and the actions of sin. He
fulfilled His ministry as both the Lamb of God and as the Scapegoat
of God, both of which were required on the Day of Atonement.
Jesus specifically
recognized that He had work to do that had been assigned to Him by
the Father.
John 4:34 KJV
(34) Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
John 5:17 KJV
(17) But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
John 5:36 KJV
(36) But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
John 9:4 KJV
(4) I
must work
the works
of him
that sent me,
while it is
day: the
night cometh,
when no man
can work.
Jesus also told us that
He was doing the works of the Father because He and the Father are
one and that it was the working of the Father in Him that was
expressed in His own actions.
John 14:10-12 KJV
(10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
(11) Believe
me that I
am in
the Father,
and the
Father in
me: or else
believe me
for the very works' sake.
Jesus expressed a
principle and a process of how to do the works of God. The Father
dwelling in Jesus did His work through Jesus. This is important
because it explains our need of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:7-13 KJV
(7) Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
(8) And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
(9) Of sin, because they believe not on me;
(10) Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
(11) Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
(12) I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
(13) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
John 14:12 KJV
(12) Verily,
verily, I
say unto
you, He that
believeth on me,
the works
that I do
shall he do also;
and greater
works than
these shall
he do;
because I
go unto my
Father.
Jesus said that because He was going to the Father, we would be able not only to do the works that He did but we would also be able to do even greater works. How is that possible?
Before Jesus ascended
to the Father, He told us how it would happen.
Acts 1:4-5 KJV
(4) And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
(5) For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Acts 1:8 KJV
(8) But
ye shall
receive power,
after that
the Holy
Ghost is
come upon
you:
and ye
shall be
witnesses unto
me both in
Jerusalem, and
in all
Judea, and
in Samaria,
and unto
the uttermost part
of the
earth.
Before going to do any
of the work of the Lord, they were to wait for the Holy Spirit, which
the Father had promised. The baptism of the Holy Spirit would
provide them the power to do the works of the Lord. Again, we have
the principle and the process as it now applies to us: the Holy
Spirit dwelling in us to do the work of the Lord through us.
This answers one of the
questions that was asked of Jesus.
John 6:28-29 KJV
(28) Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
(29) Jesus answered and said
unto them, This is
the work of
God, that
ye believe
on him whom
he hath
sent.
We have to believe on
Him whom He has sent. The Father sent us Jesus; the Son has sent us
the Holy Spirit from the Father. (Isn’t it interesting that we
have the full working of the Trinity in this process)?
A “prophetic
people” have to be able to express the heart and intention of
God to the world in order to be classified “prophetic”.
Which means that we first must understand His heart and intention or
we won’t be able to express Him properly to others.
We also need to
understand that God has a timeline for completing His purpose and
that the times and seasons are expressions of the Father’s
will. An example of this is the promise to Abraham about his
descendants when the Lord “cut covenant” with him.
Genesis 15:13-14 KJV
(13) And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
(14) And also that nation, whom
they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out
with great substance.
It was in God’s
timeline that Abraham’s descendants would be in bondage for 400
years and then He would bring them out by sending Moses as a
deliverer. We see from this that the stream of God’s purpose
flows through history and as God raises up prophets or prophetic
people, they must stand in the stream of His purpose just as others
did before them.
As the Lord uses people
to reveal or accomplish His purpose, each one He uses stands directly
in the stream of those used previously by the Lord. This gives us a
continuity of the fulfillment of the purpose of God. Any prophetic
person should understand the stream of God and how their work fits
with those who went before. Those who don’t understand this
become “prophetic loose cannons” and hinder or even
divert the purpose of God.
How can we understand
our place in the stream of God if we don’t understand the
purpose of the Father or the timeline of God? All work of the Lord,
which has been assigned to us, is woven into the fabric of God’s
eternal purpose.
Ephesians 2:10 KJV
(10) For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God
hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
God develops us as a finely crafted tool, a well-trained worker, to accomplish the work that He has already assigned us. Part of our development includes coming to an understanding of His Purpose. Just as God is not looking for puppets as sons, He is not looking for assembly line workers who do not have a clue about how the finished product looks or functions. He intends for us to know and understand.
Ephesians 1:9-10 KJV
(9) Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
(10) That in the dispensation
of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things
in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even
in him:
God had a goal, a
purpose, before the foundation of the world. Before man existed, God
already had a plan in His mind. This plan dealt with things that God
had purposed in Himself for His good pleasure or enjoyment before He
created Man. In Revelation, it says that the Lamb was slain before
the foundation of the world. That means the Redemption Plan wasn’t
an emergency add-on for God. He had already made provision for
Redemption so that His purpose would not be thwarted.
It was God's intention
that Adam would choose the Tree of Life and become capable of
achieving God's plan; but Adam did not fulfill the purpose of God.
He failed the test of obedience. The Last Adam made the correct
choice by being obedient to the will of the Father. When we partake
of Jesus as the Lamb of God, we are cleansed both from sin and the
Sin Nature inherited from Adam. We then can partake of Jesus as the
Tree of Life and, through Him, become capable of fulfilling God's
plan.
We have so concentrated
on the plan of redemption that we forget that God’s plan was
before redemption and God’s plan was after. Adam’s sin
did not change God’s purpose. We must see that redemption
is not an end but a means to an end, that it, redemption,
places us in a position where we can fulfill God’s purpose.
We can only understand
that if we have the proper viewpoint of God's purpose. If we place
our perspective with the fall and start there, all we see is man’s
need of redemption. While it is wonderful that God provided
redemption for us, it is not the end-all of God’s purpose. If
we start with creation, which is before the fall, and move forward
from there, all we see in the Bible is the history of man. God’s
purposes are greater than the history of man. His purpose was before
man and continues after the end of Revelation. We have to begin in
God. What was God’s purpose? Ephesians tells us—to
gather together all things in Christ, both in heaven and in earth; to
sum up all things in Christ; literally to “head it up”.
God created Adam and
placed him in a garden with two trees. He was told not to eat of one
of the trees. The natural, logical implication then is that he
should eat of the other tree. He didn’t. Adam's choice was
simple. He could take of that which God had denied or, he
could receive that which God had provided. He decided to take
and that has become the characteristic of fallen man--always taking
what he wants. So, after eating of the wrong tree, Adam had to be
put out of the garden to keep him from eating of the Tree of Life and
living forever in his fallen state.
Even today in the
Church we see the Old Nature expressed in taking. We are told
that the blessings of God belong to us because we are King's kids,
that we should take our inheritance. We make demands on God
and storm Heaven with prayer to take what is rightfully ours.
The New Nature is not based on demanding and taking but instead on
receiving and giving.
Over the years, I have
had a number of people tell me that their primary goal is to make
Heaven their home. How shortsighted and shallow! Our goal is not
Heaven! Neither is that God’s goal for us! Jesus never said
believe in me so that you can go to Heaven when you die. He spoke
instead of being a part of His Kingdom and of the work to be done.
The redemption plan is to bring us to the place that we eat of the
Tree of Life and realize God’s purpose in the New Heaven and
the New Earth spoken of in Revelation. Any evangelistic message that
focuses on Heaven as the goal is missing the purposes of God. If we
minister with the wrong goals we are ineffective in accomplishing
God’s purpose.
The Father had purposed
something in Himself. He made man. Man sinned. Man became excluded
from the purposes of God. Man could no longer participate in God’s
purpose of summing up all things in Christ. Not only that, but God
had given Title Deed to the earth to man. He was to have dominion
over it and all that it contained. Satan came and seduced Eve and
Adam traded the Deed for the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and
the supposed opportunity to become as God. Man then became a slave
to Satan and Satan became the God of this world, the Prince of the
power of the air and took up squatter’s rights to the earth and
all that it contains. (That is why the whole creation groans and
waits for the revealing of the Sons of God.)
God needed a savior.
One who could fulfill the righteousness and justice of God, who, by
His nature, cannot be unjust. He can’t be unjust to man; He
can’t be unjust to Satan. His savior would have to be born of
man in order to pay the penalty for man, yet the savior could not be
under the dominion of Satan. The Savior would be the
“kinsman-redeemer” who would pay the price to restore
what was lost.
Jesus came to do the
will of the Father, that is, to fulfill His purpose. He did what
Adam was unable to do by resisting the temptation of the devil in the
wilderness. Jesus refused to do anything for Himself (turn
stones to bread); refused to do anything of Himself
(jump off the pinnacle); refused to do anything in Himself
(worship the enemy). That is why He could say that the God of this
world had come and had nothing in Him.
Therefore Jesus
redeemed man and restored him to a place that he could participate in
the purpose of God. Man is now in a position where he can be summed
up in Christ.
God’s purpose
then is one new man—the Body of Christ—the Church.
Again, this is a word that we use in a way that is not meant by the
scriptures. When we say Church, we usually mean a building. The
scriptures never mean a building when the word Church is used. It
always means people. We are to be people built together into one new
body (or temple). From miniature to magnitude—from the
physical body of Christ to the mystical body, revealing the mystery
of God’s will to the heavens. We become a habitation (the
temple) of God through the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV
(16) Know ye not that ye are
the temple of God, and that
the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
The “ye”
and “you” in this verse are plural. The problem with
English is that “you” can be singular or plural and only
the context tells us which is correct. Many people read this verse
with “you” as singular, meaning the individual; however,
reading it with “you” as plural gives us a corporate
picture with us corporately being the temple of God. This is also
Peter's understanding of what God is doing.
1 Peter 2:5 KJV
(5) Ye also, as lively
stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to
offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
It is not by accident
that we are called living stones. In order to fulfill God’s
purpose we have to find our place, our “fit” in the Body.
Stones have to be fitted together. You can’t just pickup any
old stone and stick it any old place in a building.
In order to be fitted
together, there are some secondary purposes that must be
accomplished. The stones have to be “dug up”, “cut
up”, “shaped up”, etc. before they can become
“fitted together”. If we put this into the context of
“harvest” instead of “stones” it might be
clearer. I grew up on a farm; therefore, the idea of the field being
ripe for harvest makes sense to me. When harvest season comes, it
has to be done then or much of the harvest will be lost.
Example:
harvesting corn. On our farm corn was a staple. We canned a
lot of it for our use. We fed it to the pigs, chickens, cows, and
saved the best for seed for the next year. When the corn was ready
for general harvest (we pulled “roasting ears” while it
was young and tender for canning), we pulled the ears and gathered
them into a wagon. Then, they were taken to the barn. In the barn
they were prepared for their intended use. The “nubbins”
(the ears of corn that didn’t fully develop) were separated
into their own “crib” (bin) to be used as pig feed. The
largest and fully developed ears were run through the corn sheller.
After shelling, the best was saved for future seed—the rest was
used to feed the chickens. The average corn ears were usually ground
and mixed with other ingredients to become feed for the cattle. All
of the corn was used according to its intended purpose.
Can you see how this
applies to the Church? Jesus said the world is the field. We (the
workers) go to the field (the world) and gather the harvest (the
converts, new births, etc.) that is ready and bring it back to the
storehouse (barn, Church). There it is separated (placed, fitted,
shaped, etc.) for its intended purpose (call, use, etc).
Back to the stone
analogy—the stones are found in the field or a stone quarry.
They are dug up and taken to a stonemason for cutting and shaping for
use. The stones that can’t be shaped go to the scrap heap.
How does this apply to
us? The Holy Spirit is God’s stonemason. We are stones that
have been dug up and are in the process of being shaped by the Holy
Spirit. He places us with people and in circumstances that create
friction to rub off the rough spots and polish the flat surfaces.
However, we don’t like the preparation work. We seek to escape
the shaping process (or refuse to yield to it to begin with) and,
because God gave us free will, many times we will escape. Anyone who
repeatedly does this, refusing to embrace God’s purposes, ends
up on the scrap heap (I do not mean that you loose your salvation,
only your usefulness to the work of God.)
2 Peter 1:4-8 gives us
the shaping process to produce the qualities necessary for us to not
be unfruitful, useless, and idle in the things of God. If we do
these things we will never fall. If we don’t we become useless
to the purposes of God. (We are not talking about salvation but the
work that God has called us to do.)
After shaping, God
places us in His Body—in the place where we fit. This brings
us into fulfilling the purposes of the Father in our life. We have
three primary aspects of His purpose as major focus for our work.
Extend the Kingdom of God—evangelism and lordship,
Destroy the strongholds of the enemy, and
Build up and strengthen the body—body ministry with each joint making supply.
God’s goals focus
on producing One—all things summed up in Christ. If we desire
to serve God, then our goals should align with God’s and be
designed to further God’s purposes. We should be one who helps
in the process of the summing up of all things in Christ. This is
the holy calling to which we have been called by the purpose of the
Lord. If our goals differ then we should consider the possibility
that rather than being a productive citizen of the Kingdom of God, we
may actually be hindering God’s purpose.
2 Timothy 1:9 KJV
(9) Who hath saved us, and
called us with a
holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own
purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before
the world began,
Hebrews 2:10 KJV
(10) For it became him, for
whom are all things, and by whom
are all things, in bringing
many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation
perfect through sufferings.
It is God's intention
to bring many sons to glory, summing them up in Christ. Christ is to
become the center of all things in Heaven and earth. The many sons
become His body, revealing the glory of God to all things. This is
God's two-fold purpose that was established before the world was
made.
We have a paternal
theme presented as the motivating factor for the works of God.
Every father, including our Heavenly Father, desires to have
sons—sons who look like him and carry forward the character and
purposes of the family. This is the revelation of the New Covenant.
Under the Old Covenant,
the people of God saw Him as God but were so afraid of Him that they
would not speak His name in case they would use it incorrectly.
However, Jesus came to show us the Father--to reveal the paternal
nature of God.
John 14:7-9 KJV
(7) If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
(8) Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
(9) Jesus saith unto him, Have
I been so
long time with
you, and
yet hast
thou not
known me,
Philip? he that
hath seen me
hath seen
the Father;
and how
sayest thou
then, Show
us the
Father?
Because it was the
Father's intention to bring many sons to glory, He made a way for us
to become sons of God. This is the very meaning of “being born
again”--that we are born of the Spirit and thus become children
of God.
John 1:12 KJV
(12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Romans 8:14-17 KJV
(14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
(15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
(16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
(17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Galatians 4:6-7 KJV
(6) And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
(7) Wherefore thou art no
more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God
through Christ.
And because we are His
Sons we must present to the world the same characteristics of the
Father that Jesus presented. Jesus declared, displayed,
and demonstrated the nature and character of the Father. We
as his “prophetic” body in the earth must do the same.
Therefore, our starting
point, our perspective, is with the paternal theme--God as our
Father. Because of that, He has a father's heart toward us and
develops in us a father's heart toward others.
Romans 11:36 KJV
(36) For of him, and through
him, and to him, are all
things: to whom be glory forever.
Amen.
This
scripture says that all
things are Of Him, through Him, and to Him. All
ministry begins “of Jesus”--He is the source or
originator of all things. All ministry is through Him; all ministry
is to Him. It is in His purpose that all things provide something to
God. We need to be able to see the fullness of the purposes of God in
this Scripture. All things begin in Jesus, all things are done
through Jesus, and all things are to Jesus.
Our starting point must
be God, the Father, and His purpose before the foundation of the
world. In Eternity, before our space-time continuum was created, God
purposed that Jesus would bring forth the revelation of Him as
Father and that through Jesus the Father would bring forth
restoration of all things that would be corrupted by the fall
of man and that in Jesus we would find the realization and
fulfillment of our destiny as pre-ordained by the Father.
Everything requires a
reference point that is placed in a proper perspective of the
Father's purposes. The reference point establishes a place to begin
and a place to which you can refer when you get off course. Our
reference point is determined by the perspective of the purposes of
God which we hold. Our problem is that various groups of God’s
people hold differing perspectives and therefore tend to have
differing reference points. To get the correct reference point we
must get to the correct perspective, that is, we must see things the
way that God sees them.
There are various
perspectives on the history of man, but to properly see our place and
functions requires that we see man from God's viewpoint and His
intention when He created us. We can break man's history into
several segments:
The intention of God before He created man;
The creation of man and the Garden period;
The fall of man, its consequences, and history since then;
The coming of the Savior and His cross, the Last Adam, the Second Man;
The new creation, becoming sons of God, justified, restored;
The fulfilling of man's purpose by application of the Way of the Cross; and
The summing up of many sons into the one new man.
Those who begin with
the creation of Adam emphasize the “dominion of man”
because man was created to “rule over” the rest of
creation. Those who begin with the fall of man only see man's sin,
depravity, and fallen nature. Those who begin with Jesus' death on
the cross emphasize man's need for a savior and Jesus' provision by
His death so that our sin's could be atoned.
When we see things from
an incorrect perspective or a short-sighted one, we are faced with
ongoing problems. Starting at the wrong place makes it difficult to
determine the proper course direction and impossible to determine if
we have gotten off course. Even if we determine that we have missed
the correct path, it is impossible to correct because we have no
proper point of reference with which to compare our course. We have
no way to connect the correct starting point with the correct
destination without a correct point of coordination.
This produces these three critical problem areas:
1. Beginning at the wrong point cause us to relate everything to a false reference point
2. We develop short-sightedness and nearsightedness
3. We develop
procedures based on an incomplete picture of the purpose of God
Our starting point can be
1. with creation
2. with man
3. with the fall, or
4. with the Eternal
Purpose of God.
To realize God's purpose we must correct our viewpoint problem.
1. By establishing the true point of reference—a proper perspective
2. By seeing the big picture of God's intention
3. By adjusting our
viewpoint to God's perspective.
We have to start with
God's purpose in order to understand His ways. It is God's desire
that we understand His ways because He desires for us to cooperate
with Him in His work. Some of our problems today are because the
Church is more interested in His acts than in His ways. That is the
mark of the immature.
Our starting point in
God determines all basic concepts of our understanding of the
ways of God. Since the present perspective of the Church is centered
in Man, his need and God's provision, we produce man-centered basic
concepts resulting in
1. an emphasis on the work that needs to be done by man
2. an emphasis on what God has done for man
3. an emphasis on what
God must do in man.
Each of these concepts
is good and can produce some good things in our lives. However, each
is only a piece of the big picture. We need to get a grasp on the
whole picture as God sees it.
For us to become a
Prophetic People, a Prophetic Church representing the Lord in the
earth, we must have the correct viewpoint—His. Only then can
we participate with Him in His purpose and play our roles in bringing
His purpose to completion in the earth. Our only problem is that we
only know in part. God doesn’t reveal everything to one
person.
1 Corinthians 13:9-12 KJV
(9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
(10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
(11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
(12) For now we see through
a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part;
but then shall I know even as also I am known.
This is a corporate
function not an individual one. None of us are capable of grasping
God’s viewpoint with our individual finite minds; however,
corporately, we have the Mind of Christ for He is the Head of the
Church. As each of us begins to walk in the individual prophetic
revelation of the plans and purposes of God and as each of us begins
to comprehend or gain a perspective on the ultimate intention of God,
we can come into a place where we can contribute what God has given
us toward a bigger, collective picture or understanding that
transcends our individual comprehension.
He intends that we function together and in unity. We need one another for each one makes supply to growth of the body. As we come together in one accord, unified in the Spirit, we are each able to contribute our part of the picture until we can begin to see the whole.
Prophetic people are
naturally supernatural. Their walk in the Spirit is a peaceful,
natural expression of the Life of the Lord and as different
situations are encountered, the power of the Spirit is shown in a
most natural way. The Holy Spirit may be manifested in a simple
manner or in a dramatic powerful display of the magnificence of the
Lord.
Prophetic people are
not loners, although they may be alone for a season. The Holy Spirit
causes them to desire to be with other believers in order to give and
receive of the life of the Lord and the fellowship of the Spirit.
However, many prophetic people do seem to be loners. This is because
others, through not understanding the working and gifting of the
Spirit, have hurt them deeply and they have withdrawn themselves from
close fellowship.
The Prophetic is an
organically grown function. The Body of Christ is an organism
not an organization. If I were to establish a business
organization, I would appoint executives, managers, and supervisors.
They would immediately begin to function in their jobs because they
make up the oversight and directive aspect of the business. Each one
has assigned responsibilities and objectives.
We have done the same
thing in the church. We incorporate and file papers with the
government naming the directors and establishing the By-laws. Our
traditional church structure appoints various positions of oversight,
government, and service like any other business organization. We try
to make it sound religious by giving these positions biblical names,
but it is like they say, “a rose by any other name is still a
rose”. We have an organization designed and implemented by the
rules and standards of the world, yet we want it to function like the
spiritually alive church of the first century.
As an organism, the
Body of Christ grows and matures naturally. The problem with an
organism is that at various stages of development there may not be
much resemblance to the full-grown specimen. Anyone looking at a
two-week-old fetus would never be able to describe what the
full-grown person would look like. Likewise, we can’t take a
tadpole out of the water, place it on land and say to it, “you’re
a frog, so jump”. There must be a growth process that causes
the tadpole to grow legs and be able to breath air.
So it is with the
prophetic—there must be a growth process, which takes time.
There is no such thing as “instant spirituality”, even
for one who is gifted by the Holy Spirit and who has a call upon his
life for ministry. While we may discuss various aspects of the
gifting of the Spirit in a segmented, clear-cut fashion so that we
can understand, or categorize the work of the Spirit so that we can
describe the expected results, the reality is that the body contains
the Life of the Lord and grows accordingly. Like any other organism,
the Body grows by that which every part supplies.
Ephesians 4:16 KJV
(16) From whom the whole body
fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint
supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every
part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in
love.
Learning to walk in the supernatural is a learned process. It takes time for us to grow properly in consistency and in veracity of the prophetic.
The gifts of the Spirit
are something that Paul told us that we should desire; but the
prophetic aspect is so needed by the Church that Paul told the
Corinthians to desire it more than the other gifts.
1 Corinthians 14:1 KJV
(1) Follow after charity, and
desire spiritual gifts, but
rather that ye may prophesy.
The gifts of the Spirit
are not our “play toys” nor are they medals of
spirituality that we wear on our chests. This type of thinking is
carnal. All manifestations of the Spirit are given to build up the
Body, and we who exercise the gifts do so for the profit and well
being of our fellow believers.
1 Corinthians 12:7 KJV
(7) But the manifestation of
the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
The Greek word for
“profit” (Strong’s # G4851) has the basic meaning
of “to bear together (contribute)”. The gifts aren’t
given to us for personal use but we are to bear together with others
and contribute what the Lord has provided so that others may be
edified.
The first aspect of the
prophetic is available to everyone and should function without strain
or effort in every gathering of believers.
1 Corinthians 14:31 KJV
(31) For ye may all prophesy
one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
Every Spirit-filled
believer may prophesy. This is the beginning of prophetic training
and for some will provide a foundation for further growth in the
other areas of the prophetic or other gifts of the Spirit.
This level of the
prophetic has strict limits for the types of prophecy given.
1 Corinthians 14:3 KJV
(3) But he that prophesieth
speaketh unto men to edification,
and exhortation, and comfort.
We are to edify, exhort
and comfort the other believers. The root word used here for
edification is an architectural word, which basically means to build
up. Every one of us needs to be built up, strengthened, and
established on a solid foundation. In the same way we need to be
exhorted to do the will of God, to yield to His dealings, and to not
compromise His call on our lives. And, on occasion, we all need to
be comforted, to know that God loves us and has not forsaken us.
We are told that the
operation of the Spirit in this way is not something that should be
stopped, squelched, or despised.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-20 KJV
(19) Quench not the Spirit.
(20) Despise not prophesyings.
Prophecy can become so
common that it makes no impact upon us. Even so, we must remember
that it is the Holy Spirit speaking to us through the filter of
people and not allow ourselves to take it for granted nor think too
little of the words brought or the ones through whom they come.
Why don’t we see
more people prophesying or excising the other gifts of the Spirit in
our meetings? Many times it is because we have not correctly
understood the process of prophecy and have been disappointed because
of seemingly inaccurate or unfulfilled prophetic messages.
When giving or
receiving prophecy there are three areas that need to be considered
by both the one giving the word and the one receiving it:
Revelation,
Interpretation, and
Application.
The one who is
prophesying may have a correct revelation but while giving it may
interpret it in an incorrect manner or the one receiving the word may
also interpret it incorrectly. If you do this it will cause a
correct word to be perceived as an incorrect word.
Even if the first two
steps occur correctly, many times the word will be applied to our
life circumstances incorrectly. Usually, this happens in the area of
timing. Many words may not be applicable to your situation until a
future time or set of circumstances.
Prophetic people (those
who are open to being used by the Holy Spirit) typically will have
one of two basic problems that hinder them from contributing to the
Body.
Inferiority—In the twelfth chapter of Corinthians Paul speaks of those who would say that because they weren’t the hand, or the ear, or the eye then they weren’t a part of the Body. We look at others and their function in the Body and our feelings of inferiority cause us to believe that because we don’t have the same function as others then we must not be a part.
Superiority—In this same chapter Paul goes on to speak of the other side of the problem. The eye can’t say to the hand, “I have no need of you.” This is one of the greatest dangers to one who is prophetically gifted. Pride causes them to begin to feel superior to the other members of the Body and that they don’t need them to be “spiritual”.
NOTE:
God is no respecter of persons. If either of these attitudes is
loose in the assembly then the Holy Spirit will shut off the flow of
the gifts and His anointing.
As various ones begin to gain experience with the Holy Spirit and His Gifts, some will begin to function consistently with certain types of gifts. Some may move consistently in healing or miracles or other gifts; but some will begin to function regularly and consistently in the revelatory gifts. As this continues to happen, they will naturally move into the next aspect of the prophetic.
Besides the general use
of the gifts, I see two characteristics of prophetic ministry:
Intercession, and
Worship
The intercessors
generally are a part of the “watchman” functions of the
Old Testament prophets (there are two types or categories). (There
is a third type but I consider it a bridge between the prophetic
ministry and the function of a Prophet, so it will be discussed in
that section of the lesson.) They are dependent upon the Holy Spirit
to direct their prayers and bring revelation of the will of God for
specific prayer warfare.
The first watchman
category is the Lookout type. These watchmen were on the walls of
the city so that they could see anyone approaching the gates of the
city. They reported any sightings to the Elders, which sat at the
gates. Normally, the watchman only reported (sometimes it was
obvious that it was a war party, in which case, he blew the trumpet).
Any action to be taken was not his decision. The Elders decided on
the action; whether those approaching were friend or foe; whether to
close the gates or leave them open, etc.
We need Lookout
Intercessors who can see into the spiritual world; who watch and pray
and report back on what they receive in their spirits.
The second watchman
category is the Harvest watchman. Small towers were built in the
middle of the vineyards and fields. Watchmen stayed in these and
watched for thieves, wild animals, fires, locusts, etc. They would
sound an alarm if anything threatened the future harvest. As the
crops matured, they also watched for the ripened fruit.
We need intercessors
who watch and pray over the assembly, always on the lookout for
thieves, or demonic “wild animals”, or other threats to
the well-being of the body.
The other category of
prophetic ministry is that of worshipers. While we all worship,
there are some that the Holy Spirit anoints especially for worship.
A worshiper is not doing anything for the Lord, or with
the Lord, but is ministering unto the Lord. Worship is a
function of the spirit and is spirit-to-Spirit, not soul-to-Spirit.
Look at the scenes in Heaven in Revelation and read the expressions
of worship by those in attendance in the Throne Room of God.
We need prophetic
worshipers who can, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, express
to God the fullness of our adoration and love for the Lord. But we
also need prophetic worshipers and intercessors that pray the type of
prayers that are mixed with incense on the Golden Altar before God.
Revelation 5:8 KJV
(8) And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.
Revelation 8:3-4 KJV
(3) And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
(4) And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
These are “prophetic
prayers” because they are part of the completing of the purpose
of God as His judgment comes on the lawless.
These problem areas are
applicable to both the prophetic ministry and to the Prophets and are
presented as a combined list.
False spirituality: The person assumes a persona that he (she) believes to be the way a “spiritual” person would look and act. As a consistent expression of the prophetic, they can take on a “wild-eyed” expression, speak in a deep resonant voice, utilize “spiritual language”, that is, “Thus saith the Lord God” in King James English, and raise their voices in loud declaratory shouting. While at times, some of these things may be appropriate; they should not be the norm.
Spiritual
superiority. These people
believe that they have matured into a special relationship with the
Lord. They begin to think very highly of themselves and as a result
they believe that they are
Always right: Because
the person is hearing from God, he (she) will begin to take a
stance of always being right, hearing right, and speaking right.
They forget that we hold the treasure in an earthen vessel.
Uncorrectable: This is a result of the “always right” problem. Once a person believes that he (she) is right, it becomes very difficult for them to receive anything that would differ from their perception.
Clone syndrome: “If you were really close to the Lord like I am, you would be doing the same thing that I am doing (and doing it the same way)”. God doesn’t produce clones; He produces sons and daughters.
Spiritual approval and endorsement. Because they move in the gifts of the Spirit and God does miracles are other astounding works, these believe that God has put his divine seal of approval on them. This results in incorrect attitudes such as
Gifts = character: This becomes an incorrect assumption among prophetic people. Gifts are just that—gifts. They are not earned nor bestowed as an act of approval. Character development is a requirement of maturing in God. It doesn’t matter how many gifts nor how powerful the gifts, we are not excused from the proper development of godly character.
Gifts = doctrinal accuracy: This problem is a corollary of the one above and is very dangerous to the Church. Gifted and prophetic people make the incorrect assumption that God has put His stamp of approval on their doctrine. For some reason, Prophets always want to teach, which is not their area of calling. The result is muddled, confused, and erroneous teaching that leads many astray from the purposes of God.
Gifts = maturity: Gifts of Grace are given to all levels of maturity. They are not merit badges, nor earned by consecration. Sometimes this will encourage some to “fake it” so as not to appear un-gifted.
Anointing hype: Methodology or style does not produce anointing. Neither gifts nor anointing are a divine endorsement of ministry style. The anointing is not dependent upon mood or atmosphere. Methodology becomes a prop and leads to hype and exaggeration. We desire to never look weak; however, Paul delighted in weakness (see 2 Cor. 9-10).
High mindedness: Prophetic people need to guard against becoming high minded and thinking more highly of themselves than they should. Most prophetic people do not have a gift of leadership. This is one of the reasons that leadership is always plural. It is a mistake for only the prophetically gifted to lead the prophetically gifted. When this happens there is no balance to the prophetic. A leader of prophetically gifted people needs to understand the gifting and operation of the prophetic, but doesn’t need to be a prophetically gifted person himself. In plural leadership, it may even be desirable for them to not be in order to add balance to the prophetic group.
New Testament prophets
are different than Old Testament prophets. Also, a prophet is
different than one who prophesies. One can prophesy regularly and
still not be a prophet. Paul said that all may prophesy one by one.
He said that we all should desire to prophesy so that the Church
could be edified. Prophesy should be universal in the Body of
Christ because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy as
mentioned earlier in the lesson. Yet, Paul clearly says that all are
not prophets.
1 Corinthians 12:29 KJV
(29) Are
all apostles? are all prophets?
are all teachers? are
all workers of miracles?
The answer to each of
these questions is clearly no. Then, what is the difference between
prophesying and being a prophet?
The gift of prophecy is
a gift of the Holy Spirit to a person.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 KJV
(7) But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
(8) For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
(9) To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
(10) To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
(11) But all these worketh that
one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he
will.
The gift of a Prophet
is a gift of Jesus to His People—His Church.
Ephesians 4:8 KJV
(8) Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Ephesians 4:11 KJV
(11) And he gave some,
apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;
Commonly called the
5-fold Ministry, these are gifts of men to the Body. Some call these
offices but I think it better to call them functions.
When we speak of offices it reminds me of an organization but
when we speak of functions it is more in the manner of an
organism. We do not all have the same function, but there is a
diversity of function so that corporately we can manifest the full
ministry of Jesus in the earth.
Each function is an
aspect of the ministry of Jesus. The Apostle is Jesus manifesting
His ministry as the Apostle of the Father though a person. The
Prophet is Jesus manifesting His ministry as a Prophet through a
person and so it is with Evangelist, Shepherd and Teacher.
Since these functions
are people, we can think of them as callings. As a matter of fact, I
believe that these are what Paul referred to as the “high
calling” of Jesus. While we are born into the Family, we are
called to work and some are even called to a “higher”
work.
We become children of
God by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can do nothing to earn
our position in Christ. However, the work he has called us to do is
a different matter. We have to be trained properly for work. In
other words we have to “qualify” for work and if that is
true, we can also be “disqualified”.
Paul speaks of this in
relation to himself (that should make us pause and think!).
1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV
(27) But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
The word for “castaway”
means “unapproved”, “rejected” or “worthless”
(Strong’s # G96). Paul used sports terminology to show that we
needed training and discipline in order to do the work that He called
us to do. Without training and discipline we could become worthless
and unapproved for the work. (Again, this is NOT salvation that is
being discussed.)
Peter said it this way:
2 Peter 1:8 KJV
(8) For if these things be in
you, and abound, they make you
that ye
shall neither be
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In the original, this
is the word for “barren” (Strong’s definition):
G692
“argos” From
G1 (as a negative particle) and G2041; inactive, that is,
unemployed; (by implication) lazy, useless: - barren,
idle, slow.
If the qualities that
Peter is telling us about are developed in us, then we will be
employed in the Kingdom of God; we will not be inactive.
The 5-fold ministry
functions are “employment opportunities”. Jesus has
pre-selected (called, elected) some for these functions. But those
so called must mature or grow into them.
Most of the clearly
seen functions of the Old Testament Prophet have been divided and
diffused, dispersed and distributed among the people of God by
the Holy Spirit under the New Covenant. What, then, does a New
Testament Prophet do?
One function grows out
of the Intercessor Ministry and that is a watchman after the manner
of Ezekiel. I call this type a Prophet of Repentance. His job is to
warn the people of approaching judgment from the Lord and their need
of repentance. He must so identify with the people that to not warn
them would cause him to incur the judgment along with them. This is
part of his motivation.
Ezekiel 3:17 KJV
(17) Son of man, I have made
thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at
my mouth, and give them warning from me.
To me, the Repentance
Prophet is what is needed in the American Church and in terms of our
corporate walk one of the most valuable functions of the prophetic
for the purity of the Church.
I believe that most of
the New Testament Prophet’s work relates to the corporate
expression of Christ and to the fulfilling of God’s purpose
according to His timeline. Usually, they are more concerned with the
overall plan of God, the key events of His timeline, and calling of
His workers than they are of individually focused words of the nature
of the general or basic prophetic functions of the Holy Spirit.
One can see this
pattern when we look at the recorded passages of the work of a New
Testament Prophet.
Acts 11:27-28 KJV
(27) And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
(28) And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Acts 21:10-12 KJV
(10) And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
(11) And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.
(12) And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
Acts 15:32 KJV
(32) And Judas and Silas, being
prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and
confirmed them.
Agabus first prophesied
a drought. This is certainly important to the believers and allowed
them time to prepare for it and allowed time for other areas to send
help. This was a predictive prophecy that warned of trouble coming.
Later, Agabus gave a
prophetic word to Paul and demonstrated the meaning of the word.
Paul was at a crucial decision point that affected his future
ministry. Since Paul was one of God’s key men in His timeline,
Agabus was sent with a warning of impending trouble.
Judas and Silas, as
prophets, exhorted and confirmed the brethren concerning the word
received from the Jerusalem Church regarding the requirements for the
Gentiles. This wasn’t the same as the individual prophetic
functions of edification, exhortation, and comfort but rather this
was for the whole group of believers. This is one of three reasons
that God provides the prophetic to His people and why we should all
seek to function in the prophetic service.
Reasons for the prophetic:
Exhort and confirm (Acts 15:32)
Minimize unbelief ( I Cor. 14:24-25)
Eliminate boredom—provide fresh anointing
The place and function
of a Prophet plays a key role in the purposes of God. They form part
of the Church foundation along with the apostles and Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:20-22 KJV
(20) And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
(21) In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord:
(22) In whom ye also are
builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.
These scriptures are
not talking about the Old Testament prophets because the apostles are
mentioned first.
It is to the apostles
and prophets that God reveals His mysteries. They then make those
known to the rest of the people of God.
Ephesians 3:5 KJV
(5) Which in other ages was not
made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy
apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
God has set an order of
importance (of function not value) in the Church, which puts the
apostles, prophets, and teachers at the head of the list.
1 Corinthians 12:28 KJV
(28) And God hath set some in
the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers,
after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments,
diversities of tongues.
Why are these listed
first? I believe it is because of the importance of the Word of God
to His people. These three functions all handle the Word and are
responsible for its distribution. God holds His Word as very
important.
Tests of Proper
Prophetic Relationship to the Lord:
Surrender and consecration: willingness to speak the hard word and accept the persecution and reproach that results from its delivery. The desire is to see the Lord's will and word brought forth at the proper time and the proper place with the proper emphasis.
Honesty and integrity: ability to remain silent when God has not spoken regardless of the apparent need of the moment. The desire is to only deliver the Lord's word. If God has not spoken then God has not spoken and we should in no way imply that He has.
Maturity and security: willingness to be silent when God has spoken or given revelation but requires you to keep quiet about it. Sometimes the word from the Lord is for our benefit so that we might understand what He is doing.
Before maturing a
prophet has to pass all of these tests. Many times prophetic people
act like a child who has a secret and can’t wait to tell it to
someone. Also, they always want to get the credit for God speaking.
As you begin to move in
the prophetic, there are three areas that must be addressed quickly.
Timing—not only must the word be a correct word from the Lord, it must be delivered at the correct time and in the appropriate place. Timing is difficult because prophets tend to be task-oriented people. They want to accomplish the goal. They put agendas before relationships. Rather than wait on the proper time, they want to give the word and move on.
Harshness—there is a tendency for those newly moving in the prophetic to give harsh words, full of doom and gloom. Consider the heart of the Lord and deliver the prophetic with the proper emotions. Don’t make the mistake of Moses when he was angry with the people and God wasn’t.
Pride—we puff up very quickly. Just remember, God can speak through any Ass—just like He did to Balaam!
Prophetic people tend
to wear themselves out. Jeremiah gives us an important perspective.
Jeremiah 12:5 KJV
(5) If thou hast run with the
footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with
horses? and if in the land of
peace, wherein thou trustedst,
they wearied
thee, then how wilt thou do in
the swelling of Jordan?
There are some important lessons here. First, we should evaluate ourselves and not extend into areas for which we don’t have the strength or stamina. Second, we need to find our “cruising speed”—the pace that doesn’t wear us out. Third, expect the Lord to provide ways of strengthening or increasing your abilities in order to accomplish His work.
Not only are we to be a
prophetic people, corporately we must also be a prophetic expression
of the Lord. We are His Body. Collectively, we represent the
fullness of Jesus in the earth. The Church must fulfill its role in
the purposes of God during the end times. The prophetic Church acts
corporately in a manner similar to the Old Testament Prophets.
Characteristics of
the Prophetic Church in its Corporate Expression:
Shows forth a reconciled and a reconciling community of believers. All divisions based on race, economic differences, social status, and every other form of elitism must be biblically challenged. Reconciling work is being done toward healing every form of divided relationships.
Recognizes the real enemy. The Prophetic Church recognizes that our warfare is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities, powers and spiritual wickedness that is behind the physical. The true enemy must be defined in the spiritual realm that lies behind the visible enemy.
Renounces the world’s definition and practice of powe