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Mission Statement
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PROPHECY The desire to talk to and hear God speak is implanted in the heart at salvation. In fact, just to acknowledge Jesus is also acknowledging prophecy. Rev. 19:10 Since with the New Covenant, we all have the Holy Spirit living inside us, we can all hear God speak. Indeed, we have the responsibility of listening to Him. Those with the spiritual, motivational gift of prophecy seem to have the desire to talk to and listen to God very strongly. The desire and communication is just there. It is not sought or asked for; God just makes the believer hungry for Him. As the communication begins to flow, the hunger and desire for God is whetted even more. The desire and ability to seek God out, pay the price, suffer for more of God, is somehow more self-understood for the person with the ministry of prophecy. Like all the other gifts of the Spirit, the gift of prophecy cannot be bought, bargained for or earned. It is a gift. Period. How far each of us gets into prophecy and the level to which God uses us in this gift depends on what we each do with 1 Corinthians 14:1. Anyone can seek this gift and anyone can be given a word of prophesy as anyone can be chosen of God to be a messenger for Him. But how the gift of prophecy is used and if a person also fills the office of prophet is strictly God’s choice. It is His decision to designate them for speaking publicly or public office. “The impartation of spiritual gifts is not dependent upon performance or pressure from men.” Larry J. Randolph, User Friendly Prophecy, p. 26 Since the heart of prophecy is hearing God, sometimes the lines between prophet, teacher, apostle, etc. can become blurred. Some simple definitions: “An apostle is a sent one who establishes and builds the church.” “The teacher explains and enforces biblical truth.” “The prophet is a messenger to the church.” “He is recognized as a divine channel of fresh revelation. This revelation is not extra-biblical revelation, but fresh light brought upon biblical truth.” Larry J. Randolph, User Friendly Prophecy, p. 21 PROPHECY DEFINED Greek: “To speak in behalf of another; mouthpiece.” Like a lawyer. A prophet or prophetess is a spokesman for God to His people. 1 Peter 4:10,11 Another way of putting it is that prophecy is just God speaking through His people. This gift is given to those who have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit because the baptism is what gets the Holy Spirit who dwells inside the believer, out so that streams of living water can flow out from our lives. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is given for the purpose of being God’s witnesses, of giving testimony about Jesus. And Revelation 19:10 tells us that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The gift of prophecy is a resident anointing. It is something that comes out from within us. This is something people often don’t understand. They think God just talks to “special” people. Or they pray and fast and wait for the Spirit to come upon them so they can prophesy. They don’t understand the difference between how this gift was used in the Old Testament and how it was used in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, the gift of prophecy came upon a person. It came from outside themselves. “I have put My spirit upon Him” Isaiah 42:1 “The word of the Lord came unto me.” Ezekiel 6:1 “The spirit of the Lord God is upon Me.” Isaiah 61:1 Moses wanted all the people to be prophets but he thought in terms of the Spirit coming upon them. Numbers 11:29 “Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him; and He took of the Spirit who was upon him and placed Him upon the seventy elders. And it came about that when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do it again.” Numbers 11:25 The gift of prophecy was dependent on an outside force at a particular time and place. It had nothing to do with their character, holy living or personal righteousness. That is how it was possible for King Saul to be living in rebellion and still have the “spirit of prophecy” fall on him. This same thing can happen today. A spirit of prophecy can fall on a congregation and people who normally would not prophesy find they can do so. However, God has more for us than just the spirit of prophecy. God fulfilled Moses’ desire for everyone to be a prophet when He sent Jesus. Jesus demonstrated the life of walking in the Spirit. Then He told His disciples, “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. John 16:7 He told them the Holy Spirit would come upon them. Acts 1:8 He had already told them that the “Spirit of truth…dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:17 When that happened, it set into play a whole new dynamic. The baptism of the Holy Spirit created an open channel for prophecy to flow – and out of it came Peter’s sermon. Later, when Paul met the Christians in Ephesus, he met some disciples of John and asked, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said, “No,” submitted to water baptism, then Paul laid his hands on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:2-6 From that point on, we see how Holy Spirit baptism allows the Spirit resident within the believer to come out. Think on these verses: “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit…” Acts 2:4 “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27 “…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith… Ephesians 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you…” Colossians 3:16 “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you…” 1 John 2:27 The difference between the Old and New Testament prophets is that now the Holy Spirit is given freely to all of God’s people. We are to seek the gift not the ministry. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6; 14:1 It is from within that the spirit of prophecy and the gift of prophecy comes forth. That’s why it is not only critical but necessary for the believer to learn to distinguish between his own voice and the Lord’s voice. Prophecy will always come from an intimate walk with God. What used to happen just once in a while in the Old Testament is now inside of every believer. Getting it out and usable to the body takes time, lots of discipline, humility, stumbling, falling, a few cuts and bruises. We want God to speak to us in the natural, show us something we can see, touch, feel, or hear. And He often does – through dreams, visions, an audible voice, angels, etc. But most of the time, it comes from within. And that is what makes using the gift of prophecy so scary. That’s why we need to have the Word of God memorized in our hearts and minds. Another way of putting it is that “Old Testament prophecy is revelation received; whereas, much of New Testament prophecy is revelation perceived.” Larry J. Randolph, User Friendly Prophecy, p. 34 “The New Testament ‘gift of prophecy’ carries with it the privilege of interpreting the thought and intent of God’s heart…We, as believers under the New Covenant, have a greater latitude of expression than did our Old Testament counterparts.” Larry J. Randolph, User Friendly Prophecy, p. 34 When we speak a word of prophecy, it will come through our voice, with our way of expression and in our language. That’s why I say that the heart of any prophecy is the relationship between the vessel used and God Himself. Since He created us for fellowship with Himself, prophecy is the core of the Christian life, which is walking and talking with God and being available for His use. Jeremiah 1:7,9; Isaiah 6:7,8 We are to not only be witnesses for the Lord, we are to be His voice to one another and to the world. John 20:21 God shares His secrets only with His friends, so our goal is to become His friend. How do we do this? By listening, communicating, hanging out with each other, all the things you do to become someone’s friend here on earth. There is one major difference between friendship with God and friendship with another person. God calls His friends only those who walk in obedience and submission to Him. As we walk in obedience, we can then prophesy, not because we’re perfect, but because the Perfect Word is inside us. Prophecy is something that is developed over time by those who spend time with God. THE CATEGORIES OF PROPHECY There are two general categories of prophecy: The interpretation of God’s divine will and purpose – which has 9 categories under it, and the foretelling of future events. Thus, it is easy to understand why all Christians are to seek this gift since we all are to have an answer to every one who asks about the hope that is within us. All can exercise this gift. 1 Corinthians 14:31 Even new believers. Acts 19:6 The purpose of prophecy to an individual or group is: 1. Edification – to instruct or improve, to build, to establish, to confirm.1 Corinthians 14:3 Edification is like a trial in which there are two people who point out the sin of the defendant. The prosecuting attorney does so for the purpose of punishment. The defense attorney points out the sin for the purpose of saving him. Example: 1 Chronicles 17:7-15; Acts 9:10-18; 1 Timothy 1:18; Luke 2:27-33 2. Exhortation – to encourage or urge earnestly by advice or warning, the act of crying out, wooing, calling near.1 Corinthians 14:3; Acts 15:32 This gift is used to move people or a church forward in the direction they should go. Examples: 2 Timothy 4:2; Acts 11:23; 14:22; 1 Timothy 2:1; Titus 2:6 3. Consolation – to comfort or cheer, to come alongside, to strengthen and reinforce. 1 Corinthians 14:3; Psalm 78 Examples: Isaiah 51:3a; Isaiah 61:1-2; 2 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:11,14; 2 Corinthians 7:6; James 2:13; Isaiah 40:2; Romans 2:4 4. To awaken God’s people to hear God’s word Ezekiel 2:3,4; 3:10,11; Revelation 3:1-3 Notice some of the specific words used here. When God talks to the prophet, He uses words like listen, take, go, speak. When the prophet then takes the word of God and speaks to the people, he uses words like wake up, strengthen, remember, keep it repent. It is also worth noting that the recipients of the prophetic word could have heard the word themselves, but they did not. A prophetic word is characterized by the Holy Spirit’s action both in the speaker and the hearer. Something happens. God’s word is power and authority. Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones came together at the spoken word of prophecy. Pharaoh hardened his heart when Moses spoke the words of prophecy. The power of God is brought into action in some way. Ezekiel 2:5 5. To lead God’s people into worship 1 Chronicles 25:1,3, often with musical accompaniment. Psalm 46:47; 47:33; 31:23,24; 24; 29; 98; 100; 107 This is sometimes called inspirational prophecy which is concerned more with the response of the hearers than in giving direction or communication. 6. For conviction. 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 If we feel we are to give a prophetic word for the purpose of conviction, we’d better be sure we’re right and that our hearts are pure. A convicting word of prophecy gives the person a chance to humble himself and repent. Most of the time, if he/she won’t repent, they will respond in anger so the prophet must be prepared to receive the anger and not respond in kind. Some teachers of prophecy say this aspect of prophecy should be done only by the mature prophet. Some even say it should be given only by one who stands in the office of prophet. I believe that prophetic words of correction or rebuke should only be used as a last resort and only under to guidelines of being cleaned out, ‘fessed up, and under authority after being thoroughly washed in tears. 7. An impartation of something of value and substance that God has worked in us. Timothy was imparted a gift by prophetic utterance that Paul told him not to neglect. 1 Timothy 4:14; Genesis 48-49; Numbers 27:18-23; Matthew 10:1 This requires spiritual stamina and, if the impartation is not to be from your soul, it requires spiritual experience. Only what has been put in us by the Holy Spirit is worth imparting to others. Again, not for the novice in prophecy. 8. To know how to pray Psalm 67; plus many Old Testament prophets who were called on to pray and intercede for people. 9. For guidance or revelation. Ephesians 3:3-5; Acts 10:10-11; Acts 21:4,10-11; Hosea 1:2-3; 1 Samuel 15; Acts 8:26-40 This guidance can be general or specific. This kind of prophecy can be very helpful to people or churches but it must be done only with caution and probably not by the beginner. If we are wrong about the direction we give, we bear the responsibility and judgment that comes if we lead someone down the wrong path. 10. To foretell the future Acts 21:8-11; much of Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Revelation, etc. Acts 11:27,28; Jeremiah 28:16,17 “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7 Historical reports tell us that Christians in Jerusalem moved to Pella before Titus sacked the city because they believed Jesus’ prophecy “when you see the city surrounded…” In the fall of 1975, during the civil war, a prophecy warned Christians in Beirut, Lebanon to leave their homes and live for a while in the U.S. Shortly after they left, their building was bombed. JUDGING PROPHECY Measures by which prophecy must be judged are: 1. It will be fulfilled. Deuteronomy 18:22 Fulfillment must take into consideration any and all “ifs” God may put in. Many prophecies carry a condition that must be met before the prophecy can be fulfilled. Thus Jonah was not a false prophet. But even if it comes true, if it or the person giving it leads you away from God, it is not from the Lord. Deuteronomy 13:1-5 2. It will agree with scripture; it can be tested. Proverbs 30:5; 2 Samuel 22:31 3. Prophecy will witness or be confirmed by your spirit. Hebrews 10:15 God doesn’t sneak up on us and surprise us if we are continually attuned to Him. He prepares the ground for the seed of truth before planting. We respond with agreement or anger depending on our attitude. Ezekiel 2:5 4. The vessel used to prophesy will have the fruit of the Spirit growing obviously in his/her life 1 Timothy 3:5; Matthew 7:16,20 His/her home life will be in order, bills paid, etc. 1 Corinthians 14:29 5. The spirit of the prophet will be Jesus. Revelation 19:10; John 16:13,14 The motivation for giving it, even if it is one of judgment, will be love. 1 John 4:16,2; Galatians 5:13; 1 Timothy 1:5; John 13:35 6. It won’t be given in a corner or done in a covert way. 1 Corinthians 14:4 7. It is judged by the giver before he gives it. 1 John 4:1, and judged by other prophets after he gives it. 1 Corinthians 14:29 8. It may include the “revelation gifts” – word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discerning of spirits. These 4 gifts often overlap each other. Word of wisdom = Divine application of God’s will for a person or situation Word of knowledge = Knowing something that you have no way of knowing in the natural even though other people may know it. Discernment of spirits = Recognizing the demonic. Distinguishing between black and white, right and wrong. Discernment can be gained through experience, the study of personalities, body language, etc. But that kind of discernment is not a Gift of the Spirit. This is why Discernment of spirits as given in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 is considered one of the “Revelation gifts” along with word of wisdom and knowledge. (Power gifts = working of miracles, healing and faith.) (Utterance gifts = tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy) If a particular prophecy is delivered that meets all of the above guidelines except #3, it would be a safe assumption to conclude that something is wrong with you. Either you are out of tune with the Lord, don’t know the whole situation, or some such. In a large gathering, it is possible the particular prophecy is for an individual in which case your responsibility is to pray for an open heart. You must always be aware that the person needing the open heart could be you. We all have blind spots. Be careful not to get into a judgmental attitude. We need to recognize that anyone who prophesies does so with the level of faith, the knowledge and the understanding of the gift that they have at that particular time. “We then who are strong ought to bear with the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself…” Romans 1:1-3 In other words, we must allow for one another’s mistakes and immaturity. LEVELS OF THE PROPHETIC The use of the prophetic gift depends upon calling, maturity, personality, and ministry. In recent years, recognized prophets have begun to distinguish four levels of the prophetic. 1. The spirit of prophecy. This is when the anointing of the Holy Spirit falls on a group of people that makes it possible for non-prophetic people to prophesy. This often happens in intercessory prayer groups of mature, experienced intercessors. 2. The gift of prophecy. This is given to fewer people but all are told to seek it. This is a gift planted within the person that can be used anytime, anywhere dependent only on how developed in its use they are. 3. The prophetic mantle. This is #2 but stronger in commitment. It is a lifestyle devoted to the prophetic. It permeates every aspect of your life. 4. The office of prophet. This is a sovereign calling on people who have had extensive training in hearing God’s voice. It is also a governmental office in the church. It will include all the aspects of prophecy. It is the only level where a person has the authority to direct or correct an entire body of believers. Examples of people with the gift of prophecy and the ministry of prophet are as follows: GIFT: Amos 7:14,15 was a herdsman and fig picker. GIFT: Isaiah’s wife was a prophetess, but… MINISTRY: God used Isaiah in the ministry to speak to Israel. At the same time… GIFT: Micah was a farmer who prophesied at the same time as Isaiah. He prophesied about Jesus’ birth. Isaiah prophesied about Jesus’ death. GIFT: Jeremiah was a prophet with the ministry of a priest. MINISTRY: Ezekiel was a priest who was a prophet. GIFT: Phillip’s daughters had the gift but… MINISTRY: Agabus was given the ministry, in the presence of Philip’s daughters to prophesy of Paul’s imprisonment. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 tells us there are not only different gifts but different administrations and operations of those gifts. This gives the Lord a lot of variety and choices to mix and match their gifts, ministries, and personalities. A good example is the contrast between Haggai and Zechariah. Both were prophets but how they used their gift and fulfilled their ministries was different. Both Haggai and Zechariah used sermons but. . . Haggai was an exhorter. Zechariah was an encourager. Haggai shot from the hip with rebuke. Zechariah shot from the heart with restoration. Haggai was concerned with the present. Finish the temple! Take part! Zechariah was concerned with the future. Messiah is coming! Take heart! MARKS OF A PROPHET
HOW TO GROW IN THE GIFT OF PROPHECY As with the other gifts of the Spirit, but even more so with the gift of prophecy, I think, we must have a purpose for seeking it and growing in it, and using it. Without a purpose, we don’t know what we’re aiming for and therefore we’ll hit what we don’t want to. When looking for your purpose, search the scripture. Here are some passages that will steer us in the right direction. Encourage one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13 Therefore comfort each other and edify (build one another up) one another.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification (building up) of the church that you seek to excel. 1 Corinthians 14:12 …speaking the truth in love may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ – from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:15-16 You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Proverbs 25:11 When we “discern” something negative about someone, it is because of one of three reasons; 1. We’ve discerned a spirit from which they need to be delivered. 2. We’ve received a word of knowledge. 3. Something in their personality rubs against something in ours. Most of the time our “discernment” is for the third reason and we have the three fingers pointing back at ourselves. I believe that for most of us, this third point is what keeps us from receiving one another with pure love. And then, when we don’t want to or are unable to see as God sees and change ourselves, we call it discernment. We must be careful not to prophesy out of our feelings. If we’re angry with a person or church, whatever we say may be right but it will come out angry. If we’re touched by their hurt, it can come out mushy. We must learn to lay aside our own emotions and express the emotions of God, with His heart and His attitude. To grow, we need to not think too highly of ourselves or presume that we are at a place spiritually that we’re not. If we don’t, we’ll end up running ahead of the Holy Spirit or worse, run ahead of our gifting and end up operating in the flesh which can bring harm to the person we’re trying to help as well as to ourselves. We can’t give what we don’t have ourselves. We must minister in the level of faith that we have, not someone else’s. “Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Proverbs 26:12 If you have the gift of prophecy or seek it, you will become very sensitive to spiritual impulses of all kinds. Hence the need to always check what you hear. Scripture advises us to judge everything carefully including all prophetic utterances. 1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:20,21 We need to remain teachable to learn from those who are more advanced in the gift of prophecy than ourselves. Be willing to start at the bottom and exercise patience. This will take time, trial, endurance, suffering. Look at Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David. They all started at the bottom until they became content to stay there. Then, in God’s timing, they were promoted. “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much.” Luke 16:10 God increases faith to the faithful. We need to stop seeking a prophetic word for ourselves and become a channel to give a word to others. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” Matthew 20:28 “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35 We must walk in obedience and leave the results to God. We need to seek God as to what to do with the gift He’s given us, and then obey what He says. We must remain pure in regard to things of the flesh such as violence, sexual perversion, the occult. The counterfeit gift of prophecy is out there and it will grab us if we allow an opening. We must endure. This endurance includes the enduring of time, circumstance, other people, and misunderstandings. We must not draw attention to our gifting or take credit for what we receive. No bragging. God tells His secrets to people He can trust. We must prophesy with integrity. If we have to tell people we have the gift of prophecy to get them to listen to us, or get someone else to tell them, then we probably don’t have it. We must have patience. In time, “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.” Proverbs 18:16 It takes time. 2 Corinthians 3:18 We must be willing to be in submission to God, those whom God has placed over us and to our peers. Ephesians 5:21 We must do this with a good attitude. This is necessary for us to be able to work in harmony with what God is doing in the larger body of Christ. Mark it down that you will fail. We do not succeed and never will if we are unwilling to fail in front of people. This is embarrassing. This is hard when people without grace or mercy are the ones we’ve fallen in front of. But it will happen and we must learn to deal with it. “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:14 This is the difference between those who prophesied in the Old Testament and we who are in the New Testament age. When we fail, we will not be stoned to death for two reasons: 1.We receive our prophecy in a different manner. It comes from within us rather than coming upon us. 2. “For we know in part and we prophesy in part.” 1 Corinthians 13:9 Mark it down that you will suffer. “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Hebrews 5:8 When we do fail, we must we willing to admit it rather than to cover it up. Until or unless God releases you and you have the authority of those to whom you are accountable, limit your prophecy to edification, exhortation, comfort (consolation), worship, knowing how to pray. Do not use prophecy to manipulate people or circumstances. Again, use the gift with integrity. We must bless, not curse. Do not imitate others. Just be yourself and let the gift come out of you according to your own personality. Avoid spiritual weirdness like the plague. God may have you do strange things but they won’t be bizarre. We are to be naturally supernatural, not unnatural. Your gift will not make you mature. Time, knowledge, experience, trial and error, exposure to others with prophetic giftings, and the work of the fruit of the Spirit in your life will make us mature. Matthew 12:33 “Christian maturity denotes a state of being where one is complete in God, thoroughly developed, and fully grown. This maturity reflects being responsible beyond duty, bearing the burdens of others, giving more than you receive, loving more than you are loved, going the extra mile with your brother, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit, and esteeming others better than yourself.” Larry J. Randolph, User Friendly Prophecy, p. 165 “Tools” God uses to speak prophetically
Today, many are calling for the gift of prophecy to be used in evangelism – to take the gift of the Holy Spirit beyond the four walls of the church. This is a very effective “tool” to use but it requires a lot of courage and confidence. God has used me in this way many times and it’s always been well received. But it’s also scary to me because of my own pride and fear. GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING PROPHECIES 1. The revelation itself. Where did it come from? 2. The interpretation of the revelation. We must be careful to allow God to give His own definitions to words. If we’ve received a vision or a dream, we must let Him tell us what things mean. 3. The application of the interpretation to real life. How and where is it to be given? Publicly, privately, in a small group? It is to be given in words, in song, dance or drama? Are you to be forthright in giving it, soft and gentle, with grace, with humor or with all soberness? Are we even supposed to share what we’ve received? Remember, the receiver must be ready to receive it. If we give a word too soon, it can do more harm than good. One time, I received a word of prophecy for a friend. But I was instructed not to give it to her. So I just used it for prayer and thought that was it. More than 8 months later, she asked me if I had a word for her and I remembered the prophecy. So I got it out and gave it to her. She was very receptive and blessed. She asked why I hadn’t given it to her when I’d first received it, then admitted that she would not have been in a position to have received it and was glad that I’d waited. We must take what God gives us and use wisdom in what to do with it. “Spiritual maturity is not defined by what you know but by what you do with the knowledge you have. Likewise, in regard to prophecy, it is often a greater act of maturity to remain silent than to speak a word out of season.” Larry J. Randolph, User Friendly Prophecy, p. 173 Always make allowances for the immature. We all have to learn and we learn by falling down and getting up. Falling down and getting up. Falling down and getting up. The spokesman may be male or female. All prophecy is conditional, in that it is subject not only to conditions placed by God within the text of the prophecy, but by the receptivity of the person it’s given to. God made a prophecy to the Israelites in Egyptian bondage that He would bring them into a land of milk and honey. But they were not receptive to receiving it and walking in obedience. So God’s word was made null and void. Their children became the heirs of the prophetic word that was not given to them initially. The opposite was true of Nineveh. They were receptive so the promised judgment didn’t fall on them. SUMMARY
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