Developing Prophetic Ministry

1. Developing Prophetic Ministry The nature of prophecy

2. de*vel*op • 1. to change, or cause to change and become larger, stronger and more impressive, successful or advanced • 2. to arise and then increase or progress to a more complex state • 3. to aquire a feature or habit, that then becomes more marked and extreme • 4. to add details to a basic plan or idea • 5. to become apparent and thus resolve a question or clarify a situation • 6. to present the sequential events or successive stages of a story, or to have such events or stages revealed

3. Why Prophecy? Surely the Lord Jehovah will do nothing, except he reveal his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared; who will not fear? The Lord Jehovah hath spoken; who can but prophesy? Amos 3:7-8

4. What is Prophecy • Foretelling (to make known before the time) • Forth telling (to make clear or plain) • Functional Gifts • A spiritual gift (operational) • I Corinthians 12,14 • A motivational gift (offering) • Romans 12 • A leadership gift (office) • Ephesians 4:11

5. What Does Prophecy Do? But he who prophesies speaks to men words of edification, encouragement and comfort… he who prophesies does good to the Church.1 Corinthians 14:3-4 • Three Prophetic Functions • builds up - Edification • bucks up - Exhortation • binds up - Comfort Notice the direction?

6. What Does Prophecy Do? Resource for Living • Prophecy creates order from chaos • Genesis 1 • Prophecy produces faith foundations • Romans 10:7 • Prophecy releases a destiny with hope • Psalm 130:5 • Prophecy provides fighting tools • 1 Timothy 1:18

7. What Does Prophecy Do? Encourages believers • en·cour·age • to give somebody hope, confidence, or courage • to urge somebody in a helpful way to do or be something • to assist something to occur or increase • Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions, and God of all encouragement; who encourages us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to others who are in any tribulation whatever, through the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged of God 2 corinthians 1:2

8. The Prevailing Spirit of Prophecy • We are being conformed to the nature of the Holy Spirit who works in us • Paraclete: one called along side to help • We have been given the ministry of reconciliation, God in us reconciling all men to Him. • GOOD News! (Gospel) • This is the Day (season) Ps 118:24 • I will rejoice and be glad in it!

9. When is Prophecy Appropriate? • When potential exceeds reality • When clarity would be fruitful • When light and truth are dawning • When destiny is unfolding • When God’s enemies are stirred • When release is imminent • When radical obedience is required

11. Our Desire: “I wish that ALL GOD”S PEOPLE were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit on them!” Numbers 11:29

12. Our Desire: Covet earnestly the best gifts…especially that you may prophesy” 1 Corinthians 14:1 “All may prophesy…” 1 Corinthians 14:31

13. Word Rare Hand “Rested” on Select Vessels Directive/Corrective Primarily Informational Under Law Judgment on False Prophetic Words All May Prophesy Spirit Potentially Resides in All Spirit Will Guide All Primarily Confirmational Under Grace Discernment of All Prophetic Words Prophetic MinistryOld Covenant New Covenant Old testament prophets were most like New Testament office prophets, rather than those simply used in the gift of prophecy.

14. Criteria for Judging Prophecy Fruit • Prophecy is judged by the fruit it produces • Deuteronomy 13:1-5 • Loving God • Walk after Him • Fear of God • Keep His commandments • Produces Obedience • Releases Service to God • Creates a supernatural bond

15. Criteria for Judging Prophecy Testimony • The testimony of Jesus • Revelation 19:10 • Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God…By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God 1 John 4:1-2

16. Criteria for Judging Prophecy Harmony with Scripture • For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they weremoved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21 • What God has said he will not contradict • God will fulfill, supercede, complete • Three levels of biblical agreement/conflict • Biblical (Agreement/Encouragement) • Anti-Biblical (Rejection/Condemnation) • Extra-Biblical (Harmony/Resonance)

17. Criteria for Judging Prophecy Fulfillment • ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. Deut. 18:22

18. Criteria for Judging Prophecy Liberty • Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 • For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:15-17

19. Criteria for Judging Prophecy Transformation • But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord 2 Corinthians 3:18

20. Criteria for Judging Prophecy Four Validation Factors A “Word” is Validated by: • The “He” Factor • Does it draw us to Jesus and make us like Him • The “They” factor • Is this in agreement with the Word’s authors • The “Us” Factor • Accountability to the local congregation • The “Rest” Factor • Quietness and restfulness with the Spirit

22. Developing Prophetic Ministry The Care and Feeding of Prophetic Individuals

24. Nature of the PGI (Prophetically gifted individual) • Loves truth (intensely) • Loves others deeply • Understands others insightfully • Sees and loves contrasts • Would rather be rejected than wrong • Constant revelation/information • Have an eternal perspective

25. How PGI’s are Misunderstood • Love of truth may be perceived as judgmental • Intense Love requires truth telling, perceived as harsh • Assumes others understand him/her in the same way he/she understands them • Loving black/white contrasts seems intolerant or unmerciful

26. How PGI’s are Misunderstood • Often has learned to survive “outside” • John the Baptist • Constant revelation may be painful, perceived as moody • Their ‘timewarp’ is perceived as weirdness • Others…..

27. PGI’s Must Have Proper Focus • “I AM” focus vs. I focus • Gift and calling requires future focus • Past successes and failures must be kept in the past • Grace-based vs. Gift-based self image • We are rooted in what God says rather than on what we have or do • Must convince others of who He is, not who we are

28. PGI’s Need Lots of Understanding • They perceive isolation as preferable to rejection • Isolation is still painful • Caves are more comfortable than crowds • Prophets need covering • Release is difficult (words are like their babies) • Feedback. They need to know others get it! • Thrive on truth-telling • Need to be reminded to lighten up and have fun

29. PGI’s Need a Safe Environment • Not designed to operate in a vacuum • One is to prophesy, others are to judge • No One on One prophecy, Seems safer, but not scriptural • Connected in five fold ministry • Submission shares responsibility • Accountability affords flexibility • Creativity flourishes in this environment

30. Four Reasons Prophets are Extremely Powerful • They are gifted with strong character • They have deep insight • They have a mantle of authority • Their words bear weight

31. Four Reasons Prophets are Extremely Dangerous • They are gifted with strong character • They have deep insight • They have a mantle of authority • Their words bear weight

32. Developing Prophetic Ministry pitfalls inherent to prophecy

33. Why NOT Prophecy? Despise not prophesying… -Paul- • Prophecy has been (can be) messy • Prophets can be difficult to understand • Powerful potential for good or evil • Theological misinterpretations • Lack of accountability and balance

34. Processing Revelation • Write it out . Document the details • Ask questions If H.S. is talking, He’ll answer • What is literal? Symbolic? • Go to intercession, bind & loose • Pray the answer, not the problem • Pray and listen for interpretation • One has a tongue, one… a revelation …an interpretation • Check it with seasoned leaders • Ask for permission/timing/strategy

35. Habakuk 2:2-3 Write the vision, make it plain apon the tablets that he may run that readeth it for the vision is for an appointed time. But at the end it shall speak and lie not. Though it tarry wait for it because it will come. It will not tarry.

38. Understanding Second Heaven Revelation • Jewish concept: Seven levels of heavens, for our discussion, we will use three • Natural heavens; • Stars, clouds, air, that which is seen • Second heaven; • Schemes, attacks, demonic/angelic warfare • Third heaven; • Thrones, Elders, Intercessions, Divine rule

39. Understanding Second Heaven Revelation • Scriptural example: Jesus and Peter • “Satan has desired to sift you like wheat…” Word of the Lord, or simple revelation? • We are not ignorant of the enemies’ schemes • God’s promise is that this information would be granted • Though we may have access to 2nd heaven, we have only limited authority from God • Jude’s report on Gabriel’s interaction • Needless Casualties of War (Jackson)

40. Proclaiming (prophesying) Second Heaven Revelation • Gives permission, guidance and access to satanic thoughts • Gives attention to demonic activity • next thing to worship • Releases dominion • covenant of agreement • Revelation is a call to intercession • I have prayed for you, when you are restored… • Valid prophecy is limited to Father’s Words

41. Developing Prophetic Ministry Prophetic sight

42. What Does Prophecy Do? Releases fresh perspective • Hind sight - • History giving grabs attention • Faith building - Verifies, validates future word • Defines past in light of destiny • Insight • Awareness of current condition • Priority check • Valuable evaluation • Foresight • Defines a preferred future • Resonance with God’s plans • Repositions for future blessing

43. Threefold Prophetic Sightpattern found in the church letters of Revelation 3-5 • Hindsight • “Word of Knowledge” History giving grabs attention • Faith-building Verifies/validates future word • Insight • “Aha” moments of illuminating introspection • Defines current situations in light of destiny. • Foresight • Defines a preferred future • Resonates with God’s plans • Positions for future blessing

44. Prophetic Focal Length • Focal Length = T(“AHA” - “yea, Verily” ) • PGI* Live “Out-of-Sync” with Natural World • God also lives outside of time restraints • The Longer Focal Length = • Greater Potential for Frustration • More Need for Eternal Kingdom Perspective • Must understand Others’ “DIH Look” • PGI Must Understand 5-Fold Ministries • PGI: Prophetically Gifted Individuals

45. The Diverse Functions of Prophetic Revelation • Seers • Hearers • Watchmen • Scribes • Dreamers • Interpreters (dreams, events, revelations) • Minstrels and intimate worshippers • Others:

46. The Watchman Ezekiel 3:17-22; 33:1-9 • Job is not to require action but to inform • An unconcerned watchman is useless • An agenda driven watchman is obnoxious • Not everyone will listen • Opportunity for repentance/protection • God’s justice and mercy require warning

47. Developing Prophetic Ministry The God-Man Model

48. Egyptian Theology Model Pharaoh God/man People

49. Desert Ministry model God Moses People

50. Fallacy of the God-man Perversion • Lie of the garden • Manifests in gnosticism • My value is in what I KNOW • My value is in what I DO • My value is in what I SAY God does not need our help, counsel, words, insight or direction He is GOD and there is NO OTHER!