THE PROPHET'S MINISTRY

1 Corinthians 14:39-40

39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

So far we have established the prophet is able to tell of future events as well as declare the heart and mind of God regarding past or present events. But let us now look to that part of his ministry which has been all but totally forsaken; the confirming of the mystery of Christ. Let us see how this gift is supposed to operate in the churches of Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:8-12

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

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..

In the days of old, the prophet was called the Seer. This was due to the fact that he was given visions of things that were to come to pass. But remember in those expositions of his gift, he also spoke of God’s pleasure or displeasure with His people at that particular time. He could only speak of God’s heart and mind if it were revealed to him by God. Before we go any further, the above passages speak of the disposition of our New Testament prophets.

1. “But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;” there will come a time when men will prophesy out of their own hearts or out of their own faulty understanding. These prophesies will fail to come to pass.

2. “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.” The measure of the prophetic gift allows the bearer to only know in part. However, when Christ returns our knowledge will be complete.

3. “For now we see through a glass, darkly;” We are seeing the mystery of Christ through the darkness of this world. When we read, “as he is, so are we,” we can only assert a mental picture of our Lord through the knowledge given to us. But that

knowledge is not complete, it is in part. Nevertheless, the scriptures encourage us on this wise…”Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing”(Philippians 3:16).

The work of the prophet has not changed; it is the method that has been greatly modified. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,“ (Hebrews 1:1-2). In other dispensations, the Spirit of Prophecy would come upon the prophets and they would indeed prophesy. But now in these last days he is speaking from within the prophets by Jesus Christ. The reality that God is speaking to the church by Jesus Christ must be front and center of the operation of any gift of the Spirit. For the excellency of the power of our gift is of God and not of ourselves. Note the following passage…

Ephesians 4:6-7

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

God is in each of the sons. However, each of us was given a measure of the gift of Christ to work the work of the ministry. The operation of this gift, as with any other, is dependent upon the yielding of the believer to the Spirit of Prophecy, (Jesus Christ). It is not however, a momentary preparation that allows one to prophesy the heart and mind of the Lord. It is a daily consecrated life that is perfect before the Lord. This perfect life is free of offenses and sin. The gift should not be hindered by pride or vanity.

THE PROPHETIC GIFT IN THE CHURCH

1 Corinthians 14:29-33

29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

There has been much confusion at the heart of the gift of the prophet and much of the confusion stems around how the prophets are to operate in the church. As we see from the above passage, the prophet’s gift is also subject to the order of the church. This is not always the case in some churches. The prophets of God are treated as if they are not subject to order. They are allowed to interrupt the service and speak at will and for as long as they desire. Some unlearned pastors seem to be intimidated by this gift. They yield to the prophet’s every whim. But then there are some pastors whose intimidation is manifested in other ways. They simply surpass the gift of the prophet. They see it as some sort of competitiveness. All this, of course, is done in the name of the Lord. But Paul taught that the pastor is the set man of the House of God and all things done in the church should be done decently and in order.

This includes the gift of the prophets. They must be allowed to prophesy in order. You could have two or three prophets to prophesy in a service. However, they must do so one by one. If one is prophesying, the others must judge. This judgment is whether the word given is of God. Is it what God is saying at that time? This is important because some prophets tend to prophesy things that are true within themselves, but not what God is speaking at that time. This is true even to the point of prophets quoting scripture in their delivery wherein God was speaking directly to Israel and are not related to the disposition of the church today. For instance, the prophesies regarding the captivity of Israel, (by the Babylonians), have nothing to do with the church today. These things can only be used as types in the ministry of the New Testament prophets.

THE MEASURE OF THE PROPHETIC GIFT

Another bit of confusion is caused by the uncertainty of the scope or measure of the prophetic gift. The gift can be suppressed by the prophet himself, by trying to fit his gift inside the four walls of his local church. Yes, there are times when God will send a word to the local church and even to individuals in that church. But this is not the scope of the prophetic gift. The prophet must speak of the heart and mind of God relative to the world we live in. It must be able to comfort, edify, and yes, even warn the saints. It must speak of God’s intent for His people, and at times His intent for the world. I can recall a prophecy given by our brother Kenneth Copeland, when he said God was going to bring down the Berlin Wall so that the Gospel of Jesus Christ could flow into that part of the world. It happened within the timeframe he gave. I want to also caution prophets about becoming overly obsessed with prophesying only about the mind of God for their nation. The gift of the prophet is not territorial; it is a universal gift. This is not to say that God will not give you a word for the country in which you live. However, check yourself if you can only hear a word for your nation.

The same is true if you can only receive words for individuals of your local church. This is not the full measure of the gift and suggests that the limitations are on your part. Prophets must declare God’s heart and will to the Body of Christ. They are also given visions of future events that are the intent of God in the earth. They can prophesy to the local church and individuals but are primarily called to confirm the word given by the apostle. This is where they are able to encourage, teach and edify the Body of Christ. Yes, I used the word “teach” in the sense that it is implied in the scripture… “For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted” (I Cor.14:31). The word of the prophet should instruct (give direction), as well as increase in understanding of the knowledge of the will of God. The gift is for communicating with the entire Body of Christ. It is designed to render God’s heart every step of the way as we journey through time on our way back to eternity.

PRESSURED PROPHETS

The prophet’s gift has been placed under the pressure of the expectancy of always having a word from the Lord. This pressure has caused many good prophets to begin prophesying out of their own hearts, instead of the heart, mind and counsel of God.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD (Jeremiah 23:16).

I want to encourage the prophets of God. Be sober, and know that you do not have to speak unless the unction of God is upon you to do so. You must discern also whether you operate in a lust for ministry as opposed to waiting on the Lord to speak a thing through you. Some prophets speak all the time. They are never without a word from the Lord. This may or may not always be accurate. As I said, be sober and don’t feel pressured to give a word without the unction of the Spirit.