Read this carefully and thanksgiving, and experience what is real.
Having briefly examined the Prophets during this tour through the scriptures, let’s pause and consider the person of the prophet and the location of the “Prophetic Ministry.”
There is a great need for Prophetic Ministry – men who listen to God and speak what God wants them to say – and today we hear a lot about Prophetic Ministry – but much of what we hear as’ Prophecy ‘is nothing more than’ wishful thinking. ‘- or people who want to bless you with a little encouragement.
An important difference between Old and New Testament prophecy is that in the New Testament people judge whether the Word is from God or not.
When a prophet speaks, you have a choice: 1 – Change – or 2 – Kill the Prophet.
Luke Chapter 11 verse 52. The prophet is the key to what God is doing, and what God is doing, he reveals to the prophets.
Sometimes it will be to share immediately; at other times, the prophet may have to keep silent about that word, for weeks or months.
There is a need for a clear trumpet sound, and the prophet is regarded as the voice or trumpet of God.
Now there can be false prophets: the bank teller can feel a false “five” without looking at it. You don’t even have to look at it, all you have to say is, “Excuse me, sir.” He’s been so trained. And you DO NOT walk in with a coin and a child in it is a £ 5 note; you make it as real as possible.
Luke chapter 7 verse 14. That’s a prophetic word. In a miracle, several gifts of the Holy Spirit can work at the same time.
Verse 16. Jesus is called a “great prophet.”
These are real men in this Book: Jesus, Peter, Paul, Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and everyone else. They put the pants on one leg at a time.
Verse 39. Religious people do not recognize the prophets.
Verse 40. This is called confrontation.
Jesus continues to teach – verse 45 – don’t miss out on what God is doing. It is so easy to be doctrinally correct and lose sight of what the living God is doing.
Verse 37. The alabaster box was part of the prostitute’s equipment.
A prophet can penetrate and pierce and shock the entire religious world.
Luke 24 verse 19. Jesus – A prophet of word and deed.
Being a prophet, being prophetic, is NOT a 9 to 5 job, it involves your whole life. God touches everything: work, car, house, finances, everything.
The prophet is an oracle, a spokesman, someone who acts as the mouth of God, His Words in your mouth. You almost bypassed your brain, sometimes you have to, or you
I would never say the words.
Then the prophet must be sure that God has given him the Word.
Don’t say, “The Lord told me,” when He didn’t!
I have met very few people who have heard the voice of God and received the word of God to speak prophetically.
Larry Christenson explaining to a group of us at a Leadership Conference in Germany: “I decided to go to the Conference in Kenya. Others might say, ‘The Lord led me to go to that Conference in Kenya.’ Now, of course, both can be true, but you need to keep the balance.
In prophecy, when you prophesy, when the Lord stops speaking, that should be two of you. How often has there been a Word of Prophecy, and when the Word of God is finished, the prophet continues to speak.
When God chooses a prophet, when he is raising up a prophetic ministry, he chooses someone in the Body of Christ, and most of the time that person is very reluctant.
He is a prophet or an impostor. The Church judges.
God calls a man, gives the gift of a prophet to the body of Christ, and the body recognizes it.
In the ‘Didache’ – when a prophet comes among you – let him stay two or three days – don’t let him speak – then let him prophesy. It took two or three days to discern.
That is what we must exercise at times, in this whole area of prophetic ministry: discernment.
A prophet cannot bear – idolatry – injustice – formality – false weights.
Moses and the golden calf, the prophetic Moses, was concerned about the moral character of God and the character of God’s people.
Jeremiah Chapter 1 – four negatives and two positives – and Jeremiah wanted to run a mile. I can’t do that, don’t ask me to do that, LORD!
I’ve been there, I know the reality of it, do you?
God had left the Church that day – and not even the priests knew – Jeremiah
Chapter 2 verse 8. They did not miss him. Jeremiah is on a demolition mission.
A prophet is a seer, he sees something, they could see what was to come.
Jeremiah and the underwear – Chapter 13 – quite dramatic – we better remove the word pretty. This is a disaster, oh God, but I have to endure it. Chapter 20.
At times the prophets were given very heavy burdens.
In the New Testament, prophecy is always to strengthen, encourage, and comfort. I Corinthians Chapter 14 verses 1 to 5.
Speaking in tongues plus interpretation has the value of prophecy.
Verse 27. (If he was writing to our current situation, it would probably be something like – at least one of you should.)
Verse 29. A prophecy is given. If God speaks, don’t you think the least we can do is stop and consider what He has said, its meaning, and all that might be involved?
It is not a guide, but to confirm or impart knowledge.
The edification of the Church is important; the edification of oneself is equally important, but it is done in a different way.
Everything is done to build the Church, to build the Church. And in the case of prophecy, the Church judges! That is NOT the same as criticizing or having a sneaky suspicion.
The first prophetic word I was conscious of uttering was in November 1969 at a Fountain Trust conference in Yorkshire: “I have a job for you to do, and in My Name you will do it.” It was for my brother and friend, Jim Kincaid, being prayed for, before leaving Scotland for South Africa, and he and his wife Val went and did the work!
Verse 37. The prophets must be aware of Control – Order – Regulation. An evil spirit interrupts.
The prophet reminds people of GOD – JESUS - the BIBLE.
Do you want the definition of prophecy? “The ability given by the Holy Spirit to a believer to speak words that come from God and that do not come from the believer’s own wisdom, understanding, or education. Some people see written words, or they see visions, or they just begin to speak.”
Verse 39. Seek – want – and be prepared to take the risk.
“Almighty God, loving Father, teach us, guide us, use us, in this dark and painful world, where there is so much pain and suffering. Raise men to speak, preach and teach Your Holy Immutable Word. Jesus, anoint those whom you have. called, with love, grace, power and courage, and sensitivity and tenderness, when needed. Amen. “