God uses a variety of different methods to communicate prophetically with His people. The scope and function of these methods vary. Some of these methods are readily available for "whosoever will" (i.e. the Spirit of Prophecy). But God reserves some of these methods for the men and women that He has specifically chosen and trained and developed (i.e. the office of prophet). So it is helpful to examine these different methods of prophetic communication and to understand how God uses them and what purpose they serve. These methods include:
There are times (often during corporate worship) where God's Spirit is present to communicate His heart to His people. During these times there is a special anointing for the prophetic that He releases on various members of the group. This release of the prophetic anointing is not related to a person's office or gifting, but to the sovereign move of the Holy Spirit falling on whoever He desires to fall upon. Usually the Holy Spirit desires to fall on those who are open to Him and willing to be used by Him, who are willing to step out in faith and move with Him (1 Cor. 14:31).
God releases a spirit of prophecy over a group, enabling people who do not have a "gift of prophecy" to prophesy because of the anointing He releases. This is a corporate type of anointing, and is available to pretty much anyone in the group with both faith and desire to be used and who will step out in faith to speak God's word (Rom 12:1).
The following are some of the conditions where God tends to release a spirit of prophecy over a group:
The Bible gives several examples of the spirit of prophecy. In 1 Sam 10:10 Saul met a company of prophets and the spirit of prophecy came on him and he began to prophesy. In 1 Sam. 19:20-24, the Spirit of the Lord came on Saul's messengers, and they began to prophesy. In the midst of an assembly, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel and he began to prophesy (2 Chr. 20:12-17). Under these circumstances, just about anyone can prophesy!
Relationship is a key to moving in the spirit of prophecy. Anyone who desires to prophesy should find a prophet or group of prophets (the prophetic-school and its leadership core is one resource they may draw upon) to train them and help them release their faith. Then they can begin to move in the spirit of prophecy.
The gift of prophecy is precisely that.. one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is given to those to whom God chooses to give it, not based on merit or on earning it, but based on the grace of God. However, scripture gives us some indication that if we earnestly desire and ask God for this gift, He might very well give it to us (1 Cor. 14:1).
Because it is a gift:
The gift of prophecy is listed among the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Cor. 12. Its purpose is edification, exhortation and comfort of God's people (1 Cor. 14:3), and can produce deep conviction in the unbeliever (1 Cor. 14:24). The gift of prophecy may come forth as words (spoken or written), song, or even as dance or movement.
Prophecy is the most edifying gift for God's people (1 Cor. 14:5). The other eight gifts are more individually focused gifts, which usually will bless a specific person, or perhaps a few. Prophecy, on the other hand, can bless hundreds of people at once. As we have seen, prophecy edifies the Church, is a sign to unbelievers, and brings glory to our Lord Jesus. No wonder we are told to "eagerly desire" spiritual gifts, and "be eager to prophesy" (1 Cor. 14:1, 39)! Paul told the Thessalonians to "not treat prophecies with contempt." (1 Thess. 5:20). To the church at Rome Paul wrote, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith." (Rom. 12:6).
Other scripture references include: Acts 2:17; 1 Cor. 12:10; 1 Cor. 14:3, 4, 6, 22 & 31.
God sometimes uses people who are established in leadership in the Church to minister together prophetically as a team. This type of ministry typically involves the laying on of hands. The reason it is called "presbytery" is because it is performed by those who meet the qualifications of presbyter (elder, or overseer) in the Church.
There are many different reasons why the elders may come together to minister prophetically:
The prophetic presbytery doesn't eliminate the need for the individual office of prophet, even though all ministers and other church leadership can prophesy over an individual while functioning as part of the presbytery team. Prophets, however, are the only ones who may minister in the realm of the office of prophet. Prophets are anointed to do as individuals what the presbytery does as a team (except for formally ordaining someone for ministry. Ordination is done, scripturally, by the presbytery team).
We understand that there is a difference between preaching and prophesying. Prophecy usually is spontaneous revelation knowledge inspired by the Holy Spirit. Preaching, on the other hand, is normally the speaking of biblical truths which have been studied, researched, and arranged for presentation. Preaching proclaims the Logos (written word), while prophecy gives a Rhema (fresh breath of revelation) from the Spirit..
But there are times when the Holy Spirit moves in on the prepared teaching and modifies it and breathes a dimension of life/inspiration into it that was not there when the speaker prepared the message. The Holy Spirit may end up changing the prepared teaching drastically, giving illustrations and examples that grip the people in the room, quickening the heart of God on this matter. You might say the Spirit supplies a Rhema from the Logos.
Please note that it would be irresponsible and presumptuous for a speaker to skip study and message preparation, assuming that the Holy Spirit will fall on them and "preach their sermon" for them. On the other hand, it is resisting God to stick to one's prepared notes if the Holy Spirit begins to lead differently.. to preach a prophetic sermon requires both proper preparation and an openness to allow the Holy Spirit to change the agenda.
Prophetic preaching has the following characteristics:
"This is why it says: 'When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.' It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers . . . " (Eph. 4:8,11)
The ministry of the prophet is not a gift of the Holy Spirit, available to all believers. It is an office that Jesus put in place, an extension of His government over His Church. The Office of the Prophet is one of five headship ministries (the five-fold ministry) (Eph. 2:20; 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:28; Acts 13:1).
Before we can really discuss the office of the prophet, we need to discuss the concept of "offices" in general.
Biblical Basis For The Concept of "Office"
Offices are not gifts, they are governmental positions. Christ selects and places certain individuals into governmental leadership in His body and gifts them accordingly. Jesus Christ was the complete manifestation, and our example of all five ministry offices:
- Jesus The Apostle
"Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess." (Hebrews 3:1)
- Jesus The Prophet
"For Moses said, `The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you." (Acts 3:22)
- Jesus The Evangelist
"Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people." (Matt. 4:23) (By His example) (See also Matt. 9:35 and Luke 4:18)
- Jesus The Pastor
"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me" (John 10:14) (See also Heb. 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25, 5:4)
- Jesus The Teacher
"He came to Jesus at night and said, 'Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him.' " (John 3:2) (See also Mark 1:22; John 7:14; Matt. 4:23)
After Christ ascended into Heaven, the five ministries Jesus had embodied on earth were given back to the Church in the form of people who fill the offices. According to Eph. 4:11, all the offices are distributed, and all five ministries, when moving in full maturity, represent Jesus' complete ministry to His Church. These ministries, or offices, are not an extension of Body ministry. They are an extension of the headship of Jesus Christ to His Body, the Church.
That portion of His mantle that enabled Him to be the great Apostle of faith was given to those chosen by Jesus to be apostles. Likewise, Jesus' evangelistic anointing is given to the evangelist, the pastor receives the heart and staff of the Good Shepherd, and the teacher is given Jesus' divine ability to teach. Those chosen to be the New Testament prophets of today receive those qualities of Jesus that gave Him the ability to know what was in the heart of people, to announce the future plans and purposes of God, and to know the secret things of God.
The Office of Prophet
According to 1 Cor. 14:3, the Gift of Prophecy is for three main functions: edification, exhortation, and comfort. However, the Office of Prophet is designed, and has authority invested in it, to function in a higher realm of ministry than the Holy Spirit's gift of prophecy.The office of the prophet has the same authority to minister to the Church with his preaching and prophesying, as does the pastor with his preaching and pastoral counseling. (Realizing, of course, that this does not mean one who is called as a prophet has the right to go against the position or judgments of the senior pastor's authority in the local church. Rather, as a member of the five-fold ministry, a prophet has equal privilege to operate in his or her calling to the Body of Christ, as a pastor does in his or her local church). Those called to the office of prophet function in all the ministries of Old Testament prophets, as well as being granted (from the New Testament) standing in the role of Jesus, the Prophet. Therefore, their prophecies touch on areas of guidance, instruction, rebuke, judgment, and revelation - in other words, whatever Jesus chooses to speak for the purifying and perfecting of His Church.
These are some of the areas in which the office of prophet functions:
- Providing direction (1 Kings 22:7 and 2 Kings 5:10)
- Giving words of correction (Ezek. 3:18)
- Pronouncing divine decrees (of God's judgments or blessings) (seen in major portions of Old Testament writings of prophets)
- Moving in revelation knowledge (prophecy by Isaiah in Isa. 44:28-45:3, fulfilled in Dan. 10, 150 years later)
- Laying foundations in the Church (Eph. 2:20)
- Impartation of spiritual gifts (1 Tim. 4:14: Apostle Paul joined with prophet Silas and possibly prophet Judas to form presbytery)
- Anointing ministries (the three ministries of the Old Testament were anointed by prophets: the first king, Saul, was anointed by the prophet Samuel 1 Sam. 10:1; the first High Priest, Aaron, was anointed by the prophet Moses Ex. 28:41, Ps. 133:2; prophets anointed by other prophets: Elijah anointed Elisha, 1 Kings 19:16)
- Partaking of the secrets of God (Amos 3:7)
Each lesson is accompanied by an activation exercise, or workshop, designed to help you more fully develop your prophetic gifting. These activations start simple, and each week's activation builds on the previous ones. To see the activation for this week's lesson, click here.