Prophetic Resources Review

We are continuing to look at some of the highlights from Rick Joyner's book, The Prophetic Ministry, ISBN 1-87832-790-9.

True and Counterfeit Prophets

There is no doubt that there are counterfeit prophets. In this segment Joyner compares the counterfeit prophet with tares and the real prophet with wheat. He reminds us copies can be made only from originals. In other words, if there weren't real prophets, there wouldn't be counterfeit ones. The Lord allows the tares to help His people be prepared for the "ultimate last-day confrontation." Matthew 13:30 points out the dangers of prematurely uprooting the tares: "Allow both to grow together until the harvest." Often developing prophets, who are just beginning to walk in this ministry, make mistakes and may be perceived as false prophets when they aren't. They're just learning and should be allowed the time to grow into the gifting God has given them. Removing them prematurely from the field will be more destructive than helpful.

Sometimes God uses controversy to bring purity into the ministry He is raising up and developing. Controversy results in evaluation, evaluation causes adjustments to be made. And it reveals those who may be in the ministry out of selfish ambition. There dose come a time when the wheat needs to be separated from the tares so "bread can be made from it." But we must not be premature in doing that separation.

Joyner writes: "But even though the Lord commands us to let the wheat and tares grow up together, there must be a separation of the tares from the wheat before bread can be made from it. This is often a very uncomfortable process and can be done only at the right time."

Common Stumbling Blocks

Joyner points to various stumbling blocks that will keep us from moving in the fullness of a prophetic ministry. These include:

* Presumption

don't be tempted to use standard formulas that are outlined in various books that teach about prophetic symbolism when interpreting visions and revelations.

* Looking only from our personal, present perspective

We must interpret revelations not from our perspective, but from God's eternal perspective. If we interpret all revelations using the same formula, we will get inaccurate interpretations.

* Seeing through fear rather than faith

We're not to interpret prophecy through fear, but rather through faith. Fear is also based in suspicion and suspicion will never result in accurate interpretation. True discernment operates only in true godly love.

* Majoring on minors

The importance of preparing the way for the King and not primarily focusing on what the enemy is doing.

* Prejudices

When we prophesy we should guard against prejudice because prejudice can seriously distort a revelation and the actual meaning of it.

* Having prejudicial doctrines

Prophecy isn't meant to establish doctrines. That has already been established through the Bible.

* Rejection

Dwelling on rejection will keep us self-centered, which will distort the meaning of the revelations God is giving us as well.

* Bitterness

The possible result of unhealed wounds that make us sensitive in those areas.

* Rebellion

The refusal to submit to authority rooted in either rejection or self-will.

* Unsanctified mercy

Having mercy about situations the Lord may be using to judge or bring correction. The important thing is to be ruled by the Holy Spirit and to gain an understanding of what God is doing. When we move in human compassion we may be tempted to take on burdens the Lord hasn't given us in the first place.

* The "party spirit"

The temptation to believe that our ministry is the most important one and the lack of understanding that God uses all ministries to work together as one.

* Failing to submit to the body

God intentionally does not reveal everything to just one ministry, but reveals parts of visions and revelations to various ministries. He does that so that one ministry will depend on others, and a working together to understand the entire picture is essential.

* Lust

"One of the primary destroyers of prophetic vision." We need to put a guard on our eyes so our eyes are single and thereby the entire body can be full of God's light. In this way we won't use our eyes for evil.

* Using natural eyes instead of the "eye of our heart"

We must understand that the things of God must be interpreted by the Spirit and not by our own perspectives and reasoning.

Other Areas Discussed

Joyner distinguishes between different levels of revelation and outlines what they are. He discusses "prophetic addiction," where people constantly want to receive a word from the prophets instead of looking to hear God speak directly to them. He deals with "directive revelation," where the Lord uses the prophetic to grant us specific guidance about a situation. He also discusses the role of the prophetic in spiritual warfare.

Joyner also discusses our tendency to confuse the roles of prophet and elder, and explains how the two roles operate. He also develops the concept of "watchmen for the army of God" in some detail - a must read for those with prophetic or intercessory anointings.

Words of Life

Our words speak either life or death. As we grow in the prophetic and in our relationship with God we will find more and more that there is power in our words especially when God puts His anointing on them. A word spoken within the right timing and God's anointing is very powerful. Joyner points out that it is important that we abide in the Word itself for God uses His Word to express Himself in His language. We learn the spiritual (symbolic) language through dreams and visions. Like many things, it requires time and patiend to produce lasting fruit. A problem won't be eliminated by dealing with the symptoms. Instead we must put the ax to the root of the problem tree - e.g., deal with the source and thereby also remove the symptoms. The Lord works a deep work from the inside out, not the outside in. It's that type of working that will create deep and lasting changes.

God is a practical God and His fruit is a practical fruit. It needs to be our goal to not just bear fruit, but to bear fruit that lasts. It requires patience to bear lasting fruit. But it's worth the wait because when there is lasting fruit, Christ will be lifted up by His people and "all men will be drawn to Him."