Prophetic Ministry
Rightly Related To The Body Of Christ,
2nd Edition

We have been talking about the importance of following proper protocol when we minister in the prophetic. These are not just rules set in place to hinder or hamper you, they are there to assure a smooth flow of service and to help usher in the perfect order and presence of God.

Let me (Carolyn) illustrate with an example of a failure in my life. I had been operating in the prophetic office in my local church for about 13 years with great liberty and respect. I was so trusted that I was hardly ever asked to "screen" a word before giving it. I received a very specific word that I did not view or sense was directive so I spoke it. When I gave the Word, my Pastor stood up and I could tell that he corrected the word in his very gentle way and I felt a need to apologize.

I called after church and asked him if he would like for me to publicly apologize for going outside my boundary. He said he felt he had given all the adjustment he needed to and that no apology was necessary. It became evident to us later that if I gave it to the leaders only and privately, it would have not been dismissed as it contained very specific information. The private delivery to leaders could have spared us from some unpleasant circumstances we faced shortly after. The very thing I prophesied happened, yet because I spoke a word in a public setting that was meant for leaders only, it caused them to discount the word. Thus they did not pay attention to the direction from the Lord the word contained and we missed a very strategic move. Ouch!

I learned a very valuable lesson. Never give a private word in public! Wait on the Word and know how and to whom it should be delivered before engaging mouth!

Another example of necessary sensitivity has come for me in conference settings where no one "knew" me. I began to know I had a word from the Lord and was in a great internal struggle to know what to do. I wrestled inside with thoughts of: "Who are you to think you are to share a word in this conference?" "You just want to be heard." "You just want people to know that you are a prophetess." You, you, you, you! The accuser of my heart and the enemy of the prophetic ministry was trying to intimidate me. I then did the only thing I knew to do. I walked to the front and introduced myself and told them my name, who I was accountable to and that I felt I had a word to share. Then I asked what the proper way to do that might be. I had been told several times that they do not allow anyone other than the designated ministry team to minister. I thanked them for letting me ask and went back to my seat. Other times I have been asked to write it down and submit it. I have occasionally been released in a setting where I was unknown to share the word.

THE GOAL IS TO RELEASE THE LORD'S HEART, IN THE LORD'S WAY, WITH THE LORD'S BLESSING. I do not have to make anything happen. If I was declined a place to speak, I went back to my seat, wrote it down. Then I thanked God for His gifts and spoke blessing over the leadership. It is never right to do wrong to do right! I am a servant and most all those in leadership are trying their very best to do what is right.

They are trying to walk the delicate line of leading and being open to the Lord and His will in every service. What a responsibility! It is our job as prophets and prophetic people to make it a great delight to pastors and elders to have the ministry of prophets in the local assembly.

If we want to be like Jesus, this means we must be "full of grace and truth." We need to communicate God's truth, but with His heart of love and grace. Of course, some would point out the case of Jesus driving out the money changers from the temple. The faultiness behind that perception is a misunderstanding of what Jesus was doing at that time. In that instance, Jesus was the "apostle" in action. He was setting the house in order. He was acting as Jesus the apostle rather than Jesus the prophet.

The spokesman for God must always filter the "information" he/she wants to share "as from God" with the merciful and compassionate "heart" from which God would say it. This way we will stay safely within the bounds of proper prophetic ministry. Such a prophetic minister will be used mightily of God to build what He wants built; a glorious Church for His return. He wants the church built via relationship, not torn apart through offensive prophetic "manners". "So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church." (1 Cor. 14:12)

Of course there is a large variety of approaches to the release of prophetic. That is why any "procedure" described here must be superseded by the more critical issue of the motives, attitude and character of the one who would prophesy. We see a very valuable part of the character issue addressed in the following Scripture from Peter's first epistle, where he calls for humility on the part of leaders, and on the part of those who are to be subject to those who are leaders.

"Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time," (1 Pet 5:1-6)

Just because you carry a prophetic anointing, that does not give you the right or permission to be "right" and everyone else "wrong." It is not my responsibility to be "right" or to be heard. It is my job to hear, submit, and either release the Word with blessing and oversight, or release myself from obligation to the Word by saying: "Lord, I submitted the Word to my pastor, they do not feel it is time for it to be shared. Lord, You do what You want to do? I am no longer responsible for the delivery of the Word." I then take it to prayer and I trust God and my leaders. God is well able to get His word out when He wants to.

I believe many of those times I was sent back to my seat or not allowed to share a word was the Lord testing my heart. He was breaking my will, proving whether of not I would be a vessel that would stand in integrity, submission and loyalty, or whether I would be independent, critical and self-willed.

If a prophet "has to be heard," that prophet is in danger of setting him/herself up for some hard lessons. That prophet can really open him/herself up to a false spirit, a Jezebel spirit, and bring such pain and devastation to a Body of Believers. For instance, if a person stands up and declares a directive word saying that all the church should come to the front and kneel at the altar and cry out in repentance right now, what is a pastor to do? Is he going to "rebel" and "resist" the word of the Lord and His directive? Or is he going to be submissive to the word of the Lord? It is imperative that prophetic people be sensitive to the incredible responsibility pastors have and the authority God has given them in the local assembly. That prophet should have submitted to the pastor the "sense" he/she had and ask permission to release such a word that may redirect the flow of the service. Deference is essential! Submission is a place of safety! Otherwise the Pastor looks like he/she is being rebellious to the "Word of the Lord." And it can cause others to look upon them as insensitive, closed to the moving and direction of the Spirit of God, etc.

It is also very important to remain teachable. A teachable attitude is a reflection of humility, which pleases God. Be willing always to have a word judged. If the nature of the word is a personal prophecy, a good policy is to have a witness with you, or to in some way record what is spoken. (Cassette recorders, written out words, etc..)

This is very clear from Scripture. "And let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. (1 Cor. 14:29). "For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;" (1 Cor. 14:31,32). It makes it a lot easier for a leader to "risk" letting someone speak if there is a willingness on the part of the prophesier to be correctable. After all, we ALL have blind spots.

While on the subject of taping, I'll add this. Generally, we discourage "parking lot" prophecies at our church. That is, if you have a word for someone, it should be given in the open assembly or at least be open to inspection. In other words, give it publicly or have witnesses, tape it, have it written down, or something. This goes a long way toward protecting the flock from unscrupulous manipulators who would try to control through prophecy for any personal gain.

God has given the gifts to the Church as tools for the building up of the Church. As we allow the tools He himself provided, we will see the building built stronger and faster and will be used mightily of God to build what He wants built; that is, a glorious Church, awaiting His return.