Prophetic words for a church and its leadership do not always come from an outside prophetic ministry. Prophetic insights can also be given from within the local church—often from intercessors and those with prophetic gifts.

These have the potential to be a great blessing and encouragement, and if recorded and stored by the church leadership, can be of benefit in years to come.

As a prophetic intercessor, and then later as a prayer department leader and prophetic trainer, I have both given and reviewed many prophetic words throughout the years.

Here is the bottom line of everything I have learned: when the attitude of my heart is right, and the following Biblical outcomes are my genuine desire, then my prophetic ministry will be a great blessing to the local church. [1]

 ‘Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.’ (Prov 4:23)

Biblical Outcomes for Operating in Prophecy in the Church Environment

In the New Testament church, we have a Biblical mandate to use our gifts to:

• Strengthen and build the Church (1 Cor 14:4-5)
• Promote unity (1 Cor 1:10, Eph 4:3)
• Honour the leaders God has given to us (Heb 13:17)
• Prophesy out of love (1 Cor 13:2)

5 Things I’ve Learned to Consider When Prophesying about the Future of my Church.

What does it look like to give a prophecy for our church in a way that honours God and our leaders, and helps build the church? Following are some things that I have learned along the way:

1. Weigh up my Prophetic Insight before Sharing

Prophecy consists of a process—this can take moments in a meeting or situation, or it can take place over a longer period of time.[2]

• Firstly, we receive a revelation, or insight, from the Holy Spirit
• We consider what God is saying through that insight and how and when to share it
• From there, we share the prophecy—usually with spoken or written words. [3]

Some helpful checks I take before sharing a word that concerns the future of my local church include:

• The Bible Test: is my word in harmony with Biblical principles?
• The Fruit Test: what outcome may my word result in? Does it strengthen, encourage, or comfort? (1 Cor 14:3) Will it help edify and build the church? (1 Cor 14:4) Does it promote unity?
• The Leadership Test: would my leaders be comfortable with this word, and am I willing for my word to be weighed up? (1 Cor 14:29, 1 Thess 5:19-21)

2. Take into Account my own Passion, Vision and Values

As prophetic people, we need to be aware of:

• Our own dreams and call of God and how we see this being outworked in church life
• Our personal ministry, gifts, passion and vision

This self-awareness is important because even when we have a pure revelation from the Holy Spirit, our personal values can affect the way we share the prophetic insight.

I have learned to be aware of my own natural tendency to see and communicate what God is saying through the narrow lens of my personal vision and values. When I love my church and honour my leaders, I will perceive and communicate my prophetic insights through the wide lens of what God has called my church to be and do.

For this reason, I encourage prophetic people to make a point of learning as much as they can about the leadership-led vision of their church and to embrace it as their own.

3. Protect the Unity of my Church

As prophetic people in the life of our local church, we can have a general understanding of the vision of our church leadership—in other words, the picture of the church’s future that our leaders have shared with us.

An important question I’ve learned to ask before bringing a word about the future of my church is, ‘Does this line up with the revealed will of God for my church as expressed through our church leaders?’

If the answer is no, or I am unsure, it does not mean that I cannot share it. In fact, it could be a powerful confirmation of something my leadership is currently considering—or it may relate to a future change of direction.

However it does change the way that I share it and the process that I take it through.

• Firstly, a word that differs from the current direction of the church should never be given publicly or shared around with other church members. I have known of situations where a so-called ‘prophetic’ vision that was different to that of the God-given vision of the pastors resulted in disunity and division.
• Instead, it is best to share the prophetic insight privately with our pastor (or if it relates to a ministry area, directly to that leader). If our leader gives the green light to share it in a public setting, we can go for it.

4. Communicate in the Appropriate Way

Every church has a unique culture, and this also applies to sharing prophetic insights. We need to be aware of any protocols in our church and graciously adhere to them. [4] Some settings in which it can be appropriate include prayer meetings, email, writing, sharing privately with a leader, etc.

When we are growing in our prophetic ministry, it can be helpful to have a safe place to share prophetic insights and discernment. In church life, a safe place is not to a friend (if inappropriate, this can be ‘prophetic gossip’) but to a designated leader or the pastor.

5. Release the Prophetic Insight Once Shared

I have learned that once I have brought a prophetic word about the future of my church, it is up to my leaders to weigh it up and respond to what God is saying. Even if the word is true, the timing of its fulfilment may be in the future.

So once the word has been shared, I can release my prophetic insights completely, remembering that the outworking of that word is not my responsibility. [5]

Do you have a prophetic word for your Church? Don’t hold back—the insight you bring may be timely and strategic, a great blessing for years to come and a tribute to God’s faithfulness and power to bring His promises to fulfillment.

Notes:

[1] We need to keep our hearts clean from disappointments and frustrations. These if left unchecked will invariably taint—if not our prophetic insights, then certainly our delivery of them. See the following articles:

Set Yourself Free From Judging Others
Dealing with Prophetic Disappointment
6 Doorways to Discouragement in Church Life

[2] See ‘How to Exercise Your Prophetic Gift Pt 1: Understand the Process of Prophecy’

[3] Ways to bring prophetic insight without words include dance, drama, art and multimedia.

[4] Prophetic Ministry in Church Life: Why Have Guidelines?

[5] We especially need to guard our hearts against discouragement, or pride (‘I am right and they are wrong’) when leaders do not respond to our prophetic insight in the way we believe they should. For help in this area, see my e-book, ‘Prophetic People In A Changing Church.’

Related Posts:

Differences Between Old and New Testament Prophetic Ministry

3 Non-Negotiables of Prophetic Ministry in Church Life

Do you have any thoughts or questions on the topic of prophesying about the future of your church? Leave a comment in the comments box. If the comments section is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

Did you receive this from a friend? Read more from Enliven Blog or sign to receive our weekly prophetic teaching updates at http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog

Last week, I introduced the subject of personal prophetic mentoring.

Today I am considering the question, ‘What should I look for in a personal prophetic mentor?’ Note: most of these points also apply to other mentoring situations in church life—especially leadership.

You may consider that someone who has an anointed prophetic gift, and is bearing fruit in his or her ministry, would be an ideal mentor. However, the best mentors also exhibit other characteristics that are equally important.

8 Aspects of Healthy Prophetic Mentoring

Are you interested in giving or receiving prophetic mentoring? Here are some things to look for in a prophetic mentoring relationship:

1. The Mentor Encourages you in Intimacy with God

The source of prophetic revelation is in our intimate relationship with God. A prophetic mentor should demonstrate a life of communion with God and not only spur you on in this area—but also by their own example cause you to hunger to get closer to God.

2. Importance is Placed upon Character

There is more to mentoring than passing on information and good training. A Godly mentor will not hold back when he or she sees issues of character in your life that need addressing. [1]

Integrity, purity of heart and lifestyle, the quality of our family life, honouring leaders and persevering during tough times are examples of character issues that are critical in developing our maturity in prophetic ministry.

3. Accountability

A good mentor will both encourage you in, and be an example of, being accountable and honouring leadership.

Two questions to ask concerning a potential mentor are:

• ‘What authority are they under?
• Who do they relate to?’

This may include a board, if they are involved in a Christian organisation. I believe it is also important to find mentors who have a strong connection to their own local church, where they are in good standing.

Be watchful and avoid any teaching or mentoring that promotes independence, a lack of accountability and moving out from the authority of your church oversight. [2]

4. DNA is Taken into Account

Where are you currently expressing your prophetic ministry? Your own church or Christian organisation has its own unique DNA. This includes culture, vision, mission, values and teaching emphases.

If you are receiving mentoring from someone (or a group) who is outside your situation, it is important to be aware of any differences in DNA and take these into account.

Differences in vision, values and teaching can cause personal frustrations. If we are not careful, this may result in attempting to impose values or expectations that we have received from a mentoring situation onto leaders in our own church or situation.

Ideally, your mentor should have a similar ‘DNA’ to that of the church or organisation you are ministering with.

5. Your Mentor is Faith-Filled and has a Positive Attitude

A mentor should be faith-filled and have a positive expectation of enlargement in his or her ministry and walk with God.

Keep in mind that as you are being mentored, you not only learn prophetic skills and gifts, but you also pick up your mentor’s attitudes and beliefs.

If you are getting to know a potential mentor and they speak negatively about other prophetic leaders or are bitter about unfulfilled ministry expectations, beware!

6. A Healthy, not Dependent, Relationship

The joy of a parent bird is to see their offspring spread their wings and leave the nest. In the same way, the goal of mentoring is to see those mentored grow to their fullest potential and maturity.

We need to guard against unhealthy dependence or co-dependence in a mentoring relationship. A good mentor will be aware of this.

7. Humility and Openness

The best mentors are transparent about their own prophetic journey, including their weaknesses and failures. They give the greatest gift of mentoring—the wisdom of learning from their mistakes, so that we do not need to repeat them.

Godly mentors have humility—and this shows in their ability to share their journey without masking the tough times and their mistakes. Humility is also shown when a mentor is able to apologise to yourself or others when the need arises.

Likewise, it is important that we are transparent and teachable in receiving mentoring, otherwise we will not reap the benefit of the mentoring process.

8. A Natural Approach to Prophecy

Prophecy springs from having the Father’s love for people as individuals, as well as love for the church.

The best mentors are genuine, down-to-earth people who can relate to both church leadership and ordinary people off the street as they operate in their gift. They have a natural approach to prophecy and do not put people off by their expression of spirituality.

Notes:

[1] This highlights a weakness of distance mentoring, in which it is difficult to address personal character issues except by general teaching. See the post, Prophetic Mentoring On A Personal Basis

[2] I discuss the damage caused by receiving the wrong kind of mentoring and my journey towards repentance and wholeness in my book, ‘Prophetic People in a Changing Church.’ For more information visit Enliven Blog’s e-Books page.

Related Posts:

Prophesying Out Of God’s Love

How Do You Weigh Up What The Prophets Are Saying Pt 1

Celebrate The Unique Gift And DNA Of Your Church

The Spirit Of Encouragement: Are You A Barnabas?

Prophetic Mentoring On A Personal Basis Pt 1

What aspects of prophetic mentoring do you believe are important? Leave a comment in the comments box. If it is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

Did you receive this from a friend? Read more from Enliven Blog or sign to receive our weekly prophetic teaching updates at http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Prov 27:17)

I am deeply grateful to God for the prophetic mentoring that I receive as a member of David McCracken’s team. [1]

As prophetic team members, we are also constantly encouraging and spurring each other on to growth.

As I look back over my life—and especially the 35+ years of growing in the spiritual gift of prophecy—I can identify many people who have played a significant role in mentoring me.

However, not all of the prophetic mentoring I received during the early years had a positive effect on me. Some of the difficulties that I experienced in church life were as a result of mentoring that led me down a wrong path. [2]

In my book, ‘Grow Your Prophetic And Prayer Gifts‘, I recommend prophetic mentoring, especially during the stage of developing our spiritual gift of prophecy. Today I look at the goal of mentoring and some different ways that personal prophetic mentoring can take place. In next week’s post, I will discuss specific aspects that are vital to a healthy mentoring relationship.

Why have Personal Prophetic Mentoring?

‘Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.’ (Phil 4:9)

Prophetic mentoring is a form of Christian discipleship that is focused on developing a person’s prophetic gift and ministry. Examples of general mentoring in Scripture include Moses and Joshua, Mordecai and Esther, Naomi and Ruth, Jesus and His disciples, and Paul and Timothy.

The best-known example of personal prophetic mentoring in the Bible is the relationship between Elijah and Elisha, who succeeded him as Prophet.

We see from the Bible’s example that personal mentoring is one of the valuable means that God uses to equip us in our character, relationship with God, gifts and calling.

The aim of mentoring is to help us reach our potential—mature in Christ, develop our gifts and fulfil the call of God upon our lives.

Different forms of Personal Prophetic Mentoring

Prophetic mentoring can take place in many different ways:

• Our mentoring contact can be occasional, frequent, or continual

• It can be intentional, with personal mentoring as a stated purpose

• It can also occur being in an environment where we are under prophetic leadership or on a prophetic team (peer mentoring)

• Mentoring can be primarily relational. In this case, we do not minister alongside the mentor, but meet for the express purpose of sharing about what is happening in our life and ministry and receiving insights and advice

• It can also occur as an apprenticeship, where we are learning as we minister alongside our mentor

• Mentoring can also occur as we focus on simply serving, blessing and assisting our mentor. Elisha had the role of Elijah’s servant before he was released into the fullness of his calling.

What if I don’t have a Prophetic Mentor?

If you do not currently have a personal mentor, here are some things to consider:

• Distance mentoring can be useful (such as learning from blogs, books and courses). Remember that you won’t benefit from personal accountability and character building when your teacher does not personally know you. [3]

• Mentoring in other areas, such as leadership or church life can also supplement our prophetic ministry. Embrace these opportunities when God gives them and don’t consider them second rate.

• Finally, trust your Heavenly Father, that He will bring people around your life to mentor you at the right time.

Next week, I am going to look at some important things to look for in a prophetic mentoring situation, including accountability, taking DNA into account, a non-dependent relationship, humility, faith and character growth.

Notes:

[1] You can find out about David McCracken here.

[2] I discuss the damage caused by receiving the wrong kind of mentoring and my journey towards repentance and wholeness in my book, ‘Prophetic People in a Changing Church.’ For more information visit Enliven Blog’s e-Books page.

[3] I regularly get asked about mentoring. For my personal policy and information about mentoring, see my mentoring info page.

Related Posts:

8 Essentials of Healthy Prophetic Mentoring

How to Develop Your Prophetic Gift: Where to Begin

The Spirit Of Encouragement: Are You A Barnabas?

How To Activate Your Prophetic Gift

What Are Some Signs That You Have a Prophetic Gift?

What are some different ways that you have received personal prophetic mentoring? Leave a comment in the comments box. If it is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

Did you receive this from a friend? Read more from Enliven Blog or sign to receive our weekly prophetic teaching updates at http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog

At the start of 2011, I joined the prophetic ministry team at David McCracken Ministries. [1] Prior to this time, both David and Steve McCracken occasionally preached in my home church.

I vividly remember a service at which David McCracken ministered. He brought some timely prophetic insights for our church and went on to preach a sermon that God had given him for our congregation.

The message gripped me, and when David called for a response, I was on my feet in an instant. [2]

Prophetic preaching can be used powerfully by God to minister to congregations and individuals. So, what is prophetic preaching—and how can you benefit from it?

Characteristics of Prophetic Preaching

1. It Utilises the Prophetic Gift

‘Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me. “’ (John 7:16)

A prophetic preacher may use the gifts of teaching, exhortation and prophecy interchangeably or together.

A high value of the teacher is to ensure that the instruction is clear and based upon sound Biblical doctrine. The fruit of a teaching gift is that people are learning and being empowered by the teaching they are receiving.

The prophetic gift is employed to make known the thoughts, purpose and intent of God.

Steve McCracken has a gift of prophetic exhortation. Many years ago, when I was weary and discouraged and felt I could not go on, Steve preached at our church on the theme, ‘You can do it!’

As he spoke, I felt the power of the Spirit roll over me like waves. Caught in this inescapable tide, I began to cry and laugh simultaneously as God brought healing to me.

2. Prophetic Preaching contains a ‘Now’ Word

‘And take the … sword of the Spirit, which is the word [rhema] of God’ (Eph 6:17)

Prophetic preaching has a sense of immediacy.

In the NT, the Greek word ‘rhema’ primarily refers to the spoken word (‘utterance’), whereas ‘logos’ primarily refers to the written word. [3]

Prophetic teaching emphasises the ‘rhema’—God’s Spirit-breathed ‘Now’ word, whilst remaining true to, and undergirded by, the ‘logos’ of God’s word given in scripture.

Prophetic preaching reveals the Father’s ‘Now’ word—making known something that is His purpose and is on His heart. It answers the question, ‘What is God’s word to us now?’

3. It is based on Prophetic Revelation

‘ This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.’ (1 Cor 2:13)

Prophetic preaching is inspired by the Holy Spirit through the means of prophetic revelation.  The word ‘revelation’ in the New Testament Greek, apokalupsis, means ‘an uncovering,’ or ‘disclosure.’ In other words, God is revealing something by His Spirit that is not known by natural means. [3]

This revelation can take many forms, such as a source scripture or Bible story, an illustration, a specific word of instruction or exhortation, an idea or train of thought, or simply the God-given end goal of the preaching itself.

This is why we place a high priority on prayer and time apart with God in our preparation for ministry.

4. It is Authoritative in Nature

 ^‘When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.’ (Matt 7:28-29)

Prophetic preaching has a distinct ring of authority to it. This authority is not based upon the preacher’s gift, knowledge or expertise, but on the basis of being entrusted with a message from God Himself.

5. It often Contains a call to Action

^‘..Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.’ (1 Chron 12:32a)

Prophetic preaching frequently calls for a response from the hearer. This may be to align one’s heart or actions with God’s word, to pay attention to a timely warning or guidance, or to position for God’s present or future plans.

Prophetic preaching provokes the hearer to respond to the word.  As such, it consistently results in change and transformation.

6. It may be Accompanied by Prophecy

On some occasions, a prophetic minister may also use the gift of prophecy alongside the preaching.

Bringing prophecy to individuals can raise the level of faith in a meeting, and I have seen powerful breakthrough in people’s lives through a timely personal word.

Prophecy can also manifest through prophetic prayer and proclamations, prophetic worship and a word of prophecy for the church or group as a whole.

This will vary according to the leading of the Holy Spirit, the format of the meeting and the unique gifts of the prophetic minister.

7. Prophetic Preaching Results in Breakthrough

Throughout scripture, the instruction of God given through a prophet brought breakthrough for God’s people. This included strategic guidance in a time of warfare (2 Chron 20:14-17), a word of action to take in crisis (Gen 41:25-46) or a specific declaration of breakthrough. (2 Kings 7:1-2)

Prophetic teaching and preaching is invaluable when a shift is needed to bring breakthrough and change.

8. Prophetic Preaching Empowers the Church

‘ Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.’ (Acts 15:32)

Prophetic preaching strengthens and encourages the church.

The outcome of prophetic preaching, just as with all prophetic ministry, is that the church and its leadership is built up, strengthened and empowered. (1 Cor 14:3-4)

Notes:

**This message is adapted from my article, ‘What Is Prophetic Teaching?’ which can be found on our Free Resources page.

[1] To find out more about David McCracken Ministries and our team members, visit our website: www.davidmccracken.org

[2] To hear messages from the David McCracken Ministries team, check out our DMM Free Resource page here.

To access the RSS feed of our podcast, go here: http://dmm.podcast1.s3.amazonaws.com/david-mccracken-ministries—audio-podcast.xml

Alternatively, you can view David McCracken Ministries in iTunes here: http://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/david-mccracken-ministries/id436105579?ls=1

[3] References: VINE, M.A. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. 1985. Virginia: MacDonald. STRONG, J. Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible. 1996.

Related Posts:
Do You Have A Ministry Call?
Differences Between Old And New Testament Prophetic Ministry
Prophetic Ministry In Church Life: Why Have Guidelines?

© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

Did you receive this from a friend? Read more from Enliven Blog or sign to receive our weekly prophetic teaching updates at http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog

Do you have any testimonies, thoughts or questions to share about ‘Prophetic Preaching?’ I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the comments box. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

I have frequently said that when it came to prophetic ministry in the church, I made every mistake in the book. Then I realised that there wasn’t a book—so I wrote one! [1]

Receiving the grace of God for my failures—and the forgiveness and restoration of my pastors—proved a major turning point in my life.

Following those early days, I went on to lead a flourishing prayer department in a local church and am now on the ministry team at David McCracken Ministries.

Today I would like to share with you 3 Biblical aspects of prophetic ministry in church life that are foundational to the prophetic training that I run today.

3 Imperatives of Prophetic Ministry in the Church

1. The Purpose of Prophetic Ministry is to Build the Church

‘…the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.’ (1 Cor 14:3-4)

The Greek word translated ‘edifies’ means to be a ‘house-builder.’ (see Strongs concordance)

If the outcome of a prophetic word or ministry is something other than edifying and building the church—for example, if it results in confusion, condemnation, division, or fear—then something is wrong. (Prov 14:1)

We always need to come back to edification as the standard and guideline for prophetic ministry in our church.

2. Prophetic Ministry Honours Leadership

‘Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Joshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.’ (Ezra 5:2)

Ezra speaks of a time when the leaders of Judah were rebuilding the temple. Where were the prophets? Alongside them, supporting them and encouraging them to continue in the work God had given them to do.

This is a great picture of prophetic ministry in the church today.

We also honour the leaders of our church by:

• Having a teachable and flexible attitude—being willing to adjust and change our ministry approach when necessary.
• Speaking positively of our leaders and the church. (Prov 18:21)
• Honouring the guidelines and protocols our leaders have established relating to sharing prophecy and other insights such as discernment in the church [2]

In the NT, prophetic ministry and intercession is not a platform to seek God in order to find out and declare what the vision of the church should be.

Rather, prophetic and intercessory ministry is a place to support in prayer and encouragement the vision that God has already given to the church leaders. Any prophetic words we bring will be recognised as confirmation—either at the time we bring them or at a later date. [3]

This is because in the NT, leaders have a relationship with God themselves, and hear Him speak in their function as leaders. This is one of the distinctions between prophetic ministry in the Old and New Testament. [4]

3. Prophetic Ministry Operates in Community

God has ordained the church community to be the place for people to grow in and express their gifts. (1 Cor 12; Eph 4)

There are no ‘lone rangers’ in New Testament prophetic ministry in the church. [5]

The Bible tells us:

• Our gifts are given for the body, to grow the church as a whole (1 Cor 12:7-8)
• In community, words of prophecy are given and weighed up, providing us with accountability (1 Cor 14:29)
• No single prophetic person is going to receive the complete or ‘word perfect’ revelation of what God wants to say (1 Cor 13:9-10, 1 Cor 14:29, 1 Thess 5:20-21)
• The church needs additional gifts such as wisdom, leadership and discernment, to fully benefit from prophetic ministry.(1 Cor 12)

Notes:

[1] This is Prophetic People In A Changing Church. We are in the process of republishing this book through David McCracken Ministries. The new edition will have additional insights for senior ministers by David McCracken.

The earlier edition is still available on the Enliven Blog e-books page.

[2] For more information on this, see my article Prophetic Ministry In Church Life: Why Have Guidelines?

[3] If you believe you have received a prophetic word that seems to be different from where the leadership is taking the church, you can still share it. It may relate to another season or may confirm something that God is already speaking to the leaders about.

However, it does change the way you share it. For example:

• Pray about the word first. Check that it is not being influenced by personal frustrations or your own values and ideals
• Do not speak about the word to others and do not bring it in public; instead, take it privately to your leaders to be weighed up
• Submit and release the prophetic insight without placing any expectation upon your leaders to do anything about it

These are not rules; rather the natural outcome of having a heart that honours God, our leaders and each other.

Note that this article assumes that you are in a healthy church environment. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section per below.

[4] Many difficulties in prophetic ministry in the church today arise from a person or ministry operating in an Old Testament paradigm. (In fact someone who has an OT perspective of prophecy is likely to have difficulty with my points above)

For a review on the chief differences between Old and New Testament prophetic ministry, see my post Differences Between Old And New Testament Ministry

[5] Isolation can be tempting for those with prophetic or prayer gifts who have been hurt or misunderstood. If you can relate to this, the following article may be helpful:

Break Free Of Hurts That Are Blocking Your Prophetic Gift

© Helen Calder Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

Did you receive this from a friend? Read more from Enliven Blog or sign to receive our weekly prophetic teaching updates at http://enlivenpublishing.com/blog

Do you have any questions or thoughts on the topic of prophetic ministry in the church? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment on the comments box. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

Today I am going to review a very common barrier to growth in prophetic ministry, and that is being hurt in relation to your spiritual gift of prophecy.

(Note that these same points relate to wounds experienced in other spiritual gifts or ministries—replace ‘gift of prophecy’ or ‘prophetic ministry’ with the name of your gift or ministry)

An unhealed hurt or disappointment will not only affect your gift of prophecy, it will hold you back in other areas of your life, too.

Some signs that your prophetic gift may be blocked due to sustaining a wound are:

• You can trace a blockage in your prophetic ministry to a hurtful event that took place in your past
• You hold back because you are afraid of being criticised, hurt or rejected
• You may find it difficult to trust leaders or other people in the church to recognise or release you in your gift
• You seem to go through cycles—you might move from one church or ministry to another and yet never get recognised or released to the degree you would like to be
• The same pattern of stepping out in prophetic ministry and then getting hurt or disappointed seems to happen repeatedly.

There are many ways that people can become hurt or wounded in relation to prophetic ministry. The two most common are criticism and disappointment.

1. Criticism

There are several ways that criticism can occur:

• We may have made a genuine mistake in the use of our gift, but leadership of the situation was handled badly. Perhaps we were publicly shamed. Perhaps we were not guided or restored as we should have been.
• The criticism may have been completely unwarranted—this adds a sting of injustice to the wound.
• Criticism was aimed at our level of maturity in the gift.

We do not criticise or judge babies who are learning to crawl or walk—in fact we celebrate their efforts. And yet it is amazing how quickly we Christians judge one another when we are stumbling through learning stages in our spiritual gifts.

Accusation and judgement are also related to criticism.

I have known people who have been accused of being Jezebellic, for example. This kind of accusation can cause a deep wound in someone who has prophetic gifts. [1]

2.Disappointment

Some ways in which we can experience disappointment include:

• Our prophetic ministry has not been listened to, encouraged or appreciated
• Leaders have not recognised our gift or they have not made room for us to exercise or grow in our prophetic ministry
• Mentors or people dear to us in prophetic ministry let us down, are removed from our lives, or are themselves wounded in relation to their ministry
• Ministry opportunities—for whatever reason—have been removed from us

If you have experienced any of these types of wounds in your prophetic ministry, you are not alone. These are things that many of us can relate to in some form or another.

In fact, you will see these types of hurtful things happen to people with prophetic callings in the Bible.

Think of the rejection that Joseph went through with regard to his gift of prophetic dreams and interpretation. He was criticised, rejected, misunderstood and passed over for many years before God raised him up and released him in his call.

Yet he kept his heart free from bitterness—and in that is a lesson for each of us.

It seems that God allows us to go through these tests as part of our development and character growth. When we overcome, He can use us in greater ways and entrust us with His Word and His power.

Steps to Breaking Free from Blockages in your Prophetic Gift due to Hurt

1. Take Ownership

A blockage takes place when we put up barriers, or walls of self-protection around us to prevent us from being wounded again.

Even though others may have been the reason that we were shut down to start with, the ongoing issue is that we are reluctant to expose ourselves to further hurt. Our instinct is to hold back.

So the very first thing we need to do, is to recognise our own part and responsibility in the blockage.

We are the ones who, with God’s help, have the ability and the keys to break ourselves free.

We do this by taking acknowledging this in prayer and repenting of allowing the walls to go up.

God is sufficient. He is all the protection we need and He waits and longs for us to trust in Him. But often we use our own efforts to protect ourselves—and this is wrong.

Secondly, if we have been criticised, removed from ministry or held back in the past, there may be an aspect of truth in the reasons for the action that was taken.

I know from experience that this is a tough area to acknowledge, but addressing it and being humble enough to make any necessary adjustments is vital to fulfilling God’s call on our life.

2. Release forgiveness to the person or group that has wounded you

Jesus said, “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25)

Unforgiveness and the desire to obtain justice can chain us to an event, preventing us from making progress in our prophetic gift.

In prayer, speak out forgiveness, release the offenders from judgment, and from any debt that you believe they owe you.

Sometimes, God might lead you to communicate with the person or group that has hurt you, but isn’t always necessary.

Use discretion here, and look for some wise counsel.

Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a choice that we make. Also remember that forgiveness is not just a one-off decision; it is an ongoing process. This means continuing to choose forgiveness whenever you feel the hurt or the negative effects of the situation.

3. Find a Safe Person who can pray with you

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)

Some things that can be prayed through personally and with a prayer partner are:

• Pray through the issues raised in points 1 and 2 above
• Identify and renounce any wrong belief that you have taken on board following the hurtful event—e.g. ‘I will never be good enough,’ ‘God has not called me to this ministry’
• Pray and affirm the redemptive opposite of that lie, i.e. the truth about God’s love and affirmation of you as a person, as well as your gift
• If criticism, accusation or judgement was involved, pray against the power or effects of the words spoken
• Pray for healing of your heart and a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit

This also reminds us of the fourth and most important aspect of breaking free from any blockage caused by a wound to your gift and that is:

4. Receive God’s Healing

If we have believed a lie, we need a truth encounter. We need to know that God’s love for us, and His attitude towards us, is not reflected in the hurtful attitudes, words or actions of others—even when they are people in authority.

Meditate on the Father’s love and acceptance as expressed in the Bible, especially in the New Testament in the life and ministry of Jesus.

5. Step Out in your Gift Again

Finally, at the right time, we need to begin to step out again in our prophetic gift. [3]

Firstly, this means being accountable—and being under leadership. Sometimes, this means responding well to leaders who have hurt us in the past.

We know we are healed when we can receive feedback and be open to adjustment in the operation of our gift without reacting badly.

Becoming activated in our gift of prophecy again will mean taking risks and being vulnerable. However, the fruit in our lives and in the lives of others we minister to will be eternal.

Do you have any further ideas for healing from hurts that could help readers, or experiences and questions to share on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

Notes:

[1] For more information about the Jezebellic or religious spirit in relation to prophetic ministry, read my e-book, ‘Prophetic People in a Changing Church.’ Check the following links:

E-books Page

Prophetic People In A Changing Church E-book

[2] Sometimes hurts arise from a leader in the church—if this is familiar to you, I encourage you to consider my e-book, ‘Prophetic People in a Changing Church’ for more information on how to break free.

[3] I believe it is vital to foster a safe, nurturing environment in our local churches and prophetic communities to do this—so if you are a leader, I encourage you to make this a priority.

Related Posts:

11 Signs That Your Prophetic Gift Is Being Held Back

Set Yourself Free From Judging Others

6 Doorways To Discouragement In Church Life

Why Is My Spiritual Gift Or Ministry Not Being Released

© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

I regularly come across gifted prophetic people who wonder why they are not being given opportunities to minister in the area of their spiritual gifts and passion.

There are two contexts in which this can happen:

• You may be aware that you have a gift of prophecy, or another spiritual gift. In fact, you may have exercised that gift or ministry in the past, and even seen great results as the Holy Spirit touched people through your ministry.

• You may be newly emerging in your spiritual gift. You are aware that you have a gift and Spirit-given ability—so why is it that others do not see it?

Maybe you can identify with the following questions:

• ‘Why does it seem as though my gift is hidden?’
• ‘Why am I not receiving opportunities to exercise my gift?’
• ‘Why don’t leaders in my church recognise my ministry?’
• ‘Will I ever fulfil the call of God on my life?’

These are questions that I have asked myself at various times in the past. If you can relate to this today, I have some things that  I would like to share with you on a personal level.

Blaming Others will Disempower You

It can be very easy to blame others when we are not being given opportunities to exercise our gifts in church life.

We perceive that leaders especially, have the power to release or hold back possibilities for us to minister. It may seem that they are blocking the achievement of God’s call on our lives.

But the reality is that as long as we are blaming others for our lack of ministry fulfilment—whether it is a spouse, pastor, ministry leader or anybody else—we are actually disempowering ourselves and limiting God.

Invariably, we will begin to voice our frustration and resentment, for as Jesus said, ‘Out of the abundance of our hearts our mouths speak.’ (Luke 6:43-46)

Eventually, discouragement, disappointment and frustration pervade the atmosphere around our lives, creating a cycle of barrenness. But I have good news for you today: you can break free!

Reasons why Your Gifts are not Being Used

Firstly, you need to remember that God is sovereign. No human on the planet can hold back the fulfilment of His call on your life—except you.

You are empowered. You do not need to look to someone else to release your ministry.

So, if your spiritual gift or ministry call seems to be hidden, here are some possible reasons why this might be happening, along with some suggestions to help you move forward: [1]

1. You are Waiting for Appointment Unnecessarily

Sometimes we wait for an invitation, role or position when Jesus just wants to love people through us.

For example, if you have a gift of prophecy, you can use it at the basic level of encouragement in a small group and everyday life amongst family and friends. Remember, though, that if you have a word that goes beyond simple encouragement, the principles of accountability apply.

If you want to be used in the area of healing, start offering to pray for people—and so on.

The key is to stay within the appropriate context in the use of your gift. [2]

2. You Need to make your Desires and Dreams Known

Sometimes we think that ministry leaders are aware of our gifts and calling and should open doors for us. They would—if only they knew what was on our hearts.

I can remember one time in particular where I was frustrated because a ministry leader wasn’t giving me an opportunity. When I eventually broached the subject, he asked me why I hadn’t mentioned it, and happily provided a pathway forward for me.

Leaders aren’t mind readers. Sometimes we think that they are supermen and superwomen who should be listening to God about our personal gifts and situations.

They may simply need the opportunity to hear from us firsthand.

3. You are Beginning and Need to Step out.

Sometimes we wait too long for encouragement, when we should be stepping out of the boat ourselves.

Understandably, when you are new in your gift, this can be a bit daunting.

When a seedling emerges from the soil, there is a last push to break through the earth. When a butterfly is emerging from a chrysalis, there is a final wrestling to break free.

This is the kind of motivation that the Apostle Paul talked about when he said, ‘Desire spiritual gifts.’ (1 Cor 14:1) Is your desire strong enough that you will seek tangible ways of moving forward in your gift? [3]

4. The Delay is about God’s Timing

Wilderness seasons are a Biblical theme—remember Moses, Joseph, David, John the Baptist and the Apostle Paul? [4]

Some reasons that God ordains a time of hiddenness may include:

• Timing as He brings circumstances and people together
• Strengthening other gifts and skills in your life that will be needed in the long run
• Preparation of our character or gift

If God has ordained a season of waiting, He is faithful and will release you at the right time.

5. You may Benefit by Adjusting Something in Your Ministry Approach.

This is a vital point. Many times I have seen people held back because there is something unsuitable in their approach to using their gifts—and yet they are completely unaware of it.

Here are some checks we should do regularly in relation to our gifts and ministry:

Faithfulness

• Am I willing to serve in small ways?
• Am I present at meetings, even when my gift is not being called on?
• Am I honouring my leaders in my conversation and actions?
• Am I being self-centred, i.e. it’s about my gift and my ministry, or others-centred—“What can I do to help you?”

Culture and Style

• Does the style of the way I use my gift fit with the culture of my church?
• What about my language—terminology and expressions?
• Do I use any methods or ‘formulas’ when I minister that my leaders do not use?
• Do I use actions, gestures or manifestations, e.g. when I pray for people, which are not in keeping with the culture of my church?

If a movement we have been brought up in, imparted to, or taught by, is different from that of our church, this is something that we need to especially consider.

We need to be willing to lay these methods aside and align our ministry style with the culture of our church or ministry organisation.

Vision and Values

• Do my values and vision for ministry differ from that of my church?

A friend of mine observed that a church is like a train—led by God and our leadership with a definite destination in mind. We need to decide whether we are willing to get on board and to serve in the direction that our church is going.

So long as we are nurturing our own desires for a different destination or culture of church life, our leaders will perceive this. They need to know we are pulling with them—not against them.

Why not ask?

You may benefit by approaching someone in leadership—perhaps sharing this article with him or her—and reviewing any possible reasons why you seem to be stuck in relation to your gift or ministry.

This will only work if you take an open and humble approach and are willing to listen to suggestions without becoming hurt or offended.

Often leaders do not address situations such as I’ve mentioned above because they know that their observations will not be well received. If you initiate the conversation, and are willing to make adjustments, you may be surprised at the results.

Do you have any experiences or questions to share on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

Notes:

[1] Another reason our gift or ministry may be hidden is because we are hiding ourselves—due to fear or hurt. We will be covering these topics in the next few weeks.

[2] Every church has unique protocols for the operation of spiritual gifts. See Prophetic Ministry In Church Life: Why Have Guidelines

[3] If you believe you have a gift of prophecy emerging, see the following post for ideas:

How To Develop Your Prophetic Gift: Where To Begin 

[4] Here is a post on the topic of wilderness seasons that you may find helpful:

Going Through A Testing Season In Your Spiritual Gifts

Related Posts:

11 Signs That Your Prophetic Gift Is Being Held Back

Do You Have A Ministry Call?

Break Free Of Hurts That Are Blocking Your Prophetic Gift

© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog – Prophetic Teaching

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

Apathy is a common barrier to growth in our spiritual gifts [1]—and it is the one that we have the least motivation to overcome!

We do not choose indifference—we drift towards it. (Heb 2:1) And as we do, it robs us of  our hunger for God and our motivaton to serve Him.

It also robs other people of receiving a life-changing blessing from God through us.

Some signs that apathy may be blocking growth in your gift of prophecy or other spiritual gift are:

• You believe that you have gone as far as you can go in the development of your gift
• You are comfortable with where you are, and not motivated to move forward in your ministry
• You can remember a time when you were excited about your spiritual gift, but you’ve lost the passion
• There is always a ready—and plausible—excuse as to why you should not step out and use your gift

There is one crucial ingredient that we must have, in order to overcome indifference and push forward in our spiritual gifts.

That ingredient is desire.

This also holds true for all spiritual gifts. This includes prophecy, as well as other revelatory gifts such as discernment, intercession and word of knowledge.

The Apostle Paul said,

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. (1 Cor 14:1)

Here are three kinds of desire that are vital to growth in our gifts:

1. Desire for God

In any relationship, when we love someone, we want to spend time with him or her—and it is the same in our relationship with God.

To crave spiritual gifts without the greatest desire being for God Himself is like marrying someone for his or her money.

In Acts 8, Simon the sorcerer offered money to the apostles so that he could have the same power that they did. Peter rebuked him strongly for the wickedness in his heart.

Our love for God leads us to want to be close to Him, and out of that hunger for intimacy comes the longing also to hear what He is saying—to know His heart and priorities.

And right there is the place where we receive revelation.

Our prophetic ministry will not have depth, impact and anointing unless we foster intimacy with God.

If you feel that you have lost that sharp edge of hunger for God and His Presence, now is the time to return to that place. (Rev 2:4-5)

2. Love for People and Desire to help them.

The Apostle Paul made it clear in his lengthy discussion about spiritual gifts, that love is the vital prerequisite to the use of the gifts. (1 Cor 13)

Jesus said the whole law is summed up by the commands to love God and to love our neighbour. (Luke 10:27-28)

Loving people leads us to desire to help them and build Jesus’ church.

I encourage you to stop and do a check on how you are going in this area.

• Is your motivation to prophesy, or utilise your gift based on a genuine desire to help people and lead them closer to Jesus?

• How are you going in your desire to build the church—what about your own church? I’ve learned that my passion for my own local church is often a barometer or how I am going in this area.

Of course, sometimes discouragement or hurt can get in the way of this—and I will discuss that in another post.

3. Desire for the Spiritual Gift Itself

In 1 Cor 14, we are told to ‘Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.’

This desire keeps us moving forward, not only to develop the gift, but also to use it to minister to others.

I have often heard it said that we should desire the Giver, not the gifts (and have sometimes said it myself!) But the Bible clearly says we should desire the gifts.

We should desire the Giver and His gifts.

I am challenged to have the desire that Elisha did, that caused him to pursue Elijah for his mantle. (2 Kings 2)

That mantle was the outward representation of Elijah’s prophetic ministry and office of the prophet.

We have all seen people who have an unhealthy focus on spiritual gifts or prophecy. Being concerned about this is a good sign.

We need to be alert to the wrong kinds of desire. To check our motives, we can ask questions like: [2]

• Am I comparing myself to someone else and wanting an ability that they have?
• Am I willing to wait, if this is not the right time to step out?
• Am I willing to submit this longing for a gift or ministry to leaders in the church—and hold back if they do not see God has called me to this area?
• Is this about loving people—or feeling fulfilled myself?
• Does reaching for this gift free me to be more of who God has created me to be?
• Is it clear—to others and to me—that it is God’s glory and His church that I want to bring attention to and not myself?

Don’t Separate the Gifts and the Giver

We think of a gift in the human sense, that we give a gift that is separate to us.

However, the gifts God gives us are the expression of His Holy Spirit living on the inside of us. We cannot separate the two.

When we cease desiring the gift, we have not only forgotten the value of the gift itself, we have lost sight of the treasure that is the unique expression of the Holy Spirit impacting others through us.

In valuing our spiritual gift, we are valuing the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor 12:7)

When we long for the manifestation of a gift with a God-breathed desire—a desire that is birthed in communion with Him—we are longing for God Himself.

Keys to Reawakening Desire

Some things we can do are:

• Pray and ask God to stir a hunger up in you, so that you are not satisfied with anything less than God being first in your life

• Specifically repent of apathy. Invite the Holy Spirit to move and breathe His life into your heart and gift

• Stir up the desire by reminding yourself of the benefits of the use of your spiritual gift in helping people and bringing them closer to God

Was there an event you can look back on that caused you to stop desiring the gift? We will be looking at this in another post.

Do you have any experiences or questions to share on this topic? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

Notes:

[1] Wayne Grudem defines a spiritual gift as ‘any ability that is empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in any ministry of the church.’ (GRUDEM, W. Systematic Theology. 1994. Nottingham: Inter-Varsity. p1016)
For examples of spiritual gifts see the following scriptures:
1 Cor 12:4-11, Rom 12:6-8

[2] From my e-book, ‘Grow Your Prophetic And Prayer Gifts.’

© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

One of the things I am passionate about is helping people to grow in their spiritual gifts—especially prophecy. [1]

People regularly share with me that they believe they have a gift of prophecy, but are not sure how to begin developing it.

Sometimes they express fear or embarrassment about stepping out with a prophetic insight, because they lack confidence.

I also come across prophetic people who tell me that they used to flow in the gift of prophecy but feel it has become blocked or closed down in comparison to how it used to be.

These Christians long for the ‘good old days,’ when they felt released in their gifts and saw miraculous things happen as a result.

This is why, over the next little while, I am going to be producing some articles on how to move forward and break through limitations in relation to prophetic gifts and ministry. [2]

But I need your help.

I would like to hear your thoughts on this topic, any struggles, what obstacles and barriers you have experienced personally, as well as testimonies and ideas for breakthrough.

So after the articles, I will be asking questions. Please contribute using the comments facility on the blog. It is amazing how many people will identify with your journey—you may even encourage others who are having similar struggles.

Identifying a Limitation is Good News

Identifying a potential barrier to the growth of your gift or ministry is good news—for it is the first step to empowering you to break free and enter into the ‘more’ that God has for you.

In fact, in God’s Kingdom there is always more!

And you can turn that seeming obstacle into a stepping-stone to greater growth and fruitfulness.

Signs that you are Being held back in Your Prophetic gift

Here are eleven signs that there may be a limiting factor holding you back in your prophetic gift or ministry.

If you do not have a gift of prophecy, replace the words ‘prophecy’ or ‘prophetic ministry’ with the name of your gift or ministry.

See if you can identify with any of these:

1. You used to believe you were called to prophetic ministry [3] but now you are not so sure

2. You are wondering why your prophetic gift seems to be hidden and not recognised by other Christians or by leaders in the church

3. It is a long time since you stepped out, took a faith risk, and did something new in the use of your prophetic gift

4. You are drifting and have a lack of direction in your prophetic gift or ministry

5. You feel barren and are wondering where the fruitfulness is that you were promised or initially experienced when you started out

6. You recognise that difficulties in the use of your prophetic gift began with an event that occurred in your past

7. You are not sure what to do to get to the next level of growth in your gift of prophecy

8. You have been hurt or wounded in relation to your prophetic gift and haven’t gotten over it

9. You are not receiving opportunities to use and bless others through your gift that you would like to have

10.You are content with your current level of experience and do not have the motivation to press through for growth in your prophetic gift

11.You do have opportunities to use the gift of prophecy, but it is not flowing as smoothly or as accurately as you would like, or have known in the past.

Now, some questions for you:

• Can you identify with any of the above issues?
• Are there any other signs that you can think of, or have experienced, that you are being held back in your spiritual gift of prophecy?

Leave a comment in the comments section at the end of this post. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.

Over the next little while we will be looking at how to overcome some barriers to growth in your gift. Many of these will apply to other gifts, not just prophecy.

Some of the things I will be considering include:

• Fear
• Not knowing where to start
• The effect of past hurts
• Apathy
• Not being released or given opportunities

Feel free to forward or share these articles with others who may be helped by them.

Notes:

[1] The gift of prophecy is the Spirit-empowered ability to receive and convey a message from God—to make known the Father’s mind, intention and purposes.

[2] If you are interested in developing your gift, the e-book ‘Grow Your Prophetic And Prayer Gifts’ is a tool to help you identify which stage of development you are in and move to the next level.

[3] By prophetic ministry, I do not mean a role or position. Prophetic ministry occurs when you use your prophetic gift to love and help people in a way that brings them closer to God and releases them into His purposes. As Paul says, ‘the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.’ (1 Cor 14:3)

Related Posts:

Why Is My Spiritual Gift Or Ministry Not Being Released?

Break Free Of Hurts That Are Blocking Your Prophetic Gift

© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

Understanding the difference between Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT) prophetic ministry is a vital key to flourishing in our gifts of prophecy.

A clearer perception of this in my earlier days would have saved me personally a great deal of heartache and error in church life. [1]

Here are four key points of difference between Old and New Testament prophetic ministry, along with some dangers that can occur when a prophetic person maintains an OT viewpoint in the context of church life.

1. In the OT, a prophet was the mouthpiece of God

Old Testament prophets had the singular role of bringing God’s word—instruction, warnings, prophecies, and so on—directly to His people.

By contrast, in the New Testament all believers have a relationship with God and can hear Him speaking to them personally. Therefore, prophecy is confirmation of what is already heard through relationship.

This also relates to leaders in the church today, who hear from God in their leadership capacity.

Prophetic ministry is designed to bring confirmation, clarity and empowerment to the vision of a church.

Signs of maintaining an Old Testament viewpoint in church life:

• Maintaining they have correctly heard from God (and the leaders are wrong) when there is a point of difference
• Believing that their prophetic insights carry greater weight than the vision or direction of others who may not have a prophetic gift.

2. The OT was an era of law and judgment

In the Old Testament, prophets pronounced warnings and judgements upon people and nations who were in disobedience to God.

The New Testament, however, is an era of God’s grace. [2] New Testament prophecy is for ‘strengthening, encouragement, and comfort.’ (1 Cor 14:3) Here is an example from Acts 15:32:

‘Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.’

New Testament prophecy is consistent with the ministry of Jesus and His revelation of the Father’s nature.

Even if a prophetic word is addressing error, the prophetic motive is redemption—to bring God’s purpose and to transform the situation and its outcome—and the word will be framed that way, presented in love and humility.

Signs of maintaining an OT viewpoint in church life:

• Using prophecy to point out wrongs, being quick to condemn or warn church leaders or other Christian believers
• Using prophecy to call for repentance with an underlying attitude of criticism or judgment [3]

3. In the OT, a prophet could ‘stand alone’ before God (1 Kings 17:1)

In the New Testament, Paul says in 1 Cor 12 that we are many members, with different gifts, in one body.

As with other spiritual gifts, prophecy is not meant to be a stand-alone ministry in the church, rather, it is incomplete without the added value of other gifts in the church body. (1 Cor 12:12)

No one ‘prophetic person’ has all the revelation. He or she also depends upon others with prophetic gifts to supply more ‘pieces of the puzzle’ of God’s revelation (1 Cor 14:29-33).

The person prophesying also needs those who have gifts of discernment, leadership and wisdom to complete their contribution to the church.

Also, in the New Testament you see less of the individual prophet and more of prophetic teams – e.g. Acts 15:32, Acts 13:1, Acts 11:27, 1 Cor 14:29, 31-32.

Signs of maintaining an OT viewpoint in church life:

• Isolation, separation from community
• Believing that they report directly to God only, and are commissioned and trained only by God
• Lack of accountability, i.e. not coming under leadership

4. OT prophets were expected to speak the PERFECT, inspired word of God

If they did not speak a word that proved true, they were condemned as ‘false prophets’ (Jer 14:14-16).

Some prophets were entrusted with the writing of scripture.  They also were used of God to convey His specific instruction to Kings, nations and others. Thus, accuracy and purity of their words was essential.

In the New Testament church, prophetic words are subject to being weighed up. (1 Cor 14:29, 1 Thess 5:20-22)

New Testament Prophetic ministry needs an environment of humility, cooperation and grace to operate as Jesus intended it to.

Signs of maintaining an OT viewpoint in church life:

• Believing they have a ‘hotline to God’ that bypasses the input of leadership.
• Resisting having their prophetic words weighed up
• Reacting negatively when prophetic words are not acted upon, or feedback is given that disagrees with their viewpoint

The Fruit of New Testament Prophetic Ministry

‘So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.’ (Eph 4:11-12)

In the New Testament, prophetic ministry is a servant ministry in the church. This is also true of the prophetic office.

As Paul outlines in Ephesians, the role of a leading prophetic ministry is to equip the church. This includes encouraging and empowering Christians to hear from God, as well as releasing others who have prophetic gifts.

One danger of maintaining an Old Testament paradigm of prophetic ministry is that it sends a message of exclusivity (see points 1 and 3 above). It tends to have the opposite effect—intimidating others who have prophetic gifts and creating an unhealthy reliance upon the prophetic minister.

And finally, the fruit of New Testament prophetic ministry is unity. The picture that Paul gives is of a healthy body, each part unique but working and growing together into Christ-likeness.

Notes:

[1] For more on my journey check the ‘About Enliven Blog’ page.

[2] For more detail on this topic, see the post ‘How To Weigh Up What The Prophets Are Saying Pt 2

[3] This is not to say that someone with a prophetic ministry cannot call for repentance. See ‘How To Weigh Up What The Prophets Are Saying Pt 1′

[4] I am aware that many prophetic people have experienced unhealthy or even abusive leadership, at some stage of their journey. Past hurts and difficulties should not stop us honouring and having a Biblical response to our leaders in our current situation where God has placed us. For more information on this, read my e-book Prophetic People In A Changing Church.

Related Post:

Prophetic Ministry In Church Life: 3 Non-Negotiables

© Helen Calder 2011 Enliven Blog

On team with David McCracken Ministries: Prophetic Ministry That Empowers The Church

Do you have any experiences or questions to share on the topic of differences between Old and New Testament Prophetic Ministry? I would love to hear from you. Leave a comment in the comments box below. If the comments box is not visible, click on this link and scroll down.