One of the main reasons I came to Christ was because different people reflected in word or deed the character and nature of Jesus. From the old woman that taught bible class once a month at my public school to the young girl who spoke to me a prophetic word of knowledge about three things no other human being knew. These experiences reflected the nature of Jesus…. who reflects the nature of Father God.
There are people in the Body or Christ, like the above mentioned individuals, who still live to reflect the nature of Christ but I find the number of believers that see such a life style as normal is shrinking. Why is this the case? I believe much of the responsibility lands at the doorstep of the shepherds of Christ that have focused more on “Other Ways“, like marketing and stage appeal, to build the body of Christ.
Now, just to be clear, I am not against these shepherds as I know to truly live like Jesus and shepherd people to follow Christ is a daunting task but, after 45 years of ministry, I am disheartened by the lack of prophetic guidance the church so desperately is in need of. It is not about a flashy prophetic word in a Sunday service but rather a prophetic attitude and behavior that makes a church healthy.
For the most part, pastors are trained in bible colleges and seminaries where, in my estimation, they are given training in reading Greek and Hebrew more than in understanding how people are wired and why they struggle with trusting the person they profess to be their savior. How to shepherd people needs to be taught in the local church body.
When I read the Bible, both New and Old Testaments, I see a holistic approach to raising up shepherds. All too often in our day and age churches hire a person out of college who has had no investment or struggle in the body of believers they are trying to lead. All too often these young shepherds try to preach and teach as they were taught in college yet they often remain disconnected from the community of believers they were hired by. More often than not, these young shepherds are looking for bigger churches to work at after paying their dues in their current congregation. So, instead of building solid healthy relationships, they are just building a “career” in the church.
If we look at the book of 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 5, we see Paul saying it is the Holy Spirit that gives gifts to the church to equip it to be healthy and strong, whether that church is small or large, rich or poor. Paul states very clearly that “Everyone” in the church community should desire to be prophetic. Why? Because everyone who claims to be a Christian is meant to be an imitator of Christ.
Ephesians 5:1
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
So what does that mean? First and foremost, the scriptures state that Jesus was a prophet. Secondly, Jesus himself defined what moved him in his ministry more than anything else. He stated that what he sees and hears the Father do, he does. In other words, Jesus came to put the Father of heaven on display in both his words and actions.
Luke 24:19
And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people,
John 5:19
But Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing alone. The Son does only what he sees the Father doing, because the Son does whatever the Father does.
Paul says that we should desire prophecy above all the gifts. Why? Because if we as individuals have a heart to be like Jesus we have a heart to help as many people as possible come to know the Father of Heaven who loves them dearly. Remember that as Paul is defining what the body of Christ should be. He makes this statement early on in 1 Corinthians 12 about doing everything in the church for the purpose of edification. We are to strive to build up the church by building up the believers we know and have influence with.
1 Corinthians 12:7
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
1 Corinthians 14:1
Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Living for Jesus is not supposed to be about feeling good about ourselves, though this is included. We are meant to be about manifesting God’s character as demonstrated in Jesus. If the body of Christ understands all our learning is meant to equip us to put God on display we would attend service, go to bible study, help out in the children’s ministry and a multitude of other functions because our service will reflect the heart of God and isn’t that being prophetic?
For too long the idea of being prophetic has been presented to be a person standing up in a service of some type and delivering a spoken word. What if being prophetic means so much more? What if being prophetic means communicating the heart of God by helping your neighbor with a project he is doing or baking some brownies for the local firemen or paying for a coffee for a policemen waiting in line behind you?
If Paul had it right, that we should seek to be prophetic above all other gifts because it means something more than just a few special people bringing a spoken word. It must mean at the core that we are desiring to express the heart of God regardless of how the Holy Spirit guides us.
Here is an important thing to consider. If we use our abilities to just serve others without the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are we counterfeiting spiritual gifts? Spiritual gifts imply the Holy Spirit is doing more than putting a rubber stamp on our service. Instead, he is at the core initiating and equipping us to be God’s hands and feet.
This brings me back to pastors and shepherds. If you love these servants help them see the importance of the prophetic ministry and assist them in promoting a culture of the prophetic in the local church. Pastors are often told they don’t measure up so don’t criticize them, assist them in any way you can. Be prophetic to your shepherds as Jesus would.
In the next part of this series, I will dig deeper into being a prophetic church.
Questions:
1) Are you being biblical and seeking to be prophetic? Read 1 Cor 14
2) Are you fearful to step out in the prophetic? Seek a mentor
Pastor Dale
Thanks, Pastor Dale. This is the first time I have heard acts of kindness or service defined as prophetic. Or at least the first time it sunk in. Very interesting and opens a new depth of what it means to be prophetic.
Hi Rob
So much of walking in the prophetic is stereotyped to only be a person speaking in public to a group or crowd. The word I will be bringing Sunday morning at SALC with deal with the broad application of the prophetic.
Blessings!