Are We Building a Prophetic Church? (Part 4)

This is the fourth and final installment about the church being called to be prophetic. My desire is to get people to think seriously as to whether the church is functioning as Jesus intended, or merely being a weak representation of Jesus himself. The church has needed to go through pruning many times since Jesus rose from the dead because, like so many things, we tend to drift from God’s word and from his purpose. Each period in church history when the church has gone off course men and women were raised up to challenge the statius quo, not to hurt the church but to make it healthy. May people say they long for revival. “True Revival” is often painful, but it is necessary. If you haven’t read the first three articles please do so to get the big picture on this most important topic on the prophetic.

We have covered a lot of ground on this topic in the first three articles, and scripture clearly teaches each believer is called to be prophetic. There is so much more we could investigate on this important subject but my main goal has been to show how the scripture clearly calls us to understand the prophetic and walk in it, both inside the church and outside into the World. Jeremiah the prophet said it best when he defined the purpose of the prophetic: That we know who the Lord is and declare what he has spoken to all humanity.

Jeremiah 9:23-24

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man gloat in his wisdom, or the mighty man in his might, or the rich man in his riches. Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who is just and righteous, whose love is unfailing, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!

King David prophetically describes who the Lord is and wants to be in Psalm 23 when he speaks of God as being our shepherd who can, and will, take care of our every need as we journey through life. How unfortunate we look at this revelation only for children’s stories or at funerals when it and other prophetic words were meant for all believers all the time.

Psalms 23:1-4

The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

In Acts 2 the apostle Peter prophesies that the prophecy of Joel 2 was now being fulfilled and released. Joel 2 declared that God would pour out His spirit on all people and our sons and daughters would prophesy. So prophecy was no longer being set apart for specially called and gifted people but on all people who are born again. Granted there is still the gift ministry of the prophet in Ephesians 5, but God states that he will pour out his spirit on all who care to listen and speak.

Joel 2:28-29

Then after I have poured out my rains again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.                                                   Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, men and women alike.

The apostle Paul continues this idea in his letters to the Corinthians. Remember that the two letters written to the Corinthian church were trying to lay out what a healthy church should look like. In the beginning of 1 Corinthians he stated that the church had “All” the gifts of the Spirit operating yet they were acting like carnal people because they didn’t understand how to have a healthy church body. In my mind the church has learned to operate in gifting without seeing what the Holy Spirit wants to accomplish nor how to do so. For years many churches claimed that preaching was being prophetic in order to not be confronted with a lack of prophetic ministry and though for some preachers they may include prophetic words in their sermons, for the church body they remain unengaged and unskilled in the prophetic ministry. Teaching and preaching are separate gifts, just like evangelism is a separate gift.

1 Corinthians 3:1-3

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? 

Paul states very clearly that each believer should desire to prophesy, not just the pastor or some specially gifted person. From my experience over the years many do not move in the prophetic first and foremost because they are not taught they can and nor taught how. Just knowing that they should desire to prophecy above all other gifting should speak volumes to each believer. It should motivate us to learn and engage.

1 Corinthians 14:1-3

Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. 

Paul states also that we each are “Ambassadors” of Christ Jesus. It’s who we are if we are born again. It is also what we do. We represent Jesus to those we meet. If we are in a church gathering we should desire to speak a word of encouragement that the Holy Spirit gives us to others around us. If we are shopping or doing business in the world we should be open and desiring for the Holy Spirit to give a word to those we meet.

2 Corinthians 5:20

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

Let me close by saying that scripture should guide us as to how we build the church. If we follow it with the guidance of the Holy Spirit we will be blessed indeed. If we neglect it we will suffer the consequences of trying to build a spiritual community by natural means. Satan can’t stop the church but he can sidetrack us so we lack the spiritual power the Holy Spirit offers us. Pray and support your pastor to dig into the subject and encourage him whenever he teaches on the prophetic. There are many great books that will help anyone that wants to live a Spirit filled and directed life. Two good books on this subject are “Prophecy – Releasing God’s Voice” by Benjamin Dixon and “Growing in the Prophetic” by Mike Bickle.

Questions:

1) Are you desiring to live a Spirit filled Life? Seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and read the scripture.

2) Are you praying for the Holy Spirit to move on you and others with the gift of prophecy? The Holy Spirit longs to lead us to speak the words of the Father both to the church and to the world around us.

Lastly, don’t look for “Flashy” so called prophetic people. Look for humble servants of God who are looking to give God the glory for whatever they hear from God and not just trying to promote themselves.

Loving God and loving real prophecy that the body of Christ should walk in.

Pastor Dale