Session 1: (Review) The Office of a Prophet (10,000 ft view)
Motivation (Malachi 4:5-6, knowing that the Father wants His family)
Core motivation is to turn hearts, redeeming sons.
Jesus wants His Brides; prophets are friends to the Bridegroom and serve to “make ready” the Bride.
Fear of the Lord (Ezekiel 3:16)
These are motivations are measures of authentic prophetic ministry; note that a person with a genuine call can operate or exercise their gift from a wrong motivation.
Prophetic Predispositions
Insecurity – in a positive sense this occurs as a prophet is completely dependent upon God for light, insight, revelation, and rhema.
Rejection – in a practical sense when people reject the word of the Lord, prophets must endure the response and not take it personal (1 Samuel 8:7; Luke 11:49)
Session II: Levels of Prophetic Ministry
There are building prophets like Haggai/Zechariah (governmental).
There are kingdom prophets like Daniel, who watched over nations.
The measure of grace/authority dictates the level in which a prophet operates.
People must “receive a prophet in the name of a prophet” to receive a prophet’s reward, which is the revelation that they carry.
Edification/Exhortation (I Corinthians 14)
Prophets build altars, often through preaching, so that people are brought to a place of decision, encounter God, and have a divine exchange.
Prophets carry revelation, which is light to illuminate darkness and bring freedom. This happens when the lamp stand (light/authority) and the altar (the place of reverence/seeking before the Lord) are maintained.
Gift to the Church (Confrontation/Connectivity)
Prophets confront error in the church (e.g., seasoned prophets).
Prophets confront things external to the church that would seek to pervert it; consider in Jesus’ day: leaven of the Pharisees (religious nature); Sadducees (rejected the supernatural), and Herod (corrupt political system)
Prophets look for connectivity in the lives/experiences of God’s people:
Connect to God’s presence
Connect to true (God-given, God-declared) identity
Connected in one’s calling
Connected in one’s commission
See Acts 13 where out of the function and ministry of prophets and teachers, Paul and Barnabas were commissioned for apostolic work.
Foundation Layers
Ephesians 2 – Christ is the foundation stone, revelation of apostles and prophets is the foundation of the church (e.g., the yoking of apostles and prophets works well…it is suppose to be a relational context to support local churches…they solicit and respond to invitations to help build the church (not just moments or meetings), providing focus and specific labor to build up and see emerging leaders develop.
Jeremiah 1:9-10
Kingdom – cultivation process (uproot and plant)
Church – building process (lay foundations)
Equippers
Ephesians 4 – prophets are called to equip and embower believers; they are not just ministers who can preach and prophesy.
Watchmen – Ezekiel 5 (Watchmen for the House of Israel.
Watchmen = warner; to be alert and observant, purposefully seeing and considering so as to release words of warning and insight.
Jesus admonished his disciples to WATCH and pray
John 5:33, It is critical that prophets search their own hearts and live in purity in order to bring illumination and expose darkness.