Prophetic Presbyteries
1 Timothy 1:18 This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,
1 Timothy 4:14-15 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. (15) Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.
I. Prophetic Direction in our Lives
Three aspects of prophetic direction in Timothy’s life: Prophetic Utterance, Laying on of Hands, Presbytery’s Involvement
A. Prophetic Utterance
A personal prophecy can be a means of great encouragement and motivation.
Personal prophecies helped Timothy focus his life and ministry according to the call of God.
Paul kept the prophetic words in mind when it came to helping his son’s progress in God’s calling. Paul instructed Timothy based on these words.
When prophetic directions come they should be weighed/examined to help determine what parts are of God because on people’s best days they know and prophesy in part (1 Cor 13:9).
1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 (19) Do not quench the Spirit; (20) do not despise prophetic utterances. (21) But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
1 Corinthians 14:29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.
B. Laying on of hands
It is a foundational revelation: Hebrews 6:1-2 …not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands.
Act 8:18 NASB Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.
Biblical Examples of the Laying on of Hands: Laying on of hands occurs a number of times in the Bible.
it was not just a ceremony, but there was a spiritual happening in one of the four areas:
Transference
Transmission
Impartation
Identification
1. Old Testament examples of laying on of hands
Jacob laid his hands on his grandchildren and blessed them (Genesis 48:14-16 trasmission of a Spiritual benefit/blessing)
The Israelite and his sacrificial offering (Leviticus 1:4; 3:2-13; 16:21-22; 8:18 transference and transmission of sin and guilt)
The stoning of one who curses God (Leviticus 24:14-16 transference of guilt)
The children of Israel laying hands on the Levites (Numbers 8:10 transference of the obligation to serve in the sanctuary and identification as the congregation’s representative on their behalf)
Moses and Joshua (Numbers 27:15-23; Deuteronomy 34:9 Moses transference authority and imparted honor on him).
Reform under Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 29:20-24 priest laid hands on sacrifice to transfer guilt)
2. The New Testament and laying on of hands
Jesus laid hands upon people in the area of healing (Mark 6:5, Luke 4:40, Luke 13:13 Impartation)
Jesus laid His hands on children imparting a spiritual blessing on them (Matthew 19:13,15 Impartation)
Jesus assigns the disciples to lay hands on the sick in the great commission and it continued with early church in book of Acts (Mark 16:18 Acts 5:12; Acts 9:17; Acts 14:3; Acts 19:11, 28:8) Impartation
We see the infilling of the Spirit through the laying on of hands in the book of Acts (Acts 8:1-25, Acts 9:1-19 Impartation)
The laying on of hands in leadership appointments and commissioning (Acts 6:1-6, Acts 13:2, 3Identification and Impartation)
The laying on of hands in which gifts were imparted (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6)
They laying on of hands in conjunction with prophetic presbyteries can have all four aspects of the laying on of hands in them.
C. Presbytery
The idea of “Presbytery
Gk “Presbuterion” - A body of Elders or a Counsel. A Presbytery is a counsel of recognized leaders both Ephesians 4 trans-local and well as local leaders. Acts 13 is an example of a group of leaders getting prophetic direction together. Acts 15 is a beautiful example of the trans-local as well local leaders working together for direction in issues among churches (5 times it mentions Apostles and Elders).
A prophetic presbytery is a group of recognized seasoned leaders that come together for special times to gain direction or help administrate direction for God’s people. It usually contains Ephesians’ 4 trans-local ministers and well as local church government (Elders etc.).
II. Prophetic Presbytery
A prophetic type presbytery is a gathering in which local churches seek to hear God’s prophetic insight over people within the congregation for effective mentorship and release in their lives. In prophetic presbytery we want to ensure that Ephesians 4 Prophets are in the mix of the Presbytery.
The goal of the presbytery is centered around helping prophetically identify Jesus’ calling and gifting upon people for the purpose of building the church in order to extend the Kingdom through mission. It is not about random prophecies that are given for individual fulfillment. It is about building His house for the extension of His kingdom to the glory of God (Mt 16:18, 28:18-19, Eph 1:22-23, 3:10-11, 4:1-16).
A. Use of Spiritual gifts in building in and through local churches
There are 5 places instruction is given in the NT about the identification of gifts and how they operate. The context of all of them is building in and among local churches for the extension of His Kingdom through them (1 Cor 12, 1 Cor 14, Eph 4:1-16, Rom 12:1-16, 1 Pet 4:8-12 which is a continuation of 2:1-10).
B. This is why presbyteries are connected to local church government
Local church leaders will help people among them walk in the direction of judged prophetic words.
It is witnessed by the local flock because they will be walking together as part of the words being worked out. There is purpose and it is centered around building local churches, for the extension of the Kingdom, to the glory of Jesus filling the earth.
The benefit of recognized local and trans-local ministries harnessed together in team is that there is the fuller picture released as well as a connection of responsibility to see them carried out. This helps ensure that those giving and receiving prophecies are aware of the need to weigh personal prophecies and submit them for evaluation. (1 Thess 5:19-21)