Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:31 that a believer has prophetic potential within them to prophesy. It is intended as means of a general participation among the believers, mutually benefiting each other with anointed, caring, loving words of edification, strength, insight, confirmation, affirmation, and revelation. Prophecy can also provide insight so that the hearts of men are humbled when ministering to the Lord in worship. The Lord can suddenly make one aware of His Spirit’s knowledge of their need and readiness to answer it (1 Cor. 14:24–25).
There are specific guidelines for the operation of this unique gift, as with all gifts of the Holy Spirit, to ensure that one gift does not supplant the practice and exercise of others or usurp the authority of the spiritual leadership governing its activity. All prophecies are subordinated to the plumb line of God’s infallible Word, the Bible—in which is the standard and foundation to all prophetic utterance in the church, which is to be judged and screened according to 1 Corinthians 14:26–33.
THE WORD OF GOD IS GOD REVEALED
Prophecy is more than just mere words spoken by a yielded vessel and prophet of God. Prophecy is the spirit of revelation being released. The Book of Revelation is a prophetic book that simply says in Revelation 1:1 (KJV), “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly [quickly, swiftly and imminently] take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.” The Book of Revelation is simply about our King and His kingdom, and it was intended for those in the first century who heard this prophecy and needed hope to endure times of persecution and continue to be servants of God until the end of that age.
“Revelation” is translated from the Greek word apokalypipsis, which is an unveiling or disclosing of a reality that previously has not been perceived.32 This apocalypse came from God through Jesus Christ, whose past and present work and position in heaven at the right hand of the Father is the content of the revelation communicated to John by an angel. (See Revelation 22:16.) The purpose of that prophecy and this book was to show His servants, genuine believers, and followers in that age what must take place and the events that would occur shortly, imminently, or quickly.
THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION
My point is that Paul prays in Ephesians 1:17–19 that the people will receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation with the dual objective of their knowing Christ and understanding His purpose and power working in their lives. Revelation refers to an unveiling of our hearts that we may receive insight into the way God’s word is intended to work in our lives. That is what I believe prophecy does; it discloses God’s original intention and thoughts about you so that you can understand God’s plans and purpose for your life. The preaching and teaching of the Word is also used prophetically in aiding people to see the glory of Christ, His purpose, and power for them.
The Holy Scriptures are called the “revealed Word of God.” The Bible declares that God’s Law and the Prophets are the result of His revealing work, essentially describing the whole of the Old Covenant as “revealed.” Moreover, in the New Covenant this word revealed is used in writings as well. (See Romans 16:15 and Ephesians 3:3.) We have to be clear that prophetic insight into the Word should not be considered equal to the actual giving of the Holy Scriptures or logos (the written Word). As helpful as insight into the Word of God can be, the final authority of that revelation of God’s Holy Word is the only sure foundation for establishing our lives. (See Matthew 7:24–29.)
Ephesians 1:17–23 (NKJV) says:
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
It is the spirit of wisdom and revelation that we receive when prophecies are being released and when reading the Word of God. Until then we do not know what is the Lord’s desire and heart toward His people. God wants to open the eyes of our understanding and bring enlightenment. We have the prophetic Scriptures and the Word of God as a sure prophecy. I am not saying that we put all our hope and trust in prophecy; it should be in God’s Word first. If there is any prophetic utterance being released, it should be backed up by the Word of God.
The Bible is a prophetic and historical holy book that was written by Spirit-inspired individuals. The Law and the Prophets and Christ Jesus were the fulfillment of what was written and spoken (prophesied). Having the eyes of your understanding or heart being enlightened really means that your heart may receive the glorious light and brightness of hope resulting when the wealth of God’s investment in you is understood and made clear by revelation of His Word.
Have you read the Word of God, received a prophetic word, or heard the teaching and preaching of the Word of God and the light-bulb came on, or you had an aha moment? That is a sign that your spiritual eyes and heart received revelation and understanding of God’s purpose, which He will work in a believer. Having a prophetic desire is sharing the heart of God’s desire for you to be all that He has desired you to be. Knowing your gifts and spiritual abilities can allow you to operate in the one or more dimensions of the prophetic.
26 Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “epithymia,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G1939 (accessed June 4, 2013).
27 See http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/thumos.html; http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/desire.html; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermostats. See also Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, edited by Walter A. Elwell (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996).
28 Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “stoicheo,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G4748 (accessed June 4, 2013); “to walk in line,” http://preceptaustin.org/galatians_524-26.htm (accessed July 10, 2013).
29 Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “hypotasso,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G5293 (accessed June 4, 2013).
30 Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus, s.v. “desire.”
31 Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “zeloo,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G2206 (accessed June 4, 2013). See also New Spirit-Filled Life Bible ©2002 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., The Holy Bible, New King James Version ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. found in the “Word Wealth” index section on page 1599.
32 Blue Letter Bible, s.v. “apokalypsis,” www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/Lexicon.cfm?strongs=G602 (accessed June 4, 2013); s.v. “revelation,” www.blueletterbible.org/search/translationResults.cfm?Criteria=revelation%2A+G602&t=KJV (accessed June 4, 2013). See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypse (accessed July 10, 2013).
Chapter Nine
DIMENSIONS OF THE PROPHETIC
And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.
—ACTS 2:17–18, NKJV
THERE ARE FOUR distinct functions of prophecy according to the Word of God. This book is not an in-depth study specifically on the office of the prophets but on the function of prophecy and discovering one’s prophetic voice, gifts, nature, and identity in Christ. The basic scriptural definition of prophecy, according to 1 Corinthians
14:3, is edification, exhortation, and comfort. This is a New Testament guide to prophecy in its simplest function. The office of the prophet is not limited to this function but goes more in-depth. The purpose of prophetic spoken words is to bring edification, which means “to build up” like a building or edifice.
We are the edifice and building of the Lord, called “the church” in the earth. That church is not a natural building with natural material or stones, but we are “living stones.” The building grows in the Lord through prophecies. The word edify shares the same root as the word edifice, which means “to build.” To prophesy means “to forth-tell, declare, and reveal the word of the Lord.”33 This function to prophesy acts as a predicting function of future events, as divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit’s anointing.
Amos 3:7 says, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” I have seen that many do not know about the ministry of the prophet, prophetic ministry, prophecy, or the gifts of the Spirit. I believe it is time for us to explore the four different realms or levels of prophetic ministry. Until we understand this, many will never know where they fit in. There are also four dimensions of prophetic ministry, which I will outline in an easy-to-understand form, and I will also expound more in-depth on the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit in a later chapter.
1. THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY
And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
—REVELATION 19:10, NKJV
This is the simplest level of prophetic ministry. The spirit of prophecy makes it possible for all people in a certain area to move in the area of the prophetic. Revelation 19:10 states that the spirit of prophecy is basically the testimony of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is a prophetic spirit, and He loves to pour Himself on those who will receive Him. In the Book of Acts 2:14–18, the spirit of prophecy caused those who were called sons and daughters (“servants and handmaidens,” KJV) to prophesy. The spirit of prophecy enables people to function when there is a Holy Spirit–filled unction.
It takes an act of supernatural faith to operate in the spirit of prophecy when it manifests in a room or area. When the spirit of prophecy manifests in a room, all people within the dwelling have the anointing upon them. When the spirit of prophecy lifts, then the anointing to prophesy lifts as well in a room.
Any believer can yield to the spirit of prophecy and declare the testimony of Jesus. Have you ever been in a meeting and were asked by the pastor or someone if you would like to give a testimony of the goodness of Christ? Well, the spirit of prophecy is like Jesus coming in a meeting and standing up to declare what is on His heart and His goodness.
Moreover, the spirit of prophecy can be released through intense worship. In 1 Samuel 10:10 we see how King Saul came into direct contact with the spirit of prophecy. As he walked down the road of Gilgal and encountered a team of prophets, the spirit of prophecy came upon him, and he began to prophesy in the same prophetic vein as the prophets coming down from the high place. We can see in this specific account the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. When you come into contact with the spirit of prophecy, you have the supernatural ability to do as the prophets do.
2. THE GIFT OF PROPHECY
To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
—1 CORINTHIANS 12:10, NKJV
The gift of prophecy and the spirit of prophecy are similar, but the gift is on a more advanced level. The spirit of prophecy can be taken away and lifted, while the gift of prophecy remains. When God gives a gift to someone, He will not take it away. Romans 11:29 says that the gifts and callings of God are irrevocable.
Now let us look at the word prophecy. The Hebrew word for prophesy is naba, meaning to speak or sing by inspiration, and in the Greek we have chazah, meaning “to mentally perceive, to have vision of.”34 Prophesy means “to speak on behalf of another.” When we speak on behalf of God, we are prophesying.35
Now, the second dimension or level of prophecy is the gift of prophecy, which mainly operates in the realm of the future. There are gifts that pass judgment and rebuke, like the word of knowledge, which I will explain in later chapters. The gift of prophecy can be stirred up by one who has the gift resident in them. In 2 Timothy 1:6 (NKJV) we read, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in your through the laying on of my hands.”
In other words, even though the spirit of prophecy and the gift of prophecy are similar (but different when manifested), a believer can yield to the spirit of prophecy when present and prophesy from the dimension of the gift of prophecy as well. The only difference is that the gift of prophecy, when uttered, has added strength and power than prophecies given by the spirit of prophecy alone. There are dimensions of strength of the gift depending on the measure of grace received by the believer who possesses the gift. Believers who prophesy by the gift of prophecy will deliver words of edification, exhortation, and comfort, according to 1 Corinthians 14:3. Individuals who are not called to the ministry office of a prophet should operate only within the limitations of the gift of prophecy, which is edification, exhortation, and comfort.
There have been times when I have witnessed individuals that operate outside of their grace and try to prophesy and bring correction, rebuke, order, affirmation, direction, confirmation, impartation, revelation, and activation. These are functions of a prophet and, when spoken outside of that gifting, they only bring dissention, division, and confusion within the body of Christ. One must function in the grace that he or she was called and gifted in. In other words, a person who operates in the gift of prophecy must stay in their lane (grace), and if they illegally intrude into someone else’s lane without permission, there is an accident waiting to happen. Believers who have been ordained, recognized, and released by the senior leadership of a local church or congregation as a prophet of God are the ones who have been given the godly honor, authority, and release to speak beyond the limitation of the gift of prophecy. God is not the author of confusion but of peace.
3. THE PROPHETIC ANOINTING
The prophetic anointing is the third dimension of the prophetic. This type of anointing operates with a greater depth and dimension. A person can have the prophetic anointing on them and operate like a prophet but may not be called as a prophet in the office. The anointing is the measure of the spirit of the prophet that comes upon a person, which mantles them to operate in the authority of a prophet. In other words, the prophetic anointing allows a person to become a prophet for a specific time, season, moment, and period to prophesy with the authority of God. The prophecy anointing is a term that applies to a move of the Holy Spirit within a person to shift them to prophesy.
The mantle on a prophet is their equipment and tools for the official prophet or prophetic individual to function. When the Holy Spirit manifests in a believer, the prophetic anointing and words of wisdom and knowledge manifest Him.
Let’s now take a look at 2 Kings 2:13 (NKJV), which says, “[Elisha] also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.” Like Elisha, when someone picks up the mantle of the prophetic, they are endowed with a prophetic anointing. Now hear this clearly: not everyone with a prophetic anointing is a prophet. There is a thin line between the two, but nevertheless there is a line. To have a prophetic anointing means to bear a mantle upon your high calling. The prophetic anointing is tangibly discerned and sensed in the belly, abdomen, and in the heart like rivers of water. (See John 7:38.)
The prophets of old made reference to the fire in their bellies, which people may refer to as their “gut feelings” and fire in their bones and joints, like the prophet Jeremiah experienced. The prophetic anointing can be like electricity
when the Holy Spirit moves through an individual. It’s a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s power and utterance of prophecy.
There are prophetic pastors and prophetic teachers. Pastoring and teaching are the high callings, and the prophetic mantle or anointing is like icing on a cake. Therefore, there are different dimensions of the prophetic anointing. There can be dreamers, visionaries, prophetic apostles, prophetic evangelists, prophetic palmists, prophetic deacons, prophetic elders, prophetic musicians, prophetic worshipers, prophetic intercessors and watchmen, prophetic counselors, prophetic writers, songwriters, etc. We must understand that each of these can be prophets, but not everyone with these anointings are prophets.
4. THE OFFICE OF THE PROPHET
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.
—EPHESIANS 4:11, NKJV
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of heal-ings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
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