Prophecy in the Local Church

Prophecy in the Local Church

There are different ways the prophetic is given and processed. At a high level, we can split them into Seers and Prophets: “the Chronicles of Samuel the seer, and… Nathan the prophet, and… Gad the seer.” (1 Chronicles 29:29)

Seers and Prophets

Seers generally take longer to receive information. They typically gather it by looking at someone, something, or a circumstance. They usually have intimacy as core to the messages they bring — able to encourage greater levels of intimacy and even initiate and lead people into spiritual encounters.

Prophets normally just speak the word and give little indication of how they got it. God said to Moses: “I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” (Exodus 14:12) And Exodus 33:11 tells us: “The Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” Whatever the way God speaks, Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy and must always be the focus.

We can sometimes get so caught up in the gift, its outworking, and the administration of the office, that we forget it is all about Jesus. It is all the same Spirit. We are all one body — called to treasure and support each other’s gifts, as they are all given by the same God, empowered by the same Spirit, working toward the same goal: seeing His Kingdom come and His will done.

“For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” — Revelation 19:10 (ESV)

Submission and Accountability

• Our prophetic gift should be a blessing first to the leadership of the local church, and then to the congregation.
• We need covering and accountability — through submission to local leadership.
• Our gift is subject to us — and we are accountable for it.
• Never forget that we only see in part (1 Corinthians 13:9). Only Jesus, the Spirit of prophecy, has the whole picture.

There is No Kingdom Ladder — Only a Descending One

In God’s Kingdom there are no positions that are more important. Function and purpose differ — but importance does not. “The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts that we think less honourable we bestow the greater honour.” (1 Corinthians 12:22–23) If we had this mindset and heart, we would find it far easier to submit to and serve each other, and true humility would be common.

Jesus is more impressed with what we do with what we have than the amount we have. He is the provider, the giver of gifts, the one who promotes. He was more impressed with the widow’s few coins than the fortunes of others: “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them.” (Luke 21:3)

“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave.” — Matthew 20:25–27 (ESV)

Reading 1 Corinthians 12:28 Again

Different Prophets, Same Kingdom

Esther worked in the palace. Mordecai protested outside the palace. Daniel advised palace officials. There is no one right way. What is unhelpful is when we criticise and judge one another’s approach, breaking down the very thing the prophetic is supposed to build.

Building a Prophetic Community

• Prophetic culture embraces diversity — all in submission and all working toward building up, encouraging, comforting. A place where everyone can prophesy.
• It teaches the body to judge words. We should not limit the gift to protect the congregation — we should teach the congregation to judge prophecy correctly so that it can flow as the blessing it was designed to be.
• Once a word has been tested and accepted as from God, it is treasured and treated with respect.
• We must always respect the person and their position above the revelation and gifting. The gift does not validate your position, your walk, or your right standing with God.

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