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 4:12) 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 Culture

A healthy prophetic culture holds two things in tension: it doesn’t despise prophecy, and it tests everything (1 Thessalonians 5:19–21). Most unhealthy cultures drop one side. Either they shut the gift down out of fear, or they accept whatever is said uncritically.

Marks of a Healthy Prophetic Culture

• Purpose is building up. Prophecy aims at strengthening, encouragement and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3). Even correction is restorative, not condemning.
• Love is the governing frame. Paul puts 1 Corinthians 13 between chapters 12 and 14 on purpose. Gifting without love is noise.
• It embraces diversity, without hierarchy. All in submission and all working toward building up, encouraging and comforting — a place where everyone can prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:31). The gift isn’t reserved for a celebrity class.
• It teaches the body to judge words. “Let the others weigh what is said” (1 Corinthians 14:29). 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. Words are submitted to Scripture, to the community and to leadership; they are not treated as self-authenticating.
• Once a word has been tested and accepted as from God, it is treasured and treated with respect.
• It points to Jesus. As we saw above, “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). Words that centre the prophet, the institution or a hidden agenda are suspect.
• Humility in delivery. “I sense…” rather than “Thus says the Lord…” leaves room for the hearer and the community to discern. It also lets someone get it wrong without being branded a false prophet. (Theologians differ on this: Grudem sees New Testament congregational prophecy as fallible, while others hold a higher view. Either way, testing is mandated.)
• Character is valued over gifting. “By their fruit you will recognise them” (Matthew 7:16). Accuracy alone isn’t a credential. 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.
• Accountability and oversight. There is a clear path for weighing words, especially directive or predictive ones, and for correcting misuse.
• Protection of the vulnerable. There are no words about marriage partners, pregnancies, deaths or major life decisions without confirmation and pastoral care.

Warning Signs

• Words used to control, manipulate or bypass leadership.
• No mechanism for testing, or questioning treated as rebellion.
• Repeated failed predictions with no accountability.
• Prophecy that is mainly negative or exposing, or that flatters.
• Dependence on “a word” instead of Scripture and personal discernment.
• Gifting that excuses poor character.

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