Sermon Notes 9/4/2022: Prophetic Ministry Part 1
Prophetic Ministry Part 1
One of the most misunderstood things in the body of Christ today is prophetic ministry
There are some churches that make no room for it or believe it doesn’t exist today
There are some churches who are hungry for it but at times it seems people who operate in the prophetic are elevated to a status where they are seen as infallible
There is great mystery and questions that surround the prophetic
Some wonder are prophets in the Old Testament and the former covenant the same as prophets today under the new covenant
Are prophets today infallible?
What is a prophet and what is his or her role in the body of Christ today?
Ephesians 4:11-16
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
The apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher are gifts form The Holy Spirit
They are individuals who have been called and anointed by the Lord with the purpose of
1. Equipping the body of Christ
2. That the body of Christ would be built up
3. The body of Christ would be unified
4. It would be brought to a place of maturity
5. Would come into the fullness of Christ
6. The body of Christ would not be deceived by cunning and false doctrine
7. We would grow up in Christ and be everything Christ has called us to be
The role of these ministries are essential in the body of Christ
There is a lot of mystery and misunderstanding concerning prophetic ministry
Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 14 spends an entire chapter bringing correction to public tongues and prophecy
Both of these are greatly attack by the enemy and sadly in many churches today they are nonexistent
But I believe they are important to seeing the fullness of the purposes of God accomplished in the bride of Christ
Genesis 1:1-5
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
God created all things by His spoken word
When God spoke it brought order out of chaos
We are created in the image of God
We are not little gods, but we have been given the capacity to speak
Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
When we speak it carries either life or death
When we speak seeds are planted
If those words align with the word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit it brings forth life
But if the words we speak are influenced by the flesh and the wisdom of this age they carry with them death
This is why I believe prophecy is so important and the ministry of the prophetic is so important in the body of Christ
Satan has worked hard to make people either fearful of the gifts of the Spirit or ignorant of the gifts of the Spirit
1 Corinthians 14:1-6
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[b] but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
In chapter 13 Paul wrote all about the love of God
When we operate in the things of the Spirit they must be done in love
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Everything we do must be done in love
The love of God is sacrificial
It is not focused on elevating self but elevating Christ alone
In 1 Corinthian 14:1-6 Paul states
1. To follow the way of love
2. To eagerly desire spiritual gifts
3. Especially prophecy
a. Paul highlights prophecy
4. Paul points out that the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, comfort
Prophecy is given in a known tongue under the leading of The Holy Spirit
Strengthening is the Greek word Oikodome which means edification or building
Encouragement is the Greek word paraklesis which means imploration, solace, or calling near
Comfort is the Greek word paramythia which means to admonish, console, to spur on, to cheer, to refresh
5. Paul states that the one who prophesies edifies the church
It edifies the body of believers
One time I was reading a book about eagles the Lord began to speak to me about the prophetic ministry
An eagle because of how broad their wings are have the ability to soar for long periods of time at very high vantage points
They also have very large eyes that take up almost 50 percent of their head
Their eyes sight is 4 to 5 times sharper than any human being
When an eagle is soaring above it has a vantage point where it can see the entire field below
What the Lord began to show me is those who operate in the prophetic are able to see beyond what is seen on the surface
Often when people view things on the surface all they can see the enemy
They become discouraged and overwhelmed because like the Israelites of old they are only focused on the red sea or Goliath who stands in the valley
They can’t see what God is doing
But those who operate in the prophetic can see because they are given eyes to see by the Lord
Prophetic people can also be referred to as seers
God will often speak through visions, dreams, trances, and supernatural encounters
People have had encounters with the Lord Himself or angelic beings
In the book of Acts we have an account of a prophet named Agabus
Acts 21:10-14
10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’”
Agabus was given a word from the Lord concerning the owner of the belt who turned out to be Paul
We know from Paul’s ministry that this word came to pass because Paul was handed over to the gentiles
Acts 11:27-30
27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.
We find here again the man known as Agabus who gave a prophecy concerning a famine that would come and it did so
Acts 15:30-32
30 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. 31 The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. 32 Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers
Judas and Silas are both named as prophets
Their role is to encourage and strengthen the believers at this time
When we speak about prophecy it is important to understand that a prophet at times will foretell and will forthtell
Foretell means to speak of things to come in the future
Many of the prophets of the Old Testament spoke of things to come years in advance
Isaiah himself prophesied of the coming of the Messiah 700 years before he was even born
Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[c] a sign: The virgin[d] will conceive and give birth to a son, and[e] will call him Immanuel.
Isaiah spoke of things to come that where in the future
We see from the book of Acts that Agabus prophesied of things to come
We must understand that when something is foretold that it doesn’t mean it is going to happen next week or tomorrow
Often how it is ultimately fulfilled is not what we expect
The people of Jesus day thought when Messiah would come that He would come as a conquering king, they didn’t understand He first had to come as a servant to lay down His life
But more often in the body of Christ those who prophesy will forth tell what the Lord is speaking in that moment
That which is prophesied is meant to strengthen, encourage, and comfort the people of God
Often those who receive a word from the Lord may receive it through a vision, dream, or encounter
But more often than not it is received from an impression by the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit will impress something on the heart or mind of the individual
Giving them insight into the will and purpose of God
For me personally when the Lord gives a word He will give me an impression or speak to me in a still small voice
Sometimes it is a beginning phrase that once I begin to obediently speak it forth the Holy Spirit will give the rest of the words
Or sometimes it is a image or something I see in the Spirit
But what I have learned is that the greatest growth in prophecy happens through intimacy with the Lord
This is where we truly come to understand His leading and His voice
Paul says in 1 Cor 14:5
I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified
Paul’s desire is that all would prophesy
I believe God has given the believer in Christ the ability to hear Him and communicate what He is saying
Prophesy can happen on a personal level or in a corporate setting
But I believe it begins with earnestly desiring the gifts of the Spirit
What opens the door to the greater and deeper things of the Spirit is asking
When we ask we open the door and invite the Lord in