Levels of the Prophetic Ministry
In a recent Bible Study, questions came forth, regarding prophecy and the Prophetic Office. In order to bring clarity to the different levels in the Prophetic, here is some information for you to consider, regarding your gifting and where you might be called in the Prophetic. Are you ready? Good! Here we go. We are told in Scripture all of us are to covet the gift of prophecy and prophecy is given to edify, exhort and bring comfort to the Saints (The Church). Look at 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; 31
Follow after charity and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
This is also confirmed in Ephesians 4:11-12 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
Notice the word says we are to prophesy so the church may learn and be comforted
Jesus set forth those in the church to be leaders in order for the saints to be taught about Him and the Ways of His Kingdom. So, in order to get a good understanding of prophecy, we need to look at the areas or levels of the prophetic ministry and understand, not everyone who prophesies is a Prophet.
1) Prophecy of the Scripture is also called word prophecy. Prophecy of the scripture is the Scripture. Scripture is the Bible. This is the prophecy spoken of by the Apostle Peter in 2 Peter 1:20-21: “Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
When Peter says, ‘no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation’ this applies only to prophecy of the scripture. The Bible is prophetic from Genesis to Revelation. This is what is meant by prophecy of the scripture.
2) The Prophetic Presbytery for laying on of hands and prophecy for ordination is in 1 Timothy 4:14: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.”
3) The Spirit of Prophecy – Jesus’ testifying to others through prophetic speaking in Revelation 19:10: “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
The Spirit of Prophecy is, the atmosphere or environment of the prophetic, for in an environment or atmosphere of a prophet, people prophecy.
Severally in the bible, when people came near a prophet, they prophesied. Saul’s messengers who came near Samuel prophesied. Look to 1 Samuel 19:20-21: “And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.”
Saul prophesied when a company of prophets met him in 1 Sam 10:9-10: “And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.”
Saul also prophesied when he came to Samuel in 1 Samuel 19:24: “And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?”
What does it mean that Saul lay down naked prophesying?
It means
In the atmosphere of the prophetic (a prophet)
Even a sinner, a person demon possessed prophesies
Did You Get That?
It is wisdom to see and understand, not everyone who prophesies, is a Prophet
4) The Gift of Prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Look to 1 Corinthians 12:8-10: “For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues.”
The Gift of Prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit and only activated by Him
When the Spirit of Prophecy (The Spirit of Christ) dwells in you, you are baptized with Him and, if you receive the gift of prophecy, you will prophesy.
All gifts of the Holy Spirit are for the service of the church
The gift of prophecy is for:
1) Edifying (build up); 2) Exhortation (stir up); 3) Comfort (cheer up)
Healers, deliverers, pastors, apostles, teachers, intercessors, evangelists, etc., may all have the gift of prophecy in accordance to God’s Will and they prophecy but, they are not all prophets. The gift helps them in their specific ministries in edifying, exhortation and comforting the Church.
5) The Administrative or Office of The Prophet. A person called by Yahweh God, strictly to be a prophet, takes the office of the prophet. A person in the office of prophet is the one called a prophet People who were in the office of prophet include Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Hosea, Jonah, Joel, Jeremiah, etc. Today, we have people in the office of the Prophet, but they are very, very few.
The Office of the Prophet is not limited as is the gift of prophecy. A prophet is not limited by the borders of the church.
A Prophet is Set To
Root Out; Pull Down; Destroy; Throw Down; Build and Plant
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. Jeremiah 1:10.
A person in the Office of Prophet has power, not a gift (of prophecy)
Power comes when the Holy Spirit comes upon
When the anointing is upon (on) not in
In – is to make you a witness for Christ and for His service
A person in the Office of the Prophet has power to kill and resurrect.
He has power to utter judgment to individuals or nations e.g. Moses, Elijah, Elisha, etc. A person in the office of prophet has power over every creature; unbelievers, believers, animals and every created thing. Remember, the gospel is to be preached, to every creature. Mark 16:15
A person in the office of prophet (a prophet) carries the burden of nations & the entire world
This is the person who carries God’s Will to nations and to the world mentioned in Jeremiah 1:10: I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms. Notice the gift works in the church, but here the power works over nations and kingdoms.
It is God who creates, calls, anoints and ordains a Prophet
If God has created you to be a prophet, He will come Himself and tell you that you are His prophet
A prophet is not ordained by people, He is called only by God, not by people, neither himself
No true prophet calls himself a prophet
He does not have the title in his name
It is either God who calls him using that title or people, but not himself
There is no person called a prophet. Prophet is a title, not a name. True God servants have no titles; they are fools of the world – God uses the foolish and weak things of the world. Look to 1 Cor 1:27:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
Ponder this
There are no mighty, major or minor prophets with God
A Prophet does not just Predict the Future,
He reveals God’s Will through the Prophetic and A “Will,”
Which does not line up with God’s DNA, can be a carrier of witchcraft
Words are containers, which carry spirits
Selah – Let your words be few, but powerful
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The Gift Vs The Prophetic Office
The Gift of Prophecy is for the Church
The Prophetic Office is unlimited, nations/world, brings repentance
The Gift of Prophecy is “A Gift”
The Office of the Prophet is “Power”
The Gift cannot kill or resurrect
The Office of the Prophet deals with the church, unbelievers and world destiny
The Gift Carries the Burden of the Church
The Office of the Prophet carries the Burdens of the Church,
Unbelievers, Nations and the Entire World
The Gift is only for edification, exhortation and comfort of the Church.
The Office is
For rooting out,
Pulling down,
Destroying (killing),
Throwing down (humbling),
Building and Planting – Bringing to Life (Resurrect)
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Know who you are in the Kingdom, ask Father Yahweh who He created you to be and what He wants to “co-labor” with you to do and then, be faithful to His calling. This is a “NOW” time and He needs everyone, to be ready and “on deck” to do Kingdom work.
Yahweh will move you forward and up the mountain of His Government, when He sees your faithfulness in the small things. Do not fear or fret, for He is with you and will never leave or forsake you.
Do not worry over titles. Stay faithful, true and be available – for whatever He needs.
In the Name of Yahshua, Prophesy the Heart of Yahweh. His people desperately need to hear from Him.
Blessings upon you and your whole house, in the Mighty Healing Name of Yahshua.