CALLED FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
Do You Hear The Sound Of Rain?
A prophet spends much of His life waiting on God. Elijah had waited three long years and in the third year the Lord came to Elijah saying "Go and present yourself to meet Ahab and I will send rain on the land. Obadiah was governor in Ahab's house and knew the inner workings of this wicked king. His soul would often feel vexed as he served this ungodly king. We too as children of the King are placed in situations that are not of our own choosing yet they do work together for good the purposes of God, in our lifetime.
Obadiah hid one hundred of God's prophets to protect them from Jezebel because of his access to information in the house of Ahab. The Lord can reveal to us the plans of the enemy ahead of time that we might thwart them. Obadiah met Elijah and he was told to announce him to the king. Fear overtook this man of God after seeing the havoc against the prophets of God and so he tells him all he has done to protect the prophets. You too must guard against fear entering your heart. Prophet of God you must walk fearlessly in this hour standing against the enemy. Has fear stopped you from doing what the Lord has asked of you. Pressures cause fears to surface and you need to root fear out of your life. The fear of man brings a snare. Obadiah faced fear and we too will face it but will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.
Elijah was determined and did not seem sympathetic to him. He had received the word of the Lord and was now responsible to deliver that word . He could not allow Obadiah's fear to stop him from delivering what the Lord had spoken. Has anyone keep you from obeying the voice of the Lord as they shared their fears? Guard against the transfer of fear from another.
Obadiah went to meet Ahab and soon the meeting of all meetings would take place. Ahab was now more responsive after three years of famine and went to meet Elijah still blaming him. He was being blamed for doing right. What you do will not always seem right to man but the Lord looks on your heart. We are told, it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. Remember this when trials come.
Elijah reminded Ahab of forsaking the commandments of the Lord and following after Baalim. Other gods always bring defeat. Elijah said, have all Israel and those false prophets meet me on Mt. Caramel. Included were those that ate at Jezebels table. There are many today that eat at Jezebels table and we must learn to recognize them . We need to be on guard against Jezebel and discern his presence. We need to wage war against this spirit and win.
Elijah asked the people how long have you been between two opinions. In other words make up your mind folks and decide this day whom you are going to follow. If you are going to follow the Lord than follow Him. There are many in the church that need to get off the fence. They have been on the fence for too long with a foot in the world and one in the church. God is saying no more, it is time to make up your mind and decide to follow Jesus. The church is wondering why it has no power. Come out from them and be separate and touch not the unclean thing and the Lord will receive you. There are moments that we will be called to stand alone. Elijah was standing alone with the Lord against the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. This battle would not be won by conventional means. He let the enemy show himself first and fail. No fire appeared under the bullock and then he mocked them about their dead god. Now the Lord would show himself strong. Fear not it may seem that the enemy has had the upper hand but the battle is not yet over. The Lord will show up and show himself strong for you. Only fear not and be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart. Do not give up now! Your miracle may be just around the corner. Stand fast beloved, believe what the Lord has spoken to you and do not bow down to the enemy. What you have been praying for is just around the corner so hold fast and see the hand of the Lord move on your behalf.
The people were invited to come closer to Elijah and now had a front row seat. All eyes were on Elijah as he repaired the altar of the Lord. Honoring the Lord by building an altar in the name of the Lord was his primary thought. What has the Lord spoken to you to do to honor him? Whatever he has spoken to you to do, do it with all your heart and you will see him move on your behalf. Eyes must have raised as Elijah pour water on the sacrifice for the third time. All may seem dead around you but the Lord is going to raise those dead bones to life. Speak to the dead bones and see them come alive. Put it all on the altar to the Lord holding nothing back. Do not receive the lie of the enemy but believe the Lord desires to move on your behalf. Speak life to that which needs life in your situation. God the giver of life will show himself strong for you. Be courageous beloved and expect Him to do abundantly above all you ask or think. He is a God of miracles.
Elijah, knowing His God, came near, called out to the Lord and gave honor to Him. Give the Lord the honor due His name. He is God we are His servants, and not the other way around. Honor Him for who He is and know that we are but dust without Him.
Elijah wanting to bring glory to the Lord asked for a miracle. His desire was that they might know the Lord and that He had touched their hearts. God is looking for right motives. Let Him search your heart today. Pray, create in me a clean heart. God will do great things in the life of a man or woman that will not touch His glory. The fire of the Lord fell, the sacrifice was consumed and the people fell on their faces acknowledging that He was the Lord. We need to see signs and wonders following our ministries today. Four hundred and fifty prophets were killed that day and Elijah told Ahab get up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of rain. He heard the sound in the spirit and God would soon release the rain.
God is wanting to release the rain of His Spirit on our land. Sin has been holding back the hand of God's blessing in our lives. Let us repent of sin in our Nation and in our lives. Stand in the gap and birth the rain. See the small cloud and hear the sound. We must birth the rain and bring in a harvest of souls. These are the last days and God is wanting the latter rain to be poured out and the harvest brought in. He is no longer going to hold back His word but will perform it. Intercessors cry out and birth the rain. Elijah bowed down and interceded birthing the rain. Ask God if it is your time to birth that which He has spoken to you. Pray for your cities and towns and tear down the strongholds of the enemy. Fulfill your assignments from the Lord and receive fresh ones. You will come to a new level as you are obedient and He sees your faithfulness. It is the time of the former and latter rain. Birth the double portion. Birth it and usher in the Kingdom of the Lord. Be a part of bringing in the end time harvest. Pray for fresh vision, see the cloud, hear the rain, and pray His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
41And Elijah said to Ahab, Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of abundance of rain.
42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he bowed himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees
43And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up and looked and said, There is nothing. Elijah said, Go again seven times.
44And at the seventh time the servant said, A cloud as small as a man's hand is arising out of the sea. And Elijah said, Go up, say to Ahab, Hitch your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.
45In a little while, the heavens were black with wind-swept clouds, and there was a great rain. And Ahab went to Jezreel. 1 Kings 18:41-45
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Frustrated Prophet
CALLED FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
The Frustrated Prophet
Many prophets have had times of deep frustration in their lives and these are moment that we need to press into the Lord and put aside as much as possible those things that bring frustration. It is time to lay all aside and come deeper into the presence of the Lord. All the cares of this life will be here and will be resolved in a much better way if you just come close to Me. Life must be lived at the foot of the cross and time in My Word and presence are mandatory to maintain your peace. The enemy is out to cause havoc to the prophet of God. You want to spend time with Me and yet the distractions come. You need to gird up the loins of your mind and take all thoughts captive to Christ. Bring every discouragement and distraction to Me. Do not try and solve things of your own accord but pray about them and ask Me for help. I am here to help you in all that you do. Come to me today and bring all the cares of this life to the foot of the cross and leave them there. The enemy is also trying to destroy the witness of God's prophets, by pressuring them to react in unseeming ways, so that he might then point the finger at you.
You are mine prophet of God. You are My servant and it is to me you rise or fall. Do not be discouraged but press into Me for it is Me allowing all of these happenings so that you will come to Me in your need. Come now and lay all else aside and I will bless you for taking this time, with renewed strength that you might walk with a spirit of excellence, says the Lord.
33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6: 33-34
Have You Got A Little Oil?
CALLED FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
HAVE YOU GOT A LITTLE OIL?
God is asking you today, what you have in your hand? Elijah had just declared that there would be no rain for three years. It was a two edged word. Sharp, as famine would now come to the land. Yet he had spoken a word and the Lord backed it up. It did not fall to the ground. God raise up prophets like Elijah in whose mouth is no guile. Let them speak the Word of the Lord and let it come to pass just as it is spoken. You are raising up prophets in these last days whose words will not fall to the ground. Elijah moved from this place of seeming victory in speaking for the Lord to a place of even deeper humility. The Word of the Lord said"go eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith and I have commanded the ravens to feed you here". Humbling at best.
A true prophet will be hand fed by the Lord. God trains His prophets in His school of learning and many lessons are yet to be learned from the Lord. His school of learning is not easy but afterward it will bear much fruit. He was fed twice a day by the Lord and the raven brought him flesh and bread. Soon however the water dried up. Have you ever had a seeming good supply of something suddenly dry up? God may just be saying it is time to move on.
God uses those in the body of Christ sometimes to meet our need and we need to be open and hear His voice. Now the Lord told Elijah to go to Zarephath and that He had commanded a widow to take care of Him. Might we have complained if the Lord did the same to us? Elijah obeyed and went and it opened a door of provision and one of being used mightily by the Lord.
He called out to the widow and asked her to bring bread. The Lord was setting up a circumstance for healing here and some lessons can be learned. She said as the Lord thy God liveth which means that she was not yet a believer in the Lord God of Israel. Her response was I have some meal and a little oil in a cruise.
God is asking you today. Do you have a little oil? Think about it! Do you have a little oil? Stir up the gift of the Holy Ghost within you and ignite the fire of His Spirit, Yes, you have a little oil. Look at what He has placed within you. Stoke the fire and stir up the gift that is within you. This woman was preparing to die, but God, had another plan. Perhaps you have been discouraged and ready to quit. God says do not quit. He is asking you a question. "Do you have a little oil"? Take a look at what I have given to you. I have brought you this far and will bring you the rest of the way. I filled you with My Spirit and yes you have a little oil. Let the fire begin to burn again in your heart. You have oil in your lamp. Victory, is just ahead. The Lord said the meal and oil would not run out. God is saying you will never run out of His supply for you. The oil in the house brought a miracle.
Soon this widows son was sick and died. She spoke out to Elijah and began to blame him, but God was there in the midst. Elijah knew His source of supply and turned to the Lord and cried out to Him. God heard and responded and the Lord hears you today and will respond to your cry. Open your heart to Him. It says, the Lord heard the voice of Elijah and the child revived. Out of this the woman became a believer. She said, now I know you are a man of God and that the Word of the Lord is in your mouth.
God is saying to you today, do you have a little oil? Step out in faith at my direction. There are those that need a miracle. They have seen no rain, they are discouraged and they need to see the hand of God move in their lives. I am going to use you in this hour and signs and wonders will follow those that believe. You who are my prophets need to step out in faith. Fill yourself with My oil for I have an abundant supply and it will never run out. I have living water that pours from My river of life and I would have you to give out that water and share Christ with many.
Step out in faith and use the little oil you have and I will fill you with even more even more abundant supply and the well will never go dry. Step out in faith and be used by the Lord today.
12And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 1 Kings 17:12
HAVE YOU GOT A LITTLE OIL?
God is asking you today, what you have in your hand? Elijah had just declared that there would be no rain for three years. It was a two edged word. Sharp, as famine would now come to the land. Yet he had spoken a word and the Lord backed it up. It did not fall to the ground. God raise up prophets like Elijah in whose mouth is no guile. Let them speak the Word of the Lord and let it come to pass just as it is spoken. You are raising up prophets in these last days whose words will not fall to the ground. Elijah moved from this place of seeming victory in speaking for the Lord to a place of even deeper humility. The Word of the Lord said"go eastward and hide yourself by the brook Cherith and I have commanded the ravens to feed you here". Humbling at best.
A true prophet will be hand fed by the Lord. God trains His prophets in His school of learning and many lessons are yet to be learned from the Lord. His school of learning is not easy but afterward it will bear much fruit. He was fed twice a day by the Lord and the raven brought him flesh and bread. Soon however the water dried up. Have you ever had a seeming good supply of something suddenly dry up? God may just be saying it is time to move on.
God uses those in the body of Christ sometimes to meet our need and we need to be open and hear His voice. Now the Lord told Elijah to go to Zarephath and that He had commanded a widow to take care of Him. Might we have complained if the Lord did the same to us? Elijah obeyed and went and it opened a door of provision and one of being used mightily by the Lord.
He called out to the widow and asked her to bring bread. The Lord was setting up a circumstance for healing here and some lessons can be learned. She said as the Lord thy God liveth which means that she was not yet a believer in the Lord God of Israel. Her response was I have some meal and a little oil in a cruise.
God is asking you today. Do you have a little oil? Think about it! Do you have a little oil? Stir up the gift of the Holy Ghost within you and ignite the fire of His Spirit, Yes, you have a little oil. Look at what He has placed within you. Stoke the fire and stir up the gift that is within you. This woman was preparing to die, but God, had another plan. Perhaps you have been discouraged and ready to quit. God says do not quit. He is asking you a question. "Do you have a little oil"? Take a look at what I have given to you. I have brought you this far and will bring you the rest of the way. I filled you with My Spirit and yes you have a little oil. Let the fire begin to burn again in your heart. You have oil in your lamp. Victory, is just ahead. The Lord said the meal and oil would not run out. God is saying you will never run out of His supply for you. The oil in the house brought a miracle.
Soon this widows son was sick and died. She spoke out to Elijah and began to blame him, but God was there in the midst. Elijah knew His source of supply and turned to the Lord and cried out to Him. God heard and responded and the Lord hears you today and will respond to your cry. Open your heart to Him. It says, the Lord heard the voice of Elijah and the child revived. Out of this the woman became a believer. She said, now I know you are a man of God and that the Word of the Lord is in your mouth.
God is saying to you today, do you have a little oil? Step out in faith at my direction. There are those that need a miracle. They have seen no rain, they are discouraged and they need to see the hand of God move in their lives. I am going to use you in this hour and signs and wonders will follow those that believe. You who are my prophets need to step out in faith. Fill yourself with My oil for I have an abundant supply and it will never run out. I have living water that pours from My river of life and I would have you to give out that water and share Christ with many.
Step out in faith and use the little oil you have and I will fill you with even more even more abundant supply and the well will never go dry. Step out in faith and be used by the Lord today.
12And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 1 Kings 17:12
The Gift Of Prophecy, Prophetic Ministry, Office Of The Prophet
CALLED FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
The Gift Of Prophecy
God is building a prophetic church with a Kingdom mindset. The gifts of the Spirit need to be operating in the body of Christ to bring His church, to maturity. We also need to have the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. In 1 Corinthians 12 the Apostle Paul said, concerning spiritual gifts, brethren I would not have you ignorant. God wants us to understand how to move in the gifts of the Spirit. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to profit all. We are going to talk about the gift of prophesy, prophetic ministry and the office of the prophet. We are told to covet earnestly the best gifts and yet also told that there is a more excellent way. We need the love of God in our lives. We can have all the gifts and yet not walk with the love and character of Christ. If we seek Him first and have a sound relationship with the Lord the gift of prophesy will flow with more purity. We need to guard our eye gate and ear gate so that we hear Him.
We know in part and we prophesy in part. In the old testaments prophets spoke with 100% accuracy as the Spirit of the Lord came upon the prophet for a specific time and purpose. The New Testament prophet speaks under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We are told to stir up the gift that is in us. The Apostle Paul told his spiritual son Timothy not to neglect the gift that was in him through the laying on of hands and so we see it possible to neglect the gift God has given to us. We need to stir up the gift of prophesy by worshiping and praying in tongues. The more we use the gift of prophesy the more it will be stirred up and ready for use.
1 Corinthians 14 says: 1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. One needs to desire the gift of prophesy and God longs to give you the desire of your heart to further His Kingdom by edifying the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 14:22 says that prophesying serves not for them that do not believe but for them that believe.
In verse 24 of first Corinthians it says but if all prophesy and there comes in one that believeth not or one unlearned he is convinced of all and he is judged of all. A healthy body will have all of the gifts of the spirit flowing when needed, in their midst.
We prophesy according to the proportion of faith. 1 Corinthians 13 prophecy is to edify, exhort and comfort the body of Christ. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. God's people so need to be built up. Let God use you to speak a Word in season to His church.
We are told to covet to prophesy - Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 1 Cor. 14:39 The word covet is a strong word but you need to desire it earnestly. If you do this God will use you in this gift. Step out in faith and ask the Lord to use you in the gift of prophesy. Enter in to praise and worship and ask the Lord to fill your mouth with words for His people. Ask Him what is on His heart for His people. You will sense a quickening and His Spirit will lead you. Usually the best time to give a word is sometime during the praise and worship when there is a quiet moment. Sometimes we need to ask the Lord to make a place for the Word to be given. You may receive a few words and as you ask Him for wisdom He will reveal if and when you are to speak them out.
Always follow the guidelines for prophesying in the meeting you are in at that time. When unsure you should ask the one who is overseeing that particular meeting. It is important that those that lead praise and worship are sensitive to Holy Spirit and give Him place to move. It is easy to prophesy when those that lead the worship allow Him to move in their midst. It is much more difficult to prophesy when the one prophesying has to try and get the word in, on a wing and a prayer. It is best then to wait. This is something one learns as they become more sensitive to the moving of His Spirit.
It is good for someone who is growing in the gift to also begin journaling what the Lord speaks to them at home. Test and try what you are hearing and make sure it is in agreement with scripture. We are also told that no one can declare that Jesus Christ is Lord but by the Holy Ghost.
~~~~~~~
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire] the greater gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:27-30 All are not prophets but all can prophesy as the Lord leads.
11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Ephesians 4:11
This verse is referring to the fivefold ministry offices. This is God's order for His divine government in the body of Christ.
God has divine order in His meetings. He is not the author of confusion. Therefore He says let two or at the most three prophets speak. This is not referring to the number of words in a meeting but the number of individual prophets speaking. Otherwise we would not have meetings where we do have a prophet in office give many prophetic words to individuals. The flow of Holy Spirit will always bring unity and order and there will be a general consensus to what the Lord is saying in a given meeting.
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 1 Corinthians 14:29 This scripture is referring to the prophet in Ephesians 4:11
Prophetic Ministry
There are those that are used in the simple gift of prophesy that will have an anointing from the Lord and in time begin to prophesy regularly. They will find themselves moving in this gift and in time it will develop into prophetic ministry. You will become much more sensitive to His voice and the leading of His Spirit and find yourself growing and stepping out in faith often. God speaks to each one in different ways. In my own life the Lord would show me a picture of something before I prophesied. Sometimes He gave me a simple thought or sometimes a few words. As you step out in faith He will fill your mouth. This can be in a meeting, on the street, or at home. There will come a time that you may start to speak things more directionally. The quickening of the Holy Ghost will come upon you and you may quickly sit down and type out what the Lord was speaking to you for His people. This is especially true in online prophetic ministry. These will be wonderfully used of God as is anyone speaking a Word for Him.
The Office of the Prophet
There then comes a time for some that the Lord will confirm their calling to the office of the prophet. This is a lifetime calling of the Lord. It is one of the fivefold ministry offices. It is a governmental position in the body of Christ. God will confirm your calling to this office through others in leadership in the body of Christ. There is a season of time between ones time in prophetic ministry and the ordination into the office of the prophet. You will find yourself going through tests and trials as well as the Lord asking you to die to the vision. Everyone called to the office of the prophet will first die to the vision. With some it will be longer than for others. In my own life it was a period of about three and one half months where the Lord asked me to give up all prophetic ministry and to come aside with Him. The Lord gave me the grace to be obedient when He used others to speak this into my life. He spoke through several in the same week or and God called me aside. Out of death came life. Praise the Lord. Then the Lord again allowed me to come back into ministry and about twelve months later there was a separation for the office of the prophet by an apostle. This is likened to being done in the heavenly realm. Then a few months later my ordination (by an apostolic group who are also my covering) into the office of the prophet. One becomes a gift to the body of Christ. God puts you into this position for one reason only and that is to serve His body. You are called to equip the body of Christ for the work of ministry. Your eyes and ears will be sharpened and as you walk out this office with fear and trembling God will use you to equip others. He will use you as that intercessor with His heart. All prophets are intercessors. You will need to spend much time alone with the Father and hear His heart so that you have good food for His body. One in this office will have at least two other revelation gifts i.e. the word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits operating in their life along with the gift of prophecy.
You will be totally consumed by Him and die to all that you are or ever will be because you love the Lord and are His servant. You will live Christ twenty-four hours a day seven days a week and expect nothing in return. You will daily carry the burden of the Lord and will be on call for Him and know the fellowship of His sufferings. This walk is not for the faint of heart. You will be totally consumed by Him and die to all that you are or ever will be because you love the Lord and are His servant. You will live Christ twenty-four hours a day seven days a week and carry the burden of the Lord.**** One in the prophetic office will have signs and wonders following and be able to foretell what the Lord tells them to speak in regards to a future event as in Agabus the prophet in Acts 11:27 predicting a famine.
God is establishing His divine order in the body of Christ. The office of the apostle as well as that of the prophet is being restored to His church. We are coming to the end of the age and need to have a Kingdom mindset. The Lord is coming soon to rule and reign in the earth. He is establishing His authority in His church so that the body is equipped for the work of the ministry. There is an end time harvest that needs to come in and there are those that are not yet in the office of the prophet that are called by the Lord. Let us work together to see them come into the Kingdom. God is calling and if you sense in your heart that you are being called by Him by Him press in to receive all that He has for you and out of His heart you will minister to others.
The Gift Of Prophecy
God is building a prophetic church with a Kingdom mindset. The gifts of the Spirit need to be operating in the body of Christ to bring His church, to maturity. We also need to have the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. In 1 Corinthians 12 the Apostle Paul said, concerning spiritual gifts, brethren I would not have you ignorant. God wants us to understand how to move in the gifts of the Spirit. The manifestation of the Spirit is given to profit all. We are going to talk about the gift of prophesy, prophetic ministry and the office of the prophet. We are told to covet earnestly the best gifts and yet also told that there is a more excellent way. We need the love of God in our lives. We can have all the gifts and yet not walk with the love and character of Christ. If we seek Him first and have a sound relationship with the Lord the gift of prophesy will flow with more purity. We need to guard our eye gate and ear gate so that we hear Him.
We know in part and we prophesy in part. In the old testaments prophets spoke with 100% accuracy as the Spirit of the Lord came upon the prophet for a specific time and purpose. The New Testament prophet speaks under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We are told to stir up the gift that is in us. The Apostle Paul told his spiritual son Timothy not to neglect the gift that was in him through the laying on of hands and so we see it possible to neglect the gift God has given to us. We need to stir up the gift of prophesy by worshiping and praying in tongues. The more we use the gift of prophesy the more it will be stirred up and ready for use.
1 Corinthians 14 says: 1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. One needs to desire the gift of prophesy and God longs to give you the desire of your heart to further His Kingdom by edifying the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 14:22 says that prophesying serves not for them that do not believe but for them that believe.
In verse 24 of first Corinthians it says but if all prophesy and there comes in one that believeth not or one unlearned he is convinced of all and he is judged of all. A healthy body will have all of the gifts of the spirit flowing when needed, in their midst.
We prophesy according to the proportion of faith. 1 Corinthians 13 prophecy is to edify, exhort and comfort the body of Christ. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. God's people so need to be built up. Let God use you to speak a Word in season to His church.
We are told to covet to prophesy - Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 1 Cor. 14:39 The word covet is a strong word but you need to desire it earnestly. If you do this God will use you in this gift. Step out in faith and ask the Lord to use you in the gift of prophesy. Enter in to praise and worship and ask the Lord to fill your mouth with words for His people. Ask Him what is on His heart for His people. You will sense a quickening and His Spirit will lead you. Usually the best time to give a word is sometime during the praise and worship when there is a quiet moment. Sometimes we need to ask the Lord to make a place for the Word to be given. You may receive a few words and as you ask Him for wisdom He will reveal if and when you are to speak them out.
Always follow the guidelines for prophesying in the meeting you are in at that time. When unsure you should ask the one who is overseeing that particular meeting. It is important that those that lead praise and worship are sensitive to Holy Spirit and give Him place to move. It is easy to prophesy when those that lead the worship allow Him to move in their midst. It is much more difficult to prophesy when the one prophesying has to try and get the word in, on a wing and a prayer. It is best then to wait. This is something one learns as they become more sensitive to the moving of His Spirit.
It is good for someone who is growing in the gift to also begin journaling what the Lord speaks to them at home. Test and try what you are hearing and make sure it is in agreement with scripture. We are also told that no one can declare that Jesus Christ is Lord but by the Holy Ghost.
~~~~~~~
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire] the greater gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:27-30 All are not prophets but all can prophesy as the Lord leads.
11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Ephesians 4:11
This verse is referring to the fivefold ministry offices. This is God's order for His divine government in the body of Christ.
God has divine order in His meetings. He is not the author of confusion. Therefore He says let two or at the most three prophets speak. This is not referring to the number of words in a meeting but the number of individual prophets speaking. Otherwise we would not have meetings where we do have a prophet in office give many prophetic words to individuals. The flow of Holy Spirit will always bring unity and order and there will be a general consensus to what the Lord is saying in a given meeting.
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 1 Corinthians 14:29 This scripture is referring to the prophet in Ephesians 4:11
Prophetic Ministry
There are those that are used in the simple gift of prophesy that will have an anointing from the Lord and in time begin to prophesy regularly. They will find themselves moving in this gift and in time it will develop into prophetic ministry. You will become much more sensitive to His voice and the leading of His Spirit and find yourself growing and stepping out in faith often. God speaks to each one in different ways. In my own life the Lord would show me a picture of something before I prophesied. Sometimes He gave me a simple thought or sometimes a few words. As you step out in faith He will fill your mouth. This can be in a meeting, on the street, or at home. There will come a time that you may start to speak things more directionally. The quickening of the Holy Ghost will come upon you and you may quickly sit down and type out what the Lord was speaking to you for His people. This is especially true in online prophetic ministry. These will be wonderfully used of God as is anyone speaking a Word for Him.
The Office of the Prophet
There then comes a time for some that the Lord will confirm their calling to the office of the prophet. This is a lifetime calling of the Lord. It is one of the fivefold ministry offices. It is a governmental position in the body of Christ. God will confirm your calling to this office through others in leadership in the body of Christ. There is a season of time between ones time in prophetic ministry and the ordination into the office of the prophet. You will find yourself going through tests and trials as well as the Lord asking you to die to the vision. Everyone called to the office of the prophet will first die to the vision. With some it will be longer than for others. In my own life it was a period of about three and one half months where the Lord asked me to give up all prophetic ministry and to come aside with Him. The Lord gave me the grace to be obedient when He used others to speak this into my life. He spoke through several in the same week or and God called me aside. Out of death came life. Praise the Lord. Then the Lord again allowed me to come back into ministry and about twelve months later there was a separation for the office of the prophet by an apostle. This is likened to being done in the heavenly realm. Then a few months later my ordination (by an apostolic group who are also my covering) into the office of the prophet. One becomes a gift to the body of Christ. God puts you into this position for one reason only and that is to serve His body. You are called to equip the body of Christ for the work of ministry. Your eyes and ears will be sharpened and as you walk out this office with fear and trembling God will use you to equip others. He will use you as that intercessor with His heart. All prophets are intercessors. You will need to spend much time alone with the Father and hear His heart so that you have good food for His body. One in this office will have at least two other revelation gifts i.e. the word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits operating in their life along with the gift of prophecy.
You will be totally consumed by Him and die to all that you are or ever will be because you love the Lord and are His servant. You will live Christ twenty-four hours a day seven days a week and expect nothing in return. You will daily carry the burden of the Lord and will be on call for Him and know the fellowship of His sufferings. This walk is not for the faint of heart. You will be totally consumed by Him and die to all that you are or ever will be because you love the Lord and are His servant. You will live Christ twenty-four hours a day seven days a week and carry the burden of the Lord.**** One in the prophetic office will have signs and wonders following and be able to foretell what the Lord tells them to speak in regards to a future event as in Agabus the prophet in Acts 11:27 predicting a famine.
God is establishing His divine order in the body of Christ. The office of the apostle as well as that of the prophet is being restored to His church. We are coming to the end of the age and need to have a Kingdom mindset. The Lord is coming soon to rule and reign in the earth. He is establishing His authority in His church so that the body is equipped for the work of the ministry. There is an end time harvest that needs to come in and there are those that are not yet in the office of the prophet that are called by the Lord. Let us work together to see them come into the Kingdom. God is calling and if you sense in your heart that you are being called by Him by Him press in to receive all that He has for you and out of His heart you will minister to others.
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