Understanding the Nature and Function of Prophetic Ministry
Prophetic Ministry is a book that guides you step by step into the prophetic ministry, explaining in details what people who are called into the prophetic ministry ought to know. You will learn about four levels of prophetic insights with emphasis on the office of the prophet. In this context, prophets serve as the eyes of the Body of Christ, and are also known as seers.
The Role of the Prophet as Seer and Spokesman
Prophets perceive deep spiritual revelation, and see far out in the distance, with a view best likened to that of an eagle. As beholders of visions, prophets have the ability to see the future through a tunnel of time, meaning that what seems impossible or unlikely to those around them is easy for prophets to envision. Beyond simply seeing ahead to the future plans and purposes of God, prophets also serve as the mouth of the Lord.
The Hebrew word for prophet, nabi, is also translated as spokesman. Prophets today say whatever God tells them to say, just as the prophets in the Old Testament obeyed Him when He told them, “You must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.” The role of a prophet is to see what is revealed by God, then speak it, declaring God’s plans on the earth.
Core Elements of Prophetic Service
- Spiritual Perception: Prophets serve as the eyes of the Body of Christ, perceiving deep spiritual revelation.
- Divine Spokesmanship: The word nabi indicates the prophet's role as the mouth of the Lord.
- Ministering Revelation: Revelation delivered via prophets will come in the form of a word of knowledge, a word of wisdom or the discerning of spirits.
- Purpose of Prophecy: As defined in 1 Corinthians 14:3, prophecy edifies, exhorts and comforts.
The Necessity of Prophetic Revelation
The Bible tells us it is a prerequisite, as “surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” In other words, without the prophets, Jesus could not have come. The message of God, delivered by way of many prophets, announced the coming of Jesus—the foretold King—hundreds of years before the event took place. In the book of Matthew alone, there are at least 16 references to Jesus where attention was turned back to the fact, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet.”
Connecting with the Prophetic Anointing
When God calls ministers of the gospel, He anoints them with one or more of the fivefold ministry gifts—apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher—and sets them among us to perfect us through revelation. We can connect with these gifts through partnership, which brings us into covenant relationship with them. Once that divine connection is made, the anointing that is on the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher is released to us. We partake of their grace, or their anointing. All believers need to do is lay hold of them by faith, place a draw on them, and receive them.