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2Growing in the Prophetic is a valuable resource for individuals
3and congregations who desire to mature in prophetic
4ministry. Through Mike Bickle’s deep and tested reservoir
5of knowledge and experience, many will find encouragement
6to exercise the spiritual gift of prophecy in balance and power.
7—Francis Frangipane
8Pastor and Author
9Mike’s journey in the Lord has been quite amazing. In the beginning,
10he was a young conservative, anti-charismatic, evangelical
11pastor. Now he is an intimate, passionate worshiper, moving in
12the supernatural and leading others into a powerful place in
13the Spirit.
14He has moved a million miles in his heart and experience of
15God. It is this authenticity that stands out in the man. He is not
16afraid to explore, to quest, and to pioneer. This book is a journey
17into the territory of prophecy, the prophetic ministry, and the
18role of prophets.
19Developing prophetic people is not easy. Pastoring a prophetic
20community is not for the fainthearted. Cultivating a safe place
21of relational accountability for prophets is a tough job. Only a
22leader who has been led into divine encounters with the Lord can
23undertake such a transitional process.
24Mike’s book is real, pragmatic, and rich in experience and
25wisdom. To love the gift of prophecy as a church is a good thing.
26To develop a prophetic community who can hear and act on the
27voice of the Lord is an altogether different proposition. Growing in
28the Prophetic is an important book to read and study. It will teach
29you transitional process. That alone is worth the investment.
30I loved the initial book of this same title. If Mike has found a
31way to upgrade and expand its wisdom, then I am definitely first
32in line to read it!
33—Graham Cooke
34Brilliant Book House
35Gentle but firm. Compassionate yet incisive. Abounding in understanding.
36—Colin Dye
37Senior Pastor, Kensington Temple
38London, England
39Mike Bickle’s practical wisdom will serve the body of Christ well.
40—Terry Virgo
41Leader of Pioneer International
42London, England
43A man of transparent integrity shows us the way forward into
44areas where angels have feared to tread.
45—R. T. Kendall
46Author, Total Forgiveness
47Mike Bickle is a man with a remarkable teaching gift, quick to
48acknowledge past mistakes that he has clearly learned from.
49This is a book every charismatic should read if we are going to
50increase our ability to hear from God, speak to Him, and remain
51committed to Christ, to Scripture, and to one another.
52—Gerald Coates
53Leader of Pioneer International
54London, England
55At a time when the Spirit is speaking strongly to the churches
56about the gift of prophecy and the office of prophet, Growing
57in the Prophetic is an extremely important book. Mike Bickle
58brings an enviable combination of maturity and transparency to
59his exposition of biblical principles molding the prophetic along
60with valuable lessons learned, both positive and negative, through
61his ministry to the “Kansas City prophets.”
62—C. Peter Wagner
63Professor of Church Growth
64Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California
65prophetic
66in the
67Growing
68mike
69bickle
70MostStrangCommunications/CharismaHouse/ChristianLife/Excel
71Books/FrontLine/Realms/Siloam products are available at special quantity
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73and educational needs. For details, write Strang Communications/Charisma
74House/Christian Life/Excel Books/FrontLine/Realms/Siloam, 600 Rinehart
75Road, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, or telephone (407) 333-0600.
76Growing in the Prophetic by Mike Bickle
77Published by Charisma House
78A Strang Company
79600 Rinehart Road
80Lake Mary, FL 32746
81www.strangdirect.com
82This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in
83a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic,
84mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written
85permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America
86copyright law.
87Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the New King
88James Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson,
89Inc., publishers. Used by permission.
90Scripture quotations marked nas are from the New American Standard
91Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by
92the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
93Scripture quotations marked niv are from the Holy Bible, New International
94Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by
95permission.
96Scripture quotations marked rsv are from the Revised Standard Version of the
97Bible. Copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education
98of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by
99permission.
100Design Director: Bill Johnson
101Cover Designer: Jerry Pomales
102Copyright © 1996, 2008 by Mike Bickle
103All rights reserved
104Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
105Bickle, Mike.
106 Growing in the prophetic / Mike Bickle.
107 p. cm.
108 Includes bibliographical references.
109 ISBN 978-1-59979-312-2
1101. Prophecy--Christianity. I. Title.
111 BR115.P8B53 2008
112 234’.13--dc22
1132008030850
11408 09 10 11 12 — 9876534 21
115Printed in the United States of America
116
117vii
118C o n t e n t s
119    Preface.........................................................................................................ix
120	 1 “There’s Been a Terrible Mistake” ........................................................... 1
121	 2 Confirming Prophecies Through the Acts of God in Nature .......... 11
122	 3 Prophetic Administration: Revelation,
123    Interpretation, and Application.............................................................23
124	 4 Overview of the Prophetic Ministry.....................................................35
125	 5 The Difference Between the Gift of Prophecy
126    and Being a Prophet ................................................................................49
127	 6 Women Operating in Prophetic Ministry ...........................................61
128	 7 Seven Dimensions of the Prophetic Church .......................................69
129	 8 The Coming Great Revival.....................................................................77
130	 9 Contending for the Fullness of the Prophetic Anointing.................89
131viii
132Growing in the Prophetic
13310 False Equations About Prophetic Giftings ........................................101
134	 11 God Offends the Mind to Reveal the Heart......................................113
135	 12 Pastors and Prophets: Getting Along in the Kingdom ...................125
136	 13 Origins of the Prophetic Call...............................................................135
137	 14 Embodying the Prophetic Message.....................................................141
138	 15 Common Abuses and Misuses of Prophecy......................................153
139	 16 Practical Ways to Grow in the Prophetic ..........................................169
140	 17 The Prophetic Word in Public Worship.............................................183
141	 18 The Prophetic Song of the Lord...........................................................191
142	 19 Manifestations of the Holy Spirit........................................................201
143	 20 God’s Strategy of Silence ......................................................................225
144    Notes.........................................................................................................233
145ix
146P r e fa c e
147W hy another book on the prophetic ministry? I’ve read many
148books on the prophetic over the years. Some focus on the
149various biblical categories of prophets and the supernatural
150manifestations that occur through them. Others focus on how to prophesy
151and then what to do with prophetic words.
152This book touches on those subjects, but it also frankly discusses the joy
153and the pain of prophetic people in a local church context. I relate the perils,
154perplexities, and tensions involved in nurturing prophetic people among
155nonprophetic people. When Holy Spirit activity happens among weak people
156like us, the clash between selfish ambition and lack of wisdom is inevitable.
157Many tensions arise. Plus, we encounter Holy Spirit experiences that are
158foreign to us. All this makes for a challenging experience in our church life.
159I pastored in a local church context for twenty-three years until I began
160the International House of Prayer missions base in Kansas City in 1999.
161On September 19, 1999, we began a ministry of worship with intercession
162that continues nonstop, twenty-four hours a day. Our staff members view
163themselves as “intercessory missionaries” because they do the work of the
164ministry and outreach from a place of night and day prayer. Our staff raises
165their own financial support as missionaries in a way similar to other mission
166organizations like Youth With A Mission and Campus Crusade for Christ.
167Currently, God has graciously joined about fifteen hundred people to us fulltime.
168About five hundred people are our ministry staff, and another one
169x
170Growing in the Prophetic
171thousand serve full-time as students or interns. They each are involved about
172fifty hours a week.
173In addition to these, approximately two thousand people join with us in
174our Sunday celebration services. Thus, about four thousand people make up
175what I refer to as the “IHOP Missions Base family.” We cry out daily for the
176release of the spirit of prophetic wisdom and revelation from Ephesians 1:17.
177The Lord has given us glorious answers. Many have had prophetic dreams,
178visions, and supernatural experiences.
179We have hundreds of people actively involved on our prophetic teams.
180These teams give prophetic words to thousands of people each year. It is
181important from the start of this book to say that we only receive prophetic
182experiences that glorify Jesus, honor the Scriptures, and promote holiness
183and love for one another. This is the safeguard for subjective prophetic
184experiences.
185My journey in pastoring prophetic people began suddenly, in the spring
186of 1983. I admit that I have made many mistakes in this journey, but I have
187learned some valuable lessons. I will share some of what I have learned in
188the last twenty-five years of being deeply involved with prophetic people and
189movements.
190The future of the church is sure to be filled with people who operate in
191the prophetic anointing. In the generation in which the Lord returns, the
192whole church will receive dreams, visions, and prophetic experiences (Acts
1932:17–21). This will be exciting as well as challenging. New dimensions of the
194Holy Spirit’s ministry will certainly emerge that will demand faithfulness to
195the Scriptures as well as deep humility as learners (1 Cor. 3:18). This is not a
196good time in history for a “know-it-all,” but rather it’s the proper time for the
197virtue of humility expressed in a teachable spirit as we go to greater depths
198in the prophetic.
1991
2001
201C h a p t e r
202“There’s Been a Terrible Mistake”
203J ohn Wimber had set it all up. It was July 1989 when four thousand
204people gathered to a prophetic conference hosted by the Vineyard Christian
205Fellowship in Anaheim, California.
206John had spoken a couple of times at the conference, then introduced me
207and others who were going to bring messages on the prophetic ministry.
208I taught on the nurturing and administration of the prophetic ministry in
209the local church and offered some practical advice on how to encourage
210people who were just beginning to receive prophetic impressions, visions,
211and dreams. I told stories about how we had experienced God’s use of
212dreams, visions, angels, and His audible voice to accomplish His purposes
213in our church life. I shared a few stories about how God confirmed some
214of these prophetic revelations with signs in nature—comets, earthquakes,
215droughts, and floods occurring at precisely predicted times.
216I guess I should have been clearer about the fact that seldom do any of
217these supernatural experiences ever happen through me directly. I had been
218mostly a spectator of the prophetic ministry and, initially, a reluctant one at
219that. Yes, I was the pastor of a church that had about ten people who traveled
220full-time with a focus on prophetic ministry, but I had only had a few
221prophetic experiences myself. Mostly, I told what happened in their experiences,
222not mine.
223Growing in the Prophetic
2242
225In my early days of ministry in the middle 1970s, I was a conservative
226evangelical doing youth ministry, hoping one day to attend Dallas Theological
227Seminary. I was anti-charismatic and proud of it. However, by 1983,
228I found myself surrounded by a group of unusual people whom some referred
229to as prophets. I had no experience with the prophetic ministry; however,
230I became the leader of these ten to fifteen prophetic people. “Why me, Lord?”
231I asked many times in the years that followed.
232The Vineyard conference where I spoke in July 1989 was mainly attended
233by conservative evangelical church leaders who had been blessed by John
234Wimber’s teaching on healing, but who for the most part had not been
235exposed to prophetic ministry. They represented a rapidly growing number
236of believers in Jesus who have a great longing to hear more directly from
237God in a supernatural and personal way.
238I had finished my morning session and was leading the ministry time
239when John Wimber came up on the platform and whispered in my ear,
240“Would you pray and ask the Holy Spirit to release the gift of prophecy
241to people?”
242For those of you who have had the privilege of being around John Wimber
243before his death in November 1997, you know that there was not an ounce of
244hype or showmanship in him. He would invite the Holy Spirit to move over
245an audience and touch thousands of people in the same tone of voice that he
246gave the announcements. It was in that matter-of-fact way that he asked me
247to pray for the people to receive what I had just been describing.
248With four thousand spiritually hungry people watching us, I whispered
249back to John, “Can I do that since I’m not prophetically gifted myself?”
250John responded, “Just go ahead and pray for the release, and let the Lord
251touch whomever He touches.”
252“Why am I praying for these people?” I thought. I looked around for help
253from one of the well-known prophetic ministers who were also speaking at
254the conference. They should have been the ones praying for the people to
255receive more grace for prophetic ministry. None of them were in the auditorium
256at that moment, so I was obviously on my own.
257“Well, OK, John, if you want me to,” I said. It would be a harmless prayer.
258John announced that I was going to ask the Holy Spirit to release the gift
259of prophecy in people’s lives. So I prayed. I noticed one of the leaders from
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261“There’s Been a Terrible Mistake”
262my church in Kansas City, at the back of the conference auditorium, pointing
263at me and quietly laughing. He knew I was not a prophet, and he also knew
264that I was in deep waters over my head in leading this ministry time that was
265“supposed” to release the prophetic anointing to others.
266As soon as the meeting was over, a long line of people formed, anxiously
267waiting to talk with me. Some wanted me to pray personally for the prophetic
268gift to be imparted to them. Others wanted me to give them a “word from
269the Lord,” that is, to prophesy what God wanted to say about them and His
270plan for their lives.
271I had recently introduced prophetic ministers to the conference, those
272who for years had operated in prophetic ministry in ways that had amazed
273me. However, some attending the conference had mistakenly determined
274that I was an anointed prophet and certainly the man to see if they wanted
275the prophetic gift released in them.
276Over and over I explained to the people lined up to see me, “No, I don’t
277have a word for you. No, I can’t impart prophetic gifts. No, I’m not prophetically
278gifted.”
279I looked around for John but could not find him. After spending some time
280explaining this individually to about twenty-five people in the line, I stood up
281on the stage and made an announcement on the microphone: “There’s been
282a terrible mistake! I am not a prophet. I don’t have a prophetic ministry. I
283do not have any prophetic words to give you!” Then I left the meeting.
284Richard Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline, had been waiting for
285me to finish praying for people so that we could go to lunch. Heading for
286the car, I was stopped by several people in the parking lot who wanted me to
287prophesy to them. Of course, I had no prophetic words for them either.
288Finally, we made our escape and found a restaurant about ten miles from
289the meeting place. But to my surprise, while I was standing at the salad
290bar with a plate of food in my hand, I was asked by two different people
291who were attending the conference to prophesy to them. I wished that I had
292made it clearer during my session that I was not a prophet, nor was I the
293son of a prophet.
294Those either excited or desperate to hear from God are seldom restrained
295and polite. I was getting impatient and exasperated with people’s persistence.
296The fact that I was with Richard Foster, whom I had wanted to meet for a
297Growing in the Prophetic
2984
299long time, increased my irritation. It was also a bit embarrassing. Richard
300laughed when I said to him, “I’m not a prophetic person! A terrible mistake
301has been made today.”
302Yet, the stir that day was insignificant compared to the uproar that was
303to come a few years later related to the prophetic ministry that I was related
304to. It seemed to me that God had picked the wrong man to pastor a team of
305prophetic people.
306A Reluctant Introduction to
307Prophetic Ministry
308Many people know about God only in the context of things far away and
309long ago. They are hungry to know that God is involved with their lives in an
310intimate way in the present. When that knowledge is dramatically awakened
311for the first time, people often overreact for a short season and often become
312overly zealous. There is a great hunger in God’s people to hear directly from
313Him in a supernatural way. I see this hunger increasing even more as the
314years go by.
315Many people involved with prophetic ministries have been brought into
316it kicking and screaming because they had been taught that the gift of
317prophecy had passed away. A good example of this is my close friend Dr.
318Jack Deere. He was formerly a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and
319a committed cessationist before he met John Wimber and experienced the
320demonstrations of God’s power. (A cessationist believes the supernatural
321gifts of the Holy Spirit ceased after the Book of Acts.) He also went through
322a difficult, soul-searching journey as he came to embrace the prophetic
323ministry. Being a brilliant Bible teacher, he had to make sure that it all was
324100 percent scriptural.
325We value seeing ministry of the gifts of the Holy Spirit operate in relation
326to the written Word of God. This is a nonnegotiable aspect of the IHOP
327Missions Base quest to grow in the prophetic. Eight leaders of our missions
328base have master’s degrees, plus another four have doctorates—mostly from
329conservative evangelical, non-charismatic seminaries. Another five men
330earned law degrees before joining our missions base staff. The personality
331profiles of these men and women are usually in strong contrast to those who
3325
333“There’s Been a Terrible Mistake”
334are focused on flowing in prophetic ministry, but the diversity is essential.
335We all need each other.
336The Lord has helped us to establish an academically challenging, full-time
337Bible school called the Forerunner School of Ministry. The scholarly types
338and the prophetic ministers teach side by side as one ministry team. It is
339essential to combine the gifts of the Spirit with a responsible scholarship in
340the Scriptures.
341Like many people in the IHOP Missions Base family, most of these
342seminary-educated staff members are not highly prophetic. They are pastors
343and teachers who have felt a strong calling to be a part of a ministry that
344embraces, among other things, the prophetic ministry.
345It may surprise you that many of the leaders in our midst with prophetic
346giftings were actually raised up in a church that was not pursuing the spiritual
347gifts.
348So many times God’s calling cuts directly across the grain of our natural
349strengths and previous doctrinal training. God wants to integrate strong
350evangelical training in the Scriptures with supernatural manifestations
351of the Holy Spirit. It is common for God to call people to something for
352which they are not naturally acclimated. For example, Peter, the uneducated
353fisher­man, was called as an apostle to the educated Jews. Paul, the
354self-righteous Pharisee, was called as an apostle to the pagan Gentiles.
355I started off as a skeptic when I was first encountered the prophetic
356ministry. No one would have ever suspected from my early religious training
357and affiliations that I would ever have become involved in a prophetic
358ministry. God must have a sense of humor.
359Becoming Anti-Charismatic
360In February 1972, at the age of sixteen, I was touched by the Holy Spirit’s
361power. At an Assembly of God church in Kansas City named Evangel
362Temple, the Holy Spirit seemed to engulf me, and I spoke in tongues for the
363first time. Before that experience, I had never heard of the gift of tongues.
364I had no idea what had happened to me. I asked the people who prayed for
365me to help me understand what happened. They said I spoke in tongues.
366I asked, “What is that?” They told me to read 1 Corinthians 14 and then to
367come back to the next meeting to learn more about it.
368Growing in the Prophetic
3696
370Though I had a powerful encounterwith God,Iwasimmediately convinced
371by my Presbyterian youth leaders that the experience was a demonic counterfeit.
372I concluded that I had been deceived and thus considered my experience
373of speaking in tongues as a counterfeit experience. Immediately, I renounced
374it and committed to resist anything charismatic. I reasoned that anything
375that seemed so real could deceive other unsuspecting people unless they
376were warned. So, I set out to warn other “innocent” believers to beware of
377“counterfeit” experiences such as speaking in tongues.
378For the next five years it became my personal mission to debunk charismatic
379theology and rescue from deception those who also had been led
380astray by “counterfeit” experiences.
381I didn’t like charismatic people any more than I liked charismatic
382theology. The ones I had met seemed to boast of having it all. I felt they were
383arrogant as well as spiritually shallow. In my estimation, they were lacking
384in many things, especially in passion for the Scriptures and personal holiness.
385As a young Christian, I was a committed student of evangelical greats,
386absorbing myself in the writings of J. I. Packer, John Stott, Jonathan Edwards,
387Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, A. W. Tozer, and others like them. I took my zeal
388for evangelical orthodoxy and my crusade against supernatural gifts of the
389Spirit with me everywhere I ministered God’s Word when I spoke at various
390college campus ministries throughout the Midwest. My goal was to get charismatics
391to denounce their experiences as being unscriptural counterfeits.
392Another Terrible Mistake
393In April 1976, at the age of twenty, I was invited to a small rural town to give
394a sermon for a little Lutheran home group of twenty-five people. The small
395town was Rosebud, Missouri, and was a one-hour drive from St. Louis. The
396home group attendees were searching for a pastor to start a new church for
397them. I did not know that they were involved in the Charismatic Renewal
398that was sweeping through the Lutheran church at that time. I accepted
399their invitation and taught on the baptism of the Holy Spirit from an anticharismatic
400position. This was a sermon that I had taught many times on
401college campuses. I took it from John Stott’s little book on the baptism of the
402Holy Spirit. I wanted to make it clear to this home group that I didn’t want
403anything to do with charismatic heresies.
4047
405“There’s Been a Terrible Mistake”
406Though these people obviously loved Jesus, they were not aware of all the
407theological arguments against tongues. Thus, the doctrinal implications of
408my anti-charismatic sermon went right over their heads. Most of them had
409only recently become involved in the Lutheran charismatic movement.
410The couple who provided the main leadership to this home group were
411“experienced charismatics.” They were out of town the weekend I spoke.
412When they got back, they heard that the young preacher named Mike Bickle
413had spoken on the “baptism of the Spirit.” Well, that was good enough for
414them, so they hired me to be their pastor. They assumed I was in agreement
415with their charismatic theology because of the report that I spoke on the
416baptism of the Holy Spirit. Ironically, I assumed they all understood from
417that sermon that I was anti-charismatic. I was totally unsuspecting of what
418would happen in the following months as I was getting accustomed to my
419new role as pastor. The leading couple asked me to extend the altar call for
420salvation to also offer prayer for people to speak in tongues. “I don’t believe
421in speaking in tongues,” I quickly answered. It then became clear that they
422did not know when hiring me that I was anti-charismatic. I groaned, “Oh,
423there’s been a terrible mistake!”
424“I’m the pastor of a charismatic church!” I grimaced to myself. I wanted
425to immediately resign this little country church. I couldn’t believe it. How
426could I have gotten myself into this mess? In retrospect, there was no doubt
427that God Himself got me into it. However, I had grown to really like these
428people. I trusted their genuineness, their love for the Scriptures, and their
429commitment to evangelism. How could such lovers of Jesus be deceived
430charismatics?
431My experience with this church was God’s way of breaking down
432some of my prejudices against charismatics. Because of the godliness and
433humility of the people in this small country church, I actually enjoyed
434relating to charismatics even though I was convinced they were theologically
435in error. Mike Bickle was now tolerating charismatics. That was OK
436for now because I had already made plans to move to Mexico to live as a
437missionary. I thought to myself, “I can endure anything for a short season.”
438So I did not resign the church.
439Growing in the Prophetic
4408
441Ambushed by God
442A few months later, I encountered the first public prophetic word that was
443aimed at me; of course, I didn’t believe it. This preacher called me out and
444said, “Young man at the back of the room, God’s going to shift you from
445where you are, and you will begin to regularly teach hundreds of young
446adults—immediately.”
447“Not me,” I thought to myself. I was not going to remain in America to
448run a youth ministry. I had already made arrangements to join a missionary
449organization in Mexico City. I set my heart on spending my life in Mexico
450and South America. I rejected this prophetic word and said to myself, “This
451cannot be.” Then the preacher continued to prophesy by saying, “Even
452though you say in your heart this very moment, ‘This cannot be,’ God will
453do it immediately.” People were clapping. I just wanted to get out of there.
454The very next week I drove an hour to visit a friend in St. Louis and accidentally
455met the pastor of the largest charismatic church in the region. It
456has several thousand members. He looked at me and said, “I know we are
457strangers, but I have an unusual request for you. The Lord just spoke to me
458and said that you are supposed to teach our Saturday night service where
459over one thousand young adults gather each week.” Before I could think
460about it, I heard myself say yes. I was shocked that I had so quickly agreed
461to teach in a charismatic church. It seemed like a compromise to accept this
462invitation. I was embarrassed. What would my friends think? They were also
463anti-charismatic.
464I reluctantly went to the service, and after I finished teaching, the pastor
465came to the platform to end the service and asked if the young people wanted
466me to come back the next week. They applauded, so under the pressure of the
467moment, I agreed to be the speaker the next week. The same thing happened
468the following Saturday night. They were so receptive to me that I began to
469conclude that I was being sent there by God to change their wrong theology.
470I agreed to teach there for the next twelve Saturday nights in a row.
471The next month, on my wedding day, the elders of my little country church
472had a private meeting with the pastor of this large charismatic church during
473the wedding reception. They agreed that I should be the next youth pastor
474at this large church. Without ever consulting me, they simply made this
4759
476“There’s Been a Terrible Mistake”
477announcement at the end of the wedding reception. I was so excited to be
478married to Diane, that I simply responded, “Great, I’ll work anywhere!”
479During our honeymoon, I realized I was the youth pastor of a large charismatic
480church—I couldn’t believe I did it. I asked myself, “How could I let
481this happen? This is a terrible mistake.” It seemed I was constantly being
482ambushed by God to do things I had prejudices against.
483My reluctant journey into the gifts of the Spirit was just beginning. The
484prophecy that I received from the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship
485preacher saying that I would immediately begin to regularly teach hundreds
486of young people had been fulfilled within two months. I was now the youth
487pastor of this large church in St. Louis. However, I still didn’t believe in the
488gift of tongues or the gift of prophecy, so I could have never imagined what
489would happen in the years ahead when I moved to Kansas City. Little did
490I realize that I, a conservative evangelical, was about to get involved with
491spiritual gifts, particularly the gift of prophecy, on a level that seemed very
492unusual, even to many charismatics.
493In the spring of 1979, the leadership of this large church asked me to plant
494a new church on the other side of St. Louis as a part of their vision to reach
495out to the city. So, in September 1979, I planted a new church. The church
496was growing, and my wife, Diane, and I assumed that we would serve there
497for many years. I gave up the idea of being a missionary to Mexico. That God
498had a different plan for us wasn’t so strange, but it was the way He communicated
499this plan to us that challenged my faith.
500The Next Step of Faith
501In June 1982, three years after the new church was founded in St. Louis,
502I met a man who claimed to have had prophetic encounters with God. His
503name was Augustine, and he had a traveling prophetic ministry before he
504died in August 1996. His prophecies helped me conclude that I was to move
505to Kansas City to plant a new church. Soon after I moved, I met Bob Jones
506in March 1983 in Kansas City. These men both talked about unusual experiences
507that included audible voices, angelic visitations, Technicolor visions,
508and signs in the heavens, to name a few of the more spectacular ones.
509Some of their prophetic experiences had major implications for the direction
510of my ministry. If God was so interested in getting my attention, why
511Growing in the Prophetic
51210
513didn’t He just give me my own vision? Of course, I didn’t have much faith in
514the validity of such experiences. By this time, I had accepted the idea of God
515healing the sick, but I wasn’t prepared for prophetic experiences.
516At first these men’s claims seemed to be the stuff of vivid but misguided
517imaginations rather than genuine revelations from God. But soon, the Holy
518Spirit confirmed their genuineness. At the same time, my most trusted
519friends and co-workers also began believing these were true prophecies.
520Though all of this ran contrary to my long-term reservations about this kind
521of thing, I decided to take a step of faith and allow for the prophetic ministry
522in our church.
523From 1983 to 1985, my experiences with prophetic ministry brought
524great blessing to the new church that I planted in Kansas City. Yes, if not
525handled properly, it can cause much confusion and division. Yes, I made
526many mistakes in my early days in administrating the prophetic ministry in
527this new church.
528Initially, there were five to six people with prophetic ministries whom
529the Lord gathered to our young church within its first couple years. Then,
530after that, another seven to eight prophetic ministries joined us as well. We
531were in for very interesting times. I could never have imagined the dramatic
532unfolding of events that were to come. Stay with me as I tell you more.
53311
5342
535C h a p t e r
536Confirming Prophecies Through
537the Acts of God in Nature
538T he confirmation of prophetic words by the acts of God in nature
539is not a common topic in the church today. But undoubtedly in the
540End Times, signs in the heavens as well as the very forces of nature
541on Earth will serve as a dramatic testimony both to the church and to
542unbelievers.
543In Kansas City, we have seen these kinds of things happen only a few
544times, and we know of a few instances in other ministries. It is, however,
545our assumption that the church in other parts of the world might be experiencing
546more of this than the Western church is.
547When the prophetic ministry flourishes, it is often confirmed by signs
548and wonders. In his sermon on the Day of Pentecost, Peter quoted the Joel 2
549promise for a last-days’ revival. Of course, the last days began with the cross,
550the Resurrection, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.
551However, the complete fulfillment of the Joel 2 promises will be in the
552final decades of the last days—those years just prior to the second coming of
553Jesus, which I refer to as the “End Times.”
554The first half of the passage in Acts 2 speaks of the outpouring of the
555Spirit and the increase of prophetic revelation on the entire body of Christ:
55612
557Growing in the Prophetic
558And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
559That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
560Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy;
561Your young men shall see visions,
562Your old men shall dream dreams.
563And on My menservants and on My maidservants
564I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
565And they shall prophesy.
566—Acts 2:17–18
567The second half of the passage focuses on the great increase of the acts of
568God in nature:
569I will show wonders in heaven above
570And signs in the earth beneath:
571Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.
572The sun shall be turned into darkness,
573And the moon into blood,
574Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
575And it shall come to pass
576That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
577Shall be saved.
578—Acts 2:19–21
579There is a specific order and sequence in the text: the outpouring of the
580Spirit, followed by the increase of prophetic dreams and visions, followed
581by the occurring of confirming signs in the sky and on the earth. We
582have witnessed a few supernatural confirmations in nature of significant
583prophetic words.
584We believe that what we have seen is only a small token of what will happen
585in a far more dramatic way in many ministries throughout the nations. The
586End Times will be accompanied by a multiplication of all four elements of
587the Joel 2 prophecy:
588The outpouring of the Spirit
589Prophetic dreams and visions
5901.
5912.
59213
593Confirming Prophecies Through the Acts of God in Nature
594Signs and wonders on Earth and in the heavens
595A wholehearted calling out to Jesus—first for salvation, second
596for deliverance from calamity, and finally in wholeheartedness
597and extravagant love for God (Matt. 22:37)
598This chapter is intended to encourage you about God’s glory being released
599in an unprecedented way in the days to come. In the End Times, there will
600be a significant increase of prophetic visions and dreams with confirming
601signs and wonders in nature. These prophetic events will not take place
602simply within the confines of a few prophetic-type churches but before the
603eyes of all mankind—believers and unbelievers alike.
604As we ponder the meaning of our own prophetic experiences, we conclude
605that there are several reasons the Lord gives confirmations of prophecies by
606supernatural acts of God in nature. The closer we get to the Lord’s return,
607the more we will need to understand how to administrate prophetic revelations
608that are confirmed by an act of God in nature. Thus, one aim of this
609chapter is to share the few things that we have learned about this.
610The Unexpected Snowfall
611Augustine, the preacher whom God used prophetically in my move from St.
612Louis to Kansas City in 1982, warned me of a false prophet who would be
613present in the early days of our new church plant in Kansas City.
614On March 7, 1983, not long after our arrival in Kansas City, an unusual
615man named Bob Jones came to my office and introduced himself to me.
616I was at first skeptical about him and thought he was the false prophet I had
617been warned about by Augustine. However, to my consternation, in my first
618meeting with Bob, he also warned me of a false prophet who would be in the
619midst of our new church plant. I wondered to myself, “Could Bob Jones be
620this false prophet himself and still give me a warning about a false prophet?”
621This thought was enough to keep me in turmoil for several days!
622It seemed odd to me that Bob was wearing a winter coat that day. This
623was strange because the winter snow was long gone, and the temperature
624had been in the fifties, sixties, and seventies for the previous week or so in
625Kansas City. Why was he wearing a heavy winter coat?
6263.
6274.
62814
629Growing in the Prophetic
630In this first meeting, Bob prophesied that God was going to raise up worldwide
631a young adult prayer movement led by prophetic singers and musicians
632in Kansas City. During this meeting, he told me that the Lord would confirm
633this prophecy with a sign in nature; he said that it would be a sign that we
634would see in the sky as an unusual weather pattern (Acts 2:19). More specifically,
635he told me that on the first day of spring, an unexpected snow would
636come, and at that time he would sit around a table with me as I accepted his
637prophetic ministry. I didn’t take the prophecy seriously since I assumed Bob
638was the false prophet I had been warned about by Augustine. I dismissed the
639matter, thinking that anyone who prophesied his own acceptance had to be a
640false prophet. I left perplexed by this odd man was who was wearing a heavy
641winter coat on a warm day.
642Several weeks later, a well-known preacher named Art Katz was visiting
643our Sunday morning church service. I had heard of Art but had never met
644him. After the service, I saw Bob Jones talking privately with him. I expected
645Art to reject Bob as I had done. Instead, when I came up to greet him, the first
646thing he said was, “Mike, this man Bob Jones is a prophet of God. He just told
647me the secrets of my heart!” Art’s testimony about Bob surprised me.
648Art had intended to fly out Sunday after the church service, but his small
649private plane was grounded due to a sudden change in the weather. About
6509:00 p.m. that night, Art insisted on seeing Bob again. We met at my house
651from 10:00 p.m. until 3:00 a.m. It was a very unusual and emotional evening.
652I was overwhelmed by the private things that God revealed to Bob about my
653personal life. In the emotion of the moment, I blurted out, “Bob, I believe you
654are a prophet.” Bob smiled as he reminded me that on March 7, he prophesied
655that I would accept him on the first day of spring as the snow melted.
656I then realized that it was March 21, the first day of spring, and the snow that
657had come unexpectedly was melting that very moment. As we sat around the
658table, I had just accepted Bob Jones with my own mouth. All of it happened
659just as Bob had prophesied that it would two weeks earlier on March 7.
660The unexpected snow on March 21 was precisely predicted by Bob to
661confirm the prophetic vision that God was raising up a prophetic young
662adult prayer movement of prophetic singers and musicians in Kansas City.
663The prediction of unexpected snow coming exactly on March 21, after several
664weeks of unseasonably warm weather1 was a small yet significant sign in the
665heavens or sky that confirmed Bob’s prophecy to us.
66615
667Confirming Prophecies Through the Acts of God in Nature
668Incidentally, soon after my first meeting with Bob Jones, I met with one
669of the pastors of the church that Bob had attended for several years. I asked
670him what kind of man Bob Jones really was. This pastor told me that Bob
671was a godly man with a proven prophetic ministry that bore much good
672fruit. He also told me Bob had prophesied that a group of young people
673would come to south Kansas City in the spring of 1983 who would be used
674by God in a coming revival. Thus, the pastor blessed Bob’s decision to join
675our new church.
676The Unexpected Comet
677Several weeks had passed since the snow incident on March 21. We continued
678to meet every night at 7:00 p.m. to pray for revival. It was at the Wednesday
679evening prayer meeting, on April 13, 1983, that I had another unusual
680prophetic experience with God. This was the second time that I had heard
681what I refer to as the “internal audible voice” of God through which the Holy
682Spirit spoke to me with unmistakable clarity. He told me to call believers
683from Kansas City to twenty-one days of fasting and prayer for revival (Dan.
68410:3). The story of the angel Gabriel appearing to Daniel to reveal God’s
685purpose in the End Times was emphasized to me (Dan. 9:20–27).
686I had reservations about this. How was I, a new young pastor in the city,
687going to call the city to prayer and fasting? Who would listen to me? The
688other pastors would think I was full of pride to presume such a thing! The
689next morning, I called Bob Jones. It was only a month ago when I had first
690received his prophetic ministry. I had not needed his help until this day.
691Over the telephone I explained, “Bob, last night I received a very unusual
692word from the Lord. I need prophetic confirmation of it. Can you help?” In
693his calm drawl Bob replied, “Yeah, I know all about it. God already told me
694what He told you last night.”
695This seemed a little bizarre to me, but strange and unusual things were
696becoming more common. How could Bob Jones already know what God had
697spoken to me last night? I immediately drove to his house with a couple of
698guys. On the way, I explained to them that God had spoken to me about
699calling a twenty-one-day fast for revival. The Scripture passage God spoke to
700me through was Daniel 9, in which the angel Gabriel spoke to Daniel about
701God’s End Time purposes (Dan. 9:24, 27; 10:3).
70216
703Growing in the Prophetic
704Before we proceed, I want to define how I use two terms: “last days” and
705“End Times.” The last days began on the Day of Pentecost and will continue
706through to the second coming of Jesus. I use the term “the End Times” to
707refer to the final decades of the last days. I also use “End Times” synonymous
708with “generation in which the Lord returns.”
709Getting back to the story, I arrived at Bob’s house anxious to see if he had
710received the same message from God that I had received the night before.
711If I ever needed a prophetic word confirmed, it was then. I put Bob to the
712test by asking him to tell me what God had revealed to me. With a big smile
713on his face, he told us that the previous night in a dream the angel Gabriel
714had spoken to him about Daniel 9. We sat there in awe, listening as he told
715us the implications of what Gabriel said. Bob knew that, in this, God was
716calling us to gather to pray for revival according to Joel 2:12–17. He told us
717that there would be an unpredicted comet coming across the heavens that
718would confirm this sacred assembly of fasting and prayer for twenty-one
719days, which was to begin on May 7. I wondered where this new prophetic
720journey would lead us.
721Three weeks later, on May 7, 1983, the day our twenty-one-day fast began,
722the newspaper reported:
723Scientists will have a rare chance next week to study a recently
724discovered comet that is coming within the extremely close
725range of 3 million miles. . . .Dr. Gerry Neugebauer, principal U.S.
726investigator on the international Infrared Astronomical Satellite
727Project (IRAS) said, “. . .It was sheer good luck we happened to be
728looking where the comet was passing.”2
729God had given me a prophetic revelation to call for twenty-one days of
730fasting and prayer for revival in Kansas City and America. He told Bob
731Jones that He would confirm this with an unexpected comet as a sign in the
732heavens on May 7. The newspaper testified to this on the very day that the
733fast began. Seven hundred people gathered together on the first evening of
734the fast. We were full of faith and excitement. We had no idea that things
735were going to turn out very different from what we were expecting.
73617
737Confirming Prophecies Through the Acts of God in Nature
738It Shall Not Rain
739May 28, 1983, the last day of the twenty-one days of fasting, had finally
740come. Bob Jones shocked us all when he stood up to give a most disappointing
741prophetic word. He said that God was going to withhold the revival
742on Kansas City and America that He promised because it was not yet His
743perfect timing to release it. He explained that currently there was a spiritual
744drought over America and that God had appointed a precise day that He
745would interrupt it by pouring out the rain of His Spirit on the nation.
746He continued by prophesying that God would confirm this disappointing
747prophetic word by sending a natural drought for three months to Kansas City
748that would be interrupted by rain on the day of His choosing. Bob prophesied
749that we would see the rain come precisely on August 23, 1983. We all
750agreed that it was very bold to prophesy in front of hundreds of people the
751exact day that it would rain three months in advance. Bob explained that
752God was going to speak to us prophetically through the weather in Kansas
753City through the summer of 1983. In other words, as surely as the natural
754drought in Kansas City would be interrupted by natural rain precisely on the
755day of God’s choosing (August 23), so also the spiritual drought in America
756would be interrupted by the rain of the Holy Spirit on precisely the day of
757God’s choosing sometime in the future. We were stunned, confused, and
758even somewhat angry at this prophetic word. We had high expectations for
759the release of revival in Kansas City and America immediately, not at some
760“strategic date” far in the future.
761Although prophesying that involves the withholding of rain is unusual, it
762is certainly not without biblical precedent. Elijah prophesied to King Ahab:
763“As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew
764nor rain these years, except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1).
765How were we to respond to such an unexpected and even offensive
766prophetic word? We were to understand that God gave us these supernatural
767confirmations so we would have assurance that would help us sustain faithfulness
768in prayer while we were waiting on His precise timing for the full
769release of revival.
770The three-month drought in Kansas City began near the end of June.
771Through July and the first three weeks of August there was almost no rain.
77218
773Growing in the Prophetic
774The credibility of Bob Jones’s prophetic ministry in the eyes of the thousand
775people who participated in the twenty-one-day fast was on the line.
776August 23 had finally come. At noon that day, I talked to one of the intercessors
777and said that it didn’t look like rain was coming that day. He replied,
778“You better hope it rains, or you’ll have to leave town.” I was definitely feeling
779the pressure.
780Our church gathered the evening of August 23 to cry out for rain. Just
781as the church service was preparing to begin, there came a downpour of
782rain. Everyone was shouting and praising God. God had supernaturally
783confirmed the validity of the twenty-one-day solemn assembly of prayer and
784fasting (May 7–28). We now knew that the spiritual drought over America
785was sure to break and revival would come on God’s appointed day. We were
786all exuberant.
787In a more personal way, we had no idea we were also laboring in prayer
788for the future birthing of the IHOP Missions Base, which would not start for
789another sixteen years.
790I want to note that the drought continued the next day and lasted another
791five weeks—three months in all, as prophesied, with the exception of the
792notable rain on August 23 that interrupted it. In a one-hundred-year period,
793it was one of the driest summers on record in Kansas City.
794Convincing Power, Irrefutable Truth
795The purpose of the outpouring of the Spirit, the increase of the prophetic
796ministry, and, finally, the signs and wonders in nature is to awaken the
797church to passionate Christianity and to bring many people to salvation.
798The Joel 2 prophecy quoted by Peter makes this point by saying, “It shall
799come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”
800(Acts 2:21).
801Calling on the name of the Lord refers to unbelievers calling on His name
802for salvation, but it also includes believers wholeheartedly calling on the
803name of Jesus in their passion for God and in persistent intercession. Thus,
804the confirmation of prophetic words by acts of God in nature is meant to
805help us stay consistent in our faith and prayer.
806Supernatural confirmation by acts of God in nature strengthens our faith
807as it provides irrefutable proof of the specific direction that God is speaking
80819
809Confirming Prophecies Through the Acts of God in Nature
810to us. This brings us great encouragement and perseverance so we do not
811lose heart in the time of waiting or even suffering.
812Signs and wonders in nature are not to be taken lightly. They are not
813given for trivial reasons. Don’t expect God to show a sign in the heavens
814concerning which car you are supposed to buy. He does not move stars or
815send earthquakes to entertain us or stir up our curiosity. The measure of
816His power in confirming a prophetic word is proportional to the significance
817of the purpose of the prophetic message being confirmed. God will
818display unprecedented signs and wonders in nature in the End Times
819because they will confirm the great ingathering of souls leading to the
820second coming of Jesus.
821God has used many different ministries over the years to prophesy and
822intercede concerning the great revival that is coming to America and other
823nations. No ministry or denomination is more significant to God than the
824others. The comet on May 7 and the rain on August 23 were not merely to
825verify something in Kansas City. They had a much bigger purpose than that.
826It was to confirm God’s plans to many others that He was surely going to
827visit our nation with full-scale revival.
828The Book of Revelation gives insight into the signs in the heavens and
829on the earth that will confirm and announce God’s End Times purposes.
830Compare the events that occur when the Lamb opens the sixth seal to the
831signs prophesied in Joel 2:28–32:
832I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a
833great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair,
834and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to
835the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a
836mighty wind. Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled
837up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
838—Revelation 6:12–14
839In Revelation 11, John records seeing two witnesses and says of them:
840And I will give powerto my two witnesses, and they will prophesy
841one thousand two hundred and sixty days in sackcloth. . . .These
842have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of
84320
844Growing in the Prophetic
845their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them
846to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as
847they desire.
848—Revelation 11:3, 6
849As we approach the End Times, there will be a great increase of the prophecies
850confirmed by the acts of God in nature. The greatest prophecy and the
851greatest sign that will ever be seen in the heavens is the last one—the actual
852appearing of Jesus.
853Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be
854darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall
855from the heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
856Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and
857then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the
858Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and
859great glory.
860—Matthew 24:29–30
861Prophetic Revelation and Testing
862It is important to note the connection between the abundance of prophetic
863revelation and a higher degree of testing that goes with it. Paul’s thorn in
864the flesh was given to keep him from exalting himself in light of the great
865prophetic revelations that he received.
866And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of
867the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger
868of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.
869—2 Corinthians 12:7, emphasis added
870Note that his thorn was given because of abundant prophetic revelation.
871My good friend Francis Frangipane says, “New levels bring new devils.” In
872other words, new levels of power and revelation attract new devils in spiritual
873warfare to get us to back down from the higher purposes of God.
874On the other hand, God also gives powerful revelation because of the
875difficulty that is yet to come. For example, Paul received a vision instructing
87621
877Confirming Prophecies Through the Acts of God in Nature
878him to take his missionary efforts into Macedonia (Acts 16:6–10). That decision
879resulted in Paul and Silas being severely beaten with rods and thrown
880into prison. The strength of their initial prophetic direction to go to Macedonia
881is what kept strengthening them with the knowledge that God was
882with them in their difficulty (Acts 16:22–24).
883This “revelation-before-testing” principle is repeated many times in the
884Scriptures. For example, see the miracles of the Exodus before the wilderness
885testing, Joseph’s dreams before being sold into slavery, David’s supernatural
886military victories along with Samuel’s prophetic words before the wilderness
887temptations in which David was pursued by jealous King Saul, and so on.
888Powerful prophetic revelations stabilize us for future difficulties.
889In other words, prophetic revelation sometimes causes difficulty, and
890other times it prepares us to endure it. In the End Times, the awesome signs
891and wonders in the heavens and on Earth prophesied in Acts 2:17–21 will be
892much greater than anything ever before seen in history.
893Learning From Mistakes
894At our church, many stood in amazement at the natural confirmations—the
895comet, the snow, and the drought. However, some put too much honor and
896attention on the prophets of the Lord instead of the Lord of the prophets
897and unfortunately got somewhat out of balance in the midst of the amazing
898prophetic activity that was occurring. No matter how great the power is that
899the Holy Spirit releases through a prophet, we are to focus our hearts and
900attention first on loving, worshiping, and obeying Jesus.
901Our pride and lack of balance caused us to endure some painful but
902necessary corrections in the early 1990s. The Lord is jealous for His people.
903He will not allow us to exalt ourselves or to make weak prophets the focus
904of His kingdom. The Lord disciplined us for our pride and errors as well as
905allowed us to see great failures in the lives of some of those used most in
906the prophetic ministry in Kansas City. This caused us much pain and disappointment
907as our enemies mocked us for receiving from weak and fallen
908prophetic men. We learned to not put our trust in prophetic people but
909rather in the prophetic leadership of the Holy Spirit.
910Some people may respond to this admission of our errors by saying, “Aha!
911That’s the reason we shouldn’t get involved in the prophetic. It will only get
91222
913Growing in the Prophetic
914us off balance and get our eyes off Jesus.” I argued with the Lord more than
915once, telling Him of the perils of embracing the prophetic ministry. I was
916tempted like many others to just back away from prophets. It seemed that
917things would be easier without all the difficulty that comes with the prophetic
918ministry. I have fully repented of such wrong thinking and am more resolved
919than ever to receive any prophetic ministry that the Lord would send me. I
920want all that He will give us, regardless how weak the prophetic vessels are or
921how immature the response of the people is to their ministry. I am resolved
922to embrace the Holy Spirit’s ministry through prophetic people regardless of
923what it costs. I have made several conclusions.
924First, I have reminded God many times that my involvement in prophetic
925ministry was never my idea. I have said, “God, You got me into this; now You
926must give me the direction and defend my reputation as I embrace prophetic
927ministry!” We must not expect the Lord to lead the church in a way so that
928nothing risky or troubling happens. A ministry that resists the prophetic
929dynamic of the Holy Spirit will inevitably end up in a spiritual rut that could
930have been avoided.
931Second, the outpouring of the Spirit, the prophetic ministry, and the signs
932and wonders in nature are clearly a part of God’s agenda for the End Times.
933God has ordained that the church needs the input of the prophetic ministry
934to stay properly encouraged and focused as well as to minimize unbelief that
935plagues so many ministries today. What we have experienced in Kansas City
936is only a drop in the bucket compared to the magnitude and the frequency
937of the prophetic ministry that is coming to the church worldwide. This will
938become more obvious as the Lord’s return draws closer.
939Third, one reason we must embrace the prophetic is simply because the
940Scripture teaches us to: “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially
941that you may prophesy” (1 Cor. 14:1); “Desire earnestly to prophesy” (1 Cor.
94214:39); and “Do not despise prophecies” (1 Thess. 5:20). It is easy to despise
943prophecies, but we are commanded not to.
94423
9453
946C h a p t e r
947Prophetic Administration:
948Revelation, Interpretation,
949and Application
950M any are very excited about the prospect of receiving prophetic
951revelation from God. As glorious as it is to receive information
952from God, it is only the beginning of the process of what
953I refer to as administrating the prophetic ministry. I learned, the hard
954way, that failure to do this is what leads many who are initially zealous for
955the prophetic ministry to conclude that it is just too much work to mess
956with. I felt this way for a while. However, now I understand that, if I apply
957what the Bible teaches about providing pastor leadership in the process of
958administrating the prophetic ministry, the benefits far outweigh the difficulties.
959This is a threefold process that involves wisdom, understanding,
960and knowledge. There is great value when these three virtues work together
961in God’s house.
962Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is
963established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious
964and pleasant riches.
965—Proverbs 24:3–4
96624
967Growing in the Prophetic
968Administrating prophecy or providing biblical leadership to this process
969involves three distinct things: revelation (knowledge), interpretation (understanding),
970and application (wisdom). First, we must receive the revelation or
971the divine information. Second, we must interpret it accurately. Third, we
972must apply it with wisdom. The interpretation answers the question, What
973does the revelation mean? The application answers the questions, When and
974how will this come to pass? and What should I do? Application is the action
975that should be taken based on the interpretation of the divine information
976that was received.
977The gift of leadership or of “administrations” in the prophetic messengers
978is like a vital organ in the body of charismatic gifts (1 Cor. 12:28). In
979fact, the main purpose of Paul’s writings of 1 Corinthians 12–14 had to do
980with necessity of leadership in walking out the tension of exercising and/or
981restraining charismatic activity in the Corinthian church. We desire to both
982encourage and nurture the prophetic as well as properly judge and restrain
983it so that maximum edification of the churches will result. Paul said, “Since
984you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the
985church” (1 Cor. 14:12, nas).
986Do not be confident that you have administrated prophecy until all three
987components have been properly unitized. The Lord often uses different
988people to accomplish this process. Do not be confident that you have administrated
989prophecy well until all three components have been discerned with
990wisdom. Also, the Lord will often use three different people to put these
991parts together. The challenge that I have faced most over the years is not the
992result of prophetic people receiving incorrect information. In most cases, the
993information they received was from the Lord and, therefore, was right. The
994problems begin when we interpret and apply the information incorrectly.
995Receiving Divine Information
996We use the term revelation to refer to the prophetic information that one
997receives from God. The Holy Spirit can give us the prophetic information
998in many different ways, including by prophetic impressions, dreams, open
999vision, mental visions, the audible voice of God, trances, experiences in the
1000third heaven, and so forth. Prophetic information about a person or situation
1001does not automatically come with the wisdom or power to bring a change
100225
1003Prophetic Administration: Revelation, Interpretation, and Application
1004to that person or situation. The release of God’s power is often a separate
1005operation of the Spirit. For instance, someone may prophetically discern an
1006illness through a word of knowledge and yet not have the anointing to release
1007the healing that the sick person needs. Rather, they may simply supply the
1008knowledge that God knows and cares about the condition, thus inspiring
1009faith in others to receive.
1010Interpreting Divine Information
1011The interpretation of prophetic information refers to properly understanding
1012it. We must gain God’s perspective on the revelatory information before it
1013becomes most beneficial to us. Even with accurate revelation, it is common
1014for people to wrongly interpret it. There are often symbolic and mysterious
1015elements to prophetic visions and dreams. God told Aaron and Miriam that
1016when He speaks prophetically, He usually does so by a vision or dream that
1017has symbolic or dark sayings.
1018Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the
1019Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in
1020a dream. Not so with My servant Moses. . . .I speak with him face
1021to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings.
1022—Numbers 12:6–8
1023There are often symbolic and mysterious elements to visions, dreams,
1024spoken words, and so on. Revelation often comes in bits and pieces, and we
1025also need understanding from the Lord to “make sense” of the revelation.
1026Paul states in the context of supernatural knowledge and prophecy that we
1027prophesy in part (1 Cor. 13:9).
1028Jesus often spoke in parables to hide truth so that only those hungry
1029for God would gain understanding. He said, “I speak to them in parables,
1030because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they
1031understand” (Matt. 13:13).
1032In the same way, the Holy Spirit often speaks to us prophetically in dreams
1033and visions using parables. Only those who are desperate to know God’s
1034heart will understand what He is saying.
1035Therefore, it is important that we be cautious and not overly confident
103626
1037Growing in the Prophetic
1038and dogmatic in giving or receiving prophecy. Often we do not, and are not
1039supposed to, fully understand the revelation until the circumstances unfold
1040that actually bring its fulfillment. God purposely gives the information in
1041a dark saying or parable. We must resist the temptation to manufacture
1042the interpretation before it is clear. If we don’t, we are setting ourselves up
1043for disaster.
1044Many times the ones who are best at receiving a revelation seem worst at
1045interpreting it. We cannot mold a true revelation around the interpretation
1046we prefer. Revelation often comes in bits and pieces, and thus, we need to
1047have enough humility and patience to know when more understanding is
1048needed before we proceed.
1049When it comes to the fulfillment of a prophecy, we encourage people to
1050have an attitude of “open expectancy.”
1051In light of this, it is important for us to be cautious about being overly
1052confident and dogmatic in the ministering of prophecy. Often we do not,
1053and are not supposed to, understand the revelation until the circumstances
1054unfold that actually bring its fulfillment. This helps us to know how to make
1055a godly response to those circumstances when they are at hand.
1056The grace to receive revelation is not the same as the grace to discern the
1057interpretation. We have people who interpret prophetic revelation with much
1058greater clarity than the people who receive the revelation. The other distinct
1059grace from God is the ability to apply what has been interpreted. We have a
1060council of prophetic people who are regularly involved with this.
1061I have seen seasoned prophetic ministers receive words from the Lord that
1062predicted events with great accuracy. Nevertheless, they rarely know when
1063or how the events will actually take place.
1064Bob Jones has an amazing gift of prophecy, but he says that he tends to
1065miss it on interpretation and application. One time Bob gave a person a word
1066along with the phrase, “By the end of the year.” Well, the end of the year
1067came and the prophecy had not come to pass. I went back to Bob and questioned
1068him about it. It turns out that “by the end of the year” was not a part
1069of the revelation.
1070“Well,” said Bob, “why would the Lord give it if it weren’t going to happen
1071by the end of the year?”
1072The prophetic information or the revelation itself does not help people
107327
1074Prophetic Administration: Revelation, Interpretation, and Application
1075much until it goes through the process of interpretation and application. The
1076interpretation may be accurate, but if a person jumps the gun and gets ahead
1077of God in the application, then hurt and confusion may result.
1078Consequently, there is as much a need for God’s wisdom in the interpretation
1079and application as there is in receiving the revelation itself.
1080The misinterpretation of revelation can either come from the one who
1081received the prophetic information directly from God, or it can come with
1082the people who accept it from the prophet. Let me give an example. In a
1083public meeting, a member of our prophetic team spoke to a man whom he
1084had never met, saying, “You have a music ministry. You’re called to be a
1085singer. Great increase is coming to you and your ministry. You will influence
1086nations.” What our prophetic team member actually saw in a vision
1087were “musical notes around the man.” So he concluded that the man was
1088called to sing or play an instrument on a worship team; however, the man
1089did not play or sing at all. He was the owner of a music store. He was a
1090businessman with an international business, not a musician soon to have a
1091worldwide ministry.
1092When debriefing after the meeting, our prophetic team member said,
1093“Well, how was I supposed to know he owned a music store?” That is precisely
1094the point—he wasn’t supposed to know. It seemed obvious to him that the
1095person would be in the music ministry as a performer. However, when he
1096made an assumption about prophetic revelation based on what seemed
1097obvious, he got it wrong. He could have said, “I see musical notes around
1098you; does this mean anything to you?”
1099It is easy to receive a revelation or divine information and then, without
1100even realizing it, cross over the line to the interpretation of that revelation.
1101We must constantly remember to distinguish between the raw data (divine
1102information) and the interpretation of its meaning.
1103Additionally, many people become disillusioned over the fact that they
1104may not see the prophetic revelation come to pass. Often, the prophecy did
1105not come to pass as they assumed or interpreted that it would. The problem
1106was that they allowed revelation and interpretation to run together in their
1107minds until they could no longer distinguish between what God had actually
1108said and the wrong expectation they created by their wrong interpretation.
1109The exact way that God brings about a word in our lives is normally quite
111028
1111Growing in the Prophetic
1112different than we envision when we first receive it. We are tempted to add
1113our conclusions to the Lord’s word to us, and the two become confused over
1114time. The life within a seed and a plant are essentially the same, but the
1115form of the seed must die for the form of the plant to be given birth (1 Cor.
111615:36–38). So the “form” of a prophecy’s fulfillment can be very different
1117from the “form” of the expectation of its fulfillment we originally project,
1118and yet the essence of the revelation remains true. This is why it’s vital that
1119we do not look to prophecy alone for guidance. It can be a vital part of the
1120“machinery,” but it must not be made out to be the whole of the “machine.”
1121We also encourage people to “hold,” “sit on,” or “shelve” revelations that do
1122not have a clear interpretation.
1123If they are shared, they should be communicated with the qualification
1124that the interpretation is not yet clear. It is often wise to write them
1125down and share them with pastoral leaders or those recognized as gifted at
1126interpretation of obscure revelations, but generally they are not for public
1127consumption.
1128Interpreting Prophetic Scriptures
1129The interpretation of revelation is often contrary to the obvious. The scribes
1130and Pharisees were perfect examples of this in their approach to prophetic
1131scriptures. The tradition of the elders was more than a collection of their
1132customs; it was the theological interpretation of the Torah, the first five
1133books of the Old Testament. As centuries passed, those traditions were
1134written down in what became the Talmud.
1135To the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus was a lawbreaker because He did not
1136keep the traditions of the elders. These religious leaders could no longer
1137distinguish between revelation (the Torah) and interpretation (the Talmud).
1138To them, the interpretations and applications were obvious and indisputable.
1139This tendency to mix up revelation and interpretation shows up in every
1140generation. The Pharisees misinterpreted the prophets’ true revelations about
1141the Messiah and thus missed the purpose of God for their generation by
1142rejecting Jesus.
1143One of the characteristics of prophetic revelation is that it is sometimes
1144parabolic or symbolic; thus, it is only fully understood after future events
1145have taken place. From the Old Testament perspective, it was not altogether
114629
1147Prophetic Administration: Revelation, Interpretation, and Application
1148clear what the Messiah would look like. The prophets foretold the coming of
1149both a kingly Messiah and a suffering servant, but no one considered that
1150both were the same person. Obviously, kingly messiahs aren’t servants, and
1151they don’t suffer.
1152Even the disciples had a hard time with it. The Gospels show how baffled
1153the disciples were. The messianic secret is a theme that runs throughout the
1154Gospels. They had a difficult time figuring out who Jesus was and the nature
1155of His eternal earthly kingdom.
1156The Gospel of John, which was probably written a few decades after the
1157others (around a.d. 90), looks back at Jesus with greater hindsight. In John’s
1158Gospel, there is no mystery about Jesus’s identity. Clear affirmations of His
1159deity are found in the first verse and throughout the entire book.
1160For the disciples, and even for some of the Pharisees and scribes, the interpretation
1161of events foretold in prophetic revelation was difficult while they
1162were happening, but their meaning became crystal clear after the foretold
1163events had taken place. We have to be careful about locking into precisely
1164our interpretation of prophetic revelation before the events happen lest we
1165miss what God is saying to us.
1166Lessons Learned by Failing to
1167Accurately Interpret Prophecy
1168Prophetic revelation that is wrongly interpreted can cause chaos in someone’s
1169life. Over time we learned to administrate prophetic information.
1170In that learning process, however, we naïvely allowed some unfortunate
1171things to happen. One situation was the result of a wrong interpretation
1172being applied to an authentic prophetic revelation, and it turned into a
1173pastoral nightmare.
1174I happened to be out of town that morning, which is not to say that it
1175wouldn’t have occurred if I had been there. One of the members of the
1176prophetic team received a word from the Lord for a man in our congregation.
1177This man was horrified as the prophetic person publicly shared that he
1178lacked integrity in his finances.
1179When I returned, I went to the person who gave that prophecy and asked
1180him exactly what he had seen. He told me that he had seen a dark cloud over
118130
1182Growing in the Prophetic
1183the area of the man’s finances. He interpreted this to mean that the man was
1184stealing money, but his interpretation was totally wrong!
1185Soon after this prophecy, the man’s business partner embezzled a large
1186sum of money from him. The prophetic word was a warning to the man
1187to watch out for someone who might steal money from him, but it was
1188mistakenly pronounced as a judgment against his character. The brother was
1189humiliated publicly by the prophetic word, and he missed the warning that
1190someone was stealing from him.
1191In this, we neglected to follow the scriptural protocol necessary in giving
1192corrective prophecies. If the man was in fact guilty of financial sin, then he
1193should have been approached privately as called for in Matthew 18:15–17.
1194If we had interpreted the prophetic word accurately as a gracious warning
1195from God to help the man prevent someone stealing from him, then it would
1196have been spoken differently. It would have been spoken something like, “The
1197Lord is indicating there is a dark cloud over you in the financial arena. Let’s
1198pray that God will protect you from the enemy’s attack.” If we had properly
1199distinguished between the revelation and the interpretation, perhaps the
1200warning could have prevented the financial loss.
1201Interpreting Prophecy
1202Through Our Pride
1203When someone prophesies to us about our promotion, we must guard our
1204hearts against believing everything that is prophesied to us simply because
1205we want it to be true. It is easy to accept prophecies that are not based in
1206truth because of our unperceived ambition that helps us to believe great
1207things about our ministries whether or not the Lord confirms them in an
1208authentic way. Prophetic words that promise us future promotion can stir up
1209our pride just as gasoline stirs up a fire. Because we long for such words to be
1210true in our lives, we do not always apply the same standards of truth to them
1211as we would if we were helping a friend interpret prophecies over his or her
1212life. In other words, some people will run with positive prophecies without
1213really caring if they are truly from God.
1214I have received plenty of flattering prophetic words that simply were not
1215true. I just push “delete” and move on and forget them. If we find our identity
1216in Jesus, then we are not as prone to be a sucker for flattering words that
121731
1218Prophetic Administration: Revelation, Interpretation, and Application
1219are not based in truth. A man with an ambitious or insecure heart is more
1220often seduced by an exaggerated or flattering prophetic word.
1221Hope Deferred Makes
1222the Heart Sick
1223One problem that comes from believing wrong information is that we have
1224wrong expectations about the future. Prophecy is meant to stir up our hope
1225or expectations. If what we hope for does not happen, then we are prone to be
1226disappointed and hurt. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart
1227sick.” Deferred hope disappoints us so much that we can get into despair or
1228even become angry with God or the prophetic ministry in general. There are
1229Christians who are unaware of the fact that they are angry with God. They
1230have become cynical, critical, and angry in their spirits toward all prophetic
1231ministry. The problem is that they are heartsick over unfulfilled hopes and
1232expectations. The answer is not to throw the baby out with the bathwater in
1233totally rejecting what the Bible says about prophecy. They should go back
1234over the prophetic words that they received to see where they misinterpreted
1235them or where they simply believed a word that was wrong. If we do not take
1236the time and care to interpret prophetic revelation accurately, we can end
1237up heartsick. People who are disillusioned and offended with God lose their
1238spiritual vigor. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it does eventually happen.
1239The enemy wants to drive a wedge between God and us, just as he tried to
1240do with Job.
1241The Application of
1242Prophetic Revelation
1243The last step in our process of prophetic administration is application. The
1244application refers to the wisdom of how to apply the information that we
1245recently interpreted. Even if there is a true prophetic revelation with an accurate
1246interpretation, the process of administrating prophecy has just begun.
1247It must be properly applied, and therefore many different questions must be
1248asked and answered. The application answers the questions: When? How?
1249To whom does this revelation apply? What should I do? Application is the
1250practical action that we are to take as we respond in faith to the revelation
1251and its interpretation.
125232
1253Growing in the Prophetic
1254I recommend asking the following questions: Who is supposed to hear
1255it? Who is supposed to share it? Whom do we tell—the leaders, only certain
1256individuals or intercessors, or the whole church? How much of it is to be
1257shared—30 percent or 100 percent? When should it be shared? Why? What
1258is the desired impact? What mind-sets do we want to see changed, or what
1259actions are to be taken? The overarching question that must be considered
1260in all of these things is, What will bring about the maximum amount
1261of edification related to the unity, purity, witness, and growth of God’s
1262people?
1263I repeat again that the grace to receive revelation and to discern its interpretation
1264is not the same as the grace to apply it with wisdom. The biggest
1265challenge for the prophetic council at the IHOP Missions Base is definitely
1266in this area of application.
1267God rarely works on the timetable that we think He should. If we press
1268for the application outside of God’s timing, then we find ourselves trying to
1269step through a door that is not yet opened.
1270Another aspect of the application involves who should be told the revelation
1271and interpretation and when they should be told. The question we must
1272answer when we receive prophetic revelation is if it is to be spoken to the
1273entire congregation or only to the leadership.
1274Joseph learned the hard way that telling his brothers about his prophetic
1275dreams could get him into trouble (Gen. 37). His brothers interpreted the
1276dreams accurately and came up with their own application—get rid of
1277Joseph! Like Joseph, many people have a hard time not revealing what they
1278have heard from God. It’s our nature to want others to know that God has a
1279special plan for us.
1280The same thing is true of the person through whom prophetic revelation
1281comes. The prophetic person often feels he should tell everything to everyone
1282immediately. He wants everyone to know he was the one who received
1283special revelation. Sometimes he is pressured by the desire to want credit for
1284receiving an important revelation.
1285Prophetic people who unconsciously strive to get recognition for their
1286prophecies often wind up getting corrected instead of credit. If we do not
1287take the credit, then we do not have to take the blame. I understand the
1288reasons for wanting to be recognized, but it’s still selfish ambition, and it
128933
1290Prophetic Administration: Revelation, Interpretation, and Application
1291confuses the process of administrating prophetic revelation in a way that
1292most honors Jesus and serves His people. The sign that a prophetic person
1293has a wrong motivation is that he or she pushes to get recognition. I’ve
1294learned to not promote those kind of prophetic people. They strive to make
1295sure the people know that they are the one who received the important
1296prophetic word. Our perspective on applying prophetic revelation is influenced
1297by our need for others to know that we are the one hearing from God
1298in a special way.
1299It is my opinion that the majority of the problems caused by prophetic
1300ministry are caused, not by incorrect prophecies, but by inaccurate—even
1301presumptuous—interpretations and applications.
1302We need to take the time to work through the process of administrating
1303prophetic ministry and prophetic revelation because the benefits of prophetic
1304revelation to the local church are too great and the consequences of shutting
1305it out are too severe.
1306The Need for
1307Prophetic Confirmation
1308When we receive a prophetic word from someone, we must hold it at arm’s
1309length and not seek to interpret or apply it until God Himself confirms it.
1310Paul taught that everything is to be established by God as He confirms His
1311truth to us.
1312By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be
1313established.
1314—2 Corinthians 13:1
1315When people act on a new direction before receiving the confirmation,
1316they get off track. For example, if you receive an accurate revelation from
1317a prophetic person that God is calling you to have a new street ministry,
1318do not go out immediately and start a new ministry. Wait for the Lord to
1319confirm it to you in a clear way.
1320You may receive the prophetic word as a “notification” that God may
1321communicate to you concerning a new ministry direction, but do not act on
1322it until the Lord confirms it.
132334
1324Growing in the Prophetic
1325On other occasions, prophetic words confirm something you have already
1326received from the Lord. The principle that I am emphasizing is that no one
1327should act on a prophetic word until the Lord confirms it.
1328We require that all directional prophecies for our corporate ministry at
1329the IHOP Missions Base be shared first with our leadership team before it is
1330spoken publicly so that we may interpret first.
133135
13324
1333C h a p t e r
1334Overview of
1335the Prophetic Ministry
1336P rophecy is the testimony of Jesus’s heart for His people. An
1337angel told the apostle John that the “testimony of Jesus is the spirit
1338of prophecy” (Rev. 19:10). When the Holy Spirit reveals aspects of
1339Jesus’s heart and will to us in various supernatural ways, we often refer to it
1340as receiving or operating in the spirit of prophecy.
1341It is important to make a clear distinction between the authority of Scripture
1342and prophetic utterances that have varying degrees of accuracy. In this
1343chapter I use some of Wayne Grudem’s ideas. He is a well-respected theologian
1344who loves the work of the Holy Spirit. He was formerly a professor at
1345Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and wrote The Gift of Prophecy. This is
1346a good book that provides a theological framework for prophecy from the
1347Old and New Testaments. Grudem wrote, “Most prophecy is human words
1348reporting something that God brings to mind.”1 The Spirit conveys to our
1349mind thoughts we communicate in contemporary language. They are a
1350mixture of God’s words and man’s words that combine divine inspiration
1351with the human process. Although it is possible to speak 100 percent accurate
1352words from God, yet most often prophecy is a mixture. In either case,
1353we are called to “weigh what is said” by testing everything, yet holding fast
1354to what is good without despising prophecy (1 Cor. 14:29; 1 Thess. 5:20–21).
135536
1356Growing in the Prophetic
1357Contemporary Prophetic Ministry Gifts
1358I usually use the term prophetic people instead of the term prophet. We
1359should only refer to someone as a prophet cautiously and sparingly. There
1360are many different levels of prophetic gifting as well as experience, maturity,
1361and credibility. One issue we must answer when investigating the validity
1362of a prophecy is its authority. If the gift of prophecy is some kind of “divine
1363utterance,” why does it often sound so weak? Why aren’t we taking everything
1364that is prophesied as an infallible inspired utterance?
1365Grudem answers this as he explains that the Old Testament prophets
1366were commissioned to speak “God’s very words,” which carried an absolute,
1367divine authority. He argues that in the New Testament, only the twelve
1368apostles had that same authority to speak and write “God’s very words.” All
1369other prophecy was and is simply, “A very human—and sometimes partially
1370mistaken—report of something the Holy Spirit brought to someone’s
1371mind.”2
1372Grudem makes a helpful distinction between the divinely authoritative
1373“very word of God” that became our Scriptures and the words of prophets
1374in the early church, which must be judged and sifted and even at times not
1375even spoken.
1376Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But
1377if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep
1378silent.
1379—1 Corinthians 14:29–30
1380He argues convincingly for a qualitative difference between the “very
1381words of God” spoken only by those with apostolic authority (New Testament
1382Scripture) and the inspired messages of the prophets in the early church.
1383However, I would like to suggest adding a dimension to Grudem’s argument.
1384While Paul and the other writers of the New Testament did at times
1385write “God’s very words,” it must be acknowledged that they did not always
1386speak “God’s very words.” While personally affirming the divine inspiration
1387and infallibility of Scripture, I believe that Paul could have written additional
1388letters that were not necessarily “God’s very words.”
1389What about other people? Can people today speak “God’s very words”
139037
1391Overview of the Prophetic Ministry
1392occasionally? Can prophecy be 100 percent accurate? Is all prophecy, as
1393Grudem argues, only “human words reporting something God brings to
1394mind,” and therefore a mixed-up combination of divine inspiration and the
1395human spirit?
1396While affirming the value of the “mixed lot,” Grudem makes a helpful
1397distinction between the authority of Scripture and the prophetic utterances
1398in the early church. It is absolutely clear that contemporary prophetic
1399words should not be treated in the way in which we treat Scripture. All
1400the prophetic people I know wholeheartedly agree with this statement. As
1401Grudem states, prophesy is reporting “in human words what God brings to
1402mind.” God conveys to our mind thoughts that we communicate in contemporary
1403language. They are a mixture of God’s words and man’s words.
1404Some “prophetic words” may be 10 percent God’s words and 90 percent
1405man’s words, while others have a greater revelatory content. On occasion
1406God speaks to His servants in an audible voice. These are His “very words”
1407that may be reported with a high degree of accuracy. It is clear that some
1408prophetic utterances “ring more true” than others. I have attempted to graph
1409this phenomena of mixing our thoughts and ideas with God’s words:
1410God’s words Man’s words
1411Strong prophetic Average prophetic
1412(mature)
1413Weak prophetic
1414(immature)
1415What I am trying to illustrate is that all prophecy today has a degree
1416of mixture in it. Sometimes this yields a “mature” word that reflects more
1417ideally what God would like to communicate, and sometimes it is communicated
1418in a much-less-than-ideal fashion, yielding a “weak” word of lesser
1419value, but still one that should not be despised.
1420Whatever the case, and however reputable the prophet may be, we are
1421commanded by Scripture to weigh what issaid (1 Cor. 14:29–30). Paul instructs
1422the Thessalonian church: “Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast
142338
1424Growing in the Prophetic
1425to what is good” (1 Thess. 5:20–21). If the prophetic utterance is from God,
1426then the Holy Spirit will bring the words home to our hearts and give us an
1427internal witness of the fact that it is indeed something God is saying to us. He
1428will also confirm the word by other prophetic people (2 Cor. 13:1) or by other
1429means, including acts of God in nature. (See chapter 2.)
1430Who Can Prophesy?
1431The church, from its inception on the Day of Pentecost, was to be of a
1432prophetic nature. It is clear that the spirit of prophecy is potentially available
1433to all (Acts 2:17–18). “For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may
1434learn. . . ” (1 Cor. 14:31).
1435Paul urges the Corinthians to seek this gift (1 Cor. 14:1, 24, 39) while
1436acknowledging that not all are prophets (1 Cor. 12:29). What is going on?
1437Again, I find Grudem helpful but not adequate. His definition of prophesy is
1438“speaking merely human words to report something God brings to mind.”
1439This definition allows for a type of prophetic utterance that is possible for
1440every believer, and rightfully so. He also acknowledges that in the New Testament
1441some people ministered more regularly in prophecy and were called
1442“prophets” (Agabus in Acts 11, 21; Philip’s daughters in Acts 21; Barnabas
1443in Acts 13:1). Grudem does not acknowledge that there was an “office” of
1444prophet. However, most Pentecostals and charismatics would disagree with
1445him. Paul says that apostles and prophets will continue to function TILL or
1446until the church is fully mature. Surely, all admit that the church has not yet
1447reached this point of maturity. Therefore, TILL this occurs, we need apostles
1448and prophets to equip the saints for the work of ministry.
1449And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some
1450evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of
1451the saints for the work of ministry . . .till we all come to the unity
1452of the faith. . .to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of
1453the fullness of Christ.
1454—Ephesians 4:11–13
1455John gives the report of all heaven rejoicing in Babylon’s destruction along
1456with the End Time apostles and prophets who were persecuted by Babylon:
145739
1458Overview of the Prophetic Ministry
1459“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets,
1460for God has avenged you on her!” Then a mighty angel took up a
1461stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus
1462with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and
1463shall not be found anymore. . . .And in her was found the blood of
1464prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.”
1465—Revelation 18:20–24
1466Grudem argues that the term prophet is more of a description of function
1467rather than an office or title.
1468The distinction between function and office would be reflected
1469in the greater and lesser degrees of prophetic ability, all ranged
1470along a wide spectrum in any given congregation. Prophets
1471would differ in ability among themselves, while they would also
1472see changes in the extent of their own prophetic abilities over
1473a period of time. Those with a high degree of prophetic ability
1474would prophesy more frequently, at greater length, with more
1475clear and forceful revelations, about more important subjects,
1476and over a wider range of topics.3
1477Grudem points out that some people, like Agabus in the Book of Acts,
1478ministered regularly in prophecy, and while we may not want to give him
1479the office of prophet, he had an acknowledged and reputable ministry in
1480prophecy. I would like to expand on this idea of a continuum and suggest
1481that there are levels of prophetic ministry that distinguish the different levels
1482or measures of prophetically gifted people.
14831. Simple prophecy
1484A simple prophecy is given when any believer speaks an impression that
1485God has brought to his or her mind. We all are to earnestly seek to prophesy
1486(1 Cor. 14:1, 39). All men and women, old and young alike, are to speak
1487forth words from God (Acts 2:17). Yet, not all are prophets (1 Cor. 12:29).
1488Simple prophecy is usually within the scope of encouragement, comfort, and
1489exhortation that is explained in 1 Corinthians 14:3, and it doesn’t include
1490correction, new direction, or predictive elements of prophetic words.
149140
1492Growing in the Prophetic
1493But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and
1494comfort to men. . . .For you can all prophesy one by one, that all
1495may learn and. . .be encouraged.
1496—1 Corinthians 14:3, 31
1497These are often simple impressions that God brings to mind. These include
1498words of knowledge (i.e., specific information regarding the physical, spiritual,
1499or emotional status of someone). Occasionally, this includes receiving
1500“visions” (mental pictures) or dreams. The person giving the prophecy speaks
1501(mostly using his or her own words) an idea that God had brought to mind.
1502These words are given in a small group setting or in the ministry line (not
1503publicly on the mic). Small groups can afford opportunity for more people
1504to experience and participate in this kind of prophesying. The inspirational
1505prophetic words are edifying when given by prophetic singers. It’s best to
1506limit the number of prophecies used in a public service so that its overuse
1507does not ruin its effectiveness.
15082. Prophetic gifting
1509Believers who regularly receive impressions, dreams, visions, or othertypes
1510of revelation have prophetic gifting. These can often be symbolic, being in
1511the form of parables and riddles. This group receives more regular prophetic
1512information than the first group yet lacks clarity in understanding what they
1513receive. I have met many people at levels 1 and 2; these groups account for
1514the vast majority of those who prophesy in charismatic-type churches.
15153. Prophetic ministry
1516Believers whose gifting has been recognized, nurtured, and commissioned
1517for regular ministry in the local church are in prophetic ministry. There is
1518still a symbolic element in what they receive, but through the process of
1519team ministry, it is possible to discern much of the interpretation and application
1520of their revelation. Those in prophetic ministry will receive words
1521and dreams on a regular basis and will have “open visions” on occasion
1522(i.e., angelic visitations, audible voice). They will sometimes receive detailed
1523information such as names, faces, dates, and future events. They occasionally
1524operate in other sign gifts (healing, miracles, deliverance). They may, in
1525private, expose unconfessed sin (2 Sam. 12:1–7). They give simple prophecies
1526yet also give direction and correction. These people are “gifted” in that
152741
1528Overview of the Prophetic Ministry
1529they receive an unusual amount of revelation, but they are still being trained
1530(have maturity of character and wisdom of God’s corporate purposes). They
1531may receive words of correction and direction that they should write and
1532submit to the leadership.
1533It is vital to distinguish between simple prophecy and prophecy that has
1534“authority.” Every believer is able to prophesy on a simple level. However, to
1535prophesy with authority is much “weightier” and should not be done publicly
1536without the confirmation of the leaders of the church, who are responsible
1537before God to oversee the church’s life.
15384. Prophetic office
1539Believers whose ministry is somewhat like the prophets of the Old Testament
1540occupy the office of the prophet. They give correction, direction, and
1541bring new emphasis in the church body. They provide direction and correction
1542to those in government in the church, marketplace, or political arenas.
1543They often minister in signs and wonders and are known to regularly speak
1544very accurate words from God as Samuel did.
1545Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his
1546words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba
1547knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the
1548Lord.
1549—1 Samuel 3:19–20
1550This doesn’t mean that prophets are 100 percent infallible, but their words
1551are to be taken seriously. Unlike the Old Testament ground rules for prophets,
1552where 100 percent accuracy was required upon the penalty of death, the New
1553Testament doesn’t require the same standard of its prophets. Their credibility
1554has been clearly established by their proven track record of accurate prophecies
1555along with the godly lifestyle and their love and honor of Scripture. They
1556predict future events with accuracy. They have a regular flow of divine revelation,
1557including open visions and prediction of natural events (i.e., weather
1558patterns, political developments). Their words may be confirmed through
1559natural signs (i.e., earthquakes, storms, droughts). Their words carry much
1560authority as they speak with much greater accuracy. They minister frequently
1561in sign gifts. They must have a proven ministry (that may take years). All who
156242
1563Growing in the Prophetic
1564exercise prophetic authority must be under authority. Some have experiences
1565that indicate they have been sovereignly chosen by God (miraculous birth,
1566angelic visitation, and the like). The stature necessary for the office of prophet
1567includes gifts (accurate revelation), fruit (mature character), and wisdom
1568(understanding of God’s corporate purpose and ways).
1569Operating at a high level of supernatural activity also exposes those so
1570gifted to a greater intensity of satanic assault, and ethical compromise can
1571leave them unprotected targets in a very dangerous realm. Prophets need
1572greater godliness, wisdom, faith, and nearness to Jesus to withstand the
1573added attack of the enemy that comes because of their gifting.
1574What I have described as different levels of prophetic ministry is simply
1575an attempt to provide labels for what most authors who have written on
1576prophetic ministry believe.
1577There are really no clear-cut standards for deciding if a person is at Level
1578I, II, III, or IV, or exactly what the distinctions are. These are not biblical
1579distinctions; they are simply categories that help us to communicate with
1580each other more effectively. It may become apparent that more levels are
1581necessary, but I believe that the initial groupings will provide some framework
1582for further research.
1583I know hundreds of people, many within the IHOP Missions Base family
1584and others outside of it, who minister in Level I, simple prophecy, and many
1585others who could be described by Level II—being used periodically to give a
1586strong prophetic word.
1587I have known a few Level III prophetic ministers throughout the years.
1588These are men and women who regularly receive dreams, visions, and supernatural
1589encounters as a part of their lifestyle. They function in this way as a
1590gift to the body of Christ. Some of these people may one day be recognized
1591as being in the office of a New Testament prophet.
1592What I have called “the Level IV prophetic office” represents a maturity
1593and power in prophetic ministry that parallel the Old Testament ministries
1594of men like Samuel and Elijah. In my mind, recognizing a person as a Level
1595IV New Testament prophet involves three issues:
159643
1597Overview of the Prophetic Ministry
1598The prophet has a level of supernatural giftedness that is
1599evidenced by regularly receiving divine information from the
1600Holy Spirit. The validity of this gift is proven over time.
1601The prophet has a godly character, which is an essential mark
1602of a true prophet. Jesus said that you would know true and false
1603prophets by their fruit (Matt. 7:15–20). The fruit Jesus refers to
1604includes the impact of their ministry as well as the fruit of the
1605Holy Spirit’s sanctifying work operating in their character. True
1606prophets consistently seek to walk in holiness with deep passion
1607for Jesus.
1608The prophet has the matured wisdom of God that has come
1609through experience and relationship with the Holy Spirit. This
1610wisdom enables the person to be an instrument of the prophetic
1611knowledge and power of God in a way that builds up the people
1612of God and the purpose of God. This wisdom is foundational
1613to using the prophetic in a manner that will build up the local
1614church.
1615I have seen the Holy Spirit work in these three areas with the prophetic
1616ministers I know. Some have grown more than others. However, I remain
1617reluctant to refer to people publicly as being in the office of a New Testament
1618prophet as measured by the maturity level of their gifting, character,
1619and wisdom. I would rather err on the side of caution. Prophetically gifted
1620people must be well proven in the context of long-term relationships in the
1621local church, regardless of their level.
1622I think the church does itself harm when it allows people to quickly identify
1623themselves as “apostles” or “prophets” simply because they consider
1624themselves to be so or because it looks good on a brochure. By doing this,
1625we trivialize the gifts and callings of God and hinder the emerging of
1626God’s genuine ministry gifts to the church. I feel that in the coming generation,
1627there will be many Level III prophetic ministries and more than a
1628few Level IV prophets. Pastors will need to learn how to nurture effectively
1629these prophetic ministries and incorporate them into the ministering life
1630of the church.
16311.
16322.
16333.
163444
1635Growing in the Prophetic
1636We believe that the prophecy at all four levels is progressively being
1637restored to the church in our day. We have witnessed the Lord dramatically
1638confirm major revelations in this way. Boundaries set by the Holy Spirit do
1639not quench the Holy Spirit—they are charismatically designated boundaries
1640on charismatic activity. A river without banks can be very destructive!
1641I firmly believe that the church will yet become the prophetic community
1642that Peter described in Acts 2. Lord, help us.
1643Benefits of Prophecy
1644To convince pastors and leaders that it is worth it to expend time, energy,
1645and patience to effectively administrate prophecy, they need to see its value
1646and benefits. God regularly provides insight into His plans in the marketplace,
1647the local church, or its individual members by foretelling the location
1648and timings of activities, buildings, or financial issues.
1649When we receive the Holy Spirit’s direction on locations of buildings and
1650the timing of major financial expenditures, we are far more confident in
1651going forward.
1652At critical junctures and times of decision making, the Lord has provided
1653direction and guidance on numerous occasions through prophetic revelation
1654or happenings from two, three, or more unsolicited and mutually independent
1655sources. Exact buildings, intersections, amounts of money, words that
1656would be spoken to us, people whom we would encounter, and exact timings
1657of several events have all been “seen” prophetically, confirmed, and then later
1658fulfilled in our actual experience.
1659One significant benefit of prophetic ministry in my ministry over the
1660years has been in receiving divine information about new leaders being sent
1661by God to help our team. When new leaders are sent and established by
1662prophetic words, then others have greater confidence that God is at work in
1663steering the church or the business. For example, four of our leaders were
1664specified by name through prophetic revelation without human knowledge
1665of their existence. Both first and last names were given to two of them. Other
1666leaders’ families, giftings, circumstances, and the like were seen beforehand
1667by revelation. This “prophetic backdrop” has provided a high level of
1668confidence in the divine ordaining of our being joined in relationship and
166945
1670Overview of the Prophetic Ministry
1671function rather than by ourselves or others. (Of course, many other things
1672besides prophecy contributed to the addition of every leader.)
1673He gives us warnings of coming attacks by foretelling people’s words and
1674actions, circumstances, or the nature and area of the attack. “To be forewarned
1675is to be forearmed.”
1676The Holy Spirit warns us of satanic attack. On several occasions the Lord
1677has given us prophetic warnings of direct and satanic assaults on our work.
1678This insight has helped us brace ourselves and keep our poise and perspective
1679in the battle. False corrections and the emotional drain they create have
1680been avoided. People whom the enemy has sent to disrupt our ministry have
1681been neutralized. A little “secret intelligence” helps in any war.
1682Prophetic words help us to sustain faith. Colossians 1:9 points out that we
1683are strengthened by the knowledge of God’s will:
1684We . . .do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be
1685filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual
1686understanding.
1687The prophetic ministry sustains hope in us that strengthens us to
1688know God’s will with much greater certainty. Because God’s will has been
1689prophetically revealed and confirmed throughout our history, we have been
1690strengthened in times of weakness, barrenness, heavenly silence, persecution,
1691and lack of anointing. There is an overriding and undergirding corporate
1692consciousness that God is with us despite the obstacles, difficulties, mistakes,
1693and setbacks we encounter. It has often stimulated our repentance, motivation,
1694sacrifice, sense of awe, and other like issues of the heart that are so
1695often intangible.
1696Attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding . . .
1697—Colossians 2:2
1698All Can Prophesy
1699In Numbers 11:16–29, we see two very different mind-sets toward the spirit
1700of prophesy. Joshua had a mind-set that was very different than that of
1701Moses (Num. 11:16–17, 24–29). Moses’s mind-set foreshadowed God’s intentions
1702in anointing many people in raising up a prophetic End Time church.
170346
1704Growing in the Prophetic
1705The Joshua mind-set was wrong and is seen when he complained to Moses
1706that others besides Moses were prophesying, such as Eldad and Medad, who
1707also missed the “anointed commissioning service.” Joshua had an exclusive
1708attitude, which wanted the Holy Spirit to rest only on Moses and not on any
1709other people. This attitude brings an undue exaltation to a select group of
1710highly anointed individuals.
1711The Moses mind-set understood the generosity of God, who ultimately
1712wants all of His people to operate in the Spirit. Moses’s insight foreshadowed
1713the revelation that God will anoint all of His people with prophecy as seen in
1714Joel 2:28–29. Instead of having the “man of the hour” mind-set, we see that
1715God desires to raise up a family of children who can all operate in the power
1716of the Spirit. Paul emphasized this when he declared that he wished that all
1717would prophesy (1 Cor. 14:5, 31). A new wineskin is emerging that is calling
1718forth friends who live as a prophetic community, where all can prophesy.
1719This is the paradigm in which the prophetic anointing will reach its highest
1720measure. A normative life of prayer and fasting with depth in the Word and
1721giving will provide the context for this.
1722God wants to change our identity from just being “gifted servants” into
1723being intimate friends with Him as Moses was. In the new covenant, God
1724gave the Holy Spirit to all so we could all receive revelation about what is on
1725His heart. He loves to share with us His thoughts and actions.
1726We must possess a tenacious pursuit for prophecy. We were all meant to
1727hear, see, and operate in the Spirit. It is our inheritance to prophesy. One
1728reason that people are weak in prophecy is because of lack of confidence that
1729they can receive from God. We can receive the small whisper from His heart.
1730The question that always arises is, “Was that God or not?” The risk of failure
1731cripples some with fear that they will be rejected if they make mistakes. The
1732enemy knows this, and so he strikes at our hearts with accusations to stir up
1733our fears.
1734God wants us to pursue the things of the Spirit. He wants us to ask for
1735more. The first step in doing this is found in believing that God really wants
1736to give more to you. We give expression to this desire through prayer. We ask
1737the Lord to open our eyes to “see.” For those of us who haven’t experienced
1738this yet, we must ask for spiritual sight (Eph. 1:17). What does this mean
1739exactly? It’s the realm of seeing in dreams, having visions both internal and
174047
1741Overview of the Prophetic Ministry
1742external, and also includes seeing angels and/or the demonic realm. We
1743must ask the Lord to open our ears to hear His voice. It includes the external
1744audible voice of the Lord or angelic realm, and the whisper or small faint
1745voice of the Holy Spirit. We must ask the Lord to allow us to feel His presence.
1746We may feel a variety of things such as external feelings of pressure on
1747our bodies (like an energy), either cold or burning sensations, weightiness
1748(which causes some to kneel), or a literal wind or breeze around us. Internally,
1749emotions may go from sobbing to laughing or deep inner awareness of
1750peace and solitude. The easiest and most basic way to stay “spiritually alert”
1751is to regularly ask the question, “Lord, what are You saying or doing? Show
1752me.” Faint impressions are the most common manifestation we experience.
1753However, if we don’t ask what God is saying or doing, then we will miss out
1754on many opportunities that help us grow in our ability to be sensitive to the
1755Holy Spirit.
1756Nurturing the Prophetic Ministry
1757People who long to grow in the prophetic must overcome their fear of judgment
1758and rejection. The leadership team can help this by nurturing and
1759making sure we judge fruit, not methods. We judge the prophetic by the
1760fruit it bears, not the methods that it operates with (Matt. 7:15–20). The fruit
1761we want in the prophetic people and those who receive from them is greater
1762passion for Jesus and holy living as we honor the written Word.
1763We must create a safe atmosphere of encouragement with much mercy
1764and patience for mistakes so that people can grow in confidence and stature
1765in their prophetic gifting without fearing rebuke and rejection. One of the
1766best places to grow in the prophetic is in more private small group settings.
1767Groups give mercy to those with teachable spirits. However, we must avoid
1768“unsanctified mercy” to those who refuse to cooperate with a stubborn spirit.
1769Let the people know that they must take risks to grow, even if sometimes
1770they make mistakes. Solomon taught us that the oxen brings great strength
1771and increase to the farm; however, he makes a mess in the barn. The increase
1772of strength is worth the mess that comes with it.
1773Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; but much increase comes
1774by the strength of an ox.
1775—Proverbs 14:4
177648
1777Growing in the Prophetic
1778Allow for the risk, and accept the inevitable of being humbled as a congregation
1779as you pursue more growth in the prophetic. Remember that the very
1780oxen that bring strength to the farm also bring a mess to the stable. Some
1781prefer to have a ministry that is like the clean stables, even if it means losing
1782the strength and increase that the prophetic ministry brings.
178349
17845
1785C h a p t e r
1786The Difference Between the Gift
1787of Prophecy and Being a Prophet
1788M y story with the prophetic really took off when I planted a new
1789church in Kansas City in December 1982. A few months after
1790the church was started, I met people who claimed to have divine
1791encounters with God. Further, they claimed that their encounters had major
1792implications for the direction of my life and ministry. They referred to unusual
1793claims. They were audible voices, angelic visitations, multiple “Technicolor”
1794visions, literal signs in the heavens, and trances, just to name a few. They were
1795dramatically confirmed. Little by little, my doubts and fears slowly gave way to
1796believe that Jesus, the head of the church, was truly involved in these prophetic
1797events. This was the beginning of my personal journey in learning the principles
1798of administrating prophetic revelation. Prophecy can generate faith and
1799clarity, but admittedly it can also cause much confusion, bring condemnation,
1800and be counterproductive if it is not properly administrated. Over the next
1801sixteen yearsthat I pastored this church before the IHOP Missions Base started,
1802we had many victories, along with some defeats and even painful disappointments.
1803Some of the most prominent prophetic vessels from those early days
1804caused some pain and confusion for a short season. One of the main issues
1805that I had to settle was what the Scripture said about the difference between
1806Old Testament prophets and New Testament prophets and then to reconcile
180750
1808Growing in the Prophetic
1809how the spirit of prophecy was available to everyone without viewing them as
1810being a prophet.
1811When people first hear of someone being called a prophet, they might
1812think of a man with wild hair and fiery eyes crying out against sin and
1813calling fire down from heaven. Others might think of someone pronouncing
1814judgment and doom or predicting the end of the world. Though the image
1815may be a little distorted, this is the picture many people have in their minds
1816of prophets as they appear in the Old Testament. The character of New
1817Testament prophets and prophecy is, however, somewhat different from that
1818of the Old Testament. Some people have difficulty with the idea of modernday
1819prophets and prophecy because they are looking at them through Old
1820Testament paradigm.
1821We live in a new era in our relationship with God under the new covenant.
1822There are several key differences between Old Testament prophets
1823and prophetic ministry in the New Testament. Every believer is called to
1824earnestly desire to prophesy (1 Cor. 14:1). Luke describes the young church
1825in Antioch as having prophets in it (Acts 13:1).
1826New Testament Prophecy
1827In Old Testament times, there were usually only a few prophets in the whole
1828earth at any one time. Yes, there were companies of prophets that are referred
1829to occasionally. We do not have much detail about them. However, it is clear
1830that the well-known Old Testament prophetic ministries usually operated
1831alone or nearly alone. Sometimes prophets were contemporaries, like Haggai
1832and Zechariah, or Ezekiel and Daniel, but usually they functioned as one
1833of the lone mouthpieces of God in their generation. No prophet exemplifies
1834this more than Elijah, who stood alone against King Ahab, the prophets
1835of Baal, and the sins of rebellious Israel. John the Baptist fits that mold as
1836well—the man of God coming out of the wilderness to proclaim repentance
1837in preparing the way of the Lord.
1838In the New Testament, there may have been several prophets in every city
1839where the church was established instead of merely a few real prophets (Level
1840IV) for the whole world as in the Old Testament times. With the outpouring
1841of the Spirit, the gift of prophecy was widely dispersed throughout the
1842universal community of God’s people. In the Old Testament, there were few
184351
1844The Difference Between the Gift of Prophecy and Being a Prophet
1845prophets relative to the number of God’s people. The fate of the whole nation
1846could literally depend upon the accuracy of one prophet’s revelation.
1847In the Old Testament there was “prophetic concentration,” and in the
1848New Testament there was “prophetic distribution.” The fate of the church
1849would never depend on the accuracy of one prophet. With potentially several
1850or even a number of prophets in each geographic location, the same kind
1851of accuracy of revelation is not needed because of the safeguard of other
1852prophets’ mandate to judge each other’s words and even Spirit-anointed
1853believers’ ability to test, discern, confirm, or deny a claim of revelation
1854(1 Cor. 14:29; 1 John 2:27).
1855The gift of prophecy, the prophetic ministry, and the word of the Lord are
1856diffused and distributed throughout the entire body of Christ. Today, there
1857are probably people with prophetic giftings residing in most nations of the
1858earth. They may be immature, but they are probably present.
1859Under the new covenant we don’t usually see prophets who live by themselves
1860in the wilderness. The prophetic ministry is a vital part of the body of
1861Christ in a city. Prophetic people are mandated by Scripture to be involved
1862in the local church, not separated from it. Prophetic people serve within
1863the church as one of the “joints that supply” the other parts of the church,
1864enabling it to be the prophetic voice in the earth (Eph. 4:16).
1865In the New Testament, the prophetic ministry is directed less to national
1866leaders and more to the church. In the Old Testament, prophets often—
1867though not always—warned of coming judgment on the king and/or the
1868nation and then restoration after they repented. Old Testament prophets
1869focused on speaking to the nation’s leaders. In the New Testament, some
1870prophetic ministries have access to national leaders whereas most are called
1871to focus on the body of Christ in their region.
1872There is another major difference between Old and New Testament
1873prophets. Because Old Testament prophets received direct and unmistakable
1874revelation, they were 100 percent accurate. They did not need to have the
1875others “discern” the prophetic word they gave. The only way they missed it
1876was by blatantly changing what God had said or deliberately making up a
1877false prophecy. Consequently, the Old Testament judgment on false prophets
1878was to stone them to death.
187952
1880Growing in the Prophetic
1881But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name,
1882which I have not commanded him to speak . . .that prophet shall
1883die. And if you say in your heart, “How shall we know the word
1884which the Lord has not spoken?”—when a prophet speaks in the
1885name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass,
1886that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken.
1887—Deuteronomy 18:20–22
1888The Old Testament requirement for prophets was 100 percent accuracy.
1889This was required on the penalty of death. These prophets spoke with a clear
1890and unmistakable “Thus saith the Lord!” They claimed repeatedly that their
1891very words were the words that God had given them to deliver.
1892I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.
1893—Exodus 4:12
1894Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
1895—Jeremiah 1:9
1896The New Testament doesn’t require the same standard of its prophets who
1897prophesy by faith and often from subtle impressions of the Holy Spirit. The
1898safeguard of New Testament prophecy is given in the mandate to judge each
1899other’s words. In the New Testament, Paul taught us specifically to “let two
1900or three prophets speak, and let the others judge” (1 Cor. 14:29, emphasis
1901added). The Revised Standard Version translates the passage this way: “. . .let
1902the others weigh what is said.”
1903We don’t stone people if they miss it once, nor do we believe everything
1904they say, even if they are accurate 99 percent of the time. We still judge their
1905prophecies. Paul gives similar instructions to the church in Thessalonica,
1906telling them to not despise prophecies but to test them:
1907Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good.
1908—1 Thessalonians 5:20–21
1909This passage implies that some prophetic utterances will contain a
1910measure of error—“Test all things; hold fast what is good” was written in
1911reference to prophetic utterances. Nowhere in the New Testament is there
191253
1913The Difference Between the Gift of Prophecy and Being a Prophet
1914the suggestion that a Christian should be executed, excommunicated, or
1915even branded a “false prophet” for simply relaying an inaccurate prophecy,
1916for such a word should be weeded out in the process of the church’s proper
1917response to prophecy.
1918We do not find in the Old Testament any instance in which the prophecy
1919of a true prophet was “discerned” by other prophets so that the good might
1920be sorted from the bad, the accurate from the inaccurate. Why? Because
1921God was thought to be the speaker of all that a prophet spoke in His name,
1922it was unthinkable that a true prophet should deliver some oracle that was a
1923mixture of accurate and inaccurate information. There was no middle
1924ground. They were true prophets who spoke the very word of God and
1925should be obeyed as such, or they were false prophets and should be put
1926to death.1
1927Today, we are commanded to “judge all prophecy” because in the New
1928Testament we prophesy by faith often only having a subtle impression of
1929the Holy Spirit, thus lacking full clarity. First Corinthians 13:9 says, “For we
1930know in part and we prophesy in part.”
1931In the Old Testament, prophets were the representatives of the Lord to the
1932king—who had the power to punish them if they falsely prophesied. There
1933was never a question about accurately discerning the genuine word from
1934God. For the prophet, it was only a matter of whether he had the courage to
1935deliver it.
1936The essence of Old Testament prophetic ministry was limited to those who
1937received direct revelation from God. In the New Testament, we prophesy by
1938faith, which involves speaking out the subtle impressions that the Holy Spirit
1939gives us. We learn to prophesy according to the measure of our faith, thus we
1940can mix up God’s ideas with our words and thoughts. For as Romans 12:6
1941says, “Let us prophesy in proportion to our faith.”
1942The Old Testament prophets did not struggle in their attempt to discern
1943subtle impressions of the Spirit from their own thoughts. The message was
1944clear and unmistakable. They did not need to be judged and discerned,
1945because they only spoke as they received an open vision rather than a
1946subtle impression.
1947Can you imagine Noah saying, “I feel the Lord is impressing upon my
1948heart that He’s going to destroy the world with a flood and that I should
194954
1950Growing in the Prophetic
1951consider building an ark.” Stepping out in faith for them was not a matter
1952of proclaiming with confidence what they only remotely sensed. It was
1953repeating what God clearly said regardless of the consequences.
1954It is difficult for some to accept the idea of prophesying by faith according
1955to the subtle impressions of the Holy Spirit with the chance of missing it
1956and giving a wrong prophetic word. The reason, of course, is that they have
1957failed to understand the transition in prophetic ministry. While they clearly
1958see other aspects of the Old Testament changing under the new covenant,
1959their understanding of prophetic ministry is still based on an Old Testament
1960model.
1961Many prophetic people I know express their prophetic impressions by
1962asking questions of the person they are ministering to. For example, when
1963they feel impressed by the Spirit that the person they are talking to may have
1964a specific sickness, it is OK to ask them if they have the illness. The gifts of
1965the Spirit can operate in the course of natural dialogue. I call it “being supernaturally
1966natural.” We don’t have to roll our eyes back, speak in King James
1967English, raise our voice like a Pentecostal preacher, and end with “saith the
1968Lord.” If we tone it down and even slow it, many will receive us more easily.
1969In other words, it will still work! They are not more impressed or receptive
1970to a “dialed up” style of delivery.
1971The Holy Spirit gives us prophetic impressions not so that we can be
1972known as a prophet, but in order to help other people. Often if a prophetic
1973person asks someone about his illness because of prophetic impression
1974from the Holy Spirit, and the person acknowledges the illness, there is
1975still the temptation for the prophet to add the comment: “Well, the Lord
1976told me that . . . ” Sometimes we are so desperate to make sure that people
1977know we are special because we receive impressions from the Holy Spirit.
1978It is better to not be so focused on getting the attention for receiving from
1979the Spirit and be content just to see people get blessed and be thankful to
1980the Lord. There’s not as much personal glory associated with that more
1981dialed-down, low-key ministry style, but then we don’t stone prophetic
1982people who make mistakes, either. Prophetic people need to understand
1983that this is not about personal recognition and glory. The gift is diffused
1984throughout the body of Christ in order that Jesus is exalted and the people
1985are helped.
198655
1987The Difference Between the Gift of Prophecy and Being a Prophet
1988The “spiritual climates” surrounding Pentecostal/charismatic movements
1989have often wittingly or unwittingly fostered an unhealthy pressure on people
1990who wanted to be close and useful to God to directly act and speak on God’s
1991behalf with great assurance. When such bold activity is proven inaccurate,
1992it’s hard for people to admit, “It wasn’t God.” It’s much more convenient to
1993“sweep” the mess under their psychological and social “rugs”; however, in
1994the long run, the integrity of their faith and relationships is undermined,
1995and their intimacy with Jesus suffers tremendously.
1996As Christians launch out and learn to prophesy according to the measure
1997of their faith, they are bound to get their “signals crossed” more than once
1998by “going beyond their measure” and speaking out of their own mind or
1999spirit. This is due to the inevitable immaturity through which we must all
2000learn. This realization takes some of the pressure out of prophesying and
2001helps people grow in their gifting in a loving atmosphere and receive correction
2002and adjustment without totally “wiping them out.” Those who regularly
2003give inaccurate “prophecies” must not speak so often or so specifically. They
2004should stay within the boundaries of simple prophecy.
2005Because the church has not generally been good at or wise in our administration
2006of the prophetic, many with prophetic anointings have suffered in
2007their development in personality and gifting.
2008In the atmosphere of being generous to one another, we must not neglect
2009to discern and judge false prophets (Matt. 7:15–16). Yes, there are evil
2010deceivers—false prophets—who creep into Christian congregations and
2011maliciously entice and deceive unsuspecting and undiscerning believers
2012through false prophecy. These should be purged from the church if they will
2013not repent.
2014Priests and Prophets
2015Under the New Covenant
2016God has called His church to function as a kingdom of priests, who all have
2017direct access to God (Heb. 4:16; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 1:5). In the new covenant,
2018each believer has the ability to hear directly from God through the
2019indwelling Holy Spirit:
202056
2021Growing in the Prophetic
2022I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel. . . .I will put
2023My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts. . .for they all
2024shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,
2025says the Lord.
2026—Jeremiah 31:31–34
2027In the old covenant, priestly and prophetic ministries were reserved for
2028a select few. They were put to death for failure to function in a proper way.
2029Both prophets and priests were put to death for functioning presumptuously
2030(Deut. 18:18–22; Lev. 10:1–3).
2031The new covenant is different. Peter emphasized that all our sons and
2032daughters, old and young, would prophesy because of the outpouring of the
2033Spirit (Acts 2:17–18). Instead of a limited few, everyone is a priest, and the
2034spirit of prophecy is diffused throughout the entire body of Christ. Instead
2035of only audible-voice-of-God revelations and open visions, much prophetic
2036ministry is imparted by impressions of the Holy Spirit on our hearts. Instead
2037of stoning prophets, we are instructed to judge and discern that which they
2038speak to know if it is from God.
2039Over the fifteen hundred years that followed after the Day of Pentecost,
2040many reverted back to the Old Testament understanding of the priesthood
2041by elevating it to include only full-time clergy. Martin Luther, an Augustinian
2042monk and a priest, was troubled by this Old Testament understanding
2043of the priesthood. The priests were few and exclusive. Luther taught the
2044doctrine that we know today as the priesthood of the believer. This New
2045Testament understanding of priesthood is an accepted foundation of evangelical
2046theology, but in his day it was radical enough to get him condemned
2047to death.
2048Luther also taught the doctrine of private judgment, which is the principle
2049that every person can hear God and interpret the Scriptures for himself.
2050That was another radical idea for the sixteenth century. There are parallels
2051in Luther’s emphasis on the priesthood of all believers to the New Testament
2052understanding of prophetic ministry. Every Christian can hear from God,
2053exercise discernment, and be led by the Holy Spirit. Ministry that was exclusive
2054in the Old Testament (prophet and priest) is now diffused and common
2055in the New.
2056The New Testament doctrines of the priesthood of all believers and of
205757
2058The Difference Between the Gift of Prophecy and Being a Prophet
2059private judgment (hearing God for oneself) open the door for much more
2060Holy Spirit activity in the church. God’s plan all along has been to have a
2061kingdom of priests made up of His very own sons and daughters who can all
2062prophesy. Imagine hundreds of millions of born-again believers worldwide
2063who can prophesy by the power of the indwelling Spirit. With so many more
2064people prophesying, more fruitfulness comes, along with more opportunities
2065for error and mistakes. Though it can sometimes be messy, unpredictable,
2066and hard to control, the glorious doctrine of the priesthood of all believers is
2067here to stay. No evangelical will deny this. All of us agree that this is a truth
2068worth defending.
2069New Testament prophetic ministry is an extension of this idea that we are
2070all priests, and, therefore, we can all hear from God. The focus of most prophesying
2071is on edification, exhortation, and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3). In fact, everyone
2072who is born again is able to prophesy on this level (what I have referred to as
2073Level I prophecy). This is often referred to as inspirational prophecy or simple
2074prophecy.
2075However, prophetic ministry in the church is difficult for some fundamentalists
2076and conservative evangelicals because they embrace an Old Testament
2077understanding of the prophetic, in which only a few receive direct revelation
2078that is 100 percent accurate—otherwise, they are put to death.
2079Although New Testament prophecy does at times come by way of dreams,
2080visions, and the audible voice of God, much prophetic revelation can be
2081more subtle. More common forms of revelation are impressions by the Holy
2082Spirit—the still small voice, so to speak—as opposed to the always unmistakable,
2083audible voice of God.
2084Packaging Prophetic Ministry
2085The spirit of prophecy operates in different packages because there are so
2086many different personalities in the body of Christ. Usually people have no
2087problem with the woman in the prayer group who senses the Holy Spirit is
2088impressing her heart to pray a particular burden. This is in a package that
2089many people understand and are comfortable with. However, if she speaks
2090up during the Sunday morning service, interspersed with “Thus saith the
2091Lord,” she could get a significantly different response. If the same message
2092with the very same words are used in a different setting, she may be received
209358
2094Growing in the Prophetic
2095in a completely different way. Sometimes we are more concerned about the
2096package and not concerned enough with the message.
2097It bothers me when prophetic people preface everything with “Thus
2098saith the Lord.” They may say this because they have heard others do it.
2099Or perhaps it is an attempt to be more dramatic or to increase the chance
2100of being heard. Sometimes it may come from an Old Testament understanding
2101of the prophetic. Whatever the case, it is far easier to receive
2102people who dial down the drama and mysticism when they proclaim what
2103God has given them.
2104There are many different levels in which one may receive revelation in
2105the body of Christ, from subtle impressions to audible voices to angelic
2106visitations. Therefore, it is better if the one speaking is clearer about what
2107he or she has received. Subtle impressions don’t need to be punctuated in
2108the same way as an open vision. A person may eventually find himself
2109sounding like the boy who cried, “Wolf!” when he says, “But I did hear
2110something this time. Thus saith the Lord—really!” And all the people
2111yawn.
2112Temptation Comes With Power
2113If you could heal blind eyes in just one out of ten attempts, you would gather
2114crowds of hundreds of thousands of people anywhere in the world on twentyfour-hour
2115notice. If you could heal ten out of ten as Jesus did, you would be
2116the most powerful person in the nation. Remember, they tried to make Jesus
2117king because He healed the sick and multiplied the fish and the loaves. The
2118release of supernatural ministry with overt demonstrations of power puts a
2119lot of attention on the people God uses.
2120Because genuine miracles are so unique, when they are openly displayed,
2121the nations will come to receive them. The rich, famous, and powerful people
2122on Earth will do just about anything to be a part of genuine miracles from
2123God. There are a lot of millionaires in the world, but how many people can
2124raise the dead as the prophet Elijah did? A prophet of the stature similar to
2125those in the Old Testament would face incredible temptations because so
2126many rich and powerful people would seek their favor.
2127This is why it is important for those with a gift of prophecy to remain
212859
2129The Difference Between the Gift of Prophecy and Being a Prophet
2130accountable to a body of believers who are mature and sensitive toward that
2131gift and the unique temptations and attacks that come with it. Humility and
2132teachability are key attributes prophetic people must have in order to be
2133continuously in a place where all the glory and honor is directed to God. For
2134it is God who extends them the grace to operate in His power.
2135
213661
21376
2138C h a p t e r
2139Women Operating in
2140Prophetic Ministry
2141T he ministry of women in the church is a hotly debated topic in
2142many circles today. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of the church
2143throughout history has been diminished because the ministry of
2144women has been so limited. The intransigent and sometimes chauvinistic
2145position of some in the church is a result of long-held stereotypes about
2146women, dysfunctional male-female relationships, and a truncated view of
2147early church history.
2148My purpose here is neither to put forth a comprehensive theological
2149framework for women in ministry nor to attempt an exegesis of the New
2150Testament texts that relate to the role of women in the church.
2151My purpose is to cite some examples from church history and how women
2152function in prophetic ministry at the IHOP Missions Base.
2153The church in the End Times will flourish as both men and women receive
2154powerful dreams and visions that bring others to deep relationships with
2155Jesus. In Acts 2:17–18, we can plainly see that God intends to pour out His
2156Spirit on His sons and daughters, and they shall prophesy. We will never
2157be fully effective if one-half of God’s army is kept out of the battle against
2158Satan’s onslaught. We need men and women both to take their place boldly
2159before God’s throne and function together with confidence and security in
216062
2161Growing in the Prophetic
2162the body of Christ. Together we can experience the passionate love of God
2163for us and then use our authority in Jesus to plunder the kingdom of darkness
2164in our generation.
2165Women Throughout Church History
2166The significant involvement of women in the ministry of Jesus is well documented.
2167Women were witnesses of His crucifixion and resurrection when
2168males were conspicuously absent. Luke declares that the women who had
2169followed Jesus from Galilee still followed along as Christ was carried to the
2170tomb (Luke 23:27–31). Matthew tells how they kept watch over the sepulcher
2171after the men had fled (Matt. 27:61). John records that the group of people
2172immediately beneath the cross consisted of three women and one man (John
217319:25–27). Though it broke all kinds of social and religious traditions, Jesus
2174made a point to include women in His ministry.
2175It is little wonder that the prominence of women continued in the development
2176of the early church. A number of women served as leaders in the
2177house churches that were a part of the larger church in the city of Rome.
2178Some of those mentioned are Priscilla, Chloe, Lydia, Apphia, Nympha, the
2179mother of John Mark, and possibly the “elect lady” of John’s second epistle.
2180Paul mentions Phoebe and refers to her as “a servant [literally, ‘deaconess’]
2181of the church in Cenchrea” (Rom. 16:1).
2182Paul also talks about Junia, referring to her as being “outstanding among
2183the apostles” (v. 7, nas). Some have debated the exact meaning of this verse.
2184Until the Middle Ages, the identity of Junia as a female apostle was unquestioned.
2185Later translators attempted to change the gender by changing the
2186name to Junias.1
2187Women functioned as prophetic ministers. Philip, who was as one of the
2188seven men appointed to the administration of feeding the poor (Acts 6),
2189was head of the church in Caesarea. He had four virgin daughters who were
2190recognized as prophetesses in the church (Acts 21:8–9). Some believe that
2191these prophetesses became the standard and model for prophetic ministers
2192in the early church.
2193When Pope Miltiades proclaimed that two female followers of Montanus
2194were heretics, he contrasted them with Philip’s daughters. Miltiades explained
2195that their problem was not that they were women prophets (for this is what
219663
2197Women Operating in Prophetic Ministry
2198Philip’s daughters were), but rather that they were false prophets. Eusebius
2199mentions one Quadratus, a man famous in the second century, who “shared
2200with the daughters of Philip the distinction of a prophetic gift.”2
2201The church quickly spread from its birthplace in Jerusalem into areas
2202where the predominant culture was pagan, Greco-Roman, or both. In these
2203settings, women commonly held high positions and influence in social,
2204political, and religious circles. The idea of women having a leading influence
2205in the church was therefore not thought of in negative terms.
2206About a.d. 112, the Roman governor Pliny the Younger wrote about his
2207efforts to deal with the Christians in Bithynia. He found it necessary to
2208interrogate the leaders of the church, two slave women called ministrae, or
2209deaconesses.3
2210There are countless examples of women who served the church with
2211complete and tireless devotion or who, without flinching, endured terrible
2212tortures and martyrdom. A significant step in the process of Christianity’s
2213gaining political and social dominance in Rome was the large number of
2214female converts among the upper class.
2215Men were less likely to become Christians because doing so would cause
2216them to lose their status in society. The inordinate number of upper-class
2217women is perhaps the reason that Celestas, bishop of Rome in a.d. 220,
2218attempted to give women of the senatorial class an ecclesiastical sanction to
2219marry slaves of freedmen.
2220These highborn women seized the opportunity to become students of the
2221Word. One of these was a fourth-century woman named Marcella. The great
2222scholar Jerome, who translated the Bible into Latin (known as the Vulgate),
2223did not hesitate to refer church leaders to Marcella for help in solving their
2224hermeneutical problems.4
2225Women enjoyed great freedom of expression in the earliest days of the
2226church. However, because various kinds of problems arose, the original
2227freedom and liberty afforded them in the church’s ministry were replaced
2228by a more precisely defined code of conduct that was reactionary in nature.
2229With each new and more detailed explanation of what was and was not
2230acceptable, the role of women was restricted and diminished.5
2231Nevertheless, even through the Middle Ages there were women who were
2232outstanding examples of spirituality and dedication. The Waldensians, a
223364
2234Growing in the Prophetic
2235group beginning in the twelfth century that could be described as Protestants
2236four hundred years before the Reformation, were charged with, among
2237other things, allowing women to preach. Catherine of Siena (1347–1380) was
2238a resolute servant to the poor, a doctor of the church, and a lover of God
2239whose theology and piety were revered even by the Reformers.
2240One summer when Joan of Arc was about thirteen, she suddenly saw a
2241bright light and heard voices while working in the fields. The voices, which
2242Joan thought were either angels or saints, continued after that day, rode over
2243three hundred miles across enemy territory to tell the dauphin Charles of
2244her plans.
2245When Joan entered the large hall, the dauphin had disguised himself as
2246one of those in the crowd. Joan walked right up to him and addressed him.
2247“I am not the dauphin,” Charles replied.
2248Joan responded, “In God’s name, gentle sire, you are.”
2249Then she proceeded to reveal to him his private thoughts. The nineteenyear-old
2250girl led the French forces and saved France, and Charles was restored
2251to the throne. Mark Twain studied the life of Joan of Arc for twelve years and
2252concluded that her life was “the most noble life that was ever born into this
2253world save only One.”6
2254Though it is impossible to discern between legend, facts, and spiritual
2255anointing, Joan’s prophetic experiences seem somewhat similar to others I
2256know who have been called to the prophetic ministry.
2257Women have also played a significant role in the spread and development
2258of Protestantism, particularly in the area of foreign missions. In
2259the twentieth century, women began to emerge in ministry and leadership
2260roles, first in the holiness churches and then with the Pentecostals.
2261The examples are numerous, the two most notable being Aimee Semple
2262McPherson, the founder of the International Church of the Foursquare
2263Gospel, and Kathryn Kuhlman.
2264David Yonggi Cho has released women into ministry and leadership positions
2265in the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, and with their
2266help has built the world’s largest church with more than three quarters of a
2267million members.
226865
2269Women Operating in Prophetic Ministry
2270Women’s Ministry at the IHOP Missions Base
2271We have had a number of women in our midst who have made profound,
2272accurate, and edifying contributions to our prophetic ministry. While much
2273of this has been behind-the-scenes service to our leadership team, we are
2274enthusiastic about women moving in the prophetic arena. The limits and
2275extent of a woman’s function on the prophetic team are the same as those of
2276a man. We do not give prophetic people a prominent public platform—men
2277or women.
2278We have a growing number of women who are anointed to speak the
2279Word publicly. They speak at our conferences, church services, and in our
2280full-time Bible school as well as our music academy.
2281Our prophetic network consists of about two hundred fifty people who
2282regularly receive dreams, visions, and prophetic words from the Lord. The
2283oversight of this network is provided by our Prophetic Council. This council
2284is made up of both men and women who help nurture the people in the
2285network in their prophetic gifting as well as listening to their prophetic revelation
2286to help us discern the interpretation and application. This prophetic
2287network is designed to provide encouragement, training, and helpful correction
2288to those who regularly receive prophetic information from God.
2289Stereotypical Women
2290Stereotypes, prejudices, and unfair biases are commonly directed against
2291women. This mind-set greatly hinders the work of God. Some of these deeply
2292imbedded stereotypes in male-dominated cultures exist in the church as
2293well. We need to clearly and boldly identify these false stereotypes so that
2294we can renounce them.
2295However, more and more male leaders in the church can see the great
2296impact that women are having in the kingdom of God. We highly esteem the
2297ministry of a mother in the home. However, we believe that women are also
2298called to function in public ministry outside their home.
2299There are also stereotypes about women and their psychological makeup.
2300One common stereotype is that they are very intuitive but don’t have the
2301proper restraint to control the emotional side of their nature. I don’t think
2302this is a fair stereotype. I do believe that some women can be described that
230366
2304Growing in the Prophetic
2305way, but some men are like that as well. I think it is too generalized a stereotype
2306and should not be used to hinder women from ministry.
2307Both men and women are intuitive and emotional, just as both are intelligent
2308and objective. Both can be controlling and manipulative as well as
2309humble and passionate in their love for Jesus.
2310Dysfunctional relational skills among men and women cause problems in
2311society and in the church. Some men have unfounded fears about women in
2312ministry; for example, that women will lose their femininity if they lead and
2313that women are more prone to deception (both of which are untrue). So they
2314are afraid to allow women to prophesy or to preach. The problem is exacerbated
2315by some of the radical feminist movements. Consequently, some men
2316resist valid biblical expressions of women in ministry.
2317I believe that if men had honored women in the church throughout
2318history, some of the radical feminist movement that we see in our society
2319today might have been diffused. If the church had been leading the way by
2320honoring women in the church, it might have had an impact on the entire
2321society now. If there had been more women prominent in society because of
2322the strength of affirmation by men in the church, the negative effects of the
2323radical feminist movement could have been minimized.
2324This is one practical way that the church functions as a prophetic standard
2325bearer to society—by honoring both women and children in a way befitting
2326the grace of God (Mal. 4:6; 1 Pet. 3:7).
2327The Jezebel Spirit
2328One of the most misunderstood issues relating to prophetic women in the
2329church is the idea of a “Jezebel spirit,” particularly when the term is defined
2330as a controlling woman who dominates men. “Jezebel spirit” is not actually
2331a biblical term. However, there is undeniably a powerfully negative Jezebeltype
2332spirit or attitude in which some are clearly immersed.
2333To some people, whenever a woman stands up to a male leader, she is
2334referred to as having a “Jezebel spirit.” Some women definitely have a domineering
2335spirit; however, some men also have it. Sometimes these women are
2336wounded and even lack relational skills. Men also get wounded and also
2337need improvement in their social skills. However, few men are referred to as
2338“being a Jezebel.”
233967
2340Women Operating in Prophetic Ministry
2341There are many women today in the church with legitimate leadership gifts
2342who are being falsely labeled as a “Jezebel” simply because they clash with
2343insecure male leaders who have a controlling personality. Women should not
2344allow insecure men to dominate and hinder their place of service in God’s
2345kingdom. Too many women are being hindered by unrighteous judgments
2346against them because they simply spoke up and challenged a man who had a
2347wrong spirit. This type of action does not make a woman a Jezebel.
2348It trips a wire in my own soul when I hear a woman quickly written off
2349as a Jezebel. It can be a crushing emotional blow to a woman. It is usually
2350an unfair judgment that can unjustly cause her to repress or neglect her
2351ministry gift for years.
2352I believe that both domineering women and dominating men need to be
2353confronted and offered a process of healing. We do not need to label either
2354one of them as a “Jezebel.” Some male leaders see a domineering man and
2355wink at the problem, saying, “Well, you know he has such a strong personality,
2356and that’s just the way he is.” But when a woman acts in the exact
2357way, unjust criticisms are often brought against her. The prejudice toward
2358women is often due to dysfunctional relational skills that exist with both
2359men and women. In these negative situations, the pastors are sometimes
2360called controlling by the women, and the women are sometimes called Jezebels
2361by the pastors. This is all ridiculous. Both the men and the women need
2362to be healed.
2363Jezebel—Seduction to Immorality
2364I believe the idea of a Jezebel-type spirit does involve an element of domination
2365and control. Between Queen Jezebel and King Ahab, Jezebel clearly
2366seemed to be the more dominant (1 Kings 18). However, Jesus defined a
2367Jezebel-type spirit very specifically in terms other than domination:
2368You allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to
2369teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality.
2370—Revelation 2:20
2371A Jezebel-type spirit, then, can be described as one who leads the people
2372of God to allow and embrace immorality. It primarily refers to someone with
2373a seducing spirit. When we talk about being seduced these days, we tend to
237468
2375Growing in the Prophetic
2376think of it as something women do to men. But there are male leaders in the
2377body of Christ today who regularly seduce women. They can have a strong
2378sensual or emotional impact on women. Men are as skilled in seduction as
2379women are. Consequently, many men can be likened to Jezebel.
2380I think the most seductive Jezebel-type spirit in the world today is found in
2381certain aspects of the media industry, which is very effective in desensitizing
2382and beguiling the nations to commit acts of immorality. They have promoted
2383the prostitution racket and the X-rated—and worse—film industry.
2384These certain members of the entertainment industry are the ones who
2385perpetuate the stereotype of the woman as the seductress, but it is really
2386their love of money that pours the fuel on the fire of seduction in our society.
2387They, more than anyone else, have the characteristics of Jezebel.
2388We need to esteem and make room for women with leadership gifts in the
2389church. Some pastors need to be less defensive and insecure in their leadership
2390style.
239169
23927
2393C h a p t e r
2394Seven Dimensions of
2395the Prophetic Church
2396B eing prophetic is not simply just something that charismatics do.
2397It is essential to the very nature and mission of the entire body of
2398Christ on Earth. Those involved in prophetic ministry need to view
2399what they do in the larger context of all the other dimensions of the church’s
2400calling as a prophetic servant community. The most common idea of the
2401prophetic refers to those who function in the gift of prophecy. Every believer
2402is called to earnestly desire to prophesy (1 Cor. 14:1). The New Testament
2403church is to function as a prophetic servant community not only to proclaim
2404the fulfillment of End Time events or to speak forth revelatory messages, but
2405to do so in a much broader and multidimensional way.
2406People who receive dreams and visions do not comprise the prophetic
2407ministry in its entirety, but are really only one expression of a community
2408that is prophetic in at least seven dimensions. Some of these seven prophetic
2409expressions overlap in the same way that some of the gifts of the Spirit do.
2410The list of the nine gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7–11) is simply a description of
2411how the person of the Holy Spirit moves through individuals in the church.
2412Sometimes it is hard to categorize and define certain manifestations. Was
2413it a word of wisdom, a prophecy, or the discerning of spirits? In the same
2414way, these seven dimensions of the church as a prophetic servant community
241570
2416Growing in the Prophetic
2417may overlap in some aspects. The point is that prophetic ministry is not just
2418something the church does, but something it is by its very nature.
24191. The revelation of the testimony of God’s heart
2420An angel told the apostle John that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit
2421of prophecy (Rev. 19:10). The spirit or the purpose of prophecy is to reveal
2422Jesus’s testimony of what He has done and what is currently on His heart.
2423The revelation of how He feels and what is burning on His heart is a foundational
2424aspect of His testimony. In other words, prophetic ministry flows
2425out of experiencing Jesus’s heart. It is a ministry that feels and reveals God’s
2426heart. It has to do with experiencing a measure of different aspects of His
2427heart ranging from His compassion, zeal, grief, affection, or even the joy that
2428is in His heart. We prophesy each time we make known His passionate heart.
2429Prophets in the Old Testament often prefaced their message by declaring,
2430“The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw” (Hab. 1:1, emphasis added).
2431The word burden implies the emotional issues that weigh heavy on God’s
2432heart. So then, one prophetic dimension of the church’s ministry is to
2433proclaim and call to remembrance the things that burn on Jesus’s heart.
2434That includes His burning affection for His people. Of course, our affection
2435for Jesus is the result of an ever-increasing revelation of His passion for us
2436(1 John 4:19). John the Baptist expressed the testimony of Jesus’s heart in a
2437very special way. Jesus declared John the Baptist to be the greatest man born
2438of a woman (Matt. 11:11). John described himself in his forerunner ministry
2439as a “friend of the bridegroom” (John 3:29).
2440John went before Jesus’s first coming to prepare a people to receive Him as
2441the heavenly Bridegroom. As prophetic forerunners, we like John are to call
2442the people to walk out the first commandment as wholehearted lovers of God.
2443The Holy Spirit is raising up prophetic forerunners with this focus to prepare
2444the church before Jesus’s second coming. Jesus also described the apostles as
2445“friends of the bridegroom” (Matt. 9:15). The “friends of the Bridegroom”
2446reality is being emphasized by the Holy Spirit in this generation. It describes
2447ministries that equip the church to live in her bridal identity with a wholehearted
2448love for Jesus. As the Bridegroom’s friends, we focus on preparing
2449individuals to live in the intimate embrace of our heavenly Bridegroom
2450rather than drawing the bride’s affections to their prophetic ministry.
245171
2452Seven Dimensions of the Prophetic Church
24532. The proclamation of End Time prophecy
2454The church is a prophetic witness of Jesus’s second coming. One aspect of
2455being prophetic is to clearly understand and fearlessly proclaim God’s End
2456Time plan and events as declared in biblical prophecy. All that the church
2457does to make herself ready—proclaiming prophetic scriptures, worshiping,
2458celebrating Communion, witnessing, preaching the gospel, casting out
2459demons, healing the sick, being peacemakers, and functioning as forerunners
2460who prepare the church for His coming (Eph. 5:27; Rev. 19:7–8)—is a
2461prophetic trumpet to the world of the relationship of Christ to His church
2462and of the fact that Christ is coming again.
2463The apostle John was commanded to eat the scroll of End Time prophecy
2464(Rev. 10:8–10; Ezek. 2:10–3:3) to prepare him to understand and feel God’s
2465heart related to the End Times. John was a prototype for the End Time
2466prophetic messengers whom the Holy Spirit is even now raising up. These
2467prophetic messengers will bring great strength in a time of revival, judgment,
2468and adversity (Rev. 12–13).
24693. The preservation and proclamation of the Word of God as His
2470prophetic standard on the earth
2471One of the most dynamic prophetic realities that exist is the Scripture
2472itself. It trumpets God’s heart, purpose, and will. It is the transcript of God’s
2473holy and loving heart. How precious is the Word of God. The church preserves
2474and proclaims God’s unchangeable and immovable truths. The church
2475proclaiming the Scripture is the pillar and ground of the truth in a fallen
2476world (1 Tim. 3:15). We are most prophetic when we faithfully and regularly
2477proclaim the Word of God. We recognize that the church’s very presence
2478is a continuing witness to biblical prophecies being fulfilled. Our primary
2479task is to preserve and proclaim the good news of His death, resurrection,
2480and coming again to judge the world. The church is a living testimony of
2481prophecy fulfilled and a prophetic voice of what will come in the future. The
2482next time you are sitting in a church service, remember that even though we
2483are two thousand years removed from the first-century church, the very fact
2484that you are gathering with others in His name is both a prophetic fulfillment
2485and a prophetic statement to the world of what is to come.
248672
2487Growing in the Prophetic
24884. The reception of prophetic direction
2489The fourth way that the church is prophetic is in discerning the current
2490move of the Spirit. Just as the children of Israel followed the cloud through
2491the wilderness, the church is to move when the Holy Spirit says to move
2492(Deut. 1:33). The Spirit is continually doing a fresh work in each congregation.
2493Israel moved whenever God moved as they followed the cloud of God’s
2494presence in the wilderness. Churches, ministries, or families “move” into
2495different emphases given by the Holy Spirit at different seasons in their life
2496together, yet always within the boundaries of God’s unchangeable Word.
2497The leaders of new movements of the Holy Spirit are not necessarily those
2498who focus on the gift of prophecy as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12, but
2499instead they are leaders who clearly sense the prophetic direction of where
2500the cloud of God’s presence is moving. They are like the sons of Issachar
2501who “had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do”
2502(1 Chron. 12:32).
2503The prophetic church follows Jesus’s prophetic leadership as we “follow the
2504cloud” by embracing that which the Holy Spirit is currently emphasizing. Of
2505course, He is always emphasizing the proclamation of the gospel and obedience
2506to God. There are many examples in church history when the body of
2507Christ embraced a specific direction of the Holy Spirit as relating to structure,
2508strategy, or even particular truths. For example, in 1517, Martin Luther
2509did this as the Holy Spirit brought reformation to the church in Europe by
2510emphasizing justification by faith.
2511One purpose of the prophetic ministry is to alert the church to the
2512“now-ness” of the Holy Spirit. It awakens us to the purpose of God in the
2513present—what He specifically wants to do in us and through us now. In
2514other words, it is the “now word” of the Lord. Of course, it must always go
2515along with the written Word of the Lord. God wants to bring the Word and
2516the Spirit together in the church. Someone has said, “If we have the Word
2517without the Spirit, we dry up. If we have the Spirit without the Word, we
2518blow up. But if we have the Word and the Spirit, we grow up.” In this way we
2519can walk together in the fresh move of the Holy Spirit.
25205. Prophetic dreams and visions and the power of God
2521The demonstration of God’s supernatural power and revelation through
2522the church is a dimension of the prophetic ministry. The Spirit equips us with
252373
2524Seven Dimensions of the Prophetic Church
2525supernatural gifts, including prophetic dreams and visions and the ability to
2526work miracles (1 Cor. 12:10–11). Miracles attest to the truth of God’s Word.
2527Miracles make people aware that God is actually present with them. They
2528renew our awareness of His presence. They jolt our sensibilities and make us
2529joyfully (or frightfully) aware of the fact the He is in our midst. A hundred
2530sermons on God being with us may not awaken our hearts as much as a
2531personal encounter with the manifestation of His power through the miraculous.
2532This in no way diminishes the authority of the written Word. It simply
2533means that in the miraculous, the living God of the written Word shows up
2534in a powerfully personal, intimate, and tangible way. Through the miraculous,
2535the church prophesies and proclaims that He is alive!
25366. The prophetic outcry against social injustice
2537The church is to function as a “corporate prophet to the nation” concerning
2538injustice, oppression, and unrighteousness. Such things provoke the judgment
2539of God on a nation. Two stellar examples of this are seen in the prophetic
2540outcry from William Wilberforce (1759–1833) working within the church
2541and, prior to him, Lord Shaftesbury (1621–1683) crying out in the British
2542House of Lords. These two men denounced injustice on two different fronts
2543over two centuries. They are credited with the British Parliament outlawing
2544the trading of slaves in England.
2545Many times prophets to the nation speak from a secular platform, not
2546necessarily as those who represent the church. Joseph and Daniel were two
2547biblical examples of people who represented God in a position of secular
2548power. Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. prophetically stood for
2549justice and righteousness in our social order. Today, men like Lou Engle and
2550James Dobson speak in the church as prophetic oracles who continually cry
2551against the injustice of abortion. God has raised up His prophetic servants in
2552the church who take a prophetic stand against injustice in society by being
2553actively involved in civil government at many levels.
25547. The prophetic call to holiness
2555God has raised up leaders in the church throughout the generations
2556who have functioned as prophets of God crying out against the sins of the
2557people. John Wesley, for instance, turned England back to God when the
255874
2559Growing in the Prophetic
2560people’s personal unrighteousness and apathy brought them to the edge of
2561societal chaos.
2562This outcry is similar to the prophetic cry against social injustice, but
2563different in that it is specifically directed to the people in the church. It is less
2564like Jonah prophesying against Nineveh and more like Isaiah and Jeremiah
2565prophesying to Israel and Judah. Men like Charles Colson, John Piper, David
2566Wilkerson, and A. W. Tozer stand out in my mind as prophetic voices who
2567have cried out against unrighteousness in the church. Their words have been
2568anointed by the Spirit to awaken many hearts to holiness and passion for
2569Jesus. God uses such prophetic voices, just as He used John the Baptist, to
2570prick the conscience of believers unto repentance.
2571Serving in the Prophetic Community
2572It is the nature of the church to be the prophetic expression of the kingdom
2573of God on Earth, to represent, preserve, and proclaim the truth of God to
2574this world. All the members who serve the church or function as a ministry
2575of the church are themselves involved with the ongoing prophetic plan and
2576purpose of God in the earth.
2577Those particularly gifted with dreams, visions, prophecies, and revelation
2578need to be careful not to think of themselves too highly, as being the
2579prophetic group. They serve only one dimension of the church’s greater
2580calling as a prophetic community.
2581My prayer and earnest expectation is that God will work mightily in our
2582generation to help the church more and more to live up to and express its
2583prophetic nature and calling among the nations of the earth. The proclamation
2584and demonstration of the Word of God through a Spirit-filled church
2585is the true hope for mankind. May the Holy Spirit come upon us in unprecedented
2586measure for the glory of God and Christ Jesus.
2587Expressions of the Spirit of Prophecy
2588Prophetic oracles (Isa. 1:1–9; 15:1–9; 45:14–17; 48:17–19;
258949:5–7; 50:1–3; Jer. 2:1–3; Ezek. 34:1–31; Acts 13:1–3)
2590Prophetic exhortations (Isa. 12:1–6; 19:25; 29:22–24; 30:18;
259135:1–10; 40:1–31; 41:1–4; 42:1–9; 54:1–3; 55:1–13; 56:1–8)
2592•
2593•
259475
2595Seven Dimensions of the Prophetic Church
2596Prophetic prayers (Ezra 9:6–15; Neh. 9:6–37; Isa. 25:1–12;
259738:9–20; 64:1–12; Jer. 12:1–6; 20:7–18; Luke 1:67–69)
2598Prophetic songs (Deut. 32:1–43; Isa. 5:1–30; 26:1–21; 27:1–11;
259942:10–13; Ezek. 19:1–14; 27:1–36)
2600Personal prophecies (2 Sam. 12:1–7; Isa. 37:21–35; 38:1–8;
260145:1–7; Jer. 20:1–6; 21:1–14; 34:1–5; 45:1–5; Acts 21:10)
2602Prophetic visions (Jer. 1:11–19; 24:1–10; Ezek. 1:1–28; 8:1–18;
26039:1–11; 10:1–22; 11:1–13; 37:1–11; 40:1–49; 41:1–48:35; Dan.
26042:19; 4:1–18; 7:1–28; 8:1–27; Acts 16:9–13; 10:1–33)
2605Prophetic actions (Isa. 20:1–6; Jer. 13:1–11; 19:1–15; 27:1–22;
2606Ezek. 14:1–17; 5:1–17; 12:1–16; 12:17–25; 24:1–27; 37:15–23;
2607Hosea 1:1–11; 3:1–5; Acts 21:9–14)
2608Other Scriptures on the Prophetic Ministry
2609Genesis 5:29; 22:7–8; 27:28–29; 27:39–40; 48:13–20; 49:1–27
2610Exodus 15:14–18; 16:6–7
2611Leviticus 9:6
2612Numbers 11:24–30; 13:30; 14:6–9; 23:7–10; 23:18–24; 24:1–9;
261324:15–24
2614Deuteronomy 32:1–47; 33:1–29
2615Joshua 10:25; 24:1–14
2616Judges 6:8–10
26171 Samuel 2:1–10; 24:1–14
26182 Samuel 3:18–19; 7:8–17; 23:1–7
26192 Kings 3:15–18
26201 Chronicles 17:4–15; 22:8–13; 22:17–19
26212 Chronicles 15:2–7; 20:15–17
2622Ezra 9:6–15
2623Nehemiah 2:20; 9:6–37
2624Psalm 89:19–37
2625Isaiah 1:18–20; 12:1–6; 25:6–12; 26:1–21; 29:17–24; 35:1–10;
262644:1–5; 44:6–8; 55:1–13; 56:1–8; 60:1–9; 60:10–14; 60:15–22
2627Ezekiel 11:16; 11:17–20; 28:25–26; 34:11–16; 34:24–31
2628Hosea 2:14–20; 6:1–3; 11:8–9; 14:1–7
2629Joel 2:12–14; 3:18–21
2630•
2631•
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2644•
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2646•
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2650•
2651•
2652•
2653•
265476
2655Growing in the Prophetic
2656Amos 9:13–15
2657Obadiah 17
2658Micah 2:12–13; 4:1–5; 4:6–8; 7:18–20
2659Nahum 2:2
2660Habakkuk 2:14
2661Zephaniah 2:7; 3:14–20
2662Haggai 2:5–9; 2:23
2663Zechariah 8:7–13; 8:14–17; 10:1; 10:6–12
2664Malachi 1:11; 3:16–18; 4:1–6
2665Mark 10:30; 14:8–9
2666Luke 1:41–55, 67–80; 2:25–35; 22:31–32
2667John 6:31–35
2668Acts 1:4–8; 2:14–37; 11:28; 13:1–3; 15:30–35; 20:28–31; 21:10–11
2669Revelation 2:1–29; 3:1–22
2670•
2671•
2672•
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2676•
2677•
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2680•
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268477
26858
2686C h a p t e r
2687The Coming Great Revival
2688T he body of Christ will participate in the greatest revival in all
2689history in the generation in which the Lord returns. The greatest
2690outpouring of the Spirit in history will be released just before Jesus’s
2691second coming. In this great revival, the Holy Spirit will release the miracles
2692that were seen in the Book of Acts and the Book of Exodus combined and
2693multiplied on a global scale, which will result in the following positive trends.
2694A victorious, unified, anointed church full of God’s glory will
2695emerge (Matt. 16:18; John 17:21–26; Eph. 4:13; 5:26–27; Rev. 7:9;
269612:11; 15:2; 19:7–8).
2697The church will live in purity or without spot (compromise) as
2698they walk out Sermon on the Mount lifestyles (Matt. 5–7). “That
2699He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having
2700spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy
2701and without blemish” (Eph. 5:27).
2702The great ingathering of souls from all nations will surely see
2703over one billion new souls (Ps. 66:4; Amos 9:11–12; Zeph. 2:11;
27043:8–10; Matt. 24:14; Rom. 11:12–15, 26; Rev. 5:9; 7:9; 14:6; 15:4).
27051.
27062.
27073.
270878
2709Growing in the Prophetic
2710“A great multitude . . .no one could number, of all nations. . .out
2711of the great tribulation” (Rev. 7:9, 14).
2712The spirit of prophecy will operate in the church and rest on
2713every believer (Mal. 4:6; Matt. 17:11; Acts 2:17; Rev. 11:3-6;
271418:20). “I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of
2715the great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Mal. 4:5).
2716The two witnesses will prophesy with great power for three and
2717a half years during the tribulation: “I will give power to my two
2718witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred
2719and sixty days. . . .These have power to shut heaven, so that no
2720rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power
2721over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with
2722all plagues, as often as they desire” (Rev. 11:3, 6).
2723There will be great demonstrations of power with unprecedented
2724prophetic revelation and experiences.
2725In all this we must continually keep focused on our primary purpose to
2726win the lost and build His church as a community that walks in the two
2727great commandments focused on loving God and people (Matt. 22:37–40).
2728Prophecy is a very significant tool used in building God’s house, but it’s not
2729the house. When you construct a building, you don’t call a hammer a movement.
2730The hammer is just one of many significant tools. One reason God
2731raises up the prophetic ministry is to inspire perseverance in intercession
2732that releases the resources to build God’s house in love by the power of
2733the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us prophetic words that are for many
2734areas of our personal life and the life of the church. However, prophetic
2735words are invitations not guarantees. They beckon us to cry out to God in
2736faith. God speaks prophetically to invite us to more fully cooperate with
2737the Holy Spirit in faith and obedience as we pray to release the manifestation
2738of the things prophesied. In other words, the prophetic ministry
2739provides fuel for the prayer meetings, and the prayer meetings release the
2740things promised by the prophetic words. They are inseparable. It is not
2741enough to just long for more prophetic activity without intending to use
2742it to inspire more prayer. In other words, prophecy is not to be seen as an
27434.
27445.
27456.
274679
2747The Coming Great Revival
2748end in itself or as that which simply makes church meetings more exciting.
2749It is the gas that fuels the tank of intercession, purity, and more effective
2750outreach to others.
2751Changing the Face of Christianity
2752in One Generation
2753For years I had read Jonathan Edwards, David Brainerd, Dr. Martyn LloydJones,
2754and some of the Puritan writers, and I had adopted their theology of
2755an unprecedented ingathering of souls at the end of the age.1
2756But it was years later in September 1982, in a dirty little motel room in
2757Cairo, Egypt, that the belief in an End Times outpouring of the Holy Spirit
2758became a personal issue to me. The eight-by-eight-foot room was equipped
2759with a small bed, squeaky ceiling fan, stone-age plumbing, and an assortment
2760of crawling things that periodically scampered across the concrete
2761floor. It was primitive by Western standards. I was alone, so I set aside the
2762evening to spend with the Lord in prayer. I knelt on the cement floor by the
2763rickety bed for about thirty minutes when I had one of the most incredible
2764encounters that I’ve ever had.
2765I didn’t see a vision, and I wasn’t caught up into heaven. I simply heard
2766God speak to me. It wasn’t what some people call the audible voice. I call it
2767the internal audible voice. I heard it as clearly as I would have heard it with
2768my physical ears, and, honestly, it was terrifying.
2769It came with such a feeling of cleanness, power, and authority. In some
2770ways I felt I was being crushed by it. I wanted to leave, but I didn’t want to
2771leave. I wanted it to be over, but I didn’t want it to be over.
2772I only heard a few sentences, and it only took a few moments, but every
2773word had great meaning. The awe of God flooded my soul as I experienced
2774a little bit of the terror of the Lord. I literally trembled and wept as God
2775Himself communicated to me in a way I’ve never known before or since.
2776The Lord simply said, “I will change the understanding and expression of
2777Christianity in the earth in one generation.” It was a simple, straightforward
2778statement, but I felt God’s power with each word as I received the
2779Spirit’s interpretation. God Himself will make drastic changes in Christianity
2780across the whole world. This reformation revival will be by His
2781sovereign initiative.
278280
2783Growing in the Prophetic
2784I knew by the Holy Spirit that the phrase “the understanding of Christianity”
2785meant the way Christianity is perceived by unbelievers. In the
2786early church, people were afraid to associate casually with believers partly
2787because of the displays of supernatural power (Acts 5:13). However, today,
2788most unbelievers consider the church to be irrelevant to them. God will
2789change the way unbelievers view the church. They once again will witness
2790God’s wonderful yet terrifying power in the church. They will have a very
2791different understanding of Christianity before God is finished with this
2792generation.
2793I also knew by the Holy Spirit that the phrase “the expression of Christianity”
2794meant the way the body of Christ expresses its life together. God is
2795powerfully going to change the church so that it functions as a unified holy
2796people in the power and love of God. What happens when we gather together
2797will change dramatically. We will see unparalleled power, purity, and unity
2798in the End Time church.
2799Christians’ relationships with God and each other, the way we will be
2800perceived by unbelievers, and even the structure and functioning of the
2801church will be radically changed by God Himself across the whole earth.
2802This change will take place—not in a month, a year, or a few years—but in
2803one generation. That night in Cairo I understood this for the first time by a
2804supernatural prophetic encounter with the Holy Spirit.
2805The understanding and expression of Christianity is going to be changed
2806by a great outpouring of the Spirit that will cross all national, social, ethnic,
2807and cultural barriers. It won’t be just a Western-world revival or only a thirdworld
2808revival. The Joel 2/Acts 2 prophecy says that in the last days God will
2809pour out of His Spirit on “all flesh” (Acts 2:17).
2810A lot of things will change as a result of this progressive outpouring of
2811the Spirit. It will have many multidimensional expressions so that it will not
2812simply be seen as an evangelism movement, a healing movement, a prayer
2813movement, a unity movement, or a prophetic movement. It will be all of those
2814and more. Above all things, it will impart deep passion for Jesus through the
2815Holy Spirit.
2816The Holy Spirit longs above all things to glorify Jesus in the human heart
2817(John 16:14). He wants to impart holy affections for Jesus in the church as
2818we understand our identity as the bride of Christ (Rev. 22:17). Speaking
281981
2820The Coming Great Revival
2821of this outpouring only in terms of a prophetic movement is a much too
2822limited concept.
2823The increase of prophetic ministry in the local church involves more
2824than verbal, inspirational prophecy. It will include angelic visitations,
2825dreams, visions, and signs and wonders in the sky, as well as an increase in
2826prophetic revelation, even the kind given through the subtle impressions of
2827the Holy Spirit.
2828My experience in the Cairo hotel room lasted less than an hour, though
2829it seemed like a couple of hours. I left the room and walked around the
2830streets of downtown Cairo alone until about midnight, committing myself
2831to the Lord and His End Time purpose. The awe of God lingered in my soul
2832for hours. I woke up the next day still feeling its impact. This experience
2833connected my heart in a deeply personal way to the End Time fulfillment of
2834the Joel 2/Acts 2 prophecy on a global level in this generation. My approach
2835to pastoring in the local church changed radically on that one evening in
2836September 1982. Little did I know that I was about to be introduced to a new
2837dimension of the prophetic—confirmation of prophetic words through the
2838acts of God in nature.
2839The Acts 2 Model: Wind, Fire, and Wine
2840I believe that Acts 2 is a divine pattern of how God visits His church in
2841power. In this passage we see how God launched His church on Earth on this
2842historic Day of Pentecost. I will highlight three important manifestations of
2843the Holy Spirit’s power and presence. First, God sent the “wind” of the Spirit,
2844then the “fire” of the Spirit, and then the “wine” of the Spirit. The wind of the
2845Spirit speaks of the release of the miraculous that includes angelic activity.
2846Hebrews 1:7 relates the ministry of angels to the wind. On the Day of Pentecost,
2847those present heard the sound of a mighty rushing wind. In Acts 4, the
2848building they prayed in shook, possibly by the direct activity of angels.
2849When God sends the wind of the Spirit, we can expect to see great signs
2850and wonders such as the sound of rushing wind and the shaking of buildings
2851as well as extraordinary healings—even raising the dead. A great harvest of
2852souls will come as a result of this.
2853I know of several prophets who have had recurring visions of the great
2854End Time revival, with large stadiums across the earth being filled with
285582
2856Growing in the Prophetic
2857people who witness great signs and wonders leading up to countless multitudes
2858being saved.
2859The fire of God came next in Acts 2. This baptism of fire will enlarge our
2860hearts in the love of God. In this, we will receive a deeper understanding
2861of God’s love, which will result in a fiery, holy love seen as supernatural
2862impartation of passion for Jesus and compassion for people. This new
2863passion for God will cause the body of Christ to function in a dramatically
2864different way. The focus will be on how to love Jesus with all our hearts and
2865strength. Included in this particular aspect of the Spirit’s ministry will be
2866anointed intercession for the lost with a great harvest of new souls coming
2867into the kingdom.
2868The wine of God is linked in the Book of Joel to the outpouring of the
2869Holy Spirit. It is God’s ministry through the Spirit of bringing joy inexpressible
2870and refreshment to weary, burdened souls.
2871In April 1984, an amazing thing happened to Bob Jones and me. The
2872Lord spoke audibly to us both at the same time yet in separate places. It
2873was a Saturday morning when I heard the thunderous audible voice of God
2874speaking to me. That very morning, Bob Jones also heard the Lord audibly.
2875I will highlight only a part of what was happened. The Lord said, “In ten
2876years I will begin to release the wine of My Spirit.” I immediately had two
2877questions. First, what is the wine of the Spirit? Second, how will I be able to
2878wait for ten years? I was twenty-eight years old at the time, and ten years
2879seemed like a millennium.
2880Now it seems more obvious what the wine of the Spirit is. One reason
2881God sends His wine is to refresh and renew the hearts of His people in the
2882midst of the weariness and despair. It was precisely ten years later, in 1994,
2883that God began to release a wave of “His wine” that touched His church in
2884many nations from a small church in Toronto under the leadership of John
2885and Carol Arnott. That was only a beginning of the new wine that is yet to
2886be poured out in its fullness.
2887In Acts 2, God first sent the wind, then the fire, then the wine. As God
2888restores the church before Jesus’s second coming, I believe the order will be
2889reversed. First, He is sending the wine of the Spirit to refresh and heal the
2890weary church. Then He will send the fire of the Spirit to enlarge our hearts
2891in God’s love and anointed prayer. Last, He will send the wind of the Spirit,
289283
2893The Coming Great Revival
2894which includes a manifestation of the ministry of angels. This demonstration
2895of the Holy Spirit’s power will bring countless numbers of new people
2896to saving faith in Jesus Christ. The church truly has great things ahead.
2897However, Satan will seek to challenge us like never before.
2898The Joel 2 Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
2899We must learn to nurture and administrate the prophetic ministry in the
2900local church in our expectation of an End Time outpouring of the Holy
2901Spirit as foretold in Joel 2 and cited by Peter’s first sermon on the Day
2902of Pentecost.
2903And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will
2904pour out of My Spirit on all flesh.
2905—Acts 2:17
2906Many Old Testament prophecies about God’s kingdom will be fulfilled in
2907two major ways. First, there was a partial local fulfillment that began in the
2908church in the Book of Acts. Second, the total fulfillment will be released on
2909a worldwide scale in the generation in which Jesus returns.
2910Jesus spoke of the kingdom not only as if the kingdom had fully come,
2911but also as if it was still yet to come. As George E. Ladd puts it, the kingdom
2912was both already and not yet.2 The kingdom has come to Earth in part with
2913the advent of Christ, but the complete manifestation of biblical prophecies
2914concerning the kingdom of God will occur at the end of this age when Jesus
2915Christ returns again.
2916For example, in the next to the last verse of the Old Testament, Malachi
2917prophesied: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of
2918the great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Mal. 4:5).
2919Jesus identified John as Elijah (Matt. 11:14) and later said of him: “Indeed,
2920Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah
2921has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they
2922wished” (Matt. 17:11–12).
2923We see an immediate local fulfillment of “Elijah’s” coming in John the
2924Baptist’s ministry in Judea. However, we also see a future fulfillment when
2925“Elijah” will come to restore all things at the end of the age.
292684
2927Growing in the Prophetic
2928In the same way, the Joel 2 prophecy concerning the outpouring of the
2929Holy Spirit was partially fulfilled in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. Peter
2930quotes the prophecies and says, “These are not drunk, as you suppose, since
2931it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet
2932Joel” (Acts 2:15–16).
2933But just because the outpouring at Pentecost was “what was spoken by
2934the prophet Joel,” it does not mean that it was all of that which was spoke
2935of by Joel. The Spirit fell on one hundred twenty people in a small room in
2936Jerusalem who touched three thousand people (Acts 2). But Joel spoke of
2937more than that. He said, “I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh” (Joel 2:28,
2938emphasis added). One of the unique things about the last great revival will
2939be the signs and wonders described in Acts 2:19 that will be displayed in
2940nature, both on the earth and in the sky.
2941For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all
2942may be encouraged.
2943—1 Corinthians 14:31
2944At the time in which Joel spoke this prophecy, his ideas were new and
2945strange to Old Testament Israel. The anointing of the Spirit had been given
2946to just a few people in the Old Testament era, usually older Jewish men who
2947were kings, judges, or prophets. However, Joel prophesied that the Spirit
2948would be poured out on all flesh, Jew and Gentile, men and women, young
2949and old. In other words, every believer on the planet will experience the
2950anointing of the Spirit. Paul quoted Joel 2:32 and then applied it universally
2951to all believers:
2952There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same
2953Lord. . .is rich to all who call on Him. For “whoever calls on the
2954name of the Lord shall be saved.”
2955—Romans 10:12–13
2956The only qualifier that Joel made to this all-inclusive promise to “all flesh”
2957is the phrase, “my servants” (Joel 2:29, niv). Thus, the “all flesh” are those
2958who are servants of God. “My servants” does not speak of those who casually
2959profess their faith, but of those who genuinely serve God.
296085
2961The Coming Great Revival
2962The Spirit of Prophecy
2963We must not separate Joel’s prophecy of the outpouring of the Spirit of
2964prophecy from its primary context in the End Times when the great ingathering
2965of souls occurs and the deception of the Antichrist abounds. Some do
2966not value the prophetic ministry. They see it as optional; thus, they write
2967it off as not for them. How can a true believer not be into the prophetic?
2968If we are into the End Time harvest, if we love people and want to bring
2969courage to the fearful, then we need prophetic input from the Spirit. It is
2970not possible to be ready for the good and the bad events in the End Times
2971without operating in the prophetic anointing. It is nonnegotiable for us.
2972The prophecy in Joel 2:28–32 gives us great confidence for a global
2973outpouring of the Spirit. This outpouring will be an issue of life and death
2974in the pressures of the Great Tribulation. We will need to operate with a
2975prophetic spirit in precise ways. This is the inheritance of the entire End
2976Times church. We must contend for and earnestly seek it with sustained
2977prayer with fasting. Paul exhorts us to seek the greater gifts, especially to
2978prophesy (1 Cor. 12:31; 14:1). We seek to prophesy because the prophetic
2979spirit is the key that opens us up to the other gifts of the Spirit. When we
2980receive prophetic impressions from the Spirit, the other gifts flow forth. The
2981promise that we will prophesy encompasses all that is involved in operating
2982in the power and revelation of the Spirit. Prophecy reveals the testimony of
2983what is in Jesus’s heart and mind (Rev. 19:10). It involves receiving dreams,
2984visions, and angelic visitations that impart the skill to understand End Times
2985prophecy. Daniel received this type of anointing.
2986O Daniel, I [Gabriel] have now come forth to give you skill to
2987understand. . . .I have come to tell you. . .therefore consider the
2988matter, and understand the vision.
2989—Daniel 9:22–23
2990We will operate in the spirit of Elijah as John the Baptist did, who spoke
2991God’s Word with power and authority to turn the hearts of people to God.
2992Micah testified of experiencing prophetic power to preach God’s Word.
2993He [John the Baptist] will turn many of the children of Israel to
2994the Lord their God. He will also go before Him in the spirit and
299586
2996Growing in the Prophetic
2997power of Elijah, “to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,”
2998and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a
2999people prepared for the Lord.
3000—Luke 1:16–17
3001But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of
3002justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to
3003Israel his sin.
3004—Micah 3:8
3005The fullness of this Joel 2 prophecy is yet to be seen. It will have a worldwide
3006scope to it where all flesh—that is, all believers, not just prophets—will
3007have dreams and see visions. The greatest and fullest manifestation of the
3008kingdom of God—the day of the Lord, the restoration of all things, and
3009the outpouring of the Holy Spirit—is reserved for the consummation of all
3010things initiated in the generation in which the Lord returns.
3011The prophetic anointing will be essential for survival. Some of these dreams
3012and visions will be a source of direction when life and death decisions need
3013to be made in the Great Tribulation. Jeremiah spoke of God giving prophetic
3014direction that His people would find water for survival and to walk in a straight
3015way instead of walking into calamity or the deceptions of the Antichrist.
3016They shall come with weeping, and with supplications I will
3017lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, in a
3018straight way in which they shall not stumble.
3019—Jeremiah 31:9
3020Cosmic Signs in the End Times
3021I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood and
3022fire and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness,
3023and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and
3024awesome day of the Lord.
3025—Joel 2:30–31
3026In describing the outpouring of the Spirit in the End Times, Joel gave three
3027prophecies to Israel that the sun, moon, and stars would be dramatically
302887
3029The Coming Great Revival
3030altered as supernatural proof that the Messiah was in their midst (Joel
30312:10, 30–31; 3:15). Joel also prophesied of signs on the earth. God will show
3032“wonders in the earth,” which will include manifestations of blood, fire, and
3033pillars of smoke as well as great healings as Jesus did. Blood is listed as one
3034of the major signs because blood will flow in unprecedented amounts. Blood
3035is seen in the first three trumpets and the second and third bowl judgments
3036(Rev. 8:7–10; 16:3–4). The two witnesses will have authority to turn water
3037into blood. Entire rivers will be turned to blood like in the days of Moses.
3038The blood of nations will flow because they shed the blood of the martyrs
3039You are righteous, O Lord. . .because You have judged these
3040things. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and
3041You have given them blood to drink.
3042—Revelation 16:5–6
3043God has planned the most dramatic display of prophetic signs in His
3044commitment to help the End Time church. These signs will be given at strategic
3045times to signify significant messages to those who interpret them rightly.
3046Prophetic signs will cause people to understand that they are living in the
3047End Times. These marvels will warn unbelievers to no longer refuse God’s
3048Word. Joel connected these signs with prophetic dreams and visions and the
3049pouring out of the Spirit. How astounding it will be when the whole world is
3050watching as God’s prophets proclaim a dream or vision ahead of time, giving
3051exact details of when and where a comet or an earthquake will occur. The
3052signs in the heavens and on Earth will not just appear in a vacuum, but at
3053the precise timing that God determines as His servants declare them ahead
3054of time.
3055The sun and moon will be affected by God’s power in response to the
3056intercession of the church and through prophetic decrees as in the days
3057of Elijah. The miracles that Moses did had a great impact on Egypt and
3058Israel. The river turned to blood at the moment he commanded it to. Such
3059signs confirmed Moses’s prophetic messages. The signs and wonders in the
3060heavens and on Earth will also be used to bring in a great ingathering of
3061souls. Some interpret the promise of signs in Joel 2:30–31 as being purely
3062symbolic. In doing this, they see Joel’s prophecy as being symbolically
3063fulfilled in the past events of history. To the phrase, “the heavens tremble,”
306488
3065Growing in the Prophetic
3066some say that the heavens did not actually tremble because it is only meant
3067to be understood as prophetic poetry. These cosmic signs are not to be
3068dismissed as symbolic poetry. The biblical approach to these cosmic signs
3069is to take them literally.
3070End Time Deliverance and the Harvest
3071It shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord
3072shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be
3073deliverance, as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the
3074Lord calls.
3075—Joel 2:32
3076Joel prophesied that that whoever calls upon Jesus’s name in the End Times
3077will be saved. Being saved has several distinct dimensions to it in Scripture.
3078First, we are saved in the initial sense of receiving forgiveness and being born
3079again. Second, we are saved, delivered, or protected from physical death in
3080relation to End Time disasters. Psalm 91 promises us physical protection in
3081the End Times. Third, we are saved in the sense that God will provide the
3082things necessary for life such as food and water. Israel experienced provision
3083and protection in Goshen (Exod. 8:22–23; 9:4, 6, 26). Fourth, we are saved as
3084we walk in God’s saving power that we might enter into our full destiny. In
3085other words, we are delivered from spiritual barrenness and powerlessness.
3086Fifth, we are saved or protected from deception and from falling away from
3087our faith (1 Tim. 4:1–2).
3088Get ready. An unprecedented revival is coming in which all believers will
3089experience dreams, visions, and everything Joel prophesied.
309089
30919
3092C h a p t e r
3093Contending for the Fullness of
3094the Prophetic Anointing
3095S cripture promises a global outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the
3096End Times. This includes an unprecedented release of the spirit of
3097prophecy on the church in the generation in which the Lord returns.
3098And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will
3099pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters
3100shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old
3101men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My
3102maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they
3103shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in
3104the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun
3105shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before
3106the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it
3107shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord
3108shall be saved.
3109—Acts 2:14–21
3110The Holy Spirit will release grace to receive prophetic dreams and visions
3111in the generation in which the Lord returns. It will be the common function
311290
3113Growing in the Prophetic
3114of all of God’s people. He will literally pour out the spirit of prophecy on the
3115entire church, or on all flesh who believe in Jesus, not just on prophets. This
3116includes all believing women, not just men, and all believing children, not
3117just adults or mature believers. The word all refers not to all human beings
3118without exception, but to all classes of human beings without distinction.
3119This promise is spoken twice, emphasizing it as an absolute reality to occur.
3120God desires, and has always desired, to personally encounter His people.
3121From the beginning of creation, it was His desire to interact and fellowship
3122with us in a very real way. This hasn’t changed in any way at all, however, the
3123method or the way in which He has chosen to manifest that desire.
3124He will release signs in nature both above in the heavens (sky, weather
3125patterns) and below on the earth, including earthquakes. This will happen
3126before the day of the Lord or the second coming of Jesus. What the Holy
3127Spirit did on the Day of Pentecost was a down payment on this greater End
3128Time outpouring.
3129Joel prophesied that when we turn to God with all our heart in prayer
3130with fasting, the Lord would be zealous and compassionate and would pour
3131out His Spirit on us (Joel 2:12, 18, 28).
3132Jesus promised that if His disciples tarried in prayer, the Spirit would
3133endue them with power. “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you;
3134but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on
3135high” (Luke 24:49).
3136In Acts 1–2, the disciples followed the pattern described by Joel as they
3137sought the promise given by Jesus. Thus, they gathered to pray in the Upper
3138Room. After ten days, on the Feast of Pentecost the Spirit came on them
3139with power (Acts 1:14–2:4). It is possible that some of them expected the Joel
31402:28 breakthrough of the Spirit at that time since Jesus had recently promised
3141it (Luke 24:49). Peter explained this visitation of the Spirit as being that
3142which was prophesied by Joel. These ten days of prayer occurred in a strategic,
3143prophetic timing. It was preceded first by the death and resurrection
3144of Jesus and by a dynamic prayer history that included Israel’s greatest intercessors.
3145Jesus and John the Baptist had prayed fervently for God’s blessing
3146to be released, as did Anna, who prayed for sixty years (Luke 2:37). In other
3147words, the apostles stepped into a dynamic history of prayer that had been
3148in place before that Feast of Pentecost had come.
314991
3150Contending for the Fullness of the Prophetic Anointing
3151They went up into the upper room where they were staying. . . .
3152These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication. . . .
3153Now when the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all
3154with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound
3155from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole
3156house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them
3157divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And
3158they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with
3159other tongues.
3160—Acts 1:13–14; 2:1–4
3161Peter said what happened in Jerusalem was spoken of by Joel. What did
3162Joel speak of? Yes, he emphasized the fact that God would pour out the
3163Spirit, but he also emphasized the conditions in which it would occur. Both
3164are a part of the pattern seen in Joel 2. Peter was referring to the whole
3165context of Joel 2, not just the end result of it. Thus, Peter was teaching us
3166not only about the release of the Holy Spirit but also how we are to seek
3167for it. The Joel 2:12–15 pattern of corporate prayer with fasting has been
3168followed throughout church history, resulting in many great revivals. In our
3169day, we must also follow the Joel 2:12–15 pattern. The greatest revival is yet
3170to come, surpassing what the church experienced in the Book of Acts. The
3171church today must see the importance of gathering in corporate intercessory
3172worship until God releases the fullness of His blessing. We have a rich history
3173of prayer behind us—one that has continued from Moses, David, Daniel,
3174and then Jesus, Anna, and Paul, continuing through all church history. The
3175bowls of intercession in heaven are surely filling up (Rev. 5:8).
3176God’s promise to pour out His Spirit is the most well-known passage in
3177the Book of Joel. Just prior to this point in his prophecy, Joel emphasized
3178the agricultural blessings that God would release on Israel because of His
3179zeal and pity or compassion (Joel 2:18–27). Now Joel speaks of the coming
3180spiritual blessing to renew the people (Joel 2:28–32). The promise of the
3181outpouring of the Spirit that Joel prophesied was not completely fulfilled in
3182Peter’s generation. This is evidenced by significant differences between Joel 2
3183and Acts 2. The fullness of what Joel prophesied has still not yet happened.
3184Only a portion of it was fulfilled in Peter’s day. Joel said that the sun and
3185the moon would grow dark, and signs such as blood and smoke would be
318692
3187Growing in the Prophetic
3188seen. The early church did not see these signs. Joel prophesied of a great
3189outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh worldwide. The Spirit in Acts 2 only
3190rested on one hundred twenty Jewish believers locally in Jerusalem, then on
3191the three thousand who were saved that day. The fullness of Joel’s prophecy
3192requires a global dimension. Peter knew he only experienced the firstfruits
3193of Joel’s prophecy. The full expression of it would not happen until Jesus
3194returned to Zion or in Jerusalem when He reigns (Joel 3:16–21).
3195The Timing of Joel’s Prophesied
3196Outpouring of the Spirit
3197Peter said that the outpouring of the Spirit would happen in the last days
3198(Acts 2:17). The New Testament writers used the phrase “in the last days”
3199on five occasions and in two different ways. In Acts 2:17 and Hebrews 1:2,
3200they refer to the last days as beginning in the generation of the Book of Acts.
3201However, in 2 Timothy 3:1 and 2 Peter 3:3, they refer to the last days as the
3202generation that the Lord returns. James 5:3 could be used in either way. We
3203know that the last days began on the Day of Pentecost two thousand years
3204ago and will culminate at the coming of Jesus. This narrows down the time
3205frame of Joel’s prophecy. At least we know it was not fulfilled in Joel’s generation,
3206but at a later time called the last days.
3207Joel prophesied of a great outpouring of the Spirit on all nations. When
3208will the fullness of this take place? Joel tells us it will happen “afterward”
3209(Joel 2:28). Of course, the question is: After what? It is after something
3210specific. Some see the “afterward” of verse 28 as a reference to the Second
3211Coming. This is not possible because Joel makes clear in verse 31 that the
3212prophetic spirit and signs in the heavens occur before the day of the Lord or
3213the second coming of Jesus.
3214I will show wonders in the heavens. . . .The sun shall be turned
3215into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the
3216great and awesome day of the Lord.
3217—Joel 2:30–31
3218In studying the options for what afterward refers to, it is best to understand
3219it in the context of Joel’s call to fasting and prayer (vv. 12–17). In other
3220words, after the times of corporate wholeheartedness, God will pour out
322193
3222Contending for the Fullness of the Prophetic Anointing
3223His Spirit. It is as though Joel was saying, “When you cry out to the Lord
3224with fasting and prayer, afterward He will bless you by releasing His Spirit.”
3225Some commentators link the word afterward to the passage just prior (vv.
322621–27), when Joel prophesied of the agricultural blessings and the defeat of
3227the northern enemy (v. 20) that God promised Israel in the millennium. It
3228will be a time in which Israel is never put to shame again (vv. 26–27). This
3229will only happen after Jesus returns. However, Joel said in verse 31 that the
3230prophetic spirit with signs in the sky would occur before Jesus returns and
3231the millennium starts.
3232Another timing indicator is given when Joel twice used the phrase, “in
3233those days” (Joel 2:29; 3:1). This phrase ties together the events prophesied
3234in Joel 2:28–32 into the same time frame as the events prophesied in Joel
32353:1–21. The repeated use of this phrase makes clear that the themes in Joel
32362 and Joel 3 go together and should not be separated. In other words, there
3237should be no chapter division. Joel spoke of the outpouring as being at the
3238time when Israel is surrounded by the Antichrist’s armies and then is delivered
3239from them.
3240Since Joel 2 and Joel 3, in the ultimate fulfillment of the prophecy, are in
3241the same time frame, we know that the outpouring of the Spirit will happen
3242in the same time period as when the Lord gathers the captives of Israel from
3243all nations to bring them back to Jerusalem. It will also be in the same time
3244frame in which the Lord assembles all nations to come against Jerusalem
3245so that He might destroy them. In other words, these events occur in the
3246generation the Lord returns.
3247In much of Christianity today, the vision of contending for the fullness of
3248the prophetic anointing to rest upon the church remains ambiguous at best,
3249or nonexistent at worst. Yet, all throughout the Scriptures, there is a promise
3250that before the Lord returns, He is going to pour out His Spirit and raise up
3251a church that will prophesy and walk in a power that the earth has not yet
3252witnessed. Even Jesus, when He walked upon the earth, promised that “he
3253who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works
3254than these he will do” (John 14:12). While there are few moments in church
3255history that excite and point to this reality, we have yet to see a sustained
3256anointing of power rest upon the church that is greater than the ministry of
3257power that Jesus walked in at His first coming. The church must not settle
3258for anything less than the promise that we would walk as Jesus walked.
325994
3260Growing in the Prophetic
3261However, many in the church today are content to read and hear these
3262prophetic promises and dismiss them as hyperbole or fulfilled by the apostles
3263in the Book of Acts. Because of our lack of power, we try to relieve our
3264barrenness by filling our time with more religious activities, programs, and
3265gimmicks that give the perception we are living in the fullness of what God
3266intended for us while falling far short of the reality of power. The apostle
3267Jude’s words in Jude 3 remain as relevant to us today as it was in his day as
3268he challenged his disciples to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once
3269for all delivered to the saints.” If this exhortation was necessary for the early
3270church in the first century, then how much more necessary is it now for us
3271to rise up and fight to understand and experience the “faith” that the early
3272apostles lived? Just as Jude addressed the early church for their dwindling
3273vision to fight for the fullness of all that God had apportioned to them, it
3274is incumbent upon the church today that we recover the “faith” that Jude
3275encouraged the early church to contend for.
3276Contending for the Apostolic Faith
3277Typically, Christians in our day limit the meaning of “contending for the
3278faith” to fighting for sound doctrine and sometimes including righteous
3279living. While fighting for sound doctrine and living holy before the Lord
3280are good pursuits, there is more to contending for apostolic faith that Jude
3281describes than laboring only to have good theology and holy lifestyles. I can
3282only imagine Jude’s response to a believer in the twenty-first century telling
3283Jude that he only wants sound doctrine and a godly lifestyle, but he doesn’t
3284want or need to heal the sick, cast out demons, and prophesy regularly. I am
3285certain Jude would correct him and say, “If you only have right dogma and
3286live righteously, but don’t demonstrate the power of the doctrine and the
3287outworking of righteousness, then you aren’t fully contending for the faith.”
3288It is not enough to have good doctrine with a clean life. That’s only part of
3289the equation. We need to have the power to deliver the oppressed and the
3290needy with a prophetic word. At the same time, it’s not enough to experience
3291power in ministry while living in secret sin or espousing false doctrine.
3292We must contend for all three elements of true apostolic faith­: biblical ideas,
3293biblical lifestyles, and biblical experience.
329495
3295Contending for the Fullness of the Prophetic Anointing
3296This is the apostolic faith that was once for all delivered by Jesus and the
3297apostles. This is the faith that we are contending for today.
3298Before I move onto explaining five ways that we can contend for the fullness
3299of the prophetic anointing, I want to first address two subtle accusations
3300that ofttimes come against people who desire to contend for the fullness of
3301God’s power.
3302False doctrine of God’s sovereignty and grace
3303The first accusation that people contending for the fullness of God’s
3304prophetic anointing face is the inappropriate view of God’s sovereignty and
3305grace. In the church in the West, there is a false doctrine of grace and sovereignty
3306that has become prevalent. This false doctrine teaches many to “trust”
3307the sovereignty of God in an unbiblical way by “trusting” God to do what
3308He has assigned us to do. This is gross negligence and presumption on our
3309end. Though God may help us do our part, God will not do our part and we
3310cannot do His part.
3311However, it is clear that we must contend for more because the Christian
3312life is lived in cooperation with God’s grace. God has given us a dynamic
3313role in determining some of the measure of our quality of life that we experience
3314in the natural and in the Spirit, including the gift of the prophetic
3315anointing. James tells us in James 4:2, “You do not have because you do not
3316ask.” There are profound blessings that God has chosen to give us, but only if
3317we will rise up to ask for them (Isa. 30:18–19; Ezek. 22:30).
3318Oftentimes, people tend to trust in the sovereignty of God in a way that
3319He had not intended for us because such a false doctrine makes us feel more
3320comfortable in our laziness and passivity. It allows for us to live in dulling
3321compromise, selfishness, and laziness, believing that breakthrough will
3322come in God’s sovereign timing whether we contend for the breakthrough
3323of power or not. This is an unbiblical and dangerous idea.
3324Because God has given us a dynamic role in determining some of the
3325measure of our quality of life, if we seek Him more, He will give us more.
3326If we seek Him less, He will give us less. This may make you feel uncomfortable,
3327as it should, because too many of us are content sleeping in our
3328compromise, all the while backing up such compromise with a false doctrine
3329of grace and sovereignty, which allows for such hyperspiritualized carnality.
333096
3331Growing in the Prophetic
3332Seeking God’s face and His hand
3333The second accusation that people contending for the fullness of God’s
3334prophetic anointing face is characterized by a familiar saying that seems to be
3335growing more popular today that goes something like, “We should seek only
3336God’s face, but not His hand.” Seeking His face generally refers to seeking
3337intimacy with God, while seeking His hand refers to the blessings He has for
3338us, including the release of His power in ministry. This saying sounds great,
3339but it is not biblical. The Scriptures never instruct us to put intimacy with
3340God in an adversarial relationship with God’s power in ministry. Instead,
3341they are active partners not opposed to one another. We seek God’s power,
3342including the gift of prophecy, to set people free so that they also might
3343experience intimacy with Jesus.
3344The only truth within that phrase is that seeking God’s face should be
3345the priority and seeking power in ministry should be second, but we should
3346resist any idea that contending for and seeking God’s power is wrong. While
3347it certainly is wrong to seek power as a higher priority than intimacy (Acts
33488:18–22), it is likewise wrong to neglect seeking power at all. The apostle Paul
3349clearly exhorted us to “earnestly desire the best gifts” (1 Cor. 12:31).
3350Five Ways of Contending for the
3351Fullness of the Prophetic Anointing
3352While the power dimension of the faith that Jude describes includes much
3353more than just prophecy, let’s focus in on the five ways of how we can contend
3354to walk in the fullness of the prophetic anointing.
33551. Have a clear vision for the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
3356We contend for the fullness of the prophetic anointing by maintaining
3357a clear vision for it. I find many in the body of Christ who do not have a
3358vision for this. They have a vision for a “little bit more,” but they do not want
3359to contend for the quality of the prophetic anointing that the early apostles
3360walked in. We must fight to have a vision to walk in everything that God
3361will give the human spirit in this generation with a holy pain concerning our
3362powerlessness and spiritual barrenness (Matt. 5:4).
3363Jesus tells us in Mark 4:24 to “take heed what you hear. With the same
3364measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will
336597
3366Contending for the Fullness of the Prophetic Anointing
3367be given.” In other words, we must be careful with what we hear or in what
3368we believe is God’s measure of fullness for our lives. We must be careful in
3369determining what we will contend for in our experience in God, as most of
3370us are too easily satisfied with bigger churches or better worship music or a
3371few personal prophecies sprinkled throughout our services when the Lord
3372desires to release so much more.
3373I believe the Lord has such a radically different vision for the fullness of
3374the prophetic anointing than what we call the prophetic anointing in the
3375church today. We must align our vision with His vision for the prophetic
3376anointing instead of trying to manipulate Him into our meetings and values.
3377I remember when one pastor was really frustrated and confused by this. He
3378talked to me afterward and said, “I don’t get this. I just don’t understand
3379what you’re trying to say. It’s as if you’re expecting something dramatic
3380to happen.” I responded, “No. You do get it. You are listening. I really am
3381expecting something dramatic to happen.” He thought my response was
3382weird, but I believe it was the biblical response.
3383The type of approach that God is looking for is to burn our boats, burn
3384our bridges, and have the mentality that refuses to retreat under any circumstances.
3385We must determine in our hearts to press in until we die and meet
3386the Lord or until the Lord visits us with power and prophetic anointing.
33872. Cultivate a spirit of gratefulness and faithfulness in smallness.
3388We contend for the fullness of the prophetic anointing by cultivating
3389a spirit of gratefulness and faithfulness for all that the Lord has already
3390released to us, no matter how small it may seem. While we must have a clear
3391vision for the fullness, we must not despise the day of small beginnings. (See
3392Zechariah 4:10.) We must contend for more because we see what we lack, yet
3393we must give thanks for what we do have, no matter how little or insignificant
3394it may feel. As we are faithful in the little, God will release more and
3395more of the prophetic anointing on our lives (Luke 19:17).
33963. Live a life of fasting and prayer.
3397We contend for the fullness of the prophetic anointing by pressing in
3398with a lifestyle of fasting and prayer. We must determine to give ourselves
3399in prayer and fasting in such a way that we refuse to back down in any
3400way. We must press into God through prayer and fasting and settle the
340198
3402Growing in the Prophetic
3403issue, “Why not me?” If you won’t do it, who will? If it won’t happen in our
3404lifetime, then when?
3405Right now, the Lord is orchestrating a worldwide movement of prayer
3406and fasting mingled with worship. Now, prayer and fasting do not earn us
3407more blessings, but prayer and fasting position our hearts in such a way to
3408more fully cooperate with Him in releasing His blessings to us and our cities.
3409I believe that the Lord is calling us right now to shift out of the common
3410mode of Christian ministry into a spiritually violent lifestyle of fasting and
3411prayer (Matt. 11:12). To many in the church today, a lifestyle of prayer and
3412fasting seems counterproductive to seeing the kingdom of God break into
3413our cities. However, Scripture is clear that we enter into greater realms of
3414prophetic anointing by the simple weakness of prayer, fasting, serving, and
3415bearing up under persecution (2 Cor. 11–12).
3416The message of voluntary weakness through prayer and fasting is an
3417offensive message to the church. The problem is that when we begin to walk
3418down the path of weakness, the power does not always break out immediately.
3419The Lord tests our faith with a divine time delay. After a while of
3420praying and fasting, but not seeing the immediate fruit of our prayers and
3421fasting, we often want to draw back. At that point, we often give into the lie
3422that the pathway to God is not really prayer and fasting and that we can skip
3423that step and do it our own way.
3424Most ministries end up believing the lie that there is more power found by
3425bypassing the weakness of prayer and fasting and engaging in frenetic activity
3426rather than taking the road less traveled and pouring our time through
3427prayer and fasting into the presence of God. Too often, they measure in the
3428hear and now, but in the big picture of church history, it is clear that when
3429people have persistently chosen to pray and fast, God has always proved true
3430by releasing a greater dimension of His power. It may take years, sometimes
3431even entire lifetimes, but it happens without exception.
3432	 What do I mean by the “weakness” of prayer and fasting? Think of it this way. When you
3433invest your time and energy in prayer, you are “forfeiting” valuable hours and energy you could
3434be using to build your ministry, your business, or your lifestyle in some way. When you fast, you
3435are giving away your physical strength.
343699
3437Contending for the Fullness of the Prophetic Anointing
34384. Seek to fully obey God without compromise.
3439We contend for the fullness of the prophetic anointing by seeking to fully
3440obey God without compromise. We must choose to walk out lives that reflect
3441the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5–7), living free of any compromise by
3442declaring war against all known sin in our lives.
3443Many times, people who desire to be free from all compromise grow
3444discouraged because there are one or two or a few issues in their life that
3445they do not feel they can get free from. The issue is not whether or not you
3446still struggle with sin in your life, but that you are actively warring against it
3447and seeking to be set free. I have never met a single person who is completely
3448free from all the hidden sins and issues in his or her life, but I believe that if
3449we seek to be free from compromise, we will find freedom in time.
3450I know of many people who jump into the prayer and worship movement
3451and wear it as a badge of honor, thinking that they have joined some elite
3452group that does not struggle with sin and compromise. They go to prayer
3453meetings thinking they are free from compromise because they attend the
3454prayer meetings, but their private lives do not correspond with what they
3455are saying in the prayer meetings. Prayer and fasting can never serve as a
3456substitute for a lifestyle of obedience in all the other areas of life. In order to
3457receive the fullness of the prophetic anointing, it is imperative that we war
3458against sin in order to live lives free of compromise and full of integrity.
34595. Bear the reproach and stigma of the anointing.
3460Last but not least, we contend for the fullness of the prophetic anointing
3461by bearing the reproach that comes with God’s power. This is no small thing.
3462Over the years, the Lord has allowed me to witness and even be a small part
3463of a God-orchestrated stigma and reproach that accompanies the prophetic
3464anointing. We have this false idea that when God releases the prophetic
3465anointing and power, we will have dignity and honor and look “cool” in
3466everyone’s eyes. However, what I have noticed over the years is that when
3467God releases His prophetic anointing on His vessels, they also become targets
3468for both demons and men, sometimes even from good and godly men. This
3469is not necessarily a judgment of God against them, but His mercy to keep
3470them humble as He releases greater measures of His unusual supernatural
3471manifestation of power.
3472Even the apostle Paul bore the stigma of the prophetic anointing. He made
3473100
3474Growing in the Prophetic
3475this clear in 2 Corinthians 12:7 by writing, “Lest I should be exalted above
3476measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given
3477to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted.” This stigma can
3478serve to keep us from pride and arrogance as God protects us by hedging us
3479in with such reproach.
3480We must learn to take a stand and bear the approach before and after God
3481releases His prophetic anointing. God will allow us to look foolish for our
3482own sakes, so we must not wait around until it becomes popular to seek God
3483with spiritual violence. Join in with those who are taking a stand, or be the
3484first to stand now.
3485Conclusion
3486There are many scriptural promises of God releasing His prophetic anointing
3487to the generation in which the Lord will return. I believe that we are living
3488in that generation. We do not contend for the fullness of the prophetic
3489anointing because it merely adds excitement to our meetings, but because
3490the Lord promises that He will release His Spirit and we desire to cooperate
3491and partner with Him in His purpose for this generation.
3492101
349310C h a p t e r
3494False Equations About
3495Prophetic Giftings
3496I t’s too bad, Richard,” I replied. “I’m sorry you feel that way.” My
3497friend Richard is a dedicated and godly Nazarene pastor with an
3498earned seminary degree. He was shocked and offended at the idea that
3499people with genuine prophetic ministries may be incorrect in some of their
3500doctrines and have unsettled issues in their character. Some of them really
3501do end up committing scandalous sins. Richard used a common but inaccurate
3502equation to judge spiritual gifts. He thought that a person with a
3503history of true prophecies also must be uniquely godly and biblically sound
3504in all their doctrine. I strongly disagreed with him. He had no experience
3505with prophetic people, yet he had his theories clearly worked out. When I
3506first began to relate to prophetic ministries, I would have fully agreed with
3507Richard. However, after years of experience with the prophetic ministry,
3508I had to rethink many of my original theories. Yes, prophetic people must
3509be clear about major doctrines like the person and work of Christ and the
3510infallibility of the Scriptures. But on lesser points of doctrine, they might
3511be misinformed or confused. It would be easier to just dismiss them as false
3512prophets, but it is not quite that simple.
3513One of the things that surprises some pastors when they first begin to
3514embrace the prophetic ministry is that the gifts of the Spirit really do operate
3515102
3516Growing in the Prophetic
3517in people who have some significant unresolved issues in their lives. Some
3518think that only godly, mature people are used by God in demonstrations of
3519power. This is simply not true, nor is it biblical. Of course, the first name who
3520comes to mind is Samson. Some assume that a flaw in a person’s doctrine
3521or character is sufficient proof that the gifts functioning in their ministries
3522must not be from God. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians gives us much
3523insight to a carnal church that operated in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They
3524misused the gifts (1 Cor. 14), had wrong doctrines (1 Cor. 8–9), and lacked
3525godly character (1 Cor. 3–5). There is no suggestion in 1 Corinthians that the
3526misuse of the gifts makes them invalid.
3527Gifts of Grace
3528The word used in the New Testament for spiritual gifts is charisma, or
3529literally, “gifts of grace.” In other words, these gifts are given freely and are
3530not earned.
3531The sorcerer Simon misunderstood the gifts of the Holy Spirit, thinking
3532they could be purchased (Acts 8:18–24). Peter severely rebuked him for
3533seeking to buy the power of God. There is not much difference between
3534earning gifts and buying them. Money is only a function of effort and labor.
3535Contrary to some commonly held equations, the gifts of God are distributed
3536at the will of the Holy Spirit, not by earning them even by godly character.
3537But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to
3538each one individually as He wills.
3539—1 Corinthians 12:11
3540They are not given as a token or a badge of God’s approval of a person’s
3541level of spiritual maturity. Nor are they earned by our consecration. They are
3542grace gifts.
3543Paul wrote to the Galatians who had difficulties understanding grace and
3544kept putting law and works back into their spiritual equations: “O foolish
3545Galatians! Who has bewitched you. . .? This only I want to learn from you:
3546Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3547Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made
3548perfect by the flesh?” (Gal. 3:1–3).
3549103
3550False Equations About Prophetic Giftings
3551After the Galatians experienced the manifestations of spiritual gifts, some
3552of them wanted to earn the gifts and perfect them by the spiritual accomplishments
3553of the law or by the works of the flesh. Paul reminded them that
3554being spiritually gifted is by grace just as justification is by faith (Eph. 2:8–9).
3555Yes, just as we are saved by grace, not by works of merit, so we receive the
3556gifts of the Spirit by grace, not works. Paul taught about receiving the gifts
3557of the Spirit by faith and not works as analogous to receiving justification by
3558faith and not works.
3559The lame man who begged for alms was commanded by Peter and John
3560to walk in the name of Jesus. When Peter saw how amazed the people were
3561about the healing, he said: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why
3562look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made
3563this man walk?” (Acts 3:12).
3564Peter wanted to make that point clearly and quickly before there were
3565any false assumptions. The manifestation of God’s power was not a sign of
3566his personal godliness. He went on to say: “And on the basis of faith in His
3567name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you
3568see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this
3569perfect health in the presence of you all” (v. 16, nas).
3570That passage contains many implications. But if it says anything, it is that
3571the miracle was not about Peter’s own spirituality. It had to do with God and
3572His purposes and compassion to heal the man in need.
3573Becoming the Gift
3574I am not suggesting an antinomian (lawless) approach to the use of spiritual
3575gifts any more than those who preach justification by faith suggest living
3576a lawless life. I’m desirous of strengthening our conviction to examine all
3577things carefully even if they are from a famous prophetic vessel who is
3578powerfully anointed as well as being open to receive from a vessel who is
3579obviously broken. Also, when you are having a bad month, do not draw back
3580from asking the Holy Spirit to use you to bless someone else by being a vessel
3581used in prophecy to healing.
3582Paul writes, “But to each one of us grace was given according to the
3583measure of Christ’s gift” (Eph. 4:7, nas). What Paul says in the following
3584verses makes it clear that the gift he was referring to is a ministry gift: “And
3585104
3586Growing in the Prophetic
3587He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and
3588some pastors and teachers” (v. 11).
3589There is a common misconception about the anointed people referred to
3590in this passage. Some assume that different ministries are given the gift of
3591being a prophet, pastor, evangelist, and so forth. Paul saw it differently. Jesus
3592gave some people to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers
3593as His gift to the church. It was not an issue of the ministry ability being
3594given as a gift for the benefit of the minister but rather for the benefit of the
3595church. God’s giftings are not about our promotions and esteem. They are
3596distributed to people who become vessels and conduits of His mercy for the
3597benefit of others. Thus, God anoints us for the good of others, not for us to
3598gain some benefit from it. We cannot earn God’s anointing.
3599The gifts of the Spirit in a person’s life are not merit badges signifying
3600their godliness. Yet, many see the gifts working through an individual as a
3601symbol of God’s approval of that person’s life. They see that the more significant
3602the giftings and power are, the more approval that ministry must have
3603from God. However, if we understand that the manifestations of the Spirit
3604are for the common good of the church and not for the good of the individual
3605whom God uses, we would be less likely to stumble over the idea that
3606God regularly uses imperfect, often immature people to bless the church in
3607powerful ways.
3608There is a great difference between immature, unwise, and even carnal
3609servants and those living in deliberate rebellion against God. We should not
3610receive from people living in defiance of God no matter how powerful their
3611prophecies or healing seem to be.
3612This whole idea of grace is contrary to our natural way of thinking. We
3613naturally struggle with the idea that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given on
3614the basis of grace through faith without reference to our meritorious efforts.
3615Paul taught about receiving the gifts of the Spirit by faith and not works
3616as analogous to receiving justification by faith and not works (Gal. 3:1–5).
3617Justification by faith alone makes sense when we realize that no amount of
3618human effort could bridge the immeasurable gap between God and our sin.
3619God’s solution on the cross makes sense as we realize that the human effort
3620equation is hopelessly flawed.
3621No amount of consecration can earn us the right to the gifts of the Spirit
3622105
3623False Equations About Prophetic Giftings
3624any more than they gain us forgiveness. When compared to the purity and
3625holiness of God, the differences between the best of us and the worst of us
3626are not as great as some of us might like to imagine.
3627In Scripture, God forgave and extended great mercy to people who, by
3628our standards, did some pretty despicable things. Without diminishing the
3629gravity of serious sins, Jesus showed everyone that God’s opinion about
3630things like pride, hypocrisy, treatment of the poor, unforgiveness, and selfrighteousness
3631was more serious to Him than we could have ever imagined.
3632This violates some of our preconceived notions and our ranking of the “really
3633bad sins.” “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the
3634heart,” the Bible says (1 Sam. 16:7). He is very patient and merciful with us.
3635We must not automatically judge the spiritual gifts in someone’s ministry
3636as invalid simply because of their spiritual deficiencies. God is sometimes
3637more concerned about what He has set out to accomplish in the life of the
3638prophetic vessel than about bringing full judgment on them in that season.
3639False Equation #1: Character Equals Anointing
3640Equations work backward as well as forward, even misconceived equations.
3641So, those who wrongly assume that spiritual giftings endorse character will
3642also conclude that it is character that produces spiritual gifts. This encourages
3643people in some circles to “fake it” so as not to appear “ungifted.” It
3644implies that the most spiritual, mature, and righteous people are those who
3645have the most prolific power gifts.
3646This kind of thinking sets people up for condemnation, especially when
3647everyone else seems to be prophesying, having prophetic dreams, and seeing
3648visions. It puts much unnecessary pressure on people if they feel they are less
3649spiritual than those with prophetic experiences.
3650I felt this way for a season, and the result was that I wrongly abdicated my
3651leadership to those who had more powerful prophetic experiences than I did.
3652The church was bruised and hurt by that wrong decision, which came out of
3653my insecurity and false humility.
3654Remember, most prophetic people don’t have the gift of leadership that is
3655essential for a church to be healthy, balanced, and safe. A church led only by
3656prophetic people will not be a safe environment for God’s people.
3657One of the most important things to do in a church that wants to nurture
3658106
3659Growing in the Prophetic
3660and administrate prophetic ministry is to dial down the mysticism with its
3661desire to look superspiritual.
3662This is not a spiritual beauty contest, but it can turn into one very quickly
3663if people see gifts as merit badges rather than something to bless the church.
3664It is not about the vessel. It’s about loving the Lord and building up His
3665church in love.
3666The fact is that God’s power and revelation flowing through people is not
3667necessarily a sign that God is pleased with them in other areas of their lives.
3668Sometimes the prophetic gifts will continue to operate even when there is an
3669inner crumbling taking place in their private lives.
3670People with high-profile prophetic gifts must constantly guard against
3671high-mindedness. High-mindedness is simply considering that you are so
3672important that you are judged more leniently. High-minded people are those
3673who think that because they are doing such an important work for God and
3674because His power is manifest through them, they are not accountable for
3675things like integrity, honesty, and kindness—especially in the small and
3676unseen matters of life.
3677It is this temptation to self-deception that plagues some people in positions
3678of influence. It is a great deception because, in actuality, the opposite is
3679true. To whom much is given, much will be required (Luke 12:48).
3680Every person through whom spiritual gifts operate are wise to remain
3681acutely aware that a day of reckoning is surely coming. We will all stand
3682before the judgment seat of Christ one day for a final evaluation of our lives
3683and ministries (1 Cor. 3:11–15).
3684Some of God’s servants who fall in sin are made an example of the truth
3685that the Lord is patient with their sin and that His gifts are without repentance
3686(Rom. 11:29). Others are made examples that God will openly discipline
3687those He loves (Rev. 2:21–23). This results in many others trembling in the
3688fear of God (1 Tim. 5:20–24).
3689Saul was a picture of both ways that God chooses to deal with His servants.
3690Saul remained as king of Israel in his sin. God in great patience anointed
3691him to win great battles. God partially blessed Israel under Saul even in the
3692midst of his sinful failures. However, Saul eventually crossed the line with
3693God and was removed.
3694God’s gifts are freely given as a sign of His mercy and desire to bless His
3695107
3696False Equations About Prophetic Giftings
3697people, not as His approval. Don’t invalidate all spiritual gifts that work in
3698spiritually immature people. But also do not be fooled by God’s grace and
3699patience with prophetic vessels who remain anointed for a season as they
3700continue in their sin. Eventually He will call us all to account as stewards of
3701the gifts He has entrusted to us.
3702Accuracy of revelation does not equal godliness of character of
3703lifestyle. This is a reality that offends our normal thinking. Why
3704does God permit such a dichotomy? Ultimately, this is probably
3705an “illegal” question, but we must soberly face its reality.
3706The story of Balaam is an Old Testament illustration of a man
3707with a genuine prophetic anointing who led Israel into great sin.
3708King Saul prophesied by the Spirit of the Lord but ended his life
3709tormented by an evil spirit.
3710In the New Testament, we look to the church at Corinth for
3711the most in-depth studies on both carnality and spiritual gifts.
3712History reveals that those who continue in blatant sin while
3713exercising supernatural gifts create an ever-widening gulf in
3714their personalities, which results in spiritual, emotional, mental,
3715physical, relational, and moral breakdowns.
3716False Equation #2: Anointing Equals
3717Divine Endorsement of Ministry Style
3718The benefits that have come to our church as a result of the prophetic ministry
3719have naturally been accompanied by some headaches. The greatest difficulties
3720have had to do with ministry styles and methodologies.
3721In chapter 11, I will talk about some of the things God does that seem
3722strange and unusual. He sometimes offends the mind to reveal the heart. The
3723point here, however, is that the exhibitionist style that some prophetic people
3724adopt is due to their pride and weaknesses.
3725I have had long and painful discussions about this with some prophetic
3726people in our church. In the most problematic cases, some who are anointed
3727by the Spirit have a ministry style that draws a lot of attention to them.
37281.
37292.
37303.
3731108
3732Growing in the Prophetic
3733What often begins as slightly unusual in a ministry style turns into exaggeration
3734and manipulation. In several cases I have simply had to say, “Please
3735stop doing this.”
3736Some prophetic people are tempted to think that their particular style
3737is essential to the anointing working through their lives. They will sometimes
3738say, “No, I have to do it this way or God will not manifest His power
3739through me.”
3740Methodology or ministry style does not produce power or anointing.
3741That’s a false equation that some fall prey to. Because you were standing in a
3742certain place or doing a certain thing when God moved, it doesn’t mean that
3743the circumstances had anything to do with it.
3744Some will try to re-create the setting so they can see God’s power again.
3745The Lord often used Bob Jones by having him lay his hands on people’s
3746hands. He would sometimes put his fingers against their fingers. In this way,
3747God revealed things by the Holy Spirit to speak to that person. Bob was very
3748accurate in using this method that God uniquely showed him. Before long
3749others started imitating it. However, it did not work. Why? The discernment
3750comes from the Holy Spirit, not from the methodology of Bob Jones.
3751I’ve seen many different people imitating methods because they think that
3752the method is the key. But the person of the Holy Spirit is the key to operating
3753in the power of God. Methodology does not release God’s power.
3754We must not use the power of suggestion to get people to respond in the
3755way we want. A leader succumbing to manipulation might speak to people in
3756this manner: “Come up if you want to be touched by God. If you are sensitive
3757to the Spirit, you will fall under the power of God.”
3758If we subtly “suggest” that people fall down or speak in tongues, it is
3759manipulation. I’ve seen a well-known minister rebuke people because they
3760wouldn’t fall down when he prayed for them. He told one woman, “Listen,
3761just receive.” The lady replied, “I am receiving.”
3762But the minister said, “Don’t tell me you are receiving. You’re just standing
3763there resisting.”
3764They got into an argument, right on the spot. He wanted her to fall down
3765as a sign that God was touching her or rather that the anointing was resting
3766on him.
3767Ministers with power and prophetic giftings who are not in relationship
3768109
3769False Equations About Prophetic Giftings
3770with a balanced local church team often allow their method-as-power
3771tendencies to dominate their ministry.
3772It is much more difficult to get away with manipulation and pretense
3773when you relate closely to a local church of people who love genuineness
3774and reality.
3775Some in ministry will push the person they are praying for until they
3776fall down. To them it has become a personal mission because their public
3777image is on the line each time they lead a ministry time. This is high-octane
3778manipulation.
3779False equations about the need to use the methodology can often lead
3780to hype. The methods themselves become a false prop. Nothing holy and
3781supernatural is actually taking place. Thus, they feel they have to produce
3782results. These ministers have started down a road of hype and institutionalized
3783methodology. They are afraid to admit that God may not be moving in
3784a particular ministry setting. They have too much vested in preserving their
3785reputation in ministry as always being anointed. It is OK to admit it when
3786not much is happening. To refuse to do this can result in the ministry time
3787becoming a conspiracy of pretense.
3788God sometimes withholds His power in a ministry time to see if the
3789leader will humbly trust Him instead of trying to appear anointed whether
3790He is moving or not. On certain occasions He strategically does not manifest
3791His power in order to win people’s hearts away from the prophetic minister.
3792Sometimes He will withdraw His Spirit’s presence to keep from perpetuating
3793our confidence in our methodologies.
3794When some hungry people get around a prophetically anointed person,
3795they are so hopeful that God will speak to them that they cling to every word
3796uttered. This makes both parties vulnerable to unique temptations.
3797I believe that it is wrong to utilize mystique to influence people. Unfortunately,
3798this happens all too often. Many prophetic folks take themselves too
3799seriously. They love the feeling of having such influence over others. They seek
3800to make themselves more spiritual, holy, and sensitive than they really are.
3801It is easy to get one’s identity from his or her prophetic ministry. I have
3802seen prophetic people succumb to the expectations of the people who desperately
3803want a word from God. They will prophesy whether God is saying
3804anything or not!
3805110
3806Growing in the Prophetic
3807Elijah poured water on the sacrifices on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18), instead
3808of putting lighter fluid on them! This made it “harder” for God to set it on
3809fire. Elijah was confident that the fire of God could consume even a wet
3810sacrifice.
3811I challenge prophetic ministers to put some “water on the sacrifices” they
3812prepare by trusting God to prove His power without them “helping” God
3813out so much.
3814I encourage them to refuse to promote their prophetic mystique.
3815False Equation #3: Anointing Equals
3816100 Percent Doctrinal Accuracy
3817Throughout church history there have been many anointed ministries who
3818held strange doctrines. A most notable example of this in recent history is
3819William Branham.
3820Branham, poor and uneducated, began his ministry in 1933. He was a
3821traveling Baptist evangelist, and his meetings were frequently attended by
3822thousands of people. His ministry was characterized by amazing manifestations
3823of healing and the word of knowledge.
3824When people approached him in a healing line, Branham could describe
3825their diseases, give other facts and information about them, and sometimes
3826even call them by their names. The gift, many people insisted, was 100
3827percent accurate.
3828An interpreter for Branham in Switzerland, who later became a historian,
3829said, “I am not aware of any case in which he was mistaken in the
3830often detailed statements he made.”1 The healings were also both numerous
3831and astonishing.
3832However, Branham ended up preaching some doctrinal heresy, although
3833never to the extent of denying Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior or doubting
3834the authority of the Scriptures. He allowed himself to be spoken of as the
3835“angel” to the seventh church referred to in Revelation 10. This caused great
3836confusion among his followers. They reasoned that if God gave him so much
3837true prophetic information about people’s lives, then why didn’t God in the
3838same way give him sound doctrine? But the gift of prophecy doesn’t ensure
3839that one will have the gift of teaching or vice versa.
3840111
3841False Equations About Prophetic Giftings
3842The problem is that some people with strong prophetic ministries often
3843aren’t satisfied with just being used by God in prophecy and miracles. They
3844want to also be teachers.
3845I have seen prophetic people and evangelists become separate from the
3846local church. When this happens, some are tempted to try to function as a
3847teacher since they have a large number of people following them. However,
3848if they do not have a teaching anointing, then they will end up promoting
3849unbalanced doctrines. This happens when they teach the multitudes who
3850gathered because of the gifts of the Spirit operating through them.
3851If they don’t have a teaching gift that has been cultivated through proper
3852training in the Scriptures, they are sure to teach unbalanced doctrine to
3853their large number of followers.
3854For the Profit of All
3855The most important thing to remember is that “the manifestation of the
3856Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all” (1 Cor. 12:7). Spiritual gifts
3857are for the purpose of blessing the body of Christ, not exalting the person
3858through whom they come. Paul appropriately said that we must be zealous
3859of spiritual gifts as we seek to abound for the edification of the church
3860(1 Cor. 14:12).
3861
3862113
386311 C h a p t e r
3864God Offends the Mind
3865to Reveal the Heart
3866M y introduction to prophetic ministry was difficult because I
3867despised the weirdness of some of the people God used. I was
3868also bothered by some of their bizarre methods that were foreign
3869to everything in my evangelical background.
3870Some of what people claimed as the manifestations of the Spirit were
3871contrary to my sense of orderliness and respectability as well. Before I could
3872move forward, I had to deal with what offended me in these issues.
3873As Christians, some of us have wrong assumptions about how God deals
3874with us. He is a gentleman, we say, who will never barge in but who politely
3875stands at the door, quietly knocking and patiently waiting.
3876The Holy Spirit is often thought of as being shy or even skittish. If we
3877want the Holy Spirit to move, we get very quiet and still. If a baby cries, some
3878think, the Spirit might be quenched or perhaps scared off. Some operate
3879under notions such as these.
3880Paul instructed the Corinthians not to forbid tongues or prophecy, but to
3881“let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40). Our leadership
3882team has worked hard at creating an atmosphere in which the free flow of
3883spiritual gifts can take place “decently and in order.”
3884114
3885Growing in the Prophetic
3886But Paul’s instructions to bridle people who are operating in the flesh
3887have been interpreted in such a way as to suggest that the Holy Spirit will
3888operate only in ways that conform to our sense of order and respectability.
3889That was not the case in the Old Testament, in the early church, or in revivals
3890throughout history.
3891Two facts are clear. First, the Holy Spirit does not appear to be overly
3892concerned about our reputations. The outpouring of the Spirit didn’t do
3893much to enhance the respectability of those in the Upper Room. “These
3894[men] are not drunk, as you suppose,” said Peter (Acts 2:15). Some seemed to
3895be drunk as a result of being filled with the Holy Spirit. I can imagine Peter
3896preaching his Acts 2 sermon while still feeling the effects of the holy hilarity
3897of heaven. Peter preached to the Pharisees, who were deeply offended at what
3898was happening with Peter and the apostles. Some of the devout Jews in Jerusalem
3899that day scoffed at the apostles, “They are full of new wine” (v. 13). The
3900disciples’ behavior might have seemed out of order to these religious leaders,
3901but it was, nevertheless, the work of the Holy Spirit.
3902A second fact about the Spirit’s dealing with us is this: in contrast to the
3903polite, shy, gentlemanly image we have of Him, sometimes He intentionally
3904offends people.
3905God knew that many would be offended by the foolishness of the gospel
3906message (1 Cor. 1:21–23). Paul warned the Galatians not to seek to remove
3907the “offense of the cross” (Gal. 5:11). The fact is that the gospel is sometimes
3908very offensive by God’s design.
3909The Intentional Offense
3910Sometimes God intentionally offends people. A good example of this is what
3911Jesus did in John 6. Jesus had fed five thousand people by multiplying the
3912fish and loaves. Then they expected Him to prove Himself with greater signs,
3913something even more dramatic than multiplying bread or healing people.
3914They anticipated something comparable to the parting of the Red Sea or
3915calling fire down from heaven. The people asked Jesus: “What sign will You
3916perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will you do?
3917Our fathers ate the manna in the desert” (vv. 30–31).
3918Inotherwords,theywere askingJesustodosomething like themanna-fromheaven
3919miracle again. Jesus didn’t give them their desired sign but responded
3920115
3921God Offends the Mind to Reveal the Heart
3922by saying, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. . . .Most
3923assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink
3924His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My
3925blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (vv. 51–54).
3926Verses 60–61 state, “Many of His disciples, when they heard this, said,
3927‘This is a hard saying; who can understand it?’ When Jesus knew in Himself
3928that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, ‘Does this offend
3929you?’” A few verses down, we find that “from that time many of His disciples
3930went back and walked with Him no more” (v. 66).
3931Jesus offended them theologically by saying that He was the bread that
3932came down from heaven. He offended their expectations by refusing to
3933give them another great sign. He offended their sensibility and dignity by
3934suggesting that they eat His flesh and drink His blood. They complained
3935about Him and even “quarreled among themselves” (v. 52).
3936Throughout the Bible, God is revealed as One who offends and confounds
3937those who think they have everything figured out. (See 1 Corinthians 1:23;
39381 Peter 2:8.) Isaiah referred to Jesus as a stone of stumbling and a rock of
3939offense (Isa. 8:14).
3940Jesus knew their hearts—He knew that those who followed Him did so
3941with mixed motives. So He determined to reveal their hearts by intentionally
3942offending their minds. By offending people’s minds with His methods,
3943God reveals the pride that lies hidden in their hearts.
3944Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, was plagued with leprosy.
3945With great desperation, he determined to see Elisha even though he was a
3946Jewish prophet. Israel was a military enemy of Syria. Elisha didn’t even bother
3947to come out of his house to see Naaman, who had traveled so far, but rather
3948he only sent a message to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven
3949times, and your flesh shall be restored to you” (2 Kings 5:10). Naaman, a
3950prominent military leader in Syria, was so offended by the way Elisha treated
3951him. He said, “‘Are not. . .rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of
3952Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?’ So he turned and went away
3953in a rage” (v. 12).
3954I know some obnoxious individuals who make it a practice to offend
3955people. God’s offense, on the contrary, is redemptive. He offends people’s
3956minds in order to reveal their hearts. The Bible teaches that God gives grace
3957116
3958Growing in the Prophetic
3959to the humble but resists the proud (James 4:6, 1 Pet. 5:5–6). Dealing with
3960Naaman’s stumbling block of pride was the first step to his healing, which he
3961received when he was humbly obedient to Elisha’s words.
3962Offended at the People God Uses
3963Paul wrote that God offends people not only by His message but also by His
3964messengers.
3965But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to
3966shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world
3967to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things
3968of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen,
3969and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that
3970are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.
3971—1 Corinthians 1:27–29
3972I understand that the context of this principle (God’s intentional offense)
3973relates to issues much broader than strange prophets and bizarre manifestations.
3974But in these instances, the principle here can also be clearly applied.
3975While I was still pastoring in St. Louis, the principle that God offends
3976the mind to reveal the heart became real to me. I preached on it several
3977times. I thought God was preparing us for an outpouring of the Spirit that
3978might include some unusual things. I had no experience with the prophetic
3979ministry. Looking back, I see that the Lord was preparing me as He gave
3980me these messages so that I would not stumble over the strangeness of the
3981prophetic people I would meet in the months to come in Kansas City.
3982Offended at Bizarre Prophetic Methods
3983Some of the people whom God has called are different from you in their
3984personality and culture. You may be naturally offended at the way they carry
3985themselves simply because they are different. Others are led to do strange
3986things by the nature of their prophetic call. Compared to the normal guy
3987working down at the factory, some prophetic people are pretty eccentric.
3988It took me a while to get used to some of their idiosyncrasies that offended
3989my mind at first. The truth is that some of their idiosyncrasies still irritate
3990117
3991God Offends the Mind to Reveal the Heart
3992me, but I’ve learned to look past them for the sake of receiving God’s blessings
3993through them.
3994When I first met Bob Jones, I was convinced he was not of God. I did not
3995desire to talk to him ever again. I had no experience with prophetic people
3996and no thought-out theology on how to relate to them. Yet I somehow had a
3997conviction that he was a false prophet.
3998I’m surprised now at how authoritative I was about things with which I
3999had no experience. That is called pride. Looking back, I realized that one
4000of the principal factors that influenced me was that Bob looked and acted
4001so strangely.
4002He spoke in parables constantly. I knew God spoke to us in parables in the
4003Word, but when Bob did it, it was really strange. Bob would tell me symbolic
4004stories filled with parabolic word pictures for which I had no interpretation.
4005Then he would claim that God told him those parables. I didn’t have any
4006paradigm on which to base his claim that God speaks in such abstract ways
4007to people today.
4008His ministry style was like nothing I had ever seen before. He would talk
4009about feeling the wind of the Spirit or about his hands getting hot during a
4010ministry time. His language was that of an uneducated person. His appearance
4011was such that no one could ever have accused him of vanity or of being
4012too caught up in the fashions of the day. Occasionally his shirt and pants
4013were too short. Sometimes his stomach showed slightly when he stood, and
4014when he sat, his pants legs sometimes went three inches above his socks.
4015These things about Bob Jones somewhat offended me—his appearance,
4016his language, his revelation, and his ministry style. Initially, I could not
4017imagine that he was the “real thing” because he was not like me. However,
4018after I had witnessed the accuracy of Bob’s prophetic ministry over time,
4019I finally begin to think his strange ministry style might be acceptable. His
4020love for Jesus and the Scriptures was very apparent. Eventually, I found him
4021endearing. Since becoming friends with Bob, the way I judge prophetic
4022people has changed drastically.
4023Unbalanced people
4024Some unbalanced people are simply trying to be weird because of their
4025misconceptions of prophetic ministry. They are excited about the idea of
4026118
4027Growing in the Prophetic
4028being some sort of mystical prophet; therefore, they intentionally act weird.
4029They suppose their strangeness makes them more anointed. However, some
4030such people are just eccentric, not anointed.
4031I don’t believe the idea that because someone is prophetic they should be
4032strange. People will try to get away with all kinds of things by claiming
4033that nonprophetic people simply can’t understand them. I don’t buy that
4034for a second.
4035Sometimes strange methods are just strange. It is not a case of God
4036offending people’s minds, but rather of the prophetic person having unusual
4037styles and methods. Some things simply need to be changed so that the
4038prophetic person can function more effectively in a public setting.
4039Unconventional ministry styles
4040Unconventional styles don’t necessarily invalidate a prophet’s message.
4041Don’t dismiss something simply because it’s unconventional. There wasn’t
4042an Old Testament biblical precedent for Paul to send out handkerchiefs to
4043sick people (Acts 19:12) or for Jesus to put mud on a blind person’s eyes. Jesus
4044said we were to judge the fruit of a prophet, not his methodology—unless, of
4045course, his methods violate Scripture (Matt. 7:15–20).
4046If people have a track record of having accurate prophecies, then you can
4047take them more seriously when their methodologies are a little unorthodox.
4048It took some time for each member of our prophetic team to develop credibility
4049with us.
4050Are prophetic people loners?
4051The Bible speaks of “schools” or “companies” of prophets (1 Sam. 10:10;
40522 Kings 4:1; 5:22). This reminds us that there is a corporate dimension to
4053developing prophetic gifting among believers. It is not always necessary for
4054a prophetic person to hear from God alone and then deliver His word in
4055public. Other more mature Christians can help those with less experience
4056to sharpen their listening and discerning skills when prophetic ministry is
4057developed among believers. At the IHOP Missions Base, we have hundreds
4058of people on prophetic teams. Some of these people are mature in their
4059prophetic calling, and others are just starting out. Together we can go further
4060in God at a faster pace.
4061119
4062God Offends the Mind to Reveal the Heart
4063Public correction
4064Pastors have to be careful about correcting people too abruptly, especially
4065in public meetings. We must deal with them in love; first, because they are
4066valuable and important to God, and second, because if we don’t correct them
4067properly, others who are just starting out in prophetic ministry will not feel
4068the confidence to step out in faith.
4069Over the years, I have developed a series of corrective steps to use if somebody
4070continually prophesies in the flesh. First, if they prophesy something
4071publicly that we discern is fleshly, we let it pass the first time or two unless
4072it is clearly unbiblical or destructive in nature. People need to have room to
4073make mistakes without the fear of being too quickly corrected.
4074If the problem happens again, then we talk with them privately in a gentle
4075way suggesting that they need to be a little more restrained in their public
4076prophesying. If they do it again, then we take it up a level by privately asking
4077them to stop prophesying publicly. If they do it again, then we strongly warn
4078them that we will publicly stop them the next time. If they do it again, we
4079will confront the issue publicly. In twenty-five years of pastoring prophetic
4080people, I have only had to publicly stop people about five times. Most people
4081“get the message” somewhere in the process of the private discussions.
4082When correcting the person publicly, it is important to explain the entire
4083process to the congregation in the very meeting in which the person was
4084corrected. We tell the congregation that this person was instructed and
4085warned repeatedly in private. This helps the people realize that the correction
4086was not an abrupt and arbitrary correction. The others need to be assured
4087that they will not suddenly be corrected publicly without prior private warnings.
4088Most of God’s people want to be a blessing and to do things in biblical
4089order. Communicating the whole process publicly creates a safe environment
4090that helps the congregation to not be afraid to step out in faith, and it also
4091reinforces the fact that the leadership will deal directly with things that are
4092out of God’s order (1 Cor. 14:40).
4093Offended at the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
4094People can be offended in several different ways by the Lord. Some are
4095offended by the message of the cross itself. Some are offended by the type
4096of people God uses. Others are offended by the way the Holy Spirit moves.
4097120
4098Growing in the Prophetic
4099I was not prepared for unusual manifestations of the Spirit, but I was even
4100less prepared for the unusual people whom God joined to our team.
4101When the power of the Holy Spirit is poured out, it is sometimes poured
4102out in an unexpected way; consequently, it is ridiculed and rejected. In the
4103first Great Awakening in America, as on the Day of Pentecost, a lot of strange
4104things took place.
4105In October 1741, the Reverend Samuel Johnson, acting dean of Yale
4106College, was suspicious of the revival then sweeping New England, which
4107was led by the itinerant preacher George Whitefield. He wrote an anxious
4108letter to a friend in England:
4109But this new enthusiasm, in consequence of Whitefield’s preaching
4110through the country, has got great footing in the College
4111[Yale]....Many scholars have been possessed of it, and two of this
4112year’s candidates were denied their degrees for their disorderly and
4113restless endeavorsto propagate it....We have now prevailing among
4114us the most odd and unaccountable enthusiasm than perhaps
4115obtained in any age or nation. For not only the minds of many
4116people are at once struck with prodigious distresses upon their
4117hearing the hideous outcries of our itinerant preachers, but even
4118their bodies are frequently in a moment affected with the strangest
4119convulsions and involuntary agitations and cramps, which also
4120have sometimes happened to those who came as mere spectators.1
4121Jonathan Edwards’s wife, Sarah, was deeply affected by the presence of the
4122Holy Spirit. In her own words, she describes how for a period of time, lasting
4123more than seventeen days, she was so overcome with the presence of God
4124that all her strength would leave her and she would collapse. At other times
4125she could would leap and shout for joy.2
4126Jonathan Edwards was a defender of the move of the Spirit, but the
4127extreme manner in which people were affected was too much for the conservative
4128Christian leaders of New England. Their respectability was offended,
4129and thus, they condemned the movement for its excessive enthusiasm and
4130unconventional manifestations of the Spirit.
4131Dr. Sam Storms obtained a ThM degree from Dallas Theological Seminary
4132and a PhD in intellectual history from the University of Texas. Sam was
4133121
4134God Offends the Mind to Reveal the Heart
4135somewhat skeptical about these spontaneous outbursts by people who were
4136supposedly influenced by the Holy Spirit.
4137At the April 1994 Vineyard conference in Dallas, his skepticism was
4138removed. Sam was at the back of the room when the power of the Holy Spirit
4139fell on him. He first began to pray and weep as the Lord was ministering to
4140some deeper needs in his heart. Shortly after this, he abruptly tumbled out
4141of his chair laughing hysterically, even though he was trying desperately to
4142control himself.
4143After the conference ended, he was still incapacitated by the presence
4144of God. Finally his strength returned, and some of us helped Sam up and
4145started for the car. But in the parking lot it happened to him again. Sam
4146repeatedly fell down, thus running the risk of ruining his clothes. Twenty
4147minutes later we got him to the restaurant, where God’s power hit him again.
4148We thought it was all over until we got up to our hotel room and realized
4149Sam was missing. He was still in the stairwell, incapacitated by the Holy
4150Spirit. The fruit of Sam’s encounter with the Holy Spirit was renewed faith,
4151greater reverence for the power of God, and what the apostle Peter described
4152as “joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Pet. 1:8).
4153Blessed Is He Who Is Not Offended
4154Both the Pharisees and the disciples misunderstood Jesus, and consequently,
4155they were both offended. We usually think of Pharisees as the really bad guys.
4156Actually, they were the conservative intellectuals who were the defenders of
4157the faith, who held to orthodoxy against the corrupting influence of Greek
4158culture. But their stumbling block was pride. This was especially manifest in
4159their confidence that they were the only ones with an accurate interpretation
4160of Scripture through the paradigm of the tradition of the elders. Adding to
4161the problem of their pride was their contentment to be seen as orthodox
4162without hungering for the presence of God Himself.
4163Throughout the Gospels, we see an underlying theme of the continued
4164inability of Jesus’s disciples to understand what He was doing. Many of
4165Jesus’s followers were offended as well. They turned away from following
4166Him (John 6:60–66).
4167The most commonly used Greek word in the New Testament for “offend”
4168is also translated “to stumble.” The Greek word is skandalizo, from which
4169122
4170Growing in the Prophetic
4171our English word scandal is derived. What God does sometimes scandalizes
4172or offends the mind of His own people. By offending people’s minds, He
4173reveals the things hidden in their hearts. Their unperceived lack of hunger
4174for God and lack of humility rises to the surface. Jesus is revealed in the
4175Scripture as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6) as well as “a stone
4176of stumbling and a rock of offense” (Isa. 8:14).
4177The biblical principles for functioning in prophetic ministry are very clear,
4178but the application of them in each different contemporary context is not an
4179exact science. Our control issues and religious codes will often be challenged
4180as we embrace the prophetic ministry. This is part of God’s design because
4181true Christianity is a dynamic relationship with a living God that cannot
4182be reduced to formulas and dry orthodoxy. We are called to embrace the
4183mystery of God that will not allow us to neatly tie up every doctrinal or
4184philosophical loose end. In humility before God, we should know that we do
4185not have all the answers, at least not in this age (1 Cor. 3:18).
4186Self-Satisfied Religious Pride
4187The Pharisees were deceived by equating their knowledge of Scripture and
4188their association with the religious community with a personal knowledge
4189of God that comes through encountering Him on an ongoing basis. Jesus
4190directly addressed their problem as being rooted in religious pride:
4191You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal
4192life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing
4193to come to Me that you may have life. I do not receive honor from
4194men. But I know you, that you do not have the love of God in
4195you. . . .How can you believe, who receive honor from one another,
4196and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?
4197—John 5:39–44
4198The Lord challenged one of our staff pastors to embrace his prophetic
4199calling by giving him a vivid spiritual dream. The Lord appeared to him and
4200said, “You have been waiting to obey Me until you had comprehensive plans.
4201I want you to obey Me without comprehensive plans.” As he was kneeling
4202before Jesus, a stack of transparencies came out of his belly and landed in
4203his hands. He understood that these represented his own plans that the Lord
4204123
4205God Offends the Mind to Reveal the Heart
4206could see right through. He felt sorrowful and began weeping and repenting.
4207He was saying, “Lord, I don’t want to be disobedient to You.” After this, he
4208looked up and Jesus was smiling at him.
4209To submit to this calling on his life, he went through some stiff dealings
4210with God regarding his intellectualism and self-reliance in his approach
4211to ministry. He humbled himself before God and the body through this
4212process, which included acknowledging his errors both privately and
4213publicly. If we become hungry for God with humility in our hearts, then
4214the stumbling blocks in us will be used to become the stepping-stones that
4215lead us forward in His purposes. Having said all this, I must also say that
4216some prophetic people get off track when they become more focused on the
4217unusual methods in giving their message rather than God’s purpose in the
4218message itself. The message is always more important than the method.
4219
4220125
422112C h a p t e r
4222Pastors and Prophets:
4223Getting Along in the Kingdom
4224T he prophetic ministry in the local church functions in an “orderly
4225freedom” only when the pastors, the prophetic people, and the
4226congregation at large have a common understanding of how things
4227should work from a biblical perspective. It is important that all understand
4228how the prophetic ministry is meant to function in order to enjoy unity in
4229the midst of the turbulence of the prophetic ministry. The principles for
4230nurturing and administrating prophetic ministry need to be understood not
4231only by pastors and prophets, but also by the majority of the congregation.
4232One reason I wrote this book was to provide our ministry in Kansas City a
4233unified, systematic teaching on the prophetic that would be available to all
4234our people. Why? So that we could walk in a unified perspective together.
4235Each fresh wind of the Holy Spirit that blows across the nations comes
4236with unusual and unexpected manifestations. Some who receive prayer
4237fall to the ground as their bodies convulse as though electricity is going
4238through them, or they see heavenly visions or hear the prophetic words
4239from God as the Holy Spirit comes upon them to heal them or spiritually
4240refresh them. We are just at the beginning of a wave of the Holy Spirit that
4241will increase until Jesus Himself appears in the sky to usher in the age to
4242come. The church needs wise and mature pastors who can lead, nurture,
4243126
4244Growing in the Prophetic
4245and administrate prophetic people in the midst of the increasing supernatural
4246activity of the Holy Spirit.
4247God-ordained pastors are equipped to bring leaders to the church where
4248God has placed them. They are in a strategic position to help the church
4249succeed in becoming more prophetic if they wisely use their gift of leadership.
4250God’s desire is that pastors and prophetic people work together as
4251a diversified team ministry. However, more often we see insecure pastors
4252trying to lead rejected and pushy “prophets” in a team ministry that lacks
4253diversity of gifting. There are real challenges in this, but they can be overcome
4254with patience, humility, and careful attention to what the Scripture
4255teaches about how prophetic people are to be led in relation to the larger
4256church family.
4257Nonprophet Leadership
4258I have had conversations with many good pastors who are frustrated because
4259they do not move in spiritual gifts as freely as some of the people in their
4260congregation. Sometimes they point out that some of the prophetic-type
4261people in their church are spiritually immature in other ways that cause
4262unnecessary division and disruption in the church. Some pastors may feel
4263insecure, thinking that these prophetic folks are apparently more “in tune
4264with the Spirit” than they are. Consequently they feel intimated about
4265correcting prophetically gifted people.
4266In my personal ministry, when I have something prophetic to say, I usually
4267share it within the context of my teaching ministry without mentioning that
4268it is a prophetic word. I intentionally tone down drawing attention to my
4269prophetic giftings.
4270When pastors realize that I am a teacher with limited prophetic giftings,
4271their response is often something like this: “I do not know how you
4272could have prophetic ministry happening in your church and survive as a
4273pastor without being a prophetic person yourself.” It doesn’t take a prophet
4274to nurture and administrate prophetic ministries in your church. It takes a
4275leader with a vision for a multigifted, diverse team.
4276127
4277Pastors and Prophets: Getting Along in the Kingdom
4278Pastor as Prophet: The Fox in the Henhouse
4279I will tell the story of one pastor who overused and misused the gift of
4280prophecy in his leadership. He saw his prophetic ministry as an extension
4281of his pastoral ministry. This is a good concept if it is done right. The fox
4282was in the henhouse in the sense that there was not much restraint in how
4283he used what he claimed were prophetic gifts. As time went on, his role as
4284pastor began to be overshadowed by his role as “prophet.” He was calling out
4285people and giving them words in most services, which led to less and less
4286teaching of the Word. He prefaced most of his private counsel to people as
4287well as his decisions in the eldership with “thus saith the Lord.” Some of the
4288people were too intimidated to resist this counsel because, after all, it was
4289coming directly from the Lord. This leadership style is guaranteed to bring
4290strife and confusion to the congregation when they are all but mandated to
4291receive most of what the pastor said as being from God. Over time, he wore
4292himself out, as well as the people and his eldership. The church was a wreck,
4293and finally, after a couple of years, the doors were closed.
4294A pastor with a strong prophetic gifting must understand the dynamics of
4295administrating the prophetic ministry in his church. The prophetic giftings
4296that he has, if not used with wisdom and restraint, can have a negative effect
4297on his ability to pastor the church effectively.
4298I met some pastors who want to create a mystique about their gifting to
4299perpetuate the image that they live on a higher spiritual plane. They are
4300seeking to enhance people’s confidence in their spiritual and pastoral leadership.
4301This usually backfires.
4302Some pastors fall into a trap of showcasing their own prophetic gifting
4303but drawing undue attention to it. In the end, this hinders the church from
4304receiving the prophetic and causes some to lose their confidence in the
4305pastor’s wisdom and leadership abilities. In other words, he or she must not
4306lead by claiming that most of their decisions come directly from their own
4307prophetic words. Even when I do hear from the Lord on a decision, I usually
4308just share the decision, knowing that if God is really in it, the leaders will
4309eventually see it and come to unity without me pressuring them to receive
4310most of my leadership directives as being from God.
4311Pastors who make most of their leadership decisions primarily through
4312prophesying are making a mistake in their leadership style that will have
4313128
4314Growing in the Prophetic
4315a demobilizing effect on their leadership team and entire church. When
4316I was senior pastor and now at IHOP, I am careful not to regularly add
4317emphasis to what I say with “thus saith the Lord.” I only rarely use that kind
4318of language.
4319Another downside to a pastor who draws too much attention to his
4320prophetic gifts is to end up with people being overly dependent on him
4321instead of the people being dependent and connected more directly with
4322Jesus. This is evident when too many people want to be with him, hear from
4323him, and get a word from him. The insecure pastor enjoys this attention for a
4324couple of years, but this style of leadership will eventually burn him out and
4325leave his people spiritually shallow.
4326The Pay Is the Same
4327We all have to learn to be secure in what God has called us to be and realize
4328the value and importance of each person. Paul wrote about the different gifts
4329and callings in the church when he wrote:
4330From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what
4331every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which
4332every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the
4333edifying of itself in love.
4334—Ephesians 4:16
4335Satan is a master at sowing into the people’s hearts discontentment
4336about who they are and what God has called them to do. This is a common
4337problem that hurts the whole body of Christ worldwide. The grass often looks
4338greener on the other side of the fence. I have met many prophetic people
4339who desperately want to be teachers. They see all the pain associated with
4340their prophetic gift, and they imagine that the teacher only enjoys success
4341with respect and appreciation from the people. Others despise their Godordained
4342function of serving behind the scene because they so desperately
4343want to be taken seriously as a prophetic person. We have created some of
4344the problem by wrongly attaching status to different ministries and giftings.
4345For example, some say prophets are ultraspiritual; apostles are super-ultraspiritual;
4346pastors and teachers are a little less; and so on down the line to
4347deacons, ushers, and the person who prints the bulletins. The social status
4348129
4349Pastors and Prophets: Getting Along in the Kingdom
4350associated with different functions in the body of Christ causes people to
4351do rather eccentric and unbalanced things, and in the end it affects the way
4352the majority of the members of the body do their part to supply what is
4353needed. We have a little saying that we have repeated often over the years. It
4354goes like this: “Whether you are raising the dead or taking a nap, if you are
4355doing God’s will, the pay is the same when you stand before God.”
4356Pastors, like everyone else, must be secure in their limited callings and
4357spiritual giftings. If they are at peace within their limited sphere, then they
4358are that much more prepared to appreciate, help, and support others with
4359different giftings. Pastors are in a different role in needing to lead a team of
4360people who often have gifts that are very different from theirs. They must not
4361yield to the temptation to be intimidated by prophetic people who receive
4362revelations more frequently and much more dramatically than they do. At
4363first this was really hard for me.
4364In my late twenties, I was pastoring people like Bob Jones, who received
4365profound and accurate prophetic words. I was very intimidated by this. My
4366reluctance to confront prophetic people came to a head at nearly the twoyear
4367mark of the prophetic ministry in our church.
4368Dueling Prophets Sunday
4369During the second year of pastoring our new church plant in Kansas City, I
4370noticed that five or six prophetic people regularly competed for the microphone
4371during the Sunday morning services. I was becoming exasperated
4372because it was clear to me that there was a lot of hype in what had been going
4373on for the last few months. Some of the people were getting tired of feeling
4374manipulated by these prophetic people and were starting to voice their feelings
4375to me. I was definitely feeling the pressure from many of them to greatly
4376reduce the amount of “prophetic” words that I was allowing to be shared in
4377our Sunday services.
4378On one Sunday morning in December 1984, two of the main prophetic
4379people got into a “prophetic duel” right in front of the church. One stood up
4380and proclaimed something to this effect: “Thus says the Lord, ‘A great thing
4381is going to happen.’” Then the second guy stood up and said, “Thus says
4382the Lord, ‘Better things are going to happen.’” Then the first prophetic guy
4383130
4384Growing in the Prophetic
4385topped him. Not to be out-prophesied, the second prophet answered back by
4386giving something even better. They went about three rounds each.
4387I was on the front row getting really angry. It was clear to me what was
4388going on. These two guys were yielding to a common temptation to compete
4389with others to be recognized as one of the “top prophets” in our church. It
4390was scandalous, embarrassing, and ridiculous, and everybody could see it
4391except these two prophetic people. This became known to our leadership
4392team as “Dueling Prophets Sunday.”
4393A dozen people came up to me afterward and asked how much longer
4394I was going to let this sort of thing go on. Usually I tried to cover the
4395prophetic people by encouraging people to be patient and reminding them
4396of all the great things that had happened through the prophetic ministry in
4397our midst.
4398But this time they had gone over the line. The emperor (or rather the
4399prophets) had no clothes, and the only ones who didn’t know it were these
4400two prophetic people themselves.
4401I had to confront these prophetic people. This was a new experience for
4402me at this time. Both of them were defensive and threatened that if I didn’t
4403accept their ministry style and what they had to say, the Holy Spirit’s blessing
4404would leave our church.
4405I was surprised that they resorted to such manipulation because they had
4406the credibility as being the “real thing.” In other words, they had both given
4407prophetic words that had come to pass exactly as they had predicted. But
4408when they issued this warning—to let them do what they wanted or the Holy
4409Spirit’s blessing would leave our church—it pushed a button in me. My eyes
4410opened, and I saw the rank carnality in all of it. I was surprised that people
4411with such depth of prophetic revelation could also be so carnal and manipulative.
4412This was a new idea to me that anointed prophetic people could also
4413be carnal and manipulative. I was provoked and offended by what they did
4414in that Sunday morning service, so I rose up and told them both to stop
4415carrying on in such a fleshly way or leave.
4416Both of them told me that they were finished with our church, and they
4417assured me that God was canceling all the tremendous prophetic words
4418spoken over the church and me personally. They assumed that God was
4419going to leave because they were going to leave.
4420131
4421Pastors and Prophets: Getting Along in the Kingdom
4422For a time, I was afraid that God’s blessing was going to leave if they got
4423their feelings hurt and left. Now I can assure you that God will not abandon
4424you and lift His promised blessing from your life and ministry because the
4425pride of a prophetic person is bruised. They may be used effectively by the
4426Holy Spirit, but they are not the mediator between us and God. Only Jesus is.
4427These two went from our confrontational meeting to complaining against me
4428to some of the key people in the church. But these people called me up and
4429congratulated me, saying, “Thank you, thank you!” They loved the prophetic
4430vessels, but they realized that if the leadership did not stand up to set things
4431in order, the prophetic people would hurt not only the church, but also their
4432own ministries as well.
4433Ultimately, much of what happened on “Dueling Prophets Sunday” was
4434my fault because I had not exercised my leadership responsibility earlier.
4435Rather, I abdicated it by allowing these prophetic people to get us all into
4436this difficult and embarrassing situation. Our leadership team was more
4437gifted in leading the church than the prophetic people were.
4438Within two weeks both of those prophetic people repented of their
4439manipulation. This gave me a new confidence to not abdicate my leadership
4440to them. I determined that I was no longer going to dismiss my negative feelings
4441when they were doing things that were not helpful to the church. I was
4442initially intimidated by prophetic people who prophesied with real accuracy.
4443I thought that if they heard from God on that level, who was I to tell them
4444that they were missing God when they gave prophetic words on other occasions.
4445I figured that if they heard God clearly enough to get the prophetic
4446word, surely they could hear God clearly enough to know when to give and
4447when not to. I found out the hard way that this logic is flawed.
4448One positive thing came out of “Dueling Prophets Sunday.” Something
4449became settled inside of me, and from that point on, I was no longer afraid
4450to confront our prophetic team. I determined to provide real leadership in
4451administrating the prophetic ministry in our midst.
4452Since that Sunday, I have decided that whenever I get a nervous feeling
4453about what prophetic people are doing, I am not going to ignore it. To
4454neglect the responsibility to lead the prophetically gifted people will usually
4455result in harm to the church or ministry and to the prophetic people themselves.
4456If they would have continued without restraints, they would have
4457132
4458Growing in the Prophetic
4459received a steady backlash of criticism from the people in the congregation.
4460This is one of the main reasons that prophetic people just stop prophesying.
4461The pain of feeling rejected eventually takes its toll. No doubt, some
4462of the prophetic people would have only seen it as persecution instead
4463of adjusting some of their ways that need correction. However, the end
4464result would have been the same; they would have stopped prophesying.
4465If pastors do not govern the prophetic ministry in their midst, the congregation
4466eventually despises it and the prophetic people stop prophesying
4467because of the feeling of being rejected by the congregation. If pastors do
4468not lead, the prophetic ministry stops.
4469One of the greatest challenges in my ministry over the last twenty-five
4470years has been in the necessity to govern the negative side of prophetic
4471ministry by continually needing to restrain or change what prophetic individuals
4472wanted to say publicly and to occasionally even need to strongly
4473correct them without backing down.
4474Just to give a reality check, all was not forever fine after this one difficult
4475Sunday morning. As I said, I warned them that if they did this again, I would
4476publicly correct them. Soon after this Sunday, it actually happened again,
4477and I did have to publicly correct one of them. It created no small stir. That
4478was a disillusioning time for me. I was tempted to stop allowing prophetic
4479ministry to be shared publicly in Sunday services. I’m glad now that I didn’t
4480give in to my anger and frustration because of the marvelous things that I
4481saw God do in that church through the prophetic ministry.
4482The Motivation of Rejected Prophets
4483Most prophetic people get in touch with their giftings long before they
4484cultivate the corresponding wisdom, humility, and character necessary to
4485succeed in prophetic ministry. Some may appear arrogant or pushy in their
4486zeal to be faithful to their prophetic gifting and calling. I believe that most of
4487what appears as pushiness really comes from the wounding and fear of being
4488rejected related to giving their prophetic insights.
4489Most prophetic people who have been around for a few years have been
4490corrected plenty of times. Some of them have been dealt with in a harsh
4491spirit and without being given the proper explanation as to what they were
4492supposed to do differently. We cannot effectively correct anyone without
4493133
4494Pastors and Prophets: Getting Along in the Kingdom
4495them having some security in their relationship with church leadership. The
4496average person who has been in the prophetic ministry for ten years is pretty
4497beat up and bruised. By the time this person reaches forty or fifty, he or she
4498is often very guarded and suspicious of authority figures. I really understand
4499this. Some pastors are understandably reluctant to confront prophetic people.
4500Why? Because the pastor has his own insecurities about how much he lacks
4501prophetic experience along with the insecurity about how much division the
4502prophetic people will stir up in the church against him.
4503When rejected prophets clash with insecure pastors in an uninformed
4504congregation, then so many negatives occur. The combination of this causes
4505churches to decide that it is just easier and better to avoid the prophetic
4506ministry altogether. However, so much of this can be changed if we all work
4507together. If the leadership will put forth clear guidelines for the prophetic
4508before the prophetic people make their mistakes publicly, then much unnecessary
4509trauma can be avoided. Add to this a clear plan that is in place for
4510correcting and healing the prophetic with gentleness and love. Then we
4511really can do it together long term.
4512Insecure Pastors and Leaders
4513Knowing where and how to draw the line with prophetic ministry minimizes
4514the insecurity and fear a pastor may experience when first encountering such
4515people. If a pastor understands how to deal with these people, he is less hesitant.
4516Most pastors don’t mind that things are a little messy if it is going to be
4517profitable at the end of the day. But if they don’t see the long-term benefit,
4518they will not want to hassle with the problems. Pastors don’t want their
4519people becoming hurt, confused, and divided.
4520They sometimes get their eyes off God and yield to fear when things get
4521beyond the comfort zone. They must learn to lead without fear, yet keep
4522balanced in the area of risk-taking without sacrificing pastoral wisdom. Most
4523pastors I know will let unusual, unprogrammed, and even strange-looking
4524things happen as long as they know it is not hype or fake.
4525
4526135
452713C h a p t e r
4528Origins of the Prophetic Call
4529B eing called into the office of prophet is not a reward for our
4530diligence in seeking to mature in prophecy. It is a matter of God’s
4531sovereign call. Yes, we must respond with diligence, but the calling
4532starts with God. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “But one and the same
4533Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He
4534wills” (1 Cor. 12:11, emphasis added).
4535We serve a personal God who has His own purposes for each individual.
4536A Tibetan monk may go through exercises and disciplines, thinking these
4537will help him become an ascended master. But the gifts and callings of God
4538are not based on our striving, seeking, or searching; they are based on His
4539sovereign choice and His grace. It is not a matter of our efforts to attain
4540or develop spiritual skills. It is about God’s sovereign calling and gracious
4541giftings.
4542People sometimes ask how they can grow in the prophetic and receive
4543more words from God. We can teach you to pay more attention to the impressions
4544that the Holy Spirit gives you and even what to do with them once they
4545come, but we cannot make the impressions come. That is the sovereign work
4546of the Holy Spirit. We can only teach you how to cooperate with the activity
4547of the Spirit, but not how to produce it.
4548In chapter 1, I told of the time when John Wimber asked me to pray for
4549136
4550Growing in the Prophetic
4551the gift of prophecy to be imparted to people at the 1989 Vineyard conference
4552in Anaheim. Some people wanted me to pray for them to be called
4553to the office of a prophet. Of course, there is no way I could do that. It is
4554God’s choice.
4555However, we have seen people who were prayed for in conference settings
4556suddenly begin to receive an increase of Holy Spirit activity in the area of
4557dreams, visions, and prophetic impressions. Many of them have continued
4558to experience an increase of prophetic gifting from that time on. To some
4559extent, this kind of gifting is transferable, but only to the degree that God
4560sovereignly ordains. This is what Paul referred to when he urged Timothy
4561not to neglect the spiritual gift that was imparted to him by the laying on of
4562hands. (See 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6.)
4563There is a mysterious interplay between God’s sovereign activity, human
4564agency, and responsibility as we open our hearts before God, seek His will,
4565and ask for what we desire. Then we let each individual’s experience unfold
4566without trying to explain fully the dynamics. The catalyst that releases the
4567gift of God in a person is sometimes a divine encounter at salvation or even
4568years later by a visitation of God without any human agency. Sometimes it
4569happens suddenly in childhood, or it may be after someone has been a Christian
4570for many years. With some, a growth of the prophetic anointing occurs
4571slowly, while with others, the gift is imparted quickly through the laying on
4572of hands (1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6). There is a place for diligently seeking to
4573grow in gifting, character, and maturity. But while diligence causes you to
4574grow within your calling, it does not determine your calling.
4575Various Way God Calls People
4576to the Prophetic
4577Indications while still a youth
4578Bob Jones, whom I have already mentioned numerous times in this book,
4579is a man who has had a profound prophetic ministry. Bob had very little
4580religious background and did not become a Christian until he was in his late
4581thirties. Nevertheless, Bob had several angelic visitations and supernatural
4582experiences as a boy that indicated he would have a prophetic ministry in
4583his adult life. When Bob was thirteen, he heard an audible voice from heaven
4584call his name. When he was fifteen, he saw himself in a vision being brought
4585137
4586Origins of the Prophetic Call
4587before the throne of God. These experiences terrified Bob. It took him
4588several months to get over the vision. It never occurred to him until after
4589his conversion that these things represented God’s call on his life rather than
4590God’s judgment. Immediately after his conversion, to Bob’s amazement, the
4591prophetic gifts began to operate powerfully in his life. Bob is an example of
4592how the gifts of grace and the calling of God were given as a result of God’s
4593grace, not his striving.
4594Sudden calling in one’s adult life
4595Marty Streiker spent his whole adult life as a schoolteacher. In his early
4596fifties, he heard the gospel and responded enthusiastically. Immediately
4597after he was born again, he began to receive prophetic dreams and visions.
4598However, he had no knowledge of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and, thus, no
4599frame of reference for his experiences. The prophetic gifts that began with
4600his conversion continued to increase over the years that followed.
4601Stirring up the gift
4602Michael Sullivant has been a pastor and teacher who for many years
4603believed in the prophetic ministry. Yet Michael’s function in the church was
4604mostly in the areas of leadership and teaching. Several prophetic people told
4605Michael that they sensed he would have a prophetic ministry someday, but
4606that seemed unlikely since there was no notable sign in him of any prophetic
4607gifting or calling. However, for thirty nights in a row, after one prophetic
4608word was spoken over him, he had prophetic dreams. Since that time,
4609Michael has grown much in the prophetic ministry.
4610John Wimber was teaching at Fuller Theological Seminary when he
4611began to teach on healing. Soon after, healings started taking place. Before
4612long the word of knowledge, which is a function of the prophetic call,
4613began to operate in him in a mighty way. With John Wimber, there was no
4614dramatic angelic visitation or voice from heaven. He simply began to regularly
4615step out in faith by speaking the words of knowledge that God was
4616giving him. In the process, the gifts of the Spirit began to operate through
4617him more and more.
4618Phil Elston had recollections of “seeing” things as a boy and thinking that
4619there was nothing unusual about this. He had several supernatural encounters
4620with God. One of them led to his conversion to Jesus Christ. Phil did
4621138
4622Growing in the Prophetic
4623not have understanding about the prophetic gifting that manifested itself
4624rather strongly in him after his conversion in 1976. He had many spiritual
4625dreams and visions and heard God’s voice. The most common way that this
4626gift operates in him now is by receiving impressions from the Holy Spirit
4627that allow him to know things he has no natural way of knowing. Now Phil
4628travels internationally teaching and ministering prophetically.
4629These are just a few of the testimonies that could be offered in this book.
4630The point of all this is that the prophetic calling on someone’s life is a function
4631of God’s plan, issued before that person did anything to cultivate the
4632gift. God has gifts and callings designed for your life. Bible training, discipline,
4633fasting, and praying will not change your calling. However, these
4634spiritual disciplines will enhance the release of the calling that has already
4635been divinely determined. The goal is not to try to get God to call you as a
4636prophet. It is usually a matter of stirring up the gifts and callings already
4637determined for you by God.
4638The Pain of the Prophetic Calling
4639There is often a temptation to want something before we understand it. Then
4640once we have it and experience the difficulties associated with it, our temptation
4641is to want get to rid of it.
4642There is a lot of misunderstanding about prophetic ministry. Spectators
4643don’t realize how much prophetic people typically wrestle and struggle with
4644the “down sides” of their own lives and ministries. If a person has a desire
4645to be involved with prophetic ministry, it should not be because it seems
4646exciting. The pain, the perplexities, and the attacks upon these people surely
4647increase as their calling increases. To repeat Francis Frangipane again, “New
4648levels bring new devils.” In other words, new levels of the anointing inevitably
4649bring new devils and intensifies spiritual warfare against us.
4650Some prophetic people I know complain with pain, asking the Lord to
4651lift the prophetic call off their life. The “glory” of the prophetic ministry
4652that some imagine when seeing a prophetic person minister in a conference
4653setting is untypical of their everyday lifestyle.
4654We encourage prophetic people to find their joy in their spiritual identity
4655as those who love Jesus and who know that He loves them. They should not
4656think that having a “spectacular ministry” will make their life happy. I have
4657139
4658Origins of the Prophetic Call
4659never met a prophetic person whose life was made happy because of his or
4660her prophetic gifting. Typically they experience increased demonic attack,
4661opposition from godly people, and great perplexity in their own souls in the
4662aftermath of their prophetic gifting.
4663I have noticed that prophetic people often have more disappointment with
4664God than others. Why is this? It is because they see more clearly how things
4665should be or how God plans for them to be in the future. But in seeing far
4666ahead, they must wait with faith sometimes for many years for the release
4667of what they know is on God’s heart. Therefore, they are more prone to be
4668heartsick because of enduring failed expectations. As Proverbs 13:12 says,
4669“Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”
4670Because their expectations are typically higher, they are more deeply
4671disappointed. It’s easier for those who are not so burdened with how things
4672are supposed to be. Jeremiah complained that the Lord had tricked him.
4673When Jeremiah prophesied of how God wanted to change things, he got in
4674trouble with the leadership who were protecting their place in the status quo.
4675He was ridiculed and rejected by so many. He wanted to quit. Nevertheless,
4676the word of the Lord was like a fire burning within him; he could not hold it
4677back, and so he continued to prophesy (Jer. 20:9). This resulted in even more
4678rejection and pain for him.
4679An Important Reality Check
4680Through my years of pastoring, I have observed an agenda that operates in
4681so many of us. It is subtle and hard to pin down. It is our commitment to
4682avoid pain at almost any cost. Even as committed Christians, we seek to
4683establish a painless environment for our lives. We will use the Bible, other
4684people, and even spiritual gifts to achieve this end. Some imagine that if they
4685could operate more in the prophetic gifting and thus more clearly discern
4686the voice of God, then He would surely lead them into a more problem-free
4687and satisfying life.
4688The problem is that when God speaks, He sometimes tells us to believe
4689and do things that ultimately lead us into more testings, perplexities, and
4690pain! Some of the most confusing and spiritually challenging experiences
4691and seasons come upon prophetic people directly on the heels of being used
4692140
4693Growing in the Prophetic
4694by the Holy Spirit. Often they cry out for God to use them, and when He
4695does, they complain about “feeling used”!
4696Paul describes three categories of experience in 2 Corinthians 6 that are
4697characteristic of genuine apostolic Christianity. They are the negative pressures
4698(vv. 4–5), the positive qualities (vv. 6–7) and the divine paradoxes
4699(vv. 8–10) of ministry in the Spirit.
4700But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in
4701much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in
4702imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings.
4703[We commend ourselves as ministers of God] by purity, by
4704knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by
4705sincere love, by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the
4706armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left.
4707[We commend ourselves as ministers of God] by honor and
4708dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet
4709true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we
4710live; as chastened, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always
4711rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and
4712yet possessing all things.
4713—2 Corinthians 6:4–10
4714If we minister in the power of the Spirit and seek to live according to
4715God’s Word, then all of these things will come our way in different measures
4716from season to season.
4717We must understand that the opposing and perplexing aspects of life in
4718the Spirit are as real as the positive and enjoyable aspects. If we are reconciled
4719to this reality from the outset, then we are prepared to respond to them
4720in a right spirit.
4721In praying for the power of God to be released in our ministry, I do not
4722encourage anyone to look for trials or sufferings. We don’t have to. They
4723will automatically come our way because we live in a fallen world in which
4724demons attack God’s people. God intends to use these things to draw us into
4725a deeper relationship with mature faith.
4726141
472714C h a p t e r
4728Embodying the Prophetic Message
4729E ssential to prophetic ministry are prophetic standards. The Lord
4730wants us to embody the message we preach; He will “wink” at our
4731carnality only for a season before disciplining us.
4732In this chapter I will discuss the fierce controversy that surrounded
4733Kansas City Fellowship beginning in 1990. We realize now that it was divine
4734discipline of our ministry, though most of what was said by our accusers was
4735inaccurate. They misrepresented our doctrines and practices and fabricated
4736many stories to validate their accusations. It was a difficult season of attack
4737and turmoil for our church. That does not change the fact that there were
4738several important issues in our midst that God was determined to address
4739and correct. He disciplines those He loves so that we grow up in the things
4740that are necessary to receiving our full inheritance (Heb. 12:5–11).
4741Embodying the Message
4742The nature of prophetic ministry was revealed clearly to the apostle John
4743by an angel who told him, “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”
4744(Rev. 19:10). The revelation of the testimony of what is on Jesus’s heart is the
4745focus of prophetic ministry. It involves more than simply communicating
4746His ideas; it also involves feeling and revealing the deep things of His heart.
4747God will often make the lives of His prophetic servants an illustration
4748142
4749Growing in the Prophetic
4750of the messages they are called to proclaim. He wants His messengers to
4751feel some of what He feels. The prophet Hosea is an example of this. God
4752instructed him to marry a harlot named Gomer. In doing so, Hosea demonstrated
4753God’s love and forbearance toward the harlot nation of Israel. This
4754was a painful thing for Hosea because he didn’t love Gomer. Hosea felt some
4755of the anguish that God felt for Israel (Hosea 3).
4756God wants His servants not only to say what He is like, but also to be
4757like Him; not only to say what He wants, but also to do His will; not only to
4758declare His heart, but also to feel His heart.
4759The Lord spoke audibly to both Bob Jones and me on the same morning
4760in April 1984. In essence, He said that He was going to bring a new emphasis
4761on humility in the leadership in His church in the days to come. This speaks
4762of much more than Him emphasizing the doctrine of humility. He will
4763require that it be implemented in our everyday lifestyle.
4764God is going to dramatically confront the pride and selfish ambition of
4765the leadership in the body of Christ worldwide. One way He will do this is by
4766allowing us to be mistreated and then requiring that we bless our enemies.
4767In this, we will see degrees of pride and selfish ambition in our hearts that
4768we had never seen before.
4769He not only wants us to preach the doctrine of humility, but He also wants
4770us to be a living demonstration of this message. If we are going to preach it,
4771then we will have to live it. We haven’t done a good job with this yet.
4772Thorns in the Flesh
4773When God communicates a purpose and message with dramatic supernatural
4774manifestations (angelic visitations, audible voices, and signs in the
4775heavens), then we know the Lord is urgent about making the message apply
4776to our lives. He will challenge the areas in our lives that are inconsistent with
4777the message He has given us to proclaim.
4778God sometimes sends a thorn in the flesh to those to whom He gives
4779abundant revelation in order to protect their hearts from destructive pride.
4780The apostle Paul said that he had been given a “thorn in the flesh” in order
4781that he would not exalt himself. This was due to the fact that his ministry
4782was blessed by an “abundance of the [prophetic] revelations” (2 Cor. 12:7).
4783God has determined to work humility in each of us. For some, the beauty
4784143
4785Embodying the Prophetic Message
4786of God’s work in their heart is not put on a public stage where it is noticed
4787by others.
4788Sometimes the Holy Spirit works in one’s heart for almost a lifetime before
4789that person is given the full platform to release the message. Some are given
4790a platform early in their ministry as they preach beyond the maturing work
4791of the Holy Spirit in their own lives. That has been our situation, to some
4792degree. We were called to proclaim a message of humility that we ourselves
4793did not yet possess in a mature way. If we really love God, He gives us the
4794chance to respond voluntarily to the Spirit in this. Sometimes He allows the
4795difficult circumstances of people attacking our character and ministry to help
4796us grow in humility. The prophetic controversy we walked through in the
4797early 1990s was meant to wake us up to see the unperceived pride in us. Of
4798course, humility is a lifelong journey. God is very patient and gracious to us
4799as He little by little reveals the unperceived pride that lies beneath the surface
4800of our hearts. He is kind to us as He patiently waits for us to change: “Do
4801you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not
4802knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4).
4803Watching the Wrong Gauges
4804In 1989, my ministry seemed to be going so well. It was growing very fast.
4805As a young man, I was traveling with John Wimber and speaking regularly
4806to crowds of thousands at international conferences. I enjoyed the attention
4807and honor more than I realized. Because of John Wimber’s prominence, I
4808was meeting with high-profile Christian leaders from around the world. My
4809pride was being stroked and strengthened in a way that I was not at all aware
4810of. I was overwhelmed with the invitations to preach and requests for interviews
4811for magazines and television. A dozen publishers wanted me to write
4812books for them. Several companies sent proposals to distribute our tapes
4813throughout the nation.
4814It was physically impossible to answer the multitudes of letters and phone
4815calls that came monthly. We were overwhelmed and in over our heads. We
4816complained about the pressures, but actually our team enjoyed the attention
4817more than we cared to admit. We were out of touch with our pride, our limitations,
4818and exactly what it was that God wanted to work in us during this
4819season of our lives.
4820144
4821Growing in the Prophetic
4822For a short season, whatever we touched seemed to prosper, so we figured
4823God was excited about everything just as it was. But there were some warning
4824signals going off. However, we were moving too fast to recognize them.
4825In our early stages of growth we didn’t have enough spiritual maturity to
4826discern some basic warnings about our pride. If someone would have said,
4827“You have pride,” we would have gone overboard repenting of pride. But
4828that’s not the same as actually seeing our pride from God’s perspective.
4829Warning Signs
4830One of the warning signs we missed was that we were “partying alone.” We
4831were so happy about the seemingly great things that were happening in our
4832ministry that we didn’t notice that some other ministries were not having
4833such a great time. We were rejoicing in our increase, but we ignored the fact
4834that others were having a difficult time.
4835Meanwhile, we partied on. We didn’t see or feel their pain. We saw only
4836our increase. If another church struggled or even disbanded, it was no real
4837concern to us as long as we continued to grow.
4838We now lament over having been so self-absorbed. The older I get, the
4839more aware I am of my natural tendency to pride. I am much more aware
4840of the promises and struggles of other ministries in my city. I am no longer
4841content to celebrate alone. When the Lord promises to visit us, we now ask,
4842“But what about the other ministries in our city? Are you going to visit them
4843too?” God told Moses that He would make from Moses’s descendants a great
4844nation after He first destroyed the nation of Israel. Moses pleaded with the
4845Lord to forgive the sins of the children of Israel. Moses had no desire to see
4846Israel destroyed and himself made the head of a new nation.
4847“Therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against
4848them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great
4849nation.” Then Moses pleaded with the Lord his God, and said:
4850“Lord, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people
4851whom You have brought out of Egypt with great power and with
4852a mighty hand?. . .Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from
4853this harm to Your people.” . . . So the Lord relented.
4854—Exodus 32:10–14
4855145
4856Embodying the Prophetic Message
4857On another occasion, the spirit of prophecy was released on the seventy
4858elders of Israel. Joshua was jealous for Moses’s honor. He wanted Moses to be
4859seen as the only one who prophesied. Moses corrected Joshua, saying, “Oh,
4860that all the Lord’s people were prophets” (Num. 11:29). Why would it be
4861good if all God’s people prophesied? Moses knew that God’s purpose would
4862be strengthened and His people would be blessed if more prophesied.
4863The Lord came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took
4864of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the
4865seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them,
4866that they prophesied. . . .And a young man ran and told Moses,
4867and said, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” So
4868Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, one of his choice men,
4869answered and said, “Moses my lord, forbid them!” Then Moses
4870said to him, “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord’s
4871people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit
4872upon them!”
4873—Numbers 11:25–29
4874The Holy Spirit is raising up leaders today who have a heart like Moses,
4875who are not content to have increased honor and blessing in ministry unless
4876others are included.
4877A major warning sign we missed in those early days was that we did not
4878think much about what other ministries in our area were going through.
4879We were satisfied as long as our ministry was growing and we were being
4880blessed. Looking back, I can see my inherent pride and self-centeredness that
4881I was totally unaware of in those days.
4882The second warning sign was our lack of perception that we needed other
4883ministries. A lot of people around the body of Christ had much to contribute
4884to what we were doing, but we didn’t realize our need for their insight and
4885input. They could have showed us how to do a lot of things better, but we
4886were too busy and too caught up in the euphoria of our seemingly early
4887success to realize this.
4888146
4889Growing in the Prophetic
4890The Temptations of Opposition
4891Things seemed to be going so well throughout 1989 because of the rapid
4892increase of influence and honor that I received because of being associated
4893with John Wimber’s ministry. However, in January 1990, many things
4894suddenly changed. It was as if we tripped a bomb wire when we stepped into
4895the 1990s.
4896We were suddenly attacked by about ten different ministries who were
4897misrepresenting our beliefs and practices and presenting us as a cult. They
4898were passing on things about us that were greatly distorted. It was humiliating
4899to our leadership team and confusing to our people. In the midst of
4900this, we were faced with two temptations in regard to how we should respond
4901to our accusers.
4902Temptation to retaliate
4903At first there was the temptation to retaliate. We had leaders from around
4904America encouraging us to expose our attackers and set the record straight.
4905They felt it was our responsibility to “defend the purpose of God.” However,
4906we were not comfortable attacking other Christians. Ironically, the prophetic
4907ministry that was being attacked had earlier given us prophetic words that
4908helped us to bless our accusers at this time. Several years earlier, from 1982
4909to 1984, the Lord gave several members of our prophetic team significant
4910dreams that we would face this controversy. In September 1984, the Lord
4911plainly revealed to us who one of the principal accusers would be and specifically
4912when they would attack us. The Lord emphasized in these prophetic
4913words that we were not to strike back.
4914Five years later, in December 1989, our leadership team discussed the fact
4915that an attack against our ministry would probably be coming soon in light of
4916the timing that God spoke to us back in September 1984. It did not surprise
4917us when they started immediately after that in January 1990. Having this
4918prophetic information for just over five years helped us to know that God
4919was in control and how He required us to respond.
4920John Wimber’s words of advice also helped us in our decision to not
4921answer our enemies in a negative way. He used the illustration of Solomon
4922and the two women claiming to be the mother of the same child. When
4923Solomon pretended he was about to divide the child with a sword, the true
4924147
4925Embodying the Prophetic Message
4926mother gave up her rights to the baby and allowed the lying woman to have
4927the child. By this, the true mother was revealed (1 Kings 3:16–28). John said
4928that if we really cared about the bigger purpose of God, we would not retaliate.
4929It would only create a destructive fury, and the purpose of God (the
4930child) would be divided.
4931At that same time, I received a prophetic communication from the Lord.
4932He said, “The measure of your anger toward these men is the measure of
4933your unperceived ambition.”
4934I reacted and said aloud, “No! It’s not my unperceived ambition. Lord,
4935I care about Your kingdom and Your name being defamed.” Then the Lord
4936asked me a question: “Why, then, aren’t you this angry when My name is
4937defamed when other ministries are attacked?” I had to be honest and admit
4938that I was not mad when other Christian leaders were being criticized. It was
4939the blow to my reputation that really bothered me. I saw with new clarity
4940that my own agenda for honor was being hindered as the accusations against
4941us persisted.
4942After struggling with it for a while, I realized that what the Lord said was
4943very true: the measure of my anger toward these men was the measure of
4944my unperceived ambition. We were monitoring the value of our ministry by
4945the gauge of numerical and financial success.
4946But then I realized that there was an important indicator to which we
4947had paid little attention—the fault line of selfish ambition hiding beneath
4948our surface. Just as earthquakes expose the fault lines that lie deep below the
4949surface of the earth, so also the current pressures on us were exposing our
4950hidden fault lines of ambition and anger. We only had to be honest enough
4951to admit it instead of lying against the truth.
4952But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not
4953boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend
4954from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy
4955and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
4956But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,
4957gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without
4958partiality and without hypocrisy.
4959—James 3:14–17
4960148
4961Growing in the Prophetic
4962One of the primary ways that God disciplines us is by allowing us to experience
4963injustices at the hands of others. He allows us to be tested, watching
4964for a response of trust in Him and forgiveness toward our offenders. Proverbs
4965states, “Reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Prov. 6:23). The
4966purpose of God’s discipline is to equip our hearts with Christlikeness.
4967For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to
4968them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His
4969holiness.
4970—Hebrews 12:10
4971The true gauges of successful ministry are those issues that pertain to
4972our becoming Christlike. Were our hearts growing in tender affection for
4973Jesus? Were we growing in our ability to endure hardship with love? Could
4974we bless our enemies with humility? These are the issues that God wants the
4975prophetic ministry to impart successfully. We discovered that we were not
4976very successful by God’s standards.
4977Temptation to blame the devil
4978Second, we faced the temptation to simply dismiss the accusations and
4979attacks because they were sent by the devil. Scripture clearly teaches us to
4980resist the devil and he will flee. (See James 4:7.)
4981However, notice it says we resist the devil as we are submitting to God
4982and His Word. In retrospect, we see that God’s hand was working in the
4983midst of Satan’s rage and the sin of our accusers. The Lord can easily overrule
4984Satan’s rage for our good (Rom. 8:28). Joseph understood that what his
4985brothers meant for evil, God meant for good in his life. He said, “But as for
4986you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring
4987it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Gen. 50:20).
4988God was speaking to us about our errors and pride even through the voice
4989of accusers who were speaking terrible lies. The issue was whether we would
4990be focused on the lies against us or on the work that God wanted to do
4991in us. Yes, the methods used by our accusers were often unrighteous. Were
4992our critics totally misguided or partially right? Our conclusion now is that it
4993was some of both. The lack of wisdom and humility in us provoked certain
4994149
4995Embodying the Prophetic Message
4996things in them. In addition to that, some of the things they were pointing
4997out were true—especially regarding our pride.
4998In any case, the uproar that ensued forced us to confront some of our
4999character problems and unwise practices. In that sense, we now see the
5000redemptive hand of God in the whole mess.
5001The danger in only seeing an attack as the work of the devil is that in
5002this mind-set, we are not as sensitive to what the Holy Spirit wants to say
5003to us. Some prophetic people tend to have a persecution complex. They feel
5004that the very nature of their calling means they are going to be persecuted.
5005Consequently, whenever a genuine word of correction comes, some bristle
5006and think to themselves, “Yes, we expected this because true prophets are
5007always persecuted.”
5008I am recalling a large Christian ministry that was being harshly criticized
5009by a couple of “cult watchers” and “heresy hunters.” The methods and
5010information used against them were, in fact, questionable. This well-known
5011ministry determined that since their critics were surely from the devil, what
5012was happening was only about being persecuted. Because they perceived that
5013their critics were solely the devil’s instruments, they were not focused on
5014receiving God’s correction in the crisis they were facing. We do not want
5015to “waste a good trial”; instead, why not receive insight into our pride and
5016lack of wisdom from the Holy Spirit in times when we are being accused
5017by others? The Holy Spirit has much to say to us in such times. Even if the
5018methods used against us are as inappropriate, God can still give us life-giving
5019correction in the midst. Remember, the Lord corrected Balaam even through
5020a dumb donkey (Num. 22:22–35).
5021The Discipline of the Lord
5022The writer to the Hebrews points out two common wrong reactions to God’s
5023discipline:
5024My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be
5025discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord
5026loves He chastens.
5027—Hebrews 12:5–6
5028150
5029Growing in the Prophetic
5030The first wrong response is to “despise” God’s correction by denying our
5031need for it. One way some despise His discipline is by only seeing their
5032pressures as an attack of Satan without regarding the fact that God often
5033wants to speak correction to us in them. Thus, we regard His discipline
5034too lightly.
5035The second wrong reaction is to be “discouraged” by God’s reproofs so
5036that we feel overwhelmed. These are the ones who quit following hard after
5037God in times of pressure.
5038We mustn’t be either insensitive or hypersensitive when our heavenly
5039Father points out our faults and errors. We need to learn to take our needed
5040medicine or correction with a right attitude of grateful love for God.
5041God’s overall goal for us is that we “be conformed to the image of His
5042Son” (Rom. 8:29). God wants us to embody the prophetic message that He
5043wants to speak through us. It is never enough to proclaim a message. We
5044must seek to live the message we proclaim before we can genuinely claim
5045to have a prophetic message and a prophetic ministry. God wants His Word
5046to become flesh in our lives. Therefore, He sends various forms of redemptive
5047discipline to help us see the unperceived weaknesses in our lives, those
5048hidden fault lines beneath the surface. We can despise His discipline and
5049decide to quit pursuing the Lord as fervently as we once did. We can become
5050bitter at God for administering it.
5051Or we can respond in the only right way, which is to endure His redemptive
5052discipline, knowing that it is for our good that we might share in His
5053holiness (Heb. 12:7, 10).
5054Lessons Learned the Hard Way
5055God used these events to bring correction to us in several ways. Let me share
5056some of the lessons I learned.
5057Seeing our pride: We were caught up in the increase of our
5058ministry far more than we were focused on increasing godliness
5059and humility in our character.
5060Our need for other ministries: We grew to appreciate new
5061parts of the body of Christ for whom we had no relationship
50621.
50632.
5064151
5065Embodying the Prophetic Message
5066in our earlier days. John Wimber continually emphasized the
5067need to “love the whole church,” not just those who look and
5068sound like us.
5069Understanding the prophetic process: We had such an immature
5070and naïve view of the prophetic ministry. We saw manipulation
5071in some of our prophetic team as they prophesied favorable
5072things to gain favor from those who could open doors for them.
5073Becoming accountable: We saw our need for input from leaders
5074outside of our local ministry who could speak correction to us.
5075We believe every ministry should be in relationships with other
5076ministries outside their staff. This provides the opportunity for
5077godly leaders to see our blind spots.
5078A balanced ministry team: Every church needs balanced input
5079from different types of personalities and ministries to maintain
5080stability. Yes, we need the high-octane prophetic people with
5081supernatural manifestations, but we also need trained teachers
5082with theological depth, tender pastors with people skills, zealous
5083evangelists as well as ministries with leadership and administrative
5084giftings. Currently, on the IHOP Missions Base leadership
5085team, we have four people with earned doctorates, eight with
5086master’s degrees, and five with law degrees. We integrate trained
5087teachers with those who have prophetic giftings. This is not
5088always easy, but it is worth the effort.
50893.
50904.
50915.
5092
5093153
509415C h a p t e r
5095Common Abuses and Misuses
5096of Prophecy
5097I n this chapter we address common misuses of simple prophecy. Keep
5098in the mind the necessary distinction between “simple prophecy” and
5099the office of a prophet. Simple prophecy is limited to edification, exhortation,
5100and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3), whereas the office of a prophet has the
5101authority to correct and/or give specific direction to a person, ministry, or
5102nation. Everyone can function in simple prophecy. However, only people
5103with a history of accurately prophesying future events can claim to function
5104in the office of a prophet.
5105All prophecies must uphold and honor what is written in Scripture. By
5106upholding this one guideline, we will save ourselves much pain and turmoil.
5107We must not give or receive prophecies that violate the spirit and intention
5108of what is written in Scripture.
5109Some who are inexperienced with prophecy are too quick to naïvely obey
5110“prophetic” directives from those who boldly prophesy to them. Through the
5111years, I have seen people receive “prophetic” directions that result in unnecessary
5112pain and confusion. Much of this can be avoided by observing scriptural
5113principles along with some basic common sense. When I was first exposed
5114to personal prophecy, I was very open to receiving “prophetic” direction in
5115154
5116Growing in the Prophetic
5117areas of my personal domestic life. Thus, in 1986, I laid out several guidelines
5118for receiving personal prophecy. I use those same guidelines today.
5119Misuse #1: Giving Direction in Domestic Areas
5120Simple prophecy is meant give encouragement and comfort, not give specific
5121new direction to one’s domestic life. Examples of domestic areas in which
5122we should avoid giving or receiving prophetic direction include choosing
5123a spouse, having babies, investing money, changing jobs, moving to a new
5124city, buying or selling a house, going on ministry trips, joining a church,
5125choosing a college, and so forth. We can give godly counsel to one another in
5126the domestic areas of our life; however, I am strongly against giving it under
5127the guise of prophecy. Many want prophecies about romance and finances.
5128Others just want to be told what to do so they can end the indecision that
5129plagues their life.
5130I have been given many prophesies over the years that have offered me
5131direction in the domestic areas of my life. The vast majority of these “directive
5132prophecies” have proved to be unhelpful and wrong. I am glad that I did
5133not receive them. God never intended prophecy to be used this way. Instead,
5134God wants people to relate directly to Him and hear from Him and employ
5135the wisdom in their personal lives. God wants us to be responsible for the
5136decisions we make.
5137Some are more willing to accept direction from prophetic words so that
5138they can finally give away the responsibility and burden for decision making
5139in their lives to others.
5140A young man told me of a lady about whom he received prophetic words to
5141marry. The problem was that this young lady was already engaged to another
5142godly man. However, he insisted that he had received prophetic words and
5143dreams to marry her. I counseled him to let go of those “prophetic words.”
5144However, he continued to pursue this engaged woman. The fallout was
5145disastrous as the young man put pressure on the lady by giving her multiple
5146invitations to spend time with him. Of course, this angered the young lady’s
5147fiancé. When all was said and done, the young man ended up heartbroken
5148because of his misuse of prophecy.
5149I have seen many believers make harmful and sometimes disastrous
5150decisions because they followed a prophecy in the area of personal finance.
5151155
5152Common Abuses and Misuses of Prophecy
5153I have seen wise and successful business leaders throw away their wisdom as
5154they naïvely received inaccurate “prophetic” words that end up causing them
5155much unnecessary financial loss.
5156Misuse #2: Redirecting the Roles
5157of People in the Church
5158We must not give specific prophetic words to people who indicate that they
5159are to function in new positions in the ministry organization that they serve
5160in. If the Lord gives you prophetic words about changes in someone’s role,
5161then give it to the leader who has authority to implement changes. Why?
5162Prophetic words that point to a change in someone’s role usually involve
5163an element of promotion. The one receiving the positive prophecy naturally
5164appreciates the one who prophesied. However, if the leader does not implement
5165the promotion, then there is potential for resentment and division.
5166A friend of mine who pastors a megachurch invited a man with an
5167international prophetic ministry to speak at his church. During one of the
5168services, this prophetic minister called the pastoral staff to all come forward.
5169He prophesied over each one. He told the youth pastor that God was about
5170to promote him to be the executive pastor over the whole church. While this
5171young pastor grew excited by the promotion, one of the other older pastors
5172grew visibly agitated as it was clear that the prophetic word was indicating
5173that the young pastor was about to take his position.
5174In fact, my friend, who was the senior pastor, was considering promoting
5175the younger pastor to take over the position. However, what the older pastor
5176who was growing angry did not realize was that my friend was preparing to
5177promote him as well to become his successor to lead the church. Yet, when
5178the visiting minister prophesied the role changes without first consulting
5179the senior pastor, he created an unnecessary conflict. The angered pastor
5180ended up leaving the church and taking many of the congregants with him
5181to his new church. All this could have been avoided if the visiting minister
5182had first submitted the prophetic word through the proper channels for the
5183senior pastor to first review. Instead, the “fruit” of the prophetic word was an
5184offended leader and a church split.
5185Just because you may receive a true prophetic word about a redirection of
5186roles for people in the ministry organization does not mean it is beneficial
5187156
5188Growing in the Prophetic
5189to give the word publicly without first bringing it in an appropriate way to
5190senior leadership.
5191Misuse #2: Giving Correction to People
5192Simple prophecy is meant to encourage, comfort, and edify rather than to
5193give correction that is confrontational and often embarrasses people. We
5194must not embarrass people by revealing negative things about them in public
5195gatherings. This sort of prophesying is neither helpful nor biblical. Scripture
5196is very clear that negative words are to be spoken first to the person in
5197private (Matt. 18:15–17).
5198A common example of correcting people publicly that I have seen
5199throughout the years is in labeling people as having a Jezebel spirit. I have
5200seen many men who are threatened by confident women in leadership use
5201the “Jezebel spirit” label to correct them.
5202Another example of misusing prophecy is in publicly declaring that
5203someone is rebellious or hardened of heart. I have seen this happen to several
5204teenagers through my ministry when the prophet stood up and declared
5205them as rebels when in reality they were immature but still sincere in their
5206reach for God.
5207If the young person truly is rebellious, then using the “prophetic” to point
5208it out publicly is actually detrimental instead of helpful.
5209It would be more effective for the prophetic person to counsel this young
5210person and ask about the things he was discerning. However, it is damaging
5211to the young person’s heart and spiritual life if the prophetic person simply
5212declares that God sees him or her as rebellious.
5213I have been in congregations where the prophetic minister called out
5214people to accuse them of doubt and unbelief, rebuking them for lacking faith.
5215The prophetic minister declares that if the individuals would just believe,
5216they would see the work of God. The individuals feel shamed and demoralized
5217instead of edified and comforted (1 Cor. 14:3).
5218I have seen people publicly called out and “prophetically described”
5219as struggling with personal issues such as pornography or alcohol. This
5220humiliated the person. Often the “prophetic word” ended up not being
5221accurate. However, because of the stature of the “prophet,” the congregation
5222believed the negative report. It wrongly tagged the person in the
5223157
5224Common Abuses and Misuses of Prophecy
5225minds of the congregation for years to come, causing much unnecessary
5226pain. Even if the prophecy is accurate, such words should be given in a
5227private setting with people whom the recipient trusts.
5228These kinds of words should rarely be given. However, when they are,
5229they should be given in appropriate settings and without adding “thus says
5230the Lord” to bolster the charge against the person.
5231If the prophetic word is accurate, then it should produce hope that there is
5232a way out of the problem, and especially that God is revealing His great love
5233for the person with desire to liberate him so as to bring him into a greater
5234depth in relationship with Him.
5235Prophetic people should emphasize that Jesus is gracious, compassionate,
5236and merciful (Exod. 34:6) to those who are sincere even if they are immature
5237in their faith. Jesus is ready to forgive any who will run to Him and not
5238away from Him. Remember, it is His kindness that leads us to repentance
5239(Rom. 2:4).
5240Some Old Testament prophecies were directed to Israel at a time of great
5241national rebellion. A prophetic person today must not apply prophetic words
5242with the same tone to an individual who sincerely loves Jesus yet is struggling
5243in an area of his life. They must remember that the Old Testament
5244prophets were talking to a hardened nation, not to one who sincerely loved
5245God. Even in the midst of those prophecies the Lord would again and again
5246declare His kindness and His desire for His people to return to Him for
5247forgiveness and full restoration. We must remember when prophesying to
5248His bride that we are often talking to believers who sincerely love Him and
5249who are seeking to walk in His ways.
5250Misuse #4: An Overreliance on Dreams
5251Many who are new to prophetic ministry at first overly rely on dreams for
5252direction in the domestic issues of their lives. Without a doubt, the Bible
5253teaches that God directs His people through prophetic dreams (Acts 2:17).
5254However, most of our dreams are not meant to be understood as giving us
5255prophetic direction. Dreams are not meant to be a substitute for gaining and
5256applying wisdom in our life.
5257Dreams are most helpful when giving us confirmation of a decision that
5258we are already beginning to sense. Some overly rely on dreams for their
5259158
5260Growing in the Prophetic
5261decisions because it absolves them from taking personal responsibility for
5262decisions that turn out to be wrong ones. Over the years, I have seen people
5263more confused by dreams rather than helped by them. This is because they
5264did not take the time to weed out the dreams that were not meant to be
5265understood as prophetic.
5266I receive several hundred prophetic dreams each year from people. I have
5267found that only about 10 percent of them are helpful. For over twenty years,
5268on a near weekly basis, I have received two to three dreams from people
5269assuring me that God is pleased with me and my ministry and that great
5270blessing is coming. At the very same time, I also receive two to three dreams
5271per week that warn me that God is grieved with me and that disaster is soon
5272coming to my life and ministry.
5273Solomon taught us that there is much vanity in the multitude of dreams
5274and words that claim to be prophetic. He said in Ecclesiastes 5:3, 7, “For a
5275dream comes through much activity, and a fool’s voice is known by his many
5276words. . . .For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is vanity. But
5277fear God.” In other words, we must use caution in receiving all words that
5278claim to be directive prophecies.
5279Very sincere people often get thrown off by the details of their “prophetic
5280dreams” as well as those given to them by others.
5281Some believers I know have an element of what I call “spiritual superstition.”
5282In other words, they have an inordinate zeal to follow the details of
5283these “prophetic dreams” without regard to wisdom or even to what God has
5284clearly put in their own hearts.
5285I knew a young man once who was desperate to hear God’s voice
5286concerning where he should live. He was married with small children but
5287was restless and seeking God’s voice for a move. He had several people in his
5288life who were “dreamers.” Every week he would get a dream from one of them
5289telling him to move here or there or to just to stay put. Obviously, many of
5290the “prophetic words” he received contradicted each other. This young man
5291spent his days trying to dissect the details of each symbolic picture in each
5292dream. He exhausted himself in the process and lost his focus on Jesus.
5293He lived in so much unnecessary confusion. He was frozen in fear of
5294getting out of the will of God. The more dreams that he received, the more
5295confused he became. He was listening to so many voices who were dreaming
5296159
5297Common Abuses and Misuses of Prophecy
5298with their own agenda. They were interpreting the dreams they had through
5299a lens of their own opinions while claiming that they were hearing from
5300God. This confusion created chaos for him and his entire family. Yes, he
5301was sincere before God and wanted to be in His will. However, the dreams
5302created a fog in him that kept him from embracing God’s wisdom and from
5303hearing more clearly from the Lord. In other words, it had the very opposite
5304effect than what God intended.
5305Misuse #5: Trivializing Prophetic Ministry
5306Another common way that people misuse prophecy is to trivialize it by
5307seeking “prophetic” direction in such simple areas as which shoes to wear or
5308parking space to use. While we want to be led by the Spirit, we recognize that
5309using good “common sense” is also a part of operating in God’s wisdom.
5310I have seen people do eccentric things in the name of following the Holy
5311Spirit. For example, one lady in our midst refused to cooperate with the
5312usher asking her to move from a seat reserved for another because “the Lord
5313told her to sit there.” One young man impulsively ran around the building in
5314the middle of the service because “the Lord told him to do it.”
5315I have seen some live in unnecessary indecisiveness for simple life decisions
5316because they refuse to make a decision until “the Lord directed” them.
5317They sit at the corner waiting for God to tell them which direction to turn,
5318or they stand in front of their closet waiting for God to tell them what to
5319wear. Yes, they do have a sincere desire to obey the Spirit. However, by relinquishing
5320their responsibility to make simple decisions, they live paralyzed,
5321and sometimes even stubbornly, as they wait for direction from the Holy
5322Spirit. This trivializes the purpose of the prophetic gift. This type of eccentric
5323behavior is not a part of operating in the prophetic anointing.
5324The Lord gives us a spirit of wisdom for the practical operation of life
5325without needing to get a specific, direct word for every little decision. Yes,
5326there are the rare occasions when the Spirit will direct you as you drive on
5327the highway to suddenly change your plans and go somewhere you were not
5328originally planning on going. Such divine appointments do happen, but they
5329are rare. We are to walk in wisdom with an attentive ear to the Lord, being
5330ready for Him to interrupt us yet without trivializing the prophetic anointing
5331by waiting on it for every small decision that we make.
5332160
5333Growing in the Prophetic
5334Some believers are impulsive in the name of following impressions they
5335have as if they were all coming from the Holy Spirit. Such a mind-set can
5336lead to bizarre, unstable activity. A man in our midst was convinced that
5337the Lord told him to spin at each meeting for long periods of time. Impulses
5338like this are not just a demonstration of a lack of wisdom; some are actually
5339dangerous when acted on. I have seen people do erotic things in worship
5340services, like taking off their clothes to show that they are humble and will
5341obey anything God says, or like slamming themselves into walls, or lying
5342in the middle of the floor as though frozen and refusing to move. Yielding
5343to such impressions opens the door to more bizarre impressions and can
5344progressively lead to more and more unstable and unsound activity. This
5345opens a dangerous door to the spirit realm. Such people should repent of
5346obeying these impressions and should not be encouraged to follow them.
5347Some people are entertaining demons in walking out some of the impressions
5348that come to their minds.
5349Misuse #6: Flattery and Manipulation
5350Sometimes, people will make up a prophetic word or add to a prophetic word
5351to flatter or manipulate people with money or so that those in leadership will
5352accept them. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul talks about love in the context of spiritual
5353gifts by emphasizing that love “does not seek its own” (v. 5). We must
5354be vigilant to not prophesy in a way that flatters people to gain a personal
5355advantage from them. Most human beings have enough pride to be vulnerable
5356to being sucked into believing flatteries. This leads to self-deception.
5357People who use prophecy to flatter and manipulate others often seek to
5358“prophesy” in secret so that others do not see what is happening. The reason
5359they want to isolate the person they are “prophesying” to is so that others
5360will not tip them off as to how foolish and nonsensical such prophecy is.
5361These people prophesy out of their own desires to motivate people to
5362connect with them. They will use flattery and exaggeration to meet the
5363desires of other people and then gain an upper hand over them.
5364James warns us that “if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your
5365hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend
5366from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking
5367exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from
5368161
5369Common Abuses and Misuses of Prophecy
5370above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and
5371good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness
5372is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:14–18).
5373Some are more vulnerable to flattery than others because they so long to
5374hear prophecies about the bigness or uniqueness of their ministry calling.
5375I have seen several prophetic ministries who flatter those they want to
5376join their staff as an assistant by prophesying that “their mantle” would be
5377imparted to the potential assistant. Some prophetic ministries want assistants
5378who blindly come under their authority.
5379Some young assistants are so eager to believe that they are uniquely called
5380that they are willing to do just about anything to attain to that calling. Of
5381course, manipulation like this creates much bitterness in the end, along with
5382disdain for the prophetic ministry. I have seen some older “prophets” use
5383this type of flattery over and over to gain the allegiance of young people.
5384Misuse #7: Prophesying in Total Privacy
5385I encourage you to be cautious whenever someone wants to prophesy to you
5386in total privacy without others witnessing what is being said. As a general
5387rule, when someone insists that they have a prophetic word for you that
5388he or she can only give to you in secret, know that something is probably
5389wrong. Usually when prophetic people seek to draw others to a back room
5390to prophesy, they do it so that those witnessing the prophetic word will not
5391discern flattery or manipulation.
5392Those who walk in the light do not mind giving prophesying in the light
5393or in a way in which they are fully accountable for what they say. It is best
5394to only receive prophecies that are “in the light” with witnesses. I urge
5395all prophetic teams to record the prophecies they give to others whenever
5396possible.
5397I remember one incident where a visiting prophetic man asked to meet
5398several young leaders in the church where I was speaking to give them
5399personal prophetic words. He insisted that he could only give them words
5400if in private. When all was revealed, this prophetic man was flattering these
5401young leaders by telling each one how great they were and how the leadership
5402of the church could not recognize their great leadership. He hinted to
5403each one in different ways that they might have to leave their church and
5404162
5405Growing in the Prophetic
5406to help him form another church after he moved to the city. Most of these
5407young men left their church to join him.
5408Again, beware of people who claim to be prophetic and want to go somewhere
5409private to prophesy to you. Such people want to gain your confidence
5410to be able to exert their influence over you so they can get your money or get
5411you to help them.
5412Receiving a prophecy opens one’s heart in a unique way. Let me explain.
5413When a prophetic minister looks into the eyes of someone to proclaim aspects
5414of their divine destiny, it moves the heart of the person listening. This can
5415sometimes create a soul tie. Some prophetic ministers use this influence to
5416seek to develop “close friendships” that eventually have sexual overtones.
5417Sometimes it is even more blatant then that. Once a man and his wife were
5418visiting the IHOP Missions Base and saw a young woman singing. After she
5419was finished, the man approached her to tell her he had a “prophetic word
5420for her.” He told her they needed to go outside so he could tell her the word,
5421so she went with him and his wife outside. The man prophesied to the girl
5422that the Lord wanted him to impart the “lover heart of God” to her. The girl
5423was perplexed. Before she knew it, the man was embracing her and playing
5424with her hair while his wife stood there praying in tongues! Once the girl
5425realized what was happening, she pushed him away and fled for safety. I have
5426heard numerous stories from those who have experienced this in one form
5427or another. Usually the “prophetic person” takes them to a side room, looks
5428them in the eye, flatters them, and tells them how awesome their destiny is.
5429In the next meeting, they prophesy about how connected they are supposed
5430to be in the spirit and how unique their connection is.
5431In these private “prophetic sessions,” the deceptions develop into more
5432and more. Then, over time, the “prophetic person” begins say that the Lord
5433wants them to have physical relations to demonstrate what is happening in
5434the spirit. Many have been caught in this as they blindly follow manipulative
5435prophetic people who are, in essence, using the name of God in vain. The
5436naïve are so desperate to reach their destiny that they are willing to do just
5437about anything. Even if they are not at all attracted to the “prophet,” some
5438are willing to endure anything to attain their “destiny.”
5439163
5440Common Abuses and Misuses of Prophecy
5441Misuse #8: Assumptions About Timing
5442We must be careful to not give our assumptions to the timing of the fulfillment
5443of prophetic words that we may give someone. Sometimes, prophetic
5444people do this to “jazz up” a prophetic word. Sometimes they feel pressure
5445from the person receiving the prophecy to add the element of timing to a
5446prophetic word. This ends up bringing unnecessary confusion.
5447Misuse #9: “I Cannot Help/Stop Myself”
5448Over the years, I have witnessed prophetic people being asked to stop
5449speaking or behaving in a certain way. Some prophetic people claim that
5450they are unable to stop because they are “overwhelmed” by the Holy Spirit.
5451However, the Scriptures are clear that people operating in the power of the
5452Holy Spirit are governed by love and self-control (Gal. 5:22–23). Paul said,
5453“The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (1 Cor. 14:32). In
5454other words, he was making it the responsibility of the prophetic person to
5455keep his spirit under control. He would not let prophetic people in the New
5456Testament church claim that they could not help what they were doing in
5457a meeting. To repeat this, anyone claiming that they cannot control what
5458they say or do because they are “overcome” by the Holy Spirit is naïve. There
5459are certain types who want to be free of the responsibility for what they do
5460and say by claiming that the Holy Spirit “made them” behave in such a way.
5461Paul admonished and required each believer to contribute what he had in an
5462orderly way by using self-control (1 Cor. 14:28–40).
5463Paul taught the prophetic people to be in control of themselves in such a
5464way that they could pause while giving their prophecy long enough to allow
5465another prophetic person to speak (v. 30).
5466One aspect of self-control is the ability to rule our spirits or to control our
5467words and actions.
5468He who rules his spirit [is mightier] than he who takes a city.
5469—Proverbs 16:32
5470Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken
5471down, without walls.
5472—Proverbs 25:28
5473164
5474Growing in the Prophetic
5475During one of our services, a woman shared a prophetic word for our
5476congregation. When she shared the prophetic word with me, I bore witness to
5477it being a true word. To my surprise, when she got up to share the prophetic
5478word with the congregation, she began to flail her arms and legs around
5479wildly while delivering the prophetic word. She was drawing much attention
5480to herself and even hindering the congregation from hearing the prophetic
5481word that she was giving. When I talked to the woman about her unnecessary
5482and distracting behavior, she claimed that she could not control herself.
5483When I told her that the “spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet,” she
5484was upset with me and accused me of “quenching the Spirit.”
5485Misuse #10: Drawing Attention to Ourselves
5486Paul said that we should seek the things that are excellent when ministering
5487in the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:31; 14:12; Phil. 1:9–10). One of the
5488ways that we show forth an excellent spirit when we prophesy is by drawing
5489attention to Jesus and not to ourselves by our flamboyant ministry style.
5490Some prophesy with a spirit of self-exhibition instead of being focused on
5491Jesus and on what helps people receive from Jesus. In other words, they draw
5492so much attention to themselves. They may get away with it in the sense that
5493people do not rebuke them for it. However, this way is not the most excellent
5494way to operate in prophetic ministry.
5495It is best to prophesy in a way that does not draw undue attention to
5496ourselves. Some people who have a genuine prophetic word puff themselves
5497up in the eyes of others as holier or more spiritual because they receive such
5498accurate prophetic revelation.
5499I encourage prophetic people in our midst to dial down their emotions
5500before giving a prophetic word and to only sparingly use “The Lord told me”
5501or “Thus says the Lord.” We can prophesy in a way that is “supernaturally
5502natural” without always drawing attention to the fact that we are prophesying.
5503We are encouraged to operate in the anointing of the Spirit in a spirit
5504of excellence (1 Cor. 14:12).
5505165
5506Common Abuses and Misuses of Prophecy
5507Misuse #11: Neglecting to Give the
5508Conditions for Prophetic Words
5509Most prophetic promises are conditional. They will only come to pass if
5510certain conditions are met. For example, you might receive a prophetic
5511promise that great blessing will come to you if you make more time to seek
5512the Lord. But by neglecting to give the condition of the prophetic promise,
5513prophetic ministers may cause individuals to miss the blessing that the Lord
5514invited them to receive. Many prophetic words are not guarantees but invitations
5515to cooperate with God. God requires faith and obedience as we work
5516and pray in agreement with what He promises.
5517I have known people who received true prophetic words about their callings
5518that were confirmed in unusual ways. The people understood the words
5519as guarantees instead of invitations, and thus they failed to lay hold of the
5520Lord in the way the Lord required them to enter into their new ministry.
5521I knew a young man once who was called out in a large congregation and
5522given a prophetic word about his calling. It was confirmed supernaturally.
5523However, the prophet didn’t give the conditions that were necessary for this
5524young man to walk out his calling. The prophetic word was an invitation, not
5525a promise. This young man ended up with a false confidence in the prophetic
5526word. He thought he could live any way he wanted, thinking that one day
5527the prophetic word would just suddenly be fulfilled.
5528Because of the accuracy of the word and the supernatural confirmation
5529of that word, this young man had a false understanding of the sovereignty
5530of God working with his free will. He thought that when the word came it
5531was a “done deal.” However, the Lord was inviting him to live a life worthy
5532of his calling by making changes that would usher him into what the Lord
5533was offering him.
5534The prophetic word was intended to give this young man confidence that
5535would empower him to make radical decisions to live differently in wholehearted
5536love for Jesus. The prophetic word was supposed to give him faith to
5537make hard decisions and to stand firm in those decisions with endurance.
5538Instead of creating this kind of response, the young man just said, “What
5539will be will be,” and lived life in business as usual and missed what the Lord
5540wanted to do with him. As I said earlier, prophetic words are invitations,
5541166
5542Growing in the Prophetic
5543not promises. If we receive a clear prophetic word that God supernaturally
5544confirms, then we should tremble with a sense of awe so that we respond in
5545a way that pleases the Lord. When giving these kinds of prophetic words,
5546we must tell the people that their free will must work with the sovereignty
5547of God.
5548Misuse #12: Giving Negative Words Without
5549Communicating That They Can Be Averted
5550There are times when it is appropriate to give someone a prophetic word
5551that is negative in its implications. These negative words often give us insight
5552into what Satan’s intentions are in a person’s life and can be God’s mercy in
5553revealing the enemy’s plans. However, it is important that it is communicated
5554that the fulfillment of these negative words can be averted by repentance,
5555faith, and obedience. Neglecting to communicate that the negative fulfillment
5556can be averted can lead to wrong responses, such as fear and anxiety,
5557rather than the response God is looking for, which is repentance, wholehearted
5558love for God, and obedience.
5559It saddens me and provokes me when I see this happen. People who
5560believe the negative prophetic word is real and yet have no way out of the
5561negative consequences end up in despair, thinking that there is no way out
5562of the “judgment” they are under. I knew of a prophet who once told a young
5563woman who confessed to being in a sinful relationship that she was going
5564to “fall away” for seven years and then come back to the Lord. The woman
5565was broken over her sin and had come to the prophet wanting to repent. She
5566was asking God for mercy, but instead of telling her that God would forgive
5567her and help her in His mercy, the prophet condemned her. The girl was
5568in despair thinking she had no choice but to live “against God” for a seven
5569years of darkness. She was terrified at the thought of being without God and
5570desperately wanted to walk in the light, but she thought she had no choice.
5571She thought the “prophetic word” was inevitable instead of seeing it as Satan’s
5572plan for her life that could be stopped. She took it as if the script were already
5573written and finalized and, thus, couldn’t be changed. It is against Scripture
5574and God’s heart to give negative words like this. Jesus provides a way of
5575escape for those who repent and cry out to Him (1 Cor. 10:13).
5576167
5577Common Abuses and Misuses of Prophecy
5578Misuse #13: Speaking Without Clarity
5579I encourage people to give the meaning of their prophecies in a way that
5580can be understood instead of speaking in a way that is overly mystical
5581or cryptic. It is not very helpful to give a prophetic word that the people
5582cannot decipher.
5583Some think that by speaking in strange and mystical ways with unsolvable
5584riddles, they are somehow being more spiritual. That is nonsense because
5585this leads to confusion and misunderstanding rather than edification. When
5586giving a prophetic word, try to be as clear and simple as possible so that the
5587people will be able to fully respond to it.
5588I have seen prophetic people give mystical words that bring such confusion
5589because they are open to any interpretation and with many different
5590possible meanings.
5591Misuse #14: Not Acknowledging the
5592Missed Prophetic Words We Give
5593We must be accountable for the prophetic words that we give that end up not
5594being true. At some point, we may miss it when giving someone a prophetic
5595word. When we do, it is important that we take responsibility for missing it.
5596Some people may fear that by being honest about missing a prophetic word,
5597their credibility will be damaged. However, I believe the opposite is true.
5598When prophetic people are honest about when they miss it, a certain level
5599of trust is established because they are honest not just when they are right,
5600but also when they are wrong. Prophetic people who refuse to admit when
5601they have missed it and continue to prophesy will only lose credibility, but
5602those who miss it and own up to giving an untrue word gain trust.
5603I encourage all those who minister prophetically on our platform to be
5604forthcoming with their inaccuracy.
5605
5606169
560716C h a p t e r
5608Practical Ways to Grow
5609in the Prophetic
5610G rowing in the prophetic requires that we accept the foundational
5611truth that everyone who is born again is able function in
5612simple prophecy. It is the will of God for everyone who loves Jesus
5613to prophesy. This really is the inheritance of every born-again believer.
5614I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you
5615prophesied.
5616—1 Corinthians 14:5
5617For you can all prophesy.
5618—1 Corinthians 14:31
5619The manifestation of the Spirit means a demonstration of God’s power.
5620First Corinthians 12:7 says, “The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each
5621one for the profit of all.”
5622I remind you again of the three purposes of simple prophecy. There are
5623to bring edification, exhortation, and comfort to people: “He who prophesies
5624speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men” (1 Cor. 14:3).
5625The purpose of simple prophecy is to inspire people in their faith and
5626170
5627Growing in the Prophetic
5628love. It reminds people of God’s care. It often emphasizes things that people
5629are already familiar with or thinking about.
5630Edification speaks of spiritually building or edifying one’s spirit in
5631different ways, such as confirming their destiny or God’s purpose for their
5632life. A practical way to do this is by giving people a scripture. Often the
5633scripture you give them will have been previously important to them. When
5634this happens, it confirms that God is speaking to them. Edification includes
5635assuring people that God will touch their heart or grant a breakthrough in a
5636specific area of their life. It may simply declare that God is with them, or it
5637may confirm a secret in their heart about a past event, dream, or something
5638God previously told them. It may speak of a breakthrough in salvation or
5639healing for their family.
5640Simple prophecy includes exhorting people to persevere instead of giving
5641up on God’s promises in hard times or giving in to sin during temptation.
5642By the Holy Spirit we exhort them to persevere in their calling and in righteousness.
5643We also speak comfort by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This refers
5644to giving them God’s perspective in context to a disappointment or setback
5645in their life. This provides confirmation or assurance that helps them stay
5646focused and faithful to do God’s will.
5647Simple prophecy includes words such as, “The Lord loves His people” or
5648“The Holy Spirit is preparing us for a breakthrough.” Small groups provide
5649a good setting for people to release simple prophecy. It is usually a “safe”
5650place for people to begin and grow in learning to prophesy. In an atmosphere
5651of prayer and waiting on God in a small group, believers can speak
5652out the impressions that come to them under the oversight of more seasoned
5653prophetic leaders. Immediate feedback and evaluation can occur in this
5654setting, and faith for prophetic ministry can gradually grow and mature.
5655How to Receive More Prophetic Impressions
5656A practical way to receive more prophetic impressions is by simply asking the
5657Holy Spirit the question, “What are You saying or doing at this time that You
5658want me to participate in?” There are aspects of His ministry in us that He
5659will withhold until we actively ask for it. I seek to ask such questions several
5660times throughout the day. Whether I am going to a ministry staff meeting,
5661171
5662Practical Ways to Grow in the Prophetic
5663having a fellowship time, attending a recreational event, eating, or studying,
5664I like to pause and ask the Holy Spirit, “Are You wanting to say anything to
5665me or through me?” When sitting in the IHOP prayer room, I ask, “Holy
5666Spirit, is there anything You want me to say to anybody? Here I am.” When
5667spending an evening with my wife or family, I ask, “Holy Spirit, do You want
5668me to say anything?” Do not limit asking the Holy Spirit questions like this
5669to only “spiritual” contexts. We ask for the Holy Spirit’s involvement in small
5670groups or large groups, at work or play, at school or social events, and so on.
5671We can receive the Holy Spirit’s prophetic impressions at a ball game with
5672our children or with family friends. When you call to check in with a friend,
5673ask the Spirit, “Are You wanting to say anything to me or through me in this
5674phone call?”
5675It does not matter if you are talking to a believer or unbeliever. Remember,
5676you do not have to say “thus says the Lord” when you prophesy. You can talk
5677to an unbeliever without ever telling them that you are prophesying. I call it
5678prophesying in a “supernaturally natural way.”
5679Sometimes we will be aware that we are prophesying, and at other times
5680we will not even realize it. I have given more “accidental prophecies” than
5681intentional ones. In other words, I was not intending to speak to them from
5682the Holy Spirit, but it happened suddenly in a “supernaturally natural way.”
5683For example, when I am talking with someone, suddenly I say something
5684that comes from the Holy Spirit. The person responds by telling me that their
5685heart felt encouraged.
5686I want to prophesy in our board meetings. I want to prophesy in the coffee
5687shop with a friend. I just want to prophesy to people. I want to do it without
5688drawing attention to me or to it being prophetic. They will know when it
5689moves their heart.
5690Jesus’s Model for Prophesying
5691Jesus modeled how to walk in the Holy Spirit and move in the prophetic
5692anointing. John 5:19 is a classic verse describing Jesus’s relationship with the
5693Father. Jesus did nothing until He saw the Father doing it.
5694172
5695Growing in the Prophetic
5696Jesus answered and said to them,“. . .the Son can do nothing of
5697Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does,
5698the Son also does in like manner.”
5699—John 5:19
5700Throughout the day Jesus asked, “Father, show Me what You are doing
5701today.” The Father undoubtedly had many different levels of communication
5702with Jesus. Sometimes He gave Jesus a prophetic impression revealing that He
5703was going to heal a specific person in the meeting the next day. Sometimes
5704Jesus received a prophetic dream about a healing that was soon to be released
5705in His ministry. Sometimes the Father spoke to Jesus in more dramatic ways,
5706such as sending an angel to Him. Jesus was continually paying attention to
5707what the Father wanted to do. The question in His heart continually was,
5708“Father, what are You doing?”
5709Jesus embraced the significant limitations of being human.
5710Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that
5711He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest.
5712—Hebrews 2:17
5713For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with
5714our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet
5715without sin.
5716—Hebrews 4:15
5717Although Jesus was never, ever less than God when He lived on the earth,
5718He lived as though He was never, ever more than a man. In other words, as
5719a man, Jesus had to wait and rely on the activity of the Holy Spirit before He
5720could minister to people. What humility! Jesus is the uncreated God who
5721created the heavens and the earth in Genesis 1. Yet He laid aside the right to
5722use His power and lived as a man for thirty-three years in full dependence
5723on the Spirit. Jesus waited and only spoke by faith according to what the
5724Father spoke to Him. In doing this, He gave us a model for Christianity.
5725173
5726Practical Ways to Grow in the Prophetic
5727Four Ways We See What the Father Is Doing
5728There are several ways that we see what the Father is doing.
5729We may receive the prophetic whisper or impression from God.
5730This can happen ahead of time, but the Spirit usually grants
5731these in the moment that we are ministering to people. We pay
5732attention to the Holy Spirit’s impressions and promptings on our
5733heart to walk in righteousness and avoid quenching the Spirit.
5734The Spirit may allow us to feel a physical sensation or pain that
5735may correspond to how He wants to heal someone. The Spirit
5736sometimes allows us to feel a physical sensation (fire, wind, and
5737so on) or a physical pain (sympathetic pain) that corresponds
5738with how He will touch others.
5739We may observe the Spirit’s presence resting on someone as we
5740see obvious outward manifestations such as their lips quivering,
5741their face flushed, their body trembling, or simply their tears
5742falling.
5743The Holy Spirit may show us what He is doing by giving us a
5744prophetic dream or vision about a person before we minister
5745to them.
5746Receiving the Whisper of God
5747The primary way that the Father will show us what He is doing is by speaking
5748to us in the “still, small voice.” The Father will also give us whispers or hints
5749of what He is about to do. The “divine hint” may come as a subtle prophetic
5750impression on our mind. Elijah saw the strong wind tear into the mountain
5751and felt the earthquake and witnessed the fire, but the Lord was in the still,
5752small voice or the whisper.
5753Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the
5754Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong
5755wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before
5756the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind
57571.
57582.
57593.
57604.
5761174
5762Growing in the Prophetic
5763an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after
5764the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after
5765the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that
5766he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the
5767entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said,
5768“What are you doing here, Elijah?”
5769—1 Kings 19:11–13
5770The Father will speak to us in the “still small voice” or, in other words,
5771by faint, prophetic impressions. I call this receiving the “prophetic whisper
5772of God.” Often as I speak to a person, a Holy Spirit idea comes to my mind.
5773I speak the ideas that come to me. I rarely mention to the person that the
5774Holy Spirit is speaking to me. I figure that if it is the Lord speaking through
5775me, the person will know it without me telling them.
5776Now, of course, I prefer to receive the thunder of God or an open vision.
5777I have not had many of those types of experiences. I have heard the audible
5778voice of the Lord only three times in thirty-five years of walking with the
5779Lord. I have had several significant prophetic dreams along with a few other
5780supernatural experiences, but 99 percent of the time I receive only God’s
5781whisper in my heart. God gives us impressions that communicate to us what
5782He is willing to do (Eph. 1:17; Col. 1:9; Rev. 19:10). Do not feel pressure to
5783come up with something.
5784The Lord will do more with the whisper than we realize if we will act on it
5785by giving expression to it. We must give expressions to the impressions of the
5786Holy Spirit. If we do not express them, then the power of God is not released
5787in the same measure. When the Holy Spirit gives us a nudge in our hearts,
5788we must not ignore it because it will go away and that person to whom you
5789are called to minister may not get touched or healed.
5790For example, when praying for someone, I lay hands on them and wait
5791for a moment on the Holy Spirit as I ask Him for a phrase or a Bible verse to
5792come to my mind. When a scripture comes to us as a faint whisper of God,
5793then we must speak it out over the person we are praying for. I have found
5794that when I do this, it “grows.” In other words, as we speak simple Bible
5795verses that the Holy Spirit impresses on our mind at that moment, then more
5796comes and the Spirit moves on that person’s heart even more.
5797I compare functioning in the prophetic to putting up a sail in a boat on
5798175
5799Practical Ways to Grow in the Prophetic
5800a lake during a calm day. A guy who is in the boat on the lake may see no
5801wind. However, he puts the sail up, and suddenly the boat moves a little. We
5802cannot always discern the slight blowing of the wind until we put the sail up.
5803It is slight, but over time the little sailboat moves if we put the sail up.
5804We put up our spiritual sail by asking the Holy Spirit the question about
5805what He is saying or doing. In other words, we get into a watchful mode.
5806When I am on the platform on Sunday, I may ask the Holy Spirit ten
5807times for a prophetic impression. I ask to see an angel or to be used to heal
5808a paralytic that day.
5809I urge our worship teams at the IHOP Missions Base to ask the question
5810throughout the worship set that they lead. If they ask, they will receive fragments
5811of prophetic information.
5812Watching: Attentiveness to the Holy Spirit
5813We grow prophetically by what the Scripture calls “watching” (Matt.
581424:42–43; 25:13; 26:38–41; 27:36; Mark 13:9, 33–38; Luke 12:38–39; 21:36;
5815Acts 20:31; 1 Cor. 16:13; 1 Thess. 5:2–4, 6; Rev. 3:3; 16:15). First Peter 4:7 says,
5816“Be serious and watchful in your prayers.” And 1 Thessalonians 5:6 says, “Let
5817us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”
5818Watching in prayer includes cultivating a spirit of prayer and paying
5819attention to what the Spirit is doing. We are attentive to the Holy Spirit’s
5820impressions and promptings on our heart. We posture our heart to receive
5821faint prophetic impressions. In other words, we pay attention to the subtle
5822breeze of the Holy Spirit that gives us a faint impression, or maybe a Bible
5823verse will come to our mind. We ask the Holy Spirit what He is doing, and
5824we calm down our soul to receive from Him.
5825Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child
5826with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.
5827—Psalm 131:2
5828Paul asked the Galatian believers how they received the work of the
5829Spirit.
5830176
5831Growing in the Prophetic
5832Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the
5833hearing of faith?
5834—Galatians 3:2
5835Paul was teaching them that they receive the activity of the Holy Spirit
5836by hearing with faith and confidence. In other words, it is by hearing or
5837receiving prophetic impressions and having confidence in those impressions
5838that we operate in the Holy Spirit. We do not earn prophetic impressions.
5839However, we do have to listen for them and act on them with faith and confidence.
5840Fasting and praying position our hearts to hear and receive more from
5841the Holy Spirit. When I hear impressions and act on them, then the Spirit’s
5842power is released. Many stay in the passive mode by not asking for the Holy
5843Spirit’s activity on their heart. We must actively ask the question and value
5844the impressions that He gives. This is called hearing with faith. We hear the
5845faint impressions of the Holy Spirit.
5846Why Believers Neglect to Prophesy
5847One reason that believers neglect to prophesy is because it takes love and
5848spiritual vigor to prophesy on a regular basis. This includes sustaining
5849attentiveness to the Holy Spirit to receive His small impressions. It requires
5850energy to act on the impressions and demands that we take the risk of being
5851wrong and then being unappreciated by those we minister to. It is easier to
5852just draw back from this. To be attentive implies refusing the indulgence of
5853anxiety and self-pity that cause so much emotional traffic in us. There is an
5854intensity involved in being continually available to the Holy Spirit.
5855Cooperating With the Grace of God
5856The Christian life requires our cooperation with the grace of God. God will
5857not do our part, and we cannot do His part. If we do not do our part, then
5858God withholds a certain measure of blessing. Some think of grace as being
5859on automatic pilot where everything good just sort of happens. There are
5860many things that God wants to do that will not just happen because God
5861will not violate the way He has chosen to partner with His people. Our part
5862is to be faithful and to be watchful in our spirit. God’s part is that He will
5863give us prophetic impressions and release His power. However, we have to be
5864177
5865Practical Ways to Grow in the Prophetic
5866watchful and faithful as we do our part. There are things we do not have in
5867our life because we do not ask for them, and moving in the Spirit is at the
5868very top of that list.
5869Some trust in the sovereignty of God in a way that is not biblical. This
5870means they are trusting God to do the role that God assigned them to do.
5871When we trust God to do our role, it is presumption. He will not do our role.
5872We must stay open and feed ourselves. He will inspire us while we do that,
5873and then He will move on us as we do so. However, He will not make us wait
5874before Him or open our heart to the spirit of prophecy. Some mistakenly
5875believe that if God wants something done, it will automatically be done. That
5876is true sometimes in the broad strokes of His leadership over history. There
5877are major events that God has determined to do, whether you or I cooperate
5878or not. For example, the second coming of Jesus and His End Time judgments
5879on the Antichrist will happen regardless of whether or not we obey
5880God in a personal way. However, there are many things in our individual
5881lives that affect the quality of our life in God. It is determined by things we
5882do or do not do. Why? God is jealous for intimacy with us, so He will wait
5883patiently until we seek Him before He answers us. He has chosen to give us a
5884dynamic role in determining some of the quality of our life. There are things
5885that God simply will not give us until we walk in faith and obedience. There
5886are blessings that God has chosen to give us, but only if we ask for them.
5887James says, “You do not have because you do not ask” (James 4:2).
5888Three Ways to Earnestly Desire to Prophesy
5889We grow by earnestly desiring the best gifts (1 Cor. 12:31), by desiring spiritual
5890gifts (1 Cor. 14:1), and by desiring them earnestly (v. 39). There are three
5891ways in which we earnestly desire to prophesy. They are so simple that some
5892trip over them.
5893We desire to prophesy by praying, “Holy Spirit, I want to
5894prophesy.” Ask the question, “Holy Spirit, what are You saying
5895or doing?” (Take time to ask this.) I refer to the still, small voice
5896as the “whisper of God” in my heart. Ask the Lord what He
5897would do if you gave Him full room in your heart and mind.
5898We have to intentionally make room for this in our hearts and
5899minds by calming our hearts to ask the Holy Spirit for prophetic
59001.
5901178
5902Growing in the Prophetic
5903impressions in the present tense. Some people say, “Lord,
5904release Your power in me.” Then when it comes time to pray
5905for one another, they do not dial down and say, “Holy Spirit,
5906release Your power in me now.” Asking and expecting to receive
5907prophetic impressions in the present tense is what it means to
5908make room for them. We must quiet our hearts to better discern
5909the Holy Spirit’s impressions. Our spirit needs to be quiet. We
5910need to dial down, not get stirred up in a fervor.
5911We have to give expression to the impressions that we receive.
5912Verbalize them. We must give expression to the faint impressions
5913of the Spirit. (Most prophesying will be in context to a few
5914people rather than in the congregation.)
5915We must be grateful for the small things as we cultivate a lifestyle
5916of watching and waiting. Value small demonstrations; be
5917faithful in little things. (We do not despise smallness.) In our
5918pride, we can easily despise the smallness of God’s power in our
5919midst. Some are only interested in God’s prophetic anointing
5920and the power of healing only when it is manifest in an unusual
5921and dramatic measure. They will only be zealous to function
5922in healing and the prophetic spirit when there is a significant
5923measure of release. In other words, they want to walk in the
5924prophetic on their terms. It takes humility to walk with God on
5925His terms of being faithful and grateful in the days of smallness.
5926Do Not Despise the Day of Small Beginnings
5927We must be faithful and grateful for whatever small measure of power that
5928God releases through us. We must not despise the day of small beginnings.
5929“For who has despised the day of small things?” (Zech. 4:10, emphasis added).
5930We have to be faithful to express the faint impressions. There is clearly a
5931tension in being grateful for and faithful in the small measure of power while
5932being desperate for a greater measure of manifest power in full revival. We
5933are in a season of prerevival right now. I use the word revival according to
5934standard of the Book of Acts. Now the Lord is surely moving in these days.
59352.
59363.
5937179
5938Practical Ways to Grow in the Prophetic
5939He is stirring things up and setting things in order for a soon-coming move
5940of the Holy Spirit in the nations.
5941Some are waiting until God gives the unusual or dramatic measures of
5942power before they start opening their heart to move in the prophetic. As I
5943said earlier, they want to minister prophetically on their terms. However,
5944the Lord wants us to serve Him on His terms. That is to be faithful in the
5945day of small beginnings. We grow in the prophetic by being faithful in
5946little. We must repent of despising the little acts of the Holy Spirit. We
5947must honor anything that God does. If it is really little, we still honor it. In
5948our pride, we can despise the smallness and only serve when the big things
5949begin to happen.
5950Receiving a small impression of the Holy Spirit may not be as dynamic
5951and dramatic as we want, but it is available to every believer right now. We
5952must contend to walk in this.
5953Jesus promised that signs would follow everyone who believes. These signs
5954include small measures of God’s power to heal a headache. It is still God’s
5955power at work when a “small miracle” happens.
5956These signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will
5957cast out demons. . .they will lay hands on the sick, and they will
5958recover.
5959—Mark 16:17–18
5960Being used by the Spirit to touch others by prophecy or healing is an
5961adventure in God. It changes our life. Every day is an opportunity where we
5962might prophesy or release God’s power to somebody. As we learn to open
5963our heart with real expectancy, anything may happen at any time whether
5964we are in the marketplace, a restaurant, a park, or while homeschooling our
5965children. God wants us to be faithful in the day of small beginnings (Zech.
59664:10). Many are ready to be used of God in big miracles. However, the Lord
5967wants us faithful to move in healing when only headaches are being healed
5968and in prophesying when we are only encouraging people in the simple
5969things of God’s love.
5970180
5971Growing in the Prophetic
5972Seek His Face and His Hand
5973We seek His face first; however, then we must seek His hand or the manifestation
5974of His power. God will give us more revelation of His face and His
5975hand if we hunger for it. We desire or seek the spiritual gifts by praying for
5976them, making room for them, and then by using them in the day of small
5977beginnings. I used to teach people to seek His face and not His hand. This
5978sounds good, but it is not a biblical concept. The Bible teaches that we seek
5979His face first without neglecting to seek His hand. We do not choose between
5980His hand or His face. Our spiritual inheritance includes experiencing both.
5981God wants to reveal His face in intimacy and His hand in power. Jesus does
5982not make us choose between power and intimacy. He gives both of them
5983to us. However, He wants them to have the proper priority in our heart.
5984We are commanded by Scripture to earnestly desire to prophesy. Are you
5985obeying this commandment? Are you earnestly seeking to prophesy? That
5986is the only way that we will start prophesying. We must not wait on God in
5987a nonbiblical way by waiting without asking the Holy Spirit for prophetic
5988impression and not putting our spiritual sails up.
5989Practical Pointers About
5990Growing in the Prophetic
5991Understand that when we pray for people or events, our spirit
5992will become sensitized to receive more of God’s prophetic
5993impressions for these people or events. Praying for people
5994postures us to receive more. In this way, we are intentional
5995about doing our part to receive the Spirit’s prophetic leading
5996in our worship gatherings, small groups, home groups, Bible
5997studies, fellowship and social times, at the business meeting,
5998in the marketplace, on phone calls, at the mall, during homeschooling,
5999or at your children’s soccer game. As we ask the
6000Lord how to serve someone more effectively, we will receive
6001prophetic impressions on practical ways to walk this out.
6002Fasting and praying in the Spirit increases our capacity to
6003receive prophetic impressions about people and events.
6004•
6005181
6006Practical Ways to Grow in the Prophetic
6007I urge our worship teams to ask the Spirit what He is doing in
6008preparation before they lead a worship service. The worship
6009teams should pray this in the briefing before the service and
6010then another five to ten times during the worship service.
6011Appeal to people to operate in the prophetic in a “normal”
6012way without taking themselves too seriously. Encourage them
6013to be open to correction and adjustment, to offer their words
6014in a humble style without melodrama, and to use language
6015that all can understand and to do it without hype. This will
6016make them more helpful to others.
6017The leadership team must have the integrity and humility to
6018“mop up” any messes that are caused by wrong prophecies or
6019by their poor administration of the prophetic ministry. This
6020helps ensure that the congregation’s “corporate conscience”
6021stays clear and good regarding the gift of prophecy.
6022Let us all be encouraged to “preserve the unity of the Spirit”
6023as we work together in love through the tensions and struggles
6024of being good stewards of prophecy. Remember, to avoid
6025swallowing camels, we’re all going to have to eat a few gnats.
6026Let us seek to evaluate all things in the light of God’s value
6027system in which justice, mercy, and faithfulness are given a
6028preeminent place (Matt. 23:23–24).
6029We encourage people to have an attitude of “open expectancy”
6030related to the fulfillment of a prophecy. The exact way
6031that God brings about a word in our lives is normally quite
6032different than we envision when we first receive it. We also
6033encourage people to “hold,” “sit on,” or “shelve” revelations
6034that do not have a clear interpretation.
6035Leadership must deal humbly and frankly with people whose
6036prophesying is not edifying others in either its content or
6037their presentation. Give them specific boundaries that you
6038•
6039•
6040•
6041•
6042•
6043•
6044182
6045Growing in the Prophetic
6046believe are appropriate for where they are in their prophetic
6047“measure” of maturity.
6048In our larger worship gatherings, we are limited by time
6049restraints; therefore, at best, only a very few can give public
6050prophecies in any given meeting (1 Cor. 14:29).
6051•
6052183
605317C h a p t e r
6054The Prophetic Word
6055in Public Worship
6056T he way we handle prophetic words in public worship services
6057has evolved over time. For the first two years, we allowed almost
6058everything to happen spontaneously without the benefit of various
6059guidelines that we have in place today. During those early years there were
6060occasions when a prophetic word was spoken forth by someone in the
6061congregation that resulted in a benefit to our church.
6062In January 1985, our seven-hundred-member congregation held its church
6063services in a high school auditorium. On February 1, 1985, Augustine gave a
6064public word that the Lord was going to provide a building for us by June 1.
6065He went on to say that two men would make us an offer on a building that
6066we could not refuse and that it would happen by June 1. Everyone cheered
6067wildly at the word. We had four months until June 1. Three months passed,
6068and by May 1 there was not any clear evidence that we would be getting a
6069new building. To my surprise, on May 10 two men who owned an indoor
6070soccer field asked me to lunch.
6071“We’ve heard about your ministry,” they said. “We want you to have our
6072indoor soccer building. It is a building that can seat two thousand people. The
6073soccer schedule is over on May 28, and we would like you to take it immediately
6074so that the building will not be empty and vulnerable to vandalism. We
6075184
6076Growing in the Prophetic
6077do not need a down payment or even a signed document. If you will give us
6078your word that you will pay the agreed-upon price, we will let you have it.”
6079We were amazed.
6080On Saturday, June 1, they gave us the keys, and we had our first Sunday
6081church service the next day on June 2. All this happened just as Augustine
6082had prophesied it—two men made us an offer we could not refuse on a
6083building that we would have by June 1. They offered it to us at a low price,
6084loaned us the money without interest, and did not ask for a down payment.
6085We were able to pay it off completely in three years. It was truly an offer too
6086good to refuse, just as had been prophesied. I was overjoyed. This gave our
6087congregation great confidence that we were in the right place at the right time
6088with God’s pleasure and favor on us. There would be some significant implications
6089to knowing this, which would become evident in the years ahead.
6090“Anything Goes” Approach to
6091Prophetic Ministry
6092Some who are new to the prophetic ministry are so afraid of quenching
6093the Holy Spirit that they refuse the necessary process of administrating
6094prophetic revelation. Therefore, they allow every word to be spoken publicly
6095“just in case” it is from the Lord. The Holy Spirit is not as easily quenched
6096as some imagine.
6097When I started out with the prophetic ministry, I was afraid that the Holy
6098Spirit was like a skittish dove who might fly away at the slightest ruffle or
6099mistake that I made. He’s not that easily offended. He is very secure, patient,
6100and kind. Consequently, in those first two years, except for some of really
6101flaky stuff, I allowed too many “prophetic words” to be spoken publicly
6102without any attempt to administrate them. I thought that administrating the
6103flow of the prophetic was the same as standing in the way of what the Holy
6104Spirit wanted to do.
6105We typically had three or four prophetic words each service, and sometimes
6106as many as eight or ten. There were a couple of instances when people
6107were so enthusiastically charged that the prophesying regretfully continued
6108on long after God was finished.
6109Some wonderful things happened in those years, but there were plenty of
6110negative things as well. The negative things could have easily been avoided
6111185
6112The Prophetic Word in Public Worship
6113if I would have had even a little bit of experience in giving leadership to the
6114prophetic ministry. In those days, some prophecies were given that ended up
6115being totally inaccurate, and some true words were misinterpreted and thus
6116misapplied. A true prophetic word that is not rightly interpreted or applied
6117can be as harmful as an inaccurate word of prophecy. For the most part,
6118everyone was left to his own interpretation and application. This brings an
6119unnecessary amount of chaos to a local body of believers.
6120Someone titled our church Never a Dull Moment Fellowship. However, I
6121remember hours of meetings with discouraged people who ended up disillusioned
6122and hurt by “prophetic words” that I did not administrate right. I was
6123getting an education about my naïve approach to leadership that let almost
6124anything to be said in public meetings.
6125Liberty and Structure
6126I will mention eight basic components that are often seen in a worship
6127service: (1) worship songs; (2) preaching the Word; (3) testimonies; (4) prayer
6128for the sick, the hurting, and the lost; (5) prophetic ministry; (6) fellowship;
6129(7) baptisms and Communion; and (8) church business (announcements,
6130tithes, and so on).
6131Some people have the mistaken idea that liberty is simply changing the
6132order of those eight elements. Just because someone decides to preach at the
6133beginning and have worship second doesn’t mean there is a freedom of the
6134Spirit in the church.
6135Liberty consists of two things. First, it is consists of the assurance that we
6136are forgiven and that the Lord is for us even in our weakness and immaturity.
6137When we sense liberty before God without condemnation, then we are
6138in position to grow in the Spirit.
6139Second, liberty is the willingness to allow the Spirit to interrupt what we
6140have scheduled to do. If God wants to send a “Holy Spirit breeze” across the
6141congregation in an unusual way, then we must allow it.
6142The church leadership has to be sensitive to the spontaneous wind or
6143direction of the Spirit. If God does not indicate a change of direction, then
6144be at peace with the normal format. Simply juggling the order of the service
6145does not constitute liberty.
6146Some consider any kind of structure as a sign of a controlling spirit. Some
6147186
6148Growing in the Prophetic
6149have the idea that liberty is about reordering the eight components each
6150week. It doesn’t take much insight to see through this superficial definition
6151of liberty.
6152At the IHOP Missions Base, we “put up our sail,” and if the breeze of the
6153Spirit comes across our gathering, then we go with it. We are not under the
6154pressure to make sure that an unpredictable “breeze” breaks into every gathering.
6155I have noticed that the “interrupting breeze” of the Spirit comes more
6156in some seasons than others.
6157It is naïve to see structure and liberty as opposites. I know some who do
6158not believe in any structure in their meeting. Thus, the people who attend
6159are allowed to do anything they “feel led” to do with few boundaries. God
6160put the gift of leadership into the church for a reason. It is not to restrict
6161true liberty, but to facilitate, direct, and preserve the flow of the Spirit’s life.
6162Much of that flow can be enjoyed without changing the order of worship
6163very week.
6164Giving a Prophetic Word Publicly
6165Some churches have a regular “programmed pause” to receive prophetic
6166words in their services. The service begins with exuberant praise, slows
6167down using tender worship songs, and finally slows down even more to a
6168silent pause as the people wait for prophetic words to be given. We did this
6169for years. Eventually, we stopped doing that because so many of the words
6170were not weighty; the congregation became bored with most of the words
6171that were given, and so they simply tuned them out.
6172Each week there are as many as twenty to thirty people in our spiritual
6173family who receive prophetic dreams about the IHOP Missions Base.
6174However, we seldom have spontaneous prophecies voiced from the congregation
6175during our services. For several years, we put a microphone at the front
6176row. The people came during the service to speak with a leader who would
6177confirm their prophetic word, and then they gave it publicly.
6178In a large congregation there may be as many as fifty to one hundred
6179people with a dream, vision, or prophetic word that they received in the
6180worship service or throughout the previous week. Just because someone
6181receives a revelation from God doesn’t mean it is to be spoken from the platform
6182on Sunday morning.
6183187
6184The Prophetic Word in Public Worship
6185Our real issue is to understand what God is saying to us as a spiritual
6186family and then to communicate it to the congregation in a way that is
6187helpful and edifying.
6188I believe that most of the revelations that the Holy Spirit gives the people
6189are not supposed to be shared publicly. The prophetic word is often given for
6190the benefit of the individual who received it so he or she would pray or serve
6191the congregation in a more effective way.
6192There are times when as many as ten people receive the same basic word.
6193Nine of those words are not supposed to be spoken publicly but are given to
6194confirm the word that only one person actually speaks publicly.
6195Currently, there are no programmed pauses in our worship services for
6196spontaneous prophetic words to be given from the congregation. We have
6197singers on the worship team who are gifted in singing the prophetic impressions
6198they receive. They often sing forth what they receive from the Holy
6199Spirit. They’re on the platform with microphones in hand. In the course of
6200the musical flow of worship, they sing out spontaneous prophetic prayers,
6201encouragements, challenges, and longings. Sometimes a person from the
6202congregation comes to a leader in our spiritual family to submit a prophetic
6203message that he or she receives. If the leader feels it should be shared publicly,
6204then we find a time for that. However, we usually wait until that prophetic
6205word is confirmed.
6206When people give us prophetic words that correct or redirect the ministry,
6207we wait for confirmation. We ask the Lord to confirm prophetic words by
6208two or three other prophetic words that witness to the same truth.
6209By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.
6210—2 Corinthians 13:1
6211Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
6212—1 Corinthians 14:29
6213Correcting Unanointed Prophecies
6214Occasionally, someone stands up in our meetings and shouts an unanointed
6215or even an unbiblical word in the name of prophesying. It does not inspire or
6216188
6217Growing in the Prophetic
6218edify others. Paul said, “He who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation
6219and comfort” (1 Cor. 14:3).
6220If words are unanointed, do not edify the body, and yet do not present
6221doctrinal error, then we treat them as a less serious problem. We usually let
6222them go the first time and probably the second. However, after two so-called
6223prophetic words that do not edify the body, we will go to the person and
6224gently suggest that they submit their word to a leader before giving their
6225word publicly.
6226If it happens a third time, we then require them to submit their prophetic
6227word to the leadership before speaking it out in a service. If the person does
6228not heed this third private correction from the leadership, then we will stop
6229them on the fourth time and correct them publicly.
6230This has happened only a few times. On each occasion we have taken
6231time to explain to the congregation the whole process that evolved with that
6232person. As I mentioned previously, if the whole process is not explained,
6233then other prophetic people will fear being publicly corrected.
6234When the people understand the whole process, they have security that
6235the leadership will not deal harshly with them if they make a mistake. They
6236must not be afraid that they may be suddenly corrected before the church, or
6237the prophetic ministry will diminish quickly.
6238Instant Correction
6239There are two types of propheticwordsthatwe publicly correct immediately—
6240but again, as gently as possible. The first type is a prophetic word that
6241rebukes or corrects the church without first going through the leadership
6242team. I would never go to another church and give a prophetic word that
6243was a correction or redirection without giving it first to their leadership.
6244If the leadership of the church agrees with the word, I would ask them to
6245present it to the church. It is usually more effective if the local leadership
6246team speaks the corrective word instead of a visitor who is not well known
6247by the local church.
6248The leadership team might ask me to share it with the church, but I
6249would do so only after it was made clear to everyone I was speaking at
6250their request.
6251If, in our private discussion, the leaders rejected the prophetic word, yet I
6252189
6253The Prophetic Word in Public Worship
6254was convinced that I had unmistakably heard from God, I might warn them
6255in the pastor’s office, “I think you guys are really in trouble.” But I would
6256never speak a corrective word publicly in a church outside their leadership
6257and authority structure.
6258If a person gives a prophetic word that gives a new direction or a rebuke
6259for our spiritual family without first submitting it to the leadership, I gently
6260respond in this way:
6261I appreciate the fact that you are trying to hear from God for this
6262ministry and that you care about us. However, I would like you
6263to take this word, share it with the leadership team, and let us
6264discern it together. We invite you to be a part of this process if
6265you wish, but for now we are not going to move in that direction.
6266We will come back and give you a report later.
6267The other type of prophetic word we correct immediately is one that
6268contains significant doctrinal error. Again, the correction must be done
6269with kindness and gentleness because we are dealing with precious human
6270beings. I would correct such errors on the spot. I would begin by saying, “I’m
6271sure he meant well, but the word spoken calls into question a doctrine that
6272we esteem as biblical.” Then I would accurately state the doctrine that was
6273called into question.
6274Receiving Prophetic Direction
6275in Our Worship Sets
6276We ask for the Holy Spirit’s prophetic leadership in the song selection
6277during the worship set and in releasing prophetic oracles or singing the
6278song of the Lord through the prophetic singers. In ministry time, we ask
6279for words of knowledge in the following four basic categories of prophetic
6280direction:
6281Heart issues: call to refocus on intimacy with Jesus and/or to
6282receive prophetic revelation as well as receiving grace to overcome
6283compromise, discouragement, and condemnation
62841.
6285190
6286Growing in the Prophetic
6287Personal circumstances: favor for new doors to open in
6288ministry or job opportunities or to help in crisis in their family,
6289job, economics, being mistreated, need for direction, lawsuits,
6290and so on
6291Physical healing: words of knowledge on specific needs or
6292prayer for general healing
6293Ministry impartation: the anointing for prophetic spirit, evangelism,
6294and intercession
62952.
62963.
62974.
6298191
629918C h a p t e r
6300The Prophetic Song of the Lord
6301J esus loves music. Many people rarely think of God as loving to sing
6302and as One who sings beautifully. Jesus is an excellent singer, songwriter,
6303and musician. Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that our God is a singing
6304God. Psalm 29 reveals that His voice is powerful and majestic. Revelation
630515:3–4 tells us that He has His own special song called “the song of the
6306Lamb.” In fact, the Holy Spirit is such a good songwriter that He even has
6307a whole book of songs in the Bible—the Book of Psalms. Clearly, music is
6308in God’s heart.
6309The Scriptures are clear that God is the author of all the anointed lifegiving
6310music that exists in both heaven and on Earth. Music existed within
6311the angelic realm even before the creation of the earth (Job 38:7), and it
6312powerfully reflects and expresses aspects of His personality. Anointed
6313music has and always will be a means of communion and connection
6314between God and His creatures above and below. It moves human affections
6315in the deepest way.
6316Music is a providential gift that God has bestowed upon His creation.
6317Music has been woven throughout all created order. Throughout the Scriptures
6318creation is referenced and exhorted to give praise to God in song.
6319Likewise, God’s people are to sing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
6320singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). For all of
6321eternity, we will be singing songs to the Lord.
6322192
6323Growing in the Prophetic
6324Satan has perverted music in his assault against God’s kingdom. This
6325is actually a testimony to its great value. Satan has used music to seduce
6326people into darkness, including idolatry and sexual immorality throughout
6327the ages.
6328The Westminster Catechism begins with the well-known statement: “The
6329chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” So much for the
6330Puritans being down on pleasure! Author John Piper has brilliantly changed
6331this sentence to read, “The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying
6332Him forever.”1
6333One of the primary ways that we can enjoy God is by Spirit-inspired music
6334that comes from God. Surely some of the pleasures that are at His right hand
6335forevermore will be the heavenly music and songs that surround His throne
6336(Ps. 16:11).
6337What Is the Prophetic Song?
6338The essence of the song of the Lord occurs when Jesus sings praise about the
6339Father to the church. How does He do this? Jesus sings in the midst of the
6340congregation by releasing His Spirit on singers in the church. Jesus is the
6341head, and we are the body. In other words, we are the physical expression on
6342Earth of what Jesus wants. We refer to this as prophetic singing, or the song
6343of the Lord.
6344In Hebrews 2:12, Jesus is pictured as singing praise to the Father in the
6345midst of and through the instrumentality of the congregation of the believing:
6346“I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will
6347sing praise to You.” This verse implies that the Holy Spirit gives the church a
6348deeper revelation of the nature and personality of God in prophetic messages
6349through song. It encourages us to declare the majesty and beauty of God
6350through prophetic prayers that we can sing.
6351The risen Christ releases His songs in us by the anointing of the Holy
6352Spirit that He might sing to God through us. This is foundational to what
6353is sometimes called the “song of the Lord.” This phrase, popularized by the
6354Charismatic Renewal of recent decades, refers to the scriptural references
6355of the Lord’s song (Ps. 137:4), spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19), and singing a new
6356song to the Lord (Ps. 33:3; 96:1; 98:1; 149:1; Isa. 42:10). The prophetic “new
6357song” will be released in all nations, leading to Jesus’s second coming. Isaiah
6358193
6359The Prophetic Song of the Lord
636042:10–13 with Revelation 22:17 gives us the clearest picture of the End Time
6361church praying in conjunction with prophetic singing to invite the second
6362coming of Jesus. The End Time worship movement will be led by prophetic
6363music and songs.
6364Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise from the ends of
6365the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you
6366coastlands and you inhabitants of them! Let the wilderness and
6367its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let
6368the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the
6369mountains. Let them give glory to the Lord, and declare His
6370praise in the coastlands. The Lord shall go forth like a mighty
6371man [Jesus’s second coming]; He shall stir up His zeal like a
6372man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail
6373against His enemies. “I have held My peace. . . .I have been still
6374and restrained Myself. Now I will cry like a woman in labor, I
6375will pant and gasp at once. I will lay waste the mountains and hill
6376[End Time judgments]. . . ”
6377—Isaiah 42:10–15
6378There will surely be an intensification of the Spirit’s work in releasing
6379His songs before the second coming of Jesus. God’s treasury of heavenly
6380music will be opened up and released to the body of Christ. This music will
6381reflect a full range of the attributes of God, from His tender mercy to His
6382terrible judgments.
6383Jesus has been releasing His songs through the church throughout the
6384centuries. Some of these songs are spontaneous, as they are sung for the
6385first and only time in worship services, prayer meetings, home groups, or in
6386one’s private devotional time. Others become well known as they are written
6387down and sung by millions. These “prophetic songs” from heaven have been
6388written down and sung as hymns by choirs across the earth.
6389The Holy Spirit is even now anointing and inspiring many prophetic
6390musicians and singers to sing the intimate songs of God’s heart along with
6391the great war cry of the lion of Judah. In light of the nature and importance
6392of music, it does not surprise us that God uses singers to inspire and activate
6393the prophetic anointing (2 Kings 3:15).
6394194
6395Growing in the Prophetic
6396David understood the reality of the Spirit manifesting His power through
6397prophetic singing. David taught that when we sing praise, God inhabits or
6398manifests His power in that context (Ps. 22:3). This is one reason that King
6399David established a 24-7 tabernacle for prayer and worship.
6400David’s revelation of heavenly worship as seen in the Book of Psalms is
6401foundational to David’s political throne, which was based on 24-7 worship
6402and intercession. In other words, David’s government flowed forth from
6403prophetic worship (1 Chron. 23–25).
6404Let the high praises of God be in their mouth. . .to execute
6405vengeance [justice] on the nations, and punishments on the
6406peoples; to bind their kings with chains. . .to execute on them the
6407written judgment—this honor have all His saints.
6408—Psalm 149:6–9
6409David had revelation of the spiritual impact of prophetic intercessory
6410worship. He established 4,000 full-time paid musicians and 288 singers:
6411“The number. . .instructed in the songs of the Lord. . .who were skillful,
6412was two hundred and eighty-eight” (1 Chron. 25:7). “Four thousand were
6413gatekeepers, and four thousand praised the Lord with musical instruments
6414(1 Chron. 23:5).
6415When David played prophetic music before King Saul, demonic oppression
6416lifted off him.
6417Saul’s servants said to him, “Surely, a distressing spirit. . .is troubling
6418you. Let our master now command your servants. . .to seek
6419out a man who is a skillful player on the harp; and it shall be that
6420he will play it. . .when the distressing spirit. . .is upon you, and
6421you shall be well.” . . .And so it was, whenever the spirit. . .was
6422upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it. . . .Then
6423Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit
6424would depart from him.
6425—1 Samuel 16:15–23
6426195
6427The Prophetic Song of the Lord
6428Elisha requested a musician to play when he was asked to prophesy to
6429the king of Israel. Elisha, the prophet with a “double portion” of Elijah’s
6430prophetic spirit, needed a prophetic musician to inspire him to prophesy.
6431Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What have I to do with
6432you? Go to the prophets of your father. . . .But now bring me a
6433musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the
6434hand of the Lord came upon him.
6435—2 Kings 3:13–15
6436When King Jehoshaphat went into battle, he put the prophetic singers
6437in front of the army because he understood that they would release God’s
6438power for warfare.
6439Some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude
6440is coming against you. . . . ” And Jehoshaphat feared, and set
6441himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all
6442Judah. . . .He [Jehoshaphat] appointed those who should sing to
6443the Lord. . . as they went out before the army and were saying:
6444“Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.” Now when they
6445began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the
6446people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against
6447Judah; and they were defeated.
6448—2 Chronicles 20:2–3, 21–22
6449Angelic Choirs
6450It will become more common as we approach the time of Jesus’s return
6451that angelic choirs will be seen and heard by individuals as well as entire
6452congregations. Each visitation of an angelic choir will probably emphasize
6453a particular message that is on God’s heart. Those who have had visionary
6454encounters of heaven often report of the marvelous music they heard.
6455I know of several people who have experienced the awesome music of
6456angelic choirs.
6457I personally heard the angelic choirs one Saturday morning in the summer
6458of 1990. I arrived at the church auditorium to attend a prayer meeting for
6459revival. As I got out of my car and approached the door of the building,
6460196
6461Growing in the Prophetic
6462I heard very loud music coming from the sanctuary. I thought that the sound
6463team was playing something majestic like Handel’s Messiah on the sound
6464system at a very high volume. I rushed into the sanctuary because I was
6465concerned that the volume being used was too loud and would hurt the
6466sound system.
6467I continued to hear this awesome music up until the moment I opened the
6468sanctuary door. The glorious music was instantly shut off, just as if someone
6469had pushed the stop button on the stereo as soon as I opened the doors to the
6470sanctuary. To my surprise, the sound system inside was not yet on, and only
6471two guys in the building were up front, kneeling in prayer at the altar. They
6472heard nothing. I was stunned as I realized that I had just had an encounter
6473with the Holy Spirit.
6474I didn’t tell anyone at the meeting what I had heard. In anticipation,
6475I thought that surely the Lord was going to visit and especially bless this
6476meeting in power. That must be why He let me hear the heavenly music. But
6477to my surprise, it was just like most of the ordinary prayer meetings that we
6478conduct each day—nothing spectacular; just some tired but sincere believers
6479calling out to God for revival at an early morning hour.
6480Afterward I pondered the meaning of my experience. The Lord then made
6481it clear to me that He is blessed by such “ordinary” daily prayer meetings
6482that seem so weak and unanointed. The heavenly hosts regularly attend such
6483prayer meetings, unseen and unperceived, to mingle our weak prayers and
6484praises with their strong and glorious heavenly music, worship, and prayer.
6485The angelic choirs are always functioning in the spirit realm in concert with
6486our earthly prayer meetings. This experience built up my faith as I saw the
6487significance God puts on “dry” intercession.
6488This story has encouraged other believers to persevere in dry prayer meetings,
6489knowing that the Lord always adds the voices of His angelic choir to
6490our intercession. We aren’t responsible to make our prayers anointed; we’re
6491only responsible to continue in prayer and not give up!
6492The End Time Conflict: Two
6493Global Worship Movements
6494The great conflict at the end of the age will be waged between two global
6495worship movements. The Holy Spirit is raising up the most powerful worship
6496197
6497The Prophetic Song of the Lord
6498and prayer movement that will contend against the Antichrist’s worship
6499movement and his persecutions. Even the Antichrist understands the value of
6500music—Satan has been using music to seduce people into darkness throughout
6501the ages. Satan has perverted music in his assault against God’s kingdom, and
6502he is influencing scores of people with false “prophetic” music.
6503I believe that the Scriptures are clear that the Antichrist will raise up
6504a state-financed worldwide worship movement to hinder the Holy Spirit’s
6505worship movement (Rev. 13:4, 9, 12, 15). This worship movement will cause
6506the people in the kingdom of darkness to have a deep heart connection with
6507Satan. The music in this movement will move people emotionally and will be
6508backed by demonic signs and wonders (v. 13).
6509However, paralleling the rise of the demonic worship movement will be
6510the rise of a global worship movement that will be instrumental in the second
6511coming of Jesus. As we approach His return to the earth, I believe there will
6512be an intensification of the Spirit’s work in releasing His songs through the
6513redeemed as God’s treasury of music will be opened up and released to the
6514body of Christ.
6515The prophetic new song will originate at God’s throne. It will be released
6516in all nations and will be dynamically related to Jesus’s return to the earth.
6517Now is the time for singers and musicians to begin to prepare and train
6518themselves to receive and sing a new song to the Lord in the time of great
6519revival and great judgment.
6520Practical Ways to Increase Prophetic Singing
6521Sing directly to the Lord in your private devotions by singing
6522straight from the Scriptures, along with singing their prayers.
6523The Holy Spirit will use this to release prophetic songs in you.
6524In private settings, your confidence can grow until you feel more
6525comfortable singing such songs in public settings.
6526Singers may sing spontaneous prophetic songs before others in
6527stages. Start in smaller group settings, such as the worship time
6528in a home group or small prayer meeting. It is easier to start by
6529singing songs to God rather than songs from God to the people.
6530Stay steady on a worship team for many years.
65311.
65322.
6533198
6534Growing in the Prophetic
6535Use the Bible itself to sing spontaneous songs back to God and
6536to the congregation. The Psalms are an obvious place to look for
6537inspirational material. I encourage our prophetic singers to sing
6538straight out of the Psalms, opening their Bibles on the spot to
6539provide the words to sing. If prophetic singers immerse themselves
6540in meditation on Scripture, then their prophesying in
6541song will become richer and fuller.
6542Singers should pay attention to particular themes that the Spirit
6543anoints. They can discern this by watching to see if the congregation
6544is especially engaged and blessed as a specific theme is
6545being sung. If a singer notices a heightened involvement of the
6546congregation on a theme, then he or she can simply sing that
6547theme back to God in a spontaneous song. For example, a song
6548with the theme of crying out for mercy, expressing gratitude,
6549or celebrating God’s goodness may grab the attention of the
6550congregation in a special way. If, for instance, a song about
6551receiving God’s mercy is particularly anointed, as attested to by
6552the congregation being moved by it, then the singer can respond
6553by singing an “improvised” or prophetic song back to God that
6554reflects that very theme. The song may include a divine response
6555about how God’s heart is moved by seeing the people believe in
6556His mercy.
6557God can give prophetic songs to a singer weeks before the
6558worship service in which he sings. Older well-known songs can
6559have a prophetic edge on them when they are sung under the
6560leadership of the Spirit.
6561Some misunderstand how the Spirit works with us. He does
6562not force us to sing. Instead, He works within the framework of
6563our personalities and the human dynamics of worship services
6564(1 Cor. 14:32–33; Gal. 5:22–23). We can hold a prophetic song
6565until it is the right time in a worship service. Be humble enough
6566to allow others to judge or evaluate what you sang (1 Cor.
656714:27–29).
65683.
65694.
65705.
65716.
6572199
6573The Prophetic Song of the Lord
6574The church leaders need to teach publicly on prophetic singing
6575from time to time in order to place value on it and stir the
6576faith and courage in the prophetic singers and musicians.
6577Consider hosting a weekend seminar for the worship team to
6578stir up the prophetic anointing on them. If necessary, bring
6579in outside worship leaders who are experienced in prophetic
6580music. Have these visiting prophetic worship leaders teach and
6581model prophetic music. Then have them lay their hands on
6582those who desire to be released in prophetic music. This gifting
6583can be imparted from one believer to another by the Spirit
6584(1 Tim. 4:14).
6585Worship leaders must make a little room for prophetic songs
6586during worship services. If they simply pause a few times during
6587the singing, the singers will have opportunity to sing out as the
6588instruments continue. The worship team will quickly learn to
6589flow together in this. Musical instruments can be used prophetically
6590as they play spontaneously in a worship service. The
6591worship leader allows times for the music to flow freely. There
6592will be times the music swells in surprising ways.
6593We have found, as a rule of thumb, that a maximum of three to
6594four prophetic songs is enough for most worship services that
6595last less than an hour. There can be exceptions, especially for
6596prolonged worship gatherings that continue for hours.
6597Prophetic songs should be limited to the boundaries of exhortation,
6598encouragement, and comfort as described in 1 Corinthians
659914:3. They shouldn’t become a vehicle for bringing correction
6600or direction to the body unless those with oversight over the
6601church agree to it in advance.
6602The singers should avoid overly mystical and parabolic messages
6603that are complicated. Avoid singing the picture or vision itself,
6604but rather sing the truth behind the picture. When singing a
6605prophetic song, sing ideas that are easy to understand and that
6606help and edify others.
66077.
66088.
66099.
661010.
661111.
6612200
6613Growing in the Prophetic
6614Discourage those who don’t have the voice for it from singing
6615their prophecies in public settings. They, like me, need to stick
6616with speaking their prophecies! For those like me who are not
6617called to sing publicly, I still sing in private. It edifies my spirit,
6618and it is pleasurable to the Lord, even if it could only be called
6619at best a “joyful noise”!
6620We must understand that God has called every believer to prophesy: “I
6621wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied. . . .For
6622you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged”
6623(1 Cor. 14:5, 31).
6624Singers must be eager and in faith that the Spirit wants to use them in
6625prophetic singing. I encourage the singers to settle down or dial down in
6626their emotions as they ask the Spirit what He is saying in any given worship
6627service. They must pay attention to the small impressions or pictures that
6628the Holy Spirit brings to their mind. They must value them enough to
6629sing them.
6630We must understand that even the early beginnings for those who sing
6631prophetically are important to God. Therefore, we must not despise them.
6632Why is this so important? Because we can only grow in this one step at a
6633time. We must not despise the days of small beginnings, but rather be faithful
6634with the beginning stages of the song of the Lord. We must give expression
6635to the small impressions of the Spirit instead of ignoring them. (See Zechariah
66364:10; Matthew 25:21.)
663712.
6638201
663919C h a p t e r
6640Manifestations
6641of the Holy Spirit
6642W hen God manifests His power through the church, it gives
6643us the opportunity for spiritual growth as well as confusion
6644and stumbling. Throughout church history, strange and even
6645bizarre physical phenomena have accompanied outpourings of the Holy
6646Spirit’s power. In the early 1990s, testimonies began to circulate across the
6647nations about people being blessed by manifestations of the Spirit that were
6648accompanied with physical phenomena. The renewal in Toronto under the
6649leadership of John Arnott and the work of the Holy Spirit associated with
6650Rodney Howard-Browne brought new understanding and controversy to the
6651church across the Western world.
6652Since that time, many believers have been spiritually refreshed and rejuvenated
6653in their love for Jesus. However, other believers were skeptical and
6654questioned if such manifestations represented a genuine work of God. What
6655about the fleshly behavior that some people engaged in under the banner of
6656being touched by the Holy Spirit? What shall we do with that stuff?
6657Some church leaders were perplexed about how they were to view these
6658things and what they were to encourage or discourage in the midst of this
6659genuine move of the Holy Spirit. It was a time in which many began to
6660202
6661Growing in the Prophetic
6662develop a biblical framework through which these manifestations and physical
6663phenomena were to be interpreted.
6664The Manifest Presence of God
6665Visitations of God’s manifest presence upon individuals, movements, and
6666geographic regions have often occurred in the history of Christianity. They
6667have been disdained for various reasons. Sadly, they have most often been
6668opposed by church leaders who were not humble enough to admit that there
6669are spiritual experiences beyond their own with which God renews people.
6670Such leaders feel that they have a firm grasp on what the Holy Spirit does
6671and does not do. The Holy Spirit is much bigger than any of us.
6672We must always take the posture of being learners before the Lord as we
6673acknowledge that we do not understand all that the Holy Spirit might do.
6674No matter how mature an individual is in the Lord, we are all still only children
6675and therefore must remain childlike in our relationship to Him as our
6676Father. There is only one “know-it-all” in the kingdom!
6677Someone once asked the intriguing question, “Where does God live?”
6678Another with a sharp wit answered, “Anywhere He wants to!” That is a good
6679answer indeed. When Solomon dedicated the temple, he said, “Heaven and
6680the highest heaven cannot contain Thee, how much less this house which
6681I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27, nas). There is mystery to the place where God
6682chooses to manifest His presence. God is so close and yet so far. He is so
6683predictable in His faithfulness yet so mysterious in His ways. Therefore, we
6684are not naturally comfortable with all of His ways.
6685This is by His intentional design to humble us as we worship with
6686awestruck wonder. God purposefully left the philosophical explanations for
6687many of His attributes and ways unsatisfying to our finite intellect. How
6688could it be otherwise when our finite minds try to comprehend infinity?
6689Human language falls short in fully conveying the personality and nature
6690of God. We see the glory of God through a mirror, but only dimly (1 Cor.
669113:12). We need to be reconciled to the fact of God’s intentional mysterious
6692ways if we are to enjoy our relationship with Him and to freely receive
6693from Him. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the Lord
6694our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children
6695forever.”
6696203
6697Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
6698So where does God really live? Where is His presence? First, He lives
6699in heaven where He dwells in unapproachable light (1 Tim. 6:16). Second,
6700He is omnipresent, and there is no place where He is not. Third, He has
6701condescended to live within His “temples.” In the Old Testament, it was first
6702Moses’s tabernacle in the wilderness and then in the temple in Jerusalem. In
6703the New Testament, it is the church—the corporate body of Christ.
6704Fourth, He and His Word are one, and thus He is present in the Holy
6705Scriptures. Fifth, He is present in the sacraments of the church. And finally,
6706He periodically “visits” specific people and places by His “manifest presence.”
6707In other words, God “comes down” and interfaces with people in the
6708natural realm in the revivals seen in the history of the church.
6709When God “draws near,” the normal order of things can be disrupted.
6710When the omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, infinite, holy, and loving
6711God condescends to come down and touch weak, broken, and finite humans,
6712what would we expect to happen to the normal order of things? It is only
6713logical to expect something other than “business as usual.”
6714We seek to honor the truth about God and His character and ways—we
6715don’t have to choose one aspect of His character above others or one truth
6716at the expense of other truths about God. Following are four New Testament
6717passages that refer to the biblical concept of the manifest presence of God.
6718Jesus promised to be “present” among us in a discernible way that is
6719beyond the way He is with us at other times. Matthew 18:20 says:
6720Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there
6721in the midst of them.
6722Paul refers to the assembling of believers as the place in which Jesus’s presence
6723is manifest in a special way to bring discipline on unrepentant church
6724members. The main point I am emphasizing in this passage is that the power
6725of Jesus is present in a specialized way when believers gather together.
6726In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered
6727together. . .with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such
6728a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may
6729be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6730—1 Corinthians 5:4–5
6731204
6732Growing in the Prophetic
6733There are occasions in which God’s healing power is present in a greater
6734measure than it usually is. The power of God flowed out of Jesus’s body in
6735a discernible way. The power of the Holy Spirit apparently did not manifest
6736through Him continually at this measure. However, at specific times and in
6737specific situations it did as God ordained.
6738It happened on a certain day, as He was teaching . . .the power of
6739the Lord was present to heal them.
6740—Luke 5:17
6741A great multitude of people from all Judea . . . came to hear
6742Him and be healed of their diseases, as well as those who were
6743tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. And the
6744whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from
6745Him and healed them all.
6746—Luke 6:17–19
6747Biblical Examples of God’s Manifest Presence
6748Physical manifestations happen at the time when God’s presence is manifest
6749in the natural realm:
6750Daniel fell, terrified by God’s presence (Dan. 8:17; 10:7–10,
675115–19).
6752Fire came from heaven to consume sacrifices (Lev. 9:24;
67531 Kings 18:38; 1 Chron. 21:26).
6754The priests couldn’t stand because of God’s glory (1 Kings
67558:10–11; 2 Chron. 7:1–3).
6756King Saul and his men were overcome by the Spirit and
6757prophesied as they drew near the camp of the prophets
6758(1 Sam. 19:18–24).
6759A bush burned but was not consumed (Exod. 3:2).
6760•
6761•
6762•
6763•
6764•
6765205
6766Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
6767There was thunder, smoke, shaking of the ground, sounds of
6768trumpets, and voices upon Mount Sinai (Exod. 19:16).
6769Moses saw the “glory of God” pass by him; Moses’s face
6770supernaturally shone (Exod. 34:30).
6771Jesus and His garments were supernaturally made brilliant,
6772and a supernatural cloud and Moses and Elijah visited Him
6773(Matt. 17:2–8).
6774The Holy Spirit descended in bodily form as a dove (John
67751:32).
6776Unbelieving guards were thrown to the ground (John 18:6).
6777Peter and Paul fell into trances and saw and heard into the
6778spirit world (Acts 10:10; 22:1).
6779Saul of Tarsus saw a brilliant light, was thrown from his
6780horse, heard Jesus audibly, and was temporarily struck blind
6781(Acts 9:4).
6782John fell as dead, had no bodily strength, and saw and heard
6783into the spirit world (Rev. 1:17).
6784The record of church history is filled with testimonies of people who experienced
6785the Spirit in many different ways. The Book of Joel uses the analogy
6786of wine in relation to the outpouring of the Spirit. Peter prophetically interpreted
6787what occurred on the Day of Pentecost as a partial fulfillment of Joel’s
6788End Time prophecy. On that day those observing the 120 who were filled
6789with the Holy Spirit accused them of being drunk with wine.
6790They were probably overwhelmed by the manifest presence of Holy Spirit’s
6791joy! It is consistent with the nature of God to use something as simple
6792and profound as joy, and its effects upon His people, to get the attention of
6793burned-out, bored, and hardened unbelievers. The account in Acts 2 is not
6794just a historical account of what happened in Jerusalem in the first century;
6795it is a divine revelation of what occurs when the fullness of the Holy Spirit
6796•
6797•
6798•
6799•
6800•
6801•
6802•
6803•
6804206
6805Growing in the Prophetic
6806descends on a people. In Acts 2, there was the manifestation of the wind, the
6807fire, and the wine of the Spirit. Before it’s all over, there is going to be “blood,
6808fire, and vapor of smoke.” The fire of God convicts us of sin and releases
6809passionate intercession and the fear of the Lord. The winds of God release
6810angels with mighty miracles.
6811Testing Spiritual Manifestations
6812and Phenomena
6813The Bible does not record all possible divine or legitimate supernatural activities
6814and/or experiences that have occurred or may yet occur in the nations.
6815Rather, it records examples of divine activity and legitimate supernatural
6816experiences that fall into broader categories that are typical of how the Holy
6817Spirit works. This concept is taught in John 21:25, in which John states that
6818if all the wonderful works that Jesus did had been recorded, all the books in
6819the world could not contain them.
6820The Bible nowhere teaches that God is bound to do only what He has done
6821before. In fact, there are many prophecies of Scripture that speak of God
6822doing things He has never done before. God is always and forever free to do
6823unprecedented things that are consistent with His character as revealed in
6824Scripture. He is God, and He can do anything He wants to.
6825The only thing the Bible says that it is impossible for God to do is lie. We
6826must be very careful when suggesting that God would never do or could
6827never do this thing or that. He does not ask our permission about anything
6828He chooses to say or do. Let us remember how He confronted and dealt with
6829Job when Job challenged the wisdom of God’s ways. Western Christianity
6830has too often been stripped of the supernatural side of faith and the sense of
6831the mystery of God.
6832Sometimes people become overly zealous and/or possess deficient biblical
6833hermeneutics and therefore twist and stretch Scripture passages in order to
6834try to prove the validity of some spiritual manifestation or physical phenomenon
6835that is not explicitly referred to in the Bible. For example, some attempt
6836to defend the experience of uncontrollable laughing by this kind of “prooftexting,”
6837yet this phenomenon it is not specifically mentioned in Scripture.
6838However, a broader category of the Spirit’s work, “joy inexpressible and
6839full of glory,” is referred to in 1 Peter 1:8. Why should it be a surprise to
6840207
6841Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
6842anyone that a person or whole groups of people might experience an aspect
6843of this kind of joy that could lead to the experience of extended laughter?
6844Some sincere Christians panic when they hear ofsuch reports and instantly
6845conclude that a spiritual deception must be at work. But—just maybe—their
6846view of God, His ways, and the Bible is too limiting. Ironically, it may be
6847their deficient biblical hermeneutics that lead them to such biased conclusions.
6848There is a vast difference between behaviors that violate scriptural
6849principles about the nature of God’s work among people and behaviors to
6850which Scripture does not explicitly refer.
6851Unfortunately, some have a bias that nothing outside of their personal
6852experience could possibly be from God—otherwise why hasn’t God done it
6853for them? Some church leaders feel the pressure, whether self-imposed or
6854from their constituency, to have all the answers. It is easy to perceive the
6855arrogance and presumption of this mentality. We must stay childlike before
6856God as learners to enter and receive more of the work of the Holy Spirit.
6857To test the validity of spiritual manifestations, we look at a number of
6858factors. First, we examine the overall belief system and lifestyles (and
6859changes in them) of those affected by the manifestations. Second, we look at
6860the overall beliefs and lifestyles of those being used as a vessel to release the
6861Spirit’s blessing. We should test the short- and long-term fruit of the experiences
6862on individuals and churches. Finally, we need to evaluate overall glory
6863given to Jesus in the context in which the phenomena are occurring.
6864Jonathan Edwards referred to five tests to determine if a particular manifestation
6865was to be regarded as a true work of the Spirit. He stated that Satan
6866cannot and would not, if he could, generate the following kinds of things
6867in people.
6868If we can answer yes to one or more of these questions, then it is to be
6869regarded as genuine despite any “little objections [criticisms], as many make
6870from oddities, irregularities, errors in conduct, and the delusions and scandals
6871of some professors [people who claim to be believers].”1
6872In other words, Edwards was saying that the presence of some human
6873mixture does not, in general, invalidate the divine stamp upon any work within
6874a true revival. Indeed, the presence of considerable human elements in and
6875around a spiritual revival should be expected. Following are the five tests:2
6876208
6877Growing in the Prophetic
6878Does it bring honor to the person of Jesus Christ?
6879Does it produce a greater hatred of sin and a greater love for
6880righteousness?
6881Does it produce a greater regard for Scripture?
6882Does it lead people into truth?
6883Does it produce a greater love for God and man?
6884Historical Precedents for
6885Manifestations of the Spirit
6886Extraordinary physical phenomena caused by the operation of the Holy
6887Spirit’s presence upon people are fully documented and affirmed throughout
6888the history of revivals in virtually every branch of the Christian church.
6889Following are just several of hundreds of possible quotations substantiating
6890this fact.
6891Jonathan Edwards is regarded as one of the greatest theologians of history
6892and lived during the time of the Great Awakening in America in the 1730s
6893and 1740s. Edwards provides the most thoughtful and comprehensive biblical
6894evaluations, reflections, and writings about the manifestations of the Spirit.
6895It was very wonderful to see how person’s affections were sometimes
6896movedwhen God did asitwere suddenly open their eyes, and
6897let into their minds a sense of the greatness of his grace. . . .Their
6898joyful surprise has caused their hearts as it were to leap, so that
6899they have been ready to break forth into laughter, tears often
6900at the same time issuing like a flood, and intermingling a loud
6901weeping. Sometimes they have not been able to forbear crying
6902out with a loud voice, expressing their great admiration.3
6903. . .some persons having had such longing desires after Christ or
6904which have risen to such degree, as to take away their natural
6905strength. Some have been so overcome with a sense of the dying
6906love of Christ to such poor, wretched, and unworthy creatures,
6907as to weaken the body. Several persons have had so great a sense
6908of the glory of God, and excellency of Christ, that nature and
6909life seemed almost to sink under it; and in all probability, if God
6910had showed them a little more of himself, it would have dissolved
6911•
6912•
6913•
6914•
6915•
6916209
6917Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
6918their frame. . . .And they have talked, when able to speak, of the
6919glory of God’s perfections.4
6920It was a very frequent thing to see an house full of outcries, faintings,
6921convulsions and such like, both with distress, and also with
6922admiration and joy.5
6923. . .many in their religious affections being raised far beyond
6924what they ever had been before: and there were some instances
6925of persons lying in a sort of trance, remaining for perhaps a
6926whole 24 hours motionless, and with their senses locked up;
6927but in the meantime under strong imagination, as though they
6928went to heaven, and had there a vision of glorious and delightful
6929objects.6
6930The following was the report of an atheist “free thinker” named James B.
6931Finley, who attended the Cane Ridge, Kentucky, revival in 1801:
6932The noise was like the roar of Niagara. The vast sea of human
6933beings seemed to be agitated as if by a storm. . . . Some of the
6934people were singing, others praying, some crying for mercy in
6935the most piteous accents, while others were shouting vociferously.
6936While witnessing these scenes, a peculiarly strange sensation,
6937such as I had never felt before, came over me. My heart beat
6938tumultuously, my knees trembled, my lip quivered, and I felt as
6939though I must fall to the ground. A strange supernatural power
6940seemed to pervade the entire mass of mind there collected. . . .At
6941one time I saw at least five hundred, swept down in a moment as
6942if a battery of a thousand guns had been opened upon them, and
6943then immediately followed shrieks and shouts that rent the very
6944heavens. . . .I fled for the woods a second time, and wished I had
6945stayed at home.7
6946Teresa of Avila (1515–1582), on being rapt in ecstasy, wrote, “The subject
6947rarely loses consciousness; I have sometimes lost it altogether, but only seldom
6948and for but a short time. As a rule the consciousness is disturbed; and though
6949210
6950Growing in the Prophetic
6951incapable of action with respect to outward things, the subject can still hear
6952and understand, but only dimly, as though from a long way off.”8
6953A Catalog of Spiritual
6954Manifestations and Phenomena
6955The Hebrew and biblical model of the unity of personality implies that the
6956spirit affects the body. At times the human spirit can be so affected by the
6957glory of God that the human body is not capable of containing the intensity
6958of these spiritual encounters—and strange physical behavior may result.
6959Sometimes, though certainly not always, physical responses are simply
6960human responses to the Spirit’s activity and are not directly caused by the
6961Holy Spirit.
6962At other times physical reactions may be caused by demonic powers being
6963stirred up by the manifest presence of God. It seems to be common in New
6964Testament narratives that demons would be forced to “blow their cover”
6965when Jesus or the apostles came around (for example, the Gadarene demoniac
6966and the fortune-teller at Philippi). Some of these strange experiences
6967might be best considered as “revival phenomena” rather than “manifestations
6968of the Spirit.” However, this does not imply that they are therefore
6969carnal and should be forbidden.
6970Following are phenomena and/or manifestations that have been observed
6971in contemporary experience: shaking, jerking, loss of bodily strength, heavy
6972breathing, eyes fluttering, lips trembling, oil on the body, changes in skin
6973color, weeping, laughing, “drunkenness,” staggering, travailing, dancing,
6974falling, visions, hearing audibly into the spirit realm, inspired utterances
6975(that is, prophecy), tongues, interpretation, angelic visitations and manifestations,
6976jumping, violent rolling, screaming, wind, heat, electricity, coldness,
6977nausea as discernment of evil, smelling or tasting good or evil presences,
6978tingling, pain in the body as discernment of illnesses, feeling heavy weight
6979or lightness, trances (altered physical state while seeing and hearing into the
6980spirit world), inability to speak normally and disruption of the natural realm
6981(for example, electrical circuits blown).
6982211
6983Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
6984Divine Purposes for Outward Manifestations
6985God often offends the mind to test and reveal the heart. In the account of
6986the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2:12–13, some people were
6987amazed, some were perplexed, and some mocked. We continue to see these
6988three responses to the work of the Spirit and some consequent events today.
6989This “way of God” challenges our improper “control issues” and is intended
6990to break down our unsanctified inhibitions and pride. Following are some of
6991the reasons why God might choose to utilize strange and/or bizarre events to
6992further His kingdom among men.
6993To demonstrate His power through signs and wonders
6994Signs are given to point beyond themselves to the God who is there.
6995Wonders cause intrigue concerning the mystery of God’s ways. Scripture
6996validates the concept of transrational impartations of the grace, power, and
6997wisdom of God. Sometimes, but certainly not always, God bypasses our
6998minds when His Spirit moves on us. Some peoples’ experience with renewal
6999phenomena fit into this category.
7000To impart power to overcome inner bondages —fear, lust, pride, bitterness,
7001and so on
7002One sister in Christ we know had an encounter with a release of joy and
7003laughter one particular evening. She was rejoicing in the Lord as she went
7004home that night. What surprised her was that as she walked into her dark
7005house, she realized that a fear of the dark she had lived with and that had
7006tormented her since childhood was absolutely gone. No one had prayed for
7007her concerning this problem. Somehow it was trans rationally removed as a
7008by-product of an encounter with the joy of the Spirit.
7009To impart love, peace, joy, fear of God, and the like
7010Sue recently fell to the floor under the power of the Holy Spirit. In the
7011course of time, she saw a vision of Jesus healing her sense of “worthlessness”
7012as the love of Jesus flooded her being with peace like she had never known
7013in all her years as a believer.
7014212
7015Growing in the Prophetic
7016To effect healings—physical and emotional
7017Jill had a remarkable physical healing. She recently received intensified
7018prayer ministry that was attended by her falling to the ground under the
7019Spirit’s power a number of times. The only thing that she was aware was
7020happening to her was that she felt great joy and peace.
7021However, she had been suffering from a severe eye disease as well as
7022Parkinson’s disease. The eye condition caused her body to be unable to
7023produce tears normally. She had to take eyedrops hourly.
7024On the way home from the conference where these experiences occurred,
7025she suddenly realized that she hadn’t needed her eyedrops for four hours.
7026Since that day she hasn’t needed any eyedrops at all. In addition to this, she
7027is able to walk and talk normally as the severe symptoms of Parkinson’s
7028disease are up to this point being alleviated.
7029To impart anointing for service
7030God took Scott through many trials and disappointments. He had gotten
7031to the point where he was so spiritually “shell-shocked” that he lived with a
7032constant fear that things would again fall apart in his life. The Holy Spirit
7033gripped him in unusual and strange ways. He spent hours on the floor being
7034moved upon by the Holy Spirit. Over the course of a year, Scott’s heart was
7035powerfully transformed and liberated by God’s love. It’s hard to question the
7036genuineness and holy nature of Scott’s strange encounters.
7037To release God’s word—prophetic sensitizing and powerful preaching
7038JoAnn had several encounters with the Spirit. She has shaken and laughed
7039and wept in God’s presence. She asked the Lord, “What is all this ‘unto’?”
7040Then she received an anointing for prophetic revelation with a level of accuracy
7041beyond any she had experienced before.
7042To enlarge and liberate spiritual capacities
7043Manifestations are given to refresh, encourage, and heal the hearts of
7044God’s people that they would mature as disciples of Jesus and be more
7045powerful witnesses for Him.
7046213
7047Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
7048Exposing False Equations About
7049the Manifestations
7050False equation #1: If I were more devoted, then I would experience more
7051manifestations of the Spirit.
7052Experiencing the manifestations of the Holy Spirit is not related to our spiritual
7053passion and diligence, but they are the operation of God’s free grace.
7054False equation #2: When many are visibly touched by the Spirit, then
7055revival is here!
7056The classical definition of revival goes far beyond experiencing manifestations
7057but includes vast numbers of conversions and deep transformation of
7058lives across large geographic regions. The term renewal is a more appropriate
7059description of what has occurred over the last ten to fifteen years in America.
7060Hopefully renewal will lead to full revival.
7061False equation #3: The people God uses to impart His manifest presence
7062are usually mature and sensitive to God.
7063People used in “power ministry” often unwittingly convey the notion that
7064the power gifts are merit badges of their spirituality. This brings some dedicated
7065and sincere believers into condemnation. The gifts and callings of God
7066are free gifts of grace.
7067False equation #4: Just be open and sensitive to the Spirit, and you will
7068receive physical manifestations of the Spirit.
7069It would be less perplexing if this were really the way it worked, but it
7070isn’t. It is true that some have mind-sets and emotional barriers that hinder
7071the work of the Spirit. However, there are many who are skeptical and even
7072cynical but who have been powerfully touched by God. Others who are very
7073open and hungry for a touch are not powerfully affected in an outward way.
7074We cannot judge who is “open” and who is “closed” to receiving from God.
7075There are barriers (for example, fear and pride) that can hinder us from
7076receiving. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any barriers that may exist in you.
7077He will be faithful, in His time, to answer such a request. In the meantime,
7078do not assume that it must be a barrier that is keeping you from receiving
7079from God.
7080214
7081Growing in the Prophetic
7082False equation #5: If it is truly the Holy Spirit touching these people,
7083then there will instant and lasting “fruit” in their lives.
7084God moves on many people who do not bring forth the fruit that He
7085intended. There are no guarantees that “fruit” will result from these “divine
7086invitations.” People are free to respond fully, partially, or even ignore such
7087gracious opportunities given them by the Holy Spirit.
7088False equation #6: If the power of the Holy Spirit touches people, then
7089they should not have control over their responses.
7090The fact of Scripture is that it is very rare that a prophet would lose control
7091when under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Paul emphasized this when he
7092taught that the “spirit of the prophet” is subject to the prophet when he is
7093under the anointing of the Spirit (1 Cor. 14:32). This passage teaches us that
7094we are able to control our responses when the Lord is touching us. I agree
7095that on rare occasions in Scripture, there are examples when a prophet had
7096an “uncontrollable” response when seized by the Spirit. For example, Ezekiel
7097was caught up by the Spirit and transported to Jerusalem from Babylon
7098(Ezek. 8:3). Now, that surely qualifies as an “uncontrollable” response to the
7099Spirit. There is a mysterious combination of divine and human elements
7100surrounding the Spirit’s work. Peter knew how to walk and had the power to
7101do so when Jesus invited him out onto the water. The supernatural element
7102was that he didn’t sink as he walked. On the front end of welcoming the
7103Spirit’s manifest presence there is more control at our disposal to respond to
7104His activity.
7105Exposing Dangers Regarding Manifestations
7106We have mentioned the pitfalls of resisting the move of the Holy Spirit.
7107However, at the other end of the spectrum some “over-respond.” Love for
7108God and one another must remain the preeminent value of our community.
7109When the Holy Spirit is moving in power on a people and it results in
7110physical manifestations, we must not “overrespond” in a way that violates
7111Scripture. I will give a few examples of this.
7112Fanaticism. In their enthusiasm, people can get carried away
7113into excesses of behavior and be deluded into embracing
7114strange and unbiblical ideas. This problem must be addressed
7115•
7116215
7117Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
7118as it arises. We should do this with compassion, both
7119privately and publicly. This is a very delicate procedure, for
7120the true fire of the Spirit will always be attended by a measure
7121of “wild fire” introduced by the fleshly elements still resident
7122within imperfect believers.
7123Neglect of the less exciting or less noticeable aspects of
7124our faith. This includes things such as daily devotions;
7125humble service; helping the poor; showing mercy; loving our
7126enemies; suffering patiently; honoring parents; restraining
7127appetites; training children; working eight to five; running
7128errands; paying tithes, bills, and taxes; and resolving relational
7129conflicts.
7130Casting off all restraints in the name of “the liberty of the
7131Spirit.” This tension between liberty and restraint must be
7132embraced by the whole church. We will not always agree with
7133how this tension should be stewarded. We must “swallow
7134some gnats” to avoid “swallowing camels” (Matt. 23:24). We
7135must try to not confuse the little issues (gnats) of various
7136types of manifestations with the big issues (camels) of loving
7137Jesus, people, and obeying Scripture.
7138Becoming distracted from focusing on Jesus and His
7139primary purposes. We must not get distracted from our
7140passion for Jesus, evangelism, building the church, and so on
7141by undue time and attention being given to the manifestations
7142themselves.
7143Falling into pride of being sensitive to the Spirit. We must
7144avoid the subtle self-righteousness of being “more” blessed by
7145the Spirit than others. God’s grace is dispensed to magnify
7146His love and mercy as it leads us into gratitude and humility.
7147Exalting outward manifestations above the work of the
7148Spirit in people’s hearts. Progressive, internal transformation
7149•
7150•
7151•
7152•
7153•
7154216
7155Growing in the Prophetic
7156of the heart to walk in love and humility is the goal of the
7157Spirit’s work.
7158Exalting the human instruments that God is using in the
7159work of the Spirit. We must avoid any kind of “hero worship”
7160in our hearts. We must stay focused on Jesus. However, the
7161“facelessness” of God’s army does not mean that there will
7162not be any prominent members with public ministries. It
7163refers to the attitude of humility that all must embrace.
7164Posturing Ourselves to Receive
7165the Spirit’s Ministry
7166So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will
7167find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks
7168receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will
7169be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you,
7170will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him
7171a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer
7172him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good
7173gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father
7174give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!
7175—Luke 11:9–13
7176In this passage, Jesus is challenging His disciples to pray specifically. The
7177verbs translated “ask,” “seek,” and “knock” are in a continuous tense in the
7178Greek. This gives the phrases the sense that the desired blessings must be
7179pursued with perseverance.
7180God wants us to really want what we desire and not be passive or nonchalant
7181about it. God withholds the blessing for a short season to deepen our
7182hunger for the thing we so ardently pray for.
7183The requests for the good things of His kingdom can be summarized by
7184asking for the release of the ministry of the Spirit. God is a generous Father
7185who wants to release the Spirit’s ministry to us, but He wants us to earnestly
7186desire it in all the fullness of His gifts, fruit, and wisdom. We desire to receive
7187more of God, not just to receive outward manifestations.
7188•
7189217
7190Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
7191Many report receiving more after “soaking” in the presence of God in
7192renewal settings without having any outward manifestations. There is a
7193chemistry experiment called a titration. In this experiment, there are two
7194clear solutions in separate test tubes. Drop by drop, one solution is mingled
7195with the other. There is no chemical reaction until the one solution becomes
7196supersaturated with the other. The final drop that accomplishes this causes
7197a dramatic chemical reaction that is strikingly visible. Some sit before God
7198in prayer rooms and renewal meetings for hours with no apparent spiritual
7199reaction taking place. Then, suddenly, they have a power encounter with the
7200Spirit that radically impacts them. In retrospect, they come to believe that a
7201spiritual “titration” was going on through the many hours of waiting on God
7202and through soaking in the invisible and hidden ministry of the Holy Spirit.
7203Whatever the case, it is not the outward effects of spiritual renewal that we
7204must focus upon or draw attention to, but rather the inner transformation of
7205our souls into the likeness of Jesus.
7206Recommendations for Conducting
7207Renewal Meetings
7208Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones said concerning the danger of being presumptuous
7209about the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit, “Never say never and never say
7210always concerning what the Holy Spirit might do or not do.” The Lord, on
7211purpose, doesn’t submit to the boxes in which we try to confine Him!
7212Plan on an extended and undistracted time of waiting on
7213God with nothing else planned in case He doesn’t “show
7214up” in an unusual manifest way. Determine that it does not
7215have to be a dry and uneventful time with God just because
7216unusual things do not happen.
7217Focus on the Lord Himself through worship and prayerreading
7218the Scripture.
7219Only periodically give explanation about manifestations. It
7220is better to explain them if and when they actually begin to
7221happen in order to take away the accusation that the power
7222•
7223•
7224•
7225218
7226Growing in the Prophetic
7227of suggestion is operative. Having literature available that
7228explains these things can be helpful.
7229Give a Jesus-centered exhortation and be open to give invitations
7230for people to receive salvation, as unbelievers come to
7231renewal meetings.
7232When testimonies are given, they should focus on how
7233relationship with God and the fruit of the Spirit have been
7234enhanced rather than drawing attention to phenomena.
7235Discourage all exaggeration of the Spirit’s work. The Holy
7236Spirit does not need exaggeration to build faith in people for
7237healing or to receive more of God. Do not allow testimonies
7238to be shared that are not genuine and true, even if they seemingly
7239“help promote faith.”
7240Avoid giving the impression that the Holy Spirit is under
7241human control through a style of ministry. We humbly ask
7242for His ministry as we boldly call for the release of His power.
7243But we must not dishonor Him by pridefully commanding
7244and demanding that He do this or that. He makes Himself
7245available, but we must not take advantage of His divine
7246humility by ordering Him around. If we abuse His presence
7247and power long enough, He may withdraw His manifest presence.
7248The history of divine visitations confirms this reality.
7249If you draw attention to what is happening with an individual
7250or a section of the congregation, do it for the specific
7251intention to edify the whole group. Be sincere in your
7252communication as a leader rather than being silly and fascinated
7253with manifestations. Even when the Spirit imparts
7254uncontrollable laughter, understand that a holy thing is
7255occurring. Be sincere about the joy of the Lord even while
7256enjoying it. After all, it is heavenly joy, and heavenly happenings
7257are awesome by nature.
7258•
7259•
7260•
7261•
7262•
7263219
7264Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
7265Leave room for the Lord to touch people without direct
7266human mediation. As this happens, faith builds, and fears of
7267manipulation are quenched. Allow those gathered to soak in
7268the presence of God for a while before prayer ministers are
7269released to go and touch them.
7270Give people gracious “outs” if they do not want to receive the
7271laying on of hands. Tell them how to signal you or respond
7272if they are interested in receiving personal prayer with
7273coming up to the prayer line while giving them the option to
7274commune with God alone.
7275Worship teams should lead during the ministry times. At
7276times simple background music is sufficient if a worship team
7277is not available.
7278Resist the pressure to make things happen. Seek to be supernaturally
7279natural and naturally supernatural. Renewal is
7280God’s business. We trust Him to accomplish it. Receive the
7281measure of power that God releases with a thankful heart.
7282This is the atmosphere the Spirit honors.
7283If renewal has not been occurring in your setting, consider
7284inviting someone whom God has already been using as a
7285catalyst for spiritual renewal into your fellowship to help
7286impart the Spirit’s ministry to a greater measure.
7287Forming a Prayer Ministry Team
7288To facilitate renewal ministry, it is important to equip a prayer team who
7289will regularly pray for others. The qualifications should not be too stringent.
7290It will be necessary to weed the few who will “prey” upon others rather than
7291“pray” for others! Be clear on what qualifies and what disqualifies someone
7292from the prayer team. This becomes a bigger issue as time goes on and those
7293who have received “more” have a desire to “give it away.” Following are characteristics
7294for those who participate on a prayer ministry team:
7295•
7296•
7297•
7298•
7299•
7300220
7301Growing in the Prophetic
7302They should be happy and active members of the church.
7303They should have a testimony of godly character and pursuit
7304of spiritual growth.
7305They should not be affected with glaring socially unacceptable
7306behavior, appearance, speech, or habits.
7307They should have completed a training course on personal
7308prayer ministry.
7309They should have a teachable spirit that receives correction
7310without easily getting their “feelings hurt.”
7311Members of the prayer ministry team should be those who value the fruit
7312of the Spirit as listed in Galatians 5:22–23. The fruit of the Spirit is nothing
7313less than the character of Jesus Christ being manifested in and through
7314believers. Let’s look at each fruit of the Spirit and consider how it might
7315apply to prayer ministry.
7316Love. Love is the overarching characteristic from which the
7317other aspects of the fruit of the Spirit flow. As we pray for
7318others, we must view ourselves as servants of love and not
7319heroes of faith. The spirit of servanthood is the outstanding
7320expression of love. As we pray for others, we are conscious
7321that it’s much more about them receiving from God, not
7322about us “receiving credit” for moving in power as they are
7323slain in the Spirit.
7324Joy. We approach praying for others with the joyful awareness
7325of the privilege we have been given. Even if we aren’t
7326emotionally “up,” then we can draw on joy that resides within
7327us as we put our personal pressures temporarily behind us.
7328Peace. We seek to lead others into peace with God, themselves,
7329and others as we minister to them with a peaceable
7330•
7331•
7332•
7333•
7334•
7335•
7336•
7337•
7338221
7339Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
7340spirit that rests in God’s ability to work through us even in
7341our weakness.
7342Patience. Some need to slow down and take time as they
7343pray for others. The Holy Spirit doesn’t like to be pushed—
7344He wants to do the leading. Usually, He takes His time in
7345showing His power. In quietness of soul we are able to better
7346receive the impressions of the Spirit.
7347Kindness. We will often be praying for people whose
7348lives have been wrecked by sin. Many haven’t been taught
7349social skills, and they have unlovely characteristics about
7350them. Many have embraced wrong teachings and even are
7351oppressed by demons. We must gracefully absorb some of
7352their immaturity and deal kindly with their deception.
7353Goodness. We care for the needs of others; therefore, we show
7354that care to them in practical ways on the heels of praying for
7355them. We may not have the resources ourselves, but maybe
7356we know others who might to whom we can direct them. We
7357refuse to take advantage of the sacred trust that others give
7358us in making themselves vulnerable by allowing us to pray
7359for them.
7360Faithfulness. Prayer for others sometimes requires perseverance
7361on our part. We often need to pray more than one time
7362for the same people. We mustn’t be intimidated by apparent
7363failure. We commit ourselves to pray faithfully for people for
7364the rest of our lives.
7365Gentleness (meekness). We pray for others with the awareness
7366that we don’t have the answers for them, but we know
7367Someone who does. This keeps us from presumption and
7368platitudes. Our movements, both physical and verbal, need to
7369be gentle rather than abrupt or harsh. If we can help set them
7370at ease by knowing that they are safe in our presence, then
7371they will be able to receive more easily from the Lord.
7372•
7373•
7374•
7375•
7376•
7377222
7378Growing in the Prophetic
7379Self-control. We encourage people to “dial down,” both
7380emotionally and physically, as they go to pray for others. If
7381you are outwardly experiencing the manifest presence of the
7382Spirit with “uncontrollable” laughing and twitching then shift
7383over to a personal “receiving from God” mode instead of a
7384“praying for others” mode. We do not want to unwittingly
7385manipulate others by putting pressure on them to respond to
7386us as we “manifest” while we pray for them. There are exceptions
7387to this general rule. One is if a person specifically asks
7388you to pray for them while you are in such a state. Another
7389could be if the other person is a friend and you know that
7390they would welcome such an experience. And there may be
7391others. If we pray for others with these values in our hearts,
7392we will be a blessing to the people we serve in the prayer
7393lines. As individuals develop a track record for being exceptionally
7394anointed in personal ministry, their leaders may give
7395them more liberty to take bigger risks with prayer and/or
7396prophetic ministry.
7397Proper Responses to Spiritual Renewal
7398Take the posture of being “learners” rather than “experts”
7399in the ministry of the Spirit. There aren’t too many who
7400have gone this way before. We must be like children before
7401our heavenly Father. We are more confident in His ability to
7402teach us than in our ability to learn. His commitment to us is
7403stronger than ours is to Him.
7404Be gracious, kind, and patient with differences in perspectives
7405with other ministries in the body of Christ. We don’t have to
7406prove to anyone that something is of God if it really is!
7407Give proper liberty and create sufficient opportunities for
7408the Spirit to manifest Himself in settings that are specifically
7409intended to welcome renewal ministry. God may break
7410into any gathering with His manifest presence without
7411•
7412•
7413•
7414•
7415223
7416Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
7417human mediation. However, if only isolated individuals are
7418being affected, then the leadership needs to make a judgment
7419call if the course of any particular corporate meeting
7420needs to be altered.
7421Teach and model biblical restraints as we seek to be sensitive
7422to each specific context. Ask, “What does love look like?” in
7423each particular setting. Seek to submit to those in authority
7424for the sake of unity. Mistakes in discernment will happen
7425when the heightened fear of both “missing God” and “being
7426deceived” are present.
7427Study the history of revivals to gain wisdom and errors that
7428past revivals embraced.
7429•
7430•
7431
7432225
743320C h a p t e r
7434God’s Strategy of Silence
7435T remendous pressures can weigh on those who are called to be
7436prophets. They will end up with notoriety that will bring many
7437pressures on their life, some because the people honor them and
7438other pressures because the people hate them. Supernatural manifestations
7439of power must be accompanied with spiritual maturity, or the pressures that
7440come with it will cause one to stumble and fall.
7441The Pressures of Silence
7442One of the more difficult things to deal with as a prophetic person is coming
7443face-to-face with people in great need, only to find God completely silent
7444on the matter. God’s heart and mind may have previously been revealed to
7445the prophetic person with great clarity and astounding detail concerning a
7446dozen other people in the same congregation. Then, when confronted with
7447a person in a desperate situation who seemingly has more need for a word
7448from God than anyone else, the same prophetic person may sense nothing
7449from the Holy Spirit—complete silence.
7450This awkward situation, which will inevitably arise, presents a test of
7451character and maturity for the prophetic person. If he or she says, “I have
7452no word for you,” people will be disappointed, if not angry, at this response.
7453226
7454Growing in the Prophetic
7455That prophetic person’s reputation will sometimes be on the line, along with
7456future speaking invitations and honorariums.
7457The pressures of people’s expectations and assumptions push many
7458prophetic people into dangerous waters that can eventually shipwreck their
7459integrity as well as their ministry.
7460In the pressure of the moment, the temptation is to give a word they don’t
7461have. It is the same temptation that provokes a Bible teacher to answer a
7462question citing information of which he is not certain. But for some Bible
7463teachers, it’s just too hard to say, “I don’t know.” In the same way, for some
7464prophetic people, it’s just too hard to say, “I don’t have anything.” The same
7465immaturity and pride that cause the teacher to think his credibility is based
7466on his ability to know it all is also what prevents the prophetic person from
7467saying in a needy situation, “I have no word for you.”
7468Notwithstanding the pressure of people’s expectations or his own desire
7469to help a person in need, a prophetic person must remain silent when God is
7470silent. Manufacturing a word in his own mind, whether it is out of compassion
7471or the pressure to establish his own credibility, can work directly
7472against the purpose of God in the life of a church or an individual. Such lack
7473of integrity never builds people’s faith over the long haul, even though the
7474people may be excited for the moment over a man-made prophetic word.
7475Sometimes prophetic people add to what God says because they are trying
7476to be more loving than God by quickly answering people’s questioning hearts
7477and giving them a word even when God is silent. I call this a “hamburgerhelper”
7478prophecy—giving in to the temptation to add filler. They give in to
7479pressure to embellish a “prophetic word” out of their own heart and mind so
7480that others are not disappointed in them.
7481People are constantly thrust into ordeals in which they agonize over the
7482question, “Why would God allow a certain person to continue in suffering?”
7483In order to “bail out” God and His reputation, some prophetic people rush
7484in to provide the answer. Maturity as it relates to prophetic ministry is not
7485only the willingness to speak a difficult word when God gives it, but also the
7486willingness to be silent, even when offering a prophetic word might seem
7487appropriate. Some prophetic people find the circumstances of people in crisis
7488so acute that they feel they have to give a prophetic word to them.
7489When God is silent at a time when we desperately want Him to speak, it
7490227
7491God’s Strategy of Silence
7492tests the spiritual maturity of both the people and the prophet. Each believer
7493must trust God when He is silent. It’s an inescapable part of spiritual growth,
7494and a prophetic person must submit to God even when He is being silent
7495about a situation. If he does not, then he will end up manufacturing words
7496for people when God’s purpose was for him to say nothing. Regardless of
7497his well-intentioned efforts to make God look good, he becomes a stumbling
7498block for those whom he seeks to help.
7499Walking Confidently in Darkness
7500Isaiah describes the person who walks in the fear of the Lord as one who
7501trusts God even when they are in the times of darkness, which refers to
7502times of crisis when we do not have the word of the Lord.
7503Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys the voice of His
7504Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust
7505in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God.
7506—Isaiah 50:10
7507Walking in darkness as it is used in this context doesn’t refer to moral
7508darkness that comes from sin or demonic oppression. It means walking
7509in unknown territory without clear light in a time of great need. Isaiah
7510continues in the next verse:
7511Look, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with
7512sparks: walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have
7513kindled—this you shall have from My hand: you shall lie down
7514in torment.
7515—Isaiah 50:11
7516This verse highlights the peril of those who refuse to wait for God’s light;
7517instead, they create their own fire in an attempt to manufacture some light.
7518This fire speaks of a man-made counterfeit fire that can never be a substitute
7519for God’s light. People who resort to this counterfeit will lie down in
7520turmoil instead of peace. This is a strong warning to avoid manufactured
7521prophetic words!
7522Isaiah warns the person who fears the Lord not to kindle his own flame.
7523228
7524Growing in the Prophetic
7525Do not manufacture an artificial light out of your frustration with the darkness.
7526Or, as it relates to the prophetic ministry, do not manufacture the
7527“prophetic light” for someone in need.
7528God’s silence forces us to grow in trusting Him while we walk through the
7529darkness, lacking a sense of direction. We eventually realize He was nearby
7530all along. In this way, we develop our own personal history with God.
7531Misunderstood Silence
7532Jesus often did not answer people in the way we would have expected Him
7533to. When we think He should have answered, He was silent. At times when
7534we suppose that He should have intervened, He was inactive. Therefore,
7535we must be careful not to presume to know what Jesus would say or do in
7536needy situations.
7537As Jesus passed through the region of Tyre and Sidon, He was confronted
7538by a Canaanite woman who was crying out for deliverance for her demonpossessed
7539daughter. Jesus’s answers were totally unpredictable in this
7540crisis situation.
7541A woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him,
7542saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is
7543severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And
7544His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she
7545cries after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to
7546the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped
7547Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not
7548good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
7549And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs
7550which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said
7551to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.”
7552And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
7553—Matthew 15:22–28
7554At first, Jesus seemingly ignored her by not initially answering her even
7555with one word. As she continued to cry out, He apparently refused her,
7556saying, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” She
7557still pursued Him, then Jesus seemingly insulted her: “It is not good to take
7558229
7559God’s Strategy of Silence
7560the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” The woman would not be
7561denied. Jesus finally rewarded her and said, “O woman, great is your faith!
7562Let it be to you as you desire.”
7563We would have been astounded if we had witnessed this encounter. Jesus’s
7564initial lack of response, then even His seemingly “rude” answer certainly
7565does not fit in with the model of how we believe the God of love should act.
7566But from our perspective today, we see that Jesus was probing her and testing
7567her to draw out her faith.
7568Because of our preconceived notions, we sometimes draw wrong conclusions
7569from God’s silence or His presumable lack of intervention on our
7570behalf. We may conclude that God’s love has waned or perhaps that we are
7571being punished for something. But that was certainly not the case with this
7572woman and her demon-possessed daughter, who was eventually healed.
7573The same was true when Lazarus was sick until he died. Jesus clearly loved
7574Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. However, His delay in coming to
7575heal Lazarus was strategic.
7576Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when
7577He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place
7578where He was.
7579—John 11:5–6
7580Jesus’s seeming lack of response had nothing to do with lack of love, but
7581it had to do with fulfilling the redemptive purpose of God. In this situation,
7582Lazarus, Martha, and Mary learned to trust Jesus, even when they had to
7583walk in darkness beyond the edge of their understanding.
7584John the Baptist was a great man, yet Jesus did nothing to prevent him
7585from being beheaded by King Herod. Jesus’s inaction was neither from lack
7586of love for John nor lack of worthiness in John himself.
7587Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has
7588not risen one greater than John the Baptist.
7589—Matthew 11:11
7590It is obvious that God had appointed John to experience the honor of a
7591martyr’s death and that this would bring the most glory to God and His
7592230
7593Growing in the Prophetic
7594kingdom in the bigger picture. We stumble over the fact that God doesn’t
7595speak or act the way we think He should. But from Isaiah we learn not to
7596manufacture our own light when we walk in darkness. From the Gospels
7597we learn that God’s silence does not mean we are rejected or unloved; it
7598must be understood in the light of God’s redemptive purposes. A prophetic
7599person must understand that often people desperately want the prophetic
7600word that God Himself refuses to give. They ask for information about
7601circumstances, and God gives information about their relationship with
7602Him. They want peace and assurance, but God has a different way for them
7603to receive peace. If God is not answering, sometimes we are asking the
7604wrong questions.
7605A Famine of the Word of the Lord
7606There can be a variety of reasons known only to God for His silence. Perhaps
7607He is teaching us faith, or even sometimes He is judging those who have
7608deliberately rejected His words in the past and have not yet repented. Amos
7609prophesied of a famine in hearing the prophetic word because rebellious
7610Israel had refused to obey previous prophetic words from God:
7611“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “that I will
7612send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for
7613water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander
7614from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro,
7615seeking the word of the Lord, but shall not find it.”
7616—Amos 8:11–12
7617It seems strange to us that God would withhold His prophetic word from
7618Israel when they seemed to be searching so hard to find it. What actually
7619happened was that Israel had regularly rejected God’s prophetic word that
7620had previously been spoken to them. They wanted God to speak prophetically;
7621however, they didn’t want to hear what God had to say. So they sought
7622for a new prophetic word. What happened to Israel as a nation takes place in
7623the lives of stubborn individuals.
7624For example, to a man who has been hurt, God’s specific word to him is
7625that he should fully forgive. But having rejected that simple answer, he begins
7626a process of running to and fro, seeking prophetic words that answer his
7627231
7628God’s Strategy of Silence
7629growing problem. Even though he is apparently seeking diligently, a famine
7630of the word of the Lord has resulted because he rejected what God already
7631said clearly. God’s word was simply too unpleasant for him to receive.
7632On the other hand, God is silent not due to one’s rebellion but because
7633He is setting up the situation that will bring more blessing to the person
7634at a later time. In this case, some sincere, though immature, believers are
7635confused by thinking that the silence of God is a sure sign of His displeasure
7636and abandonment. Because some people experience long periods of silence
7637from heaven, they wrongly conclude that God has withdrawn from them or
7638that they must have sinned grievously in some way. They fall prey to accusation,
7639condemnation, and rejection.
7640Be Silent With Revealed Knowledge
7641A vital test of a prophet is in his willingness to speak a hard word from God,
7642then his willingness to accept the persecution. This is a test of surrender and
7643consecration to God.
7644Another vital test is being able to remain silent when God has not spoken,
7645regardless of the apparent need of the moment. This is a test of honesty and
7646integrity before God.
7647A third vital test is the willingness to remain silent about something God
7648has clearly revealed to you, yet requires your silence on. This is a test of
7649maturity and security in God. Some speak everything they receive from God
7650because they are desperate to receive credit in the eyes of man for having
7651received revelation from God. Sometimes they’re like children who know a
7652secret and just can’t stand it; they have to tell it to someone.
7653Caution With Corrective Words
7654We also encourage prophetic people to be very careful about giving prophecies
7655that correct people in public. Such prophecies have the potential of
7656causing shame, pain, and confusion. If someone receives prophetic correction
7657for someone, we must follow the process that Jesus taught us when we
7658see a brother in sin in Matthew 18:15–18. These principles instruct us to go
7659to a person privately about his sin before going to him publicly. It takes a
7660seasoned prophetic minister to be silent at times when God has shared something
7661that is for his ears only.
7662232
7663Growing in the Prophetic
7664Prophesying Out of the Imagination
7665Another common problem in context of the prophetic ministry is related to
7666those who manufacture a positive word when the Lord is actually speaking a
7667negative one. Jeremiah taught against those who prophesied out of their own
7668imagination and who spoke a vision that they devised in their own heart.
7669Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to
7670you. . . .They speak a vision of their own heart, not from the
7671mouth of the Lord. They continually say to those who despise
7672Me, “The Lord has said, ‘You shall have peace’”; and to everyone
7673who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say,
7674“No evil shall come upon you.”
7675—Jeremiah 23:16–17
7676In Jeremiah 23, we see the warning directed to “prophets” who ignored
7677God’s judgment over Israel’s national rebellion. They disregarded God’s
7678warning of judgments to them and fabricated a prophecy proclaiming
7679only wonderful things, assuring the Jewish people that God would protect
7680their nation from judgment. God threatens judgment on such “prophets”
7681who opposed God’s discipline that could lead to healing of an entire rebellious
7682nation.
7683233
7684N o t e s
7685Chapter 2
7686Confirming Prophecies Through
7687the Acts of God in Nature
7688Marquis Shepherd, “Gentlest of Winter Goes Out With a Blast of
7689Snow, Cold,” Kansas City Times, March 21, 1983.
7690“Comet’s Path to Give Close View,” The Examiner (Independence,
7691MS), May 7, 1983.
7692Chapter 4
7693Overview of the Prophetic Ministry
7694Wayne Grudem, The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament
7695Today (Eastbourne, England: Kingsway Publications, 1988).
7696Ibid., 14.
7697Ibid., 198–209.
7698Chapter 5
7699The Difference Between the Gift of
7700Prophecy and Being a Prophet
7701Grudem, The Gift of Prophecy, 20–22.
7702Chapter 6
7703Women Operating in Prophetic Ministry
7704Catherine Kroeger, “The Neglected History of Women in the Early
7705Church,” Christian History, Winter 1980, 7.
77061.
77072.
77081.
77092.
77103.
77111.
77121.
7713234
7714Growing in the Prophetic
7715Ibid., 14.
7716Ibid., 8.
7717Ibid., 6.
7718Ibid., 20–24.
7719Mark Twain, Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, viewed at
7720Fordham University, http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/conte
7721-joanofarc.html (accessed June 27, 2008).
7722Chapter 8
7723The Coming Great Revival
7724I highly recommend Iain H. Murray’s book called The Puritan
7725Hope (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1979).
7726George E. Ladd, The Presence of the Future (Grand Rapids, MI:
7727William B. Eerdmans, 1974). Ladd was for many years professor
7728of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena,
7729California.
7730Chapter 10
7731False Equations About Prophetic Giftings
7732David Edwin Harrell Jr., All Things Are Possible (Bloomington, IN:
7733Indiana University Press, 1975), 38.
7734Chapter 11
7735God Offends the Mind to Reveal the Heart
7736“Samuel Johnson to George Berkeley, 3 October 1741,” The Great
7737Awakening at Yale College, ed. Stephen Nissenbaum (Belmont,
7738CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co., 1972), 57–58.
7739Jonathan Edwards, The Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol. 1
7740(Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth, 1979), 62–70.
7741Chapter 18
7742The Prophetic Song of the Lord
7743John Piper, Desiring God (Portland, OR: Multnomah Press, 1986),
774414.
77452.
77463.
77474.
77485.
77496.
77501.
77512.
77521.
77531.
77542.
77551.
7756235
7757Notes
7758Chapter 19
7759Manifestations of the Holy Spirit
7760Jonathan Edwards, The Works of Jonathan Edwards, vol. 2, “An
7761Humble Attempt to Promote Explicit Agreement and Visible Union
7762of God’s People in Extraordinary Prayer, for the Revival of Religion
7763and the Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom on Earth,” Christian
7764Classics Ethereal Library, http://www.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/works2
7765.vii.ii.ii.html?bcb=0 (accessed July 9, 2008).
7766Jonathan Edwards, “A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, in
7767Three Parts,” Christian Classics Ethereal Library, http://www
7768.ccel.org/ccel/edwards/affections.txt (accessed July 9, 2008).
7769Jonathan Edwards, The Works of Edwards, “A Narrative of
7770Surprising Conversions and the Great Awakening,” (1736; reprint,
7771Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1991), 37–38.
7772Ibid., 45.
7773Ibid., 547.
7774Ibid., 550.
7775John White, When the Spirit Comes With Power (Downers Grove,
7776IL: InterVarsity Press, 1988), 70.
7777Francis MacNutt, Overcome by the Spirit (Old Tappan, NJ: Chosen
7778Books, 1990), 35.
77791.
77802.
77813.
77824.
77835.
77846.
77857.
77868.
7787What Is The Ihop-kc Missions Base?
7788It is an international missions organization committed to prayer
7789(intercession, worship, healing, prophesying, etc.), fasting (covering
7790365 days a year), and the Great Commission (proclaiming Jesus to all
7791nations with power as the way to establish His justice in the earth).
7792Our work includes equipping and sending missionaries as dedicated
7793intercessors and anointed messengers working to see revival in the
7794church and a great harvest among the lost.
7795IHOP-KC Missions vision Statement
7796To call forth, train, and mobilize worshiping intercessors who operate
7797in the forerunner spirit as End Time prophetic messengers. To establish
7798a 24-hour-a-day prayer room in Kansas City as a perpetual solemn
7799assembly that “keeps the sanctuary” by gathering corporately to fast
7800and pray in the spirit of the Tabernacle of David as God’s primary
7801method of establishing justice (full revival unto the great harvest).
7802To send out teams to plant Houses of Prayer in the nations after God
7803grants a breakthrough of His power in Kansas City. The forerunner
7804spirit operates in God’s grace in context to the fasted lifestyle (Matt.
78056) and prepares others to live in wholehearted love by proclaiming the
7806beauty of Jesus as Bridegroom, King, and Judge.
7807visiting IHOP on weekends
7808Encounter God Services: Weekends at IHOP-KC—renewal, conviction,
7809refreshing, impartation, and equipping are what we pray to be released
7810in these weekend meetings at IHOP-KC. On Friday nights, Mike Bickle
7811teaches on themes related to intimacy with God. On Saturday nights,
7812he teaches on themes related to the End Times. On Sundays, join the
7813IHOP-KC staff for worship and teaching. Childcare is available. Oneday
7814seminars are taught on Saturdays.
7815See www.IHOP.org for details, visitor’s accommodations,
7816and more information on joining our staff or attending
7817our internships or Bible school.
7818Visit IHOP-KC at www.IHOP.org
7819The International House of Prayer Missions Base Web site has been
7820designed for ease of browsing. We have incorporated the following
7821branches of our community into one cohesive site:
7822•	 IHOP
7823•				 Onething
7824•			 Children’s Equipping Center
7825•					Forerunner School of Ministry
7826•					Forerunner Music Academy
7827• 	 Joseph Company
7828•	 Events & Conferences
7829• 	 Internships & Training Programs
7830• 	 Omega Course
7831It’s all located at our easy-to-remember address: www.IHOP.org. Whether
7832you are interested in visiting IHOP, receiving the Missions Base podcast,
7833browsing the bookstore, watching live Webcasts, or enrolling in FSM’s
7834online eSchool, the Web site delivers the information you need and
7835offers many opportunities to feed your heart. With login capabilities
7836that expose you to even more comprehensive IHOP materials, we hope
7837our site will become an ongoing resource for many years to come. Some
7838of the Web site features include:
7839• 	 Podcasting
7840• 	 MP3 Downloads
7841•	 Forums
7842•	 Free & Subscription-based Webcasts
7843•	 Sermon & Teaching Notes
7844•	 eSchool Distance Learning
7845•	 Internship Applications
7846•	 Prayer Room Blogs
7847•	 Online Bookstore
7848•	 And More!
7849Visit us soon at www.IHOP.org!
7850IHOP Internship Programs
7851IHOP offers a variety of three-month and six-month internships for all
7852ages. Each internship has the same basic components, including prayer
7853meeting attendance, classroom instruction, practical ministry experience,
7854community fellowship and team building, conference participation,
7855practical service, and Bible study. Internship attendees regularly
7856participate in prayer meetings—between fifteen and twenty-five hours a
7857week—in the prayer room, which can include worship team involvement,
7858intercession for revival, personal devotional time, and study of the
7859Word. Education and instruction cover a wide range of topics, including
7860Christian foundations, prayer, worship, intimacy with God, the Bridal
7861Paradigm of the Kingdom of God, the prophetic and healing ministries,
7862serving the poor, and many others.
7863Intro to IHOP is a three-month internship for people of all ages, married
7864or single, who want to learn and experience all that IHOP represents—
7865prayer, worship, intimacy, etc.
7866Simeon Company is a three-month training program for people ages
7867fifty and older who refuse to retire in their desire to radically serve Jesus
7868through prayer, fasting, and worship.
7869Onething Internship is a six-month daytime internship for young
7870adults between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five who are singers,
7871musicians, intercessors, or evangelists. This program includes housing
7872and eighteen meals a week.
7873Fire in the Night is a three-month nighttime internship for those between
7874the ages of eighteen and thirty who want to worship and minister to the
7875Lord through the night, midnight to 6:00 a.m. This program includes
7876housing and eighteen meals a week.
7877Summer Teen Internship is a three-week summer program to equip
7878teens in prophetic worship, intercession, and intimacy with Jesus.
7879Housing is provided with IHOP-KC families.
7880Please visit www.IHOP.org for more information.
7881FSM
7882FORERUNNER SCHOOL OF MINISTRY
7883Redefining Theological Education
7884Through Night and Day Prayer
7885Four Programs: • Apostolic Preaching Program
7886 Four-Year Program
7887• Worship and Prayer Program
7888 Four-Year Program
7889• Healing and Prophecy Program
7890 Two-Year Program
7891• Biblical Studies Program
7892 Four-Year Program
7893One Academy: • Forerunner Music Academy (see below)
7894 Three-Year Program
7895three Institutes: • Joseph Company
7896• Apostolic Missions Institute
7897• Evangelist Institute
7898CTEE: • eSchool – offering access to
7899Video/Audio/Class Notes
7900FORERUNNER MUSIC ACADEMY (FMA)
7901FMA is a full-time music school that trains musicians and singers to play skillfully
7902and to operate in the prophetic anointing. FMA offers a comprehensive course of highquality
7903musical training in the context of IHOP’s night-and-day prayer and worship.
7904King David understood that prophetic music and songs would release the power of
7905God. He paid 4,000 full-time musicians and hundreds of prophetic singers to gaze
7906night and day upon God as they sang the prayers of Zion. This was their primary
7907occupation in life. They were employed in the Tabernacle of David, which combined
7908worship with intercession that never ceased as it continued 24/7.
7909Contact us:
791012444 Grandview Road
7911Grandview, Missouri 64030
7912Phone: 816.763.0243
7913Fax: 816.763.0439
7914E-mail: FSM@ihop.org
7915www.IHOP.org
7916OTHER RESOURCES BY MIKE BICKLE
7917AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART
7918This book gives in-depth insight with many practical examples of
7919how to sustain a life of intimacy with God. King David’s relationship
7920with God is used as a model of how we can live a radical
7921lifestyle filled with confidence before God while acknowledging
7922our profound weakness.
7923THE SEVEN LONGINGS OF THE HUMAN HEART
7924God has placed deep longings in the heart of every human being.
7925We all long for beauty, for greatness, for fascination, for intimacy.
7926We all long to be enjoyed, to be whole-hearted, to make a lasting
7927impact. Only God can fulfill the longings He has given us. When
7928we realize our longings are godly and God wants to fulfill them, we
7929find freedom and joy.
7930The Rewards of Fasting
7931Fasting is a gift from God that goes way beyond not eating. Jesus
7932promised we would be rewarded for fasting. Done in the right spirit,
7933fasting increases our receptivity to God’s voice and His Word and
7934allows us to encounter God more deeply than we otherwise would.
7935This book explores all the rewards and delights that come to those
7936who fast.
7937THE PLEASURES OF LOVING GOD
7938This book invites you on a most unique treasure hunt, a journey of
7939discovery into intimacy with a Bridegroom God that loves, even
7940likes, you and wants your friendship. Dimensions of the forerunner
7941ministry and the House of Prayer are also examined.
7942passion for jesus
7943This is a book about the powerful, concrete connection between
7944knowing the truth about how God feels about you as the way to
7945experience passion for Him. When the Holy Spirit wants to awaken
7946love in you for Jesus, He reveals Jesus’s affection to you.
7947ENCOUNTERING JESUS AUDIO SERIES
7948“A Prophetic History & Perspectives About the End
7949Times.” Over the last twenty years, Mike Bickle has taken
7950time to share bits and pieces of this prophetic history but
7951never as comprehensively as he did in these twelve one-hour
7952sessions! These experiences explain the prophetic history of
7953this ministry in Kansas City as well as establish convictions about the generation that
7954the Lord returns. Although Scripture is our highest standard and guardian of truth, on
7955occasion, the Lord also releases prophetic experiences to encourage our understanding
7956and perseverance.
7957SONG OF SOLOMON AUDIO SERIES
7958Mike’s completely revised and updated course on Song of
7959Songs, this is his most comprehensive and powerful presentation
7960on this glorious book to date. The CD version includes
7961the Study Guide in PDF format.
7962STUDIES IN JOEL AUDIO SERIES
7963As we approach the great and terrible day of the Lord, we
7964will be facing a flood of horrors far greater than in the days
7965of Noah. In his brilliant verse-by-verse teachings from the
7966book of Joel, Mike blows the trumpet and sounds the alarm,
7967offering us a road map of the End Times.
7968RESOURCES FROM FORERUNNER MUSIC
7969ALWAYS ON HIS MIND — Misty Edwards
7970“Diving deep into intercession, into the Word, into the passionate
7971heart of God.” From IHOP-KC, Always on His Mind is a
7972live recording that captures Misty Edwards and her team leading
7973worship, intercession, and songs born out of prayer.
7974CONSTANT — IHOP-KC
7975Constant is an album that is steady and lyrically inspiring! This
7976collection of songs is thematic of the faithfulness of God. His
7977greatness and our great need for Him are sustained throughout.
7978All the music on this album was written and performed by the
7979International House of Prayer worship leaders.
7980MERCHANT BAND — Merchant Band
7981With sounds of Brit pop meets American rock, Merchant
7982Band’s self-titled debut album has woven a modern sound
7983with the IHOP messages of intimacy and urgency. Packed with
7984original material that is both fresh and powerful.
7985ETERNITY — Misty Edwards
7986This best-selling CD captures the heart of the extravagant
7987worshiper. Misty Edwards is one of the International House
7988of Prayer’s most beloved worship leaders. Her unique gifting
7989draws your heart before the Lord, our Majesty, into a deep
7990realm of intimacy with Him.
7991LIMITED EDITION — IHOP-KC
7992Connect to the Prayer Room Through Limited Edition
7993Through IHOP’s Limited Edition CD subscription club,
7994Forerunner Music now offers you an ongoing glimpse into the
7995International House of Prayer’s prayer meetings. We record the
7996worship and intercession that goes on night and day at IHOP.
7997Then we take the best recordings from a two-month period, compile them, and make
7998them available to you. Join IHOP’s worship leaders and prayer leaders as they keep
7999the prayer fire burning 24/7.
8000As the name suggests, these CDs are “limited editions,” meaning once we’ve
8001sold out, no more are available. And the CDs are only available to subscribers. Join
8002the Limited Edition CD club, and every other month you will receive the latest CD,
8003as well as other news from the prayer room and regular email updates.
8004Each Limited Edition CD is packed with live worship and prayer. You will find
8005your heart connecting to Scripture and with IHOP’s current prayer burdens. We invite
8006you to join us as we seek after the fullness of God. Enter into fiery, passionate intercession
8007with recordings from our corporate intercession sets or sit at the Lord’s feet
8008through a Worship With the Word or Devotional set recording. Our desire is that the
8009Limited Edition CDs will equip and bless you as you draw nearer to the One
8010you love.
8011For more information about resources from Mike Bickle and the
8012International House of Prayer or for a free catalog,
8013please call 1-800-552-2449 from 8:30 am–5:30 pm Monday–Friday.
8014Also, visit our Web site and Web store at www.IHOP.org.
8015978-1-59979-175-3 / $15.99
8016HiVgindjgYVn
8017off right as you focus
8018on who God is and how much
8019He loves you. This ^che^g^c\YZkdi^dcVa
8020brings you daily love notes that will ]ZaendjbdkZ into
8021a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him.
8022God is eVhh^dcViZan^cadkZl^i]ndj. Experience renewal
8023and freedom as you learn daily the truth about Him!
8024Visit your local bookstore.
8025Loving God—
8026and knowing His love for you—
8027will transform your life!
8028
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