Prophetic

Just as a true Christian prophet is known by what he does, not by what he says he is, so a Christian prophetic ministry is known by what it does, not by what it says it is. The prophetic gift is from God and its purpose is to provide a way for man to speak forth the mind and counsel of God for repentance to be taught and righteousness to be preached in order to bring restoration, to heal (Matthew 4:34; 9:35), “... for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (King James Version) (Revelation 19:10.) In the Amplified Bible that portion of verse reads: “... For the substance (essence) of the truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy—the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose [including both mine and yours].)”

A Christian prophetic ministry also provides a way for the priorities, the present-day utility of God’s power, and contemporary purposes to be communicated to man as history progresses (Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”; Hebrews 1:1,2 “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds”; Revelation 10:7 “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”

But the Christian prophetic ministry also gives men the ability to speak unto other men a word of exhortation, comfort and revelation (1 Corinthians 14:3;30).

The Christian prophetic ministry also promotes individual and corporate edification, learning and comfort (Ephesians 4:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:11,19-21; 1 Corinthians 14:3-4, 31).

Exercise of the prophetic gift will prove to be a sign for believers (1 Corinthians 14:22).

We are instructed to covet to prophesy, for the edification of the church, and forbid not to speak with tongues, with interpretation, i.e., explanation, in the church (1 Corinthians 14:1,4,5,12,19,31,39).

A Christian prophetic ministry recognizes only one scriptural foundation

Ephesians 2:19-22:

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Excerpted from Vine’s Expository Dictionary: “FOUNDATION (TO LAY), FOUNDED 1. themelios, or themelion is properly an adjective denoting “belonging to a foundation” (connected with tithemi, “to place”). It is used” ... “ metaphorically, (a) of “the ministry of the gospel and the doctrines of the faith,” (Rom. 15:20; 1 Cor. 3:10,11,12; Eph. 2:20), where the “of” is not subjective (i. e., consisting of the apostles and prophets), but objective, (i. e., laid by the apostles, etc.); so in (2 Tim. 2:19), where “the foundation of God” is “the foundation laid by God,”—not the Church (which is not a “foundation”), but Christ Himself, upon whom the saints are built; (Heb. 6:1); (b) “of good works, (1 Tim. 6:19).”

Paul states that Jesus Christ is the only foundation to be laid: 1 Corinthians 3:11: “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

We find the same thought expressed by Paul in Romans 15:20-21: “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.”

Paul’s thought is consistent: where someone has laid the foundation of Christ, be it apostle or prophet or another servant of God, then that is all sufficient. No other foundation can be or should be laid.

The sense of the meaning of Ephesians 2:20 then is: ‘You were once aliens from the commonwealth of Israel (in the time of her Old Testament prophets), but now you are members of the household of faith of the true Israel having been built up upon the foundation, which is Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, laid by the New Testament apostles and Old Testament prophets.’

A Christian prophetic ministry understands the prophetic gift comes from God’s grace, not the law

It’s clear from scripture that the gifts of Jesus to His church (Ephesians 4:7-11) are not founded upon the Law, as the Law and the Old Testament prophets came to an end, and when Jesus came He fulfilled the law. “... for ye are not under the law, but under grace” Romans (6:14b). “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7).

When Jesus ascended and gave gifts to men the Old Testament prophets and prophecy had ended. Jesus gave new gifts, under grace, instead of under the law, for His ekklesia, which now would include Gentiles also.

A Christian prophetic ministry knows its main function is to teach the body of Christ to mature

In the phrase “pastors and teachers” the word “and” in the Greek is the article “kai.” This word is used in a copulative and also an informational sense. So it doesn’t mean just “and.” I believe what Paul said was that Jesus has given gifts to mankind, some to be sent, some to speak the mind and counsel of God, and some to be itinerant preachers and some shepherds. In the phrase “pastors” [shepherds] “and teachers” the word “kai” is used in the informational sense and would be better translated as “namely” or some such intent. In other words, Jesus has given us those four gifts of public service—apostles, prophets, evangelists and shepherds—namely as teachers for the maturing (perfecting) of the saints and etc. In the framework of this understanding, “five-fold” may be a misnomer. However in actual function there still remain five distinct giftings. The actual identification would be more along the lines of apostle-teacher, prophet-teacher, evangelist-teacher, shepherd-teacher, which is four distinct doma ascension gifts, each however, combined with a teaching “gift”—a total of five servanthood “gifts” given by Jesus to His ekklesia for the purpose of maturing the saints. This line of thought also fits the context of the facts that Paul brings out in Ephesians 4.

The existing building and its foundation still stands. The revelation knowledge of the original apostles (that is to say, those mentioned throughout the New Testament) still stands. There is no “new” foundation to put in place (unless, of course, you have replaced the chief corner stone, Who is Jesus Christ Himself, in which case what I’m saying is pointless to you).

There are no “new” revelations of Jesus and the Gospel which can replace the revelations of the New Testament apostles.

The present-day “future” apostles of which Paul spoke of in Ephesians 4 have a detailed job description as given by Paul. It was during Paul’s lifetime that the transition from his “present” apostles and prophets to his “future” apostles and prophets occurred. And those future apostles and prophets are the ones that continued after the New Testament and include what is our present-day apostles and prophets.

These present-day apostles and prophets have a different gifting from the Old and New Testament apostles and prophets. (Old Testament “apostles” being those sent out by God, but not then called apostles). Today’s apostles and prophets (and evangelists and shepherds as teachers) are to mature the saints by preparing them for works of public service, or ministry, freely given. And to teach them how to build up the body of Christ. The purpose is to bring about unity of the faith that comes with the knowledge of the Son of God so that the body of Christ will mature into the full measure of Christ Himself.

There are no “super-apostles” coming to lay a “new” foundation and to give us further “revelations” that surpass those of the New Testament apostles and prophets regarding Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Christ.

Today’s apostles and prophets have a different function and that is to help the body of Christ grow in understanding and experiential knowledge of that which has already been written for us in the word of God, the Bible.

The Christian prophetic ministry seeks biblical unity based upon the truth of the word of God

True unity of the faith is based upon the knowledge of the Son of God, which, of course, includes the truth of the word of God which teaches us of Christ. Unity in the body of Christ must be based upon the truth of scripture, not ecumenical councils or other devices which simply overlook the truth of the Bible.

With this understanding of the scriptures you will be able to recognize the false prophets, false prophecy and false apostles and false teachings that the word says will be among us in these latter days.

Summary

In summary, a Christian prophet, i.e., a Christian prophetic ministry will be known by what it does, not by what it says it is. It will use the prophetic gift to speak forth the mind and counsel of God for repentance to be taught and righteousness to be preached in order to bring restoration and a return back to God and healing of broken bodies, souls and spirits. What is written and said will be a testimony of the truth of Jesus—as revealed from Genesis to Revelation. It will communicate God’s priorities, the present day utility of God’s power and His contemporary purposes as God speaks.

The Christian prophetic ministry will speak words of exhortation, comfort and revelation. There will also be individual and corporate edification, learning and comfort. In public usage exercise of the prophetic gift will prove to be a sign for believers.

The Christian prophetic ministry will covet to exercise the prophetic gift for the purpose of edifying the ekklelsia of God whether it be in writings or in speaking.

A Christian prophetic ministry will seek to mature the saints by preparing them for works of public service, or ministry, freely given, and to teach them how to build up the body of Christ. Its purpose is to bring about unity of the faith that comes with the knowledge of the Son of God so that the body of Christ will mature into the full measure of Christ Himself.

The Christian prophetic ministry will continue to help the body of Christ grow in understanding and experiential knowledge of that which has already been written for us in the Bible, the word of God.

The Christian prophetic ministry will attempt to bring true unity of the faith to the ekklesia of God, based upon the knowledge of the Son of God, which comes from the truth of the word of God which teaches us of Christ. It will emphasize that unity in the body of Christ must be based upon the truth of scripture, not other devices which overlook or ignore the truth of the Bible.

The Christian prophetic ministry, just like the true Christian prophet, understands that their influence over others only comes when and if others voluntarily and willingly follow their example of personal holiness and servanthood to others by their public service, freely given.