Prophetic Foundation of the Church

Non Prophet Church

In 1988 Edgar Wisenhat a NASA engineer and bible student predicted the rapture would occur in 1988. Using intellect, reason, and his time in the word he reasoned 88 unavoidable deductions the world should ready itself for the rapture. Needless to say, 1988 came and went and we were still here. In 1989, he again made the claim 89 reasons why the rapture was sure to occur in 1989. Well it is 2022 and we are still here.

Fast-forward to 2020 the world was in the midst of a lock-down and pseudo-pandemic bolstered to strike fear into the heart of people. Along comes what perhaps my be viewed as one of the most important elections of our time and this time no less a few dozen prophets went out of their way to declare Trump as the re-elected president. While I have been clear about my position regarding the election and its results, what remained was a word that was said to have come through visions, dreams, and signs that did not come to pass. Of the prophets who declared this word less than half would go on to publicly apologize for their word.

Finally, over the last four years I have received prophetic word from “prophets” who have made certain that in September something catastrophic would occur… yet each year September has come and gone with nothing to be had.

From these accounts we may assume the majority of churches are correct in censoring the prophet. Some will avoid the prophet altogether… these I have come to lovingly call Non-Prophet churches...

In contrary manner, I am one to affirm the work of the prophet both the one who operates in the gift of prophecy and the one who is fills the office of the prophet.

In both cases the prophets function is not to be an itinerant prophet traversing random places with no body, rather, they are rooted in God’s word, operate at the discretion of the Lord, and because they are considered the mouth piece of the Lord are submitted to the body… Their concern is focused on the proper growth of the body and are less concerned with things that do not impact the body.

The modern prophet is the mouthpiece of the Lord formed to build up the church body.

Acts 2:17–18 ESV

“ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

Outpouring of the Spirit is to occur and will yield a fruit

Prophetic is not a suggestion it is a promise

The prophetic will be on the young as well as the old… men and women…

There is a difference between the

Holy Spirit Gift of Prophecy and

Jesus’ gift of the office of prophecy

Prophets Are Foundational

Ephesians 2:19–22 ESV

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

There is an assignment to build together in a United posture a dwelling place for God.

Those who give their lives to Christ in hearing prophetic language will see an image of God.

Prophets lay are part and participle with the foundation of the household of God.

No room for itinerant prophets… they are part of the body to build the body

Their concern is for the people of God..

Their concern is for the church

Their work creates a way for the wanderer to return home.

they don’t run from the body… they make inlays in the body

they sense when things are broken… their heart is for the repair and building not dismantling and abandonment of the church

Prophets for the Modern time

1 Corinthians 14:1–5 ESV

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

The Gift of Prophesy is to build up the church.

The work of prophesy is to speak under the influence of divine inspiration with or without reference to the future

When one speaks prophetically its intended to build the church body or person who is now a member of the household of God

Desire to prophesy…

Pauls emphasis of this is to say this gift is in perpetuity

Each one of us can prophesy… but not all will

Modern Prophets will focus on

upbuilding, encouraging, and consoling the people of God (they must love the people of God)

Prophetic Gift or Prophetic Office

Prophetic gift is available for all

Prophetic words can be heard in different way

Hearing the word audible

Sensing the word

found in scripture

no matter how the word is recieved it must align with scripture

Prophets learn to hear it for themselves first

Submit all words received to the authority of scripture

sensitive to the guidance of the Spirit

Just because I speak prophetically does not make me a prophet.

Spiritual Gift (Charisma) of the Holy Spirit

1 Cor 12:6-7;10 The gifts given by the Holy Spirit

“gift”Known as charisma

gift freely and generously given

encouragement, uplifting, building up of the individual person

Gift (doma) of Jesus for Humanity

Ephesians 4:7 ESV

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

doma is the ability granted for a specific purpose

made accessible for all of humanity

Prophet is a gift from Christ for;

Ephesians 4:12 ESV

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

equip the saints for ministry… building the church

katartismo (craftsman; builders)

When the person speaks prophetically their function is focused on the individuals of the church… when the person fills the office of the prophet they

engage the work of making the body ready to serve (train; equip; develop)

Using the word of God together they

Correct;

wash people with the word of God;

equip people;

confirm…

Prophets make Doers not Just Hearers

Revelation 1:1–3 ESV

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Prophetic Word is spoken by those who are

witnesses to the word (they are submitted to the word

Come the personal relationship with Christ (they know what it means to be as Christ)

They encourage us to receive the prophetic word (it is our job to receive it, their role is complete upon delivery)

They encourage us to keep the word (they contend with us to not surrender the word to the enemy)

They encourage us to walk it out faithfully

Today there is a need to realign the church and its care for the prophets;

there are those who will speak a prophetic word and will not fill the office of the prophet they are responsible for what they speak

there are those who will become the craftsman and will be held to account for the craftsmanship of the house....