Lesson 2. Called, Trained, Sent

Lesson 2. Called, Trained, Sent. The “How to Hear God” School was held at Father’s Blessing Church. Author: John Paul Jackson. Teacher: Dmitriy Leo

Lesson 2. Called, Trained, Sent

There are 3 stages that people involved in prophetic ministry go through.

Called

This is the beginning—the point at which everything starts. Below are several things that may happen to a person whom God calls to prophetic ministry.

1. God pours out the gift of prophecy and other spiritual gifts on such a person
   • The person begins to see, hear, sense, discern, and so on.
2. He often anoints such a person through a prophetic minister, pastor, leader, or personally
   • This may happen through lessons, seminars, conferences, books, tapes, a vision, a dream, and so on.
3. He often reveals part of the person’s purpose and plans for their life
   • Through someone or something, God sends a prophetic word of encouragement that remains in the person’s heart
4. God places such a person in a specific environment intended for their growth
   • Another city, a new ministry, a cell group, new responsibilities, a promotion, a new vision, goals, and so on.
5. God often places a senior person over such an individual to guide them and teach them humility and obedience
   • An introduction to someone previously unknown; a leader, pastor, teacher, or friend, or new and proper relationships simply develop with those who are spiritually more mature, whom one needs to submit to and can help and serve.

In this passage of Scripture, we can see all five of these things in the example of Samuel:

Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.) And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.” Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.” (1 Samuel 3:1–17)

Trained

The most difficult period in the development of a prophetic calling. Many give up during the training process without waiting for the time when God will send them into ministry. This is the time when our character is formed. Many ask why a period of training is necessary if the gifts have already been given—surely that means we are already ready for them. Let us now look more closely at the things we received along with our calling.

1. So, has God given you the prophetic gift and other gifts?

But gifts and abilities do not determine your future; Samson received an extraordinary gift from the Lord

… And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would tear apart a young goat; yet he had nothing in his hand…

But because of his actions

… Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute and went in to her… if I am shaven, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man…

Samson was held accountable for his character;

… He awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.

Therefore, the fact that God has poured out the prophetic gift on a person does not yet mean that this person will definitely become a prophet—but that they can become a prophet. Your future will be determined by your character. Character is formed during training.

2. Has God anointed you?

Do you believe it? Yes! Through His anointing, He has placed in you power, the ability to minister, grow, and more, but anointing does not determine your future;

1 Samuel 10:1 “Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, kissed him, and said, ‘Has not the Lord anointed you ruler over His inheritance?’”

And then, because of disobedience;

1 Samuel 15:26 “But Samuel said to Saul, ‘I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.’”

Your future will be determined by your character, not your anointing. Character is formed during training.

3. Have serious prophetic words been spoken about you and your ministry?

Oh yes! Prophetic words encourage us; with them, we fight for our calling, but they do not yet determine the future;

1 Samuel 2:30–31 “Therefore the Lord God of Israel declares: ‘I promised that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from Me! For those who honor Me I will honor, but those who despise Me will be disdained. Behold, the days are coming when I will cut short your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house.’”

God spoke, and God Himself revoked what He had said. He is allowed to. Your future will be determined by your character, not by prophecies. Character is formed during training.

4. Are you part of a prophetic church?

Are people prophesying around you and teaching others to do so? Do you see and hear the surest evidence of God's works? Have you completed three prophetic institutes? Great, but you are not yet a prophet.

The fact that we are in a good environment or surrounded by great people will not determine our future: Judas, Thomas, Ananias, Sapphira. Your future will be determined by your character, which is formed over time through training.

5. Is your mentor a prophet? Someone famous…? Wow!

And Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Behold, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.” So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?” And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me, saying, ‘Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.’” And Naaman said, “Be content, take two talents.” And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him. And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed. But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, “Whence comest thou, Gehazi?” And he said, “Thy servant went no whither.” And he said unto him, “Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever.” And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow. (2 Kings 5:20–27)

Gehazi had a great future; he could have succeeded Elisha, but his future was determined by his character. Our teachers and their names do not determine our future.

Many of us are called by God to do great things in the future, but we must undergo training, during which our character will be shaped according to heavenly standards. The greater our calling, the more time training requires. Our calling determines the length of preparation. Some will need 1 year, others 10, but we determine the time. The sooner you pass the first-level exam, the sooner you will be advanced to the second, and so on. This is a time of training, pruning, humility, and obedience. Most people who prophesied fell in the past because their prophetic character was not fully formed. Their gifts were fine.

Put simply, prophetic gifts are tools, and we need time to learn to use them skillfully.

The higher a surgeon's qualifications, the more complex the operations he can be trusted with. Would you agree to lie on an operating table where you would be operated on by a cook who knows how to handle a kitchen knife well? A foolish idea, isn't it? Why, then, do we think God will allow us to take His living, beloved people and practice operating on them with nothing but a knife? If you will, a prophet is a surgeon, and a prophetic gift is a scalpel. The sharper the scalpel, the cleaner the incision and the faster it will heal. I hope you understand what I mean. God wants to entrust us with serious operations on the Body, so He requires our time and obedience as we learn.

During training, as our character is refined according to heavenly standards, food will play an important role. The food we eat will ultimately determine our strength in ministry. We must be careful in choosing teachers, and we must be selective about our spiritual food. If you want to become an evangelist, you need an evangelist, not a dance teacher.

In late autumn, male elk engage in battles in the forests. They clash their antlers, and the one whose antlers break loses the fight, the female, or the territory. Interestingly, the outcome of the battle begins to be determined in early spring, when elk start feeding. Ultimately, the strength of their antlers in autumn depends not on their weight or muscles, but on the food they have eaten. The winner is the one who ate the right food. The food we eat now will ultimately determine our strength in ministry.

Sent

A period of prophetic maturity when we are sent by God to carry His word to others—to individuals, churches, cities, and kings. This is a time of great accuracy in the words, symbols, and actions conveyed by prophets. It is a time when they are recognized by people, rather than by the prophesying person himself.

1 Sam. 3:19–21: “So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord.”

We will discuss this level in greater detail in the third course—301

Several helpful tips on this topic

– Pride and immaturity drive many people to move directly from the first level, “calling,” into the realm of the “sent”; as a result, they fall, harming themselves and the Church. We must be faithful in little, and God will give us more in His time. We must not think more highly of ourselves—but rather think soberly.

– Today, proud and immature people have caused great damage to the true prophetic movement in the Church. Our task is to be obedient and restore the true prophetic movement in the future. We are accountable before heaven and earth for what we bring to our generation.

– As we become involved in prophetic ministry, we must be prepared for opposition from the Ahabs and Jezebels, the Herods and Herodiases of our time. This was so in the days of Elijah and John the Baptist, and it will be so in our day. But when God speaks to us, obstacles will no longer trouble us as much as they did before.

– We should not regard every resistance in our lives as an attack of the enemy. As we go through a season of training, God will prune our tongues and our character. But God is not against us—He is for us; therefore, He will teach us to live as He desires us to live.

Homework

Extracurricular activity.

1. Continue practicing hearing God by doing the exercises from the first week.
2. Ask God to tell you which songs you will sing during worship at the next Sunday service. Write down the songs (or the sermon topic) and see how it turns out.

Reading assignment.

Read Daniel chapters 5–8 and answer the following questions.

1. How does this verse reflect Daniel’s aspirations and character? Is any principle revealed here? (5:17)
2. Daniel was known to Darius but unknown to Belshazzar. Share your opinion on why God sometimes gives us favor and allows us to be known, while at other times He hides us. (6:1)
3. Why did such a dream trouble a man who stood before kings, announcing unfavorable interpretations from time to time? (7:15, 28)
4. Did Daniel physically go to Susa? (8:2)
5. Comment on this verse. (8:27)

End of lesson.

Father’s Blessing Church
Author – John Paul Jackson
Teacher – Dmitriy Leo