Lesson 3. Three Pillars of Prophetic Ministry. The “How to Hear God” School was held at Father’s Blessing Church. Author – John Paul Jackson. Teacher – Dmitriy Leo
Prophetic ministry is built on character, gift, and function.
- character – we need to develop it
- gift – it must be developed and perfected
- function – it must be fulfilled
1. Pillar – Prophetic Character
1 Cor. 13:2 “And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and possess all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
We must not exalt or love our gift more than the person. God values our character, not our gift; therefore, we need to develop our character through learning, ministry, and growth.
2. Pillar – Prophetic Gift
1 Sam. 3:19,20 “So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him; and He 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.”
Samuel’s prophetic gift grew so much that all his prophecies came to pass. We need to develop and perfect the prophetic gift.
For example, God gave a musician an ear for music, a creative mind, and memory, but without rehearsals, none of this will be perfected or developed. God commanded the Levites—musicians—to continually perfect their skills. God did care whether the Levites played some kind of tra-la-la tune or magnificent works.
Samuel grew from a boy into a prophet recognized by Israel. Why? Because all the words of his prophecies came to pass. His gift grew. He did not declare himself a prophet; Israel recognized him as one.
It is better to ask five people what they think of us than to form our own opinion about ourselves. Let others see something in us through our ministry and our fruit.
3. Pillar—prophetic function
1 Cor. 14:4 “The one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the Church.”
Eph. 4:11–13 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
A prophet is a function, not a title.
- – a function moves us to serve
- – a title leads us to pride
People will not believe us if we say about ourselves, “I am a prophet,” but they will begin to believe when they see our prophetic ministry with their own eyes.
For example, a builder’s qualifications are assessed not by a newspaper advertisement, but after inspecting the projects he has built.
Today, many are eager to take the title of prophet in order to gain influence, status, respect, and recognition from others. This is just as foolish as putting on a suit (while being a janitor), walking into a company office as the boss, and starting to give employees orders and criticism. At best, security will escort you out, and you will get off with a fright; at worst, you could end up in the situation of the sons of Sceva.
Acts 19:14–16: “There were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this. And the evil spirit answered and said, ‘Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?’ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them all, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”
Therefore, we must remain who we are and not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. It does not matter what we are called; what matters is that our gift serves for the edification of the Church, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, and for the edifying of the Body of Christ.
The conclusion is this: a title will lead us to pride, while a function will motivate us to serve in the Body of Christ.
Who is more important to whom—the eye to the body or the body to the eye?
If the eye is removed and placed beside the body, which one cannot survive without the other? The body does more for the eye than the eye does for the body. The body nourishes the eye, warms it, covers it, washes it with water, and supplies it with blood.
The only way we can change the Church is by being part of it. When the eye is in the body, it directs the body’s movement.
Today, many prophets (as they call themselves) are outside the Body. They are like an eye on a hill that shouts something from a distance and tells the Church what to do. These people are dead and unable to perform the eye’s function because they are already outside the Body.
Conclusion
– character must be developed
– gifts must be developed and perfected
– the function must be performed
Homework
Extracurricular activity.
1. Continue practicing hearing God by doing the exercises from the first and second weeks.
2. Recall times when you suddenly thought of someone and then encountered that person, somehow received news about them, and so on. Write down these memories. Do you see any pattern in them? Do you recognize God speaking to you about specific details concerning this person? Do you recognize the ways God led you in intercession for others?
Reading Assignment.
Read Daniel chapters 9–12 and answer the following questions.
1. How does this chapter reveal Daniel’s heart? (ch. 9)
2. Is this a vision or a visitation? (ch. 10)
3. This verse could imply that God gives “common visions” from time to time. Why was Daniel able not to run away in terror, even though physically he must have been completely weakened during the previous three weeks? (10:7)
4. Why do you think it is important for our hearts to seek God, and for us to fast and pray, while we are learning to hear God? (10:8)
5. What is good about the fact that Daniel still had to ask questions and learn? (12:8)
End of lesson.
Father’s Blessing Church
Author – John Paul Jackson
Teacher – Dmitriy Leo
