The Handbook for Prophetic Ministry

Preface

Recent days have seen a surge of interest in prophecy and prophets within the church. This can be traced back to the very beginnings of the Pentecostal Movement in the early twentieth-century: a vivid expression of Christianity that held baptism in the Holy Spirit as central to Christian life and witness. Pentecostals viewed the experience of the early church recorded in the book of Acts to be the normative pattern for Christian life and worship; the ability to speak in tongues was seen as the primary evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit.

It was from Pentecostalism through to the Charismatic renewal and the later “Third Wave” Movement, emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit regained prominence in the life and teaching of the church. With the emergence of a Prophetic Movement, the focus then moved to that gift of the Holy Spirit which the apostle Paul especially encouraged the Corinthian believers to desire—prophecy (1 Cor. 14:1, 39a).

Since Reformation times, Protestant theology has generally defined prophecy in post-apostolic Christianity as the faithful preaching of God’s Word in the power of the Spirit. Pentecostals, Charismatics, and those in the Third Wave camp agree that preaching can and perhaps should be prophetic. However, they have determined prophecy as understood by the New Testament writers to be both forthtelling and foretelling. To Pentecostals, Charismatics and Third Wave believers, preaching is the setting forth of scriptural truths; prophecy is the communication of revelation received from the Holy Spirit.

Preaching has for its theme either the Good News of Jesus Christ or the exposition of Christian doctrine as found in Scripture. Prophecy is the supernatural revelation of things to the one prophesying which could not be known by ordinary means. Prophecy may certainly allude to the teaching of Scripture or the promises of God, but true prophecy neither adds to nor takes away from Scripture.

As a gift of the Spirit and operation of God, prophecy is given for the benefit of the Body of Christ. As Christ is the Head of the Body, prophecy the Holy Spirit inspires will have the ultimate effect of drawing people to Christ and establishing them firmly in Him. A verse repeated throughout this book is Revelation 19:10c: “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” While prophecy does not always draw upon the Gospel, it will never suggest, imply, or teach anything that is contrary to Scripture, the lordship of Christ, or biblical truth; to Christ’s return; to the purity of our faith, hope, and love; or to the wisdom that is from above.

Later in our study, we will look closely at the matters of discernment and accountability in prophecy. For now, it is enough to say that Paul himself expressly commanded the Thessalonian believers not to “despise prophetic utterances” (1 Thess. 5:20). Taking the apostle’s words prima facie, while noting the absence of anything in the New Testament suggesting prophecy should be withdrawn from the church, it is our responsibility to affirm and uphold it.

This brings me to the reason for this book. It is my heart’s desire that credible, biblical prophetic ministry be restored to its rightful place within the Body of Christ: within a firm framework of accountability—not displacing or usurping the ministry of the Word, but serving alongside it; not functioning as a vehicle for novel, strange, and false doctrines, but for the edification, exhortation, and consolation of God’s people; not giving false prophets a platform from which to deceive, seduce, and draw believers away from Christ, but through Spirit-endowed counsel, pointing believers back to Him.

I have also written for the following reasons:

• Out of conviction: God has always intended for prophetic ministry to function throughout the duration of the church era—the “last days” of Joel’s prophecy (Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2:16–21);
• Out of the need to challenge the faulty historical view that prophets and prophecy ceased long ago;
• Out of concern over the confusions, misunderstandings, and assumptions often associated with prophetic ministry that have obscured it or led to its dismissal;
• Out of heartfelt care for the countless believers who are being denied the benefit of prophecy due to their leaders’ unchallenged assumptions;
• Out of the need for clarity and a biblically defensible theology of prophecy to govern its practice within today’s church;
• Out of the need of every believer for the comfort, exhortation, and edification that the Holy Spirit brings through inspired words of revelation;
• Out of concern over abusive, unaccountable, shallow, and counterfeit prophetic ministry, which often goes unchallenged and is detrimental to the cause of true prophetic restoration;
• Out of appreciation for the prophetic input I have personally received over three decades that has served as a tremendous source of encouragement and guidance in my walk with the Lord; and
• Out of prayer that the church, by understanding its prophetic identity and pursuing this superlative gift of the Holy Spirit, would be used by the Lord to bring many to Himself.

In writing this book, my goal has been to provide the Body of Christ with a handbook on prophetic ministry, covering all its key aspects: its biblical basis and theological justification; its history from Bible times to the present day; its practical dimensions and guidelines; and relevant examples drawn from its contemporary practice in today’s church, including examples drawn from my own ministry experience. Thus, I have attempted to present a biblically accurate theology of prophetic ministry for its modern expression.