Next: Where Do We Go From Here?
Where do WE go from here?
Two options…
1. We can keep moving on as if nothing took place.
2. We can realize our agreement and participation will be required.
Will this possibly require us to step into some new territory as a church?
Jeremiah 1:9-10 [NKJV], Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.”
There are times when God speaks to the leader, He is also speaking to the entire church family.
Ephesians 1:22 [NLT], God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church.
Matthew 16:18 [AMP], I will build My church.
Ephesians 4:8-13 [NKJV], Therefore He says: “When He (Jesus) ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.” …11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 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;
Basic level…
The apostle governs.
The prophet guides.
The evangelist gathers.
The pastor guards.
The teacher grounds.
It could also be said…
An apostle has a burden to restore the church back to God’s original design.
A prophet reveals God’s heart to His people.
An evangelist carries a burden for those who are not a part of the family of God yet.
A pastor has burden for the well-being of the sheep.
A teacher has insight from the Word to reveal the mind of God.
“If the ministries of the apostle and prophet have ceased, then what does that mean for the evangelist, pastor, and teacher?”
“If the responsibility of these five offices is to equip the saints until the church comes into the unity of the faith and to the full maturity of Christ. Has that happened yet?”
1 Thessalonians 5:20 [NKJV], Do not despise prophecies.
A prophet “is one who lends his voice to another.”
A prophecy is simply “God speaking through man.”
The role prophecy can play in a believer’s life:
Jeremiah 29:11-14 [NIV], “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord…
Point: A prophetic word can turn around a person’s thinking, speaking, and living.
1 Corinthians 14:3 [TPT], But when someone prophesies, he speaks to encourage people, to build them up, and to bring them comfort.
A prophetic word also has the ability to…
Help us find our place.
Speak to our God-given identity.
Call us into maturity.
Call out the gold in us.
Confirm what’s in our hearts.
Give us direction.
Stir up our faith.
Prepare us for what’s ahead.
Reveal and unlock our purpose.
Heal our soul wounds.
Prophecy not only brings value and identity, but it also brings alignment for an individual's purpose in God.
A prophetic word will bear witness in your heart, but it can also make you feel stretched further than you ever thought was possible. God is a big God, and He wants us to dream with Him without limits when it comes to where He desires to take us.
If we received a prophetic word, how should we respond?
1. Test it.
2. Write it down.
3. Pray into it.
4. Come into alignment.
5. Come into agreement.
6. Study the Word.
7. Listen to the Holy Spirit.