Often times the lack of prophetic ministry in a church is due to a few reasons. Sometimes pastors have the wrong assumption that they don’t need prophets or a prophetic anointing. Pastors, as much as we need them and respect their role, have a totally different grace and job to do in the church. Its very common that pastors see prophets as a threat to the sheep because of the challenge a prophet might bring to the spiritual atmosphere of a group of people. So because of the misconception, they will keep prophets at bay and even try and shut them up out of ignorance.

I live under the principle that what you respect moves toward you, what you disrespect moves away from you. Jesus put it like this:

“He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward…” Matthew 10:41

We must begin to receive, honor and make room for those prophets that we have in our church or within our network of relationships. Here are a few ways we can practically honor a prophet so that we can be able to receive the prophet’s reward (the reward of the prophet is the grace and anointing that is upon his or her’s life):

1. Financially

The same way we support pastors, elders and missionaries for the work they do, we should also financially support a prophet for the work they do. I’m not referring to “buying” prophecies or some type of slot machine ministry. I’m talking about partnering with prophetic ministries that we know, validate and support by offerings and regular giving. Prophets have bills to pay, projects and assignments to fulfill and families to feed. Help a brotha out!

2. Encouragement

People assume because prophets hear from the Lord that they never get discouraged. Ask Elijah if a prophet can become discouraged! Prophets need love, encouragement, grace and patience like anyone else. Sometimes a prophet needs another prophet in their life to speak prophetically to them and stir the gift of God up in their life. Yes we all need to encourage ourselves in the Lord, but honor a prophet by telling them how much of a blessing they have been to your life, both individually and publicly.

3. Make room for the prophet

Like the widow in 2 Kings 4 made a room for Elisha the prophet, so must be begin to make room in ministry for the prophets which we relate to. We must give them the opportunity to speak spontaneously as prophets will often do. We also should put them on a regular rotation on our preaching schedule to communicate God’s heart to the rest of the church. 1 Cor 14 tells us to let the prophets speak and let the others judge what is being said. This will allow for honor and room for the prophet to contribute to the building of the church which will in turn become a great blessing to the church over all.

I am not advocating we do this for just any ol person claiming to be a prophet. I’m suggesting these items for those of us who want to be able to tap into the prophetic grace that Jesus gave to men once he ascended upon high. Lets begin to honor the prophetic voice in our midst and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church in this hour. If we do not honor and respect those with prophetic voices in our churches, we just might loose them and that would be a sad thing to have happen to any church.

You are breaking strongholds.

You are breaking patterns that have held you captive for years.

You are changing your mindset.

You are preparing for service.

You are reading your Bible more and spending time in fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

You are cultivating a lifestyle of giving and worship to the Lord.

You are working in a job that fits your gifts and prospering because of it.

You are making strides in your faith and growing in spiritual maturity.

You will end the year well. You will be a strong finisher.

You will not quit.

Says the Lord.

Over the past 20 or so years, the Lord has graced us with better understanding of prophetic ministry. We have seen a great restoration of the ministry of the prophet in our day and for that I am totally grateful. Gone are the days where there is no word from heaven and the image of prophets are simply a picture of Moses with a long, grey beard in a flowing robe. I believe that now God wants to raise the prophetic standard in our churches. As with anything that is being restored, there can seem to be an over-emphesis or over use of the subject matter. For example, since God wants to restore the prophetic role in the church, everyone who prophesies thinks they are considered a prophet. Not so. Because you prophesy does not necessarily mean God has called you to be a prophet. However, if you are called to the office of a prophet, then surely you will prophesy. Get it? Good…

But in this hour God is wanting to enhance the QUALITY or the standard of prophetic ministry. As in Jeremiah’s day, there were many prophets that went out into the land. But where did these prophets come from? The school of the prophets established by Samuel had many students “registered”. Many had graduated with their diploma, but many were simply not sent by God. With the popularity of “schools of prophets” today, many people run to these ministries hoping to get their diploma, not realizing that a diploma from a ministry school does little to validate you for true prophetic ministry. Here is what the Lord said of the prophets in Jeremiah’s day:

“But I said, “Ah, Sovereign LORD, the prophets keep telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine. Indeed, I will give you lasting peace in this place.’ Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’ Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine.” (Jeremiah 14:13-15)

Here are some thoughts about how we can begin to raise the standard of prophetic ministry:

1. All may prophesy, but not all are prophets. We must realize and learn how to identify the difference between someone who is simply prophesying for a word of encouragement and also someone who has a prophetic ministry. One test to see is the measure of authority in which the person speaks. When a prophet prophesies they speak with authority. Sometimes this gets misrepresented as a tone of judgement or harshness. Not so, true prophets speak the word of the Lord as if it’s the very word of God. (1 Peter 4:11)

2. Prophets need to learn patience and hold their tongues. Just because you have received a message from God doesn’t mean you are to speak it forth. You must learn the right timing in which to prophesy. Unless the word is spoken in the right kiros moment, it will likely be trampled on by pigs. Hold the word, pray into it, let it brew, develop and expand and at the right timing deliver it with all boldness and watch the word change the very atmosphere of the gathering.

3. If you have  no prayer life, you are not a prophet. It order to be a voice, you must first hear a voice. “The Lion roars, who can but prophesy?” (Amos 3:8) First the Lion of the Tribe of Judah must roar, those who hear it cannot help but prophesy.

4. Let the prophetic word come sharp and clear. The Spirit doesn’t author confusion, so if you don’t understand the meaning or interpretation of something then it’s possible that you shouldn’t share it. Words without interpretation are not edifying to people. I’m personally tired of hearing about rainbows, clouds, and goofy pictures only to hear the person say “I don’t know what this means” leaving the person receiving the word dumbfounded even the more. I understand there are occasions where the meaning of the vision is not disclosed, but someone else has the interpretation. God is not hiding anything from us, we can always ask for the revelation and interpretation.

Prayer: Father I pray that you will raise up true prophetic voices in this hour. Separate those who are full of hot air and those who carry the wind of your Spirit. We are in need to hear your voice Father. We need true direction and insight. Raise the standard and quality of prophetic ministry I pray. Amen.

The Lord said to me today that there will be a push for buildings in Elgin. This push will be a push upward saith the Lord. Skyscrapers saith God! These will be the next installment of buildings that will go up in my name saith God. Elgin will be a city that will cause people to look up to the heavens. It will be an upward bound city. Over the next 5 years, prominent buildings will be torn down saith God. You will see a building stand, and then you will see it no more. As quick as it will be destroyed, a new one will go up in my name saith God. I am the watcher over Elgin. I am the building builder.

I am establishing and preparing for a great outpouring in Elgin saith God. For many have thought and considered that I would do this work elsewhere. Many have picked up and left seeking for money, power and other worldly items. But they were mistaken saith the Lord for mine eyes is upon Elgin and I am seeking a people who will stand out like skyscrapers on a skyline for me. I am seeking those that will be the prophetic voice to this city that will extend my judgment on the wicked and release prisoners from bondage.

I will make Elgin a place that people will begin to commute to and from and much commerce will come in and out from Elgin. There will be much business flowing in and out of the downtown area. There will be miracles that take place financially in Elgin. You will see my strong hand perform these as a sign that I am with you and once you see my hand be stretched forth, you will then see multiplication of faith and a great harvest of souls. For many have wanted access to Elgin for the wrong reasons, and my hand has kept them out. For I will not allow a robber in to steal and destroy the sheep saith God.

But I will send Elgin true apostolic leaders and true prophets that will speak forth my word and establish righteousness in the city and the hands of government will change in this season and there will be sweeping change saith the Lord. I will sweep away corruption and institute my statues and principles saith God and surely you will know that Elgin will be seen as a habitation for my glory.

Release of Mercy
As I send snow upon the region, I send mercy and forgiveness in this hour. I release a new day and a new dawning for new mercy says the Lord. And respond quickly, for I the Lord will not always relent. I am coming and returning with great fire, zeal and judgment in the last days. However, my love for Chicago consumes me to great degrees. There is fire in my heart for Chicago says the Lord. I will rain down justice in the political arena. I will upset the status quo and I will cause new government to be established. For I the Lord turn the hearts of the Kings in this city says the Lord. I am ruling with my scepter of justice over the city of Chicago.

Intercession
The cries of my people have come forth up into my throne room. There is a hunger and stirring within my people in Chicago says the Lord. There is a rumbling at the gates of the city. A birthing of a new dimension and power force for the church in this region says the Lord.

Sent Ones
For I am advancing my people. I am raising up “sent ones” in this hour in the city of Chicago for there is great need. And I will begin to raise up sent ones to go out into the suburbs. To begin to declare judgment on evil and to release salvation and mercy for my broken ones says the Lord. For there will be a great revival in the suburbs of Chicago says the Lord. There will come great unity and great humility from the suburbs. I will cause leaders to lay down their swords and begin to work with one another. I will cause intercessors to come together for day and night prayer. And there will be joy released in the streets says the Lord. You will see marches in my name this year. You will see the brightness of my people shine forth in this hour and this year. I will deal with those in politics that have lives lives of perversion and dishonesty.

Holiness
For I the Lord am holy, so therefore BE holy in this hour says the Lord. For I am seeking for vessels to display my splendor. I am seeking those who are willing to stand for truth and to stand for righteousness. I am seeking men and women of courage and strong faith to accomplish exploits for me in Chicago. For they are not found in the pews says the Lord, but yet they are found in obscure and hidden places. Do not look at the stages in this season, for I am not with them. Do not look at the stadiums this year, for I am not in the fire, the earthquake or the wind..but I am found in the whisper. I am closer to you than you think, and I am found within the hearts of men and women who seek my face. For many are seeking the faces of idols in this generation, but they will be disappointed and they will find dissatisfaction. My return is coming quickly. Prepare the way for me saith the Lord.

Prophets seem to be prone to abuse. I asked a friend of mine why prophets seem to go through the hurt and rejection they do and his answer was profound. He said that the suffering of the prophetic ministry is so that you can identify with the sufferings of Christ himself.  What a wonderful privileged!  Christ, although fully victorious, was in fact a man of sorrows, acquainted with suffering and rejection himself. He was not received by his own, yet he dwelt among them. This is the job of the prophet. He is to dwell amongst a people that will not receive him/her and declare the message of God in the midst of possible rejection and hurt. In my short time in prophetic ministry, its been very rare that I’ve found a group of people who will receive the word of the Lord and take it seriously. Often the word is flat out denied, or at best I’ll get a pat on the back for good effort. (Are we really that spiritually dull?)

Spiritual birthing is something that is messy, laborious and painful.  Unless the baby is rejected from the womb, the vision will not come forth.  Others not familiar with the prophetic ministry have no clue the travail of prayer and the constant pushing in the spirit that we content for. These works are taxing on the prophet both physically and spiritually. Those reading who have prophets in your church or minister to prophets, please remember this and encourage them to take time to rest and have recreation outside of spiritual ministry. Cover them in prayer because they need it due to the spiritual warfare they encounter on an almost DAILY basis. Our foe is staunchly against the prophetic ministry because the prophets are bold enough to confront and expose his works.  It was through a prophet Israel was delivered and it is through a prophet Israel is preserved.

However just as the prophets of old were persecuted and even killed for what they said, so will prophets in this day relate with the persecution of obscurity and the suffering of possible rejection.  So I’d like to advise a few things to deal with rejection:

1. Develop a thankful heart. Paul said for us to give thanks in ALL things. Even to rejoice in suffering, for when we do we become stronger and God is using these moments to train his prophets. Thank God continually for his grace in your life and live a life of forgiveness.  Release any hurt and rejection done against you and forgive those completely who were offended.

2. Realize that not everyone is out to get you. Because you were hurt or denied by one leader, realize that God has accepted you and has not left you nor forsaken you. Often times rejection comes along with hurtful words, curses or false prophecy given by controlling leaders or Jezebel. Do not accept the false words about you and replace them with what the word of God says concerning your life.

3. Be open to constructive criticism. Most of the time issues can be worked out with good communication and understanding. Prophecy will cease, but love will always endure. Is the judgment truly rejection, or is it meant to help develop you as a person? Be careful of being too sensitive to comments and treatment that can be interpreted as someone not accepting you or your ministry. God is the one who raises up one and puts down another. He is fully capable of dealing with leaders who missed it. The truth is, your not the 4th member of the trinity anyway! The world will not fall apart because they did not receive your prophetic word.

Don’t let hurt and rejection get the best of you! You’ve got a great purpose and destiny to fulfill but you won’t be able to move forward unless you heal. If your dealing with some offense or rejection I suggest you take a rest for a few weeks, sit at the feet of Jesus and let him touch those areas of your life before you engage in your ministry. We as prophets should be doing this on a regular basis anyway. I for one, need to do this more.

“…mercy triumphs over judgment!”

As I was driving to work this morning I usually stare out of my car window and look at the newly colored fall leaves on the trees along my route in the Fox Valley.  As a futurist, I’m often caught up in cosmic thoughts that stretch way out beyond my own understanding or earthly practicalities.

In the past I’ve always struggled with a black and white perception of things. There are no grey areas for prophets!  There is truth and error, right and wrong, good and evil. For people like us its always pretty clear and simple.  But for others, its not always that clear and patience becomes more than a virtue for a person like myself to develop. It becomes a seemingly unattainable bar, striving to reach a place where I can accept people the way they are, yet at the same time be satisfied in clear conscious that what I’m doing and acting upon is right and true.

Err On The Side Of Mercy

I’ve always said that I would err on the side of holiness, righteousness and fear of the Lord when it comes to debatable issues.  If its questionable, stay 10 feet away from it.  However, as I was pondering my perspective towards people with differences I heard the whisper of the Spirit say to me “mercy triumphs over judgment.”  That whisper resonated within my heart. Why have I always erred on the side of judgment, when I really should err on the side of mercy?  Some people are not mature enough, or for various reasons “don’t get it”.  And…its ok.  God is full of mercy, abounding in love and in his perfect ability he is able to make plain and clear what he so chooses in our lives.  I personally have had mercy extended to me time and time again. What is mercy?  Mercy is not getting what you deserve.

When someone makes a mistake, knowingly or even unknowingly, I must be ready to extend mercy to that person.  Just because they deserve judgment, doesn’t mean that God will give it to them. In fact, our job as intercessors is to pray that judgment is held back and that mercy is poured out.  Mercy has given me a new perspective on life.  That the way God feels toward people is not anger, but yet passionate pursuit of people who he created for his own.