I have been impressed of the Lord to answer a question regarding the role a Prophet should properly play in the Church where he is called (all he's in this are HE OR SHE).
To whom does a prophet belong, to whom is he responsible, of what should he be a member, to whom should he be submitted, by whom was he called.
The danger is some prophetic people see themselves responsible only to God. In a way that is good theology. We who are called to be prophets of God first and foremost are responsible to be careful and accurate in what we say when we utter the Phrase, "thus saith the Lord".
It must be correct or we as prophets stand in terror of judgment, not from men, from the creator of all things. I am very careful. I know what happens if I violate that trust.
So, as a prophet, to whom am I responsible? To God. But there is more.
To whom do I belong? To the ministry entrusted to me as a Prophet. I am a member of the CHURCH UNIVERSAL and a prophet called to the midst of her crying in the wilderness, comfort ye, comfort ye, my People. Make the way straight.
To whom am I submitted? First to God and second to the Apostle, the Leader of the house, (Church or Churches) to which I have been called. I am submitted in that the vision that Apostle is commissioned to carrying out must be reinforced, strengthened by the Prophetic gift I bring from the Lord.
Who called me to come to a place and be a prophet to dwell in the midst of them? First, it is the God of all Heaven that calls and directs. His calls are without repentance. Second, he directs the prophet in his call to minister where He or She is called to. If that house receives him as a prophet, they get the prophet's reward. Matthew 10 is a chapter where Jesus sends his called and appointed ministers to the world. They are to go to a place and dwell with them. If they are received, they are to reward the people that receive them, If they are rejected, they are to shake the dust off and leave. The whole chapter is a clear picture of various ways Houses (churches) deal with and receive the gift of the Prophet in their midst. At the end Jesus says:
That seems pretty clear to me why the Sanhedrin didn't have Prophets in their midst. They can't control or direct what a prophet might say or do. There is not structure. The desire to put God in a Box is violated because the Prophet is there as a gift. So, therefore they couldn't tolerate them. Even when John the Baptist showed up and they went out to see him, they were warned.
A prophet must do what he or she is called to do:
The concern modern Sanhedrins have is they see the innocence yet shrewdness as agenda building. As subversion. As control. Even more so when in fact the prophet comes with good news and healing. For that reason, a prophet must only be received in a House. He must not become entangled in that house. He must be submitted to the Head (apostle) of the house. In Corinthians 12:28 it teaches that the Prophet is secondary to the Apostle. It is to the Apostle that the prophet prophecies. Perhaps if a Nicodemus comes from the Sanhedrin will a Prophet be allowed to prophesy to him. As the Word of God clearly says again and again, the Church House is built on the solid foundation of the Apostle of the house and the Prophet who stands with him in building up the house fulfilling the destiny God opens.
For this reason, a prophet must be called of God to a House and minister there as long as he is received. If he ceases to be received he must leave. His ministry is a call of God and like any Minister he must be subject to the Upward Call of God alone.
Membership in any organization as a minister called of God to a fellowship would be to place the call to membership above the Call of God. This is not the Pattern we see in the Church in the Book of Acts. Fellowships had prophets among them. They were not the Apostle leaders of the churches. They stood with and encouraged (and sometimes warned) the Apostle leader they were with. They never allowed the opinions, theologies and politics of the fellowship to influence them. They heard only from God. And then said what God said.
If a Prophet placed himself to be accountable to a committee regarding what he does or does not pronounce, he is like the prophets in the courts of Ahab who told Ahab what he wanted to hear. One of Ahab's Board members comes to the Prophet of God. He tells him what to say: 1 Kings 22:
To whom does a prophet belong, to whom is he responsible, of what should he be a member, to whom should he be submitted, by whom was he called.
The danger is some prophetic people see themselves responsible only to God. In a way that is good theology. We who are called to be prophets of God first and foremost are responsible to be careful and accurate in what we say when we utter the Phrase, "thus saith the Lord".
It must be correct or we as prophets stand in terror of judgment, not from men, from the creator of all things. I am very careful. I know what happens if I violate that trust.
So, as a prophet, to whom am I responsible? To God. But there is more.
To whom do I belong? To the ministry entrusted to me as a Prophet. I am a member of the CHURCH UNIVERSAL and a prophet called to the midst of her crying in the wilderness, comfort ye, comfort ye, my People. Make the way straight.
To whom am I submitted? First to God and second to the Apostle, the Leader of the house, (Church or Churches) to which I have been called. I am submitted in that the vision that Apostle is commissioned to carrying out must be reinforced, strengthened by the Prophetic gift I bring from the Lord.
Who called me to come to a place and be a prophet to dwell in the midst of them? First, it is the God of all Heaven that calls and directs. His calls are without repentance. Second, he directs the prophet in his call to minister where He or She is called to. If that house receives him as a prophet, they get the prophet's reward. Matthew 10 is a chapter where Jesus sends his called and appointed ministers to the world. They are to go to a place and dwell with them. If they are received, they are to reward the people that receive them, If they are rejected, they are to shake the dust off and leave. The whole chapter is a clear picture of various ways Houses (churches) deal with and receive the gift of the Prophet in their midst. At the end Jesus says:
Matthew 10: 40-41He who receives a prophet, receives Jesus and thru Jesus receives the Father.
40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.
41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.
That seems pretty clear to me why the Sanhedrin didn't have Prophets in their midst. They can't control or direct what a prophet might say or do. There is not structure. The desire to put God in a Box is violated because the Prophet is there as a gift. So, therefore they couldn't tolerate them. Even when John the Baptist showed up and they went out to see him, they were warned.
A prophet must do what he or she is called to do:
7As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. 9Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; 10take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.In my ministry as a Prophet, I have never taken a DIME in the ministry. I have never asked for anything other than to be heard and to minister encouragement to those who need it. Yet, despite that, there are some houses in which the prophet will not be welcomed or word's listened to. Look at what that means to that house (church). (in red above)11"Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. 15I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. 16I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
The concern modern Sanhedrins have is they see the innocence yet shrewdness as agenda building. As subversion. As control. Even more so when in fact the prophet comes with good news and healing. For that reason, a prophet must only be received in a House. He must not become entangled in that house. He must be submitted to the Head (apostle) of the house. In Corinthians 12:28 it teaches that the Prophet is secondary to the Apostle. It is to the Apostle that the prophet prophecies. Perhaps if a Nicodemus comes from the Sanhedrin will a Prophet be allowed to prophesy to him. As the Word of God clearly says again and again, the Church House is built on the solid foundation of the Apostle of the house and the Prophet who stands with him in building up the house fulfilling the destiny God opens.
For this reason, a prophet must be called of God to a House and minister there as long as he is received. If he ceases to be received he must leave. His ministry is a call of God and like any Minister he must be subject to the Upward Call of God alone.
Membership in any organization as a minister called of God to a fellowship would be to place the call to membership above the Call of God. This is not the Pattern we see in the Church in the Book of Acts. Fellowships had prophets among them. They were not the Apostle leaders of the churches. They stood with and encouraged (and sometimes warned) the Apostle leader they were with. They never allowed the opinions, theologies and politics of the fellowship to influence them. They heard only from God. And then said what God said.
If a Prophet placed himself to be accountable to a committee regarding what he does or does not pronounce, he is like the prophets in the courts of Ahab who told Ahab what he wanted to hear. One of Ahab's Board members comes to the Prophet of God. He tells him what to say: 1 Kings 22:
13 The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, as one man the other prophets are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably."14 But Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD lives, I can tell him only what the LORD tells me."
It wasn't good news. The Board wasn't happy. They wished at that time the Prophet would have kept quiet. The problem was it was all true. That goes on today.
Like the Prophets Jeremiah condemned in verse 5:31:
This puts the judgment not only on lying prophets but the ones that flock after them. A false prophet that speaks upon his own authority appeals to the fools and it is tragic that there are so many fools for the prophets to lie to. They speak what the people want to hear and the majority of the church flock to them. What do they speak? That which is Politically Correct. Pleasant. Without ruffling feathers. It's when a Prophet has something to lose or gain that he or she becomes inert.
Jeremiah by the Spirit of God was in constant battle with those who were "Court Prophets".
I must not place the gift of the Prophetic to be held to account other than by God then by the Apostle Leader to which I have been called to encourage. In the case of the Apostle leader I am called to, if he asks me to do anything, I will do it. He understands that. I am submitted to his calling. If I am going to help do my part to build the Church, I must do my part as part of that firm foundation. Never wavering. As part of the foundation the apostles and prophets must be hidden, underneath, holding up the saints that will be seen, they are the true edifice. Apostles and prophets are hidden just below the sight line standing on the shoulders of the ONE TRUE FOUNDATION. Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus is the perfect called Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Shepherd, Evangelist. King of Kings. Lord of Lords. Our all in all.
The Sanhedrin hated that about the Perfect Prophet Jesus. They even asked him to become subject. By What Authority do you do these things? Matthew 21:23; Mark 11:28 & Luke 20:2 When he didn't fit in the box, they crucified him.
Let us pray that the Church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit will do better than the Sanhedrin did. Otherwise, God will remove his Candlestick from the Church (which in part is the Prophet), hang Ichabod over the door, and you see what Jesus said in red above.
15I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. (HOUSE or CHURCH)
Like the Prophets Jeremiah condemned in verse 5:31:
"The prophets prophesy lies, The priests rule by their own authority, And my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?"
This puts the judgment not only on lying prophets but the ones that flock after them. A false prophet that speaks upon his own authority appeals to the fools and it is tragic that there are so many fools for the prophets to lie to. They speak what the people want to hear and the majority of the church flock to them. What do they speak? That which is Politically Correct. Pleasant. Without ruffling feathers. It's when a Prophet has something to lose or gain that he or she becomes inert.
Jeremiah by the Spirit of God was in constant battle with those who were "Court Prophets".
The message of the false prophets is consistently in opposition to that of Jeremiah. In the early stages of his ministry (chs 1-6) Jeremiah preached repentance and called the people back to their covenant relationship to God. Jeremiah accused the people of worshipping Baal, (the Canaanite fertility god) in place of Yahweh whom they had forgotten (2:5-8). The prophets were accused of prophesying by Baal (v8). They should have been guided by God’s Spirit (rûah) instead they were full of wind (rûah) (5:13). They were motivated by gain and consequently were full of covetousness and falsehood (6:13). They hypocritically denied this iniquity (2:23) suggesting that the sin was not an open display but in the secret place of the heart (Ez 8:8-12). They had forsaken Yahweh and had called trees and stones their father (2:27). Jeremiah, however, called the people back into covenant relationship with God (4:1). They promised the people peace resulting in a superficial palliative (6:14) but Jeremiah warned of the possibility of judgement (4:5-7). Consequently the people and the priests supported the false prophets leaving Jeremiah isolated (5:30-31). God’s true prophet predicted the false prophet’s fate: they would be confounded (4:9); stripped of all their possessions (6:12); cast down and punished (6:15). This would occur as a result of invasion from the north ending in disaster and destruction for the whole nation (6:1).
I must not place the gift of the Prophetic to be held to account other than by God then by the Apostle Leader to which I have been called to encourage. In the case of the Apostle leader I am called to, if he asks me to do anything, I will do it. He understands that. I am submitted to his calling. If I am going to help do my part to build the Church, I must do my part as part of that firm foundation. Never wavering. As part of the foundation the apostles and prophets must be hidden, underneath, holding up the saints that will be seen, they are the true edifice. Apostles and prophets are hidden just below the sight line standing on the shoulders of the ONE TRUE FOUNDATION. Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus is the perfect called Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Shepherd, Evangelist. King of Kings. Lord of Lords. Our all in all.
The Sanhedrin hated that about the Perfect Prophet Jesus. They even asked him to become subject. By What Authority do you do these things? Matthew 21:23; Mark 11:28 & Luke 20:2 When he didn't fit in the box, they crucified him.
Let us pray that the Church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit will do better than the Sanhedrin did. Otherwise, God will remove his Candlestick from the Church (which in part is the Prophet), hang Ichabod over the door, and you see what Jesus said in red above.
15I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. (HOUSE or CHURCH)
3 comments:
Amen says the Church!
A funnny thing since you mentioned it: While Jesus was here on Earth - He only chastised the Sanhedrin or the Pharisees. He spoke to all those people on the streets with a voice of love (yea, check your scripture). It's funny how there's a lesson in there somewhere.
Your right. At one point you have to move on. The key is knowing the One pointing.
See ya on the road...
I read your post and have a question. First, you say that you are submitted to God. That I understand. Next you say that you are connected to "the Apostle." To which Apostle are you submitted? this is the part I don't understand. An Apostle from Jesus' time, or an Apostle now living? And if your answer is to someone now living, to which Apostle now living are you submitted?
Thank you for clearing this up for me.
To answer your question regarding the apostle church leadership and submission that has been asked.
First, to background you, to make certain that you have a clear understanding of the usage of this word, apostle in the context of submission, I would ask that you carefully read this pretty good explanation.
While not perfect in it's clarity, it's close to the truth.
I'll do a little summary. A pastor (in gifting) should not be the leader of a church. His job it to tend the sheep in caring. He's good at it. But his governance is flawed because of his pastoral heart.
The leader of a Church who does it with the skill and anointing required is going to of necessity be apostolic in nature. It doesn't mean he operates in the OFFICE of the Apostle. I know a few who are true Apostles, but fewer than the name on the door or business card would indicate.
But there is the spiritual gifting of apostolic leadership. It's a grace sufficient for the day gift. When that gift is being exercised, my role as a prophet is to be submitted to that apostolic leadership and his vision.
Again the article define what that looks like.
When I am in the Apostle's House (church) in Rockford, I am fully submitted to that Apostle. I am not there to make waves except as I might say in private.
When I am in the Apostle's house here, in Bolingbrook, or Berwyn with the men that lead those ministries I am submitted to their vision in their house. If they allow me to speak prophetically into their lives and ministry I can help them take the world for Jesus.
I am submitted as a Prophet to the Apostolic Vision in catholicity. Big word. The Apostlic Vision in catholicity is the vision of taking back ground from the devil and establishing it for the Kingdom.
If you don't understand this, I can't help you. Some things only come to understanding by the perfect Teacher... Holy Spirit.
Post a Comment