Prophecy is a powerful tool in God's hands. Through prophecy, God can speak, direct, edify, encourage, comfort, rebuke, impart, create and so much more. Prophets are vital to the foundation of the church. Prophetic ministry is vital to the growth of the church. Prophecy can cause "the secrets of his (unbeliever) heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you." 1 Cor. 14:25, NASB.
In Amos 3:7, NLT, it says, "Indeed, the Sovereign LORD never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets." Do we truly understand the importance of what the prophet Amos is declaring? God does nothing until He reveals His secret plans to His prophets. That means God's prophets are a vital part of God's plans on earth. God includes His prophets in his plans. God does this because He wants a witness in the earth of what He is doing before He does it.
God waited 400 years before He delivered Israel from Egypt. Why did God wait 400 years before He delivered Israel from Egypt? In Hosea 12:13, CEV, it says, "I sent the prophet Moses to lead Israel from Egypt and to keep them safe." God waited until Moses was born to deliver Israel from Egypt. This same thing happened before Jesus's birth. "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." Jn. 1:6. John was a voice to his generation revealed the Messiah. Both Moses and John were necessary.
God holds His prophets in high regard. God listens to His prophets before He does anything. God did not destroy Sodom until he revealed what He was going to do to His prophet, Abraham. God did not anoint Saul to be king until he spoke to Samuel. God did not build the temple in Jerusalem until He revealed who the right person was to build His temple. Solomon. David was not the right man even though he was a better man. God chooses whom He will to do what He wills.
That is one of the things we forget in our modern times. We think God is looking for a multitude. But God is looking for a man or woman. God is looking for His prophets. Why does God wait until His prophets arrive before doing anything? Because God has included His prophets in His prophetic plan. God's plans supersede our plans. God doesn't do things our way. God allowed His Son to be crucified. That was His plan. God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Is. 55:8.
I know that what I am saying runs contrary to popular theology. The church has focused on church growth for years. We have looked to identify the successful to determine who is powerful. But God doesn't look at things that way. God, speaking to David, says, "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel." 2 Sam. 7:8, NKJV. God anointed His prophet, David, to lead His people, Israel.
God chooses His prophets wisely. God anoints His prophets to accomplish His purpose. Prophets are vital to the plan of God. And, contrary to what some teach, prophets did not become less important to God's plan in the New Testament period. No, prophets are more vital today than ever. God still does nothing unless and until He reveals His secret to His prophets. We need prophets today.
God is sending prophets to His church. God is releasing a river of prophecy into His church. God is anointing believers to prophesy. As the Apostle Peter repeated from the prophet Joel, "Your sons and daughters will prophesy." Acts 2:17, NLT. The Apostle Paul in highlighting the necessity of prophecy says, "you may all prophesy one by one; that all may learn, and all may be exhorted". God wants His people to be encouraged, exhorted, and comforted through prophecy. We need prophecy.
Truth be told, we need more prophecy not less prophecy. We need more prophetic ministry not less prophetic ministry. We need more prophets, not fewer prophets. We need mature prophets. We need senior prophets who can guide the church into the days ahead full of faith and confidence. Prophets must not be locked down. No, prophets must be unleashed. If prophets are not unleashed within the modern church, I can guarantee what will happen - nothing.
Please hear me. I understand the abuses that exist. I understand the falseness that exists. I understand prophets are prophesying things that have not happened. I understand prophets have gone wild. But the solution is not to clamp down on prophets. No! The solution is to identify and unleash true prophets to combat false, immature, and inaccurate prophets. That is what happened in the Bible. Who confronted the false prophets in Israel? Elijah, a true prophet. Jeremiah, a true prophet. Ezekiel, a true prophet.
When prophets are in place, God's people prosper. In 2 Chr. 20:20, it says, "Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed." 2 Chr. 20:20, NLT. Haggai and Zechariah were called to prophesy to God's people to enable them to recover Israel's prosperity. Listen to what God tells Zechariah, "Cry out again, Thus says the LORD of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem." Zech. 1:17, ESV. Simultaneously, Haggai revealed the reason for Israel's lack: "my house lies in ruins, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses." Hag. 1:9, NLT.
Prophets were sent by God to their generations. Prophets are being sent to this generation. What prophets declare to this generation may be different than what was proclaimed to prior generations. However prophets today will not contradict the principles revealed by their counterparts in the Old Testament. No, prophets today will explore, examine, search, and investigate what they said. True prophets rely on Biblical prophets to understand what God is saying to His people today.
We must return to the scriptures to hear what true prophets said. Then we can identify what true prophets are saying today. We must spend quality time listening to those prophetic authorities in the Bible to identify those chosen prophetic authorities in our midst. When we hear the true sound of genuine prophets it will open our ears to their sound of truth. We need that sound in the church.
I want to encourage every leader in the church today to seek true prophets who have inculcated that sound in their lives. The true sound of prophecy is evident by what it does in the hearts and minds of those who hear it. Prophecy brings Heaven to earth. If that fruit is not evident through the prophecies spoken, then something is broken in the heart of the person prophesying. As Jesus said, "By their fruit you will recognize them." Matt. 7:16, NIV.
When we evaluate prophecies, we do not just check for accuracy. No! We look for fruit. Fruitfulness is how we are taught to evaluate prophecy. Accuracy is important. Fruit is essential. As prophecy increases in our day, we must know how to discern what is true from what is false. Jesus has given us the primary way to do that - fruit. That is what I look for when I give and receive prophetic words. Yes, I want more accuracy in prophecy. Yes, I want more power in prophecy. But I need more fruit. So do you.
As the church is being built up through prophetic ministry, let us remember the vital nature of prophets and prophetic ministry to the church. Let us follow the admonition of the Apostle Paul, "Do not reject prophecy." 1 Thes. 5:20, Aramaic Bible in Plain English. "Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good." 1 Thes. 5:21, World English Bible. When, and if, we do this, prophecy will be a blessing to the church in our day.
Yes, we need more prophecy. Let's prepare for it. Let's get ready for the floodtides of prophetic ministry to be opened. A gullywasher is coming! And we need it.
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