I am a prophet. That is my primary calling. I am also an apostle...to some. I am also a pastor...to some. As a prophet, I am called to carry God's voice into this world. Since the fall of Mankind, humanity has chosen to silence or ignore God's voice. When God speaks, His voice is the catalyst that causes changes in our world. Without His voice, changes cannot and will not take place. That is why prophets are necessary; they carry God's voice into this world.
Prophets are also called Seers. Although not all prophets are Seers, some are. Seers are a type of prophet. Samuel was a Seer. So were Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Jesus. In John 5:10, NLT, Jesus states,
I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.
Jesus saw what the Father did. When Jesus saw what the Father did, He did what He saw the Father doing. That was His ministry. Jesus's daily planner said, "Do what you see the Father do today." When Jesus did what He saw the Father do, miracles happened. Everyone knew that Jesus heard from God. Nicodemus, one of the Jewish leaders, says,
no one can do these signs [these wonders, these attesting miracles] that You do unless God is with him. Jn. 3:2, Amplied Bible.
In my book, Entering the School of the Prophets, I describe five different types of prophets: 1) Nabi, 2) Roeh, 3) Chozeh, 4) Massah, and 5) Nataph. I am a Nataph prophet. As a Nataph prophet, I carry God's voice. I amplify God's voice. When I enter into places, God's voice becomes clear and louder. Often, people who are around me begin to hear God's voice with a clarity that they have never heard before. Like a hearing aid, I come and people begin to hear God speak to them.
That can be good... for some. And it can also be bad...for me. Why? Not everyone wants to hear God. There are many who prefer doing evil. Yes, some people are driven to do evil. When I enter into people's lives, sin is exposed. One time, I was preaching a message as a traveling minister in a local church. My message was about changing spiritual climates. After the service, a man approached me. What he said nearly floored me. Without batting an eyelash, he said, "that was a great message on adultery." Needless to say, God was speaking to him, and the message was loud and clear.
My background as a prophet began at birth. I was prophesied over by a Catholic priest who said, "I would be a man of God." I didn't know this fact until 20+ years later after I was born again. I was born again after I heard God's voice say to me, "You're a sinner!" My response to that voice was, "How can this be?" Immediately, I had a divine download of understanding regarding original sin. I was a sinner because Adam and his wife (Eve) sinned. Later, I saw the glory of God (it was like 10,000 suns rolled into one). Then, I heard the audible voice of God. All that happened in less than a single year. God's hand is on my life. I am branded as a prophet.
Prophets do not choose their calling. And not everyone called to be a prophet makes it through the consecration process. Yes, there is a consecration process to enter the prophet's office. Most prophets remained sons of the prophets because they never pass through the consecration process. I describe that process in my book, Entering the School of the Prophets. Of the prophets Samuel trained in his schools, none were consecrated. Of the prophets Elijah trained in his schools, 2 were consecrated. Not all sons of the prophets pass the consecration process to become prophets. There are many tests along the way.
I have been tested and tried. I have been persecuted, mocked, vilified, derided, slandered, libeled, and more. That is what prophets experience. Every prophet must pass these tests to become a consecrated prophet. That is why prophets carry such a life-changing anointing; they have passed the tests that are required to speak for God. Yes, it is a privilege to speak for God. Not everyone is given that privilege, for not all are prophets:
"God hath set some in the church, prophets". 1 Cor. 12:28.
In the church, there are prophets. Prophets are called to operate in the church. Paul, Silas, and Judas (not Iscariot) all went to the churches planted by the Apostles Paul and Barnabus: to strengthen them. Prophets, when they prophesy, strengthen churches. That is one of the primary purposes of prophetic ministry: to strengthen churches. When prophecy is done the right way, prophecy builds up churches. Churches need prophecy.
But not all who prophesy are prophets. Today, I see many sons of the prophets who are called to be prophets but have not been consecrated to be prophets. They can prophesy. Yet their words often fall to the ground. True prophets don't regularly have their word fall to the ground. Rather, their words come to pass. Further, prophets are called to do more than prophesy; they are called to govern. Yes, there is a governmental aspect to the prophet's office. Prophets govern spiritual atmospheres. How? Through preaching, prayer, prophecy, prophetic acts, and more.
Part of the prophet's authority to govern comes from his/her ability to bless. The blessing is one of the oldest teachings in the Bible. We see the authority to bless in Abraham's life, Isaac's life, Jacob's life, Moses' life, and Jesus's life. Prophets carry the authority to bless; they can also curse. Balak recognized that authority in Balaam's life: "For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed." Num. 22:6, NIV. While Balaam misused his authority to bring curses into people's lives, it does show the very real effect of his authority to bless and curse.
The prophet's reward comes from the prophet's blessing. When a true prophet blesses a man or woman, that prophet's blessing comes upon them. Prophets have faith to bless and curse. Now, scripture teaches that all, especially prophets, are to bless and not curse. Rom. 12:14. God has entrusted His prophets with His authority to establish His kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. Because of that, the prophet's blessing carries great rewards.
Now, I am concerned that some prophets have misunderstood and misinterpreted this authority to personally profit from this authority. Jesus never authorized prophets to prostitute their office. Nor should prophets pimp out people to obtain personal blessings through the misuse of the prophet's reward. Further, giving to a prophet does not automatically qualify us to obtain the prophet's reward. The prophet's reward is reserved for that which is consecrated to kingdom purposes.
In Luke 4:24-27, Jesus teaches how the prophet's reward operates. In that passage of scripture, two prophets are identified who released the prophet's blessing: Elijah and Elisha. In Elijah's case, he was sent to the widow. In Elisha's case, he wasn't sent to Naaman, rather allowed Naaman to receive the prophet's blessing through his obedience to the prophet's word. Elijah received an offering from the widow. But Elisha did not receive an offering from Naaman. In fact, Gehazi lied to get Naaman's offering. As a result, he was cursed with what Naaman had - leprosy.
To receive the prophet's reward, you must accept true prophets (which can be hard). But that doesn't mean that we don't test prophets to see if they are true. Often, this is where the issue comes. We don't look for the right things to determine if someone is a prophet. When I was first saved and called as a prophet, I told a friend who had just been born again. But he didn't know what to think of my claim. One night, he tested me. How? He asked me, How did Jesus come? Immediately, I responded to him, "by water and blood". From that point forward, he knew I was a prophet.
Often people, in an effort to test prophets, reject them. I myself have experienced that rejection. So, I know what it's like to walk through the pain of rejection. To be a consecrated prophet, called prophets must be able to pass through the valley of rejection. I had to have my skin toughened to walk through what I went through and will go through. You cannot be a prophet and have thin skin. No prophets are called to endure hardship. As James, Jesus's brother said, "My friends, follow the example of the prophets who spoke for the Lord. They were patient, even when they had to suffer."
God, because of the great suffering that prophets experience, allows them to receive offerings from people in exchange for the prophet's blessing. But God doesn't allow prophets to sell their blessing. Rather, it is an exchange of faith. When faith is present, and obedience to the prophetic word active, prophets can release their blessing for people to receive the prophet's reward. Not all are qualified to receive the prophet's reward. Some are disqualified because they do not receive the prophet. Others become disqualified because of their failure to obey the word of the Lord. Others, lack the faith to receive the prophet's reward. The prophet's reward is not automatic; it is based on our acceptance or rejection of the prophet.
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