Learning about prophets from prophets
God has not gifted me in prophecy. I’m not a prophet. I don’t even play one on TV. But, like Paul, I know that prophecy is beneficial for the church, just like all the gifts and services of all God’s children are beneficial for the church.
I was interested, then, in reading the thoughts of two prophets about the spiritual gift of prophecy.
Miguel at “God Directed Deviations” wrote a post called “Prophetic Agitation.”
Donald at “Unapologetic Prophet” wrote a follow-up post called “No School for Prophets: We Are Equipped, Not Academically Created.” (which is true for all of God’s children, by the way.)
Their posts reminded me of something… something that I already knew. But, still, the reminder was good.
God uses us to equip others to serve. And, he uses others to equip us to serve. Yes, God provides the gift, the opportunities, the passions, etc. But, as Paul wrote, he uses others to equip us so that we are ready to serve others.
We can definitely learn generally from people like Miguel and Donald, even though we’ve never met in real life, and have never spent time together – much less a significant amount of time. But, from what I’ve learned, God primarily uses those who are close to us in real life.
Who are your equippers (prophets, evangelists, or any other gifted persons)? Who are you to equip? Look around you? See those people who God has brought into your life. That’s who.
Alan,
You bless me with this referral. Thank you, brother, truly. I do believe it’s time we cleaned out The Body and put all our cards on the table once and for all.
Sincerest regards,
Donald
Alan, Btw, I am a prophet in accordance with Ephesians 4:11. I am not one according to 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. Big difference. I hope you understand this. I cannot speak about prophecy as a spiritual gift. I can only speak of prophet as an equipping gift. 😉
Alan,
I appreciate your comments above. Especially, “Paul wrote, he uses others to equip us so that we are ready to serve others.” Ultimately, all of my “theory” is flushed out practically serving the people of the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest. I write from what I experience and from what God gives me an understanding of. He is the one, I believe, that has put all 1000+ of the questions I ask on my blog, in my head.
Depending on how these comments develop, I may have a question or two for you.
I once heard ministry described as “God using the abnormal, to bring the subnormal up to normal.” In a real sense we are all to prophesy, we are all to be sharers of the good news, we are all to be shepherding and caring for one another, we are all to be teaching and admonishing one another, and we are all to be about the building of the house of the Lord. The equipping ministries, then, are given to build us up to become fully normal Christians. The diversity of these giftings are all needed so that there is a completeness and a balance to who we are.
The tragedy has been that the Church for almost two millennium has focused almost entirely on the pastor/teacher giftings to the virtual exclusion of the other three. The effects of this imbalance are almost incalculable for it has been impossible for the Church to be “normal” without all five working together to build up the saints according to their own particular measure of Christ.
So I believe the Lord is working to restore true apostles, prophets and evangelists back to the Church in this day, as well as true pastors and teachers so that He might ultimately bring us all back to “NORMAL”!
Donald,
I don’t make a distinction between the spiritual gift of the prophet in Ephesians 4:11 and the spiritual gift of the prophet in 1 Corinthians 12:10 or 1 Corinthians 12:28. Perhaps you can write a post explaining why you see those as different spiritual gifts.
Miguel,
I love your questions. And, I love even more that what you write is not just theory but is part of your life. That’s one of the reasons that I love your blog so much.
David,
I’m praying the Lord restores more than just the apostles, prophets, and evangelists. The church needs all of God’s children working together (regardless of their spiritual gifts) in order to grow together in love, unity, and faith in Jesus Christ.
-Alan
Alan,
Oddly enough, I am writing a small blog post about this very topic as I understand it.
Not all prophets prophesy and not all who prophesy are prophets. (I’ll leave you with that one…) 😉
Amen to your comment back to me, Alan. That is the fullness of God’s desire indeed!