Apostolic-Definitions of an Apostolic people.
Brother Miguel Villareal.

Without getting into a analogical argument of it’s meaning we must look into this subject with apprehension. The locus of it’s inception is spiritual and birth spiritually protected by death, and resurrected by HIS blood. It is a smudging of JESUS spirit upon a person or people, it defines the operation of the church and it’s function. To be apostolic is not merely an achievement but a cue that one has obtain fellowship with the saints. JESUS borrowed a Greek word to express what HE wanted HIS body to become. In these twelve men we see it’s cosmic definition prescribed by character, action smelted together breeding a clarion difference between Judaism and Apostolic. It forged away the old, carrying forward anew. Without it the people are perplexed even questioning themselves if they are true. It is a brand, a tattoo that we must not lose cause if this word loses it’s pungency then might it at work without HIS power.

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study and seek out the biblical and acceptable use of prophecy, specifically ‘personal prophecy’, among the people of God.  If we in fact recognize the use of the prophetic gift in the church today, we have the responsibility to see it used properly, to guard from error and avoid abuse of something so precious.  We want to see the Word of the Lord take effect within the lives of people individually and corporately; not being treated with contempt.  After thinking about the outline of this paper, it has been my best option to divide the topic up into 3 categories.  The first being the giving of prophecy, the second being the judging of prophecy and the third being the response to prophecy.

Eagerly Desire To Prophesy!

I’ll start with an observation of 1 Corinthians 14, which in the New Testament talks the most about prophecy and in the context of church meetings.  The first thing that I notice about the gift of prophecy here is that Paul says that we are to eagerly desire this gift!  Out of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit (tounges, miracles, healing, and so on) this gift of prophecy is to be the only one mentioned for us to especially desire.  Why do we especially desire it?  In verse 3 in Cor. 14 tells us that prophecy will strengthen, encourage and comfort the body of Christ.  (I believe this speaks of the spirit of prophecy which is given to all believers.  In this sense all may prophesy.  This is distinct and different to the “gift of prophecy” which may come more dominant through a few and will come with a greater degree of anointing and power.) This is done to edify the church.  The gifts primary purpose is to be revelatory, meaning that the words spoken should reveal something of the heart and mind of God.  The question isn’t weather or not a prophetic word was edifying.  If it’s in fact the Word of God it WILL be edifying.  Granted it is the Word of the Lord, it WILL edify and it WILL do what it was sent forth to do. (Isaiah 55:11)  If the prophetic word takes no effect and was not ”building up”, so to speak, then it must not be inspired by God.  Now we have to ask then, what is meant by edifying or building up?  It goes without saying that the prophetic word may come and not always “sound good” or “feel good”, but this doesn’t mean it’s not edifying.  Jeremiah said of false prophets that “they dress the wounds of my people as though they were not serious. Peace, peace they say. When there is no peace.”  We have to be careful not to despise prophecy that addresses things as they are instead of “covering them up” with nice talk and persuasive speaking.  True prophecy is able to address, confront and stir all that is not of God, only to build up and further a person in their walk and destiny in Jesus.

The Clear Sound

The second thing I see about prophecy in this passage is that it MUST be a clear call.  (vs. 8)  Paul contrasts the “gibberish” of tounges with the trumpet sound of prophecy.  Tounges is of no value to the hearer, unless interpreted in contrast to prophecy that brings distinction and a clear sound to the “notes” of the song.  Prophecy should be clear, sharp and specific. As a note, the prophetic voice in verse 8 is compared to a trumpet that also will call God’s people to battle.  When we hear the prophetic word and ignore it, we are essentially refusing to obey orders of the commander in chief, Jesus, who is the spirit of prophecy. (Rev 19:10)  This is why we so desperately need prophecy in, out and over our lives.  In relationship to the personal prophetic word, the personal prophetic word brings purpose and distinction to our general Christian life.  It is a clear call to our own individual purpose and “note” that we are to play in the orchestra of God’s symphony.  This most closely relates to personal prophecy in the sense that it is a specific, distinct revelation given to a person, family or group of people for the present moment.  We don’t need any more of what I call “fluff prophecy” where there is nothing that is specific, nothing that stands out and takes effect  but is just filler.  These words aren’t necessarily error or pollution to us, but they are usually general and un-anointed.

Twords the end of the chapter we see Paul says prophecy is a sign to believers and also discussed the result of the prophetic.

“but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers, but to those who believe. Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tounges, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say you are mad? But if ALL prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called into account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed and he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring God is certainly among you.”

This portion of scripture often didn’t make sense to me, but I’ve come to see that prophecy is a sign for believers not only to receive, but also to participate in.  Paul says that “if ALL prophesy”, implying that ALL can prophesy. Now the degree of depth may be different from one to another, but it’s sure that the same spirit that lives in all members of Christ body will manifest his gifts as he wills in all people. (1 Cor. 12:11)  I’m often encouraged when there are several words of prophecy or utterances throughout the course of a gathering.  I believe there are more prophets than we realize in our own congregations and surely God isn’t just speaking to or through just one.

We have to be careful interpreting this passage rightly though.  Not only is this saying that prophecy is a sign for those who believe, but also a different type of sign towards an unbeliever or ungifted person. In this context it is a sign that God is certainly among you.  This is a great example of the potential of personal prophecy.  The example given is of “a singular man that walks in” and is prophesied to concerning the secrets of his heart.  Now this is not to say that we should make habit of exposing people’s sins publicly, in front of all.  At the same token we shouldn’t save people the embarrassment either, yet call sin what it is “so he is called into account by all”.  The intended result being he falls on his face to worship God.  This is the intended result and the ONLY intended result.  Not to condemn, punish or humiliate, but to remove pride and reveal the Lord Jesus in a direct, tangible way. If this is done properly in the spirit of love it will have long standing results, as the word of the Lord is like a two-edged sword, penetrates and divides soul from spirit. (Heb. 4:12)  What does this say for churches that do not operate in the prophetic gifts? Can a person walk into your meetings and sense no conviction?  This is a good question to pose for those where the prophetic word is scarce and void.  So we see contrasting results with the prophetic ministry. In one sense the prophetic will strengthen, exhort and comfort, while in another sense it will convict, expose and bring a sense of fear of God.  May God’s prophets have the courage to do both in this time and hour for the sake of God’s people and for his name-sake.

The Giving of Prophecy

Now lets turn toward the first point, the giving of prophecy. Lets keep in mind that prophecy may take many shapes and forms.  It may be written, acted out, painted, danced, sung through song and played on an instrument.  All these are correct, but essentially the prophetic is a vocal gift and is meant to be spoken. This is because the spoken word is spirit and when released into the earth unravels a creative process of God to birth something in the supernatural realm. God, the father, the ultimate prophet spoke the world into existence.  Through the creative prophetic word God  said “Let there be light!” and there was light!  We too, when expressing the mind and heart of God will speak forth and the creative RHEMA word of the Lord will come and break open something in the lives of individuals.  There are many instances in scripture where there were prophetic demonstrations and of course we have the words of the prophets written down for us to read, but essentially to word of the Lord comes vocally.

We have to be careful delivering the prophetic word, being that it can be very emotionally involved and we can mix emotions and feelings in with the true word of the Lord. The emotions involved are not bad to have.  In fact, it’s the burden and emotion that comes with the word that will move us to act and speak. If we don’t speak it will be like Jeremiah “a fire shut up in our bones”.  I would suggest that anyone attempting to move in the prophetic or desiring to prophesy would wait for the unction, burden and burning of the Holy Spirit to bring the word.  The only caution is that the word we deliver is exactly how and what the Lord himself has said, nothing more or nothing less. Emotions and good intentions can cause us to add to a prophecy something that the Lord never really said, which can be damaging.

People don’t like long paragraphs on the internet, so I’ll make this short and sweet. Over the past few months there has been an influx of death in the world. Of course we all know Michael Jackson (the dying star), Don Hewitt (60 minutes), Les Paul (guitar hero), Walter Cronkite and actress Farrah Fawcett to name a few. Now we hear the news of Senator Ted Kennedy passing away August 25th. It seems to me that in the recent years, there has been a changing of the guard. The torch of future endeavors is being passed on to another generation as political leaders, spiritual leaders and entertainment moguls leave this earth into eternity. It kind of puts things in perspective doesn’t it? The media spends hours a day covering the lives of these great men and women and the exploits and accomplishments they left us with.

But now the torch has been passed to you. What are you going to do with your life? Will you take the next steps needed to fulfill your purpose and destiny that God had for you even while you were not yet born? Or will you waste your live wallowing in worry, doubt, unbelief and small thinking? God has great plans for your life, find out what it is that he is calling you to do and begin today to decisively take action to make every day the best day of your life.

You don’t “visit” the church.

You become “part of” the church. The public’s perception of the church doesn’t really matter. There will always be those that disagree with the church and try to create false perceptions.

Even if the church was percieved correctly, you assume that people would convert?

The problem is not perception of the church–the problem is the resistant heart of an individual to humbly accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Which is swayed, convicted, pursuaded, not by man, but by the Holy Spirit. Anything else is highly humanistic and worldly wisdom.

To assume correct preception is to assume perfection. The church is not perfect, nor should be market it that way. We are not “new and improved”!

Most outsiders perceptions are probably in effect true, but simply don’t matter in the great picture.

We are called more to just influence the world, we are called to transform.

Amen.