One of the most difficult aspects of the prophet's life is conflict. Conflict means confrontation. Prophets are called to confront. Yet that confrontation must be done in love. I have met very few prophets who are able to "speak the truth in love". Eph. 4:15. Often, prophets, because of the conflict they experience, can be harsh. Unfortunately, that has been the norm. But that must change. Prophets must learn how to walk through the rejection they experience without harboring a spirit of rejection.
Rejection can cause prophets to become harsh. That rejection, if left untreated, will cause roots of bitterness to spring up in prophet's lives. That will cause the wellspring of grace, which is the prophet's life source, to dry up. Roots of bitterness will often lead prophets into sexual sin. In Hebrews 12:15, 16, NLT, it says,
Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Make sure that no one is immoral or godless like Esau, who traded his birthright as the firstborn son for a single meal.
Yes, prophets have succumbed to bitterness. That happened to the great Bible prophet, Jeremiah. In Jeremiah 20:14, 15, NIV, he says, "Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, 'A child is born to you—a son!'" Even Paul, the great apostle, said, "We were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength —so that we even despaired of life itself." 2 Cor. 1:8, Christian Standard Bible.
Prophets will often experience unexplainable hardships in this life. The Apostle James, knowing this Biblical truth teaches, "Brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience." James 5:10, Holman Christian Standard Bible. Prophets are not only given the grace to prophesy but they are also given the grace also to endure the hardships caused by the prophetic anointing on their lives.
Please understand what prophets are called to do in the earth. Prophets are not only called to prophesy accurate life-changing words from the Lord; they are called to establish Christ's kingdom on earth. As such, prophets, more than nearly any other ministry gift, experience the conflict associated with the establishment of Christ's kingdom in a sin-laden, Satan-infested world. That conflict is evidence of a prophet's authority on earth.
If anyone claims to be a prophet but lacks evidence of that kind of kingdom conflict in their life, I question the authenticity of their prophetic calling. Yes, prophets experience conflict as Heaven's governing authorities in the earth. Heaven has governing authorities in the earth? Yes, Christ, after ascending to Heaven, established governing authorities in the earth. In Ephesians 4:8, CEV, it says,
When he went up to the highest place, he led away many prisoners and gave gifts to people.
For years, much of the church has lacked a basic understanding of what Christ did. Instead, we have focused on surface-level revelation - salvation. Yet even the salvation experience we understand is limited. For many, we still don't walk in divine health or healing. We have limited experience in breaking the demonic powers that rule in many people's lives through oppression, addiction, or affliction. The church is being changed more by the world than it is changing the world. Why?
I believe it is an absence of governing authorities rightly positioned in the church. When governing authorities, especially prophets, are rightly positioned in the church, demonic power structures are broken in people's lives. Heaven's healing wells are opened within the earth and the earth itself is changed. Earthly governments bow to the lordship of Christ. That is what the church is called to do. Why hasn't that happened? What do we need to change to make that happen?
We must embrace a different understanding of what prophets are called to do in the earth. Prophets must learn they are called to do more than prophesy. Yes, prophets prophesy. But prophets are primarily called to govern and establish Christ's kingdom through the prophetic authority that was given to them. Yes, prophets have authority in the church. I wrote 2 blog posts on prophetic authority, which you can view here, Prophetic Authority (Part 1) and Prophetic Authority (Part 2).
When prophets begin operating in their God-given authority, conflict is sure to come. Yes, prophets are called to be friends of God. See A Prophet's Life (Part 1). Yes, prophets must learn to confront and correct errors in the church. See A Prophet's Life (Part 2). Yet, for prophets to be effective, they must grow in their ability to establish Christ's kingdom on earth. To do that, they must learn and understand the prophetic authority given to them.
That is where Christ is calling His prophets to move into in this coming season. We must move into the positions of prophetic authority given to us, shake everything off that prevents us from walking in that authority and bring nations, leaders, and individuals who stand in opposition to Christ's kingdom under The Shepherd's Rod, as prophet Bob Jones called it.
Yes, we need to raise The Shepherd's Rod. When Moses and the children of Israel were divinely positioned in a hard place, between Egypt and the Red Sea, God didn't deliver them. No, He said to Moses,
Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.
Like Moses, we have been waiting on God for many years to do His thing. Yet God has spoken to His people, His leaders, and His prophets: Raise the staff of authority I have given to you! To prophets, He has said, "Raise the staff of prophetic authority I have given to you." In other words, start governing!
Brothers and sisters, we are not called to be the tail wagging the dog. Rather, we are called to lead by wisdom and grace by establishing Christ's kingdom through the grace we have been given. Find your place of grace and walk in it. That is the surest way to find success in Christ's kingdom and life. If prophets did that, we would change the entire world in one generation. That is what a prophet's life is destined for. Are you ready?!
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