​Being a Prophet in these Days

"They will stone you when you try to be so good
They will stone ya just like I said they would
They will stone ya when your tryin to go home
They will stone ya when you live all alone."
Bob Dylan

In past decades, true prophets, those called from birth, have had difficulty finding their place. Apostles, teachers, pastors, evangelists all have some template to follow. Hearing from God as a prophet is considerably different. Unless a mature mentor is involved in a young prophet's life and protects them, they will experience Dylan’s above song and get hurt. Churches have burned many. And in behind wounded emotional barriers, many prophets hide. God is beginning to bring them out. Even though they had backed off, the retooling process in their lives by the Holy Spirit has never ceased. Purified and broken, they will change the church significantly with greater maturity and not draw back again when the stones fly.

Jesus said as He looked down on His beloved Jerusalem. " Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone the ones I sent to you. Oh, how I would like to gather you under my wings as a mother hen, but you would not come."

The leaders of a twisted, manufactured religion killed Jesus, and the same spirit is in some churches that have protected themselves from change by stoning prophets today. Yes, there have been mistakes, as in all ministries. When one declares to possess a healing ministry, not everyone is the recipient of healing. The servant laying hands on people is rarely held to account when some folk remain unhealed under their ministry, nor in most cases should they be. I believe there is a somewhat higher standard for the prophet but not so much to stone them figuratively.

Some prophets see the future; some give vision, some bring the very presence of the Lord to meetings, some have a solid pastoral second strength. The prophet that is both loved and feared is the one that sees into the heart. Some leaders have Godly inner courage. They live their life and ministry in transparency. These place a high value on this type of prophet. They know wolves in sheep's clothing can deceive and sideline their work. A person with the gift to see past the exterior has saved many a sincere leader from losing God's path. They also know that a true prophet is the number one target of the enemies who stand against God's purposes for His people. They honour and protect them.

Many fear the prophet whom God has given the gift to see what is in another's soul and what motivates them because their hearts are not pure. They have not repented of past sins kept in a secret vault hidden in the deep recesses of the heart. They hope God has forgotten, and God sends the prophet to expose it. Being God vessel to do this is the most challenging place God will put His prophet. When God calls the prophet to disclose what is resident in the heart and it is negative, and the leader or member of a church refuses or denies what the prophet sees, the war of words and character assassination against the prophet will happen. A broken and seasoned prophet usually with decades of experience can, with solid authority backed by tears, can be led by God to proclaim His judgement against rebellion and unconfessed sin.

On the positive side, it is gratifying to see into hearts and speak healing words and deliver God's love into the depth of their being. To bring encouragement to someone who needs it gives the prophet a wonderful reason to press on.

The end of a church era is rapidly coming to a close. As we step off the foundational elementary teachings mentioned in Hebrews 6 and God permits us to move on to more incredible experiences in Him. I sense that all will have a prophetic expanse take place in their heart that will be greater than the most respected prophets of our day. I am exploring the idea that God will be so close to all that a prophet may not be necessary for the coming new age. I know that everything we have walked in the past will be very different. As His Kingdom evolves, our lives will live in something so different and spectacular. There will be no past reference point to compare what we are about to enter.

Love Dan
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This letter attempts to pastor the prophetic at this crucial time in church history. I see us as "midwives" bringing to birth the Bride of Christ in this final church era. I have functioned in the prophetic gift for over 40 years. The mistakes we have made in the past are today's security. We learn from both our successes and failures.

I will explain how a church can grow budding prophets and recognize false prophets in future letters. Our journey in the Spirit of God will be exciting and rewarding. As the Church of Jesus Christ, we enter into a time never before experienced in church history.