"The Processing and Responsibilities of God's Prophets"

As I observe today's prophets, both the established and the emerging ones, I thought it would be appropriate to provide instruction as to the distinct processing and responsibilities of God's New Testament prophets.

Being a prophet is not the glamorous role that many think it to be, although it can appear that way at times. To know the future by the Spirit of God, to experience a plethora of unusual signs and wonders, to encounter the angelic realm are some of the rewards for all the difficulties and hardships that prophets endure.

Emerging from a Place of Obscurity

Most of the prophets in the Bible seemed to emerge out of nowhere and from humble places. Moses, for example, left his lavish life in the Egyptian king's palace, and lived humbly as a shepherd in the wilderness for forty years before emerging to deliver Israel.

Elijah, in a like manner, appeared from the backside of the desert (see 1 Kings 17:1-7) to confront wicked King Ahab. And then there was Amos, who was a lowly shepherd and farmer, and one not recognized by the more established prophets (Amos 7:14-15). The unassuming Amos was sent by God to warn all of Israel and call them to repentance with just as much authority as the other prophets.

"Elijah went through a season of testing and preparation, but that process is hidden from us," wrote J. Lee Grady, contributing editor for Charisma magazine. He added, "True prophets will go through periods of hiddenness and intense brokenness. God must deal with pride, greed and self-centeredness. The prophet must also learn to live in a place of intimate fellowship with God where the praises of men don't affect him."

It's true that prophets are typically held in obscurity until it's time for their public revealing. In the place of obscurity, it can feel as if you've been worked over in such a manner as to reveal every heart condition you can possibly have, both good and bad.

This processing, which accumulates over a period of many years, is intended to reveal your true character and build integrity. If this is missed, ignored, or bypassed, a prophet might start out in their role, but they will not finish well. God seems to care more about your heart than your platform and spectacular public ministry.

Humility and Warfare

I remember being severely tested by a group of prophets and pastors who didn't live pure lives and it seemed like I was the only one with the guts to address it. Feeling smugly self-righteous, I then found myself in situations that seemed to surface my own impure heart motives and had to learn some real lessons in grace.

Have I mentioned yet the spiritual warfare that prophets endure? This is not the ordinary stuff. It's the kind of warfare that is so personal and ridiculous, one would never talk about it except to just a few, very trusted people.

Prophets are not spared from severe difficulties, but seem to have them more than most. With each difficulty, however, there is a divine expectation to overcome because every victory is the catalyst for spiritual promotion and genuine increase in authority (Revelation 2:26).

Prophets learn to obey the directives of the Spirit of Christ at any cost, even when they don't understand them. Jesus insists on a posture of humility and instant obedience from His prophets. We speak when He says to speak. We obey when It's not convenient. His dealings with all of His prophets are very personal and intended to hit the heart strings.

So why would you or anyone endure this? Because it's the only way to experience Him for who He really is and authentically know His ways. A prophet who carries weighty authority does so because they know Him and know Him well (Daniel 11:32).

What Do Prophets Do?

There are some overall leadership responsibilities given to all of the five-fold ministers, including the prophets. We read, "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ…" (Ephesians 4:11-12).

This passage further lists the charge to five-fold ministers to promote unity, bring maturity, create stability, speak the truth and expose deceptive doctrines, and cause everyone to become fully functional members of the Body of Christ (verse 13-16).

Prophets, however, will further engage in a unique set of tasks that flow within their supernatural framework:

1. Prophets call and commission God's next leaders.

Are you aware that all authority on Earth comes from God? We read, "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God" (Romans 13:1). For that reason, Jesus often works with His prophets to identify, call forth, and establish leaders in the earth as He so chooses.

2. Prophets give warnings, protect, watch, and preserve.

The prophet Hosea reveals to us that a key role of the prophet is to preserve. "By a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet he was preserved" (Hosea 12:13). Moses delivered Israel from Egypt and Moses preserved Israel through his leadership and intercession.

Apostle John Eckhardt, author and senior pastor of Crusaders Church in Chicago wrote, "The word preserve means to keep from harm, damage, danger, or evil. It also means to protect or to save." He added to this definition, "In Hebrew, the root word is shamar. Shamar means to hedge about (as with thorns), to guard, to protect, to watch, and to keep...The word "shamar" emphasizes the protective element of the prophet's mantle." (Excerpt from God Still Speaks: How to Hear and Receive Revelation from God for Your Family, Church and Community, by Apostle John Eckhardt.)

3. A prophet intercedes for people, cities, and nations.

All prophets are intercessors. Abraham prayed, Moses prayed, Deborah prayed, Jeremiah prayed, and so did all the other prophets. To intercede means to pray and intervene in favor of another. Some prophets prefer to tear things down. There is a time for this, but prophets who enjoy tearing everything apart have a heart issue. The love of God isn't in their heart. Healthy prophets love to build people and build the Church, not the opposite.

4. Prophets proclaim the changes in times and seasons.

Every prophet needs to ask this question: "What time is it?" That's because a prophet watches over and stewards the times and seasons within their spiritual assignment. The Prophet Habakkuk demonstrates this concept instructing us to write down the prophetic vision, even though it's not for now, but for an appointed time.

"Then the Lord answered me and said:
'Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.'" (Habakkuk 2:2-3)

God, who sits outside of time, actively works out His purposes over chronological time. At the appointed time, He will interrupt chronological and cause the prophetic vision to become reality.

Still, the role of prophets can be as diverse as they are. For example, prophets cry out against unjust systems and structures; they birth new ministries and movements; they demand holiness in God's Church, and they are concerned about having God's agenda.

Prophets are meant to inspire and release courage, to be strong discerners, sensing when things are out of order. Prophets of God love the truth, bringing everything back to the plumb line of the written Word, and expose deceptions, heresies, and lies. They are both loved and feared, and play a vital role in the Body of Christ.

If you are a prophet, the purpose of this article is to help solidify your role and identity, and hopefully to bring clarity and comfort during difficult seasons. The fact is, we need you. And because we need you, I encourage everyone, everywhere, to pray for and to love your prophets.

Jennifer Eivaz, Executive Pastor
Harvest Christian Center, Turlock, CA
Email: info@jennifereivaz.com
Website: www.jennifereivaz.com

Jennifer Eivaz is a minister and international conference speaker with a heart to equip the Church in the supernatural and raise up passionate and effective prayer. She is a regular contributor to Charisma Online and The Elijah List. She has been featured on several Christian television shows, hosts the podcast Take Ten With Jenn, and authored several bestselling books. Jennifer lives with her husband, Ron, and their two children in Turlock, California, where she serves as an executive pastor at Harvest Church.

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