Your Sons & Daughters Shall Prophesy - Prophetic Gifts Today In The New Testament Church

The Use of Prophecy in Church Today

atmosphere for the gifts of the Spirit to function. This type of conference should have ample lead-in time for the congregation to set their hearts to seek the Lord. In fact, announcing such a meeting several months in advance has a remarkable effect on the people. It is not unusual for this kind of meeting to be more exciting and better attended than any other kind of conference. The services are deceptively simple and extremely powerful. People are urged to gather early for corporate prayer. A half hour of intense, sincere seeking of God sets the climate. The meetings open with "psalmic" wor ship that allows everyone to wait on God. Special musical numbers and events are minimized, and even the sermon by one of the visiting minis ters is abbreviated. Usually about an hour and a half to two and a half hours are given to the presbyters' ministry. This allows ministry to about a dozen people each meeting. Previous to the meetings, active church members who wish ministry fill out an application form. The candidates are approved by the church lead ership. This ministry is not for troubled people, those about to leave the church, those disgruntled with the leadership or those who need personal counseling. Nor is prophetic ministry intended to tie people to the church. The candidates are people who are already a solid part of the local fel lowship and willing to fast and pray for three days prior to the meetings. During the meetings the candidates are seated in the front middle sec tion of the auditorium. This makes it easier to call them forward if the presbyters so desire. Two chairs are placed on the platform for the can didates (either individuals or a couple), so they can come and be seated (or kneel) in front of the congregation. There are chairs nearby for the presbyters. The presbyters gather around the person or couple. Taking turns, but in no set order, the presbyters minister to the candidate(s) as God directs. These prophetic expressions come in the form of exhortations, descrip tions, admonitions, words of wisdom or knowledge, visions and state ments of definition. God's will is confirmed to each person (what the can didate already knows) and spiritual empowerment for ministry in the Body of Christ imparted. After ministry the pastor and leaders gather around to close with a validating prayer. If anything needs immediate clar ification, the pastor should initiate it at this point.

Foretelling

Sometimes what is said does not always seem right to a candidate, espe cially if he or she has other plans in mind. Anything futuristic, of course, has to be put on the shelf for time to prove. 358