The most notable example of this in Scripture was when Jesus emerged on the scene to establish a New Covenant Church Community that was distinct and separate from Judaism. Up until that time the nation of Israel, and Judaism in particular, was the primary focal point of God’s Kingdom expression in the earth. But soon there was a splitting away from the old Judaic forms and practices through the teachings of first John and then Jesus – who introduced new Kingdom technology in the earth – in what is generally recognized as the first major reformation of God’s people (One can also argue that Moses was the first major reformer and that the law he received and established amongst a newly liberated people constituted the first major reformation).

The early disciples and followers of Jesus in Jerusalem did not cease being Jews. In fact, they continued to maintain many of their old customs as pertaining to the Law. However, they were more refined and upgraded in their approach to worshiping God. Their standards had been raised in recognition of the fact that what had been acceptable in the past was no longer valid in the new. Instead of focusing on outward behavior or cleaning the “outside of the cup”, there was a new awareness and attention being placed on allowing the Spirit of God to transform the inside, thus making the outside more manageable (Matt. 23:25-28).

 

They were of differing opinions and, therefore, a deviation from the common path (Judaism) was inevitable for the New Covenant Kingdom Community that was newly established in the earth. And as is the case with all those who radically depart or deviate from that which is religiously common or conventional, they were treated as rebels and as heretics by those who had been entrenched in the old system (Matt: 10:16-26; Acts 4:1-22; 5:22-42;24:14).

 

We see the same principle of divergence taking place again during the reformation with Martin Luther. After having served for several years as both a priest as well as a professor of theology within the Roman Catholic Institution, he began to receive new revelation and understanding of the scriptures that caused him to recognize that many of their current beliefs and practices were inaccurate or false. He began to develop a different opinion and, in his attempt to challenge or correct these false beliefs and practices, wrote and later published his 95 theses as well as several other works which quickly accelerated the divergence from the Roman Catholic Church. Luther began to teach and establish a new and higher standard, which deviated both in theology as well as practice from the old religious order. And once again a radical break from religious convention occurred, causing Luther – including all those who ascribed to these new reformation positions – to be labeled as heretics and treated as impenitent rebels.

 

Prophetic Redefined

 

The Church has once again entered into a season of major reformation, and God is once again upgrading and refining our current beliefs and practices to a much higher standard than we have known or experienced before. Greater accuracy and Kingdom conformity is being demanded in this hour by the Heavenly Architect (Holy Spirit), and a new divergence is beginning to emerge amongst the prophetic as God’s primary agents of reformation are themselves being reformed and personally transformed in obedience to this new heavenly requirement.

 

The prophetic itself is being radically redefined to accommodate these new standards and requirements, creating a difference of opinion and estrangement from the old prophetic order. The former understanding and tendency to apply the adjective “prophetic” to those operating or prophesying solely by gifting, or to the revelatory or predictive dimensions of supernatural insight and communication, or even to the work and ministry of self-proclaimed “prophets” is no longer valid. Your ability to prophesy accurate details or foretell future events does not necessarily make you prophetic. Neither does your ability to interpret dreams nor your tendency to experience frequent visions.

 

Actually, the word prophetic is not found anywhere in Scripture. Instead, the terminology often used is prophet (Gen. 20:7), prophetess (Ex. 15:20), company of prophets (1 Sam 10:5), sons of the prophets (2 Kings 2:3), and those who prophesy (Acts 21:9). You will discover that there is a significant difference in Scripture between someone who merely prophesies and the ministry of a prophet.

 

The word prophetic adds the suffix ic to the noun prophet thus giving the connotation of having the character, form or manner of a prophet. Note that the operative word here is prophet and not prophecy or prophesy. This means that to fully understand or comprehend the term prophetic one must first understand the nature and character of a prophet and his ministry.

 

There are seven distinct characteristics of the prophet’s ministry that can be extrapolated from Scripture that clearly distinguishes it from one who merely prophesies (This is by no means an exhaustive list, but for the purpose of this writing we will focus on these seven):

 

1. Insight – The word insight describes the ability to see or comprehend that which is otherwise hidden. Prophets are pregnant with great revelation and insight regarding the mysteries of the Word as well as the divine architecture of God (Ex. 25-30; Amos 3:7).
2. Integrity – The word integrity means to be whole, complete and undivided; without hypocrisy or duplicity. A prophet’s life, character and actions are consistent with the word he declares or proclaims. There is no disconnect between his life and his message (Hos. 1:2; 3:1-5; Is. 20:2-4; Ezek. 4).
3. Integrated – The word integrated means to be part of a whole. Prophets generally function and operate as an integrated part of a local Kingdom community and are not isolated, detached or independent. They are intimately connected to the Head (Jesus), which by extension makes them intimately connected to His Body (the Church). They recognize and understand their place among the other ministers, ministries and members of the body (Acts 13:1; Eph. 4:11).
4. Industrious – The word industrious means to be diligently active and skillful. Prophets are skillful architects and builders who are diligent to focus their energy and effort toward something more than temporal blessing. Their emphasis is on building and constructing strong foundations and heavenly architecture in the earth, which requires diligence and skill (Ex. 40:1-35; Eph. 2:20).
5. Inspired – The word inspired means to be guided, affected or aroused by divine influence. This is not to be confused with being overly mystical, esoteric or flaky. Prophets are inspired preachers, teachers, heralds, messengers, ambassadors and reformers.
6. Intercessor – The word intercessor has very often been restricted – especially in Christian circles – to the very narrow and limited definition of “one who prays and petitions God on behalf of another”. More accurately, this word describes someone who attempts to bring mediation or reconciliation between parties during a dispute. Prophets are ministers of reconciliation who are called to turn the hearts of people – including churches and nations – back to God by boldly confronting, criticizing and condemning their complacency, corruption, subtle syncretism and prevailing wayward culture. Their ultimate purpose is reconciliation and restoration.
7. Influence – The word influence describes the ability or power to sway, affect, shift or change things. True prophets are endued with the power and authority to shift things in the realm of the spirit, as well as affect visible changes in the heavens and the earth. Their words are not empty or filled with fluff, but carry the creative force necessary for fulfillment (1 Sam. 3:19-20).

 

The prophetic, therefore, can more accurately be defined as the ability to consistently access hidden wisdom and divine architecture from heaven for the purpose of executing skillful, authentic building activity in the earth, while being modeled through an accurate character and lifestyle that functions within the context of connectedness and community, and is infused with spiritual energy to turn the hearts of men back to God, as well as shift things in the spiritual and earthly realms so that there is greater Kingdom alignment.

 

Based upon this definition, most of the activity, as well as the people, that we have commonly ascribed this terminology to are in fact not prophetic at all. This new understanding or “difference of opinion” is very significant because we live in a day and age where propheticterminology is thrown around very loosely and there are now numerous churches, ministries and schools offering “prophetic” training seminars and classes that are based upon little more than teaching people how to prophesy. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with this because the Bible is clear that we “may all prophesy” and people need to be trained how to do so effectively (1 Cor. 14:1, 31). However, it is erroneous to believe that the frequent discharge of personal prophecies – regardless of how accurate or specific – alone constitutes valid prophetic activity. And it is a lawless “prophetic” company that chooses to operate outside of the Scriptural parameters described above which define the context for all things prophetic.

 

Balaam was an accurate prophesier, yet every time his name is mentioned in the New Testament it is referred to in a negative context, because he wasn’t a true prophet (2 Pet. 2:15; Jude 1:11; Rev. 2:14). King Saul was able to prophesy in his depraved and murderous state, but this didn’t make him prophetic (1 Sam 19:22-24). Jesus made reference to a group of able prophesiers who were able to demonstrate other supernatural works, yet they, too, were rejected as false:

 

“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice [work or labor to perform] lawlessness [iniquity, wickedness or that which is illegal]” (Matt. 7:22-23 Emphasis and parentheses mine).

 

Notice that their ability to prophesy is mentioned first, which seems to indicate that this was their primary gift and ministry. We have to assume from the text that since they were able to successfully perform other supernatural activity in Jesus’ name, such as casting out devils and the working of miracles, that the prophecies they gave were specific and accurate in content or had come to pass as well. What we have here is the perfect description of the old “prophetic” order which places an overemphasis on prophesying and other supernatural manifestations, yet have deviated from the true prophetic spirit and divine requirement of God by building iniquitous structures or patterns in the earth. This is a clear violation of the prophetic principles described above: Not only is what they are working and laboring to build inaccurate and lawless (this includes their individual lives and character), but their activity is uninspired because of a relational disconnection from the Head (“I never knew you” – no intimacy or deposit of spiritual seed that reproduces Christ likeness).

 

We know that the whole emphasis of Jesus in the passage above is on the incorrect building aspect of these able prophesiers’ ministries because of the words He used (which I expanded upon when I quoted the text) and because in the following verses of the text He elaborates very clearly upon the issue of building as He differentiates between the wise and the foolish (Matt. 7:24-27).

 

Does God want accurate prophecies? Of course He does! Is it God’s will that we manifest supernatural ministry? Without a doubt it is! But our ability to produce that which looks like God or outwardly appears to be what God requires is of no eternal value if what we are building is inaccurate and there is no relational intimacy with the Head that gives life to all our activity and truly validates all of our efforts.

 

In other words, one of the most defining characteristics for determining or identifying a true and accurate prophetic dimension is underscored by the question, “How accurate is your building?” rather than “How accurate is your prophesying?” An overemphasis on the latter leads to deception (Deut. 13:1-3).