Isn’t it amazing that we New Testament believers still shy away from certain gifts that are clearly defined in the New Testament? In my opinion, it all comes from a lack of knowledge and bad experiences.  Most Christians accept things by what they see and not by what the Word of God has to say about it.

Recently, my Pastor taught on a Sunday morning about the Prophet’s ministry. And I have to say, some of it made me go to the Bible and check it out.  Guess what?  It was all there just like he taught!

Here in 1 Corinthians 12:28, it says in the KJV, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”  Notice, GOD set them in the church!  It did not say anything about Pastors or Evangelists – did it?!?  Remember, we need to “Rightly divide the Word of Truth!” (2 Timothy 2:15)  In order to “Rightly divide the Word of Truth,” we must keep it in context not only in the place that it is written, but also with other scripture of the same context.  Take Ephesians 4:11 in the KJV, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.” The same writer of both, the Apostle Paul, only mentioned three in one place and five in another.

However, even though the writer did not use the same names, he brings out their ministry. What ministry is “miracles, then gifts of healings”?  It is the Evangelist!  What about “helps, governments, diversities of tongues?”  All three of these operate in and through the Pastor’s Ministry.

Here is where most people mix up things from the Word of God. There is a major difference between the Prophetic Ministry and operating in one of the gifts of the Spirit found in 1 Corinthians 12:10, which is to prophesy.  As a matter of fact, this is what has caused a lot of error to come into the church.  Just because you had a prophecy in the church and it came to pass does not make you a prophet.  Let us look at the Bible example.  Acts 21:8-10, in the KJV it says, “We entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.  And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.  And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.”  If the four daughters were truly prophetesses, why didn’t they do the prophesying? Because they were not prophetesses!

NO ONE IS JUST A PROPHET!

A true prophet of God is going to be in the five fold ministry, functioning in other phases such as preaching and teaching.  In Acts 13:1, it says in KJV, “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.”  They were teachers also!

Let us go back to Agabus, look at Acts 21:11-14 in the NIV, “Coming over to us, he took Paul's belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, The Holy Spirit says, 'In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.'  When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.  Then Paul answered, ‘Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.’  When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord's will be done’."

THE PROPHET’S MINISTRY, LIKE ALL GIFTS, ONLY FUNCTIONS WHEN THE SPIRIT OF GOD WILLS!

I went and ministered at a church a couple years ago and when I finished my message, I gave a call for lost souls. And then I turned the service back over to the Pastor.  When we were back in his office, he was furious with me and said I made him look like a fool.  Once I got him calmed down, he said, “I advertised that you were a Prophet and you didn’t do any prophesying!” Number one, I have never claimed to be a prophet.  If others want to call me a prophet, that is up to them.  However, I will say that in the last few years I have operated in that gift a number of times and many of the things that I prophesied have come to pass.

That young Pastor also said he had told the members I would prophesy to every person there.  It does not work that way!  I would go so far as to say that if anyone prophesied to every person there, even in a small congregation, they ain’t a prophet.  For the educated, “They are not a prophet!”

So what causes so many Christians to shy away from this gift that has been given to the church, “To the profit of all (NKJV)?”  I am glad you asked that question.  There are several reasons.  First, I think there has been too much flakiness.  Yes, I would agree!  However, do we want to throw out the baby with the bath water?  Just because some have abused the gift, are we going to reject it all together?  I play golf with a group of Senior Citizens and when the so called ‘Lakeland Outpouring’ was exposed as not being the last end time revival, I received a lot of questions. I knew this would happen so I had prayed early for Father God to give me some answers and He did.  He said, “Simply tell them there can only be a false if there is a real.”  Then tell them, “They can experience the real at Family Worship Center.” With every question that was asked, it ended with that statement.  Hallelujah!

Secondly, it is amazing to me how little most Christians know about the Prophetic Ministry.  Those that have been filled with the Holy Ghost and speak in other tongues  know there are two types of tongues.  There are tongues of what we refer to as “prayer language.”  Then there are tongues that are used in assembly, no matter how small the assembly.  It is not two different tongues.  It is the same tongues, but with different purposes. Notice in 1 Corinthians 12:4-8 in the NKJV, “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.  And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.”

IT IS THE SAME FOR PROPHESIES!  In 1 Corinthians 14:3-4 from the NKJV, “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.  He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.”  Most of the time the prophet’s ministry goes further. 

THE PROPHET’S MINISTRY WILL FUNCTION IN AT LEAST TWO OF THE THREE REVELATION GIFTS

“Gift of word of knowledge, Gift of word of wisdom (1 Corinthians 12:8) and discerning of spirits (1 Corinthians 12:10).”  Along with this, the prophet will prophesy!  Some times there will be correction.  I asked the Lord about this and he replied, “Most Christian don’t spend the proper time with me as they should, therefore, I have to tell someone who is listening that will relay the message.” True prophesy from a prophet, if it brings correction, it will also have rewards for the correction.

I could spend several newsletters giving you examples of what I am talking about.  The Lord would come on me and I would be obedient and give a person the message, but they would become angry with me.  Then they would not obey and end up in a bad situation, when all along Father God was telling them what they should do to avoid the bad situation.  Remember, with any correction there will be a word of encouragement based on you making the correction.  Many times I have received correction that I did not think was of Father God.  So I would just put it on the shelf. Later on I would have to get it out because certain things would happen and I could see its purpose.

Most of you will remember me telling you about our first month in Times Beach, Missouri.  On our second Sunday there, a certain gentleman was there and at the end of the service I asked him to dismiss us with prayer.  I had never met him, but he had a good reputation among those of God who knew him.  He said, “Pastor, I have a word from God.”  I told him to give it.  He said, “It is for you.”  I said, “That’s ok, go ahead and give it.”  He proceeded to tell me I would be a Pastor to Pastors.  On our way home, Beverly asked me what I thought about the word he prophesied to me. I said, “He’s nuts!” That was in December 1980. Have we ever grown since then and now the prophesy is coming to pass. This is also a good example of what I said earlier. This man had proven over the years that he was a prophet of God. He was in full time ministry even though he had secular employment. Yet, he ministered somewhere each week.

Thirdly, most believers think as I did, to be a prophet of God you have to be 100% correct.  Let’s look at the scriptures and see what is correct.  In 1 Corinthians 14:29 (NKJV) it says, “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.”  If a prophet is correct 100% of the time, why would you need to judge the prophesy? We must remember that a perfect God is working through imperfect humans.

Matthew 23:34 NKJV says, “Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city.” In Luke 11:49 in the NKJV Jesus said, “Therefore the wisdom of God also said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute’.”  Also in Matthew 7:15-16 NKJV, Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits.” In reading these scriptures, we can see that Jesus believed that the prophetic ministry was to be a part of His church and a part of our lives.

Notice what the Apostle Paul told the young pastor, Timothy. In 1 Timothy 1:18 in NKJV, it says, “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare.”  Just because a prophecy given to you has not come to pass, does not mean it is not from Father God.  You need to get it out and read it out loud and start expecting it to come to pass.

Here is a prophesy that was given to me several years ago:

To my dear son and friend, Larry Willige:

THANK YOU! Thank you for answering the call upon your life; for going where I have sent you and heeding to your wife; for she is full of wisdom, I have placed it there myself.  I have given her to you that she may be of help.

For speaking what you hear me say, not knowing if you are right.  In stepping out in faith you have ministered to them life.  Lives have been changed.  I have reached out to them through you, through your obedience to do what I say to do.

Many times I have tested you to show you where you are.  Stop and take a look my son and you will see you that you have come so far.  Don’t look back, but continue in my way.  I will establish you and you will see the “Latter Rain.”

Thank you again, for broken hearts have been repaired, broken homes and broken bodies are mended through your prayers.  Ministers are set free from bondages and cares because of your obedience when I have sent you there.

Don’t think your work has gone unnoticed by me.  Pastor Larry you are ordained and called to do this work through me.  So thank you, my friend, for fighting till we are through.  Satan’s mighty strongholds I am pulling down through you.

Stay true to me and do just what you are told and you will see my mighty works just as the men of old.  I am not finished with you for you have barely seen me start to work through you. 

Continue in the things I have placed within your heart.  Remember, you work for me and the benefits are great.  Relax and put your trust in me and upon my Spirit wait and you will see.

Father God