 Welcome back everyone. We continue to look at these last few chapters in our notes. I was talking about the importance of prophetic deeds and how it's all the more effective when we practice this. So as pastors, we could think of options, of opportunities where we can encourage our people to flow in the prophetic. But whenever we talk about the prophetic later on, that the pastor in the prophetic church also requires some alertness. So when the prophetic means are flowing in the prophetic, as a pastor, we also need to be able to guide them. So that would be important. So we will talk about the next chapter here, chapter 14. This is regarding the prophetic church. So a prophetic church is a church or a family of believers, a group of believers who hear from God at the now in the present. So it's not only about a message from God, but what we are doing is we are encouraging people to love what God is offering us to be. It's the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We are helping people understand the benefits of flowing in the gifts of the Spirit because the church has to be built up. That's what Jesus said. He said, I will build my church and the gifts of the Spirit are helpful in strengthening the church, establishing the church. And so when we teach our people what happens, the best desire for the gifts of the Spirit is that we have learned how prayerfulness, we would have the flow of the prophetic without prayer. Prayer is a place which is also an intimacy with the Lord. So what the church is really being called to is more than flowing in the gifts. It's for intimacy. The call is for intimacy. So we call it people to intimacy. They grow closer to the Lord, increase in prayer, and then we see the flow of these gifts from their lives. And as a church that needs to have it, it's a beautiful thing. It's a beautiful thing. So prophetic people will be committed to intimacy. They'll be committed to prayer. They will be committed, not just prayer, it would say intercession and prayer even. And it's only when they commune with the Lord that it is a place where we can know the heart of God and then release what God is actually saying. So why should we be a prophetic church? Because God is speaking now. Is there anything wrong with us taking up the content of wonderful churches in history and using their messages? Maybe those messages were reached 10 years ago or 20 years ago, 50 years ago. No, there's no problem. But to see God spoke something specific to them in their times. And today he is speaking to us something very specific. And that is why when we choose to be a prophetic church, what we are saying is, yes, we appreciate the messages that have come to others. In the past, we are grateful for the word of God, the word of God, the written word of God is our standard. And yet, as the Bible says, the sheep hear his voice. We as a sheep want to hear his voice for now, for today. What is God doing today? What is the move of the Spirit? The direction in which God is leading us today. So the prophetic church is willing to receive the now word. How is it that the church can become a prophetic church or a congregation can become a prophetic congregation when we equip them? So equipping them would mean we teach them about prophetic and also provide opportunities to practice the prophetic. Now, they do it right initially. They make mistakes through their experience. They are being built up and all along when we provide a safe environment, we help them correct their mistakes and keep guiding them on. And as we do that, believe us that train, not just knowledge, in terms of knowledge, but also in terms of using the faith. And then it becomes more confident to actually serve the Holy Spirit. So that's how we build up the church. We see they're all aware. We operate at the gates during our services. We encourage people to operate at the gates normally. People are hanging out together at any other time as well. We say, okay, you're from God. You minister that to others. We also get schools, schools, especially tailored to teach people on the gifts of the spirit. The next one that's coming up is a week in school on the gifts of the spirit. So we'll talk about all the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how to move it. There are usually practice sessions, which are a part of the school. So people gain confidence as they allow the Holy Spirit to give them words and as they are like to pray for people so on and so forth. So that's the process. Is it going to take time? Yes, it may take time. And as a leader, as a pastor, what it means to give it that kind of time that it requires. What are some of the pitfalls? Pitfalls are, you know, sometimes people may not pursue intimacy. They know a little bit about the gifts and in a very superficial way, they keep going with what they know. So instead of really seeking the presence of the Lord, learning from the Lord and giving a genuine word, because of family, they do things in a very rough, haphazard way that can cause challenges. Or the other challenge could be that now that people are beginning to know the gifts of the spirit, they can also have a surprise that, oh God is using me. And they may not know how exactly to relate with us in the right way. So the Holy Spirit, there are mighty testimonies. And since we are out of the other churches and say, oh, we are better than others, we are getting lost. And I think that one must actually avoid being a leader. We must be careful. We must be strong so that we can be a blessing to the other church. So that's what happens if you keep guiding the people to flow in the gifts of the spirit and build them up. There is a strong church which will make a great impact because we know that the gifts of the spirit are made manifest to build up the body. The body will be built step by step. And when we hear the words of God, it's amazing. For example, let's say God says, call for a meeting and we have a meeting and what it turns into revival. So you never really know the great plans that God has when we are obedient to His promptings. So a prompting church, we hear it from God and we are just doing different things. It's exciting because so much more God can do when we are in step with Him. So the results are those of impact on us individuals, our church community and the city, nation and lot. So a pastor wants his congregation to be prophetic. What are some things that are really important for him? He must be a pastor who is not happy to score. Sometimes it's just easy to do church in a conventional way. Just keep going with the people are happy, we are happy, the church is growing. So it's fine. You know that there is God asking us to, honestly, desire. Desire, that's right. Prophets ask the desires. He gives what the people gives of the spirit. Tire, you see, some of the challenges that can happen are things can get more messy. Because you see that there are people, let's say 10 people for any pastor. There are enough challenges already, right? Because we're dealing with people, they may have questions, things may go wrong relationally. So things happen. So as a pastor, you're ministering to them, but you're also helping manage all the people challenges that happen. Now, if you have a congregation of 50, then you have so many more people that you must be caring for. Imagine you have a congregation of whatever, 500, 1000. So you have those many people, how are you going to guide them when they flow in the prophetic? That's the question that you have to ask yourself. So if everyone starts practicing the prophetic, sometimes even good and sincere attempts of prophesying could go wrong. So how will a pastor deal with it wisely, politely to correct them in such a way that they will not stop operating with the gifts, but they'll just try to develop and improve the gifts. So you see, these are all the questions before the pastor, how are you going to deal with it? And so it's like you're taking on more work because that's how God wants you to build the church. So for a pastor, it can be challenging, but if a pastor is thinking strategically, it's possible to guide people. It's possible to develop people, to practice their gifts in a humble and in an accurate way. So in problems, it says 14, problems 44, when no oxen are the toughest cleat, but much increase comes by the strength of an ox. So basically it says that whenever there's a lot of work going on, this tends to be chaos. Imagine you're setting up this hall. When the hall is being set up doesn't look pretty. You have dust and you have things here and there. So it's very messy that we're trying to do something good, but work is happening, things are messy. That's what that verse says. So it's a good thing. We may have issues, but these are good issues to deal with. We shouldn't be like, oh, I don't want any issues, but if some good constructive progress is happening, then yes, there will be some issues, but a pastor should be willing to deal with it in a nice way. So it's okay, challenges will come up, but as we keep dealing with it in a wise way, it will be built up and we'll have more accuracy. The right way of delivering the message by each person will in turn impact the church in a positive way. So that's how the government should be trained up and a pastor should think about this. A pastor profit, that's the next topic here in our notes. What is a pastor profit? It's basically a pastor who's shepherding the church, but a one who hears from God. So here's from God for what? Here's from God for which season the church is in right now. Here's from God to appoint leaders. Here's from God to prepare the service, the topics that we must be actually ministering to the people. Here's from God for various things. Everything hears from God and ministers to them. And it is when the pastor is hearing from the Lord that when we are actually ministering that it brings refreshment, it brings motivation, it brings the leading of the Lord into people's lives. It's something amazing, something beautiful takes place. So I just want to share like during my pastors program, I was not in back law, I had shifted to another city. I would attend the church and I would always love to hear our PC back law servants. So since everything was getting uploaded online, I would keep listening and I would try to tune into the Sunday sermon there also. But I would always be amazed about how what is being spoken of in another part of the world is applicable to me, where I am at. And it would be exactly the word that I want for that week. So that's prophetic. Unless we hear from God, I don't think people can be blessed like that. Being prophetic has its wonderful advantages because that word will minister so powerfully to people. And that's why we desire for us to become a prophetic church and a pastor to be a pastor, a prophet where you're hearing from God and you're doing whatever God is asking you to do. And it will really work wonders. So, yes, that's a little bit about the prophetic church. Now we can go ahead and talk a little about women as prophetic ministers. Anything about the prophetic church, any questions, thoughts? I just have to stay in faith but don't hear your talk. So we should have faith that yes, everything is okay, everything is understood. As fast as good. Okay, sure, sure, sure. Thank you. Thank you, John. Okay, so let's now look at women as prophetic ministers. Can we prophesy? Is it biblical? We have these questions. When we look at the word God, looking at the Old Testament, there were women, you know, they were called as prophetesses. So there was Miriam, who was the sister. It says about an Exodus 15 verse 20, Miriam the prophetess. So that's, you know, that's like amazing. The Bible is called prophetess. So prophetess, in the Old Testament we know that there were certain people, right, that were called by God to flow in the prophecy. So she's somebody who's in the office of a prophet. She's known as a prophetess. You have Deborah, a leader, and she's also called as prophetess. Deborah, a prophetess, judges verse 4. So the Bible says that there were women who God chose to be prophetesses. You have another lady known as Halda. She's also named as a prophetess. Isaiah's wife is also called as a prophetess. Isaiah chapter 8 verses 1, 2, 3. So there were women under the Old Testament who were in the office of the prophet. So coming to the New Testament, where there were women who were in the prophetic office or they were flowing in the prophetic ministry. Well, yes, Anna, the early lady, the daughter of Samuel in chapter 2, she is called as a prophetess. So yes, very clearly, in the New Testament you find people who are prophetesses. What about the early church? After the death, you know, burial resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, did it still continue? Did God still allow women to prophesy? Philip's daughters are a classic example. Now, we can understand that they were in the prophetic ministry because it is said about them that in Acts 21, now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied. We know that the entire God's intention for the whole set of believers was to flow in prophecy. According to Acts chapter 2, where Peter stood up and he said, your sons and daughters, right? The sons and daughters shall prophesy. So everyone was meant to flow in the gift of prophecy. But when the Bible says that Luke writes, now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied, he is making an emphasis on another level of prophesying. So, let it be there with the prophecy ministry, or they were prophetesses themselves. And that is why it's spoken of in that. So, as we can see, God was talking to Trump, prophesying. There are certain issues that people bring up because of certain different passages where what's called Phil's 14 over there, it says women be silent in the church. So, we should look at it in its own context. When you look at the 14, for many things Paul says silent. He says in a group who wants to prophesy, that don't do that, be silent. Let one person prophesy, then the other's prophesy. So, even in that context he says be silent. So, then do we stop prophesying? I don't know. There's an order which is asking us to use when we prophesy. So, in that way, there are a couple of times, when he says be silent, it is women be silent. There is a reason why he actually says that it's not to say that women cannot prophesy or women cannot minister. So, let me look at Ephesians chapter 4 over there. We know that gifts were given. Jesus gave gifts to men and then it talks about the 5-fold ministry offices in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 8. Now, based on this also, sometimes people say that gifts of the 5-fold ministry have been given only to men because the English translation says he gave gifts to men. When you look at that word men, it is a gender neutral word in the Greek known as Anthropos. Anthropos can be either a male or it can be a female. So, just because our common language is translated as he gave gifts to men, it does not limit the 5-fold ministry offices only to men. Women are also called into the office of a prophet. There are some points there about women and women are also called to prophesy. So, we don't see any restriction on women prophesying. Neither do we see any restriction on women being called into the property office. So, any questions or thoughts regarding this particular subject? Alright, so that also is clarified for us. Now, let's move on. Chapter 16 here. So, there are some practical issues that we must be aware of as far as the property ministry is concerned. The first thing is to be used to manipulate and control people. So, that would fall under category of spiritual abuse. Okay, it's so sad. It's so sad that there's been a term like that. But, unfortunately, you know, it can be taken to a set where so-called self-styled plot, you know, they use the fittest as the Lord every now and then. And they may not necessarily be addressing or releasing a genuine word from God, but it might be a guesswork or it might just be, you know, some utterance which they have. But their intention is to keep people under them so they know that if they can give a prophetic word. Let's say, for example, you know that there is a person who is really desperate for a child and you keep giving them prophetic words about, you know, how God is going to give you a child and this and that. But this is what we're talking about. We're not talking about a genuine mistake. Sometimes mistakes happen when we are trying to do the right thing. We're not talking about that. But intentionally, when the prophetic gift is used in an ungodly way, it's very serious for someone to be doing these things. But imagine a person like this intentionally manipulating a vulnerable, let's say a lady who desires a child. Why? So that she continues to stay at the church or she continues to give her tithes and all. There can be so many motives behind it. But overall, that's not right. It's not the right way of shepherding God's people. So we must be very, we must totally stay on such ungodly things. In the church, there are many such stories where people might come and share and they say, oh, you know what happened? This is what happened. They prophesied like this, but it wasn't true. It makes it sad, but it doesn't mean that just because such incident happened, we stop pursuing what the Bible recommends. The Bible does say desire, honestly desire spiritual things. So we can encourage them. We can say, oh, so sorry that we went through this. But God does speak. God does speak even today. So people are there. There are lots of people who have come out of such controlling relationships within the church and it has hurt them deeply. It has even sort of affected their faith in such a way that they've gone through seasons of doubting God. So there are abuses and we must do this. We must just stay away from it. And if we come across something, we should be able to protect the people as well. So what are some of the other things that we must be aware of as far as the property ministry is concerned? Prophecying for money. I already said that when we prophesy, people become very happy. So if I give a property for my God's opening and you're going to church, you won't be happy. Everybody will be happy. But if it's a genuine word, yes, let's give it. But if we want to get something from favor from the person, and that's why we are prophesying like that, it's like the error of Bala. You want a reward. That's why he was ready to prophesy. God doesn't like that. He has, you know, that Elisha served it as soon as Navan was healed. He had after him to get some reward, something in return for the healing that had taken place. But thank God, Elisha is the spirit. He understood what was going on and asked to serve it. Where did you go? And then he lied. He said, you're serving it. But he kind of rebukes him. And he says, okay, let the leprosy of Naman come upon you for what you have done. Because what was the intention of Gehazi? Do a spiritual ministry to get money. We will minister to get money. That's the attitude. That's such a wrong attitude. You see that God has shown in his word that this kind of an attitude is not something that he likes. Okay, so we must stay away from trying to make money of profit out of the profit gift or any other gift. Now next, play with people's expectations. Who says to not see after the profits to not prophesy? A smooth face. Can we say what people want to hear? Happy. What if the word of God is not pleasant or something the people desire? Obviously, they'll be like a waltz pastor saying it's not interesting. It's not exciting. But if it's the word of God, it's the word from God. We cannot be saying things that people like. So that's a danger. And there's also a pressure. Maybe as a pastor, maybe initially when you start off, as a profiting minister, initially when you start off, you're doing the right thing. You're sticking to what you're hearing. But as time goes by, people build their expectations from us. And they are disappointed if a waltz pastor with any property or this brother didn't give any property but he came home and prayed. He didn't say anything. He worked from the Lord. If you didn't hear anything from the Lord, what can you do? We need to stand our ground when we are not hearing something. We don't say so we don't manipulate when we are hearing something. It may not be what they want, but that's what God is saying. So you just go ahead and you say it. We need to develop that boldness and avoid trying to play to the expectations of people. Abusing the prophet's reward. So there is this passage in Matthew chapter 10 verse 41 he says, he who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. So there's something known as a prophet's reward. Is this valid? Is God saying that when we care for a prophet that we will be blessed? Yes, just saying that. This one statement has been used so often to get people's favor to get people's blessings their offerings. So there are many prophetic ministries who have done things like use this one statement he who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. Bless the prophet. Bless the prophet with so much rupees and God will bless you with so much rupees. Bless the prophet with so many dollars and God will bless you with so many dollars because this particular verse says you must all have a prophet and you get the prophet's reward. People are also I don't know if greed is the word but desire. I want blessing I want reward. So they also give so that they can get. So in that way it's going the wrong direction in this particular verse so we must not misuse that verse. Yes, then we honour a servant of God obviously there is a reward to that but to boost it to get money is not effective. Okay, moving on it says a lot we already talked about spiritual manipulation spiritual control spiritual sort of abuse. Now even when we say thus says the Lord a person can use it to get something done whatever they want done thus says the Lord you have to marry this person what happens to the believer now God is saying God is saying I have to do it you know so believers they end up making decisions thus says the Lord thus God said it there is no other option but as he does as those who are serving God but there is a seriousness when we use something like thus says the Lord we have to be careful. Only when God is telling us you say it like that thus says the Lord should we use it but in all other situations we though we are ministering under the anointing and expiration of the Holy Spirit we allow for submission of the word or the person to verify the word judge the word confirm the word and then apply the word so we can be controlling people with the term thus says the Lord now here is another fault or a problem that has happened in the property ministry when people give death at doomed prophecies death at doomed prophecies are you know walking judgment fire you are going to die so is it really from God is it really from God see we must understand that yes God is a God of justice and that surely there are consequences for disobedience but when we look at the way God usually speaks to his people judgments come and they must be ministered in a particular manner so there is a place for judgments but in general in general and especially you know when it comes to normal let's say I am just giving one of the first 100 prophecies that a person may give maybe one or two that we might have judgment over people because of some serious disobedience that the person has engaged in but invariably if let's say 60 out of the prophecies and out of 100 prophecies God is going to take away your judge you judge your family if that is the most part of what is being said one thing you can understand is the person the prophecies has their own issues and they carry a critical judgment and so on every other prophecy there is destruction only but God doesn't steal and so we have to be very happy and another thing that you must understand about these doom and death prophecies is whether it's a genuine word from God for example that person was told that you are going to die now whether the prophecy is genuine that person is really going to die that person is really going to die the fear of fearing this prophecy itself will kill the person because you are like I am going to die December I am going to die what does the prophecy do it's odd it's odd it's supposed to do all these things comfort the person is it exhausting see even a judgment a genuine judgment from God it really turns us to a genuine judgment because there is God's goodness and grace even in the judgment God is saying come on time is up these things are going to happen to you why is God even revealing that judgment because the person like the people that Jonah ministered to when he took the the word of God over there and he was speaking to them firmly they repenting and God relented that why didn't the judgment come on the people so we know that our God is a gracious God even the judgment prophecies many a time they are gracious they are from the Lord from His goodness to cause them to repent but when prophecies come which are bringing fear and condemnation and such things like you are going to die and all that we can really question is it really from God or is it a critical spirit that the prophet actually carries stay away from that and when you get a prophecy like this you know that I am not going to take this seriously because it's not building me up in the Lord in any way coming to weird and pathetic prophecies weird and pathetic prophecies are for you know gullible very very new believers don't understand much of the word yet they are not mature very mature like babes guys they trust everything that is told to them so what happens sometimes people take advantage so called people in the prophetic ministry so there are prophecies things like you know your home this wall of your home is I can feel that some people is out from this this window you know what do you mean good thing but what is the solution what is the solution sometimes people's leader at it just put such fear in the people's minds that oh my home is haunted and that's why there is failure in my family that's why the sickness in my home after the ministry but they don't have hope that you know the cross is over these also are happening they are doing things like this but yeah if we find believers who had such prophecies we can guide them and say come on don't be in fear you know think about yes okay there is an evil presence then what are we supposed to do as a believer take authority in the name of Jesus cast it out demolish it declare your home blessed declare your home as a secure place secure place so this is how the right we should win but if prophecies are bringing fear and putting people you know capturing people in a position of doubt then how are we actually ministering to them from the Lord so sometimes people prophesy all these weird things and leave people in panic okay and the final section here says seeking a word from God through a prophet and we know in the new testament up to the Holy Spirit we know on the early church the Holy Spirit was poured out it's poured out on every so we have the leading of the Holy Spirit every believer has the inner witness of the Holy Spirit in them so like the Old Testament should I go and search for a prophet remember Saul when he lost his dark keys he was searching for them and the good thing he could do is go meet the seer and the seer could tell it something so in those days they would go after a prophet to get a word from God but today if they get a word wow that's nice I got a word it's like an extra it's a bonus but always I can have the meaning of the Holy Spirit and that is good enough for us under the new covenant to walk with the Lord so don't run after oh this prophet had to go that prophet had to go this prophet conference or I want to sign up for this prophet conference so people who are crazy things running behind prophets running behind conferences but it's not required it's not required you can actually across God here but what's new riding on the wave of the prophetic because Revelation 19 verse 10 says for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy so we the more we hear what the Lord is doing and who Jesus is it kind of it stirs up the waves more of the prophetic things don't happen and that's what this is referring to it God today is doing it God is pouring out the spirit that people are flowing in the prophetic more is going to have a prophet so we must encourage the final chapter here is about the making of a prophet and here it says like any other ministry there is going to be this is particularly about the office of a prophet there is going to be a preparation that one needs to go through so God recalls somebody as a prophet but if you take for example people like Samuel you know he went through his own kind of preparation under Eli he learned how to hear from the Lord if you take up somebody like Elisha he ran after Elijah he learned Elijah was also probably part of the schools of the prophets which was started by Samuel so every prophet has gone through their own season call is there first you receive the call but then there is preparation that is equipping whether it is Isaiah or Jeremiah or an Ezekiel everyone going through personal encounters, preparation God is shaping them helping them become more accurate to hear his voice to release his voice so that process cannot be short circuited then sometimes we also see that there are times of isolation so generally for prophets it is said like this I don't know why but prophets like even like Elijah Elisha to our minds it's like they are somewhat secluded they are praying, they are seeking the Lord, they are by themselves John the Baptist he was also known as a prophet he was in the wilderness many days just living there trying to hear from God, coming with God so somewhere this isolation obscurity is a part of the prophet's ministry God uses it to shape the character of a prophet and so we must embrace that establishing Godly character God will build us up in our journey there are so many things each of us as ministers of God we know that how he shapes our character there are Godly things there are fleshly desires but as Paul told Timothy 2 he said cleanse yourselves cleanse yourselves so that you can become a vessel of honour sanctified and useful for the master prepared for every good work so God prepares us that way when we get rid of all the fleshly things in us all the immature parts of us and then God is able to use us as we develop the new wine skip to receive what God is doing and of course God will restrict us he will help us do things that maybe we are not comfortable initially doing but that's also goodness that he is helping us stretch so that we can actually grow and a prophet should then take that place and begin to do what God is calling them to do if you look at Saddam it's so beautiful he was equipped but then he did so many things he established the schools of the prophets he was a mentor to so many prophets he mentally anointed the king so his responsibilities what should I do I need to bring the word of the Lord to the people minister to the people he took his position he did what God wanted him to do so that is the thing that must also seek after yes Lord you called me what do you want me to do what is my responsibility let me fulfil it and be a blessing to the kingdom of God so in this way keep moving forward is it going to be easy no it's not going to be easy because we've also talked about how prophets have had opposition even spiritual opposition remember Elijah we talked about the spirits of Jezebel and all that so that will be opposite to God the power the prophetic power is real and we will see it overcome every work of the enemy so with that we come to an end of the prophet ministry and I hope it has given us some some hope you know some anchor in flowing in the prophetic I really wish we could do more practice sessions but we will see how the next month as well so I will try to wrap up quickly quickly and maybe last class or something we can just do a practice session where we are flowing in the gifts of the spirit so any questions as of now or lots of inputs so let it digest God is going to use all that you have lot to build you up in your ministry so let's just close that with a word of prayer I want to encourage somebody to go ahead and pray let's pray I'm sorry go ahead okay let's pray Father Almighty God in the name of Jesus we thank you for your word of encouragement we thank you that you have enlightened us you have given us wisdom to flow in the prophetic Father King of glory we call upon the Holy Spirit to continue guiding us in the prophecy we pray that all this should be for the glory of your name pray all this in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit amen amen amen thank you thank you Father Paul thank you everyone for connecting all the best for your assignment I hope you can hand it in time have a great week ahead we shall connect next week thank you thank you so much I'm grateful thank you bye bye God bless amen amen