HS Office of the Prophet

This handbook is not intended to be the final word on how to stand in the Office of the Prophet. Though extensive, it is a basic manual only. It is intended to help the man or woman of God better understand and flow with their particular Prophetic calling and its accompanying Spiritual Gifts.

In the coming Last Days outpouring of God's Spirit the hand of God will move and call many young men and women to the Prophet's Ministry who will be in need of immediate training. The Holy Spirit has put it upon my heart to prepare this handbook for His use in the process of educating and stabilizing them.

This handbook will also establish within every Prophet a solid, basic understanding of this unique, supernatural Ministry. It is filled with Biblical, practical and experiential knowledge.

It will also help the New Testament Pastor to better understand this unique office intended of God to be a wonderful blessing to the local Church, as well as wherever else Christ's Body gathers.

However, keep in mind all Prophets do not operate identically. The Holy Spirit trains the Prophets according to the different demonstrations, operations and manifestations He has in mind for them as individuals.

It is important to state right up front that true Prophets are humble and do not boast of themselves as being Prophets. True Prophets refer to themselves as servants of God.

True Prophets allow the office and the Gifts that accompany it to speak for them.

There is nothing wrong with answering truthfully when asked if one is a Prophet. Neither is there anything wrong with referring to oneself as a Prophet for teaching purposes.

However, high-minded boasting is never in order for the true New Testament Prophet.

Every Christian, the Prophet in particular, must always keep in mind when claiming the blessings of Abraham to claim his humility and discretion as well.

One's self-exalting, prideful boasting of being a Prophet grieves God and will result in the quenching of one's anointing. (1Thessalonians 5:19; Revelation 2:4-5)

In God's economy up is down and down is up. (Luke 14:7-11)

God is not opposed to ultimately exalting His own Prophet. God is, however, adamantly opposed to His Prophet exalting himself.

Self-exaltation always results in self-demolition.

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled (ranked below others who are honored or rewarded), and he who humbles himself (keeps a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly) will be exalted (elevated in rank)." (Luke 14:11 Amplified)

"...God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful) [and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you." (1Peter 5:5-6 Amplified)

As long as King Saul stayed "little in his own sight" he experienced a strong presence of God upon his life. It was when he began to think more highly of himself than he should have that he began to self-destruct.

A lack of humility directly contributed to King Saul's premature death. (1Samuel 15:16-35)

Even in nature it is always the lowest bowing branches that are bearing the most fruit.

Every Christian, particularly the Prophet, who desires to be used in the Gifts of the Spirit must bow low and stay little in their own sight.

The Prophet Moses was completely selfless in his calling. He possessed a true Prophet's heart, an humble heart. He could have pushed the pride envelope using his intellect, gifts, talents and connections to become the King of Egypt. But Moses refused to even be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible." (Hebrews 11:24-27)

The Prophet Moses denied himself all sinful pleasures, worldly fame and improper attention. He looked beyond himself and saw the needs of God's people.

Moses looked beyond himself and saw the Coming of the Lord.

The true New Testament Prophet looks beyond himself and sees the Second Coming of the Lord, all the while preparing the world and the Body of Christ for His arrival.

The Prophet Moses threw himself in the path of God's judgment to save God's sinful people. (Exodus 32:32)

The true New Testament Prophet always puts God's people first and himself second.

It is exceedingly wrong for the Prophet to glorify himself or his gifts, placing himself above others. The true Prophet never does anything for self-glory or self-gain.

The true Prophet realizes everything supernatural occurring through him has nothing to do with intrinsic goodness or greatness on his part.

Jesus Himself said concerning His own supernatural manifestations that it was not He but rather it was the Father Who was manifesting miraculously through Him.

"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? What I am telling you I do not say on My own authority and of My own accord: but the Father Who lives continually in Me does the (His) works (His own miracles, deeds of power)." (John 14:10 Amplified Bible)

The Prophet not only walks in humility, but walks with integrity, justice and mercy as well.

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." (Micah 6:8)

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Chapter 1. The Ministry of the New Testament Prophet

"And He gave some, Apostles; and some, PROPHETS; and some, Evangelists; and some, Pastors and Teachers;” (Ephesians 4:11)

The Greek word for Prophet is “prophetes.” It means “a foreteller and an inspired speaker; one who speaks for God.” This office, as with all the Five-Fold Ministry Offices, functions completely and supernaturally through the agency of the Holy Spirit.

Although there are no longer Foundational Apostles or Prophets, such as the Prophet Paul who was used to author two-thirds of New Testament doctrine, there are still indeed non-Foundational Apostles and Prophets in the Church of Jesus Christ.

Foundational Apostles and Prophets are ones who participated in the writing of the New Testament. Because the New Testament is now complete, there is no longer a need for Foundational Apostles or Prophets today. (Galatians 1:11-12; Ephesians 2:20; 3:3-5)

However, there are indeed non-Foundational Apostles and Prophets in every generation and their primary job is to build up, edify and bring the Body of Christ to maturity.

Only those who lack knowledge of Scripture or simply refuse to believe could possibly deny the existence of these valuable, Blood-bought Ministry Offices today.

There is absolutely no evidence in the New Testament that the Offices of the Apostle and Prophet have passed away.

Because the Apostle and Prophet build up, edify and bring the Body of Christ to maturity, they are as necessary and as functional today as they were in Bible days. (Ephesians 4:12-14)

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God Does Not Appoint Novices to a Prophet's Ministry

All Prophets are ordained by Almighty God as Prophets even before they are formed in the womb.

King David, who was also a Prophet, said by inspiration of the Holy Spirit that God knew he would be a Prophet before he was formed in the womb.

"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb ... Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your Book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them." (Psalm 139:13,16 NASB)

David said his days as a Prophet were ordained for him long before he spent even his first day in the womb.

Isaiah prophesied the birth of Prophet John the Baptist seven hundred and twelve years before it occurred when he referred to "the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness ... make straight in the desert a highway for our God." (Isaiah 40:3)

John the Baptist confirmed Isaiah was referring to him when he said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the Prophet Esaias." (John 1:23)

The Most High God revealed to Jeremiah that he was called as a Prophet before the womb.

"Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a Prophet unto the nations." (Jeremiah 1:4-5)

Like all other Prophets the boy Samuel came into the Earth as a Prophet ordained of God.

Samuel's situation was very unusual in that he began to actually function as a Prophet while still a child - however, he did so with very strict oversight.

As a little boy, Samuel heard the voice of the Lord as grown Prophets do. He was even used to bring a prophetic Word of Wisdom to his mentor, Eli.

As he continued to grow under the tutelage of Eli, God used the boy Prophet often and none of Samuel's prophecies fell to the ground or failed.

However, although Samuel began to function as a Prophet while still a boy, he was not placed into a position of authority in Israel until he was much older. (1Samuel 3:1-21)

It is uncommon, in fact it is exceptionally rare, for an individual called as a Prophet to start out in ministry by being immediately placed in the Prophet’s Office.

There are no shortcuts to the development of the Prophet's Ministry.

God does not put novices, those who are untrained, immature and undeveloped in spiritual things, in any position of authority.

Because of over-zealousness combined with a lack of knowledge, spiritual novices commonly tend to do things for God that He is not telling them to do.

They also have a tendency to yield to pride which opens the door to Satan and demons in their lives. Their minds can become beclouded by conceit, leading them and everyone who follows them headlong into unnecessary suffering.

"He must not be a novice, lest being lifted up in pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil." (1Timothy 3:6)

Both the Prophet's Office and the Office of the Apostle require much preliminary training in the lower, yet equally as important, Offices of the Teacher, Pastor or Evangelist. Exactly how much training depends upon the individual. (1Timothy 2:7; 2Timothy 1:11)

Only once an individual has developed their teaching and preaching skills and their faithfulness is proven does promotion into the Office of the Prophet begin.

This process can take many years of disciplined obedience to the Word of God, prayer, study, testing and proving.

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The Prophet Is Committed to God's Call

It is possible for a Prophet to stand in more than one Ministry Office at a time. For example, one can be a Teacher and a Prophet, an Evangelist and a Prophet or even an Apostle and a Prophet. However, when the properly trained individual finally does step into the Office of the Prophet, that calling must become their first priority.

Prophet, seek the Lord carefully concerning your own call through fasting, prayer and time in His Word. Be absolutely sure that you are called as a Prophet. Once the Holy Spirit has spoken and it has been established in your heart that you are indeed called as a Prophet, stand ever ready to fight off every demonic doubt.

If you will seek Him properly the Holy Spirit will surely speak to your heart and make that calling clear. However, you must make a conscious decision to believe it and to obey it always.

Once He has spoken, do not allow yourself to doubt it. Rebuke every doubtful thought.

In chapter two of his fascinating book, "I Believe in Visions," Prophet Kenneth E. Hagin relates the following experience.

While conducting a tent meeting in September 1950 in Rockwall, Texas, Jesus appeared to him in a vision to correct him for doubting what Jesus had called him to do. Prophet Hagin had already heard the voice of the Holy Spirit about his calling but would oftentimes walk in doubt concerning it. This caused him to be disobedient at times, not doing exactly what Jesus had told him to do.

In the vision Jesus told Prophet Hagin, "...you didn't do what I told you to do. The reason that you didn't is that you doubted it was My Spirit that had spoken to you. You see, faith obeys My Word whether it is the written Word of God or My Spirit that has spoken unto man."

When the Holy Spirit speaks to any Minister of the Gospel concerning the call of God upon their life, that spoken word is as binding upon the Minister as the written Word - the Bible, for they are both the Word of God.

The Prophet must be ever ready to fight off all doubts concerning the Holy Spirit speaking to his heart about his call. The Holy Spirit will continue to bear witness of that call from within and He may even choose to have it confirmed to the Prophet through others.

However, once the Holy Spirit has spoken it then becomes the Prophet's continuing responsibility to believe in that call.

It is also important to remember that all Prophets do not function identically. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you exactly how He wants you to function as a Prophet. He will make God's will clear. Always be sure you are where He wants you to be.

Whether the Prophet is a Prophet and Teacher or a Prophet and Evangelist, he must keep his Prophet's Ministry first and his teaching and/or preaching Ministry second.

Yes, the Prophet is first and foremost a Teacher and/or Preacher, but he must never neglect his Prophet's Office for his teaching and/or preaching.

Many Prophets keep the Prophet's call on the back burner, completely neglecting it for teaching and preaching. They do this to escape the persecution that accompanies this powerful office. The Prophet must never allow this to happen.

Everywhere the Prophet, teaching and preaching ministries are together mentioned in the Bible, the Prophet is always listed in the first position.

"Now there were in the Church that was at Antioch certain Prophets and Teachers ..." (Acts 13:1)

"And God hath set some in the Church, first Apostles, secondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, after that miracles (Evangelists), then Gifts of Healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all Apostles? Are all Prophets? Are all Teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the Gifts of Healings ... ?" (1Corinthians 12:27-30)

"And He gave some, Apostles; and some, Prophets; and some, Evangelists; and some, Pastors and Teachers." (Ephesians 4:11)

In each of these references the Prophet's Ministry is listed before the teaching and preaching ministries. The Prophet must always follow this Scriptural blueprint. When the Prophet reverses this order, putting the teaching and/or preaching ministry first and the Prophet's ministry last, they step out of God's perfect will and right into trouble.

Keep the Prophet's call on the front burner at all times. When the Prophet's ministry is placed on the back burner to focus on another area of preferred ministry, one that is easier, more enjoyable and involves far less persecution, the Prophet will ultimately find himself in terrible trouble with the Lord.

The end result will be the Lord's loving but severe correction.

I, myself, have had to be corrected for not keeping the Prophet's ministry on the front burner at all times, choosing the path of least resistance.

I can tell you this - I did not enjoy His loving but severe correction.

He truly chastised me.

I am determined to never return to that woodshed again.

"Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God..." (Romans 11:22a)

"Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." (Hebrews 12:7)

If the Prophet insists upon not keeping his office as life's priority, he could even find himself facing premature death for deliberately abiding outside of God's revealed perfect will. If this should happen, it is the Prophet's fault not God's.

"Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backsliding shall reprove thee; know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and that My fear is not in thee, saith the Lord God of Hosts." (Jeremiah 2:19)

"For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord that we should not be condemned with the world." (1Corinthians 11:31-32)

It is popular in some Christian circles today, where there is a wrong emphasis on grace, to teach that because God is a God of love and forgiveness, He is not a God of judgment.

However, this is not at all what the Bible teaches.

Yes, God is our loving Father and merciful Benefactor. However, He is also the One Who makes the rules and enforces them - particularly with His chosen Prophets. He has ways of delivering them from their own reluctance and disobedience.

"For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Law-giver, the Lord is our King; He will deliver us." (Isaiah 33:22)

The Prophet is consecrated and ever committed to God's call. He lives a life separate from the world, worldliness and the worldly. The Prophet avoids anyone or anything that grieves God and all that lacks consecration and commitment to God's Word and God's will.

Regardless of the persecution and misunderstanding that can and does accompany this office, the Prophet must aggressively resist every temptation to withdraw from it.

"The Prophet's Ministry isn't altogether understood or appreciated. One runs into such persecution it's very easy to draw back from it." Prophet Kenneth E. Hagin

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Prophets Have Varying Degrees of Anointing

Prophets, like all other Ministry Offices, have varying degrees of anointing. Some Prophets have much stronger anointings than other Prophets. We see this clearly in the lives of the Prophets Elijah and Elisha. Elisha had a double portion of that which Elijah had and Elisha performed twice as many miracles as Elijah.

"And Elisha said to Elijah, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And Elijah said, Thou has asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee." (2Kings 2:9-10)

So we see some Prophets can be more anointed and some Prophets can be less anointed because there are degrees and levels of anointings.

Whatever degree or level of anointing a Prophet may have, they can increase that anointing through fasting, prayer, study, faithfulness and holy living.

In the New Testament, as was true in the Old Testament, different Prophets have different emphases on the way they minister. While all Prophets are called first and foremost as Teachers and/or Preachers, some Prophets minister much more through writing than others. Some minister solely through speaking, while other Prophets have varying degrees of both emphases.

All Prophets operate in at least two of the Revelation Gifts plus Prophecy and Gifts of Healings, but in lesser or greater degrees.

It is important that a Prophet minister only in the areas and on the level in which they are gifted and that they not try to intrude into an area for which the Lord has not graced them.

"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us..." (Romans 12:5-6)

It is also important that all Prophets remember that no one will ever minister on the level of the Master Prophet Jesus, for He alone was anointed boundlessly and without measure.

"For since He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaims God's own message], God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit." (John 3:34 Amplified)

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Chapter 2. The First & Foremost Responsibility of the Prophet’s Ministry

The primary thrust of a New Testament Prophet’s Ministry is teaching and/or preaching the Bible. This was true with the Apostle and Prophet Jesus. Jesus recognized that His first and foremost responsibility as a Prophet was teaching and preaching.

"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people." (Matthew 9:35)

The Apostle and Prophet Paul also realized his first and foremost responsibility was teaching and preaching.

"Wherefore I am ordained a Preacher and an Apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ and lie not;) a Teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity." (1Timothy 2:7)

"Wherefore I am appointed a Preacher, and an Apostle, and a Teacher of the Gentiles." (2Timothy 1:11)

So we see from the Bible how Jesus and Paul both realized their first and foremost responsibilities were teaching and preaching the Bible.

Jesus said John the Baptist was the highest of all Prophets, next to Himself. (Luke 1:76; 7:26-28)

John was not a Teacher, but he was a Preacher Prophet and preaching remained first and foremost with him.

"In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:1-2)

Therefore, teaching and/or preaching is the absolute first and foremost responsibility of all New Testament Prophets.

All New Testament Prophets, male and female, young and old, must spend many years learning God's Word and developing their teaching and/or preaching gifts.

Even the Prophet Jesus was not birthed into the Earth with perfect knowledge of God's Word. He had to learn the Word as a human being just like all other human beings must learn God's Word.

Jesus had to increase in wisdom and knowledge just like all other human beings.

"Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man." (Luke 2:52)

From the time Jesus was just a child He spent much time studying the Word of God preparing for teaching and preaching as a Prophet. The Bible reveals the Holy Spirit awakened Him early on a daily basis to teach Him and to give Him understanding of the written Word of God.

Jesus never rebelled when it came to diligent study, even as a child.

"The Lord God hath given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He waketh morning by morning, He waketh Mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord hath opened Mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back." (Isaiah 50:4-5)

This verse clearly addresses Jesus' uninterrupted daily attentiveness to study and prayer, from the time He was just a small child.

Between the time He was twelve years old until just before He turned thirty, Jesus disappears from the Gospel narratives. During that time we can be sure that He continued His studies and the development of His teaching and preaching skills. He was preparing for the day when He would step into the Office of the Prophet.

If Jesus began His studies as a five year old and continued until He stepped into the Office of the Prophet at thirty years old, this means He spent two and a half decades studying to show Himself approved of God.

Once Jesus finally stepped into the Office of the Prophet He said He spoke, taught and preached only what the Holy Spirit taught Him from the Word of God over two and a half decades of deliberate preparation.

"... I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him." (John 8:26)

"... As My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things." (John 8:28)

Through the agency of the Holy Spirit, God the Father taught Jesus the Word of God, but only as Jesus refused to rebel concerning the discipline of study. Jesus was a consecrated, committed student of God's Word.

Even when Jesus found it difficult, He continued with His studies. Even when Satan challenged His discipline, Jesus remained true to His studies. Even when it meant suffering to do so, He remained faithful to His studies.

"Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered. And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him." (Hebrews 5:8-9)

Male or female, young or old, every New Testament Prophet must follow Jesus' example in obedient, diligent study, prayer and in the development of their teaching and preaching skills - no matter how difficult it may seem at times.

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." (2Timothy 2:15)

New Testament Prophets must study, prepare a sermon inventory and be ever ready to teach or preach should the Holy Spirit not choose to demonstrate, operate or manifest through the Gifts of the Spirit in any particular service.

That sermon inventory should include messages on salvation in Jesus Christ alone, repentance, forgiveness, the Holy Spirit Baptism, divine healing and deliverance. It should also include messages on God's will to prosper His children financially and materially. However, the Prophet must be very watchful, not allowing himself to become hung up on any one pet doctrine. Over-emphasizing any part of the Bible is not conducive to good spiritual health.

"Preparation time is never wasted time." Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin

This is where the vast majority of today's false Prophets fall short. They have not properly prepared themselves in the areas of teaching and/or preaching. Because they do not know what else to do, they step to the pulpit and the false manifestations through familiar and seducing spirits begin. (Leviticus 19:31; 20:6; 1Timothy 4:1)

Prophet, imitate Jesus by committing yourself to the development of your teaching and/or preaching gifts. This must become first and foremost in your Ministry. This will keep you balanced as a Prophet, preventing the over-emphasis of spiritual manifestations.

“Overemphasizing or adding to what the Bible teaches inevitably does more harm than good.” Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin

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There Are No New Testament 'Schools of the Prophets'

It should be emphasized here that there are no "Schools of the Prophets" in the New Testament. Schools of the Prophets were exclusive to the Old Testament.

In the Old Testament "Schools of the Prophets" or "Sons of the Prophets" were companies of Prophets living together and working together under the leadership and tutelage of an older more experienced Prophet. (1Samuel 19:18-24; 2Kings 2:1-25; 4:38-44)

However, we see no such thing as Schools of the Prophets in the New Testament.

This is not to say modern day Bible Schools, Colleges and Training Centers cannot equip Apostles and Prophets even as they do Pastors, Evangelists and Teachers, for they can. All of the Ministry Offices, including Apostles and Prophets, must first acquire a solid understanding of the Foundational Doctrines of Christ and Major Bible Doctrines. This is exactly what the JHM Online Bible Training Centre was created to do.

However, in the New Testament, because of the supernatural nature of these two Ministry Offices, only the Holy Spirit can adequately train Apostles and Prophets. Once a solid foundation on God's Word has been established in them, He will then separate His chosen Apostles and Prophets for further experiential training by His own hand.

Under the New Testament this is the job of the Holy Spirit alone.

Although there are no longer Schools of the Prophets, it is still wisdom for a young New Testament Prophet, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, to seek out the Ministry of an older established Prophet with which to connect.

Study under that Prophet. Imitate them as they imitate Christ. Follow them closely.

Be yourself, but imitate their faith. Do not imitate their mistakes.

Support them. Encourage them. Stay with them as long as they stay on the Word.

I have been doing this for well over thirty years with Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin and Dr. Lester Sumrall.

Even if you are only able to associate with them by reading their books, listening to their recordings and watching their videos, their anointing will indeed come upon you.

Keep in mind, when God connects Prophets together He never intends for them to separate unless one goes off into sin or false doctrine. Although it will be challenged, the Prophets must do all they can to never allow the God-given connection to be broken.

This is what the Prophet Elisha did with the Prophet Elijah and it resulted in a double portion anointing for him. Elijah even tested Elisha's commitment, pretending he wanted Elisha to leave. However, Elisha would not budge. He stayed with his Prophet mentor until God's Chariot of Fire came and took him up in a whirlwind. (2Kings 2:1-15)

Elisha then performed twice as many miracles as his Prophet mentor because Elijah's mantle/spirit/anointing came upon him by such close, committed association.

"And Elisha took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back and stood by the bank of Jordan. And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and smote the waters and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? And when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and tither: and Elisha went over. And when the sons of the Prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah does rest on Elisha." (2Kings 2:13-15)

Although there are no Schools of the Prophets in the New Testament, it is still highly advisable for a young Prophet to align himself with a seasoned, older Prophet.

This association will result in the older Prophet's anointing being imparted to the younger Prophet through commitment and influence.

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The Prophet Is Authoritative & Ever Ready

The Prophet's Ministry is not limited to, but is primarily, a traveling Ministry. This is clearly demonstrated in both the Old and New Testaments. This is why it is incorrect to teach that every local Church should have its own in-house, permanently-based Prophet. We do not see any example of this in the Early Church or in the New Testament.

Wherever the Prophet goes, in addition to teaching, preaching and demonstrating, he takes authority over the rulers of the darkness of this present evil world and all demonic principalities and powers. (Luke 10:17-20; Ephesians 6:12; James 4:7)

Oftentimes, through the operation of the Discerning of Spirits, the Holy Spirit will show the Prophet existing demonic strongholds in the areas to which he is sent. This is in order that the Prophet may arrest them and render them inoperable while he is there for both private and public Ministry. (Mark 5:1-13)

God may not always reveal the names of ruling and demonic spirits operating in the lives, Churches or areas to which the Prophet is sent, but He oftentimes will.

It is not always necessary to know the specific names of ruling spirits and demonic principalities and powers. Whoever they are or whatever their names may be, the Prophet's confidence is in the Name that binds and casts out all ruling spirits and demonic principalities and powers - the Strong Name of Jesus.

Should the Lord not reveal specific ruling spirits and demonic principalities and powers operating in individuals, Churches, regions, etc., the Prophet simply takes authority over any and all as follows.

"I bind the rulers of the darkness of this present evil world and every demonic principality and power that would hinder the operations of the Holy Spirit in these individuals, this Church and this area, in Jesus' Name." (Luke 10:17-20; Ephesians 6:12; James 4:7)

Once the demonic strongholds are bound and rendered inoperable, the Prophet is free to preach, teach and demonstrate the supernatural power of God in order to build up the Body, set captives free and increase God's Kingdom. This is what God told Jeremiah.

"See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build and to plant." (Jeremiah 1:10)

Before going into the pulpit to preach or teach, the ever ready Prophet will spend much more time in fasting, prayer and in reading the Word than the average Minister. Unlike the other Five-Fold Ministry Offices, their preparation for private and public ministry is more a preparation of the heart than simply preparing a text with notes alone.

When a Prophet is conducting services for themselves or other Ministers, it is important that they not become overly involved fellowshipping and visiting between services. There is a price to pay for the anointing and this is part of it. The Prophet must remain in the presence of God, fellowshipping with Him through His Word and prayer in order to be prepared when ministry time arrives.

This is necessary because the Prophet's messages frequently come supernaturally and entirely by inspiration of the Holy Spirit once they are in the pulpit or in the presence of the ones to whom they are to minister privately.

It is vitally important that the Prophet keep his heart very sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

If the Prophet discovers his anointing is lessening, a little bit of fasting, a little more time in the Word and a bit more praying in the Holy Spirit will cause the anointing to return again with strength.

Most false Prophets do not even bother to prepare themselves as Teachers or Preachers. They simply step to the podium and the show begins. They may use a verse or two from the Bible to appear to be Scripturally based, but from that point on it's usually "a dog and pony show," "smoke and mirrors" and yielding to evil spirits who are familiar with people and who supernaturally know things about them.

In the Bible these are called "familiar spirits." (Leviticus 19:31; 20:6; 1Samuel 28:7-9)

Almost always the subject is soon turned to money and material possessions as the false Prophet attempts to fill their coffers at the expense of God's unlearned children – the Bible illiterate.

The true New Testament Prophet avoids such ungodly behaviors and walks in integrity and honor. His Gifts are used to glorify God, not to fill his personal coffers.

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Chapter 3. The Prophet Is a Seer & a Watchmen

True New Testament Prophets are not only excellent Teachers and/or Preachers, they also operate very consistently in at least two of the Revelation Gifts. These are the Word of Knowledge, the Word of Wisdom and the Discerning of Spirits.

The New Testament Prophet also operates in the Gift of Prophecy and Gifts of Healings.

Prophets see into the spirit realm and know things about people, places, things and events - past, present or future, but only as the Holy Spirit reveals it to them. (1Corinthians 12:11)

As mentioned in chapter one, Prophets have varying degrees and levels of anointing in these areas. Some are more anointed than others.

Whatever the degree or level of anointing, Prophets do not know all things at all times.

No Prophet is all-knowing. God alone is omniscient.

When the suffering Shunammite woman approached Elisha, his servant, Gehazi, moved to push her away. Elisha prevented him, saying, "Leave her alone for her soul is troubled and the Lord has hidden it from me. He has not told me." (2Kings 4:27)

Prophets know only what the Holy Spirit is showing them at the moment.

If Prophets knew everything about everyone at all times, Elisha would have known ahead of time that Gehazi was going to chase after Naaman to lie and steal from him, but he did not know this. The Spirit of the Lord had to reveal it to Elisha in a vision once it had already occurred.

Apparently Gehazi was very acquainted with the fact that Elisha did not know everything about everyone at all times. This is quite possibly why he was so willing to risk such a foolish thing. (2Kings 5:1-27)

Although not omniscient, seeing and hearing into the realm of the spirit happens far more consistently with the Prophet than with all the other Five-Fold Ministry Offices.

The supernatural revelation aspect of the Prophet's Office also happens in private far more often than it does in public.

The miracle of the meal and oil performed by Elijah for the widow of Zarephath occurred in the privacy of her home. (1Kings 17:9-24)

When Elisha raised the Shunammite woman's son from death, he did so in the privacy of her home. (2Kings 4:1-37)

When Elisha cured the poisoned meal eaten by the sons of the Prophets, he did so in private, not before a congregation. (2Kings 4:38-44)

When Elisha was used of God to heal Naaman of leprosy it was done in private, not before a congregation. (2Kings 5:1-14)

When Elisha received a Word of Knowledge that Gehazi had followed Naaman, lied to him and stole from him, it occurred in private and not in public. (2Kings 5:15-27)

When Jesus supernaturally ministered to the woman of Samaria who had been with six men, He did so privately and not publicly. (John 4:5-19)

It would not be wrong to say that the majority of the Prophet’s supernatural ministry to individuals, possibly as much as ninety percent, occurs behind closed doors and not from the pulpit. This is true in the Bible, with all modern day Prophets and has commonly been my personal experience as well.

Prophets consistently experience supernatural visions, sometimes dreams, as well as receiving words of revelation from the Lord.

Prophets are not omniscient, as stated, but they do have visions and revelations far more frequently than the average Minister or layperson. (2Kings 5:20-27; Acts 9:1-9; 16:8-10; 22:17-18; 27:21-25; 2Corinthians 12:1)

This is why the Prophet is called a "Seer.”

"Beforetime in Israel when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come and let us go to the Seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer." (1Samuel 9:9)

The Old Testament word for "Seer" here is actually "nabbi" from the root word "nabu," which means "to announce what one sees or hears."

Seers see and know things supernaturally that others do not see and know. They are frequently instructed of God to announce to others what they have seen or heard.

"For when David was up in the morning, the word of the Lord came unto the Prophet Gad, David's Seer, saying, Go and say unto David thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee." (2Samuel 24:11-12)

The Old Testament word for "Seer" in this passage is actually "hozeh." It means "one who sees and knows things supernaturally."

Although King David was himself a Prophet, Gad was his personal Prophet who saw and knew things supernaturally by the Spirit of God in order to pass them along to David.

So we understand that Seers are ones who see and hear things supernaturally by the Spirit of God and announce them for the Spirit of God. These can be words of warning, judgment, revelation, blessing, etc.

The Prophet sees into the spirit realm as God wills through the Gift of Discerning of Spirits. He has insight into the spirit realm and into the lives of others as God wills it.

Some Prophets, but not all, also have occasional foresight concerning future events, such as my 2004 vision of coming Spiritual Awakening. Judas and Silas were Prophets but there is no evidence in the Scripture that they had foresight concerning future events, or that they operated in the Word of Wisdom.

"And Judas and Silas, being Prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words and confirmed them." (Acts 15:32)

We see that Judas and Silas exhorted the brethren through teaching and preaching, and signs and miracles followed their teaching and preaching. However, nothing is stated concerning their foretelling future events.

So some, but not all, Prophets are used of God to foretell future events. This would not be generalized foresight as is the case with many false Prophets who "predict" things that anyone can see coming. The true New Testament Prophet who does foresee future events has specific, often detailed foresight concerning future events that would not have been known otherwise.

This was the case with the Prophet Agabus who knew by the Spirit of God that a great drought was coming to all the world. God gave him this warning so that the Body would have time to prepare. (Acts 11:27-30)

Agabus also knew supernaturally what was going to happen to Paul in Jerusalem. This was also in order that Paul would be prepared. (Acts 21:10-14)

This, too, was the case with the Old Testament Prophet Ezekiel. God told Ezekiel that He was making him a "watchman" who would give people warnings directly from the Most High God concerning things to come. (Ezekiel 3:17; 33:7)

A watchman is one who looks out from a height with the purpose of warning of impending danger or to pass on any information, good or bad. (Isaiah 21:6-12; Jeremiah 6:17, etc.)

So, although there is a vast difference between the Old and the New Testament Prophets, they can be quite similar, at least when it comes to seeing into the realm of the spirit.

Old Testament Prophets were, and some New Testament Prophets are, seers and watchmen equipped of God to see things approaching in the distance that others cannot see.

This is why a vital part of the Prophet's Ministry is keeping their heart sensitive to the Holy Spirit and ever watching for whatever He reveals, warns, guides, etc.

However, even for those Prophets who do see and hear into the realm of the spirit concerning future events, this is not the main aspect of their Ministry.

The main aspect of every Prophet's Ministry is teaching and preaching by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Again, seeing and hearing into the realm of the spirit concerning future events is not something that is common to the Ministry of all New Testament Prophets.

Jesus said John the Baptist was the greatest of all Prophets born of women. (Matthew 11:11; Luke 7:28) Yet we find evidence in Scripture that John the Baptist predicted only one future event as follows.

"And (John) preached, saying, There cometh One mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." (Mark 1:7-8)

Prophets in the Old and New Testament did not spend all of their time walking around and prophesying about future events. Prophets in the Old Testament spent much time preaching to the people. Prophets in the New Testament spent much time teaching and/or preaching.

Again, Jesus said John the Baptist was the greatest of all Prophets, and we have evidence of him prophesying a future event one time only.

In both the Old and New Testaments the God of Love more commonly shows the Prophet things in the past or present, in order to glorify Himself and to help people in His compassion for them.

An Old Testament example of this would be when Elisha prayed and the Holy Spirit showed his panic stricken servant there were presently more angels and spirit horses surrounding them than there were enemy Syrian soldiers. (2Kings 6:1-18)

A New Testament example of this would be when Jesus revealed to the woman at Jacob's Well that she had been married five times in the past and the man she was presently with was not her husband. (John 4:5-19)

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Prophetic Words of Judgment Can Often Be Reversed

Prophets can be recipients of messages of blessing or judgment which God intends to be passed along to leaders in government, nations, regions, states, cities, ministers, churches and individuals, etc. - saved and unsaved alike.

Prophets can also be recipients of revelations which God does not intend to be passed along. He simply desires for His Prophet to pray about that situation.

The Prophet must use discernment when God does not specifically tell him to pass on a revelation or a word concerning someone. He must always follow the inward witness of the Holy Spirit as to what he is and is not to pass along on behalf of God. This is why it is crucial that the Prophet learn how to be led by the inward witness of the Holy Spirit.

When I do not know whether I should pass a word or a revelation on to someone, my general rule of thumb is as follows. I make the decision to tell the individual what God has shown me. Then I listen inside to see if I get the red light or the green light about my decision. God's peace is His "Yes." Unrest is His "No."

It is also important to point out that God's Prophet must never go about with braggadocio, gossiping or speaking of the things God reveals to him in order to appear important or special. This will grieve God and quench the Holy Spirit as quickly as any other sin and God will stop sharing revelations with His out-of-control, loose cannon Prophet.

It is vital the Prophet build a relationship of trust and discretion with the Holy Spirit.

"Quench not the Holy Spirit." (1Thessalonians 5:19)

When a Prophet does pass along a word of pending judgment that word can often be reversed through the power of repentance. It is most often conditional.

The Prophet Isaiah was sent to King Hezekiah to tell him that he was going to die because of his rebellion. Hezekiah immediately turned to God and wept in repentance.

Just as immediately the Holy Spirit then told Isaiah to tell Hezekiah, "I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years." (Isaiah 38:1-6)

So we see a Prophet's word of judgment can be reversed through repentance. This is true in both the Old and the New Testaments.

"I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and Thou forgavest the iniquity for my sin." (Psalm 32:5)

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13)

"For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." (1Corinthians 11:32)

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1John 1:9)

God is never one's problem. God is always one's solution. It is the job of the Prophet to constantly convey this reality to his hearers.

Of all the times God has sent me to others with a word of pending judgment or coming tragedy because of sin, I have always been very careful to let them know it is conditional and can be changed through repentance.

Not only are words of judgment conditional, words of blessing are conditional as well.

One must be walking uprightly before the Lord and ever striving to be in His perfect will in order to receive the fulfillment of His prophesied blessing.

God assumes those whom He promises to bless have enough sense to stay out of deliberate sin and not block His prophesied blessing.

"If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the land: but if ye refuse and rebel ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." (Isaiah 1:19-20)

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Chapter 4. Jesus, Peter, Paul & John: New Testament Seers

There are many Prophets mentioned in the New Testament. (Acts 11:27-28; 13:1-3; 15:32, etc.) We will not look at them all, but we will specifically look at the "seeing" Ministry of Jesus, Peter, Paul and John.

We will focus more on this aspect of Jesus' Ministry than that of Peter, Paul and John. After all, Jesus is not only the Master Prophet, He is the very Word of God Himself. (Deuteronomy 18:18; John 1:1,14; Acts 3:22; 7:37)

However, it will help us to first see something about the Old Testament Prophet Elijah's Ministry as a Seer.

Elijah once challenged the Prophets of Baal and the unbelief of Israel. He was determined to prove to them all Who was the Supreme God and Judge of the Universe. He set up an altar of twelve large stones, symbolizing each of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Elijah then ordered the altar to be loaded with wood, a bullock cut in pieces placed on top, a trench dug around the altar and barrels of water poured over the entire offering until the trench overflowed.

Finally Elijah prayed, asking God to prove Himself by sending a consuming fire from Heaven.

God immediately responded to the faith of His Prophet. He sent supernatural fire from Heaven which not only consumed the offering but also the wood, the twelve large stones, the earth the altar was sitting upon and licked up every bit of water that was in the trench.

It was as if the altar had been hit with a Heaven-sent nuclear blast.

This was an amazing miracle indeed.

But equally as amazing is the fact that Elijah both heard God tell him to do this and saw God doing it through him beforehand in a vision.

Elijah revealed this fact while praying to the Lord to send the supernatural fire.

"And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the Prophet came near and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel, and that I am Thy servant, and that I have done all these things at Thy word (in this case Hebrew for "word" is "dabar")." (1Kings 18:36)

"Dabar" means both "to speak something forth" and "to act something out."

When Elijah said, "I have done all these things at Thy word," he was actually saying, "I have done all of these things according to what You have both told and shown me to do."

It is quite apparent that prior to the performance of this miracle, God had both told and shown Elijah exactly what He wanted Elijah to do and how He would respond accordingly.

This is how some Seers operated under the Old Testament. This is how some Seers operate under the New Testament as well. They can often hear, and even see beforehand in vision form, exactly what God wants them to do.

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Jesus Christ the Master Seer

Jesus said that He, too, like Elijah and some other Seers, would see Himself first performing the miraculous in vision form before He would actually perform miraculously in the natural realm.

Whether those visions were spiritual visions, trances, open visions, occasionally dreams or a combination of any of them is not stated.

A dream, when it is of God, is simply a vision while one is sleeping. (Numbers 12:6; Job 33:15-18; Joel 2:28-29; Acts 16:8-10)

All other types of visions occur while one is awake.

Jesus would occasionally perceive the reasonings of someone's heart on the spot. This was sometimes to convict of sin and other times it led to miracles. (Luke 5:18-25; 9:46-48)

However, as you will read, Jesus said He would consistently see Himself perform the miraculous, in one vision form or another, before actually performing the miraculous or bringing forth a supernatural revelation.

"Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." (John 5:19)

What Jesus is actually saying here is during times of prayer, meditation, ministry or even "right out of the blue" as we would say, He would often receive supernatural revelation or see Himself in vision form performing the miraculous. He would then later act out what He saw the Father doing through Him in the vision and supernatural things would occur.

This is why He said, "The Son can do nothing but what He seeth the Father do."

Jesus was actually giving glory to the Father for all the things He would see the Father do through Him, first in vision form and then later as He acted it out in the natural realm.

"...the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works (miraculous explosions and revelations)." (John 14:10)

Jesus was always very careful to give His Father the glory for all the things He would see the Father doing through Him during visions before He, Jesus, actually performed the miraculous in the natural realm.

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Examples from the Ministry of the Master Seer

Although all Prophets see into the realm of the spirit in varying degrees when God determines it, no one in the history of humanity ever has or ever will see into the realm of the spirit like Jesus Christ.

This is because no one but Jesus was anointed without measure.

"For He Whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him." (John 3:34)

Following are just a few examples of Jesus' astounding Seer's Ministry.

Keep in mind, referring to His consistent visions, Jesus said, "The Son can do nothing of Himself but what He seeth the Father do." (John 5:19)

In a vision Jesus saw Peter being confronted by the tax collectors. While in the vision He also saw and heard Himself tell Peter to go to the sea, cast a hook and take note of the very first fish he would catch. In the fish's mouth would be a coin worth the exact amount needed to pay both His and Peter's tribute. Peter did as the Prophet instructed and the coin was indeed in the fish's mouth.

Jesus saw all of this happen first in a vision before Peter acted it out in the natural. (Matthew 17:24-27)

In a vision Jesus saw the location of the unridden colt He would use during His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. He sent His disciples out to that exact location to collect the colt, even warning them ahead of time they would be questioned for taking the colt and telling them how to respond.

The disciples went to that exact location, the unridden colt was indeed there and the very questions Jesus warned His disciples would be asked were indeed asked. The disciples answered precisely as Jesus had instructed and the colt was released into their custody.

Jesus saw all of this happen first in a vision before His disciples acted it out in the natural. (Mark 11:1-6)

In a vision Jesus saw the location of where He was to celebrate His last Passover with His disciples. He told His disciples to go to the city and look for a man bearing a pitcher of water and follow him. That man would lead them to a guest chamber where they would celebrate their last Passover together.

It would not be difficult for the disciples to locate the man carrying the pitcher of water because that would be an unusual sight indeed. Women, not men, made all the trips down to the local water well and back. It was extremely unusual for a man to do so.

Jesus' disciples did as they were instructed and it came to pass even as Jesus had foreseen in the vision. The man carrying the pitcher of water was indeed there, he led them to the guest chamber and they were allowed to celebrate Passover there.

Jesus saw all of this happen first in a vision before His disciples acted it out in the natural. (Mark 14:12-16)

In vision form Jesus saw Himself interrupting the funeral procession at Nain, raising the dead man and restoring him to his widowed mother. He went and sat waiting for the funeral procession to pass by and then He did what He saw Himself do in the vision.

The man was raised, there was much joy and great glory was given to the Father, even as Jesus had first seen in a vision. (Luke 7:11-16)

When Jesus first met Simon Peter and before being introduced, Jesus supernaturally identified Peter by both his name and his father's name, even describing Peter's solid, rock-like personality to him.

Jesus had obviously seen and heard Himself doing this in a vision prior to meeting Peter. (John 1:40-42)

In a vision Jesus first saw Nathaniel under a fig tree, fifteen miles away on the other side of the Mount of Olives. At that time Jesus received revelation of Nathaniel's flawless character before He ever even met him. When they finally did meet, this revelation stunned Nathaniel causing him to believe Jesus was indeed the Messiah. (John 1:45-51)

In vision form Jesus actually saw Himself encountering a woman at Jacob's Well in Sychar who had been married five times and who was presently living with a man outside of marriage. In the vision He saw and heard Himself tell her of her immorality.

Later, He went and sat by Jacob's Well waiting for the immoral woman to appear, which she did. He spoke to her supernaturally concerning her five marriages and present immoral living situation.

This revelation caused her to repent and to give her life over to God. She even ran into town telling everyone to return to Jacob's Well with her for she had found the Christ.

All of this Jesus first saw in a vision before He actually acted it out in the natural. (John 4:1-29)

In vision form Jesus first saw Himself heal the man at the Pool at Bethesda before later encountering the crippled man and actually performing the miracle of healing. (John 5:1-18)

In vision form Jesus saw Himself making clay out of dirt and spittle, anointing the eyes of a blind man with the clay. In the vision He saw and heard Himself tell the man to wash the clay off in the Pool of Siloam. He saw the man obey Him and return from the pool seeing.

He later found the blind man, acted out what He saw in the vision and the man received his sight. (John 9:6-7)

In vision form Jesus saw Himself raise Lazarus from the dead long before it occurred in the natural. (John 11:1-45)

There are numerous examples in the Gospels of Jesus seeing Himself perform the miraculous or receive revelation first during a vision before actually acting it out in the natural.

John the Beloved said miracles like these happened so many times during Jesus' Ministry that if they were written in books, all the libraries of the world in that day would not have room to contain them.

"And there are also many other things which Jesus did. If they should be all recorded one by one [in detail], I suppose that even the world itself could not contain (have room for) the books that would be written." (John 21:25 Amplified)

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The Prophet & the Agency of the Holy Spirit

Of course, these supernatural vision, revelation and miracle experiences did not occur in the life of Jesus simply because He was the Son of God.

These things occurred because He was a Holy Spirit-filled human being.

Jesus was the Son of God as an infant, yet He performed no miracles. He was the Son of God as a toddler, a child and an adolescent, yet He performed no miracles. He was also the Son of God as a teenager and a young adult, yet He performed no miracles.

Jesus performed no miracles until He was thirty years old.

We know this is true because the Bible says His first miracle was at the wedding feast in Cana where He turned water into wine.

"This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him." (John 2:11)

This first miracle of turning water into wine occurred immediately after Jesus received the Baptism with the Holy Spirit while standing in the Jordan River at thirty years of age.

"Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, the Heaven was opened. The Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from Heaven, which said, Thou art My beloved Son, in Thee I am well pleased. And Jesus Himself began to be about thirty years of age..." (Luke 3:21-23)

Jesus was no less the Son of God as an infant, toddler, child, adolescent, teenager and young adult than He was at thirty years old.

So, why did Jesus not begin to walk in the miraculous until He was thirty years old?

The answer is because He was not filled with the Holy Spirit until He was thirty years old.

Jesus had to be anointed with the Holy Spirit before He could walk in the miraculous, because He stripped Himself of Deity before coming into the Earth as a human being.

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men..." (Philippians 2:5-8)

Writing to the Philippians the Prophet Paul said Jesus "made Himself of no reputation" and "was made in the likeness of men."

Paul was literally saying Jesus emptied Himself of God's Glory to become a human being.

One translation of this verse says Jesus "stripped Himself of Deity." Another translation says He "became totally devoid of His God-ness." Yet another version of the New Testament says Jesus "ditched His God-ness."

So it is clear that Jesus came to the Earth devoid of the power He had in Heaven and became a human being just like all other human beings.

This is why Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane immediately prior to His crucifixion that His Father would restore Him to the Glory He had when He was in Heaven.

"And now, O Father, glorify Thou Me with Thine ownself with the Glory which I had with Thee before the world was." (John 17:5)

Yes, Jesus was fully God. Yes, He was born of a virgin. Yes, He died for our sins. Yes, He was raised from the dead, ascended to the Father's right hand and is the only Savior of mankind.

His Deity is beyond question.

However, Jesus humbled Himself and became just as human as any of us. Otherwise, He would not be qualified to pay the penalty for our human sin.

Again, it is clear from the Bible that Jesus the Son of God came to Earth minus the Glory He had in Heaven. (John 17:5)

He was then filled with Holy Spirit power as a 30-year old human being at which point He began to walk in the miraculous.

The Bible is clear. It was the Holy Spirit's anointing that enabled Jesus to walk in the miraculous, not His eminence as the Son of God.

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him." (Acts 10:38)

To wrongly believe that Jesus walked in the miraculous because He was the Son of God is to make the mistake of putting Him in a category all by Himself.

As the Son of God, Jesus is in a category by Himself. But in Ministry as a Spirit-filled human being, He is not in a category by Himself.

As a Spirit-filled human being, Jesus is our example in Pentecostal and Charismatic supernatural Ministry.

Because Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to walk in the miraculous, we need the Holy Spirit to walk in the miraculous and He is fully available to us.

"...how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him." (Luke 11:13)

"But ye shall receive power once the Holy Spirit is come upon you..." (Acts 1:8)

It is by the agency of the Holy Spirit that all Believers can experience the miraculous.

It is by the agency of the Holy Spirit that the New Testament Prophet stands in his Office, even as Jesus did.

The Prophet does not walk in the miraculous because of some special intrinsic human ability.

The Prophet walks in the miraculous because God is merciful and He has given the Prophet the same Holy Spirit Baptism which was given to Jesus when He was thirty years old.

This is what Jesus meant when He said His disciples would do the works He did.

"Verily, verily I say unto you, He that believeth on Me the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto My Father." (John 14:12)

When Jesus said, "because I go unto My Father," He meant when He returned to His former Glory in Heaven He would no longer need the Holy Spirit's anointing. (John 17:5)

Therefore, Jesus could send the Holy Spirit back to His Ministers on Earth and the same anointing that was on Him would then be upon them corporately. I am of the belief that the entire Body of Christ now shares the anointing that was once upon Jesus alone. Some have greater degrees of this shared anointing, while others have lesser degrees.

The Prophet must always keep in mind the miraculous occurred in Jesus' Prophet Ministry not because He was the Son of God, but because He was a Spirit-filled human being.

Jesus never performed one miracle until He was anointed with the Holy Spirit - the same Holy Spirit Who is upon all of God's Prophets today.

By the anointing of the same Holy Spirit the Apostle and Prophet Peter had similar experiences with visions. (Acts 10:9-23; 12:1-11)

By the anointing of the same Holy Spirit the Apostle and Prophet Paul had similar experiences with visions. (Acts 9:1-9; 22:17-21; 26:13-19; 27:14-24; 2Corinthians 12:1-9)

By the anointing of the same Holy Spirit the entire Book of Revelation was given to the Apostle and Prophet John while he was in a trance, or "in the Spirit." (Revelation 1:10-20)

By the anointing of the same Holy Spirit supernatural visions, dreams and revelations can occur in the life of any Born Again Spirit-filled Believer in Jesus Christ. They will occur far more consistently in the life and Ministry of a Prophet, but they can and do indeed occur occasionally in the life of anyone whom God wills, particularly in these Last Days.

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit." (Joel 2:28-29)

It must also be stated here again that no one, New Testament Prophets included, will ever operate in visions and Holy Spirit Gift manifestations as strongly and as powerfully as Jesus did. This is because Jesus alone had the Holy Spirit's anointing without measure.

"For He Whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand." (John 3:34-35)

See the book "Understanding the Anointing" by Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin.

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Chapter 5. A Modern Day Prophet Manifestation

Still today, true New Testament Prophets are often referred to as "Seers." This is because it is a regular part of their Ministry to hear things supernaturally or to see and know things supernaturally about others.

Some Prophets even see themselves perform the miraculous beforehand in vision form prior to actually walking those things out in the natural realm, even as Jesus did.

The average Believer in Jesus Christ understands the Gifts of the Spirit in theory only. But in the life of the Prophet, the Gifts of the Spirit are something they experience and live with on a near daily basis, some to a greater or lesser degree than others.

I have personally experienced all of the Gifts of the Spirit many times in my own Prophet's Ministry. The following is just one example of the Word of Wisdom I could recount in the Seer's Ministry.

I was once praying about an upcoming five-day Miracle Healing Revival I had agreed to conduct in Front Royal, Virginia. It was approximately three o'clock in the morning. The Holy Spirit often awakens me at this time to pray in the Spirit or to teach me as with the ear of the learned. (Isaiah 50:4)

Suddenly, I was caught up in the Spirit even as the Prophet John was caught up in the Spirit on the Lord's Day. (Revelation 1:10-11) I found myself in a trance like Jesus would so often find Himself in a trance, like the Prophet Peter went into a trance (Acts 10:5-12) and like the Prophet Paul went into a trance. (Acts 22:17-21)

Of course, I did not realize I was in a trance at the time. Only once one comes out of a trance, does one realize they had been in a trance.

In the trance I realized I was standing in the sanctuary of the very Church in which I was to conduct the revival meetings. I had never been there before, but I knew exactly where I was.

I was standing in the pulpit looking out over hundreds of people in attendance.

I was aware of how low the ceiling was for such a large room.

As I looked straight out and to my left, I noticed an angled aisle.

I looked up the burgundy-carpeted aisle and noticed a woman sitting in the aisle seat exactly two rows from the back wall. She was in her late forties or early fifties.

She had brown hair with bangs and was wearing a red, ribbed-turtleneck sweater, a light jacket and either a denim skirt or jeans.

As I looked at her sitting there, I heard the voice of the Lord speak from behind me, even as John the Prophet heard the voice of the Lord speak from behind him when he was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day. (Revelation 1:10-20)

The Lord gave me a Word of Knowledge concerning her.

He said, "She is struggling and suffering terribly concerning her finances. Tell her I said, 'It's over.'"

I stood staring at her, pondering what the Lord had just revealed to me.

Just as suddenly as I went into the Spirit, I came out of the Spirit and was back in my place of prayer.

I realized I had just gone to Front Royal, Virginia, to the very Church I would minister in weeks later, and was now back again.

Later that morning I shared the details of the vision with my wife. I told her, "When we arrive at the Church she will be sitting where the Lord showed me she will be sitting. She will be wearing what the Lord showed me she will be wearing. I am going to call her out and tell her what the Lord told me to tell her. The Lord will take me on in my obedience and confirm to her that her struggling is over, even as He told me. Somehow she will experience a miracle in her finances."

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"There She Is, Lord. I'm Going to Obey You."

Weeks later we arrived at the Church in Virginia and it was exactly as I had seen in the trance, right down to the low ceiling, the angled aisle to my left and the burgundy carpeting on the floor.

As the service was beginning my wife and I were standing in the front row. I looked back and I saw the woman with the brown hair, red ribbed-turtleneck, light jacket and denim skirt.

She was seated on the angled aisle, two rows from the back and in the very seat which the Lord had shown me in the trance weeks earlier.

I said, "There she is Lord, just like You showed me. I am going to obey You. I am going to call her out as You told me and You will confirm the vision."

When I stepped into the pulpit I immediately called her out.

I asked her if she knew me. She answered, "No, not personally. Although I did know you were coming."

I asked if we had ever spoken or even met before. She answered, "No."

I then asked if she had been struggling financially. She and her husband both publicly confirmed that she had been so burdened by financial trouble that she was actually physically ill. She was suffering terribly even as the Lord told me.

I told her, "The Lord showed you to me in a vision. He told me to tell you that your financial struggles are over. He said to tell you, 'It's over.'"

Her husband soon burst into tears and cried uncontrollably.

After the service they came to me individually asking if I knew how the Lord was going to bring the word of revelation to pass. I told them that I did not know but that He would do it in a way that would bring great glory to Himself. I reminded them that they didn't have to try to figure anything out, even as Moses didn't have to try to figure out how he was going to deliver Israel from Egypt.

I said, "Moses didn't have to figure a thing out. If he tried to do so Moses would have messed it all up. He just had to trust God to take him through the Exodus supernaturally, one step at a time. You don't have to figure anything out either. If you try to do so you'll mess it all up. Trust the Lord to take you through this supernaturally, one step at a time. Somehow He is going to supernaturally reverse your financial situation and glorify Himself in it.

"All I can tell you is I know what I saw in a vision before coming here. Even as the vision has proved out in every detail here today, the fulfillment of the vision will also prove out according to God's plan and purpose."

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The Supernatural Fulfillment of the Vision

I spoke to the woman's husband on the telephone about two months after I had called her out during the service to give her that Word of Knowledge.

He called to relay the following supernatural fulfillment of the vision.

"At the time of you calling her out, my wife was getting her house in order because she was planning her own suicide. That is how bad things were concerning our finances.

"I want to thank you for obeying God, standing up there and giving her that word. I don't know what I would do without her had she taken her life. Once you gave her that word, everything changed in our lives. Everything. Our marriage relationship was under tremendous pressure but that has changed as well. We are free to love one another again. We have peace in our home again. Everything has changed for the good. We were able to believe God again and to just trust Him as Moses trusted Him like you said.

"Less than two weeks after you called her out from the pulpit and gave her that word from the Lord, someone who knew nothing at all of our situation gave her (a very substantial amount of money). Our whole lives have changed as of that word being given. Thank you, thank you. I don't know how I could have lived without her."

I reminded this Brother that all the glory for what occurred belonged to the Lord, not to me, although I did indeed understand his thanking me.

Before hanging up he said, "Oh, yes, by the way. My wife wanted me to tell you that as she was preparing her clothes for the service the day you gave her that word, she had a black turtleneck laid out to wear. At the last minute she said to me, 'I think I need to wear my red turtleneck sweater and not my black one today.' I thought you might find that interesting. It really adds to the testimony, doesn't it?"

The demonic power of the spirit of suicide was broken and this woman's life was spared.

She and her husband were greatly exhorted, edified and comforted by both the Word of Knowledge which the Lord had allowed me to see and to hear in a trance, as well as the supernatural fulfillment of that Word of Knowledge.

Her struggles concerning suicide and finances were indeed over.

God was glorified, the Lordship of Jesus Christ was confirmed as God demonstrated His compassion for this suffering woman through a modern day manifestation of the Office of the New Testament Prophet.

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Chapter 6. The Prophet Experiences Consistent Supernatural Manifestations

As we have learned the true New Testament Prophet operates very consistently in at least two of the three Revelation Gifts, plus the Gift of Prophecy and Gifts of Healings.

Laypeople may operate occasionally or sporadically in the Revelation Gifts and simple prophecy. However, laypeople must keep in mind that just because God may occasionally allow this, it does not mean they are a Prophet.

Prophets operate in these Gifts far more consistently than the layperson. Oftentimes daily, if not weekly, whether privately or publicly, all depending on the level or degree of grace and anointing on the Prophet's life. (Romans 12:6)

It has also been my personal experience that visions and revelations of the Lord can sometimes come in clusters - one right after another. We see this in the lives of the Prophets Joseph, Daniel and Ezekiel as well as others in the Bible.

During the time I was praying for the previously mentioned Front Royal, Virginia revival services, the Lord caught me up in multiple trances over the course of many nights. In those trances, He showed me exactly how to conduct most of the services of the Front Royal revival weeks before they were to occur.

He showed me exactly what to do in each of those services and what would happen as a result of my obeying Him.

Having arrived in Front Royal, each night as I acted out what I heard myself preaching and what I saw myself doing in the trance related to that service, everything occurred exactly as He showed me it would weeks earlier.

In one trance I saw and heard myself preaching concerning sexual immorality within that congregation and giving an altar call for those Christians who were involved in it.

Exactly as I had seen in the earlier trance, dozens of Christian people came forward to repent for living in sexual sin, including some of the Pastor's staff and family members.

After the service the Pastor said to me, "I want to thank you for obeying God and doing that. You did me a favor. I had no idea all those people were living in sexual sin."

I answered, "Neither did I until the Lord caught me up in a trance and showed it to me."

In another trance concerning another of those services I saw and heard myself preaching on overcoming the spirit of suicide. In the trance I also gave an altar call and saw what appeared to be multiple dozens of people in that Church come forward to be set free from the unclean spirit of suicide.

I then conducted the service exactly as I had seen and heard myself do weeks earlier in the trance, and approximately 100 people, from 8 years old to eighty years old, came forward to have that unclean spirit cast out of them.

Each of them had been hearing voices telling them to take their own lives.

Unbeknownst to that Pastor, many people in his Church, including staff and family members, were living in extreme immorality and/or being tormented by the spirit of suicide.

One woman came up to me after the service and said, "I am a prostitute. I have been attending this Church for years and no one ever told me what I do is wrong. Tonight the Holy Spirit showed me I was wrong and set me free."

Many of those precious people would be prematurely dead today or suffering some other form of tragedy were it not for God's merciful, supernatural intervention through spiritual trances in the Ministry of the Prophet.

Sadly, this is the sinful condition of the average Spirit-filled Christian Church today. Many Christians are living in sin and bondage while pretending otherwise before their Pastors.

Along with rampant abortion and tampering with Israel's national security, this is one of the primary reasons Christian America is presently under the allowed judgment of a loving God. Sin runs amuck amongst Christian Churches in America.

Prior to even arriving at the Front Royal, Virginia revival, the Lord caught me up in multiple trances, taking me into the Church supernaturally, showing me how to conduct the services and what would happen when I obeyed Him.

This was to help the Pastor and his congregation, to bring them to repentance and to keep them from suffering unnecessary judgment or tragedies.

Each and every night of those services I acted out in the natural what I had seen in the spirit realm weeks before and everything occurred precisely as I had seen in those visions.

There were many outstanding healing miracles as well.

All of these things occurred through the Office of the Prophet to glorify God, confirm the Lordship of Jesus Christ, demonstrate God's compassion for humanity and to assist the Pastor in rooting out problems that were, for the most part, hidden from him.

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The Prophet Paul's Proof Positive

In response to his critics and enemies at Corinth who said he was not a Prophet, Paul advised he was indeed a Prophet of God with proof positive - consistent manifestations and demonstrations of the Revelation Gifts.

Although normally not one to boast, in defense of his Prophet's anointing Paul pointed to that proof when he said, "It is not expedient [profitable] for me doubtless to glory [boast]. [But] I will come to [do experience] visions and revelations of the Lord." (2Corinthians 12:1 Amplified)

The Greek word Paul used here for "revelations" actually means, "A consistent unveiling of things not known before and which God alone could make known."

Anyone who calls oneself a Prophet who does not experience consistent visions and revelations of the Lord through the Revelation Gifts of the Spirit, should re-examine their calling.

The Prophet Paul not only said he experienced visions and revelations, he said he experienced them consistently and in abundance.

"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure." (2Corinthians 12:7)

The Greek word Paul used here for "abundance" means, "Beyond all others in both number and excellency."

It is clear that Paul is not referring to occasional "pipe dream" visions and “generalized" revelations that anyone could easily guess at, as so many false Prophets do today.

It should also be noted here that God-inspired visions and revelations will always line up with the written Word of God. Always. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5)

Many of the dreams, visions and revelations put forth by many popular, modern day false Prophets who flood the airwaves, internet and bookstores with spiritual debris do not line up with what is written in the Bible.

One false Prophet declared, "The Lord has revealed to me that there will be many deaths of Hollywood actors this year." I thought to myself, "Well, that wasn't a specific revelation from the Lord. There will be many deaths amongst all people this year. As a matter of fact, one hundred and fifty thousand people die every day and many of them are Hollywood actors!"

Anyone can spew forth foolish and generalized predictions.

The Prophet Paul was not referring to foolish and generalized predictions. He was referring to a consistent unveiling of things not known before and which God alone could make known. Again, as stated above, this occurs often on a daily basis - if not daily then weekly on average, in the lives of true New Testament Prophets. (Romans 15:18-19,29)

Keep in mind however, consistently experiencing visions and revelations and even prophesying are not the primary functions of the New Testament Prophet.

The New Testament Prophet is first and foremost a Bible Teacher and/or a Preacher.

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The Prophet Is Known by His Credentials

Any Prophet who does not have the Scriptural credentials outlined in this Bible-based Prophet's Handbook is not a New Testament Prophet at all. They would be a false Prophet. This does not always mean the individual is evil. It simply means they are not a true New Testament Prophet.

As a result of the errant teachings of the false Prophetic movement, many today have been led to believe that they are Prophets just because they occasionally operate in the simple Gift of Prophecy.

However, this just is not Biblical.

One must never make the mistake of wrongly intruding into the Prophet's Office just because they operate occasionally in the simple Gift of Prophecy. It is dangerous to intrude into an Office to which one is not called. This is how King Saul died prematurely. (1Samuel 13:1-14; 31:1-13)

One must be first and foremost a Teacher and/or Preacher of God's Word. They must teach and/or preach by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, experience consistent operations of the Revelation Gifts plus Prophecy and have Healing Gifts in consistent manifestation.

These alone are the credentials which identify the true New Testament Prophet.

Individuals in all walks of life are known by their credentials.

The same is true of the New Testament Prophet.

Anyone who calls oneself a Prophet, yet is lacking the credentials of strong teaching and/or preaching skills plus supernatural confirmation, is not a true Prophet at all.

The Prophet Jesus pointed to the fact that He was an inspired Teacher sent from God.

"... I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak these things." (John 8:28b)

Jesus said, "...the very works that I do by the power of My Father and in My Father's Name bear witness concerning Me [they are My credentials and evidence in support of Me]." (John 10:25b Amplified)

Jesus also said, "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me: or else believe Me for the very works sake." (John 14:11)

Here, Jesus is saying, in essence, "You know I'm God's Prophet because I've got the goods to prove it - teaching and preaching by Divine inspiration plus supernatural demonstrations, operations and manifestations."

When the Pharisee Nicodemus came to Jesus under the cover of darkness, he acknowledged Jesus' Prophet credentials - teaching and miracles.

"The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest except God be with him." (John 3:1-2)

Peter preaching at Pentecost pointed directly to Jesus' Prophet credentials.

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know." (Acts 2:22)

Jesus warned, "Beware of false Prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:15-16)

The supernatural fruits of the New Testament Prophet's Ministry are teaching and/or preaching by supernatural inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the consistent operation of the Revelation Gifts plus Prophecy, as well as healings in consistent manifestation.

However, the Prophet must always keep in mind that he does not control the anointing or the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit determines if and when the Gifts of the Spirit will go into operation.

The Prophet's responsibility is to learn to recognize when the anointing is present and how to flow with it.

If the anointing to operate in Spiritual Gifts does not manifest, the Prophet must proceed with teaching and/or preaching as the Holy Spirit leads.

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The Prophet's Ministry Is Also a Healing Ministry

The New Testament Prophet’s Ministry is also a healing Ministry, although the Prophet cannot heal anyone at will. Healing Gifts manifest according to the will of God alone.

It is always God's will to heal, yes, but only God can determine when the Gifts of Healings will go into operation. Either way, there is a consistent healing anointing that accompanies this office. (2Kings 5:1-19; Matthew 8:1-3,14-17; 14:36; Luke 4:27; 17:11-19; John 9:6-7; Acts 9:32-43; 28:1-9)

Some Prophets operate more strongly in Revelation Gifts than in the Gifts of Healings, and vice versa. It is all up to the Holy Spirit which Prophet will operate more strongly in what Gifts, when and how.

However, even when the Gifts of Healings are not in manifestation, the Prophet is still free to minister healing to the people by faith and by the laying on of hands. (Mark 16:17-18; James 5:14-15)

When the Gifts of Healings are in manifestation healing is instant or near instant. When the Prophet ministers healing by faith healing is more gradual and progressive.

Either way, when people who are not instantly healed are encouraged to continue to believe, they will receive their healing.

It is also important to point out that the Lord does not intend for the Prophet's Revelation, Prophetic and Healing Gifts to be used upon himself. The Prophet's Spiritual Gifts are given for the benefit of others outside of the Prophet himself.

Like everyone else in the Body of Christ, the Prophet must develop and use his own personal faith, not his Gifts, for the meeting of his own personal needs such as guidance, healing, provision, etc.

However, even as all Christians can experience miracles in their own lives through the unfailing law of personal faith, the Prophet can as well.

"But without faith it's impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

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The Prophet Stays in the Called Place of Grace

Prophet William Marrion Branham is often acknowledged as initiating the post-World War II healing revival. This revival was also known as the Voice of Healing Revival. Prophet Branham was a Preacher Prophet, not a Teacher Prophet. He ministered nationally and internationally, night after night, before thousands of awed Believers. By the Spirit of God within he discerned the diseases of the sick as God supernaturally healed them.

It has been said by many that William Branham had the most accurate operation of the Word of Knowledge since the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Untold thousands of times, before thousands of Believers, he told people whom he had never met their names, addresses, occupations, doctors' diagnosis, diseases, etc.

The Holy Spirit did this through Prophet Branham to stir the faith of people in order to help them receive their healing miracles and salvation in Christ. As a result, for the most part, people were instantly healed while on some occasions they were healed later if they continued to expect.

Over the course of his life Prophet Branham had literally thousands of visions that resulted in the freeing of captives, the healing of multitudes and the salvation of untold numbers.

In 1958 Prophet Branham held a crusade in India where an estimated 500,000 people were in attendance. Prophet Branham held up a Quran and a Bible, boldly proclaiming to his listeners, "One of these books is right and one of these books is wrong."

He then called for a blind man to be brought to him on the platform. The man had been blind for twenty years. The Prophet then boldly proclaimed, "Muhammad's priests and Buddha's priests cannot make this man see. I cannot make this man see. But Jesus Christ, God's Priest, can open this man's eyes again. Jesus Christ just gave me a vision and He showed me He will now open this man's eyes."

Instantly the man began to see per the Prophet's declaration and the crowd exploded into a literal faith outbreak.

It is reported that "thousands times thousands of people in attendance who witnessed that one miracle gave their lives to Jesus Christ." Prophet Branham said there was just no way to tell exactly how many gave their lives to Jesus that day.

William Branham, by the Spirit of God as a Preaching Prophet did things such as this so often in his over thirty years of Ministry there is just no way to recount them all.

At another crusade in Durban, South Africa, twenty to thirty thousand individuals received instant healings as a result of God performing two or three miracles through Prophet Branham on the platform.

The personal faith of those in attendance was elevated by witnessing those miracles on the platform, causing them to reach out to God for miracles of their own.

The God of Mercy responded to their faith with astounding healings and miracles.

When the Durban crusade had ended, seven large truckloads of crutches, canes, braces and other apparatus left behind by the healed were hauled off the crusade field.

As long as he stayed humble, avoiding pride and staying as the Preacher Prophet he was called to be, William Branham flowed with the Spirit of God astoundingly and supernaturally.

However, in the late 1950's Prophet Branham began to get off track. He stepped out of the area of preaching to which God had called him and decided to become a Teacher.

He was not graced and gifted to be a Teacher and it was a great misstep on his part to intrude into the Teacher's Office.

As a result of Prophet Branham's disobedience, he opened himself up to Satan's deception. He began to believe and publicly claim to be the end-time "Elijah" Prophet of the Laodicean Church Age.

He wrongly believed he was ordained of God to open the seven seals found in the Book of Revelation, chapters five through eight.

Brother Branham sidestepped his simple preaching Prophet Ministry which produced stupendous miracles and stepped into the Teacher's Ministry to which he was not called.

As a result his Ministry became complicated, bizarre and confusing.

In 1964 the Holy Spirit spoke to Prophet Kenneth E. Hagin concerning Brother Branham's intruding into an office to which he was not called. In that prophecy the Lord said, "At the end of '65, he who now stands in the forefront of the healing Ministry as a Prophet will be taken out of the way. He'll make a false step and Satan shall destroy his life, but his spirit will be saved, and his works will follow him. Ere '66 shall come, he shall be gone."

Brother Gordon Lindsay of Christ for the Nations, a close friend of both Prophets Branham and Hagin, attempted multiple times to reach Prophet Branham with this warning Word of Wisdom, but he just would not listen.

Brother Lindsay told him, "You don't know the Bible and you're confusing folks. Leave the Bible teaching to the Teachers. Just go ahead and preach and exercise the Word of Knowledge and Gifts of Healings as the Spirit wills, and be a blessing to the Body of Christ."

The once humble, sweet and powerful, but now rebellious, Prophet Branham responded, "I know I am not a Teacher, but I want to teach and I am going to teach."

(See "He Gave Gifts Unto Men" by Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin. Pages 165-166.)

Oh, the extreme danger of stepping into an office to which one is not called.

In the Old Testament when someone stepped into an office to which they were not called, they died instantly or soon thereafter.

In the New Testament, under the Dispensation of Grace in which we presently live, it is possible to get away with something like this for a little bit longer. However, one day or another anyone who intrudes into a Ministry Office that is not their own will face a loving God's allowed judgment.

Eighteen months after Prophet Hagin's word that he would be judged for stepping into an office to which he was not called, Prophet William Marrion Branham died as a result of a tragic automobile accident in Texas. He was returning home to Jeffersonville, Indiana from Tucson, Arizona for the Christmas holidays with his family.

At only 56 years of age he died prematurely, having not completed his course with excellence. He had slipped into pride, intruded into an office for which he was not graced and began teaching strange, unbiblical doctrines.

This not only resulted in tremendous problems and judgment for the Prophet, it also made much trouble for many of his ardent followers who chose to walk the dark road of deception with him.

Almighty God in His mercy determined to allow it to come to an end for the greater good of Christ's Body. Prophet Branham stepped into an office for which he was not graced and was doing more harm than good.

Prophet, learn a lesson from one of the greatest Preaching Prophets since Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. Judge yourself. Find God's ordained place of grace for you as a Prophet and stay there.

Never intrude into an office to which you are not called. It will result in judgment and that judgment could easily be premature death.

One may listen to hundreds of Prophet Branham's preaching messages and astounding healing lines at www.Branham.org/en/MessageAudio. It is also advisable that every Prophet read the book, "William Branham. A Man Sent from God" by Gordon Lindsay.

However, Prophet beware. Prophet Branham's problem with false doctrine began in approximately 1958. It is advisable to not read or listen to anything published from that time on.

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Chapter 7. Manifestations According to the Will of God, Not the Will of Man

Again, it is important to keep in mind that the Holy Spirit determines when the Gifts will and will not operate, not the Prophet.

Many false Prophets, and even well-meaning but unlearned true New Testament Prophets, actually advertise ahead of time they will be prophesying over the Body and operating in Spiritual Gifts during their services.

This is very dangerous because the Gifts of the Spirit operate only as God wills, not as man wills or advertises.

"All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses." (1Corinthians 12:11 Amplified)

Man is not the Head of the Church. Jesus is the Head of the Church. (Ephesians 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Colossians 1:18)

Man is not running things in the Church; the Holy Spirit is running things and only as Jesus directs Him. (John 16:13-14)

What if it is not the will of the Lord for His Gifts to operate in those meetings and the people come expecting the Prophet to perform as advertised?

This is when false, and even well-meaning but unlearned true New Testament Prophets, begin yielding to familiar and wrong spirits, fabricating and conjuring things up, leading people into deep deception and even demonic bondage.

This has become a gargantuan problem amongst the false Prophets of the false Prophetic movement today.

This is why true New Testament Prophets develop their preaching and teaching skills early on.

This is why true New Testament Prophets are first and foremost Teachers and/or Preachers of the Word of God.

When the supernatural Revelation Gifts of the Spirit do not manifest during a true New Testament Prophet's service, that Prophet understands his job is to now preach and/or teach and not try to force the supernatural.

This keeps the New Testament Prophet and everyone who follows him out of trouble.

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Chapter 8. Warning! The New Testament Prophet Is Not in the Guidance Business

Unquestionably, the New Testament Prophet is not in the guidance business.

In the Old Testament Prophets did give guidance to individuals, but they do not do so in the New Testament.

It cannot possibly be over-emphasized that New Testament Believers are to seek their own guidance through the Bible and through the inner witness and still small voice of the Holy Spirit.

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God...the Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit..." (Romans 8:14,16)

Under the New Testament the children of God are led by the Word of God and the Spirit of God from within.

"And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts, deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds..." (Colossians 3:15 Amplified)

Under the New Testament the children of God are led primarily by the peace or unrest of the Holy Spirit from within. When a Believer has a question as to whether they should or should not do something, God's peace is His "Yes" and unrest is His "No." Although this is not a spectacular form of guidance, it is indeed a supernatural form of guidance.

"But you have an unction (anointing within) from the Holy One, and ye know all things." (1John 2:20)

This verse is not stating that the Believer is omniscient, or all-knowing. This verse is stating that the Born Again Believer in Jesus Christ has the Holy Spirit living within. The Holy Spirit within imparts to the Believer all they need to know about God's plan for their life without a Prophet needing to tell them. A Prophet may confirm what the Believer already knows within, but a New Testament Prophet does not offer guidance.

"But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man should teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him." (1John 2:27)

Here again we find an additional witness that the anointing of God is to lead the New Testament Believer from within. They do not need a Prophet or a Bible Teacher to teach them the will of God for their life. The Holy Spirit speaks to the New Testament Believer from within, leading and guiding them in the way they should go.

Although the New Testament Believer does not need a Prophet or any other of the Ministry Offices to teach them God's will for their life and to give them guidance, the New Testament Believer does need the Five Fold Ministry Offices to teach them the Word of God and to help bring them to spiritual maturity. (Ephesians 4:11-16)

The Ministry Offices are not to tell Believers the will of God for their personal lives.

The Ministry Offices are to teach Believers the Word of God.

Most of the false Prophets who are involved with the modern day false Prophetic movement do not understand this. Due to a lack of knowledge, they wrongly believe that the New Testament Prophet operates identically to the Old Testament Prophet. Therefore, they go about offering guidance to Bible-illiterate individuals and for the most part demons are speaking through them.

True Prophets do not offer guidance but they do teach the Word of God.

False Prophets offer guidance but they do not properly teach the Word of God.

As a result, individuals who receive guidance from them, far more often than not end up deceived and as spiritual wreckage on the side of life's highway.

Under the Old Testament the only individuals who had the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit were the Prophet, the Priest and the King. The Hebrew people did not have the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Under the Old Testament Holy God dwelt amongst His people, but not within His people. (Exodus 25:8; 29:45; Leviticus 26:12)

Therefore, when someone needed to hear from God they would go to the Prophet who would speak to them on God's behalf.

However, under the New Testament, all Believers qualify for the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Under the New Testament God does not simply dwell amongst His people, He dwells within His people. (1Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 3:16-17; 2Timothy 1:14)

Therefore, Believers in Jesus Christ today are to look inwardly to obtain their own guidance and not outwardly towards the Prophet.

The New Testament Prophet who attempts to operate as an Old Testament Prophet by wrongly giving individuals guidance can be equated to trying to drive an automobile forward while staring into the rearview mirror.

Much harm will occur and someone is going to get hurt.

The New Testament Prophet who attempts to operate as an Old Testament Prophet is trying to stay warm today on yesterday's sunshine. That is an impossibility.

Many false Prophets abide in the land. Most of them prophesy guidance to individuals with enough wind to fly a kite. Impressive as it may appear to the Bible-illiterate, it is wrong, it is dangerous and it is to be avoided at all costs.

True New Testament Prophets do not offer guidance as a practice. New Testament Believers are to seek their own guidance from the Word of God and by listening to the Holy Spirit within.

For more specific teaching on Supernatural Biblical Guidance visit our tuition-free John Hamel Ministries Online Bible Training Centre.

Some New Testament Believers insist upon being led by the Prophet’s Ministry. That violates the New Testament standard and opens one up to evil spirits who are familiar with people. When Believers look to God’s Prophets for guidance they motivate Satan and open the door to tragedy.

When false Prophets willingly and habitually lay hands on and offer guidance to everyone in the room, such as many do today, that also opens the door to evil spirits who are familiar with people. This lays the groundwork for potential tragedy. God sets His face against those who do so apart from His leading.

"And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set My face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 20:6-7)

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The Prophet Can Confirm What Someone Already Knows

Prophets can confirm what someone already knows the Lord is speaking to their spirit from within. However, it is rare indeed for a New Testament Prophet to offer guidance.

The Prophets and Teachers at Antioch confirmed what Barnabas and Saul already knew, but they did not tell them the will of God. Barnabas and Saul already knew the will of God for themselves. (Acts 13:1-4)

The Prophet Agabus did not tell the Prophet Paul that it was God's will for him to go to Jerusalem. However, he did confirm to Paul what Paul already knew about going to Jerusalem and what would happen to him when he got there. (Acts 21:10-14)

A young Helps Minister once called me to ask if he should take the Pastorate of a certain Church being offered to him. I told him it would be wrong for me to tell him what God's will might be in the matter. I encouraged him to go back and lean heavily on everything I had previously taught him about being led by the inward witness of the Holy Spirit.

I encouraged him to take a few days to fast and pray, seeking the Lord's inward witness.

Sadly, he did not bother to take my Biblical counsel. But he did take the money-bait.

He had just lost his job, had pressing financial needs, a new baby and was being offered $15,000 cash and a substantial salary if he would take the Church immediately. The outgoing Pastor had been hired by a world-renown Ministry and was anxious to leave post haste.

A few months later as I was praying in the Holy Spirit, the Lord said to me by His authoritative voice, "Tell (him) I said he missed it when he took that Church." I asked the Holy Spirit to please have him call me. He did as I asked.

Shortly thereafter the young man called me.

When I told him, "The Lord said to tell you that you missed it when you took that Church," he immediately replied, "I already knew that. You are right. I knew it before you even told me."

The Lord's Word of Knowledge to me concerning his mistake confirmed precisely what this young man already knew.

I then explained to him how had he taken my advice to seek the inward witness he would not have made this mistake. He wholeheartedly agreed again.

I also told him he would be wise to seek the Lord as to how he was to get out of that situation and get back into the safety of the perfect will of God.

He agreed to do so but, again, never followed through.

Once again his pressing financial needs caused him to disobey the Holy Spirit and remain there as the Pastor of the Church.

As a result, ten years later he was still attempting to complete a building project which normally would take no more than one year had it been God's will, Who would have made the finances readily available.

To make matters worse, the young man brought in a high dollar Prophet who was willing to offer him guidance. This Prophet told him he was indeed in the will of God, assuring him that he would flourish if he would stay in place.

Overjoyed, the young Pastor then claimed the Prophet as his "spiritual father."

Soon thereafter the money-minded Prophet who was willing to wrongly offer guidance died tragically when his jet fell from the sky over a Kansas soyfield.

Ultimately, there is always a price to pay for disobeying the Word and the Spirit.

This young man brought reproach to God, unnecessarily shamed himself before the community, scattered sheep, lost many members and confused and injured many more.

This is not to mention the role he played in the premature death of the Prophet.

Had he only repented when the Lord had me give him that confirming Word of Knowledge, our loving Father would have glorified Himself, bailed him out, spared him shame and embarrassment and kept others from being unnecessarily frustrated and injured spiritually.

As the Holy Spirit led me over the years, I would try to explain that because he was out of the will of God, everyone who attended his services or supported him in any way were also out of the will of God, including his family.

I would remind him that he was risking harm coming to all of them.

In his stubbornness, pride and money-mindedness the young Pastor dug in his heels choosing to keep himself, his family and his supporters outside of the safety of God's perfect will.

Ten years earlier I had the opportunity to give this young novice guidance but I did not do so. I knew it would not be the will of God for me to do so.

At that time had he only listened to my Biblical counsel to seek the inward witness of the Holy Spirit, he would have spared himself and many others years of shame, frustration and loss.

Had the other Prophet not been willing to offer guidance contrary to the Word and Spirit of God and contrary to the young Pastor's own admitted inward witness, he himself may still be alive today.

Prophet, you are not in the guidance business. God has not called you to give guidance.

Occasionally Sovereign God may allow it to happen, particularly on behalf of a baby Christian, for the benefit of someone in an extreme crisis or for the particularly dull or stubborn - but very, very rarely.

One of the Prophet's most important responsibilities is to teach people how to be led by the Word, the inward witness and the still small voice of the Holy Spirit.

Even the Prophet himself must learn how to be personally led by the Word, the inward witness and the still small voice of the Holy Spirit. God guides Prophets personally in the same way He guides all Believers.

The New Testament Prophet would do exceedingly well to understand this.

The Prophet does not commonly receive spectacular forms of guidance for his personal life. For his personal life he must determine to be led by the Word and the Spirit just like everyone else. (1Kings 19:11-13)

Again, the Prophet can confirm what someone already knows by the Spirit within.

However, the Prophet is not in the guidance business.

Prophets who willfully and disobediently offer guidance endanger themselves and everyone else who is foolish enough to listen to them.

"The sons and the daughters of God are led by the Spirit of God. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirits ..." (Romans 8:14,16)

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The Prophet Does Not Merchandise

Prophets who offer prophetic guidance as a practice, or for a fee, are to be shunned like the plague. Do not imitate them.

Beware of false Prophets who lay hands on individuals everywhere they go and prophesy God's will and guidance into their lives. Do not imitate them.

Prophets who prophesy finances and material goods out of someone's possession and into theirs are also to be shunned like the plague. Do not imitate them for that is absolutely forbidden in Scripture. (2Kings 5:20-27)

Prophets who do such things for profit may as well be robbing an individual at gunpoint and they will ultimately pay a bitter price for doing so.

Say a bold “No” to thug Prophets who prophesy finances and possessions away from others. Do not imitate them.

Say another bold “No” to Prophets who sell prophecies for financial remuneration! Do not imitate them.

Any prophecy someone may need has already been purchased with the precious Blood of Jesus Christ. There are no hidden Prophet fees or added surcharges.

Prophets who sell prophecies are nothing more than religious racketeers who speak on behalf of the devil. They lead individuals right out of the will of God, getting them into deep trouble every time. Imitating them could literally cut the true Prophet's life short.

True Prophets neither give guidance for free nor do they sell it for a fee.

On at least three different occasions, at the beginning and at the end of His Ministry, the Prophet Jesus forcefully drove the money-changers out of the Temple. He never once passively welcomed them in. (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; John 2:13-17)

Prophet, be like the Master Jesus. Respectfully, but forcefully, drive false Prophets who offer guidance for a fee out of your life - unless they are willing to repent.

Never passively welcome them in. Never imitate them.

Also, the Prophet never charges or receives a fee to pray for someone. There will be times when some Prophets will be offered large amounts of money or material possessions to come and pray for someone's sick loved one, etc.

If the Prophet determines the Holy Spirit is leading him to go and pray in such a situation, then he must go. However, he must not do so for a fee. The Prophet Jesus has already paid the price for the healing of all who believe and the Prophet must not charge anything additional. (Isaiah 53:1-5; Matthew 8:16-17; 1Peter 2:24)

The Prophet must refuse to receive anything in exchange for prayer. If the individual would later like to make an offering into the Prophet's Ministry as the Holy Spirit leads, that is fine. But if the Prophet agrees to special prayer, he must never charge a direct fee or receive anything in exchange.

Offerings are one thing but buying and selling prophetic words, healings, etc. are another.

It is wrong for a Prophet to accept a fee when the Spirit of God is moving or has moved miraculously. Some Prophets even dare to stop a service when the anointing manifests in order to sell their books and CDs or to take a cash offering.

That is an absolute God griever and Glory quencher. (1Thessalonians 5:19)

I once stood on the platform as a guest speaker at a New England regional convocation of a large Pentecostal denomination. Suddenly the Glory of God began to fill the auditorium with its radiant emerald green incandescent presence. It was the same emerald colored Glory that the Apostle John saw surrounding Holy God's Throne. (Revelation 4:2-3)

I stood and watched God's healing Glory as it literally began to fill the auditorium, hovering over hundreds of people.

Suddenly the Bishop of the denomination whose guest I was, rose to take an offering.

As a result, the emerald green Glory of God receded as quickly as it had appeared.

Holy God was grieved by such a display of greed and carnality. Many people went home without receiving the miracles God was sending, although the Bishop went home with his pockets filled with filthy lucre.

God is not opposed to prosperity in perspective. (3John 2)

God is opposed to loving money more than one loves His presence. (1Timothy 6:10)

One could easily lose their anointing or even their life for doing such foolish things. (Revelation 2:4-5)

When Naaman offered the Prophet Elisha financial and material remuneration for the miracle healing he had just received, Elisha strongly refused it. He told Naaman, "As the Lord liveth, before Whom I stand, I will receive none." Grateful Naaman continued to insist while God-fearing Elisha continued to resist. (2Kings 5:15-19)

The Prophet Elisha refused to be personally reimbursed for what God alone had done.

Shortly thereafter Elisha's servant, Gehazi, ran after Naaman, lying to him, telling him his master changed his mind and would like a talent of silver and two changes of garments. Of course, Naaman was more than glad to oblige. (2Kings 5:20-24)

The Holy Spirit then took Elisha into a vision and showed him what Gehazi had done.

Elisha said to his servant, "Went not my heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? It is not time to receive money and to receive garments, and olive yards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and men servants, and maid servants. The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed forever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow." (2Kings 5:26-27)

Prophet beware. Gehazi brought a curse upon himself and his household by attempting to financially and materially profit from a miracle move of God's Spirit through His Prophet.

Gehazi prospered for a moment but he ended up wearing those high dollar clothes in a leper colony.

True and wise Prophets of God do not charge fees for prophesying or praying.

Many of God's Prophets have died prematurely for operating as religious racketeers and merchandising their anointings.

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Warning! Multitudes of False Prophets in the Land

As stated previously, there are many false Prophets abiding in the land. Most of them prophesy guidance to individuals with enough wind to fly a kite. Impressive as it may appear to the Bible-illiterate, it is wrong, it is dangerous and it is to be avoided at all costs.

Whatever the Lord shows to His Prophet, it will always be in line with the written Word of God. It will never contradict Holy Scripture.

For example, a Prophet who tells a Christian that it is God's will for them to marry an individual who is not a Christian would be out of line with the written Word of God.

First, the Prophet is not to give guidance. Second, the Bible says Believers must not marry unbelievers.

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?" (2Corinthians 6:14)

Whenever the Holy Spirit does reveal something to the Prophet, it is to be judged according to the Bible standard. This means it will not go cross-wise or contrary to what is written in the Bible. (1Corinthians 14:29-33)

Any word, prophecy or revelation given by a Prophet which leads someone away from the written Word of God did not come from God at all. It came from the Prophet's mind or even from the devil. (Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 1Timothy 4:1; 1John 5:7-8)

Sadly, far too many of the teachings and the "prophecies and revelations" put forth by today's unscriptural "Schools of the Prophets" and the ever-growing false Prophetic movement are completely out of line with Scripture and have caused great harm and confusion worldwide.

I refer specifically to the Kansas City Prophets, the New Apostolic Reformation, International House of Prayer and the Elijah List. All four of these groups and many others are one and the same, submitting to the same errant doctrine and errant leadership.

Before his 2014 death, the Kansas City Prophets founder and key Prophet confessed to multiple charges of having women "disrobe before the Lord" in his private office before agreeing to give them prophetic guidance for their lives.

Another of the key Kansas City Prophets has confessed to forty years of sodomizing teenage boys all the while continuing in a key prophetic role within that movement.

The ever-growing list of Biblical, prophetic and moral failures by loose cannon "Prophet" leaders in these mentioned groups is abysmal.

True New Testament Prophets not only teach and preach the Word and demonstrate the Word supernaturally, they also live morally and uprightly before a Holy God.

"But as He which hath called you is Holy, so be ye holy in all manner of life; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am Holy." (1Peter 1:15-16)

As a result of errant leadership not requiring the Word of God to be used as their only standard of measure and yielding to immorality and familiar spirits, many within these false Prophetic groups - leaders and followers alike, are now under the direct control of Last Days seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.

Someone once accurately called this "The Dirty Church."

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of demons." (1Timothy 4:1)

Prophets who do not build on God's Word, who live immorally and who misrepresent the God of Love and Justice will ultimately be judged.

"They have belied the Lord and said, It is not He; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine: and the Prophets shall become wind and the Word is not in them: Thus shall it be done unto them." (Jeremiah 5:12-13)

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Chapter 9. The Prophet Is Not Above Correction or Submission

The Prophet Paul gave a solemn charge to publicly rebuke any spiritual leaders, including Prophets, who have fallen into obvious compromise, sin and false teaching.

The New Testament Prophet is not above respectful correction.

"Those (ministers, including Prophets) who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism." (1Timothy 5:20-21)

Here the Prophet Paul solemnly charges that spiritual leaders who are in sin are to be rebuked respectfully and publicly. They are not to be excused.

In recent years there has been a misconception that fallen spiritual leaders are not to be rebuked publicly. Those who attempt to do so are met with the ever popular "Touch not Mine anointed and do My Prophets no harm" mantra.

However, this portion of Scripture taken from Psalm 105:15 is not forbidding the correction of fallen New Testament leadership. If it was, the Prophet Paul's solemn charge to correct fallen New Testament Ministers would be contradictory.

In Psalm 105:15 "Touch not Mine anointed and do My Prophets no harm" was a direct warning to Israel's enemies to not bring physical harm to her or her Prophets.

For fallen Ministers and their supporters to use Psalm 105:15 out of context in order to avoid public scrutiny is a dangerous twist on Scripture indeed.

The Prophet Paul said nothing about "not touching God's anointed" when they fall into sin.

However, Paul did say to rebuke them publicly that others may learn to not follow them and to do so without partiality or showing favoritism.

One popular Word of Faith Prophet, who ultimately lost his life when his jet fell from the sky, wrongly believed he was above certain correction.

He was often heard to say, "Equal or greater anointing - unless you have an anointing equal to or greater than mine, you do not have the authority to correct me."

Although this error is a great people manipulator and means of self-protection in order to avoid personal scrutiny and correction, you will not find any such "equal or greater anointing" teaching in the New Testament. This is certainly not the standard set by the Prophet Paul for dealing with sinful spiritual leaders, including Prophets.

Paul said to rebuke sinful leadership, any sinful leadership, publicly and to do it without partiality or favoritism. He said nothing whatsoever about an individual having an "equal or greater anointing" to a Prophet in order to respectfully correct a sinful or errant Prophet.

The Prophet Paul himself, who was not one of Jesus' twelve Apostles of the Lamb, boldly and publicly corrected Peter, who was one of Jesus' twelve Apostles of the Lamb, for blatant hypocrisy. (Galatians 2:11-14)

If indeed the "equal or greater anointing" principle were true, Paul would not have had the authority to correct Peter because Paul was not one of the original twelve Apostles of the Lamb. (Revelation 21:14)

The Most High God used the child, Samuel, to bring a word of correction to the elderly Prophet Eli for not properly raising his family to serve the Lord. (1Samuel 3:1-21)

The Lord actually used a donkey, causing it to supernaturally speak forth a word of correction to the backslidden Prophet Balaam. It saved Balaam's life. (Numbers 22:1-41)

Therefore, for a Prophet to elevate oneself above correction coming from anyone other than someone with "an anointing equal to or greater than mine" is purely unbiblical - a man-inspired and not a God-inspired doctrine.

If more Word of Faith and Charismatic Ministers had obeyed the Prophet Paul's admonition to correct this fallen Prophet, and had been less intimidated by his "anointing equal to or greater than mine" mantra, perhaps the fallen Prophet would be alive today.

This is why the Bible says, "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe." (Proverbs 29:25)

All Christian men and women should learn to fear God only and to never fear any man.

Yes, we must greatly respect our spiritual leaders for they are God-given. (Romans 11:13; Ephesians 4:11-12; Hebrews 13:17)

But we must never fear respectfully correcting them when it is obvious they are living sinfully or bringing forth doctrinal error and hurting people.

There is no neutral ground on the matter of confronting deliberately sinful leadership. No one has the right to try and create neutral ground, either. To do so puts one in the same sinking boat as the sinful leadership! (Romans 1:32)

To refuse to correct obviously sinful leadership is to allow them to run headlong into judgment, even as the above-mentioned fallen Prophet did.

For a Prophet, or any Ministry Office, to refuse to receive correction for compromise, sin or doctrinal error is to make the decision to run headlong into judgment.

No Christian should be afraid to bring a respectful word of correction to an obviously compromised or fallen Prophet, it just may save their life.

No mature Prophet will refuse to receive a respectful word of correction coming from anyone, for it just may save their very life.

"Nevertheless if thou warn the righteousness man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul." (Ezekiel 3:21)

Many Ministers of the Gospel pride themselves on being teachable but they are not correctable. There is a difference.

Many are teachable in that they love to receive continued revelation of God's Word. However, all are not correctable in that they do not receive correction when someone points out to them where they have gotten off the Word in one area or another.

True Prophets of God are both teachable and correctable.

Prophet, do not be so prideful as to believe the "touch not Mine anointed" or the "equal or greater anointing" lies, rejecting a respectful word of correction, no matter through whom the Lord chooses to send it.

Doing so could result in judgment for you.

When a true Prophet of God is corrected he will ask, "Father, is there any truth to this at all? Because if there is I am willing to receive it and make any necessary adjustments."

Should it bear witness with your spirit, simply receive any respectful correction graciously and maturely, making any necessary adjustments. This will place the Prophet in a position of greater trust with the Most High God, moving him into an increased anointing.

For more detailed teaching on this subject, see the JHM free online book, "Dispelling the 'Touch Not Mine Anointed' Error. Correcting Errant Ministers. The Bible Truth."

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Submission: Key to the Prophet's Authority

The true New Testament Prophet also understands that he, like everyone else in the Church, must also submit to his own Pastor.

Submission is key to the Prophet's authority and anointing.

The Prophet understands that without submission to his New Testament Pastor, he will be compromising his own anointing and position of authority before God.

Submission, as with all other Believers and Ministers, is key to the Prophet's authority.

The Prophet Jesus was once approached by a Centurion who had a sick servant at home. Jesus generously offered to walk to the man's home and heal his servant.

Notice how the Centurion responded to Jesus' kind offer.

"The Centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard this, He marveled, and said unto them that followed, Verily I say unto you I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel." (Matthew 8:5-10)

Notice the Centurion told Jesus that he was a man "under" authority, not just a man "with" authority.

The following is a modern paraphrase of what he was actually telling Jesus.

"Jesus, You don't have to walk all the way to my house. Save Yourself a trip. Your spiritual authority works the same way my natural authority works. My natural authority works because I submit to Caesar. Therefore, my men obey me because they know if they disobey me, retribution will not come from me. Retribution will come from Caesar to whom I submit.

"Even as I submit to Caesar who as a result gives me natural authority, You submit to God Who as a result gives You spiritual authority.

"If the demons who are causing my servant's illness do not obey Your command to loose him, they realize retribution will not come from You. Retribution will come from God to Whom You submit.

"Jesus, I am fully aware that Your humble submission to God results in Your spiritual power and authority. So, just say the word and the demons must loose my servant. Otherwise, retribution will come from God Who gives You Your authority."

Notice also in the above Bible passage that Jesus "marveled" when He heard the Centurion's understanding of how authority works both in the natural world and in the Kingdom of God.

Prophet, is God marveling at your submission or at your lack thereof?

Everyone, including New Testament Prophets, must be in submission to their own local Church Pastor. Refusing to submit to God's Word in this area will indeed result in a Prophet's Ministry that has no authority and is not taken seriously by the rulers of the darkness of this present evil world and demonic principalities and powers. (Ephesians 6:12)

Satan knows when someone is rebelling against God's Word and submitting to him. He will not obey anyone who is obeying him.

Again, the key to spiritual authority is spiritual submission. This was true with the Prophet Jesus and it is true with everyone else, including New Testament Prophets.

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." (James 4:7-8)

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Prophets & Pastors Must Work Together to God's Glory

It has become far too commonplace in recent years for Pastors to ignore the Office of the Prophet. This is also true with most of the larger, popular teaching Ministries.

Not all, but far too many Pastors and popular Teachers tend to ignore the Office of the Prophet, inviting only other popular Pastors and Teachers to minister in their services and conventions. This is partly because of the influx of false Prophets, false teachings and wrong behaviors that have come out of the false Prophetic movement.

Satan uses false Prophets to give God's true Prophets a bad name.

No Minister in their right mind desires to be associated with a false Prophet and their problems. False Prophets and the damage they do can result in years of recovery for a local Pastor and his congregation.

However, Pastors and popular Teachers must never allow themselves to exclude true Prophets, or even Apostles, from ministering in their churches and conventions because of the counterfeits.

One does not avoid real money just because there is counterfeit money floating around.

The counterfeit simply reveals that there is real and valuable money out there.

The same is true with the Prophet's Ministry.

The fact that Satan has glutted the Body of Christ with counterfeit Prophets reveals there are true Prophets of God and Satan fears them. True Prophets expose him.

Satan wants all Pastors to fear and avoid the true Prophets so he has created a situation where it looks like all Prophets are errant and extreme when they are not.

If Satan cannot convince Pastors that all Prophets are crazy, he will move to convince them that the Office of the Apostle and Prophet no longer exist.

Pastors and Teachers must never allow themselves to be fooled by Satan's devices in this way.

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." (2Corinthians 2:11)

Pastors who fearfully reject the Office of the true Prophet sacrifice receiving supernatural impartations from Heaven and the whole congregation suffers.

They sacrifice what the Prophet Paul referred to as "the fullness of the blessing," meaning they miss out on supernatural demonstrations, operations and manifestations that occur through the Office of the Prophet.

"And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:29)

The Body of Christ needs exposure to all Five-Fold Ministry Offices, particularly the supernatural Office of the Prophet. When Ministry leaders bring in true Prophets who operate in the supernatural power of God, faith is elevated, maturity is brought to their congregations and individuals are convicted of their need for Christ and are Born Again.

When local Churches grow because people are being saved, the Kingdom grows. Of course, this is very pleasing to the Father.

Astute, discerning Pastors and Ministry leaders recognize the importance of exposing their congregations to the Ministry of the true New Testament Prophet.

A Prophet's Ministry is to work in conjunction with the Office of the Pastor. The Holy Spirit will never use the Office of the Prophet to denigrate or humiliate the Pastor or his congregation.

The Holy Spirit and the Office of the Prophet work together to exhort, edify and comfort the Pastor and his congregation, even bringing them to repentance where necessary. The end result is revelation of God's Word is brought forth, their faith level is brought higher equipping them to now receive supernaturally, God is glorified and the Lordship of Jesus is confirmed. (Acts 20:21)

The only time a Pastor should fear bringing in the Ministry of the Prophet is if the Pastor himself is living with secret or unconfessed sin or knows his people are living in sin and he is unwilling to face the exposure and correction.

Dr. Lester Sumrall once said, "It is astounding to me what some people are willing to put themselves and others through just to avoid five minutes of soul-cleansing shame."

God is always our solution. God is never our problem. (John 10:10; Acts 3:19)

Oh, how backslidden Christian America and the United Kingdom so desperately need the Office of the Prophet in this hour.

Every New Testament Prophet must also remember that when he is invited by Pastors or other Ministers to minister in their Churches or conferences, he is there as a guest of that Pastor or Minister. He is not there to usurp authority or to boss them or their congregations around.

Jesus is a gentleman. The Holy Spirit is a gentleman. The mature Prophet is a gentleman.

A Prophet must never criticize the hosting Minister to his people. The Prophet is there to lift the Pastor up before his people and to behave in a manner which is edifying, exhorting and comforting to the entire congregation, even if bringing words of correction. (1Corinthians 14:3)

A Prophet must respectfully submit to Pastors and Ministers who invite him for Ministry or he will find himself not being welcomed back and developing a bad reputation.

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Prophets & Psalmists Must Work Together to God's Glory

I was once a guest Minister conducting a miracle revival for a Pastor in the Eastern United States. The worship service went well and the Spirit of God was present. I was standing in the front row, ready to take the pulpit and flow with the obvious presence of God.

Suddenly the Worship Leader announced a special surprise for their guest Minister. The lights came up and over the sound system came a blaring musical introduction.

To my great surprise a man hustled down the center aisle wearing white boots, a white bell-bottom suit with a sparkly cape, coiffed hair and large purple sunglasses.

Jumping to the platform he looked down at me, pointed and with a snarled lip said, "I love you, Man!"

Our surprise performer then grabbed the microphone and did one of the best Elvis Presley impersonations I have ever heard.

However, this was neither the time nor the place for such entertainment.

Neither the Pastor nor the Worship Leader had any idea in the world they had just quenched the strong, sweet presence of the Holy Spirit.

They were fully unacquainted with Him.

I had to then get up and minister the Word of God once the special presentation ended and the cheers and accolades of the congregation subsided.

Before stepping into the pulpit I silently asked the Lord to forgive everyone involved in the surprise, for they were all just babies, including the Pastor. They simply did not realize they had just grieved the gentle Holy Spirit of God.

Fortunately, the Lord had mercy on us all. Once I had begun ministering by faith for a few minutes in the flesh, the sweet presence of God returned, His anointing rested upon me and we had a wonderful service which included supernatural demonstrations, operations and manifestations.

Prophets and Pastors must understand that music can make or break the anointing. The right music will draw the Glory and anointing of God, while the wrong music will send His presence away. The right music will result in great blessing during the service, while the wrong music will throw cold water on the service quenching any and all manifestations.

Psalmists and Worship Leaders must realize that even the right music being played by wrong-spirited music ministers can also make or break the anointing. Humility of heart and the desire to give all Glory to God must be of utmost importance to them.

Psalmists and Worship Leaders must realize that their ministry is to bring the Glory and anointing of God and to lead the people into His presence. It is also to make it easier for the Minister to enter into God's presence, to preach by the anointing and to bring God's Glory down from Heaven.

The job of Psalmists and Worship Leaders is not to entertain the people or to draw attention to themselves. It is to draw attention to the Lord alone.

In Second Chronicles when King Solomon had completed the building of the Temple, it came time for its dedication to the Lord. The elders of Israel, the heads of all the tribes and all the people were assembled together. The Ark of the Covenant was brought in by the Levites.

The Priests, the Levites, the Psalmists, musicians and people gathered together in one accord, praising and thanking the Lord.

Everyone's attention was upon the Lord and not upon the musicians and singers.

Suddenly, the Glory of God came and filled the Temple with such a strong presence of God that the Priests were unable to stand on their feet to minister to Him.

"It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the House of the Lord; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the Glory of the Lord had filled the House of God." (2Chronicles 5:13-14)

Here we see, as a result of proper and true praise and worship, the Glory cloud, representative of God's presence, was so strong in the Temple that the priests began to fall down under its influence.

Although it is not stated here, we can be sure that if anyone was sick, in need of deliverance, material help or anything else from the Lord, they went home having received their miracle.

This is what happens when the musicians' hearts are right, the music is right, the Minister is prepared and the people are in expectation.

Psalmists and Worship Leaders are all a vital part of the Ministry of Helps and both submission and humility are key to their effectiveness.

Without submission and humility, Psalmists and Worship Leaders disqualify themselves from the honor of ushering in God's Glory.

However, where there is a lack of submission and humility, the simple act of repentance will restore the Psalmist and Worship Leader to their position of privilege.

Music has a tremendous impact on all of the Ministry Offices, but on the Office of the Prophet in particular.

In Second Kings Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, formed an alliance with two backslidden Kings. Together they came under threat of attack by a common enemy, the Moabites. This confederation of Kings needed the wisdom of God in order to determine the outcome of the pending conflict.

As was the custom in that day Jehoshaphat and his two backslidden fellow Kings went to find the Prophet Elisha for guidance and wisdom. When they found him, Elisha rebuked the two backslidden Kings but agreed to seek the Lord because of the presence of Jehoshaphat. (2Kings 3:1-14)

True Prophets are not afraid to rebuke anyone who is in sin, including Kings.

Prior to seeking the Lord on their behalf, the Prophet Elisha did something very revealing.

He called for a Minstrel in order to invite the presence and the anointing of the Lord.

"But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him and he said, Thus saith the Lord..." (2Kings 3:15-16)

After the Minstrel played Elisha then prophesied by inspiration, assuring the three confederated Kings that the Lord would not allow them to be defeated by their common enemy.

Notice in this verse when the minstrel played that the "hand of the Lord" came upon Elisha. The hand of the Lord is another way of referring to the Glory, the anointing and the power of God. (Ezekiel 8:1; 33:22; 37:1; 40:1-2; Acts 4:29-33)

When the hand of the Lord moves it is primarily for one of three reasons - to bring deliverance, to call someone to service in the Lord and/or to produce signs, wonders and miracles. (Deuteronomy 5:15; Psalm 136:11-12; Proverbs 1:24; Acts 4:30)

Notice also the Prophet Elisha had to wait for the anointing of God before he could prophesy. Elisha was not in control of his Gifts. No Prophet is. The Holy Spirit controls the Gifts and their operation and oftentimes music has a great deal to do with this.

Psalmists and Worship Leaders do not always realize the importance of their being spiritually prepared for a service as much as the Minister needs to be prepared.

There have been a few times where I have had to release Worship Leaders for being prideful, living in sin and coming to the services unprepared through prayer and time spent with the Lord in His Word. Some, too many, simply refused to come to prayer time before the services. Music was not all about the Lord with them. It was all about "the show."

Most music ministers simply do not realize they are equally as responsible as the Minister to sensitize their spirits to the Holy Spirit and learn how to flow with Him.

I would much rather stand up and minister with no worship service, or minister after worshiping along with anointed recorded music, than to have to minister after live worship being led by carnal, prideful, sinful, unprepared, unanointed, clueless music ministers.

All Psalmists and Worship Leaders should realize they are now doing the same job Satan once did when his name was Lucifer and he led worship in Heaven. He has been cast out of that capacity now and Psalmists and Worship Leaders have taken his place. Satan is envious of this fact, so he tempts Psalmists and Worship Leaders with the very thing that cost him his coveted position - pride. (Isaiah 14:12-16; Ezekiel 28:11-19)

Satan fully realizes the same thing that cost him his position as a Worship Leader, pride, will cost anyone who yields to it as he did. This is why he pressures Psalmists and Worship Leaders to think more highly of themselves than they ought. (Romans 12:3)

Pride is a Holy Spirit griever, an anointing quencher and a service killer. (1Thessalonians 5:19)

Prophet, if you perceive pride or unpreparedness in your music ministers, confront them immediately and give them the opportunity to repent. If they choose to not do so, dismiss them. It would be far better for you to live without them than to live without the anointing of God in your services because of them.

Prophet, if you perceive pride in Psalmists and Worship Leaders at a hosting Church where you are ministering, ask God to forgive them. He will do so. (1John 5:16)

This is necessary because the Holy Spirit of God and His anointings will not go where the Blood of Jesus must first cleanse.

The Prophet should then ask the Lord to have mercy and honor the preparation of his own heart for the service at hand and to His Glory. He will do it. (Isaiah 43:26; John 16:23)

Sometimes the Prophet may even find it necessary to encourage even the best worship to continue until the anointing manifests, at which point he should immediately go to the pulpit.

When musicians flow with the Spirit of God it makes it much, much easier for the Minister, especially the Prophet, to flow with the Spirit of God. When the music ministers do not flow with the Holy Spirit, it will not only quench the anointing but ruin the entire service.

True worship will move the hand of the Lord and all things are possible when the hand of the Lord moves.

I, myself, was slain in the Spirit for a three day period when the hand of the Lord moved upon me. It changed my life forever.

This was very similar to the experience of Maria Woodworth-Etter when the hand of the Lord moved upon her in the early 20th Century.

In the middle of her preaching in St. Louis, Missouri, Mrs. Woodworth-Etter was suddenly frozen in place. Her finger was pointed outward and her mouth was wide open. She remained in that frozen position, standing in her tent for three full days. Grown men tried to lift her off the ground and were simply unable to do so. Over one hundred and fifty thousand people filed by to witness this supernatural phenomenon.

At the end of the three day period she began to preach again, taking up exactly where she had left off on her sermon. Thousands of lives were impacted and changed when the hand of the Lord moved in that way. This was done as a sign of the presence and power of God. (Exodus 33:22; Acts 2:43)

Prophets and all Ministers must be willing to pay whatever price is necessary to see the hand of the Lord move in order for God to be glorified, the Lordship of Jesus to be confirmed and God's compassion to be demonstrated towards sick and suffering humanity.

Prophet, the call of God is already upon you. But your Prophetic Ministry will not go into operation until the hand of the Lord moves upon you.

Frequently the degree of anointing you will minister under is not only determined by your own preparation, but by the spiritual preparation of the Psalmists and Worship Leaders who minister with you.

Teachers, Preachers, Psalmists and Worship Leaders must learn how to cooperate with the Spirit of God in these Last Days.

By doing so the door into the realm of the Spirit will open wide and we will see not only the greatest spiritual awakening in human history but the greatest manifestations of the Working of Miracles since the Book of Acts.

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Chapter 10. The Prophet: A Target Rich Environment for Persecution

It is highly unadvisable for anyone to attempt to stand in the Office of the Prophet if not called and anointed to do so by the Lord Jesus Christ. There would be no supernatural grace or anointing to endure the persecution, false accusation, misunderstanding and rejection that accompanies this powerful Office.

Persecution comes to all Christians who are determined to live their lives according to the Word of God.

"Yea and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2Timothy 3:12)

However, persecution against the Office of the Prophet is greatly magnified. Thirteen times in the Book of Acts alone the Prophet Paul was either stoned, whipped, beaten, imprisoned, run out of town or left for dead. Yet Paul never lost sight of the fact that God was with Him and would always deliver him.

"Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear: And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His Heavenly Kingdom: To Whom be Glory forever and ever." (2Timothy 4:17-18)

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Persecution as Early as the Womb

Persecution against the Office of the Prophet can, and frequently does, begin as early as the womb. It is my personal opinion that Satan is Hell-bent on aborting human babies in the womb because he is out to kill Prophets before they can come forth. Prophets smoke him out and expose him and he despises them for it. Therefore, he is determined to destroy them before they have a chance to develop into their God ordained Office.

Yes, when it comes to abortion, Satan is obsessed with the destruction of all human life in his attempt to get back at God for casting him out of Heaven and cursing him. (Genesis 3:14-15; Luke 10:17-20; Revelation 12:4)

Yes, Satan is obsessed with killing human babies in the womb because he is targeting potential future members of God's family. This is why he has targeted Christian women above all with the demonic lie that it is "a woman's rightful choice" to have an abortion. Nearly seventy percent of all women who choose abortion as their "right" are Christian women who claim Christ as their Savior. He does not want their children to be raised as Christians. Nor does he want their children living in the Earth as spokespersons for Christ.

Yes, Satan targets potential future world leaders, doctors, teachers, scientists, ministers, etc. in the womb.

Yes, Satan is obsessed with aborting human babies in the womb simply because it is his nature to steal, to kill and to destroy. (John 10:10)

But, yes, I also strongly believe Satan's biggest targets in the womb are the lives of God's ordained Prophets.

Once birthed, Satan's vicious persecution of the Prophet continues on into childhood. Before anyone even realizes they are Prophets, little ones can often suffer terrible rejection, sickness, emotional and physical, even sexual abuse at the hands of their guardians and others through Satan's influence.

When King Herod heard the Christ, the King of the Jews had been born, he panicked. He was afraid Jesus would ascend to the throne as a political King over him.

Herod called together the Jewish chief priests and scribes, demanding of them where Christ had been born. They answered, "In Bethlehem of Judea."

At that time, from conversations he had with the inquiring Wise Men, Herod was also able to determine Christ was approximately two years old.

In a fear-filled rage King Herod then gave the order to slay all male children two years old and younger, beginning in Bethlehem and extending into all outlying regions surrounding Bethlehem and Judea. (Matthew 2:1-23)

Although Satan deceitfully placed the fear of a political King rising above him into Herod's mind, this was simply Satan's ploy to get Herod to kill the little Prophet Jesus.

Satan was actually himself in fear of the Prophet Moses' recently fulfilled 1500 year old prediction that the greatest of all Prophets was to be birthed from within the Nation of Israel.

"The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken." (Deuteronomy 18:15)

Satan feared the recently fulfilled Mosaic prophecy that the Christ, the Messiah, the Spiritual King and the greatest of all Prophets was coming to the Earth.

Satan feared Moses' prediction that this greatest of all Prophets, like Moses, would Himself perform miracles over nature, miracles over demon powers, miracles of healings and miracles of provision - only to a greater degree.

Satan feared this greatest of all Prophets, like Moses, would be a truth giver, a covenant maker, a deliverer, One Who would have a face-to-face relationship with God and One Who would reveal God's true love nature to the people of the world.

This is precisely why Satan persecuted Jesus from the time He was just an infant.

Satan commonly persecutes all Prophets from the time they are just infants.

Satan fears and loathes all Prophets, young and old, male and female.

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Persecution Over a Lifetime

Throughout all of life the Prophet continues to be a target rich environment for Satan and demon powers operating through rebellious human beings, including compromising Christians.

Sadly, Prophets will face as much persecution from the compromised Body of Christ as they will from the world. The Body of Christ, including its leadership, for the most part, simply does not understand this supernatural office.

Jesus often rebuked the religious leaders of His day, the Scribes and Pharisees in particular, for their disgraceful treatment of His Prophets. He actually said it was people like them that forced Him to send His Prophets with words of warning and judgment.

"It's on account of people like you that I send Prophets and wise guides and scholars generation after generation - and generation after generation you treat them like dirt, greeting them with lynch mobs, hounding them with abuse." (Matthew 23:34 Message)

To add to this difficulty, the Prophet will face just as much rejection and persecution from many family members as he will from the Body and the world.

Jesus visited His hometown of Nazareth more than anywhere else during His entire Earth Ministry, yet He was less received there than anywhere. This is par for the course in the life and Ministry of the New Testament Prophet.

Jesus said, "The Prophet is not without honor, except in his own town and among his own family and even in his own house." (Mark 6:1-6)

The Patriarch Jacob's son, Joseph, was himself a Prophet. When Joseph was born, he was greatly loved of his father and much hated by his brothers.

"And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak peacefully unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told this to his brethren; and they hated him yet the more ... and his brethren said unto him, Shall thou indeed reign over us? Or shall thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words ... And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brethren... his brethren envied him..." (Genesis 37:4,5,8,9,11)

Satan pressured Joseph's brothers to hate him because he was a Prophet and a Seer. He not only experienced dreams and visions, but he could interpret those of others as well. Joseph was always very careful to use this ability to glorify God only and never himself. Like Joseph, the true Prophet never does anything for self-glory. Sadly, in spite of his humility, Joseph's brothers still hated him.

Because of his ability to see into the realm of the spirit and to even predict future events, Joseph suffered terribly at his brothers' hands. They constantly unjustly accused Joseph, betrayed him and finally sold him into slavery for twenty pieces of silver, lying about it to their father.

Joseph was just like Jesus Who was dearly loved by His Father and hated by His Jewish brethren. Joseph did nothing to deserve such hateful, hurtful treatment other than trying to honor and obey God.

Ultimately God promoted His Prophet, Joseph, to second in command of the most powerful nation of his day. (Genesis chapters 37-50)

Faithfulness in unjust suffering always pays rich dividends with God.

"For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He putteth down one and setteth up another." (Psalm 75:6-7)

King David was also a Prophet. Over the course of his lifetime he was the subject of unending persecution, betrayal, physical attacks and verbal attacks even by his own family members. At times David cried out to God in his suffering, wrongly believing God had forsaken him.

"My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Why art Thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in the daytime, but Thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent... I am a worm and not a man; a reproach of men and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head." (Psalm 22:1,2,6,7)

David suffered unjust persecution even as all Prophets suffer unjust persecution simply because Satan is intimidated by the Prophet's supernatural ministry.

The true Prophet remains submitted to God in spite of the fiercest opposition of Satan.

To the Prophet everything in life is about obedience and allowing God to move through him in spite of his own personal sufferings.

A lack of persecution by Satan is actually his stamp of approval. It could be interpreted as a sign that Satan is not threatened by the Prophet because he is not keeping his Prophet's calling a priority.

The Prophet who is not enduring persecution would be well advised to examine himself to see where he may be out of God's perfect will and no longer a threat to Satan.

God told Ezekiel that He would give him a forehead "as an adamant harder than flint" to enable him to withstand the persecution and rejection he would face as a Prophet. This was because he was going to have to stand up and give the Lord's warnings of pending judgment to some of the most rebellious, self-willed, hard-headed people in the history of humanity.

"Behold I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads. As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house." (Ezekiel 3:8-9)

It takes an even harder-headed Prophet to stand up to hard-headed rebels.

God is still faithful to give this same hard-headed attitude to His Prophets today.

The Prophet is confrontational and needs a hard head to do their job obediently, diligently and effectively. Without God's special grace, one would buckle under the misunderstanding, false accusation, horrendous persecution and overwhelming rejection that still follow the Office of the New Testament Prophet today.

One Pastor in North Carolina for whom I have preached many times perfectly summarized the Office of the Prophet when writing the following note of encouragement to my wife and me.

"Understanding the times in which we live and knowing your uncompromising position, quite frankly, yet respectfully, this (Office of the Prophet) has to be the most awkward, unappreciated and persecuted of all the Ministries combined. Without a special endowment of grace and spiritual giftedness this is humanly impossible to fulfill. Having had very little tribulations in comparison I can't even imagine the hardships, personal sacrifice, suffering, outright attacks and buffetings you both have endured in your Ministry. May God reward you openly for your faithfulness." Pastor BWF

The Bible assures us that all uncompromising Christians will suffer persecution. However, this is particularly true concerning the Office of the New Testament Prophet.

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, insomuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that when His Glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the Name of Christ, blessed are ye; for the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you: On their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified." (1Peter 4:12-14)

Although the Prophet will endure many tests and trials and more than his fair share of persecution, God will always remain faithful to him.

More often than not the Prophet stands alone in his obedience to God and His Word. Because of this, the Office of the Prophet can oftentimes feel like the loneliest place in the world.

The greater the level and degree of anointing, the greater the level and degree of persecution. However, as Prophet Kenneth E. Hagin's wife, Oretha, so aptly stated, "The price is not greater than God's grace."

Presently there are no less than four individuals, three of them Pastors, who watch my preaching schedule to determine where I will be next in order to cause trouble for me.

All four of these individuals I have confronted in the past for either sexual sin, misappropriation of Ministry funds or for not walking in love and abusing their fellowman.

Once one of them discovers where I am ministering, they begin the process of calling local Pastors and Church members in that area, fabricating stories in an attempt to destroy my credibility.

This is demonically inspired behavior to punish God's Prophet for obediently speaking to them on His behalf.

One of these Pastors actually attempted the initiation of two illegal lawsuits against me to punish me for privately speaking to him on the Lord's behalf. In both cases the Lord proved his actions to be illegal and his accusations to be unjustified, overturning both lawsuit attempts.

Ultimately all this Pastor did was to destroy his own credibility with God, members of his family and congregation and other Ministers who soon came to discover his corrupt evil heart, but not before him causing me tremendous rejection, persecution and hardship.

Little do any of these individuals seem to understand that lifting one's hand unjustifiably against God's Prophet is to lift one's hand against God Himself. Retribution will come directly from Him, not from His Prophet.

God promised the Prophet Abraham and all of his spiritual offspring that He would bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him.

"And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the Earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:3)

Fortunately, most Pastors and congregations are mature enough to not fall for this type of ungodly, punitive behavior, realizing the greater the demonstration of the Holy Spirit in one's Prophet Ministry, the greater the persecution.

Still, to have this type of punitive behavior thrust upon one year in and year out is difficult indeed. Without the special grace imparted by the Holy Spirit it would be overwhelming, unbearable and impossible.

Irregardless, the New Testament Prophet's unabashed obedience will indeed bring a bashing from the disobedient even as it did in the life and Ministry of the Master Prophet, Jesus.

"Remember the word I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for My Name sake, because they know not Him that sent Me." (John 15:20-21)

"The Prophet's Ministry isn't altogether understood or appreciated. One runs into such persecution it's very easy to draw back from it." Prophet Kenneth E. Hagin

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Chapter 11. The Prophet, Satan, Insanity & Suicide

Not only is the Prophet constantly subject to indirect attacks of Satan through rebellious human beings, the Prophet is constantly under direct attacks of Satan and demon powers as well.

Persecution through direct attacks of Satan and demons also comes with the territory.

The more consecrated and effective you are as a Prophet, the more Satan is going to attack you not only indirectly through rebellious human beings, but directly by himself and his subservient demon spirits.

This was true in the Ministry of Jesus and it is true in the Ministry of all New Testament Prophets.

Therefore, the Prophet must be constantly aware of two primary ways Satan and demons will directly attack him.

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Satan Accuses the Prophet of Insanity

First, it is vital to remember that one way Satan and demons directly attack the New Testament Prophet is by continually telling him he is crazy or insane.

Satan would like nothing more than to have every consecrated, powerful New Testament Prophet believe that he has more than his share of loose screws.

If Satan cannot convince the Prophet that he is already insane, he will attempt to convince him that surely the Prophet is heading there at a fast gallop.

We know that Jesus was told even by His own family that He was "beside Himself," which actually means "crazy" and "insane." (Mark 3:21; John 7:3-5,20)

Jesus was also regularly told by the religious leaders of His day that He was full of the devil and the miracles He performed came from the devil. (Matthew 12:24; John 10:20)

The Prophet Paul was also accused of being "beside himself" while being examined by the Roman Governor Festus. (Acts 26:24-25)

We can be sure that the same demons who motivated individuals to openly question Jesus' and Paul's sanity also directly attempted to cause Jesus and Paul to question their own sanity.

Satan and demons attempt to have all New Testament Prophets question their sanity, even as they attempted to have Jesus and Paul question theirs.

Be advised, New Testament Prophet, Satan and demons will try to trick you by using the pronoun "I" when directly attacking your sanity.

As opposed to saying, "You are insane. You must be out of your mind thinking God is using you in this way" they will come to you and put the following thought in your mind.

"I am insane. I must be out of my mind thinking God is using me in this way."

Notice the use of the personal pronouns "I" and "me."

Satan and demons are masters of deception. They will use the pronouns "I" and "me" in place of the pronoun "you" so you will think it is your thought and not an outside demonic thought being illegally imposed upon you.

They do this to deceive the Prophet into not taking authority over them.

Across the centuries Satan has used this age old trick against God's Prophets.

Do not fall for it.

Satan comes up with no new tricks. He recycles the same tricks century after century.

"The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

However Satan challenges your sanity and whatever pronouns he chooses to use, you must bind, rebuke and cast down those thoughts in Jesus' Strong Name.

"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Casting down imaginations and every high and lofty thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (2Corinthians 10:4-5)

Prophets must not allow thoughts of insanity to linger. They must rebuke them in Jesus' Name and cast them down the moment they occur - and they will occur.

Just because the thought comes that you are insane does not mean you are. Just because a dark cloud passes over your head does not mean you have to stand there while it rains on you.

Do something about it. Get out from under that dark cloud. Seek shelter in the Lord.

"I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength; the Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in Whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my enemies." (Psalm 18:1-3)

"The Name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous run into it and is safe." (Proverbs 18:10)

Prophet, open your mouth and counteract those demonic thoughts with the Strong Name of Jesus and the powerful spoken Word of God.

You cannot fight thoughts with thoughts. You must fight thoughts with words.

Boss those demonic thoughts with your words. You are not insane. The Bible says you have soundness of mind. Open your mouth and say so.

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind." (2Timothy 1:7)

When Satan indirectly challenged Jesus' sanity through Peter, Jesus told him, "Get thee behind Me, Satan. You are an offense to Me." (Matthew 16:22-23)

You can be sure Jesus rebuked Satan in the same way when he personally and directly challenged Jesus' sanity.

Prophet, open your mouth and address those evil spirits as follows. "I bind the rulers of the darkness of this present evil world and every demonic principality and power assigned against me, including insanity, in Jesus' Strong Name."

"The Blood of Jesus and His Mighty Name are an antidote to all the subtle seeds of unbelief that Satan would sow in your mind." Smith Wigglesworth

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Satan Challenges the Prophet with Suicide

Second, it is vital to remember Satan and demons directly attack the New Testament Prophet by occasionally, or in some cases more frequently, suggesting the Prophet take their own life.

They did this to Jesus and they do it to all New Testament Prophets.

During Jesus' wilderness experience, Satan went so far as to take Him up to the pinnacle of the Temple, attempting to deceive Jesus into jumping to His death.

"Then the devil taketh Him up into the Holy City, and setteth Him on a pinnacle of the Temple, and sayeth unto Him, If Thou be the Son of God cast Thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee: and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God." (Matthew 4:5-7)

When Satan or demons would tell Jesus He was crazy or He ought to end His life, Jesus would tell them, "Get thee hence, Satan. Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God." (Matthew 4:10)

Or He would command, "Get thee behind Me, Satan." (Matthew 16:22-23)

The way for the New Testament Prophet to deal with Satan and demons' direct attacks of insanity and suicide is to forcefully speak up and verbally bind the spirits behind the attacks in Jesus' Strong Name.

The father of a tormented young boy brought him to Jesus, explaining how his son would throw himself into the fire or into the water to kill himself. He pleaded with Jesus for wisdom and mercy. (Mark 9:14-24)

The Bible says Jesus handled the boy's suicidal tendencies by rebuking the "foul spirit," commanding it to come out of the boy. The unclean spirit immediately obeyed.

Jesus revealed it was an unclean spirit causing the boy to want to kill himself.

Jesus addressed suicide as an evil spirit. (Mark 9:25)

If a Prophet is going to survive direct attacks of both insanity and suicide thoughts, the Prophet is going to have to deal directly with the evil spirits behind them, verbally, even as Jesus did.

Jesus took authority over insanity and suicide spirits verbally.

Jesus rebuked insanity and suicide spirits verbally.

Jesus bound insanity and suicide spirits verbally.

Jesus cast insanity and suicide spirits out and away verbally.

In doing so He set the example for all Believers, particularly New Testament Prophets who must be especially guarded in these areas of direct attack.

New Testament Prophet beware.

Satan will attack your mind directly with thoughts of insanity and suicide.

Open your mouth and deal with these areas of direct Satanic attack the way Jesus did.

Do not allow thoughts of insanity or suicide to linger for a fast minute.

As often and as soon as Satan or demons whisper either suggestion to you, insanity or suicide, bind them in the Strong Name of Jesus Christ Whom God raised from the dead.

"Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

It is important to repeat, Satan is not omniscient. He cannot read one's mind. It is not possible to resist his thoughts with one's own thoughts.

The Prophet must open his mouth and verbally rebuke the spirits of insanity and suicide.

It is also not uncommon for Satan and demons to attack the Prophet after an outstanding deliverance, miracle or miracle services have occurred. This is in order to discourage the Prophet from cooperating with the Holy Spirit's continual miraculous demonstrations.

This is what happened with Elijah after he called down holy fire from Heaven to consume his offering, humiliating 450 false Prophets of Baal, then single-handedly slaying every one of them.

Immediately after those astounding miracles, Queen Jezebel issued a death warrant against the Prophet that sent him running for his life. As a result Elijah became exceptionally discouraged and depressed and went into hiding in a cave. He began to wrongly believe he was all alone and the last one in the world serving the Lord.

However, the Lord had mercy on him, visited him, spoke to him, encouraged him, refreshed him and lifted him from his despair.

Satan attempts to discourage all Prophets in this manner, particularly after an outstanding deliverance, miracle or miracle services have occurred.

Satan will also attempt to discourage God's Prophets when there seems to be no private ministry, no public meetings or miracles at the moment.

When this occurs the Prophet must resist and bind Satan and demon powers. (James 4:7)

The Prophet should also pray in the Spirit until refreshing comes. (Isaiah 28:11-12; Jude 20) If necessary the Prophet may even consider a brief period of fasting.

As was the case with Elijah, the Lord will have mercy on His Prophet, visit him, speak to him, encourage him, refresh him and lift him from his despair. (1Kings 18:1-46; 19:1-21)

During difficult seasons Satan and demons will attempt to convince the Prophet that God does not love him. They will attempt to convince the Prophet that if God did love him, He would not be so hard on him. Of course, this is not true. God not only has love for His Prophet, but He is Love. (1John 4:8) Because God is Love, it is impossible for Him to not love His Prophet.

God would have to change in order to not love His Prophet. The Bible says God does not change. (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8)

Prophet, keep in mind always that you are not only loved of God but you have been ordained to a very special friendship with Him, even as all Prophets are.

"And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." (Exodus 33:11)

"And the Scripture was fulfilled which sayeth, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness, and he was called the Friend of God." (James 2:23)

No matter how desperate things appear to the Prophet, he must always keep in mind it is never as bad as it seems. His joy will ultimately be restored. (Psalm 30:5-6)

However, it must also be pointed out that as was the case with the Master Prophet Jesus, once the faith command is given for them to go, Satan and demons will depart - but only for a season.

Satan and demons will ultimately return and the Prophet will need to aggressively enforce their defeat again even as Jesus would often have to do.

"And when the devil had ended tempting Jesus, he departed from Him for a season. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee and there went a fame of Him through all the region roundabout." (Luke 4:13-14)

No doubt some young Prophet is wondering right now, "Brother Hamel, for how long will I have to enforce his defeat like this?"

As is the case with all other Believers presently on probation on Planet Earth, the Prophet will have to enforce Satan and demons' defeat until his eventual arrival on Planet Heaven.

Also, should the consecrated Prophet ever experience a decrease in the anointing to deal with Satan and demons, a little extra reading of God's Word, a little extra prayer and a bit of fasting will cause the anointing to return in strength.

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God Will Always Encourage His Discouraged Prophet

God's Prophet never throws in the towel for he knows God will always bless him with strength and wisdom when all pathways seem nothing but troublesome.

The Prophet Moses cried out to God to let him die. (Numbers 11:10-15) God personally encouraged His Prophet and Moses went on to become one of the greatest Prophets of human history. (Hebrews 11:23-29)

The Prophet Elijah desperately wanted to die. (1Kings 19:1-4) God personally encouraged His Prophet through it and Elijah was ultimately whisked off in a whirlwind to Heaven via God's personal Chariot of Fire. (2Kings 2:9-11)

The Prophet Job cried out to God wanting to die after suffering tremendous loss and persecution at the hand of Satan. (Job 3:1-26) God had tremendous mercy on His Prophet and ultimately saw to it that Job was restored double for his losses. He also gave Job a new family along with the promise of spending Eternity in Heaven with his first family. (Job 42:10-17)

The Prophet Jonah hung his head in despair wishing he would die. (Jonah 4:1-11) However, with God's encouragement he, too, ultimately hung in there, obeyed and saw over 120,000 Ninevites repent and come to God through his preaching. (Jonah 3:1-10)

Even the Prophet Paul dealt with the desire to sacrifice his life on Earth and go to Heaven prematurely. Ultimately, Paul chose rather to stay on this Planet having decided it was better for the Body of Christ for him to do so. Listen to Paul's words.

"For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better. Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith." (Philippians 1:22-25)

The Prophet Paul's selfless decision to not depart prematurely from this Planet resulted in his authoring approximately three-quarters of the New Testament - the Greatest Book on Earth.

Paul experienced many personal visitations and direct encouragements from the Lord throughout his Ministry. (Acts 9:1-22; 22:17,21; 18:7-11; 27:21-26; 2Corinthians 12:1; Galatians 1:11-12, 2Timothy 4:14-18, etc.)

All of God's precious Prophets have their moments of despair. God has always intervened on their behalf and He always will.

God's Prophets are strategically placed in the Earth to help God's will to be accomplished in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. (Philippians 2:14-18) God will not forsake them.

Everything about the Prophet's life eventually plays into God's sovereign plan.

God has a Divine purpose for every Prophet in human history and He has a purpose for you.

God is faithful to bless His Prophet with fortitude to endure when the demands of the office seem overwhelming.

No matter what the test, trial or temptation, God will always pull His Prophet through.

Sometimes it is just a matter of the Prophet enduring God's pull.

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful Who will not suffer you to be tested above that ye are able; but will with the testing and trial also make a way to escape that you may be able to bear up under it." (1Corinthians 10:13)

The Prophet always comes out of a test or a challenge stronger than when he went into it.

The Prophet is determined to come through his tests and trials a better Prophet and not a bitter Prophet.

"But my horn (emblem of excessive strength and stately grace) You have exalted like that of a wild ox; I am anointed with fresh oil." (Psalm 92:10 Amplified)

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Chapter 12: The Prophet Maintains a Proper Attitude

Although humor in one's teaching and preaching is acceptable, it must never be used at the expense of God's Word. Worldliness, carnality and coarse jesting are never appropriate for any Christian, especially the Prophet - in or out of the pulpit.

The Prophet does not behave one way in the pulpit and another out of the pulpit. The Prophet is kind, dignified and serious.

"Let there be no filthiness (obscenity, indecency) nor foolish and sinful (silly and corrupt) talk, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your thankfulness to God." (Ephesians 5:4 Amplified)

The Prophet is a Prophet twenty-four hours a day, seven days per week.

The Prophet must maintain a proper, dignified attitude and walk in love at all times.

The Prophet walks in a sobriety equal to the seriousness of his position with God.

This is especially true during times when the Holy Spirit is leading the Prophet to publicly or privately confront, correct or rebuke someone for carnality, corruption or compromise. (Matthew 16:22-24; Luke 17:3-4; Romans 16:17; Galatians 2:11-14; Ephesians 5:11; 1Timothy 1:18-20; 5:19-21; 2Timothy 1:15; 2:15-18; 4:10,14-15; 3John 9-11)

The Prophet has a very sensitive spirit and is easily grieved by things that grieve the Trinity. Because of this the Prophet must also be forever on guard concerning maintaining a proper attitude.

The Prophet must constantly check the spirit of his mind, refusing to yield to moodiness as he sojourns in a sinful world that commonly rejects his calling and position with God.

The Prophet can become angered very easily and must continually make the decision to remain dignified and respectful even in the midst of Holy Spirit inspired indignation.

The Prophet is justifiably grieved and angered by all the things that grieved Jesus and made Him angry.

Jesus was grieved by rejection and persecution for the Word sake (Luke 19:41-44) and by physical sickness, emotional suffering and human death (John 11:1-36).

Jesus was grieved and angered by sin and false doctrine (Matthew 16:6-12), unbelief (Matthew 17:17), lack of compassion in spiritual leaders (Mark 3:1-6), hard-heartedness (Mark 16:14), religious, destructive spirits (Luke 9:54-56), greed and covetousness (John 2:13-16) and religious leaders who deliberately kept people from the truth of God's Word because of their own pride and selfishness (Matthew 23:13-39).

The Prophet is also easily grieved and angered by all of these things and more.

However, the Master Jesus never allowed these things to cause Him to sin and the Prophet must not allow them to cause him to sin.

"For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Prophet beware. Watch your attitude. Whatever God calls you to do, do it respectfully, with dignity and in love. Yes, be firm when necessary, but always dignified and respectful.

The Prophet Moses found himself being judged by the Almighty for allowing his anger to cause him to sin. You could find yourself being judged as well. (Numbers 20:8-12)

Do not allow anger to cause you to sin. Doing so gives place to the devil.

"Be angry but sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:26-27)

Prophet, do not allow the sinful world around you, saved and unsaved alike, to cause you to live a moody life. As with all of His children, it is God's will for His Prophets to be at peace.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

"Now may the Lord of Peace Himself grant you His peace (the peace of His Kingdom) at all times and in all ways [under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes]. The Lord [be] with you." (2Thessalonians 3:16 Amplified)

When the Prophet misses it in any of these areas getting out of love, he repents and gets back into love immediately. (Galatians 5:6)

He receives his forgiveness immediately and receives God's peace again. (1John 1:9)

This is what makes the Prophet a unique and powerful instrument in the hands of Holy God.

Prophets always repent where too many Christians, including Preachers, never repent.

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Chapter 13: The Prophet Is Both Willing & Obedient

As a moral free agent the Prophet must also keep in mind that God will never force him to confront someone or to do anything for Him. Like all other human beings, the Prophet has free will. It is up to the Prophet whether or not he will obey God and confront or address others.

"The spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets." (1Corinthians 14:32)

However, it is highly advisable when a Prophet is being led of God to confront someone for Him, or to do anything else He instructs, that he do so and that he do so obediently, with a right attitude and a willing heart.

I had personal dealings for a number of years with one established Prophet who was being very specifically instructed by the Holy Spirit to do a certain thing. Unfortunately, he was experiencing fierce opposition from his wife in the matter. For her own personal reasons she did not want him to obey God.

The Prophet must never allow their spouse to dictate to them concerning their Ministry. The Prophet is not a Rock Star in need of a manager. The Prophet is the servant of God who receives his instructions directly from Him.

For years the Holy Spirit both spoke to his spirit and bore witness with his spirit that it was indeed His will for the Prophet to obey Him in this matter. The Prophet stubbornly resisted, continuing to disobey the Holy Spirit's explicit instruction. At one point the Holy Spirit even chastised him severely through decrease in his finances, but still he would not obey.

Finally, after over a decade of the Holy Spirit's insistence being met with disobedience, the Prophet told the Lord he was now ready to obey Him. However, he made it clear to the Lord that he did not like what he was being told to do.

After long delay the Prophet was finally ready to obey the Lord's instruction but with a disrespectful, resentful, unwilling attitude.

Before the reluctant Prophet could finally follow through with his unwilling, half-hearted obedience, he died tragically, prematurely and unnecessarily.

It is never advisable for a Prophet of God to obey the Almighty with a disrespectful, bad attitude and an unwillingly heart.

Unwilling obedience could easily result in the Prophet's own judgment.

Unwilling obedience is half-hearted obedience.

Half-hearted obedience is whole-hearted disobedience.

"If ye be willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the land: but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it." (Isaiah 1:19-20)

Because of persecution and resistance from rebellious people, the Prophet Jeremiah developed a bad attitude. His heart became unwilling to speak on God's behalf any longer.

The Lord corrected the Prophet Jeremiah as follows.

Therefore, thus saith the Lord [to Jeremiah], "If you repent [and give up this mistaken attitude of despair and self-pity], then I will restore you [to a state of safety]. So that you may stand before Me [as My obedient representative]; And if you separate the precious from the worthless [examining yourself and cleansing your heart from unwarranted doubt concerning My faithfulness], you will become My spokesman. Let the people turn to you [and learn to value My values] - But you, must not turn to them [with regard for their idolatry and wickedness]." (Jeremiah 15:19 Amplified)

For the New Testament Prophet a willing, respectful attitude is everything.

In spite of knowing persecution will most likely follow, the Prophet must never draw back but always willingly obey the Holy Spirit's leading.

"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto sin; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:38-39)

Unwilling, withdrawn Prophets must repent and get willing again immediately.

When I discover I have become unwilling in any area, I immediately repent to God as follows. "Father, please forgive my unwillingness in Jesus' Name. As of this very moment You may count me as willing again."

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1John 1:9)

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Chapter 14. The Prophet Is Fearless in Confrontation

The Prophet stands one hundred and eighty degrees reciprocal of all that a sarcastic, God-mocking, rebellious society holds dear.

The Prophet denounces and protests self-indulgence, sin and compromise in the Name of the Most High God.

The Prophet is despised and vehemently opposed by lazy, Word-rejecting and compromised Christians, preachers included.

Outspoken, often blunt but never deliberately rude, the Prophet is especially angered by sin when it is found festering in the Body of Christ - particularly in spiritual leadership.

The Prophet is fearless when confronting sin and the Spirit of the Lord commands him to be so.

The Most High God commanded Jeremiah, Ezekiel and all of the Prophets to never submit to the spirit of fear allowing it to control them.

"Be not afraid of their faces for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth." (Jeremiah 1:8-9)

"And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briars and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks though they be a rebellious house." (Ezekiel 2:6)

The Prophet is fearless, yes, but is not to attempt to force someone to receive the word or the revelation with which he is sent. He is to simply deliver it whether it is received or not.

However, as was true in the Ministry of Jesus, those who do not receive the God-sent Prophet or the God-sent word through him will be judged accordingly.

To reject God's Prophet as well as God's inspired word through His Prophet is actually to reject the Bible. (Deuteronomy 18:19; Acts 3:22-23; Revelation 2:5)

I have confronted many - big names, little names and no names, on the Lord's behalf with a word of pending judgment only to be scoffed, laughed at, rejected, ejected and persecuted.

These individuals did not even demonstrate the good sense to go to the Lord in prayer and ask if there was any truth to the word I claimed He had given me for them.

In nearly every case to date those individuals ultimately were judged with premature death or some other form of avoidable tragedy, even as the Lord warned.

A few are still pending. However, if they continue to dig in their heels, going the way of rebellion as the others did, they, too, will face tragedy or some other form of judgment.

Had the others only listened, received and repented they would have easily avoided judgment.

After all, repenting and avoiding judgment is the primary reason our loving Father sends a Prophet to warn someone.

"And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will resist, (for they are a rebellious house) yet they shall know that there has been a Prophet amongst them ... and thou shall speak My words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will resist: for they are most rebellious." (Ezekiel 2:5,7)

Although the Prophet is not to attempt to force a word or a revelation to be received, the Prophet speaks and continues to speak on behalf of the Most High God, even when it seems the people are not listening.

Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin, a Prophet General in his day, traveled for many years preaching and teaching the message of faith in God's Word. During those years he stayed with many different families.

Dr. Hagin said he never stayed in anyone's home during all that time without God warning him if there was going to be a death in the family or some other form of tragedy.

Sometimes through proper teaching and repentance it could be avoided. Other times it could not be avoided and God was simply getting that family ready for it.

Either way, it was not Dr. Hagin's responsibility to force those individuals to receive God's warning. It was simply his job to deliver it and to lead them to repentance if they were willing to do so. If the word of warning was not received and they refused to repent, that was not his responsibility. ("Understanding the Anointing," pg. 85, Dr. Kenneth E. Hagin)

The Prophet must not see himself as a failure when the majority of his words of warning or judgment are rejected, for this is commonly the case.

The Prophet's success rate is based upon his obedient delivery, not its reception or rejection.

The idea is that the rebellious know Holy God sent a Prophet to speak.

Biblically and historically, the majority of words of warning or judgment given by Prophets to political leaders, nations, congregations, individuals and even spiritual leaders are rejected.

Unfortunately, this is why judgment occurs.

God always has and always will use Prophets to warn of pending judgment for individual and national sins. When His Prophets are ignored, mocked and badgered bad things really do begin to happen. Israel's 4,000 year history of rebellion and judgment is a prime example of this.

When God's Prophets are mocked and ignored morality goes down the drain. Sin increases tremendously on a national scale. Overwhelming economic decrease reigns and physical threats and attacks from violent enemies ensue.

Repentance has always been and always will be God's only solution to sin's dilemma on both an individual and national level. This is why God's Prophets must continue to warn, by His leading, even when it is apparent in most cases that the warnings are not being received.

Sadly, many whom the New Testament Prophet warns, including spiritual leaders, wrongly interpret much time already given to repent as an unwillingness on God's part to allow them to be judged.

This type of pride and hard-heartedness also results in rejection of the Prophet's warning.

In the majority of cases the rejection of the warning then results in the fulfillment, in this life, of once avoidable judgment.

In some cases judgment is delayed until the rebellious one stands before God in the next life.

If they are Born Again, their judgment will be meted out at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

If they are not Born Again, their judgment will be meted out at the Great White Throne Judgment.

Either way anyone who rejects God's gracious warning through His Prophet will be judged.

"Remember, the sins of some people are obvious leading them to certain judgment (in this life). But there are others whose sins will not be revealed and judged until later (in the next life)." (1Timothy 5:24 NLT)

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Chapter 15. The Prophet Is Not Money-Minded, Prideful or Lustful

The Prophet is constantly listening for the voice and the leading of God, even during those times when it seems God is not speaking or revealing. (1Kings 19:1-21)

The Prophet loves Jesus and is a soulwinner. He gives his life for the souls of lost men, women and children everywhere.

The Prophet is determined that God be glorified, the Lordship of Jesus Christ be preached and confirmed and that God be given opportunity to demonstrate His compassion for sick and suffering humanity.

The Prophet always points to Calvary. The Old Testament Prophets always pointed forward to the coming Cross of Calvary. The New Testament Prophet points back to the Cross of Calvary.

"To Him (Jesus) give all the Prophets witness, that through His Name whosoever shall believe in Him shall receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:43)

The motive of all true Prophets, Old and New Testament, is Jesus Christ and Him crucified, not money, not fame and not seeing the world fall at their feet.

As with all the other Ministry Offices, the Prophet must be particularly careful to not become money-minded, prideful or lustful.

These are three areas in which all Ministers of the Gospel must never become careless.

The Prophet Balaam ultimately cursed himself by receiving money from the King of Moab to curse the Nation of Israel. He misused and merchandised his anointing for self-indulgent financial profit and personal gain. (Numbers 22:1-41)

Although he was not a Prophet, King Saul was destroyed by pride, the love of popularity and the fear of criticism. He allowed himself to be moved more by man than by God.

Eventually Saul even intruded into the Prophet's Office, which resulted in his and his sons' premature deaths.

False Prophets, beware and be advised. It is a dangerous and a deadly thing to step into the Office of the Prophet when you are not specifically called to it by the Most High God.

You could and probably will die prematurely, even as Saul did. (1Samuel chapters 13-31)

The Prophet Samson was stripped of his anointing and knocked right out of commission by the uncontrolled lust of his flesh. He allowed himself to be moved more by women than by God.

Samson desired intimacy with strange women more than he desired powerful fellowship with Holy God.

Prophets beware. Even as it did with Samson, yielding to lust will bind you, blind you and most definitely grind you. (Judges 16:1-31)

The desire for gold, glory and girls (or guys) will knock the Prophet right out of commission as quickly as it will any of the other Ministry Offices.

As Balaam, Saul and Samson soon discovered, these "Three G's" are anointing-killers, candlestick (anointing) removers and will result in the allowed judgment of a loving God.

"Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of His place, except thou repent." (Revelation 2:4-5)

Jesus Christ must forever remain the Prophet's first and only great love.

In closing, it is important to note that although Prophets must always remain dignified, they can sometimes behave in a peculiar manner when being led by the Holy Spirit to do so. Yet somehow, their occasional, unusual behavior always ends up glorifying God by setting someone free. (Mark 7:32-35; 8:22-25; John 9:6-7; Acts 19:11-12)

Remember Prophet, as was the case with Moses and Abraham, you are both God's representative and close personal friend. Act like it, but remain humble. (Exodus 33:11; 2Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; James 2:23)

Enoch was a Prophet and was very close to God's heart. (Genesis 5:22-24)

Noah was a Prophet and was very close to God's heart. (Genesis 6:9)

David was a Prophet and was very close to God's heart. (1Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22)

Job was a Prophet and was very close to God's heart. (Job 29:1-25)

You are a Prophet and are very close to God's heart.

However, as God's Prophet you must never go about with high-minded braggadocio, speaking of the things God reveals to you in order to appear important. This will grieve God and quench the Holy Spirit as quickly as any other sin. It will also prevent Holy God from sharing revelations with His out-of-control, loose cannon Prophet.

It is vital that as a Prophet you build a relationship of trust and discretion with the Holy Spirit, not pridefully quenching His demonstrations, operations and manifestations.

"Quench not the Holy Spirit." (1Thessalonians 5:19)

In these Last Days we are going to see some things occur through the Office of the Prophet that we have not ever before seen, through the Working of Miracles in particular.

The Prophet must remain prayed up and prepared for this coming move of God.

Prophets are first and foremost Teachers and/or Preachers who frequently teach or preach by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Prophets operate consistently in the Revelation Gifts plus Prophecy as well as Gifts of Healings.

The New Testament Prophet's Office is a unique and supernatural Ministry indeed.

Without the Prophet's Office, the Body of Christ simply cannot come to maturity.

"And He gave some Apostles; and some Prophets; and some Evangelists; and some Pastors and Teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ: Til we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-13)

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Prophecy to the Prophets

I want you to stand in the Office of a Prophet.
I want you to see yourself as a Prophet of God.

I want you to think like a Prophet.
I want you to behave like a Prophet.

I want you to believe and speak like a Prophet.
I want you to carry yourself like a Prophet.

I want you to put your Prophet's Office first & foremost above everything else in your life.
All My dealings with you are dealings with a Prophet.

In all My dealings with you, I am dealing with a Prophet.
All My dealings with you are dealings with a Prophet.

See also "The Albuquerque Fire Pit. A Prophet's Supernatural Testimony"

An Account of Divinely Granted Visitations that Changed My Life Forever

How to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)

How to Receive The Holy Spirit & Power

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