Prophets And Prophecy: A Corner Piece Of The Church Jon Wright 5 th Feb 2006

A Series of Talks following on from last years Jigsaw 1 st talk is to look at the fivefold ministry of the Prophets and prophecy in general (Eph 4:11) It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers) 他所賜的，有使徒，有先知，有傳福音的，有 牧師和教師 Later sermons (God willing) will look at the others

What Is Prophecy It is a fivefold ministry gift appointed by God, when man appoints a ministry they are bought by the appointer. Jezebel appointed 450 prophets - didn’t do her much good tho It is bringing forth words from God which may be good and uplifting Can be to call for repentance (Jonah) Can be to do something (Noah & the Ark) Can be to do something strange (Jer 13; Acts 21) - a ruined belt and a bound man

Prophets are obsessed with purity Their purity is partly from from keeping things simple, they are not double minded, in private they are the same as in public They will not compromise, its black or white with them (Micaiah; 1 Kings 22:19-28) Can have issues with Pastors – The Pastor is too people centric and says “we’ve made a mistake” whereas the Prophet says “repent NOW!” Prophets mustn’t say things just to ‘control’ others

The Role Of The Prophet Today Tend to work with Apostles - Paul + Silas To speak new life and vision and change To activate gifts and ministries in others To train, encourage and build up believers To highlight sin in the camp to allow it to be released e.g. Joshua 7:10-13, where gold & silver was kept from battles when God had forbidden it.

We need to stop cursing people - James 3:5-6 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 這樣，舌頭在百體裡也是最小 的，卻能說大話。看哪，最小的火能點著最大 的樹林。 舌頭就是火，在我們百中，舌頭是個 罪惡的世界，能污穢全身，也能把生命的輪子 點起來，並且是從地獄裡點著的。

Go and speak blessings instead We can look at the situation and proclaim the opposite instead So speak prophetically over them (‘I bless you to be healthy’ ‘I declare growth in your Church’) Wives if you want you husband to earn more money then you can bless him to prosper Husbands can bless them back Bless each other with scripture - John 21: (Feed my sheep)

To speak and act prophetically over places We put out > 120 chairs each week in Oasis as a prophetic statement that we will grow We enlarged the small sanctuary on the 9F - a prophetic act that that space will be used more Remember Noah started building the ark 100 years before it rained! The name Oasis itself is prophetic The 9F needs a new name the old one does not speak prophetically the way God wants it to be, indeed it has become a ‘hole’ spiritually

The School Of The Prophetic Ann and Ian Pollard Fri Mar 30 th evening Sat March 31 st Sun April 1 st (Sermon) Oasis 10F Sanctuary All Welcome Minimal charge ≤ NT$ 200

Summary Stop cursing people - even in joking Start to bless people - proclaim the opposite of their negative situation Act prophetically - start to prepare songs / sermons / lessons, Claim your God given dreams Clean up our lives - remember prophetic people tend to be obsessed with purity Come to the School of the Prophetic - Oasis 10F Mar 31 st & Apr 1 st