Introduction...continued

Prophetic or Pathetic?

The answer to the question has much to do with church leadership. The leadership have a responsibility before God to teach about hearing God to the church.

Often church leaders are frightened of releasing the prophetic. They justify their fears by saying that there is a need to protect people but often it is simply about retaining control.

It is the responsibility of church leadership to ensure that the gifts of the Spirit are properly administered and taught in the church.

One church leadership were determined to take the prophetic seriously. They set up a committee to weigh prophetic words, so words had to be submitted in writing to the committee before they were given in the church. Further investigation found that no one on the committee was baptised in the Holy Spirit, spoke in tongues or had ever prophesied. Nor were there clear guidelines for weighing the prophetic word.

Leaders must lead by example, this should include developing in their understanding and use of spiritual gifts.

Pastor Chris Pye tells a story of the pathetic:

'In a church service a lady stood up, and said, "Thus says the Lord, Just as Moses built the Ark to rescue my chosen ones, so I will build my church to rescue many in this city." She then sat down, many people in the congregation, even those with an elementary bible knowledge, were confused. Ten minutes later the lady stood up and said, "Thus says the Lord, I made a mistake, it was not Moses that built the Ark, but Noah, please forgive me." She then sat down again. This may seem like just another funny story, but imagine what damage may be done to a congregation's understanding of the use of prophecy in the church. The experience of the majority of Christians is either a total lack of the prophetic in their lives, or abuse of it as in the above case (full document).'

Perhaps it is no wonder that many churches avoid the prophetic and quench the Spirit.

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