PROPHECY GUIDELINES | FLOW WITH THE ORDER OF THE SERVICE

1. Prophecy Guidelines

a) Here are some guidelines that many churches and ministries have found to be helpful in encouraging believers to move in this gift of prophecy - including prophecy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, and tongues and interpretation of tongues - in local fellowships.

b) The following principles for delivering and responding to personal prophecy in the local church have been adopted by many Bible believing Christian fellowships and ministries worldwide. These guidelines are merely suggestions for the operation of prophetic ministry within a local church or ministry, and should be weighed against Scripture.

c) With all we know from the Scripture about the gifts of the Spirit, we have to keep in mind that no prophetic utterance takes priority over the ministry of the Word of God itself. Prophecy must not displace preaching. People cannot live by “inspirationalism,” but only by the bread of God, the Word.

d) God has given to the church apostles, teachers, pastors, and evangelists - as well as prophets - to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:11-13). The gifts of the Spirit are complementary to the Word.

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NKJV)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

2. Flow With The Order Of The Service

a) The Apostle Paul exhorts the Corinthian Church to:

1 Corinthians 14:39-40 (NKJV)
39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

b) Often the time to flow in the gifts of the Spirit in a service is during the worship as the Holy Spirit moves in a congregational service. But many churches also offer prophetic ministry during altar calls or after a service in designated areas. Prophetic ministry is most often not appropriate during the preaching or announcements.

c) When individual believers minister during the right time of the service, their ministry complements the flow of the service – it does not contradict and change its order.

d) If a congregation is involved in the high exuberant praises of God with demonstration, a word to be silent and still would be inappropriate. While God may have a key word of an individual saint, and that word could change the order of the service, the pastor or appropriate leader should be the one to make the decision on that change. If the pastor or leader is readily accessible during the worship service, the saint should share the revelation privately with them and allow them to determine if the timing is right to share it.

e) Each congregation will have its' own guidelines and rules for the service and ministry functions. The elders or pastor should be consulted before a person moves out in public prophetic ministry in a local congregation or fellowship.