PROPHETIC GIFTING VS. CALLING: HOW TO KNOW WHICH ONE YOU CARRY
FROM THE PROMISE TO THE PALACE
Have you ever sat in the swirl of uncertainty; questioning your calling or destiny? Or maybe you know you are made for something great but no one else has recognized it in you? I see this happen often; it can feel like the Lord comes in the night to whisper a secret that is left to simmer in your heart for years as you wait for the world to recognize and respect the call of God on your life.
I understand the longing in waiting on the Word of the Lord to unfold in your life. The excitement as you dream of what it will be like, and the fear as you begin to question how it will all unfold and if you are capable.
In 1985, I had an encounter with the Lord that changed the trajectory of my life forever. The call of God on my life to be a prophet to the nations was clear; I could not deny it if I wanted to. Jesus walked into my bathroom amid my evening bath and told me,
“I have called you to be a prophet to the nations. You will speak before kings and queens. You will influence prime ministers and presidents. I will open doors for you to talk to mayors, governors, ambassadors, and government officials all around the world.”
This encounter lasted for roughly 30 minutes and left me with a thousand questions. I had been given an assignment with no clear directions to discover the God-given destiny over my life. I was left to pioneer a promise and protect the prophetic proclamation but I did not know where to go.
Let me be clear, my journey was not perfect, and my emotions were all over the map, but the truth is, the 20 years from the promise to the palace (metaphorically speaking) was a part of the perfect plan of God, as I spent years forging a road in obedience and building a foundation of faith; un-perfectly but passionately pursuing the prophetic call on my life. What I’ve learned is that often when we receive a word from the Lord our urgency for promotion can defeat our ability to walk humbly through the process into promotion. Remember, the Lord promotes the humble but humbles the proud.
THE GIFT VS THE OFFICE
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the gift of prophecy and the office of a prophet? I often see this confused in prophetic culture and hope to bring some clarity to the call of a prophet today.
The gift of prophecy is one of the nine spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12; it is given by the power of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of the gift of prophecy is to edify, exhort, and comfort. Let me be clear, though through the Holy Spirit we have been given access to spiritual gifts, we have also been told to earnestly seek them (1 Corinthians 14:1). If you want to grow in the gift of prophecy, I encourage you to seek the Lord and ask him for His good gifts. The Lord desires to give us His gifts more than we could ever want them. What I am getting at is, prophecy is a gift, not a reward; you cannot earn it or achieve it you only can receive it.
A prophet is not a gifted person but is a gift to the Church (Ephesians 4:7). The office of a prophet is a call; it is who the person is not what the person does. In order to be a prophet, there has to be a private encounter and a public acknowledgment. If you have a private encounter but are not acknowledged before men you are not a prophet to anyone because you are not operating in the fullness of your calling.
What I am getting at is, a prophet has a metron which is their sphere of authority. If you are operating in the office of a prophet but have no sphere of influence you will have no authority with man. If you receive a word from the Lord before the mantel on your life is recognized, I’d propose you are on the journey from the promise to the palace.
I encourage you to practice walking in royalty, surround yourself with community, and seek the Lord. An isolated prophet can lead to unhealth and disfunction; accountability and covering will be essential for your growth — the role of a prophet is to equip the saints it is critical to build trust with God and with Man.
THE SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS
After years of mining on the frontlines of the prophetic without any resources or prophetic community, I had a deep desire to see the prophets of our day equipped and encouraged in their call. Out of this desire, I created The School of the Prophets — a week-long training event for prophets, highly prophetic people, and church leaders that want to learn to advance and increase their prophetic call. This year, The School of the Prophets is happening both in-person at Bethel Church in Redding, CA, and online August 8-12, 2022.
I believe God is calling His prophets and prophetesses to understand the current cries heard globally and to step into the fullness of their calling as prophetic reformers. The School of the Prophets is a great opportunity to join other leaders from all over the world in a week-long training event for prophets, highly prophetic people, and church leaders and learn how to advance and increase your prophetic call. My heart is to see prophets step up to the plate, be equipped in their calling, engage in the world’s darkest circumstances, and get deployed in your divine destiny.
If you have a desire to be equipped or accelerate your prophetic calling I encourage you to
register for The School of the Prophets 2022.
My prayer for you this week is that you would feel the closeness of the Lord. No matter the calling or miracle you are waiting to see unfold in your life, remember the divine purpose and care that the heavenly Father has for you.
