BUILDING HEALTHY PROPHETIC COMMUNITY (Part 1)

August 17, 2019

Best Practices[1]

“There is a difference between teaching on the gift of prophecy and building prophetic community.” Kris Vallotton^[2]

If you are a pastor of a congregation, or a leader in the body of Christ, this Appendix is for you, because you may have practical questions about how to build a healthy prophetic community. Perhaps your questions are like the ones I had, being a pastor of a local church for several years. I wondered how could prophetic community be developed and discipled within the local church? Are there core concepts from which core values and processes/practices are best created? Are there processes or practices that can be identified as best practices in development and/or discipleship of a prophetic community? Are there crucial issues that must be addressed in the development of prophetic community?

A whole book could be written to answer these questions, I know because I wrote a doctoral dissertation on the subject! However, in this short space, I would like to start the conversation and allow you to then envision where to go from there. My specific intention has never been to create a program or lay out a set of steps to follow, but rather to recover the prophethood of all God’s people so that they would themselves receive revelation directly from God––prophetic revelation, thoughts, ideas, comprehensions, vision and words. In other words, each of us must first hear the voice of the Lord himself, be in intimate relationship with God (all prophetic gifting flows from there), and then create a strategy that is in alignment with God’s intentions for each local church context. Each of us, and the churches we shepherd, have a unique personality. As Graham Cooke suggests, each leader must find out what God is saying about this church for this year.[i]

Besides, I know what it is like to lead and pastor in the local church. I understand the frustration of having somebody who hasn’t walked in your shoes and in your context tell you what you should do. I respect that. I also respect the fact that if God called you to the place you are in, he has a vision for you. I honor you for all that you do to serve God and people.

Building Prophetic Community

In the beginning of this article I asked several questions. Questions always ask what, when, where, how, or why. Several chapters of this book were written to answer the why question. Why should we care about being a prophetic community? Why is it important? The answer to the question of when is it appropriate or the time to become a prophetic community is simple. The answer is now. Prophetic Community is the identity of the New Testament church. It is part of the New Covenant package. The question of how to build a prophetic community, as I explained above, has been left open for leaders and pastors in the Body of Christ and the local church to envision and implement.

What is left is a few more questions that begin with what. These questions are the material that will set the foundations for implementation. What are the core concepts from which core values and processes/practices can be created? What are the processes/practices that can be identified as best practices in development and/or discipleship of a prophetic community? What are the crucial issues that will need to be addressed in the development of prophetic community?

Before we begin our discussion, let’s establish what I mean when I say core concept, best practices, and crucial issues. Language can be tricky and I don’t want to assume understanding of definitions. Core concepts are the foundational values or biblical, theological, and even philosophical foundations from which practices are constructed. Best practices are the important or foundational practices for building prophetic community as discovered by those who are experienced in such matters. Crucial issues are the issues, that if left unaddressed or unincorporated, will hinder, prevent or sabotage the creation of a healthy prophetic community. In the following paragraphs you will find a brief overview of each to ponder, and prayerfully build a vision for your own context.

A prophetic community will minister in all the supernatural gifts; prophecy, healing, deliverance, miracles, signs and wonders. However, the focus of my book and this article is the restoration of the prophethood of all believers. Therefore, the core concepts, best practices, and crucial issues will primarily revolve around prophecy.

Core Concepts

There are four core concepts: 1) prophecy is for today, 2) prophecy has great value, 3) 1 Corinthians 14:31 is fundamental, and 4) all may prophesy. Many of these core concepts can be construed from the chapters in my book.

In chapter two through four, we established a biblical, theological, and historical foundation for the continuation of the gift of prophecy and a reclaiming of the prophethood of all believers. Practically speaking, it should go without saying that if we do not believe there is continuation of prophecy, we cannot move forward toward creating prophetic community in which the body is empowered, equipped and released in the gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. In other words, unless the theological culture of the local church or ministry is genuinely committed to a pneumatological ecclesiology then the components for building a prophetic community are non-existent and such a community will not be birthed, nor will it thrive.

In chapter six and seven, it became apparent the benefits of being a prophetic community and embracing charismatic, prophetic ministry far outweigh the risks and potential problems. Having a value for prophecy is having value and making room for God’s manifest presence. When God’s manifest presence and gifts are valued by leaders they become fundamental to all teaching, training and modeling, and the body of Christ moves from passive to active participation in bringing the Kingdom of God “on earth as it is in heaven”.

Paul writes, “For he who prophesies speaks edification, exhortation and comfort to men.” This is the primary purpose of prophecy. Whatever else prophecy does, i.e. reveal, affirm, confirm, direct, correct, or even rebuke, it must first and foremost encourage, build and comfort, rather than condemn and curse. (A study of the Greek meaning of the words in 1 Corinthians 14:3 is very helpful for fuller understanding).

Paul also writes that we all may prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:31). In chapter three I go into much detail to establish the prophethood of all believers. All means the whole of the body of Christ regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic or educational status. We all have been given the capacity and potential to function like prophets in mighty word and deed, just as Jesus and His disciples in the New Testament.

Best Practices

Best practices are related to four main elements: 1) teaching, 2) discipleship, 3) opportunity, and 4) accountability. It goes without saying that there will be best practices discovered uniquely related to each individual leader and context, however, these four elements are key inclusions for building healthy prophetic community.

Teaching is always important in order for the Body of Christ to have an understanding and foundation to operate from. This of us who have been pastors in a local church know that what we teach and model regularly from the pulpit becomes normative. There are two teaching themes needed to create healthy prophetic community. First, teaching on the voice of God related to hearing God, the gift of prophecy, and functioning in the gift.

Suggested topics:

Knowing God
Intimacy with God
Understanding God’s ways
Understanding Gods nature and character
Becoming a friend of God
Identity in Christ
The love of God’s

Every leader is interested in discipleship. There are three important aspects of great discipleship. Primarily, discipleship in a prophetic community is highly relational, it is stepping into the journey of those taught and trained to help them develop into who God has called them to be. It involves modeling and personal investment in a family style context. Leaders becomes mothers and fathers who lovingly develop the kind of relationship that gives a platform for teaching and shaping.

Secondarily, discipleship involves character development; molding and shaping character, not simply teaching and training in the gifts of the Spirit. Along with maturity, integrity, and the fruit of the Spirit, the most important aspects of character development are humility and submission to authority. Thirdly and importantly, the most effective discipleship model is do and teach.

Discipleship is relational teaching and modeling while practicing in the field focused on acquiring the skills, attitudes, and practices relevant to charismatic, prophetic ministry. John Paul Jackson sums it up, “Discipleship looks like training and then practice of what has been taught…inside and outside the church ongoingly until they mature.”^[ii]

The old adage, use it or lose it best describes the element of opportunity. If prophecy has great value room is made for its operation therefore opportunities will be given for people to develop their skill and experience in operating in the gift. Teaching alone is not enough to build prophetic community. There must be modeling by the leaders and then ongoing practice and development for the whole body through ample and continuous opportunities. Be creative! Create opportunities during worship services, in small groups, home meetings, workshops, and then to those they do not know inside and outside the church in order to stretch them beyond their comfort zone.

Finally, accountability has to do with integrity in character, behavior, and the ministry and operation in the gift of prophecy. I am assuming here, as leaders, we have a good understanding of integrity related to character and behavior, but what about prophecy?

It is imperative to note here, without full disclosure of protocols and guidelines created by the leadership, accountability and confrontation brings confusion, a sense of punishment, and a block to growth. Once guidelines and protocols^[iii] are developed, they need to be disclosed to the body with permission and freedom to practice accordingly. Once teaching, training, and release is given there must be accountability and confrontation in order for the prophetic community to be successful and healthy.

Accountability means prophetic words are evaluated and honest feedback is given. Accountability means we take responsibility for the words we give, and openly receive evaluation of the prophetic word with feedback. Honest feedback must be given if people are to grow. The most effective way to do this while keeping people safe from condemnation and shame is through loving relationship.

Leaders must be willing to confront people while honoring them. Kris Vallotton makes an important comment related to accountability, “To the level that you are going to empower people, is to the level you need to confront people.”^[iv] Without a willingness to confront people for bad behavior and bad words, there will be no respect for boundaries and protocols in ministry, no safety in the environment either for the person attempting to grow and develop skill in prophecy or for those to whom prophecy will be given, and no prophetic community.

Crucial Issues

There are three crucial issues that must be adequately addressed in order to build healthy prophetic community. Two of them have been discussed in other chapters; leadership and false prophets. See Chapters five and six. First, without willing, informed, strong leadership, prophetic community cannot be built. It is crucial that leaders are willing to embrace the core concepts, teach and model the best practices, address the crucial issues and release people to develop skill in spite of the potential for mistakes and problems. If a the leader does not believe that prophecy is of primary importance and comes with significant benefits, they will have no value for the gift and will not tolerate and endure the discomforts of change to become a prophetic community. Value creates commitment.

The issue of what is a false prophet and delineating between being a false prophet and making a mistake is not only crucial in and of itself, as addressed in chapter five, but it is also imperative for fostering a culture conducive to prophetic community. A conducive culture is the final crucial issue. There are three imperative components to building a culture in which people are eagerly engaged in developing their skill and capacity to function in the gift of prophecy: 1) safety, 2) empowerment, and 3) risk-taking.

Safety means people can take a risk knowing if they get it wrong or make a mistake they will not be put to shame, ostracized, denounced, condemned, or punished. Safety frees people from fearing to fail. The mishandling of mistakes by leaders cannot only discourage the person who is learning, but also discourage others from attempting to learn. Safety is part of what he and Bethel Church in Redding, CA call Culture of Honor, where people are honored in spite of their behavior.^[v] Creating a safe environment promotes a liberty in which people can make mistakes and not be condemned, but rather learn from them.

Empowerment means people are equipped and given permission to act on what they have learned in order to grow and develop in the gift. Lastly, to develop anything new or different requires risk. This who are learning function in the gift of prophecy, begin by learning to hear God’s voice, and the saying out loud what they think they hear to another human being. It feels risky, however small. To have a culture that foster risk taking for the development of skill and experience in the gifts, there must be safety and empowerment in the culture.

There You Have It

These are the most essential elements for creating a prophetic community. Essential meaning the basics, but not the entire blueprint. As I mentioned before, each of us lead in unique contexts, with unique people, and unique skills, anointing, and callings. The vision will be your own, inspired by the Holy Spirit.

I can answer one question emphatically.

Does prophetic community work in the local church?

Yes, it does.

I have both lived it and helped to build it.

[i]Graham Cooke Interview

[ii]John Paul Jackson Interview

[iii]See Appendix B for basic sample protocols

[iv]Kris Vallotton interview. On this subject Vallotton shared, “prophetic people share crazy stuff and there is no confrontation. So one thing we learned, to the level you empower people is to the level you need to confront people. If you are gonna give this much empowering, there needs to be this kind of confrontation – this doesn’t feel like the Lord, I don’t think that word was right, that really hurt me when you said that…there are really simple things like…because you know I am a prophetic person and value that in me…if I walk up to you and say…ever had stomach cancer?…and you say no…and I walk away, you are gonna wonder about cancer in your stomach.”

[v]Kris Vallotton Interview. Honoring includes loving confrontation and accountability.