The prophet's handbook

city. That makes the prophetic guard a human wall about the church and a spiritual shield by which the Lord hides the congregation from attack. The prophet’s covenanted spiritual authority intervenes for the church as the mantle cloaks it to conceal its vulnerabilities. In this way, the stationed church prophet fortifies the church he or she covers as a fortress in God’s high places. In this capacity, the prophet protects the house from the bondage and strongholds of idolatry, spiritual intimidation, and ecumenical compromise. Prophets quickly spot even secular holds and humanist philosophy lurking in traditional church doctrines unseen by most. (See Jeremiah 4:16 for a better understanding of God’s mind on this duty, which is also what Nahum 2:1 talks about.) The preceding discussions establish that prophets are fighters. This is the nature of the mantle and the requirement of the task. Prophets must be fearless, determined, resolute, and protective. If not, they end up being mere newscasters who announce what is going on with no godly effect whatsoever on the events happening in the church. Obviously, character and temperament flaws such as this can be harmful without divine restraint, which is why prophets must be painstakingly obedient and fiercely loyal to the Lord. However hurtful the job may be at times, prophets are dangerous if they have not surrendered their hurts and disappointments to the Lord. Those who do not turn to the Lord risk raiding, intentionally or not, His treasures. When this happens, these prophets cease to be servants and frightfully become supernatural mercenaries using powerful abilities to finance their whims or reward themselves for all they suffered. Read God’s answer to this improper prophetic attitude in Micah 3:5. Despite the risk, prophets overall, when well trained, are worth it. Pastors, in light of this information, ask yourselves if you could use some added spiritual help and increased supernatural covering for those entrusted to your care. If so, you are ideal candidates for a church or resident prophet institution. In the next chapter, I will present information to guide shepherds and church prophets in their discovery and installation of this ministry. Also outlined are more valuable uses of the church prophet in a local church.