The prophet's handbook

While it is true the prophet is the second-ranking Ephesians 4:11 official, those assigned to local churches voluntarily submit to the shepherd to cooperate with the will and purposes of God. Their decision to do so allows them to collaborate effectively with the head of the church on matters pertaining to the Lord and the church, and enables all concerned to yield the peaceable fruit of obedience. Humble church prophets take care not to usurp the pastor or to attempt to draw away the sheep as disciples after themselves. They shun the very appearance of evil suggested by these behaviors before the membership, deliberately giving the pastor due regard in every public instance. From their hearts they know they are in the church on divine assignment and their job is to uphold the pastor in every credible way. In addition, submissive church prophets make sure the sheep do not see them as alternatives to the pastor or attempt to pit the two against each other, prophet versus pastor. Church prophets do not shepherd the sheep they cover and guard outside the pastorate. Committed and insightful church prophets protect and develop the members and keep them in the Lord’s spirituality. I once had a prophet of a church whose agenda was wholly contradictory to mine. I called a meeting with this novice to try to get to the bottom of a similar problem. I thought that if I discussed the matter with him personally, he would see the value of a functioning collaboration between us. It did not work. You see, as long as the prophet was free to lead, prophesy, and perform, everything was fine. When I imposed boundaries and guidelines on him, his attitude turned sullen. In the meeting, the young prophet became belligerent and informed me that he was not giving his life to ministry; he had a life outside of it and he would not permit me to tell him what to do. Taken aback, I let him know that the two perspectives were mutually exclusive of the prophet’s office. His life was no longer his own and a church prophet assignment, like a mentorship, presupposed his being told what to do. My words had no effect. The prophet countered by adding that he would determine when he would or would not obey me. I was stunned, as I had never imagined these disorders brewing in this person’s belief system. He had come to me from under a reputable and well-known prophet, and I assumed the person had these basics of prophetic character resolved. He did not. After a few more “I’m grown and don’t need anyone to tell me what to do and where I can go” tantrums, the prophet informed me that he had to seek God on my request. I had asked that he give me advance notice when he would be