The prophet's handbook

support his work. He instructs them to bring their tithes to the prophet’s meetings to finance his rebellion. This is error, as Scripture records that no prophet, or other itinerant minister, is authorized to receive congregational tithes and offerings due the church he serves. Moreover, the Lord expressly forbids local church servants, ordained or not, to splinter a church down prophetic lines. It should be underscored here that tithes generally go to the priests (shepherds) of the household and not to the church or itinerant prophet unless they are tithes the prophet’s ministry has earned. If the prophet is the priest (pastor), or serving in a similar purpose in a tither’s life, then he or she is authorized to receive the tithes. To do otherwise could have a congregant’s giving go unrecognized by God. Aside from the previous situation, prophets receive and are entitled to offerings and support for their labors, but not the tithes from the church to which they have been assigned without the pastor’s approval. Prophets truly sent by God will encourage congregants to surrender their tithes to the church and not to themselves for the sake of obedience. They will also urge church members to remain under the covering of their pastor and not to seek prophetic experiences outside the church. You will know a God-groomed church prophet by how he or she leaves. If the prophet leaves the church quietly, informing only the pastor and refusing to incite other members or leaders to leave with him or her, then this is a godly and trustworthy prophet. How Church Prophets Are Financed A staff prophet should be compensated regularly like any other permanent or long-term employee of the ministry. A regular salary is necessary if the prophet is to forgo traveling ministry to serve one church. If not, the danger of his abandoning his post to provide for himself is great, and this endangers both the church and its head unnecessarily. I strongly urge pastors to properly compensate their prophetic staff, particularly their chief and assistant chief prophets, just like they would any other full-time servant of the house. As soon as it is practical, the staff prophet should be compensated routinely like any other employee of the church or work. It cannot be stressed enough that if you require your prophet to remain in the church and to dedicate all prophetic resources to it, your pastor must compensate him or her sufficiently enough to do so. Such compensation need not come directly or exclusively out of the church budget, and it may be only partly allocated from church income. But pastors should allow their staff prophet to hold prophetic meetings, seminars, classes, and such under church auspices where he or she can attract offerings. The cost of such meetings should be borne by the prophets themselves with fees assessed according to what their