The prophet's handbook

arrangement turns sour, and moreover, the Bible encourages it. For pastors considering authorizing prophets in their churches, guidelines of this sort are more than practical; they are critical. Requesting references may seem unpleasant or worldly to pastors, but they can prevent years of trouble. It is not secular to want to confirm the credibility and reputation of your incoming guest or candidate prophets as a precautionary measure; it is actually quite spiritual. The Lord exhorts us to know those who labor among us. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:12.) As a matter of course, investigate more closely candidates who balk at this requirement to confirm their qualifications for the post. Sometimes negative reactions mean such prophets have something to hide. Further, there is nothing wrong with asking for a background of the proposed church prophet’s ministry covering and past engagements. Listen to a series of the prophet’s messages on random dates before deciding if his or her teaching is sound. If he or she is published, review his or her works and readers’ critiques. As a pastor responsibly employing, endorsing, or assimilating the prophetic into your church, you are looking for consistency in every professional area of the ministry. Qualifying potential church prophets should include a thorough screening process. This is recommended for verifying an incoming prophet’s overall potential and for identifying the true prophet and the prophet’s truth. The screening process should consist of pointed questions that draw out informative answers about the prophet that pastors can use to base their decision upon. Such answers should provide insight into the candidate’s prophetic vision for the church’s covering and the means by which he or she proposes to implement it. The questions posed should reveal the heart of the minister, his or her outlook on church prophetics, and his or her perceived place in it. Naturally, doctrinal compatibility is crucial. The questionnaire you draft should tell you the proposed church prophet’s spiritual and practical knowledge, since teaching is likely to be a large part of his duties. How the prophet measures up as a potential leader, as well as matters of confidentiality and loyalty, should be addressed. A good standardized assessment could do much of this work for you. I developed one that has proven to be quite effective. The Pastor and the Awakening Prophet Should a pastor discover an awakening prophet in the congregation, the discovery should not automatically constitute an ordination, installation, or