The prophet's handbook

Perhaps the struggle that ended so badly could have been avoided. What would have happened if there were better ways for pastors to bring their new prophets up in the Lord? One way to reduce the customary struggles between new prophets and their pastors is to direct awakening prophets to seasoned messengers who understand what they are going through that can help them learn their callings, their mantle, their ministry, and their place in the church. Here is where prophetic mentorship comes in. The first thing all upset parties in a chaotic prophetic awakening should do is not throw out the baby with the bath water. Frequently, out of sheer frustration, that is the response of the typical church pastor. The prophetic on its own is a weighty institution. Typically, those called to it are headstrong, strong-willed, and independent—qualities that make them good candidates for the calling in the first place. These traits fuse well with the underlying prophetic nature and enable messengers to endure the often negative experiences associated with the ministry. Getting them off to a good prophetic start can be precarious. You see, prophetic types survive because difficult lives accustom them to resistance. Potential prophets are usually seasoned fighters, able to isolate themselves and thrive in isolation. They adapt easily to the mood of their surroundings and deftly counterattack anything that threatens them. Prophets in general find it quite convenient to walk away from the crowd and to go against the grain of the masses. All these powerful tendencies, when sanctified, will make them good vessels of the Lord in prophetic ministry, but at the outset they are nerve-racking and quite destructive. Seasoned prophets know this well. That is why they should be available for prophetic mentorship and established in the church as such. Churches that are committed to hosting and endorsing Christ’s prophetics should have a number of prophetic partners and peers on hand to help them with their new prophets over and above their inhouse institution. These people should help mentor the church’s entire prophetic ministry. Outside prophetic mentorship means the burden of coping with a budding prophet is handed over to someone else, even if the pastor is a prophet. The work of training, pruning, restraining, and trying the sincere novice prophet is left on the mentor’s shoulders. Once assigned, the prophetic mentor should make himself available to his juniors for long talks, questions and answers, and other requirements of tutelage and training. A structured