The prophet's handbook

trials, tribulations, extensive study, and frequent, sometimes harsh, correction by the Lord’s Spirit. Theological Doctrine Needs Wisdom’s Prudence As long as theology and doctrine separate themselves from human necessity and life application, wisdom will usually be lacking in the church’s ministry applications. However, that is not the case with God. His Word and His requirements are not merely intellectual in object, although they are quite intelligent. God is pursuing a definite aim in our lives with His Word: that of His work, holiness, righteousness, and eternal qualification of the redeemed for everlasting life. For every principle, precept, function, and activity detailed in the Bible, there is a corresponding human condition, attitude, conduct, or belief that inspired it. Prophets easily grasp this truth. It substantiates their calling and defines their jobs. That is how they can tell you why the Lord called them and empowered their mantles. Prophetics are God’s way of getting His word into society, and His will to work in its cultures. Depending upon their generations and the eras in which their words are assigned, prophecies are ignited by the mouths of God’s prophets. Their ministries actuate and craft the prophetic words God implanted in creation for their times. (See 2 Chronicles 36:22–23.) Remember, this pattern of the Lord goes back to eternity, as we have shown. Prophetics are how God brought His Son Jesus onto the planet. To underscore a New Testament place of beginning, it began with the angel Gabriel’s word to Zechariah announcing the birth of John the Baptist. Six months later it repeated itself with Mary, who was also visited by the angel Gabriel. Both events were occasioned by the Lord’s use of prophecy to fulfill the string of cryptic predictions that brought the promised Messiah into the world. Centuries of prophetic words brought the Savior to earth. His conception was the culmination of God’s constant stream of encoded, inflexible prophecies from the mouths of His servants. Their words shaped the events and birthed the people who eventually brought Jesus to planet earth. Today, the church scarcely dares to think that Jesus arrived on the earth by the invisible vehicle of continuous prophecy spoken by the prophets over thousands of years. For prophets, this becomes crucial and validating information. It underscores their use by God. To respect and have faith in prophecy, you need to begin to think of it as more than sounds from highly spiritual people. You have to see with your spiritual eyes the teams of angels and the hosts of supernatural