Spring 1999
The Need for the Prophetic
Wade E Taylor

"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing
words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the
Spirit and of power" I Cor 2:4.

The Words that I speak for the Lord must be anointed and contain spiritual substance that is beyond mere intellectual comprehension. These words must have the "ring" of spiritual quality and convey edification, healing, and deliverance.

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, which God
has hidden ..." I Cor 2:7.

Thus, in order to speak forth this creative word, we must become "prophetic." This is the exchange of our intellectual ability for a complete dependence upon the Holy Spirit.

The key to the ministry of Jesus was His prophetic anointing, as expressed in Isaiah 50:4.

"The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the
learned, that I should know how to speak a word
in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth
morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear
as the learned" Isa 50:4 KJV.

Notice the progression:

“The Lord God hath given ... that I should
know how to speak”

This prophetic ability is a gift which is available to each of us, if we ask for it, and then seek after it. The Word in I Cor 12:31 tells us that we are to covet earnestly the best gift - which is the gift that is needed at that particular time.

“A word in season to him that is weary.”

A specific “word” will be given to us at the right time. We will know by prophetic revelation to whom this word is to be spoken.

Following is the key as to how this prophetic ministry is to be obtained.

“He wakeneth morning by morning.”

The preparation for this prophetic enabling requires that we spend quality time "waiting upon the Lord.”

We must wait in His presence each day in order to cultivate this prophetic ability. To be "awakened" means that we are being lifted by His quickening presence above the limitations of our natural knowledge, into the realm of the supernatural.

When we have difficulty in "waiting upon the Lord" and seemingly fail or are distracted, we must not become discouraged, but determinedly continue to hold ourselves before the Lord in expectancy, that we might become more sensitive to His presence and to His voice.

The Lord will respond when we reach out toward Him. As we continue, He will bring us into an increasing degree of prophetic sensitivity and ability.

The Lord greatly desires a prophetic people. Moses said,

"... Would God that all the Lord's people were prophets,
that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them" Num 11:29.

John the Baptist said,

"I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness" (John 1:23).

Notice that John did not merely speak a prophetic word; rather every part of his being became the expression of that word. John did more than prophesy; he became prophetic.

There is a place of prophetic identity with the Lord into which we are called to grow.

"That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His sufferings" Phil 3:10a.

This "fellowship" speaks of a prophetic identity with the heart and feelings of the Lord. We are to become vessels through whom the Lord might openly express Himself as He desires. This involves our knowing the Lord beyond the realm of gifts and ministries.

There are five different levels of prophetic development.

1. Inner revelation.

The key to our becoming prophetic is expressed in Psalm 119:25.

"My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou
me according to Thy Word" Psalm 119:25 KJV.

Left to ourselves, we will cling to and express ourselves only in the earth realm (dust). In order to function in the realm of the spiritual, we must be moved upon with a prophetic anointing.

The word "quicken" means "life empowering." This is the first level of inner revelation, which is developed through the Word of God and the lifting power of the Holy Spirit.

As ”morning by morning”, we wait upon the Lord, He will "awaken" our spirit, and lift us into this dimension of prophetic vision. We will become spiritually sensitive and our spiritual capacity will be enlarged.

2. Our Testimony.

"If anyone speaks, let it be as the words of God.
If anyone ministers, let him do it as of the ability
which God gives" I Peter 4:11a.

This means that the word spoken must be a quickened prophetic word from the Lord. Words are understood by the mental image they convey. A true prophetic word goes beyond this image and imparts "spirit and life." It is not the "letter of the word" that is important, but rather the spiritual life that is conveyed.

3. The Gift of Prophecy.

This gift is available to, and should function through every member of the Body of Christ.

"For you may all prophesy one by one, so that all
may learn and all may be comforted." I Cor 14:31.

The gift of prophecy has limitations in its purpose and use. The Scripture tells us that we “prophesy in part" (I Cor 13:9). Prophecy is given for "edification, exhortation, and comfort" (I Cor 14:3).

The gifts should function in an attitude of sacrificial love with no intent of self-exaltation. They should operate through a life of holiness, that Jesus Christ alone will be seen, and the impartation, pure.

"Desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you
may prophesy" I Cor 14:1.

The word "gifts" is in italics, which means it was not in the original text. The original reads, "Desire the spiritual realm so you may prophesy."

In this realm, we are enabled to both see and speak prophetically. To do this, we must first edify ourselves by waiting on the Lord and praying in tongues. As we do this, we are “built up” in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20).

4. The Office of the Prophet.

A "prophet" is one who speaks a specific word, in a specific place, at a specific time, in behalf of God, as His mouthpiece.

The prophetic office is distinctly different from the gift of prophecy. A true prophet lives under the authority and discipline of the Lord, who chooses whom He will for this very costly ministry.

5. The Spirit of Prophecy.

"For the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy" Rev 19:10b.

This is the highest prophetic realm, and is motivated by "relationship" rather than "gift." The gift of prophecy requires only a "voice" that is yielded to the Holy Spirit. The "Spirit of prophecy" requires a totally yielded life which is possessed by the Lord, and through which the Lord expresses His life.

This goes beyond words, and becomes “a demonstration of the Spirit and of power."

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a
mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed
into the same image from glory to glory, just as by
the Spirit of the Lord” II Cor 3:18 NJK.

As we behold the Lord in His presence, our lives become as a mirror to reflect the person and presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, the testimony of Jesus, which is the Spirit of prophecy, can be both seen and heard, as we "mirror" Him.

At this present time, the Lord is seeking those whom He can bring into this ministry. This requires a people who are pure, holy, transparent, and who have experienced the heart of the Lord. It will result in a prophetic authority that will bring life and order within the Church, and do away with all religious confusion.