tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5755618024908380510.post6908307347126723714..comments2009-05-04T08:49:29.604-05:00PCG Eye 2 Eyehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03876908374648495243noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5755618024908380510.post-21172618939757285602009-05-04T08:49:00.000-05:002009-05-04T08:49:00.000-05:00This is a tricky tightrope but one worthy of discussion as more and more churches embrace prophetic ministry. I taught a class at church a year or so ago called "Growing in the Prophetic" and spent an entire class session working through this issue of judging prophecy. I believe it all comes down to asking the right questions. <br /><br />For prophetic ministries we stressed the following key questions for start.<br /><br />Are they rooted in a local church?<br />Are they accountable within that church to leadership?<br />Is there covering for their gifting and ministries when away from home?<br />What redress do we have if things go wrong?<br /><br />Everyone called to five-fold ministry should subject themselves to the same level of accountability that prophets are held to, but no prophet should ever function as a superstar ministry. They are members of the body of Christ. Prophecy that is not judged produces shallowness in the gift and ministry. It allows the charlatans to grow fat and thrive on our ignorance. Without proper judging of prophecy, it can ultimately do damage to prophetic ministry which is vital for the equipping of the saints (Eph 4). With that said, how do we test prophecy? I submit the following 2 questions. I'm sure there are more but this could be a good starting point:<br /><br />1. Does it edify, exhort and console? (1 Cor. 14:3) Whether the prophecy is positive or carries a judgment warning from God, ultimately it has to serve to build up the body.<br /><br />2. Test the spirit (1 John 4:1-3) I see three possible sources behind every prophecy:<br /><br />The Spirit of God<br />The spirit of man<br />An evil spirit<br /><br />The spirit behind the prophecy has to be discerned before the words are judged. Prophecy must line up with scripture and the Spirit because there is a spirit to prophecy. Here’s a basic guideline for testing:<br /><br />What is the spirit behind the prophecy?<br />Does it conform to scripture?<br />Does it glorify the Lord Jesus?<br />Is it manipulative or controlling?Jon Jenningshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07319551527694665724noreply@blogger.com