GROWING IN THE PROPHETIC: LEARNING TO CONVERSE WITH THE FATHER A Mantle of Praise Ministries Life Training Manual
I. THE FATHER S HEART: A THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION FOR REVELATION A. What is the gospel all about? 1. vs. Mentalities a. Luke 18.17 & Matthew 18.3; "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven". b. 1 John 3.1 c. John 17.3 2. The Father wants children who a. Romans 8.15 b. Ephesians 1.17-18 3. The true Sons are those who are a. John 5.19-20 & 8.28-29 b. Romans 8.14 "those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." 4. The Father desires to speaks to His children a. Luke 11.11-13 b. Luke 10.17-24 "you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." B. Prophetic seasons preceding appointed times 1. Elijah preceding Elisha, John the Baptist before Jesus a. Matthew 11.7-15 b. Joel 2.28 2. Matthew 24 and Habakkuk 2.13-14 a. Psalm 127.1-2 C. Old Testament vs. New Testament Prophets and prophecy Copy by Permission Only. Mantle of Praise Ministries, Inc. www.marcdupontministries.org 2
1. Today we all have a. The difference between the old and new covenant 1. Jeremiah 31.33-34 & 1 John 2.20-27 b. In Old Testament times the weight was on the prophet to prophesy perfectly, today the weight is on the hearer to pray and discern. 1. James 3.17-18 & Romans 8.14 2. Acts 21.9-14 2. Today we have the a. The inspired Word and prophetic insight; 1 Corinthians 13:9- "For we know in part and we prophesy in part" 1. Matthew 4.4 2. John 16.13-15 b. Prophecy vs. "Thus sayth the Lord" 3. Understanding & New Testament Prophecy a. Prophecy is to "strengthen, encourage and comfort", 1 Corinthians 14.3, not to control, manipulate, or destroy. 1. Acts 21.9-14 2. 2 Kings 2.9-15 & Luke 9.52-56 b. To walk in God's inherent authority you must honor His delegated authority. 1. Jesus and John the Baptist 2. Jesus and the Centurion 4. Differing Levels of gifting and authority a. LIFE IN THE SPIRIT: the leading of the Holy Spirit, occasional prophecy; anyone in the family of God b. THE GIFT OF PROPHECY: the Charisma gift. Beginning to flow in words, visions, or dreams; Copy by Permission Only. Mantle of Praise Ministries, Inc. www.marcdupontministries.org 3
learning to be a risk taker; gifting can either be for prophesies to Christians, evangelism, or mainly intercessory prayer c. MATURE GIFTING: a deacon ministry of service: consistent and mature gifting; recognized by the leaders as usually reliable because of fruit and experience d. LEADERSHIP WITH A PROPHETIC EDGE: prophetic teaching and preaching; teachers, leaders, and pastors e. A PROPHETIC MINISTRY: a ministry to the church at large with a strong focus on building up individuals through the charisma gifting. As well, these ministries may have a gifting for training and equipping in the usage of the gift of prophecy. f. SEERS AND/OR PROPHETS: visions versus the Lord would say g. PROPHETS: Ephesians 4.11; Doma Gifts to the church tend to not just minister words from the Lord, but more focused on the word of the Lord for congregations, networks, and beyond. Prophets, as opposed to prophetic ministries tend to also be compelled by seasonal burdens from the Lord for the church, and by a passion for the church to perceive the person of Christ more clearly. Prophets are a translocal ministry of training and encouragement to different churches; recognized by different Pastors as fruit bearing h. PROPHET TO THE NATIONS: Ephesians 4.11; a major ministry to the Body of Christ in releasing wisdom and vision in internationally as fruit bearing to the body of Christ globally. D. Who can get the gift of prophecy? 1. Young and old, male and female, rich and poor- Joel 2.28 2. 1 Corinthians 14.1 & Numbers 11.18 Copy by Permission Only. Mantle of Praise Ministries, Inc. www.marcdupontministries.org 4
3. Luke 11.11-13 E. Gifted, and/or Called, to Prophetic 1. Jeremiah 1 vs. Romans 12.6 2. Seeing, or a see-er 3. Prophetic deacons, or ministry of the prophet 4. Set apart, or simply growing in the gift a. You can all prophesy 5. Character a. Both/And: Honoring & Honest, Exhorting & Unafraid b. Samuel & John as children: loneliness can become a strength c. Ambition, or death to self: John s prayer: You must increase d. Loyal to God and relationships 6. Commissioning & Re-commissioning a. Exodus 3 7. Character training 8. Including outsiders 9. Accountability II. THE REALM OF REVELATION; EYES TO SEE AND EARS TO HEAR A. Visions, dreams, and prophesies 1. Numbers 12.6-8 2. Prophetic "nudges" B. The seeing and hearing gifts of 1 Corinthians 12 Copy by Permission Only. Mantle of Praise Ministries, Inc. www.marcdupontministries.org 5
1. : a supernatural ability to discern between what is of God, man, and the demonic realm 2. : being able to identify by the Holy Spirit the specific root problem or situation 3. : being able to supernaturally speak into a problematic situation 4. : a. Prophecies: foretelling by the Holy Spirit what is to come b. Prophetic nudges: small prophetic words of direction 5. : a. Words of prayer and/or praise to God b. To communicate in foreign languages 6. : C. Exhortations 1. A burden of the Lord expressed in our words, visions, or dreams 2. A burden of the Lord expressed through scriptures D. Prophetic or, 1. An inspired word of command which releases a particular grace of God, especially pertaining to miracles III. WHAT ARE PROPHETIC WORDS FOR? A. To,, and. 1 Corinthians 14.3 1. Personal direction or insight a. Acts 9.10-18 b. Acts 10.9-16 2. Direction (encouragement) for others. James 4.14-15 Copy by Permission Only. Mantle of Praise Ministries, Inc. www.marcdupontministries.org 6
a. Acts 13.1-3 b. Acts 21.9-14 B. Vision and Encouragement for the future; treasuring things in your heart, 1 Thessalonians 5.19-20 1. "A " a. Habakkuk 2.2-3 b. Proverbs 29.18 2. Barnabas a. Acts 4.36-37 b. 9.26-29 c. 11.23-26 C. Luke 2.51 impartation of hope, power, and gifting 1. 1 Timothy 4.14 2. David and Samuel 3. Romans 10.17 D. and 1. Prophecy is to encourage and edify, not to destroy, control, or manipulate. God deals with us as a loving Father. Not like Satan "the accuser". a. Jesus, the Pharisees, and the adulteress women b. James 3.13-18 & Galatians 6.1 c. Paul and Agabus E. Discernment 1. 2 Kings 6.15-17 & Matthew 26.53 2. Matthew 26.20-25 3. 1 Corinthians 2.10 IV. JUDGING PROPHECIES & PROPHETS; 1 CORINTHIANS 14.29 Copy by Permission Only. Mantle of Praise Ministries, Inc. www.marcdupontministries.org 7
A. THE NECESSITY OF RISK TAKING IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF AND 1. Proverbs 14.1 2. Matthew 25.25 a. Matthew 14.28-30 b. Psalm 37.23-24 B. Judging Prophecy, I Corinthians 14 1. Is it consistent with? 2. Does it build people up and encourage or does it condemn and manipulate? 3. Is their ----------- and in the Spirit, even if the word is a challenge? 4. Do 2 or 3 mature witnesses confirm it? Does it bear witness with your? 5. Who does the word? 6. Is it a Zyid word cooked up out of an, or a Naba word springing up from the Holy Spirit? 7. Does it rely on Holy Spirit conviction, or is it a word? C. Judging Prophets 1. Does their spirit represent 2. Humility and accountability, Numbers 14.3 3. What is the fruit of their lives and their prophecies, Matthew 7.16 D. Three models of weighing corporate prophecy 1. The " " model 2. The " " model 3. The " " model Copy by Permission Only. Mantle of Praise Ministries, Inc. www.marcdupontministries.org 8
V. PHYSIOLOGICALLY EXPERIENCING REVELATION A. Common ways of experiencing " " as opposed to " ": 1. A spontaneous flow of words, pictures, and thoughts that a. Headlines b. Visions 2. You " " 3. 4. A sensation 5. B. Right brain vs. left brain orientation 1. The Left, or the practical side; a. Left brain abilities; 1. The, or side 2. Speech, Reading, and Writing process' 3. Categorical and factual information processing- the empirical/rational process; teachers b. The limitations of exclusive left brain empirical thinking 1. Emotional void 2. Lack, or fear, of intimacy 3. Fear of spontaneity, or loosing control 4. An extreme in relation to God is phariseism 2. The Right, or creative, side a. The, or side b. The imaginative\creative process; artists, inventors, prophets, etc. Copy by Permission Only. Mantle of Praise Ministries, Inc. www.marcdupontministries.org 9
1. Joan of Arc 2. Albert Einstein: The imagination is more important than pure knowledge c. The Emotions; the Gateway to the Heart 1. Proverbs4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 2. Luke 6:45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart,... For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. d. The limitations of exclusive right brain thinking 1. Lack of practicality 2. Lack of continuity 3. An extreme; heresy and basing life purely on experience 3. A balanced Christian bases their standards and values on the Bible, but is seeks the leading of the Holy Spirit for the specifics. a. 1 Cor 13:9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part b. Mat 4:4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." 4. Learning to work with the " " a. Exercising the right side of the brain: utilizing the tool called the imagination b. Habakkuk's model of prayer: waiting for on God; waiting and conversing with God, Habakkuk 2.1-4 Naba "bubbles" up while Ziyd means to "cook up". 1. Watching and listening, letting God initiate the subject of conversation- "Watching to see what He will speak to me" Copy by Permission Only. Mantle of Praise Ministries, Inc. www.marcdupontministries.org 10
2. Responding in humility- "How I may reply when I am reproved" 3. The Lord going into detail and clarification- "Then the Lord answered me and said" 4. "Write down the revelation"- Treasure it in your heart - take the conversation pray over, think over it, get all of it, and at the right time obey it. VI. THE 3 PARTS OF BEING A MESSENGER;,, AND. Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances. Proverbs 25.11 A. The Spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet. B. Receive the word 1. The initial word; write it down when possible 2. Pray for understanding 3. Relate the word and/or symbolism to the Bible or know images and metaphors when possible 4. Make you sure you get all of the word C. Releasing the Word 1. Is it for intercession only? 2. Get the Lord's timing if you are to relate it to someone 3. Give it in love and humility 4. Be a messenger and let the Holy Spirit be the Holy Spirit. Do not assume responsibility for fulfilling a word. VII. PROPHETIC MATURITY A. Jeremiah 29: the promise of blessing related to faithfulness Copy by Permission Only. Mantle of Praise Ministries, Inc. www.marcdupontministries.org 11
B. Romans 8.14: the leading of the Holy Spirit is for the sons! 1. Sons are called to maturity- like Father, like sons a. Luke 3.22 & Matthew 17 b. John 5.19 & 20, John 8.28 & 29 2. Authority is rooted in a. Romans 16.19-20: the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. b. Matthew 8.5-13: Jesus & the Centurion VIII. MINISTRY TIMES A. What was my experience in hearing from the Lord? 1. Was it present encouragement or a prophecy for the future? 2. How did the Lord speak to me? 3. Was it confirmed and how? 4. Did it relate to scripture or imagery? 5. How did it encourage the recipient? B. What does this seminar mean to me? 1. Is my relationship to the Father focused on position or relationship? 2. Do I have a hard time crying out "Abba, Father"? Copy by Permission Only. Mantle of Praise Ministries, Inc. www.marcdupontministries.org 12
3. Am I basing my life on both the authority of the Bible and the leading of the Holy or do I need to work more in certain areas. 4. Time reading and studying the Bible C. Will I commit time to spend time ministering to the Lord and listening to the Lord? Copy by Permission Only. Mantle of Praise Ministries, Inc. www.marcdupontministries.org 13