Wilson Lim

Jul 1711 min read

Understanding The Prophetic Presbytery

How can the prophetic gifting and calling function in the church today to bring forth greater blessings as God intended? There have been numerous unfortunate situations that have occurred where the prophetic gifting were not properly or wisely used. Consequently, these have led to hurts, disappointments and even actual harm upon some recipients.

The wrong reaction would be to shut it down, as some have done. But that is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The far better approach is to wisely manage the prophetic gift in a more balanced and wiser fashion. There is much to gain if the role and scope of the prophetic is better understood as well as practical aspects to guide its effectiveness.

In this blog, I will focus on the role of prophetic presbytery, what it entails and how recipients can best benefit from it. A key Scripture that offers us insights into this was written by Apostle Paul to Timothy.

1 Timothy 4:14 (NIV) Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Within this brief piece of advice, lies 3 major elements upon which I will unpack its significance and implications for us today. Properly understood and applied it will provide much benefit.

SUITABLY QUALIFIED ELDERS TO PROPHESY

1 Tim 4:14c (NIV) “...when the body of elders laid their hands on you.”

The verse speaks about a gathering of elders for the purpose of bringing a prophetic impartation. The word presbytery simply refers to a council of elders. We use here the words prophetic presbytery. The joining of these 2 words together is significant in our understanding.

Firstly, it is a presbytery, a council of elders. Yet it is not just any gathering of elders. For elders can gather to pray, to make decisions, etc. This gathering is specifically for a prophetic purpose. We use the word prophetic because prophecy is being exercised. Yet it is not simply a time for the exercising of prophetic gifting. For the prophetic can be exercised by the novice or other believers.

Prophetic presbyteries are conducted by elders who are spiritual, proven in life and ministry, wise and able to function in the prophetic gifting or office.

Prophetic presbyteries are conducted by elders who are spiritual, proven in life and ministry, wise and able to function in the prophetic gifting or office. Those who have been given spiritual authority and have an appreciation of pastoral matters. When there are 2 or more elders with prophetic insight, particularly if there are experienced prophets – it gives assurance that the prophetic message is sound. Hence this prophetic presbytery takes on a greater significance.

PROPHETIC IMPARTATION

1 Tim 4:v14b (NIV) “... which was given you through a prophetic message...”

The presbytery brought about a prophetic message and impartation to Timothy. To plumb the depths of these aspects, let me explain about:

Purposes of prophetic

There are a number of purposes for the exercise of the prophetic. I will explain a number of key purposes.

Predictive, pointing to the future

Acts 21:10-11 (NIV) 10After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’” Here, Agabus was fore-telling by the Spirit of God what Paul would face. God giving us a glimpse of the future.

In unconditional prophecy the future events prophesied will come to pass no matter what.

There are 2 broad categories of predictive prophecies. The first is unconditional. In unconditional prophecy the future events prophesied will come to pass no matter what. These are the sort of prophecies that we see in the books of Daniel or Revelation. God is saying, “This will happen” and He will ensure it.

Conditional prophecy where “This will happen if...”. Depending on our response, the prophecy may or may not occur.

The second is conditional prophecy where “This will happen if...”. Depending on our response, the prophecy may or may not occur. Often such prophecies are to warn, to prepare the recipient for the future. Or to challenge the person to make changes now to avoid a future consequence. Or encourage a godly response to bring about godly change. The “if” means it depends on our response.

Deuteronomy 11:26 - 28 (NIV) 26See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— 27the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; 28the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.

So a critical part in understanding a prophecy is to determine whether it is conditional. Often personal prophecy has a conditional portion to it. For God often wants to challenge believers to rise up. Pay attention when there is an “if you will...” or “do this and this will come to pass” or “by your faith it will come to being” and so forth.

Some people have received prophetic promises and later question – why did it not come to pass? And when we checked the prophetic word, it required some act of obedience or faith from them, which they failed to carry out!

Before we started the church in Brisbane, God warned us that there would be storm clouds gathering to oppose us. But that we would rebuke it and it would clear. This helped us tremendously when we faced some tough obstacles. It helped us to do things wisely, to intercede so as to minimise the dark clouds coming against us.

Directive, to provide guidance.

Acts 13:1-3 (NIV) 1In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

At times the prophetic word may be instructions from God. It is telling us to carry out certain instructions. We must pay careful attention to exactly what God is saying. For example, before we pioneered the church in Brisbane, the prophetic word to us was to build up our store house, our spiritual reservoir that we may draw from it as it will be an intense time. We were so grateful for that instruction which reminded us to make as much necessary preparations spiritually. As we pioneered, we definitely had to draw from our storehouse.

Corrective, to rebuke or warn of error.

In 2 Samuel 12:1-14 was the story of Nathan the prophet correcting King David who committed adultery with Bathsheba. Sometimes correction may come very gently. “You are someone who desires things to be done quickly, yesterday. You rush things through even when people may feel differently.” Basically, God is warning that you are stepping over people in your mad rush! Take more consideration of their feelings.

It is so important to note when correction is given. When we sit down with people to evaluate their prophecies, one column we use is designated “Warnings”. We ignore such warnings to our own risk!

In my first ever presbytery, a part of the prophetic word was that I must be yoked to others. I took that not only as an instruction but as a warning. That is why I make sure I am always accountable, that I am always under spiritual covering. I take the prophetic warning seriously. To be independent is one of the most dangerous things a leader can do. He becomes exposed to the Enemy.

Confirmative, to give assurance, strengthen or affirm aspects of a person’s life, ministry or decisions.

Acts 15:32 (NIV) Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers. In KJV it says Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

Often God speaks to assure us that we are on the right track. In 1992, prophet John Jacks prophesied that God had given me the blueprint for establishing the church. Up to that time, I had been praying and thinking through about how to build the church. Clear concepts and ideas were forming in my mind about how we were to operate the church. It was assuring for God to confirm that it was not just my own thinking, but that God had been behind it. That was why we established the church with many of those concepts.

In another example, in 1994 God’s prophetic word to me was, “The burden of the Lord that has been working within you to train, to disciple, stand as a bridge, to build people as they walk from the world to the kingdom, that vision shall increase, and increase, and increase even as you train people...” How true that was. The more we got involved in discipling and equipping people, the vision God gave me increased more and more! God was assuring me that the vision is from Him.

At another time, the prophetic word was that we shall send people to different continents to do God’s work. This has now come to pass and continuing to happen!

Impartative, an impartation of spiritual gifting or grace.

As was the case of Timothy that Apostle Paul described, it is to impart a spiritual gift that the Holy Spirit has pronounced for an individual. A certain anointing can be revealed and imparted in the laying of hands by these elders.

In my first ever presbytery, God wanted to give to me a prophetic mantle! I was a pretty young Christian then and chickened out! Out of unbelief, I rejected it in my heart (though I said nothing outwardly) and did not operate in the prophetic at all. Until we pioneered Hope Church and I quickly realised that I needed every possible gift that God would give me. I repented of my past unbelief and God began to unlock my prophetic anointing.

Limitations of prophetic

1 Cor 13:9 (NIV) For we know in part and we prophesy in part…

Man’s exercise of the prophetic anointing is not infallible. For the prophecy of today is not like that of Scripture.

We must understand that man’s exercise of the prophetic anointing is not infallible. For the prophecy of today is not like that of Scripture. That is why, prophecy must be judged, particularly by those experienced with the prophetic unction. 1 Cor 14:29 (NIV) “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.” In KJV it says “Let the prophets speak two or three and let the other judge.”

Spiritual discernment is required to ascertain whether any prophecy accurately conveys the divine message.

To judge requires discernment. Spiritual discernment is required to ascertain whether any prophecy accurately conveys the divine message. That is why we need at least 2 prophets so that they may judge the accuracy of the prophetic messages. Those who are sensitive in the Holy Spirit can sense when a prophecy is of God or is in error.

What we also need to understand is that the language of the Holy Spirit is usually in dreams and visions. So, prophets often have to interpret these images and impressions that the Holy Spirit gives to them. The experienced and wise prophets are able to communicate these much more accurately. And when you have a number of these prophets, we can get a more balanced sense of what the Holy Spirit is saying.

All prophecy must be in line with Scripture and the character of God. For God never contradicts Himself.

Prophecies must be proven. 1 Thess 5:20-21 (NIV) “20do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21Test everything. Hold on to the good.” It is our responsibility as the church leadership to test these prophecies. We should keep the good and if there be any error, it should be identified and put aside. All prophecy must be in line with Scripture and the character of God. For God never contradicts Himself. These should be part of our guiding principles.

RECIPIENTS RESPONSE

1 Tim 4:v14a (NIV) “Do not neglect your gift…”

The recipient of the prophetic message must take personal responsibility for what they do with the prophetic message. Again, we see the interaction between the God’s intent and our human responsibility. God is sovereign yet He chooses to let us make our personal choices. This requires us to:

To prepare our hearts

When our hearts are in the right place, eagerly seeking to hear from God, then God will tend to say more to us.

When our hearts are in the right place, eagerly seeking to hear from God, then God will tend to say more to us. It is worth setting time aside to fast, pray and prepare our hearts before God. In my first time preparing for presbytery, I repented of everything! That got my heart into the right place before God.

You will find that when our hearts are in the right place, we will have less dross in our hearts to distort whatever God is saying to us. God will also be able to say more because we will be in a right state of mind to receive it.

Fasting and praying are key elements of preparing ourselves in and for God.

Fasting and praying are key elements of preparing ourselves in and for God. For example, Daniel prepared his heart to seek God by fasting. Daniel 9:2 - 3 (NIV) “...I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.” As a result, God later gave him revelation in 9v20-27.

To carefully discern the voice of God.

Some people make the mistake of simply remembering what they mentally recalled from the prophecies. This is fraught with problems because often the emotion of the moment means they only recall portions of what was shared. Their emotional state or personal bias may also distort what God is saying.

For example, the prophecy may be, “You will go when you are ready” but all we remember is “you will go!” Another example is, “Many will come to you hurt or in pain and you will minister to them in the Lord” yet all we heard is “you will minister.”

Those who are sincere in truly discerning what God is saying will make sure they obtain a recording of the message. Listen again to it carefully and transcribe it so that everything is laid out clearly to be evaluated. Put it before the church leadership to prayerfully seek God together. Often an experienced spiritual leader can guide the person through the process of discerning God’s message for them. Let us learn to apply wisdom in discerning God’s revelations. Proverbs 13:10 (NIV) Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

To respond with faith and obedience.

Timothy was challenged to take responsibility for acting in faith upon the prophecies given to him. 1 Tim 1:18 (NIV) “Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight…” 2 Tim 1:6 (NIV) For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

We must receive God’s prophetic words to us in faith and step out in faith. When God speaks to us, the seeds of His will, grace and plan is laid. It is through faith and obedience that they take root and begin to grow. Whilst we may be excited about the actual outcome of the prophecies, God is also using them to mould us, to grow us.

Let us determine to respond in faith and obedience. Do not reject it nor neglect it.

CONCLUSIONS

The prophetic presbytery is an opportune time for God to speak clearly into many people’s lives. To gain the most benefit from it, it is crucial for us to understand how it works and how we should approach it appropriately, with humble open and discerning hearts.

Wilson & Lai Ling

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