One of the main cauldrons where prophetic ministries are formed is the local church. Prophetically gifted people do tend to be different, and to fit into a local church setting can be one of the most difficult of all tests for them. Few understand them, and therefore, few will trust them, usually for a long time. This is one of the most helpful things that can challenge young prophets, and if they can remain faithful and endure the misunderstandings and rejection while growing in love for those who misunderstand and reject them, their maturity and trustworthiness will fashion them into vessels of great use to the Master. Those who separate themselves because of the rejection rarely have a fruitful ministry and often will go on to be used more by the enemy than the Lord, bringing much division and discord to His people.
Few pastors or church leaders are able to recognize true prophetic gifts and callings when they are still immature. Most pastors and church leaders have been hurt and burned by those who claim to be prophets more than they have been helped by them, so they are understandably reticent to embrace anyone who claims to be prophetic. Even so, this must be overcome if we are going to make it through the times to come. The prophets need the church, and the church needs the prophets just as much.
As the pastor of a local church myself, and one who has prophetic gifts, I can identify with each side of this issue. I have not met a pastor in a long time who has not been hurt by those who at least claimed to be prophetic, but neither have I met a Christian in a long time, much less a prophet, who has not been hurt by pastors. Sadly, we are all hurting each other. Pastors don’t tend to last long in these times, and many are just as immature at what they do as the prophets are at what they are trying to do. Both need to mature, and they can help each other.
A primary reason for many divisions in the church is not understanding the opportunity that rejection is to embrace the cross. We are told that we cannot be the Lord’s disciples without taking up our crosses daily, so we should expect at least one good opportunity every day to do this—to die to ourselves and to live for Him and His people, by doing what He did. Jesus forgave those who persecuted Him to the point where He was willing to lay down His life for them.
Many of us will forgive those who reject us but do it hoping that the Lord will then get them! However, Jesus did not just forgive those who were crucifying Him, but He asked the Father to forgive them too. He did not want the Father to take their sin into account, which is not only the ultimate forgiveness but also the ultimate spiritual maturity.
Remember that a priest cannot have scabs, which are unhealed wounds. Any ministry that does not walk in basic forgiveness, which will be walking wounded, is not walking in basic Christianity, and our ministry and our message will be skewed to that degree.
When I once looked my name up on the Internet, I was shocked by what I found. I would be scared to death of the person that is projected to be me and who supposedly teaches what some claim that I teach. I wanted to call fire down on all of my accusers. I started to write answers to their wild accusations, but I was told that I would only be “punching the tar baby,” and this could sidetrack my whole ministry. Then I decided to listen to the radio show of a man who had basically built his ministry by attacking me. I felt that everything he said was a lie and asked the Lord to judge him for it. The Lord immediately said that He would remove him if I asked Him to, but then He asked me who I wanted to take his place!
The Lord said that I could not have international authority without international persecution, so I not only asked the Lord not to judge this man but started praying for him whenever I thought of him. I prayed good things and blessings in his life. At first I don’t think I really meant this, but I kept it up. Soon I did really mean it, and started to feel a sincere love for the man. Then something remarkable happened. I often get asked if I am not bothered by all of the false things that are said about me, and I can now honestly answer “no,” this does not bother me, but rather it encourages me, and I am being honest.
Now I would not claim to be totally above this, and sometimes it does hurt, but I honestly don’t remember the last time that it did. I have learned that even more serious accusations and persecutions come just before a major promotion by the Lord, so I really do get more excited when this happens.
The apostles in the Book of Acts went out rejoicing after being beaten by the leaders of Israel, thanking the Lord for the honor of being able to suffer shame for His name’s sake. Every attack, every false accusation, is a great opportunity to take up the cross, to die a little more to our old man, and to grow more in Christ. In fact, false accusations and misunderstandings may be the fastest way to grow up into Him. So if this is happening to you, it could be the result of your own prayers to speed up the work!
Remember that when the Apostle Paul had his apostolic authority challenged, he pointed to his persecutions and afflictions as evidence of his authority, not his accomplishments. A basic principle of spiritual authority is how it is by the Lord’s stripes that we are healed, but the same principle applies to us as well—in the very place we are wounded we can receive authority for healing others. The wounds we receive must be healed of course, which happens when we sincerely forgive, but then they become authority.
I meet many young prophetically gifted people who feel they are called as a prophet to the nations. I know they will never be used this way unless they have become a trustworthy prophet in their local church, so that is usually my first question to them—how is their relationship going in their local church? To have authority in their local church, they will have received many stripes and scars from their local church, and at the same time, come to love those who reject or misunderstand them. Only when they have a good foundation there will they ever be able to endure the persecution that comes on the higher levels, which is likely to be far more vicious and twisted.
The cross is the power of God, and if we want more power and authority we must learn to carry a bigger, heavier cross. Remember I Corinthians 13? We can have the greatest prophecies, and even the faith to move mountains, and it all counts for nothing if we do not have love. It is all about growing up into Him who is love. The greatest love can be grown and demonstrated when we are persecuted and misunderstood. Don’t complain about these when they come, but embrace them, and thank the Lord for the opportunity.