Of all the gifts, the prophetic gift is one that is often misunderstood and misused… like God or a prophet hammering down in an uncaring angry way. But that’s not how the gift is supposed to operate. How do you deal with the prophetic gift if you have it and are in leadership? How do you channel it in productive ways? How do you use it practically and positively?
Here are some observations I’ve made working with leaders who have the prophetic gift:
When you have a prophetic gift, what you receive from God often seems scattered or disjointed–seemingly random feelings, burdens, images, phrases, uneasiness, wrestling.
You need time to sort out what you are hearing from God. Just because you thought something doesn’t mean it was from God or that you have to do it. Engage in a discernment process that involves prayer, scripture, and journaling.
Then submit to the leadership team and community to check what you are hearing. Look for confirmation. “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said” (I Corinthians 14:29).
Once you get the message, how do you deliver the message? Here are some ideas:
- pray about what to do with it
- discern what key issues need focus and attention
- think through a longer term focus, including implementation
- share through story
- always start with love
The prophetic gift is a challenging one to have, but following these guidelines can help you maximize the upside and minimize the downside of the prophetic gift, as well as providing a greater chance of implementation and change.