Foundations of the Prophetic (Volume 1)

Curtis D Whiteman

• Publisher: Curtis Whiteman
• Year: 2021
• eBook ISBN: 9781087960456
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Reference

Do you believe you're called to the Prophetic Ministry? Are you looking to find your place in the Prophetic Ministry? Get ready to find answers to your questions about the Prophetic

Foundations of the Prophetic is a guide for believers of all level denominations about the Prophetic ministry. Foundation of the Prophetic has been used as a Study guide in Christian institutions across America. The reader's life of Foundations of the Prophetic will be enhanced with information and wisdom.

The highlighted topics of review are

Ways God Speaks

Prophetic Gifts

Necessary traits for the Prophet

The Different kinds of Prophets

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy,
and forbid not to speak with tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:39

It is a good thing to desire the gift of prophecy.

We have a problem, and the problem is that many have the desire and ability to prophesy, but few understand the gift of prophecy. There are many who operate very well “naturally” but have not studied the spiritual gift. Although enthusiasm is good, it is not good enough.

As a lover of music for most of my life, I have met hundreds of musicians that are fantastic at level one, but because they became content or thrived in their season, they never took the initiative to develop even further. The end result was that they stayed on the level they became comfortable. There is always room for growth.

My purpose in writing this book is to build a strong foundation for your understanding of the prophetic ministry. You must know who you are if you deserve to be who you are. If you’re reading this book, it is because you desire to learn. As you learn more, God will expand your capacity to maintain the ministry he has called you to. Surely advancement and promotion come to those who have prepared for it.

“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew‬ 4:4‬).‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Life is found in God’s mouth. It is in the world’s best interest to not muzzle the mouth of the prophet. Prophets create, reinforce, and reveal through our mouths. Be careful with the words that come out of your mouth.

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

What Is a Prophet?

A prophet is a divine messenger of God. They are God’s spokesman on the Earth, sent to reveal God’s plan in the Earth. The highest level in the prophetic realm is the office of the prophet. We are Heaven’s representatives.

Every prophet has a different discovery of their call to the prophetic. Some are born with the gift, some are born again with the gift, and others, like myself, become prophets more gradually as the gift emerges later in life. However you grow into your gift, it’s important to remember that you are God’s choice, and he did not make a mistake when he called you. As God told Isaiah: “For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee…” (Isaiah‬ 45:4‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬). ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Here are some examples of biblical prophets who discovered their callings at different stages of life:

Jeremiah, called before he was conceived: Jeremiah 1:5

Samuel, called as a child: 1 Samuel 3:1–18

Elisha, called as a man: 1 Kings 19:19–21

The office of the prophet is the oldest gift mentioned in the Bible. Jesus mention that Abel was a prophet. We do not see any evidence of his gifting, but I’m certain if Jesus stated it, must be true. Abel would’ve been the world’s first prophet! He was murdered before his gift manifested. This is a clear indication that prophets are under attack. Satan will try every trick in his book to silence you before the discovery of your gift.

The gift of prophecy can be developed and cultivated within a believer, but the function (also called office) and gift are two separate dynamics. They minister to a deeper depth of needs than believers who speak by the spirit of prophecy or the simple gift of prophecy. I explain more about all the gifts in the prophetic family later.

I began a prayer in the beginning of 2020 based on Proverbs 20:12: “Lord give me a Hearing Ear, Seeing Eye, and an Anointed Tongue.” Although this Scripture does not mention the tongue, as a prophet, all three dimensions must be available for use. The office of the prophet is for the mature only. The glamour of the office is often based on what is said, but it takes wisdom to know when to release what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you.

There is a great responsibility placed on the life of the prophet. It is more than standing up in front of a group of people and saying “Thus saith the Lord.” The prophet is a supernatural ministry, and there is access given to each prophet that cannot be taken lightly. Every prophet has a duty for their assigned church. God intends for the prophet to watch, guard, protect and intercede for our churches. If danger is approaching the church or the pastor, God expects the prophet to intercede on their behalf. That is the real assignment many overlook when desiring to become a prophet.

Prophets cannot afford to isolate themselves, unaware of what’s happening in the world. Every prophet needs to know what’s happening in the world, because God is speaking through community events, national and international changes in government, and even the weather. The prophet will see a headline and get a glimpse into the future. We are a future ministry.

An important function for a prophet is counseling. Pastors, use your prophets to assist you in counseling your congregants for all counseling sessions. A prophetic can sense an issue rising from the past, address it in the present, and produce healing in the future. The prophetic ministry has many facets to it if allowed to flourish outside of the sanctuary.

My Calling as a Prophet

When I grew up, I did not know I was a prophet. Like most of my friends growing up, I was not born again until my adolescent years. This was key for me for many reasons—it gave me identity and purpose. For all the years prior to my salvation, I felt as though I simply existed but without a purpose. My teacher—who would become my first pastor—invited me to church one day, and I decided to take him up on that offer. I wasn’t doing anything else on the weekends.

From that first experience, I knew I found my place in life, because I found Jesus. The first sermon I heard dealt with identity and self-esteem. God was speaking to me, and I knew it. I gave my life to the Lord, and it was at that moment the pastor’s wife gave me my first prophetic word, that I had a calling on my life. Although the terminology was new to me, I knew what she meant.

My childhood church was a Pentecostal church where the gifts of the spirit was displayed weekly. During this time of study, the vocal gift of prophecy had not manifested in me at all. I was obsessed with learning more and more about what I was witnessing regularly. Knowing which gift was in operation was important to me, but I also wanted to know how each person used those gifts differently and on what level.

My favorite gift to study was prophecy, the same gift that helped convert me. Some of the prophets I witnessed early in my conversion were charismatic, and I could tell they were not novices. I not only studied the gift and the prophets, but I studied their movements. While most were listening to the prophecies, I was watching the actions of the prophets, learning their mannerisms.

At random times in my life, I received prophecy, but oddly it would not be in my church. I remember a neighbor I usually saw on my street, and I would greet her from a distance. One day I encountered her on the train, and she inquired if I was “saved.” After I affirmed that I was, we began to dialogue about how I served in my church. She looked directly at me and said, “You’re called to more than that; you are a prophet.”

I was shocked and confused. Up until that moment, I have never heard that word spoken in regard to my life. I did not dismiss the prophecy; however, I did pocket it and reflect on it throughout the years.

My second time receiving this prophecy was at a revival in Queens, New York. I accompanied my former pastor to meet a well-known prophet. When we went after the service to meet with the prophet, I accompanied my pastor into the office but stood to the side trying to remain out of sight. As the prophet was leaving the room, he came over to me and asked, “Who are you?” He then asked my pastor if I belonged to his church. He announced to my pastor and to me, “He is a prophet.”

Years later, I transitioned to another church pastored by the same woman who first prophesied to me when I accepted Christ. I was given room to share what God had spoken to me, and I began to prophesy! I was ordained as a deacon, and I prophesied. I was licensed a minister, and I prophesied. During this time, I was prophesying and still studying the office of the prophet.

Internally, I battled within myself about my gift and calling. I never verbalized this battle to anyone. One night I made a trip to visit a prophet I greatly admire who prophesied to me and said repeatedly, “You are a prophet.” I was floored—this prophecy confirmed many details that I denied within myself. One year later, my pastor affirmed me as a prophet in our church.

Developing the Prophetic Calling

As prophets, our mouths can be an instrument or a weapon. Most prophets have the ability to prophecy as well as lie, tell you off, and worse. It must be the prophet’s desire to tame their mouth. Don’t speak prematurely or recklessly even in casual conversation.

As human beings we have moods just as heaven has moods. Most prophets confuse their feelings with God’s. Understand that though you’re a spokesperson for God, you must understand your feelings, and God’s feelings can be different in regard to a person or a situation. He does not curse or judge everything that we curse or judge. Prophets carry the opinions of God, so they must discern when a feeling or opinion is theirs or God’s and only share what is from God.

We must always remember God’s admonition,

“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways….

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8–9).

Don’t release judgement from a personal place. Remember, you are not your prophet, you are God’s prophet. You must be careful with your word and feelings. Most prophets don’t have a lot of friends. Most are loners—many feel people cherish or love their gift but not necessarily them as a person. God will begin speaking to you about you! Remember, “Judgement begins in the house of God.” He must be sure that you are acting out of a place of humility, not pride.

The prophet will become privy to information by way of the Holy S...

Table of contents

• What Is a Prophet?
• Developing the Prophetic Calling