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Do Christians still prophecy today? If they do, what does that even look like practically? If you’ve asked those questions, or if the word “prophecy” freaks you out, or if you’re wanting to learn more about how a prophetic word from God should be communicated or received, this is the blog for you.

I have a 4-part series on prophecy that you should read as well for context, and Part 4 all about etiquette tips on how to share a prophetic word. As I watched Gateway Church’s annual Prophetic Presbytery services online this month, I noticed several things their pastors and prophetic ministers did that model the concepts I discussed in that blog. I thought it would help you grow in understanding and practicing this gift to point those things out.

At the end of this blog, you’ll find a YouTube playlist I made with several of the Gateway Church’s Prophetic Presbytery services, a teaching from YouTuber Craig Brown on prophecy today, as well as an example of a prophetic ministry service at his church (similar to Gateway’s), and an example from Joshua Shaw of what prophetic ministry can look like in evangelism.

1. They laid a biblical foundation for prophetic ministry.

The weekend prior to the special prophetic services, they had a sermon focused on explaining what prophecy is, examples of how the prophetic impacted the speaker’s life and others’ lives. This wisely gave people a framework what to expect, created faith for God to meet with them, and disarmed those who might have been unfamiliar with prophecy.

2. They were normal, personable, and kind.

As each person prophesying addressed the congregant they would be ministering to, they asked the person’s name and said nice to meet you. They spoke in normal language (no “thus saith the Lord” and King James English). They smiled. These simple things communicate God’s heart and love for the people we are prophesying over too, not just the prophetic words we share.

3. They explained to the congregation what prophetic ministry is all about before each service and calmed their fears.

1 Corinthians 14:3 says: “But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.” The pastor hosting the service made sure the congregation understood that prophecy is about about God revealing things and speaking things to bring strength, encouragement and comfort to His people. Prophecy is not about pronouncing judgment, calling out people’s sin, or airing your dirty laundry.

In another wise act of disarming people and loving the congregation well, one of the Gateway pastors even shared a personal funny story about when he was a kid. He starting confessing all his sin to his parents on the way to a church service where a prophet would be ministering because he was afraid the prophet would tell everything he did. These prophetic ministers kept their prophetic words encouraging. Even when there was a challenge for someone to grow, it was worded with tenderness and encouragement.

4. They addressed sensitive topics with discretion.

When they were prophesying about a sensitive personal issue in someone’s life–such as a painful situation from their past God wanted to heal–they acknowledged it discreetly and didn’t share the details of the situation (if they knew them) so as not to make the person receiving prophecy feel publicly exposed or embarrassed. They were mindful of people’s hearts and careful in how they communicated, especially since they were in a public setting.

5. They had integrity and disclosed when they knew someone personally.

The prophetic ministers disclosed when they happened to personally know someone they were prophesying over or when they knew a certain detail about that person’s life because of having natural relationship with the person and not by prophetic revelation. They were clear, honest, and had integrity.

6. They were humble and had moments they acknowledged what they were sensing might be wrong.

Prophetic words should always be shared with humility and with grace extended to the person receiving the word to discern it with God and trusted counsel. In Part 3 of my blog series on prophecy, I explain more what might cause a Christian to be unsure and not quite get some details right when sharing a prophetic word, and why that is not equivalent to being a false prophet.

7. They were careful in giving directional words.

Along those same lines, when giving directional words or words speaking about callings and spiritual gifts in someone’s life, they were intentional to communicate they were submitting it humbly and that the person should discern it before the Lord and godly counselors and pray about it (as opposed to just accepting and acting on it with no discernment process first).

8. They pastored prophecy well.

They recorded the prophetic words and made a way for them to be accessed later so people could hear their word again and keep it. (If you don’t have a service webstream, using a voice memo app on your phone works well or writing it down in a notes app or journal. That’s how I record prophetic words people share with me, and what I encourage others to do with words they receive.)

They had a follow up system so those who received prophecy could meet with a pastor to process the word (ask questions, discern what God was saying through the word, if God might be speaking additional things etc.)

In doing this, they not only pastored people and the prophetic ministry well and had accountability structure in place as a church leadership team, but they modeled personal processing and stewardship of prophetic words too. (Record it, review it, pray and process it with the Lord and godly counsel, discern it, and if needed believe it/act on it.)

9. They had someone who knew the candidates well come up after their prophetic ministry to share more about them and how the words related to them, and to pray for them.

You’ll see during the Gateway Prophetic Presbytery services, they started by having pre-selected candidates (who were not known in advance to the prophetic ministers) who were leaders and volunteers in their congregation receive prophetic ministry from the stage, and then afterward the prophetic team gave prophetic words to people in the room as they felt led by the Lord.

As a pastoral team, they were aware that the congregation was watching the candidates receive prophecy but might not know the individuals personally, so the pastors helped the congregation “connect the dots” with the prophetic words too–not just the candidates–so the entire room could be encouraged and celebrate together what God was speaking to the candidates. It’s also special that they had someone who personally knows them honor them before the congregation.

This approach is one example of what it can look like to pray for someone and bless them after prophesying over them, and to have some form of giving feedback how a word might have been accurate or ministered to someone. (I explain that concept more in this blog).

Prophetic Ministry Is Beautiful

I hope your heart is encouraged as you watch God minister to His people through the gift of prophecy, as mine was. And I hope you’ve learned some things that help you to be more open to the gift of prophecy and learn to be used by God in this gift in your own life. If you want to learn more about hearing God’s voice, the Holy Spirit, and spiritual gifts, I recommend you check out my blogs series on the spiritual gifts, hearing God’s voice, and prophecy.

Let’s Talk: What did you learn about receiving and sharing prophetic words from God through this blog post? Discuss this post in the comments below.

***Check out this YouTube playlist to see the services and sermons I mentioned and see the gift of prophecy in practice!