Rebirth of the Women's Prophetic Voices (eBook)

Introduction

Within the last several years, it appears more and more discussions are being raised regarding prophetic ministry within the church. For example, the most common questions that I have been asked by the body of Christ is: What is prophecy and is there a difference between the office of a prophet, the gift of prophecy and the spirit of prophecy? Before identifying the difference between the office, gift, and spirit of prophecy, we must establish a working definition for this term prophecy?

The Prophetic Dictionary records the term propheteia (prof-ay-ti-ah) or prophecy as having the ability to communicate and enforce revealed truth properly. Prophecy also means being divinely empowered to foretell the mind of God through predictions. We find support for this meaning in Amos 3:7: “Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.” (NIV) Further, prophecy is asking what is God doing now?

John Eckhardt, the overseer of Crusaders Ministries in Chicago, who has written more than twenty books and ministered in some eighty nations, answers this question in “God Still Speaks,” by dividing the prophetic anointing into three separate categories: the office of the prophet, the gift of prophecy and the spirit of prophecy.

The highest position in the prophetic realm is the office of the prophet. A prophet is one who has been selected by God to serve as an intermediary between the supernatural and the natural realm. Serving in the office of a prophet means not only being devoted to God, but it also suggests individuals are endowed with a unique anointing to teach, train and to guide other prophetic students. Evidence of this in the Old Testament is the gift of prophecy requires both hearing the word of God and being able to articulate clearly what God is saying to the men and women of God. The gift is an action given to both believers and non-believers alike.

Having the gift may allow for an individual to be endowed with a single prophetic utterance as was the case with Saul on multiple occurrences. It is the spirit of prophecy which allows for the manifestation of God’s power. Acts 1:8 declares the following instructions for those endowed with the spirit of prophecy: “But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and tell people about me everywhere; in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (NLT)

Based upon this concept, Mathew Robert Payne a penned author and scholar records “it is through prophecy that God supernaturally reveals information for a person to understand the following:

• God’s love for them
• Their direction for life
• Their purpose for life
• The way God views an individual
• What God really thinks

However, Pastor Tony Evans seems to take a slightly different view on prophecy. He says in Theology That You Count On, instead of prophecy being people center, it is through the lens of prophecy that God’s character is revealed:

• Prophecy helps to authenticate the Bible
• Prophecy reveals the character of God
• Prophecy promotes holiness
• Prophecy promotes praise and worship
• Prophecy promotes witnessing

The prophetic voice necessary in revealing direction for the people of God and promoting the character of God, but Cornell West, a provocative intellectual of Union Theological Seminary, frames the idea of prophetic traditions within social interactions or movements. Furthermore, when speaking about the prophetic voices within certain communities, author Victoria Mastrangelo recalled in her article The Need For The Prophetic Voice of Women how “Mother Teresa used her voice to speak the truth of God to the world. She used her voice to speak for the voiceless without fear.” While each of these authors seem to concur, that prophecy is a direct communication from the deity to the prophet or through the prophet as medium. Professors, Dr. Beverly Mayne Kienzle from Harvard University and Dr. Pamela Walker from Carleton University, editors of Women Preachers and Prophets through Two Millennia of Christianity, reminds their readers that unlike male prophets “women have often had to seek out creative ways as a means of expressing their authority to preach and prophesy.”

Thus, it stands to reason the prophetic voice not only serves as the voice within the walls of the church, but the prophetic voice must also speak to the community for which it is designated to serve. The gift of prophecy is the inherited right of every believer.

By implementing the School of the Prophets, all women, clergy and lay are enabled to conduct their diverse and prophetic ministries within the body of Christ. The rebirth of the woman’s prophetic voice is essential to the church because it serves a voice of wisdom. Although such astuteness has been too long ignored by the church, there is a new momentum being fueled by the rebirthing of the women’s prophetic voice. What is rebirthing? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, “re” is a prefix, occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, used with the meaning “again” or “again and again” to indicate repetition, or to do over; while birth is to bring or produce new life. By this definition, rebirth is a period in which new life, growth, activity becomes available again. The term rebirth is suggestive in that the woman’s prophetic voice is not a new phenomenon. Rather, there a historical recording of something having been done before. Understanding this idea of rebirthing is extremely important in that it speaks to God’s unusual intent of using both male and female voices to speak into existence his plans, and purposes into the ears of his people. Having a prophetic voice means having a unique ability to speak on behalf of God to the people of God. Prophetic women, the time has come for the rebirthing of your prophetic voice to be heard throughout the promise land. Seize the moment, Prophetic Woman! Preach! Sing! Dance! Write! Dream! This is the season to re-birth the woman’s prophetic voice!

The Purpose and Goal of This School

The gift of prophecy requires both hearing the Word of God and the ability to articulate the message clearly to the people of God. The School of the Prophets designed to identify and activate prophetic gifts within the body Christ. The prophetic gift is not limited to gender, nor is it given only to preachers and pastors. The School of the Prophets seeks to empower and encourage all women within the congregation to be authentically true to their prophetic calling. Great focus is placed on the rebirth of the woman’s prophetic voice through various forms of ministry.

“The School of the Prophets” is designed to equip, encourage, and empower the Saints of God. Joel 2:28 (NIV) says: “In the latter days, God promises to pour out His spirit upon all flesh and both men and women would prophesy.” God is raising up those who are willing to serve as prophetic voices to the nations. Based upon prophetic message spoken by the Prophet Joel, it is fair to assume that biblical equality refers to the fundamental biblical principle that every human being stands on equal ground before God. In other words, there is no group or person who is inherently more or less worthy than another. Equality simply means that both male and female bear the image of God and there is no distinction.

The Uniquiness of This School

Perhaps, you are asking yourself why must you attend this school of the prophetic? Is there a difference from other schools? There are several Prophetic Schools established in various regions throughout the United States and abroad. The earliest noted formation was the School of Prophets, also known as the School of the Elders was established on January 23, 1833 by the Latter-Day Saints as a model for training future male leaders as servants.

While there is biblical evidence of women, such as Deborah, Huldah, and Miriam, functioning as prophets, the Old Testament records (two schools were founded by the Prophet Samuel, one was in Ramah where he lived and the other in Kiryat Ye’arim where the Ark of the Covenant was kept) only men were afforded the opportunity to attend the School of Prophets also known as the Company of Prophets. This tradition of allowing male only students has continued throughout history and in doing so hindered the prophetic voices of women.

For this reason, The Global School of Prophets is significant in the life of all women as well the universal church. Unlike the other prophetic schools, the Global School of Prophets presents scholarly insight into the realm of the prophetic and sheds new understanding on the term liberation. The women who attend are giving themselves permission to seek out their highest possible selves within the prophetic realm.

The revelation and the impact of this work is found in the great hymn written by Benjamin Beddome entitled, “How Great the Wisdom, Power and Grace;” “How great the wisdom, power and grace, which in redemption shine, the heavenly host with joy confess. The work is all divine.” To say, “the work is all divine,” simply means as prophets, whatever the assignment, it must be used to bring glory and honor to God. Prophets are handpicked by God to serve as his ambassadors. An ambassador is a high-ranking, official...