The Redemptive Gifts: Prophet

In the Redemptive Gifts Overview blog, we learned that one of the seven gifts cited in Romans 12 has been strategically woven into our being since the dawning of time.

We redeem our gifts. While they are spiritual gifts, they are from the Father. Therefore, we call them redemptive gifts. They are not spiritual gifts as we would consider “gifts from/of the Spirit”.

We are motivated to do and think certain ways due to our designs. Understand design and gift, when referring to the Romans 12 gift list, are interchangeable. These are our motivational gifts.

Prophet Design

The keyword for this is redemptive. This redemptive prophet isn’t the Ephesians 4 prophet, although, at the base of both types are the same principles. Did I confuse you? The Romans 12 and Ephesians 4 prophets both have different expressions of the overall prophet gift and different expectations and mandates from God to fulfill.

Ruthie Young (2014) writes, “Freedom and justice are the core values of the prophet.” The prophet design is a champion of justice and righting wrongs, defending the defenseless. Wouldn’t you know this very characteristic nature is also described of Father in the psalms?

When the redemptive prophet prophesies, he (she) does so by perceiving the principles of God both spiritual and natural. A better term for the Romans 12 prophet is perceiver. Perceivers are interpreters of mysteries.

Outline of the Prophet Design

1. Prophets are verbally expressive – they are clear and concise on what they say as heralds. They must declare.
2. They assess people and situations quickly.
3. They have an intolerance for the spirit of error and sin in general.
4. They are excellent deliverers, some of the best in the litter.
5. They are creators and doers. It is hard for them to maintain on a certain task for too long.
6. They are trailblazers and forerunners – going the way first to show the way to others.
7. They are filled with faith; it’s like second nature to them.
8. They can have a tendency to be too harsh on people instead of the sin in people.
9. They can have a tendency to fracture relationships.
10. They can have a tendency to be presumptuous.

Buzzwords

It’s commonly placed on the redemptive prophet that they are: (1) Black and white, (2) bullish, or (3) lone rangers.

While these identifiers hold true in some instances, it isn’t the overarching theme God wants us to understand about this design.

Black and White – Rather than seeing things in black and white as many claim they do, prophets measure (see) things as functional or dysfunctional. A portion of who they are is to fix what is broken or to solve seemingly unsolvable problems. They have a keen ability to think abstractly, i.e., to set aside emotions and peer into situations, assessing the truth.

Bullish – Rather than estimating them as harsh and offensive, prophets are matter-of-fact and they get to the point. Relationships may not be their priority because they’re after the objective things that God has called them to challenge and conquer, many of those things plague us. Therefore, it may come across often that they are mean.

Lone Rangers – Rather than stating that they do not know how to connect, understand that prophets perceive things beyond, far into a future, or finished state. They perceive what most cannot with the added benefit of making sense of what they see and then vocalizing it. Oftentimes, many cannot see what they see or accept it, so the prophet, in their vigor, go after what they know to be true and beneficial to the main point rather than an individual (relationships). In their going forth, they don’t mind separating to clear a path (trailblaze) for those who reject them to eventually follow the path.

The Purpose of the Prophet

1. Reveal the mysteries of God.
2. Redeem man, time, and land from demonically charged spiritual forces (heal, deliver, make whole, cast out – spiritual warfare).
3. Demonstrate a life of honor to God and devoted worship before Him for all men to be inspired to live in this same manner.
4. To seek out the awe of God and dispense it to others.
5. To strengthen others – bring confidence and boldness out of fear and bondage.
6. To asses people, situations, and systems and assimilate them into the kingdom of God.
7. Solve the unsolvable problems.

Young, R. (2014) Your destiny, his glory: Discover the how and why of your design. Repairers of the Breach Ministries.