Prophets Of Jehovah
Ephesians 4:11–13
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (NKJV)
About Ephesians. Ephesians is a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus while he was in prison. Chapters 1–3 tell believers who they are in Christ. Chapters 4–6 show them how to walk it out. In chapter 4, Paul explains that Jesus Himself gave gifts to His Church so it would grow up, stand together, and become like Him.
What is the fivefold ministry?
The fivefold ministry is the five offices Christ gave to lead and equip His Church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Their purpose is not position or title. Their purpose is to equip believers for ministry and build up the body of Christ until it reflects Jesus fully.
Each office is connected to the others. One assignment leads into the next:
- The evangelist goes out and brings souls in.
- The teacher grounds them in the Word so they stay.
- The pastor cares for them, makes sure the Word takes root, and prepares them for the call of God.
- The prophet confronts sin and calls out what is blocking the church.
- The apostle builds, lays foundations, and establishes the work.
When all five work together, the Church is healthy, growing, and ready.
The role of the prophet
“Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)
The prophet hears from God and speaks what He is saying to His people. Every believer can prophesy, but the office of the prophet carries a greater weight of responsibility.
- Speak the word of the Lord. The prophet brings edification, exhortation, and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3).
- Call out sin. Nathan confronted David: “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7). The prophet names what is blocking the church.
- Root out and build up. God set Jeremiah “to root out and to pull down… to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10).
- Watch and warn. “I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 33:7).
- Help lay the foundation. The Church is built “on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20).
Why God called you
God called you because He still speaks, and His people need to hear Him. Before Jeremiah was born, God said, “I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).
God raises prophets to warn His people, turn their hearts back to Him, and prepare the way for what He is about to do. Your voice is part of His plan to restore and purify His Church.
Pitfalls and solutions
Every calling has areas where the enemy attacks. These are areas of opportunity, places to grow stronger.
- Pride and the need for a platform. A strong gift can feed the ego.
- Solution: Stay humble. Even with all prophecy and all knowledge, without love “I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2).
- Speaking in the wrong timing or in the flesh. A true word delivered at the wrong time can cause harm.
- Solution: Test every word and submit it to others. “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge” (1 Corinthians 14:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:20–21).
- Isolation and rejection. After his greatest victory, Elijah sat under a broom tree and asked to die (1 Kings 19:4).
- Solution: Rest, let God restore you, and stay connected to community. God reminded Elijah he was not alone (1 Kings 19:18).
- Truth without love. Jonah delivered the word, then was angry when God showed mercy (Jonah 4:1–2).
- Solution: Remember the goal is redemption. Speak to restore, not to destroy.
- Being bought or pleasing people. The kings’ prophets said what the king wanted to hear, but Micaiah said, “Whatever the LORD says to me, that I will speak” (1 Kings 22:14).
- Solution: Speak only what God says, whatever it costs.
Go deeper
Why coaching matters
- Prayer. One-on-one time where we begin and end in God’s presence.
- Reflection. We reflect on what God is saying for this season.
- Clarity. Identify what is missing or blocking your growth.
- Calling. Go deeper in your calling and understand your assignment.
- Comfort and exhortation. Be strengthened and encouraged to keep going.
- Prophetic insight. As the Lord leads, receive a prophetic word.
- Next steps. Seek God’s direction for your next step.
Ready for personal guidance in your calling as an apostle? Book one-on-one coaching with Jen Ford.
Email: CoachJenFord@gmail.com
Website: http://www.coachjenford.com