I've grown aware of a personal struggle with the prophetic for several years. According to New Testament scripture, the prophetic is a real and genuine gift. Feel free to argue that among yourselves if you wish. I'm sure someone reading this will want to bash or condemn. Again, feel free. I'll be over here talking about what's making me uncomfortable with the prophetic.
When my struggle began, it wasn't exactly straightforward. It was several years ago, probably during the COVID onslaught and the 2020 election. Being locked up in my office for days and not traveling after thirty years of traversing the globe shocked my system. It was possibly more shocking to my wife as she hadn't seen me that much in consequetive days in a long time. Month after month wore on. You remember.
A nagging frustration began to form about the prophetic gift and ministry. There was something missing. When this thought began, I first believed it was from all the unfortunate revelations about 45, who lost the most recent election. Once I pondered that thought, I realized most of those prophecies were wishful thinking or simply wrong. I don't have issues with prophecy being wrong. We all miss things. Haven't you? I have! Someone else can toss the first stone.
As we went deeper into 2021 and 2022, this sense of uneasiness with the prophetic ministry continued. I'm writing this in January of 2025, and that feeling hasn't left. I've pondered many possibilities for why this is true—asking questions of myself, the Lord, and others. Maybe it's me? Perhaps I'm out of touch and need to look at what's new in that gift. I can face the change if required. I don't want to be that guy who says, “Well, it was good back in the day.” The old school look at life. Please, no!
Then, over the holidays, a long-time friend and founder of Brave Nation, Leigh Sloan, asked me what bothers me about the prophetic. She's an excellent question-asker. My response was a bit curt. “I don't know, exactly. I want the prophetic to mature. It feels very weak and immature right now.”
I explained that it's as if the focus is on creating a product first. I believe in developing products, e.g., training and equipping. They are necessary to grow in our faith and gifts. I’m not against creating a product. We have products. What strikes me in the uneasiness is where the heart is focused. Is the desire to make money or to gain notoriety versus the desire of the heart to serve?
A significant function of the gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 is to serve, build up, nurture, or equip the believer. This is the role of a servant. Servanthood is the foundation for being in ministry. Whatever you call ministry. Life is about serving. Helping others be all they can be. At least, this seems to be a big part of what Jesus considered His life. I know it's our desire and purpose to emulate His life.
Before I could write this, I had to ask myself a question. I had to answer the question myself before I could ask you. Where did I go wrong? Have I lost my heart for serving? Did I get tired and want to ease on down the road?
I have new material that I want to make available, but is it from the heart of a servant or a desire to make a buck? To be comfortable? If that's true, that material will be compromised even if it's good. It will ultimately lose its edge in making the desired impact.
“Oh, that's it,” I retorted. Something is happening with servanthood. It is greatly needed in our world these days. There is an over-proportionate drive to become an influencer in our society. Little is said about becoming a servant. Servants take a different role and generally position themselves differently. It is a humble position allowing the Father to raise us to the place He needs us to be versus what we want. If we're pushing ourselves to become something other than a servant, it may last for a season, but ultimately, like the product I mentioned, we will falter.
Here might be a good spot to drop a few verses from Jesus—the Master of servanthood.
Matthew 20:25-28 Jesus said, "Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.” He also said, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 10:42-45 Jesus said, "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.”
Wow! Help me, Father, to carry with me that heart. The depth and maturity of a true servant, even when I'm not noticed or understood.
This is a short video by Francis Chan on servanthood. I thought it might be encouraging to those facing the struggle to keep that heart of a servant amid accusations or misunderstanding.
https://youtu.be/eiRh5cbOPF8?si=YC5vEI8j89tiMvk3