What the Prophetic Filipino Church Should Be

As long as the church is the "church"--the one the bible speaks about--it has to be prophetic. No ifs or buts. The Filipino church ought to realize this if wants to fulfill its destiny in Jesus Christ. No true church in Jesus Christ can remain merely evangelical. It must be apostolic, prophetic, evangelical, pastoral and pedagogical. 

Photo by Roz Vasquez.

And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.

[1 Corinthians 12.28]

In the Church

There's the qualifying phrase, "in the church" to mean that as long as it's the church, it has to have apostles, first, and prophets, second, and so on. That's the genuine church that Jesus put up, according to Paul.  And Jesus did say that apostles and prophets will be sent to deal with the anti-prophetic spirit of the religious leaders in his time. As long as the anti-prophetic (and anti-apostolic) spirit exists, God's wisdom will keep sending apostles and prophets.

“Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. 48 So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. 49 Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’ [Luke 11]

And that evil spirit still lives on today among religious leaders and men's churches who try to do away totally with the prophetic move of God, virtually "killing" prophets and apostles in church. The Filipino church must first restore these ministry offices along with restoring the genuine supernatural nature of the evangelical, pastoral and pedagogical. If it's the Holy Spirit who's really in charge, nothing of man should be doing anything. It should all be supernatural if it's the Holy Spirit.

For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, [Colossians 1.9]

It's All Spiritual

According to Paul's insight through the Holy Spirit, it's "all spiritual." Nothing should be of the flesh. This was what Jesus revealed to Nicodemus when HE explained  how anyone could genuinely be of the Kingdom of God. He or she must be purely spiritual. As long as you rely on what the flesh can do, you haven't seen or entered the Kingdom yet. Everything you do is carnal, and the bible says a carnal person is "sold under sin" and cannot understand his propensities. As long as you are carnal, and not all spiritual, you cannot serve God no matter how "successful" your ministry is and no matter how many your church achievements are.

The Lord told Nicodemus unequivocally, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” [John 3.6]

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do, I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. [Romans 7]

To simplify Romans 7.14-15 in plain English:

14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

How can anyone who is not "all spiritual" but uses the carnal ways of this world in ministry be able to serve the spiritual GOD? How can carnal man participate in GOD's supernatural ministry? If the Filipino church (regardless of affiliation or denomination) does not pursue its prophetic and apostolic calling in Jesus Christ, it cannot pursue its God-given destiny. No way it can serve God. It will only be numbered among man's churches.

A Genuine Prophetic Church

But many today claim to be apostolic and prophetic, even if they aren't. Worse, many claim to be apostles and prophets even if they look worlds apart from the apostles and prophets in the bible. A genuine apostle follows in the steps of the first Apostle, Jesus Christ. He is the apostle and high priest we confess [Hebrews 3]. Jesus is also the Prophet and he said so himself though this passage:

And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household." [Matthew 13.57]

A genuine prophet of God must conform to the prophetic characteristics of Jesus--his character, power, ministry and life. And basing from what we see in Jesus, here are the marks of a true apostle and prophet which apply even today to both apostles and prophets and apostolic and prophetic churches:

1. Humble and meek. Jesus was lowly, low key and even obscure. People thought he was one of the prophets of old, Elijah or Jeremiah perhaps. Herod thought he was John the Baptist back from the dead. But one thing for sure--the people knew he was genuinely from heaven. Nicodemus said so. His person and ministry had NOTHING earthly about it. And yet, Jesus stayed low profile and quietly doing his ministry, without fanfare or gimmickries. "He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street." [Isaiah 42.2] He never named his ministry or sought government recognition or license. The church later referred to Jesus' ministry as the Way.
   
   
2. Quietly doing ministry. He was often found in remote places, beside lakes, fields and hillsides. People went to him in desperation, not the other way around as churches today do, pursuing after people, giving them what they want, to make them members. Sometimes, Jesus was found in the temple area but this was more the exception than the rule. "And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed," [Luke 5.16]. Some versions say he would "often" withdraw to lonely, solitary or  remote places. And he would tell people he healed to keep quiet about him. Why? Because Jesus wanted the Holy Spirit to promote him, not people, aside from preventing crowds from blocking his way to towns, as some bible experts suggest. But one thing for sure. Jesus never used publicity gimmicks to attract people. In fact, he never tried to attract them. Promotion came from the supernatural works of the Holy Spirit alone. This is genuine apostolic and prophetic.
   
   
3. Never extravagant. Jesus didn't ride on costly vehicles or transportation means in his time. He didn't own properties, mansions, houses or even vast lands to put up his bible schools or seminaries or church buildings. He didn't have posh church altars or edifices. He didn't have a luxurious office or headquarters. He never wore costly clothes or accessories. He even starkly differentiated John the Baptist (and I'm sure himself) from those who wore fine clothes whom he said lived in king's palaces. He insinuated that true men of God like John were far from being like the extravagant. They lived radically simple lives. In fact, genuine disciples or followers are those who have given up all possessions:
   
   32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
   [Luke 12]
   
   No one is exempt here. If the Filipino church is going to be apostolic and prophetic , they should all give up all possessions. 
   
   
4. Supernatural signs and wonders. A genuine apostolic and prophetic church operates in supernatural signs and wonders and heavily uses spiritual gifts in ministry. Jesus, the Apostle, said that anyone who has faith in him will do the works he had been doing, and greater works shall the believer do when  Jesus goes to the Father [John 14.12]. The passage context is on believing the "works" that Jesus had been doing, which was proclaiming the Gospel and performing miracles. That's the genuine ministry.
   
   Paul, on the other hand, said a genuine apostolic ministry is accompanied by supernatural works. "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds," [2 Corinthians 12.12].

The above are just some of the marks of a genuine apostolic and prophetic minister and ministry, which is still unseen today. All we see are claims, but not the real thing. The Filipino prophetic church should first see Jesus as the Apostle and devote itself to HIS apostolic teachings as the Acts church did. 

“They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching..." [Acts 2.42].