Used by kind permission of Andrew Strom.

From:  Andrew Strom  (Moderator).
ANZAC Prophetic List
prophetic@revival.gen.nz

Dear friends,

We have had some interesting discussions on this List about the role and relationship of Pastors and Prophets - a pretty touchy subject! Yet I still feel dissatisfied - that
we have not got to the core of some of these issues. In particular, there is the most 'touchy' subject of all:  Should the church be dominated and led by mild 'pastoral' leadership or by the far more radical and risk-taking prophets and apostles?
Is it pastors who should be running the whole show as they do today?

To me, these questions are at the very core of this whole discussion. And we can't afford to dismiss them simply because they are uncomfortable.

As most of you know, I am a student of Revival history. And when I look back over many different moves of God down through the centuries I see that it was when bold, risk-taking, prophetic/ apostolic types were at the forefront that the church made her
greatest strides. Think of Luther and Knox of the Great Reformation.
Or Wesley and Whitfield of the Great Awakening. Or William Booth of the Salvation Army.  Bold, anointed prophetic types - all of them.
And they led great movements that transformed the body of Christ in their day and made her a force to be reckoned with in the earth once again. Generally speaking, true Revivalists have always been bold 'prophetic-apostolic' types when you look down through history.

But my greatest argument along these lines is found, of course, in the Book of Acts. Was the Early Church led by pastors, or by apostles and prophets? Clearly it was the latter. There obviously were pastoral people shepherding the new converts in the smaller groups, but overwhelmingly this was a "Prophetic/ Apostolic" church to the utmost degree. This is a major reason why it was a movement that was so full of spiritual vision and aggressive mobilisation for the kingdom of God. The leadership had everything to do with it. This was a bold, daring Spirit-fired movement because its leaders were bold, daring and Spirit-fired!
And thus have been the leaders in every great Revival down through history.

You could argue that the history of the church is one of "waves" of Revival - where strong prophetic/ apostolic leaders come to the fore and lead the church for a time, followed by "lulls" when the forces of 'status quo management' slowly take over once again. Some people say it is necessary to have these 'lulls' where nothing much happens, but I am not so sure. I don't read about "lulls" in the Book of Acts.
The lulls seem to occur only because the church backslides away from the original Revival standards - particularly when the bold prophetic leaders are lost and 'status-quo' leaders take over.

There is no doubt that shepherding is a vital ministry in the Body of Christ. It is utterly crucial. In fact, we need more people with true shepherding hearts - not less! But the big question is this: - Are they supposed to be in charge of the church - her direction, her vision, everything?? I cannot be convinced of this. I do not see it anywhere in Acts or the New Testament. Surely the Bible should be our guide?

I believe very strongly that there is massive CHANGE coming to the Body of Christ. And the very issue that we have been discussing will be central to it. I am convinced that we are about to see another "wave" of Reformation and Revival, where once again apostolic/ prophetic leadership will come to the fore - and nothing will stand in the way. I believe we are about to see a full-blown "Book of Acts" Revival in every aspect.

And this is one thing that true apostolic leaders do: - They bring the prophets into their rightful place of honour and recognition in the body. Right now we have a lot of beaten-up and "twice-bitten" prophets out there who have had some terrible experiences with 'status quo' type leaders right through the church. They have been ignored, slandered and too often treated only as some kind of "threat". I come across these guys all too often. Some of them have very high levels of prophetic anointing operating in their lives. But you would not think so from the way they are treated.

As I said, there is one thing that true apostolic leaders will do: - They will bring the prophets into their rightful place in the body.
Once again the prophets will become the "eyes and ears" of the church. If two or three prophets are given the same dream, the entire church will take direction from it, and change to fit in with the guidance that God is bringing. That is the way things are
supposed to happen. And what an exciting way to run the church! GOD'S WAY!! Where His word, bought through His anointed servants, actually guides the day-to-day direction of the Body! Glory to God! That is the way it is going to be.

But right now, what are we each doing? Are we individually blocking the way, or are we participating willingly in the change that God is wanting to bring to His church? That is the challenge before every one of us right now, I believe - especially those in
leadership.

God bless you all.

Kindest regards in Christ,

Andrew Strom.