Worship
Spiritual gifts exercised with discernment, discipline, and order.
Prophetic ministry has a recognized place within the spiritual life of Celestial Church of Christ. The Church provides an established order for the exercise of prophetic gifts and emphasizes discernment, discipline, self-control, and reverence during worship.
Prophetic ministry has a specific, structured place within worship — it is not something every visitor should expect to experience during a service, and this page describes the order around it rather than promising any particular experience.
Prophecy is understood as a spiritual gift exercised within the life and worship of the Church. The solemnity of worship service is treated as non-negotiable: prophetic activity is not meant to interfere with or interrupt the flow of worship before God.
If a prophetic message needs to be delivered during the course of worship, it takes place in the conference room or the Mercy Land, rather than during the service itself. These are designated places for prophetic communication outside the main service. There is no prophesying during the sermon.
A prophesied message also cannot be carried out without the Shepherd's approval, or that of a senior elder given delegated authority when the Shepherd is absent.
The Church distinguishes between prophecy and vision. Vision and prophecy must never be interchanged.
The interpretation of dreams and visions is treated as a matter of divine inspiration rather than an intellectual exercise or guesswork. Such matters are referred to the head of prophets, or to the Shepherd, for interpretation, rather than treated casually.
Prophetic gifts are not treated as automatically self-authenticating. There is ongoing, periodic testing to authenticate the spirit at work in a person, and a gift of prophecy must be tested, confirmed, certified, and approved by the Shepherd before someone takes on the recognized role of prophet within the Church.
Prophetic ministry requires discipline and self-control. Those exercising this gift are called to remain in control of their spirit and to keep their hearts and minds free of malice, bitterness, anger, and hatred, so that their character remains consistent with the Throne of Christ they represent.
Those serving in prophetic ministry are expected to conduct themselves with reverence, discipline, purity of heart, and appropriate Christian character. Prophetic ministry is a responsibility of service, not simply a title.
Prophets and prophetesses are specifically asked to avoid transparent robes and cosmetic loins, and to keep the loin in a sanctified or reserved place when it is not in use. When an elder takes on the role of prophet, their rank is adjusted to reflect this.
Going away to a “spiritual mountain” for three to seven days is not a doctrine or practice of Celestial Church of Christ — it is not part of the Church's ordinance.
The Prophets Service is a recognized part of the spiritual life of Celestians. It follows the Church's Order of Service and is conducted within established spiritual order. A candle, a bottle of water, and a power cloth are used as part of the service.
Spiritual gifts should be approached with humility, discipline, prayer, and a willingness to remain accountable within the established order of the Church.
Prophetic ministry exists within the wider life of the Church. It does not replace Scripture, prayer, worship, Christian character, or the established order of the congregation.
Learn more about the worship life of Disciple Parish.