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| Understanding Prophetic People: Blessings and Problems with the Prophetic Gift | 
 enlarge | Author: R. Loren, Sandford
Publisher: Chosen
Category: Book
List Price: $13.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 203533
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.6 x 5.5 x 0.7
ISBN: 0800794222
Dewey Decimal Number: 234.13
EAN: 9780800794224
ASIN: 0800794222
Publication Date: June 1, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Prophecy is cherished by many as one of the fivefold ministry gifts described in Ephesians 4:11 and foundational to the life of the church. Yet prophetically gifted people have a reputation of being different and difficult to live and work with. Understanding Prophetic People, written by a prophetic pastor who grew up as the son of a prophetic pastor and leader, helps readers better understand, relate to, and even minister to prophetically gifted people. R. Loren Sandford answers fascinating questions such as, What is it like to grow up as a prophetically gifted person? What is the difference between adrenaline and anointing? Who validates authentic prophetic ministry? How does a pastor rightly relate to a prophet? This rich resource seeks deeper understanding and wisdom on issues of foundational importance for prophetic people and everyone who loves God's gifts.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 4 more reviews...
A candid look at the spiritual journey of the Lord's prophets November 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In the charismatic world of the Christian community, there has been great excitement over the prophetic, in fact many believers, including this writer, have sought a "word from the Lord" that will tell us of our future blessings much as the New Age community seeks astrological charts, palm reading, and tea leaves to know of their increase in divine favor. Though this hunger to hear the voice of God can be a positive reflection of the Saints' search for the touch of Christ's love, unfortunately at this time of the great "falling away" many well-known prophetic voices speaking in the "name of the Lord" are saying what many want to hear, "tickling the ears" of the elect. Not so with this book. I appreciate the honesty of Loren Sandford's message, and what it teaches every Saint about not resting on our good works, but staying painfully honest in our search for Jesus Christ. Clearly it is time for the eternal Church to honestly examine where She has been, and what She must do to tear down the "white-washed tombs" created apart from an intamacy with Jesus. Pastor Loren's example is to be respected. He is not protecting himself or his ministry with his writing, nor is he exalting himself with false humility for his honesty.
If biblical history is an accurate witness, it may be true that only a remnant of prophets are legitimately hearing the Lord's voice, and speaking in the power and authority of the Spirit of God. It was much the same with Israel in times of her repeated rebellion against God. True messengers of the gospel do not promote themselves, but point to the "foolish" message of Jesus Christ crucified. When I read Loren Sandford's Understanding Prophetic People what struck me immediately was his own candid testimony. His own life is honestly and vulnerably revealed, both in his failures, and by his sincere desire to provide guidance and healing to the Body of Christ. Without excuses he admits to his own woundedness, and how this in turn injured people in the church who trusted him. Because of it's transparency I believe this refreshing honest and much needed book will help heal and build the Church in several different ways, likely more than the three I list here.
First it will bring increased insight and hope to those prophetic people who have struggled throughout their Christian life with the painful trials of their journey. I am one of them. The Church is largely ignorant of the gifts of the five fold ministries, and how men and women called to these high offices are tested and seasoned by God to serve His purposes within the Church. Much suffering comes by our isolation, and this book tells us we are not alone. Just as Elijah learned that many prophets remained safely in hiding as they served God, there remains strength in numbers. I believe this writing will be for many what the increased understanding of ADD has been for people who have suffered from this trait as children and adults. It can bring hope and encouragement, along with guidance on what we can actively do to fulfill our lives so that our suffering makes sense, bringing us increased purpose as God's children.
Secondly, it is a guidebook for Christian leaders who are shepherds over prophetically gifted people. As Pastor Loren explains, the suffering and rejection the prophetic child endures creates wounds that are not easy to overcome, even in adulthood. It is the shepherds that can bring healing to such people, and encourage them to practise their giftings under the watchful eye of the pastor. The Body of Christ needs their insight and direction to align the sheep with what the Lord is doing with both the local church and Church universally. The Church needs her prophets to build the Body to increased fullness of power and character. Because pastors often do not understand prophetic people, this book will increase Church leader's understanding and compassion so that they can successfully lead their charges into the great depths of Christ' love. Often it is the Church who has wounded the prophetic person, so we who are prophetic need kind and gentle shepherds to lead us to wholeness and health within the Body.
Finally, this is an important message for the Body of Christ as a whole, especially during this time in the evolution of the Church. Prophets are people, not gods within themselves. They are vulnerable, capable of making mistakes, prone to either seeking people's approval, or retreating into self-defensive postures because of past wounds. Although prophets and apostles must undergo more severe testing and refining experiences because of the responsibilities they hold, in these days of increased shaking within the Church, all Christians will face experiences that will test their faith, and bring either greater Christlikeness, or hardened hearts. Prophets show the way, not only by their words, but by their life example. No child of God should be afraid of the testing, yet we should be prepared for what will come. Prophets who have been transformed in the wilderness will support the Bride as she endures the fires of testing that will refine Her into the image of Her Bridegroom.
Since the 1980s when the prophetic movement is known to have started, it is my personal opinion that a large portion of the Charismatics of the Church and some of the more visible prophets became carried away with the gifts and power of God, and moved away from the search for holiness in the Person of Jesus Christ. A mutual love affair between these two groups has taken the focus off of "First Love." Without question God is raising the true prophets who will speak in the spirit of Elijah, yet there will still be some with public platforms who will continue to promote their ministries as legitimate and accurate. These "false" prophets will be both deceived, and deceiving to the Body of Christ as the darkness grows greater in the land. We will know the true from the false only by their fruit. The fruit will have become matured by the fulfillment of the time of testing in the wilderness so vividly described by Pastor Loren.
I believe this book is a sincere and accurate revealing of what the prophetic Church must closely examine and discuss in order to see the fulfillment of Christ's work in restoring the Bride of Christ. As I read Pastor Loren's words, I recognized that we should love and not condemn those who are sincerely seeking to minister to the Body of Christ, even when they fail. This includes every Saint, prophetic or not, who is seeking to grow in Christ. We should respect and honor the office, yet be careful to avoid glorifying the officeholder, testing the minister for scripturally accurate words and Christlike character. And we should not be so nieve as to ignore the dangers and pitfalls of the prophetic journey for those called to be God's spokepeople. We should pray regularly that the servant's Godly character will uphold the weight of the gifts and responsibility that has been given for the benefit of the Church. And when the child/servant of God fails, which every Saint will to varying degrees, we must remember, it could be us lying in a heap on the floor. Our maturity is reflected by our grace and love given to the brokenhearted. The true prophet's ministry is seldom glamorous, most often it is painful and lonely, though as Pastor Loren makes clear, it becomes fulfilling when the prophet has become seasoned enough to accept the wilderness sojourns, and experience the blessing of intamacy with God.
Highly Recommended May 18, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was looking for a book that would give me a better understanding of this prophetic gift I have and came across this book. I am so glad I found it because it gave me a better understanding about a lot of things. I highly recommend it to anyone searching for answers. I found a lot of answers that had me lost and confused.
Please get the book if you want a better understanding of prophetic people.
In Joy and In Pain April 27, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
So much for any prophetic insight on my end! I had a friend recommend this book to me, and, on a whim, I took him up on it and purchased the thing. I wasn't sure there would be much in here for me, and I'm still not convinced I have anything close to a prophetic gift. But...
This book moved me on a number of levels. From its biblical view of the full range of prophecy (not just predicting the future), to its balanced look at the gifts of the Spirit in the church, to its unflinching honesty about the mistakes of the past few decades, "Understanding Prophetic People" is full of wisdom that can be applied retroactively, in the present, and into the future. Not only did Sandford's words touch my intellect and theological mind, they touched my heart and spirit in unexpected ways. The chapter on "Wilderness Sojourns" alone was worth the price of the book for me.
Through this author's contrite, yet direct, telling of the truth, God spoke to me from these pages. While I grew up in charismatic churches and saw saw some amazing things, I also saw numerous imbalances and abuses along the way. From this book, I found myself reading passages aloud to my wife, and we both laughed--sometimes in joy, other times in near pain--at similar lessons we've learned or are still learning.
For anyone who wants to know God and be used by Him, this is essential reading. It also provides solid advice for pastors dealing with such giftings in their congregations. I'm sure glad I picked up the book on a whim. Or maybe it was something more. Maybe, just maybe, God wanted to speak to me. Perhaps to you too!
WORTH READING March 4, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a better understanding of the Prophetic gift. One does not neccessarily has to be a prophet to understand the gift or be interested in it. The writer uses his own experience as a Prophet to show us the readers how important the prophetic gift is, but also how much so called and false appointed prophets have misused and misrepresented God gift given through his Holy Spirit. Read it for yourself and be the judge, AS WE SAY DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT COVER, BECAUSE THE INSIDE OF IT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE! GOD BLESS YOU
Execellent January 7, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Great for people who have been misunderstood all of there life. Yet couldn't understand why. It has settled some questions I have about myself and the gift that God has trusted with me.
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