Priests, Pastors, & Prophets

There’s a difference between prophetic artistry and pastoral creativity.

In this teaching, we’re going to dive into the correlation between:

• the storytelling artist and the prophetic nature

• the pastoral creative and the shepherd who cares for the flock
  Ultimately, Jesus is our perfect picture of theology.
  He is both the Prophet, the Shepherd, and the High Priest.
  But just like every family, each child will carry different attributes of the same Father, and both will mature into His image.

KNOWING THE TIMES

First, it’s important that we know the times we are living in and the spiritual context for our day.
We are living in the time of the maturation of:

• the kingdom of darkness

• and the kingdom of the Son

  Which kingdom do you belong to?
  Whose image are you maturing into?

PARABLE OF THE WHEAT & THE WEEDS

Matthew 13:24–30
Matthew 13:36–43

THE RETURN OF JESUS

He will remove all sin and tears…
When Jesus returns, He will remove all the works of the kingdom of darkness and its sons.
But the sons and daughters of His kingdom will remain, and we will enter into endless ages with Christ in perfect glory.
The works of righteousness we co-labor with the Lord in now will:

• stand the test of the fire of God

• and continue in far greater measure in the next age

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth…
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more…

Revelation 21: 1–4

PRIESTS, PROPHETS & SHEPHERDS

While in the Kingdom, some of us carry stronger traits of the shepherd or the prophet…
We all are first priests.
A chosen people and royal priesthood.
If there is any word that most accurately defines the life of a priest, it is: Consecration
A set-apart life unto the Lord.

1 Peter 2:1–5

THE PICTURE OF THE PROPHET

What is prophecy?

“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Revelation 19:9–10

So anything:

• innocent

• good

• true

• beautiful
  reveals the nature of Jesus.
  The prophetic artist that is surrendered to Christ tells stories that reveal mysteries about Jesus to the world.
  A work of art about friendship or marriage is just as much a revealing of Jesus as a piece about the throne room.
  The difference is that these works are often wrapped in:

• metaphor

• allegory

These clothe the mystery of Jesus so that both believers and non-believers can discover Him.

THE PROPHET’S STRENGTH & WEAKNESS

1 Kings 18:20–40
1 Kings 19:1–8

The prophet:

• is not afraid of Baal or the kingdom of Babylon

• is not afraid to be behind enemy lines

• is not afraid of the desert
  They go to the edges on assignment from the Lord as a mouthpiece and speak what they see.
  But when not submitted to the Lord:

• that same prophet can fall into a survival mentality

• the desert shifts from encounter → isolation

• they begin running from the Lord and His church
  Prophets need to be submitted to the Church.
  And the Church needs the operation of the prophetic.

THE PICTURE OF THE CREATIVE PASTOR

In the same way the storytelling artist carries the prophetic,
the pastoral creative carries the attributes of a shepherd.

“Do you love me? Feed my sheep.”

John 21:15–19

A shepherd:

• has compassion for the bride of Christ

• protects the flock
  The flock will always have wolves nearby.
  Ways the shepherd protects:

• intercession

• compassion

• presence in pain and questions
  They create works aimed at:

• protection

• edification of believers

THE SHEPHERD’S STRENGTH & WEAKNESS

That same love for the church can turn into a desire for the approval of men.
And when you live by approval:

• you are wounded by rejection

• you become offended
  That same shepherd can shift from:

• compassion → withdrawal
  Separating themselves out of fear of being hurt.
  We see this in Peter in Acts 10
  in his prejudice toward the Gentiles.

DISCOVERING WHAT YOU CARRY

Practical ways to discern:

• Fast and pray

• Meditate on Scripture

• Ask the Lord to break your heart for the least of these

• Create with the Lord

• Co-labor with the family of God
  During this process, what you carry strongest will surface.
  Some will be:

• more prophetic

• more pastoral
  Some will carry both.
  And depending on the season, one may be stronger than the other.

FINAL THOUGHT

The family of God needs both.
Ultimately, we are: Living stones

Being built up into:

• a holy habitation

• for His presence