newsletter
Servant Ministries, Inc.
Issue No. 116 Ira & Judy Milligan Jan 1, 2008

The cost of postage, envelopes and copying services have gone through the roof! In an effort to be good stewards of our finances, we have enclosed a combined conference registration form and readers’ survey with this issue. Please fill out both sides of this form and return it in the enclosed envelope even if you do not intend to attend the conference!

Please take this opportunity to correct any errors in your address, and if someone you know would like to receive the newsletter, add their address to the list. We would also like to receive any questions or suggestions that you may like to see addressed in future newsletters. Unless you have recently contacted us, failure to return this form will automatically terminate you from the Servant Ministries mailing list! This is the only way we can determine who is truly interested in receiving the newsletter.

Please note that this is not an attempt to solicit financial offerings. We simply want to know who is and who is not reading the newsletter. Although we are requiring everyone who attends our 2008 Branson United Ministers’ Fellowship Conference to register in advance, there is no charge for registration. The only purpose of the registration is to limit the number of attendees to 150 people, which is the maximum number of people the conference room will hold. We hope to see you in Branson!

The Prophet’s Perspective
Prophetic Acts?
(or Pathetic Gestures?)

Recently the term “prophetic act” has come into vogue in certain charismatic circles. Are prophetic acts scriptural or are they just the latest charismatic fad to appear on the scene? Let’s take a look and see what the Scriptures have to say about them. First, the term “prophetic act” isn’t actually found in the Bible but something similar (similitude) is found in Hosea 12:10: “I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.

Similitudes are found in both the Old and New Testaments. Examples are Jeremiah wearing a wooden yoke to symbolize Judah’s forthcoming bondage under the iron yoke of Nebuchad-nezzar’s rule (see Jer. 28:10,14), and Agabus using Paul’s girdle to bind his own hands and feet to signify Paul’s upcoming imprisonment in Jerusalem (see Acts 21:10-11). In these, and other similar instances, the “prophetic act” either fully embodies or gives added emphasis to the message the prophet is delivering. Since these “acts” are found in Scripture, and “all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:16), it is reasonable to assume that these prophets were not arbitrarily acting out their messages but were instructed to do so by the Holy Spirit.

The word prophetic implies something said or done under the direction of another, so to perform a prophetic act without being instructed to do so by the Holy Spirit isn’t “prophetic” at all, but rather exhibitionism! This, too, is found in both the Old and New Testaments (see 1 Kings 22:11; Acts 16:16-18). Thus we may safely say that an act of this type would fall under the classification of pathetic gesture rather than prophetic act.

The other type of prophetic act found in Scripture is where God’s supernatural power is released and demonstrated through the prophet’s obedience. This type of prophetic act may actually be classified as a “work of faith” (see 2 Thes. 1:11). Examples of this type of prophetic act are Moses dividing the Red Sea by raising his rod over it and later, casting a tree into the bitter waters of Marah and making them sweet (see Exod. 14:16; 15:23-25). Like-wise, Elisha demonstrated the supernatural power of God by throwing a stick into a stream of water, causing an iron axe-head to float (see 2 Kings 6:4-6). In these and other instances there is an immediate release of supernatural power in response to the prophet’s obedient “act”.

It is doubtful that one could properly call something like pouring salt into a river or breaking a stick in the “gates” of the city and pronouncing it free and clean a legitimate prophetic act unless God confirms it with a corresponding release of His power.

What is the point of discussing this subject? Please, let’s be sure to obey God but at the same time let’s be careful to avoid divination and exhibitionism. The Church has suffered enough of that in the past!

“Helping Hands”

We presently have $2800.00 pledged and/or on hand towards our 2008 Europe mission trip (Scotland and Finland). I estimate the trip will cost somewhere between $7000 and $8000 so I’m asking for your help. As I mentioned last month, I am assembling a small team of ministers who will be traveling and ministering with me, so this trip will cost more than usual. And thanks, fellows – you guys are a continual blessing!

Prayer Partners’ Update

First, a good report: Many of you have been praying for our youngest son Bill, who has been combating cancer. I rejoice to announce that he has recently been diagnosed as cancer free! God is good! The second good report goes to those who prayed for God to send me a big buck deer while I was hunting in Illinois. He did but I missed! My fault, not His, but disappointing, nevertheless. Well, maybe next year (sigh). God bless, and thanks, friends!


Just Thinking

I’ve often been struck by the positiveness of Jesus’ promise in Matthew 7:7-8: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Jesus not only promises that God will answer our prayers, He also declares His impartiality – Jesus said “everyone who asks receives”, indicating there are no pre-qualifications required before God will answer us. Now granted, God doesn’t always give everyone the same answer. God can, and sometimes does, say no!

Another thing I find interesting about this passage of scripture is that it doesn’t promise that God will answer us the first time we ask. Knocking implies the need for persistence, as Luke pointed out in his introduction to Christ’s promise (see Luke 11:5-10).

“And Jesus said to them, Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him'; and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs” (Luke 11:5-8).

The last thing I’d like to point out is that context determines meaning and Luke puts Jesus’ promise in the context of an unselfish request, so perhaps this helps explain why some prayers are answered with a yes and others with an absolute no!