Prophetic ministry is not called to discover hidden, secret meanings of Scripture!
The emphasis in this section on mentoring is mentoring with prophetic people in mind. It’s not just about helping them hear God’s voice—it’s about helping them root what they do, say, and even think in God’s Word.
The Scriptures, breathed out by the Spirit of God, are the very foundation of all prophetic ministry. They are alive, sharper than any two-edged sword, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). And yet, so often, a prophetic person, meaning well, can unintentionally drift away from Scripture, relying on flashes of insight without grounding themselves in the things God has already spoken in Scripture.
Whilst we might have amazing prophetic insights, we must embrace the fact, and remind ourselves, that we are not inspired in the same way that Scripture is inspired. The Word is God-breathed—and us? We are human, fragile, prone to error. It’s imperative that the first task of mentoring prophetic people is to remind them—and ourselves—that the Bible isn’t just a guide or a reference. It is actually the context—the story we’re living in, the framework for everything we say, hear, and do.
The prophetic, at its core, calls people to obedience, to holiness, to intimacy with God. It reminds us of God’s promises, challenges us, and refreshes us, but where do we learn what those impressions, pictures, or revelations mean? Scripture! It’s in the pages of Scripture that we encounter the call to “be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). It’s there that we’re drawn into the deep, unfolding mystery of God’s grace, the kind that reconciles sinners through the blood of the Cross. It’s in the Word that faith is defined, and intimacy with God is described not as some abstract feeling but as walking in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). If a prophetic word doesn’t resonate with the unchanging heartbeat of Scripture, we must ask whether it’s truly from God. We mustn’t deviate one iota from Scripture—whilst also endeavouring to ensure our appeal to Scripture is a Scripture-honouring one that stays in context with what is readily apparent there. Prophetic ministry is not called to discover hidden, secret meanings of Scripture!
Mentoring means teaching this reverence for the Word—not as a set of rules or a dead text, but as the living, breathing revelation of the God who speaks. It means encouraging those we mentor to know the Scriptures deeply, to let them saturate their thoughts, shape their understanding, and refine their discernment.
When they come with a word, ask them: How does this align with what God has already said? Does it reflect the gospel? Does it glorify Christ? Is it full of grace? These aren’t questions to stifle their gift but to anchor it, to ensure that what they share flows from the heart of God, not just the spark of their own imagination. Imagination is a God-given ability for us in our creativity, but revelation is way beyond that. It’s something that God brings to mind, something only He could disclose—not something created from us and by us.
And here’s where it gets personal—we have to model this ourselves.
How can we mentor others in prophetic ministry if we’re not ourselves rooted in Scripture? How can we call them to weigh their words if we’re not holding fast to the Word ourselves?
Our mentoring begins with humility—the willingness to admit that we’re learners too, sitting under the authority of God’s Word, shaped by it daily.
Perhaps a good application is that as you mentor, don’t just teach Scripture—but live it.
Let your life testify to the weight and power of God’s Word, lean into it, ensuring that when you correct, you do it gently, with Scripture as your guide, reminding them of God’s promises and reminding them it’s all grace.