5 Things
Five Keys to Prophetic Integrity
By Sarah Williams
If you have given your life to Jesus, you have an amazing privilege to be able to hear His voice and walk in relationship with His Spirit. It was God’s delight to provide you with this dynamic gift combination so that you would always have everything you need in your life on earth. Maybe you have begun to unwrap this gift and to discover the priceless treasure that you have permission to access. God’s design is for you to be able to know Him deeply. And as you grow through that journey of discovery, His plan is that you would become His mouthpiece, as one of His prophetic people. If you are like me, that invitation – that we can become a friend of God and have the honor of representing Him on the earth – leaves you awestruck! In order to walk this out and do it well, I propose to you five vital goals that every prophetic person should have. These objectives will keep you tenderly aligned with God’s heart and reflective of His nature as you yield to Him to be used as a conduit to release powerful words of love, strength, and hope.
1. Protect Your Relationship with the Lord As Highest Priority
Life is like a grand buffet with endless, appealing choices you can heap onto your plate. But we all know we are miserable after overeating, so in reality, there is only so much we can do with one life while still maintaining health. As God’s prophetic people, our goal should always be to keep God on the center of the plate. In every season, He should make the cut! Sometimes we have to forfeit other desirable things in order to choose God. To put God first over other pleasures is called the fasted lifestyle. This may involve traditional fasting but can reach beyond to include cutting out some media, social opportunities, or entertainment in order to enjoy extra time with God.
I often think of men in the Bible like Enoch, who walked with God, and Moses, whom God treated as a friend. I consider the verses where God says that He shares His secrets with His friends. These examples and verses have served as models that have driven me to consider how to shape my life to be included in God’s friend list. What price will you pay to protect and prioritize your relationship with God? How hungry are you to not just have knowledge about God but to know Him deeply, personally, and experientially?
2. Study and Model God’s Heart and Character
When you decide you want to dive deeply into God, He will take you on a journey to teach you about who He really is. He is unlike any other. He will reveal to you fascinating facets of His nature – what motivates Him, what He sounds like, what emotions are evoked when He speaks. If you will submit your preconceived ideas to Him, He will strip away the lenses you picked up by human observation and hand you pure, clean new ones.
If you make your goal to truly know Him, the God of the Bible will illuminate the truth of His Word so that your heart can understand what your head knows. He will teach you the way of love, demonstrated by His every word and action toward you. As you learn this, it will become a launching pad from which you get to minister and co-labor with God.
3. Learn God’s Language and Timing
As you dig into God’s Word, you will find that God’s messages to people often come shrouded in mystery. From dreams to visions to parables, we see that symbols are a common part of His language. Proverbs 25:2 (ESV) says, “It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.” As God’s prophetic people, He invites us to search out what He has hidden. We do this by pursuing God, not by reasoning with our minds, for interpretations belong to God (Genesis 40:8). To learn God’s language, we must listen for His Spirit to unlock understanding of His revelation.
Likewise, we must depend on God’s wisdom to discern His timing. Consider Joseph, who as a teenager received a symbolic dream from God that indicated that someday his family would bow down to him. Joseph likely did not realize that it would be many years before this would play out in his life. Our human nature typically seeks immediate application when we hear from God. At times we will have a deep witness in our spirit of the correlation of what God is saying with a present situation. But when His words seem puzzling, it is best to protect the word by writing it down. Ponder and pray over it, knowing that when the time is right, the Holy Spirit will unlock what God has revealed.
4. Be A Conduit of God’s Love
It doesn’t take great discernment to see the negative in the world or the dirt underlying a person’s humanity. What makes an impact is Spirit-led ministry that is sourced from the heart of God, who is Love. If we don’t minister out of His love, we are ineffective and our ministry has no value. Jesus Himself said that on the last day some will remind Him that they prophesied and performed miracles in His name, but He will reply that He never knew them (Matthew 7:22-23). God makes it clear in His Word that He is looking for people to be His voice on the earth. Prophecy is in His heart. But if the prophetic is not fueled by the love of God, it will completely miss the mark of God’s intention and be worthless in His eyes. “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:2, NIV).
On the other hand, if we are stewarding our relationship with God and studying His character with a desire to truly know Him, we will catch a personal revelation of His great love for us, which inevitably will cause us to minister out of the overflow. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19, NIV).
5. Humbly Walk in the Fear of the Lord
“Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” (Proverbs 11:2, NLT).
Being a representative of God is a privilege that should have no pride attached to it. To hear from God is a gift that should be handled with the greatest humility. God will test hearts to see what we will do with what He gives us. Revelation should never be paraded around or shared to glorify oneself. Some whispers are never to be spoken, for they are secrets between lovers. Others will be a key to set captives free, healing balm to the broken, or a springboard for destiny.
The key to properly delivering God’s words is to depend on His wisdom and to stay close to His heart. There is a learning curve in communicating on behalf of God, but He gives grace and wisdom to the humble. If you always point people toward Jesus and stay soft and teachable, the Lord will train you as His spokesperson. As you protect your purity and maintain the right heart motivation, you will learn to serve God and His people and to represent Him well.
Humility and the fear of the Lord go hand in hand. Jesus Himself walked in step with the will of His Father. He said He did only what He saw the Father doing. To walk in the fear of the Lord is to seek out, to honor, and to respond to what God desires. It is to align one’s life in reverence to what pleases the Lord above all else.
God’s prophetic people should be sensitive and obedient to His promptings. They should depend on His leadership in every area of their lives. When this becomes your core value, God will find you a trustworthy friend and you can become a vessel that God can flow through.
“The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant” (Psalm 25:14, ESV).
Click here to listen to Sarah’s interview with Open Bible President Randall Bach
About the Author
Sarah and her husband, George, have been in ministry together for over fifteen years. They began their journey as urban missionaries, which led to planting and co-pastoring CityLight Church. Sarah’s passion is to see people saved, healed, and delivered. She and her team run the Transformation Center, which offers personal prayer ministry to help people receive heart healing and freedom. Sarah highly values her ministry to her family and to the Lord. Her delight is in raising her two daughters and being a friend of God.
Don’t you just hate it when you start a project and don’t have the right tools? I do. I love a good DIY project, but I almost always have to go buy a tool to get the job done. DIY projects feel very similar to parenting. You see a picture of something, think, “How hard could it be? Those people look happy with that baby – we’ve got this.” Then the teenage years hit, and it’s “Pinterest Fails” in real time: nothing looks like the picture, and you don’t have the right tools to do the job. Having the right tools can make all the difference, both in a DIY project and in parenting your teens.
Let’s be honest: parenting in 2025 is not for the faint of heart, and parenting teenagers during this time is something only crazy people do. Parenting with purpose and intentionality in the midst of smart phones, social media, unlimited access to information, and hormones kind of seems like a recipe for disaster. If you feel like your toolbox is missing some tools, let me share some that I use on a regular basis.
Five tools that are currently in my toolbox:
1. Healthy Boundaries.
If you don’t have them, now is the time to create them. You’re going to want to go ahead and set boundaries for the whole family: parents, kids, and every stinkin’ electronic device you own. You need a plan on how you are going to manage and honor these boundaries. Boundaries create margin, and margin is key to survival. Take some time and decide what you would like this to look like, plan it out, and stick to it.
2. A Healthy Relationship with Therapy.
I think a lot of times, we as Christians struggle with shame when our prayers don’t result in erasing all our mental and emotional pain (or that of our kids’). What if God’s answer to some of those prayers comes in the form of a great Christian therapist? Just like Esther, you and I were born for such a time as this, and in this time, we can access incredible resources found in a solid Christian therapist. It might not seem like a great idea and your kids might not like it at first, but have a conversation and strike up a deal. I was not above bartering with my teens, not when their mental health was on the line. This tool might not be for everyone, but give it some thought and maybe stick it in your toolbox for emergencies only.
3. Keeping the Conversation Going.
We all spend hours in the car, right? Take that drive time to ask your teen questions, simply listening without trying to fix anything (this is the hardest part). The goal is to create a space that allows your teen to feel heard, a space that lets them process their “BIG FEELINGS.” Be encouraged: this tool has a quick turnaround, similar to the timetable of teenage feelings. Hang in there, we will make it!
4. Good Coping Skills.
Drinking Starbucks and shopping at Target, though very enjoyable, are not healthy coping skills. We all have coping mechanisms and your teenagers will too, but we can help them develop healthy ways of dealing with their emotions. Take a walk, ride a bike, go fishing, journal, paint, listen to music, chop some wood (Anger is a real emotion and if you need firewood, it’s a BOGO!). The key is to help your child discover healthy ways of dealing with their “BIG FEELINGS”; they cannot be ignored, they must be processed, and one way or another they will be.
5. Proper Navigation of God’s Word.
I am hopeful that the seeds planted in the lives of my kids will bear much fruit and be a testimony of how good God is.
Does your child know how to read God’s word in a beneficial way? Have you spent time with your teen, teaching them the benefits of a quality quiet time? Don’t just ask your teen, “Do you know who you are in Jesus?” They might not understand how to answer that; my kids didn’t the first time I asked them. Get them a good study Bible, grab that cool journal, and yes, buy the fun pens. We want to encourage this time in the Word. This must be a priority in their life so that when they encounter all of those “BIG FEELINGS,” they can lay those down next to the Word of God, discover who God is, and in turn understand who they are in Him.
Take heart, we will make it through this. It’s just a season, right? I don’t know all the answers, but I am hopeful that the seeds planted in the lives of my kids will bear much fruit and be a testimony of how good God is and how much He really loves us! Now, go fill your toolbox with some good tools!
About the Author
Candi Hagan
Candi Hagan is a pastor and art teacher living in sunny Florida with her husband, Nathan, and their three teenagers (though they’re on the brink of their empty-nester adventure). Together, she and Nathan serve as the Regional Directors for the Southeast Region of Open Bible Churches. Candi is always working to be the best version of herself and is so thankful for the restoration found in Jesus. When she’s not teaching or ministering, you’ll likely find her in the kitchen whipping up something delicious, in the garden tending to her plants, or painting.
Open Bible has a rich heritage of women ministry leaders. Our denomination was birthed in revival and formed by the union of two movements that branched off from other denominations founded and led by women (Florence Crawford and Aimee Semple McPherson). Open Bible’s position on women in ministry leadership celebrates women leaders at all levels. However, even with this rich history and current blessing for women in ministry leadership, it is still rare to find women in certain ministry positions within our churches. There are multiple reasons for this, but here are five actions to consider when addressing this issue.
1. Look at your own biases.
Most often, women aren’t chosen for senior leadership roles because “it hasn’t been done before.” Tradition can be a powerful force, but sometimes it keeps important change from happening. Ask yourself how you would feel if a woman were chosen as the senior pastor of your church. Chances are it might feel awkward. Awkward doesn’t always mean it’s wrong. It usually means it’s just different. This awkwardness is often temporary, and the willingness to lean into it can create new opportunities for women to lead. When a ministry leadership position opens, allow yourself to consider both women and men as candidates for the position.
2. Study what Scripture says about women leaders.
The Old and New Testaments are full of women who played important leadership roles at all levels. Look at the influence and level of authority they were given. Study the “problem passages” (e.g. 1 Corinthians 14:34 and 1 Timothy 2:12) in Scripture that appear to limit women teaching and speaking. Some reputable scholars and commentaries show how these passages were meant to address specific problems that the early church dealt with rather than become an overall rule limiting women in leadership. If you are a church leader, clearly communicate your church’s position on women in ministry leadership. Too often, this topic is ignored, keeping the status quo going.
3. Champion women leaders.
Encourage women, young and old, who have the gift to lead. Mentor them. Hire them. It is a blessing when a woman unselfishly cheers on another woman in her leadership; too often, there’s a temptation to be jealous or deliver harsh criticism, which leads to hesitance in stepping into leadership. It’s especially impactful when a male leader encourages and makes room for a woman to lead. Giving the same opportunities to women that would be given to men who are learning to lead is so important. Too often it is rare to have a young woman given time on stage or other public responsibilities while such opportunities are given to the men who are being trained. Try to be equal where you can. Make room for inexperience and give repeated opportunities to learn and grow.
4. Preach about strong women leaders in the Bible.
Scripture is filled with women leaders such as Miriam, Hannah, Esther, Deborah, Mary, and Priscilla. Highlighting their lives shows how God’s leadership gifts are given to both men and women. This encourages women leaders and gives them biblical role models.
5. Nurture a culture of leadership sharing.
Many times, the church hears from one pastor’s voice most of the time. Regularly sharing the pulpit creates space where leaders in training can experience public ministry. Allowing both men and women to preach helps your congregation become accustomed to both male and female leadership, creating a bench of players who can be trained to assist at all levels of church leadership. This keeps the church from idolizing or draining one leader and allows more people’s gifts to be shared.
The Church, the Bride of Christ, functions more fully when men and women work side by side in leadership. When women’s voices and leadership gifts are ignored or limited, half of the Church’s voice is muted. However, when men and women unselfishly share leadership and influence, God’s kingdom moves forward powerfully. This unselfish sharing of leadership reflects God’s nature more fully, creating a space where the Holy Spirit can come and powerfully move.
Additional resources:
- Open Bible Manual – Official Statements 7.6: The Role of Women in Ministry and Leadership (p. 89)
- Open Bible Webinar: Women in Ministry Leadership: Answering God’s Call
- Book to help with biblical theology of women in ministry leadership: God’s Women Then and Now by Deborah M. Gill and Barbara Cavaness.
About the Author
Julie Cole
Julie Cole is the Associate Director of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care at The King’s University in Southlake, TX. She’s a licensed marriage and family therapist, spiritual director, and an ordained minister. Julie desires to inspire people to hear God’s voice and to see His hand in both the big and small experiences of life. Julie and her husband, David, live in Fort Worth, Texas, and have four children and eight grandchildren with two more on the way in 2025.
Years ago, I took the StrengthsFinder Assessment, which is designed to help a person understand their top gifts. “Achiever” fell at the top of my list, and I found myself feeling uncomfortable with this result. I wrestled with my uneasiness, unsure why I felt this way until God began to unlock my understanding. From the time I was young, I had built my life to be full to the brim, accumulating a long resume of accomplishments, none of which brought me satisfaction. Instead, God placed a hunger inside of me to be marked by the supernatural. One definition of supernatural is “above, beyond, and far higher and greater than the natural.” I longed to see things that exceeded what I could do through my own achievements and to witness the power of God in my daily life.
God placed a hunger inside of me to be marked by the supernatural.
Since that time, God has taught me to forsake striving and performance, instead discovering His will and wisdom by walking in friendship with Him. Even more than before, my heart yearns to experience ministry moments that inspire awe of our magnificent God. Our team had the honor of experiencing some of these moments during our summer of outreach at Asbury Park. As I share our story, I’ll also share the five lessons we learned through reaching our neighborhood.
1. We can partner with God to see His desires fulfilled.
We were gathered for our regular weekly prayer meeting when God said, “I want this neighborhood. Will you make My name great at Asbury Park?” We felt the weight of this invitation. For a year, we had been hosting neighbors in the basement of our ministry house for weekly dinners. Dozens had found community and a sense of belonging in that space. Some had already met Jesus, but He wanted us to cast the net further. No one on our team had imagined taking our Thursday night dinners out to the park for the summer. But God had heard our cry: “God, you get to do whatever is in your heart to do. We pray your will be done in this region and that Jesus would be glorified.” And that day, He gave us another piece of His blueprint for our region.
2. We don’t have to strive.
Naturally, we looked at the invitation from God and imagined possibilities of how to gather the community at our neighborhood park. We considered the successes of past events that utilized raffle and prize incentives or entertainment such as bounce houses. We went back to prayer and God revealed more of His plan to us. He wanted it simple. As we prayed, He gave us visions of the stations in the park: crafts themed to tell the story of creation, food to fill bellies, a field with kids carefree and playing, bold worship, and a baptismal. He said to get ready for people to be saved and baptized!
May we all live in daily expectation of the things that are beyond what we could do in our own ability, partnering with God and watching His fame spread across the earth.
3. God has a storehouse of provision.
Although God’s plan was relatively simple, we did not have the finances or workers to pull off this vision of taking dinners to the park every other week throughout the summer. God impressed upon us that He would be faithful to provide everything we needed to serve the community in this way. We chose to embrace His plan with faith that He would make a way.
4. God loves collaboration.
God brilliantly inspired us to reach out to many individuals and groups, inviting them to partner with us in reaching the Five Points Neighborhood in Toledo. Over a dozen churches were represented by the participants who filled volunteer slots and donated food and supplies. The greater Body of Christ truly came together, unified around Jesus and His mission.
5. Love + Power + Gospel = Jesus gets His reward
When our dinners first launched at the ministry base in 2023, God gave us a foundational verse to build upon:
“Walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance” (Ephesians 5:2 AMP).
God desired for this aroma to rise to Heaven, the smell of a people walking in sacrificial love. And so, His people took that love to the park. We shared the good news that Jesus gave His life so that all could be saved, healed, and delivered. Many accepted the invitation to receive this gift from Jesus, giving their lives to Him. People experienced healing in their bodies and freedom from bondage. Many encountered the power of the Holy Spirit in a personal way. Twenty-four people chose to follow Jesus through water baptism!
God rained down this summer on Asbury Park. It was His plan, His provision, His glory. It was Jesus’ reward. May we all live in daily expectation of the things that are beyond what we could do in our own ability, partnering with God and watching His fame spread across the earth.
About the Author
Sarah Williams
Sarah Williams and her husband, George, have been in ministry together since they were married in 2006. They began their journey as urban missionaries, which led to planting and co-pastoring CityLight Church. In 2016, Sarah founded the Transformation Center, where she and her team have helped hundreds of people find wholeness and freedom. Sarah’s passion is for Jesus to receive His reward through salvation, healing, and deliverance. The team at the Transformation Center welcomes ministers to book a stay to receive personal ministry or to visit and partner with them in reaching their community.
