The importance of mentorship

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Angel Ruiz | PentecostalTheology.com

               

Should ppl with Spiritual GIFTS (ergo Prophecy) be trained how to use their gift?

Today we have forgotten the importance of mentorship. We have Bible colleges for Pastors(Shepherds), but we neglect training in other vital areas. We wrongly assume that if a person is blessed with a spiritual gift like prophecy (Preaching), it just flows without any instruction.

In the Old Testament, there were schools of prophets (preachers).

Second Kings 6:1-6 tells how Elisha went with some younger prophets to build an expansion to their school, and one of the men lost the blade of the axe he was using to cut down trees for timber. Because the older prophet was with the younger ones, the head of the axe was recovered by a miracle Elisha performed. I believe miracles are linked to mentorship. When no mentors are around, we foolishly try to cut down trees with an axe handle—and we end up relying on our own good ideas and programs instead of God’s power.
Don’t assume you know everything. Don’t be so eager to go until you grow to maturity.

9 Comments

  • Reply March 31, 2017

    William Cato

    How do you get school of prophets from those 6 verses? I don’t see it. Did John the Baptist have a school? He did, it was in wilderness with the Holy Spirit of God. John 14:26

  • Reply March 31, 2017

    Angel Ruiz

    William Cato The Old Testament mentions a school of prophets in 1 Samuel 19:18–24 and in 2 Kings 2 and 4:38–44…

    Some translations say “company of prophets” or “sons of the prophets”.

    Also, the prophet Amos mentions a prophetic school in stating his credentials (or lack thereof) to King Amaziah: “I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet” (Amos 7:14).

  • Reply March 31, 2017

    Angel Ruiz

    The “group of prophets” in 1 Samuel 19 was clearly comprised of students of the prophet Samuel.

    These students served in roles related to the tabernacle and ceremonial worship.

    The content of their “prophesies” is not specified. Therefore Theologians conclude that they are Preachers; much like the modern Pastor. Their messages where general teachings from God’s laws in the Books of Moses, and from the writings of the Prophets.

  • Reply March 31, 2017

    Angel Ruiz

    Another example is….

    Baruch became a student of the prophet Jeremiah and wrote down the first and second editions of his prophecies as they were dictated to him. Baruch remained true to the teachings and ideals of the prophet. While Jeremiah was in hiding to avoid the wrath of King Jehoakim, he commanded Baruch to preach his prophecies of warning to the people gathered in the Temple in Jerusalem…

  • Reply March 31, 2017

    William Cato

    Thanks for the scripture references. I’ll check it out.

  • Reply March 31, 2017

    Street Preacherz

    Do you mean ergo or “ego prophecy…”

  • Reply March 31, 2017

    Derrick Harmon

    Truth be told, we know too little about the “School of Prophets” to actually make any definite claims about who they were, what they did, and how their group or society functioned. It would be really nice if we did know more so that we could model current ministry from that early picture of what prophets were. I would point out that Amos was a prophet, but notice what he says about his call: I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet (7:14). It appears Isaiah was also called in this way by God alone. So who was Amos’ mentor? Who was Isaiah’s mentor? Who was John the Baptist’s mentor?

    The point, however, is well noted and well taken. Yes, we train for certain areas of ministry and not others; yes, the church has a serious deficit of mentors.

  • Reply April 5, 2017

    Varnel Watson

    School of prophets is a fact in the Bible

  • Reply December 28, 2018

    Varnel Watson

    great post by Angel Ruiz Today we have forgotten the importance of mentorship. We have Bible colleges for Pastors(Shepherds), but we neglect training in other vital areas. We wrongly assume that if a person is blessed with a spiritual gift like prophecy (Preaching), it just flows without any instruction.

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