From Susan Pearson 07/04/2015
Whatever your opinion is about prophecy, you can find someone to back it up on the world wide web today -- complete with scriptures and theological dissertations, the number of doctorates and degrees I hold, sermons I have preached, books I have written.
There are some very good and impressive teachings about prophets and prophecy on the web. Pray for the Lord to help you with discernment and to know the truth no matter what you read or what your pastor, teacher, friend, etc. says. Judge everything with the Word of God in context.
From the Bible Hub web page and Strong's Concordance, prophecy is communicating and enforcing revealed truth. Also, it is discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; especially by foretelling future events.
What do we see in this definition? Prophecy:
Is there a place for prophecy in the New Testament Church?
Here are three scriptures to confirm that there certainly is:
Whatever your opinion is about prophecy, you can find someone to back it up on the world wide web today -- complete with scriptures and theological dissertations, the number of doctorates and degrees I hold, sermons I have preached, books I have written.
There are some very good and impressive teachings about prophets and prophecy on the web. Pray for the Lord to help you with discernment and to know the truth no matter what you read or what your pastor, teacher, friend, etc. says. Judge everything with the Word of God in context.
From the Bible Hub web page and Strong's Concordance, prophecy is communicating and enforcing revealed truth. Also, it is discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; especially by foretelling future events.
What do we see in this definition? Prophecy:
- Is communicated in some manner (which could be by actions)
- Is revealing truth
- Is enforcing truth
- Comes from divine inspiration
- Declares the purposes of God
- Can be reproving and admonish the wicked
- Can comfort the afflicted
- Can reveal things hidden
- Can foretell future events
Is there a place for prophecy in the New Testament Church?
Here are three scriptures to confirm that there certainly is:
Acts 2:17-18
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
Romans 12:4-8
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
17 “‘In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
Romans 12:4-8
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
1 Corinthians 7-11
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
It seems to be a common practice today to dismiss any spiritual gifts that we do not understand or have in full manifestation in a congregation. I find no scriptures saying that God's gifts and provisions have been done away with or were only for a specific time and place.
Prophecy is a gift given by the Holy Spirit. The gifts are given as He desires. We cannot simply decide to have a particular gift, but we should want to have all that He has for us. Every gift is useful for the good of the body. We are all part of the same body with many members.
1 Corinthians 12:18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
There is an order that God has set in place in His church, the church of the First Born, the church of Jesus Christ.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
It seems to be a common practice today to dismiss any spiritual gifts that we do not understand or have in full manifestation in a congregation. I find no scriptures saying that God's gifts and provisions have been done away with or were only for a specific time and place.
Prophecy is a gift given by the Holy Spirit. The gifts are given as He desires. We cannot simply decide to have a particular gift, but we should want to have all that He has for us. Every gift is useful for the good of the body. We are all part of the same body with many members.
1 Corinthians 12:18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.
There is an order that God has set in place in His church, the church of the First Born, the church of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:28-29
28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
Not every congregation has every gift in operation.
Anyone may prophesy as the Spirit of the Lord comes upon them and gives them utterance. Just because one prophesies a few times in this manner does not necessarily mean this person is a prophet any more than having a degree makes one a pastor. The Lord appoints five fold ministers.
28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
Not every congregation has every gift in operation.
Anyone may prophesy as the Spirit of the Lord comes upon them and gives them utterance. Just because one prophesies a few times in this manner does not necessarily mean this person is a prophet any more than having a degree makes one a pastor. The Lord appoints five fold ministers.
God gave to the church:
Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Pastors
Teachers
Apostles
Prophets
Evangelists
Pastors
Teachers
Ephesians 4:11-13
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Please note the order of the offices listed. This is not by accident. We are all to work together and respect one another, but there is an order.
Why did the Lord give these offices? The verse above clearly states that it is so that the body of Christ
Some have used this verse (Ephesians 4:12) to say that prophecy never admonishes or corrects. Do you ever admonish or correct your children that you love?
I think we established in the definition alone that prophecy may be reproving. How wonderful if we need help in getting on track or staying on track that our heavenly Father would give us some correction. It should be done with love as noted in the verse below.
And what should be the outcome of prophecy working together with the rest of the five fold ministry to build up the body of Christ?
Ephesians 4:14-16
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
In the Bible, those who received the prophet and made room for the prophetic were blessed. Some even received their dead brought back to life.
(1 Kings 17 and 2 Kings 4)
Matthew 10:41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.
Remember to separate the gift from the person. Just because someone has a spiritual gift, it does not make them infallible or perfect. True prophets of the Lord know that there is a great responsibility to deliver only a pure Word from the Lord. They know that they are held accountable if they hear and do not deliver. For our part, we are to judge what we hear and ensure that it is indeed a true Word.
1 John 4:4-3
4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Please note the order of the offices listed. This is not by accident. We are all to work together and respect one another, but there is an order.
Why did the Lord give these offices? The verse above clearly states that it is so that the body of Christ
- May be built up
- Reach unity in the faith
- Have knowledge of the Son of God
- Become mature
- Attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ
Some have used this verse (Ephesians 4:12) to say that prophecy never admonishes or corrects. Do you ever admonish or correct your children that you love?
I think we established in the definition alone that prophecy may be reproving. How wonderful if we need help in getting on track or staying on track that our heavenly Father would give us some correction. It should be done with love as noted in the verse below.
And what should be the outcome of prophecy working together with the rest of the five fold ministry to build up the body of Christ?
Ephesians 4:14-16
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
In the Bible, those who received the prophet and made room for the prophetic were blessed. Some even received their dead brought back to life.
(1 Kings 17 and 2 Kings 4)
Matthew 10:41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.
Remember to separate the gift from the person. Just because someone has a spiritual gift, it does not make them infallible or perfect. True prophets of the Lord know that there is a great responsibility to deliver only a pure Word from the Lord. They know that they are held accountable if they hear and do not deliver. For our part, we are to judge what we hear and ensure that it is indeed a true Word.
1 John 4:4-3
4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.
The Bible is the infallible Word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Prophetic words should be judged against scripture. The Lord does not give false words, but they come through human vessels and get filtered through human minds. Judge all words through scripture.
My observations:
These are my observations about characteristics of prophets in general. I share them to help believers understand and work with prophets.
Prophets are as varied as the vessels they come in, and there are different ways to see and hear. One may see visions, dreams, or pictures that must be interpreted. Others may hear certain phrases or words. Others may be told to do certain actions. There will probably be some combination of this in ministry.
A mature prophet will be tempered and understand that not everyone is going to understand or receive their gift.
Prophets tend to be black and white in their thinking. There are no gray areas. It is either right or wrong. They do not compromise when it comes to righteousness. Neither should we.
Prophets often have the ability to know when we are making ungodly compromises and choices in our spiritual walk. It will be critical to the prophet for this to be taken care of immediately. They will want us to commit to take action to correct the problem for our own good.
The prophet may have the gift of discerning of spirits. He or she may see the true motives behind the actions or thoughts. The end does not justify the means. What may appear okay to the rest of us may be completely unacceptable to the prophet because he or she may see the evil that is hidden or the bad outcome.
They are often impatient and frustrated if asked to explain why there is a problem. They may or may not know why there is a problem, only that there is one. It may be hard for the prophet to understand why others make certain choices or do certain actions when it is so clear to the prophet that this is wrong.
The prophet will be held accountable for hearing from the Lord and observing or discerning sin and not doing anything about it. Some may view this as a judgmental spirit. It is not. It is part of the gift. A mature prophet will know how to expose sin without killing the sinner.
The prophet may appear to be harsh or insensitive because of the need to be painfully truthful. Tact and patience are not usually the prophet's strongest qualities.
If the prophet does not discern that the Lord is leading in a specific direction, the prophet may be reluctant to be involved with persons or situations.
The Lord gave us the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher to work together. Many churches do not understand the role of apostles and prophets. Pastors are used to being in control and may be reluctant to give the prophet the proper place. Even if the prophet is received in a church, pastors may not be open to receiving a word of correction.
The prophet needs the apostle for strength and guidance. It can feel like a very lonely place for the prophet without the apostle and good prayer support.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Prophetic words should be judged against scripture. The Lord does not give false words, but they come through human vessels and get filtered through human minds. Judge all words through scripture.
My observations:
These are my observations about characteristics of prophets in general. I share them to help believers understand and work with prophets.
Prophets are as varied as the vessels they come in, and there are different ways to see and hear. One may see visions, dreams, or pictures that must be interpreted. Others may hear certain phrases or words. Others may be told to do certain actions. There will probably be some combination of this in ministry.
A mature prophet will be tempered and understand that not everyone is going to understand or receive their gift.
Prophets tend to be black and white in their thinking. There are no gray areas. It is either right or wrong. They do not compromise when it comes to righteousness. Neither should we.
Prophets often have the ability to know when we are making ungodly compromises and choices in our spiritual walk. It will be critical to the prophet for this to be taken care of immediately. They will want us to commit to take action to correct the problem for our own good.
The prophet may have the gift of discerning of spirits. He or she may see the true motives behind the actions or thoughts. The end does not justify the means. What may appear okay to the rest of us may be completely unacceptable to the prophet because he or she may see the evil that is hidden or the bad outcome.
They are often impatient and frustrated if asked to explain why there is a problem. They may or may not know why there is a problem, only that there is one. It may be hard for the prophet to understand why others make certain choices or do certain actions when it is so clear to the prophet that this is wrong.
The prophet will be held accountable for hearing from the Lord and observing or discerning sin and not doing anything about it. Some may view this as a judgmental spirit. It is not. It is part of the gift. A mature prophet will know how to expose sin without killing the sinner.
The prophet may appear to be harsh or insensitive because of the need to be painfully truthful. Tact and patience are not usually the prophet's strongest qualities.
If the prophet does not discern that the Lord is leading in a specific direction, the prophet may be reluctant to be involved with persons or situations.
The Lord gave us the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher to work together. Many churches do not understand the role of apostles and prophets. Pastors are used to being in control and may be reluctant to give the prophet the proper place. Even if the prophet is received in a church, pastors may not be open to receiving a word of correction.
The prophet needs the apostle for strength and guidance. It can feel like a very lonely place for the prophet without the apostle and good prayer support.
