The Prophet
THE FIVEFOLD MINISTRY GIFT EPHESIANS 4:11
THE GIFTS FROM THE ASCENDED CHRIST TO HIS BODY THE CHURCH
THE PROPHET
EPHESIANS 4:11 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers”.
Having previously considered the ministry of the Apostle we now come to that of the Prophet. These two, whilst distinct from each other, go together in laying the foundation of a New Testament church.
Ephesians 2:20 “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone”.
Both these ministries, the apostle and the prophet, build the New Testament church that communicates the heart and mind of God. The apostle speaks of government, the prophet speaks of destiny. God is the God of the now and of the future. Through these gifts the church is “equipped to function, is built up and matured” (Ephesians 4:12-13). The church is a community where “each has a manifestation of the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:7-8) and where “each has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has an interpretation, where all things are done in love” (1 Corinthians 14:26).
WHAT IS A PROPHET AND WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE?
“Expository dictionary of bible words” defines them as “prophetes” = ‘those individuals who were raised up and equipped by God to communicate His plan and purpose to His people and the world at large’
We should note that in their definition they say they WERE. This is because their position is that with the establishment of the early church and the completion of scripture, the church no longer needs this gift. Their proof-text is 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 “but when the perfect has come then that which is in part will be done away”. If we follow the logic of this argument then we will see that “knowledge” must also have passed away! We would argue that the “Perfect” referred to is Christ and until He comes again the ministry gifts will need to remain to communicate the plan and purpose of God to His people and to the world at large.
Many view prophets as a cross between Elijah and John the Baptist, slightly excentric, strange dress code, weird dietary preference and with a mandatory wild stare whose language is ‘thee and thou’ and pronounces gloom and doom. How far from the truth this is! They are men and women, equipped by God to communicate His heart and mind, His plan and purpose through the moving of the Holy Spirit.
BECAUSE YOU PROPHESY IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE THE MINISTRY GIFT OF A PROPHET.
Scripture tells us “I will out My Spirit on all flesh, your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…….on My menservants and on My maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18). This speaks of the gift of prophesy. This gift is temporary, whereas the ministry gift is permanent. One is the exercise of the gift, the other is a placement which is accompanied with the gift (Psalm 105:15). We could put it like this. There are different dimensions of the prophetic all of which are under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
1)The spirit of prophesy (Revelations 19:10) “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesy”. It is when the Holy Spirit comes on a person and causes them to speak forth words that are inspired by Him which the person normally would not have known except by inspiration.
2)The gift of prophesy (1 Corinthians 12:10, Romans 12:6). It is the Holy Spirit moving on an individual to bring forth what He wants said. This gift is one of the nine gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. It is manifest “as the Spirit wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11) and is to be exercised within the bounds of scripture. We are to “desire spiritual gifts, especially that we may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1, 31,39). This gift must be judged because whenever God moves by His Spirit, the devil is never far away with the counterfeit. That’s why we need the accompanying gift of discernment, but this does not make the speaker a prophet.
WHAT IS PROPHESY?
It is forthtelling and foretelling by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The prophet’s ministry is revelation borne out of relationship (Hosea 12:10). The prophet is a person who spends time in God’s presence (Psalm 25:14) and he hears what “the Spirit is saying to the church”. Standing in the counsel of God (Jeremiah 23:18) he sees and hears His word and feels His joy and pain, His zeal and tears, he carries the “burden of the Lord”. He forthtells, he has the “thus says the Lord” in the now. The second element is that of foretelling. Only God knows the end from the beginning and only He knows the future, so only He can reveal it. He does this through “His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). Consider the ministry of Agabus (Acts 11:28, 21:11).
SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS
Its worth taking note of Acts 13:1 “now in the church there were certain prophets and teachers”. The scriptures tells us “it’s not good for man to be alone”. Prophets need to be in fellowship with other prophets so they collectively can “hear what the Spirit is saying”. He also needs to be among others for accountability and to have their words JUDGED. This will avoid fanaticism, carnality and error. To exercise authority we MUST be under authority. Submission is the mark of a true prophet, a willingness to have his words and ministry judged.
AREA OF PROPHETIC MINISTRY
There is no record in scripture of the church ever being governed by prophets. The prophetic is to confirm the mind and will of God and not to govern or control the church or persons.
DISTINGUISHING MARKS OF A TRUE PROPHET AND THE NEED TO DISCERN THEM
1)What is the spirit behind his word? Is it human, is it holy, is it devilish?
2)What is the track record of this prophet? Does his word come to pass?
3)Does it draw people to God or drive them away from God?
4)Are his words scripturally sound?
5)Does his lifestyle match his words?
6)What motivates him? Self, money, prestige, manipulation or control, or edification, exhortation, comfort?
7)What happens when he speaks? Effect on hearers?
8)Does it confirm what is already known?
9)Does it come from a humble, submissive spirit.
If these gifts are for today and are for edification, exhortation and comfort and also to equip the church to function and grow up then – HOW WE NEED THE MINISTRY OF THE PROPHETS TO KNOW THE HEART AND MIND OF GOD!
THE GIFTS FROM THE ASCENDED CHRIST TO HIS BODY THE CHURCH
THE PROPHET
EPHESIANS 4:11 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers”.
Having previously considered the ministry of the Apostle we now come to that of the Prophet. These two, whilst distinct from each other, go together in laying the foundation of a New Testament church.
Ephesians 2:20 “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone”.
Both these ministries, the apostle and the prophet, build the New Testament church that communicates the heart and mind of God. The apostle speaks of government, the prophet speaks of destiny. God is the God of the now and of the future. Through these gifts the church is “equipped to function, is built up and matured” (Ephesians 4:12-13). The church is a community where “each has a manifestation of the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:7-8) and where “each has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has an interpretation, where all things are done in love” (1 Corinthians 14:26).
WHAT IS A PROPHET AND WHAT DOES HE LOOK LIKE?
“Expository dictionary of bible words” defines them as “prophetes” = ‘those individuals who were raised up and equipped by God to communicate His plan and purpose to His people and the world at large’
We should note that in their definition they say they WERE. This is because their position is that with the establishment of the early church and the completion of scripture, the church no longer needs this gift. Their proof-text is 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 “but when the perfect has come then that which is in part will be done away”. If we follow the logic of this argument then we will see that “knowledge” must also have passed away! We would argue that the “Perfect” referred to is Christ and until He comes again the ministry gifts will need to remain to communicate the plan and purpose of God to His people and to the world at large.
Many view prophets as a cross between Elijah and John the Baptist, slightly excentric, strange dress code, weird dietary preference and with a mandatory wild stare whose language is ‘thee and thou’ and pronounces gloom and doom. How far from the truth this is! They are men and women, equipped by God to communicate His heart and mind, His plan and purpose through the moving of the Holy Spirit.
BECAUSE YOU PROPHESY IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE THE MINISTRY GIFT OF A PROPHET.
Scripture tells us “I will out My Spirit on all flesh, your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…….on My menservants and on My maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days and they shall prophesy” (Acts 2:17-18). This speaks of the gift of prophesy. This gift is temporary, whereas the ministry gift is permanent. One is the exercise of the gift, the other is a placement which is accompanied with the gift (Psalm 105:15). We could put it like this. There are different dimensions of the prophetic all of which are under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
1)The spirit of prophesy (Revelations 19:10) “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesy”. It is when the Holy Spirit comes on a person and causes them to speak forth words that are inspired by Him which the person normally would not have known except by inspiration.
2)The gift of prophesy (1 Corinthians 12:10, Romans 12:6). It is the Holy Spirit moving on an individual to bring forth what He wants said. This gift is one of the nine gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. It is manifest “as the Spirit wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11) and is to be exercised within the bounds of scripture. We are to “desire spiritual gifts, especially that we may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1, 31,39). This gift must be judged because whenever God moves by His Spirit, the devil is never far away with the counterfeit. That’s why we need the accompanying gift of discernment, but this does not make the speaker a prophet.
WHAT IS PROPHESY?
It is forthtelling and foretelling by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The prophet’s ministry is revelation borne out of relationship (Hosea 12:10). The prophet is a person who spends time in God’s presence (Psalm 25:14) and he hears what “the Spirit is saying to the church”. Standing in the counsel of God (Jeremiah 23:18) he sees and hears His word and feels His joy and pain, His zeal and tears, he carries the “burden of the Lord”. He forthtells, he has the “thus says the Lord” in the now. The second element is that of foretelling. Only God knows the end from the beginning and only He knows the future, so only He can reveal it. He does this through “His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). Consider the ministry of Agabus (Acts 11:28, 21:11).
SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS
Its worth taking note of Acts 13:1 “now in the church there were certain prophets and teachers”. The scriptures tells us “it’s not good for man to be alone”. Prophets need to be in fellowship with other prophets so they collectively can “hear what the Spirit is saying”. He also needs to be among others for accountability and to have their words JUDGED. This will avoid fanaticism, carnality and error. To exercise authority we MUST be under authority. Submission is the mark of a true prophet, a willingness to have his words and ministry judged.
AREA OF PROPHETIC MINISTRY
There is no record in scripture of the church ever being governed by prophets. The prophetic is to confirm the mind and will of God and not to govern or control the church or persons.
DISTINGUISHING MARKS OF A TRUE PROPHET AND THE NEED TO DISCERN THEM
1)What is the spirit behind his word? Is it human, is it holy, is it devilish?
2)What is the track record of this prophet? Does his word come to pass?
3)Does it draw people to God or drive them away from God?
4)Are his words scripturally sound?
5)Does his lifestyle match his words?
6)What motivates him? Self, money, prestige, manipulation or control, or edification, exhortation, comfort?
7)What happens when he speaks? Effect on hearers?
8)Does it confirm what is already known?
9)Does it come from a humble, submissive spirit.
If these gifts are for today and are for edification, exhortation and comfort and also to equip the church to function and grow up then – HOW WE NEED THE MINISTRY OF THE PROPHETS TO KNOW THE HEART AND MIND OF GOD!
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