Snakes can’t help but be snakes, and them sorta snakes stuck together.”
–J.V. James (Frye)
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist”.
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist”.
–2 John 7 (NKJV)
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One of the most confusing of the gifts, and therefore, one of the most misused of the gifts has to do with prophecy. It is mentioned in all three lists regarding spiritual gifts.
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith.” –Romans 12:6, NKJV
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:… to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” –1 Corinthians 12:6, 9, NKJV.
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” –Ephesians 4:11-12, NKJV)
First note that the prophet of the Old Testament was in most ways different from that mentioned above. There was the role of the prophet and of the priest in the Old Testament. There is the Law and the words of the Prophets. The Old Testament prophet spoke in regard to the covenant, he spoke the message of God to the people of that day, however, in saying that the message may be for those in the future, and there is the Messianic message in many of the words of the Prophets.
The term, prophecy, is the speaking forth of the mind and counsel of God (Vine). According to Vine, the term means not the predictive (though it can), nor necessarily fore-telling. “It is the declaration of that which cannot be know by natural means; it is the forth-telling of the will of God, whether with reference to the past, the present, or the future.” (Vine) Simply, it is speaking forth of the truth–Jesus Christ.
Ideally, the minister, as he prepares and presents his sermon for the particular body of believers under his care, should be speaking forth the message of God, i.e., prophecy. It doesn’t do into the mumbo-jumbo of the end-times and the beasts. It doesn’t try to manipulate individuals or a congregation. It is speaking forth the truth of the Word of God as the Holy Spirit has directed. Vine continues to say that the message of the prophet was a direct revelation of the mind of God for the occasion. When the pastor preaches his sermon, it should be directed to the needs of the people for that particular occasion. The words confirm Christ in one way or another. It may be doctrinal, it may be practical. It may be nurturing the soul, or it may be instruction for discipleship, but all reflects the words, the Person, the life of Jesus Christ.
Is there personal prophecy? Oh my, what a maze! Trying the spirits is a must when confronted with someone who claims to want to give you a message of personal prophecy. Yes, I believe it does happen, but not usually in the manner depicted by many preachers. I had an instance when I was a teenager. During a service a person came to pray over me saying that he had a message–a prophecy–for me. He said that I was to become a missionary to Japan. Well, that was news to me. The Holy Spirit had never directed me to become a missionary, and especially not to Japan. There was something amiss. Later, I found that the person who did the prophesying became a missionary to Japan. Perhaps he was running from his call, perhaps he heard the voice of the Spirit but was projecting it onto me. In regard to personal prophecy know that the Holy Spirit will already be speaking to you. It may be a distant voice, or it may be something that you have been praying about–in other words it will be a confirmation, not something conjured up out of the blue.
The office of a prophet in the New Testament church is of great debate. Paul says that it was given to the church to help equip the saint and edify the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit doesn’t give and take away. There are legitimate prophets in the church. Vine states that they preach the “Divine counsels of grace already accomplished and the fore-telling of the purposes of God in the future.” Note!–the Prophet does not bring new information; he does not preach a different gospel. He looks to the Cross and what Christ accomplished there; he expounds on what the Scripture says about the future. He does not conjure up new information. Beware of the person who uses the message to manipulate you. Your guide is not the Prophet, but the Holy Spirit. The Prophet will present the truth–the gospel, the Holy Spirit will apply.
I would say also that when a person says that he is a Prophet, then a red flag of warning should go up. A true prophet is humble, he will not bring attention to himself, but only to Christ. He will shun the term “prophet” and declare himself a humble servant. Otherwise, beware. John and Jude both warn of the false prophets that will come forth from the church preaching another form of gospel, especially in regard to Jesus Christ. I was in a meeting once, where it was preached that Jesus was giving us a new wine, one for this day and hour. I went to the minister and said, “I’m confused. The ‘new wine’ was the New Testament, the new covenant. It presented us Christ crucified and risen. Do you mean that there is a ‘new, new wine?’ If so, then you are speaking heresy.” It was a form of manipulation. He was a false prophet.
Go search the Scripture, do not be ignorant of the working of the “gifts” of prophecy. Do not be afraid, however, be diligent in the truth of God’s Word. Be a discerner of the content of the message, and trust the Holy Spirit to guide. If the word is contrary to the Bible, toss it aside.
—————————————
One of the most confusing of the gifts, and therefore, one of the most misused of the gifts has to do with prophecy. It is mentioned in all three lists regarding spiritual gifts.
“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith.” –Romans 12:6, NKJV
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:… to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” –1 Corinthians 12:6, 9, NKJV.
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” –Ephesians 4:11-12, NKJV)
First note that the prophet of the Old Testament was in most ways different from that mentioned above. There was the role of the prophet and of the priest in the Old Testament. There is the Law and the words of the Prophets. The Old Testament prophet spoke in regard to the covenant, he spoke the message of God to the people of that day, however, in saying that the message may be for those in the future, and there is the Messianic message in many of the words of the Prophets.
The term, prophecy, is the speaking forth of the mind and counsel of God (Vine). According to Vine, the term means not the predictive (though it can), nor necessarily fore-telling. “It is the declaration of that which cannot be know by natural means; it is the forth-telling of the will of God, whether with reference to the past, the present, or the future.” (Vine) Simply, it is speaking forth of the truth–Jesus Christ.
Ideally, the minister, as he prepares and presents his sermon for the particular body of believers under his care, should be speaking forth the message of God, i.e., prophecy. It doesn’t do into the mumbo-jumbo of the end-times and the beasts. It doesn’t try to manipulate individuals or a congregation. It is speaking forth the truth of the Word of God as the Holy Spirit has directed. Vine continues to say that the message of the prophet was a direct revelation of the mind of God for the occasion. When the pastor preaches his sermon, it should be directed to the needs of the people for that particular occasion. The words confirm Christ in one way or another. It may be doctrinal, it may be practical. It may be nurturing the soul, or it may be instruction for discipleship, but all reflects the words, the Person, the life of Jesus Christ.
Is there personal prophecy? Oh my, what a maze! Trying the spirits is a must when confronted with someone who claims to want to give you a message of personal prophecy. Yes, I believe it does happen, but not usually in the manner depicted by many preachers. I had an instance when I was a teenager. During a service a person came to pray over me saying that he had a message–a prophecy–for me. He said that I was to become a missionary to Japan. Well, that was news to me. The Holy Spirit had never directed me to become a missionary, and especially not to Japan. There was something amiss. Later, I found that the person who did the prophesying became a missionary to Japan. Perhaps he was running from his call, perhaps he heard the voice of the Spirit but was projecting it onto me. In regard to personal prophecy know that the Holy Spirit will already be speaking to you. It may be a distant voice, or it may be something that you have been praying about–in other words it will be a confirmation, not something conjured up out of the blue.
The office of a prophet in the New Testament church is of great debate. Paul says that it was given to the church to help equip the saint and edify the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit doesn’t give and take away. There are legitimate prophets in the church. Vine states that they preach the “Divine counsels of grace already accomplished and the fore-telling of the purposes of God in the future.” Note!–the Prophet does not bring new information; he does not preach a different gospel. He looks to the Cross and what Christ accomplished there; he expounds on what the Scripture says about the future. He does not conjure up new information. Beware of the person who uses the message to manipulate you. Your guide is not the Prophet, but the Holy Spirit. The Prophet will present the truth–the gospel, the Holy Spirit will apply.
I would say also that when a person says that he is a Prophet, then a red flag of warning should go up. A true prophet is humble, he will not bring attention to himself, but only to Christ. He will shun the term “prophet” and declare himself a humble servant. Otherwise, beware. John and Jude both warn of the false prophets that will come forth from the church preaching another form of gospel, especially in regard to Jesus Christ. I was in a meeting once, where it was preached that Jesus was giving us a new wine, one for this day and hour. I went to the minister and said, “I’m confused. The ‘new wine’ was the New Testament, the new covenant. It presented us Christ crucified and risen. Do you mean that there is a ‘new, new wine?’ If so, then you are speaking heresy.” It was a form of manipulation. He was a false prophet.
Go search the Scripture, do not be ignorant of the working of the “gifts” of prophecy. Do not be afraid, however, be diligent in the truth of God’s Word. Be a discerner of the content of the message, and trust the Holy Spirit to guide. If the word is contrary to the Bible, toss it aside.