Prophets
Prophets & the gift of Prophecy
This blog is part nine of a ten-part series on the church. In this blog, we are going to take a look at the manifestation of the gift of a prophet.
Many are confused as to what exactly a prophet is. A prophet is one divinely commissioned to deliver a message from heaven. Predicting future events was not necessarily a part of a prophet’s gifting, especially as the word is used in the New Testament, although it can be. But as we read, every predictive prophecy must come to pass or the prophet is not from God. https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/10-41.htm
The person with the gift of prophecy preaches the Gospel (the same Gospel Jesus preached). A prophet is a man or woman inspired by God to tell forth (forthtell) the words of God. They declare the message of God and speak forth His divine truth.
Prophets Speak & Preach Divine Truth
By “a prophet” it is meant, not one that foretells things to come, but a preacher of the Gospel. Prophesying sometimes signifies preaching, so a prophet is a minister of the word: and to “receive” him, is not only to embrace his doctrine, but to entertain him in a kind, and generous manner; and he that does this, “in the name of a prophet” (Gills Exposition of the Entire Bible) https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/10-41.htm
Definition: a prophet (an interpreter forth-teller of the divine will)
Usage: a prophet, poet; a person gifted at expositing divine truth.One who speaks forth by the inspiration of God; a prophet.
One who declares the mind (message) of God, which sometimes predicts the future (foretelling) – and more commonly, speaks forth His message for a particular situation. 4396 /prophḗtēs (“a prophet”) then is someone inspired by God to foretell or tell-forth (forthtell) the Word of God.
Men & Women Prophesy
This is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel about these last days.
‘And in the last days it will be,’ God says,
‘that I will pour out my Spirit on all people,
and your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
and your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
Both sons and daughters will prophesy. All will have God’s spirit and both men and women can and will prophesy.
Prophets Prophesy to Strengthen the Church
Each member of the body, whether an eye, foot or hand, should be ministering to one another with the gifts that they received. This makes for a healthy, vibrant, and growing church.
1 Corinthians 14:26-30 says, “When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.”
Believers are Equal Spiritually, But Have Different Gifts & Different Roles
Galatian 3:23-29 explains that all believers, those who have responded in faith and were baptized, are equal in Christ in terms of the spirit and inheritance. There are no nationalities, male or female, or slave or free. We have all become sons of God through faith in Jesus. We are all equal spiritually as God’s children.
But, these verses are not saying that there are no differences in people, between the sexes, our roles, or in our lot in life. We all know that there are differences, but in Christ, we are free from the bondage that these differences create. These worldly prejudices separate most of humanity, and we must be different. The church must be unified.
Prophets Must Speak, But The Also Must Use Self-Control
The gift of “prophet” is listed first and plays an enormous role in getting God’s Kingdom message to the church and world. If there are no words, there is no message.
Prophets, like those who speak in other languages, and women, are all required to have self-control (1 Corinthians 14). They are not forbidden to speak but must do so in an orderly manner. A prophet should be able and willing to stop speaking God’s words forth at any time if someone else has something to add or share.
God’s Message & The Lonely Prophet
If you are gifted as a prophet, that gift can sometimes leave you in a lonely place, or people angry at you for the message that you bring. At times, many may not like to hear what God has given you to say. As we know, prophets may not always bring the feel-good message most want to hear. We saw that quite often in the Old Testament. But those prophesying and those hearing the message must remember that the message is God’s, not the message bearers.
Prophet or Not, All Believers Are Called to Share the Hope They Have
Even though there is a gift of prophecy, as well as the gift of teaching, all believers are told to be ready to give an answer to the hope that is in you (1 Peter 3:15). No matter our giftings, we are all called to be a light in this dark world and to plant the Kingdom seeds we were all given.
In part ten we will end our series summing up what a healthy church looks like.
Until then, as always, I encourage you to seek truth, to love God, and to obey Jesus.