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"Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roof." Matthew 10:27 (NIV)

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The Prophetic Lens

Are Their Still Prophets Today?

I am responding to the following video; please watch the video first:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WO_PRoItPg

Notice that this man is making no direct Bible reference to truly backup the heart of what he is trying to prove; that their are no prophets today!

I have seen these kinds of attacks against the prophetic gift for years; they are alarming and must be addressed Biblically. I do understand that because of the craziness of false and/or immature prophets, the Body of Christ hesitates to accept this gift, but the gift of prophecy is crucial for the church.

No doubt that prophecy must be in line with God’s Word; I am not arguing that! Nevertheless, the idea that prophecy died with the original apostles is nothing less than heresy. Perhaps, these are the subjects that we must really pay attention to in the Body of Christ today instead of getting distracted with the things, sin and issues of the world. We must deal with our mess first.

While perhaps, the Office of the Prophet has changed from the Old to New Testament; prophets without a doubt, do exist today. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit did not dwell in people, so that direct guidance of the Spirit was not there. The Prophet then came either with good or bad news. Today, when we become Born Again Christians, the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in us, so the prophet, for the most part, comes to confirm what the Holy Spirit is already telling us. However, the prophet is also gifted with being able to see futuristic events. Again, I want to make it clear, that the prophet is also bound to God’s Word; anything said outside of God’s Word is not of God.

This is what the Apostle Paul tells us in First Corinthians 14:1-5 concerning the Prophetic Gift:

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.” NKJV

      Not only that prophecy is real today, but also Paul actually places this gifts as greater than others because it is a powerful instrument for the edification of the church. The word Prophesy is the Greek Word: “προφητεύω prophēteúō” meaning: “To prophesy. To foretell things to come (Matt. 11:13; 15:7; Mark 7:6; 1 Pet. 1:10; Jude 1:14); to declare truths through the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit whether by prediction or otherwise (Luke 1:67; Acts 2:17, 18; 19:6; 21:9; 1 Cor. 14:1, 3–5; Rev. 10:11; 11:3; Sept.: 1 Kgs. 22:12, 18; Ezra 5:1; Jer. 11:21; Joel 2:28).[1]”

In verse three of First Corinthians fourteen we see the specific functions of the New Testament prophet. These functions are essential for the survival of the church:

  1. Edification: From the Greek word:οίκοδομήoikodomḗ; gen. oikodomḗs, fem. noun, a later word used for oikodómēsis (n.f.), a building up. The act of building, building as a process, also that which is built, the building. NT meanings: a building, edifice (Matt. 24:1; Mark 13:1, 2 [cf. 1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor. 5:1; Eph. 2:21]); edification, spiritual profit or advancement (Rom. 14:19; 15:2; 1 Cor. 14:3, 5, 12, 26; 2 Cor. 10:8; 12:19; 13:10; Eph. 4:12, 16, 29).[2]
  2. Exhortation: From the Greek word: παράκλησιςparáklēsis; gen. paraklḗseōs, fem. noun from parakaléō (3870), to beseech. The act of exhortation, encouragement, comfort.[3]
  3. Comfort: παραμυθίαparamuthía; gen. paramuthías, fem. noun from paramuthéomai (3888), to console. Exhortation, encouragement. In the NT, consolation, comfort (1 Cor. 14:3). Paramuthía expresses a greater degree of tenderness, at least by word of mouth, than paráklēsis ([3874], comfort, encouragement) which carries a more general sense of helpfulness and comfort. It should also be distinguished from the neut. noun paramúthion (3890), the instrument or manner of comfort. A closer distinctive syn. of paramuthía is parēgoría (3931), to comfort through speech, from which is derived the Eng. word “paregoric,” a soothing medication.[4]

How can the church survive without this Spiritual gift? If God gave it, and we know, based on the overwhelming Biblical evidence, that He did; He then gave that gift for a reason.

The prophet releases edification, which means that God uses the prophet to buildup. Ever wonder why we have so many people destroyed in the Body of Christ? They stand in need of a word from a prophet sent by God that will bring forth the building up of that person’s purpose.

The prophet releases exhortation, which means that God uses the prophet to encourage. Ever wonder why we have so many people discouraged in the Body of Christ? When an anointed prophet releases the Word of the Lord in a soul he/she beseeches, he implores, he begs, he pleads, he demands, he cries out to that person’s soul to return to the center of his purpose and destiny in God. This aspect of this gift is crucial for the ones that are discouraged and ready to give up. Many have indeed given up, because the prophet was not allowed to speak or they were not taught about this prophetic office.

The prophet releases comfort, which means to console, it is a form of encouragement, but with a greater degree of tenderness. As we saw earlier, this is so important, as we look at this word deeply we can see that comfort is done through speech, from which is derived the Eng. word “paregoric,” a soothing medication.[5] Wow, comfort is compared to a soothing or peaceful medication. Beloved, the words of an anointed prophet are medication for our troubled and hurting souls.

How can we continue denying this crucial office? No wonder Paul desired for everyone to prophesy! Are their still prophets today? Absolutely! I thank God for all the real prophets out there, may the Lord richly bless you and continue to open doors for you to be used by God for the good of the church to build up, to encourage and to comfort the souls of God’s people…I love you all!

 

[1] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

cf (compare, comparison)

[2] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

[3] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

[4] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

[5] Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.

4 responses

  1. Jon Rissmiller Avatar
    Jon Rissmiller

    I wonder if this comes out of a discussion we had in Life Groups on Wednesday night in our church!? You have done a good job of demonstrating Biblically what a New Testament Prophet does and how it has “changed” from the Old Testament to New Testament. While I believe that the spiritual gift of Prophecy still exists today it has indeed changed. There are no longer prophets today in the sense of delivering new revelations (scripture) from the Lord. There is no new prophecies that we need to add to the word of God. One of the dangers that many Christians get into today is presuming that Old and New Testament prophets are exactly the same. While they both promote warnings of the Lord and in some ways speak about future events, there are no prophets like Ezekial, Jeremiah, Isaiah, etc… Many Christians presume that the Old Testament Prophet still exists today. That opens us up to people like Joseph Smith that claim a new revelation from the Lord and that is heresy as the Word of God is complete.
    It amazes me how many people label themselves as a prophet yet never fulfill the three “jobs” of what a prophet is to do: edify, exhort, and comfort. To many Christians label themselves prophets and desire the title without fulfilling the jobs as stated in Scripture. Thanks for this post.

    Reply
    1. angelcasiano Avatar
      angelcasiano

      We can’t allow False Prophets to move us away from God’s Word Pastor Jon. No, there is nothing to add to God’s Word and all prophetic words today must be in line with His Word. However, we do know in part, so no one has the full revelation of Scripture; therefor I believe in new revelation. I believe that we can all get more insight into what is already written in God’s Word. Not that the Word change or we come up with something that is not there; revelation shines the light of something that was there already. The original apostles received the revelation that the Gospel was not only for the Jewish people. It was not a new thing, but their eyes were open. Thank God for Martin Luther who was able to see what the religious establishment was not able to see. The Bible will never contradicts herself!Joseph Smith was a false prophet; any average reader of the Bible can see that! His followers are blind and unable to see the light of the Gospel. Again, we do not need anybody to add anything new to the Bible, but we must grow in understanding; in that process, the Holy Spirit is key! It is acceptable to say that the office of the Prophet has change, but to say that it does not exist is heresy. I have seen for years, a great resistant against this office in the Charismatic movement, pentecostal movement and in the non-charistmatic denominations. That office is needed and essential; I thank God for prophets in my life, I have experience the power of their gifts in my life. God bless!

      Reply
  2. Jon Rissmiller Avatar
    Jon Rissmiller

    Angel I agree with you on this. But there are so many who call themselves prophets who never fulfill the specific requirements of a prophet. And most people who call themselves prophets never prophesy with love in their heart – at least that is what it appears to convey. When I say add to scripture I simply mean to add another “book” to the Bible, not gaining a better understanding of it. I agree with your definition of Prophet – it is fairly well balanced. When you say new revelation you are not saying that they add to the word of God but gain a better understanding of it – that is biblical. I would be careful to gain an understanding of how people define the terms – many times that misunderstanding of it all. I did not listen to the video as I have heard much of that garbage before! I will listen when I get a chance! 🙂
    It is a shame that too many times Christians can’t have a dialogue about these things without getting angry. The timing of your blog is interesting, very interesting – appreciated in many ways.

    Reply
    1. angelcasiano Avatar
      angelcasiano

      I see what you are saying concerning the people that call themselves prophets and are not walking as such, but that is happening with other gifts. I know, for example, pastors that are really evangelist. It is crucial that God’s people identify what their gifts are and be train in those areas as they are also disciple. It is a problem when we walk outside of our gifts!

      Reply

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