A Scriptural Look at Prophecy

[Gregory Thompson]

I'm not sure how any of those verses can be construed as God placing messages on our heart.

The proverb says he will guide our paths (ie our circumstance) not our hearts. I think this is a more relevant proverb:

Prov 28:26 "One who trusts in his own heart is a fool"

The proverb also says that God guides the hearts of kings like changing the course of a river. We're royal priests, so God guides our hearts also.

I'm aware of the theme of the wickedness of the heart, but God desires more for us as other scriptures say.

 

[swordsman1]

The proverb also says that God guides the hearts of kings like changing the course of a river. We're royal priests, so God guides our hearts also.

I'm aware of the theme of the wickedness of the heart, but God desires more for us as other scriptures say.

We are royal because we a children of the King, not because we are kings ourselves.

Here's some more verses to consider:

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Isaiah 55:8 My thoughts are not your thoughts

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

I don't see anywhere that says God sends us messages us via telepathy or extra sensory perception. Quite the opposite. We should not trust our feelings, and especially not call them a "word from the Lord" to give to other people.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

We are royal because we a children of the King, not because we are kings ourselves.

Here's some more verses to consider:

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Isaiah 55:8 My thoughts are not your thoughts

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

I don't see anywhere that says God sends us messages us via telepathy or extra sensory perception. Quite the opposite. We should not trust our feelings, and especially not call them a "word from the Lord" to give to other people.

I have responded to the scripture verses to complete the understanding:

For Jeremiah 17:9 -> Ezekiel 36:26, Jeremiah 31:33 & Hebrews 8:10.

For Isaiah 55:8 -> 1 Corinthians 2:16

For Proverbs 16:25 -> John 16:13

 

[swordsman1]

I have responded to the scripture verses to complete the understanding:

For Jeremiah 17:9 -> Ezekiel 36:26, Jeremiah 31:33 & Hebrews 8:10.

For Isaiah 55:8 -> 1 Corinthians 2:16

For Proverbs 16:25 -> John 16:13

Again none of those verses say that God beams messages into our minds.


When Jesus said "when the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth", the "you" is not us. A few verses earlier he said "it is for your good that I am going away". Is Jesus going to leave us? Before that he said "you are filled with grief". Are we filled with grief? Before that he said "they will put you out of the synagogue". Does that apply to us? Before that he said "you have been with me from the beginning". Have we been with Christ from the beginning? Clearly Jesus was addressing the apostles only in this discourse at the Last Supper.


When Paul said "We have the mind of Christ" he doesn't mean that all His thoughts are beamed into each of our minds. If it did there would never be any disagreements between Christians. The verses immediately preceding this statement are all about the indwelling Holy Spirit which all believers have. He transforms our lives and gives us a new mindset - that of Christ.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Again none of those verses say that God beams messages into our minds.


When Jesus said "when the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth", the "you" is not us. A few verses earlier he said "it is for your good that I am going away". Is Jesus going to leave us? Before that he said "you are filled with grief". Are we filled with grief? Before that he said "they will put you out of the synagogue". Does that apply to us? Before that he said "you have been with me from the beginning". Have we been with Christ from the beginning? Clearly Jesus was addressing the apostles only in this discourse at the Last Supper.


When Paul said "We have the mind of Christ" he doesn't mean that all His thoughts are beamed into each of our minds. If it did there would never be any disagreements between Christians. The verses immediately preceding this statement are all about the indwelling Holy Spirit which all believers have. He transforms our lives and gives us a new mindset - that of Christ.

The content John 16:13 was not fully addressed. We receive the same Holy Spirit, this same Spirit of God indwells us, and continues to tell us of things to come. And that's prophecy.

Overall, you seemed to skip over the content that illustrated the point, so further discourse is unnecessary.

 

[Hawkins]

If you take a look at other translations, prophecy in NT is actually twofold. In 1 Cor. Paul is more likely talking about ministry which outsiders may come by and hear. OT on the other hand is more about fore-telling. It is so because Israel has the responsibility to identify a true prophet to have his words recorded down, as "God puts words in the mouth of a prophet". In NT it's more about how the gospel shall be preached in the absence of Israel as Israel literally no longer functions due to the fact that the corrupt Pharisees sit in Moses' seat while distancing God.

In NT, the Holy Spirit is poured out to many, so prophets are no longer the only ones dreaming dreams or prophesying.

Acts 2:17
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.

That said, prophets are about how God puts words into their mouth. More likely it's about what God does, it's much less about what the prophets do. God can communicate unambiguously to the prophets for them to comfortably use terms such as "says the Lord".

It is more likely in the manner that "If God asks me to prophesy then I prophesy, or else I won't", and "unless the message is made unambiguously to me, or else I won't prophesy".

If a prophet prophesies by his own will, I know that God doesn't like it, as it is more or less the behavior of Balaam working for his self-gain.

 

[swordsman1]

The content John 16:13 was not fully addressed. We receive the same Holy Spirit, this same Spirit of God indwells us, and continues to tell us of things to come. And that's prophecy.

Overall, you seemed to skip over the content that illustrated the point, so further discourse is unnecessary.

What more is there to address?

The Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth (not us - that is clear from the text) because they would be the authoritative teachers of the Church and write scripture.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

What more is there to address?

The Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth (not us - that is clear from the text) because they would be the authoritative teachers of the Church and write scripture.

So you're saying that the Apostles received the Holy Spirit, and no one else did?

 

[swordsman1]

So you're saying that the Apostles received the Holy Spirit, and no one else did?

No.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

No.

Then prophecy ahoy.