Prophecy and the local church.

rdclmn72

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Going beyond the usual tongues is the open door provided by prophecy.
At the local level it is a vital yet misunderstood part of the end-time church that in the present has few excuses left when it comes to developing an all-encompassing theology.
Most people would have you believe that its all a matter of forecasting, yet examples abound in scripture of prophecy as anything but that limited and seldom-seen role.

Paul would describe an early church service where in the absence of the NT, there was prophecy, psalms, exhortations and doctrine, all based on the OT.
This should serve to clarify its role to the point that in the present, the many examples provided in scripture can and will provide an accurate description of what is possible within the confines of the local church.

Prophecy is rare, not to much of it going on, yet God's intention is that it and other gifts continue to grow as its necessary to the continued growth and development of the local church's lay ministry.

Prophetic utterance will call, inspire and edify those necessary for future work, it will guide and counsel leaders, help to create growth within and of course challenge congregations toward believing that God will equip those willing to work in the coming days.
 
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Biblicist

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. . . Prophecy is rare, not to much of it going on, yet God's intention is that it and other gifts continue to grow as its necessary to the continued growth and development of the local church's lay ministry.

Prophetic utterance will call, inspire and edify those necessary for future work, it will guide and counsel leaders, help to create growth within and of course challenge congregations toward believing that God will equip those willing to work in the coming days.
How does the prophecy of Agabus fit into your line of thinking?

Acts 11:27,28 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)
 
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tturt

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OR Acts 13:9: Paul prophesies that Elymas, the magician, would be struck blind - and he was.

Don't see how this nor the famine from Biblicist2's post falls into the "...he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." I Cor 14:3 ???

But this meets more the definition stated in Post #1. Paul told Timothy "This · command I am entrusting to you, child Timothy, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, so that by them you might fight the good fight." I Tim 1:18
(though these seem to be personal prophecies).
 
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ByTheSpirit

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Prophecy in the New Covenant is defined/broken down as:

For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10 ESV)

testimony - Gr 3141
marturia: testimony
Original Word: μαρτυρία, ας, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: marturia
Phonetic Spelling: (mar-too-ree'-ah)
Short Definition: witness, evidence, testimony
Definition: witness, evidence, testimony, reputation.

What does this look like outside the obvious "go into all the world and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15) context:

On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. (1 Corinthians 14:3 ESV)

This is what prophecy does. New Covenant prophecy builds believers up. It encourages them. It also consoles/comforts them. Why? Because all prophecy, points to Jesus! Any prophetic word that does not glorify the Lord nor point the recipient of said prophecy to him is highly subject to falsehood, or even a lying spirit.

Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21 ESV)

Some have received prophetic words in the past in such environments and because they were false and said individuals had not received wise counsel on what to do with such words, they gave up on "prophecy" at all. I think we need to understand who gave such words, mark them, and avoid them, but never give up on hearing from the Lord. In context of 1 Thes 5:20-21 even, despising prophecy is a portion of quenching the Spirit (1 Thes 5:19) Confess such failings and hurts to the Lord and allow him to replenish you.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (1 John 4:1-3 ESV)

Any time you receive a prophetic word, test it. As I stated already, all true prophecy points to Jesus. Whether prophesying to the lost, or to the saints, prophecy always points people to Jesus. John even said so much.

So remember, the testimony (or witness) of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Prophecy edifies (builds up), encourages, and consoles (comforts) the saints. Never despise prophecy, test it, hold to it if it is found to be true, reject the bad.
 
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ByTheSpirit

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Christian prophecy is not just limited to the above though and does include foretelling as outlined by my brother and sister in the person of Agabus. I do believe the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 13 could apply in part to such a person. If a person stands and gives a prophecy that comes to pass but then tries to lead the people away from following the true God, such a person is still a false prophet and must be removed.
*DISCLAIMER* Although stoning them is not appropriate, I think the NT response would be removing them from fellowship.

So what then is false prophecy?

Now scripture gives us a few different definitions of what prophecy is, just to reinterate.

But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. (1 Cor 14:3 NIV)

All believers can prophecy in this manner. We can all strengthen, encourage, and comfort each other by our words and actions. We do this by pointing others to Jesus. Jesus is the source of our strength (Phil 4:13). By looking to Him do we overcome (Hebrews 12:2). He knows our deepest hurts and understands the struggle we all face. He was tempted exactly as we are (Hebrews 4:15-16) and so He can comfort us and help us when we seek Him.

This is exactly the message the angel shared with John in Revelation 19:10, The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. All prophetic utterance points individuals to Jesus.

In this context, what is false prophecy?

Now in the Old Testament we know people like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, Obadiah, etc were prophets of God. Their messages were inspired (2 Peter 1:20-21) by the Holy Spirit and fulfilled in their given time. Individuals then who were condemned as false prophets would give messages that would counter the ones given by these holy men of God.

For instance, Jeremiah dealt with false prophets at almost every turn. In Jeremiah 28 we read about one such dealing with the False Prophet Hananiah. I'll post portions of that chapter here to help illustrate what I'm trying to get at here.

Jeremiah 28:1-4 ESV
Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the Lord, in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. 4 I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon, declares the Lord, for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”

Now Jeremiah had been prophesying that Judah would become slaves of Babylon if they did not repent and turn back to God. Hananiah stood in the presence of all the people and told everyone that instead God would powerfully break the yoke of Babylon off Judah's back within 2 years.

Jeremiah is seemingly impressed with this message and even says Amen to it. Then he counsels everyone present "As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet."

He is reminding them that all true prophecy comes from God and will be fulfilled. Prophecy is not just a message that gives people false hope.

But Hananiah insists and even demonstrates his message:

Jeremiah 28:10-11 ESV
10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke-bars from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke them. 11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord: Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations within two years.”

So he is really stressing that God has told him the Babylonians will be dealt with within 2 years. But the Lord is never fooled by false prophecy. He reveals to Jeremiah that Hananiah is a fake and thus the prophet says these words:

Jeremiah 28:15-17 ESV
15 And Jeremiah the prophet said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will remove you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, because you have uttered rebellion against the Lord.’” 17 In that same year, in the seventh month, the prophet Hananiah died.

So you see from the 28th chapter of Jeremiah the basis for determining false prophecy. False prophecy, and by extension false prophets, are people who share a message contrary to the true word of God with the intention of leading people away from the Lord.

For instance I can say the sun is going to be late rising in the sky by 30 minutes. When that doesn't happen, it doesn't make me a false prophet, it makes me a foolish person sure, but not a false prophet.

Now, if I share a message with someone, for instance, "You will find a high paying job within a week and God will give you a car as well." When that message does not come to pass, I am tiptoeing on that fence. If that person falls away from the Lord because of my words I may well find myself as a false prophet. If they are able to forgive me of my foolishness and be reconciled to me and the Lord then I have just spoken out of turn.

A 100% hands down no doubt about it false prophet is someone who comes around and preaches a gospel contrary to the truth. That is they preach that Jesus is not the only way into Heaven. That we can earn our way into Heaven, or that Muhammad saves, etc.... False prophets share messages that lead to falling away and open rebellion against God.

It is a sobering reminder to always check our intentions before we just spout off with something we really want to say.

All true Spirit inspired prophecy will lead people to Jesus.

All false prophecy will lead people away from Jesus.

No matter what form this takes, verbal or physical, if me or my message leads people away from the cross I will be found to be a false prophet and stand in danger of judgment.
 
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ByTheSpirit

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So to finish my long thought, prophetic foretelling in the New Covenant comes down to this. If a person gives a vision of the future and it comes to pass but they lead others away from Christ by their life or words, they are a false prophet and should be removed from fellowship. If they give a vision of the future, it comes to pass and they point people back to the cross that is the true prophet. IMHO
 
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tturt

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Still don't see how Acts 13:9:where Paul prophesies that Elymas, the magician, will be struck blind - and he was.nor the famine prophesied in Acts 11 falls into the "...he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." I Cor 14:3 ???
 
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rdclmn72

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Amos declares that the Lord will do nothing without revealing it to his holy prophets.
Both situations mentioned are those that are directed to non-believers;
Ananias and Sephirah
Elymas

And what is not necessarily a judgment, that of a worldwide famine which by its warning is ultimately a manifestation of mercy.
 
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hislegacy

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Going beyond the usual tongues is the open door provided by prophecy.
At the local level it is a vital yet misunderstood part of the end-time church that in the present has few excuses left when it comes to developing an all-encompassing theology.
Most people would have you believe that its all a matter of forecasting, yet examples abound in scripture of prophecy as anything but that limited and seldom-seen role.

Paul would describe an early church service where in the absence of the NT, there was prophecy, psalms, exhortations and doctrine, all based on the OT.
This should serve to clarify its role to the point that in the present, the many examples provided in scripture can and will provide an accurate description of what is possible within the confines of the local church.

Prophecy is rare, not to much of it going on, yet God's intention is that it and other gifts continue to grow as its necessary to the continued growth and development of the local church's lay ministry.

Prophetic utterance will call, inspire and edify those necessary for future work, it will guide and counsel leaders, help to create growth within and of course challenge congregations toward believing that God will equip those willing to work in the coming days.

Excellent, excellent post and spot on.

Re Aggabus words to Paul. It was confirmation for Paul, and exhorting.

Remember in Acts 9:16 God said "For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my names sake"

It wasn't condemnation, but a reminder and confirmation of what God had already spoken to him.

That is far and away from the "Christian fortune tellers masquerading as prophets" these days.
 
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hislegacy

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Still don't see how Acts 13:9:where Paul prophesies that Elymas, the magician, will be struck blind - and he was.nor the famine prophesied in Acts 11 falls into the "...he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." I Cor 14:3 ???

Read the chapter. Please. Elymas was a false prophet attempting to turn the pro counsel from the faith.

Scripture says he openly opposed the Apostle.

That is very different from the church where prophesy is "unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." I Cor 14:3"

It's called rightly dividing the word my friend.
 
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hislegacy

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How does the prophecy of Agabus fit into your line of thinking?

Acts 11:27,28 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)

Your answer is in the following verse.

Acts 11:29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.​

The Prophesy was an exhortation to send help to the brethren in Judia.
 
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hislegacy

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One of the best series on Apostles and Prophets is found here

It's from a ministers conference in 1980 when the Apostolic/Prophetic movement was raising it's ugly head and resulted in what was called the Shepherding movement.

The first three are a teaching on the Apostle and from four on down the prophet's office is looked at.

Yes, i am prejudiced twords my mentor, but I have listened to numbers of others and IMO this is hands down the est. Keep your Bible open when you listen. It's all scripture driven, not personalities.
 
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