Calling yourself a Prophet?

[Dave-W]

The purpose of being a prophet is to be predictive.

Scripturally, predictive prophecy is a small fraction of all the prophetic utterances and writings.

 

[bobharms]

Scripturally, predictive prophecy is a small fraction of all the prophetic utterances and writings.

True,being carried along speaking by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus who promised the Spirit would follow after Him

 

[bobharms]

We walk by faith, and the prophet will speak and act as he is led. We forget that our Heavenly Father has the prophets perform actions or illustrations that enhance the word spoken. In Christ those so chosen of God are gifts who walk humbly before the body and in submission to the Lord.

 

[ViaCrucis]

So the concession is God doesn't give out that spiritual gift anymore. Why is that? Does anyone know? And then did he stop giving out all the gifts or just that one? Thanks for your replies.

I'd say it is more about confusion over the concepts of prophet and prophecy; the modern mind tends to hear the word "prophet" and think "someone who predicts the future" or "one who has a special revelation from God"; but neither of these are the definition of a prophet in the biblical sense. In ancient Israel certain men were called by God to speak to Israel, the Hebrew word for such a person was nabi (plural: nabi'im), essentially meaning "one who speaks forth" or "spokesman", something more literally as "one who brings forth [a word]", the Greek word used to translate this is prophetes, from which we get the word "prophet", with the meaning "one who speaks on behalf of". The central ministry of the prophets was to speak God's word to Israel, to call the people back to repentance, to warn them of future judgment, or to declare God's faithfulness and promises--as the occasion necessitated. Special revelation, or fore-telling future events were entirely secondary.

The gift of prophecy, as the Apostle speaks of in, say, 1 Corinthians 12 or 14, as being granted special revelation, or predicting future events; instead it is the gift of proclaiming God's word. It would probably be more helpful for our understanding if instead of calling it the gift of prophecy (seeing as that word is charged with a particular meaning in modern English) that we spoke of the gift of speaking, or even more the gift of preaching.

We too frequently confuse prophets with seers or oracles, rather than understanding who the ancient prophets were and what they did. To that end, anyone who has been gifted to speak the word of God to the people of God has the gift of "prophecy", and we have a term for those who exercise this gift as part of their sacred ministry to and for the Church: pastors. The preaching of the Word is an intrinsic part of the pastoral ministry.

If someone claims to have special (and especially "new") revelation from God, that doesn't make them a prophet, it makes them a false prophet.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[bobharms]

I'd say it is more about confusion over the concepts of prophet and prophecy; the modern mind tends to hear the word "prophet" and think "someone who predicts the future" or "one who has a special revelation from God"; but neither of these are the definition of a prophet in the biblical sense. In ancient Israel certain men were called by God to speak to Israel, the Hebrew word for such a person was nabi (plural: nabi'im), essentially meaning "one who speaks forth" or "spokesman", something more literally as "one who brings forth [a word]", the Greek word used to translate this is prophetes, from which we get the word "prophet", with the meaning "one who speaks on behalf of". The central ministry of the prophets was to speak God's word to Israel, to call the people back to repentance, to warn them of future judgment, or to declare God's faithfulness and promises--as the occasion necessitated. Special revelation, or fore-telling future events were entirely secondary.

The gift of prophecy, as the Apostle speaks of in, say, 1 Corinthians 12 or 14, as being granted special revelation, or predicting future events; instead it is the gift of proclaiming God's word. It would probably be more helpful for our understanding if instead of calling it the gift of prophecy (seeing as that word is charged with a particular meaning in modern English) that we spoke of the gift of speaking, or even more the gift of preaching.

We too frequently confuse prophets with seers or oracles, rather than understanding who the ancient prophets were and what they did. To that end, anyone who has been gifted to speak the word of God to the people of God has the gift of "prophecy", and we have a term for those who exercise this gift as part of their sacred ministry to and for the Church: pastors. The preaching of the Word is an intrinsic part of the pastoral ministry.

If someone claims to have special (and especially "new") revelation from God, that doesn't make them a prophet, it makes them a false prophet.

-CryptoLutheran

So, there is no new revelation from God? Why would anyone pray, seek counsel, or attpt pastoring a church, if there is no revelation from God. His mercy is new every morning He speaks and His word brings peace comfort, love, and His grave is sufficient. You would be a law unto yourself without divine revelation. Prophesy is not predictive, a guess, thought or idea. It is direction correction reproof,and illumination of and for the people of God. Why were the prophets of old stoned and rejected. Because God holds his hands out to a blind proud and unforgiving people who reject Him with their hearts and make Him a stone. Opps, that slipped out and I became angry. The Spirit of the Lord has reminded me that I do not have the right to be angry with those made in His image. I forgive you for you ignorance. His grace is sufficient.

 

[readyfor mysavior]

we shall know a prophet by his fruits..

 

[ViaCrucis]

So, there is no new revelation from God? Why would anyone pray, seek counsel, or attpt pastoring a church, if there is no revelation from God.

Why go to church under the guidance of the pastoral ministry? To hear God's word, to receive the Sacraments, to confess our sins, hear the words of God's forgiveness.

Why pray? Because we are commanded to pray, because God hears and answers our prayer, to humble ourselves before God, to seek His mercy, to be conformed to His will.

Etc.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[bobharms]

Why go to church under the guidance of the pastoral ministry? To hear God's word, to receive the Sacraments, to confess our sins, hear the words of God's forgiveness.

Why pray? Because we are commanded to pray, because God hears and answers our prayer, to humble ourselves before God, to seek His mercy, to be conformed to His will.

Etc.

-CryptoLutheran

Why go to church under the guidance of the pastoral ministry? To hear God's word, to receive the Sacraments, to confess our sins, hear the words of God's forgiveness.

Why pray? Because we are commanded to pray, because God hears and answers our prayer, to humble ourselves before God, to seek His mercy, to be conformed to His will.

Etc.

-CryptoLutheran

Without revelation from God, signs and wonders that come through the manifestations of the Spirit all you have is theory proved by doctrine. Assembly of the beloved is purely for edification in the faith. Faith is not what you believe it is action that pleases God. The Word of God came by those inspired by the Spirit to record what they were given and understanding comes only through the inspiration of the Spirit of God. Opinion about these things are superfluous, and lead to vanity

 

[ViaCrucis]

Without revelation from God, signs and wonders that come through the manifestations of the Spirit all you have is theory proved by doctrine.

It is a wicked and faithless generation that seeks after signs and wonders. Those who believe, but having not seen, Christ says are blessed; and so the Church receives and confesses the faith as received since the days of the Holy Apostles and the bishops and presbyters who, in their stead, serve the churches through Word and Sacrament in that ministerial capacity. The Church, which Christ having founded, centered upon the preaching of the Word, the administration of the Sacraments; not on "manifestations of the Spirit" or "signs and wonders".

Assembly of the beloved is purely for edification in the faith. Faith is not what you believe it is action that pleases God.

We come together to hear and receive the word of God faithfully preached, and receive the Holy Sacraments of our Lord Jesus Christ, that we might gathered around Him, receive Him, and the mercy that is found in Him. We gather because it is where Christ says He shall be found.

The Word of God came by those inspired by the Spirit to record what they were given and understanding comes only through the inspiration of the Spirit of God.

Whose understanding?

Opinion about these things are superfluous, and lead to vanity

Then I suppose I'll consider your opinion about these things to superfluous then.

-CryptoLutheran[/quote][/quote]

 

[bobharms]

superfluous

Superfluous, but my experience and yours must be differentso we do not understand each other. Why would we argue against what God by His Spirit has I.parted to us. You have a liturgical perspective I fully understand. My experience is supernatural and what is inexplicable in a logical context. Worship for me is why I exist. Expressing the heart of God is my inspiration. It is who I am. Do you know the scripture " many are called few are chosen"? If you were chosen would you know it? In one of Peters epistles he declares we are a cbosen generation...He knew his time. John in his epistles writes of Truth and Love saying you " know" the Truth you know the Love. Today our doctrines fall short of that a d are more in line with Pilot's declaration...Who can know Truth. I am beloved and I know...I am a prophet...A least of these person. A gift to the body of Christ. Let God judge,. He kinda knows, and we see through a glass darkly...

 

[Endtime Survivors]

The Spirit of Prophecy is a Gift from God. So is it right to call yourself a prophet? Or should you call God the Prophet. I mean that I have no inborn ability to see the future. No time machine to do it for me. Then can I call myself prophet or is it false advertising?

A prophet's primary job is to warn people about some particular plan, teaching, or observation from God and they are usually unpopular precisely because the message is usually one which involves correction. In that sense, all Christians are called on to be prophets regarding the return of Jesus and all that it entails.

As for whether or not it's ok to refer to one's self as a prophet, what would be the point? I think titles matter very little to God. What he's looking for are loyal servants who will get the job done.

 

[bobharms]

I'd say it is more about confusion over the concepts of prophet and prophecy; the modern mind tends to hear the word "prophet" and think "someone who predicts the future" or "one who has a special revelation from God"; but neither of these are the definition of a prophet in the biblical sense. In ancient Israel certain men were called by God to speak to Israel, the Hebrew word for such a person was nabi (plural: nabi'im), essentially meaning "one who speaks forth" or "spokesman", something more literally as "one who brings forth [a word]", the Greek word used to translate this is prophetes, from which we get the word "prophet", with the meaning "one who speaks on behalf of". The central ministry of the prophets was to speak God's word to Israel, to call the people back to repentance, to warn them of future judgment, or to declare God's faithfulness and promises--as the occasion necessitated. Special revelation, or fore-telling future events were entirely secondary.

The gift of prophecy, as the Apostle speaks of in, say, 1 Corinthians 12 or 14, as being granted special revelation, or predicting future events; instead it is the gift of proclaiming God's word. It would probably be more helpful for our understanding if instead of calling it the gift of prophecy (seeing as that word is charged with a particular meaning in modern English) that we spoke of the gift of speaking, or even more the gift of preaching.

We too frequently confuse prophets with seers or oracles, rather than understanding who the ancient prophets were and what they did. To that end, anyone who has been gifted to speak the word of God to the people of God has the gift of "prophecy", and we have a term for those who exercise this gift as part of their sacred ministry to and for the Church: pastors. The preaching of the Word is an intrinsic part of the pastoral ministry.

If someone claims to have special (and especially "new") revelation from God, that doesn't make them a prophet, it makes them a false prophet.

-CryptoLutheran

I agree it is confusion, about the gifts. I love the epistles of John, check out in the three books where he wrote, " you know the Truth, you know the love",. ... But then reading your rebuttals kinda make it clear doesn't it ?

 

[trinity50]

The Spirit of Prophecy is a Gift from God. So is it right to call yourself a prophet? Or should you call God the Prophet. I mean that I have no inborn ability to see the future. No time machine to do it for me. Then can I call myself prophet or is it false advertising?

my thoughts are do God's will and it almost everyone hates ur guts, then you are a true Christian.

 

[seashale76]

It seems to me that some here are not espousing anything akin to Traditional Theology…

Did they simply not read about how this board is supposed to work, or do they just not care?

 

[BeStill&Know]

my thoughts are do God's will and it almost everyone hates ur guts, then you are a true Christian.

boy, that's the truth. Why advertise then get stoned for 1 mistake?

 

[mark46]

The charismatic gifts have NOT ended.

Also, we all are priests, prophets and kings.

Some do indeed have the extraordinary gift of prophesy.

HOWEVER, it does not follow that we should call someone with the gift a prophesy "a prophet", implying that they are a prophet in the same sense as the OT prophets.

 

[trinity50]

The charismatic gifts have NOT ended.

Also, we all are priests, prophets and kings.

Some do indeed have the extraordinary gift of prophesy.

HOWEVER, it does not follow that we should call someone with the gift a prophesy "a prophet", implying that they are a prophet in the same sense as the OT prophets.

amen.

 

[Kenny'sID]

Some do indeed have the extraordinary gift of prophesy.

I'm not doubting you, but can you name a few true prophets alive today?

 

[Kenny'sID]

Calling a duck a duck is just fine. Of course we don't want to go around bragging about it...sounds like one sure way to lose the gift if we indeed do have it, but it's ok to know you are a prophet if you are prophet, and I would say let others judge if one is one or not and let them call you that or not.

We call ourselves Christian when that is not of our own doing, and because one calls themselves a prophet or others call them that, doesn't mean it's thought that is is of their own doing, and there is no reason to assume anyone thinks that. If they outright say it's by their own power they are a prophet, then I would say they are not a prophet.

As far as doing the "best we can" as a prophet,m that isn't good enough, if you don't pass the test of the prophet, you aren't one.

 

[mark46]

I'm not doubting you, but can you name a few true prophets alive today?

I fear that we are using the term "prophet" in different ways. In the sense that was used in the OT, John the baptist was the LAST prophet. IMHO, scripture is clear.

I don't think of the various charismatic gifts that the Spirit "gives" us as ones where one would recognize the person, or put hs or name in the paper or on a website. Charismatic gifts simply are not to be recognized. Some have the gift of healing, some of teaching, some of prophesy. Some have other extraordinary gifts. I note that all of us have spiritual gifts. Some have on of the gifts in an extraordinary form.