How does the prophetic gift work

[Bloved1]

We also have to remember that back in the old testament when you saw the "major & minor" prophets, that the Holy Spirit was not yet given to mankind. I think that nowadays (the time after Jesus was glorified), the role of prophet has changed dramatically since then.

Anyone care to comment on that thought?

 

[Eyesee]

We also have to remember that back in the old testament when you saw the "major & minor" prophets, that the Holy Spirit was not yet given to mankind. I think that nowadays (the time after Jesus was glorified), the role of prophet has changed dramatically since then.

Anyone care to comment on that thought?

The prophets in the bible were used to express direct revelations from God and their words carry the authority of scripture.

Today, that is not so. There's a saying that goes "If it's true it's not new. If it's new, it's not true". A perfect example of this was a guy who came on here claiming to have had an encounter with Jesus and actually added to scripture!

Read the scripture that humblewatchman posted -- it's great guidance for how the ministry of the prophetic should operate.

 

[humblewatchman]

This is really what terrifies me the most that will happen to me. I pray always that I will be humble when I hear from Him to speak to others. Im scared all this is coming from my imagination (i know not all but im scared im going to tell someone something that hasnt come from God).

This is a usable attitude.....the kind that God looks for in a prophet. The Lord will teach, and the fear will be less loud. There should always be an abundance of strong respectful cautiousness. He honors that and does not mind going the extra mile to assure you it was He who spoke to you.

The flip side, is if the fear is too loud it gets in the way and keeps you from doing what He called you to do. You wind up standing on the riverbank instead of walking and aiding others in the river of life.

Pride and too much "self"-confidence are the biggest deterrents to being used by God.... and can lead to self delusion, causing others pain/harm, and falling into double minded confusion. The scriptures talk so very much about how harmful pride is (in all of its various subtle forms).

Matthew 23:12 "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted".

 

[tturt]

True and He seems to work with us pretty constantly with that if we'll listen.

Being prophetic is complicated by a set of standards for prophets (and those who speak prophetically) which aren't Biblical and that's before you even get to interpretations of Scripture.

jehoiakim, if it's not ok for the following to be included on this thread, just say the word and I'll delete it with no problem whatsoever.

posted: I think that nowadays (the time after Jesus was glorified), the role of prophet has changed dramatically since then.

There is Scripture to indicate changes from the OT such as:

Apostle Paul told Timothy to make good warfare over the prophetic words he had received (I Tim 1:18)

"Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge." I Cor 14:29

I Thess 5:14-28 includes 20-21 "Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good"

Confirmation such as Acts 9;9-19 especially v 10-12; II Cor 13:1.

The person being spoken to has some responsibility such as Mary agreed to be Yeshua's mother (Luke 1:39) then the angel, the messenger, left. Prophesy is for exhorting, edifying, and comforting (I Corinthians 14:1-3) which includes giving warnings, appeals. With the famine prophesied in Acts 11:28-30, they were able to prepare for it.

Some believe that they should do things, including delivery, the way it seems they did in the OT and let the chips fall where they may. But now all prophetic words are to be given in love. Saying "my brothers and sisters" doesn't = Christian love either. Acknowledging that we're all a work in progress and there's a learning curve for the gifts but when prophetic words aren't given in love, at the very least, you can see what that particular prophet needs to be healed of.

The foundation for our walk is loving Yahweh and Christian love for others - matters of our hearts (I John 4).

 

[Bloved1]

The flip side, is if the fear is too loud it gets in the way and keeps you from doing what He called you to do. You wind up standing on the riverbank instead of walking and aiding others in the river of life.".

LOL i fear that too.
I think ive been stopped by fear way too many times in my life. All i want to do is to know for certain that its not from my imagination. But Im starting to learn when He is speaking to me though.

Tturt, you are exactly right, all things should be done in love and to lift one another up.

I'll give you an example.

Awhile ago (very long story short), I believed God told me to give a message to my pastor. I went to him and told him what i believed God wanted me to say but for some reason i didnt feel like he was taking me seriously. Through that experience God made me understand that it was to encourage him in a certain matter and not to scare him (which i honestly didnt want to do in the first place - scare him - I just thought that he didnt believe me). Any time the Lord wants us to talk to anyone it is to build them up into Him, not to tear the other person down.

I really think that there are no more "prophets", just people with prophetic gifts. Like I said, we have the Holy Spirit (and the scriptures) now to explain to us what is right and wrong. I believe that someone (with a prophetic gift) gets sent to another person to speak to them because for some reason that person just needs to see someone in front of them that will encourage them in the Lord. Its a real blessing to be included.

 

[humblewatchman]

Beloved1,

We have to check every teaching and personal opinion with what the scriptures say. The Office of Prophet is listed in the scriptures below for you to reconsider. Observe that list and you will see that they do still exist and are number two according to Gods assignments, second only to Apostles. We still have Apostles and Teachers, so we still have the position of Prophet. It is a shame that the churches don't often recognise this structural need of the church and protect and intercede for those who are called to this position. ("And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.")

As I talked about previously, there are many "within" the church are used in the prophetic of the sake of those individuals around us, but that doesn't mean they are called to that official position of Prophet in order to be that major directional guide to the church body as a whole. Each and every one of us has available to us all of the giftings according to the needs of those around us, and we each have a more "prominent" set of giftings assigned to us that God has ordained in us. So, if you had come upon a horrible auto accident and the Lord wanted to use you to heal someone there, He would do so....but that wouldn't mean that you had been called as a "healer" or a "worker of miracles" on a regular basis. So each of us has to liisten to the Holy Spirit to discover our own set of giftings and give ourselves and our attention to that area in Him... focusing on it in order to learn from Him so that we can be the best most tuned in, tuned up person in that area of ministry so that the church would not have weakness by our negligence of our area of giftings.

Romans 12-5-8
5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully"

The church when operating in the structure and with the offices that God gave it would be most effective and powerful .

"Let it be so, Lord. Amen"