No Prophets!

[pdfiddler]

It was said in the locked PAT R thread buy a certian postette that "I think we're past prophets at this point". How do you all feel about the five-fold ministry or the helping hand that God provided ( apostles,prophets, evangelists,shepherds and teachers) for raising up of the body of Christ? Do you think it's still available or do you think "we are past that point"? Has God pulled it? Is there another way for building up the saints?

 

[rocklife]

I agree with whatever is biblical and new testament, Jesus ways. I am still young in the faith, I have belief any christian with God's Holy Spirit can prophesy. I believe if we tell any future event that is told in the bible, we can potentially be prophesying. I do think because we are so prone to error, though, I would always test everything, even myself (which I do)

I see a normal dictionary definition defines prophet as #1. A person who speaks by divine inspiration or as the interpreter through whom the will of a god is expressed. I believe that is still very possible. Jesus says sometimes His servants will bear witness of Him, and don't worry about what to say, it will be given when they need it. I still believe this is done today. I have read testimonies from persecuted christians, they say they have seen such things. I also feel God has spoken through me sometimes (but I always pray for wisdom and discernment too, I don't want to think something that may not be right, and continue in bible study daily)

 

[tturt]

Of course, five fold ministry is for today.

 

[linssue55]

It was said in the locked PAT R thread buy a certian postette that "I think we're past prophets at this point". How do you all feel about the five-fold ministry or the helping hand that God provided ( apostles,prophets, evangelists,shepherds and teachers) for raising up of the body of Christ? Do you think it's still available or do you think "we are past that point"? Has God pulled it? Is there another way for building up the saints?

LEARNING and APPLYING doctrine from our right pastor teaches that teaches the original languages.

 

[Scorcher505]

My mom has been prophessied to in the past, both were the same prophesy, and now it is starting to come true. On two separate occassions she was told she and my father would preach around the world, and now my parents are getting involved with a missions group and in Feb my dad is going to Etheopia.

 

[pdfiddler]

Even Saul stopped and prophesied awhile, on his way to kill David.I don't think prophesing and being a prophet are the same.Do you?(This is not directed at your post scorcher). Come on all you folks,dig deep and clean out those old cobwebs. I would like to hear more from all of you.

 

[JDIBe]

It was said in the locked PAT R thread buy a certian postette that "I think we're past prophets at this point". How do you all feel about the five-fold ministry or the helping hand that God provided ( apostles,prophets, evangelists,shepherds and teachers) for raising up of the body of Christ? Do you think it's still available or do you think "we are past that point"? Has God pulled it? Is there another way for building up the saints?

Do we still have Apostles?

 

[Telrunya]

The Book of Revelation says that people will see visions and dream dreams. That people will prophecy. They did in the OT, they did in the NT. No where have I read that some of the gifts will be removed. All of that, to me, adds up to the five fold ministry is for today.

JDIBe we have many Church planters today

 

[JDIBe]

JDIBe we have many Church planters today

Are church planters Apostles? What is the Biblical definition of an Apostle, anyway?

 

[Siderite]

The Book of Revelation says that people will see visions and dream dreams. That people will prophecy. They did in the OT, they did in the NT. No where have I read that some of the gifts will be removed. All of that, to me, adds up to the five fold ministry is for today.

JDIBe we have many Church planters today

What gifts are we talking about? Are we discussing the gifts that the apostles were given? If so, the bible clearly states that, although these gifts could be passed on to others by the apostles, these others who received gifts could not pass their gifts on - thus the apostles gifts would not exist in the world today.

 

[ivory]

It was said in the locked PAT R thread buy a certian postette that "I think we're past prophets at this point". How do you all feel about the five-fold ministry or the helping hand that God provided ( apostles,prophets, evangelists,shepherds and teachers) for raising up of the body of Christ? Do you think it's still available or do you think "we are past that point"? Has God pulled it? Is there another way for building up the saints?

The five-fold ministry is still very much alive

 

[Flame]

The gifts in fact in my opinion do still exist today. This thread kinda evolved though. We started with Prophets and evolved to apostles. The original prophets were more then just individuals that prophesied.
They devoted every facet of their lives to God. They existed only by his direction so much that they took no thought for provisions. God provided their every need and they expected him too. Therefore they received of God. Everything they did, was for Gods glory not theirs. The spirit of prophecy they had still exists and God would send it to us on earth. All we would need is someone with that much faith. Who would be willing to forsake all and totaly depend on God. That if the spirit told them to they would say or do whatever he bid. I pray that I become faithful enough to receive that type of gift from God.

 

[Telrunya]

What gifts are we talking about? Are we discussing the gifts that the apostles were given? If so, the bible clearly states that, although these gifts could be passed on to others by the apostles, these others who received gifts could not pass their gifts on - thus the apostles gifts would not exist in the world today.

Where does it say that and are you sure you have it in context?

 

[JDIBe]

The gifts in fact in my opinion do still exist today. This thread kinda evolved though. We started with Prophets and evolved to apostles. The original prophets were more then just individuals that prophesied.
They devoted every facet of their lives to God. They existed only by his direction so much that they took no thought for provisions. God provided their every need and they expected him too. Therefore they received of God. Everything they did, was for Gods glory not theirs. The spirit of prophecy they had still exists and God would send it to us on earth. All we would need is someone with that much faith. Who would be willing to forsake all and totaly depend on God. That if the spirit told them to they would say or do whatever he bid. I pray that I become faithful enough to receive that type of gift from God.

I think some "gifts" do exist today, but some do not exist in the same form as the first century.

I think my question was a valid one. The question was "Does the five-fold ministry still exist as in the 1st Century church?". I don't see any Apostles around (unless the definition of "Apostle" is radically different from which I am thinking...) so I would have to say, no it does not. Now if we want to discuss "5-1" that might be worth persuing, but the Lord's Church does operate under different circumstances than in the 1st Century.

I think you are right when you say prophets did more than just predict random events. Someone once said that prophets "forth-told" as much as they "fore-told". For example, OT prophets told the people how things were, and how God felt about what they were doing. And that is a (I would argue THE) major part of being a prophet.

Which brings up an interesting question: Without naming names, how often must a "Prophet of God" be right in his/her predictions to be considered a "Prophet"? Always? 99%? 90%? 75%? 50%?
I would think that if you believed that prophesy still exists in the 1st century form that would be a very important question to consider. Otherwise, how do you know this person comes from God? And an even scarier thought, "How do you know that what they are saying comes from God?"?

 

[JesusFreak78]

All the gifts exists today and where in the bible does it say it say the gifts has a time limit? The gifts are given from the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit does not change with time.

 

[talitha]

Are we past prophets?

For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
(1 Corinthians 13:9-10)

Has "the perfect" come?

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
(Ephesians 4:11-13)

Hmmm - doesn't sound to me like we're past prophets - or any of the five-fold gifts.

by the way, I personally know people I believe to be prophets, and at least one that I believe to be an apostle.

blessings
tal

 

[ranyhyn]

The Wednesday night Bible study I attend is currently on the 5-fold ministry. Very interesting indeed. And no I don't believe we're past any of the five parts. I think all of the five parts are alive in the church of today just as they would have been back in the beginning.

While I don't think they appear the same in the literal sense they are certainly performing the same duties of those that would have been around in the beginning. At least that's my opinion on it all.

 

[JDIBe]

and at least one that I believe to be an apostle.

Ok, explain.

You guys are talking like this is something you take for granted that everyone knows, but I'm kind of lost here. (Maybe I'm the only one.)

 

[ranyhyn]

Explain in what sense? You are lost as to what exactly an apostle is?

 

[JDIBe]

Explain in what sense? You are lost as to what exactly an apostle is?

Yes.