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Non-mention in Scripture

Carl Emerson

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Yes this is how it should happen on an individual level...

I guess I was thinking more about the church dealing with false signs and wonders that were so convincing to have even the elect convinced. Also infiltrations of various sorts weakening the church.

In most cases in modern churches we do not have a collective prophetic voice operating and in fact it is not thought to be needed. Yet the Body has been given this very gift so the church can have ears and eyes to discern what is true spiritually.

As we approach a late hour in the scheme of things we will become sitting ducks to the deceptions that will arise unless we reinstate this important gift.

The pattern is in scripture - a group of prophets serving the church with the exercise of their special gift.

Sadly the prophetic voice has been muted and the church has adopted a top down structure so that Teachers have become predominant - just like Paul said we would have many teachers and very few fathers.

The operation of these gifts involve a return to unity rather than management and control. Then 'the least' who are gifted in this was may, at last, be heard.

I feel very strongly about this, and as the hour gets later, it becomes clear to me that this present blindness, if not corrected, will render the present church as we know it even more spiritually impotent.

I think that home based church will probably have a better chance of having the potency and spiritual awareness needed to be effective.
 
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Greengardener

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Yes exactly, and it would be a lot easier to test such things if we had a 'fellowship of the prophets' to bounce things off.
What comes to mind next is about what's written in Hebrews, that God has in the past spoken to us in various ways, but now has spoken to us by His Son. While God did give Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers for the edification of the Body, surely He didn't leave us without all the necessary resources to be effective with those. This is indeed an interesting situation you present. I'll check back when I have more time, as it's quite late here. May you find a good answer, Carl.
 
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Carl Emerson

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Well the prophetic was never meant to be an individual sport in NT times. There is meant to be mutual accountability between folks with this gift.
 
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devin553344

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Well the prophetic was never meant to be an individual sport in NT times. There is meant to be mutual accountability between folks with this gift.

Wasn't aware of that, is that in the scriptures?
 
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topher694

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Yep.

Perhaps a clearer way of understanding prophets being subject to prophets today would be is this:
Those who are experienced in the prophetic themselves should be the ones evaluating the prophetic. There are plenty out there (and here) today who seem to be experts in pointing out "false prophets" yet they've never uttered a prophetic word in their lives. However when church leadership has no such person(s) that creates a problem for the prophetic (and other gifts) to flow.

In our church we flow in the prophetic, we train in the prophetic, we teach on the prophetic and we have an order that allows prophecy to be judged by prophetic people. When I train on it it usually looks something like this:

Character & integrity
Character & integrity
Character & integrity
Order & respect
Order & respect
Flowing in the gift itself
Character & integrity
Character & integrity
 
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topher694

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The problem with prophecy in church is that many are false prophets and just confuse the issue. So most churches refuse to hear prophecy. Probably a good policy.
Just because some people abuse the truth doesn't mean we should refuse the truth. If we followed this thought process on every biblical principle, there would literally be nothing left of the Bible to teach.

I'm convinced the best way to combat the ignorant, the abuses, misuses and false is not to hide from it, forbid it or point out all of the abuses. No, the best way to combat the false is to continually demonstrate the authentic.
 
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topher694

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That was a very wise way of handling a extremely difficult situation.
 
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Carl Emerson

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Right on the button...
 
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devin553344

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It is... and rightfully so.

Yes I was aware we can post it in our blogs, but not in the forums. So there's no way to establish a prophecy group. In the spirit of what Carl is suggesting shouldn't there be a specific forum for prophecy. And if not then why? 1 Corinthians 14:30-32
 
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topher694

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Well in a perfect world, something like that would be great. I'm all for prophecy. But realistically it would be chaos. Way too hard to oversee. Way too many different "styles" of prophecy (confusion). And while there would be mods who have the power to oversee via the typical means, there would be no true enforceable form of prophetic order and authority or accountability. Say I was in charge, why should you listen to me if I tell you not to release a word? We don't have a personal relationship. You haven't been trained by me. Maybe I'm not someone you should be listening to.

That sort of thing is manageable when it is people talking to people online. But throw in "thus saith the Lord" and you've upped the stakes considerably.

EDIT: main issue: prophecy shouldn't be anonymous.
 
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devin553344

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Well the prophetic was never meant to be an individual sport in NT times. There is meant to be mutual accountability between folks with this gift.

I have had an angel visit me one time and gave me instruction and prophecy for the next day, very specific and it came true. Beyond a reasonable doubt. It was a personal prophecy not meant for other people I think.
 
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Carl Emerson

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This is a good question - I am not convinced that ministry can work on line, face to face fellowship in unity needs to be the foundation for prophesy and discernment to work effectively but i am happy to be corrected.
 
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devin553344

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I agree with that for the most part. We've had plenty of people share their prophecies here not knowing the rules and I'm usually confused by it.
 
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topher694

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I agree with that for the most part. We've had plenty of people share their prophecies here not knowing the rules and I'm usually confused by it.
This made me chuckle
 
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Radagast

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You will notice that the spirits of the prophets are to be subject to the prophets not the teachers.

Actually, no.

1 John 4:2-3 encourages us to test the false prophets against Biblical truth. The teachers necessarily play a lead role in that.

so that 'the least', who may be carrying God's word of discernment, are not heard.

Sadly, most of those who think they have the gift of discernment, don't.
 
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