You may have questions about the legitimacy of prophets today, so let’s begin with defining prophecy and prophets.
In one sense, every believer has the potential to offer a simple, inspired prophetic word for the general purpose of strengthening, encouraging and comforting members of a local church.[i]
In Rev. 19:10, the angel says to the apostle John,
“Worship God, because the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
This “spirit of prophecy” anoints and enables people to prophesy even if they do not regularly exercise the gift of prophecy or are considered a prophet. Those who are used with the gift of prophecy, distributed by the Spirit in accordance with his will, function consistently in the church with this grace gift.[ii]
The gift of prophecy is a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit, whereas the ministry of a prophet is the gift of a person whom Jesus has specially prepared to strengthen the church.”[iii]
Like the Old Testament prophet, the New Testament prophet is the voice of God to his people.[iv] Unlike Old Testament prophets, who were divinely authorized as the ministry of their day, New Testament prophets worked closely with apostles and other church leaders.[v]
In Acts, prophets were prominent, persuasive leaders; for example, the church in Antioch was led by prophets and teachers.[vi]
Those who function as prophets go beyond basic prophecy which strengthens, encourages and comforts and may prophecy guidance, instruction, rebuke, judgment, correction and revelation.[vii]
This specific function is more than just a tendency to prophesy. It is a ministerial calling.[viii]
Teaching and preaching with prophetic insight, as well as words of warning and direction, lie within the scope of the New Testament ministry of a prophet.[ix] The role is sometimes governmental in nature in the New Testament. One example is determining missionary procedure (Acts 13:1-3).[x]
The prophet’s role could also be predictive, as when Agabus prophesied of the famine coming to Jerusalem (Acts 11:28). This activated the church to provide relief for the brothers and sisters in Judea.[xi]
Agabus also foretold of Paul’s imprisonment, a warning which confirmed to Paul he would suffer much for Christ and served to strengthen his resolve to go to Jerusalem, despite the pleadings of the other believers for him not to go (Acts 21:10-14).
Another important spiritual role for prophets was to strengthen and encourage the local church, as seen in the example of Judas and Silas with the church at Antioch.[xii] Prophetic ministry brought confirmation, impartation and blessing to local congregation members and leaders.[xiii]
Prophetic ministry functioned as a channel through which spiritual gifts were imparted.[xiv] In 1 Tim. 4:14, Paul tells Timothy,
“Don’t neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.”
Again, the fivefold ministry gifts are not bestowed by the Spirit. They are specifically Christ’s gift to the church for the purpose of equipping and maturing the saints for the work of ministry.[xv]
The role of a prophet went beyond what the gift of prophecy offers. Their prophecies included rebuke, judgment, instruction, guidance and revelation.
The fivefold ministries of Ephesians 4:11, including the ministry of the prophet, will be necessary for the church’s ongoing journey toward maturity, unity and perfection as the bride of Christ—a journey which will only be completed upon Jesus’ return.
Leaders of the early church, including prophets, carried great spiritual responsibility. They willingly endured suffering for the sake of Christ as they served the church.
Today’s prophets must also embrace the cross-shaped life rather than seeking status, human favor, political power, or a lavish income.
Remember, we have a responsibility to evaluate prophetic words, including those by widely recognized prophets. Check out this helpful guideline: “4 Ways to Filter Prophetic Words and Stay on Mission.”
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This post is an excerpt from Prophesying Daughters: How Prophetic Ministry and Women in Leadership Strengthen the Church. Study guide available HERE. Audio book is in process!
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
[i] Gentile, 184.
[ii] Gentile, 186.
[iii] Gentile, 188.
[iv] Gentile, 188.
[v] Gentile, 189. Keener notes that, while they held less administrative authority than apostles, “…the prophets’ mission of revealing God’s purposes left them second only to apostles.” Keener, Gift and Giver, 94. See 1 Cor. 12:28.
[vi] “Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul (Acts 13:1).” It could be that “teachers” explains a primary role for prophets. See Marg Mowczko, “Philip’s Prophesying Daughters,” Marg Mowczko (blog), November 24, 2013. https://margmowczko.com/philips-prophesying-daughters/.
[vii] Gentile, 188. See also Bill Hamon, Prophets and Prophecy: God’s Prophetic Voice Today (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image, 1987), 72. Prophets speak whatever Christ chooses to communicate for the purification and perfecting of his church.
[viii] Gentile, 188.
[ix] Gentile, 188.
[x] Gentile, 188. Regarding the decision to send off Barnabas and Saul in Acts 13:1-3, “The implication is that through one of the prophets present the words of the Holy Spirit came forth.” Williams, Renewal Theology, Vol. 2, 387.
[xi] Gentile, 188. “In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the reign of Claudius. Each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers and sisters who lived in Judea. They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:27-30).” Note that Agabus was not the only prophet in Jerusalem.
[xii] “Both Judas and Silas, who were also prophets themselves, encouraged the brothers and sisters and strengthened them with a long message (Acts 15:32).” J. Rodman Williams, Renewal Theology: The Church, the Kingdom, and Last Things, Vol. 3, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1992), 171.
[xiii] Gentile, 190. Gentile’s church experienced many prophetic words over thirty years. He offers two personal examples: when prophecy gave them major direction concerning their missionary outreach to Brazil, and when the church purchased a new property. Regarding property, the prophetic word stated they would be near “the crossroads of the valley.” The church determined to buy property near what later became a major interchange of two freeways. When the local newspaper eventually dubbed the new interchange, “the celebrated crossroads of the valley,” the prophetic word was confirmed, and the church purchased the property with confidence. He remarks, “We have not been disappointed with our decision.” Gentile, 191.
[xiv] Brian Daehn, Prophetic Gatherings in the Church: The Laying on of Hands and Prophecy (Marion, IN: Christian Life Publishing, 2017), 94.
[xv] “Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. For it says: ‘When he ascended on high, he took the captives captive; he gave gifts to people.’ But what does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things (Eph. 4:7-10).” This passage refers to Christ, not the Holy Spirit.
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