| Poster | Thread | KingJimmy
Member
Joined: 2003/5/8
Posts: 4419
Charlotte, NC
| | Re: | | ArtB wrote:
Quote:
Okay, you are personally convinced that you know some 'local' Prophets, who when speaking in God's name, it is God speaking and not them. Am I correctly understanding you?
If I am understanding you correctly, what new revelations have you received from these "Prophets". Two or three examples would be plenty. Of course, if these revelations were meant for you only, I will understand if you decide not to share such personal revelations that you received from these people..
Yes, I believe these individuals I know to be prophets, who speak whatever it is God would have them to say.
As far as "new revelations", you are inferring I said something I never said.
First and foremost a prophet is one who speaks the words of God, just as Moses said they would. Deut 18 teaches us that God would put His words in their mouth, and they'd speak all that He commanded them to speak. The prophetic gift is not about "new revelations." Rather, the gift has always been to draw people to God and the covenant He has established. As one commentator said, we should think of the prophets as "covenant enforcers."
The prophet will speak whatever it is the Lord wants to say. He will either relate a dream or vision the Lord gave him, or he will speak whatever message God has to say, as the Spirit gives him utterance. Just because somebody has a "revelation" does not always mean that it is a "new revelation." In the message given, a deeper insight into the Scriptures as well as the character of God might be spoken. Perhaps the Lord will in the message expose some sin in the congregation, or provide direction for Church, corporately or individually. In the message given, God might speak of what will occur in the future, but always for the purpose of having some impact on how an individual lives their lives.
As Isaiah the prophet said, "to the law and to the testimony! if anybody does not speak according to them, then they have no dawn!" If what somebody says contradicts the Scriptures, or if their word fails, then they need to repent. As Revelation says, the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Christ. If some utterance does not further the testimony of Christ in some way, then it is in error.
Just because a prophet says something doesn't mean we need to consider stappling it to our Scriptures. If there is a geniune prophetic utterance given, we are to heed that message, otherwise, the Lord will require it of us (Deut 18). So it is important we be ever discerning. But once again, just because a prophetic message is given doesn't mean we need to say the canon of Scripture is open. If you closely study the Scriptures, you will find that there are hundreds of prophets mentioned by name individually, or belonging to a group, yet none of their utterances are ever preserved for sacred Scripture.
For example, we are not told all the prophetic words Samuel gave during his ministry, that caused him to be confirmed by all of Israel as being a prophet. Some of his words are recorded, but not all of them. Another example is the prophetic words that king Saul spoke when the Lord gave him the prophetic gifts. All we know is Saul was prophesying with the prophets, but once again, we don't know anything prophetic Saul said, nor the prophets he prophesied with.
Also, in the New Testament, we are not told all the prophetic words of John the Bapist. Luke tells us he gave many more exhortations/prophecies than he recorded, but does not tell us what those were. John tells us that Christ did and said many other things, but once again, we do not know what they were. In Acts, there are several prophets mentioned by name, such as in Antioch, or ones that seemed to have some itinerant ministry, yet we are seldom told any of the words they spoke. For two prophets specifically, it simply says they gave a long message to the congregation. Paul mentions an epistle he wrote to the church of Laodecia, yet we do not have that letter.
Some things I have learned from the prophets I have known I am since forgotten. Some things I have not though. For example, one prophet I know showed me that God considers abortion child sacrifice, and that it parallel's with "passing your children through the fire to the god of Molech." The same prophet also told me to stay away from something I was involved with, and I did not, and as a result, I suffered a small financial set back. For the most part though, the prophetic utterances I've heard given have been exhortive in nature, expressing the mind and heart and longings of God for a people that draw unto Him.
Granted, at the same time, I have heard many false prophetic utterances given by others, that in no way, shape, or form even expressed the mind and heart of God, and some have run contrary to Scripture.
_________________
Jimmy H
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|  2004/5/24 11:37 | Profile | Rahman
Member
Joined: 2004/3/24
Posts: 1374
| | Re: Hmmmmm .... | |
You guys have certainly illumined me ... "revelation" it is! ... I stand corrected ... '0)
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| | 2004/5/24 13:20 | Profile | Yodi
Member
Joined: 2004/4/23
Posts: 663
Escondido, California
| | Re: | | This prophet thing still kind of has me confused. I guess this is where I just have faith, right?
Yesterday morning in my devotions I came across this verse and was going to post it:
"Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. But now in these final days, He has spoken to us through His Son" (Hebrews 1:1-2).
I thought, "See, since Jesus has come into the world, we have no need for prophets today."
But then in this morning's devotions I read this:
"During this time, some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings to predict by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem" (Acts 11:27-30).
So... I guess that's why it's a good idea to try to remember the counsel of [i]all[/i] of God's Word, not just bits and pieces supporting one side and view point.
But you know, whatever God decides to use to send His messages, whether through a prophet, an angel, the Holy Spirit, etc., that's fine with me as long as it's God's doing. I think God may choose His messangers according to who He's sending a message to.
_________________
Yolanda Fields
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| | 2004/5/26 15:05 | Profile |
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