A prophet - in a church means......?

[ServantofTruth]

My new church has a prophet. He stood up and said my prophecy for the year is 'encourage one another.' It was a little longer than that, not much. Surely that's a bible talk given often, not a prophesy.

What is a prophet? Please don't reply someone who tells the future, I hope we all know that much!

But I believe that biblically, in the early church that a prophet meant more than this. More a word for the present from God to encourage and strengthen?

Experts please. SofTy.

[parker]

I am no expert (I know enough to know I don't know much!)In my opinion, though, it was the prophets told the nations, the leaders and/or the people how they had turned from the Lord of Israel. They were like a nagging conscience. John the Baptizer was a prophet.

Kinda like, "If you don't stop what you are doing, you're going to wind up where you're headed."

I agree with you about the fortune-telling nonsense and predicting the future. The prophets, I believe, did not predict the future but pointed to the evident signs around that would lead to catasrophe. At least that is how I see it. But be aware. I also believe that the OT prophecy predicting Jesus were the result of scholars going back to their textual heritage to make sense of the present. So to some that condemns me to a place outside of my faith.

Anyhow you are onto something about how somehow the secular idea has gotten mixed up with prophecy. I think because of our fallen state, many believers have been swept along in the tide of teaching that the Bible is written to us (rather than for us) and that it describes our time (not the times of its original audiences).

But that's only my opinion based on my study of the text and commentaries, SofT.

[th1bill]

... I do wish you had not asked for experts because I am not one but will answer, just the same. A prophet, in God's service, is first and foremost, truth being spoken. A prophet of God, when speaking in that capacity, has every word prefaced with the logically assumed, "Thus saith the LORD." And when any man takes that presumption upon himself he stands the most severe judgment any man will ever stand.
... When God called me to teach, He scared the daylights right out of me because it instantly increased the severity of my personal judgment at the Bema Seat Judgment. The judgment I must be subjected to is nothing compared to that of the man that chooses to speak in the stead of God. I believe that men should be very, very careful in assuming this service to God.

[ServantofTruth]

Today I went into my local Christian bookshop that is closing down. Afterwards I felt the Spirit drew my attention to 2 Timothy 3:5. That people showed outwardly their religion, but never knew the power of true faith. That many had prayed for this shop to be saved, but hadn't acted, gone and spent money there.

From the outside, to me at least, this seems more from God, than a man saying this year we should encourage eachother - which is pretty obvious and spoken often in many churches. Can this honestly be called prophesy? SofTy.

[chad]

As I understand it, or have been taught, Prophets nowdays operate differently than the prophets in the OT.

Nowdays, Prophecy is one of the spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit. That is if you still believe that the gifts of the Holy spirit are in opertation today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophet...s_of_a_prophet

My new church has a prophet. He stood up and said my prophecy for the year is 'encourage one another.' It was a little longer than that, not much. Surely that's a bible talk given often, not a prophesy.

What is a prophet? Please don't reply someone who tells the future, I hope we all know that much!

But I believe that biblically, in the early church that a prophet meant more than this. More a word for the present from God to encourage and strengthen?

Experts please. SofTy.

[Elouise]

To the best of my understanding a prophet is one who serves God foremost and forth tells the word of God [inc in the best of my Christological grappling with the concept of 'logos as the incarnate word]

They challenge the church, they turn the church back towards God they cause people to focus upon God and they are often not 'comfortable' people to be around as when the gift of Gods spirit is at work they see the situation as God sees it and say it as God sees it.

SofTY what you have posted does not remind me of prophesy or exhortation backed by God at work.
Keep testing.

[theBelovedDisciple]

My new church has a prophet. He stood up and said my prophecy for the year is 'encourage one another.' It was a little longer than that, not much. Surely that's a bible talk given often, not a prophesy.

What is a prophet? Please don't reply someone who tells the future, I hope we all know that much!

But I believe that biblically, in the early church that a prophet meant more than this. More a word for the present from God to encourage and strengthen?

Experts please. SofTy.

I'm no EXpert.. but....

If you look to the OT and NT.. prophets recorded in those books who were to prophecy.....Their message usually under divine inspiration was a message concerning the Kingdom of God.. and urgency of men to 'repent' and believe, turn from you wicked ways.. calling out people from their wicked ways and to prepare oneself for the Coming Kingdom of God... looking at John the Baptist... for example.. and also the two witnesses in the end.. they too will do the same.. Somebody could be used in the office of a prophet in the church... to reveal to them the urgency of preparing oneself.. being ready for the Coming Kingdom of God... this would also edify and strengthen those whose faith was rooted in Christ alone and the Blessed Hope.. of His appearing.. I believe as His Appearing and Coming approach.. you'll see more of this... Him using His vessels to get His message to the peopel.. a Message of Hope and a Message to Prepare Oneself... and for those who do not 'know' Him.... like John the Baptist in his camels hair eating locusts and honey.. and shouting from the Hills..

repent... ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand....

for one who just gets up and speaks a verse.. under the direction of the Spirit.. there are gifts of the spirit which deal in 'words of wisdom' and 'word of knowledge'... One or a group of believers could receive that from the Lord.. just for edification purposes... strengthening that certain flock..

thats just my .02 and I"m no expert...

[livingwaters]

1 Corinthians 14:3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

[Bladers]

I'm An expert, hehe.

1 Corinthians 14:3&4 - But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

1 Corinthians 13:2 - And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge...

1 Corinthians 13:25 - And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

1) Edification, exhortation, and comfort.
2) Revelation of mysteries, and all knowledge.
3) Revelation of Man's heart
4) Revelation of the Future

Just a few of the list.
But there is a difference between the office of a prophet and the gift of prophecy, but they are both in existence till today.

Also, The scripture is also prophecy (2P1:19 - We have also a more sure word of prophecy)

[amazzin]

I'm An expert, hehe.

1 Corinthians 14:3&4 - But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

1 Corinthians 13:2 - And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge...

1 Corinthians 13:25 - And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

1) Edification, exhortation, and comfort.
2) Revelation of mysteries, and all knowledge.
3) Revelation of Man's heart
4) Revelation of the Future

Just a few of the list.
But there is a difference between the office of a prophet and the gift of prophecy and they both exist today.

Also, The scripture is also prophecy (2P1:19 - We have also a more sure word of prophecy)

Very good post!!

It makes me so proud when posters like you shine like this.

[ServantofTruth]

So can we honestly say that 'encourage one another in 2009' fits the profile of a prophet. If so, it was the same message to every church since I was born - just a different year date.

What worries me is this is a small church, trying to have things like prophets, to make it 'feel' bigger. Perhaps the 'fruit' of this prophet over time, will show if he is one or not? SofTy.

[Bladers]

So can we honestly say that 'encourage one another in 2009' fits the profile of a prophet. If so, it was the same message to every church since I was born - just a different year date.

What worries me is this is a small church, trying to have things like prophets, to make it 'feel' bigger. Perhaps the 'fruit' of this prophet over time, will show if he is one or not? SofTy.

If the person was called by God and not by the church to be a prophet, then he is a prophet!

I also agree that 'encourage one another in 2009' fits the profile of a prophet, in the section of edify, exhort and comfort. But it only qualifies if the person was actually moved by the Holy Ghost!

[9Marksfan]

If the person was called by God and not by the church to be a prophet, then he is a prophet!

I also agree that 'encourage one another in 2009' fits the profile of a prophet, in the section of edify, exhort and comfort. But it only qualifies if the person was actually moved by the Holy Ghost!

How can people KNOW that he was?

[Bob Carabbio]

A "Prophesy" is a message received From the Holy Spirit, and delivered to the Church as a whole or to specific individuals or groups within the church.

The nature of the prophesy is related to its purpose in the building up of the Body. It may be a notice of judgement, or a warning, or an exhortation, or a notification of coming events, a guidance when there's a question of how to proceed, or a specific message to an individual in response to a prayer, or a need.

Since the beginning of the church Prophesy requires verification - typically by another person who received the same word, but without the burden to speak it.

One who is gifted by the Holy Spirit to deliver prophecy in a ongoing basis would be considered a "Prophet", however ANY Christian can manifest "prophesy" when burdened to do so by the Holy Spirit. I have delivered "prophesy", but I'm not a "Prophet" per se.

Some folks want to make "Preaching" into "Prophesy". It isn't, although anointed preaching MAY have prophetic elements.

WHen Peter said "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." it was a "prophetic utterance" as confirmed by Jesus when he said: "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven."

That's to say that Peter didn't whomp up the proclamation out of his own mind, but spoke as he was inspired by God.

[shepherdsword]

It also needs to be a bit more specific than something you pull out of a Chinese fortune cookie. I struggle with prophecies that are so vague that you can just about read anything into them.