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

[ServantofTruth]

Right! Visiting Pastor says I'm not a prophet but I prophetise this church will do great things. It will be huge in the local community and bring many to Christ.

Sounds great? The problem is the local community, as far as I can see, knows nothing about the change of church name. There has been nothing in the local paper. Church events I attended before joining, last year, were attended by other Christians from other local churches.

Now we're back down to 40 to 45 people a week! I only found out about the church because like most Christians I now have friends in other churches. One particular friend is a church hopper/ church gypsy? I have joined him a few times.

We all agree this comes down to the Holy Spirit. Far too often it appears what people say in church is ego led, rather than Spirit led. Because the Spirit of God doesn't speak like humans, with pride etc, but love.

I feel the Spirit called me out of my previous church into the Pentecostal churches. I intend remaining in the Pentecostal churches. I'm going to give this church a few more weeks/ perhaps months. But am doing an Alpha course at a larger Pentecostal church starting next thursday. Perhaps my future lies there? Or at the free church I went to tonight again. These days I am Spirit led. I will only move if i am called to by the Spirit within. SofTy.

[chad]

I guess thats why Prophecies need to be verified.

As Bob has stated in his post.

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.

We often get caught up in the prophesy, that we often forget about the verification part.

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.

[tango]

Coming a little late to this but here goes anyway.

I see a prophet as someone who is given messages to pass on to people, which are divinely inspired. These may be in the form of words of wisdom, insights that would not be available other than by supernatural provision, visions, dreams etc.

The instruction "encourage each other" is, in some ways, a very generic piece of advice taken from Scripture and which can be given by anyone regardless of their gifting. But if the church in question was having a hard time and the reason was that behind the scenes people were not encouraging each other, it is entirely possible that such an instruction came from God.

Prophecy without love is nothing, as Paul wrote in 1Co13. I don't doubt that there are people who announce that "God has told me that..." in order to make themselves look good or to bolster their own argument.

When we see advice like "by their fruits shall ye know them", it is clear that we are all expected to show the fruit of the Spirit. If someone does not show the fruit of the Spirit then we must be careful if they are apparently showing the gifts of the Spirit.

[Bob Carabbio]

"Prophecy without love is nothing,"

ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE -

The text cited is specific about what is "nothing" without love - and it's the prophet - NOT the prophesy which is (if it's real) a Word FROM God, and NOTHING "from God" will EVER be "nothing".

Baalam was nothing, but his prophesies were some of the the earliest "words" referring to the coming Messiah - even as he conspired with Balak to destroy the people God had him bless.

Bear in mind that when YOU have spoken in an unknown tongue, and in it, delivered an accurate prophetic Word - that SAVED the life of the person you prophesied to - you've only operated at the same spiritual level that Baalam's Ass did in the Old Testament.

"Gifts" say NOTHING about the "spiritual quality" of the one manifesting them, and ONLY speak of the grace and power of God.

[shepherdsword]

Hmmmmmm

I Cor

13 If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal.
2If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would I be? And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody.
3If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.
4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud
5or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.
6It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
8Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will all disappear.
9Now we know only a little, and even the gift of prophecy reveals little!
10But when the end comes, these special gifts will all disappear.
11It’s like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.
12Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now.
13There are three things that will endure—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.


I think most of us understood where Tango was coming from

[Spirit Driven]

Those who have already been brought to the relisation of the Truth...will know that the link I have supplied below, defines what a true prophet of God is, in todays World.

You will know the Prophets of God, only after you have done away with them.

Nobody listens to them, and they are often stoned to death....nothing has changed over human history.

http://tentmaker.org/articles/prophet.html

Peace

[disciple831]

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.

A prophet is someone who speaks the word of God. but test the fruit of that prophet, to find out if the words that He speaks is from God. Faith, love and peace is all you need JESUS has done all the hard work. Amen.!!!!

[disciple831]

Those who have already been brought to the relisation of the Truth...will know that the link I have supplied below, defines what a true prophet of God is, in todays World.

You will know the Prophets of God, only after you have done away with them.

Nobody listens to them, and they are often stoned to death....nothing has changed over human history.

http://tentmaker.org/articles/prophet.html

Peace

Amen, Amen, AMEN. Faith, love and peace is all you need JESUS has done all the hard work. Amen.!!!

[disciple831]

Right! Visiting Pastor says I'm not a prophet but I prophetise this church will do great things. It will be huge in the local community and bring many to Christ.

Sounds great? The problem is the local community, as far as I can see, knows nothing about the change of church name. There has been nothing in the local paper. Church events I attended before joining, last year, were attended by other Christians from other local churches.

Now we're back down to 40 to 45 people a week! I only found out about the church because like most Christians I now have friends in other churches. One particular friend is a church hopper/ church gypsy? I have joined him a few times.

We all agree this comes down to the Holy Spirit. Far too often it appears what people say in church is ego led, rather than Spirit led. Because the Spirit of God doesn't speak like humans, with pride etc, but love.

I feel the Spirit called me out of my previous church into the Pentecostal churches. I intend remaining in the Pentecostal churches. I'm going to give this church a few more weeks/ perhaps months. But am doing an Alpha course at a larger Pentecostal church starting next thursday. Perhaps my future lies there? Or at the free church I went to tonight again. These days I am Spirit led. I will only move if i am called to by the Spirit within. SofTy.

why don't you have church in your house? Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, so the words that Jesus spoke is the same yesterday, today and forever, and you will find the words of Jesus in the Gospels, Mathew, Mark, Luke and especially JOHN, the disciple who Jesus loved, the disciple who God gave His reverlation to write, the disciple who put His head on Jesus' chest, and heard the very heart beet of GOD, the disciple who Jesus entrusted his mother to when He said, " son your mother, mother your son". So this gospel has got His credentials from God. so its a good place to start. Amen? When you then study the words that Jesus spoke, discipleship starts, just like Jesus said, " If you remain faithfull to My teachings, then you are My disciples, then you shall know the truth and the truth will make you FREE". glory to God, hope this message will encourage and strengthen you. Faith, love and peace is all you need Jesus has done all the hard work. Amen.!!!

[Veretax]

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 still studying 1 Corinthians, but in the last month I've come to the belief that when Paul talks about the gift of prophets or prophecy that his not talking about foreknowledge or predictions like some today would think. Paul basically defines prophecy as that which Edifies the body of Christ, so I would say based on that, that a Prophet then needs be a person gifted by God for the ministry of Edifying and building up the body of Christ.

Is that too simple a definition? I also think that men in the bible who were prophets spoke only when moved to by the Holy Spirit, but I'm not 100% certain that is correct at the moment.

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

I think a better way say this is that Prophecy may sound preachy. or rather a person who is preaching may also be prophesying, but preaching covers a vast number of things other than prophecy. If you look at 2 Tim 3:16 there are a list of ways the bible is given and I think preaching covers many of these areas where it may not be directly prophecy.

[Bob Carabbio]

That's true - the prophesy - AS a direct Word from God through the Holy Spirit should be significant.

My wife received the SAME prophesy from two different and completely unrelated people, neither of whom we'd ever met, and about a month apart. The prophesy was: "LET GO!"

If you knew the circumstances you'd know how UTTERLY CRUCIAL it was for that instruction be followed.

Another one from two years ago year was also shoet and sweet - came at a time when we (the deacon board) were SERIOUSLY considering shutting down the church - since it didn't seem possible that it would survive. It was: "EVERYTHING YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, I KNOW"!

And we sensed the PEACE in that, and the HE had things in control. we just passed 100 in service about 1 month ago, and thing continue to improve.

The last prophesy I personally gave (in a different church) was also in a desperate situation - we were 25 and shrinking, and we were on the verge of losing the property that we'd bought.

It was not a Unique message - essentially :"I will build my church and you will see it accomplished, follow me and my direction, and don't worry about the details". A few years later, in '99 we moved into it with 400 people, and about 2 years ago all $2 mil was paid off and it's running 650. Another brother confirmed that he'd gotten the same message but wasn't burdened to speak it.

[Bob Carabbio]

Same message - it's the minister who's "nothing" not the "ministry" he gives.

[shepherdsword]

I'm still studying 1 Corinthians, but in the last month I've come to the belief that when Paul talks about the gift of prophets or prophecy that his not talking about foreknowledge or predictions like some today would think. Paul basically defines prophecy as that which Edifies the body of Christ, so I would say based on that, that a Prophet then needs be a person gifted by God for the ministry of Edifying and building up the body of Christ.

There are some verses that seem to state that a prophecy can sometimes reveal the inner thoughts of the hearts of people as well.

1Cor 14:
4But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or [one] unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25And 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.

Is that too simple a definition? I also think that men in the bible who were prophets spoke only when moved to by the Holy Spirit, but I'm not 100% certain that is correct at the moment.

.

They were held to strict accountability. If their prophecies proved false then they were to be put to death.

[Veretax]

There are some verses that seem to state that a prophecy can sometimes reveal the inner thoughts of the hearts of people as well.

1Cor 14:
4But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or [one] unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25And 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.

See I don't read that the way your implying, that specific prophecy would find the unbeliever's inner thoughts exposed to the crowd, more likely hearing the word of God, he would fall under the conviction of the holy Spirit, and then would realize the secrets of his heart and his sin condition and then hearing the prescription of salvation. The point being that God's word cuts to the heart, God's word applies to everyone.

[ServantofTruth]

As stated on the forums already, I am now dealing with my questions privately in the talk to the ministers section and in real life with the church concerned.

I was unwise in what I posted originally and was corrected by mature Christian friends in love. My appologies to anyone who I offended. SofTy.