Nevertheless, we have a treasure in jars of clay (2 Cor. 4:6-7 ). And as Romans 6, 7 and 8 makes clear, we are still a mixture of flesh and Spirit - water and wine, so to speak.
Thus, Paul - in the midst of instructing the Corinthians on the place, purpose and practice of the spiritual gifts - says: [/align] (1 Corinthians 13:9-12 NIV) For we know in part and we prophesy in part, {10} but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. {11} When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. {12} Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. [/align]
This is why all prophecy must be tested: [/align] (1 Corinthians 14:29 NIV) Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. [/align]
Again, the context of this statement is Paul's discussion on the spiritual gifts. He is not talking about the office of ''prophet'' - someone established by God in a position of spiritual authority - but rather about people who use the spiritual gifts (and specifically the gift of prophecy) as listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 . [/align] In today's church, however, there are some who see a restoration of the so-called five-fold ministry, and who believe that the church again includes certain people who occupy the office of ''prophet.''[/align]
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country
with haste, into a city of Juda;
And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation
of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled
with the Holy Ghost:
And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou
among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should
come to me?
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
There is no doubt in my mind that there are those today that prophesie. I have witnessed true prophesy on several occasion. I know of a couple of folk that if they give a prophesy, you may as well get ready, it's coming to pass. I had a preacher once tell me of things I had done and how it was affecting me now and what would come to pass if I did'nt do something about it. I wasn't from the state where I was at . . .several states over as a matter of fact, . .and I was with no one. No one knew me. The word he gave me was not one that could have applied to very many people. He flat out had a spiritual gift. This isn't an isolated incident as I have known of these thing and seen them first hand on several occasions. As a matter of fact, all of what I have considered true prophesy that I have ever witnessed was edifying to an individual or the church as a whole.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Question: "Are there prophets in the church today?"
Answer: The gift of prophet seems to have been a temporary gift given by the Christ for the laying of the foundation of the church. Prophets were foundational to the church (Ephesians 2:20). The prophet proclaimed a message from the Lord to the early believers. Sometimes a prophet"s message was revelatory (new revelation and truth from God) and sometimes a prophet"s message was predictive (see Acts 11:28 and 21:10). The early Christians did not have the complete Bible. Some early Christians did not have access to any of the books of the New Testament. The New Testament prophets "filled the gap" by proclaiming God"s message to the people who would not have access to it otherwise. The last book of the New Testament (Revelation) was not completed until late in the first century. So, the Lord sent prophets to proclaimed God"s Word to His people.
Are there true prophets today? If the purpose of a prophet was to reveal truth from God, why would we need prophets if we have the completed revelation from God in the Bible? If prophets were the "foundation" of the early church, are we still building the "foundation" today? No, I do not think so. Do I believe God can give someone a message to deliver to someone else? Absolutely! Do I believe God can reveal truth to someone in a supernatural way and enable that person to deliver that message to others? Absolutely! Do I believe this is the Biblical gift of prophecy? No.[/align]
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
PROPHECY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
In the New Testament, God was revealed definitively through Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Hebrews 1; John 1:18). When people saw Jesus in action, their reaction was generally that he was a prophet (Mark 6:15; 8:11; Matt 21:11-46; Luke 7:16,39; John 4:19; 6:14; 7:40-52; 9:17); that's why the leaders demanded a sign, so he could be tested as a prophet. So too the disciples (Luke 24:19). While that wasn't how Jesus primarily described his role, He saw himself as being in their ranks (Luke 13:33; Matt 23:31-39; by inference, also Mark 6:4; Luke 4:24; John 4:44). In Matt 7:22, Jesus cites prophecy as one of the foremost of works; prophecy in that instance is being claimed by those who did prophet-like things but did not do what God willed. At Pentecost ( Acts 2), the Spirit became God's active presence among us. This was specifically marked by reference to the prophecy of Joel ( Joel 2:28) that prophecy would become commonplace in the new era begun at Pentecost. The early church was marked by prophecy: Acts 21:9; 13:1; 11:27-30; 21:10; 15:32, 19:6; also the presence of prophecy is assumed in 1 Thessalonians 5:20 and Romans 12:6. Paul considered prophecy one of the charismata (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12), and even as a higher gift much to be sought (1 Cor 14), an office established by God (1 Cor 12:28). Paul himself waxed prophetic in 1 Cor 15:51-58; he even describes prophecy's vibrant power to convict ( 1 Corinthians 14:24,25). It is key particularly to the church in Ephesus (Acts 19:6; Ephesians 2:20; 3:5; 4:11). Lastly, Revelation treats prophecy very prominently (Revelation 11:18; 16:6; 18:20-24; 22:9), and even sees itself as a prophetic writing (Rev 22).
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
It certainly doesn't take a prophet to prophesy. Prophecy is a call to a person to deliver a specific revealed message. The one who speaks it is not responsible for the response, only for its delivery. God can choose anyone to speak a needed truth, even a donkey, as Balaam found out. Amos, the first of the so-called 'minor' prophets, wasn't a career prophet but a herdsman and tree-tender who obeyed God's call to prophesy on a few brief but very important occasions. Look at Philip's daughters. Or Joel's prophecy about the era to come which came at Pentecost, in which "just folks" prophesied.
God can make anyone prophesy, but being a prophet is a much more serious matter. A prophet is one who has not only been given the gift of prophecy, but also its task, its calling, and its special burden.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Prophet vs prophesy??
). And as Romans 6, 7 and 8 
