Monday, September 29, 2008

Is there still prophesy?



Despise not prophesyings.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
(1 Thessalonians 5:20-22)

Prophesy is something argued over by many people within the church today. The Cessasionist say that it doesn't exist, the charismatic believes God is ordaining new prophets to prophesy the evils in the world away. What do I believe? Where is my stance on this?

I believe that prophesy still exist, but our times today paint a bad picture about prophesy. See, I understand that in the scripture I listed above is in the Present Active Imperative. This means it happened in that present time. But I want to pose to you something:

How is it that a pastor knows what God is leading His sheep to do? Is he looking through the bible and asking God to tell him what to do? I mean, how does he know what God is saying about the current state of the sheep he is feeding? Looking at the root word of prophesy is the Greek tranliteration prophētēs pro-fā'-tās. This means the following:


1) in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things
2) one who, moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman, solemnly declares to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation
a) the OT prophets, having foretold the kingdom, deeds and death, of Jesus the Messiah.
b) of John the Baptist, the herald of Jesus the Messiah
c) of the illustrious prophet, the Jews expected before the advent of the Messiah
d) the Messiah
e) of men filled with the Spirit of God, who by God's authority and command in words of weight pleads the cause of God and urges salvation of men
f) of prophets that appeared in the apostolic age among Christians
1) they are associated with the apostles
2) they discerned and did what is best for the Christian cause, foretelling certain future events. (Acts 11:27)
3) in the religious assemblies of the Christians, they were moved by the Holy Spirit to speak, having power to instruct, comfort, encourage, rebuke, convict, and stimulate, their hearers
3) a poet (because poets were believed to sing under divine inspiration)
a) of Epimenides (Tit. 1:12

This brings a couple of questions to my mind. Why cannot prophesy still exist? If God is appointing shepherds after His own heart, how are they hearing from Jesus Christ? I think there is a wrong idea of what prophesy truly is. I believe strongly God can speak to a Christian's mind about upcoming events. I'm not talking all mystical, pyschic stuff we see on TBN and from false prophets and apostles (I don't believe God is calling no Apostles either i.e Mr Fred Price). I am speaking of God impressing upon the mind of a saint that there church building is going to be destroyed, they should move now. Pastor John Coleman gave a power prophetic sermon Don't Blame Me, and the exact event that Jesus Christ impressed upon him took place. Was this not of God?

In biblical eschatology, there are going to be two witnesses that appear and they will prophesy? So if prophesy is ceased, where is their prophesy coming from? God or the devil?

And I will give [power] unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days, clothed in sackcloth (Revelation 11:3)

I will not leave you with just one side of it. Here's a good sermon by Pastor Thomas Leakes on the two ceased gifts. Go to HopeBibleChurch and locate 'Two Foundational Gifts Which Ceased". Check it out and let the scriptures truly teach you the truth.


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