HOW IT WORKS
The prophetic word or insight can come in different ways. First is by God’s spirit speaking directly through words, thoughts and insights; by dreams or visions; or by Him applying a scripture to “now,” for example.
However, one can also have a prophetic sense of things through gifting that instructs them about where things are going based on past and present actions and directions. The life experiences of years enriches that. We need that too.
Both are of Him and are for His Body. And either can produce a message in the spirit of Neh. 9:26 (last post), which is to turn God’s people back to Him, or for edification, exhortation or consolation as in I Cor. 14:3 (nasb).
THE QUESTIONS
Can we come even close to the maturity of Eph. 4:11-16 without all the ministries functioning in their proper role? Can we be relevant to our changing world, and equipped to represent God’s heart, without them? https://biblia.com/bible/esv/ephesians/4/11-16
Why are prophets presented in the Word as part of the Church if God doesn’t intend them to be active today?
THE PROBLEM
Part of the problem in many churches is that preachers and leaders assume an elite status that diminishes the Body of Christ as a priesthood of gifted believers.
Another problem is that by its very nature, the prophetic word often disturbs the pseudo peace that is in the church by virtue of the lethargy of its members and/or the control of its leaders. “Don’t rock the boat, we have everything under control.” Well said.
THE PROPHET
I call Jer. 20:9 “The prophets dilemma” because it describes how those with this calling find it painful to not say what they are given, even knowing the predictable response by those with vested interests and power. https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/20-9.htm
This ministry isn’t for the cowardly, the social butterfly flitting from compliment to compliment, or the schmoozer. They do well to study Ezek. 2 and 3 because today’s church is of much the same mind as Zeke’s audience. https://biblia.com/bible/esv/ezekiel-2–3 Righteous anger toward their obstinate hearts is appropriate.
Ken Stoltzfus
Kidron, Ohio USA
January 9, 2022
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