Prophets

Greetings in Christ, In reading some of the notes from the last couple of days, I figured I'd write a note. It seems to me that prophets of the bible for the most part weren't involved in healing but the thing that they seem to always be involved with was repentance. Much of the wording in the scriptures involving prophets was very strong and critical of sin. In all the harsh language of the bible that the prophets used in speaking God's word, the harshness was ment to bring people back to God. In the scriptures when God spoke and speaks today in harsh words, the Word almost always brings the reader to a place where God is pleading with the sinner to come back to him. In Jeremiah the warnings got to a place where there was no more pleading until after the judgement though. It seems to me that usually people who demand titles are wanting to be looked up to. The Pharasees did that all the time. Why not live Jesus example of washing feet {being a servant}? Since we can't do anything without him {John 15:5}, why not take the seat {or title} of less prominence then when God shows up he gets all the glory instead of us. I'm not a prophet but if I was I still wouldn't want people to call me one. I've been allowed to preach a few thousand times but I still feel uncomfortable when someone asks me if I'm a preacher. No one can do anything spiritual without Jesus. It's not about us it's about him. God still forthtells through people. Once in prayer God said the wall in Berlin was coming down. A few years later it was still there and I started wondering if God was just my imagination. I said to the Lord one day, "God are you really real or are you just my imagination"? I was much relieved when the day came that the wall went down. Thank you Jesus. Another time a letter came to my pastor that said in 6 months the church would double. A couple of years later it did double but not when I expected the 6 months to be. The prophesy came true but not in the way I figured it would. The real purpose of a prophet today would be the same as in the Old Testament, to bring people to a place of repentance. The only way that can happen is to have an unction from the Holy One. 1 John 2:20. The only way to have an unction is to be close to the Holy One {Jesus} through prayer. The true Prophet is close to God and because of this is able to speak a Word from God that might bring people to repentance. Just because it is God's Word doesn't mean the people will hear it. With all this in mind, consider that Charles Finney wrote a small paper describing revival. What is Revival. He wrote that revival presupposes that the Church is in a backslidden condition. He declared that the Church in a backslidden condition had no more consern for the lost than ordinary trees. When the Church revives it prays for the lost {even our enemies} and carries them into the Throne of Grace. A true prophet today would possibly use a two-edged sword on this easy chair Christianity and cut it to pieces like Samuel did Agag. Oh God help us.GaryE

What about Elijah and Elisha? >>>>>>>>>>The real purpose of a prophet today would be the same as in the Old Testament, to bring people to a place of repentance. The only way that can happen is to have an unction from the Holy One. 1 John 2:20. The only way to have an unction is to be close to the Holy One {Jesus} through prayer. The true Prophet is close to God and because of this is able to speak a Word from God that might bring people to repentance. Just because it is God's Word doesn't mean the people will hear it.>>>>>>>>>>>What do we do with 1 Cor 14---the whole chapetr especiall y verse 37?

Brother Gary you wrote:"It seems to me that prophets of the bible for the most part weren't involved in healing but the thing that they seem to always be involved with was repentance".i know in what context you've stated the above ... But to me ... "repentance is the greatest kind of healing"

dohzman wrote:The real purpose of a prophet today would be the same as in the Old Testament, to bring people to a place of repentance. Hi Darryl, Can you please show me where that is established scripturally? My spiritual posture in asking this question is flat on my face, now you know where I'm coming from.

I was quoting above there that's why you see >>>>> on either sides of that comment. I Still can't figure out how to place peoples comments in smaller letters so I can address them. Look at it again and you'll see what I was saying.

Most descriptions I see of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers fall horriably short. The purpose of the apostle is not to plant churches and take the gospel to new places. The purpose of prophets is not to call men to repentance. The purpose of evangelists is not to save souls. The purpose of a pastor is not to shepherd. The purpose of the teacher is not to teach. Rather, the purpose of all ministers is to see Christ established. This is the proper theological center and point of dialogue that all talk of ministry should begin around. Too often it is taken for granted, assumed, and therefore, missing from the big picture altogether. Thus, even those serving within these ministries often forget whom they are there for.

Most descriptions I see of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers fall horriably short. The purpose of the apostle is not to plant churches and take the gospel to new places. The purpose of prophets is not to call men to repentance. The purpose of evangelists is not to save souls. The purpose of a pastor is not to shepherd. The purpose of the teacher is not to teach.Rather, the purpose of all ministers is to see Christ established.Amen brother! Amen! I hope I won't make powerless what you said by using this example, but it came to mind:The main goal of a mechanic is not to use his tools but to fix the car. Prophets, apostles, evangelists, teachers...the ultimate purpose of their lives is not to use their gifts, but to establish Christ. That doesn't mean prophets etc. don't need certain gifts or certain skills or need to have certain minor purposes. It means they should ever fix their eyes on Jesus and to see Him being exalted.We truly need men of God, we trule need prophets. But these prophets need to be like Moses and Elijah...they step down (or better said: they return Home :-)) as soon as God reveals His truth: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!...When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only." (Matthew 17:5,8)The christian-world in general doesn't want "Jesus alone" anymore. They rather have Moses and Elijah than Jesus. They want the miracles, the charisma, the powerful message, the experience...is Jesus enough? God didn't ask us to be beautiful, well-made, pretty looking vessels...He says we are to be like "jars of clay" or "earthen vessels". Can Jesus be seen in my life, can He be established in my ministry or do people only see my gifts, my talents and my eloquence?By the way, I made this post solely as a comment to Jimmy's post, so I didn't respond to any other comment that has been made. With that I mean...I'm not attacking or trying to lessen what has been said. I know I can learn a lot of you my brothers and sisters (i'm so thankful for this site!)...These are only my 2 cents...Blessing in the name of our Lord. In Him,Paul

Rather, the purpose of all ministers is to see Christ established. This is the proper theological center and point of dialogue that all talk of ministry should begin around. Too often it is taken for granted, assumed, and therefore, missing from the big picture altogether. Thus, even those serving within these ministries often forget whom they are there for. Prophets, apostles, evangelists, teachers...the ultimate purpose of their lives is not to use their gifts, but to establish Christ. That doesn't mean prophets etc. don't need certain gifts or certain skills or need to have certain minor purposes. It means they should ever fix their eyes on Jesus and to see Him being exalted.The christian-world in general doesn't want "Jesus alone" anymore. They rather have Moses and Elijah than Jesus. They want the miracles, the charisma, the powerful message, the experience...is Jesus enough? God didn't ask us to be beautiful, well-made, pretty looking vessels...He says we are to be like "jars of clay" or "earthen vessels". Can Jesus be seen in my life, can He be established in my ministry or do people only see my gifts, my talents and my eloquence?Gentlemen this is manner straight from heaven! If we truly had a revelation of Jesus Christ we would have no confidence not only in our own flesh but in that of other believers. The Church today cares not for Christ or the will of God. I wonder if our prophets today could bare, like Elijah to minister to just one and one boy for three years while the rest of the world starves simply because they had rightly received and discerned the Lord’s will in prayer, or if the would be itching to demonstrate, ‘their’ rain-stopping, fire-sending powers. What is necessary is not what we perceive with these natural eyes, but what is necessary is the will of God, and for that He has employed different kinds of ministers so that where the whole body of Christ truly activated, then and only then could we be an expression of Christ. Even the ‘best’ prophet can only prophesy ‘in part’, but we all collectively are built into the perfect measure of a Man (Jesus Christ).James

I wonder if our prophets today could bare, like Elijah to minister to just one and one boy for three years while the rest of the world starves simply because they had rightly received and discerned the Lord’s will in prayer, or if the would be itching to demonstrate, ‘their’ rain-stopping, fire-sending powers.Great thought! In my own ministry I've had to die to this. I must realize my primary ministry is unto the Lord, and not unto the people.

Hi Dohzman,I Still can't figure out how to place peoples comments in smaller letters so I can address them.Here's a couple of short links in this regard;Question on QuotingHow to insert quotesThere is a more in depth posting regarding all of this somewhere, covering a lot the HTML and so forth. Let us know if you need more help with this brother.

It seems to me that usually people who demand titles are wanting to be looked up to. The Pharasees did that all the time. Why not live Jesus example of washing feet {being a servant}? Since we can't do anything without him {John 15:5}, why not take the seat {or title} of less prominence then when God shows up he gets all the glory instead of us. I'm not a prophet but if I was I still wouldn't want people to call me one. I've been allowed to preach a few thousand times but I still feel uncomfortable when someone asks me if I'm a preacher. No one can do anything spiritual without Jesus. It's not about us it's about him.paul referred to himself as an apostle of jesus and preacher also. This was not an attempt to exhault himself but a statement to let people know what authority he had to speak. saying I am a prophet doesn't mean that I want to be called that or want to be exhaulted but it is a statement that ties to God whatever revelations I have to share with the body of believers. If I were to come out and say "God said to say XYZ' everyone would ask "how do you have such authority? are you an evangelist apostle prophet etc" see what I mean?