The Prophetic Messenger
A Newsletter From Mysteries From The Word Of God MinistriesMarch/April 2010 - Volume 12/Issue 2
Today's Prophet - Part I
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. I Corinthians 12:28In this issue of The Prophetic Messenger, we will start a message titled "Today's Prophet."
1. The Office Of A Prophet
The prophetic ministry is the second office of the church. In I Corinthians 12:28 it says "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues." Also in Ephesians 4:11-12 it says "11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"Here are three Hebrew words that are used for prophets:
- nabu - an announcer or declarer.
- roeh - one who sees.
- Hazon - is the word used for the prophetical vision.
2. Names Of New Testament Prophets
There are several prophets mentioned in the New Testament. Here is a list of some of them.- John the Baptist - in Matthew 11:7-9 it says "7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet." Also, in Luke 1:76 it says "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;"
- Agabus - in Acts 11:27-28 it says "27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar."
- Judas - in Acts 15:32 it says "And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them."
- Silas - in Acts 15:32 it says "And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them."
3. The Gift of Prophecy vs. The Office of a Prophet
There is some confusion about the gift of prophecy and the office of the prophet. The gift of prophecy is one of the nine gifts of the Spirit that the apostle Paul shares in I Corinthians 12. In I Corinthians 12:8-10 it says "8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:" In I Corinthians 14 Paul shares how this gift is used in the church. In I Corinthians 14:3-4 it says "3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church."In closing, confusion comes in when a person who is operating in the gift of prophecy thinks that makes him or her a prophet or prophetess, but we must understand that the gifts of the Spirit are not the same as the offices in the church. Yes, a prophet can operate in the gifts of the Spirit, but just because a person is used in the gifts of the Spirit does not make that person a prophet or prophetess.