28 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.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
We know that God is the same today, yesterday, and forever. I'm honored to be part of a forum in which everyone believes that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still operational within the body of Christ. Yet, not all who believe in the gifts seem to agree in the role or validity of prophets. That is to say, modern day prophets. Surely they exist, even today. Just as surely as the fact that many who claim to be prophets today are often confused, misguided, delusional, or fraudulent. It's pretty obvious that many who claim to be prophets today were never called by God. Yet I'm quite certain that there are at least a few genuine prophets walking among the churches today. Verse 28 in the passage above declares that God has set prophets within the church.
I feel it might be edifying to have a discussion about prophets. This thread doesn't need to become controversial, although I suppose this subject has that potential. If it does, we'll cross that bridge when it comes.
My purpose for starting this thread is to compare what each of us believes and understands about God's promise to set prophets within the church. To get the conversation going, let me throw out a few questions to think about...
What is the role of a prophet?
Are true prophets of God right about everything they say? Or are they human vessels through whom God sometimes speaks or writes through? If only sometimes, how can others know when God is speaking or writing through them?
Can a true prophet start out right, and then become corrupted? Was Balaam once a true prophet of God?
How does a true prophet of God know when he is speaking or writing under the unction of the Holy Spirit?
Will God reveal to us who His true prophets are within the churches? If so, how does He do so?
If God reveals to us that someone is a true prophet of God, should we believe everything they ever speak or write? Why or why not? If not, how do we know when to dismiss their message?
There may be hundreds of questions worth asking on this subject; but I don't want to make this first post too long. Please feel free to add more questions, or comment on any of the ones already listed.
May God richly bless this discussion for the glory of Christ, and for the edification of the body.
blessings,
Blane
Comment