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Prophets alive today?

R
rreighe

I was talking to one of my freinds who goes to the new church i was talking about on the Emerging Church Is Now thread and my freind was talking about how some prophet visited thier (before i went) church and he prophesised in God's name and then revived a church that was in a near by city. my freind also said that the prophets are still alive today but they are in hiding and have to keep it a secret. why do they have to keep it a secret? is it the UN and the New Age that would try to kill/assasinate them? or are the concerned that people would think of them as a false prophet? i realy dont have a clue. also the church i was talking about that he visited was the GOOD church i go to. the one that is BIBLICAL and NOT New Age-ish like my other sunday chuch. please help me understand this matter.

ps i would love to meet or become one (God/Jesus/Holy Spirit's prophet) that would be awsome!

P
PaulWest

i would love to meet or become one (God/Jesus/Holy Spirit's prophet) that would be awsome

According to the definition of "prophet", whenever you see and hear a man speak forth the will of God, you are experiencing prophesy. Prophesy is not relegated to merely telling the future, as we see here in North America.

T
TaylorOtwell

I agree with Brother Paul. This is historically acurate as well. An old Puritan preaching guide is called "The Art of Prophesying". The verbal proclamation of the Lord's truth is prophecy. Notice also that Paul calls an unbeliever a prophet, who was simply describing the condition of his kinsmen.

With care in Christ,
Taylor

S
sermonindex

There are prophets for today but they are few and far between.

W
wayneman


TaylorOtwell wrote:
I agree with Brother Paul. This is historically acurate as well. An old Puritan preaching guide is called "The Art of Prophesying". The verbal proclamation of the Lord's truth is prophecy. Notice also that Paul calls an unbeliever a prophet, who was simply describing the condition of his kinsmen.

With care in Christ,
Taylor

"The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy." Rev. 19;10

But are there people in the church today that have the gift of prophecy described in I. Cor. 12-14? There are some interesting anecdotes from reliable sources--Chuck Smith, for example. And someone prophesied over Reagan that he would be president one day, years before it came to pass. But does anyone have any first-hand accounts of the gift of prophecy in use today?

S
Smokey


The office of prophet is a legitimate office that should still be active today.

Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

I believe that the reason we do not see "genuine, from the mind of God" prophets today, is that there are so very few true Christians alive today. Jesus asks the following question in Luke 8:8.
Luk 18:8B Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Also we have to ponder the statement of Jesus In Matthew 7:21-23

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Blessings Greg :-o

L
Lysa

rreighe wrote:
my freind also said that the prophets are still alive today but they are in hiding and have to keep it a secret. why do they have to keep it a secret? is it the UN and the New Age that would try to kill/assasinate them? or are the concerned that people would think of them as a false prophet? i realy dont have a clue. ...please help me understand this matter.

Dear brother, let's always weigh what others say to the word of God! That statement your friend made is so false it's not even funny. It's from the figment of somebody's imagination. Yes, there are true prophets today but they are [b]not[/b] hiding. The very idea they have to hide is not even Biblical. (And my personal opinion is that a true prophet does not have to advertise in the back of charasmatic magazines.)

***Jeremiah 13.10, 23.17; Luke 1.51; Romans 1.21; 2 Cor 10.5***

ps i would love to meet or become one (God/Jesus/Holy Spirit's prophet) that would be awsome!

I say this with all loves: Keep your eyes focused on Jesus and not on any prophets. Prophets are people and people fail us. Christ never fails!!

Paul, who was an apostle and a prophet, said the following:

[i]I count all things as loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, [b]and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ and be found in him,[/b] not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: [b]That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.[/b][/i]

This is what was important to the Apostle (and I dare say, prophet) Paul. Knowing HIM and the fellowship of HIS sufferings.

L
Lysa

PaulWest wrote:
According to the definition of "prophet", whenever you see and hear a man speak forth the will of God, you are experiencing prophesy. Prophesy is not relegated to merely telling the future, as we see here in North America.

I am not trying to hijack this thread. I'm not challenging you, Paul because I don't even know how you feel about this; I just wanted to challenge the "logic" of that definition...

[i]And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and [b]your daughters shall prophesy,[/b] your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:[/i]
Joel 2:28

[i]And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons [b]and your daughters shall prophesy,[/b] and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
And on my servants and [b]on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:[/i][/b]
Acts 2:17-18

[i]And the same man had [b]four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.[/b][/i]
Acts 21:9

It just seems to me that if more believed the Scriptures, they wouldn't be so hostile to women speaking forth the will of God!! :-D (huge grin) Hold the stones for another thread!!

P
PaulWest

Hold the stones for another thread

No stones here, sister. That topic indeed is for another thread. It is my belief that the art of prophesying need not always be behind a pulpit. In my experience, my most powerful times of speaking forth the mind of the Spirit into the life of another person has always been one-on-one. This is just as much the ministry and gift of "prophesy" as a man in a suit standing behind a pulpit.

W
wayneman

Hold the stones for another thread

Lysa,

All right, we'll let you off with a sponge-pelting this time!

Have you read "The Magna Carta of Women" by Jessie Penn-Lewis? It's right up your alley! :-D

http://lighthouselibrary.com/read.php?sel=3138&searchfor=||PENN-LEWIS, JESSIE||&type=&what=author

R
rreighe

you have seen in the Bible where it says Men but it is understood to be both men and wemon. who is to say that (sorry i haven't looked at your post in like a day so i forgot who posted it) that persion wasn't meaning the same way? plus this is totaly off subject. if you want to start a thread about wemon men equal rights you go ahead... this is to all of you.
this topic was for prophets that are alive today, not for gender equality. please....

R
rreighe

if yall think i want to meet a prophet so i can treat him like some famous persion that is just flat out wrong! i just think it would be a little cool. the prophet say "yeah this and this and this will happen, in order" and then this and this and this realy happen, in order it will just bring some excitement and do you know who many people will become God's after that? siriusly, think about it! MANY! and also there the Bishop, Priest, Evangelist, along with the Prophet and i have only met people of the first two. i have a feeling i am leaving someone else out but yeah... you get the idea i hope.

and do you have any idea of how humble Paul was? obviously alot which is amazing and it would just be so inspiring to meet somone that humble it would make me be like "yes!" and suff.

T
TaylorOtwell

No stones here, sister. That topic indeed is for another thread. It is my belief that the art of prophesying need not always be behind a pulpit. In my experience, my most powerful times of speaking forth the mind of the Spirit into the life of another person has always been one-on-one. This is just as much the ministry and gift of "prophesy" as a man in a suit standing behind a pulpit.

Ditto. I believe, Lysa, upon examining the Scriptures, prophecy is mentioned in many contexts outside of the weekly, Lord's Day assembly of the saints. Paul clearly gave guidelines for who must speak, who may speak, and must not speak in the weekly 1 Cor. 14 assembly. However, women can have a verbal ministry outside of that context, such as teaching the younger women per Titus 2.

With care in Christ,
Taylor

R
rreighe

........just an idea... i am not sure. not totally sure. remember i am 17. i was born in '91 so yeah...

S
sermonindex

Agreeing with Lysa here. They've never been in hiding. They're just part of Ephesians 4:11. Just part of the church ministries, no more - no less. Never to be lifted above the other 4 in that verse. All members of HIS Body are necessary - and not just those called to one of those 5.

Today - we're in the days that Jesus warned of.
There are more false-prophets than true.

The other mistake being made now-a-days is, confusing the gift of "prophesy" from 1 Corth 12 and Romans 12 with the calling of Eph 4.

Any Saint can prophesy Paul said. That never makes one a prophet by calling - but only fulfills the promises of Jesus to all of His Sheep.

Moderator Paul is correct in saying these days are filled with the belief that this calling is for "foretelling". A true Prophet draws the Saints away from man and points to The WORD of GOD, both the written Word and HE Who came in the flesh. Once there, then the Saints can read others with discernment of whether what they are reading or hearing lines up with The Word of GOD.

We can seek to prophesy, the Apostle Paul said - but we cannot pray to be called to 'be' a prophet. That is up to HIM. One must be called from the start to be any of the 5 in Eph 4.
Such a multitude who have 'usurped' any one of those 5 and slapped that label/title upon themselves... most especially the first two, "apostle & prophets" in these last days - just as Jesus said would happen. We need discernment more than any other generation that's lived. If there were 'anything' to pray for - it should be for discernment gained by The Word of GOD.

Seek Him for HIMSELF and whatever 'gift' in The Book, He can use you in - "as He wills" and 'when' He wills - when it is needed in the Body.
His concern is for the Boby's welfare - as it says from Eph 4:11-16. Those verses are very important in these last days and should be read slowly, for the mind of Christ for His Body... not just the individual's good.
The "gifts" are not the "callings" of Eph 4 and these 5 "callings" should Never make you dependent upon 'themselves', but point you to dependence on HIM - The Spirit of Truth will lead & guide you. They point you to HIM - all 5 will if they're genuine.

I believe Leonard Ravenhill said the rest of it best in his description of what a prophet is. We only disagree in where he asks "Where are they?"

They've never left HIS Church - but they're out-numbered these days by the counterfeit and if you haven't met one - it may be for one of the reasons that Brother Ravenhill mentions in his Message.

GOD Bless you.

H
HomeFree89

rreighe,

Forgive me if what I'm going to say has already been said, I have not read through this whole thread.

There is the gift of prophecy(1 Cor. 12-14), but I do not believe there are prophets like John the Baptist, etc. around today.

I believe the Bible shows that in Matt. 11:13, Luke 16:16, and Heb. 1-2.

This is something fairly new to me, so if I'm wrong, I would love to hear some other views.

S
sermonindex

Rather than edit the post I left, I should have put ""just" foretelling" in that sentence.
In the book of Acts we do see "foretelling" but that is not their primary focus.

Also just noticed a Member had brought up the "Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy". I'm sorry I hadn't read that far. Amen!
That is "the Spirit of Truth" as we see in John 16:13,14 that is known to "the Overcomers" through-out the Revelation of John.
That testimony/Spirit is in all that are His John 10 Sheep and not a calling nor a gift mentioned in those chpt.s mentioned above - that is about All Overcomers, called by HIS Name.

While typing these two posts, songs solely about the Cross have been playing on the radio [not a sparrow falls - no coincidences].

Ravenhill and so many of the others who's writings we see from the past or present "point to The Cross." Praise HIM!

L
Lysa

HomeFree89 wrote:
rreighe,

Forgive me if what I'm going to say has already been said, I have not read through this whole thread.

There is the gift of prophecy (1 Cor. 12-14), but I do not believe there are prophets like John the Baptist, etc. around today.

I believe the Bible shows that in Matt. 11:13, Luke 16:16, and Heb. 1-2.

This is something fairly new to me, so if I'm wrong, I would love to hear some other views.


If the gifts and the calling were completed by the apostles and even John then there would have been no reason for Paul [b]30 to 40 years later[/b] put them into the letter to the Corinthians. (1 Corinthians 12.28).

And also when Paul wrote to Ephesians 4.11 - 4.16.

God bless,

L
Lysa

thingsabove wrote:
There are prophets for today but they are few and far between.

Jesus-is-GOD wrote:
They've never left HIS Church - but they're out-numbered these days by the counterfeit and if you haven't met one - it may be for one of the reasons that Brother Ravenhill mentions in his Message.

Amen to thingsabove.

Jesus-is-God, I believe that one of the reasons a true prophet is outnumbered by the false is because they are humble and they dare not bring glory to themselves (as we see the multitude of the false doing).

It's been a while since I've heard Ravenhill's message but if you've never meet one, one of the reasons is because they don't go around advertising themselves (as we see the multitude of the false doing). And also because they have studied to be quiet, to do their own business and to work with their own hands (1 thess 4.11)!!

Some Christian circles believe that if you have the gift of prophesy, you are a prophet. These are usually those who have never met a true prophet! The gift of prophesy and the calling of a prophet are not one and the same.

And some Christian circles believe that if you have the gift of prophesy, you are a preacher/pastor. The gift of prophesy and the calling of a preacher/pastor are not one and the same either. Although the preacher/pastor can have the gift of prophesy but having the gift of prophesy does not automatically make one a pastor/preacher.

rreighe, I know you are only 17 but train yourself to listen only to the Holy Spirit. Please stay away from any seminars, conferences or "revivials" that put in their advertisment, "prophet so and so" will be here giving their message of "everything is beautiful" for the 600th time this year, love offering to follow your very own personal prophesy.

True prophets may seem outnumbered but I do not believe they are!

God bless you,

R
rreighe

m k. yeah... wow... thanks... alot...

i still wouldn't mind meeting one... but yeah just because i still do want to meet one doesn't meen i'm putting them any higher than anything or anyone else... which would be wrong. i just want to meet one, just like i'm sure you would want to meet a real pastor or such and such... maybe. might. hmm... (i'm thinking alot and making it obvious). well i can't think of much constructive to say so... thanks agian.

allan

M
murrcolr


HomeFree89 wrote:
rreighe,

Forgive me if what I'm going to say has already been said, I have not read through this whole thread.

There is the gift of prophecy(1 Cor. 12-14), but I do not believe there are prophets like John the Baptist, etc. around today.

I believe the Bible shows that in Matt. 11:13, Luke 16:16, and Heb. 1-2.

This is something fairly new to me, so if I'm wrong, I would love to hear some other views.

There are prophets around but there calling is not on the same level as John Baptist. When I say level I mean calling what they have been sent for.

What the need in the church is for a John the Baptist/Elijah type prophet to come. When he comes there will be no hiding him as a great move of God will also come.

1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Elijah came to challenge Gods people so the people would turn back to God.

1 Kings 18:30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

When the fire fell the people saw it and cried the out Elijah or "The Lord He is God". Even the prophets name meant what God was going to do through this man life. But the people turned back to the Lord. Elijah name means The Lord He is God

1 Kings 18:39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.

John the Baptist he came to prepare the way for the Lord. What does that mean to prepare away for the Lord. I beleieve this

Luke 1:16-17 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Know we can see the same calling here as was on Elijah, the way that God was going to prepare his people or turn them back to worship God. John was going to prepare a people for the Lord.

Know some might disagree that A Prophet like these men will come again but I believe he must come again to prepare a people again, just as Jesus will come again.

Also if we look at John's name or the meaning of his name you find it means Grace to you and that was what Gods message to us through this man Grace to you.

Know as we fast approach the end of the age we should be looking for a prophet to appear again. He will come to prepare a people. Is there anything in the bible to tell us what they are to be prepare for well of course Jesus coming back but is there anything else. In this current state the church Gods people are not ready for the days ahead God will send his man to prepare us so we can overcome the antichrist and be prepared for Jesus coming back as he is coming back for a church with out spot or wrinkle.

Rev 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God

Here we see a people in heaven that have come off victorious (Overcomers). God through this prophet is going to preapre a people that are going to be victorious over the beast, image and his mark. I beleive that the next Move of God thats coming will be the one that this work will be done in his people.

So my young friend you might just get a chance to meet a man like John/Elijah and his name will mean victorious people because this is the work God desires to do in his people and it's God message to his people through the prophet. That we will come off victorious over the beast, image and his mark.

God is good and his mercy endures forever.

V
Vakugal

Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"
Maybe we have come across a prophet and have not recognized him as one, though we recognize his blessing!?
Maybe like Melchizedek, his ministry was just a couple of sentence.
Apart from the scriptures who has recorded the prophets. Were they not hidden and addressing only those whom they were called to address?
maybe there are prophets that we are unable to identify becuse like John, they have decreased and Christ has increased.
The prophetic word as brother Paul has said is the word from God, meeting the need of man. it is the right word for the right time.
In the flesh there is great desire to hear futuristic prophesy, yet the prophetic voice of the Church, that Christ will come again has become a din that we have got used to. For it is said that he who truly recieves this will purify himself as HE is pure.
Yes we crave for some sort of sensationalism. We thing every body who can predict the future is from God!? And yes when we seek things other than knowing Christ, how easily we can be led to deception.
Deu 13:1 If a prophet rises among you, or a dreamer of dreams, and gives you a sign or a wonder,
Deu 13:2 and the sign or the wonder which he foretold to you occurs, saying, Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us serve them,
Deu 13:3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For Jehovah your God is testing you to know whether you love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Deu 13:4 You shall walk after Jehovah your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.
Was not Jonah a prophet and yet his prophetic word against Nineveh did not come to pass. But it did address the need and brought people to repentance.
If we walk with God and surrender our body to God daily, we too can walk with a prophetic word on our lips. It is the surrendered tongue that God uses. Trust God and He will make this so in our life. This is the good news that we can walk as Jesus walked.
1Co 12:31 But zealously strive after the better gifts. And yet I show to you a more excellent way.
1Co 13:13 And now faith, hope, charity, these three remain; but the greatest of these is charity.

S
sermonindex

Brother Murrclr - what if he already came?

I don't follow "a man" or lift any up, but consider that David Wilkerson wrote "The Vision" in 1974, which would be 35 yr.s ago.
And "Set the Trumpet to thy mouth" in 1985.
By 1977 "The Vision" was in it's 12th printing.
He later joined forces with Brother Ravenhill and Keith Green - contributing to Keith's "Last Days News Letter", in the early-mid 80's.

Look at David's biography some day - as to 'when' he was called to 'that city' NYC - and that his subtitle is "America is Modern Babylon" in "Set the Trumpet to thy mouth" on page 3 and said in that 1985 book on page 17 that "America will Not Repent".

That man has all but sweat blood and he knows his time is short, as someone had posted this - listen to his words closely and his hints and hesitations in this first link and the titles of the others in the second link.

http://media.tscnyc.org/wmedia/20090118S1.wma


From his sermon index: http://www.tscnyc.org/sermons.php

We believe we are in the last of the days - IN the "strong delusion" 2Thess 2 now and anti-Christ is about to appear at any time.

There is no more time for that type voice - except [i]from[/i] the overcomers - who have the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy.


Just my strong view - but I won't contend over it.
Thank you & GOD Bless.

S
sermonindex

Since bringing up Leonard Ravenhill, I thought that Allan would like to read what he had to say.

Could someone tell me what year Brother Ravenhill wrote this?

Thank you all.

_______________________________________________

[b]Picture of a Prophet [/b]

The prophet in his day is fully accepted of God and totally rejected by men.

"Years back, Dr. Gregory Mantle was right when he said, "No man can be fully accepted until he is totally rejected." The prophet of the Lord is aware of both these experiences. They are his "brand name."

The group, challenged by the prophet because they are smug and comfortably insulated from a perishing world in their warm but untested theology, is not likely to vote him "Man of the year" when he refers to them as habituates of the synagogue of Satan!

The prophet comes to set up that which is upset. His work is to call into line those who are out of line! He is unpopular because he opposes the popular in morality and spirituality. In a day of faceless politicians and voiceless preachers, there is not a more urgent national need than that we cry to God for a prophet! The function of the prophet, as Austin-Sparks once said, "has almost always been that of recovery."

The prophet is God's detective seeking for a lost treasure. The degree of his effectiveness is determined by his measure of unpopularity. Compromise is not known to him.
He has no price tags.
He is totally "otherworldly."
He is unquestionably controversial and unpardonably hostile.
He marches to another drummer!
He breathes the rarefied air of inspiration.
He is a "seer" who comes to lead the blind.
He lives in the heights of God and comes into the valley with a "thus saith
the Lord."
He shares some of the foreknowledge of God and so is aware of
impending judgment.
He lives in "splendid isolation."
He is forthright and outright, but he claims no birthright.
His message is "repent, be reconciled to God or else...!"
His prophecies are parried.
His truth brings torment, but his voice is never void.
He is the villain of today and the hero of tomorrow.
He is excommunicated while alive and exalted when dead!
He is dishonored with epithets when breathing and honored with
epitaphs when dead.
He is a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, but few "make the grade" in his class.
He is friendless while living and famous when dead.
He is against the establishment in ministry; then he is established as a saint
by posterity.
He eats daily the bread of affliction while he ministers, but he feeds the Bread of
Life to those who listen.
He walks before men for days but has walked before God for years.
He is a scourge to the nation before he is scourged by the nation.
He announces, pronounces, and denounces!
He has a heart like a volcano and his words are as fire.
He talks to men about God.
He carries the lamp of truth amongst heretics while he is lampooned by men.
He faces God before he faces men, but he is self-effacing.
He hides with God in the secret place, but he has nothing to hide in
the marketplace.
He is naturally sensitive but supernaturally spiritual.
He has passion, purpose and pugnacity.
He is ordained of God but disdained by men.

Our national need at this hour is not that the dollar recover its strength, or that we save face over the Watergate affair, or that we find the answer to the ecology problem. We need a God-sent prophet!

I am bombarded with talk or letters about the coming shortages in our national life: bread, fuel, energy. I read between the lines from people not practiced in scaring folk. They feel that the "seven years of plenty" are over for us. The "seven years of famine" are ahead. But the greatest famine of all in this nation at this given moment is a FAMINE OF THE HEARING OF THE WORDS OF GOD (Amos 8:11).

Millions have been spent on evangelism in the last twenty-five years. Hundreds of gospel messages streak through the air over the nation every day. Crusades have been held; healing meetings have made a vital contribution. "Come-outers" have "come out" and settled, too, without a nation-shaking revival. Organizers we have. Skilled preachers abound. Multi-million dollar Christian organizations straddle the nation. BUT where, oh where, is the prophet? Where are the incandescent men fresh from the holy place? Where is the Moses to plead in fasting before the holiness of the Lord for our moldy morality, our political perfidy, and sour and sick spirituality?

GOD'S MEN ARE IN HIDING UNTIL THE DAY OF THEIR SHOWING FORTH. They will come. The prophet is violated during his ministry, but he is vindicated by history.

There is a terrible vacuum in evangelical Christianity today. The missing person in our ranks is the prophet. The man with a terrible earnestness. The man totally otherworldly. The man rejected by other men, even other good men, because they consider him too austere, too severely committed, too negative and unsociable.

Let him be as plain as John the Baptist.
Let him for a season be a voice crying in the wilderness of modern theology and
stagnant "churchianity."
Let him be as selfless as Paul the apostle.
Let him, too, say and live, "This ONE thing I do."
Let him reject ecclesiastical favors.
Let him be self-abasing, nonself-seeking, nonself-projecting, nonself- righteous,
nonself-glorying, nonself-promoting.
Let him say nothing that will draw men to himself but only that which will move
men to God.
Let him come daily from the throne room of a holy God, the place where he has
received the order of the day.
Let him, under God, unstop the ears of the millions who are deaf through the
clatter of shekels milked from this hour of material mesmerism.
Let him cry with a voice this century has not heard because he has seen a vision
no man in this century has seen. God send us this Moses to lead us from the
wilderness of crass materialism, where the rattlesnakes of lust bite us and where
enlightened men, totally blind spiritually, lead us to an ever-nearing Armageddon.

God have mercy! Send us PROPHETS!"

R
rreighe

do you know of any other sites other than contenderministries that has a thing about the prophecys that are fufilled thus far and which ones are needed to be fuffiled... contender ministries hasn't been updated in a long time and they are falling behind because it is a wife and husband that are doing all the work for the site.

i know that matthew 24:5-11 has most of it fuffiled... [url=http://contenderministries.org/prophecy/endtimes.php]HERE[/url] is a good place to start. but i cannot watch every bit of news to see which is which. and yall are older and have had more experience... i'm looking but there is just so much it is insaine... if we work together for this we can maybe figure it out. wait... we ARE helping eachother... haha. ok.

S
sermonindex

Jesus-is-God said...



what if he already came?

I don't follow "a man" or lift any up, but consider that David Wilkerson...

I thought about this too when reading this thread earlier. God bless you brother, may we all be sober to the evil day in which we live.

-Jim

M
murrcolr


Jesus-is-GOD wrote:

There is no more time for that type voice - except [i]from[/i] the overcomers - who have the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy.

Just start listening to Davids sermon. I will listen to it but want to post this first. The First statement David makes is this "GOD IS ALWAYS ON TIME".

You said in your post there is no more time for that type of voice. I would strongly disagree with that statement because there is more than enough time.

Gen 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

What happened before was that the Lord appeared to Abraham and basically told Abraham that he was going to have son. Sarah overhead this from outside the tent and laughed at the thought of having a child at an old age. The Lord then asks why did she laugh and gooes on stay "Is any thing too hard for the LORD?"

Abraham was not only going to have a child he was going to be a great and mighty nation and in him all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him.

As we go on a few chapters we see that Sarah did have a child.

Gen 21:2 For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

At the set time what I am trying to get you to grasp is "time". There are set times and God works in those times that he has set. What we have to be on guard for is the Devil telling us a lie that we don't have enough time. If we believe the lie that we have not got enough time and we go before we should go then we get out from under Gods protection and it's then game season and we are the game.

Look at the words the Lord uses "Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will" Nothing is to hard for him he will raise up a voice again in this generation.

Know I will continue to listen to David Wilkerson

S
sermonindex

Dear Brother Murrcolr, I know you're excited and I'm excited too - in a Great way - but in your excitement, you didn't finish my sentence.

You spoke of what sounded to me like Malachi 3 of the Elijah type that would be "a" man. [singular] You said "a" man a number of times.

I suggested we look at the life, words, ministry and the location of "a" man, in reply.

You stopped at my words "no time" and left off this --- [b]"except from the overcomers - who have the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy."[/b]

IF in fact we are in the time period that we believe we are - that would mean the strong delusion is pouring out and readying the way for the Anti-Christ.

We've had David Wilkerson for at least since the 1950's but after slaving in NYC and starting Teen-Challenge etc, he wrote the book the Vision in 1974.
Later the name of his ministry in Texas changed to "World Challenge" and after he wrote "Set the Trumpet to thy mouth" he moved back to NYC to start TSC. Amazing!

35 years of non-stop yelling out since The Vision. In fact, back in the 80's, I'd hear someone "yelling" in my spouse's den and I'd think "What on earth is that?" - so I'd go to see and then smile - it was a DW tape playing and he was even saying that his wife Gwene suggested he not yell.

Now he doesn't yell. :cry:

My finished sentence again ... "..except from the overcomers - who have the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophecy."
Daniel said, they will do exploits and will win many to righteousness, but also all of that during the reign of anti-Christ. Even those of understanding will fall to try them - etc.
I pray this makes you feel better. It's going to be very very hard - and most of us will lose our lives in this process of being witnesses for HIM - but GLORY TO GOD - Read Rev 20:4-6. Alleluia - how honored to be called by HIM to be 'that' generation. GLORY TO OUR LIVING SAVIOR & GOD.
And I hope you enjoy the TSC messages.

L
Lysa

rreighe,

I think you would enjoy listening to Zac Poonen's sermon series on [url=http://www.cfcindia.com/web/mainpages/topical_bible_study.php#Prophets_And_Prophesying][i]Prophets and Prophesying[/i][/url].

In case you don't know who he is, he is a very balanced man of God who has been studying the Bible for almost 50 years but like he says he doesn't study it to preach a sermon, he studies it to know Christ!! I wish there were more like him.

God bless,

R
rreighe

oh. i listened to that last night. praise the Lord it was moving. it made me think, how much closer is God untill he comes back? i also didn't know that as soon as JEsus left it started the end times, now we are in the end of the end times. nevertheless it was worth it.

G
ginnyrose

ps i would love to meet or become one (God/Jesus/Holy Spirit's prophet) that would be awesome!

I did not read all the posts on this thread, so if it has been said before, good! and if not, well, ah reckon I need to say it! ;-)

I understand your desire to want to meet in the flesh a prophet from God. May I suggest you study the WORD intently, asking God to speak to you. And then be willing to hear his voice and obey. Then you will meet that 'prophet'! That is what a prophet is: one who hears God's voice, and obeys.

Now, you really want to meet a prophet...may I give a word of caution here? Seems to me you should surrender this desire to the LORD, lay it down at the cross. To have an intense desire for it will make you vulnerable to be led astray by a false prophet who comes around who speaks with great swelling words, beguiling unstable souls. Too many modern [false] prophets have a lot of charisma and charm folks. And some may even speak of judgement...Just be careful, son...and God bless you.

ginnyrose

S
sermonindex

Wasn't sure where to post this Sermon that I'm listening to at present, but remembered Ginnyrose's word about false prophets and seemed this would be a great place to post this sermon -

[b]"Jesus Speak Clearly To Me" - Carter Conlon - 3/15/09
[/b]

http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/sermons


But wait till I'm done listening because it's buffering unusually slow right this minute.
Must be a lot of folks on-line listening.
;-)

R
rreighe

seams like an ok place. i mean this is a topic on prophets in general so yeah... but it might be more affective if you post it on it's own topic or something if your goal is to get people to listen to it. i dont konw. just an idea.

well i have been aking God and asking God to use me and i belive he is. there is so much going on in my life that is just abnormal and so unintintionaly ironc and so much conincidental one thing after another he must be using me in his work! it's alot to take it in. and he is involving one of my freinds (one the ones that notices the 666 often, also. dont worry he is saved and it doesn't even bother them anymore). but nevertheless this isn't about me. i'm just so glad that i'm being used by the awsome one that created us all. this is alot to comprehend!

in the name we love to say: jesus!

allan

K
KingJimmy

When attempting to determine if the prophetic ministry still exists today, we need to try and develop a full idea as to why or why not such a ministry might exist. I don't have the time presently to write out a full post in regard to it, but might I make a few suggestions to point the way?

Fundamentally speaking, the prophetic ministry is about speaking for God. The origin of the word "prophet," means just that, "to speak." Throughout all of the Old Testament, we see men speaking for God, sometimes articulating a "Thus says the Lord..." in what they said. Of all the prophets, Jeremiah used this phrase most often. The implication of it is obvious, "I am speaking for God, therefore, what I am about to say is what God says..."

The question then is, does God see it necessary to still have people speak on his behalf today? I believe so. In Acts 2, when the outpouring of the Spirit occurred on the day of Pentecost, Peter cited Joel 2:28-32 as being fulfilled on that day. In that text, we read how Joel anticipated a universal outpouring of God's spirit, so that all flesh would be brought into a community that is prophetic at its core. This text also speaks of the entire age we presently live in, and that this age would be one marked with prophetic utterances, visions, and dreams on quite a large level-- along with various other signs and wonders. Joel sees this as the characteristic of our age, the age of the Spirit. It is an age where Joel anticipates God very much having something to say.

And to tie it altogether, 1 Corinthians 12-14, and Ephesians 4:11-18 make clear that the apostle Paul believed that the prophetic ministry was still in continuation, and would exist "until" we all come to a unity of faith and corporate maturity. For the church as a corporate body has a testimony to give to this world-- a prophetic testimony about Jesus. But while doing that, it as a body needs to grow and mature and be refined so as to fulfill that task. Thus, "prophets" are one of many gifts given to the church to help facilitate that process.

So yes, I believe prophets still exist today. And they will continue to exist until their purpose is no longer needed. And that purpose, contrary to the popular but unbiblical opinion of many, was not to simply write Scripture. Few of the prophets ever did that in either Old or New Testaments. Such a opinion shows a naivity in understanding of the true role of prophetic ministry. Yes, prophets have in the past written Scripture as our faith developed. But their purpose has always been much wider than that. Their purpose, which fundamentally has not changed, is to speak for God and express whatever His thought is at the present moment in time.

A
adamdawkins

the prophet say "yeah this and this and this will happen, in order" and then this and this and this realy happen, in order it will just bring some excitement and do you know who many people will become God's after that?

I haven't read the whole thread, but I'm not sure this is quite what prophecy is for, or has even happened historically.

The [i]usual[/i] response to prophets in the Bible is rejection, beating, and perhaps killing. Today in the West the persecution is more with words from others in the 'church'.

When a true prophet speaks the will of God, men will either repent or want to kill that man - it won't be to do with the fact that the events came true - I don't think that's what turns people to God - it just seems to much like a 'magic trick' (Hey, look what God can do!).

Do you see my point? I say it in love, I just think you're slightly missing the point - though your purposes are good.

Also, don't forget God's purposes for prophets can primarily be for the Church:

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." - Ephesians 2v19-20.

Adam

K
KingJimmy

Something of a consideration, but when discussing the prophetic ministry, it really helps for you to check the romantic notions of Leonard Ravenhill at the door. His description of prophetic ministry is true in part, but, in my opinion, not very helpful.

D
dohzman

There was a book written along time ago, I'm not sure if it's still in print. It was called "The Elijah Task" by John and Paula Sandford.

I believe that it will be helpful, if you can't find it let me know and I'll do what I can to get a copy to you.The true prophet of God bears a sharp two edged sword with which he cuts himself with the Word of God often times before that word cuts any hears and more times than not that word never makes it to the people because of the private and unseen life of the prophet of God. Thier greatest works are done alone while they stand before God in the gap. In other words thier very prayer life has a major influence over the Governing actions of God in His earthly judgements. Moses was an example of this as he stood in the gap between God and Israel on several occassions. As you look at the questions of "Is there any prophets today"? That can be a very slippery slope for one needs to know what the function of a prophet is first of all or you could end up following someone who has abnormal manifestations that seem to accompany thier life. This can be fun at first but will end up being a trap and a snare. So it's best that certain guidelines be reconized as unmoveable in the life of a prophet. the first is a love for the Word of God, the second is a love for the God of the word, the third is a love for people, the fouth and most important is a love for God and His glory and honor, a willingness to approach God and reason with the eternal God on behalf of finite man. If you see a consistant display of such character qualities in a person than you may be in the company of what may be called a prophet. I personally wouldn't go up to anyone a say are you a prophet? When approached Amos said he was no prophet not even the son of a prophet. His attitude seems so different from todays self proclaimed prophets in contrast. I have alot I could say to this subject but don't really enjoy posting small books let alone reading small books of thought posted by others, so I'll cut this short. I do hope that this has been some help. Look to the quality of character.

S
sermonindex

Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jesus-is-GOD wrote:

"They've never left HIS Church - but they're out-numbered these days by the counterfeit and if you haven't met one - it may be for one of the reasons that Brother Ravenhill mentions in his Message."

I believe this to be very true, although I think prophets have always been outnumbered. If they were the majority God would have been well pleased with Israel. The unfortunate reality is that they are God's minority, picked by God to see the truth of a wayward church and bring back His truth to them. Much of the office is wrapped up in God's mercy to warn His own of their waywardness and, in some cases, potential consequences if they do not take heed. But the paradox is that most don't see it as message of mercy designed for their very lives. It is not exclusively predictive of events as much as a regurgitation of what God has explicitly told them or has unequivocally enlightened them to. Unfortunately the gift of prophecy has been hijacked and redefined by charlatans who do the enemy's bidding. Anyone can look at the Bible and predict an impending outcome based on that, but not everyone hears God's voice or is enlightened by Him, then verbalizes it or puts it in writing. Many have tried to make it a 'one stop shop'. They are a tongue speaking priest, prophet, teacher, false edifier, and healer all in one. This is an obvious difference that many of us here can see.

But Art Katz talks of the agony of an office that is required to step out in faith, while in fear and trembling that they heard the right voice, or being sure that it came from God. He stated that this was a burden all prophets have experienced in this form of calling. John the Baptist experienced this first hand while in jail as he doubted Christ as the Messiah. There's little doubt in my mind that John, on at least one occasion, thought something to this affect: 'what if I was wrong?', 'what if I got the wrong guy and I've just gone mental'. What an agonizing burden, and true prophets take that burden seriously. Like John, they are not casual or flippant with God's message, they tremble at it. But the hope that God has instilled in them keeps them from falling apart. For even in the most gloomy of scenario's, they represent hope to all who will receive God's anointed message of His Son.

Paul said that the OT prophets had died without having seen the promise they preached and were not aware that they were speaking to us. Peter referenced back to Joel at the Pentecost. Since that promise was fulfilled in Christ (and because Revelation also explicitly states this), I believe today's prophets must come to testify of Christ in a manner that the wayward or even 'false' church will be pierced by the sword of His truth.

The Bible says that the last day apostasy doesn't come from lack of sound doctrine but a lack of hearing. This will leave no excuse for those who will not receive a message of truth. Anyone can debate doctrine, and doctrine has been used astutely by satan to discredit truth. But when truth is spoken by the Spirit of God even the most proficient of deceivers and blasphemers know deep down that they have been pierced by God and must make a decision to heed the wooing of the Spirit in this truth, or harden their heart and reject it. I think prophets of today have at least these three distinct qualities: A) they will be Christ centered B) they will present sound Scriptural truth C) they will make the message about God and leave themselves in the dust. And these three qualities are effortlessly enmeshed in both CHARACTER and MESSAGE. I believe that one quality that is deeply personal and hidden is their prayer lives. They plead and intercede without ceasing.

Quite simply and bluntly, prophets have a gift of cutting through doctinal and theological 'dung' and calls the church what it truly is. They aren't interested in who is or isn't a five point Calvanist, and have little taste for any quibbles over predestination or 'King James' only. THEY SIMPLY REPRESENT GOD'S REALITY, which is why many don't fit into the traditional nuances of church function or get caught up in the relentless intellectualizing of the Gospel. They are God's weapon to battle those who seek to define God's church through a selfish religious hijacking of God's truth and turn it into a gross and perverted delusion. In this light, Martin Luther was a prophet to a delusional Roman Church. Prophets serve as a clear window to an obscured stained glass church who cannot see through 'all the pretty colors and images' that they have fashioned with their own hands. Last day prophet's will battle an age old Aaronic priesthood (as God has not changed, neither has satan) who sold out by letting the people craft their own image of the Gospel and fashioned Christ into their prosperous golden calf.

One the most notable charateristics of a prophet in my opinion is that they do not exclude themselves from the sinful or wayward church in personal righteousness or boasting. They put themselves in the boat that is sinking by using the words 'we' and 'us'. Many a prophet has been made weak by God, always teetering on the edge of the cliff that everyone else is blindly walking off of. They know full well that the same mercy that saved them from ruin is the same mercy the church needs and make no distinction between themselves and the church in this regard. They must be in constant trembling before the Lord when calling out God's plea for His church. For they know what is at stake as God has shown them, one slip of the flesh and they hinder God's work and endanger themselves of complete removal of God's anointing for the work they were called to. Moses knew this all too well when God gave him instructions on striking the rock. I think Paul learned from Moses and Peters' mishaps and beat his flesh severely so as not to make a similar mistake. It's a bold and courageous calling for truth but it is also a call of abandonment and humility. They have put to death any part of them that wants run to the Gospel and force revelation upon themselves. They are taught patience and the importance of God's timing. They will never belittle or condescend in their testimony as many self-appointed prophets or 'watchman' do today. Many people who claim to be prophets or watchman are good on substance but they present their message in a way that is not, in anyway, Godly. If their rebuke or message is casual, flippant, condescending (as in calling the audience 'my little children'), overtly steeped intellectuallism, or opinionated then take heed. True prophets have an intangible sincerity and a simple, yet powerful, quality about them that hits people on a deep visceral level. They are not hated for arrogance, pride, or elitism for nothing of the sort is in them. They are hated because their message is a righteous thorn in the side of a sinful wayward church and the church knows it. Even when the prophets were killed people knew they were killing man of God. Perhaps the Romans were ignorant of Christ but the Pharisees, the prevailing theologians of that time, were not. A prophet is without honor in his own house. The church didn't hate the prophet per se, they hated the truth. There was nothing in John the Baptist or Christ Himself that would make any secular man at that time jealous. They weren't arrogant, prideful, fashionable, boastful, showy, ambitious, selfish, or scribelike. There wasn't much to hate about them other than the fact that they spoke a sound truth and were clearly men of God. The prophet and truth are a package deal, they can't be enticed or separated. So the only way to kill truth is to kill the prophet, it's not in them to dabble or entertain anything outside of God. Even those among the Godly can find them eccentric in their ways.

One point about prophets being in hiding. Obviously a prophet is not hiding when they are in the public forum. Their mission is for God's truth to be know. However, they are 'hidden' until the proper time comes as determined by God. They are no less of a prophet when being prepared by God than they are in the public forum doing His bidding. There is a time of hidden preparation that calls for patience both by the prophet and those who cry for their exposure to do God's work in Christ. Elijah, David, Moses, Daniel, John the Baptist, Paul.. the list goes on... all had hidden times of preparation. We know that even the Messiah Himself was hidden for thirty or so years. God is doing a work, and in His time He will unfold and unveil His perfect plan. This is a time of patience and hope, we all get tested in this... and we all will need eachother to get through it. Boy I have just gone off on a tangent here.....sorry about that.

S
sermonindex

LORD Bless you Brothers - this page is so powerful with HIS Truth that there's no need for any words from me, just fighting the tears as Love Rejoices at Truth cutting through today's errors.

MAY HE BE GLORIFIED ALWAYS AND ONLY - AMEN !

S
sermonindex

Yes, there are prophets today. They didn't end with Agabus, or John. The problem is that so many, if not [i]all[/i] of the modern prophets, are not real, or, as Baalim, sacrificed their ministry for gain and prestige. It is very sad.


I believe that there is such a propensity for self glory in that calling....the [b]office[/b] of a prophet, that the Lord has kept the true in the furnace of affliction and rejection, and when they are released, and I believe that they will, they will care for none of the flesh, the World, and can stand against the Devil. They just won't care what men think.


I thought about John the Baptist the other day, and I thought that it was a huge waste, that John would be sacrificed at the expense of such a man as Herod...pagan and sensual as he was, over such a trivial rebuke as adultery.

I will not forget the eulogy of Jesus, Son of God..."the greatest of men born of woman"..that's saying a mouthful...and..."This is the Elijah who was to come!"....the long awaited prophet.


John probably never thought twice about it...when he called Herod out over marrying his brother's wife...John just knew that this was wrong, unholy...and needed to be addressed with just rebuke. It cost him his head. What a waste...in human terms..but etched in the annals of eternity. Precious in the sight of the Lord are the death of His saints.


It was a feast day in Heaven. In the end, multitudes knew WHAT John died for. His testimony was standing for Truth, and one arena, is just as holy and right as any other. The prophet stood for truth, and in this job description, Character is the pillar..Paramount.

This is where Aaron failed, and Moses succeeded, when he delivered the law. We have not yet seen "The Crucified ones", who have decreased in themselves, to where they are worthy , as dictated by God himself, to carry the Word, as in the office of a New testament Prophet.

I'll guarantee this; They will not be hirelings..they will not accept money..[love offerings included..], They will not fear or honor man...[ they are both the same..], and they will be mostly alone...

[ See all the old testament Prophets]

They will be broken, unassuming, and will be willing to serve, and will be Brothers..to love and honor the body, before they will be prophets. They will have the fruit of Love dominating them, to feed, protect, and manifest the Glory of Jesus to His will and Lordship alone.

They will have decreased to the point that they care for nothing else than His approval.

T. Austin Sparks has written material ; "The Prophetic Ministry" which is insightful, as A.W,Tozer..."My calling as a minor prophet".

Both are insightful. I tend to think, though, that mostly these folks are mostly out of the limelight , as many have spoken here.


Let us remember the admonition about those who have "A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENY THE POWER THERE OF!"


What could be more appropriate than to reject the prophetic, in this warning, or throw out the prophets? But, we have, to the extent that in most conservative evangelical meetings, it is Anathema. The Prophetic is to bring the Word of God, and in the early church, did so regularly. "Let the Prophets prophesy in turn, in order, and let the others judge what they say."


"Let he who has an ear HEAR what the Spirit is saying to the Churches!"

This is not the announcement, songs, offering, "message", benediction and handshake, that is handed out at the start. ...If, the Lord the Spirit is in control...Then , only He gets glory, and everyone knows it, and it is obvious if someone quenches that unity...It is there that the Prophets prophesy fearfully.

R
rreighe

taht was a tremendus help.

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