What happened to the prophetic gifts

Talking about John Wimber, it seems to me that we got silent about the prophetic gifts since the turn of the century. I have hardly seen them in operation in recent years - not the excesses, but real utterance in tongues, interpretation and prophecy.

Paul stated
1. Cor 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

I am afraid that we have thrown the baby out with the bathwater and dare not to make room for these gifts in fear to end up in deception. There is a right application for these, and they have a place in the church. These signs follow the believers and I am afraid we are missing out on something vital God has given to the church. Satan has a two-fold purpose: He furthers the excesses and silences the real utterances.

Operation of the gifts needs responsible and discerning leadership. The use of the gifts has to be taught. There will be errors in the process but they can be corrected.

I see very little emphasis nowadays in teaching on this subject. I afraid if we do not revive these gifts, following generations will have go through the same learning process and have to repeat mistakes of past generations.

The gifts are given for the body of Christ who is the head.
Church programs and pastors who assume the sole authority hinder their operation. Believers who are not filled with the spirit will not be able to exercise nor discern them. Believers who allow sin in their live can be usurped by Satan to produce the counterfeit. Lukewarm Christian will not desire the gifts. Many streams in evangelical Christianity condemn them outright and attribute their operation to demonic forces.

Why is there such a vehement opposition against them? Why is the devil so keen to distort or suppress them? I think it is because they are vital to the body of Christ. I acknowledge the are not as vital as the cross or holiness or faith, but we cannot bury them without suffering loss.

"I am afraid that we have thrown the baby out with the bathwater and dare not to make room for these gifts in fear to end up in deception. There is a right application for these, and they have a place in the church. These signs follow the believers and I am afraid we are missing out on something vital God has given to the church. Satan has a two-fold purpose: He furthers the excesses and silences the real utterances."

Brother,

I agree with you that the gifts of the Spirit are not being manifested as much as they once were in churches that believe in the gifts such as AOG churches. As you have said, the baby has been thrown out with the bathwater. Any pastor that teaches on the gifts of the Spirit and allows them to operate in his church knows that it is not going to be smooth sailing. There will be mistakes made, but no one should be hit over the head with a bible for stepping out in faith. The pastor should gently instruct and correct those that have missed it in this area.

When you read Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians, you see the Apostle commended the Church at Corinth for not coming behind in any gift. Then in Chapter 12 Paul lists the gifts of the Spirit, the purpose for them, and how they are to be exercised. The Corinthians had a problem especially in the area of tongues, and the Apostle set things in order. He never discouraged the use of tongues in the Church, but he taught that if someone is moving in this gift, he should also have the gift of interpretation or at least someone in the church should interpret.

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul exhorts the Church on the love of God. All of the gifts should be operated with a desire to glorify Jesus, build up the Church, and should be done in the love of God. The gifts are given to each member as God chooses to build up and edify the Body of Christ.

Any pastor or leader that teaches on the gifts should also make sure that the people have a thorough knowledge of the fruit of the Spirit. The misuse of the gifts is a result of there being no corresponding fruit. If I am walking in the love of God toward the Body of Christ, I will not use the gifts in a selfish manner, but my desire will be to see the Church grow and mature into the full knowledge of Christ.

Prophesy is a precious gift and it is not for a select few, but anyone that has been baptized in the Holy Spirit can be used by God to give a prophetic utterance. The gift of prophesy was never meant to replace the indwelling Holy Spirit, who has been given to us to lead us and guide us into all truth.

All three posts excellent!

May all who read ask the Lord to use them in edifying the body of Christ and stir up the gift that is in them....or ask the Holy Spirit to begin to manifest His gifts in and through them.

Blessings,

I believe God has blessed me with the Gift of Prophesy. I exercise this gift whenever I get a chance in my church. But we have to understand the difference between Old Covenant and New Covenant Prophesy. Old Covenant Prophesy is to predict the attack of enemy on Israel and to warn the nation of Israel from the enemies. Like how Jeremeiah warned them about the attack of Babylonians.

Now New Covenant prophesy is for the Church, to warn the church on the spiritual attack of Satan. It is not same as predicting the future like how the OT prophets did.

1 Cor 14:31-For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

Here it is clear that Prophesy is to encourage and instruct the Church.

Verse 24:- But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!”

So Prophesy should expose the hidden sins in the listener. He will fall down and confess that 'God is really in their midst'.

The problem is many who say the prophesy today in Church and in TV, they do OT prophesy. Predicting who will get Job, who will get blessing etc will not cause one to be convicted of sin, will it? All these are lies done in the name of Prophesy.

That is why it is very important for each one of us to be part of a Local body of believers. Only in Local Body we can hear a prophetic word that is apt to the spiritual situation of ours. Listening messages in SI etc, cannot replace that.

So before we question, why we do not have prophetic gifts today, let us question whether we are part of a local body that is meeting based on Biblical ground. If that is not there then where will prophesy come from? It is like someone living in Elisha's time outside Israel but asking where are all the prophets? One has to come to be part of God's people to hear a prophet.

My opinion thus far according to my research of Church History as well as my understanding of Scripture : Is that as soon as we depart from the Biblical account. Men started ruling over other men, hierarchical system replaced the Biblical paradigm of the Body.
Instead of leadership that directed each Body part to His Head and discovering each individuals role as a vital functioning Body part.
Men with Great Orator skills rose up and begain imposing there own convictions onto other men:

What should have been non issues such as how one should ware facial hair etc. begain being imposed on peoples conscience making it very difficult for them to hear and discern what was from the Lord and what had been imposed on them from other mens conscience.

What I believe as being a misunderstanding of the first part of 1 Cor 11 prevented men from understanding what was happening to them.
They read that portion being taught that the headship order was to be symbolized and demonstrated by outward apparel and hair length.
And (My opinion is)they never trusted the Lord in the reading of that portion for themselves and never relized that it is speaking directly against bringing ones conscience under hierarchical rule.

And never coming to the understanding that the allegorical portion is not encouraging ceremonial adherence.
but simply pointing out that Gods Sovereign design of the Headship order can be seen even in nature. hence : (Doth not even nature itself teach you)
For a man to allow other men to dictate his conscience is as unnatural and feminist as a man with long hair.

And so I believe our full capabilities and purpose in the Body is
being suppressed by an unbiblical structural paradigm.

add : and lack of faith
edit : clarity

add : (My opinion is) change "influence" to "dictate"

Sree made a very valid point. You need a functioning body of believers that are under the headship of Christ and exercise the government offices: Elders and deacons - mark the plural -and not one top man and his staff a level below. Exercise of gift needs to be encouraged and corrected at times.

Often it was deep compassion and dire need that facilitated the operation of the gifts. If there are no doctors to go to you and someone is going to die you may be tempted to abandon your cessationist theology.
Stephen's gift of miracles was released while working as a deacon among desperate widows that expected their daily provisions.

When Jesus and the apostles evangelized, the gifts accompanied their message. John Wimber brought this truth back to the mainstream evangelical churches but we quickly dismissed it because of the excesses. What a sad story.

The gifts were always there and I believed they never really ceased throughout church history.

Often it was deep compassion and dire need that facilitated the operation of the gifts. If there are no doctors to go to you and someone is going to die you may be tempted to abandon your cessationist theology.
Stephen's gift of miracles was released while working as a deacon among desperate widows that expected their daily provisions.

Very true.

When Jesus and the apostles evangelized, the gifts accompanied their message.

Even these days I hear reports of miracles done in remote villages in India where people go to spread the gospel. These uneducated people who are deeply rooted in Hindu faith cannot come out unless a sign is performed in their midst. Any number of intellectual reasoning will not work there.

Act 11:28
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.

Act 21:10
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.
Act 21:11
And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

What happened to the prophetic gifts?

Nothing, brother. They are alive and well in fellowships where the Spirit of God is allowed free reign.

Oh, the gifts are alive and well.

Dohzman, I am sure someone will point out these 2 instances in new covenant to explain that predicting the future is still part of New Covenant. Agabus was called Prophet, but we do not know if he was NC or OC prophet. Acts of the Apostle is like History book that lists everyone both of NT and OT. But in Epistles is there any mention of any prophesy that predicts the future? Not even one as far as I know. But the Epistles list prophesy for encouraging and edifying the Church.

The epistles list very few examples, if any of healing, prophesy, miracles etc. because their aim is to establish doctrine and not witness the supernatural.

You cannot therefore conclude that NT prophesy no longer includes predicting the future.

1 Cor 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

The prophetic gifts include words of knowledge that reveal hidden things, revelation that is more of a kind of bringing out mysteries from scripture, as well as forthtelling future things.

Jesus said:
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

There are many places in Acts where future things are being forthtold. These are new testament prophets ministering to the body of Christ. The book of Acts would not been possible without NT prophecy including predicting the future.

Paul forthtold the decline of morals in the epistles

2 Timothy 3:1
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Jude said the same in Verse 18

Paul forthtold the decline of morals in the epistles

I am totally fine with predicting the spiritual attacks on the Church. That is what I believe is New Covenant prophesy. Which is similar to the physical attack on Israel that Elisha predicted, the NC prophets will have a prophetic word in Church that will warn them about the spiritual attacks of Satan. Everything that is physical like blessings in the OC is now spiritual in NC. So physical prophesy is also replaced by spiritual prophesy.

What I do not believe is Physical prediction like someone will get a job etc that the TV preachers do today. For example I once saw a TV preacher prophesy that someone who is watching his show and praying for a job is going to get a job and her name is going to start with xxx etc. This to me is not at all prophesy. There is no edification of Church through such prophesy.

by Sree
What I do not believe is Physical prediction like someone will get a job etc that the TV preachers do today. For example I once saw a TV preacher prophesy that someone who is watching his show and praying for a job is going to get a job and her name is going to start with xxx etc. This to me is not at all prophesy. There is no edification of Church through such prophesy.

We, as followers of Christ, must trust God that He knows what He is doing with His gifts. God can and has given prophesy that is encouraging someone about their future. If that person is a part of the Church, then the Church has been edified.

God bless,
Lisa

The Wisdom of the Holy Spirit

How wise the Holy Spirit is! He takes the soul, lays it on the
table, and dissects it in a moment; He finds out the root of the matter, He sees where the evil is, and then He applies the knife where something is required to be taken away; or puts
dressing and ointment where the sore is. He never makes a
mistake. O, how wise is the blessed Holy Spirit; from every
other comforter I turn and leave them all, for You are He who
alone gives the wisest consolation.
-Spurgeon

Revelations and vain imaginings? Charles Spurgeon,

Take care never to impute the vain imaginings of your fancy to the Holy Spirit. I have seen the Spirit of God shamefully dishonored by people --I hope they were insane -- who have said that they have had this and that revealed to them.

There has not for some years passed over my head a single week in which I have not been pestered with the 'revelations' of hypocrites or maniacs. Semi-lunatics are very fond of coming
with messages from the Lord to me, and it may save them some trouble if I tell them once for all that I will have none of their stupid messages. When my Lord and Master has any message to me he knows where I am, and he will send it to me direct, and not by madmen.

Never dream that events are revealed to you by heaven, or you may come to be like those idiots who dare impute their blatant follies to the Holy Spirit.

If you feel your tongue itch to talk nonsense, trace it to the devil, not to the Spirit of God.

Whatever is to be revealed by the Spirit to any of us is in the word of God already -- he adds nothing to the Bible, and never will. Let persons who have revelations of this, that, and the other,go to bed and wakeup in their senses. I only wish they would follow the advice, and no longer insult the Holy Spirit by laying their nonsense at his door.

Hi Savannah,

though I otherwise have great regard for Spurgeon, his wholesale rejection does not hold the to test of scripture.

For sure there are many lunatics but there is the genuine, too.

If I have the choice between the best preacher and the bible, I still go for the later.

A personal testimony...

I have had many experiences of Spirit inspired gifts, especially in my younger years, and usually, if not always, in the context of body life and ministry.

I have prayed for some in the Name of Jesus and have seen them recover. Nothing major, as in raising the dead or the healing of cancer etc, but who knows what the future holds:)

I have found that the gift of prophecy manifests powerfully through me to edify the body and usually to exalt and glorify Jesus Christ, His Name and authority and resurrection and glorification and coming again.

I will certainly not label myself a prophet however there was one specific word I remember that had a foretelling character about it. This was in a small church where the pastor and I and some brethren were praying together when the Spirit of God inspired me to pray a word over the pastor that spoke to him being like a giant tree under which others would come and sit in the shade and be restored and taught etc.(Word of knowledge and wisdom?)
Little did I know that he had already had an invitation and was planning to head up a Bible College in another city. Co-incidence? I don't think so...

I believe the Holy Spirit would pour out His gifts through us in greater measure if we made ourselves available in body ministry, lived diligently in His Word, prayed in the Spirit often and without ceasing and stepped out in faith and obedience when prompted by the Holy Spirit.

Blessings,

A great example from Acts 13 verse 1 to 3 :"1 Now in
the church at Antioch there were prophets
and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius
of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought
up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they
were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy
Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after
they had fasted and prayed, they placed their
hands on them and sent them off."

How did the Holy Spirit say? Audibly? I think not, but rather through one or two or all the prophets present.

More from Spurgeon,

"Thus Says the Lord” Ezekiel 11:5

"Thus says the Lord” is the only authority in God’s Church.

The faintest whisper of Jehovah's voice should fill us with
solemn awe, and command the deepest obedience of our souls.

Brethren, how careful should we be that we do not set up in
God’s church anything in opposition to his Word, that we do
not permit the teachings of a creature to usurp the honor due
to the Lord alone.

"Thus says antiquity.”
"Thus says authority.”
"Thus says learning.”
"Thus says experience.”
-these are but idol-gods which defile the church of God!

Be it yours and mine as bold warriors to dash them in pieces
without mercy, seeing that they usurp the place of the Word of God.

"Thus says the Lord,” -this is the motto of our standard;
the war-cry of our spiritual conflict; the sword with which
we hope yet to smite through the loins of the mighty who
rise up against God’s truth.

"Thus says the Lord God.” This is the trowel, and this the
hammer of God’s builders; this the trumpet of his watchmen
and the sword of his warriors.
Woe to the man who comes in any other name!

If we, or an angel from heaven, shall preach unto you anything but a "Thus says the Lord,” no matter what our character or standing, give no heed to us, but cleave unto the truth as it is in Jesus.

To the law and to the testimony, if we speak not according
to this word, it is because there is no light in us.

That test which we demand to be exercised upon others we
cheerfully consent to be exercised upon ourselves, praying
that we may have grace to forsake our errors as we would
have other men forsake theirs.

We will listen to the opinions of great men with the respect
which they deserve as men, but having so done, we deny that
we have anything to do with these men as authorities in the
Church of God, for there nothing has any authority, but
"Thus says the Lord of hosts.”Yes, if you shall bring us the concurrent consent of all tradition- if you shall quote precedents venerable with fifteen, sixteen, or
seventeen centuries of antiquity, we burn the whole as so much
worthless lumber, unless you put your finger upon the passage
of Holy Writ which warrants the matter to be of God.

To the true Church of God the only question is this, is there
"Thus says the Lord” for it? And if divine authority be not
forthcoming, faithful men thrust forth the intruder as the cunning craftiness of men.

Let us use much of Scripture, much of the pure silver
of sacred revelation, and no human alloy.
"What is the chaff to the wheat, says the Lord?”

Many sorrows shall be to those who dare to dash themselves
against the thick bosses of Jehovah's buckler by opposing his
"Thus says the Lord.” Upon whomsoever this stone shall fall
it shall grind him to powder, and whosoever shall fall upon it shall be broken to his own lasting damage.

O! my brethren, I would that we trembled and stood more in awe
of God’s Word. I fear that many treat the things of God as
though they were merely matters of opinion, but remember that
opinion cannot govern in God’s house.

God’s Word, not man’s opinion, claims your allegiance.
O for a stern integrity that will hold the Word and will never
depart from it, come what may.

____________

Note - Because I quote Spurgeon, does not mean that I am making him an idol. Fact is, either he is correct or you are.

Something we'd all agree on is, the Bible is correct!

The matter is, how are we applying Scripture to the topic at hand.

The other thread, started by awakened, has much to do with this topic. Those lumped into the category of his thread are for the most part, those of this ilk, and not true believers.
As Greg said, it's offensive to make such a broad claim. And worse, it's offensive to God, to speak of those whom he loves in such derogatory terms.

Since you deleted the post, I have canceled mine.

Remember, only once did a donkey speak to a prophet...

and only once did God tell a prophet to marry a prostitute.

God can and has given prophesy that is encouraging someone about their future. If that person is a part of the Church, then the Church has been edified.

Not for the sake of arguments but for the sake to stand for the truth and true New Covenant Prophesy, here is my take on your post. Even if I agree that a prophet predicting the future of a person in a church [like he will get a lottery or will get a job] and if the Church gets edified through this, still it does not fit the bill for New Covenant Prophesy.

1 Cor 14:24:-24But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!”

How will an unbeliever who hears this prediction of Job will get convicted of his sins? Will secrets of his hearts be exposed by such prediction? Will he fall on his face and confess that God is in their midst?

There are so many scriptures about Prophesy that such prediction of physical blessings will not satisfy.

Brother, it sounds like you are opposing a portion of the gift of prophesy because of a tv personality (preacher) and not because God said it can't be done.

That is something I am very sure I do not do. I am in fact against people who oppose genuine gifts because of fake gifts manifested in Christendom today. I have posted clear scripture to prove my point that the purpose of New Covenant Prophesy is to encourage, Convict and edify the Church in spiritual terms. Not the Physical terms.

I have posted many scriptures like 1 Cor 14:24-25 to explain how the prediction of physical blessings is not New Covenant Prophesy. It is very important for us to distinguish what is new and old covenant prophesy.

Many here quote book of acts to show that even predicting famine by Agabus is in NT. But book of acts also has incidents of Paul circumcising Timothy, do we follow it? Do we not go by Epistles in that case where the same Paul says circumcision is unwanted for Christians? Acts is just a history book. If any prophesy given in the book of acts does not fit the definition and purpose of prophesy given in Epistles then we should ignore them. Just like how we ignore Paul circumcising Timothy.

If we do not differentiate NC Prophesy and keep believing that predicting the future of a person is a prophesy then we will get deceived by all TV preachers like how most in Christendom are deceived. Also we will start looking for such fake manifestation of spirit even in the Churches and ignore the real manifestation of prophesy in which the spirit is striving to convict of personal sins and deception of Satan in us (if we are part of a local body). What we seek is what we get. If we keep searching for Old Covenant prophesy then that is what we will get and deceived.

Why is prosperity preaching very evident in most of the churches today? Because that is what people seek. They do not seek the real word of God. Hence God lead them to ear tickling pastors. Same will happen to us if we ignore the body of believers (Local Church) and keep searching for fake prediction of future events by fake prophets.

[Acts is just a history book. If any prophesy given in the book of acts does not fit the definition and purpose of prophesy given in Epistles then we should ignore them. Just like how we ignore Paul circumcising Timothy.]

That is flawed logic, mildly said. Acts is scripture and does not contradict the rest of scripture and it is a history book, too.

[If we do not differentiate NC Prophesy and keep believing that predicting the future of a person is a prophesy then we will get deceived by all TV preachers like how most in Christendom are deceived. Also we will start looking for such fake manifestation of spirit even in the Churches and ignore the real manifestation of prophesy in which the spirit is striving to convict of personal sins and deception of Satan in us (if we are part of a local body). What we seek is what we get. If we keep searching for Old Covenant prophesy then that is what we will get and deceived.]

I do not care how TV preachers distort the true gift of prophesy. Prophesy is not primary about predicting the future, but about edifying the body of Christ. It can include prediction of future events, but that is not the main purpose.

Jesus said:
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

The Spirit of truth was given after Pentecost, so prophesy including prediction of future things is given for the NT church. That does not mean that we reduce the Spirit to an oracle or christian substitute for palm reading.

The Gospels and Acts are full of predictions by the Holy Spirit and men acted upon it. The story of the birth of Jesus would not have been possible without the Holy Spirit revealing future events.

I am not a cessationist , I find not one word in the Bible speaking of it.

But in pondering what Sree is saying and reliezing he also is not a cessationist :

And being the simple fact that anyone whom has cared to place a date to anything has been proven wrong (As far as I know)

I have pondered about what generation these verse's apply :

Zec : 13

1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
3 And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.
4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:
5 But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.

Quote: "I have pondered about what generation these verse's apply :
Zec : 13"

Proudpapa, The text tells us when this applies. Verse 1 says "In that day".

So what is 'that day'? Clearly it must be the same 'that day' being spoken of in ch.12. According to ch 12 This is a day when Jerusalem will become a point of judgement for all the nations who will surround it at that time (vs. 2 to 9). God will pour out a spirit of grace and supplication on the house of David (Judah) so they will recognise Jesus as their Messiah and theee will be great grief and mourning over their sin (vs. 10 to 14).

As these events have not ever happened yet, it is clear that this is talking of future events and will be at the return of Christ to set up His kingdom on earth as in line with other related biblical prophesies .

Of couse if one is amillenial in theology they will have explain away these events.

I see posters here are concerned about proving the belief of cessationism wrong by asking scriptural proof. I would rather accept a cessationist who does not believe that the gift of prophesy is still active but someone who believes it is still active, but does not care about seeking it.

In other words, in God's eyes a cessationist is far more acceptable than someone who believes that gifts are still in operation but does not seek it by being part of a local body of believers.

If you believe that this gift is active then you should also believe that God will have a prophetic word for you in a local body of believers. How is that many who boast that they believe in right theology on holy spirit never seek the actual manifestation of it in a local body?

In India I have met few people who acknowledge that Christianity is the truth but they themselves are scared to become a christian because of fear of losing their family members and fear of opposition. We are quick to judge them unsaved. How different are we if we acknowledge that the gift of Holy Spirit is still in work in a local body of believers but still stay way from the body?
Just belief in a theology does not save anybody.

How about some testimonies from the forum of how the Holy Spirit spake in and through them or to them through someone else in a real specific way?

As far as I am concerned the Holy Spirit dwells in me and He and His gifts can not be separated.

Ask and he shall receive!

;)

Testimony:
This happened to a dear friend. One day when we were in high school, her godly mother asked her, 'Which of your guy friends is called X?
'None', replies my friend. Her mother said, 'I saw in a dream last night that he was trying to violate you but I have prayed'.
She dismisses it as she really didn't have any friend so called.
Fast forward more than 3 months later, my friend is befriended by an older man called X!
She almost ended up in a rape situation, as her mother had seen, but for the Lord's intervention.
Let's just say she became a more respectful daughter after that.

Many other such testimonies abound, as to the Lord forewarning His children by words, dreams and visions.

On a side note, I don't know how anyone can be raising children and not need prophetic gifts, haha!

by Sree
How will an unbeliever who hears this prediction of Job will get convicted of his sins? Will secrets of his hearts be exposed by such prediction? Will he fall on his face and confess that God is in their midst?

There are so many scriptures about Prophesy that such prediction of physical blessings will not satisfy.

You say you believe in the gifts and even prophesy but I have to ask, have you ever heard it in your church on a regular basis? Now, the only reason I humbly ask this is that you are declaring what it can and cannot be but when we are actually in the presence of the anointing and hear true prophesy, we know just how little we actually know on the subject! We are but a vapor in the presence of an eternal God and King who knows what He is doing.

I will let it go, brother.
God bless you,
Lisa

How about some testimonies from the forum of how the Holy Spirit spake in and through them or to them through someone else in a real specific way?

As far as I am concerned the Holy Spirit dwells in me and He and His gifts can not be separated.

Ask and he shall receive!

The OP asked, what happened to the prophetic gifts? I don't think they have ever gone away. There have been times when portions of the body have focused on them. There have been times when other portions of the body have spoken in disbelief, perhaps, of them. There are even portions of the body that have elevated them to a position of importance that have almost made the prophetic gifts a goal or an end in themselves, and have really gotten into some error where these gifts are concerned. But in it all, the genuine manifestation of the prophetic gifts has not ceased. How could this manifestation cease? God gave it to the church (1 Corinthians) for the edification of the body and for ministry. It is the supernaturally empowered and energized ministry of God in and through the believer. It is not us who work these gifts, but the Holy Spirit who exercises these gifts through willing vessels. It is not us, but Him.

I am blessed to have witnessed this ministry of he Holy Spirit regularly throughout my life. I will give a couple of quick instances. A few years back a couple we knew really well came to a service where a man ministered who they did not know and who did not know them. They had two sons, one of which was very wayward. This man asked me if I knew "the guy with the white hair". He said he felt God was speaking to him to minister to them. He proceeded to give them a word of knowledge about their wayward son, and about some internal organ issue that the woman was dealing with . He then prayed over her for healing and over their family. He did not know them at all, yet God used him in the word of knowledge to minister to them about things that he personally could not have known.

Wednesday evening at church the Lord gave me a specific word of wisdom for a woman in our fellowship. He said, "Tell her that if she will obey Me in a matter, I will provide the power she needs for victory." I went to her husband and her and told her that I did not know what it meant, but that God had been speaking to me to give her that message. When I told her, she immediately said, "Yes, I know exactly what situation you are talking about." It was a word of wisdom that spoke directly to something that God was already dealing with her about.

These are just two examples that immediately come to mind, but I have witnessed healings, demonic oppression bound, freedom from addictions, words of wisdom, knowledge, tongues and interpretation, and prophecy, and even miracles. We once fed 3000 people in Mexico on what seemed to me to be a very limited amount of chicken and rice. The people kept coming and it seemed the food did not run out. Or the time when we intentionally pulled through the "I have something to declare and a vehicle to be searched" lane at the Mexican border and were given the green light to pass on through. We had far over the limit of gifts to bring to people in the slums (a very full trailer load) and thought we might have to find a creative way to cross the border at different ports of entry all night to get it all through. The authorities were standing around at the time with nothing to do, we were the only car, and they did not even glance our way. It was as if we were invisible as we drove slowly past them.

I think sometimes we do get too hung up on "ists" and "isms" and our particular intellectual, theological perspectives rather than on submitting ourselves to the risen Christ and the working of His Holy Spirit. The word of God is foundational. The indwelling Holy Spirit is inspirational. The word came from the Spirit and the Spirit empowers the word. The two are one and inseparable. When we try to divorce one from the other we always wind up in error.

I turn my attention away from this topic and man did it explode with posts! It is sometime difficult to keep the order of dialogue straight and be constructive, so in general here is what I have seen and scripturally here is what I understand on the subject matter of prophesy the gift / prophet the office etc.... very basic.

Because there have been sOooooo many abuses in personal prophesy I always look to see if the Word going forth measures up to the fruit of wisdom listed in the Book of James, next I look for the actual principle or precept. Someone mentioned winning the lottery or getting a job...well the lottery is out because it is gambling...that would be flagged as false...now about a job...if the prophesy was a word of encouragement to keep seeking because the Lord was going to help you...the principle of seek and ye' shall find is applicable, that said I have heard a ton of seriously flawed...I am sure well intentioned words, but in the end they had no teeth. It still all begins with the responsibility of the "Hearer" being in prayer with Jesus and the Word of God, than the other gifts can kick in, like word of wisdom which is tied closely to word of knowledge, one is a disclosing the other is an acting on that which is often disclosed...Proof text....In the book of Acts 13 we have an example of the false which I will not go into, you can look it up...Word of know;edge/ discerning of spirits.... regardless it was the Authority of the Holy Spirit "In" the church with judgement here.

Now personally I am very extremely slow when it comes to placing the gifts of the Holy Spirit as true or false because honestly there are days ....weeks ...when I am just so busy it is all I can do to just keep my mind stayed on Jesus and so being a human I miss it a lot. I generally have to think through spoken things and search my mind prayerfully asking the Lord for help, I ask The Holy Spirit to verify and reveal Jesus in ,,,,the word or what ever, ultimately Jesus needs to be lifted up, Jesus points to the Father, The Father to The Son and the Holy Spirit to The Saviour and the churches, and Jesus to The Holy Spirit for the working of the gospel and edification of His Bride the church....So I watch for these patterns when it comes to prophesy...look for anything that is contrary to God nature or inconsistent with the principles or precepts of The Word of God.

All that said...there still are true Prophets, real prophetic words (giftings which can come and go at The Holy Spirits direction) Buuut mistakes will be made by real honest and loving people who really just want to help and be used by God The Holy Spirit in their pursuit of trying be as Jesus was.

Thanks Travis for the examples. As Sree mentioned as well, these gifts will only truly operate as we come together with other believers in body ministry and fellowship. Of course, the Holy Spirit works with us not apart from us and we as believers must yield to Him, ask and receive His operation by faith and step out in obedience.

" Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages. But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires. "

" Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. "

dohzman: Appreciate what you just said. Try the spirits to see if they be from God. The word of God is the foundational bedrock on which all else is built and tested. The Holy Spirit would like to work in the life of each individual believer if we will allow Him. It is that same Holy Spirit that empowers for supernatural ministry that we rely on to give us insight into whether a thing is of God or not.

The key to hearing from God is intimacy with Him. Time spent in His presence and in His word. I believe a lot of times we are enamored by the gifts and have a desire to be used but we are not so enamored by the time alone with God, the intimacy that brings the true anointing of the Holy Spirit. So we seek the gift as some verification of our spirituality rather than seeking God and allowing Him to use us as He sees fit in the gifts.

You say you believe in the gifts and even prophesy but I have to ask, have you ever heard it in your church on a regular basis?

Yes Lisa, One thing I am really interested in my church is what people confess. We give time with an open invite for people to confess their faith in our church. One thing I look forward is what the Lord spoke to them personally. I frequently hear people on their tears saying this word of God met their need of their heart. This to me is a greatest proof of prophesy in our Church. Even in newcomers, I am interested is, knowing whether God brought a conviction in their heart. I am not interested to know whether they have a good time or not. In fact recently someone who attended our church said they had a fun time meeting with us, it only bothered my heart. If Jesus was speaking to them through the Church then their hearts will be burning, not just some fun time.

Brother Zac once said that people meet him after a message in the Church asking him, "did you speak those words directing at me?". Brother Zac usually responds saying, yes to you only, if not to you do you think I was speaking to walls?

A local body is a place where God will have a word that is prophetic according to his burden for us. One can get God's word today in so many ways. SI does a great job as well. But a word according to God's burden for us is only available in a local Church.

For example we can go to any restaurant to eat good food that can satisfy our hunger, but a home food is still very special. One needs home food regularly, occasional restaurant food is fine. People who eat in restaurants alone will always have their health spoiled. Home food is the word that we get in our local Church, that God prepares for us with love and affection, the way a mother prepares food with affection for her child. I know how my mother used to consider the weather, my health and all sorts of things before preparing food for me! Now even my wife continues that ministry!

Over half of believers even more in Church history were some sort of cessationist belief according to modern spirit-filled believers.

I do not want to give an impression that I am perfect. I want to post something that I recently confessed in my church. I do believe that God's healing is still active even today. But few weeks back when both my children got sick on the same day, I did the following things in the exact order,
1. Took a day off to take care of my children by informing my manager of the family situation.
2. Made few calls to setup an appointment with our pediatrist. Got an appointment in next 2 hours.
3. Got my children ready for the appointment, took them there and got the medicines they prescribed.

After returning home, once I had time to take rest, I got a text from a sister in our church that she is praying for my children. The spirit immediately convicted me, that I who is their parent was least interested in praying for them, while the fellow brothers and sisters in Church are praying for them. I am not against using modern medical facilities, but first thing we need to do is pray to God for his divine healing. Though I am not a cessationist by belief, I behaved much worse than them. I do not believe God will approve my behavior even though I had all the doctrines right about healing. I then repented opening thanking my fellow brothers and sisters for their prayers.

Hope my confession helps someone here.

My take on your story is that the "Body" of Christ stood in for your need while you did what was practical and needed, however if the Holy Spirit convicted you let God be true. In general...broad stroke brush I am not directing toward any specific individual here......

I have seen excesses in all directions and sometimes even doing something seemingly spiritual can and often does feed the flesh(as in many charismatic circles). The practical can also aid the cessationist the same way, instead of pressing in on the things of God...remember Jesus said matt 11:12 (out of context...same principle though)...most of the time the things of God extract from us a cost and our lack of faith or lack of personal commitment can be an excuse too that helps us or prevents us from pressing in on the things of God. This way we can explain a thing away and make a doctrine or teaching...I do believe it will be interesting in Heaven when we see what God had intended for us individually if only we would have followed Him with our whole heart (now I am speaking to myself)....I do believe the acts of the entire bible are ours if we want them bad enough to commit 24/7 and seek and follow after The Lord Jesus.. There are a few who are but I believe the vast majority are not...I identify with the latter so as not to be accused of throwing stones at anyone or any specific group.

Praise the Lord sister!

This is the privilege of all believers, may we exercise it more and more!