A Gift for Today...continued

Ministry Gifts - Prophet

As with apostles, the issue is function - not status.

FORTH-telling - but not simply of preaching. The prophet possesses the threefold function of prophecy - edification, exhortation, comfort, at a very high level of inspiration and content, strengthening and confirming faith. See: Judas and Silas visiting Antioch. Acts 15:32.
FORE-telling - this was the outstanding content - revelation by words of knowledge and words of wisdom. Agabus regarding the great dearth Acts 11:27, Agabus regarding Paul's capture at Jerusalem Acts 21:10,11, John - a supreme New Testament example in the book of Revelation.
WORSHIP - this area of prophecy will be theirs, too, with a very high level of inspiration and content. Under great inspiration utterances and songs could lift the people in spiritual worship. Moses, Miriam. Ex.15, esp.v.20. "Then Miriam the prophetess, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Miriam sang."

There are misunderstandings when it comes to prophets and guidance of the church or the individual. These misunderstanding can lead to two chief mistakes:-

to rule by the prophets - blindly follow the man whereas in the New Testament the ruling of the local Church is in the hands of the of a local leadership who seek to guide by The Word.
to neglect totally the prophetic ministry and office - reducing it to preaching. In the New Testament examples of the prophets' activity it is significant that they did not directly guide but gave the revelation. The people concerned were left with the responsibility of reacting wisely to the revelation so given.

The Holy Spirit makes the prophet sensitive to both the situation and the Lord.

a burden - is stirring, deeply moving.

a seer - we may see the mess, the need; but what is the answer?

an utterance - inspiration, revelation, utterance.

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