Prophets & Prophecy

Video – *** teaching begins at 8m ***

Prophet = one who communicates God’s utterances to others (Exodus 4:10-17; 7:1-2)

1. Hears/sees God’s message (1 Sam. 3:1-14; 1 K 13:11-25; 22:13-23)
2. Shares God’s message (Eze. 33:1-9 cf. Hosea 9:8; Eze. 4:4-5)

The Messengers (Prophets)

• 1 of 5 ministries named: Eph. 4:11
  • Gifted from Christ (versus by appointment)
  • To build up Church
• Male & Female: Ex. 15:20-21; Judg. 4:4-5; 2 K. 22:14; Lk. 2:36-38; Ac. 2:17-18; 21:8-9; 1 Co. 11:2-16
• Continually and consistently prophesy – in word and deed (below)
• Obedient living: Isa. 20:2; Jer. 16:2, Eze. 24:15-18; Hos. 1:2; Mt. 7:15-20; Lk. 3:2
• Prayer: Gen. 20:7; 1 Sam. 12:23; 15:10-11
• Rejection: Matt. 23:29-36
• Still human: 1 Kings 19:3-5; Jer. 20:7-18; Eze. 4:14-15

The Messages (Prophecies)

• 1 of 9 spiritual gifts: 1 Cor. 12:10
  • Gifted by the Holy Spirit
  • To build up Church (1 Cor. 14:4)
• “upbuilding and encouragement and consolation,” (1 Co. 14:3, ESV).
  • Upbuilding – compare Jer. 1:9-10
  • Encouragement – Phile. 1:7; Heb. 12:5-6; 13:22 (cf. 10:26-31)
• Includes Rev. 2:18-29; 22:18-19
• Includes foretelling the future: Deut. 18:21-22
• Examples:
  • O.T.: Judges 6:7-10; Isaiah 43:5-7; Jer. 18:6-10; Hag. 1:13
  • N.T.: Acts 5:9-11; 11:28; 13:2; 21:7-11 (20:23)
  • Contrast: Jer 23:9-40; Matt. 24:24; 1 Thes. 5:3
• Applies:

1. 1. To self (Is. 6:5; Matt. 7:5; Acts 20:28)
   2. To church (Is. 1-12; Jer. 1-45; Ez. 1-24; 1 Co. 5:9-13; Rev. 1-3+)
   3. To the nations (Is. 13-21; Jer. 46-51; Eze. 25-32; Rev. 15-20?)

• Exists Today: 1 Cor. 1:4-8; 13:8-12; N.T. assumes them as normative
• By Non-Prophets: Num. 22-24; 1 Sam. 19:18-24; Dan. 2; Mt. 7:21-23
  • May be demonic: Acts 16:16; 2 Thes. 2:9
• Judging Prophecy (1 John 4:1; 1 Thes. 5:19-21):
  • By Scripture: Deut. 13:1-3; Matt. 3:16-4:11; Acts 17:10-11
  • By Fruit: Deut. 13:1-3; Mt. 7:15-20; 1 Co. 12:3; Rev. 2:20; 19:10
• How to Prophesy:
  • Desire prophecy: 1 Cor. 14:1
  • Ask God for this gift: Luke 11:13; 1 Cor. 14:13
    • Lay hands: Acts 19:6
  • Use it according to your gifting: Rom. 12:6; 1 Pet. 4:10-11
    • With love; for upbuilding (1 Cor. 13-14)
  • Aided by music: 1 Sam 10:5; 2 K 3:15-16; 1 Chron 25:1
  • Encourage it in the church: 1 Cor. 14; 1 Thes. 5:20; 2 Tim. 1:6
    • Prophets train church in this gift: 1 Sam. 19:20; Eph. 4:11
  • Seek Scripture above prophecy (e.g. 2 Pet. 1)