WHAT WOULD THE GIFT OF PROPHECY LOOK LIKE TODAY? - A LOOK AT PROPHECY, PART 5 OF 5

The Prophet, woodcut by Emil Nolde

 
Let me repeat this for those who have followed this series: What would the gift of prophecy look like today? 

So why are you looking at me? Do you expect me to have the answer?

Yes, I believe God still can use the gift of prophecy. Have I ever seen it where I'm convinced it is God speaking to us? No. Do I have the gift? No.

There have been times I've been in churches that fit in the Charismatic/Pentecostal category that I have heard someone give what would be called prophecy. Each time, though, it is a positive affirmation that sounds like a blending of Scriptures. Could they have opened their Bible and read a verse with the same message? Yes. As the cessationist rationale I mentioned previously in this series says, "If it agrees with Scripture, it isn't necessary." If it was from God, I believe it would be given for a specific purpose, and I'd sense a power. In fact, my opinion is that the true gift of prophecy would either be rebuke to a disobedient church that they don't want to hear, or a clear promise to those who are suffering something specific. Likewise, I didn't remember what the message was. I think I'd remember if God clearly spoke through a prophet/prophetess.

One thing we need to remember - God chooses the prophets, not the other way around. Some, like Isaiah, say, "Here I am, send me." Others, like Moses, say, "Here I am, send Aaron." (Some may remember this was the title of a 1984 book by Jill Briscoe.) 

Not only that, but remember Jesus saying to the Priests and Pharisees, "Which prophet did your fathers not persecute?" Let me put it a different way: ALL the true prophets were persecuted. Not only that, but they were persecuted by the people God sent them to. If that is true, wouldn't we expect the prophets of the church to not be the most popular members of the congregation? Would you invite a prophet to a party?

My opinion - some people want the gift of apostle or prophet because they want to be considered a spiritual authority. Cessationists have been given ammunition by those who claim these offices. But more often than not, true prophets are ignored. Remember when the remnant from the fall of Jerusalem asked Jeremiah whether they should go to Egypt or not? When the prophet told them to stay there and not go to Egypt, he added that they already made up their mind to disobey. And the remnant said, "God didn't speak to you," and did what they wanted to do.

Would I want the gift of prophecy? To be honest, I'd rather have the gift of encouragement or teaching or helps (to support a brother in the Lord), or maybe the gift of discernment of spirits (though that may not be any more popular than a prophet would be). But if God gave me the gift of prophecy, I'd have the heart of Isaiah. But to me, it's not the gift that matters - it's a desire to be obedient to God.

You have my thoughts. You might agree. You might disagree. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the topic.

P.S. I mentioned in the first blog of this series that most churches operate on two or three of the gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11 for the equipping of the saints (depending if you consider pastor and teacher to be one or two gifts). I made the case for us having a place for prophets. But didn't the gift of Apostle die out in the first century? That's one of three views I've seen dealing with that gift. Church growth specialist C. Peter Wagner defined that gift as being a pastor's pastor, a gift for a denominational leader. A more likely view of that gift is that of a church planter, particularly those who do pioneer missions work and bring the gospel to a people who never heard. If you define the gift of apostle as a church planter, I'd accept it. Because in those case, it's people wanting to fulfill the Great Commission, but not wanting to be considered an authority.