THE PROPHETIC MINISTRY (4)

“Let two or three PROPHETS speak, and let the others judge” – 1 Corinthians 14:29

The PROPHETIC MINISTRY has not expired as presumed; prophets and prophecies are still for Today: “Let two or three PROPHETS speak, and let the others judge” (1 Cor.14:29). Despite the preponderance of prophets in the Old Testament, the reference here and in Ephesians 4:11 confirm that the Prophetic Ministry is for today; it has not ceased or expired. Indeed, Believers in Christ are a people of prophecy. God called us out, builds us up, sends us out, and blesses us by the prophetic. Our future is shaped by the prophetic. However, it’s vital first, to distinguish the ministry of the prophet from the gift of prophecy that’s mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:10.

The prophetic is in two dimensions: The ministry of a prophet and the gift of prophecy, which is given to any believer who has the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit wills. Both are referred to in today’s meditation text. Verse 29 is talking about prophets specifically, while verse 31 says that “all” may prophesy. But everybody who prophesies is not necessarily a prophet. A prophet is one who has been called into that ministry office. Anyone can speak for God when he enables them to. Even a dumb ass did. The gift of prophecy I for exhortation, comfort, and edification. Unlike the operation of the prophetic office, this utterance doesn’t necessarily have to do with a revelation or have a revelation behind it. The gift of prophecy is a faith utterance, not a revelatory utterance of a prophet: “let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith” (Rom.12:6).

The difference between the ministry and the gift is further elucidated by the distinction between ‘foretelling’ and ‘forthtelling.’ To foretell means to tell ahead of time things in the Mind of Gpd concerning a person or people, places or events. This is not the same as fortune telling, crystal-gazing, palm-reading, star-gazing or zodiac sign reading, all of which are demonic counterfeits. Forthtelling, on the other hand, is to speak forth, tell out or tell forward what is in the Mind of God. Prophets can foretell and forthtell; but the gift of prophecy is limited to forthtelling.

The prophetic remains relevant because: It’s a key communication platform among stakeholders in the spiritual realms; prophets still confront the same sin in humanity that has existed for ages; visual, social, and entertainment media in general, are filled with the same vulgarity that has pervaded the earth since time began; and sexual perversion – immorality, obscenity, homosexuality, lust, and lewdness – runs rampant. The devil and his children still operate in deception, delusion, sin, and perversity. Earthlings are still bound by the same sins that have always populated the planet. As long as all of these subsist, the need for the prophet continues, and will continue until the end of this age (Rev.11:3).

God still calls prophets, especially to overrule the effects of psychics presently dominating the supernatural scenes in these End-Times.