Prophecy and the Prophetic office aren't just for the times and works of God in the Old Testament. Prophecy as well the Prophetic office are for today, and perhaps they are even more relevant and needed than ever. They must of course be used correctly and Biblically, never carelessly or casually. No we aren't anything in comparison to the Prophets that were used in the books of the Old Testament. They had a very special role and function as they were chosen and Inspired by the Holy Spirit to write all the Books that compose the Old Testament. We do however still operate in the office and gift in modern times. We must also understand what we mean by the Words Prophecy or Prophesying.
Most of the time a Prophetic Word is just a Word that is Inspired from the Holy spirit that always agrees with or who's source is the Bible. It's Divine Inspiration not necessarily the telling of the future, although it can be.
There are still prophets, and cessationism is a lie. Nevertheless I understand why many have a problem with prophecy, Prophesying and all things related to the office or Gift. I think this is due in large part to the abuse or imitation of the gifts and offices for ungodly motives and purposes. The problem is that there are many impostor's and phonies who have ulterior motives. You can't learn prophecy and you can't choose to prophesy unless you have the calling or gift. it is a gift or ministry that is chosen for a person by the Lord and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The gift operates uniquely in each individual as well. Some people have visions, some dreams, some hear and write or do all in different ways and degrees. Some are more audio based and some are more visual. There are diversities that operate uniquely in the gifts, just as each person created by God is very unique. God does things His way and we cannot easily put His gifts into a Spiritual cookie cutter Metaphorically speaking. The genuine prophets will not contradict the word of God. Genuine prophets are usually very humble and never point to themselves as being anything because they acknowledge they have nothing but the inspiration of the Holy Spirit they are not the source just a messenger. They also don't focus all the time on getting rich or the riches of this world. They may talk about Blessings but mainly becoming wealthy Spiritually in their relationship with God and a hunger for his Word. Genuine Prophets aren't interested in giving the Words that people approve of or even like often they have words of rebuke or correction and are very often rejected or unpopular. True prophets find their encouragement in the Lord they aren't man pleasers because they seek to please God above all others. I have this gift and calling but I am nothing but a Servant of the King I can't take credit for any Words given or anything that I share or do. Anything propheticly has absolutely nothing to do with me but is given by the Holy Spirit. We have to pray for discernment always pray when you hear someone claim a prophetic Word. Pray that you have discernment from the Lord according to His Word to separate the Truth from the lie and the Sheep from the Wolf. I have just recently grown in this area. earlier in my spiritual maturity I operated many times in the prophetic without realizing it, mainly through inspired teaching and preaching yet more recently my clarity and spiritual perception has increased. This is only because the Lord did this in me. I have been praying and asking for him to show me how to operate in my gifts and to teach me. We must remember always that the Holy Spirit is by far the best instructor when we hear his voice speak within us. And discern it correctly. It's like when you have a radio station and you hear one loud station playing and a softer quieter voice in the background, that voice is the Holy Spirit. It is true that as you grow in your faith and relationship with the Lord you tune into that quieter voice which is the voice of God. The loud voice is the World or the enemy, which are same thing essentially.
There are many who have this gift and calling. I am no better or more important than any other believer. We all have unique functions in the body of Christ. Just as the human body has different parts and functions and no single part is Greater or more important than the other neuther are we more important as individual s than any other part of the body. All parts give equal Glory to Christ the head of the body as they are all unified as one whole body in Him and to Him and under his headship Glorifying him as one body not separate parts as if they have no need of each other. All the spiritual gifts and positions we are called to are extremely important for the Church and the edification of believers. We just need to pray to God that he reveal to us our callings and confirm them in and through His Holy Spirit.
Scriptural Evidence for the Prophetic Today
2 Peter 1:21
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
Acts 2:19-21
But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. ...
Amos 3:7
“For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.
1 Corinthians 14:3
On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
Joel 2:28-32
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.
2 Peter 2:1-22
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; ...
1 Corinthians 14:1
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
1 Corinthians 12:4 -11
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, .
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