CHRISTIAN PROPHOSY, Part 6

ARE ALL BELIEVERS PROPHETS?

Naturally, not all Christians have the gift of prophecy. However,all Christians are taught by the scriptures to prophesy. The sign ofthe new covenant is, that the indwelling Holy Spirit withineach believer, will make them spokesmen for God.

That does not mean they will all be prophets though, as only a select number are given the gift of prophecy by God's grace. The prophet is one of God's gifts to the church. (Ephesians 4:1). The prophet's job is to help equip God's people for the work of the ministry until everyone comes to the unity of the faith. Since all will never come to the unity of the faith until Jesus Christ returns to earth, the office of the prophet will remain open as a gift from God to the church until that time.

We, as a church need prophecy, because none of us can understand all of Gods word as we should. We all have a little understanding. But all together, if all our bits and pieces are put together, we have a more, complete understanding, but eventhen, never have the full message, and will not have it until we see Christ.

Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see through glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; butthen shall I know even as also I am known."Since God has chosen to reveal Himself to men, and the scriptures are the record of that divine revelation, the church as a guide tomeasure all other prophecy claimed to be divine.The prophet stirs the church to action through his ministry, and the body of Christ hears the voice of God and moves out to spread the Gospel. If prophets are in the midst of the church, that church cannot remain passive.

Believers must either obey the voice of God speaking through His prophets, or silence them! It is impossible to listen to a prophet for any length of time without either repenting and moving on with God, or finally rejecting the prophets ministry.

The voice of a prophet sent from God will bring results one way oranother. In the positive effect, God's saints will be equipped for service.In the negative, the reprobate will be further hardened, and drivenanother step closer to perdition.

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