The Role of a New Testament Prophet

[onefaith2]

Originally Posted by Godsdrummer

I am amazed that people do not see what is right before their eyes.

1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Do you know what a word of knowledge is? When someone comes up to you and reads your life this is not prophecy, Paul tells us what prophecy is.

1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

So In my humble opinion, there are many prophets in the kingdom of God we just don't call them a prophet because of our traditions have gotten so far off the word of God we don't know what thing are. We would rather take Websters over the word of God when the word tells us the meaning of a word.

As I was editing this I thought of something, I will throw out,

1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
1Co 12:2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

Could it be the Corinthians had began to do what we have done, raised those that were used in one gift more than others to a higher position in the kingdom of God?

I can agree with this. Word of Knowledge could edify though.

I've been preaching in service and the Lord speak to me to say something, which I had no ideas what it pertained to. Later I would find out its what they have been dealing with or the answer they needed.

Is this prophecy or word of knowledge?

[Godsdrummer]

Originally Posted by onefaith2

I can agree with this. Word of Knowledge could edify though.

I've been preaching in service and the Lord speak to me to say something, which I had no ideas what it pertained to. Later I would find out its what they have been dealing with or the answer they needed.

Is this prophecy or word of knowledge?

I would be inclined to say it was a word of wisdom, or a word of knowledge, as prophecy is for exhortation, edification and comfort. I beleive that is more how the gifts are used by God anyway. God impresses us to say something and it is what the other person needs. There have been many times I have had simular experiances. Many times it would happen when I was praying with someone that was praying through as they had gotten cold in God. We used to call it getting a refill of the holy ghost. Any way they would be stuggling and God would bring to my mind something that could be hindering them. And I would rebuke it, (not loud so everyone could hear just me and the person praying) everytime I did this the person broke through,

[Sabby]

Originally Posted by BishopMHaywood

I believe that preaching "should" be prophecy in the realest since. By that I mean that we "should" be presenting a MESSAGE given to us and through us by God, and not just a "sermon" that sounds good to us. If the message is truly from God, it is prophecy.

I also opperate in the classical prophetic ministry, God both shows me visions and speaks words of wisdom, knowledge, and discernment through me. One of the most amazing ministry moments in my life was when I ran into a saint I had never met before while looking through gospel cd's at Walmart, this person asked me if I had a word from the Lord for him, I didn't think I did, but as I began to seek the Lord in that moment I had a clear vision of what would occur in his life in the next few years. I have ran into that saint many times since then and he consistantly confirms that everything the Lord spoke to him through me has come to pass exactly. Glory belongs to God, the prophetic ministry is real.

I believe everyone who has the Holy Spirit has the ability to flow in the prophetic, but to differing degrees.

I believe that God gave you insight, wisdom, knowledge and discernment re: your WalMart encounter. I don't know that I would call it prophetic...
That said, I know of a couple of instances involving missionaries where God fulfilled a vision or dream...Our young men will see visions and old men dream dreams, as promised. I don't see these functions as those of a NT "Prophet". It's just how I see it.
My view is that a book of Acts prophet was involved in validating the Person of Jesus Christ; who He was (the Word incarnate), and His mission to save by His death, burial and resurrection. My reasoning for this is because all the prophets until John spoke of Jesus Christ, and the testimony of Jesus IS the spirit of prophecy. It narrows the definition of this particular gift and in my mind provides parameters to something that has in the past bordered on gnostic narcissism.

When someone "speaks into" someone else's life as you did at WalMart, it is my view that this is a separate operation of the Spirit. I believe God led you to speak the words you did in the form of encouragement, exhortation, wisdom and discernment.

Bless you, bro.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by BishopMHaywood

...
I also opperate in the classical prophetic ministry, God both shows me visions and speaks words of wisdom, knowledge, and discernment through me. One of the most amazing ministry moments in my life was when I ran into a saint I had never met before while looking through gospel cd's at Walmart, this person asked me if I had a word from the Lord for him, I didn't think I did, but as I began to seek the Lord in that moment I had a clear vision of what would occur in his life in the next few years. I have ran into that saint many times since then and he consistantly confirms that everything the Lord spoke to him through me has come to pass exactly. Glory belongs to God, the prophetic ministry is real.
...
.

What you relate here sounds to me like the gift of prophecy in operation. One of the signs of the Holy Ghost Baptism is prophecy (ref Acts 2:17-18; 19:6) The Apostle Paul tells us to "covet to prophesy" in 1 Corinthians 14:39) Covet is a pretty strong word and I can't think of anything else we are told to "covet" in the Word. Paul also tells us that we may all prophesy (1 Cor. 14:31). And in 1 Corinthians 14:1 we are told to desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy.

Prophets prophesy but not every one who prophesies has the calling or office or gift of being a prophet, just like not everyone who does the work of an evangelist has the calling or office or gift of being an evangelist.

I don't know enough about you and your ministry to even think of saying whether you are a prophet or not, and that is certainly not up to me any way. That is up to you if you believe it is your calling or gifting from God, and if so, you will be recognized as such by your pastor and peers.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by onefaith2

What about Prophets who "read people's mail" Do you guys consider them prophets or only those who work in the gift of prophecy to reveal the hearts of man?

In my opinion, they may be prophets or they may be people exercising gifts such as words of knowledge and then giving prophetic words to edify (build up), exhort (stir up), and comfort (cheer up or lift up).

[Godsdrummer]

It is my opinion there is not enough teaching on the gifts of the spirit as too many times not enough is understood of the gifts, as we have turned to many of the gifts into offices of leadeship or overseers that is not biblical or Apostolic.

Years ago there was a well known UPCI minister that preached on the gifts of the spirit, that was right on the mark as far as I could see. His name was Mark Hanby. It seemed his ministry was light years ahead of the main stream UPCI. Many were the negative words I heard of his ministry and those that followed his understanding. Because those that did take his understanding grew in not only numbers but manifested moves of the spirit and gifts in thier churches. Of course when he fell into sin the UPCI were able to push him out and condem him and his leading. If I remember right he was ready to step down from his church but the church chose to keep him.

The fact is his insight into the gifts of the spirit are what released me to allow myself to be used, and be led more by the spirit in my own life.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Godsdrummer

It is my opinion there is not enough teaching on the gifts of the spirit as too many times not enough is understood of the gifts, as we have turned to many of the gifts into offices of leadeship or overseers that is not biblical or Apostolic.

Years ago there was a well known UPCI minister that preached on the gifts of the spirit, that was right on the mark as far as I could see. His name was Mark Hanby. It seemed his ministry was light years ahead of the main stream UPCI. Many were the negative words I heard of his ministry and those that followed his understanding. Because those that did take his understanding grew in not only numbers but manifested moves of the spirit and gifts in thier churches. Of course when he fell into sin the UPCI were able to push him out and condem him and his leading. If I remember right he was ready to step down from his church but the church chose to keep him.

The fact is his insight into the gifts of the spirit are what released me to allow myself to be used, and be led more by the spirit in my own life.

As far as I know, MH is still alive somewhere.

[Sabby]

Originally Posted by Sam

As far as I know, MH is still alive somewhere.

Someone else will have to address his problems; he has admittedly brought some of his troubles upon himself.

God's anointing upon him as a preacher was amazing.
In '78 I was the Head youth camp counselor (aka babysitter) at the Idaho Camp. He had just left the UPC (TV issues) but the District Board honored their invitation (made a year earlier) to keep him as the main speaker.
He preached with a tremendous anointing. His sermons are as timely now as ever. At Bible school, one boring day while the instructor was grading Hebrews papers the class got to listen to a tape of the sermon "Nehushtan".It remains a timeless message for the church.
His messages were Kingdom-centric; don't know how he is doing now.

[Godsdrummer]

Originally Posted by Sabby

Someone else will have to address his problems; he has admittedly brought some of his troubles upon himself.

God's anointing upon him as a preacher was amazing.
In '78 I was the Head youth camp counselor (aka babysitter) at the Idaho Camp. He had just left the UPC (TV issues) but the District Board honored their invitation (made a year earlier) to keep him as the main speaker.
He preached with a tremendous anointing. His sermons are as timely now as ever. At Bible school, one boring day while the instructor was grading Hebrews papers the class got to listen to a tape of the sermon "Nehushtan".It remains a timeless message for the church.
His messages were Kingdom-centric; don't know how he is doing now.

I googled him yesterday, he has a web site but the picture of him was a younger man than I would have thought. Does he have a son by the same name. We used to listen to MH all the time I used to have several of his cassetes, Our pastors oldest son attended MH church for awhile right after he went to one service on Sunday and quite Sunday school. He used to say Mark would preach against TV as he was being televised. We had a pastor that was of the same mind as MH put many of his ideas to work in his church, they doubled and tripled. On course this caused several of the other pastors to say he was liberal and gone charismatic. The narrow minided ness of religion will never cease to amaze me.

[mfblume]

http://www.hanby.org/

This is THE Mark Hanby you are speaking about.

Mark Hanby Ministries - About
Purpose

The purpose of Mark Hanby Ministries is to teach, promote and impart foundational truth to the Body of Christ. This purpose is accomplished by providing resource materials that focus in three areas: Kingdom alignment, Spiritual order, and Ministry networking.

-Kingdom alignment refers to biblical truth applied to the community of faith, both corporately and individually.
-Spiritual order refers to theocratic church government and foundational understanding in spiritual authority.
-Ministry networking to the establishment of true apostolic relationships among leaders in the family of God.

I just bought a book written by him called THE MINISTRY OF THE SAINTS.