From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 4, 1997 11:18 PM
To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup
Subject: A Prophet and a word of prophecy defined
----------
> From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
> To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
> Subject: A Prophet and a word of prophecy defined
> Date: Tuesday, November 04, 1997 10:53 AM
>
> From: "Fredrick L. Murphy"
> To: Hebraic Roots <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
> Subject: Prophecy defined
>
> Hello All,
>
> I have a question, about prophecy. Is prophecy "a word of
> exhortation" to get people to do something they should do...or
> to act upon the Word of God??? Is it mostly about future issues? I have
> recently been told a definition of what a prophet is, that doesn't match
> up with what I pictured from scriptures. Please share your views...other
> than the obvious that whatever they say must come to pass.
>
> Thank you everyone, Shalom,
> Fredrick
>
> >From Eddie:
> **************
>
> There is a difference between the office of a prophet
> and a prophetic word that comes through the inspiritation of the Holy
> Spirit to another individual.
>
> A prophetic word through the inspiration of the Holy
> Spirit from a chosen vessel of God who hears and gives the
> prophetic word to another individual is a word of CONFIRMATION NOT a
> word of REVELATION. (I Cor 12:4,7,10-11, I Cor 14:3). In other
> words, this is a word from the Lord that will CONFIRM a direction in
> your life that God has put upon your heart NOT a NEW REVELATION of
> what God wants you to do that you had no previous knowledge that God
> wanted you to do a particular thing.
>
> The office of a prophet speaks of future events in the
> plan of God. The Biblical requirement of a prophet is that 100% of
> all that the prophet of God speaks comes to pass. Otherwise, he is a
> false prophet. (Deut 13:1-5, 18:18-22)
>
> ********************************************************************
>
>
From: "Cherie Ching"
To: <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
Subject: Re: A Prophet and a word of prophecy defined
Dear Eddie and All:
I agree with what Eddie says below, however, I would like to suggest that
most of the time a prophet is in the business of the 'prophetic word' or
exhortation. I don't believe there is any evidence that a prophet walks
around 100% of the time uttering revelations about future events. I
believe those revelations are relatively rare. Of course, when anyone
stands up and says "thus says the Lord" and offers a word regarding future
events, these words WILL come to pass if that person is a prophet. And a
person who IS a prophet will have those revelations occasionally, as the
Lord gives. HOWEVER, I do not think we should require that prophets
'perform' on demand, or that EVERYTHING they say must come to pass all the
time. We need to remember the distinction between 'thus says the Lord'
and 'thus says ME' and anyone who holds the office of prophet will always
make that clear. Everything that is prophesied when prefaced "thus says
the Lord" MUST come to pass. Every prediction (made without claiming to
speak for God) for the World Series or the stock market, needn't.
Again, my point is that, in general, a prophet's day to day life will be a
word of exhortation, or knowledge, sent to individuals, as well as the
church. The times of standing up before the congregation and saying 'thus
says the Lord... and here comes a revelation of the future' are not day to
day, but rather exceptional. I do not see this contradicted in the lives
of the prophets given as examples in scripture, some of whom apparently had
only ONE prophetic message in their lives.
And as Paul says to all of us in 1Corinthians14: "Pursue love, yet desire
earnestly spiritual gifts, but ESPECIALLY that you may prophesy...but one
who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and
consolation...One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who
prophesies edifies the church...Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues,
but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies
than the one who speaks in tongues....what shall I profit you, unless I
speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or
of teaching?...since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for
the edification of the church...Therefore, my brethren, DESIRE EARNESTLY to
prophesy...but let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner."
When we read the entire chapter carefully, we see prophecy for the future
being offered, as well a the word of knowledge and exhortations, all
aspects of prophecy, for the edification of the church.
I think from a Hebraic Roots standpoint, we will want to know how the
prophets were viewed historically, and study their lives, then ask
ourselves how the pernicious idea that God no longer uses prophets got into
the church.
Shalom,
Cherie Ching
************************************************************************
From: Jan
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Re: A Prophet and a word of prophecy defined
In a message dated 97-11-04 05:04:45 EST, you write:
>
> have a question, about prophecy. Is prophecy "a word of
> exhortation" to get people to do something they should do...
> or to act upon the Word of God??? Is it mostly about future
> issues?
>
Prophecy can be any number of things. It can be an exhortation, a
warning, a rebuke, encouragement... but it is always a Word from God.
It can be from the past, or in the present or in the future. If it's
in the past, it will be from someone who knows nothing about you and
yet has spoken the truth. A friend of mine just had a word of
prophecy spoken over her and in 3 minutes this man told her everything
that she had been dealing with over the past 5 years and what is to
come in the future. She said is was a confirmation to all that she had
been praying about. The power of God was so strong with this man that
she could not stand it. He really ministered to her. And she had
never seen this man before. I hope this helps you.
Love in Jesus
Jan
***********************************************************************
From: Sharon Luzzi
To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
Subject: Re: A Prophet and a word of prophecy defined
Greetings,
To answer the question at hand a good book to read is Growing in the
prohetic, by Mike Bickle. It takes away all the the what and why
questions. I have not seen a better book yet. Another very
complimentary book is The Elijah Task by John Sanford. Another great
insightful book . Good reading!!!!!!!!!!!!
In His service,
Sharon Luzzi
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To: heb_roots_chr@geocities.com
From: (Randy Felton)
Subject: Re: A Prophet and a word of prophecy defined
Dear brothers,
The question from Fredrick is a good one and an important one. In this
day and time, more than ever, there are "prophets" telling us what God
is saying. There are some basics that need to be covered.
Prophesy is, in it's simplist terms, God speaking to man through man.
Eddie is correct when he points out the difference between prophesy
and the office of a prophet. According to 1 Corinthians 14:3-4
prophesy has a threefold purpose:
1. to encourage
2. to comfort
3. to edify.
These are the three things by which you judge or test
prophesy. Prophesy is a "Forthtelling" not a foretelling. In other
words, it is not a crystal ball to predict the future. Prophesy does
not stand alone. It will deal with something that has already
happened and will confirm it .... or it will deal with a future event
to confirm the event when it happens. Prophesy in the latter sense
can only be understood after the fact.
The subject is much deeper and more complex but I hope the above
helps. If you can find a copy of a book by Robert B. Hall , titled;
"Anyone Can Prophesy" pick it up. It is out of print but may be found
in used book stores. If there is further interest, I have a 4 part
lesson I did in 1995. It is basically my teaching notes, which is
pretty much all of my writing. I will be glad to post it at a later
time to the newsgroup if there is perceived value in doing so.
Shalom, Randy Felton
>From Eddie:
**************
Randy, please feel free to do so.
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