The ancient prophets (Elijah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, etc.) spoke directly with God, then God walked among us in Jesus, and was the word of God, and He revealed all to us from the Father, including what is to come, through His disciples and the Holy Spirit. So many religious leaders today refer to themselves as prophets but I don't see the need for them and am struggling with discernment of truth with well known pastors (eg. Joel Osteen versus someone like Billy Graham) - the difference with these two clearly obvious to me, but with other 'preachers' who call themselves prophets, I am befuddled so I pray to God for clarity.
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We do not have a "modern day prophet" but we have present day prophets and those who prophesy. All the gifts of Eph 4:11 will never cease until we all come to the stature of a mature son, individually and corporately, in every generation. If some cease all cease, but cessation is not the teaching of scripture. We see continued presence of these gifts even after the ascension. The ministry of apostles, teachers and prophets continued in the NT together with that of pastors or elders and is always seen in plurality. In this prayer meeting prophets are present Acts 13:1-3 "Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul." The Holy Spirit through the prophets present, commissioned Paul and Barnabanas as apostles to the gentiles. In the ordering of gifts in the church prophets are mentioned as second: "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? I Cor 12: 27-30 Prophets and apostles are often seen together: Acts 15:32-35 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them. And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. Acts 15:40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. Romans 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. Paul is referring himself and others with him as apostles (Silas a prophet is in there). These are gifts of apostles in the NT apart from the official twelve apostles of Christ: 1 Thessalonians 2:6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. In the history of the church: It's important to note that where there are those who are sent (apostolic), the prophetic is also there. The ability to know where one should go as a missionary or apostle comes from the prophets, the prophetic gift or as an answer to prayer. Note that the whole church is called to be apostolic (sent/ represent exactly), and prophetic (to know and hear the Lord), though some in the church are specifically gifted as prophets and apostles. Most of the known and key missionaries who took the gospel to remote and "closed" countries were apostles though they were not referred to as such e.g. William Carey from Britain who went to India is known as the father of modern missions, Adoniram Judson was the first American missionary to Burma. The USCWM (US centre for world mission), is a modern missionary organization that is headed by an apostle/prophet, though they do not use such titles. In the history of the church, Martin Luther was a prophetic/ apostolic reformer. Many present day missionary societies and movements are led by apostles and guided by the prophetic in the context of the written word; they make decisions in many complex situations through prayer and the experience of those who have gone ahead. Those who we may consider as present day prophets even though all may have there own opinion on this are the late Bob Jones, Rick Joyner, Cindy Jacobs, Bill Hamon etc. In doing this we do not judge people by gifts alone but by the word and fruit of character in their lives. Agabus and others were "present day" prophets in their time. Acts 11:27-28 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.
Personally, I believe Billy Graham was a modern day prophet. In the 1950s, his ministry surged, and he began to branch out into all forms of media. That decade he started a Christian film studio called Billy Graham Evangelistic Films (later named World Wide Pictures --I saw a lot of these); a radio show called "Hour of Decision," --I listened attentively to many of these--, then a syndicated column called "My Answer," which ran 6 days a week in newspapers across the United States and reached 20 million people; 2 monthly magazines "Christianity Today" and "Decision" --I always read "Decision", and wrote many best-selling books. One of these books was World Aflame. My cousin was reading this one one summer. And I'm sure he loved it. I saw that just before Billy Graham came to preach at ASU's Sun Devil [football] Stadium in 1964 when I got saved, he went to the Egyptian pyramids for the backdrop of an Hour of Decision radio program in 1960.
Yes M'am there is. I am called to be a prophet. A prophet is just someone who says what God tells them to say. We are messengers. I dont like to go around calling myself a prophet and using it as a way to label myself. I think that is because of the way things are now. People have been distorted by the truth. God will ALWAYS have something to say to us. And not everyone can hear God Himself clearly. So He speaks through us. We will never be all knowing. The word of God says that every generation knows something the other doesn't. Prophets will come in the end days. You would think by then people would fall and worship God after going through such horrible things but they wont. We were given our gifts to do His work and will and if He says we are still needed its not up for me to say no. The very thing I never believed in I was created to do. How crazy is that? If you want to know if someone is really a prophet you have to understand how to test what people say. Discernment is key. And you can only do that by reading the Word of God and staying close to Him in prayer.
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